Right now it's pretty crazy

[relentlessness]

WHO: Jacob Frye
WHERE: South village, Inn, Altair's house, Rundown village
WHEN: The first part of January before One Man Show
OPEN TO: Open to All, locked post for Altair. Rundown village trip is open for anyone that might tag along, multiple threads welcome
WARNINGS: Rated PG for Jacob being a reckless idiot?

---

Desperately keeping busy - South Village

The events of New Year's Eve helped Jacob to try and ignore the changes that have left him unsettled in this place. Sadly that event was only one night, and now he's back to dealing with everything going on in his own head.

Or doing everything he can to ignore it all.

It's why he spends a lot of time in the Inn. Not only are there others around, but there's maps and notes about the surrounding area, what is out there to be wary of, and where he might continue to look for any signs of Evie, Connor, or the others that have disappeared. Certainly there's the stories of them being returned home, but he needs to know, not just rely on stories.

He spends a lot of the day in or around the Inn, though much of that is perched atop one roof or another. Not merely the nature of the assassin, but because the house is much emptier than he is used to, and spending his time watching over the village - or falling asleep late into the night after doing so without going inside - is less wearing on his nerves. It takes a bit, mapping things for himself and planning out what he might do without wandering too far in case the weather changes, but eventually he has a plan and a course of action.

Planning - Locked to Altair

Since even before Evie vanished, since Jacob had found Altair hurting from the images he had seen, Jacob has made a point of stopping by Altair's home from time to time. Now, having come to a conclusion of at least one more place to check, both for those missing as well as supplies that might help them in the village.

So used to having Evie there to talk out plans with, it actually does occur to him that maybe heading out for a few days might not be the best of ideas. Not without telling someone where he's going. So he heads over to Altair's, looking a bit worse for wear if the dark circles under his eyes are any indication.

Adventure awaits - Hike to the Rundown village, scouting there

Packing the sack his clothes were in when he arrived, Jacob sets out to the rundown village he saw on the map at the inn. Evie had mentioned other areas there might have been people when he first arrived, and he can't help but want to see them himself. Just to be certain his sister hadn't wandered there alone.

He might be used to cities, but he spends his days racing along rooftops and has a stamina to show for it. Taking his time to make the hike, planning to make it there with only a short rest overnight, and then see what he might find there and judge his return on that. No more than a handful of days, at most.

Comments

For Phryne Fisher

[relentlessness]

Just after breakfast one day, Jacob slips up to Phryne's house with a package under his arm.

He has spent a lot of time working on making the matching set, and is not sure about how they turned out without knowing that they will be perfect and beautiful in the box.

[fishingfortrouble]

For all that Phryne is aware that the gift exchange is going on - and has, in fact, been spending a fair amount of time working on the gift she's been asked to make - she isn't exactly expecting much to come of it. Nor, for that matter, is she expecting to find someone arriving at her door. She's certainly not unused to visitors, mind, but even so there's been a good deal less of those here than there might have been back at home.

That said, that's hardly any reason to not answer the door, and she does so with only the slightest of pauses between when Jacob finishes knocking and when she opens the door; long enough for her to have gotten to the door and no more.

"May I help you?"

The comment is offered with perfect politeness, and a gentle smile besides. She's certainly seen Jacob around the village before, but given that they've never directly spoken before she can't deny that finding him on her doorstep is a bit of a surprise.

[relentlessness]

Having seen the name Phryne with the items, Jacob realizes how many people he doesn't know in this place. Perhaps he should try harder, though he has seen many of them even if he never knew their names.

In this case, he clears his throat at the beautiful woman before him, straightening as he reaches up to push his head back off his head.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I was given your name and a project of sorts to work through. It took me a bit, but I recently finished things and, as directed, I wanted to deliver them to you," he says, accent heavy and his demeanor friendly as he brought the box forward to show her the swirling wrap he's tied about the box with twine that was in the package.

