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[ This time his confusion's written clear across his face. Why in the name of all the Isles is Corvo asking about Billie?
(Beneath the confusion, buried beneath layers of bitter anger and denial, there's a distant pang of guilt, an awareness of what he's asked of her. A recognition that after everything, he should know better than to ask this of her, should know better than to place this on her of all people - hasn't he done enough harm to her already? - only who else is there that he can trust? And this thing has to be done. Daud would do it himself if he could, only that's no longer an option.
She deserves better. But what choice does he have?) ]
What do you know about Billie?
[ Maybe the bastard had told him. That makes sense. Yes, that makes sense. ]
[Corvo sits back in his chair and sighs. Daud was naturally untrusting, but Corvo was getting a little tired of the animosity. If anyone should be pissed at the sight of the other, it should be Corvo! And yet, here he was, still talking to Daud.]
I know Billie was involved with Jessamine's death.
[Which means Corvo's not entirely sympathetic toward the woman. But...]
But, she helped Emily take back Dunwall. Emily forgave Billie for the things she's done. Doesn't want to see her get hurt. Emily also found out that you saved her life once, as well.
[ It's getting worse and worse. More convoluted, anyway. These aren't details Daud wants to deal with. Not when everything beyond his mission's already a tangle, not when he has that mission to focus on. There are details he needs to run over. Signs he needs to determine how to read. All of this... All of this threatens to tear his attention away.
Is tearing his attention away. Slowly but surely, Corvo's catching Daud's focus, which is infuriating and what, what makes the man think he can speak of Billie, of her role, of... What? Daud doesn't think he's heard correctly. Doubts himself for a moment because what did Corvo mean about helping take back Dunwall?
There's much Daud doesn't know about the woman Billie Lurk became after he sent her from Dunwall. Much he doesn't dare ask and hardly has the time to consider. This. Is this proposition possible? What had Billie done. (He almost wishes she were here. Almost wishes he could ask.)
And. And Emily knows...? (About Delilah. About a too-late attempt at salvaging what had been set to ruin. About one of the few acts Daud doesn't regret.)
(How. How could she know? It doesn't matter. That was years ago.)
He can't sort this out. He can't sort this out and remain standing, so keeping a wary eye on Corvo, he moves toward the cot, lowers himself shakily. That's better. That's a little better. ]
[In all fairness, it's Emily who came to know an awful lot. She just shared the details of her journey with her father after he was freed from the stone Delilah placed him in.
He watches as Daud moves to the cot and can't help but think of the powerful man Corvo met years ago. Daud appeared indestructible back then. Untouchable. Corvo got as close as most had ever come to taking the man's life but chose to let him go. Now, it was as if Daud wanted to go out on his own terms. Fighting the Outsider would definitely speed that up.]
It's not what I want. Her highness, Empress Emily Kaldwin extends an invitation to you and to Billie Lurk. Give up this foolishness, Daud. Come to Dunwall Tower. There, you will be comfortable until your time is up. Who knows, given the right care, you might live even longer.
Or stay and die on a leaky boat.
[One is definitely more attractive than the other.]
[ Taking down the Outsider is all Daud has left. That's how it seems to him, anyway. His mission has taken on a stature that dwarfs all other concerns, has become so compelling, so seemingly dire that all other wishes and responsibilities fade to the background. The bastard has to be stopped. He needs to kill the Outsider before the bastard causes anymore damage. Someone needs to kill the Outsider, and he (no, Billie (which isn't fair for her, it isn't)) is the only one who can do it.
Better to die on this leaky boat than give over his mission. Better to die here than let himself be persuaded.
(What about for Billie? He tells himself she wouldn't want that life, trapped in a tower. He tells himself this mission is just important to her. But underneath, doubts coil. Writhe. And somewhere, somewhere down he knows it'd be better for her. Could almost want it for her.
But the mission. But Corvo doesn't know what he speaks of.)
He focuses himself on Corvo. Tries to read the features of the man, but it's hard to process anything, hard to know how to interpret the lines across his face or what's a tic, what any aspect indicates. Which would be frustrating, if it mattered. (Which is frustrating, and there's a growing pressure in the back of his head. This used to come so easily. But it isn't his concern. It shouldn't be his focus.) ]
The bastard needs to die, Corvo.
You've seen what he can do.
[ Besides, Daud kind of appreciates this leaky boat. After the baths, after months of running, it feels safe, almost. Almost like a home. ]
[Corvo has nothing to hide from Daud and no reason to lie to him now. If he wanted to do Daud any harm, Corvo could've done it already. The offer is what it is, but Daud is too stubborn to accept it. Instead, he's fixated on his revenge.]
Die? For what he can do?
[Corvo shakes his head.]
Then so do all who bear his mark. His power is our power.
[Or it was Corvo's power; not that he truly needs it anymore.]
[ There's a flash in Daud's eyes and for a moment he feels sharp, feels almost in contact with the scene playing out. ]
That's coming soon enough.
[ For him, anyway. Delilah must have been taken care of. Corvo's been severed from the Void. And Emily... Well. That isn't Daud's trouble. Nor does he seriously entertain Corvo's remark. Perhaps the Chosen should be destroyed; it isn't the point right now. And he doesn't know whether Corvo believes it. ]
Once we've gotten rid of him, nothing like this needs to happen again.
