#what is altaïr though?

[teecupangel]

Hello! first time asker! I've only just recently got back into AC and you're pretty much the only AC blog I've followed so far (after reading your fantastic Eagle of Alamut fic) but the thing that happened to me seems very much something you'd enjoy.

Which is the Altair Jumpscare I got

to preface, I'm an ad blocker extraordinaire and put that on pretty much everything - except my mobile games. But even so, with how much i adblock the ads i DO get are very generic with very generic characters.

EXCEPT FOR ONE BIZARRE AD

A Tap-Away ad that for some inexplicable reason had Altair in it where he waved his arms like a wacky inflatable tube man and was then promptly sucked into the tapaway cube.

I was so caught off guard that i didn't nab a screenshot and I have been trying and failing to get him to show up again after 3 weeks of doing so much more Wordscape than I've ever had before to no avail😭

But it did spawn the idea of Desmond, with a burner/stolen phone, playing a mobile game and getting that Altair Jumpscare like i did which, with some digging by Rebecca because why the hell is he in an ad??? find a breach in Abstergo's database which they can exploit.

Welcome to the fandom! I hope you enjoy your stay (don’t mind the missing exit).

Aaahhh, Wordscape. I used to play you but then you keep interrupting my time with ads so I deleted you… like all the others who dared to give me ads that takes majority of the screen.

Ngl, I would have tried that game because it dared to show Altaïr to me. Then promptly delete it after a few hours XD

Alright, for this one, we’ll set it during AC2. He’s not that close to anybody yet so he sorta kinda stole Lucy’s burner phone while she was looking.

He always had a knack for stealing, probably the only thing that didn’t make William Miles say ‘again’ more than five times.

It only became so much easier when he started reliving Ezio’s memories.

The Bleeding Effect, right?

That’s what Lucy called it.

Regardless, Desmond figured it would be alright to play it anyway. It had a cell service and he always returned it to Lucy’s bag before she notices anyway.

It was during one of his free time (Rebecca said the Animus was acting fussy for some reason), he figured he can play one more level before they tell him to go back in.

The level wasn’t anything new, kinda funny that one of the words was ‘imprison’ and he got a bonus for trying out ‘prim’ (primo was a no go though and it took a moment before Desmond realized it was because it wasn’t English, fuck, was this the Bleeding Effect as well?. Just when he cleared it, the phone let out a loud static sound.

Which was weird because (1) the game’s audio was set to mute and (2) the phone itself was set to full silent with 0 volume on any kind of media.

They all turned to stare at him and he would have apologized, had he not heard someone shout his name coming from the phone.

“Desmond!”

It was Altaïr.

It could only be Altaïr.

The voice was the same voice he heard back in the Animus.

And he shouting at Desmond, staring at the screen as he slammed one hand against…

The screen?

Golden wisps wrapped around him, dragging him to the darkness behind him as he shouted, “Desmond! Find us! We’re-”

The ‘ad’ disappeared.

And Desmond was now staring at the next level.

He could clearly see one of the words was already filled out for some reason.

‘Breach’.

“Desmond…”

“Sorry, Lucy.” He handed the phone to Lucy as he said, “I was just playing ‘cause I was bored.”

Before Lucy could grab it, he pulled it back and pressed it over his chest as he asked, “Did you guys hear Altaïr too?”

“We heard him but, more importantly, Desmond…” Rebecca glanced at Lucy before she said, “None of us should have any phones at all. Abstergo could track us.”

“It’s not mine!” Lucy immediately said, taking a step back as she said, “I don’t know why you think that’s my phone, Desmond.”

“What?” Desmond blinked, “But… I took this from your bag…”

“Shit.” Rebecca’s eyes widened as she realized, “Did… Did Abstergo plant that in your bag, Lucy?”

“What?” Lucy turned to stare at Rebecca.

“That’s not possible. We’re the ones who brought that bag here, remember?” Shaun reminded Rebecca, “And we’re absolutely sure we didn’t put that phone there.”

“Then… who did?” Rebecca frowned as she mumbled.

“We need to get out of here.” Shaun said, “Desmond, turn that phone off and give it to Rebecca. She’ll check it.”

“Wait-”

“We don’t have to tell Bill about this.” Shaun said, “That phone could have easily given Abstergo our location. We need to move.”

Lucy’s eyes widened when Desmond gave the phone to Rebecca and she said, “We need to destroy it then. To keep us safe!”

“What? No!” Desmond stepped forward to cover Rebecca.

No.

To cover the phone.

“Altaïr just used it to contact me. We need to know how it was able to do that.”

“It’s a risk but he’s right, that Altaïr could have just as easily been a trap but we need to be sure.” Shaun was already taking down the papers on his corkboard as he said, “Come on, Lucy, let’s pack as quickly as we can. We can contact Bill on the move.”

Desmond frowned.

Lucy looked pale.

Was she afraid that Abstergo already knew their connection.

“Hey.” Desmond placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling her freeze. He smiled at her as he said, “We’ll be fine.”

His smile grew as he said, “I’ll kill any Templar coming our way, okay?”

[quietwingsinthesky]

sometimes u do just have to point at a character and go I Know What Fucking Happened There

[thou-babbling-brook]

Maria Thorpe Character Analysis

Well, I simply can’t disappoint the people – aka, the five of you that will read this, lmfao. I’m so serious about this that I’m actually drafting this on a Google doc before I post this rather than just typing random thoughts on my phone. This is going to be a HUGE ramble that probably won’t make a ton of sense, but I hope it’s entertaining regardless. 

Maria Thorpe – a character that Ubisoft probably spent MAYBE thirty minutes thinking about, but that I have not stopped thinking about for like, five years. What a gal. So glad I was not in this fandom in 2012 to witness how HEINOUS people were about her for simply being a woman “in the way” of a M|M relationship. I hope by the end of this ramble, you, too, will see her for the baddie she truly is. 

In this essay, I will delve into Maria’s character to explore why she is so fascinating to me, the implications of her story, and why Ubisoft can actually catch these hands for dumbing her down in AC Revelations. (I'm putting a cut here because it's so fucking long I'm sorry gang)

First off, to understand Maria Thorpe as a character, you have to understand her background. I’m not going to copy and paste her Wiki or anything, but I am going to outline her life (stated and implied) before we meet her.

For those that don’t know, Maria was born an English noblewoman in 1161 – four years before Altaïr was born (okay cougar). Because she was a tomboy and defied many of the social norms for women in the 12th century, she was ostracized by both her parents and her peers. She mentions in The Secret Crusade that her parents tried to force her to conform, which culminated in her first marriage at the age of 18 to Lord Peter Hallaton. She mentions that he was a decent husband, but he didn’t exactly appreciate her more boisterous nature. After all, in 12th century England (especially among nobility), women were to be seen, not heard. She also failed his expectations as a chatelaine and a wife, as she bore him no children. The Bishop of Leicester granted them an annulment to avoid embarrassment to both Peter and Maria’s family. When she returned, she was “persona non grata” to her family and the whole of Leicestershire, especially when her father had already spent her dowry. With no other options, Maria ran away to join the Third Crusade, where she eventually met Robert de Salbé.

You may notice that we don’t actually know a lot about Maria and her life before AC1, which is probably intentional. To me, though, that’s what makes her backstory fascinating – the implications of her environment and what we can reasonably deduce she went through based on historical context. I think anyone who’s taken a seventh-grade social studies class could tell you women had, like, zero rights in 12th-century England – even more so, noblewomen. Maria was raised to be a glorified broodmare – say nothing, have children (two boys and a girl, as she jokes), and run her husband’s household. Clearly, she was the exact opposite of all of these things. Something interesting about Maria’s first marriage is the fact that while it was an annulment, she specifically mentions in The Secret Crusade it was an annulment to save her family further embarrassment – which implies that the marriage was consummated, but all parties wanted it done with. I don’t think I need to elaborate on how common and horrific an experience like that could be, but I think it fuels Maria’s relationship later on with motherhood, especially since she mentions that she was completely uninterested in childrearing and birth (this is a key point I’ll touch on later).

So what? Why does her background matter? It matters because of how historical and cultural context tie in to help form who she is by the time she leaves for the Third Crusade – a desperate, twenty-two-year-old woman, divorced, ostracized from the only family and society she has ever known, having no other choice than to ditch England and head for the Holy Land unless she wants to become a nun. For many men and women alike in the 12th century, this was their only opportunity to become something more than what they were born as, whether it be a serf, a blacksmith, or a noblewoman. Many who left for the Third Crusade left to “take back the Holy Land,” but also to escape or improve their current standings. To me, Maria falls in the second category, and it is this desperation to escape her life that forms her most notable (and later, tragic) characteristic: her undying loyalty.

As a side note, it is also interesting to me that Maria chose to be a soldier rather than a nurse. This is more so my characterization of her, but I think that’s because a) she’s too damn proud and loud to be a nurse, and b) because if she was a nurse, she would more than likely live and be treated the same way she was at home. Truly, if she wants to escape the patriarchy, the only way a woman like Maria could at the time was to join it by blending in. Girly get some therapy.

We’re now at AC1 in the timeline. Hooray! We don’t know when exactly Maria joined the Templars or when she first met Robert, but we can probably assume it was not long after she joined the crusade. As we know from AC1, AC Bloodlines, and The Secret Crusade, Maria disguised herself as a man (more than likely a young boy since she’s got a voice that would fit right into Alvin and the Chipmunks) and was able to keep up the rouse long enough to rise in the ranks and show promise to people like Robert. For Maria, when Robert finds out she is a woman and yet elevates her further, it is the first time in her life that someone has appreciated her for her masculine qualities. It is why she develops an intense loyalty for Robert to the point of being willing to be his decoy, despite the fact she fully anticipated dying. For Maria, it would be her ideal end – fighting to the death for a cause she truly believed in. Not even really a cause, as we figure out later, but more so for a man she truly believed in – Robert. It would not be through the pain and subjugation of childbirth like most women of her standing, but a brutal fight like any other man.

And yet – she doesn’t. When Altaïr meets her, he’s undergone a whole development arc, whereas Maria (at this point 30, which is SO funny to imagine her fistfighting this 26-year-old frat boy) is at the start of hers. And it starts with Altaïr sparing her – the worst possible fate that could become her at this point in her life. Think about it: the only person who has given her an OUNCE of respect has asked her to essentially die for him by acting as his decoy. As Maria mentions in AC Bloodlines, by this point, she is also a step away from becoming a knight – and at this point, she’s also known as a woman among the Templars. And yet, she believes they have become her family, and she is willing to die for their cause and for Robert. When Altaïr spares her and kills Robert, he’s sentencing her to the life she ran away from and feared – being nothing more than a woman who is looked down upon with condescending snarls and disgust for who she is.

This is why when we meet Maria in AC Bloodlines, she is rightfully PISSED. We literally see her realize that any ounce of respect and power she had is completely gone because Altaïr spared her. She is so pissed, in fact, that she tries to kill Altaïr again. This is even funnier when you remember how much of a BITCH it was to fight her in AC1, but I digress. Altaïr has destroyed everything she has built in her life for the last eight years. He has taken her home, her mentors, her family, and her honor. And bro doesn’t have a clue in the fucking world.

