{|ACIV:BF|} Over and Out {1-on-1 rp}

He hadn’t expected her to hear him muttering under his breath. Still she’d leaned towards him when he had and even then it took her a moment before realization dawned on her. Charlie laughed loudly at her but otherwise side nothing as they started off. It seemed he was the one leading though he only wandered to do something.

Mia’s face was red and her voice had cracked when she’d protested. Charlie said nothing in return, merely shoved his hands in his pockets. She’d fallen instep beside him easily enough though from the corner of his eye he could see that she still had her head turned away.

He waved a dismissive hand at her accusation. “Every great one starts small, poppet. Not to mention I’ve been cooped up on land to watch you,” he noted lightly. If that hadn’t been the case he would have procured himself a ship and set out with a small crew to grow larger in time. Those plans were put on hold, however.

A moment passed before he turned to her and said “little tip, luv, no man enjoys bein’ belittled. ‘Specially so by a darlin’ little poppet.”

Her words stung a little when he was the one stuck guarding her. True, she was interesting in ways but he’d rather be out on the sea by now, making a name for himself. Charlie couldn’t quite own up to his moniker here in Havana.

----[x]----

Though her prod had been aimed more at Ah Tabai then Daniel it was the latter that shared a story about a woman’s wrath being loosed on him. Karissa chuckled, hiding her grin behind the back of her hand briefly. Only after she’d shaken her head did the topic change.

In a way Karissa was rather interested in trading stories with Ah Tabai. Though hers might seem mundane to her he might be taken with them, after he learned where she was really from, anyways.

When she’d asked about their method, the way they were showing her about and indulging her it took a moment for either of them to answer. Only when the two share baffled looks did Karissa shake her head, more at herself than at their confusion. She waved a dismissive hand.

“It means ‘okay’, in that context anyways,” she explained simply.

Ah Tabai was reassuring her then though that hadn’t been the idea she had in mind. If nothing else she’d have expected to sit down and try to give answers right away, not this. Before she could explain that Daniel was scoffing and his disdain for the opposition was quite clear in his tone of voice.

“That’s not what I meant,” she defended, holding up her hands as if that would help somehow, “if you had that in mind I figure you wouldn’t have let me wander around on the way here.”

That was true enough anyways. Other than keeping an eye on her she pretty much had free reign of where she went, time permitting when they had been docking another ship on that last island.

For the moment, he took amusement out of her reaction. He tipped his head back and laughed before he'd calmed down. She was thankful for no further jabs for the brief misunderstand and realization.

The prods died down though he hadn't said much in return. She tried not to gnaw at her lips as he spoke. Thinking on that, there were probably bigger and better things he could be doing now. It wasn't as if she could fix that, however, she had no where else to go.

"Sorry to have been keeping you from important things," was the only thing she could think to say. She rubbed her arm awkwardly before her hand fell back to her side.

Her own prods died down and he'd simply spoken again. If her words stung, that seemed a rare case. She wasn't sure if it was just him or if people were simply prouder of their accomplishments in this era. If it was the latter, she felt they had some right to be.

"Sorry..." she muttered again. "That wasn't my intention to harm your pride."

Mia fell silent, starting forward again. She felt a little detached, more like she was burden. What was worse, she worried that she might be placed with someone else when this was all said and done with. If that was the case, who might that be? She hated to think it would be far worse accommodations.

----[x]----

She seemed to take Daniel's words in good humor, as short of the story as it had been. Ah Tabai shook his head though, a small smile tugged at his lips. Things could have been worse and at least she was opening up.

Ah Tabai hummed when she explained what the term meant. It was a strange one. He'd never heard it before not that Daniel looked as if he had understood either. Perhaps this was just another reason she was so strange.

"Certainly an odd term, mi'lady," he answered briefly.

After they had taken to reassuring her, she raised her hands an spoke again. He hummed in response, Daniel only looking back once. The other man gave a brief shrug of his shoulders.

"We've seen odd things in the past," Daniel answered instead. "Though, you, and no doubt your friend, are probably the oddest we've come across."

Ah Tabai shook his head in response before he glanced toward Karissa. They were heading up a small hill now, a path long since cleared. There would be a short cliff she could see the ocean a little easier.

"He means that there are very few things that tend to surprise us anymore," Ah Tabai added. "Given some of the stories I have learned, I have to agree."

He hoped that cleared things up a little easier for her. He couldn't explain every little thing but at least he could provide something or other.

Eventually, they halted, standing at the top of the cliff. It was easy to see for miles up here though, Ah Tabai had been at higher points. Karissa seemed to take in the sight with excitement. He spared an amused smile toward Daniel, the younger man looking just as pleased.

It seemed she took his words personally though he only offered a shrug at them. Not much he could do about it. He was a Templar and Marigot had promises him that was a quick way to become great, one way or another. Charlie would get there in time even if he was stuck on land longer than he’d like sometimes.

Charlie led them down the shoreline, heading towards the docks. So long as they stayed out of people’s way no one would kick up a fuss. If they did he’d settle things, one way or another.

There was silence between them again and he listened once more to the birds and the waves. He didn’t mind this though he caught the way Mia held herself seemingly shying into herself again. He resisted rolling his eyes at this.

“Don’t go sulkin’ on me again, damn it, we just got you outta that!” he scoffed, swatting at the air as if there was another person there.

He could hear voices now, reaching them from the docks up ahead. Charlie couldn’t make out any of the words but he had a good guess now. He’d done a bit of research, boring as that was, about sailing. It wouldn’t do to not know port side from starboard and everything after, in any case. Perhaps Mia might pick up a thing or two in time.

As they drew closer the voices were clearer and he could catch snippets of conversations. Mostly they were directions or orders. The ship that had come to port seemed to be carrying some sort of cargo that was being unloaded now. At least, that’s what Charlie guessed.

----[x]----

Karissa could only offer a shrug at the mention of her odd slang. To her it was second nature but she’d have to keep an eye on what she said now. If she wasn’t careful she might end up giving away too much and not know how to explain something. Karissa would really rather avoid that at all costs, if possible.

“I’m full of those, too,” she muttered all the same.

At the mention of odd things and she and Mia being at the top of the list for those things she offered a sheepish smile. If she had it her way she’d change that but it didn’t seem that was likely. Still, if nothing else she had Ah Tabai’s attention on her—for the moment at least. She wondered how long that would last and, if she was honest, was a little worried she might be an annoyance to him later on down the road.

Thankfully she shook those thoughts away quickly enough. No need getting moody about possibilities especially when both men were being so kind to her, despite her oddness.

“Well, I’ll, uh, I’ll take your word for that,” she answered with a brief smile.

Conversation was halted briefly as the path curved again though it was here that they stopped. The trees were behind them now by several feet though Karissa didn’t mind this much. Instead her gaze strayed to the ocean, stretched out before them. They were high up and she could feel a breeze toying with her hair. Up above gulls were riding on thermals out over the waves.

Karissa couldn’t stop the smile that spread at the sight. It wasn’t like anything she’d seen before, those beautiful blues mixing and darkening the farther out the ocean stretched. There were few clouds that obscured the sun from glinting off of the waves.

She stepped closer towards the edge, mindful to keep several feet away from it all the same. “This is waaaaay cooler than the murky brown and gray lakes back home!”

Charlie had taken to leading the way though Mia didn't mind this at all. Growing closer to the docks and a little more of a crowded area, she only assumed that he might have been taking precautions. He knew this place better than she did, after all, and she wasn't one to stand up for herself if needed.

Silence had fallen onto them again, withdrawn into her thoughts. This was a common thing as of the couple weeks that passed.

When he spoke, she flinched before her gaze drew toward him again. She blinked, a little wide eyed before she calmed a little. She sighed through her nose and rubbed the back of her neck. Sweat had started to bead there, a discomfort but there wasn't much she could do about it.

"What does 'romp' mean?" she finally asked, sparing a glance his way. He'd paused briefly, appearing confused before she continued. "'Romp', it's not a term I'm familiar with. What does it mean?"

