Emmett Frye (fryebaby) wrote in angellogs, @ 2018-01-26 00:31:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, balthier, calum vael, courfeyrac, emmett frye, iomhar vael, isannah mied bunansa, shaun hastings |
Who: Isannah, Iomhar, Calum, Balthier, Noah, Shaun, Courfeyrac, Emmett, Basch
When: Current
Where: Craigcrook Castle, Edinburgh
What: Courfeyrac and Emmett are getting a 'how to survive the modern world' lesson from Shaun. Noah and the others move over to the practice yard to give them some space to talk. Afterwards, Shaun admits that it's not been easy lately, and he settles in with Noah and Emmett for some peace and tea.
Rating/Warnings:
Status: Complete
Noah's ginger cakes worked, and the general consensus is that they'll work as a wheat free option for people asking for that sort of traditional Polish holiday cake. He also thinks they're pretty tasty on their own. Still, he's home, smelling rather much of fruit and spices, and a bit floury.
"We can go shower, but I don't want to be underfoot while Shaun's explaining the internet," Noah stretches his back. "Anyone want to go down to the practice yard? It's not raining, and I kind of want to stretch out a bit under the sun before I shower."
Balthier drains his mug. "I'm interested? My back's doing pretty good and I've been experimenting with getting my magic to behave again. I need to check with Strange that it's not too bad, but he sounded like he wanted me to be sure my magic was flowing normally, versus having the equivalent of stage fright."
“I’m game.” Iomhar offers, stretching a little. “See if I can talk Cal into joining us too, maybe?” Aedan got back a few days ago and Cal’s been...not exactly hovering, but it’s gotten to where HE would be annoyed with things, anyway. “And that’s good about the flowing thing. We had a mage in the...with my friends, who’d run into problems when she cast things before she should have. Mostly, it exhausted her and didn’t do much ELSE.”
“Isannah?” Basch suggests, and he’s not smirking at Iomhar or anything by doing that. “She was talking about having promised to do a demonstration for some of the security.”
"No magic then around them. Poor guys I think got spooked when Noah had a talk with them about troubling Shaun when Shaun was visiting." Balthier's leaning to kiss Basch's cheek. "I'm stealing your room a bit to get some practice clothes and some towels." He hesitates. "Perhaps someone could message Aedan and let him know we're aiming to steal Cal?"
"Couldn't hurt to mention that there's some potential things he might like in the kitchen here, and Master Courfeyrac is leaving with Balthier tonight. Though I don't know how to phrase it." Noah sighs. "Right. Chalk it up to work. Though it wasn't a super long shift." He's already changing his shirt for a practice one in the laundry room and snagging some towels for himself. "Isannah? Want to get the security to stop giggling about toad stickers?"
“Shaun DID sort of ask for it, if you ask me.” Iomhar rolls his eyes a bit. “But...then again. They’re good at what they do? ...I might have hired too many in one of my slightly obsessive periods. But that’s good on the Courfeyrac front. Quieter and less chaotic. He seems...sensitive so that’s a better fit.” And he’s not going to say that whatever was going on with Damien was vaguely creepy, he really has no room to talk on that front, but it definitely un-complicates things if no one hears about whatever that was.
Basch smiles a little, nuzzling Balthier for a moment, not really caring that people are around, at the moment. No one HERE does, after all.
Isannah’s just headed through on that note, and snorts, fairly violently, at that. “We’re going out? I’d be interested, definitely. They really DID get a bit...dramatic, didn’t they?”
"I can't promise he'll be happy, but -" Balthier shakes his head. "Until he's of age, or we find some friends and safety for him, someone needs to help." He's re-emerged, wearing his usual practice clothing. Admittedly, the older shirt has also become a sleep shirt on occasion. He does smile at Basch though. "Coming along? Or are you staying here?"
“Well, look at it like this.” Basch says. “Does he need to be happy right now, or safe? And I’m sure a part of this probably is adjusting to the weirdness. I withdrew, Iomhar….well...It’ll work out. And, if not, we throw him at Isannah.” No, actually, it’s an interesting enough idea. He might respond better there too. “I might as well.” he nods. “I could use the chance to stretch a little.”
"Ideally both happy and safe, but well - everyone's a bit off balance when they show up." Balthier shakes his head. "It's a major change for him. But - we'll try for safe. I think Bahorel might know his family, from the ages involved, so we can check in with him. I'll be seeing Enjolras soon, and I can write to him."
