Who: Noah, Jacob, Basch When: Current, pre-4th Where: Craigcrook Castle What: Noah's getting off work, and discovers Jacob's there, talking with Aedan. He's troubled since it's implied they're making peace, but he's trying to not make it an issue. Basch shows up, glad to have a job (which Noah's also worried about,) and Jacob takes the chance to apologize for being uneasy about Noah and Basch. Rating/Warnings: Status: Open
Noah's getting home from work. It went longer than usual, since the hot muggy dawn cooled down with a spat of hail and then a rumbling summer thunderstorm. He's wrapped up in a plaid scarf and definitely looking forward to some hot tea. Maybe hiding in the library with a blanket until he feels warm and texting mournfully at Sebastian until he gets him. Though he should see if Basch is hungry and what he'd like, and that might mean going down to the house.
“...So that’s at least…” Jacob’s voice can be heard a little down the hall.
“We’re…” That’s Aedan answering. “We aren’t fine. But we’re better. You have a LOT of things to get straight in your head, mate.”
“Don’t I know THAT.” Jacob’s heading out now, so that’s called over his shoulder and then he’s spotting Noah and glancing him over. “Ah. This might’ve gone awkward in the last thirty seconds.”
He’s giving Noah an awkward sort of smile now, and glancing over at him. “Good afternoon. I was just...We were due a conversation, Aedan and I.”
"Ah. I hope it went well. I don't think we've met. Noah. I live in the gatehouse. Has lunch been discussed, Aedan?" Noah's about Balthier's height, but where Balthier's muscle mass is mostly hidden in his taste for trim vests and vintage suits, Noah's definitely dressed a lot more closely to modern things. He's broad in the shoulders, and his hair is slightly curly and a dirty blond / brown mix. He's wearing a jacket that's probably a bit heavier than normal for the year, and broad blue plaid scarf. Under that, it looks like it's just jeans.
“We’ve managed to pass by each other a few times. Noah, isn’t it?” Jacob offers a hand. “I was here, after...things.” And then it had all gone a bit haywire but Jacob HAD done his best to try and stick around.
“Lunch?” Aedan blinks a little. “Hadn’t crossed my mind yet. I suppose it IS getting a bit late at that.” He’d been, well, he started the day literally tossing darts at a picture of Shakespeare’s face, tried to study a little, and then Jacob had turned up so...it’s not something he’s given a lot of thought.
Noah blinks. "You're the guy who got pulled back, weren't you? You look so much better." He reaches to shake his hand. "Noah, aye. You're - Jacob Frye, if I'm remembering right." Considering the last time he saw him was freshly brought back from some kind of prison, and then rather drugged up in a bed being sort of floatily there. "Balthier asked me what coffee cakes you'd like. I think he settled on the marzipan one."
“I am, right.” Jacob offers a hand in return, clasping Noah’s. “That was...not exactly one of my better moments, but here we are now, then. That works. And he did. It was brilliant actually. Nice to meet you properly again. I’ve been needing to reach out again, talk to people.”
"Aedan's been doing well lately. I think he's in the depths of some British play - is it right like the direction, Aedan, or write like writing? I keep trying to think of how to offer helping study it. Have you eaten, Jacob? I just got off work." Noah's got a deep rumble of a voice, and a faint - there's the Archadian accent, and the rest might be Scotland bleeding over. Or something. He's definitely done some harder work, by the hands.
“Oh that one has its OWN spelling.” Aedan rolls his eyes. “English is bizarre. It was probably as bizarre at home, but its got its very own rules here too.” he shakes his head. “It’s all so...I’ve got no idea. The film versions help a bit. Some are better than others. Doesn’t mean I get what they’re driving at half the time, but…” He shrugs.
“Shakespeare, right?” Jacob makes his own face. “I know he’s important, and people love him, but wrapping your head around some of the word meanings…” He shakes his head. “I liked the King Henrys though. Not that we have much use for kings or queens, even though ours weren’t bad and you’re...it’s a bit different when you’re from another world, so...I won’t go judging THAT. Just seems a little crazy in THIS day and age.”
He’s a bit amused, still, by the fact, that Evie once asked Queen Victoria to stop being a colonial power.
“And have you? They had you on nights for a bit, didn’t they?” Jacob remembers the mention of that at least. “I think I”m a bit behind everything. But no, we’ve been here, talking, for a bit. We DID have tea.” And he’d picked at a few biscuits, bourbons, but…
"There's lamb and barley, or something else. Don't let me keep you if you've got to go." Noah looks at Aedan. Any opinions? "I was on nights. Still am, but the icing is easier in the morning once the heat from the bread proofing is done."