At this point, she had an idea but it was better than having him think she was worrying over worse things. Mia wasn't sure if it was a coined British term or not as well, so perhaps she was merely over thinking it. By the look on his face, however, that didn't appear to be the case.

Regardless, she tipped her head curiously, awaiting his answer, pondering how innocent he might have thought she was.

----[x]----

It seemed that she would be throwing out an odd term here or there. Wherever in the world she was really from, Ah Tabai certainly hadn't heard any form of slang such as hers. It wasn't as if he complained. He was merely curious in the end of it all.

"It is no bother," he reassured. "Though you may have to spare an explanation or two later on.

He spared a small smile her way. Really, it was no bother. No doubt he and others would come to grow comfortable with who she was, how she acted, and spoke. These things would take time and he saw no need to rush them.

Karissa seemed to take their words as a reassurance. That much was a good thing. There was no need for her to worry about being the odd one out here. There were some who felt that way even now though they had eventually grown comfortable.

"You do that," Daniel answered before halting, pushing some shrubbery out of the way.

Karissa's excitement almost seemed instantaneous. She was near the cliffs edge, gazing out at the sea. Her words held such lightness to them. It was amusing to see someone marvel over something they had seen everyday.

"I suppose we have made the correct decision in coming up here." Ah Tabai mused, glancing toward Daniel. The other man grinned as if proud of himself.

"Yes, well, I'm full of them." Daniel joked in response.

Ah Tabai resisted a shake of his head, though he shot a humorous look at Daniel, moving a little closer to the cliffs edge. He watched the sun glinting off the waves carefully as she spoke up again.

"I am certainly glad you have found some play you like, mi'lady," he answered with a smile. "There are other areas, higher than this one. Perhaps you will brave them one day."

She flinched again and Charlie heaved a frustrated sigh at that. Whether or not he’d intentionally done so in a way that she’d notice was anyone’s guess. If it bothered her or not, well, he didn’t care much. Any snit or scuffle that would arise between ‘em would be easily settled, he was sure of it.

There was another second or two before Mia spoke up. His eyebrows knitted together as he thought about the question. Had she really just asked that? Sparing a questioning look her way proved that she had, if the expectant look she was giving was anything to go by. He shook his head a moment later, careful not to smack himself in the face with the ornament dangling from his hat.

“Woulda pegged you as smarter ‘n that,” he scoffed lightly, waving a dismissive hand, “askin’ what words mean!”

He half expected her to lash out at him for that comment. Most girls were fussy things he’d found, at least when he was around they were. If Mia was the same it wouldn’t surprise him. In many was she was like other girls, despite her time travelin’.

“Yer pretty moody, too,” Charlie pointed out, a sly grin stretching over his lips. At least when she was swatting at him and scoffing she was doing something. “Not gonna get all finicky on me, too, are ya?”

They were small prods, to most they might not do much but to get someone to roll their eyes at him. With Mia he was finding that simple things could get interesting reactions. If this was because of her or somethin’ about her upbringing he couldn’t say, all he knew was that it was funny sometimes.

----[x]----

Ah Tabai had smiled her way again, a small one but a smile all the same. Karissa couldn’t help but to return it, fighting away any sort of bashfulness. It looked like her little crush on him was only going to get stronger at this rate. She sort of hoped it wasn’t noticeable though. Neither of them had said anything about it but it hadn’t even been a few hours yet either since she’d came face-to-face with Ah Tabai.

“I can’t guarantee any of my explanations will be any good though,” she warned.

Anything she might have said on their next bit of conversation was left unsaid. The sight of the ocean stretching out from this high up left her preoccupied. Daniel and Ah Tabai had let her step forward, to take it in for the moment uninterrupted.

Behind her she could hear the two talking though she didn’t pay it too much attention. In a way it felt that if she took her eyes from the scene before her it might somehow disappear. It was a silly thing but she just couldn’t tear her gaze away. All of that blue—and so vibrant! —it was enough to keep her staring for hours if she had a mind to.

It was only at the mention of higher spots, ones that could be reached, that she managed to finally look away. She turned to Ah Tabai, studying his expression as if she had reason to doubt the claim. The feeling of being so high up with the breeze tugging at her hair and clothes, it had always been one she’d loved and now she might be able to do such things around this place without anyone hassling her about it. Hell, even this was the highest she’d gotten.

“There are higher places, too?” she echoed. There was a brief pause where Karissa bounced on the balls of her feet. “So, what’s the catch? A super cool place like this, I gotta be dreaming, right?”

She waited patiently for him to explain the word though he never did. Instead, he brushed it off like he did most things. Despite ignoring him most of these weeks, she had caught onto a few things about him.

She snorted in response, rolling her eyes briefly. "You don't really learn anything unless you ask questions," she reprimanded. "Inquiring minds have to know."

That had been the way she lived for a long time. If there was something she didn't know, she looked it up or asked about it. She gained all kinds of facts, little bits of knowledge by doing so. She was a little proud of that fact though she never mentioned it.

"Besides, I don't have a thesaurus to look it up." she added a few moments later.

Charlie was at it again, prodding her lightly. It might have been his way to distract her or break her out of her shell. Mia wasn't sure and she didn't bother asking. It kept her from thinking about too many things.

"You'll find most women are," she answered lightly in return. When she swatted at him, it was a lazy motion. This was the kind of thing she'd expect herself to be doing with a friend, not him. Still, the sense of normalcy was a comfort. "Unless it's just you. You're a cheeky bastard, you know that? I try to be mad at and you don't let that happen. God, why are you rubbing off on me?"

Mia had felt she should be angry with him for what he had decided. In hindsight, most people would be. As the weeks passed though, she'd started to grow tired of just sulking and being alone. It certainly wasn't doing her any favors and while her mood did dip, she tried to recover.

She blinked, letting his next prod sink it. A slight scoff left her before she shook her head. "I've never been overly finicky, I can assure you," she answered him, "since I grew up poor, I had to settle with what I had."

----[x]----

If he had to guess, she seemed a little endeared when he spared small smiles. Ah Tabai didn't question why that was. It wasn't important though it did leave him curious. Like many other things, this would be left untouched for some time.

He offered a chuckle at her response but said nothing in return. Ah Tabai expected that he might not understand quite a few things if that was the case. Still, he'd try to learn to the best of his ability, if not make attempts to understand.

For the most part, she was quiet staring out at the ocean. The grin lit up her face and she looked far less meek than she had when she arrived. He found himself a little relived at that.

She finally turned her attention back onto the both of them, bouncing on her heels. Next to her, Daniel was grinning.

"Of course there are," he answered lightly, a little amused by her reaction as well. "You just need to know the correct paths to find them."

It wasn't long after he answered did she continue. She seemed to be so excited that she believed herself to be dreaming. Ah Tabai didn't know her life before all this but it seemed like she saw few sights.

"I'd be concerned if you were dreaming," Daniel answered before Ah Tabai could."Didn't experience too much during your old life, did you? I've never witnessed someone this excited."

It was a light prod from the other man. He was grinning again, reaching out to pat her shoulder lightly. Ah Tabai chuckled in amusement.

"It is no dream, mi'lady," Ah Tabai continued. "It seems there will be no issues keeping you entertained, hmmm? I am finding you are already quite anxious."

That was true enough, the way she reacted to such a simple sight. Who knew what she would try next? As long as it wasn't something of a direct danger to herself, Ah Tabai would merely keep any eye out for her.

Charlie snorted at her words. He learned plenty by going out and just doing them. Hell, he wouldn’t be here if he’d stopped to ask questions! Then again he also wouldn’t be here if the Comte de Marigot either.

“Eh, you’ll figure it out eventually. Or you won’t!” he answered teasingly.

His teasing and prodding didn’t stop there. Though she swatted at him and the look he tossed him was one of annoyance she clearly was enjoying herself. There was amusement in her eyes, making them look brighter.

Charlie hadn’t let it faze him when she shouted at him. Instead he’d waved her words off and said “you’ll find a charismatic man like me might do that to you!” He chuckled and grinned wider at the new look she’d throw him. It was becoming more and more prevalent at this point.

