Race in the end of the lights

[relentlessness]

WHO: Jacob Frye
WHERE: Fountain, Inn, Bunker, Around
WHEN: 12/3, first part of the month
OPEN TO: Evie, OTA
WARNINGS: Will update if needed

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FOUNTAIN ARRIVAL: LOCKED TO EVIE FRYE

Not even realizing that things have gone dark until the world tries to come into focus again. Waking up suddenly, gasping, and realizing the mistake in that the minute the water hits his throat, flooding his mouth. Eyes flying open, blinding, the world a mixture of light and dark, blurred and out of focus. The water pushes him open and instincts take over. Jacob kicks, surprised the weight of his coat isn't holding him down as he pushes hard for the light above.

Kicking hard, wondering how he'd come to be in such a body of water without knowledge of it. Surprised he's not bound, that he is free to try and find air at the surface rather than being weighted as he sinks to the bottom. Whoever tossed him in here is a fool, and he plans to find them and prove to them just how stupid they were.

Breaking the surface with a thick, watery gasp, still dragging water into his throat and lungs, choking as he lashes out blindly for a shore, for any edge where he might find purchase.

AROUND THE VILLAGE

Getting into dry scrubs, which at least he looks good in green, and having scrounged for a few options for both warmth and protection, Jacob finds himself in a pull on hoodie in an odd shade of red, not quite burgundy but heading that way. At least it's warm, and it's got a hood, though the combination with his scrub pants and his hands often in the pockets is that of street lout casing a convenience store to pick off some chocolate bars and maybe a bottle of ale if he's lucky.

From time to time throughout the day he visits the inn, because hello, it's an inn. Sadly there's no beer to be had, and that alone makes him sad. With all of this, Jacob could definitely use a pint. Strolling through the room, he finds himself drawn to some, casually dropping down into a chair near them, often striking up a conversation about how long they've been there. Or at least trying to.

It's not his first time in a new city, but it's definitely a downgrade from London, especially with the lack of rooftops and skyline. Not that it stops him, especially in the evening hours, from slipping up onto the roof of the inn, making his way from one rooftop to another, just for the desire to be there, the ingrained need for whatever view he might gain. Perching on a chimney here, a rooftop there, watching as darkness descends and brilliant stars light up the sky.

THAT'S NEW AND DANGEROUS

What's worse than a brash and cocky assassin with too much attitude and a lot of desires? One that has just learned that he's able to create fire with his hands. At least if they're going to steal his weapons - and someone will pay for that dammit - he's got something to defend himself with.

If he could figure out how to control it.

Sadly, the best he's done that isn't just sparks and more smoke than fire so far is light something on fire that he dragged down by the river. It now is a raging tower of fire, and it would seem Jacob is content to leave it as it is. Least it's warm, right?

Comments

New and Dangerous

[rebornpaladin]

It's hard to miss the pillar of fire by the riverside. Shiro doesn't live far off, now, and after another evening spent scouring his newly acquired home and despising the solitude, he's drawn to it, a mild frown of interest in place.

"That's, uh, excessive," he goes with, coming to a stop an equidistant few yards between man and towering inferno.

"Is it controlled?"

His own fire powers made themselves apparent when, in a frustrated moment, he had nearly caused his wood burning stove to explode, only to then immediately contain and snuff the fire out. He can't start them from nothing, or pull any of the more elaborate tricks he'd seen people attempting, but he can feed them with a thought and extinguish them with a slightly more concentrated gesture.

The whole thing is insanity, even on his admittedly curved grading scale.

[relentlessness]

Standing nearby as if he's just warning himself by a fire, rubbing his hands together and considering the fire with a critical eye. The hood of the odd jacket, a bit large for him so that he's fairly well swimming in it, is pulled up and over his head though the glare of the fire lights up his face within the shadows of the hood. Noticing another coming closer, though he doesn't say much or change his stance though his entire attention is on him the entire time.

Only turning his head when he's been spoken to, though his entire expression brightens, pushing the cap back to rest on the back of his head as he offers a smile.

"I certainly hope so but given I'm still figuring out just how I've managed to start a fire with little more than my mind and something for kindling, I haven't quite worked it all out. An interesting oddity, though I'm told it happens a bit? Finding yourself with mystical abilities?"

One he knows he shouldn't just be laying with like this, but he just can't help himself. It's a delight!

[rebornpaladin]

"A bit, as in, more than this time?" Shiro asks, voice hitching toward incredulity. Whatever bizarre experiment they're all trapped in, it has very strange boundaries.