[fishingfortrouble]

Given the size of the village it certainly wouldn't be impossible to know everyone. Although given that Phryne herself hasn't put in the effort to even so much as put names to all the faces, she certainly can't blame Jacob for not doing the same. Especially when the weather is distinctly inclement. Admittedly, that might very well be her own preference for warmer temperatures speaking but even so the fact remains that Jacob is, at the least, not alone in not having put in quite all the effort in being familiar with the rest of the people in the village.

"It's no bother at all. You certainly wouldn't have been the only one to receive a project of that sort, or so I've been lead to believe."

She has, of course, been busy with a project of her own, but given that Jacob isn't the intended recipient of same, she figures it's probably not terribly polite to let on to that fact too much.

"And I do appreciate the more personal touch to its delivery."

There's an appreciative smile to go with the comment, and while it's just shy of being actual flirtatious neither would it take too much for it to shift that way either, and she takes the package without the slightest complaint.

[relentlessness]

"I suppose they feel a need to try and get us to become friends, or at least know who we may need to be there for in the future."

At the very least that makes sense to him. People who are behind this trying to ensure they're there for one another if things go bad. When they go bad. It feels inevitable, though it also seems to be a desire to keep them connected despite all they're going through.

"I admit, it's in part because I realize I think I've taken up residence on your roof from time to time, and want to apologize if it's been a trouble for you. I'm not sure how well built these houses are."

[fishingfortrouble]

"It's certainly not impossible."

Admittedly, she pretty sure that most of the village is good enough at making friends without any outside assistance. But given that she doesn't have the first idea about what their captors should be inclined to think - and isn't entirely certain she believes they're simply getting into the holiday spirit - it's as good an assumption as any, she figures. Especially when it's hardly as if they're going to get any direct answers as to why they been set this particular challenge.

"And given that I haven't so much as noticed, it's not been any trouble in the slightest. I trust the view is acceptable from up there? I haven't had the time to see for myself, yet."

[relentlessness]

Jacob chuckles, glancing upward and thinking about the times he's skimmed over this roof for another. It's not enough space, certainly not high enough, but it's been beautiful to have somewhere to run and feel free.

"I'm glad then I haven't been trouble to you. A horrible introduction if I had," he admits. "And the view is nice. Better from the trees in the forest around, but nothing clear enough to see far enough to have a clue where this place is."

[fishingfortrouble]

While Phryne certainly doesn't have the same perspective on climbing buildings as Jacob does (and perhaps for good reason, given their respective professions) she can definitely appreciate a desire to feel free. To have the space to do whatever one should happen to do, regardless of the reason behind that desire. Assuming that same desire isn't something that's directly harmful to other people, anyway. But given that doesn't seem to be much the case for anyone she's met in the village so far, she doesn't spend a great deal of time worrying about that particular possibility.

"As best I can recall, the going theory is that this isn't somewhere that we would be able to recognize. But I'll admit that I haven't spent very much time checking it out myself."

When the weather is more suited to her preferences, perhaps. Or if something should come up whereby she needs to know, to however much of a degree of certainty she can manage. But as that has yet to be the case, it mostly stands as something for her to consider for later.

[relentlessness]

The freedom is a huge part of it. For a man currently living out of a train before this place, and spending more time looking down on humanity than around himself at it, this place is claustrophobia inducing, to say the least.

He nods though at that commentary. "There's enough here to suppose that theory," he admits. "At least as London appears, it's nothing like that. Nor any of the lands Northwest. Not that the skies vary much from one to the other," he admits. "But it has to have something beyond what is mapped in the records, and a reason no one has mapped them."

[eaglesonofnone]

There are a few things that can be said about Altaïr's house. He keeps it warm, he keeps it clean. And there's always the smell of some sort of soup from his kitchen. Meat and whatever vegetables he can find. Sometimes beans, sometimes more. Just now, it's a bean soup with pork and a hint of mint.

And when he sees a familiar shape approaching his door, he meets Jacob there with a bowl on a plate, immediately placing it into his hand. "Come, Akhi. Try this for me. I still have some difficulty with the ingredients in this place."

It's an excuse - in part. He does still miss the usual vegetables and meats he'd always known, but more than that, there's a certain slant of Jacob's shoulders that has him concerned, and there's yet to be an ailment he's seen that can't be partially treated with good food.

