On his username. Spoilers in comments is possible.

[them_apples]

Really, Mundane, I suppose now you must think yourself clever. Truth be told, I've met many who thought similar things of themselves.

[A thoughtful pause, and then he's adding on rather casually.]

Perhaps it would interest you to know that it never quite ended well for any of them. A fair warning, I suppose.

Comments

[regretzio]

[strum]

♪ Though beforehand several clues are present
It turns out them apples are unpleasant :( ♪

[them_apples]

As many seem to think so. My Mundane was rather miffed, as I recall.

[ghostintheanimus]

Nothing's fair about a

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[them_apples]

A traitor? I'd hardly consider myself such. To be fair, I was never a true Assassin to begin with.

[ghostintheanimus]

That's not ^fair either!

Who'd you steal that blade from?

[them_apples]

From an acquaintance. The first time we met, he and I were able to part ways on rather good terms, I daresay. [He pats his arm.] That was when I received this. Quite handy, I must say.

[ghostintheanimus]

That's not for y̬our kind. You have knives of your own.

[them_apples]

[And he smiles a little too pleasantly for the implications that follow:]

Perhaps you would like to take it from me then?

[ghostintheanimus]

[Hah! He wins!]

You can't kill me! I'm alr^eady dead!

[nationless]

I would be surprised if you did not think such things of yourself.

... For any of whom?

[them_apples]

Well, I am Grand Master of the Colonial Rites for a reason, son. [Doesn't mean he likes it, per se. It's simply his duty.]

And for nobody you know of. It's nothing you ought to be concerned with. They themselves no longer are, after all.

[nationless]

And so I am not surprised. [ Yeah, Connor's just going to give dad an Ugh Templars look. Because Ugh Templars. ]

I hope you understand how that is not comforting.

[them_apples]

It wasn't supposed to be. Did that old man not teach you that battles are also fought with words and gestures? Seems both you and my mundane could do with a better education.

[nationless]

He said as much, but I do not think even he liked the sound of his own voice quite as much as you do, Father.

[them_apples]

Perhaps if he did, the Colonial Brotherhood might not have fallen as it did.

[But who's to say? If's and but's were never things he dwelled long on.]

[nationless]

[ Connor... doesn't actually have a comeback for that. RUDE, HAYTHAM. ] Enough. I will find out for myself, if you won't say.

[them_apples]

[Haytham: 1 Connor: 0

But now he's heaving a sigh. Stubborn and steadfast, Connor. Like your mother.]

Edward Braddock, Louis Mills... I suppose Silas Thatcher fits the description also. See? All men I don't expect you to have known.

[nationless]

... I have heard of Silas Thatcher. [ One of the men from the stone villages that would steal Kanien'keha:ka from the forest. Ziio sent so much time arguing with the Clan Mother about the dangers turning a blind eye to men like him, when Connor was still young. ] He was a slaver. [ His nose wrinkles, suspicious. ] You knew him?

[them_apples]

I helped end his reign. [Spoken firmly, as if intending to erase all traces of doubt.] To free those he sought to sell as slaves.

That was the day I met your mother.

[nationless]

[ Connor seems sufficiently humbled by that, and he glances down and away for a second. ] Oh. [ Sometimes the things Achilles teaches him of the Templars are at odds with things he hears from his father, and he has to remind himself that Haytham wields words more dangerously than most men wield swords. Still, it gives him a moments pause. ] ... She did not speak of you often.

[them_apples]

[Connor's last statement is enough to rouse Haytham's interest. She may not have spoken of him, but did she think of him as he did of her? Haytham allows himself the briefest of moments to ponder the idea before he deems it too fanciful and discards it.] I expected as much, truth be told. [They didn't quite part on the nicest of terms, after all. In fact, they didn't part nicely at all...]

Might I ask what she did say? [It's just because he's curious. That's all.]

[nationless]

[ Connor frowns, looking back up to watch the lines of Haytham's face. The question rankles him even though he was the one to bring it up. He's a bit protective of that time, of what life was before Charles Lee, but he swallows it.

Haytham hadn't been the one to give that order. ] ... Only that you were Templar.

