Who: Noah, Shaun, Ezio When: Current Where: Craigcrook Castle, Edinburgh What: Noah invites Shaun over to show off his sword skills. While he trusts Shay and Liam enough, he'd still like Shaun's people to see his skills first. He doesn't think they're remarkable, but in the spirit of peace, he'd prefer things to go that way. The talk, naturally enough, turns to Jedi and Ezio gets to meet Noah. Rating/Warnings: Status: Complete
It's finally dried up in the practice yard, and Noah's found in his advanced years that the only thing he hates more than sand in the bed is trying to do workouts in mud. Well, there's probably other things he dislikes, but when it comes to weather, mud just seems to chill you to the bone. There's tea and some of the quiche tarts that Aedan will eat, along with a coffee cake. The thermos of clear broth is more of a leftover from dinner, but if they don't eat it, Noah knows where there's toast and eggs. He can show off a soup he'd make sometimes on a little burner in one of his offices.
Shaun’s heading over, having been given a invitation, and some muffins, cake style ones. He’s also got an Ezio in tow because why not? Aedan’s working with Bayek on things to do with their blades, Jacob’s got Emmett on the roof, and Tadgh and Evie are on assignments. So, it works out nicely, that they’ve mostly got things to do.
He’s heading around to the practice yard, curious about what’s going to be shown today. He waves as he gets up there.
“Oi, Noah! Got something to demonstrate? I brought muffins and another mentor.”
Noah waves. "I doubt it's much of anything, but Arno and Aedan both said it'd be good to see how I fought, and Liam wanted to learn." He frowns as he heads to get some water and make sure there's space for the muffins. "There's food here as well, and I've got something to make lunch, if you'd not mind some sentimentality for something I made when I was younger. Do you mind a little paranoia?"
Noah's dressed in his standard practicing gear, so looser older trousers that could take the dust, and a t-shirt that mostly hid the burn like scar on his left bicep.
“I dwell in paranoia, these days.” Shaun heads over. “I can certainly hear yours. And I’m sure that Ezio isn’t going to mind,” he nods toward Ezio.
“Paranoia, I can handle and help with.” Ezio offers Noah a hand to shake. “Have we formally met? Ezio Auditore. Aedan speaks about you often.”
"You said you'd like twins in your bed, but not in person. I'm freshly wedded, so I'll pass on the flirting if you don't mind." Noah shakes his hand. He honestly doesn't mind the flirting about being a twin. It seems a thing, at least from what Jacob said, so - it must be so in some culture. "A pleasure. I've heard good things about you."
Ezio shakes and grins at that. People DO get weird about twins, it’s true. It’s why Jacob assuned things way back when, after all, so...it just is a thing people do, apparently. Or at least joke about. For now, he grins and waggles his eyebrows.
“Ah, si, that IS correct. I can imagine you are having QUITE the time with that. Far be it from me to interfere.”
"We're quite happy." Noah offers a hand at the chairs and the bench. "I suppose - shall we sit, and I can ruminate uselessly, and then I can prance about with a sword?"
“That sounds like a plan to me.” Shaun says, eyedarting a bit. “Likely not THAT uselessly either, so...what IS on your mind?” He’s grabbing a chair to face Noah as Ezio slides over on the bench. Ezio’s fond of contact so he’s likely to touch Noah’s shoulder or something, during this all.
Noah fiddles with his glass as he thinks. "You were by here once, I think, with Balthier showing his style. It's - formal bodyguards, partly intended to be a good way to defend someone, and also flashy, because it's meant to be threatening. A while back, Aedan was attacked, and I ended up being caught on video defending him."
That seems simple enough. "Aedan said he had not seen me actually fighting to defend, and wanted to see more, and Arno agreed that it might not be bad to show people. The officer, a friend to your cause, agreed that it might not be bad, since there was - I do not know. To me, the video just looked like standard - fighting. I could see my flaws in stance, so to speak. But Liam asked to be taught a little, if I could. And I wanted you to see my weak points, before I went to him. If that . . . makes sense?"
“I was, yeah,” Shaun nods. “And that’s interesting with the style, of the bodyguards. And that’s right. We suspect Abstergo was involved in all of that. They’ve definitely started establishing a foothold here. One we’re trying to break. I’ve got Evie and Molloy in the field doing work for it now. “
He does glance at Ezio at the Liam point and eyedarts a little.
“Of course, but do you really trust that I would tell you where things look weak if you’ll be teaching a templar?” It’s clearly a joke, though. “No,Haytham says he’s a good lad. Very suited to his side of things. Sometimes I wish we had them on ours.”