“That would suit.” Aedan says, thinking it over a bit. He didn’t really object to it when it was made, so he’ll go for that again. “And I’d say we could make that work with all of us if you’d like.” He nods at Jacob. “DID you have to be anywhere?”
“Not for a bit yet.” Jacob pauses. “I know that things are...complicated but…” He’s scrubbing at his face a little. “I hope they’re better. “ The truth is, he’s NOT a very good teacher or mentor figure at all. His apprentices are kind of doomed. Like Green Arrow on the cartoon Roy, who they were watching for a while, came from. He’s accepted that he shouldn’t be involved with people.
Noah's starting toward the kitchen and pausing to unwrap his scarf and coat. "I heard you're watching - Emmett, right? I know that can make things complex."
“Well, technically more than watching. He’s my son.” Jacob smiles at that. “And we’re...working at things that got a little neglected for a while. Some days are better than others and…”
“And I MIGHT be a bit…” Aedan considers. “I feel like I want to protect him, make sure things turn out right. I MIGHT jump to some conclusions there because of that.”
Noah tilts his head. "I could see that being . . . protecting folks, when you were younger, was something that you had to do, versus wanting to do, from what I heard." That's - putting it delicately, versus mentioning some of the implications Aedan made. "My brother and I were in each other's pockets, but it wasn't the same as growing up in a war zone."
“A bit, aye.” Aedan nods. “And well, with us…” He nods at Jacob. “YOU, with me, straight off...you saw something in me and it helped and I’d like to be doing THAT for someone. And we were both stuck with needing to prove things or…” He notices Jacob tense there. “Well it FELT like it for us both, then.”
“Well, that’s because you’re GOOD. You’ve got the instinct. And neither of you has anything to prove to me. Although, I’ve got to warn you, if he decides he wants to join up, fully, later on, there’s someone else in line to ask to train him first. Especially since you’re not exactly all the way in.”
“Eh, no, that’s fair.” Aedan nods. “I wouldn’t have the faintest idea where you start something like that. And it’s two years away. I’d be twenty o… OH.” There’s a significance there isn’t there?
“Right. Oh.” Jacob snorts. “Maybe I backed off a bit from YOU because of that, too. Not that I’m saying I think you’re going to murder your way through London but…”
"Eh?" Noah looks over from where he's setting up a pot to reheat. "I think I didn't hear about that That . . . I take it that a student had issues? The one that hurt you and the Rooks?"
“Jack, right.” Jacob nods. “I don’t talk about it much, it’s still a bit fresh. Apprentice who went completely mad. It wasn’t BECAUSE I was too young to know what I was doing, but I doubt now that it helped. “ He looks a little rueful there. “And I might’ve come back a bit...not wanting to see the pattern repeating, so my influence was better off not being there.”
“That’s…” Aedan nods. “Fair enough, I think. I avoid enough things, still.” And it’s helped, being able to talk about things like that. “Speaking of, I suppose I’d better make sure I eat if I want to not be too much a hypocrite about all that. Da’s always saying you should never show your teeth unless you can bite.”
Noah chuckles. "So that saying carries over? I did have a question about Emmett. I think Balthier was talking to him about cooking lessons. Would the two of you be interested in him taking over a kitchen at some point? Perhaps with you, Aedan? It seems like it's good to check in on things."
Aedan glances at Jacob a moment, looking, kind of amused honestly. “It’s probably the safest way to figure it out. I mean, I was THERE the last time the fire department had to be phoned up.” He looks thoughtful. “Admittedly, there were FIREFIGHTERS to look at, but…”
And he’s nodding at Noah. “Aye, we do. It’s probably more about actually making THREATS, the expression, but…” He shrugs. “And that’d be good with the cooking, really. Less stressful for the one thing.” It hasn’t been too bad, but there are points it gets overwhelming for him.
"I think Balthier was thinking of having you cook with me around or Balthier there as a sanity check. You're welcome to join in too, if you wanted to." Noah's got soup bowls now and he's bringing over some bread. "There's some cloverleaf rolls if you want to compare them, Aedan. New recipe. I think it's a bit too sweet as a roll goes, but that might be my taste."
“I’ll give that a go.” Aedan says, nodding. “Experimenting’s useful sometimes. And well, if they ARE for everyone, they could always go into something else. Breakfast rolls with jams or something?” He figures.
"True. And I think there's some things that call for sweeter breads." Noah has a seat.
“Definitely so.” Jacob agrees. “There’s the braided Jewish bread, isn’t there? I’ve had some good rolls made from it.” Not quite as good as the coffee cakes, but still.