[relentlessness]

Food has truly become something that Jacob does because he must. He can't just let himself give up looking, trying to find answers, and seeing if they can keep others from vanishing. Therefor he needs food to keep himself going, but it has dropped down from consideration to being nothing more than that.

So when he arrives at Altair's, his cotton hood pulled up over his head, he stands there stunned for a long time, just staring at him. Even as he just automatically takes the dish, holding it in his hands.

"Uhmmmm... okay." He speaks slowly, slightly confused as he hesitates a moment before moving inside. He lifts the bowl, sniffing at it. "That smells good."

More than good, a truth betrayed by his stomach growling loudly. He winces. "Sorry. I think I forgot about breakfast. How are you, Altair?" Because that is obviously the more important thing to focus on.

[eaglesonofnone]

"I... have been better," he admitted. He had been not only better but less conflicted, less unsure... All had been better before the message on the strange little wrist device, and before he found himself... caught.

With an exhale, Altaïr motioned for Jacob to follow him to the kitchen. "Easier to sit while you eat. And talk. There is also more soup there, so you can have as much as you wish."

Even within his house, he still wore his hood, keeping it in place, keeping his hair covered except for the odd glimpse within the hood's shadow.

[relentlessness]

Jacob wonders still why he seems to have been left out of those messages that are upsetting so many, but deep down he is nearly glad for it. Except for the concern of what being overlooked means.

He follows with an easy gait, looking around curiously and not tipping the dish an inch so that it all remains within the vessel.

"Thank you. I appreciate it. Not had much of an appetite for a bit," he says, dismissing it, acting as if it's not much of an issue. It's easier to pretend that there is no troubles, no loneliness, nothing but carrying on as normal.

"Has there been more? Since... the message?" Not mentioning how bad it hurt Altair, not wanting to seem to be slighting him for his reaction.

[eaglesonofnone]

He led Jacob back to the kitchen, a place that was easily the heart of this small house. There wasn't much here that was personal. Just the same things that could be found in any other house in the village, except for the scent of the soup. The village wasn't much of a place for personal belongings, after all - and having been at home, he wasn't even wearing his mentor robes. Just the simple Masyaf pants and tabard, his cowl over his head. Some things never changed.

"No more, thankfully," he said as he gave the soup another stir, the stove's fire banked to keep the pot at a tolerable simmer instead of a rolling boil. "But Malik's arrival has... complicated things. The day I saw on that message. It was also the day of his death, which I dare not tell him."

And that was when his head bowed, eyes closed as the weight settled onto him. "He is not the Malik I knew. He has more scars, more silver hair. I do not care for him any less, however - which... is a part of the problem."

[relentlessness]

It's much more intimate than the house where Jacob is. There hadn't been time to work on it as siblings, and since Evie has disappeared, Jacob has spent all of his time searching for signs of her and Connor rather than settling in.

Now it makes him think about the truth that many are making this place into a home, and all he might have felt for this place had grown cold as the trail to find Evie had.

Listening, the turn of the conversation taking his attention as he toys with his soup with his spoon, but find himself more playing than eating. His own thoughts getting a bit away from him, shaking his head as he reaches up, pushing the back of hood until it pools against his shoulders.

"Unless you're talking a cultural issue," Jacob begins, considering his words more than he often does, trying to keep his tones even and watching his words more than he might often do. More than most have ever known of him. "I'm not sure I understand why that is a problem. Even if he's not entirely who you've known, or that he's gone when you return... You're here now."

For now. For as long as it lasts. Bitter thoughts tainting the others confusing thoughts he's been having and at least clear his head of those things.

[eaglesonofnone]

He took a breath before saying, "Far from cultural." But then he was motioning to the soup. "Eat. There is a darkness below your eyes that tells a greater story than your words." He came to stand at Jacob's side, watching his expression with care - and settling a hand on Jacob's shoulder. He was intimately familiar with loss and he could see it in every line of Jacob's face, the sight making his troubles pale in comparison.

And then the thought came.