The afternoon carried along in this manner, Charlie teasing at and picking on Mia as they wandered. They toured about the docks, staying out of the way for those working, from there Charlie had taken them back through Havana, showing her spots she might need to know about in the future. Though he’d do his best to not to let anything happen there were no guarantees.

Soon enough evening was falling on them, the skies darkening bit by bit. Charlie began to steer them in the direction of the house. He didn’t quite want to spend money eating out at a restaurant. If Mia was still restless they could wander the streets again afterwards.

“You wouldn’t happen to know how to cook, would you?” he wondered after a minute, the house in sight.

----[x]----

When she’d torn her gaze away from the sight before her, however reluctantly, she was met with a grin from Daniel and another of those smiles that Ah Tabai seemed fond of showing. It must have been funny to see someone so worked up over what they thought was a common view.

At the mention of paths being around to get to those higher areas Karissa grinned a little wider—if that was even possible. When she mentioned the possibility of dreaming Daniel was quick to tease her about it. She merely tossed him a look and a sarcastic laugh.

“A place like this? I’m sure I can find something to occupy my time,” she assured Ah Tabai. Mostly she was still gung-ho about the idea of swimming and diving though they were things to be indulged in later.

It wasn’t long after that they were heading back down the path. Karissa’s stomach had begun to growl and it seemed there were other things to take care of. Finding something to eat was easy and she was left to wander about the little area for a bit. She didn’t need to be warned to know about the wild animal in the area.

The afternoon passed in this manner, studying everything around her. It might be a long while before the novelty wore off even if she wasn’t a fan of the bugs crawling all over the place. It was just something else to get used to.

Soon enough they’d wandered inside, away from anyone who might listen in. A little hesitant on the matter despite wanting to get it done and out of the way, she discarded her coat her tattoo in view now. There wasn’t much point in hiding it when it was part of what they might need to talk about.

“So,” she started, rocking on her feet, “what kind of questions do we got?”

Charlie hadn't taken long to retaliate, his words light as they were before. She found this was the normal case though, she was getting used to it. She didn't admit it out loud but she liked the banter, liked it coming from him.

"Oh, I'm sure," she jested in reply as he boasted yet again. She shot him a look but his grin only widened.

The time passed rather quickly afterward. She was able to see the docks and ships up close. Charlie continued to prod her on and off throughout their walk. Mia found herself tolerant of it though she made sure to pay mind to places he pointed out in between.

The sun started to slowly set again and for once in the few weeks that passed, she admired it. Mia had always thought the sunset back home was pretty. The colors that painted the sky here were vibrant, oranges fading into pinks and later, purples.

It wasn't until he spoke again did her gaze fall back onto him. She was surprised that he didn't prod her attention onto him again. Mia was finding that he seemed to like it when people were watching him.

"Cook? A little bit, yea, but never on the kinds of things here." she replied after a moments thought.

Most things were made rather simple in her time and on gas or electric stoves. She'd cooked once or twice on an open fire but this era? She wasn't sure what she could make would be any good.

An eyebrows rose as she glanced back toward him. "Why?" she prodded lightly. "You're not turning me into a house wife, if that's what you're thinking."

It was a light prod, something that she didn't take so seriously. Still, if he wanted her to cook, she was a tad concerned. Mia didn't really know how to cook from scratch but anything was worth a try, she figured. As long as she wasn't causing a fire, she figured things would be fine.

----[x]----

Ah Tabai shared Daniel's amusement. Despite how little it was, she seemed to enjoy the sights and possibilities. That was something that he wasn't used to seeing. Most who had seen and experienced the sea were quite used to it.

Still, she held this almost childlike wonder and it didn't waver, even as they headed back down the slope.

When Karissa was tended to, had something to eat and started to explore, Ah Tabai decided to tend to a few things. He waited on word though he had not heard anything new as of yet. For the moment, that might have been for the best. No word of her friend might not have been the best thing.

Daniel had spent his time catching up with other assassin's milling about. At a point, he caught the man sparing with another younger assassin.

The evening wore on slowly, tending to a few things as they came along. With time, Karissa wandered toward him again. She had left her odd coat some place though he didn't ask where. While she looked nervous, she spoke openly about the questions he had.

He tipped his head, catching sight of the tattoo briefly before his gaze flickered back toward her. She rocked on her heels, looking a little apprehensive.

"Perhaps you might start with that?" he inquired, pointing out the tattoo. "We will work from there, if that is all right. I do not wish to overwhelm you."

That was the last thing he was looking to do. Pushing too much would only cause her to withdraw. Ah Tabai didn't know what made her tick and he didn't want to step on her toes unintentionally. He was only looking to get a clearer picture of who she was and why this had happened.

"Take your time, of course. I have no intention of rushing you."

Charlie heaved a sigh at Mia’s answer. He’d hoped one of ‘em would know how to cook well but it looked like that was idea was for naught. Charlie had never needed to learn beyond the basics to keep himself alive or else he just resorted to eating out when he had the coin to.

Soon enough she was trying to turn the tables on him or maybe she was seriously affronted by the question. He waved her off with little worry about which one it was. If she caused a scene there’d be plenty of people around to stare and she didn’t seem like the type who would like that sort of thing.

“Seems to me like you’re awfully eager about the thought if that’s what you’re worryin’ about, “ he pointed out simply.

There wasn’t much need to point out anything else. He was a busybody, wanting to be out on the move and out at sea—that sort of life didn’t mesh well with marrying. Truthfully starting a family was the last thing on Charlie’s mind most days. If Mia was adamant to think otherwise though there wasn’t much he could do about that.

Charlie turned to her then, his eyebrow raised. “You aren’t going to be making all these silly assumptions all the time are you?”

The question didn’t seem to be appreciated if he had to go by the look on her face. Charlie merely shrugged in answer, leading them still. There’d be plenty of time to hash out arguments later, after they ate. For the moment all Charlie could think about was filling his stomach, even just some bread or vegetables would work. Still, he’d have preferred some meat if he had a choice on the matter.

They came nearer and nearer to the house, just a few yards away now. It’d be a simple thing to grab something and go at this rate. Maybe that was a good thing though Charlie didn’t think it was.

----[x]----

It had been rather easy to find Ah Tabai but then it seemed like he had been seeking her out by that time too. From there it was just finding an out of the way spot where no one could easily eavesdrop. Karissa figured it wouldn’t be too much of a problem despite everyone’s curiosity, people seemed to respect Ah Tabai here. That alone might make them steer clear of listening in even if the opportunity was presented to them.

She saw his gaze flick to her arm, to the tattoo there and back to meet hers. Truthfully she’d expected that to be one of the first things he’d ask about. Still, it would have been easier to try to lead up to that.

“That might be a little harder to explain than you’d think,” she began carefully, hand covering it carefully—more out of habit than anything now. At Ah Tabai’s questioning look she explained, “it kind of has to do with the rest of the story.”

For a minute she stood there, biting her lip and trying to think of the best way to start. It wasn’t like just blurting it out would help any, video games weren’t even invented yet. The very concept was years and years away as it was. Ah Tabai seemed to wait patiently enough though it was clear he was waiting for an answer all the same.

Eventually she met his gaze again, ready to try to start explaining everything. Whether or not she did an adequate job or not was another matter entirely.

“Where I’m from there are stories about the assassins and Templars,” she began slowly, picking her words as best she could, “but not from anyone on either side as far as I know.”

Watching his expression carefully Karissa could see the way his brow furrowed as he worked over what little she’d explained. Until he got to the other questions there wasn’t a point in plowing ahead so quickly. She had no doubt that doing it that way would just leave Ah Tabai confused and with more questions and backtracking than was needed.

Mia wasn't expecting him to turn that around on her so quickly. She felt her cheeks heat up and she rubbed the back of her hand over her mouth as if that would make the color fade away. A shake of her head followed afterward.

"Don't flatter yourself," she replied, clearing her throat briefly. "You're cute but you're not that cute."

Honestly, she hadn't put any thought of marriage or falling in love for a long time. It just didn't seem to fit in her way of life at the time. She had to worry about her family and her home, not to mention she'd become a bit of a recluse in recent years. Without anything like that now, the thought almost seemed appealing.

