This was not supposed to take twenty four days to write. TT_TT Thank you all for your patience. Since the most difficult part is over, the rest should come along much more quickly (though I'm enrolling at university next month so maybe not)
Benjamin was the first to talk.
"What on earth are you talking about?" he asked, dismissively, before turning his attention back to Charles. He dug in his waistcoat pocket, pulling an envelope out. He held it out, and Charles glanced at Haytham before gingerly taking it.
"We need to speak with Johnson, do you know when he'll be arriving?" Haytham asked, ignoring the blatant disrespect Church was showing. He'd probably act the same way toward a Thomas Hickey who was suddenly acting as though he were in charge.
"No," John said, clearly perturbed. "Weren't you helping him with something this morning, Thomas?"
"I could fetch him for you," Thomas offered, in a vague approximation of Charles' usual accent.
"Please do," Haytham said, and Thomas left without another word. The man was obviously trying to make up somehow for the insane situation he'd landed his comrades in, as his usual response would have involved some sort of demand for money and booze for his errand running.
"That isn't something I ever expected to see," John commented, drily. Though he seemed relaxed, knowing John he was readying himself to attack if necessary.
Strangely enough, Haytham wasn't completely sure that was the case: usually, he could tell if someone were harbouring aggression toward him, but either Hickey's drunkeness was interfering with his instinct or the rumours he'd heard of the special Kenway eyes were true. Judging by the absolutely terrified glance Charles threw in Haytham's direction, the latter was the more likely.
"Today's been a day full of rather unexpected occurrences," Haytham replied. "By the way, don't touch the object in the chest. It's a precursor artefact."
"What does it do, exactly?" John asked, voice friendly but eyes suspicious.
John and Benjamin weren't fools. They'd not believe what happened without some kind of proof, and Haytham couldn't blame them. A hundred years ago, perhaps such tales of odd occurrences might have been easily accepted, but now, in the age of enlightenment (as the new philosophers were calling it)? Never.
"I'm sure Charles can explain," Haytham said, loftily waving a hand in Charles' direction. Charles looked startled, and Benjamin's lip curled.
"Wonderful! Thomas lost his mind," he muttered, barely audible to Thomas' ears, but Charles looked rather irritated. Good god, Haytham'd not realised quite how terrifying a visage his face could be.
"Actually," Charles snapped. "Master Kenway is telling the truth."
Even when his idol was currently occupying the body of the drunken lout he despised, it seemed that Charles was still fiercely devoted to him. Good.
"I-" Benjamin began, then stopped, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "It's too early in the day for this."
John eyed both Haytham and Charles suspiciously.
"I think you two ought to explain exactly what happened before we got here."
William arrived halfway through the rather garbled explanation, apparently having been filled in by Thomas on the way. He was quiet, as Haytham expected, though his gaze flickered around the room, mostly fixed on Haytham and Thomas.
"Forgive me for not believing you right away," Benjamin sighed. "This isn't the sort of thing one can just believe without proof. As much as I respect you, this- well, it's just completely nonsensical."
"I think I should point out that generally, when people tell falsehoods, they tend to stick with more believable lies," John said. His expression was thoughtful, though his eyes still had a certain coldness to them. "Unless you're suggesting that the three fine men before us are idiots?"
"I- no!" Benjamin said, indignantly. "A misguided joke, perhaps-"
"Oh, please," Thomas muttered, rolling his eyes.
"As I said, it's not the sort of thing that just happens!" Benjamin cried, and Haytham internally groaned. Perhaps recruiting a twenty-year-old wasn't the best idea. The younger a man was, the more over emotional he tended to be.
"William?" Haytham asked, hoping to diffuse some of the tension. "What do you think?"
"I believe that you honestly believe that your version of events is what happened," William said, slowly. "I also believe that it's rather more likely that this is simply some sort of temporary insanity or a clouding of the mind, than that some sort of… supernatural phenomena has occurred. I need to investigate and research further, of course, but for now I suggest we assume that you three aren't delusional."
Haytham gave him a solemn, but grateful nod.
"Any idea where to start?"
William looked uncomfortable, clearly not used to Hickey's face and form being so assertive in the manner Haytham was. He thought a moment before replying.
"I have notes on the various known Pieces of Eden. I doubt I have anything relating to this particular artefact, but there's no harm in looking. I think, perhaps, a combination of speaking with my Native contacts and tracking down the previous owners of this artefact would be the best solution to the problem at hand, if it is what you believe it to be."
Haytham blinked. Well, that certainly seemed straightforward. He'd be able to interrogate the necessary thugs far more efficiently and with much less effort or violence whilst inhabiting Thomas' body. Charles would be a brilliant bodyguard in his current position, if given a little training. Thomas, if he stopped drinking long enough, would be an excellent spy. There wasn't much a wholesome-looking young man couldn't find out in a city like this.
"That sounds simple enough," Charles echoed his thoughts.
"How d'you want t' go about this?" Thomas asked.
"Thomas, you'll help me ask your lackeys some questions. John, if you could teach Charles a little in the realm of dirty fighting, I'd be grateful. Afterwards, please do your best to assist William. Perhaps some spy work will be needed at some point, or even just some simple errands run?"
William nodded.
"I could certainly do with some help," he said.
"And myself?" Benjamin asked.
"As much as it pains me to say this… please use your position to do some research on things like hallucinogens and mental derangement. It is, unfortunately, a possibility in this situation. I'm sure that William will be able to spare you one of his helpers for a few hours at some point."
If nothing else, Haytham's smooth speech and quick planning surprised the men unaffected by the Piece of Eden. Best-case scenario, it was the 'proof' Benjamin had been talking about not half an hour earlier.
Haytham left the Green Dragon tavern with Thomas at his side, managing to avoid falling down the stairs thanks to a combination of luck and taking his time descending. If Thomas hadn't been tipsy, adjusting his posture and gait for Thomas' decidedly more lanky form wouldn't have been so difficult. Still, Haytham forced himself to look on the bright side. He hadn't fallen over, much less in front of his comrades.