"Jacob," he began, voice quiet and low. "When I first was reminded of Maria's death, you were there. You took hold of me. You held me and reminded me that I was not alone. In truth, that is something I have felt keenly since I arrived." Altaïr squeezed Jacob's shoulder where his hand rested, kneading and letting his thumb rub over the crest. "I was fifty-six years old when so many were taken from me. I lived with barely the presence of my elder son afterward. But after coming here, I found people I could care for. You are one of their number. The things that trouble you - they trouble me as well. But I want to make a promise to you, here and now."

Despite having told Jacob to eat just moments before, he gently lifted the bowl from Jacob's hands, placing it over on the table so he could move in front of him and take hold of both his shoulders. "So long as both of us are here, neither of us is alone. We are both the same in many ways, tending to drift without someone there to anchor us. I have been blessed to regain Malik, but I do not know for how long. For me, though, this place is all I have. So while the both of us are here, Jacob, we will anchor one another." But then, there was the faintest hint of a smile that wasn't a smile at all. "Or perhaps, together, we will drift away. No matter which - we will not be alone."

[relentlessness]

Even at the instruction, he only toys with the soup, his stomach not well set and it's not getting any better. Still more than a bit at a loss beyond his concern for Evie's absence.

"And I will be here for you, Altair. I gave you my word then, and that won't change. Even with my mood, I swear that won't change." Worrying he thought that his own emotions might change the word he had given to Altair when that video memory had been sent to him.

His head tilts back, gaze meeting Altair's as his hands lightly touch his arms for a moment though he lets them fall away, dropping back to his side. Troubled that he's let himself appear so weak, in a way that is not in keeping with the image he should be presenting, or the offer he made to be their for Altair.

"You're kind, and I appreciate that. I'm here for you, Altair. I swear that and my word on that will never change," he says, offering what is the best smile he might muster for both his own moods and what Altair is saying now. "And I know I have you to turn to, but I hate the idea of being a bother to you. Of all people. Especially if you're looking to kindle something between yourself and Malik. So don't spend time worrying for me."

He's not used to dissembling about his emotions, about how he's feeling because Evie always knew. It's why he's positively horrible at it, but that doesn't change his desire to not be a burden on Altair.

"I..." He pauses, feeling his throat tighten then. Swallowing hard, smiling winsomely, not quite a real smile but offering the best he has in that moment. "I don't want to be a trouble to you, Altair. I can accept, and even admit, that I'm not exactly the most appropriate of assassins but for you I will do my best not to be the bother I can be. Not only because of who you are, but because you are my friend, and I mean it when I vow to be here for you, through and for anything."

Adventure

[loyalrebel]

Malik makes for a quiet, if capable traveling companion. He can keep up with Jacob just fine on the days hiking and doesn't get fussed about the short camping rest. He does, however, noticeably relax the farther from the villages they get.

There's a mission on hand, even if it isn't a particularly exciting or inherently lethal one. Scouting is still good, and it helps settle Malik in to something closer to peace to have that sort of routine back if only for a moment.

"I believe I see the ruins ahead." He says, before looking to the sun to judge how much time they have left. "We should find a camp before taking an initial survey of the site."

[relentlessness]

The trip is in part to distract himself, but there's this part of him that holds a mixture of hope and fear that they might find signs of Evie, or perhaps Connor. While he knows others have disappeared as well, others having sent those interesting messages to the device on his wrist, it is those two he's spent his time seeking out.

Certainly any sign or clue would be helpful, but that so many assassins have been brought here, and now are disappearing one by one, has left a taste like bile in the back of his throat and the creeping shade of paranoia casting a shadow over all he does.

It makes him focused though, something that Jacob doesn't always find comes easily to him. So he takes the walk easily, helping with the set up of the short term camp, and then keeping a fire stoked for more of the night than is likely healthy for him given the lack of care he's taken in his own needs as of late.

That he is a bit quieter than is typical of him, not quite as loud and jovial as if normal for him then he is a bit thankful that is unknown. Though a bit vexed as well. The Catch 22 that if Evie were there, she would notice... but he wouldn't be that way if she was there, would he?