"Oh no, I don't care to know where I am weak, though I know I favor my right side and my core." Noah shrugs a little. "I want you to know. Does . . . that make sense, or seem too paranoid?"
“That makes quite a lot of sense, actually.” Ezio speaks up. “You trust him with the information and wish to make a gift of it. That seems important. And I do believe we all need those friends in our lives, no?”
“Not too paranoid at all.” Shaun smiles at Noah. “Thank you for that.”
Noah smiles back at him. "I'm used to the idea that it's - you know - flourishing for style and out of date in these days, but I did well enough. I don't think they expected any skill though. How would you like to do this? I can walk someone through the basic moves. Or you could look at the video and ask me to reproduce the theory?"
“Walking through is not a bad idea.” Shaun muses. “Ezio, you’re likely the quicker study with a sword.”
“I would be interested.” Ezio looks thoughtful.. “Or someone from here may be better, though I’m willing.”
"Anything I should know about how you were trained? I prefer to work side by side mostly because it's how I trained people, and face to face can get a bit aggressive when you're waving big swords around. Have you done anything with - oh - staves or greatswords?" Noah stretches his back. "I used two swords, and they had a complex - basically at the attack, I was just using Aedan's crutch, because it was what I had. And I was trained in using a bladed staff, more or less."
“Hmm.” Ezio considers. “I fence, in the most classical ways, but I CAN use a heavier sword as well. I’m not AS good at it, but all the more reason to learn, si?” He smiles at Noah. “I’m showy, for lack of a better term. Probably most like your Courfeyrac, well Balthier’s. “
"Balthier's light on his feet, and I've never been." Noah stretches his back. "By custom at home, we'd have a spotter. Are you willing to do that, Shaun? All you'd have to do is watch for one of us flagging a little, and to nag that we have some water. Hot climates and the army, and all. It's habit."
“I can spot.” Shaun nods. “I’ve got a good idea what it looks like when Ezio’s flagging. I’ve done that sort of thing at practices before.” He’s watched the apprentices, after all. Tulio’s probably the most natural, Erik, he thinks, is best at bending reality, which is fascinating, but Thea’s getting there too. And Emmett and Aedan don’t QUITE count, but usually come along, Emmett fights like his father, with a desperation, and Aedan’s not bad either.
“I’m comfortable stopping you.”
Noah tilts his head. "Then - staves, I suppose, and we can go to blades if you want. They're all practice stuff here. I prefer to not go live steel. You will probably feel it in your shoulders and your lower legs, so as soon as you do, we should likely stop for water and letting the muscles relax a bit."
From what he can see, Ezio looks like he's light on his feet - not Balthier's style of darting leaping, he'd guess, but definitely better for a lighter sword and knife. Still, he can run down the theory, and the invisible person that's behind you inherent to some of the moves.
It's about halfway through showing Ezio a full rotation, that Noah felt the sort of comfortable daze of just muscle memory kicking in. It's pleasant. He liked this style. It's one reason why he got into it.
"Want to take a break? Or am I skipping over anything? I should have some water."
Ezio can be, and is a fierce fighter, but his advantage is in speed, along with the rest of it. He’s definitely an assassin, from the way that he moves, not straightforward and heavy like Jacob or Alexios, who’s come to practice a few times, especially while Shay was recovering from the poison.
He grins at Noah, watching him there.
“You are very skilled. A break is a good idea, perhaps. You were in charge of many soldiers once, along with guarding a prince, weren’t you?”
Noah's definitely heavy, but when he's actually striking, he's not zero inclination to hide it for the most part. He's definitely not revealing his entire hand, but - as he said - he was trained to fight so that you knew exactly how dead someone was going to be if he decided to strike, but not necessarily when. "I was - how did Iomhar put it? A spymaster? But I did work with soldiers, both training and commanding, and I was a bodyguard and spy to the heir." Noah rolls his shoulder as he sets his weapon aside and heads for the water. "I could offer some lunch, if you two are interested?" He's munching on a muffin now. "These are good, Shaun."
“Ah, like Machiavelli, in a way.” Ezio grins. “Being an assassino, one of mine,or one of his, before I was given charge of them, was much like being a spymaster, in a way. “ He’s doing some stretching of his own, stretching his arms behind his neck, then bending a bit, sighing deeply, with what’s clearly satisfaction.
“That DID feel good. And food? I am always interested in food.” He winks.
Shaun grins at Noah, actually grins, Clearly whatever new arrangement is working is good for him. “I’d hoped you might like them. They’re raspberry and almond there, and some lemon poppyseed too.”