"Great. All I've been able to do so far is make the fires bigger or put them out, actually. Haven't started any or made interesting shapes with them, the way a few people seem to be able to." Shiro walks a little closer, enough that the heat feels even across the front of him. He has to admit, it's nice.

[relentlessness]

That question gets a shrug and a twitch of eyebrows. "Good question, but I don't have many answers. My sister warned me about them, as did another. Kind of ooky spooky warnings, you know?" He waves his hands about with wiggling fingers for spooky. "But details are sparse."

Not that he's not just as curious. Especially if it comes with things like this.

"That so? Interesting. You can put this out then?" He asked, nodding at the blazing chair. "Though shapes seems fun. I just can start them. Can't much stop them though."

Which is really the story of Jacob Frye's life.

Around the Village

[ombranera]

"I was here first." For once. Bundled up as he might be, Zevran still prefers the vantage point provided by huddling on a roof and watching the hustle and bustle- such as it is. There isn't as much life and sound and movement in the village, winter's stillness creeping in little by little, but-

There is enough to earn observation. Zevran uncurls enough to be better seen, hair bound back, eartips visible, golden eyes bright with amusement. "Find your own roof, or make sharing worth my while."

[relentlessness]

Strolling casually along the peak of the roof, Jacob isn't expecting another to be up there. Not that it's all that usual there is another, all things considered. Not that he's aware how many are within the village who might seek a perch like this. So hearing a voice brings him to a stand still, balancing on the balls of his feet with his hands curling into fists at his side for a moment, prepared.

Then realizing he's not entirely being attacked, and the words sink in. As does the appearance of one from whom the words came.

"I certainly hadn't meant to invade," he offers, sounding sincere though it isn't quite an apology. "I was just passing through, though I'm curious what price I have to pay to stay."

[ombranera]

"Well seeing as it is but a first offence, and a minor one at that?" Zevran uncurls further, lounging on his ankles, head tilted upward. It bares his throat somewhat, he knows, but it is as sure as sign as any that he means no trouble, that he holds no violent intent. "A story, a joke-"

A beat as he considers the angle of the man's jaw, the breadth of his shoulders. Zevran arches a brow, his own smile going wide and easy. "Or a kiss. One of the three."

There are worse ways, after all, to make a first impression.

[relentlessness]

Balanced carefully on the balls of his feet, Jacob slowly sank down into a crouch so that he's facing Zev on a much closer level rather than looming over him.

Canting his head, curious about another that takes to the rooftops.

A slow smile curves his lips at that, leaning forward toward Zev as he braces his hand against the rooftop. "Only one of them then? Really all you want?"

Around The Village

[winswars]

Connor hadn't made much time for free running since his arrival within the village, and when he did it was for a far more practical use - taking to the trees in order to reach a better vantage point or to get someone place to another quickly. The buildings in the actual village proper were much like those that might found within Boston or New York and proved to be little challenge.

He had been attempting to plot out the different routes which might be taken to reach point A - the house he now shared with Altair - to point B - the Inn, when he noticed another who had taken the rooftops, moving in much the same way as he did.

Interesting.

"You move well." Calling out to announce his presence, not wanting to disturb or distract, knowing that even a fall from this height could cause injury.

[relentlessness]

Certainly one day, eventually, Jacob will use his skills for practical means. One would hope. For now though he is enjoying the new terrain, even if it's really kind of like a child's playground in so many ways. And he is definitely treating it as such.

Grabbing the top of a chimney and pulling himself up onto the bricks, Jacob pauses as he's called out too. Crouched, head canting as he pushed back the ratty hood of the discarded jacket he'd found in a room off the inn. With his youth and demeanor, it did little to make him looked like the knighted "kingpin" of a street gang that he is and made him look much more like some secondary school kid trying to graffiti the side of a shop.

It's a look that suits him.

Offering a grin, he touches two fingers to his temple in a salute. "Why thank you. Glad someone's noticed," he calls, pushing to stand, which will be the only time ever he has height on Connor. "Looking for something up here?"

Like he isn't just casually strolling along rooftops himself. So smooth.

[winswars]

Jacob you are literally currently standing on the exact same roof for exactly the same reason and you're still asking.

"I could ask you the same." Connor was currently dressed in a set of dark jeans and a red and black flannel that he had been lucky enough to find left behind in one of the empty houses. Along with the black coat that had been provided, he didn't exactly look like an assassin. Unless you counted the way the hood was pulled up to cover most of his face in much the same way as Jacob.

"I am used to traversing this way at home. It seemed as though the skill might be put to use here."

[relentlessness]

Plausible deniability. That's the important thing.

"Trying to get a view of this place. I'm kind of new to the village," he admits, shrugging as he drops down from the chimney, shifting to lean nonchalantly back against it like it's an alley wall.