Raising his head, just barely pushing back the jacket hood he has covering his head. "There is talk in the records at the inn that large predators live out this way, perhaps in the ruins. We might want to find a space a bit away, just so that we can see if they catch scent of us and approach we'll have a good sight on things."

[loyalrebel]

Malik hummed in acknowledgement, there are a few considerations to weigh after all. A cold camp would be easier to stay hidden from predators with, but uncomfortable for any longer than a night and the matter of shelter itself was another question.

"Depends." He said after a while, "How long are we intending to stay? A couple nights in trees is one thing, but longer than that and we may be better off temporarily securing one of the buildings. Neither are especially ideal."

[relentlessness]

Growing up in a small village means that Jacob is not used to having a constant city skyline and all that it provides, but it also means that while he is capable of roughing it, as modern parlance speaks of, it isn't the first thing he thinks of. Especially now, in this place, when so much of his focus is on trying to convince himself that his sister is merely home and not dead.

"I hadn't thought to stay for more than a night or two. Enough to explore the place, and to see if there's any signs that those who are missing might have come down here."

In his mind it's not inconceivable that either Evie or Connor might have come down this way to see what they could find.

"If nothing else, find things that might help us in surviving this place."

[loyalrebel]

Malik nods, "Your sister, and our other Brother."

He may not have as much of a personal hope or investment in finding them, but a fellow Assassin is a fellow Assassin and Malik is loathe to ever abandon one to oblivion if it can be helped.

"I personally vote trying one of the buildings then, if only to save our backs if the floors are stable enough." He says, lifting a shoulder in a shrug. "There is easily enough firewood to keep the forge going, if nothing else."

It's an attempt at something at least a little light hearted, it's not that dire of a situation compared to others Malik knows he himself and he assume's Jacob have been in.

"Do you want to take the low paths or the high?"

[relentlessness]

"Exactly," he says with a nod, because while he speaks mostly of Evie, it's beyond just losing his sister. There's so much more to the nervousness that rides along his spine, and the growing paranoia that is starting to bother him in ways he has yet to vocalize to another. Not directly.

He snorts at that, nodding. "We find and take down one of these large cats, I'm keeping the pelt," he says, definitely taunting, playing with words to try and hold back the rest. Except, out here and away from the rest, he can't hold them.

"Everyone speaks of them having been sent home," he says, not looking at Malik, folding his arms over his chest and staring at the ruins. "It's just accepted, but me? I don't believe it." His throat tightens, the words a bit rougher as he finally says this in so many words. "They somehow brought together so many of us across time and space, those that should all be dead to one another, and never have a time to come together like this. Now, two of them vanish and everyone thinks they've just been sent home to go about their lives."

He still doesn't look at Malik, swallowing hard against the knot in this throat. "I've stopped looking for my sister and Connor. I'm looking for their bodies so they might have a proper burial," he admits, arms tightening over his chest, shoulders hunching slightly. His eyes sting, a bit brighter but not letting tears fall thinking of finding Evie's body.

[loyalrebel]

Malik sighs, reaching to put his hand gently on Jacob's shoulder.

"It is about hope." He says gently, "Hope that they will go home themselves, hope that those they care about are safe after dealing with whatever seeming madness this place has inflicted on them. I am not saying you should put blind faith in to it, but...allow them their hope even if yours is not the same."

Giving in and giving up to despair isn't something Malik plans on letting Jacob or any of the others fall in to.

"I know some rites of farewell for those missing or otherwise departes, if you would like them preformed later."

[relentlessness]

He glances at Malik, hesitant a moment but not pulling away. After a moment he makes a bit of a face, shaking his head.

"I don't plan to say a word to anyone, truth be told. I'm only telling you since you came along and you deserve to know," he admits. "The rest though are welcome to live with what they need, and face it any way they want. I just..."

He shakes his head, knowing he won't stop anyone else, and maybe eventually come to accept it himself, but there's a bitterness at walking without Evie and it hangs over him for days now.

"You're kind, Malik. Thank you. You and Altair both. At least there's that given to us in this place."