[OPEN] Birinci ◉ Varış

[daistanbul]

Who: Yusuf Tazim and YOU!
What: Yusuf has just arrived, and is exploring the city by leaping about on rooftops.
When: Day 510, morning to early afternoon
Where: All over the city!
Rating: PG-13 at worst.

Asgard [OTA]

As dawn breaks, Yusuf steps out of the castle, feeling ready to take on the world. But as he glances out over his new surroundings of the sleeping city of Asgard, Yusuf realizes something.

It's far too quiet.

So without further ado, Yusuf makes his way to the nearest climbable building, and scales onto the roof. Anyone can be woken by the sound of feet tapping on their roof, or be greeted by the sight of a metal hook latching onto their windowsill as someone bounds past it, or just on their way to work only to find a man leaping from signpost to signpost in the direction they're going. He may even stop for a minute and say hello.

Someone who knows of the Assassins would be able to tell from his bearing, his movements from ledge to ledge, and the sheer amount of weapons he appears to be carrying that he is probably one of them. Though this face is brand new, and with much more mirth on it than to be expected for a trained killer.

Needle in a Haystack/The Assassin Bureau [closed to Assassini]

Later in the day, after an invigorating jaunt through the city, Yusuf happens to find the entrance to the bureau entirely by accident. It is no surprise that it is there, of course; he wouldn't be able to recognize it as the entrance to an assassin bureau were it not situated one one of the taller buildings in the area. The familiarity of home makes him pensive, but only for a moment, before he tests the hatch and finds it unlocked. So Yusuf opens it, somersaults into the bureau, and uses his hookblade to shut the hatch behind him, landing on two feet. He greets those inside with open arms.

"Kardeşlerim! Bacılarım! I was not expecting you to be this easy to find! Am I late for the party?" He gives a broad grin before offering the "proper" Assassin signal, right hand over his heart, signalling that he is, in fact, supposed to be there. You can put down your weapons now. No, really.

(( ooc: Put preferred time/place in subject header. Will format-match as necessary! ))

Comments

[daddyissues]

Is it? To Connor's eyes the mark is close but not identical, and while that could just be because this man is from a different time or country... He can't make that call himself. They did not train him for this scenario so he's going to be even more cautious than usual. Yusuf's arms are reencased in thin, flexible shadow; He can still move them for comfort, but can't use his blade or bracelet.

"House, power, rank, when and where you took the Creed, and name." Just because he's holding the guy in shadow prison doesn't mean he's lost his manners. Connor flicks on his own bracelet menu to message the others and see if any of them know him or can come by to check the brand. "I'm Connor. Sorry for the fuss."

[daistanbul]

It sure is an awful lot of information Connor's requesting, but Yusuf would ask his fellow assassins to find the answers to such questions without hesitation. House, though? That one's new. "It is fine," Yusuf replies rather nonchalantly, thinking about where to start first. He supposes from the very beginning makes the most sense.

"I am not sure why my house is important. We all operate under the same creed, regardless of race and religion and status, and on and on and on." Even though he can't do much with his hands, he still waves his arm dismissively. "But I believe the woman from this morning said I am with Loki. The one who wrote the interesting welcome! Anyway, she told me it was tele... te-le-ki-ne.... tele blah blah blah, for my power." He gives another dismissive handwave over it. "But she did not tell me what it does or how to use it. Does it matter?" It really shows his date when he doesn't know a word coined in the early 1900's.

"As for my standing in the Brotherhood, I am Yusuf Tazim. My rank is master assassin." He's hoping for a little 'oh shit' moment when Connor realizes that he truly is what he says he is, but that can wait. "I was brought into this life when I turned twenty. I led the Ottoman Order until..." There is a pause, his cheerful demeanor muddied by the slightest hint of sorrow, but it disappears quickly. Yusuf takes a breath before he continues. "... until I was brought here, to assist in this war between gods and giants. I am still not sure what to think of it. As for where... have you heard of this great city called Kostantiniyye?"

[daddyissues]

It is indeed a lot of information, and Connor figures if he's really a brother he'll have no qualms or trouble answering any of it. He listens, perking up a bit at telekinesis -- that's a fun one, and he's never known anyone with it, but first things first. His text to the non-recruited members (Altair, Ezio, Desmond, Connor, Giovanni) reads:

I've got a man named Yusuf Tazim in shadow lock at the bureau, claiming to be a master assassin. Does anyone know him?

