A few hours into the--

[theflyingone]

We need to wear as much leather as possible.

[ Altaïr's voice is urgent but quiet as he Livestreams. Heavy metal music plays on the speakers inside a clothing store, masking his conversation as he examines some leather jackets. ]

There is to be some sort of competition. This is what some of the bands of warriors look like. [ He pointed to a poster on the wall of a biker. ] You may have seen them working in the clearing. It would be good to protect ourselves in similar leathers. It will be more difficult to blend in on this Jaunt. It seems everyone is human, with no strange powers.

I have found shops where we may purchase leathers. Most of it is inferior, but I can help you find something that will protect you. Meet me in the city. [ He unfolds a map of Santa Carlita and points to downtown. ]

...If you intend to ride the large carriage, get on it quickly. It does not wait.

[ ooc: shopping toplevel here ]

Comments

[theflyingone]

They are very loud, and more powerful than a crossbow. More destructive. They have to be wielded with care, especially when there are innocent people around. I had an overlay who preferred to hunt with a crossbow despite being from around this time.

[ He supposed now was not the best time to tell her his future self would construct a similarly small gun—not that he would ever talk about the Codex on the Psychic Network anyway. ]

[givetheslip]

And here I thought you lost all sense every time you lost yourself. Pity you don't have a crossbow now.

[Not that she's seen anything that would indicate the need for one. But she can't imagine any Assassin being more comfortable without a weapon.]

[theflyingone]

Yes, his crossbow was very nice.... [ he says wistfully. ]

My overlays have been mostly intelligent, [ he protests. Mostly. ]

[givetheslip]

Mostly?

[She'd like to hear about the ones who weren't.]

[theflyingone]

[ Come on Maria, don't put his overlays on blast over the Network.... He doesn't even trust the Network when conversations are privated, as locks can be broken. He decides to go with something safe that is in his Jaunt summary in the library anyway. ]

One of them was arrested for defacing buildings.

[ To him, the embarrassment came not from doing graffiti, but from getting caught. ]

[givetheslip]

Did he? That's shocking.

[Knowing him as she does, their thoughts run along similar paths.]

The first part, I mean. Defacing buildings is new, but I'm more surprised you were caught.

[theflyingone]

He is not me. [ A mantra he occasionally has to repeat even to himself. ] He was a young student with few cares. Most of his skills were learned for fun. Oh, except for being an artisan. That he actually intended to make a trade of.

[ Atos had his share of cares, including the fear of being quarantined away from his family forever, but compared to the Assassin lifestyle, his life was blessedly uneventful. ]

[givetheslip]

Of course it wasn't.

[Maria isn't placating him. She believes her own words; they're why she objects so strongly to the overlays. People lose themselves.

But it doesn't make her incapable of finding amusement in his description. She's only human.]

And do you think he would have been successful, if he'd had a real life to live and not a temporary false one? Artistic tendencies are something you and he have in common.

[theflyingone]

He was better than me, and had friends who made books that he could illustrate. Connections to important people as well. As long as he doesn't keep getting himself arrested, I am sure he could make something of himself. Whatever his faults, he worked hard.

[givetheslip]

Then he isn't so different from you after all. I've never met anyone who worked harder.

[theflyingone]

...Thank you. It is important to me.

[ It means a lot, coming from her. Considering she has to remind him to take his meals, it may not be a compliment, but he savors it anyway. ]

[givetheslip]

I only speak the truth. You can trust that I'll never give you anything else.

[theflyingone]

That sounds like something Malik would say. Both a good friend's assurance and an ominous promise.

[givetheslip]

[She laughs.]

Malik and I have a surprising amount in common.

[theflyingone]

No wonder you get along. At my expense.

[givetheslip]

Are you saying you don't deserve it?

[theflyingone]

That depends on who one talks to, and you have a biased opinion.

[givetheslip]

Yet my opinion may be the most informed.