[ CLOSED ] into an ocean

[godshattering]

Who: Claude and various
When: January
Where: Cadens, Aquila, TBA
What: Catch all
Warnings: Threads for the Tier 1 and Tier 2 quests related to the island have been marked accordingly


( closed starters below. find me at indech, by PM, or on discord to plot something! )

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[godshattering]

"That's true enough, though I've always preferred to set the odds myself." Through plans, through schemes, through whatever ways he could possibly make it happen: that'd been his goal for so long Claude can hardly remember the exact moment it'd crystallized for him rather than it being something developed over the years. By necessity, by means of everything to make sure he succeeded, and with space for failure left between if only because he'd planned for those instances, too.

"Of course, setting them at home came with having many things which made that possible there that isn't the case here without some serious interventions of some kind or the state of things tipping over into something else entirely. I don't particularly want to wish for the latter even if I wish there was a way to guarantee things could become stable for everyone."

Those all feel like mere wishes with hollowness than any promises within, and he's quiet again afterwards as his mind continues to puzzle over that with as many winding paths as the streets of Cadens before them. It leaves him with a question, one Claude suspects he might know a partial answer to, but he turns to Altaïr to ask it. "Is that something you've lived by yourself? With choices, I mean."

[aquilus]

Altaïr understands the sentiment. Stability, safety, a better future for all. These are things anyone would want, things he does want in this world and his own. In that, he can understand the deeds of the Templars, if not approve of them.

He lets out a long breath and is quiet for a moment before answering. "Yes and no. The brotherhood I told you of, and our creed — I was born into both. Some would call that indoctrination, and they wouldn't be wrong."

It's something he's only begun to puzzle out, here in a place where it shouldn't matter, being the only Assassin here. And yet it does matter, to him.

"Yet I had to question that creed to understand it, and it is my choice to live it," he continues. "Truthfully? I don't believe anyone does not live with their choices. Some only tell themselves otherwise."

[godshattering]

Indoctrination is a word which catches his attention, if only because it comes close to what he'd thought about Seiros' followers in a slightly kinder term. It fits, he realizes now, with what Altaïr has also described to match other threads of thoughts he'd had but that hadn't coalesced until now. Claude nods slowly while considering that and the weight of what his friend says.

"I've often thought that if we posed a question to the Summoned who have strong beliefs in something from their home that they've brought forward here it would be for what you've said: that someone chose to continue living by it just as they always have. It'd explain why so many of us step forward when asked."

Something he's come to find comforting even if there's the ever present suspicion of whether anyone has any ulterior motives for doing so beneath it - mostly because Claude knows that he's waiting for a chance to leverage some of it into something else, should that chance ever present itself, but. It's made for a community he values and good friends like the man sitting next to him here on this rooftop, and that's been worth everything to him.

"Myself being no exception to that, of course. Those things I wished to see happen at home - if they have to wait like everyone else with the same and what you'd also left behind, too, then at least we have each other to lean on in the meantime." Which is still circling around the actual point he's making, so with a slight shake of his head Claude looks to Altaïr next. "I'm grateful for you, my friend. There aren't many I've spoken to about these things now or if ever."

[aquilus]

More than once Altaïr has thought that what the Summoned had in common was really the lack of any shared, unifying creed. Other times he's seen it exactly as Claude puts into words now. Truly, it's difficult to name any of them who do not have a certain strength of belief.

"As am I." For Claude, and for others he's been able to forge a bond with. He smiles. "It was only a short time before my summoning that I was able to humble myself enough to open up to others with trust. I've told you the story."

He'd been an arrogant man closed off to others, too bright a star that was cast down from the heavens to land on the earth and forced to understand what was important.

"I'd thought the opportunity lost to me when I found myself among strangers. I am very glad to have been wrong."

[godshattering]

That smile on Altaïr's face, rare as it seems in the time they've known each other, says much even before the words follow. It's a testament to time spent together, Claude thinks, and trust built to this point and all the others.

"I remember, which makes it all the more valuable. Being here is certainly good for that, though I hope you do get to return home and accomplish what you left behind before coming here. Not that I'm wishing you away or anything, for the record."

Just in case the Singularity has any ideas, and since it's more that he understands the importance of leaving in the midst of an inopportune time. A beat goes by and then, with a smirk, since he's teasing and well aware this is prodding a bit at a sore point from past talks though it's something Claude's been glad to learn otherwise on, he adds: "If it helps, I'm glad to have been mostly wrong about all assassins being the same. You've proven that wrong and then some."

[aquilus]

He understands the tempered well wishes, and truly returns them himself. Does he wish to return home, do what he needs to do? Certainly. Does he wish to go home today? That's a more difficult question.

"I'm glad to have done that as well." His smile turns into something like a crooked grin tinged with frustration and he lets out a small huff. "Were we able to travel to other worlds freely, I think I would like to visit yours. It would give me the opportunity to instruct such men on what an Assassin truly is."

[godshattering]

"I'd take that in an instant," he answers with a laugh, "and not just because it'd benefit me though that certainly doesn't hurt. You'd be doing everyone a service by making a clear divide between them and mercenaries, though I'd be tempted to keep that knowledge for myself."

For his own benefit beyond that, that is, since he could do with a few assassins of Altaïr's caliber on his side for all those challenges to take on in the future. But unless Viktor manages to figure out the summoning spell as he's alluded to more often over the past few months, it'll have to be a dream.

"I'm certain that we could find all sorts of trouble to get up to there as well, and far less involving any churches. Something more along the lines of adventure since there's more than just Fodlan to explore and plenty of tall buildings to climb along with it."