Cold Arrival

[loyalrebel]

WHO: Malik Al-Sayf
WHERE: Fountain Square, Inn, around the village
WHEN: 12/29
OPEN TO: Fountain: Altaïr, Elsewhere: OTA
WARNINGS: mention of past character death, tbd

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Fountain: Altaïr

As far as rude revivals went, regaining consciousness underwater was pretty high up there. That it was also freezing didn't help anything in the slightest. Malik isn't entirely sure how he makes it to the surface or the edge of the fountain where he clings and tries to catch his breath.

He knows he needs to get out of the water and in to somewhere at least sheltered if not warm. That or dip back under and call his merfolk form around him. There's something off though, besides the seeming lack of other Travelers in the water with him. He tries to reach for his magic, and that's when he figures out what's out of place.

He can't access any of his bag of tricks. No magic, no portals to Liminal, no shapeshifting either.

He swears under his breath, clinging tightly to the edge of the fountain.

“Hello?” He calls out, hoping there's someone within earshot even as he struggles up out of the water as best he can with one arm while shivering.

Inn: OTA

Malik had genuinely forgotten exactly how much the cold bothered him, being able to magically ignore it had spoiled him against the unique aches it brought to his left shoulder. Which, much to his dismay, has reproduced in his knees.

He's managed to settle himself at a table close to the fireplace, which he eyes on occasion like he's contemplating actually pressing himself against the bricks or just crawling inside of. Mostly though, he eats and attempts to eavesdrop on anyone coming in.

There's something he notices though, as he eats and its enough to actually give him pause to stare at the dish before him.

“That is new.” He admits aloud, frowning.

Wildcard

He hasn't been here long, but there are some rather important things that Malik needs to test out before all hell breaks loose as it usually does. So he finds a nostly out of the place to try things out.

While most of it seems to involve standing there looking increasingly annoyed, he does eventually take to throwing stones he dug out of the snow at a cleared bit of ground with remarkable precision while looking murderous.

Comments

[loyalrebel]

Malik fixed Altair with a flat look when he mentioned attempting to farm, pausing before he begins eating to slowly raise an eyebrow.

"Altair, you are my closest friend and one of the more clever men I have met in my life." He said with calm deliberstenes, "But the only thing you have talent at doing in a farmfield is riding through them on horseback while chased by guards. You will need more than luck for your career as a farmer."

[eaglesonofnone]

"I know." And he very nearly laughed, looking at Malik with eyes almost purely helpless. "I am doing many things here that I know little of. It is like looking into the Apple. I see what can be done and what needs to be done to make it possible, but I haven't the skill. But I need to learn. This is not Masyaf - I cannot simply send down word and expect it all to be done. I must have my hands in it here.

"So far, I have established a watch to be aware of external threats. I have been urging people toward things that suit their talents. We had an illness sweep through, and I did what I could for the ill. Most here simply wish to leave. I..."

He had just been speaking to Takashi days before, and he had decided if a risk was to be taken, someone like him should be the one to take it. Now, at least for a while, he had Malik to take care of. He couldn't take that sort of risk until his oldest, dearest friend had something more steady under his feet.

"I do not mind it so badly, being here."

[loyalrebel]

Malik began eating carefully, nodding along where appropriate in Altair's telling of events. His expression softened at the admittance at the end, it was something he understood.

"It is not wrong of you to disagree with others about minding staying here." He said, "You gave the Brotherhood a longer lifetime than most, having the chance to step back and do things because you wish to do them here is not one I would hold against you for taking. Not when I sought out a solution to something similar."

He gives a half smile, because he knows exactly how foolish what he did was.

"Mind you, it involved begging one of the greek pantheon for immortality so yours is far less foolish an idea."

[eaglesonofnone]

"Immortality," he echoed, finding that the thought put an odd twist to his stomach and a moment of pain in his heart. But then he gave Malik a smile instead. "You must have found something wonderful to live for."

And each word was sincere. It was only that now he knew - was absolutely certain - that the man before him was not the one he had known. The events didn't match. Nothing Juno had showed him of the future had had Malik in it. Yet, it didn't matter: he was happy that Malik had found a reason to want to live forever. He was happy to see him, even if it was for only a matter of weeks. He was happy to have the chance to hear his voice. None of that had changed.

