Things Fall Apart( for bladeinthecrowd)

[blindingtrust]

It had started a while ago in Gotham. At least for Cedric and Ivy it had. Now dog and owner were separated. Cedric had found his way into the Nexus. For him it wasn't very hard. For a dog he was both fairly smart and held a decent memory. He was looking and sniffing around for someone who he deemed 'nice'.

And of course Altair was nice. He would probably pat Cedric. And notice the fairly fresh blood matted into his upper shoulder and the stains around his muzzle. He had been in a tussle and was seeking attention because right now Ivy was in no shape to stick her nose out and notice he had been beaten up a bit too. After all Cedric would never willingly let any harm come to Ivy. She was the nice lady who fed him and took such good care of him after all.

(( OOC NOTE: This is for future ploty fun times for anyone who happens to be following this. In Gotham that is.))

Comments

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaїr was used to unexpectedly traversing to the Nexus by now. Still, he'd probably never loose his vivid fascination with the how quick the transfer was--and relatively easy. One minute home, the next... not. Nor would he ever get used to the wide-ranging multitude of landscapes, and differences in, well, everything.

Of course, he was stoic and quiet as ever as he wandered the gray, paved streets. He paused a moment and that was when Cedric found the Assassin. Altaїr glanced down as the wet touch of the dog's nose on his hand. His first reaction was to simply shoo the animal away, but Altaїr recognized the dog before he got around to it. Hesitating, the Assassin glanced around.

"Where is your master, faithful one?" Altaїr asked Cedric, fully aware the dog couldn't actually verbally answer him. He didn't spot Ivy and immediately knew something was wrong. He glanced again at the dog and noticed the signs of altercation on his fur. "," the Assassin whispered beneath his breath. He repeated his question to the dog, more insistent, "Where is Ivy, Cedric?"

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Cedric is a very faithful dog. Knowing exactly what Ivy needs right now. She needs another human being even though she has locked herself away in the bathroom. He just knows and just knew to wander until this sort thing happened.

Cedric gives a low whine and turns and starts to walk slowly. Towards a door that was partly open. It actually would lead right into Ivy's home. He turns his massive head and gives a low bark to get Altair to follow him. He even noses at the door as if to let Altair know he was to follow him this way.

Cedric doesn't pay much more attention and keeps walking. Ivy's home is to put it simply nice but a little much for one person. And almost everything here is older than she is. It's the problem with inheriting a house and everything in it practically. But at least Cedric is going right for the closed door Ivy has shut herself behind. She can be heard shuffling around and cursing softly as something gets knocked over and she can be heard sinking to the floor.

"Oh fuck fuck fuckfuck!" Yeah, that's Ivy. Just a little foul mouthed right now. And for the record the door is locked but it's an older lock. Some applied force, even just a little, would force it open.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaїr followed Cedric with little objection. He did pause just inside the door, however, and glanced back at the Nexus behind him. He knew this place behind the door was different. That was quite obvious. He glanced back and had to assume it was where Ivy lived. Or worked. Or some place in between or whatnot. The point was, Ivy was here and Altaїr continued to move forward as the dog led the way.

He kept a sharp eye on his surroundings. It was second nature. Between his training and his natural curiosity about the new place, he caught most of the details in his mind's eye for later contemplation. Subconsciously he recognized this place as old and expensive and classy; consciously he mostly noted its large size and cluttered rooms. (He thought it was cluttered, especially for a blind woman.)

The Assassin walked up to the door and placed his left hand on the smooth wood. "Ivy?" he called out softly, perhaps too softly to be heard. He glanced down at the doorknob curiously and jiggled the handle with his right hand. Locked.

"Ivy," he called out a bit louder, but still inexcusably soft. He pressed against the door lightly, feeling its weight. Then, without hesitation, he slipped his left hand to the knob and with a pneumatic gesture there was a shink sound and then the door opened easily as he turned the doorknob with his right hand. The hidden blade slipped back into place as Altaїr slipped quietly into the room. There was no reason to harm the door more than necessary, the Assassin reasoned.