Once it sends he flicks his bracelet off and turns his full attention back to Yusuf. Master assassin, huh? That makes four... Connor catches himself, realizing he already believes Yusuf and wants to learn from him. And teach him about his Asgard power and the history of the war. He wants to impress the man already and scolds himself as he listens, pulling out another chair and thinning the rest of the shadows keeping Yusuf in place so he can come sit down.

"Konstantiniyye...?" He repeats the name carefully, thinking, then shakes his head. "I know a Constantinople."

[daistanbul]

Yusuf breathes a sigh of relief as the shadows recede a little and are not holding him so stiffly. "That is much better," He comments, arching his back to stretch it a little and rolling his arms forward once or twice before flipping the chair around so he can straddle it and rest his arms along the back. "Thank you."

He shakes his head after a moment, pressing his index finger and thumb together, and emphasizing each syllable with a punctuating motion. "Kostantiniyye. You are confusing it with the Latin Constantinopolis, or Konstantinoúpoli, in Greek. We Ottomans do not feel the need to add extra sounds." He shrugs, giving a grin after a moment and gently nudging at Connor with his elbow. "I have always found it easier to refer to the 'Queen of Cities' as Istanbul. But it matters not. What matters is you know of it."

Waving a hand dismissively over the various names for his city, Yusuf settles back into his chair. But the moment he starts speaking again, he begins to gesture with his hands and wave them about, as he rarely speaks with his hands remaining still. "It is a beautiful city, one of the few in the world that spans two continents, and the most vibrant by far. It is always so... alive, always changing, yet always the same underneath. I have not been away for a day and I already miss her."

He holds out his palm for a moment, adding, "I knew her streets like the palm of my hand. I did not think twice when I was asked to defend her and her people. You could say I lived and breathed Istanbul, if you wanted to be poetic. Though it is a city worth being poetic about." It is then that Yusuf gets a little reminiscent, propping his chin up on the back of one hand. "I remember telling someone, once, that out of all the men who have ruled Istanbul, none of them subdued her. 'She always bounces back.' If you ever get a chance to visit her, you should."

[daddyissues]

Connor appears relaxed as he listens, but he's watching Yusuf's gestures carefully. When the older man waves his arms too wildly he'll feel the shadows restricting him, keeping his exuberance to within his own personal bubble. (Can't be too careful.)

This guy really loves his city. The enthusiasm is contagious, and Connor feels his mouth quirking up. He's got no attachment to LA -- he hated it actually, for pretty much every second he was there -- and the passion associated with a place is new and unfamiliar.

"I'm not that poetic but you've convinced me. If I get a chance, I will... what should I do there?" He gets the point; it's beautiful, vibrant, big and bustling. But why is it so amazing? "Hey, is it on the water?"

[daistanbul]

While it does keep Yusuf from gesturing too wildly outside of his own space, it only serves to make him gesture more wildly inside his own space. You win some, you lose some. But Yusuf doesn't seem interested in using them for any ill purpose - only for using them while speaking to emphasize his points.

"The food is divine. Istanbul is a sort of combination between Asia and Europa, being on two continents at once - so there are so many cuisines to try. Though true Ottoman food is the best, in my humble opinion, the different cultures there have many good delicacies. I can get you a list later. If you can sneak your way into Topkapı Palace and not get caught, I can tell you all of the hidden rooms and quiet hallways and hiding places so that you can explore it at your leisure. It is an interesting place, though the guards never take too kindly to anyone but the Sultan's family there. You must, and I mean must, visit Galata Tower and climb to the top at sunrise or sunset. It provides the best view of all of Istanbul, and the city, it... it glows with color, more colorful than it already is, turning as brilliant as the sky. I promise you that you will have never seen anything like it in your entire life. And I am sure that the Assassins at the den there will let you in should you introduce yourself."

Of course, given his clothes, it's likely that his information is a little bit outdated, but he seems to know what he is talking about quite well.

"Ah, evet, it is separated by the Haliç - the Golden Horn, an estuary, that splits the city into two sections. It is easy to take a boat across, though you could always take the sewers if you need to be discreet. The rats are no bigger than dogs, they should pose little problem!" His grin indicates that he's maybe exaggerating the last bit there.