———REST CAME WITH THE GRACE OF A THREE LEGGED CUR. par the course, it shambled and fell, hopping in and out of the needed sleep, a clumsy mutt. he lifted from his cot, the ache at his back indicative of the discomfort. it was not unlike the sort of mat he slept on travelling between missions. comfort was not the brotherhood’s way, but he had to admit this was something to get used to.

      disoriented, he moved towards the doorway leading to the main room of the bureau. it wasn’t long before his eyes became accustomed to the dark, turning back to peer at the light filtering through the openings above his bed. no wonder he hadn’t slept — the full moon seemed to be right overhead. the man considered leaving, but the urge died quickly at the thought of the consequences. there was no familiarity aside from here in jerusalem. to think, such a holy city to his people, and he’d only visited it now.

     

❝ … ‘don’t boast of tomorrow, for you know not what a day will bring.’ ❞
he turned to face malik, having sensed the man behind him.

@faithbetrayed + x

MALIK.

                “Wow, that’s an interesting story, tell me more.” 

   The Dai greeted his teeth as the other continued to inform him about tragedies they had been through which in the end brought him here. At first, interest was the only thing in his eyes; it would be a lie if he said he wasn’t interested in what had come of their story after they passed away but seeing as nothing had truly changed, his interest began to fade. Especially after he had to listen to the beginning of sad childhood story or this stranger. 

            “I am kidding– please don’t.”

      Offending them was not his intention however, they just needed to understand this was not the first time he heard such a story nor was it going to be the last one. Perhaps if they had met when he was younger, then he would offer a sorry and a pat on their shoulder even but, at this age he found it impossible to do so. Still, kindness soon resonated in his voice as he offered them a cup of tea and a place to rest. 

             “You must be tired. Why don’t you have a drink and
              get some sleep? We can talk about your situation then.”


                        ———❝ YOUR TONE MAKES ME WONDER HOW MUCH YOU BELIEVE ME. it’s not in my interest to lie when it sounds this preposterous. ❞
he couldn’t quite rationalize the situation himself. knowing some meant he knew nothing, really. had this been the work of the apple? it wasn’t everyday you were transported to an unfamiliar time and place, and rarely did such a thing allow for the kind of understanding he was getting. nothing seemed to sit right.

     ❝ the german brotherhood is not even in its infancy. why are you allowing me to stay?
it’s a point he liked to think about. above all else, he was no one to the organization. they could do as they pleased with him, a foreign face in an unknown land. despite his words, his intent, he spoke on just the surface and said only what was important. his childhood, though intrinsic to the full picture, made for an abridged tale at best. he was not the kind of man to speak his business, nor was he keen on garnering pity