It’s at this point that I’ll also analyze more about Maria’s relationship with the Templars. At first glance, yes, she was a Templar and believed in their cause. Really, though, it goes far deeper than that. It’s not necessarily that Maria believes in their cause – otherwise, it would’ve taken a lot more for Altaïr to sway her to the Assassins – but that she believes in the people. Again, from Maria’s perspective, the Templars (especially Robert) were the ONLY people in her entire life to treat her with dignity, and she is willing to die for them. She is willing to throw her honor to the ground and beg for forgiveness in front of Bouchard because, without the Templars, she is nothing. She is back to square one as a silly little girl trying to run from a life that would only subjugate her. It’s that recurring characteristic of undying loyalty to those who have given her the life she has always wanted.

And for Maria, it is immediately spat back in her face.

When Bouchard takes over in AC Bloodlines, he is a strict Templar Grandmaster. No consorting with women, periodt. And he flaunts this over Maria, taunting her. He is tearing the last ounce of respect she’d ever received and throwing it away. Every sacrifice she made for the Templars for the last eight years meant nothing, and it is crushing to her. She continues to be pissed off at Altaïr, who mentions that she’s more pissed at the Templars than at him. Once again, she is nothing more than a woman – an imprisoned one at that.

This is where one of my favorite Maria scenes (not that there’s many) comes into play. When she and Altaïr are sitting on the ship to Cyprus or wherever it doesn’t matter, Altaïr does something that no person has done for her before: he treats her with unconditional respect. As funny as his autistic ramble about Empedocles and philosophy is, there are so many assumptions that go into Altaïr’s conversation that I think help sway Maria to his side. When he talks to Maria, he speaks to her as an equal. He talks to her about philosophy because of course she would know about philosophy in his mind – to him, she is a soldier and a person first, and a woman second (shut the fuck about The Secret Crusade and him thinking about her as a lioness shut up shut up I low key hate it even though it’s funny). He is the first person in her life to speak to her as an equal and with respect with no strings attached. In fact, when Maria taunts him for leaving her cuffed even as he talks about free will, he lets her go. She may not like him at this point, but after this scene, you can certainly see that she respects him in how she speaks to him. BONUS: she’s not trying to outright kill him anymore! Hooray!

You can see the impact Altaïr and his conversation had on Maria when she confronts Shahar in her courtesan fit. There’s so many layers to Maria willingly dressing in such an exposing, vulnerable, and feminine way (keep in mind this bitch is Catholic, I know her guilt was going crazy), but what I’m going to focus on is her conversation with Shahar. When he speaks to her, he is gross and all but catcalling her, calling her a “little fox” and using a sultry tone. Maria is having NONE of it, and one can only assume this is a tone she has dealt with a thousand times over. This is also where we see the gears turning in Maria’s head. I’ve seen people criticize Maria for how quickly she flip-flopped, but I think that’s overlooking the reason that she WAS a Templar – they were the only people who provided her a home when she had none. If you’re desperate for anyone to treat you with an iota of respect, you’d do whatever they ask. After she talks to Altaïr though, and especially after realizing Robert was simply manipulating her, she is questioning the Templars’ ideologies and realizing this is not what she wants. It low key is like Alicent in House of the Dragons right now – she’s shocked that fighting against women fucked herself over. Maria is similar in that sense – she thought that by being what the Templars wanted and fighting for what they believed, it wouldn’t come back to bite her in the ass. But it did. She’s a woman before she’s a Templar, and the ideology of the Templars would see her subjugated just as she was before. It isn’t until after Altaïr’s spiel about free will and the challenges it brings that she realizes she has other options.

And that’s ultimately what brings Maria to the side of the Assassins – realizing her errors in thinking and wanting a way to redeem herself. The Assassins are her second chance, which is ironic given how many stories after hers would follow this same format of second chances. But it isn’t just the ideology change, either. It’s Altaïr. No, she does not have undying loyalty by the end of AC Bloodlines, but he’s certainly earned her trust and respect. He’s treated her like any other person without ever holding power or loyalty over her head. He does not manipulate her or exploit her – he respects her, and he earnestly tells her of the creed’s ideologies not to lure her in, but because he genuinely believes in the idea of dispelling the illusions of the world and wants to share it with her, whether she becomes an Assassin or not. That is what turns Maria into an Assassin at the end of the day: his respect for her and his understanding of the creed. And despite their issues, Maria chooses to follow him to the ends of the earth.

Now we’re at a really funny part of Maria’s story: we know basically NOTHING about what happens in between AC Bloodlines and AC Reflections. We know that sometime after traveling to Masyaf, Maria and Altaïr became a couple. We know they married in 1195 and gave birth to Darim the same year. Two years later, they would traumatize Desmond Miles by fucking on top of a castle, which is so fucking funny and only supports my characterization of Maria as a gremlin, because who the fuck else would make their husband climb up a giant ass tower for sex? We know she officially became an Assassin and would beg Altaïr to stop looking into the Apple. We know she would join Altaïr and Darim to Mongolia to kill Genghis Khan. And that is all we know for an approximately 30-YEAR PERIOD.

While there’s a lot I could talk about in that gap, like Maria’s relationship with other Assassins, I’m going to focus on her relationship with motherhood. As we established earlier, Maria had ZERO interest in being a mother or giving birth. This is a personal headcanon but I do not care because it’s MY analysis and I can do as I please, but I feel like she would’ve dreaded childbirth, especially given how English nobility acted about it (e.g., how people treated it like a scandal or disease) and how it was the leading cause of death for women until the 20th century. Yet, despite this, she had not one, but TWO children. She was like one away from the goal, and even then Sef had two daughters so really she fulfilled it. But why? What changed that she would be willing to do the very thing she left England to avoid?

I think it goes back to the reason she was disinterested in it in the first place. Like Maria says in The Secret Crusade, she didn’t want to just be a mother or a wife. Her ideal husband would treat her like any other man, taking her hunting or whatever else bullshit medieval stuff they’d do instead of scrolling through TikTok. She never said she didn’t want to be a mother. I think her hesitance stems from the fact that she didn’t want to SOLELY be defined as a mother or a wife. With Altaïr, however, that fear is pretty much gone. Since the moment she met him, Altaïr has always treated her with respect and admired the things she was once shamed for. Her strength is valuable as an Assassin. Her bluntness keeps him in check. Her ideas are admired rather than ridiculed. To Altaïr, Maria is not just a woman or even just an Assassin. She’s a person with her own experiences and ideas and fears and strengths and dreams. He loves her for every aspect of herself that was once frowned upon.

I remember a while ago seeing a Tumblr post from ye olden days (like 2012) talking about how because menstrual cycles were extremely irregular back in the day due to medieval diets and exercise, Maria would have to purposefully chill out to regulate her cycle to become pregnant. What that implies is that she trusted Altaïr so much that she was willing to settle down and have children because she knew it would not influence how he treated or loved her. Personally, I think this is true of Darim, but that Sef was an accident because it’s funnier that way, but regardless, the point still stands. Maria getting pregnant and becoming a mother is the opposite of what she thought she would ever want, but because she loved and trusted Altaïr so much, she was willing to have a family with him because she knew it would not come to define her. I think that is unbelievably sweet.

We also don’t really see Maria interact with her children very often, which I think is a fucking shame. When she does interact with Darim (we never see her with Sef, though we do see her reaction to his death), Maria is always supportive and encouraging. Again, this is more my headcanon territory but I really don’t care because I can do what I fucking please, but Maria low key feels like a boy mom to me, but not in the weird Freud way, lmfao. Like we established earlier, Maria’s key trait is her loyalty. I think this loyalty would be extended to her children. We know she’s loyal to Altaïr (it ends up killing her), but I feel like it would go insane with her children. When she learns of Sef’s death in The Secret Crusade, this woman breaks down in tears instantly. WHERE THE FUCK WAS THE MOTHERLY RAGE WITH ABBAS, UBISOFT. WHERE WAS IT. Anyways.

Masyaf is a pretty cutthroat environment to raise a child, especially when you consider that Abbas is apparently lurking in the background scheming during Altaïr’s reign. Something I wish we learned more about (and something I just find fascinating in general) is the political environment of Masyaf. Altaïr implemented a lot of changes to the Brotherhood that faced backlash, one of the key ones being allowing women in the order again (ahem, Maria). I know Maria said she was uninterested in the politics of running a house, but I do think she’d kind of have to play her hand in politics in Masyaf, kind of how Altaïr realizes he’s not exempt from politics since he’s literally shaping them. If Maria wants her kids to be safe, especially as sons of the Master of the Assassins, she’s gotta play her cards well. This is why I think it does make sense for Maria to calm down after having children to be more similar to the Maria we see in AC Reflections and AC Revelations. She can’t just fight everyone like she did when she was relying solely on herself. Now, she has people relying on her, and I think it makes sense for her character to chill out more (though without losing her spunk) to ensure her family is safe.

For those that have ever watched Magnificent Century, basically think about how Hurrem went from fighting everyone to playing her cards wisely so her kids wouldn’t die or do stupid shit. That’s how I feel like Maria would be.

Something else that’s interesting about Maria to me is her relationship with Altaïr. Duh, you’re probably saying, but hear me out. We know that while she and Altaïr were inseparable during their marriage, there was one thing that strained it: the Apple. It makes sense why Maria would be so pissed off at it. She’s seen Altaïr control men’s minds with it. She’s seen how it takes him away for days at a time with its secrets, to the point she is begging him to throw it away. Back to the point about loyalty to her family, whereas Altaïr seeks knowledge, Maria just wants her family protected and safe because she loves them – including her dumbass husband. It’s ironic that the very thing she fought about with Altaïr is the thing that killed her.

So we’re finally at AC Revelations, and I am truly shocked that you’re still here. Kudos to you. At that final confrontation scene with Abbas, that loyalty for those she loves comes to a head. When Altaïr whips out the Apple, Maria begs and pleads him to stop, because she knows if he uses the Apple to control someone, he will only be proving Abbas’s point, which will only fuck them over. In The Secret Crusade, we also have Malik’s head on top of this scene to make it worse. Maria’s position is again one of desperation. Her son is dead, one of her best friends is now just a head, and her husband is about to go sicko mode. She is screwed and she knows it. What she doesn’t know is that she’s about to be stabbed by Swami (I’m going with the revelations version shut up) in a last ditch effort to stop Altaïr from using the Apple. Altaïr doesn’t listen to Maria, and it kills her. He kills her.

… SO I HAVE THOUGHTS.

I think Maria dying from the Apple makes sense, I do. That’s not my problem. My problem is how AC Revelations basically dumbed her down to this motherly, homely figure which is the like, ANTITHESIS of what Maria is. Where was the feminine rage??? You’re telling me this woman would not be about to SLAUGHTER someone after learning that Sef died?? You’re telling me she would just pull an AltaïR thiS iSn’T yOu???????? Are you so fucking for real right now??? It pisses me off because it nukes her character. While yes, it makes sense for her to be a much calmer woman and 67 compared to 30, this is still Maria. Don’t act like she and Altaïr don’t have fucking anger issues and be so fucking for real.