“The rest can come after, right?” Isannah’s moving around to grab a couple bottles of water. “So how many people are we talking? Should I just grab the rest of these in case? And that might help. At least a bit. I mean, it’d be SOMETHING like home, right? Until then, we’ll manage. “
It didn’t take much to get things ready for Shaun to head over, and, shockingly, to extract Emmett to join him. Technology seems to be creating about five massive failures for the poor kid on a good day, and he’s avoiding Jacob because...who even knows, it’s not like anyone can get more than about two words out of him half the time. Anyway, it’s worth dragging him over for a version of the presentation, and, well, Victorians, right? Okay, so Courfeyrac’s not QUITE there yet. Queen Victoria would be a child in his timeline, but...the influence MIGHT sort of be there?
Anyway, he’s heading through to meet everyone, laptop in hand, giving the others a wave as he heads through. “I’ll just get things set up, shall I? This is Emmett, he’s new, too, and we’re all insane so he needs to know normal people exist.” Shaun pauses. “Somewhere in the universe.”
“We ARE in Scotland, though.” Emmett points out, his tones wry. “I’ve met Balthier on the internet, thank you for that, by the way. “
Balthier waves slightly. "We're heading down to the practice yard, to give you all some space. There's some food and a fresh pot of tea in the kitchen." He's - kind of glad he's got an excuse to escape as well. Emmett seemed very interested in why Balthier wasn't staying with the assassins, and that's not really a topic that Balthier wants to talk about.
Interested, but it’s not the sort of thing worth pushing someone over. Emmett gives him a little nod, but he isn’t going to pester him either. It’s probably like asking someone...well, it seems like it’d be the same as asking Jacob a LOT of things about the last several months, so he’s putting that aside for now.
“Thank you.” Shaun nods. “That’ll...I hope this helps. But I had actual input.” He’d asked everyone what had confused THEM the most, to start off, along with the basics for how not to get arrested or injured or anything else. It seems like that’s the best way to start.
And, okay, there’s a part of him that LOVES the fact he gets to be a history teacher right now.
Noah smiles at Shaun. "Thank you for this. You were so helpful when we got here, that I hoped you could have good luck with Master Courfeyrac."
It's a pretty decent practice session. Noah got to show Calum some of the three person moves with the two sword style, and Balthier was feeling good enough to demonstrate the difference between two great swords and Balthier's preferred lighter blades.
"You're lighter on the feet. Part of that is less range," Balthier demonstrates as he's talking. "But you're also using lighter blades. You tend to crouch lower, to get around a shield - So usually this'd be taught to a shorter Judge."
And the explanation of the modern world is...interesting. Shaun’s a bit relieved that, okay, this seems to make sense. He’d spent the most time explaining age restricted activities, because that had generated most of the questions, Courfeyrac’s sort of worked out some of that in his head, and looks a little awkward, which Shaun sort of is curious about, but...not his business, really, he’s apparently agreed to pick up nicotine patches so Emmett can stop smoking, since hearing how awful it is, and...oddly, it was kind of comfortable. He didn’t realize he’d missed this.
After, the little group of them is heading back outside, and Courfeyrac’s attention’s caught by the blades there. He walks a little faster than the rest of them, though he’s definitely keeping a safer distance in case anything might go wrong. It’s sort of an instinct, though he’d still been unable to keep from bolting close when people fenced when he was younger. Watching works for now, from here, just fine.
Calum’s nodding, watching Balthier a bit. “Your footwork IS impressive, I’ve got to say. Probably the lighter blades add to that factor. Less drag, right?” He’s intrigued, even if he doesn't think he’ll be picking up a sword for more than anything occasional like this for quite a while.
"The other theory was that prior to the convention of two weapons with some kind of customized combination feature -" Balthier hesitates. "Would you like to help me demonstrate this, Courfeyrac?"
“I...actually.” Courfeyrac grins. “That’d be good. “ And he’s ducking under the fence to join them, which, okay, he’s a little tall for that to work, and for half a second, he feels like he’s probably going to not be able to make it.
“That was a little stupid wasn’t it?” He waves that part off though. He’s been kind of a little stupid in general, so this isn’t the biggest of the problems he probably needs to deal with that he’s created. “But, good enough to still join you?”