"Raspberry, it looks like. Let's drop some of the food off at the kitchen, and we can pass through the shower quickly. Gatehouse? Ezio's not seen it yet." And Noah could see him enjoying it. "It'll just be soup. Eggs and toast. It's something I made when I first had an office."
“Gatehouse sounds good.”Shaun nods. “That sounds nice, pleasant after the work you two’ve been doing, I’d think.” Nothing to weigh them down.
“I AM curious about this Gatehouse.” Ezio nods. “Tadgh says that it’s charming and comfortable.”
Noah bundles up a change of clothes and waves Ezio on. "I've been gardening, and I do enjoy having running hot water. Let's do this."
He's not sure Ezio would like it, but soon enough there's toast, and some mugs. Broth, and some poached eggs. "Some - dry cheese would be traditional, but none of the ones here are exactly like home. I was thinking parmesan or an older cheddar."
“Cheeses COULD be very different, I think.” Ezio nods. “Where did you get your milk from at home? A sort of cow or sheep or other animal? That could very well influence that sort of a thing.” And he’s willing enough to try different foods. His biggest food related issue is when people claim things are authentically Italian that come nowhere close to it. He imagines his brief friend, Shao Jun would have felt the same way about Chinese food as it’s presented here.
Noah leans on the counter. "Sheep and goats? I've tried some sheep and goat cheeses, but they're not super common here. The cheeses, that is. The lamb's a lot younger." He slides the bowl over for Ezio to finish his. "Well, was that - educational at all? Or worth your time?"
“It was.” Ezio says. “On both counts. I always am interested to see how others have fought, after all.”
“It was DEFINITELY good to see it.” Shaun nods firmly. “It helps with understanding more of how what happened...happened.”
"I think they expected perhaps a soldier, and Aedan on crutches." Noah frowns. "And one seemed a bit - hyper? Jumpy? I don't know. He wasn't concentrating well."
“Could be Bleeding,” Shaun notes, wincing. “Could be drugged. I worry about the future if they’re around, but it’s good to know you can handle yourselves.”
"Poor man." Noah sighs. "So - tell me about your things? Come, eat. How have you been?"
“Better, actually, in spite of that.” Shaun says, “I’ve got help now.” He nods toward Ezio. “Ezio’s been good at helping with this leadership lark, and how to handle these people.” He smiles,”But YOU? How’s marriage?”
"Just fine. I think Sebastian's still amazed. He's been talking about a vacation to Loch - Lowmound? Lomand? The one with the cryptid stories." Noah's nibbling his soup. It's - similar to how he remembers. Cheese isn't as salty.
“Nessie?” Shaun looks amused. “That’d be Loch Ness, then, But I hear the lake district’s lovely. You ought to have fun with that.”
"I just told him I'd like to be warm. I don't mind if we're in a camper or a hotel, but - warmth. Maybe a decent sized bath." Noah laughs. "It was a cold winter. I think it's a traditional thing though. Work was telling him he should do a honeymoon. I think that was the term. All the little courting things are new for me. I ended up getting told I should hurry home when I bought some violets that looked good for him, without realizing it was Valentine's day."
“It DID seem like one here, the times I had work in Scotland.” Shaun laughs too. “And generally, honeymoons are a thing. It comes from the...I believe Anglo Saxons. They would send a couple off for a month, with mead to drink every day to make their new marriage sweet. And it eventually evolved around...I want to say the Belle Epoque, when rich couples started taking big wedding tours to celebrate.”
He laughs at the rest. “It’s good to hear that your coworkers are so supportive. I don’t believe that..if Rebecca and I had come at all public, it would have been a disaster. Not just from a safety standpoint but Bill would have slaughtered me for not having my mind on the job. We’ve had a few couples who worked together, one team in particular who are amazing, but it’s generally discouraged.”
“Mmm.” Ezio nods at Shaun. “I did not wish to settle down until I had stopped working and did not want my children to feel they needed to be assassins, but forbiding it outright seems cruel. It is nice when people are supported.”
"You see, I watched some movies recently, and I'd make terrible pop culture references." Noah smiles. "We watched the - what are they - prequel Star Wars things? They had a celibate order that did not make a lot of sense. Poor Clint was very patient with us."
“Ah the JEDI.” Shaun looks amused. “That WOULD be generally sort of...well.” he shakes his head. “I see where it might get...weird.”
“BUT.” Ezio holds up a finger. “Most importantly. “What are your feelings about sand? Bayek laughed like a madman at that particular scene when we saw them.”