He glanced around, uncertain of these new surroundings, but spotted Ivy easily enough in a corner. He walked half way to her and halted. He doubted she heard him despite her keen hearing, at least after the doorknob trick; he really needed to remember to make some noise with his footfalls but it was so natural not to. He made a bit of noise, stayed his distance so as not to get hit, and called her name again.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

She hadn't heard him in here until she had heard the bit of noise he had made after he was in the down stairs bathroom with her. She had nearly hit the back of her head against the pale tiling on the wall behind her head. Her coat was on the floor too along with her shoes. Her cane though is just out of reach which might be good for him.

Her face turns in his direction and Atlair will be met by a colorful display of bruising on the side of one face. It looks like she did fight back though because there is a cut across her knuckles on her right hand. But alas her pants have fallen victim to whatever had happened. There's a tear up one leg and her knee looks a little banged up.

If there are any other injuries they might not be obvious or her clothing is doing good job of covering it up. But there won't be any broken bones for the blind woman here.

"Who is it?" Ivy's voice is sharp. Harsh sounding in it's own way. But Ivy right now is absolutely terrified. Her nerves are still twitching and her heart hasn't stopped pounding. She's expecting the worst.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaїr wisely kept his distance despite his want to step forward and examine her more closely, not to mention just plain hold her in his arms. He refrained, perhaps too easily as far as effort was concerned. He stood still, silent, and stoic as he answered.

"It's Altaїr," he told the blind woman. He still kept his distance, waiting to see her recognize him and relax enough for him to approach without getting himself harmed. Not that Ivy could do him any real harm, but the effort was simply not worth it when he could just wait it out.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

It was probably for the best anyways. She would have likely tried to fight him out of fear. It would be a far too natural reaction for her in this situation. And sadly that is more likely to facilitate her getting a little more hurt.

"Oh." She sounds confused as to why he's here. Not unhappy at all just pretty much confused. "How did you get here? N-never mind. That isn't very important, I guess."

She isn't likely to try hitting him right now. But she's a little confused as to why he might be here. His presence though isn't unwelcome.

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Finally Altaїr dares to step closer. He stands next to her as he answers her question anyway. "Cedric showed me the way," he said emotionlessly. He was getting too good at hiding emotions these days. Or so he was beginning to wonder.

He knelt next to her after the words were spoken. The white-robed man began to examine Ivy's wounds with a carefully touch and keen gaze.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"Oh." Ivy was a bit surprised but it wasn't really expessed. Her voice was just pretty much subduded right now.

It was difficult for Ivy to not flinch. But she was sore and the few things that could be called actual wounds were tender. The bruises though were still fairly fresh. "I've been trying to clean up. My hands just aren't so steady right now," Ivy admits while ducking her face away feeling embaressed.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaїr knew the basics to medic care--there were plenty of times where he had to patch himself up after a deadly fight. Modern medicine, however, meant nothing to him. Here though that didn't really matter. What Ivy had lying about was plenty enough, and coincided with what little he knew anyway.

Altaїr glanced around and found the first aid supplies sitting--mostly unused it looked to him--on the counter shelf. He didn't recognize the plumbing system for what it was, naturally, and after gathering a few things in his hands, glanced back down at Ivy. "Where can I get water?" he asked.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Ivy scoots along the fllor and reaches up without standing to put the stopper in the drain in the sink then switches on the water testing it for a temprature that won't be too hot for her right now.

"Here. Um. Getting water here is much more safer than you'd expect, I suppose. " She moves her hand back down into her lap. Right now she's just going to stay on the floor. It's not uncomfortable.

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Altaїr watches her with half an expression of awe, half of pure curiosity. He's intrigued with the device, and doesn't feel any need to hide it, but he also has a task at hand. As the water fills up in the basin, he wonders if the flow will stop itself. When he doesn't appear this will be the case, he mimics Ivy's actions, at first watching the water flow gain in intensity before reciprocating the movements in the opposite direction and being satisfied with the results.

The Assassin would have preferred cold water, but in the hot land he resided, water was water and it usually didn't come cold (except when taken directly from a very deep well), so he didn't complain. He dipped a cloth in the water and then began his work on Ivy's wounds.