"That would honestly be more like Stockholm's Syndrome," she carried on, shoving her hands in her pockets. "Falling for who is essentially my captor. It wouldn't be very appealing or so I'm told."

Whatever he thought, she could only assume. She left it at that and honestly, it concerned her that she did have any positive feelings for him. It wasn't simply because he had been a character in a game, it was being held against her will and yet finding she was softening to him. Mia wondered what Karissa would think if she had been here.

As they drew nearer to his home, she spared a brief glance at him again. "You wouldn't happen to have any paper or charcoal, would you? Anything like that?"

She figured if she was stuck here for a while, why not be productive? Getting back into drawing or painting was as good as any other. If he didn't have anything like that, she'd find other means. Maybe she would take the time and learn how to cook, if only to do something productive. Giving something back for letting her stay in his home seemed like a fair trade.

----[x]----

Karissa was taking her time, rocking on her heels once again. Ah Tabai didn't push her to hurry and let her collect her thoughts as they came. Her hand found it's way to that tattoo again, covering it up briefly before it fell to her side.

What she said, he could only assume the meaning behind the words. He tipped his head, shifting his weight as he waited on her.

To say he was a little anxious to unravel the mystery behind her was an understatement. He'd been trying to figure her out since she'd arrived here and yet he was no closer to that goal than he was hours before.

Her words were slow and careful. When she spoke, Ah Tabai grew confused by the words. His brows furrowed, inclining his head slightly. He couldn't find the right words to a confession like that.

"Merely stories?" he echoed her words carefully. "Are you implying that we are nothing but tales to share with others, mi'lady?"

That was a strange thought and one he wasn't sure how to feel about. It left him conflicted. Ah Tabai appreciated stories and legends but this seemed a little too much to believe. Karissa didn't seem to be any closer in being able to explain either.

"There is no need to be nervous, I assure you. I am merely trying to...understand what you are saying."

It wasn't as simple as he believed it should have been. He expected something odd but not this odd. Ah Tabai wasn't sure how to put this all together, in the end. It was fascinating and odd at the same time.

Mia finally managed to retaliate, one that Charlie easily brushed away. It wasn’t the most stinging thing he’d heard at any rate. He waved a dismissive hand at her and said “your loss, luv.”

She was carrying on again about things he’d never heard of or cared to think much about. Charlie eyed her carefully as she did this, unsure of why she was talking about it. Did it make her feel better or something? If that was the case then he wasn’t sure how it would, maybe it was a future thing that had become quite popular—god forbid that be the case.

Finally Charlie shook his head. “Not captors, protectors,” he corrected, wagging a finger at her as he did so, “don’t want those hooded rats to get their paws on you do you?”

Of course those very hooded rats had her friend now too. Charlie peered at her carefully at that thought. She hadn’t said much about that friend and they’d been unable to find her in Havana. It stood to reason that she’d been snatched away from the city. A pity that, who knew what both girls would be able to share with them after all. It would have been a great help to the Templar cause when they were scrambling against the assassins.

He met her gaze when she began asking about art supplies. A moment passed as he tried to think of what he had tucked away. His house was rather cluttered seeing no need to clean it most days.

“You’d have to look about, dear,” he answered finally, “no telling what I’ve got stashed away ‘n all.”

----[x]----

It took a long minute before Ah Tabai spoke up, confusion still very present on his face. The way his brow was still furrowed and the incline of his head was enough of a testament to that. How much he’d be able to work out and piece together as she tried her best to explain things. He was a smart man but even this would be unbelievable.

She swallowed, unsure of how to answer. There was no way he could have guessed the scope of what she’d said, that he wasn’t even someone who really existed in her reality. That was just too unlikely and in a way she worried that explaining that much might be something of a blow.

“Well, y-yeah… something like that,” she muttered, a little worried about how to continue from there.

The wince happened despite her best attempts to hold it back. Was she really so nervous that she needed a reassurance? Karissa must have been otherwise Ah Tabai wouldn’t have been doing so. She apologized sheepishly even while she was aware that it wasn’t really necessary.

“I know,” she paused, biting her lip, “I know a little of what’s going to happen or rather what’s supposed to happen… Since I’m here and Mia’s stuck in Havana I-I don’t know what’ll change or won’t though…”

All Karissa could do was wait for the inevitable question then, the one that she didn’t know how to answer even then. It was unavoidable, she’d slip up eventually and she’d rather not be caught up in some lie. He might not believe the truth but Karissa wasn’t so good a liar that she’d be able to keep up a charade for long about her situation.

She snorted slightly, sparing a brief glance around the area. If she let herself admit it, she had liked him before and now, at least, when she wasn't worrying. Despite herself, his playful prods left her cheerful, as long as it wasn't mean to hurt her.

It took her a long moment to realize she'd been rambling. Before she could have stopped herself, she'd already spoken up. She spared a curious glance at him when Charlie corrected her.

"Are they really bad people?" she inquired then, tipping her head slightly.

The game had only focused on those who were, for the better part, good people. Every group had it's had eggs, no exception. She hadn't thought about it in that manner before. Karissa would be safe with them, she tried to assure herself that. She couldn't exactly explain that to him however.

It wouldn't be but moments before they were back at his home. She glanced at it, resisting a sigh. Maybe with days to come, she'd have a little more reign on freedom. Who knew at this rate, she certainly didn't.

His answer was a simple one, instructing her to look about when she had a moment. True enough, his home was less than tidy but she never made mention of it.

"I'll do that then," she replied. "Some way to pass the time with the insomnia."

----[x]----

Ah Tabai studied her features while he attempted to make sense of her words. She tensed almost immediately and looked at a loss for words. He felt a little pity for her, aware that this must have been difficult.

She was quiet for a long moment before she spoke again. She stammered on her words and she struggled to stay still. Here and there she fidgeted, averting her gaze at one point.

Ah Tabai mulled it over quietly. It was all rather unbelievable. He couldn't figure how this had happened, Apple or not. What was more, how to explain it to the others as well, inform them of these findings.

She plowed on again after a moment, catching his attention. Ah Tabai lifted his head, a thoughtful frown tugging at his lips. If this really was a 'story' of sorts and she knew of what might come, could they use that information to their advantage?

"You say you have information onto what is to come? Would you be willing to share it, mi'lady?" he inquired, pausing only for a brief moment. "What about your friend, this Mia. What does she know?"

If the Templar's had gotten a hold of her, would there be a risk of information being given to them? That was a little unsettling if she had known anything at all.

"It could be a great help for our cause," he plowed on, "as for your friend, I worry about what methods the Templar's may use if they have found her."

It took a moment or two before Mia talked again. By that time they’d made it up to the porch of his small home and he’d already pushed the door open. His boots thudded against the wooden floors, a familiar sound at this point. It would have been a sweeter sound if he’d been aboard a ship though.

He offered a shrug. “Any man is evil if you ask his opposition, poppet,” he pointed out. It was a rare nugget of wisdom from him and one he‘d heard somewhere else. Maybe it had been his pop who’d said it though he couldn’t recall.

If he was truthful Charlie didn’t know a thing about the assassins. He’d been brought straight to the Templars thanks to that Comte who’d found him. If nothing else he had something in life to raise in the ranks in. Now all he needed was that ship, a promise that was taking quite a bit to see fulfilled. Charlie had to remind himself that in due time he would receive it.

Charlie offered a nod when she mentioned she’d poke around for something to use. If he had to he supposed he’d go out and get her something though he hadn’t the foggiest idea what he would be looking for. At some point Charlie had heard artsy people were fussy types with what they used and he’d rather avoid being scoffed at for picking up something ‘bad’.

He headed towards the kitchen, one that was poorly stocked. Usually he just headed out to the nearest pub for a meal. Still, he tore through the cabinets trying to find something. If nothing else he could make himself something simple while Mia found something to her own liking.

“So long as you aren’t runnin’ off at night,” Charlie said as he did so, shrugging.

----[x]----

The most Karissa could do was wait for Ah Tabai to answer her. He took his time, turning over the information she’d given him. He’d still not asked for other details but he got the gist of it at least. Maybe the finer points could come later when he’d taken in everything else.