There’s a bit of a noise in the hall now, and Jacob and Aedan are both glancing in the direction of the door, with Jacob moving to press his blade’s mechanism and Aedan grabbing for a knife on the table, though he looks relaxed in the way he grabs it. This is clearly more of a routine instinct than any sign of threat.
“Hello?” Basch is calling about a second later, poking his head down the hall. “I’ve got a night security job now and wanted to come and mention…” And there’s Jacob there and...Oh. Well. THIS has the potential to be awkward, doesn’t it? Actually it’s not so much that he knows Jacob on sight as, well, he’s met Evie more than a handful of times, when she and Isannah are off doing whatever they do. He can see the aged up Frye features there.
“Well, while we’re at things I probably should repair.” Jacob mutters, though he’s relaxing and de-pressing the mechanism now. “I suppose I needed to make this one happen too.” And when Basch comes in, he’s giving him an awkward sort of look as he stands up.
“So. I owe you an apology for thinking that you were with the Templars. “ Also, probably, for treating the templars like the scum of the earth, but then again. It’s not like he plans to apologize to Haytham or the traitor about that, so…
“I….” Basch blinks. “That was a long time ago. It bothered Balthier more than it did me, if you’re looking for people to apologize to.” The fact just is that people have thought FAR worse of him than being a shadowy member in a weird cult.
Noah's getting up and absently standing a bit in front of Jacob. Safe or no, he spent too many years as a bodyguard. "Congratulations on the job, brother. This is Jacob. I take it that you two have met? How tired are you? I could bring a bowl of soup up to the house."
“Not quite but close enough.” Basch answers. “When Balthier was staying at the headquarters, we probably passed each other by, but honestly.” He nods at Jacob. “You really DO look alike for being obviously not identical.”
Jacob laughs at that. “There’s times I think only other twins understand the odd ways people interpret the question, considering.”
“Not bad, actually.” Basch smiles. “I don’t start for a few days yet. There’s all sorts of reporting codes to learn and radio procedures and...it seems to consist of watching cameras in the hospital parking garages, mostly. It should work out nicely. “
Noah grimaces slightly and moves back to take a seat. "I hope so. How is the hospital? It seems like it'll be moments of drama and peace. I could see that being better than something like a warehouse." He and Basch probably - are pretty obviously identical, if you ignore the scar near Basch's eyebrow.
“That’s what it seemed mostly like.” Basch agrees, nodding. “They’ve got it well lighted and everyone seemed to be especially nice. It’s ah...you know.” He nods at Aedan. “The local, where you’ve said you were a few times.”
“They’re decent there.” Aedan nods. “Security was nice enough when things happened.” Actually, that’s a story he HASN’T told a lot of people about when he was in before they transferred him out to the proper center. “I mean ah…”
Jacob snickers. “Watch? Phone?”
“ID badge and built in keycard.” Aedan smirks. “The nurse was a jerk that night and I was bored. Sadly, he figured it out pretty quick but…”
Basch snorts. “That sounds...about right for you. But really.” he nods at Jacob. “It was...a really strange time when all of that came to light. I can’t say I don’t blame you, but it’s happened, you’ve had a LOT of time pass, and...here we are instead, right?”
It works.
"Aye," Noah says. He shouldn't let his fretting get in the way of what his brother wants, right? "Are you hungry, brother?"
“Here we are.” Jacob agrees. “Hopefully better now that I’m much older and have some idea what I’m doing.” He glances at them all. “I’ve had a LOT of apologies to make, but really. This one, ALL of these actually, are important;” He nods at Noah. “I don’t think I’ve said much to YOU about this either. You look a bit...worried. Is this the sort of uncomfortable moment where I should say I’m popping around to the loo and escape through the window much to everyone’s relief or…”
“Please.” Aedan snorts. “You ghosted me; you didn’t do anything ELSE. “ Well, and the Fight Club thing, but since everyone else seems to think it was JUSTIFIED, and moaned about his body weight the whole time, he’ll let it go for now. The thing where Emmett was being treated like some kind of freak...seems more like a societal thing Jacob’s getting over, so...nothing really stands out now.
“And I was more insulted than anything.” Basch says. “And a bit hurt, but you didn’t know me from anyone else then. If you’d done it after the fact, it would be different. I wouldn’t say most of my enemies should SUFFER but yours sound like they’re genuinely bad for society as opposed to hating what they are or think.”
He’s turning to Noah now and giving him a smile. See? It’s all right. They’re all having a normal conversation here. “I could definitely eat. Is that the bread you mentioned trying out?”
