"Corrrrrvoooo. Wake upppp."
Corvo is jolted awake from a child's voice whispering straight into his ear.
"Ahh!"
He shoots up from his back, jumping straight off the bed before clarity returns back to his eyes.
"Hahaha, you were making funny faces while you were asleep."
He brings his hands to his face, rubbing out the exhaustion and sleep from it to rid himself of the annoying morning blur his eyes carry.
Also at the unjustly awakening he was given by the little girl, only to be laughed at afterwards.
Emily suddenly pauses as she sees herself being given his full attention, fidgeting nervously with her hands and legs. Perhaps afraid to voice any requests due to her time at the golden cat.
"I decided to relax here, in your room, while Callista takes her bath downstairs. She told me if there was ever a need or if there were any trouble, I should always run here…. Is that okay, corvo?"
After speaking her mind, she closes her eyes while flinching away, scared of being denied her access here.
"Of course you can Emily, you can stay here whenever you want."
But is happily surprised, opening her eyes wide is apparent shock. But she quickly runs over, straight into corvos embrace, giving him a firm hug before running off into the corner of them room and picking up a book.
Now fully awake out of the corner of corvos eyes he looks a picture, one Emily must have drew, all spread out and stuck to the wall together to make a bigger page for it.
The image itself shows one half being corvos face with a big smile on his face and the word 'daddy' proudly floating above it. The second half being a mechanical skull, corvos assassin mask, with blood covering it as well as a intimidating black aura surrounding him.
A sight he was hoping to keep from her, a sight he didn't want her to see.
A pit if sadness rapidly grew inside his chest. The emotions manifesting as real physical pain from the intensity.
As always he just supressed these emotions. Pushed all 'useless' depressive thoughts and feeling down, deep down inside of him, saving them for another day. And When that promised day arrives… there will be hell on earth…
….
….
Corvo now finds himself once more out in the field. This time with a lot on his mind, thinking about a lot of varying things.
At the minute he is located on the top of a roof of a tall building, sitting over the edge with his legs dangling of the side- mask off and a lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
A habit he acquired from the previous corvo. Though he was more of a cigar smoker after living luxuriously for so many years. A life definitely earned considering how the man lived before all of it.
Anyway, the filthy habit translated in its own way, not being completely the same due to differing personalities that created some clashes. Though… more on that later.
He looks over his target location for the night. A large exuberantly styled mansion, chock full of bright artificial lighting, shining brightly over the almost barren district over the side of the waterway- making its shadows ever deeper.
Sick people roaming around both in streets and dark damp places- moving around like mindless zombies. These beings are what the locals of Dunwall call; weepers. Contrary to popular beliefs though, the people are not actually mindless. During the time when Sokolov and Pierro came together to create a cure for the plague( in the lore), all the weepers, or those that had enough of their sanity left intact came over peacefully to accept the cure.
Crazy right? You wouldn't be able to tell just by looking at them. Especially if you are from the 'modern' times like he is, having gained all the bias made up from horror movies.
"Phew."
A cloud of smoke escapes his lungs as Corvo exhales, finishing off the cigarette.
With but a flick of his finger the cigarette butt goes flying off.
"Let's get this over and done with. It might even be a bit fun. Never been to a fancy dress party before after all.
And so, with a leap, the man disappears down below, straight into the shadows embrace.
….
….
Corvo eventually made his way through the gates and to the part at the entance that revived invitations, after handing in 'his' own to the guards stationed outside, he is given a grand entrance through the gate by two guards men, opening every door he came across as if he were some importantly aristocrat. Well to them, he was.
He finally makes it all the way into the boyels mansion, without even having to sneak around for a second- merely being hidden in plane sight.
All the people he came across just pompously laughed at his mask while telling him what a sick joke it was to be wearing it, as if his mask was not the original but a fake.
Near the entance, corvo catches sight of what appears to be a signing paper. Perhaps to let people know you where here, or maybe to actually be used systematically, not allowing double entrances to happen. That's unlikely thought, seeing how that's how he got in. Anyway a funny though pops into his mind seeing the signing book.