Pushing the hood back before folding his arms over his chest, giving Connor a once over. A brow arches. "People where you're from travel by rooftop? Or just you?"

Not wanting to openly ask about it, but also not wanting to ignore it if there are other assassins here besides himself and Evie.

New & Dangerous

[mediumhoodie]

"What are you doing?! Put that out!"

Kat was holding a journal to her chest as she stared at the tower of flames. She didn't understand why people where getting the power to control fire but it was dangerous. The forest, their food, the village... it could all burn and it would mean their deaths in the process.

She wasn't imposing. Kat stood just above five feet tall and was wearing a dark green dress that was similar to a large form fitting hoodie. Her legs were covered in black leggings with sturdy boots on her feet. Bright emerald green eyes shifted between the fire and Jacob as she tried to figure out how they were going to put this out.

[relentlessness]

Basically standing there, hands out as if warming them, Jacob spun about suddenly, wide eyed at the orders. For a moment he truly and wholly thought he'd been busted by Evie.

Why were women forever yelling at him like that?

"I'm playing with the ability the gods in their infinite wisdom saw fit to give to me," he says, trying to sound casual about it, as if he hasn't a goddamn idea what he's really doing, or how it happened. "Least I'm not doing it inside to attack weird little ice mice."

He pauses, not having said it out loud before, giving a small chuckle. "Well, isn't that cute of someone to make ice mice. I see."

Which is entirely distracting from the pyre behind him as if it were nothing.

"It's why I came down by the river to play though. Away from most people. There's water." He hasn't tried to diminish it and isn't sure he can, but isn't saying that.

[mediumhoodie]

"Yes but what happens when it gets out of your control? You can burn down the whole town and all of the food we've collected for winter." Her voice was sweat and her stature small but there was something in Kat's expression and the set of her shoulders that made it clear that she wasn't going to back down.

This was really dumb.

"Keep the fire smaller or we'll all die this winter." And she wasn't actually exaggerating.

"It's getting too big."

There was no room for argument in her voice.

[relentlessness]

"Why would I risk killing anyone or making their life difficult?" His nose wrinkles at that. "I like this place well enough, and I like helping others. I'm not here to harm them."

Though he shifts, moving his hands to bring the fire down. It takes longer focus than it did lighting it up, and slowly drawing it all back down.

"If I'm going to kill people it isn't random, and it isn't by fire." And it's often reckless, but with a plan.

New & Dangerous

[womanofvalue]

Peggy recalls this, though not precisely with fire. At the time, she'd had ice in her hands and Peggy's only grateful that she's not turning into a popsicle while everyone else is going warmer. That doesn't mean she isn't equally wary of someone that she doesn't recognize suddenly spouting fire from his fingers.

"Have you always been able to do that?" she asks warily, keeping a safe distance from him so she doesn't suddenly get torched.

[relentlessness]

Despite the makeshift hood he wears, the look of delight on his face is likely still visible. Wide eyed and excited, obviously enjoying what he's learned he can do. Glancing up, his head cants slightly, giving Peggy a long look. Who can blame him? Some women are beautiful. Some have an air about them. Not many combine both, but she manages it well in his eye.

He turns to face her a bit more, taking a single step closer. "Never before. I suddenly come to drowning here though and..." He waves his hand at it. The fire withdraws a bit, and he startles not having done that before. "Well, that may be handy."

[womanofvalue]

"Handy, or it may just burn down someone's home if you're not entirely careful," is her warning, not wanting to be dour and serious all the time, but it does hold some wisdom to be prudent. After all, she's been around long enough to know the damage that can be done.

"How long ago was that drowning?" she asks, thinking that if he's also new, then it seems that during her illness, she'd missed a lot from missing her shifts in the bunker.

[relentlessness]

"Hence being away from other houses, down here by the water," he says, gesturing with his hand. Though even as he does, he turns towards the fire he started, holding his hands out and focusing on it as he had to start the fire.

Slowly the flames edge down as if a source beneath them was being dialed closed. He's almost hoping she doesn't see the look of delight on his face of it actually working before he turns back to her.

"But for you, I shall keep it to a very tasteful level," he offers with a bright smile and a bit of a flourish of one hand.

"A day and a half. Just long enough to be saved by my darling sister, nearly be frozen solid by a mouse, however that works, and having incinerated said rodent with an ability with fire I'd never known before. So not long at all."

Around the Village

[skyward_eyes]

He couldn't quite say what it was that made him look. There was no shadow cast, no particular flash that blocks out a moon, nothing special, but it felt like... it felt like he should. And when Nida had an impulse like that, he obeyed. Which meant he looked up in time to see a figure jump from one roof to another and he found himself smiling. Well, wasn't that familiar.