"I don't want to get you too dusty, but another set of hands would be helpful." Balthier gestures. "If you take this small shield, and this practice blade, can you try mimicking how I'm standing? That was one of the theories, that originally some of these forms were meant to be shield and a blade, versus two blades." He hesitates. "And yeah, good enough. Nothing wrong with stumbling a little."
He's demonstrating one of the basic guarding stances. With the shield in hand, it'd probably be clear that this was possibly intended to be a shield bash followed by a low stab to Calum.
Courfeyrac’s attention’s on Balthier’s feet as he moves over to be in range, and he’s mimicking the posture, then shifting a little. “That should look...more like this on me? Height adjustment?” He offers, accepting the blades. The practice one feels a bit odd compared to what he’s used to, but he likes the idea of a little more heft behind things in situations that need them.
“So...okay, and I’d want to get out of the way or block…”Calum’s following the angles that it looks like they could take. “Does it look much different with the two then, or…”
Balthier shifts to show how the same move looks with two swords. "So you'd usually have some kind of arm guard, but still you'd be less protected. Sometimes you swing this blade -" He demonstrates. "More of an arm swipe instead of Courfeyrac doing a bash or a stunning blow." He straightens. "And if I was smart, I'd stop here. Thank you for helping. Perhaps you could join us, sometime, Courfeyrac? We'd need to get you some practice gear and run you down some of the safety rules."
“I’d like that.” Courfeyrac nods. “I’m a bit used to, well, using my reach to my advantage, Trying something new would be good I think.” He’s definitely interested to find OUT how that might end up going for him. “It’d help.”
He’s passing the sword and shield back over now, not wanting to look like he’s going to run away with them or anything. “No duels this time, I swear. Apparently, that’s VERY out of fashion.” His smile’s a bit wry there.
"Sadly. Did you know a famous man died in a duel in America, and they did a popular thing on the stage about it?" Balthier snags a water bottle. "Let me clean up a bit, and I can show you the cabin."
“Something with the vice president?” Courfeyrac nods. “I didn’t know they’d done anything with that, but he knew our Lafeyette. It’s funny, our revolution was less kind to him than the Americans’. Of course, our revolution was a bit...extreme. “ He doesn’t want to focus too much on that now though. “And I’d like that. Actually, I should probably apologize for being a bit of an idiot this week before that.”
And, really, it’s fair that these are things people are concerned about. Shaun didn’t say it in so many words, but it was pretty obvious what was going on there, for at least part of this. And it’s odd, but Courfeyrac actually CARES about their reactions, as opposed to the not wanting to deal with it he’d have if someone let his parents know about things. “And a proper thank you, though I suppose that’s a bit less easily done. Flowers or fruit or something would work at home for that.”
"It's not easy, ending up somewhere strange, is it? But - thank you for the apology," Noah says gravely. "You do have a good form. I think you'll probably be good with a longer blade when you're older. Isannah's good at that kind of thing."
“It’s all rather more intricate than it seemed at first.” Courfeyrac nods. “I suppose it’s, well, I don’t know if this translates, but the English have a saying about assuming things. Makes an ass of you AND me, doesn’t it? And that’s...thank you. I’ve been doing it for...I was about eight, I think. I love that even within something that has so many boundaries, there’s still room to improvise, to surprise people...Anyway, it’s good to hear. “
Older, probably TALLER, even, than this. Not that, personally, he minds the second thing at all, it’s just a bit odd to consider when he already towers over people half the time. It’s better here, for that, actually.
Balthier salutes. "So - first rule - you push the silly guy to go have some water and wash up. How was your talk with Shaun?"
“Not bad, actually. Informative.” Courfeyrac answers, then he pauses. “Does he have some kind of...condition? I did keep wanting to tell him he could relax a little when he started. I’ve been told it’s a bit stressful, where he is, but I felt a bit bad for the poor man.”
"He might be a bit stressed. I'll check on him," Noah waves a hand. "He's had a rough month or three."
Balthier heads to put away their gear. "Let's go clean up then and we can hit up the house. So - I was thinking of doing a little shopping for some practice gear and other clothing -" It does help for the height to have several people near six feet high.
Noah kind of sags a bit, forgetting that Emmett's still around.
And Shaun’s walking over to him now. “You look half dead. The GOOD news is I think I made things stick. I know you were...concerned. And I can still talk to Arno about meeting him too, when he’s not playing double agent.” He shakes his head a little, ruefully.