Here’s my ideal scenario for what should’ve gone down. I think once they pulled Malik’s head out, there should’ve been all-out chaos rather than this bullshit “We killed everyone loyal to Altaïr before he arrived.” Maria should’ve been right there with them with a sword out. Altaïr, in a desperate attempt to calm everyone down, would take out the Apple and try to control everyone. If you’ve seen the long ass discussion about how Revelations fucked up Altaïr’s character arc, this also helps remedy that because Altaïr is pulling out because of his arrogance in believing he can control the Apple. News flash: he can’t. Maria, while fighting for Altaïr, would somehow be killed either by the Apple or like similar to how Swami accidentally killed her. Something along those lines where it is Altaïr’s fault. That’s how she should’ve gone out, not some weird pick me bullshit.

Anyways. RIP Maria Thorpe you would’ve loved Crusader Kings 3.

I definitely missed some points about her character but this is already 7 pages long on Google docs so I am NOT writing anymore. God bless.

TLDR she's a baddie and I need her so so so bad

[knine-nights-loves-ac]

Fic Rec 12

I finally caved and started learning Italian even though I didn’t finish learning Norwegian. It’s just been pulling at me. Aaaaaaanyways:

a tiny lengthening of light

Summary on Ao3 is:

“Desmond Miles was supposed to die. Instead, he woke up hundreds of years in the past, helpless and alone. How was he supposed to know that the Altaïr he saw wasn’t a hallucination?

Or: Altaïr found a random kid in distress and decided that it was his kid, no take backs. Eventually Ezio shows up to co-parent.”

Written by ratdesk ( @ratdesk - didn’t know she was on tumblr oops)

Exactly what it says on the tin! Child!Desmond is another fav of mine that there’s sadly not a lot of, and this fic hits a home run there, it really makes it feel like this is an adult in a child’s body but also an adult who may be a tad bit broken upstairs (Bleeding Effect).

I’ve already said, I’m a big fan of AltDes, but seeing Altaïr be a father figure to Desmond is a kind of happiness I didn’t know I needed until I read this fic. It’s so so good.

Goes between pov’s so you get a solid read on both of their perspectives of what’s happening, leading to a tiny bit of dramatic irony which I think is very well written.

Ongoing. As of editing this (6/5/25) it is at 29,092 words, 8 chapters.

Fic Rec Masterlist

[miralyk]

AC TRILOGY TRUTHER LFGGGGG, what do you like the most about them

KIDDING(ish) LMAO i just wanted to joke about my connor bias And how even a glitch on my computer pushed the point further lmao

i love all three of them a lot!! i don't want to ramble or be too sappy but i'll try to summarize here:

desmond's still alive and the protagonist, that's a big one LMAO (seriously though, he's both a great audience surrogate and connection between the past and present,, he deserved better writing to further improve upon him and give him the proper appreciation and development he deserves!!)

ac had a solid "set" story at the time of this trilogy and felt strong w its writing and characters (both historical and modern, in particular having the two time periods have relevance and be tied to each other!)

altaïr, ezio, and connor have so much nuance to their characters and circumstances living in their time periods and state of the brotherhood at the time; it was very investing to see how they grew and changed both as personal individuals and as legendary master assassins...!

connor recruits a turkey into the assassin brotherhood

[deltatxt]

Story Idea: Assassin’s Creed - Sugar Baby AU (EzioAltDes)

I got the idea for a Sugar Baby AU about four days ago, and it has rotted my brain spectacularly since. Below is a quick summary of the AU, but under the cut will be the background information, the main trio's occupation and backstories, and the actual outline.

Since it's about ~5k words total, I'll be more or less dividing them into sections (just like my Ego Sum Qui Sum work) for each chapter/mini-arc of the AU.

Feel free to use this idea and/or outline!

WARNING: This AU includes mentions of child death (Federico & Petruccio) and child abuse (implied with Altaïr, explicitly stated for Desmond). While not graphic, these themes are present. Additionally, IX. The Ultimate Test features Ezio struggling with his mental health. Please skip or click off if any of this makes you uncomfortable.

Summary:

Ezio Auditore is broke, exhausted, and entirely too stubborn for his own good. Between law school, commissions, and barely making ends meet, he doesn’t have time for handouts—especially not from two annoyingly rich bastards who think they can sweep in and take care of him.

Altaïr and Desmond, unfortunately, have other plans.

Ezio resists. He really does. But then it’s their coffee in his hands, their jacket around his shoulders, their apartment he keeps finding himself in. One day, he wakes up and realizes he hasn’t paid for a single meal in weeks. He should be horrified.

Instead, he just feels warm.

Or: Ezio tries to resist being spoiled. He fails spectacularly.

AU INFORMATION

If you end up using this, feel free to change the title, but I've been calling it "Spoiled Sweetly (to my blissful doom)"

Modern AU (No Assassins, Templars, or Isu/First Civ).

Altaïr and Desmond are already in an established relationship by the start of the story.

This story is meant to span from Ezio's sophomore year to the start of his junior year (2nd Year to 3rd Year of University).

For the sake of the AU, Bad Weather (the nightclub Desmond canonically tended to) is a luxury location where the rich and wealthy gather.

I placed a timeskip between parts IX and X!

BACKGROUNDS

Ezio's Background

Law student, 2nd-year/sophomore, barely scraping by.

To make ends meet, he takes on odd jobs and art commissions, inspired by how he painted targets in canon.

The Auditores aren't exactly wealthy, but they get by.

However, when Ezio was young, a violent incident (break-in? mass murder?) took the lives of his father and brothers, leaving his mother in shock.

With no financial stability, debt collectors, loan sharks, and all kinds of opportunists swarmed them.

Maria, who was a housewife, had no means to fight back, and Ezio and Claudia were too young to do anything. They lost everything.

Maria fell ill from grief, and Claudia followed soon after.

Ezio tried his best to take care of them—worked odd jobs, bargained, and more,

But it wasn't enough, and he was all alone.

He was placed in the foster system, bouncing between orphanages and bad homes until around 16.

He fought tooth and nail for an early emancipation, managing to also get lucky enough to get a university scholarship early, even with the sub-par orphanage-provided schooling.

After managing to save up and get his own apartment, he worked odd jobs with terrible pay and dealt with awful commission clients just to afford rent and groceries.

Altaïr's Background

Runs a VIP security service that caters to high-profile clients, former military, and the elite.

People find his personality generally unappealing or difficult to deal with, but he's in high demand because he's just that good at his job.

He was born into what was essentially a cult that worshipped god-like figures (inspired by the Isu/First Civ, though they don't exist here.)

The cult's leader, Rashid, took him under his wing after his father died.

He was raised under strict, militant discipline—trained from childhood to be ruthless, efficient, and detached, resulting in a variety of scars—including one on his lip.

At 13, he met Desmond Miles, a runaway escaping his father, William Miles.

In usual Desmond fashion, he challenged everything Altaïr had been taught, managing to shift his perspective on the world.

Somewhere along the lines, he ended up leaving the cult with Desmond.

Altaïr ended up landing a job as a bouncer at a bar where he gained a reputation for being brutally effective.

His skills eventually caught the attention of legitimate security services, leading to a job offer in private security.

Over time, he saved enough money and built enough connections to start his own security company.

He and Desmond had spent years making allies on the streets who desperately needed jobs, and so those were his first hires.

Desmond's Background

Highly successful bartender serving celebrity clients and high-profile figures with information dealing as a side job.

Extremely charismatic with a wide social network—a keeper of secrets too. People talk when they drink, and Desmond makes sure to note things down for later use.

Born into a private military family with high expectations—his family has a long line of sergeants.

As the only son of William Miles, a high-ranking officer, he was pushed to his limits from a young age.

He was trained relentlessly, sparred constantly, and lived under strict discipline.

At 13, a sparring match with a live blade went wrong, leaving him with a scar on his lips.

Deciding that was the final straw, he ran away, eventually crossing paths with Altaïr.

He landed a job as a waiter at a bar, the same one where Altaïr worked as a bouncer, and quickly worked his way up over the years, eventually becoming a bartender.

He steadily climbed the ranks, moving from small bars to high-end clubs—Altaïr always close behind, of course.

Eventually, get managed to get an exclusive event bartender gig, leading to more elite events and connections with the wealthy and the powerful.

As a bartender, he hears a lot of confessions, knows things he legally shouldn't, so if someone needs information or a connection, Desmond is the go-to guy.

OUTLINE

I. Coffee & Coincidences

Desmond and Altaïr are on a rare, private date at a cafe.

Ezio, meanwhile, was rushing to class, having stayed up to finish an essay that was due the night before.

It’s actually Desmond who bumps into Ezio, though the coffee spills on Altaïr’s coat.

Ezio stares for a moment because that coffee had been a luxury—a little reward for himself after surviving back-to-back lectures and all-nighters to finish a commission.

- He had spent minutes justifying the expense in his head before ordering - He didn’t have a budget for another one. - But that was his problem, not theirs.

Ezio starts apologizing, offering to cover the dry cleaning even if he knows he’ll have to cut on his already meager grocery budget to afford it.

But Desmond is amused at the notion,

- “You gonna foot the bill for that, pretty boy?” - “I spilled it,” Ezio shot back, crossing his arms. “I’ll pay for it.” - “You sure? Because this coat isn’t exactly cheap.” - Ezio scowled, “What, you think I can’t afford it?” - Desmond grinned. “Oh, I know you can’t afford it.” - Ezio's eye twitched. - Altaïr sighed.

Introductions happen (reluctantly on Ezio’s part). Ezio doesn’t recognize them at all, though that’s not a surprise.

Desmond waves the incident off, and when Ezio tries to protest, Altaïr steps in and tells him to let it go,

- Ezio was suspicious. - But he was also late for class. - “Fine,” he muttered, grabbing his bag. “But this isn’t over.” - Desmond chuckled. “Looking forward to it, baby.” 

The pet name doesn’t register as Ezio rushes out.

Desmond is entertained, Altaïr is unimpressed, and Ezio has unknowingly marked himself as their newest obsession.

II. "Accidental" Encounters

Ezio never believed in fate—life had never really given him any reason to,

But when he started running to Altaïr and Desmond again—and again, and again—he should have been suspicious.

Instead, he mostly just felt annoyed,

- “You again?” - Desmond smirked. “You sound happy to see me.” - “Forgive me," Ezio scoffed. "I’ve had a long day.”

He runs into Desmond at a cafe after getting groceries,

- Desmond subtly prods questions at him, though he doesn’t realize. - "You get all your meals from here?"

Then Altaïr is at the library while he’s studying a case for his Criminal Law class.

Then, at a bookstore, while Ezio was struggling to justify buying a secondhand law textbook (that still cost way too much!).

Then at the university gym (Altaïr was apparently an expert at hand-to-hand combat and had an irritating way of critiquing Ezio’s form).

Then at a vendor’s stall (Desmond buys a meal and smugly offers to split, the bastard).

Ezio isn’t stupid. He notices the pattern,

- “Are you two following me?” He finally demanded after yet another ‘coincidental’ meeting at a bus stop - Desmond snorted. “That’s an interesting accusation.” - Altaïr, frustratingly enough, didn’t even blink. “Do you really think we have the time for that?”

Ezio hesitates because it's not like they had a reason to stalk some broke law student. But it's still weird as hell.

Desmond just laughs and says it's fate, Ezio counters by saying he doesn’t believe in it, and Altaïr just cryptically says maybe he should.

If Ezio had been paying attention, he might have noticed the way Desmond leaned in slightly.

Or how Altaïr’s smirk held something more than just amusement.

But he wasn’t…

Oh well.

III. The Soft Sell

It starts small.