Some time later he finished applying his rudimentary medic skills, and stood back to observe both his work and Ivy's general well being. He cocked his head to the side and mused silently.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Ivy looks tired. At least her expression reads tired. She was still on edge though and felt like she might jump out of her own skin. The young woman looked restless too. Like she needed to do something with her hands, even if one might not be in the best shape to work with.

"I...need. I need to get out of here." Ivy moved to fetch her cane and slowly got up. It was very likely she was going to go find a place to pace around. Which one she moved past him she did just outside of the bathroom. It was clear she was upset but had no idea how to funnel her feelings.

So she began to almost stomp down the hall way. She could be pretty loud when was upset and in the walls of her own home.She was going to the study because that's where it would be easier for her to get angry in there. The sound proofing was better in that room.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaїr followed the blind lawyer out of the bathroom and down the hall to the study. Again he glanced around curiously as he passed through. He slipped in the room behind Ivy and stood to the side of the door, close to the wall, out of the way. He observed Ivy some time before finally speaking up.

"I need to know what happened." Not 'what happened to you?' or 'I want to know'... but, need to know. He didn't sound particularly pushy in the matter, but the simple wording gave it that feeling despite his neutral tone.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

The room looks comfortable. But a bit stuffy at the same time. It looked like Ivy hadn't added any personal touches of her own. Except for an old coffee mug with day old coffee waiting to be poured out at some points. That and a stack of papers that Ivy almost shoved off her desk while trying to calm down.

"I..." Ivy as a someday-lawyer had noticed what he had said. She rubs one hand over the other then sits down on a couch against the far wall. "Cedric needed to be taken out for a walk. I had walked further than I had intended so I was taking us back. I had the feeling I was being followed. So I stopped near a street light. That's when I was approached. These two men said their boss, the Penguin wanted to see me. That... made no sense. I had been told I was to be left alone. So I told them that. I didn't believe what they said."

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Altaїr listened intently, staring at Ivy with an intensity he used for gathering information about a target. In a way, that was exactly what he was doing. If there was any ulterior motive behind the white-robed man's questions, it was to hunt down and punish those responsible. That made them targets, and that made this information gathering on a whole other level.

He shifted slightly. "The Penguin?" Altaїr had never heard a name quite like that before. He probably wasn't even pronouncing it right, a horrible accent lining his already accented Briton when he tried to new word on his tongue. He didn't know what it meant, if it meant anything. "Who is this 'Penguin' fellow? How, exactly, did his men respond?"

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Ivy wasn't fully aware that he was planning on hunting those responsible for hurting her. She was just willing to talk to Altair about what had happened. It was making her feel better.

"A crime lord. One of several in the city. He was one of the ones who made sure the others left me alone because of the information that was left to me by my Uncle. They...laughed. They said new players were coming into town. So the truce was off. He needed me there and...I tried running. I couldn't let them take me there. Even if the Penguin might not hurt me I can't trust that he won't hurt me if things don't go his way. I can't give him what he wants."

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaїr soaked up the information and rolled it around in his head like clay ready to be molded in his hands. He glanced up at Ivy and said, "He is a ruler of the underground. A plague upon the city." It was a statement, not a question. He continued, "Plague's must be dealt with down to the core. Exactly what happened. Keep going."

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"From what I've gathered on my own he isn't very big. Not compared to others I've had to um, avoid. Penguin is just one symptom of the disease that's been plaguing the city for a long time." Ivy tugs at a throw that was left over the back of the couch and loosely pulls it around herself. "I tripped. Cedric's leash got caught around my foot and the bigger man threw me up against a wall. I thought he was going to punch me. His partner...I have the impression he is shorter. Fatter too maybe. He held his partner's arm back, I think. To keep him from hitting me. It didn't last though. I was able to avoid most of the first punch and checked him with my shoulder and started to run again. Cedric kept up with me. We got cornered fairly quickly. Cedric got pretty angry. He went for the shorter one. I think he forced the man to the ground. I heard ...mostly a great deal of barking and growling. The bigger man threw me against the wall again. I slipped and my hand must have gotten caught on something but...Cedric. Cedric. He went for the larger man. The larger man had grabbed me and I guess when I yelled it go Cedric angry. When Cedric threw himself at the larger man I fell. I guess that's when I hurt my leg. I started running though. I know the streetsaround here fairly well. Cedric...Cedric wasn't far behind me."