Walking up to it, he grabs the quill and writes on it.
Corvo Attano
'Mwahahah. Oh I'm such a genius. This definitely hasn't happened before in any other play throughs, no it has not.'
After finishing amusing himself, the man gets back to work.
He sticks to the crowds of people, mingleing about to try and get infomation out of other who were in the know about the identity of his target. But as he was walking about a breathless man in a sort of chimera chicken and rat mask with a toothy smile appeared behind him, nervously spitting out a request corvos way.
"I know your mission tonight. We must speak, privately."
The man walks off, seemingly indicating corvo to follow him to a Secluded place without any prying eyes or ears. Dispite the obvious nervousness in his voice, the man's got balls to be able to make a demand of him like that- even while knowing corvos identity. Or well his masked persona one anyway.
So corvo gives him the benfit of the doubt seeing his resolve and follows behind.
"I'm a Friend of Pendleton's and I've done a Few favors For your cause. I know your purpose here tonight, and how to say this …your target is the woman I love.
I swear that if you'll bring her to me, unharmed, you will never hear of her again. There's a cellar directly below the kitchen. I'll wait for you there. I'm not proud of this, but.…..surely it's better than seeing her killed."
The man rambles on a bit, coming up with an admittedly decent plan that seemingly benefits all parties in the end.
This guy to not see the women he's apparently in love with dead.
Corvos target to not be assassinated.
And corvo himself, to have no need to get his hands even more dirt with a non lethal option.
Sure, his target probably isn't exactly innocent/ but the only reason he is hunting her at all is for the connection she shares with the lord regents as his concubine.
…actually yeah. Corvo has another reason to neutralise the Boyle non lethally. That reason is how much fun it would be to watch the vile bastard being basically cucked.
The only thing better than seeing that happen would be seeing the live reaction of the baldy himself. To watch the green hat be slowly lowered onto his smooth empty head.
'Hahahaha. Then it is decided.'
"Her name is esma, I won't harm her, I swear. I'm a man of means. Just bring her to the cellar and I will keep her safe with me. Forever."
The man starts spouting some creepy shit as a little fun fact, but corvo wisely decided to ignore that considering it useless anyway.
'None of my business anyway.'
"Yeah sure, I agree to your plan."
At corvos agreement the rat masked guys body language shows excitement as he nods, laughing to himself while walking off. Presumably to get his side of the deal ready.
…
Now, you might be wondering how corvo even found his way here, even when Campbell had no dirt on the lord regent himself, only his allies.
Well.. ask and you shall receive.
…
…
{flash back to 8 hours, at the houndpitts pub.}
"Royal Physician, I believe you and Corvo knew each other in Former days. Unlike you, our friend Corvo knows what loyalty means."
Havelock speaks out loud, walking around a large cell containing only a single man.
"Bah. I am loyal to my inner spirit. You are the one consorting with the most wanted man in the Empire."
Forcing said man to continuously turn to meet the admiral face to face. Only to give up upon seeing through the mind games havelock is conducting.
"It's my belief that Corvo was innocent in the death of the Empress, and the former Spymaster, or the Lord Regent as he calls himself, is a ruthless tyrant, bent on destroying this city. The heart of the empire."
"You are mistaken if you think there's love between me and our 'Lord Regent.' But whatever you intend to do here, I assure you, I am beyond petty scare tactics."
As Sokolov, the man in the cell, said havelocks mind games are not enough to plant fear into him. Unlike many things to do with the man, the only thing that isn't exaggerated is his intelligence.
This dosent faze Admiral Havelock though, just Instigates him to push further, push harder and break the 'natural philosopher' down.
"If I don't scare you, Sokolov, perhaps these rats will? Even if they don't carry plague, I've heard of a swarm of rats stripping a child's body to the bonein half a minute. I've heard worse. How long do you think it will be before you talk before you beg to talk?"
Now that seems to slightly have an effect. Like it would to any sane mind, the known Mascotts of the plague and violent creatures devouring you alive isnt exactly a fun endeavour. But Sokolov only cringes back slightly, his expressions largely controlled, he would be used to these games by now.
