There Are Always Smiles

[madimpossibledreamer]

Know that you were all enablers and I wasn’t planning on just taking this concept and running with it, thank you. I also actually went in and created him as one of my character slots in game and got the controller working for the game (thanks Steam controller settings) and yes, I was able to get him a hoodie, if not in his beloved white, and even the lip scar, though it might be on the wrong side. 90% of his expressions thus far have been confusion or ‘this is weird’ which means I’ve done a good job portraying his reaction thus far (and yeah, it’s the same with every character, but also). He also really, really wanted the most obnoxious sunglasses available in-game, which made me go….yep this is Desmond.
Also he’s managing to find quests and info that aren’t even there in the normal game so?? Like I said, most of the small shops are closed for players, but, like, he might actually figure out what’s behind that guarded door, for one thing. It’s all very wild.

Main Points:
Assassin's Creed/The Secret World
Summary: Desmond decides to test one of Shaun's theories.
Word Count: 2719
Rating: Teen

 

         Desmond isn’t going to try to sneak into Templar Hall, no matter how tempting it’d be. They’re being polite enough right now, but yeah, if he does something suspicious he’s pretty sure all the hospitality they’re showing will disappear instantly, and he wouldn’t even blame them. Ezio would’ve done the same thing. Shaun assures Desmond he’s working on some sort of explanation of everything, including the other sentient species of the world, but it’s probably taking a while because it probably has to be run past someone who can check off ‘not giving away too much to a rival group’. He’s very apologetic about it and glares a lot when Desmond says he understands, because apparently that’s something he’s supposed to be mad about. Like there’s not a ton of red tape, probably, in the way.
         He’s getting a little restless, though. Instead of climbing the buildings and putting his still not-so-well-hidden watchers on edge, he decides to do something else reckless that will probably make his friends worried, and that is go and poke the Morninglight people and hope they do something that gives them away.
         They’re very friendly and nice when they greet him. Their smiles look genuine and not just that retail smile, but that, too, is an art. “You looked a little lost. New to London?”
         “Yeah, I felt like a change.” That’s probably showing them vulnerability, but hey, this is half a fishing expedition; he needs to use some kind of bait.
         “Oh, London is definitely the place for something new, but don’t hesitate to come to us for help! It’s easy to get lost when you’re new to the country.” They recommend the fish & chips place and also one of the closed restaurants, which was still closed the other day when he walked past again.
         “A friend of mine was right; fish & chips is definitely better ‘on this side of the pond’. I thought that the other place only takes reservations, though.”
         At this point, the woman, who’d previously only been listening, interrupts and blusters some sob story about the owner having a sickly mother in the countryside, so they’re unable to keep regular hours. It might even have the advantage of being completely true, but it’s also definitely a front for the Morninglight.
         Maybe it’s the definite touches of religion. Desmond hadn’t had much of an opinion on the subject before. When he’d been homeless, it’d been equal odds that a church would welcome him with open arms or treat him like the spawn of Satan, so he’d learned to ask around before seeking shelter on the coldest nights. Then, the more he learned about the Isu and Templars, the less and less inclined he’d been to be religious.
         Honestly, it could go either way. They could just be a spiritual self-help group. Some of the people at the bars he’d worked at had seemed like self-help, at the very least, could legitimately help people, depending on the advice and who was offering it. But yeah, they absolutely could be a cult, particularly with the way they, well.
         They don’t feel red, that’s the thing, but they’re not white and they’re definitely not blue, and they’re also not important enough to be gold, and it’s making his mind feel itchy standing next to them. He ignores the urge to fidget, though, continuing to make conversation as he tries to pin it down exactly.
         They know exactly what to say, or, well, they think they do. Because they’re offering what anyone new and a little overwhelmed from such a big move overseas would want—help with getting a job, making friends, finding a place to stay, all that jazz. Drinking buddies, even. He doesn’t say that he’s already got that covered. Instead, he casually mentions he plays guitar, and they trip over themselves trying to tell him he’s not the only one, there’s a new girl who’s learning the violin, and they’d love to hear him play.
         It’s...maybe a lighter red, or something? Red by proxy. He’s not so much seeing it as feeling it. He tries to squint with Eagle Vision, under which they look like just very vague greyish outlines, which is weird and uncanny and he quickly throws himself back into normal vision because that is anything but normal. It’s possible his eyes haven’t adjusted to whatever changes the little girl asserted happened, or maybe there’s just something very wrong here. They don’t have bad intentions themselves, but they’re just puppets, even if they don’t actually realize that. They’re not acting on their own; they’re following orders.
