sixthiterationlogs | Three | My Confidence Shaken

WHO: Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad
WHERE: South Village
WHEN: December 3-ish
OPEN TO: One on the path in, anyone afterward.
WARNINGS: Most likely some frank discussion of mental health.

Flickers of Doubt: (Now locked to Shiro.)

His trip to the Bunker had taken a deliberately long time. The device called a 'pod' promised a faster trip - he'd read that in the village codex - but that particular mode of transportation was limited to those who could swim. That excluded him. In the end, though, that mattered little. He'd needed the time as much as he'd wanted to investigate. And even once he'd gotten there, he'd found more reason to take time, more reason to walk slowly, to take the lay of the land, to practice climbing trees and, one night when he'd tried to start a small campfire, learn to control the sudden appearance of an ability that he never could've predicted. He didn't like it, but it wasn't the first thing about this place he hadn't liked.

Altaïr had taken care to spend a shorter amount of time in the Bunker than he'd truly wanted. The arrival of Evie Frye had taken him by surprise, but it had been a second incident the likes of which he couldn't afford to recur. Once, he'd been convinced there would be no afterlife. Now, he was convinced this was no afterlife, but this new youth kept his past on his mind. He could remember with too much clarity, felt heartsore for those he had left behind who hadn't gotten this chance. There were people here he cared for, and while that was a gift he wouldn't overlook, he couldn't help but wonder why he was here but poor Sef, dear Malik, his love Maria... Why had this been denied to them?

And so he had walked. He had thought, he had walked, he had given himself the time to mourn all over again. And he had cemented in his mind that Takashi was not Malik through he could make use of Malik's lessons, and that Miss Frye was not Maria, no matter how strong the resemblance and the accent. He had begun to make plans for instructing Takashi in Malik's methods, and to speak with Evie with the respect she was due rather than the unfortunate familiarity their first meeting had taken.

With his emotions back on a steady footing, he returned to the Village, his pace one that could easily have been sustained for days. At the least, he could say that his stamina had returned and he was confident in his ability to stay on the move as he once did long ago. At the best, he felt like he could have more honesty in his interactions with the people who now counted on him. And that was definitely an improvement.

Regained Confidence:

He knew he owed multiple apologies and they would be words gladly given, but now that he had gone to his home, washed both himself and his clothes, and had a chance to dry both, he stepped back out into the village. There were more arrivals here than he'd expected while he'd been gone - more people to speak with, to check on, and if he wasn't the only one with the ability to call fire to his hands, he didn't doubt there were people to reassure or perhaps even make certain they had a roof over their heads whether they were a new arrival or not.

With Connor in his house, he didn't think offering space would be wise, but he could offer to look around with anyone, to see if any of the other houses would suit them, and to help clear the dust.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He gave her back a light rub before he let her draw back. The lingering memories of hugging Darim before the door closed - those still ached. But having people like her, like Tony. It helped. It helped him to not feel so displaced as he had before. So unsure, without something solid under his feet.

"In my language, it means 'daughter,'" he said. "And I hope you don't mind the assumption. I see much of myself in you. It felt natural to me."

"Yeah, I, that's nice." She reaches up to rub absently at her shoulder.

"I didn't really have - a father, so. It'll be nice." 2 possibly came close, but she doesn't really feel a part of any linear family line.

"You have no father?" His brows drew together as he looked at her. There was something in the way she stood, in the way the word sounded in her voice that told him she didn't mean that she had never known him, but something more.

"No ..." She wavers slightly under this scrutiny, looking back at him, a little tension riding in her shoulders.

"Is that uncommon?"

He gave a small nod, his look of scrutiny unchanging - until it softened, along with his voice, as he asked, "You were not human before you came here, were you."

Though perhaps it was less a question than a statement. A statement of decision. Of consideration that was very near certainty. There was no criticism in it - no change in his opinion. But if he was right, it would be a bit of curiosity settled.

This is not a conversation she's quite ready to have yet, but she doesn't want to lie to him either. She purses her lips and glances off to the side, considering her response.

"We just had a different way of doing things, I guess." It's deflection, plain and simple, and she hopes he can forgive her for it. She does quirk a smile at him, "but - I remind you of yourself?"

He saw the deflection for what it was, but he let it rest. The subject was obviously sensitive - and he had no want to pry beyond what was given. "You do," he said instead. "You are determined, protective. When you could have walked along the ground, you followed me into the trees as well. We both avoid deep waters, and from what I have seen, you have very little fear. Had I a daughter like you in Masyaf, I would have trained you along with my sons."

She smiles. She liked Altaïr. She liked the concept he put forth about family.

"Well ... is there any reason we can't do that here? What did you teach them?"

"Some things you already know," he began. "How to climb without fear, how to find balance, how to run on precarious perches. How to fight with whatever weapon they found. But I also taught them to be thoughtful, to try to be wise, to wait and understand all sides before acting, even when it feels pointless. To lead by example. To keep an open mind, to be kind, and to always advocate for freedom."

To wait and understand all sides before acting. Somewhere in the back of her mind, unvoiced, she recognizes that that bit might cause trouble for her. Everything else sounds like stuff she already does, or feels, or at the very least agrees with.

"Sounds like quite a challenge, but I'm up for it."

Three | My Confidence Shaken

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