[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

[daistanbul]

... your world is gone?

[It makes Yusuf tense just thinking about it. To think of the Assassins gone... of Istanbul gone... is just inconceivable. It hurts far worse in his heart to think of the world he fought for being gone than it is being dead.]

I cannot imagine what you are feeling, kardeşim. I know my words are worth little, but I am... sorry. But for the gods to bring you here on top of that, and make you fight their war when you have lost so much? It is almost cruel.

I suppose I will go to the afterlife, assuming there is one. When I arrived, I thought Asgard was the afterlife. I was quickly proven wrong, but it would be nice to stay here. The gods have said it is impossible though, no?

[He stays in silence for a moment, debating whether he should ask this at all, but... to hell with it.]

May I ask you a favor, friend?

[secondborn]

It's gone, yes. And the gods can hardly be held at fault for something they can barely control as it is. I was already here, truth be told. In a way, I never left. It's a little complicated to explain.

[He sighs, quiet for a moment.]

Ask your favor.

[daistanbul]

My understanding of gods in Istanbul has been that they were... infallible, omnipotent. To find that is not the case here is troubling. But my heart goes out to them for it. I can only offer my blade and hope that more worlds are not sent to the same fate.

Complicated, perhaps, but I will try to follow along if you wish to explain. I will take your word either way.

[Falling silent so often is very uncharacteristic of Yusuf, even in the worst of times, but it's difficult for him to ask this of anyone. Still, if he can not trust one of the Order, who can he trust?]

Don't tell Ezio. [It's said with worry, nervousness, as if he thinks that Alastair will think less of him for his request.] He has enough to worry about as it is. I do want to tell him myself, but... only when the time is right.

... in truth, I fear telling him that I failed more. Not when he and the gods need me for this. Hitting a blade with a jagged stone will do nothing for its sharpness, if you catch my meaning.

[secondborn]

[Alastair listens carefully, then nods.]

If you don't want me to, then I won't. But you'll have to talk to Desmond, too.

[Since. Well. If it's a part of Ezio's life, Desmond will probably know about it.]

[daistanbul]

[Yusuf has heard only a little about Desmond's situation, but it is enough to make him nod in agreement.]

I will try. I only hope he did not mention my death to Ezio when I met him... though I doubt Ezio would have kept his knowledge from me if he knew.

[A pause, then:]

Thank you. I suppose I... how do you say it... "owe you one"?

[secondborn]

[He shakes his head.]

You don't owe me anything. But you should consider telling him. As painful as it will be, I think he would prefer to know rather than having it kept from him.

[daistanbul]

[He gives another solemn nod.] I will certainly consider telling him soon. Just not now. Not when the brotherhood has more important things to worry about.

[Because everything else is more important than he is, shhhh.]

... what do you think will happen when this war ends, then? Will the gods find a way to keep you and I here? Or will they send you to another world entirely and send me back to my death?

[secondborn]

[He shakes his head again, quiet for a long moment.]

I don't know. I hope for the best, but... [He sighs deeply.] I have to be prepared for the possibility that nothing is left for me but the void.