[ He doesn't specify what he means by 'this.' He doesn't think he needs to. ]
[ 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. ]
[If Daud denied his past actions in any of those ways, Corvo would not have accepted the excuses. Daud certainly couldn't convince Corvo that he was incapable of killing Jess without his power. Maybe it wouldn't have been so easy, and maybe Corvo would have stopped him, but Daud was probably a talented killer before the Outsider came long.
Looking down at him, Corvo could do whatever he wanted. End Daud's life. Make him suffer until his last breath was gone. Years ago, he pardoned Daud, and if he could do it then, when the loss was so fresh, he can certainly continue to do it now that age has tempered Corvo's anger.
Corvo doesn't know if they'll be better off with the Outsider gone. Or if Daud and Billie can even do it. Guess they'll all wait and see.]
Goodbye, Daud.
[Corvo does not expect he'll see the man again unless it's in the Void.]
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SUPER RUDE, RAT-MAN.
(Beneath the confusion, buried beneath layers of bitter anger and denial, there's a distant pang of guilt, an awareness of what he's asked of her. A recognition that after everything, he should know better than to ask this of her, should know better than to place this on her of all people - hasn't he done enough harm to her already? - only who else is there that he can trust? And this thing has to be done. Daud would do it himself if he could, only that's no longer an option.
She deserves better. But what choice does he have?) ]
What do you know about Billie?
[ Maybe the bastard had told him. That makes sense. Yes, that makes sense. ]
no subject
I know Billie was involved with Jessamine's death.
[Which means Corvo's not entirely sympathetic toward the woman. But...]
But, she helped Emily take back Dunwall. Emily forgave Billie for the things she's done. Doesn't want to see her get hurt. Emily also found out that you saved her life once, as well.
whispers 'icon buddy'
Is tearing his attention away. Slowly but surely, Corvo's catching Daud's focus, which is infuriating and what, what makes the man think he can speak of Billie, of her role, of... What? Daud doesn't think he's heard correctly. Doubts himself for a moment because what did Corvo mean about helping take back Dunwall?
There's much Daud doesn't know about the woman Billie Lurk became after he sent her from Dunwall. Much he doesn't dare ask and hardly has the time to consider. This. Is this proposition possible? What had Billie done. (He almost wishes she were here. Almost wishes he could ask.)
And. And Emily knows...? (About Delilah. About a too-late attempt at salvaging what had been set to ruin. About one of the few acts Daud doesn't regret.)
(How. How could she know? It doesn't matter. That was years ago.)
He can't sort this out. He can't sort this out and remain standing, so keeping a wary eye on Corvo, he moves toward the cot, lowers himself shakily. That's better. That's a little better. ]
You know an awful lot, don't you.
What do you want with me.
eeeee~
He watches as Daud moves to the cot and can't help but think of the powerful man Corvo met years ago. Daud appeared indestructible back then. Untouchable. Corvo got as close as most had ever come to taking the man's life but chose to let him go. Now, it was as if Daud wanted to go out on his own terms. Fighting the Outsider would definitely speed that up.]
It's not what I want. Her highness, Empress Emily Kaldwin extends an invitation to you and to Billie Lurk. Give up this foolishness, Daud. Come to Dunwall Tower. There, you will be comfortable until your time is up. Who knows, given the right care, you might live even longer.
Or stay and die on a leaky boat.
[One is definitely more attractive than the other.]
no subject
Better to die on this leaky boat than give over his mission. Better to die here than let himself be persuaded.
(What about for Billie? He tells himself she wouldn't want that life, trapped in a tower. He tells himself this mission is just important to her. But underneath, doubts coil. Writhe. And somewhere, somewhere down he knows it'd be better for her. Could almost want it for her.
But the mission. But Corvo doesn't know what he speaks of.)
He focuses himself on Corvo. Tries to read the features of the man, but it's hard to process anything, hard to know how to interpret the lines across his face or what's a tic, what any aspect indicates. Which would be frustrating, if it mattered. (Which is frustrating, and there's a growing pressure in the back of his head. This used to come so easily. But it isn't his concern. It shouldn't be his focus.) ]
The bastard needs to die, Corvo.
You've seen what he can do.
[ Besides, Daud kind of appreciates this leaky boat. After the baths, after months of running, it feels safe, almost. Almost like a home. ]
no subject
Die? For what he can do?
[Corvo shakes his head.]
Then so do all who bear his mark. His power is our power.
[Or it was Corvo's power; not that he truly needs it anymore.]
no subject
That's coming soon enough.
[ For him, anyway. Delilah must have been taken care of. Corvo's been severed from the Void. And Emily... Well. That isn't Daud's trouble. Nor does he seriously entertain Corvo's remark. Perhaps the Chosen should be destroyed; it isn't the point right now. And he doesn't know whether Corvo believes it. ]
Once we've gotten rid of him, nothing like this needs to happen again.
[ He doesn't specify what he means by 'this.' He doesn't think he needs to. ]
no subject
The Outsider didn't kill Jessamine, Daud.
[A man did that. The one sitting in front of him. Corvo sighs and gets to his feet.]
You should reconsider Emily's offer. It wasn't made lightly.
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.
no subject
Looking down at him, Corvo could do whatever he wanted. End Daud's life. Make him suffer until his last breath was gone. Years ago, he pardoned Daud, and if he could do it then, when the loss was so fresh, he can certainly continue to do it now that age has tempered Corvo's anger.
Corvo doesn't know if they'll be better off with the Outsider gone. Or if Daud and Billie can even do it. Guess they'll all wait and see.]
Goodbye, Daud.
[Corvo does not expect he'll see the man again unless it's in the Void.]