Desmond started showing up to the cafe (suspiciously always at the same time Ezio did), getting to the cashier first and conveniently ordering one extra coffee,

- “Don’t be ridiculous,” Ezio scoffed the first time Desmond held it out to him. “I can pay for my own coffee.” - Desmond raised a brow, “Then pay me back later.” - Ezio narrowed his eyes, “I will.” - “Sure, pretty boy,” Desmond drawled, sipping his own drink with far too much amusement. - Ezio grumbled but took the coffee.

Next, it was Altaïr at lunch in the library,

- Ezio just stared at him. “You can’t be serious.” - “You don’t eat enough,” Altaïr said, utterly unconcerned. - Ezio scoffed. “I eat plenty.” Altaïr didn’t even look up from his book. “You eat whatever is cheapest and smallest.” - Ezio bristled. “That’s not—” - Altaïr finally met his gaze, sharp and knowing. - Ezio clenched his jaw. - “This is not charity,” Altaïr said simply, pushing the food closer. “Eat.”

Ezio barely recovers before the next ‘coincidence’ happens.

This time, Ezio’s walking home from university—it was getting late, which was dangerous considering where Ezio lived.

Then a sleek black car pulled up beside him, the window rolling down,

- Desmond, grinning far too smugly, leaned against the steering wheel. “Need a ride?” - Ezio exhaled sharply through his nose. “I am perfectly capable of walking.” - Altaïr flatly scanned the dark, empty streets. “Sure.” - Ezio crossed his arms. “I don’t need saving.” - Desmond smirked. “Who said we were saving you?”

And it keeps on happening, over and over.

The thing is, Altaïr and Desmond never pushed or forced anything. They just… became a constant. A presence that became normal.

Ezio should have resisted harder, really, but every time he moved to argue, they would argue, deflect, or just plain ignore his protests,

- A well-timed reminder that he wasn’t eating enough. - A teasing remark to make it feel less like charity. - A casual offer for something he hadn’t even realized he’d need.

Yeah, Ezio was losing this metaphorical war.

IV. Desmond Plays the Long Game

Ezio had always been stubborn—it was both a blessing and a curse because it kept him going when most would have folded, but also made him terrible at accepting help.

He had a habit of brushing off kindness, of turning down offers even when he clearly needed them.

Desmond found it infuriatingly endearing.

So he did what he did best—he observed, learned, and most importantly, he waited.

He started picking up on the little things,

- The way Ezio tapped his fingers against the table when he was lost in thought - The absent-minded way he ran his hand through his hair and tugged when he was frustrated - The quiet sighs he let out when he was too tired to keep his guard up

Most people wouldn’t notice, but Desmond did, so he started to intervene.

Desmond starts dragging Ezio into late-night walks, started by a casual text at odd hours,

- Desmond: You up? - Ezio: Unfortunately.

They never have a destination in mind, sometimes ending up at a 24-hour cafe, other times, they just walk.

Ezio talks about anything and everything during these, and Desmond, ever dutiful, listens.

He gets attached, naturally, because underneath the exhaustion, beneath the snark and stubborn pride, Ezio was brilliant.

One night, after yet another exhausting day, Desmond invites him over to the one he usually tends to—Bad Weather,

- Desmond: Come by Bad Weather. You need a drink. - Ezio: I can’t afford Bad Weather. - Desmond: I didn’t say you had to. - There was a long pause before Ezio finally caved.

Desmond didn’t think he’d show, but Ezio just rolls his eyes and accepts the drink Desmond poured for him without thinking.

The bar’s full of rich and powerful people, so Ezio feels a little out of place,

- Ezio glanced around the bar, brows furrowing slightly, “I feel like I should be wearing a suit just to be here.” - Desmond chuckled. “Please. Half of the people here inherited their money and have no idea how to spend it. You actually work for a living. That’s worth more than their net worth combined.” - “That’s a dangerous mindset for someone who makes money off of these people.” - “I don’t take their money. They give it to me.”

Then, Desmond prods about law school, causing Ezio to start ranting,

- “So, tell me. How’s law school treating you?” - Ezio groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Don’t even get me started.”

Desmond slides more drinks to Ezio as he talks. A few drinks in, and he was looser, his usual sharp edges softened.

Desmond keeps him talking about schoolwork, his workload, his art commissions.

He files every little detail away.

Then, casually—too casually, really—he asks,

- “What if you didn’t have to worry about money?"

Ezio laughs, thinking it's a joke,

- “What, are you offering to sponsor my education now?”

Desmond doesn’t correct him.

V. Altaïr Pushes Buttons

Altaïr, unlike Desmond, took the opposite approach.

He engaged Ezio in a battle of wits and endurance, a game neither of them would ever explicitly acknowledge but would play anyway.

And Altaïr, much to Ezio’s frustration, was really, really good at challenging him.

It starts subtly, with a few questions here and there,

- “Explain this case to me,” Altaïr said, arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair. - Ezio, naturally, rose to the occasion. “Which part?” - “All of it.”

Ezio would huff, but his eyes would spark as he picked the case apart piece by piece.

Altaïr would listen and absorb every detail, then poke holes into Ezio’s reasoning, questioning him and countering the logic.

Ezio thinks Altaïr’s just being difficult, but then he’d see the subtly curl of Altaïr’s lips when Ezio found a way to counter his arguments, something almost like approval flickering in his expression.

And Ezio thrived.

It becomes routine, the late-night debates over cases, philosophy, or even finer points of morally gray areas.

They argue for hours until he’s exhausted, slumped over a table but grinning,

- Altaïr, the smug bastard, always looked perfectly composed in contrast.

Somewhere in the mix, Altaïr starts pushing Ezio’s boundaries in other ways, too.

Sometimes, Altaïr would slip a casual Arabic phrase or word, and subconsciously, Ezio starts picking up on their meanings.

Ezio doesn’t realize he’d been absorbing it, just nodding along and responding until one day, when Desmond called him out,

- “Since when did you speak Arabic?” - Ezio blinked. “What?” - Desmond gestured lazily. “You just responded to Altaïr in Arabic. You even said it right.” - Ezio turned to Altaïr, eyes narrowing. “You planned this.” - Altaïr just looked at him, perfectly neutral. “Did I?”

Then there would be the meals, surprisingly enough.

A moment where Ezio forgets to eat—not intentionally, of course, but with everything going on, he just… forgot.

Then, suddenly, Altaïr places a plate of food in front of him,

- “I’m not hungry,” Ezio muttered, glancing back at his notes. - Altaïr didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Just said, calmly, “Eat.” - Ezio scowled. “I said—” - But something in Altaïr’s tone made Ezio hesitate. - Altaïr simply watched him. Unmoving. Unyielding. - Ezio glared for a few more seconds. Then, with a quiet huff, he picked up the fork. - He ate.

VI. The Unravelling

With all that had been going on in the whirlwind of Ezio’s life, it made sense that he didn’t notice at first.

When Desmond paid for dinner, Ezio barely batted an eye now. Didn’t argue, didn’t reach for his wallet, didn’t even register the exchange until he was walking back home.

He brushed it off, told himself that it would just be this once.

But it happened again.

This time it was at the cafe he frequented—Ezio walked into the building where Desmond was already waiting, rubbing his temples after a brutal lecture, and Desmond just… slid a cup to him.

And Ezio automatically took it. Didn’t even realize until half of the cup was empty. Ezio opens his mouth, but Desmond beats him to it,

- “Don’t even start.” -Ezio narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t say anything.” -“You were going to.” - Ezio scoffed. “You don’t know that.” - Desmond raised a brow. - Ezio huffed. He took another sip, muttering under his breath. “Bastardo.” - Desmond just grinned. “Love you too.”

Then there was Altaïr.

Ezio hadn’t commuted anywhere by himself in weeks.

He just started expecting to see the familiar sleek, high-end car idling at the curb at the end of university.

One day, Ezio just reaches for the passenger door handle before even registering what he was doing.

It happens again while Ezio is studying.

Now, he expects Altaïr to have a snack or meal waiting for him every time he stops by the library.

Absentmindedly reaches out to the container before he even sits down because his stomach is growling.

But the breaking point happens on a cold night outside a restaurant.

All three had just finished dinner, Ezio halfway through a debate with Altaïr about some case study, while Desmond stepped away to handle the bill.

A cold wind rushes past, making Ezio shiver, then Altaïr shrugs off his coat—the same expensive one he had spilled coffee on when they met all those months ago—and drapes it over Ezio without a word.

Ezio barely reacted, only pulling the coat around himself tighter as he kept talking.

It wasn’t until they were halfway towards the car that it hit him—the already paid bill, the warm and heavy coat, the car waiting at the curb.

Oh.

- Ezio froze mid-step. - Desmond glanced over his shoulder, “You good?” - Ezio stared at the coat. Then at Desmond. Then at Altaïr. - “…I’m getting spoiled.” - Desmond smirked. “Finally noticed?” - Ezio opened his mouth. Closed it. Looked genuinely horrified. “No. No, no. I— I am not—” - Altaïr raised a brow. “You are.” - “I am not,” Ezio insisted. “This—this is just—you offered—” - Desmond snorted. “Uh-huh.” - Ezio turned to Altaïr, desperate. “Tell him he’s being ridiculous.” - Altaïr’s face was perfectly neutral. “He’s not.” - Ezio looked betrayed. “You—You are both ridiculous.”

Altaïr and Desmond exchange a knowing glance.

And that’s when Ezio realizes that they weren’t going to argue or fight him on this, not because he’s wrong but because—

- They were waiting. - Waiting for the inevitable. - Waiting for him to give in. - Waiting for him to realize there was no way out of this. - Ezio’s heart pounded. - He was losing.

VII. The Breaking Point

Ezio’s day had been shit.

It started with his exam results—he had worked hard, studied until his eyes burned, and poured hours into preparation.

But when the grades were posted, his score wasn’t what he expected.

It wasn’t a failure—not even close. In fact, he had done well,

But it wasn’t enough (not for his standards anyway).

Yet Ezio was still Ezio, so he clenched his jaw and decided not to think about it.

Then came the commission.

He had been counting on it—rent was due soon, and his budget was already spread thin,

But the client backed out with the excuse of finding another artist who could do it for cheaper, despite already agreeing to Ezio’s rate.

He swallowed down the frustration and sent a polite response, even though his hands ached to throw something,

And then, just to really twist the knife, his apartment’s heating broke.

The landlord? Useless. Maintenance? Busy. Earliest it could be repaired? Next week.

- Ezio sat on his bed, wrapped in his thin excuse for a blanket, and pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes. - Just for a second. - Just to breathe.

Then his phone buzzes, and as Ezio is staring blearily at the screen, he realizes it's Desmond,

Desmond: Dinner. No Arguments

Ezio hesitates, because he should say no. He should stay in, tough it out, and deal with it like he always did.

But he was cold, tired, and the thought of being in his freezing apartment all alone made something in his chest curl tight.

So he puts on a sweater and goes.

When he steps inside Bad Weather, it's the warmth that hits him first.

Not just the temperature, but the atmosphere—the low hum of conversation, the scent of food and liquor, the way Desmond looks up from behind the counter and immediately smiles,

- “Hey, gorgeous.” - Ezio scoffed, shaking off the cold. “Don’t start with me.” - Desmond just slid a plate across the counter. “Your usual.” - Ezio paused. Looked at the food. - Hot, fresh, and exactly what he would have ordered.

