When There Really Was No Other Way - A Different Father-son Dynamic In AC (rant)

When there really was no other way - a different father-son dynamic in AC (rant)

This is a continuation of my other post, focusing a lot on the relationship between William and Desmond, where I talked about the abusive behavior, and how it seems to be lowkey condoned in a lot of media. Warning - this post is super long

One of the most popular defenses when it comes to parental abuse is the idea that “there was no other way”, that in order for the child to benefit in the long run you have to hurt them now. The real-world example would be medical procedures and certain types of physical therapy, that hurt no matter how gently you go about them, but they are important to the child’s well-being and/or survival.  In fiction, particularly in fantasy/sci-fi, it’s usually some type of training or skill, that has to be acquired in limited time, or ability, that can only be unlocked under pressure, that a child needs to survive because the world is more dangerous than ours.

While there are situations where this is plausible and works, still not excusing the fact of the abuse but making the person committing it less disgusting. the idea of “there was no other way” gets grossly misused. And, when William’s behavior towards Desmond is being shoehorned in that category, I get mad, because no, William is just abusive. What’s more, there IS a father-son relationship in AC-universe (albeit in the comic), that does fall under “there was no other way”. 

I’m talking about Nikolai Orlov and his son Kenya, Daniel Cross’ ancestors as portrayed by comic “Assassin’s Creed - The Chain”.   In 1926, Nikolai and Kenya live off the grid somewhere in the US, hiding form both Assassins and Templars. At one point in the comic, an 8-year-old Kenya is made to sleep outside as a punishment during winter until he manages to do his father’s bidding.

If we take the situation without context, it is a clear picture of parental abuse. However, I can name a few reasons, accurately presented in the comic, that make it “there was no other way” situation and why the same points don’t work for William and Desmond. The list of 5 (-ish) reasons is as follows: #0 - Do we know them? This is not an actual reason, that’s why it’s at #0, but it’s a good foundation - for us, Nikolai isn’t a new character, we are not introduced to him making his 8yo son sleep outside. There already was a 3-issue comic, that gave us an insight on his character and values, we have an opinion on him. 

William, on the other hand, gets an introduction by being an asshole to others and showing no normal human emotion in the face if his son being in a coma and his protege’s death. Granted, I’m not sure if the Ubisoft tried to make his connection to Des a surprise, but his first full introduction at the start of AC3 when we already know he is the father is… actually the same - him being an asshole.

Keep reading

// dsmp rp

A No Nuke AU Drabble, feat. Stagedduo

Special thanks to @call-me-apple / @dreamsclock / @carpedzem for the brainrot.

~

“So you’re telling me we’re done?”

Punz’s voice was deliberately steady, deliberately controlled, but the fire in their eyes betrayed them.

Dream was pacing the prison lobby. Distantly, he wondered how much longer it would take to wear grooves into the floor like this, with the mining fatigue. “We’re not done, we’re just… changing objectives.”

Punz raised an eyebrow. “So we’re fucking done.”

“Yes, Punz! We’re done with, like, revival stuff, if that’s what you mean.” Dream thought of obsidian rooms piled high with books, the mad scrawlings of two who were playing at science. They hadn’t moved any of it. They probably never would. “For now.”

Punz stood from the warden’s desk, and when they looked at Dream, he couldn’t be sure they recognized him. A stranger—and a threat.

“So let me get this straight,” they started. “Everything we did, all the things we did, together— you’re saying none of it fucking matters? I waited a fucking year for you, Dream!”

Dream advanced on them. “Oh, wow, that’s— I’m so sorry, that must’ve been so hard for you to like, sit around for a year while I— fucking—”

He cut himself off, taking a controlled breath. “I get it, okay? I know what I— what we sacrificed. It doesn’t change anything.”

“So everything you went through in here was for nothing.”

Dream balled his fists. He started pacing again, quickly, before he punched Punz or a wall.