Noah laughs. "I was the downfall of a desert nation. I fear I hate it, particularly when you slide down in the bath and discover it beneath you, or in the bed. But - that is my own issues. I found - Master Binks? The Gungan fellow to be very . . . he seemed like your examples of racism, Shaun."
“I could see that.” Shaun nods, seriously. “It DOES look that way, when you think about it. And the things it says about slavery...I wonder what...one of our most legendary brothers freed himself from slavery and had a similar accent to JarJar’s. I could see him offended on BOTH counts.”
"The . . . choice to leave - have you seen the movies, Master Ezio?" Noah's sliding back to old habits, since well - Ezio is new, and Shaun respects him. "Anakin's mother behind, just seemed to be utterly uncaring."
“I have.” Ezio nods. “We have group movie nights sometimes. And that IS a problem. How you could leave anyone you’d met behind in slavery is reprehensible isn’t it? And besides that, which is the most important, how do they think it’s going to make ANAKIN feel? “
"I suppose it could be a sexism thing. And I am terrible at light topics today, it seems. But - the way Amidala seemed to exist in how others felt about her, and - Shmi, was it? His mother seemed to just get ignored as how she was living." Noah tries one of the lemon muffins. "And Palpatine seemed blatantly a poor choice to have near a vulnerable child. Is the - lack of ultrasound as a thing also weird to anyone? We didn't have it in my home dimension, but you'd think they'd have some options for treating twins."
Noah admitted to Sebastian as - well - troubling as the choices for Amidala's robes were, some of them did look very warm and comfortable if you ignored the fancier bits. Balthier promptly asked the Google, and got some options for robes on order.
“That’s...huh, a really good point in that universe. Or that a jedi healer couldn’t come in and see it.” Shaun nods. “Also how couldn’t anyone tell about the marriage? Obi-Wan seems smarter than that. He MUST have known and chose not to say anything. HAD to have, right?”
"His teacher seemed kind of - the entire teacher student thing seemed to be poorly handled as well. Though I don't think the guy writing things thought about it that way." Noah leans on the counter. "There didn't seem to be a lot of awareness that Anakin might want to work with Obi-Wan out of a personal connection, or caring about how Obi-Wan might not be prepared for things. Which is probably just taking a movie plot too seriously."
“And ideally, you don’t just shove a nine year old at a...he’s what? Maybe twenty two at most?” Shaun frowns. “That’s like giving Harry a child. Of course, sometimes it happens naturally, with babies, and parents, some even younger, but... “ he frowns. “They at least have SOME preparation time and aren’t usually handed a strange child. Even when the parents die, they’d be a SIBLING, normally.”
Ezio nods. “Claudia was fifteen, but my mother was still there, when the rest of our family was killed. I was the man of the house but it was not as though those responsibilities included a strange ward. That would be...difficult.”
"And I think you said Desmond's childhood wasn't great. The creche thing with the Jedi just sounded horrifying to me. But I was a young orphan in a warzone, and felt like I came out well enough in the end, and it apparently sounded bad to Steve." Noah taps his fingers. "For the record, I'm . . . very pleased with how Aedan's doing? He's obviously growing more mature with just time, but I like how he's been treating people lately, and the ways he considers things seems a lot more healthy. And I think a lot of that is due to the - how should I put that? Your group? I'm not used to a secret group with an open name."
“I’m pretty sure his dad hit him.” Shaun nods. “He didn’t hesitate when Desmond was an adult, so…” he winces a little. “Basically the assassins were forced to live off the land on a compound away from the world. Like a cult. Nowhere to really get away.”
He sighs.
“Aedan IS doing well.” Ezio nods. “He’s got huge potential and is responsible for a lot now. I’m looking forward to working with him soon.”
"I'm glad. I hope it works well." Noah leans to set his bowl aside. "Do you have to go? Or we could head up to the sitting room. I've got some new books up there."
“I’ve got some time.” Shaun says. “We both do. It’d be nice to hear more what you’ve been up to.”
“It certainly would.” Ezio eyedarts. “I’m curious, I must admit. Your life must have changed a bit most recently.”
"Not . . . really? I've been here for over a year now." Noah's snagging the tea box. "There's a kettle up there. Grab a mug, and anything else you might want, and we'll be comfortable."
Besides, Shaun hasn't seen the paper calendar they've got up yet. It's a little more private than the online thing, since Iomhar has to physically go to the house to read it. Mostly it's holding Basch's schedule, Balthier's work schedule (mixed with Courfeyrac's school / fencing stuff,) and Noah's work schedule. There's some scribbled notes about the little floral borders on each month, trying to identify the flowers, along with some stickers and notes between Basch and Noah.