“I WILL say that kids like Courfeyrac DO end up as the organizers of the world, so that’s a good thing. He reminded me a bit of Bex.”
"Your good friend? I think you mentioned the name. Let me clean up a little, and I can be sociable. Is there tea left, or do I need to start a pot?" Noah smiles at Emmett. "You're new here, right? I just got off work, so if I'm a bit out of it, chalk it up to that."
“Right. She’s very much the social hub of...everything.” Shaun smiles. “It’s a good thing.” It’s been easier, with Desmond here, oddly, to think about home. The whole thing still annoys him, but there are constructive things to do to help him here and now, so he’s focused on that when he feels badly about things.
“I know that feeling.” Emmett gives him a bit of a wave. “Emmett Frye. It was 1888. And before anyone asks, not quite an assassin yet. No one was mad enough to do that until a few more years pass, I’m told. Nice to meet you. I brought a book if the two of you want to debrief.”
"I fear -" Noah looks at Shaun. "Did you explain -" He trails off. How to bring this up? "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to herd us toward the bathroom, or I'll stand sweatily and ramble at you like a barbarian. It was 706 at home. 707 now, I suppose with the turning of the year."
“The whole...I went through a LOT of things.” Shaun says. “And Evie did too, so that’s something useful. The terminology and all of that. And definitely. Don’t ramble like a...actually...I BET we could find someone from our side of things if we tried really hard. There were vikings among the assassins. Molloy has vikings somewhere in his bloodline.”
Noah laughs. "Ah well - I meant more my fia -" He ducks his head. It's still a little amazing. "My fiance." He is heading to toss his shirt in the pile to wash. "Permit me a little bit. I do feel better for the workout, but I'm not entirely socially acceptable until I wash up." He's - forgetting that the junction mark on his arm is visible, with him just wearing his t-shirt that was underneath his practice clothes.
“Oh, THAT sort of explaining.” Shaun nods. “Well, Courfeyrac IS from Paris and Emmett’s Jacob’s son. It’s not exactly a new concept for either of them. Well, the legality is, but that didn’t so much blow their minds as it got them nodding. And the other thing about...weelll...Templars and Assassins and our ongoing cult battles? The only templar anyone’s forbidden to go near before they’re about twenty is Kenway. Alone, at least. If he turns up for one of Arno’s parties or something, or we have a joint project, it’s a bit different. I don’t like the way he twists words around. It’s easy to get caught in them, and no one’s ready for that kind of mental gymnastics that young. Especially when he’s right but wrong.”
"Sounds frustrating when someone gets something, but doesn't entirely understand your side of things." Noah ducks into the bathroom with his change of clothes and quickly works on freshening up. He'll be a bit damp in the hair, but - Shaun sounds - good? Compared to some days. "How'd you rate how you two are doing? I've had visitors who aren't feeling entirely great some days, and it's easier to have an idea how people are feeling. I don't think - there's much to debrief, but if you want to snag that book, you can, Emmett. I'll merely pester you till I think I'm being a good host."
And it seems better than mentioning that Shaun had a not fine couple of days this winter.
“I don’t mind pestering, if that’s what you really have a mind to do.” Emmett shrugs. “I’ve been in far more uncomfortable spots before. And as to how I’m doing NOW…” he considers. “A bit awkward all around, but I’m managing. “
“And I’m…” Shaun considers. “Well, there’s someone else around now who gets how WEIRD things were. Someone who they were weirder for, in fact. That’s helped a LOT. “ And the fact that Desmond’s being Desmond, breaking out of hospitals (okay so that one might mean he needs some kind of therapy, at least in the real world outside of home), getting a job bartending and just getting on with things. Well, mostly, anyway.
“I mean…” He considers. “There are...issues with that sometimes. Desmond’s...some of what he had to do involved him being in the brains of his ancestors with an animus. More direct than the games. It’s messed about with...I’ve had conversations with so many people. Well, with three, at least. It’s BIZARRE to be flirted with by your very hetereosexual friend, speaking in an Italian accent. But...it still helps, having Desmond around. There’s someone I have common ground with.”
"That does sound weird." Noah frowns. "Does the Italian ancestor get that the body's not interested? Or is that - completely lost on him?" He's fetching the tea. "Anything you won't eat, Emmett?"