“It’s not fucking nothing, Punz, how would it be nothing? Like— We learnt a lot, y’know, about revival. That knowledge isn’t gonna magically disappear. Now it’s time to actually put it to use. Start helping the server.”

“Start helping Tommy, you mean.” Punz spat the name like a curse.

“Start helping anyone, Punz! Why is this so hard for you to understand?”

“What the fuck is wrong with you, bro. What did Tommy do to your head? You’ve never, just, given up on something like this before.”

“Aren’t you tired?” For the first time, Dream let himself feel the exhaustion baked into his bones. It had been there for so long that he didn’t remember a time before. Every day, it got worse. “Don’t you miss not having to fight?”

Punz just shook their head. “Dude, you’re fucking delusional.”

“You can’t tell me you don’t! Back when you could actually talk to people, and not just pretend to like them. You had people. Sapnap, Tubbo…”

But Punz couldn’t be listening. Their eyes bore straight through him, as if the mask on his face were made of glass. “You never even gave a shit about me.”

“What?”

“You never cared about what I thought, what I wanted— so don’t act like you do now. You just wanted someone who’d do what you said, whatever random whim you’re on.”

Their eyes narrowed. “I’ll never be your precious fucking Sapnap, or George, or whoever else you’ve decided doesn’t hate you anymore.”

Dream was quiet. He stopped in the center of the room, and something like regret flashed across Punz’s face before being replaced with icy resolve.

“Maybe you’re right,” said Dream. “Maybe I don’t care what you think anymore.” In here, in this moment, the walls were stiflingly close. It was too hot. This place had always been too hot.

“I’m leaving,” he said.

Punz laughed coldly. “You’re leaving? The prison, you mean? Like— Forever?”

Dream shrugged. He didn’t know. There weren’t a lot of things he knew anymore. “Come, or don’t, I don’t care.”

When neither of them spoke, it felt like the ground beneath Dream was giving out. He knew what it was like to be alone; in some ways, it felt safer. But this was something else.

He turned away, climbing down into the makeshift exit tunnel.

“Hey, Dream?” said Punz.

Dream looked up, far too quickly.

“Give me the keys.”

Dream’s stomach sank to his boots. But he retrieved the keycard, and when he tossed it to Punz, it felt like the heaviest thing he had ever held.

He left without a word.

What if Desmond is the Assassin in the Brotherhood trailer to Ezio's right towards the end, the one with his face covered??

The Assassin in question:

That would be quite the twist too. Just imagine Desmond getting punted into AC: Brotherhood and deciding to join the Brotherhood but not wanting Ezio to know who he is so he covers his face with either a full plain black mask or some kind of fabric that can cover up to his nose then the rest would be shrouded in shadows by his hood. No one knows what he looks like underneath the mask/fabric and there will be light, friendly rumors (jokes) as to why he hides his face (other recruits would even ask him directly about it).

Desmond just rolls with it and he’s actually the one fanning the flames of his rumors, giving different explanations each time someone asks why he’s hiding his face. Explanations/jokes/lies he’d made include:

He’s so ugly his mother wept when he was born

He has a scar that slices across his lips (that one he got from Dark Knight)

He’s a wanted criminal for killing all the guards and the master of the house of a noble lord

He’s hiding his face because his father is a powerful man

He’s hiding his face so he wouldn’t be noticed by a scorned lover who is somewhere in Rome (This always makes Ezio laugh)

The only thing I would change in his ‘outfit’ is that Desmond doesn’t seem like the type to use a mace. It would slow him down. I could see him using a one-handed sword or dagger like Altaïr (and any time his bleed would make him move like Ezio, he can easily explain it away as him trying to copy the mentore’s moves) or/and a bow and arrow like Ratonhnhaké:ton, focusing on ranged attacks to further support Ezio and the other recruits while not being part of the actual battle so they wouldn’t notice how good he is with hidden blade combat. Maces and other weapons with enough weight to slow him down would be something he'd pick up along the way (or from a disarmed guard) and throw out once he's done fighting.