         “It’s kind of silly, but since the whole personality test buzz online we decided to get in on the action with a little test of our own. Don’t feel obligated; we know we’ve already taken enough of your time…” the leader mentions casually, and, hmm.
         Okay. Magic exists, and this could definitely be some sort of trap. On the other hand, he doesn’t want to just walk away here, he’s got some sort of power he needs to test a little more, and if worst comes to worst, he’s pretty sure at this point Shaun and Rebecca would at least attempt a rescue operation, so sure, he’s game. “Lay it on me,” he states boldly with one of his most charismatic smiles, and she points him to the laptop they have set up in their little tent. The Morninglight Personality Test announces itself very cheerfully and says ‘let’s analyze your true being’ which isn’t suspicious at all.
         It starts by asking him about his attitude toward plastic cutlery, which stuns him for all of a moment. The leader tells him not to worry about it too much and just pick the answers that stick out to him; it’s just for fun, so he laughs and nods and turns his attention back to the options. He’d basically collected a set over the years and used it over and over, so convenient is the one that stands out the most to him. Not ineffective; he can say that for sure, cheap, yeah, but that’s the point, and marvel...well, kinda, but he hadn’t really put that much thought into it, just that it worked.
         The second question is what he’d most rather not do, which is probably fishing for some kind of vulnerabilities and/or what kind of group activities might draw him in—writing poetry, joining a book club, going to a psychiatrist, or going to a baseball game. He’d written poetry of sorts over the years, composing a song or two for the guitar. He wasn’t particularly good, with the lyrics part anyway, but he had fun, which was the point, and he’d never had aspirations to be the best. It’d been a little cathartic, even, to do something imperfectly and be totally okay with that. A book club could be interesting, especially as he hadn’t gotten a chance to read all that much. He’d picked up one here and there, when he could, but it’s not like he’s ever had too much in the way of disposable income, and he’d always had a half-feeling at home half-paranoid reaction to public libraries. It’d be interesting to talk about that kind of thing with other people. Psychiatrist, probably, because what the hell would they even do for him? He’s heard baseball games are boring, but he’d never gotten a chance to go, so it’d at least have novelty for it. Yeah, the psychiatrist. (Especially as if he mentioned the ‘died and traveled between worlds’ part, even to one who knew about vampires and secret wars or whatever, he’s pretty sure that would get him some inaccurate labels and medication he doesn’t need at the very least. He’d rather that go to someone it could actually help.)
         The last time he cried, with the answers week, month, year, and can’t remember. Last week, pretty publicly too, but it probably would serve as good bait—will they call him out on it? He decides to choose ‘past year’, because before that, it probably was one of the times he was Bleeding. They don’t say anything to him, which, sadly, doesn’t tell him anything. They could either be trying not to let on that they’ve been creepily watching, or they legitimately have no idea. That’s kind of disappointing. Keep it together; they’re not even the bigwigs here. They’ll probably report to someone who’ll report it to someone like Vidic, who will give orders to someone like Cross, if they decide it’s worth it.
         Besides, the next question might be another trap in of itself. The city he most wants to visit, yikes. They start with Tokyo, then Montreal, Warsaw, and Bangkok. Wait—this probably isn’t a random list, is it? If it really is a cult, then they probably have branches in those cities, which is why they’re asking, just in case he gets recruited and wants to go elsewhere. Montreal rings some kind of bell, and he’s worrying he’s giving too much away by saying Tokyo, but he’s sure there’s something interesting there and the others don’t feel gold and he’s kind of doing this as bait, anyway, so he reluctantly goes for Tokyo.
         The city he’d least like to visit, same list. Uh. Well, Connor interacted with a few French traders and the like, so he knows a little French, so probably wouldn’t be completely out of place in Montreal. And he likes Thai food, so...Warsaw?
         Next, yeah, this is another vulnerability question, what makes him the most anxious. First day of new job...nah, he’s had a few through the years and that wasn’t really a problem. Waiting in line for a rollercoaster...maybe that one. It feels a little too open and it’d be too easy to get stabbed. Asking a stranger for their number, again, no, he’s done that in the past, he was a bartender for chrissakes. Making a speech at a wedding. He...kind of can’t envision actually being close enough to anyone who might get married in the near future, so can’t imagine getting anxious about that, so rollercoaster it is. He’s probably putting too much thought into this, but he’s genuinely curious how ‘accurate’ this personality test is and if it’s using magic or whatever.