Until now he hadn't really considered doing such a thing, mostly because his own experience was in a more urban sort of jungle that Jacob would probably feel at comfort in that place. For now the challenge beckoned and so help him, Nida intended to meet it. For half a second he considered the side of the house Jacob was atop. Towns like this took more planning than he'd needed in the cities of his world, but then the was going. Within a few moments he was up a window frame, jumping to the jutting edge of the roof, and over it to stand easily and comfortably on the rooftop.

"Lovely evening," he observed as he strolled with quite a bit of comfort toward the stranger.

[relentlessness]

The air is brisk, the sky beautiful even if nothing looks familiar, and while the place feels a bit tight, Jacob is still finding the contentment he seeks through the rooftops.

Though it's interesting seeing so many on the rooftops. In London the only surprise visitor was Greenie. This is becoming a regular thing here, and with many strangers he's never met.

Pausing between one step and the next, offering a brilliant smile as his hand goes to see that the hood of the jacket he stole was still in place. It isn't what came with the jacket, made from something else entirely and all a bit ratty but it's something. At least it's something, though he partially pushes it back, enough to not leave his entire face in shadows.

"Isn't it though?" Curious, not sure what to think about the number of those that rush over the rooftops here. "Was I thumping about on your roof?"

He's worried about that, the lack of industrial buildings taking away the anonymity that London rooftops offered.

[skyward_eyes]

"Not at all. I just hadn't thought about climbing anything but trees before seeing you," Nida shrugged, heading to an edge and sitting with his legs hanging off. Pretty nice view out here. Could see a good bit of the village. Might be a great way to deal with mapping.

"Why are you up here, if it's not rude to ask. Or if it is. I'm not picky."

fountain

[ex_covers730]

According to whatever calculation is being used by the strange device on her wrist, Evie's not even been here a week — but for someone who should understandably be still rather out of sorts, she's accomplished what she thinks is a good deal in the span of six days. She's staked out one of the empty houses, met not one but two other Assassins from different time periods (someone is really going to have to come up with an explanation for that one), and found what passes for the local library. If the end goal is to learn how things work here so they can eventually find a way out, she thinks she's got a fairly good start.

There are, of course, downsides, aside from the fact of being trapped here. She misses Henry terribly, for one — and her brother, for the other. After she and Jacob had only just decided to start actually being not only siblings but partners again, this place had torn them apart. For their whole lives they've had no one constant but each other, and Evie has just come to expect that Jacob will always be there, no matter how angry or frustrated she might be with him at times. She's not really given to dramatic metaphors, but it truly is as if she's missing her right hand.

She's not shown it, of course. Evie realizes she's got to stay on her toes here, which means no time to let herself indulge her feelings of homesickness. It's times like this she often goes to the woods to practice climbing and jumping from tree to tree; the physical exertion helps her not to focus too hard on her emotions, and she can keep herself in shape without possibly making enemies of her small group of neighbors by making too much noise on their roofs. Not that she hasn't run across a roof or two, mind, but she's been trying to keep it to a minimum.

Evie isn't expecting anyone to come splashing out of the fountain just as she crosses through the park, but there's flailing in the water suddenly, and instinct drives her to try to help. She runs over, and — unmistakably, that's her brother, dressed in the same style of shirt and trousers she's got on herself, but green instead of blue.

"Jacob!" She grabs his arm, prepared to reach over and haul him out by the back of his shirt if she has to — but she thinks he can mostly pull himself out, he's just confused and needed something to grab on to. "Here— Stop flailing about, I've got you."

Her surprise is mixed with relief — and also worry, because she's both glad he's here and isn't. They've only just taken London back from the Templars. What's going to happen now neither of them are there?

[relentlessness]

Pushing against the water should he harder than it is, used to swimming with layers of waistcoats and leather so the strokes he's used to using propel him to the surface easily. Gasping for air as he flounders for the edge of the water, confused by the edge that seems familiar yet he's never known a fountain that deep.

Panting as his arm hooks over the edge, seeing a blur of a person, and then a voice. A voice that he knows so well.

Relief floods through him. Given how confusing all of this is, all he could think is where is Evie. What had this done to her? Thankful to hear her voice, blinking the water out of his eyes as he stares up at her. Blinded by the sky above, eyes still burning as he scrambles out of the water. Not fighting his body falling over the edge and landing with a thump and a groan.

"Where are we? I don't remember this fountain." Not that he's familiar with every fountain in the city but there's something off here. "And what are you wearing?"

Leave it to him to notice that above all else in those first moments.