[them_apples]

[Yes, perhaps he ought to have seen that one coming too, and his smile tightens. Only that he was a Templar. Does Haytham dare risk telling Connor of his roots as an Assassin? That maybe a chance to unite the two factions possibly existed? What would it change? Not much. Not enough.

In the end, he decides against it.]

Only that I am a Templar. [He repeats, folding his hands behind his back.] Well, needless to say that you took her words to heart.

[nationless]

[ If only he knew Connor argued with Achilles for that very alliance, if only he hadn't wanted Charles Lee's death so badly, if only it hadn't meant more to him than the possibility of reconciliation.

But if only doesn't mean much and, Connor's eyes narrow. Haytham always gets under his skin so quickly. He sees the shift in expression, and his shoulders set in defiance. ] It is not as though she was not telling the truth. [ He's just being petulant, now. ]

[them_apples]

And she likely would have given you a spanking if you saw it as anything but.

[A jest made at the worst possible time, to a boy too naive.]

[nationless]

Unlike your lot, she did not react violently to those who do not share her opinions. [ Says the man who straight up murdered most of Haytham's lot....... ]

[them_apples]

[He may just bring that up, actually.]

Oh? Tell that to my dead men, won't you? Johnson, Pitcairn and Hickey to name but a few. I suppose they all just... happened to fall over and meet an untimely demise purely by accident.

[nationless]

[ Heatedly, because no one likes having their own hypocrisy pointed out to them: ] I only did that because I had to.

[them_apples]

Oh yes, of course. You had to. In the name of freedom, wasn't it? Have we not had this conversation before, Connor? [His next words are spoken slowly, resolutely:] Freedom invites chaos.

can i just say your haytham is amazing omg

[nationless]

[ If anything, that makes Connor's tone more aggressive. He loves freedom so much he'd marry it. ] I would gladly take that over your... "order." Over a few men who decide what is best for all and force them to accept it.

sobbing thank you so much! I love threading with your Connor!

[them_apples]

[And that aggression is mirrored in Haytham, though certainly to a lesser extent; he knows better than to let his emotions get the better of him. This is one of many differences between himself and Connor.] We provide purpose. Direction. Something the populace can truly grasp. People are weak, boy. If not you and I, then those you aim to free. Without guidance, they fall victim to idiots like the King.

ahh TY if you ever want to play him somewhere you should consider Haven, i'm sending Connor there c:

[nationless]

[ Connor looks like he wants to start shouting, but he manages to reign himself in at the last second, with a good deal of effort. Instead his voice is low and accusatory. (Alright, and a tad self-righteous.) ] You are wrong. They are not lesser than either of us - or your men. They wish to be free of those like the King, that much they have already decided.

I may be tempted at some point. ;;

[them_apples]

And what then? After they have gained this prize, what is to keep these people from turning upon one another, seeking personal gain over the greater good?

[And with that, Haytham backs off with a quiet sigh, half raising both hands almost defensively. He knows Connor will not be easy to persuade, at least not with mere words.]

Look, it would seem you nor I possess the resources to convince the other, and at this rate, we could argue all day and be exactly where we began. I don't know about you, but time and effort are not virtues I would see wasted.

yesss come to the dark side!!

[nationless]

[ After a tense moment, Connor's shoulders relax slightly enough that it's apparent he's capitulating. Even though it feels like he's letting Haytham get the last word in. ] ... Fine. Then what would you speak of, that is not a waste of time?

I shall have to look into it!

[them_apples]

[That's when Haytham actually appears to stumble slightly. Between the two of them and their respective experiences, what is there to talk about?]

Well, for starters, you can tell me how you came to own your own ship.

[Even the Grand Master of the Colonial Rites doesn't have one...]

it's over at havenrpg.dreamwidth.org! C:

[nationless]

I only Captain it when necessary. It belongs to Achilles. Or Mr. Faulkner, I am... unsure. [ He wrinkles his nose, thinking. ] Though I financed its repairs with money from traders on the homestead, so I suppose it belongs to all of them, a little. [ Your son is some kind of hippie, Haytham. ]