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaїr mused over this last bit of information. Only one symptom... there were others to deal with. Apparently this city had a lot of trash to take care of. The Assassin hesitated briefly in his next train of thought but... no, he could do it. His personal mission back home could be put on hold. Technically, every time he went back to his own world after traveling to the Nexus the longest time span back in his own world was only a few minutes, sometimes an hour or two if he'd been gone for a really long time. But never anything that actively set him back. He would test it just to be sure... but from this world, what could be the difference?

That settled, Altaїr went on to his next line of thought. He would stay here and clean up this city. Sure, he was only one man and he already had a mission of his own, but... it couldn't hurt to carry out as much as he possibly could, right? And... he had an active... interest... in this city. In its inhabitants.

So that was his plan. He'd tell Ivy that in a moment. "And after that you were 'home free'?" He used the Briton expression he'd heard once in the Nexus, using it quite easily and aptly.

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"So to speak. It's well known that after my Uncle passed away and I was nearly killed last year that I came to live here. But I am...safe. There are people I know that I can call upon if this situation becomes more dangerous. There's Jim Gordon. He's what we call a police officer, here. He's a good man who wants to clean up this city just as much as others I've been slowly acquainting myself with. I think if I have to I can call on him." Ivy curls her legs up close to the rest of her body. "I just don't want to have to tell him about this. I don't like asking for help. I also don't like having to admit when..things like this happen. But it is his job and not telling him would be wrong. I think...he could be apart of the solution."

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The Assassin committed that name to memory. Jim Gordon. He could be put to use. "What is a 'police officer'?" Giving him the name of something only did him any good if it came with an explanation. "A do-gooder?" Not a simple generalized statement that the Assassin could derive any sort of definition by. Taking what he surmised for what she said, technically he could be one of those things.

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"Like a city guard. His job is to investigate crime. He's one of the most uncorrupted officers in the city as far as I know." Ivy smiles faintly then holds up her hand. "There's someone else. He showed up last year..Earlier. There was this....situation. It's difficult to explain but the city was ready to tear itself apart. He stopped it. They call him Batman. I'm not even sure if he's real."

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

"Oh," Altaїr replied flatly. That brought about the frustration of needing to avoid the man more than try and contact him. Still, if he wanted the criminals gone bad enough, he could still be enlisted to help the Assassin. As long as information was a one sided parade, and the man didn't try to hunt Altaїr after he learned of the results. He would keep it in mind, anyway.

Altaїr tilted his head to the side as he asked his next question. "Bat. Man?" He was pretty sure he had heard the word 'bat' before. He wasn't sure he knew the definition. So... what was a bat man?

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[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

It would complicate things, for sure. Especially if Ivy was ever seen with Altair. Ivy has to make some public appearances after all. Her Uncle had requested that she appear at some charity events. But it's unlikely Ivy would ever ask him to go with her.

"That's what they've been calling him. A man dressed in some kind of armor that resembles a bat. He's been fighting the criminal underworld eve since he first 'showed up'. I...think it is because of him that things are becoming peaceful in the city. He doesn't kill but he is extremely effective." Ivy fights off two things the feeling of being cold and a yawn. It's not very late but the day was fairly long for her.

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Altaїr could have approved of the man--if he had had enough commitment to permanently rid this city of its fouler residents. The Assassin's cult allowed for that. Indeed, was created for that very ideal. And Altaїr would stay to extract his own sort of justice on this city. All for hurting one person...

He mentally shook his thoughts free of that. He gazed as Ivy steadily. "Sounds... interesting." Perhaps I'll meet him one day, was he silent statement beneath his spoken words.

Altaїr had avoided the subject long enough. Either he would have to find a place of his own or... "I'm staying here." It wasn't a question.

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Ivy though felt that Batman was very inspiring. Without someone to show people they could be brave enough to stand up to the crime and corruption what could be done? Just more criminals to fill up the vacuum.