She blinked at the question. Why wouldn’t she try to help the assassins anyway that she could? She hadn’t gotten that tattoo for looks. Karissa couldn’t guarantee meddling about in time wouldn’t have serious repercussions but she couldn’t sit by idly and do nothing either.

“Of course! Though I can’t remember the dates,” she answered, sounding hesitant at the admission of only partial information, “Mia only knows a little about what should happen around these parts.”

In a way, that might help to save the assassins; the Templars should be scrambling for a foothold about now unless Edward had already handed them that map. She wasn’t sure when this would be though, assuming it hadn’t already happened. Karissa hoped that it hadn’t, it would save everyone here a lot of trouble if she could give them a heads up.

The mention of what might be happening to Mia left her unsettled. She wasn’t a fighter, would she have given up information just to stay unharmed? Anything she might pass along could be harmful even if it wasn’t about direct evens around here.

Before she could answer there was a loud sound, an explosion off in the distance that caused her to jerk, blinking wildly in the direction it had come from. The wall kept her from seeing anything that way and though she wasn’t familiar with weapon sounds here she couldn’t have mistaken it for anything else.

“Was that a cannon?” she wondered, a note of disbelief in her voice.

She was surprised by his response, sparing another glance at him. Mia had learned seen more of the side of Charlie that picked at her. This side, whatever one held some amount of wisdom, was a little foreign to her.

Still, she studied him briefly before she nodded in agreement. "That is a fair point," she replied carefully.

Mia knew that his words rung true. Even the people with the best intentions had to dirty their hands. That was just how it was, in the end of things. The Templars and assassin's had conflicting views but they were trying to meet the same ends. This is what left her conflicted when she did think about it.

It was a thought she shook away. Inside, she felt a little better, the house a little cooler. She wasn't sure if she'd ever get used to this humidity.

Charlie was walking into the kitchen while she took to poking around his home. It was messy though that hadn't much shocked her. She took her time trying to find parchment and something to draw with. Even a fountain pen would do, even if she didn't care for drawing with pens.

She blinked, lifting her head when he spoke again. "I don't have anywhere else to go," she answered, picking up a book. She flipped through it before she sat it back in it's place. "Knowing my own luck, I'd probably wind up dead if I wandered out there on my own anyways."

Mia was aware of the era and it's dangers. Despite the unfavorable situation, she would remain on the side of caution. She wasn't going to risk herself on a whim.

----[x]----

Ah Tabai offered a nod in response to her words. She was calming a little now, almost looking excited about helping out. He wouldn't begrudge her the chance if she really wanted to, in the end. It was her choice, of course.

"Then we will have to set aside a little time to discuss these things you know of," he brought up briefly.

A look of worry had crossed her expression when he made mention of Mia. He sympathized with her worries. If her friend was in the hands of the Templars now, he could only assume what might have happened to her.

Until news was brought about however, they were left in the dark. Ah Tabai pushed the thoughts away until then.

She was about to speak when canon fire caught her off. Ah Tabai lifted his head, startled. Alarms sounded out not long after. He shook his head, motioning toward her quickly before he started forward.

"Yes, it was," he replied, sparing a quick glance her way. "Find Daniel, he will take care of you. I would rather you stay out of this but if it comes to combat, you may have to find some means to fight."

Ah Tabai could only assume what she knew or if she could manage combat. For now, he could only put good faith in her and get moving. His home was at risk and he would not see it attacked by pirates.

With that said and done, he started off quickly to aid the other assassin's. He prayed this battle would be a quick one. Some, he found, took more toll than they needed at this time.

There wasn’t much to say at Mia’s answer. It was simple and Charlie had no other words of wisdom to share. It was actually a rare thing, happier to just rush right in feeling confident about things.

While he was rummaging around in the kitchen he could hear Mia in the other room. He had figured she’d look for something to eat first but it looked like he was wrong. Granted, he wouldn’t be pointing that out anytime soon. No need for giving Mia things to prod him with.

When he’d made himself a small sandwich she speak up again. By that time he was wandering out into the room she was in, watching her fumble around in all the mess. She hadn’t complained about it but it looked a little more than obvious that she was annoyed by it some days. Charlie didn’t see a need to clean up.

He hummed, swallowing his bite of food before he said anything. “And yet you accuse us of bein’ ‘captors’,” he pointed out simply.

Really, if she didn’t have anywhere else to go then why was she complaining so much about it or looking down on this whole thing? They were keeping her safe and giving her a roof over her head, things could have been worse for her. Charlie didn’t get it though maybe it was a woman thing. She’d said it herself, they were fussy things.

----[x]----

Karissa nodded, uncertain of when they’d sit down and talk about what she knew. She just hoped that things wouldn’t change too much at first, she’d rather not come across like a liar. Even if it had changed a little there would still be enough to prove her point. It left her a little worried about what would happen.

Before anything further could be said that cannon shot had rang out, loud even from the distance they were from the shore. For a moment Karissa was frozen to the spot, rattled and unsure of what the best course of action was. When she wondered about the sound Ah Tabai was quick to answer, giving her instructions before darting out of the hut and to the source of the sound.

“But-“ she’d called out after him, unable to finish his thought before Ah Tabai was gone, “okay…”

Only when another burst of cannon fire reached her ears, ringing in the silence that followed where she was at did Karissa get moving. She didn’t have a weapon to use if it came to running into whoever was assaulting Tulum. Karissa ran as fast as she could, ducking around thick underbrush and vines or leaping over boulders and thick tree roots. Around her all sorts of assassins were already rushing towards the shore to meet the threat head on leaving Karissa on her own to find Daniel.

It didn’t take long for whoever was attacking to make some headway. They’d caught everyone off guard here, taking an advantage. Karissa was lucky to be able to stay out of sight, unable to provide much help in direct combat.

Shouts reached her ears and a gunshot rang even louder than that causing her to flinch. It had been relatively quiet here, nearer to the heart of Tulum than Karissa had expected for as long as had passed. Carefully she shifted up on the high ground she had, tucked away in the underbrush. She’d been unable to locate Daniel, out on her own for the time being.

Down in the incline she could see a few of the newbie assassins held hostage, a few of what could only be pirates keeping the small group they’d taken at bay. Karissa swallowed, unable to hear what was being said down there. Movement caught her eye and staring at the area she’d seen. It didn’t take long to figure out that it was a few of the more experienced assasisns—was one of them Daniel? From the looks of things they were unable to find an opening to get to the hostages. Were there too many of those pirates down there keeping eye on the place they needed to come in at?

Glancing around she looked for something she could use, a little distressed at the sight of a body nearby. Steeling herself for the worst Karissa, crawled towards him hoping for some weapon she could use at a distance. She released a shaky breath when she noticed the rise and fall of the man’s chest. At least he wasn’t dead. With shaky hands she reached for the bow and the quiver of arrows. She’d never used them before but just creating an opening for the group to help the others, that would be enough.

“I can do this,” she whispered to herself, clumsily knocking an arrow into place. A moment later she loosed it, watching it arc and land way too far to be of any threat to any of those pirates. Nonetheless they’d reacted, seeking her out. Karissa didn’t bother to listen to their threats and taunts. When she felt she had another opening she’d try to knock and loose another arrow to provide as distraction for those on the other side of the little incline of land.

Mia couldn't imagine living like this. While she wasn't the most organized person in the world, she at least made sure most things were put in places she could find them. Charlie didn't seem to mind where he kept his mess as long as he could find them later.

She flipped through the pages of another book, having dusted off it's cover before he walked into the room. Mia blinked, turning her attention toward him when he spoke.

For a long moment, she debated giving the definition to both 'captor' and 'protector'. She decided against it in the end, biting her tongue if only to work on her passive aggressive behavior.

"I shouldn't have worded it like that," she replied after a long moment. She snapped the book in her hand shut before she continued, "you'll find I tend to ramble without much thought. Regardless of that fact, if you'd had any other intentions, you'd have probably made them known by now. For all I know, you're a fine man hiding behind that cheeky attitude of yours."

Mia sat the book down, averting her gaze. She cleared her throat, ignoring any proud look that might have crossed his face.

