001 | AUDIO

[diadermic]

[ A clatter of the communicator falling to the ground. A run-of-the-mill oblivious owner completely ignorant of it's existence, but the sound that is broadcast is clear enough. ]

-- Enough!

[ To anyone that might be hearing this, the impression they'd get is that Altaïr is speaking to nothing but air... and in this case, they'd be right

Comments

[exarticulated]

[ he would recognize that voice anywhere. ]

[diadermic]

[ ...and climbing... ]

[diadermic]

[ and climbing................ ]

okay done

[diadermic]

[ Silence. Somewhat impressive, wary, almost worrisome silence. ]

This city.

[exarticulated]

... your grace with words has never failed to impress me.

[ SIGH. well, it was to be expected. ]

Where are you? Despite my attempts to grow accustomed to these -- objects, I still feel ill at ease speaking into them like this.

[diadermic]

[ LONG SILENCE he is still gazing as though he can find Malik :| ]

-- A church. [ Pause. ] Give me information that surrounds your presence.

[exarticulated]

[ a church. he'll have to look for it. have the rustling noises because he's also headed out of the residencies towards where he remembers the field was. ]

I doubt it would help. Though I've only seen a small part of it, this city is large -- larger than Jerusalem, even. [ more rustling. he's managed to clamber on a low rooftop to make his way over more quickly. ] Don't stray far, what I've mapped does not extend much past the field, and it wouldn't help matters for you to wander about aimlessly.

[diadermic]

[ Fine Malik, he's just gonna sit here. ]

Make haste.

[exarticulated]

[ FINE. sliding the NV in his pocket so he can run better, but not before he mutters, ]

Of course, brother.

action

[diadermic]

[ Altaïr had always been talented with climbing structures. It was of no obstacle of his. Reaching high ledges, dangling from windows. But with the odd exterior and unfamiliarly that laid heavily in his chest, he found it hard to adapt.

Still, patience was a virtue, and as much as Altaïr was displeased by the sudden change of situations ( -- A sudden change of unlocking himself from one prison, and being thrown into the next.) and was restless. His movements of waiting for the other left his own frame stuff as a board.

Fear wouldn't be the right word, paranoia was too loose and vague -- being alert, perhaps, to a extreme notion was too close to the truth. ]

action

[exarticulated]

[ it would have been a lie if malik tried, in any way, to deny that he was glad to see altair. after the time he'd spent alone in this strange place, trying to force himself to adapt, the sight of a friendly face -- especially one he knew he could trust -- was like a drink of water to a man trapped in the desert.

and as he leapt across buildingtops, using his one arm to grasp at any far ledges and pull himself up, digging the toes of his leather shoes into any foothold he could find, he kept his eyes peeled any sign of white robes.

hauling himself up onto an old brick building, he squinted at the dab of white he spotted perched on a ledge just up ahead. his voice was calm, not too loud, just barely audible at that distance, as he called out, ] -- Altair?

action

[diadermic]

[ The voice that had called his name was one of relief. His limbs half-relaxed at he heard the other barely speaking up his name, and still, he was wary. How could he have not believed that Malik was a illusion, fabricated in the same manner as the city itself. A unhealthy notion if there was one, but one that lingered.

Making his way over to the edge of the roof of the church, Altaïr looked over the edge before dropping down, leaping over a small amount of numerous obstacle, fingers coiling and flex. (In a way, it was almost harmonious how the sound of the hidden blade withdrawing from it's sheath.) and he stood before the dai. ]

Safty and peace, brother. [ A typical greeting for those in the brotherhood. Words calm, but firm: ] -- did you tread carefully? [ The implications of his words asking if Malik was followed, of course. ]

action

[exarticulated]

[ jumping off the edge of the building he'd been standing on, malik made his way towards the rooftop just below the church ledge -- stepping back to give altair room to land. for a moment, he could only stare -- trying to make sure that this was not merely a hallucination born from anxiety.

then, he let out a low laugh, breath escaping in a sigh. ] Perhaps your presence will make such things possible. [ reaching inside the folds of his jacket, he pulled out the folded piece of paper he'd tucked into his belt. ] Worry not -- it seems the people of this city have better things to do than watch a cripple leap across rooftops.

[ he handed the piece of paper over. ] Keep this. It is unfinished, but I have started making a map of the city. It may help until you start growing used to this place.

action

[diadermic]

[ Outstretching his hand to retrieve the roll of paper, Altaïr nonchalantly placed in his belt. He knew it would be helpful, considering Malik spoke of the city being much larger than Jerusalem (It was a concept that was almost difficult to think of. He knew of lands across the seas, but one that had advanced was something entirely different. ]

I received word that our presence of being -- newcomers has a affect on others that are the same. [ A shared reputation. Altaïr firmly believed that men had the right to control their own free-will, to determined what label they were given.

He paused. ] The treasure Al Mualim had is with me as well. If the Templars are here, they'll be searching for it.

action

[exarticulated]

[ where to start explaining? the few days he'd been here had hardly been enough for malik to fully grasp the situation, and he could only nod at altair's question. ] It seems people are often -- conjured to this city. Those who are not brought to the city in the manner are wary of those who are. [ a sigh. ] I suppose it is to be expected. We must be akin to an army invading their country.

[ a pause, though, eyes widening, at the mention of the piece of eden. for a moment, he was at a loss for words. ] -- you have it with you? [ hand raised to his head, he rubbed at his temples, unsure of what to say. ]

-- it must be guarded. But -- it is a difficult task in a city as strange as this.

action

[diadermic]

[ The hours Altaïr had spent in this strange city had him come to the conclusion that this was nothing but a illusion. The core that was spoken of by his greeter was a aspect of this whole structure related to a illusion. It would be unsafe for him to withdraw the piece of eden right now, mainly when he had no control over the object, so he withdrew his hand from the pouch it laid heavy in. ]

It must be kept safe. [ A obvious statement of course, but one that was in dire need. The men that were under the command of Al Mualim had been a disastrous situation, if it had fell in the hands of someone here, then the outcome would be chaotic. ]

Have you secured a residence? [ He himself had acquired a location of his own -- 'apartment', but his liability of taking advantage of it was low when it came from a unreliable source. ]