[ He'd like to believe it was all the Outsider's doing. He really would. But even believing it's half that bastard's fault is better than nothing. Lets him almost, almost fool himself into thinking he needn't fully shoulder the blame. Lets him almost believe he was the victim as well as the monster. (Though the delusion rarely penetrates to his core. He knows too well what he'd done, how it'd felt. Knows he'd made certain choices and stuck with them, bloody as they'd been.)
Daud flinches and looks away, sniffs. Of course Corvo would bring that up. Coming from anyone else, Daud would've taken the assertion easily enough. Would've simply pointed out that he couldn't have done it (he could have) without the Void's powers. That it never would have happened if the bastard hadn't interfered. From this man, though, he can't so easily brush it off. ]
I'm aware.
[ When he looks back, he's surprised to find Corvo standing. He hadn't heard a thing and now the man's above him, now he's got the high ground and could so easily attack. (And who knows what Corvo would do for that woman, long gone as she is. (As if she's ever been gone for Daud. As if he isn't visited by her memory again, again, unending.))
He's tensing again, though it's not so focused this time, though now he's too sharply aware of the lingering question of Jessamine and all that it suggests. ]
We'll all be better once he's gone.
[ He has to believe it, though even now the conviction in his voice has waned, wavered just minutely. ]
no subject
Daud flinches and looks away, sniffs. Of course Corvo would bring that up. Coming from anyone else, Daud would've taken the assertion easily enough. Would've simply pointed out that he couldn't have done it (he could have) without the Void's powers. That it never would have happened if the bastard hadn't interfered. From this man, though, he can't so easily brush it off. ]
I'm aware.
[ When he looks back, he's surprised to find Corvo standing. He hadn't heard a thing and now the man's above him, now he's got the high ground and could so easily attack. (And who knows what Corvo would do for that woman, long gone as she is. (As if she's ever been gone for Daud. As if he isn't visited by her memory again, again, unending.))
He's tensing again, though it's not so focused this time, though now he's too sharply aware of the lingering question of Jessamine and all that it suggests. ]
We'll all be better once he's gone.
[ He has to believe it, though even now the conviction in his voice has waned, wavered just minutely. ]
Tell the Empress we're not interested.