[Video]

[secondborn]

[Alastair is sitting on a roof, looking out at the city. He has a couple of blades next to him. It looks like he might have been in the process of sharpening them when he took a break.]

The change of seasons here is pretty dramatic, isn't it? One moment we still have green, the next...

[He nods out to the suddenly awe-inspiring fall colors of the trees.]

Did it happen like this before? I'm ashamed to say I didn't notice if it did, I was... [He wets his lips and ducks his head a moment,] ...preoccupied. [Preoccupied with being corrupted. Oops.

He lifts his head and smiles.]

Regardless, it's lovely, even if it's a bit sudden. Back home... [A distant sort of look comes over his face as he remembers.] Back home it was always very slow. There was never any one day you could say "now is the end of summer," because when things were Balanced, or at least close to it, it was a slow transition from one season to the next. Maybe our seasons were longer, it's hard to tell.

[He sighs deeply and is quiet for a long moment, then smiles again.]

There's beauty in the world, everywhere. Sometimes it's hard to find it, but every now and then you have to stop and look around and remind yourself why you're fighting.

[His grin turns sheepish and he shakes his head.]

It may seem silly, and believe me, I sound a little ridiculous to myself sometimes, but do me a favor and take a moment out of your day to just appreciate the beauty around you, and remember the beauty of home.

Comments

[pushesgently]

[Altaïr doesn't say it, but he's glad that Alastair can speak of his home, even if it's just about the seasons. Grief can have away of locking away part of a man's soul, but he doesn't want to see it happen here.]

You don't sound at all ridiculous.

[secondborn]

[His smile is one of relief.]

Well that's good to hear.

[pushesgently]

In my homeland, I think it was somewhere between the seasons here and those you knew—a slower transition, but eventually a great difference. It was harder to appreciate the beauty of the height of summer.

[secondborn]

It can be, sometimes.

[He lets out a sigh and smiles slightly.]

Tell me more?

[The question is almost childlike in its simple curiosity.]

[video; private]

[daddyissues]

...do you need another hug?

[video; private]

[secondborn]

[He looks a little startled for a moment, then smiles a little and shakes his head.]

Well... okay I won't refuse one, but I'm fine, I promise.

Re: [video; private]

[daddyissues]

Just checking. You sounded sad for a stretch of that.

[ Which is to be expected, really. Lots of Travelers got homesick reminiscing... Alastair really had a reason to be upset thinking about home. If he really was fine, Connor was glad he was able to remember it and be okay. ]

You're right, though. It's important to remember what we're fighting to save.

permanon;

[blackhand]

[Welllllll consider this a compliment- Garrett doesn't usually do chitchat answers unless they have a point for him. So good job, Alastair.]

Hard to tell the seasons back home, sometimes. Unless it's summer or winter, the other two are almost exactly the same.

text

[secondborn]

[YESSSSS not that he knows. Whatever.]

That's interesting. There's really no difference between them?

[blackhand]

Other than temperature, not really. It rains a lot in both cases. Summer is humid to the point of leaving windows open at night and having parties that last into the early morning. Winter usually has rain, though sometimes it gets cold enough to snow.

It's not my favorite season.

Video

[everysecond]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Then she grins.]

That was cheesy as hell.

Video

[secondborn]

[He grins and rolls his eyes.]

Thanks, Riley.

Video

[everysecond]

Always happy to provide.

[grandsassmaster]

I personally do not find your words ridiculous at all. One should appreciate the beauty that surrounds them even if only for a moment.

[secondborn]

[He nods.]

Thank you. It's... reassuring to find I'm not the only one. I'd be concerned if it were otherwise.

[grandsassmaster]

Considering the various houses here, I would be surprised if no one agreed with your words. Though, there isn't much cause for concern since there is always someone who feels as you do somewhere.

voice.

[truegood]

I have not seen winter for a very long time. It's almost refreshing, even knowing Summer will return once more.

voice.

[secondborn]

[Oh now that's interesting.]

So then the cycle of seasons is longer, where you come from?

voice.

[truegood]

Yes, something of that sort. We have enjoyed a long, nine year summer.

[Video]

[comeonthensexy]

It's easy to forget, I suppose.

[Video]

[secondborn]

[He nods, his smile a little sad.]

It can be. I wish it weren't.

[Video]

[comeonthensexy]

The older you get, the harder it is. A child always wonders.

[daistanbul]

[A minute later, Yusuf's face pops up on video.]

It was not this fast at home, either. Though when I was barely a man, you could tell when the seasons had changed by waking up shivering or in a cold sweat.

[Especially when you were living with your group of fellow thieves on the streets. But he leaves that part out.]

Istanbul has the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I would often climb just to get a better view. The city really came alive then, when it was washed in so many colors. And then you would hear the ezan ring out over the entire city... it was a beautiful moment.

[secondborn]

That sounds beautiful... but what is the ezan?

[daistanbul]

Ah, it is a call to prayer for those who practice Islam. I am not religious myself, but many are in Constantinople. [He shrugs.] Still, it was comforting to hear just as the city was waking up and just as the city was falling asleep. And three times in between.