She sat the book down, offering a short sigh. What more was there to be said now? What was done was done. She might have no liked to admit it but she was going to have to pick a side sooner or later.

"What is it exactly you're fighting for?" she finally asked, sparing a glance back toward him. "You've talked about the Templars and assassin's. What is it the Templars are striving for?"

If anything, she knew partly of what it was. Still, she felt better hearing it from him, if he indulged her in an answer. Mia found often he refused to do so, in attempts to toy with her. There was little she could do about it aside from get a little huffy.

----[x]----

The attack had happened so spontaneously that for a moment many did not know how to react. Daniel's heart thudded hard in his chest as he took lead in addressing other assassin's, prodding them to defend Tulum.

Pirates weren't a rare thing here, more common than he would like to think. Regardless, the pirates had taken them off guard and no one had expected the attack. It had been so quiet, so little happening that there had been no need for alarm.

With those around him off to defend Tulum, Daniel went on search for any stragglers as well as Karissa. She was not yet ready to fight in these battles.

He wasn't sure how much time passed. Minutes seemed like hours when all he could here was gun fire and shouts. It became an even greater concern when hostages were taken. Daniel cursed under his breath, rifle in hand. He gave up the search for Karissa instead to focus on those who needed his help.

A few minutes of carefully picking his way through the foliage and he found her however, bow in hand. She had been trying to aim at the pirates though it was off drastically.

"That won't do you much good," he spoke softly, instead offering her the rifle. "Try this."

Daniel made easy work of shoving the rifle at her regardless of any protest. He tugged at the pistol he carried with him, ready to use it. There were several higher ranking assassins negotiating for the hostages. Ah Tabai was noticeably not there, though he might have been looking for an opening.

"Steady now," he muttered, glancing at Karissa out of the corner of his eye. "For someone claiming these things so dangerous, you certainly know how to hold one."

She was flipping through all sorts of things he had lying around. Charlie couldn't be sure what caught her eye and what didn't, it all seemed random to him. Maybe everything did for all he knew. He couldn't imagine that anything he had here was that interesting but she sometimes seemed to think differently.

He gave a shrug when she answered him, something about phrasing it all wrong. Wasn't much of a big deal to Charlie so long as he wasn't being insulted or questioned on the matter of things. If they all told him that Mia was valuable than she was and that was that. He'd do his bet to keep her out of assassin hands. Besides, the way she and her friend had looked when he'd first caught sight of them was enough to pique his own interest at the time.

"Least you know potential where you see it," Charlie said simply, lifting his chin in a proud manner.

There was a muffled sound as she put down whatever she'd been holding. With the way she was angled from him he couldn't get a clear look at it though it didn't really matter much anyways. Nothing was broken that would be of value.

His eyebrow raised at her next question. She didn't give him any time to actually answer before she was jumping from what he fought for to what the Templars fought for. Mia was watching him carefully as if waiting for him to actually be able to spill out all the answers to her. He offered a shrug watching as her eyebrows knitted together at that.

"I'm fightin' for myself, luv," he pointed out simply, a cheeky smile on his lips, "you'd be better asking the grand master that sort of thing rather than me, you know."

He'd been told to keep her safe and around Havana though she'd yet to meet the grand master. Any information she fessed up to Charlie had passed along through the proper channels to him and so there hadn't been a need for a meeting yet. In time that might change but for now it just wasn't in the works.

----[x]----

It had been easy enough to draw attention with that poorly shot arrow but they still weren't budging enough for any one of the more experienced assassins to take a chance at helping the hostages. Karissa had shifted, moving from her spot just enough so she wouldn't be spotted by the pirates right away. Any one of them could have tracked or guessed where the arrow had been shot from.

She'd clumsily knocked another arrow into place, ready to aim and try to draw more attention to herself to create that opening. If she could just hold the arrow back long enough to do so it wouldn't be a problem but her arm shook with the effort, little muscle built up and now power to aim for a long enough duration.

Someone spoke up behind her, causing her to jerk, sucking in a startled breath. Blinking wide-eyed she came face-to-face with Daniel. He quickly kneeled nearby, hidden by the foliage just as much as she was. Karissa let the arrow drop as she swatted at his arm even when he was holding out a rifle for her to take.

"Fucking scare me half to death why don't you?!" she hissed before glancing at the proffered weapon. "Wasn't trying to hit anyone down there anyways."

There was a moment that passed before she took up the rifle. It was heavy in her hands, much more so than the bow had been. Still, she might have better luck with this one. At the very least she'd had some practice with paintball guns and that rifle her friend had gotten. Then again this was a flintlock, bulkier and so much unlike what she'd had in her hands before.

She brought it up into position, laying flat on the ground to better aim. Daniel was still on his knee, no doubt much more experienced with flintlocks than Karissa could ever guess at. She could hear Daniel giving the order to remain steady, not to fire just yet. It was only a second later did he comment on how easily she handled the rifle in her hands. Karissa was sure he'd be saying something different if the recoil ended up leaving her reeling though.

"I've had some practice," she murmured loud enough for him to hear. A second later she'd muttered under her breath "it was a hell of a lot more advanced than this hunk of a junk though."

She waited for Daniel's word to fire. He had the experience here and would know when best to do so. Still, the wait left her on edge. Would the pirates get more hostile and kill their hostages down there before anything could be done?

She spared a glance as he lifted his head a little higher and couldn't help but smile. She wasn't sure if he caught it or not. It didn't seem too important however.

"I'd like to think that was a compliment," she replied lightly, pointing at him.

For the moment, he took a bit of time to answer her. Maybe she had asked too many questions too quickly. If she kept up with that habit, she hoped he would tell her. She would try to stop the habit if she could.

She tipped her head when he answered her. It was simple enough though not what she wanted to hear. She resisted a sigh at that. Honestly, she hadn't even heard of any meeting with this grand master of his so the answers she was looking for would have to wait.

"Fair enough," she answered, "it's an answer and I won't complain."

Mia shifted her weight then, a little unsure of what to do with herself. She would poke around a little more though she was becoming paranoid of the things here. What if she broke something important?

"How much of this stuff did you steal?" She inquired then, crossing to the other side of the room. There were some interesting trinkets he kept though what they were or what value they held, she could only assume. She knew the locket he wore was stolen as well. That necklace reminded her of something else as well.

"Hey...uh, there was something if my stuff that...you know if you happen to find it, just don't pay any mind to it, okay?" she explained, shifting nervously.

The thought of the necklace she'd left in her pocket was prominent in her head. He hadn't found it at this point but then again, it seemed he hadn't gone looking through her things either. They were just clothes, after all, nothing really interesting about them aside from their design.

----[x]----

Daniel sat by and watched carefully for a short time. He needed to take the right opportunity to take a shot. The pirates were relentless and no doubt would start killing if they felt the need. If that was the case, they would shoot to kill as well.

She muttered something under her breath, something he didn't quite catch. Daniel shook his head, saving it for another time. If it was important, she would bring it up again.

"If you simply want to startle them, do so," he explained lowly. "I don't know what your thoughts are on killing."

Anyone would be afraid of something like that. It took quite a bit for some to get used to it. Some never did, some were never cut out of this kind of life. Regardless, Karissa seemed rather steady holding that rifle.

He raised his own pistol, ready to dart forward when he needed to. Catching them off guard would be their best move, giving others room to attack. Ah Tabai was no doubt near as well, waiting on an opening.

"Now," he finally said, moving forward quickly.

The shot rang out, sharp and high, catching the pirates off guard. Daniel's own shot rang out when he was close enough to one man, killing him. His sword was drawn then, ready to fight any who might step forward.

There were shouts from other assassins. Somewhere in the midst of it all, he could hear Ah Tabai shouting orders as well. Karissa was still in the bushes, last that he had left her. If she remained there, she would be fine. Daniel could only assume how involved she would get, however.

Charlie offered another shrug. Whether she took his words as a compliment or an insult was entirely up to her, either way it didn't matter much to Charlie. The only difference would be how Mia would end up being.

"If that's what you want to think I won't stop you," he stated simply.