Ezio should argue. Insist on paying. But he’s too tired, too cold

So he sits and picks up the fork,

- “Altaïr’s here, by the way.” - Ezio barely had time to register that before a heavy warmth settled over his shoulders. - He stiffened and turned his head. - There Altaïr was, draping a thick, expensive-looking blanket around him like it was the most natural thing in the world. - Ezio blinked. “What—” - Altaïr said nothing, instead pressing the edges into place, making sure it was snug around him. - Ezio’s throat felt tight.

He wants to fight it. To push it off—to pretend

But he doesn’t. He just sinks into it, lets it happen.

Lets himself be taken care of.

VIII. Indulgence

Now that Ezio has finally caved, Altaïr and Desmond stop trying to be subtle at all.

Fancy clothes? Bought. Expensive sinners? Scheduled. “Random” gifts? Constant.

Ezio protests, of course, but it’s half-hearted at best now

One night, they catch him in a sweater Altaïr bought him and a watch Desmond picked out.

Another night, Ezio just steals Desmond’s drink and a piece of meat from Altaïr’s plate.

One minute he’s complaining about his old laptop—how the battery barely holds any charge, how the fan sounds like it’s dying, how he lost an entire legal brief because it crashed mid-save

Next thing he knows, he’s being dragged to some high-end electronics store by Altaïr and Desmond,

- “Guys,” Ezio protested, digging his heels in, “I don’t—” - Desmond just slung an arm around his shoulders like he was a particularly stubborn shopping cart. “Come on, baby, just look around.” - Ezio scowled. “I don’t need a new laptop.” - Altaïr, who was already heading to the premium section, didn’t even glance back. “Yes, you do.” - Ezio sputtered. “I already have a laptop!” - “You have a relic,” Desmond corrected. “That thing belongs in a museum.”

Before they can argue further, Altaïr just hands him a brand new laptop—top-of-the-line. Sleek. Expensive. The kind that costs more than three months’ worth of rent,

- “What the fuck.” - “Consider it an early graduation gift,” Altaïr said, tone utterly impassive. - Ezio was a sophomore. - He gripped the edges of the box like he was considering throwing the damn thing. “I hate you both.” - Desmond grinned, “Love you too, baby.” - Ezio groaned, pressing the heels of his palms against his eyes. “You absolute bastards.” - Altaïr just sipped at his coffee.

Following that, they drag him to a designer boutique of all places.

Ezio, of course, takes one look at countless racks of stupidly expensive clothes and tries to turn around and leave immediately.

Desmond catches him by the back of his sweater,

“I am not doing this.” - Desmond just grinned, way too pleased with himself. “Pretty boy, you are doing this.” - “No.” - “Yes.” - “No.” - “Yes.” - Altaïr—who had been watching the exchange with all the patience of a saint—finally stepped in. “Ezio.” - Ezio gritted his teeth. He knew that tone. That specific tone meant ‘stop fighting and accept your fate.’ - Ezio narrowed his eyes. “You planned this.” - Desmond didn’t even have the decency to deny it. “Yeah, kinda.” - Ezio groaned. “I hate you both.”

He ends up with an armful of clothing anyway.

At some point, Desmond shoves a leather jacket into his hands, and it fits. It fits ridiculously well. Too well, even.

Because it made him feel like he belonged here, in a world of luxury and excess, with Desmond and Altaïr.

It made something in his chest twist,

- Desmond stepped closer, adjusting the collar and smoothing out the sleeves. His fingers lingered at Ezio’s wrists, his voice softer. “Just take the damn thing, baby.” - Ezio swallowed. - For once, he doesn’t argue.

IX. The Ultimate Test

Ezio doesn’t mean to push them away. Not really, but the thought, once it appeared, refused to leave his head.

But as he stares at his reflection, wearing new clothes and spotting the new laptop sitting on his bed, some unpleasant thoughts start to make themselves known.

A whisper at first, then a murmur, and now a constant, vicious snarl in his head.

- What the fuck are you doing, leeching off of two guys who are happily in a relationship? Clinging to them like you belong? - The thought was unbearable.

It’s stupid. He knows it’s stupid. But the thought won’t leave him alone.

They had each other before he even came into the picture. They would be fine without him. Have been fine without him.

So what the hell is he doing? Why is he letting them take care of him like some helpless pretty thing?

Ezio is just… there. Their charity case. Their idiot, stray law student that they’ve inexplicably decided to pamper, and for what? What does he bring to the table? What does he give them?

The answer is obvious.

Nothing.

So Ezio stops.

He decides, in the only way he knows how, that he’s going to prove to himself and them that he doesn’t need them. He digs in his heels and stubbornly refuses everything.

For the first three days, it isn't so bad.

Desmond swings by his apartment to pick him up for class. Ezio tells him he’s already on his way (A lie—he takes the subway and hates every second of it).

Altaïr hands him a coffee when they cross paths on the way to one of his odd jobs. Ezio shakes his head, feigning indifference. (The caffeine withdrawal headache kicks in two hours later.)

They try to buy him lunch, and he refuses.

They ask him about dinner, and he makes up some bullshit excuse.

Desmond and Altaïr watch him. They don’t push, but Ezio can feel their gazes, sharp and considering, like they’re waiting every time they just so happen to come across each other.

By the fourth day, Ezio is flagging.

The subway is miserable. The coffee withdrawal is worse. He’s eating the bare minimum—whatever he can scrounge from his apartment or afford on his own.

It’s familiar and lonely and stupid. So stupid.

But the thought of giving in—of crawling back with his tail between his legs—is unbearable.

By day five, he’s pushing through on sheer willpower alone.

He’s exhausted. His body aches. His assignments pile up. He doesn’t sleep because there’s too much to do, and the lack of proper food is starting to get to him.

But he can do this. He doesn’t need their money or their stupid fucking kindness. He doesn’t need—

He doesn’t mean to pull an all-nighter, but the legal brief he’s working on refuses to cooperate, and before he knows it, the sun is rising and he hasn’t slept at all.

He’s sluggish, thoughts slow, and the only thing keeping him upright is sheer force of will.

He goes to class running on fumes, doesn’t hear a single word of the lecture, and stumbles back to his apartment in a haze.

And then, somehow, Desmond is there,

- Ezio blinked, sluggish and barely comprehending as the door swung shut behind him. - Desmond is standing in the kitchen, completely at ease, a bag of takeout on the counter.

The smell of food hits him like a punch to the gut, stomach cramping angrily, all the while Desmond looks at him with knowing eyes,

- “Hey, baby.” Desmond’s voice is too soft. Too knowing. “Rough couple of days?” - Ezio stiffened, his grip on his bag tightening.  - Don’t fold. Don’t fold. - “I’m fine,” he rasped, pushing past him. “Don’t need—” - His stomach growls. Loudly. - Desmond snorts. “Yeah. Sure.”

Ezio’s vision blurs for a split second as he grits his teeth, exhaustion making his body sway, and then Desmond is there, steadying him and guiding him into a chair before he can protest,

- “Sit down,” Desmond murmured, nudging the takeout towards him. “Eat.” - Ezio swallowed. His throat felt tight. His hands clenched uselessly in his lap. - “I hate you,” he croaked out. - Desmond just smiled, brushing his knuckles against Ezio’s cheek. “I know. Eat, baby.” - Ezio picked up his fork with shaking hands and took a bite. - It’s over.

The first swallow nearly undoes him. The second makes his vision blur. The third—

Fuck.

Ezio makes a broken noise before shoving his sleeve against his eyes, before the tears can fully spill over.

But Desmond sees. Of course he does.

And suddenly there are arms wrapping around him, pulling him close, his head tucked against a broad chest, and—

- “Shh, sweetheart,” Desmond murmured, pressing a kiss to his temple. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” - Ezio gripped the front of his hoodie with shaking hands, unable to stop the way his body folds in.  - He doesn’t sob, not quite, but the tears don’t stop, and when a second pair of arms wrap around him from behind, Ezio makes a choked sound - Altaïr’s voice is quiet, firm. “Enough of this, Ezio.” - Ezio swallowed against the lump in his throat. “I just—” - “You are not a burden,” Altaïr cuts him off. “You are not an inconvenience.” - Desmond tightened his hold. “You’re ours.”

It’s not fair how they make it so easy to fall apart.

They hold him, firm and unyielding, as Ezio lets the last few days break him.

When he stops shaking and the tears finally slow, he sags against them, wrung out and exhausted,

- Desmond pressed another kiss to his hair, voice warm with affection. “Better?” - Ezio sniffed, rubbing at his sore eyes. “No.” - Desmond snorted. “Liar.” - Altaïr hummed, a rare note of amusement in his voice. “We’ve let you suffer long enough.” - Ezio scowled weakly. “Didn’t let me do anything.” - Desmond flicked his ear. “Yea, okay, baby.” - Ezio groaned, but it’s softer now, the fight bleeding out of him. Fuck. He hates them. He hates them. - (He doesn’t. He never could.)

He isn’t getting rid of them, no matter how hard he tries,

- “You’re not getting rid of us,” Desmond murmured, his voice dropping into something quiet, something unshakable. “Stop trying.” - Ezio closed his eyes, breath stuttering. - “Okay,” he whispered.

Ezio doesn’t move for a long time.

He eats.

He lets them hold him.

He’s theirs.

X. Sweet Surrender

Ezio should feel victorious.

He thinks he’s entitled to feel some sort of sense of accomplishment. After all, he lasted longer than anyone (not that there are others to compare to).

A year ago, he had snarled at the mere suggestion of letting anyone, least of all two disgustingly rich bastards, take care of him.

Three months ago, he had been dead set on resisting.

Now?

Now Ezio’s sitting in the passenger seat of one of Altaïr’s many cars, wearing a jacket Desmond bought him, with a new phone in his pocket holding a cup of coffee he hadn’t paid for.

Desmond was in the driver’s seat, humming under his breath as he cruised comfortably through town towards their apartment (Because that was a thing now, Ezio having moved in over the summer).

Altaïr was nowhere to be seen, having gone into some high-end restaurant to pick up their food.

Takeout because Ezio had refused to go inside and sit at a table where the cheapest thing on the menu cost more than his entire (old) grocery budget,

- “…I’m getting spoiled,” Ezio muttered. - Desmond snorted. Didn’t even look at him. "You’re just now figuring that out?" - Ezio glared. “I didn’t say it was a good thing.” - "Didn't say you did." Desmond’s lips twitched, his smirk sharp enough to cut. “But you're sitting in Altaïr’s car, drinking my coffee, waiting for our boyfriend to bring you dinner." - Ezio choked. “You two are not my—” - "You’re wearing the jacket I bought you, with the phone Altaïr picked out, and you haven't paid for coffee in weeks." Desmond tossed his phone onto the dashboard, turning to him with an obnoxiously satisfied grin. "Face it, baby. You’re ours." - Ezio scowled. "I hate you." - Desmond reached out, smooth and lazy, like he’d done this a hundred times before, and tugged Ezio in by the collar of his jacket, pressing a kiss to his temple. - "Love you too, baby," he murmured against his skin.

He’s happier. Healthier. More comfortable in his skin than he’s ever been.

Ezio still insists on paying things when he can, still glares when Desmond or Altaïr swipe their cards before he gets the chance.

But nowadays he lets it happen, lets them take care of him.

