sixthiterationlogs | Right now it's pretty crazy

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He knew he shouldn't allow himself to indulge in it, but there is nothing in Jacob that wants to pull away in that moment. Wrapping his arms around Altair's waist, to press in closely and rest his cheek against the other man's shoulder. Closing his eyes to fight back words, desires that he hadn't realized until now were perhaps unwanted.

Frowning though as he shifts, leaning back to meet that sharp, beautiful gaze with a furrow on his brow.

"I'm not certain I understand. I made choices, and I acted on desires, and you're being kind in letting me know your affections lay elsewhere, Altair. I'm not sure where this has been manipulation or selfish," he notes.

"I understand you all see me as rather young, but I know my own mind and my own desires. You didn't manipulate me. I acted without thinking. It's one of my best qualities," he says, making a joke to hide everything else he's feeling the best he can.

How natural was it for him to lift a hand to Jacob's cheek. Too natural, likely - but he did. And he said quietly, "It is nothing of your age, Jacob. I believe we both may have acted without thought. I have been conflicted of late, and I will admit that since the two of us met, I have had an attraction for you. You have been blessedly outside of this conflict that I've felt, though, and as such, being with you felt like a safe harbor, uninvolved in that uncertainty. But it is far from right for me to treat you in that way."

Altaïr looked into his eyes, then leaned in to press a kiss first to his forehead, and then lightly to the cheek his hand didn't hold. "You are a wonder, Jacob. You deserve someone who is yours without question and without conflict. What I have done is senseless and undoubtedly painful, and I apologise for that. Perhaps beneath it all, what I am is greedy for all of the attention I've been offered."

Through Altair's words, Jacob is quiet, which in and of itself may well be a feat. He listens, truly listening and not formulating a plan, plotting his next move, his mind racing to argue, to make his own case against the words that, in the end, left no opening for argument. No matter what Jacob might say, all the things he wanted to say, Altair had made his choice it would seem. Even before Jacob truly knew there was a choice being made.

Straightening, forcing himself to step back so that his hands slid along Altair's waist before falling away back to his side. Chin lifting to meet that hauntingly beautiful gaze. "Very few men ever truly get what they deserve," he says, not speaking further of his thoughts that he might well be such a man. No matter how he might be feeling, he had no desire to put that onto Altair. It would serve nothing but to hurt a man that Jacob could easily have fallen for, working already to convince himself it was something that could have happened, not something that has.

"I should perhaps take my leave." He pauses, swallowing as his gaze drops a moment before looking up once more. "So that I don't risk making a fool of myself."

Before he's had time to think. Before he tried using kisses and soft words to plead his case. A must convince himself he lost before he tried, though perhaps he had tried at the party and given up his chance in not pushing his chance. Whatever the case, he suspects he will embarrass himself if he stayed there too long.

He wanted to stop him. To reach out, to take hold, to do anything to keep Jacob from being hurt, but he knew already that it was his fault. He had done this, given Jacob this pain from his own selfishness, and to do anything but let him go, he felt, would do nothing but make it worse in the end.

Altaïr's hands clenched. He swallowed, but then he nodded. "I understand. And I am deeply sorry. If there is anything I can do..."

But what right did he have to even offer? He sighed, head bowed. Ninety-two, and still so much to learn.

Jacob shakes his head, tiny, minute movements of his head as he turns.

"You needn't worry, Altair. Everything's fine," he says, drawing a slow deep breath, chin lifting. "You... You really should take some time and talk with Malik," he says, proud of himself that his voice holds at an even tone.

"I'll see you," he says, managing not to flee the room, and hating that there's no where to go, no way to work out the tightness in his chest. Nothing to do but head out the door and just keep walking. For now.

Right now it's pretty crazy

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