When topic turned to why he and the Templars fought Charlie hadn't given much of an answer. Nonetheless she'd looked thoughtful and Charlie could only wonder what kind of insight she was trying to gain. He'd saved her from the assassins after all, sure he was a little more than blunt and reckless but he'd done it. Her friend was another matter entirely though she hadn't expressed much worry about that girl so Charlie didn't bother to bring it up.

Eventually Mia had relented and by that time Charlie was already nearly finished with his food. He made sure to brush away the crumbs that landed all over his front. He'd bother about cleaning up the floor later so that mice wouldn't invade the place. Mice were not something that he was quite a fan of.

"Well at least you aren't gettin' all fussy about answers today," Charlie muttered, finishing off his makeshift sandwich.

It wasn't long before she was questioning what was really his or not around this place. For a moment he pretended to think, glancing around at it all. There were all sorts of knick knacks and the like pushed in where they could fit. Many of it he'd picked up on a whim, a passing fancy that had been fulfilled at the time and nothing more. Now many things sat gathering dust. Charlie offered a shrug in answer.

The way she continued to speak, bringing up what she'd worn the day they'd met in such a hesitant and nervous fashion drew his attention however. He rose an eyebrow at her, really studying her. Whatever she had hidden left her fidgeting under his gaze.

"Is that right?" he murmured lightly, mostly to himself than to her. If she had wanted to keep something dear to her hidden it would have been best if she hadn't mentioned it. Now his curiosity was piqued.

----[x]----

Karissa didn't respond but to blink at Daniel's words. At the very least she wouldn't be expected to kill outright if she couldn't handle it. Though she wanted to help she wasn't sure if she'd be able to stomach something like that right away. She didn't take her eyes from the people down below, worried for those who were held hostage down there.

She was tense, waiting on Daniel's word. There was no way of knowing what he was waiting on but wait she did. If there was an opening he knew to take advantage of them far be it for her to ruin it. If she did then it might result in the killing of those hostages down below, Karissa didn't want that on her conscience.

Daniel's command was quieter than she had been prepared for and it took her a moment to actually pull the trigger. The shot that rang out was loud, echoing in the error and briefly deafening her as her ears rang in answer. That said nothing to the recoil, sending the butt of the rifle into her shoulder hard. She reeled for a moment, shoulder smarting and probably bruised and the sound of aggressive combat mingling with the ringing in her ears.

In the moments it took for Karissa to regain her bearings, surprised by the kick of the rifle, Daniel had already darted forward joining the fray. There was no way of knowing what was the right thing to do; should she stay up here, join the fight and risk being injured or try to aggro a few of those guys for the assassins to get another opening? It left her rooted to the spot for a few seconds longer, unable to decide what was the best thing to do.

It wasn't until she spotted a couple of the assassins that had been taken hostage attempting to get out of the way—presumably to safety—that Karissa decided what she needed to do. They were roughed up and even from here Karissa could spy blood staining the white clothes many of them wore. She darted out from her hiding spot, ready to use the spent rifle as a bludgeoning weapon if she had to along the way. If nothing else she could help these three get out of the line of fire.

"C'mon, this way!" she called out, careful to dodge around a knife that had gone whizzing by. Karissa couldn't be sure who had thrown it.

Despite the odd look she got in return from the trio they followed after, no doubt happy that someone was able to take some of the aggro from them. It would be a long time before they were out of danger even with Karissa battering anyone away as best she could. A few shots were fired but Karissa swore that the few times a pirate looked to be aiming their way someone stepped in to interfere though she couldn't be sure if this was accidental or not.

When they got to safety Karissa would wait with them, just to be sure. At the very least the least injured of the three helped to reload the rifle just in case it would be needed again in that time.

Mia shifted her weight on and off as the conversation dragged on. She had reached out, wiping dust from one little trinket. These things would be much prettier if they were taken care of.

She debated cleaning a little bit when she had the time. She was sure some of these things could be rather nice looking if they were dusted.

"Honestly, I'm normally not fussy," she answered, letting her hand fall back to her side. She wiped the dust on her pants. "I suppose it was the situation and the worries. I've never handled it well."

Her gaze fell onto him again as he spared a glance around. Charlie took it all in, or at least seemed to act like he was, before he shrugged his shoulders. Mia snorted lightly in response said nothing in return.

It was the look that crossed his face after she'd explained things that concerned her. She felt her heart pick up, far too aware that he wouldn't let her live it down if he found it.

"Seriously Charlie!" she started, feeling a rush of nervousness wash over her. "It's just...something dumb, okay! Nothing that important I'd just rather no one see it!"

Already, her could feel her cheeks getting hot. He was the one who had her old clothing, after all. It wasn't as if she could grab them and hide that necklace away. She bought it on a whim, tucked it in her pocket, and completely forgot about it.

----[x]----

Ah Tabai had moved quickly to aid the other assassins. Hostages were taken by the pirates and for a long moment, no one was sure of where they could get an opening. He waited patiently, listening as the pirates had shouted out their demands.

Before any other drastic measures were taken by the pirates, a shot rang out. Daniel had moved forward when the pirates were caught off guard. Ah Tabai motioned for any hidden nearby to attack as well.

He darted forward as well, aiding those within the battle. Stragglers were lead out by others. The hostages would be safe as long as the pirates were distracted.

It was a simple task felling one man who tried to over power another assassin. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Karissa out in the fray. His heart leapt in his throat as a knife nearly hit her. She didn't stay long, just enough to gesture to the hostages and flee.

With her out of the way as well as those taken hostage, there was no need to hold back. He took hold of a sword, thrusting it through one man. The sound of gun shots dulled, pistols long since made useless unless someone could duck away and reload.

Minutes seemed like hours, shouts and the clash of metal mixing into one great noise. At some point, one of the pirates retreated. Others followed quickly after, turning to return to their ship.

A hard frown tugged at Ah Tabai's lips, watching the last of them go. With the retreat, they could safely tend to their wounded. Ah Tabai shook his head at that. It was another unnecessary fight. These pirates, as of late, seemed to be bringing about quite a few of them.

Yet again Charlie found himself waving away her words. She was trying hard and it was obvious though why she was doing so was unclear. If what she said was true then there wasn't any need to ramble on about them, he'd see for himself sooner or later. Maybe she was just that sorta person, ramble-y when it came to worries about their appearance in another's eyes.

It wasn't until she started getting antsy did his attention really peak. What was she hiding in those odd clothes he had stored away? Charlie hadn't seen a need to go picking through them, there hadn't been anything obvious hidden in the pockets and folds at any rate. Perhaps there was some trinket he had overlooked...

He tsked, wagging a finger at her. "You're not very good at keeping secrets, luv. Attractin' attention to things you want hidden isn't wise."

If nothing else she'd brought it on herself if he did find whatever had her so riled up. It was worth checking out later, when she wasn't hounding him about it. She'd just be likely to try and snatch whatever it was away if he dug around for it now. Charlie couldn't have that now if he was to find out what it was.

Mia's face was growing red and it was more and more obvious the less able she was to sway him. Charlie smirked, holding out his hands in a mock shrug. It was interesting to see her riled up like this over something that may or may not be trivial.

----[x]----

Karissa couldn't begin to guess how much time had passed. The sun had set as they waited. Names hadn't been shared, all of them a little tense about the situation but Karissa was glad that the two that could have darted back into the fight remained with her and the third. Neither she or the most injured would have been able to take on anyone that came after them for long, especially if Karissa missed the only shot they had with the rifle in her hands.

Though her legs had grown tired and her feet ached from standing and pacing she remained on her feet just in case. She could sit when someone had come to find them and tell them that things had quieted down. Even if the sounds of combat had died in the area that didn't mean anything for sure.

"Pacing about will do you little good, I'm afraid," the other woman with them had pointed out. Karissa could only offer a shrug even as she continued to pace.

She found herself worried for Daniel and Ah Tabai in that time as well. They might have both been capable but anything could happen and that thought left worry constricting her insides. Besides, what if those people had followed the ship Daniel and she had taken to get here? The thought wasn't a comforting one.