"I...suppose it works. The criminals of the city are afraid of him to some extent."

Ivy's eyebrows go up. Then she turns her head away "I...have a spare room you can use. I keep it for guests. Why...are you staying? Don't you have duties on your own world?"

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Altaїr had expected a fight. Or, rather, a lengthy debate on the matter. Or flat-out refusal. He had answers for either. This seemed awfully easy. "Yes, I do. But time seems as though stilled when I travel away from it. I can easily go back to them exactly as they were when I left." It was truthful enough. It was what he had told himself anyway.

He glanced down and back up. "I am staying to take care of things here. In Gotham."

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Ivy wants to argue. She really does. But at the same time she wants him to stay because she's afraid of what could happen if anyone gets past the security system. Though she is full aware it's easy to get around it.

"It's that way for many people," Ivy admits. Then she frowns in his direction. "Take care of things? Altair. The system that is here is not perfect. The city is in trouble but you just can't...You can't take justice like that into your own hands."

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Altaїr laughed. Just plain out, fully laughed. As he finished a snideful smirk stayed in play on his lips. "Oh? What do you think that Bat-person is doing?"

The Assassin shook his head. "No. I'm staying, and I'll do as I please. That's that. If you want me to find my own way, then I will. But I'm not leaving this city until I've done my piece."

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"Doing the same thing. Just differently than...Look. I know I can't stop you. But do you know how these people work? You raise the stakes? So will they. The weapons in this place are different, Altair. More dangerous." Ivy's tone had changed. She wasn't very upset with him.

But it was hard. She knew she couldn't stop him. And it did hurt a little. How exactly can she stop him? There's no way she could. And he's not in the system here so she can't try to point that out.

"What if...What if what you plan to do changes nothing? If one mob boss is taken out another will rise up to take his place. That's how things go with them. Most of them won't even care." And most of all she doesn't want him hurt because of her. She won't say that out loud though. She's not sure if he'll understand that.

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Even if he did understand, he wouldn't take it under consideration. He had been playing this "game" his entire life. Had been raised to hunt his prey, make the strike, and deal with the consequences when they came. If another arose...

"Then I take care of that garbage as well," Altaїr told Ivy. Altaїr stared at Ivy hard. Hard enough that he knew she could feel it even if she couldn't see it. "And what do you do? You told me once... what a 'lawyer' does... isn't that the same goal? Do you have no hope of your own profession?" He was being snide now, he knew it, but he didn't care so long as he made his point.

And the point was... "The different weapons don't matter; the stakes are the same. Nothing is more dangerous than a game of life and death. I have been trained in it. All it will take is a bit of adjusting. I am fully aware of that. I will not loose." ...he would get the job done. He always did.

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"I do! I just don't want...I don't want you getting hurt because of this. I've accepted that I'll always have to deal with being a target of some kind. Personal attacks, people trying to kill me...All of that. It's why I don't have anyone close in the city. For their sakes."

Ivy leaned forward covering her face with her hands. She wanted to tell him things were different. That killing wasn't necessary. And that he might have to fight this Batman every step of the way.

"Altair. I know you'll just do this no matter what I try telling you. But damn it. Be careful. Please." The concern coloring her voice is there. But she can't look in his direction. She's just upset he's going to do this and he won't listen. She doesn't have the right words to tell him why she thinks this is a bad idea.

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Altaїr considered Ivy's words. Only once before in his life had he ever met a woman that compelled him to something for a cause, while related to his duty as an Assassin, purely for himself in the long run. He had failed her. He still owned up on that promise...

"Ivy," he said softly, but firmly. "I know the stakes more than even you. Do you honestly think that someone in my profession couldn't? I have been isolated for a lot longer time period than you could ever imagine." He had had the brotherhood, that was true, but even they had forsaken him for so long. "I will admit to you, Ivy, that I am a wanted man. My life is always in danger. No matter if they kill me on sight, or capture me--for the death penalty after torture. I know the consequences. They have been ingrained in my mind for--forever."