"Rats? Is that the company you keep now, Admiral."
"It's the company you keep that interests us, Sokolov. We know you painted a portrait of the lord Regent's mistress The very aristocrat who is Funding the Military with her fortune. She is the key to the Lord Regent's control over the city and we must have her name!"
"Sorry, Admiral. I cannot help you."
With that, the coarsly groomed man takes himself of into the corner-ignoring the arguments the man makes, apparently done with it all. The argueing man in question huffs out in annoyance, a redness rapidly climbing up his neck in response to his anger.
Corvo walks over to said corner, coming face to face with a man that was once an ally of sorts. Definitely not a friend, nor anything of the sort. But they served the same master, some with more 'enthusiasm' than the other but both with what he thought was loyalty.
…apparently not though, and that left him with conflicting feelings.
"You're apart of this too, corvo. But I know you have your reasons."
Corvo dosent respond, just continuing to stare at the man- perhaps trying to see deep into his soul, to try and glimpse into his true motives, current and what he would have gained from all those years of 'pretending'.
Though Havelock himself promptly interjects.
"Yes, he does. All we need is the name of the Lord Regent's Mistress. It's very simple."
"I elect not to tell you. You will have to force the words from me, and I warn you my willpower is quite legendary."
"Then…."
Corvo finally speaks, a cold edge to his voice, one that makes everyone inside the room shiver at the sheer bloodlust caked into his words.
"Let's see, are the rats hungry?"
Along with his words, the squeaking underneath the three men cease to exist, but the hatch opens even quicker… the rats flooding out like tidal wave, aiming directly for Sokolov.
Havelock opened the switch which allowed a swarm of rats to escape their cage. All hungry for blood and flesh. How they acquired the rays though… currently unknown.
"NO! NOT THE RATS! STOP! STOP! I promised I will tell you what you need to know."
It's only now that the scientist/philosipher/genius/what ever else the man called himself completely looses his composure. Shouting out in fear, begging for the rats to be taken away and doing the only thing a man can do when trapped inside a cage with a bunch of beserk beasts… run.
…
…
…
…
{back to the present}
Corvo has just finished mingleing with the rich people, a task the completely introverted stoic man is wholy unsuited for by the way, but alas the man himself managed to scrape by some infomation out of the loose lips aristocrats.
An overweight man in a pig mask (ironic I know) told him the names of all lady boyles.
From one lady with a fly head mask told him the colours of all sisters for merely bringer her a free drink. Another women in an imitation of his own mask spilled some rumours regarding about them: esma, his target, about her being fairly promiscuous in her sex life. Lydia with her being a very good musician of multiple instruments and Waverly rumoured to be extremely paranoid and wary against anyone-not giving out trust easily.
All being infomation corvo could use to his advantage.
But seeing as his target is the women in red, Esma, he decided to go for a more… seductive approach you could say. As embarrassing as it was for the man. So, Chanelling his inner skirt chaser, curtesy of the previous corvo, the man approached the noble lady, dressed in full red attire.
"Hello, madam. Might I intrest you I'm having a drink with me? Perhaps we could use it get to know each other better, maybe more if your interested."
Corvo attempts to make his voice deeper and huskier, to try and 'flirt' with the women in front of him. But perhaps due to inexperience and simultaneously being out of the game for a long time, he messes up a little- his attempts being a bit too obvious to the sharp women in front of him.
Though she apparently dosent take it badly. Laughing and giggling she rests her hands on his shoulders flirtily, perhaps flattered, maybe just a bit amused.
"I'm alright, darling. I'm already seeing two of you. Besides, this is too much of an open setting to really get deep with each other you see."
The women in red jokes, though her voice is full of a seductive undertone. Her resting hands quickly turning into groping hands, touching up his chest and arm muscles.
"Then, perhaps we'd have more privacy inside your chambers?"
And corvo instantly went for it, seeing tbe opening. A rude gesture that would usually earn any man a slap at his suggestions, especially when meeting for the first time.
But the women seems to enjoy the attention, combined with corvos built body that she can see and even more feel through his clothes, it's safe to say that she is interested.