There’s a moment, one lazy afternoon, where it truly sinks in.

He’s sprawled on the couch, half-asleep, head pillowed on Desmond’s lap while Altaïr sits at the other end, reading.

Desmond’s fingers are in his hair, absently combing through the strands, and Altaïr’s hand rests against his ankle, warm and grounding.

Ezio sighs, sinking further into their touch. He doesn’t fight it. Doesn’t argue.

He doesn’t need to.

Because, for once in his life, he doesn’t have to do it all alone.

Because he is theirs, and they are his, and that is more than enough.

Wow, this was long, haha. I went a little wild in IX. The Ultimate Test... I really like writing and reading angst, okay?

I have a few ideas for a spin-off and possibly a sequel, though nothing as concrete as this outline. Let me know if you'd like to see that too!

[a-not-so-clean-blog]

So I've been thinking about witch Assassins would be the worst yanderes. I did worst case scenario because I can 🩶 AC1-3

1 is a normal person, 10 is full coo coo 🔪

Altaïr: 6/10 or 3/10

Young arrogant Altaïr wouldn't be a fun yandere to have but he's not the worst. If you can handle his normal ego you're fine. Well unless you freak out when he kills someone in front of you. He has no issues getting his hands bloody and doesn't care if you see. He also doesn't like you having friends outside of the brotherhood, and will eliminate anyone who he thinks will corrupt you. Everyone in the brotherhood knows better than to try and get between Altaïr and his target, even a non lethal target. He won't hurt you, but he will use fear to control your actions.

After everything happens with his character arc he is much better. He has a lot more value in free will and has definitely calmed down. He still doesn't trust the people around you but with the brotherhood at his disposal he doesn't need to get his hands dirty or scare you to keep you protected. You can live a normal life, just with a bloody angel on your shoulder. And no, I don't think he would use the apple against you. He has grown and doesn't feel the need to anymore. However despite being much less intense and overbearing if someone makes the mistake of hurting you he will personally make sure that it never happens again. The reason his rating is so low is because he's normal unless an external force makes him do something.

Ezio AC2 4/10 or 9/10

Oh boy. So he did have some mild yandere tendencies when he was younger. Mostly his protective instincts, but the worst he would do is beat up people who upset you. He didn't have much to do during the day so he would spend a lot of time just hanging around you, pestering and flirting.

After he lost his family though… let's just say his obsession with revenge could only be outmatched by his new extreme need to protect and possess those he cares about. He's calmer if you stay in Mario's villa, but that doesn't mean he's sane when he has to leave you. If you don't want to go to the villa… he will try his best to convince you with soft words and big round puppy eyes. If that doesn't work then plan C is to take you by force. He's doing this for your own good, It's to keep you safe! He doesn't know what he would do if he lost you too, and frankly I'm a little scared to find out. He may hurt you by accident. If you try to walk away from him he will grab your arm so tightly that you know it's already bruised. He gets overwhelmed by fear and forgets his strength. He will spend the next week trying to apologize, he is absolutely heartbroken that he hurt you and he will punish himself for it. As to be expected from a man led by his emotions.

Rathonhagé:ton 7/10

I don't think his personality has really changed all that drastically to warrant more than one rating. In fact, I don't think he would really be any different even if his village wasn't raided.

Even without being smitten by someone this boy already has no issue killing if he sees a random civilian getting harassed by red coats. So you can only imagine the heights he would reach if his obsession was in danger, real or perceived. It's hard to tell if you will even notice his yandere behavior or not. Like I said before, he has no problem killing for you, but he also doesn't want to kill in front of you. He knows he's big, dark, and intimidating, but he genuinely doesn't want to scare you. He's so soft and shy when he's with you that you can't even imagine the rage and bloodlust he keeps hidden just under the surface. All in all he has some of the worst yandere tendencies when it comes to intensity, but he will do his best so you never know. The less you know, the better. Also he feels community is extremely important so he's not the type to get really upset if you make friends. To him that's more people who will look out for you. He would prefer if you join the homestead but understands if you don't want to leave your town. He won't force you to do anything you don't want, he doesn't want you to resent him if he does. If you don't join the homestead he'll pop in and check in on you whenever he can. It's totally not stalking…

Desmond 1/10 or 10/10

Ummm… so before he got taken by Abstergo there were no issues. He was just a guy. The only problem came AFTER Abstergo. Especially when he is not bleeding.

He's lived through SO many tragedies. He's seen and felt the pain and loss of his ancestors and it's carved deep scars in his heart. May the Isu help whatever poor soul decides to hurt someone Desmond cares about, because they will suffer the concentrated pain that's been festering for centuries. Surprisingly, his yandere tendencies (especially the aggression) aren't nearly as bad if he's bleeding an ancestor. That's because when he bleeds he will adopt his ancestors tendencies, not the full collection of emotional pain he usually carries with him. If you remind him of anyone his ancestors knew then he's more likely to bleed that ancestor. If not, then it's really just luck (or unluck) of the draw who he bleeds. I'm sorry if he bleeds older Ezio because being in modern time will make him feel like he has no control of the area and Ezio Desmond will freak out the worst.

Begrudgingly I'll give you Haythem too. (Do not ask me to write for him. I do not like him but his character is interesting enough that I will give this to you.)

Haythem 2/10 or 9/10

It depends on if he meets you before or after Ziio. Before Ziio he's basically a normal dude. A little "protective" but not much else. He's more just showing off than actually being proactive. He lets people fight their own battles for the most part, and has a “whatever happens, happens.” type personality.

After Ziio dies he goes completely insane. Guilt and loss corrupting his views on freedom and morality. He is still a Templar, still one of the most powerful people in the colonies. He will use every authority he has to make you do what he wants. If that doesn't work he is more than happy to use force. He has this sickly sweet smile on his face as he drags you kicking and screaming to whatever safehouse he decides you will stay at. Lavish and clean, so different from the outside. He just wants to pretend that everything is fine, just for a little while before he has to go out again. It not a protective instinct, but a possessive one. Like someone stole his favorite toy so he latches on to the next one with a ferocity.

[splosh-crime]

7 Ways the Assassins are Unsubtle as Fuck

The Assassin Brotherhood’s whole “hide in plain sight” thing seems to be enforced only in the (very) short-term. Here be the receipts:

Distinctive beaked hood that makes it way easier to identify you as an Assassin

Distinctive white robes that make stealth, blending with crowds, preventing civilian casualties, & cleanup post-murder way more difficult than it needs to be. Yes, I know Altaïr used it to blend in with scholars. That’s not applicable in most places anymore. I don’t care if it’s to show off your skill or pay homage to Altaïr, that’s not your fucking job when innocents could get caught in the line of fire if you’re caught.

Putting the Brotherhood’s symbol on everything from secret entrances to hidden blades to giant belt buckles to their skin to a 4-foot giant symbol on the front entrance of Monteriggioni

0 attempts to hide your identity while killing beyond wearing a hood. No mask, no codenames, no nothing. Not even the modern assassins had Desmond wear a mask in public. A medical mask would even blend in if he fakes a cough. Being noticeable in an average way even contributes to covers by distracting from actions according to former CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez.

Cutting off your ring finger gives you a permanent and hard-to-hide feature identifying you as an Assassin, adds unnecessary difficulty to daily free-running/parkour, may distract you with chronic pain during deadly missions, and fatal infection from the initial injury had a high probability for thousands of years. In addition, should an Assassin wish to retire or leave the Brotherhood, they could still be kidnapped, tortured, enslaved, or murdered upon being identified by their finger amputation; making it that much more difficult to leave this cult. Not to mention that this tradition started because Bayek was a dumbass and put the first Hidden Blade on wrong (and didn’t test it), accidentally amputating his finger on the job. When he started the Hidden Ones, recruits started imitating him to show their commitment despite his protests. It’s implied that he respected their choice once they explained but that doesn’t mean I have to. /hj

I get that this probably wasn’t standard practice and that Hytham (not Haytham Kenway, fuck Ubisoft) was probably just a bout of teenage dumbassery but telling an ally you just met exactly who you are, what you do, your creed, practices, and sacred traditional free fall without her even expressing interest in joining the Brotherhood is really dumb. Basim was just as bad since he gave Eivor a hidden blade and trained her in its use but given he’s not very loyal to the Brotherhood and was trying to manipulate Sigurd, that’s not super surprising. The ally in question is Eivor “Wolf-Kissed” Varinsdottir, for anyone who hasn’t played Valhalla, by the way.

Masyaf Castle & Village gets an honorable mention because, though it is a monument to the Assassins’ stealth abilities (lackthereof), they’re vulnerable whether they’re spread out or concentrated so they might as well pick the devil they know (by knowing/countering their most obvious weakness) and get some socialization, comfort, and money while they’re at it.

I seriously need someone to mention at least one of these unsubtlties in a fic. Personally, I’d nominate Clay Kaczmarek, Shaun Hastings, or a reformed Haytham Kenway as candidates for leading a reform (or just being sassy about this) but if you have a better idea or an addition to the list, please let me know. All my posts double as invitations for discussion.

[fromashesweriseuphiddenones]

Like I did for Mother's Day, I am going to give you my top six dads, with six honorable mentions and my top four worst dads.

6) Edward James Kenway: He really tries his hardest with Jennifer and Haytham once he gives up pricey and lives a clean life. However, while Jennifer doesn't speak ill of him, Haytham does. Edward did keep the shadow secret from his children.

5) Giovanni Auditore: again like his wife, I hurt putting him this low because he is such a great father for the little time we know him. And Ezio strives to be a father like him. It's just he didn't tell his younger children about the shadow war, and trusted the wrong people. Especially Lernezo.

4) Umar ibn-La'Ahad: Umar is a weird case. He seems to be like Rosta Evior's Mother, sacrificing himself for his son Altaïr and his fellow assassins. However he wasn't in Altaïr's life long enough to leave an impact. Not it's not exactly canon but I like to think that he commissioned Altaïr's sword.

3) Bayek of Siwa: none of these fathers are perfect, not even the mighty Bayek of Siwa. Khuem though knew love from him despite being what 10 when he died? Bayek lived with that guilt. Yes it led to violence but in his speech Bayek basically adopted all the Sons of Egypt. He's also great with the temple kids.

2) Ezio Auditore da Frienze: in spite of him being my favorite assassin, he's only here in second place because he only got to be a dad for 12 years before he passed away. That is a short amount of time but he made it work in 16th century Italy. He loved his wife and children dearly, especially spending time with Flavia the most because she was a daddy's girl. He thought of his kids safety when danger came calling sending them and Sofia to Niccolo.

1) The O.G himself Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad: Altaïr is the best dad for a few reasons but the top one for me is Darium's parting words to him, "All that is good in me started with you." I don't think there is any higher praise from your children than to hear them acknowledge that they are who they are because of you. Yeah Altaïr struggled, losing his father at 11 years of age, being under Rashid's tutlage, etc. But he loved his sons. They, along with Maria Therope and Malik Al-Sayf kept him from the Apple for years. Though he did have the same issue Maria Auditore did and threw himself into the Apple once more after losing Maria, Sef, and Malik.

Honorable Mentions

Rathnhtonké:ton: We only see him with his daughter in the comics but he is worried about her safety, not at all mad that she saw he was in danger and praises her gift to sync with a bird like the assassins of old did.