Arms tired from holding onto the rifle for so long she did her best to ignore it. It might be the only thing to protect them at a moment's notice, after all. All there was to do was wait however.

Her face felt hot as Charlie waved her off so nonchalantly. She had expected him to have gone through her things weeks ago. When nothing arose, she grew nervous knowing that necklace was still tucked away in her pocket. At anytime, he could have found it.

She wrung her hands, shuffling her weight from one leg to another. Any pain that still bothered her from her right leg went ignored now, too far worried about the current situation.

"Yea but..." she started to reply, at a loss for words on how to defend herself. Her gaze shifted this way and that, unable to bring herself to look at him in her current state. "I completely forgot it was there..."

It was a trivial thing, at least when she bought it. What it said however, would give him so much ammo to use against her. He already had enough as it was now, so this would leave her completely open for taunting now.

"You're killin' me here," she finally stated finally, shuffling her weight again. Maybe it would have been best not to mention it at all.

----[x]----

Ah Tabai took to tending to those who needed help. Getting some back onto their feet was a difficulty. Many were worn out and injured, as much as he hated to admit that.

Eventually, he moved toward the village to check on damages there. Thankfully, most of the battle had been far from Tulum. Still, it was best to be safe, especially for those they had left behind to defend.

On his way, he passed Daniel helping another, an arm slung over his shoulder. They would have a late night at this rate, Ah Tabai was sure.

He spared a glance around the village, catching worried faces. Canon fire having finally disappeared, he hoped they would calm. Some would stop him, inquiring if it was safe or not. He quickly assured them that they were fine.

Ah Tabai's gaze fell onto a pacing figure. Karissa was moving about, her shoulders hunched and tense. Worry was prominent on her features. Ah Tabai tried not to chuckle at this obvious worry.

"You should not worry yourself so, mi'lady," he called out, motioning to her briefly. "We will be fine. Daniel is still helping a few. I hope you were not harmed in the fray."

Ah Tabai had noticed she'd rushed out, if only for a brief moment, and nearly gotten hit. He didn't mention it however, the woman already looking worried and awkward as it was.

The more he made it clear he wasn't going to be swayed not to check the more panicked Mia became. This only drove his curiosity further. Clearly Mia had never had to hide something before if this was how she thought to go about it. Who just went out of there way to make mention of something they wanted forgotten?

He shook his head, leaning his weight on one leg. "And if you hadn't mentioned it I wouldn't have known something was there either, would I?"

She looked at a loss for words at that, wringing her hands and shuffling from foot to foot. Charlie could only wait and see what she did. Maybe she'd just fess up to what was hidden in her clothes and solve the whole thing here and now. Something told me that Mia wasn't going to do that.

Charlie laughed, shaking his head soon after. Mia really was distressed by what he might find back there. It couldn't have been that bad though she clearly thought it was. He offered a shrug looking unapologetic as he did. At this rate there was no way he couldn't go back and look later when she wouldn't be trying to distract and make a grab at whatever it was.

"Poppet, you're not helping yourself out of this hole you know," he pointed out lightly. At this point he expected she'd either keep at this futile attempt to sway him or just grow quiet.

----[x]----

Eventually people had wandered this way, spreading the news that the remainder of the pirates had retreated. Either they'd been driven off because of how many they'd lost or because they'd decided Tulum had nothing to gain by remaining longer. It was only this that caused Karissa to lower the muzzle of the rifle to aim at the ground instead. She'd keep a hold of it for now until she could pass it off to someone who either wanted it or knew who it belonged to. Maybe it had even been Daniel's for all Karissa knew.

She kept an eye out for Daniel or Ah Tabai though she couldn't spot either of them. Everyone was tending to something, leaving Karissa to wait. Even the three she'd helped get away were busying themselves. In a way it left Karissa feeling left out and useless, just shuffling her feet like she was.

Finally Ah Tabai's voice reached her ears. Despite herself a smile spread on her lips as she met him halfway. Relief flooded through her that he was unharmed and later she might be startled by just how strongly she felt on the matter already. Just weeks ago he had been fictional but now he was a person and one she was getting to know to boot.

It was a weight off of her shoulder to hear that Daniel was safe as well even when many had been injured. Karissa hoped that no one was in worse shape. In time she'd find out she supposed.

"No, I'm fine," she answered, "is there anything I can do though?"

Chances were slim that there was, she was aware. She had little medical knowledge as it was and that seemed to be the biggest concern now, getting everyone patched up. Karissa was just lucky she hadn't been one of the injured ones, especially when she'd nearly gotten nailed by that knife earlier.

Mia couldn't stop shuffling her weight. Her heart pounded and she could only imagine how bad it would be when he found that necklace. At this rate, he would.

The over confident expression didn't leave his face. This didn't surprise her at all though she tried not to pay mind to him. It was hard not to at this point however.

He laughed loudly at her. Again, much like him, she had trouble disliking the sound. She cleared her throat, looking away again. His words were honest enough, very true even. She just wished she hadn't mentioned that beforehand.

Mia cleared her throat again, "it wouldn't be the first time," she answered rubbing the back of her neck nervously, "you clearly enjoy it however."

That much was true and he'd be enjoying it more if he found that necklace. She wasn't sure if he would save it for some time or bring it up right away. She figured she'd find out when he poked around for it.

----[x]----

A smile had graced her lips, relief washing over her features. She had clearly been very worried over their safety. He spared a small one back, able to relax a little more himself.

Ah Tabai nodded in response to her words. She was fine and that was for the best. While she didn't have experience in fighting, she had put herself at risk to help the other assassins. He was impressed by her sense of justice.

She was offering help quickly after she proclaimed she was fine. Ah Tabai tipped his head, thinking for a brief moment. He spared a small nod after a moment.

"If you have any experience in medical knowledge, you may help those injured," he replied. "There are many who need help, though I do not like to admit it."

These things happened and many getting injured was inevitable in their way of life. Later one, some would no doubt proudly speak of these injuries or scars.

"If not, I am sure we can find you something to aid us with." he added a moment after.

However funny it was this was going to grow thin sooner or later. Charlie merely scoffed, waving off her words. Instead of answering her he moved to plop down on a nearby seat. It was worn and needed replacing but he hadn't gotten around to it. Charlie didn't mind it most times anyways.

Mia still looked nervous and fidgety but he just shrugged it off. Continuing on with the picking at her wasn't going to change anything up and she'd just keep on wringing her hands and getting embarrassed until the point where she lost her temper. He was enough of a pain to people in the past to know the way things went by now.

"You're gettin' too worked up, poppet," he pointed out, "gonna get yourself a headache like that!"

It was quiet then though Charlie didn't mind it. Sometimes it was good to just sit back and do nothing. Then again for all he knew Mia would keep digging around for the things she'd been looking for before. She certainly looked like she needed something to do with herself now that her face was cooling off. It was kind of funny just how red in the face she'd gotten though.

Charlie felt relieved that he was off his feet now, kicking up his booted feet onto the nearest table. He had to shove a few things to the side to make room and one statue he'd nicked almost fell off though Charlie didn't seem to notice the latter. He spotted Mia darting towards it before she'd stopped when it hadn't teetered over entirely. It looked like she cared more for this stuff than he actually did.

----[x]----

Though he smiled back it was a small one and Karissa tried not to let that bother her much. He was undoubtedly worried about everyone here and had his mind on that. Besides they'd just met that day and so it was unlikely that he'd that happy to see her uninjured compared to those he knew for much longer. With that in perspective it was easy not to let it bother her.

As she'd feared it looked like medical knowledge was what was most needed right now. While she had the basics down that wouldn't be enough to help everyone and Karissa knew it. Reluctantly she shook her head, lying about it wouldn't do anyone any good.

"I don't really know enough to do much good there," she admitted out loud.

Toying with the rifle a little she kept her finger away from the trigger. Karissa would keep hold of it until she could turn it back over to Daniel. If it was a weapon he could use later then she'd rather not lose it. Some people took their weapons seriously too and she'd rather not get the guy mad at her because she'd set it down somewhere.

All she could do was wait then and see what Ah Tabai would come up with. Even if it was something menial it would give her something to do, better that than to stand around in the way she figured.

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