"I am glad for you, Akhi."

[loyalrebel]

"I found people worth waiting eight hundred years to see again." Malik admitted, "Though I have no guarantee it will work, it does not prevent me from being killed."

His recent death proved that rather pointedly, and he's very aware that there are some things that just can't be healed from.

"That and I have a great urge to yell at our distant successors over some of their decisions, and I cannot do that very effectively as a ghost."

[eaglesonofnone]

Altaïr watched him - and he found himself smiling almost despite himself. "Everything you say makes me wish to keep you in my sight for as long as I can. I truly have missed you."

He wanted to say that he should never have gone to Mongolia. If he hadn't, it would have changed everything. But if he hadn't, if he had sent Darim, would it have gone as well as it did? There were too many questions down that path.

[loyalrebel]

Malik ended up smiling back. "Do not worry, you will remember how irritating I can manage to be soon enough. I am certain we will fall in to a debate about something soon enough."

It was a familiar dance of words and ideas that was easy as a haystack to fall in to.

[eaglesonofnone]

There was one, and only one, answer to that: "Do you promise?"

He would have Malik no other way than as himself. Even to the arguments, the debates, the yelling and the disagreements - because it was always followed by discussion, compromise, and a way forward. If he trusted anyone to keep him properly humble, it was Malik.

[loyalrebel]

"They will be telling stories of a ghost that haunts the halls of Masyaf that whispers Novice when anyone trips over nothing, that is how long I will irritate you and your bloodline." Malik replied solemly, reaching to heavily place his hands on Altair's shoulder.

"They will hear me on the wind all the way in Constantinople. Just because I have walked far in my journey does not mean that I am a completely different man."

[eaglesonofnone]

His shoulders shook in a suppressed laugh, and if his eyes grew slightly wet, well, the light was dim. It was easy to ignore. What he did do was gather Malik into a tight but quick hug. "When you've finished eating, I'll show you the room I've been sleeping in, and the other - and you can choose which you want. I've aired both."

[loyalrebel]

There was a little squeak of breath at the sudden hug, even as Malik automatically returned it as best he could. "If you do not mind sharing, I... tend to sleep better with someone familiar beside me."

[eaglesonofnone]

"I do not mind in the least," he answered, voice thick with emotion - but when he drew back, his smile was there, a hand at Malik's cheek. With so many years having passed, he'd almost forgotten this face. He remembered features, but it was as if his mind had neglected to remember exactly how they came together. "I also have some spare clothing if you wish - my own outfits like you wear, though in a horrible shade of red, a dishdasha and pants. And there are some spare pieces of clothing in the Inn as well. You won't have to wear those thin things forever."

But then, he raised his left wrist to show the device beneath his hidden blade. "This, however, does not move. I am terrible at using it as yet, and tend to avoid it more than anything else."

[loyalrebel]

"I may be able to figure out the device, I have a little experience with future technology and some of it tends to be fairly intuitive." Malik nodded before shifting to loop his arm over Altair's shoulders, pressing his forehead against the other man's.

"Safety and peace, Altair. We will find both between us, no matter how strange a land we walk. We have been through too many victories and defeats to let something like a few decades between what we remember from home come between us."

It's something he needs to hear too, and saying such things aloud tends to be far more helpful than keeping them silent.

[eaglesonofnone]

"Safety and peace, Malik," he murmured, forehead and nose aligned, eyes closed - he could feel Malik's eyelashes against his and it brought such comfort, such a small feeling. And with a watery smile on his lips, he whispered, "Your presence here will deliver us both."

And if there is a tear that hangs in their eyelashes before sliding down Altaïr's cheek, well.

It had been thirty six years.

He could be forgiven something so small as emotion.

[loyalrebel]

Malik just tightens his arm around Altair's shoulders, breathing out a ghost of a laugh at having his own words returned after nearly a decade.

"What a sight we make." He says, "Though a better one after a rest I think."

[eaglesonofnone]

He smiled - a small smile, but honest. "Then let us rest. There is a bathing room here that runs with hot water on request. If you're still chilled, it could help."