Arno Victor Dorian: ok I had to honor Adoptive father Arno here. I think we only see this in Dead Kings but he stepped up and did his best.

Barry Finnigan: like his wife Cassidy Finnegan, they took in and nursed Shay Cormac back to health physically and mentally. Fed, clothed and armed him.

Ethan Frye: is another special case. He fostered a bond with Jeudup Mir and that bond made him go "Oh shit I have twin children of my own I better get back to them." He's a surrogate father to Jeudup, a father to Jacob and Evie Frye. He's simply a product of his time.

Malik Al-Sayf: yes he's on here because of Secret Crusade. Tazim Al-Sayf (I'm sorry I am not calling you Malik buddy.) mentions how his father sent his mother and him away not too long before Abbas' coupe saving their lives. A deep sense of loyalty was instilled in the youth. Tazim follows in his father's footsteps and assists Altaïr not just retake Masyaf but is there in the final days of the grand fortress.

Francois De Laserre: okay a girl dad if there ever was one in the franchise. And to go a step further he takes in Arno after his father is murdered. He even did his best to keep at least Arno out of the conflict not sure about Elise.

Lastly my top four worst fathers in assassin's creed

4) Haytham Edward Kenway: he's on the list because he, only twice, tried to do his son harm. He was cold and tried to convert Rathnhtonké:ton to Templar ideology but didn't succeed. But there are some reasons why he isn't the worst dad. He saved Rathnhtonké:ton's life. While it was mild he did get offended on his son's behalf when the Red Coat said he tasted wild fruits. He told him he did well and lastly in their fight he told him he was proud of him.

3) Rodrigo Boriga: I was trying to stay away from characters who were also historical figures. But he is no saint and I don't mean in the holy way. He fathers both a son and a daughter ignores both until they are adults and then uses them. Lucrezia is a mess, and Cesere acts out to get his attention (hey Nuka I found you a friend!). But as far as I can tell this is merely neglect and emotional abuse.

2) Francesco de Pazzi: oh where do I begin with you. Hmm. Ignores his son, keeps things from his wife and daughter which actually winds them up in prison for simply sharing the Pazzi name, unless it was a different one...I think he murders Jacopo his own uncle for gaining a spine. Yeah nasty piece of work. Once again though only neglect and emotional manipulation and abuse. Unlike number one.

1) yeah I think you all knew who is the worst Dad in Assassins Creed. Making the others look like saints by comparison. William Miles: Desmond's father. What the hell kind of environment are you producing that your own son and only child runs away. With a fresh wound too. Whether he inflicted the wound or not has not been confirmed but given his reaction to Desmond advocating for himself was to slap him...yeah there is prescience for violence from this man. He says he looked for Desmond but did he really? Or was he trying to gaslight him? He let Clay loose his mind, left Lucy isolated and let Layla sacrifice herself to save the world a second time. And last we left the modern day story, he had made a deal with Basim to likely bring Desmond back.

These were fun. Let me know if you want me to do more lists like this.

[peridot-tears]

Thoughts on what if Shao Jun met every assassin protagonist?

Between her and Altaïr, it would be complete and utter respect. Until he does something stupid, like stare at the Apple way too long. She'd be sneaky and snatch it away from him.

Edward. Edward. *sigh* She has a chaotic streak, but she'd also think he's too much. She'd run off with Kidd and Anne Bonny instead. Adéwalé would watch her go off like, "Ah, finally, a working braincell."

I wrote a modern AU headcanon where she and Ratohnhaké:ton train in shengbiao in Beijing together, go to the Beijing Zoo, and spend a long time at the panda exhibition because who wouldn't. During Ratohnhaké:ton's storyline, though, she would spend time at the Homestead with him and Achilles and train him as well. I think they'd bond over their shared desire for revenge. She would eventually think of revenge as self-destructive and try to dissuade him, but be proud of him regardless when he gets it. She doesn't approve, but she understands.

Kassandra is such a himbo, she'd follow her along like, "Yes Kassandra," "whatever you say, Kassandra," because they share a love of the high seas and compassion for the people around them. Shao Jun would be very fond of her. Depending on how old they are when they meet, they'd probably sleep with each other.

Nothing but respect for Bayek, oh my God. She'd be like a niece to him and Aya. Although, I think she would clash with Aya a lot during the game's storyline. Not because their personalities clash, per se, but because Aya is so cold and driven by a singleminded focus that they would miscommunicate like hell.

Her dynamic with Jacob and Evie would be: Jacob: Idiot who runs headlong into bullshit Evie and Shao Jun: Idiot who pretends they're too good for it but is secretly just as bad. Jayadeep: The only sane one who gets dragged along on their mishaps.

She would be so mean to Arno. It would be completely out of concern for him, especially when he gets drunk at Versailles, but dear God, she only has so much patience before it runs thin. It'd be like "get off your ass and drink this jug of water, we're going Templar hunting."

Same with Shay. At the beginning, she'd lend an ear to him, unlike Hope and Achilles. At the end, though, she'd be the one throttling him from behind like, "You killed your best friend?????"

[the-morrigans-crew]

Based off of this post by @/ethan-acfan, I’m doing a headcanon post on what Desmond’s system (basing it off of our own system as well).

(Exomemories are memories that an alter (typically an introject) has that doesn’t align with the body’s memories, but relates to the body’s trauma).

His system definitely formed in childhood (we need more introject/exomemory rep). Likely due to the harsh training and isolation that he endured for most of his childhood.

I imagine that he discovered his system after the whole ordeal with the eye, and I’m personally headcanoning him to be a polyfragmented DID system, meaning that some of his headmates are going to be a bit more fragmented than most, and his past headmates likely fused due to his time in the animus.

I could also see him splitting introjects based off of other individuals within his ancestor’s memories (such as Leonardo, Cesare, Achilles, Shay, or other assassins or templars that impacted his ancestors lives. Or people like Clay or even Minerva.)

The exomemories of his headmates would likely be borderline indistinguishable from his own thanks to the bleeding effect intensifying dissociative barriers.

Despite everything, his innerworld would likely resemble the ‘Farm’, since his brain would crave the familiarity of his childhood.

Now, I’m moving onto alter roles/people I believe would be in Desmond’s system.

Altaïr would be a gatekeeper since he would be one of the first headmates to form via the animus, he would know the most about the system and would’ve likely covered up the system due to the intense stressors (the end of the world) going on in Desmond’s life. Early on, he would’ve likely taken on the role as trauma holder before that role went to Haytham (more on that later).

Ezio is a protector, specifically a social protector, with his role being necessary after assassin’s creed 3 due to the fact that Desmond’s boundaries were disregarded so much (him being left in the animus for around three days). He would likely be an ANP and hold the least amount of trauma, allowing him to be a cohost along with Desmond to be the second most active fronter.

Connor would be a caretaker, hands down. If you've played the homestead missions, you know what I mean. He would be one keeping the system running, especially if there's a bad dissociative or depressive episode happening.

Haytham would've split soon after Lucy's death and Desmond going through his memories in the animus, with a part of Altaïr splitting off and fusing to him. He is the 'main' trauma holder in the sense that he hold the most.

Edward is the only who didn't directly split from the animus, instead splitting from Desmond doing research (and Haytham getting upset about his father). Edward would be another protector with a focus on the physical aspect of it. He would also be the most ‘source divergent’ compared to the others.

Moving on to the non-ancestor introjects; I imagine he would split Leonardo Da Vinci (Soother), Claudia (Roleless), Charles Lee (Prosecutor), Malik (Minor Gatekeeper), Shay (Protector/Persecutor), and Achilles Davenport (Protector).

Finally, Desmond would be the main host, however he wouldn’t be a core since he would’ve likely gone through other headmates fusing with him. He’s just another alter in the system.

Finally, onto some gerenal system headcanons

I feel like Connor would be the most dysphoric about the body.

Haytham isolates the most out of the other headmates (due to how he acted in his 'past' life). He doesn't want to burden the rest of system with issues he feels he can handle on his own.

Charles Lee would’ve split around the time Connor did, and in system, the two would not get along.

Altaïr is the closest to Desmond, being one of the first to appear when Desmond discovered the system (calling him an idiot), and helping him learn the ropes.

Multiple headmates (Haytham and Charles do this the most) have tried to shut the system out in order to be 'normal', though either Connor or Ezio try and make sure neither isolate.

The goal of the system would likely be to intergrate and healthily exist as a system.

Charles tends to cause the most issues outside of the system (picking fights with Shaun is his favorite activity), and Altaïr tends to front with Charles to make sure nothing too badly happens.

Shaun and Rebecca would probably take on the role as sorta therapist until Desmond can get an actual therapist.

If Clay were in the system, he would likely be in a subsystem with Desmond due to the relationship they had in the animus.

Each headmate has different ways to refer to each other

^ Altaïr, Malik, Haytham, Shay, and Achilles use parts

^ Desmond, Edward, Ezio, Connor, and Claudia use alters/headmates

^ Charles uses brain parasites

[greenlaut]

it's desmond's birthday 🎉

(inspired by @miralyk 's prof that thought desmond is a deceased friend, here's something to validate that thought sksjkd)

offerings' meanings: *i'm javanese in hokkien + ke diaspora so this is in my culture's context

can of grass jelly drink; i know he's a bartender but i'm not drinking alcohol on an afternoon—plus, grass jelly has herbal purposes here to keep you in good health. desmond definitely needs health. drink up king.

jempiring incense; a type of jasmine flower incense—the smell is sweeter than regular jasmines (in a good way). i reserve this incense for dead people and spirits. it has connotations with the space between the dead and living, ghosts, and innocence of the soul so that you can pass on peacefully.

3 stones i got from forest walks or beach walks. i correspond the colours to altaïr, ezio, and connor. i have no clue what the stones are though.

i don't usually celebrate dead people's birthdays (i celebrate deathversaries mostly), so i don't know how different it is to treat it than regular deathversary kdjskfkdsk

happy birthday desmond miles 💐

[ramshackledtrickster]

What if Altair and Ezio time travelled to just after the events of AC3 and landed In the homestead?

Also, thoughts on what each assassin would be like as a babysitter?

I’ll try to combine the two prompts!

Ratonhnhaké:ton would be a bit surprised at first bc hey these are the guys he learned about while Achilles was teaching him about the history of the brotherhood. Then, he gets them acclimated and situated so they don’t have to sleep in the stables or anything, and when that’s sorted out he encourages them to help around the homestead since they’re part of that community and family now for the time being + Connor places emphasis on communal work and everyone helping each other.

Ezio isn’t as stoked about it at first but he actually quite likes helping with agriculture and farm work I think (especially considering after Revelations he’d rather retire and tend to a vineyard than do assassin stuff again.

Altaïr is not the most sociable so he’s a little cagey around the new characters, but I think he’d admire the way Ratonhnhaké:ton runs the homestead as both a functional community built on mutually aiding one another as well as doubling as a secure hideout for the assassins that would be hard to locate and infiltrate. Altaïr has had his own history with reforming the Masyaf brotherhood to emphasize freedom of choice and love for one another to build a healthier community, so he’d be proud of Ratonhnhaké:ton.

Also, one of these tasks in the homestead for sure involve babysitting/looking after Hunter or any other youngling on the homestead. I feel like the Homestead would have a “It takes a village to raise the next generation” type attitude (majorly encouraged by Ratonhnhaké:ton and influenced by his own upbringing) where everyone would look after each other’s kids and help the parents in raising em.