"The rolls, aye. There should be enough for everyone." Noah offers one of the - lobes? Leaves? "I think the recipe is a little sweet. I'm not - you don't have to escape out a window." Though thinking about it. "I'd recommend the library. Bigger windows, and the stone work looks easier to climb. But -" Jacob probably won't get his sense of humor. "It sounds like you're dealing with a lot right now, and I worry. That's not that you have to flee, as much - Think like a firefighter who checks a smoking lamp every time."
Jacob laughs at that. “The library then. But I WOULD have to get past Prince Calum, wouldn’t I? I can DO it, mind you, but…” He snickers.
“And it IS, but it’s also…” he pauses. “I still say, even after all that’s happened, that it was better I was home and grew up before I got back here, if that makes sense. I could’ve done without some of it, but the bulk of the time was...good, actually. We’re...things are moving along.” Though it makes sense about the lamp and he’s nodding.
“It stands to reason. You’ve had enough fires to put out, haven’t you?”
"Made enough of my own, through stubbornness or stupidity. I still feel like I should let people meet the better twin before myself at times." Noah smiles slightly before he sobers. "I wish the homecoming was less stressful, but - it is good to have you back. Balthier thinks well of you. I know he said he was glad the assassins took him in."
“I don’t know about BETTER.” Basch makes a face. “That implies there’s a value judgement going on with US, which strikes me as PRETTY stupid.” You know, considering what they’ve all been doing here. He’s been useless up until now, so he’s not sure it counts as better.
“Shaun likes him too.” Aedan puts in. “I mean I get the tension but there’s no holdovers on that end as I can tell it. So that’s, you know, something.”
"I can still think you're the better of the two of us, in character, Basch. Rightly or wrongly." Noah's got tea and lunch, and that's - definitely pleasant. "I suppose it's good that Shaun's fond of him." Balthier's never expressed that he thinks that, but - well - in his experience, Balthier would sooner evade awkward things until he has to deal with them.
He suspects that it's partly due to Balthier's father making every minor crisis a large production. "I should beg my farewells, I fear," Noah adds. "I just got in, so there's people for me to meet." And he'd - sooner not mention that one of them is Sebastian. He's feeling like Jacob honestly is trying to clear the air, so to speak. "I would not worry too much, Jacob. We are here now, and it's peaceful. I hope this year treats you better than the last."
“And all of you.” Jacob nods. “It’s good to see that things are still going along. I mean, I’m not conceited enough to think I’d ruined it with a few words, usually when I break things, it’s with a bigger fanfare and a bloody...what’s it they called it in New York two years ago for me...a ticker tape parade, and someone else having to fix it quietly and discreetly. It’s just...good to know.”
"If . . . ." Noah trails off. "There's talk of a wedding. I told Sebastian that it might be good for Aedan to have some of your group here. Since there's been parties that have gone badly for him, and you are a part of his life. Is there a good way to bring that up to Shaun? Would you be offended by the idea?"
“Not at all offended.” Jacob says, without really thinking about it. It doesn’t seem like the sort of thing you HAVE to think about when people you don’t actively hate are around. “And I doubt he’d much mind either, talking about it, though I could tell him instead if you’d rather. Otherwise...it’s SHAUN so I’d come straight out with it. Any hedging and he’s going to POUNCE on that. And probably ask if you’ve ever learnt how to speak. “ He pauses. “If he doesn’t half remind me of my father, sometimes.”
“Mentor thing?” Aedan suggests, shrugging a bit. “But please. It’d be fun. And I’m suspecting that it’s not the only templar wedding you’ll be heading to in the next few years.”
“Disgusting.” Jacob says to that, sticking out his tongue. “This one seems reasonable and good, though. We’ll start there.”
Noah grimaces, but - this is probably the best he can hope for. "I can talk to him, but feel free to check in with him. Probably better if he has an idea that it's afoot. I'll be going then. There's jam, Basch. I did pick some up the other day."
“Have fuun.” Aedan drawls, amused, and gives him a bit of a wave. And then he pauses. “Anything else I can say would just sound really weird, so I’ll leave it there for all our peace of mind, aye?”
"I'll tell your father you said hi. Got a play I can mention?" Noah asks, leaning on the doorframe.
“Offhand, I’d shout Macbeth, but that one I actually LIKED.” Aedan grins. “And it was a bit ago. Right now, I want to strangle Romeo,if that says much of anything. Tybalt and Mercutio can come hang around though. Well. Probably not TOGETHER.”
Jacob snorts.
“Enjoy yourself!” he calls after Noah, too, because he can. “And thank you, really. This has really taken a load off.”