putting on the bullshitting face

love thinking about callahan as a silly forest spirit that just sticks around for fun. he bodyguards for some demon pretending to be a catgirl and lets her call him a dog because why not. sometimes he becomes mortal and participates in war and doesnt even always win because why not. he gets bitches. he only talks through chat. he was one of the first members and made a dirt house but it has jack shit in it because he doesng care. hes the squire.

he was XD's former pet and seems scared of him. he seems to have stopped being on dreams side during doomsday and helped save clingyduo during the disc finale. theres so many little things hes done whether for fun or out of genuine care. he probably is just a full out god. he helps with the weather. love this guy

Headcanons of Desmond's life on the run? :)

Demond's Life on the Run

Sorry this took so long, I have been immensely busy. Anyways, here's Demond thoughts.

Most assassins have to grow up immensely fast. It just comes with the territory, y'know?

However, when Desmond decided that enough was enough, he made the decision to run off and pursue his own happiness and dreams.

He grew up IMMENSELY fast.

Honestly having the skills of an assassin at such a young age really helped him lmfao. Those really came in handy.

He was honestly,,,, a little shady,,,,,,,,,

I think he already had traits of his ancestors in his habits. Ezio's charm, Altair.... Altair. Edward's wit, Haytham's class (even though it was really, really shoddy class lmfao), and Connor's strength.

Ofc, we know that he hitchhiked for a while before finally getting referenced to NY.

He met some wild people, had a lot of good life experience. Honestly, I think Desmond kinda liked being a vagabond.

Desmond learned so much about the world outside of assassin and Templar business by traveling with other people. Those are some precious stories he'll never forget.

He thinks the badlands are beautiful, no, I am not taking any questions. There are days he'd spend the mornings just gazing out at the scenery, see some tumble weeds, listen to the breeze and feel at ease.

After being recommended to NY, nothing was really the same for him. It excited him, and next thing he knew, he was there.

The lights of the city at night are some of the most beautiful sights in his opinion.

Again, this boy was shady as all hell. He had to do some interesting things to survive. Steal, different identities, not keep one singular backstory, it was a tad mentally taxing for him!

Yes, he did miss his family and friends.

Anyways, Demons was a handsome guy growing up. It's why he got hired at Bad Weather, or at least why he thinks he was hired.

Desmond was surprisingly a natural at bar tending.

He liked to experiment with different types of drinks before finally making his signature "Shirley Templar".

I think Desmond is a natural social butterfly. He was the most friendly bartender and always good for conversation. He had a sunshiny attitude, kinda dry humor and wit. He was just really, really fun.

Y'know, I also get the vibe he was paranoid of certain patrons at the bar. That's probably where Altair's traits fit in. He was always observing, never resting.

One time, he saw someone that looked like his dad and had a panic attack. He couldn't breathe, thought he'd been discovered. Every now and then, he thought he saw a familiar face walk in and he'd have the same reaction.

He would never be able to look those patrons in the eye.

Desmond liked just blending into people while living in the city.

He was friendly, but also kept to himself. Ezio energy.

The hustle and bustle suited him really, really well.

I know everything else says he was really gruff and cynical, but I refuse that. Deadass refuse that. I think he was a natural people magnet and made people laugh to some degree.

He's a bit sarcastic but most people took that as charming. Every now and then, he would rival Edward's wit.

A little sadder, but I think he was so incredibly lonely. People knew about him, but no one really, really knew him. I mean, there was one woman, but even then that was extremely surface level. So surface level, that he didn't even know about Elijah.

Anyways, Desmond would sometimes stare at the ceiling in bed and watch as the lights danced over head, remembering looking at the stars when he was a child.

He wondered if his dad even cared.

Desmond really shouldn't be left alone with his thoughts, if I'm being honest.

I don't know is Desmond ever really planned to live a long life or even if he felt he had much purpose despite feeling relatively comfortable at Bad Weather.

Was he glad he left the farm?

Yeah, he was. But, sometimes you get homesick.

That feeling never really dissipated, regardless of how hard he tried to shove it to the back of his head.