Ezio would be really good with kids I think, so looking after Hunter wouldn’t be an issue— growing up he’s had to look after both Claudia and Petruccio, and I feel he prides himself on that as being a good big brother, so he’d know the signs and basics of babysitting and he takes his responsibility very seriously. He’d also probably get on the other assassin’s asses on certain particulars like how to specifically hold a baby or what foods to use. He’s been around this bend the most out of the three, after all. That overconfidence can cost him though since every baby is different but he’s a bit too proud to admit that what Petruccio liked as baby food wouldn’t fly with another youngling.

Ratonhnhaké:ton is good with kids too, but he’s a little more cautious and wary and can come off as overprotective (baby proofing every square inch of wherever they’re at, worrying over every little sign, etc). He calms down though and becomes more comfortable with the rhythm of it, but generally he takes this job very seriously as well, especially since the parents trust him so much, and keeping that trust is incredibly important. He’d also be up for playing some games here or there playing with the kiddo, and humming/softly singing some lullabies he can recall in kanien’keha. Mothers trust him the most with their kids and that’s a big responsibility to shoulder, and he doesn’t want to let anyone down.

Altaïr is the one that probably feels the most awkward around kids and small babies, especially because he has to reprogram and unlearn from a lifetime of viewing himself as only useful as an assassin and a killer. Handling something so small and delicate seems so more daunting than tracking and killing a templar. So honestly, Altaïr would probably go stiff just. Holding the baby and hoping it stays asleep. Like a feinting goat with its legs locked. He knows the basics of babysitting and caring for a baby but he still feels cagey about it— to make up for it though, I feel like Altaïr would do a lot of research and reading on babies, their development, and how to best take care of them (or if he can’t find good books he’d go around and ask and make his own notes corroborated from what he has learned). He wants to do the best he can in the end, and it’d be really cute if one day Connor or Ezio (or both) accidentally walk in on Altaïr playing peekaboo or making silly noises to make the baby laugh because that’d honestly be the first time they’ve seen him so relaxed and more comfortable.

[fandom-smutty-shots]

The assassins meeting their s/o for the first time

Request

Masterlist

| ~ * ~ * ~ |

Characters: Altaïr, Ezio, Arno, Jacob, Evie, and Basim

Warnings: ...A little violence? Wow, that's tame for me.

A/N: This is my first attempt at a headcanon kind of vibe so please let me know how I did!!

| ~ * ~ * ~ |

Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad

You gulped as you faced your catcaller, your shoulders squared and chest puffed out in an attempt to seem like you weren't bluffing.

"A little girl like you is going to take me out?" The man laughed at you, making you fume a little inside.

Little did you know, a man who actually did know how to throw a punch was watching from the sidelines, curious as to what your plan was. Clearly you were no match for the asshole, Altair could tell just from the way you stood. It was a natural defensive stance, not the stance of a confident attacker. And the other man could tell as well, though this didn't make you back off.

When the man advanced on you, Altair took a few short steps forward, placing himself between the two of you with a cocky grin. "You like to beat on women?"

Altair didn't even hear what the man said as he the idiot tried to swing at his jaw. Altair tilted his head to the side, avoiding the hit and returning one of his own. The man crumpled to the ground with a pathetic noise, and Altair turned to you.

"You should not start fights you cannot finish," he murmured to you, gently placing a hand on your back as he guided you away from the growing crowd of onlookers. "Come. I will teach you to bluff better, perhaps somewhere less... public."

Ezio Auditore da Firenze

You had been arguing with your father all afternoon. The guards had shown up earlier, asking you and your little siblings all sorts of strange questions about where your father's money came from.

"Why would they have questions if there was nothing awful going on, father?" You had demanded, but he had brushed you off and tried telling you to go back to your quarters. Had it been just you it may have been one thing, but to have your baby siblings involved just drove you over a line you had never crossed before, challenging your father.

It seemed you had taken it too far, however, when you felt the sting of his rings across your cheek, the shock making you fall to the floor and clutch your face. You were speechless. Your father had never raised a hand to anyone in the house, let alone his eldest daughter.

It was at that moment that Ezio revealed himself. He was quick enough that you didn't even see him as he sailed through the air and dug his blade deep into your father's neck, the choking sound he made entirely missed by your ears as they rang with embarrassment and humiliation.

You felt tears slip down your cheek as you stared at the spot on the floor, and when you went to wipe them, a mix of water and blood was left on your fingers, and the thought of your face being cut open made your tears turn to sobs.

When you finally did look up, your father was no longer standing there. Instead, he was on the floor, blood pooling around a wound in his neck area. You screamed as you stood, frantically looking around for the attacker, but there was nobody to be found.

Ezio took in the look of terror on your face from the shadows and swore he'd make it up to you. There was something in your eyes, something... deeper, and he needed to know what it was. Needed to learn how you managed to block out your own father being murdered.

Yes, Ezio would be back for you.

Arno Dorian

You gulped in panic as you felt your pockets. Your purse seemed to be missing. You felt the other side, and then both sides a second and third time just to be sure. You could see the annoyance of the owner as he held your grocery bag, awaiting payment for the things he had selected for you.

Before you knew what was happening, you felt someone brush up next to you and hand over the total for your items. The man thanked the owner and grabbed the bag in one hand, his other gently hovering on your back to guide you out.

"Th-thanks," you murmured, not entirely sure what had just happened.

"Come, let me walk you home..." he trailed off and looked at you expectantly.

"(Y/n). It's (Y/n)."

Jacob Frye

The first time you actually saw him, you were whining in the mirror over how your unwashed hair didn't match the wedding dress you wore. Evie, your maid of honor, only rolled her eyes at your complaints, insisting that you looked beautiful no matter what.

Your entire face heated as you heard a whistle from behind you. "Yoo-hoo! Evie! (Y/n)!"

You turned, the fluff in the wedding dress you had on making it difficult to do so.

"Evie's right, you look great." The man, who you instantly pieced together must be Jacob, took his time raking his eyes up and down your figure. "But alas, we must go, dear sister. Duty calls." He took a step towards you, leaning in and lowering his voice so only you could hear.

"I'm sure I'll be seeing you around."

Evie Frye

You had been working up the courage to talk to her all night. She hadn't taken a single hit in the arena, and she had knocked out waves upon waves of massive, highly-trained men. You were pretty sure you were in love.

You had seen her before, in other arenas around the city, and each time you were fascinated with the way she moved, the confidence she had in each and every step.

The crowd 'boo'd her as she left the ring, her white under-shirt only slightly tainted in blood this time around. She passed right in front of you, and finally, you saw your chance.

"Um, Hi!" You managed to blurt out, louder than you had originally intended.

You must have caught her attention though, because she turned around with a smirk on her lips as she looked you up and down. "I've seen you around here before, haven't I?"

Basim Ibn Ishaq

You tapped your foot as you waited, annoyed that your new 'partner' was late meeting you for the first time.

When he finally did arrive, he was all smirks and charm, with your mentor Dervis in tow, looking just as grumpy as you did.

"(Y/n), Basim. Basim, (Y/n)." Dervis glanced at you, "feel free to kick his ass for making you wait for almost an hour. Now, do I have some good intel for you kids."

[transmasc-rose]

Ah. Ok. Hm. They did another major retcon and I'm not sure how I feel about this. (< story of Every Game after ac1)

In Brotherhood, when Desmond kills Lucy, you take control of him. He steps, very slowly, each action forced by the player, while he asks Juno (/you/himself) to stop.

In Revelations, when Desmond thinks back on killing Lucy, he says "I'm so sorry... it wasn't me.... it was that voice... Juno... she made me..." and collapses on the ground, either stuck in that memory or maybe desyncing with himself(?)

In ac3, Desmond says he DID choose to kill Lucy. Juno showed him Lucy taking the Apple to Abstergo, raising it into the sky with the satellite (a plan the Precursors had tried and failed, but the Templars don't know that), and failing, causing the world to burn. so he made the choice to kill her.

I think you COULD argue that the discrepancy between ac Revelations and ac3 was a mirror of the Apple's use in the ac2 DLC, with most marks confessing on their deathbed that they'd been the ones to choose, though a few maintained their innocence to their last breath.

But even the Apple has been wildly inconsistent. Whether it works on temptation or its Just Straight Mind Control differs! Pretty regularly! I don't think, for example, you could call Ezio's use of the apple in Brotherhood (forcing enemy forces to kill each other) or Altaïr's use of the apple in Revelations (forcing a man to kill himself) or Bloodlines (convincing a crowd to leave in a zombie-like state) to be a matter of "temptation".

The most obvious explanation is that the apple can do both/either (depending on what writer wrote that particular scene, or even maybe intentionally. Maybe) and that the scene in Brotherhood was written with the direct use in mind, until it was retconned to the temptation use in ac3.

And I don't inherently have an issue with Desmond willingly killing Lucy. If. You know. They wrote it like that. But I genuinely believe they didn't, and the plot makes LESS sense for it.

[fromashesweriseuphiddenones]

Wrote a short story for Altaïr's birthday. This is a part of my Blood of Kings story.

Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad wasn't expecting much when he awoke on January 11th 2025. Just a simple day with his wife and sons, and later on those in Desmond and Jamie's inner circle of family. Sure it was his birthday today but he never celebrated it truly before. Not that it was that he didn't know nor that he didn't care, he was just taught that it didn't matter. It was another day to an assassin. So milestones like turning 10, 16, 21, etc didn't matter. He just didn't realize that his family was going to change that.

Jamie had been the one to set things in motion ever since hearing Altaïr mention at Christmas he never celebrated his birthday before. Nor had he celebrated Maria or boy's birthdays. Heck Ezio looked shocked. Haytham sighed explaining to Ezio that some cultures didn't see the need to celebrate birthdays. Rathnhtonke:ton affirmed this to be true though countered that since they were family they should. It was really a miracle any of them were alive. Everyone agreed though Altaïr didn't realize what he had agreed to.

He didn't realize he agreed to not only celebrate his birthday but also those of their inner circle and their friends. That sorta made his recently diagnosed Autism go bonkers but it was whatever really. He awoke as he would and did as he would any other day. As he went about his routine he missed his wife and sons working to surprise him.

When he finally came down stairs, cleaned up and dressed for the day, having long since abandoned his robes in favor of comfortable shirts, jeans, and hoodies so he could still pull up a hood for a sense of safety, he found a nicely made breakfast. His eldest Darium said

“Happy Birthday Father. I know we didn't celebrate it back then but Rathnhtonke:ton is right. We are blessed and should celebrate our blessings. All that is good in me came from you father.”

Altaïr smiled tearing up and he then sat down with his family for breakfast. His wife Maria was the most beautiful woman he'd met ever. She was able to handle herself when needed and was happy to be a mother. Now a days she ran classes for self defense for everyone, mostly women and children but men also joined praising her skills.

Darium, his eldest son, worked as part of a major company devising strategies for moving forward. It was great pay and helped them to live comfortably. Sef was only visiting as he lived with his wife and daughters working a simple job that helped pay the bills and kept them comfortable.

Yes Altaïr had a lot to be proud of with his family. Happier still that they took time to acknowledge him. Later on he'd spend time with the others of the inner circle and it occurred to him that Jamie planned something for him. What, he could not fathom. But whatever it was he would enjoy it.