He paused. He adjusted one of his gauntlets; looked back up. "I am always careful." Then he smiled humorlessly; a smile that held a secret. "I am No One. They cannot find me." He did not know just how double a statement that was in this world--there were no records, no legal documents, no fingerprints, no anything to match him to. Nor would there ever be.

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Ivy doesn't sniffle. She;'s going to try and stay calm here. She has to because as far as she can tell he's staying calm.

"No. I probably couldn't." She inclined her head just a bit not lifting it though. Just tilting her head his way. "It makes sense. The...time period you...are from compared to this one? It's...It's very different. But some things of course remain the same."

Ivy removes her hands and shakes her head. She won't tell him bout that. "I'm sorry. I suppose I worry too much. It's probably because I know I can't do anything. Right now anyways."

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Altaїr can't help but to smile sardonically at that. "Yes, you worry too much. But I suppose it could be worse--you could not worry at all."

The Assassin forces himself to relax completely, a thing he never does outside of the fortress in Masyaf, not not even so much then. But this was his new home, his temporary sanctuary at the least. He would have to force himself. Better to start the training now rather than later. His muscles had to relax some time.

He shrugged. "I understand the potential for differences. And, later, perhaps we can discuss them a bit. For now though... I think you should rest. In fact, we should probably both rest." He stepped closer, one hand held out lightly towards her, but not intending to touch.

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Ivy almost blushed but was again grateful for her ability to reign in on that. She pushed the throw off of herself. Mostly so she can move her legs.

"Yeah. We can talk about it tomorrow." She nods slowly and starts to get up. That's when she notices his hand and takes it. It seemed like that's what he wanted to her. "Rest is...Good."

Ah, poor Ivy. Dealing with another person in her home. For her it isn't easy. "I can show you to the guest room," Ivy informs him as she stands. Though she does end up flinching. Sitting like she had hadn't been the smartest choice. Not after being roughed up.

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Altaїr glanced down at her hand on his but makes no acknowledgement of the gesture. He simply nods as she offers to show her to his new temporary living space. He follows her silently to the room, where he finally takes his hand back as he leaves her side to inspect the room.

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Ivy didn't say anything. She was just going to let him take a look around before she retired to her own room.

There was clean yellow wall paper on the walls. And tasteful unisex furniture. The dressers looked old and on one back corner the taller one looked like it had been repaired at some point. There were deep well covered scratches in the wood. He'll have access to a window that leads into the back garden and a very simple closet that has old clothing stored in it.

The bed looks rather comfortable. Extra pillows had been tossed on the bed. It looked like they had been haphazardly added in here. Maybe from furniture because the fabrics were so different. But it looks like one of Ivy's pets has attempted to take over the bed. A smallish puppy peers up curiously then starts to wiggle with excitement. Oh it's a person!

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Altaїr paced around the room as he looked it over. He peered out the window curiously for a moment, accessing its usefulness. Indeed he was pleased with the window's view and, more importantly, its accessibility and placement--the garden was secluded but could get him off the premises easily enough. It was only when he turned to face the bed that he truly paused.

The Assassin gazed intently at the young dog taking up residence on the bed. Altaїr did not approve. He turned to Ivy. "Get rid of it."

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The pup wiggled in anticipation of something. Ivy frowned slightly then moved over to the bed and held out her hand.

"Come," she ordered the puppy. When he came over and nosed her hand Ivy scooped the puppy up. She makes a face when the young dog insists on climbing up to her shoulder almost and licking at her jaw.

"Alright, you. You're coming with me," she says in an amused tone. The puppy seems pleased by this but still peers over Ivy's arm at Altair as Ivy starts for the door way towards the end of the hall way. It isn't too far away. So Altair will have a good chance of hearing Ivy during the night.

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"Thank you," the Assassin's words follow her out. He had no problem with dogs, but there was a limit to his patience. And puppies tended to try it entirely too quickly, much less dogs not properly trained.

Altaїr walks to the door as Ivy's form disappears around the corner. He peers outside, down the hall, to watch where Ivy goes then, nodding with satisfaction, slides back into his own room. He leaves the door with a slit so he can hear the rest of the house, quickly preparing for sleep and heading for bed shortly after.