(OPEN) I am a foreigner and I'm walking through new streets

[dai]

Who: Malik Al-Sayf (dai) and Y O U.
What: Keeping mostly to himself for the past while, Malik steps into the effort to dust himself off and greet the day; keeping his mind and his body busy instead of stewing in the past events.
When: DAY 78 | morning to afternoon.
Where: ODIN DISTRICT | (f r o m) The Great Library → (t o) A Needle in a Haystack.
Rating: TBA.
Note(s): Malik can be found anywhere from within the library, along his path street level or rooftop bound, to actually working inside the shop. Please feel free to assume the location which is not just limited to the three scenarios written out below and reply in whichever format pleases you. This is just an attempt to integrate him back into the game smoothly since he hates that "witchcraft" they call communication.


(SCENARIO 01) the library

[It's the knowledge that's important, it always has been, it's always been a primary focus but lately it has been imperative and it has been keeping him away from everything else. From history to language, the dai has been mulling over various subjects in the local library for a little over a week. Between the bureau, the shop and where he wandered among the tall shelves of books currently was pretty much where he resided as of late. Trying to adapt, trying to understand, and with that came blending that one of his brothers had been persistent in trying; wearing the clothing of the locals and pinning up the left sleeve of his new attire. No matter though, it kept him busy and he could ignore the new clothing even though it did not stop him from still bearing the red sash about his waist, something he refused to leave off his body. Right now he was more interested in seeing what he could dig up in further detail about the old lore of this realm, if anything could be found at all.

Walking quietly in-between the shelves he slides his hand along the bindings of the books, fingers wrapping around one every now and then, pulling it out, looking it over and the placing it back among the rest of them before moving on.]

(SCENARIO 02) rooftops | street level travel

[The streets are always either barren or busy, they don't seem to be anything in between but it's comforting in a way, a lot like home. It's the rooftops though that have more traffic than they normally would if he would have been back in his own world. So in that, it's always hit or miss as to which way is actually more discreet when traversing throughout the massive city. It depends on the moment, it depends on the chore that is currently at hand.

Right now though, both seem adequate because when he's picking up some supplies for his cover up of a shop then the streets are where he can be found, buying spices that he does not carry for food to cook, different forms of parchment and keeping his eyes away from faces or those lacking them. Yet, once that's complete he's moving skyward, scaling carefully out of sight and moving to the rooftops, a task that is harder than it used to be but he's found places throughout the realm that are easier for him to climb. Once he's there though, he can really stretch his legs--he can really move, jump and run and it's what he plans on doing because sometimes it's better to feel like you're flying than being dragged into the ground.]

(SCENARIO 03) a needle in a haystack

[The shop traffic ebbs and flows throughout the day and as of right now it's fairly quiet in his eyes. Compared to the noise of market goers moving along the Jerusalem streets it's a down period at the moment and he's not complaining because in all honesty he would rather take in the white noise of the few costumers talking to one another and figures passing through the side-streets outside the entrance of the store. It's a calm in the day and it allows him to focus as he takes quill to parchment and scrawls upon the surface where he stands at the front desk. His employees are few at the moment but he enjoys that because he gets to take on chores that keep him from going insane with lack of business to perform or movement.

Whether he's got his fingers stained with pitch black ink from illustrating maps, writing down orders or simply taking inventory he tries to keep busy in his own shop. Making tea, restocking, whatever it takes to keep moving because right now there's too much to think about, too much that if he allows it will send him into one of his rages and today he's not really in the mood to think about certain assassin's and certain orange-headed boys. He just wants to get through the day.

Though of course when working in a shop, you never know who will come through the door.]

Comments

[canmakemore]

[She smiles and picks up the books, standing.]

If you don't want me to thank you and you don't want me to apologize, what should I say?

[dai]

[He pauses and lets out a breath, arching an eyebrow before reaching up and taking two of the books from her stack so she does not fall into the same situation again.] Anything but those two things, obviously.

You could start with your name.

[canmakemore]

Of course. I am Caterina Sforza.

[dai]

Madam Sforza. [He gave a short, curt bow of his head before meeting her gaze once more.]

My name is Malik. Allow me to assist you to a table for these books of yours so you don't fall victim to this sort of incident again.

[canmakemore]

[Oh. Malik. Well.

She can't help wondering if he'd be so polite to her if he knew that she was friends with Claudia and Ezio.

But she nods.]

I greatly appreciate your help. I really should not have picked up so many books in the first place, but... I tend to get rather enthusiastic about books.

[dai]

[There are reasons for him to think that she likely knows Ezio and by now, he has not had the pleasure of meeting the other woman yet. Still, he does not care so much about it to even think she could somehow make the connection of which Malik he would be considering more people were named Malik than he. Likely the arm, but it didn't matter much to him what she knew, what she had heard or who she was as he walked along with the books that he had been able to carry.] A attentive scholar then.

What fields are you inclined to study, if you don't mind my intrusion?

[canmakemore]

[How many Maliks can there possibly be? But it doesn't matter.]

Anything that piques my curiosity. History, literature, science... [She shrugs.] It's a little hard for me to walk through here without wanting to pick up almost every book I see.

[dai]

[He quietly listens and approaches a desk, setting the books down before turning to her completely.] From the looks of things around this library you wont be without something to read for a good while.

That is unless you read so quickly that you turn through a shelve in an evening.

[canmakemore]

[She smiles and adds her books to the table.]

Hardly. Really what I should do is keep a list of the books that catch my eye and return to them later...

[She thinks about this.]

[dai]

[He arches an eyebrow and gives a small nod.] A wise decision. Keeping things recorded is always the best want to manage your tasks.

[Looking at her he bows his head slightly.] Well, Miss Sforza. I won't keep you.

[canmakemore]

[She nods.] Well then, as soon as I get my hands on something to write with and something to write on, I shall do just that.

[She smiles back at him.] It was a pleasure to meet you, Malik. Until next time.

[dai]

[Nodding his head once more he turns on his heels and moves back into the library.] Until then.