“Oh he was apologetic when he realized what was going on.” Shaun pauses. “Imagine explaining…” he thinks for a moment. “Actually, most of my examples wouldn’t work in your case. Explaining Balthier’s ship to someone who had no idea they could be airborne. It’s been...strange.” He shakes his head. “Slightly amusing, I’ll admit. Evie was taken with him. “
And that’s a LOT he’s just unleashed.
“But more importantly, how are all of YOU? I wish we hadn’t been forbidden from actually seeing Aedan, but I know he had his reasons. I respect it, even if I don’t like it much.”
"I think he may be afraid that he's going to - lie about how bad he's feeling to not feel weak around you." Noah shakes his head. "I don't know. I'm proud he's trying to work on his issues, but they're definitely a heavy burden to deal with." Noah grins. "Explaining the internet to someone who wasn't used to electricity?"
Noah hesitates. "We went down to a priest? It went well. The idea was to partially test how a priest would handle someone with alien culture and beliefs and also - it feels less dangerous to talk marriage than to talk about - depression or the like. He seemed - decent. I was only uncertain because he asked if I was isolated."
“They are, aren’t they?” Shaun nods. “And honestly, only one member of that family is any good at lying. He’s evasive more than that, I think. And we’ll do what we can to help there. Arno’s still on board for things.” Whatever Arno’s doing, Shaun DOES actually trust that he has someone’s best interests at heart here, so he’s not opposed to that continuing.
“You’re the best for him, I think. From what I’m lead to understand, at least. And that’s the perfect example for Ezio. And, being himself, he wanted all sorts of details. I’m glad Evie took over on that one. She’s a bit more sciencey than I am. “
The rest of that’s interesting. Shaun’s leaning forward a little. “Really? That’s interesting. And that…makes a lot of sense.” He has things that would DEFINITELY be easier to talk about than others. “And, well, the isolated thing’s...I think most profiles want to know that kind of thing, if it helps. Less insinuation and more that’s the sort of situation that can get you into danger. CAN, not will.”
Noah nods. "It's just that there's times where people feel - I don't know. I feel hyper alert, in crowds sometimes. So I don't mind being a homebody."
“That makes sense.” Shaun nods. “It’s reasonable. I don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of. I’m not going to lie, I feel more competent behind a desk than running around in the field. Anxieties crop up from school PE classes and Sports Days or something.” He shrugs. “Not QUITE the same thing, but similar outcome, I think.”
"Quite." Noah's sliding some of those savory egg tart things onto the table. "Sweets on this plate, savory on this one." He picks up one. "I do think it isn't a bad idea to try talking to someone. Steve Rogers offered to listen to my talk about the army and joining it young. I think he thought we'd talk about things like veterans, and the stress of the war. Mostly he just seemed shocked that I was seventeen and that it sounded like I was coerced into joining."
Noah sighs. "Either way, I'm moping at you. Would you like to work some more on your page and talk of light matters, or more of this?"
“I don’t think it’s QUITE moping. And...maybe.” Shaun muses. “Enough people have brought it up before. And we honestly on our end could probably all stand to do it. We kill people. It’s probably the sort of thing it’s better to talk to someone about, at some point. Otherwise you go a bit...I think I would end up exploding at some point if I’d stuck to it exactly, at home. You’ve been a help already but…” He shrugs. “Remind me to ask about which ones are used to hearing weird things. And won’t go running to the cops.”
As for the moment. “We COULD use a bit of a change of pace. I think the Steve thing...seventeen IS insanely young. You CAN join the army in Britain if you’re not eighteen yet, BUT you need permission and it’s complicated and I think that’s a bit crazy. I don’t know if I want to think about a scared kid with a weapon in his or her hand on a battlefield somewhere. And it IS different when you choose. That’s...kind of the key to what we DO, after all. Manipulating...I don’t like it. Not for something like THAT.”
He sees why it happened, in a time of war; you do what you have to do in that situation, after all, but...still. “Anyway, yes, something brighter might be nice.”
Noah smiles at Emmett. "If you're interested. The doctor suggested it would not be bad for my brother to practice small hand movements. So filling in colors with wax crayons is simple enough, and it can be peaceful." He's digging out the options. Admittedly, Emmett's probably seen some of the art that's been pinned up. "If you want, you can also search the bookshelf. Just - accept that we read a lot of cheap books."