         Where do you see yourself in five years? Dead, ouch, did not need to bring that up, too early, thanks, exactly where he is now, probably not? He’s pretty sure he’ll actually be doing stuff and having something to go on by then. Exactly where he wants to be...no? He doesn’t really have aspirations on that account. So probably ‘I can’t imagine’.
         Oh, yeah, and here’s the temptation question, making people anxious and then vulnerable and then probably give them promises. Which of the following would most interest you—power over language, visual beauty, obscene wealth. It’s easy to think of the Apple for this one, and it’s almost immediate to choose ‘I want none of it’. Thanks. Wishes like that are never granted without a price, and he’s...well, not personally, but he’s lived through being able to end the lives of those who would seek it.
         Huh, this is a familiar one, though usually the online quizzes you just take for fun and for something to talk about with patrons have it at the beginning, only with a twist. It’s not his favorite color, it’s the color that best represents his inner self, supposedly. White, orange, black, blue. Again, just going off initial impressions...he’s really partial to white, isn’t he. Though that might just be an Assassin thing.
         He’s slightly startled when it speaks up again. Apparently, he’d reached the end. “Thank you for participating. Your data is now on record forever.” ...Uh, that’s not creepy at all.
         And then it hops to the result screen: You are burdened with secrets. You feel that you cannot trust those you work for, that they ask too much and give nothing in return. No warmth. No light. No love. This isolates you from your fellows and, in time, begins to isolate you from yourself. You must break the wall of silence. You must speak up and tell us everything. You must learn what it means to be free.
         ...huh.
         Everything stops, greying out for a second, like it did when he was Altaïr, or Ezio, or Connor. But no one’s dead, which probably means this is just another ability from the Isu that got overjuiced somewhere in the transition. He feels rather than sees the images, his dad, running away, being so sure that he’d just been part of a cult that never loved him, never cared for him as more than a tool, then learning the truth and all the things that he couldn’t say and definitely can’t say now, and he’s doing his best, but he does still feel some distance between himself, Shaun, and Rebecca—
         There it is again, one of those deafening eagle screeches, and he’s right back in it again like he’d never left. They don’t even notice. So, yeah, he can pretty much confirm that probably was some kind of magic, and there’s something else, too. It feels kinda familiar, like what he’d done when he was trying not to be seen by the Illuminati. Which probably means that’s some kind of Apple-like persuasion thing. Which is honestly kind of what he was afraid of, but he’s going to try not to use it unless he has to.
         Maybe it shouldn’t surprise him. The creepy little girl—wait had she been an actual dragon—nope, he’s putting that crisis off until later, thank you. She’d said something about his powers, not just his Eagle Vision, and she hadn’t been wrong yet, so yeah, he probably should’ve seen this coming.
         It does explain why no one’s sure they’re actually a cult, though. They’re all looking for flashy brainwashing magic. Something small that just entices you to pay attention, to listen, to keep an open mind, that’s probably really subtle, really easy to fly under the radar, and sometimes that’s just what you need.
         They hand him a pamphlet. He thanks them and wanders into the park, obviously reading it, wondering if they’ll bite or not and try to follow him in or not. It’s at least a little more out of the way than the street, so they might be slightly more likely to try to nab him.
         It’s the average cliché pamphlet—what makes you human is spirituality, humans have the unique ability to change from within, blah blah blah, to reach the next level of existence is human, which seems kind of contradictory to Desmond, because wouldn’t you stop being human at that point, but then he spots a line that makes him really uneasy. ‘Humanity is chained. To old prejudices, old fears, old institutions.’ Because he can absolutely see those words coming from Altaïr. Damn, was Shaun actually right about the Morninglight? Was there actually an Assassin connection there, had they perverted Altaïr’s work—
         No, Desmond, calm. Show them I’m upset, and I blow it. It doesn’t feel like I’m being watched, but still.
         There’s no sign of Isu, so, logically, maybe Altaïr had never been born, or at least, never been the great Mentor. Altaïr didn’t have a monopoly over atheism, and it’s far from impossible for groups to go off the rails over the years—just look at Al-Mualim. Then again, This-World Desmond still had existed—at one point anyway—so maybe Altaïr had existed after all, and he’s just going to be going in circles at this rate. He can look into that and his dad later, though honestly there might not be any answers to find, at this point. He’s not sure whether that’d be better or worse.
         Right now, he knows a couple of things. It doesn’t matter if the rest have lost their way, he’s gonna hold the line and protect humanity, and this time, he’ll do his best to find something that doesn’t involve him dying. He’s gonna define what being an Assassin means to him, just like those before him. He doesn’t like the line that mentions the Morninglight is going to ‘change the world and reach for the sun’. And he is absolutely going to follow them when they leave.