"That's sounds lovely, my dear. Then… follow me."
She whispers into his ear, grabing his hand and dragging him along through the large ball room, filled with many types of people and drawing many types of looks. Some amused, some jealous and some outright disgusted at the pairs public affection- though that too is most likely a type of jelousy, considering it coming from single individuals.
Esma continues to drag corvo away, past the gaurds stationed on the stairs and up to her room.
As they climb the stairs, corvo breaks a sharp object with a similar appearance to a syringe and pours the liquid stored inside directly into his mouth, holding it there and not allowing himself to swallow the contents. Otherwise corvo, to put it nicely, is absolutely and truely fucked.
The two quickly make it to the room, a room that seems to have a lot of money invested into it. Top quality furniture fanciful designed with various expensive metals and gemstones embedded inside, various painting showing various scenes and people, expensive perfumes and a selection of make up tucked away into a corner onto its own little statio, as well as a large bathroom of a similar size to the room itself.
Esma is quick in pushing corvo down, straight to the top of her bed.
She quickly unmasks herself, untieing her hair and letting it cascade down in a beautiful silky display with the smoothness of a waterfall that would arouse the attention of any man and woman.
Then she slowly started crawling across the bed, starting from the bottom, wiggling her hips seductively with the intention of showing off her admittedly large assets. Unbuttoning her top and loosening the rest of her clothing as she reached the top, climbing corvo like a mountain- mounting him in turn.
Her legs resting either side of corvos, trapping him in with a surprising amount of strength for a women of her stature.
"Now…. Let's take of your mask darling."
She promptly reaches down, bringing her fingers to either side of corvos face, gently removing his mask with intentional slowness and revealing his face.
He flinched briefly, hesitating to let this happen considering the implications of she recognised him but just let go and allows the scene to play out.
*Gasp!*
A loud gasp escapes her lips, her face morphing into an emotion that can only be described as shock. Seemingly recognising him.
"Oh. My. Lord!!! You look so much like the late Empresse lord protector!! You have no idea the fantasies all my girlies had about him when we were young and horny brats, this is definitely a dream come true hahah!"
But just as she mentioned earlier, the women is extremely drunk. Not putting the pieces together about corvos identity and merely thinking him to be a look alike is…. Something only a fool or a drunk could do, and hopefully she is just the latter.
"Now then… Mommas gotta eat!"
Esmas face quickly comes crashing down onto corvos neck, sniffing and biting, each in turn, perhaps stuck on which action to preform- too exited just to preform one at a time.
Corvo is quick to grab her arms though, pulling them over onto the bedside besides him and pinning her down, reversing their previous position.
"Oooooh, kinky. I like it."
The women seems to be getting way into the little wrestling match the two are playing, play fighting back but obviously struggling to push back against corvos strength before promptly giving up, though not unhappily.
"Hah..hah. Alright alright, you win. Your prize.. is me."
She lays back down, fully giving herself away and spouting out some cheesy one liners in her inebriated state, letting her guard down completely.
Seeing this chance, corvo brings his lips down towards hers- increasing his grip on her arms. In turn she wraps her legs tightly around his waist tightly, refusing to let go.
The two lock lips. The kiss starting out slow and chaste, quickly turning deep, fast and sloppy.
In the midst a mysterious liquid started flowing from corvos mouth straight into esmas, unnoticed by the latter due to her enthusiasm in the activity the two are exploring.
As the kiss progresses, eventually turning into rough groping, gentle caress and lots of grinding, Esmas movements starts to slow-her body getting weaker and weaker in turn with her dropping eye lids.
Though this too goes unnoticed by her before she goes completely still, becoming fully limp as he legs detach from corvo.
And being the gentlemen he is, corvo is quick to stop all physical contact with the 'sleeping' women as if he were not the one to spike her drink/his saliva.
"Hah… hah, hah…. Fucks sake. That was a workout."
*DING*
As corvo speaks out his thoughts in mixed state of emotions , a series of dings, like ones heard in a game play out directly inside his ear? Mind? He can't tell. But the noise beings suspiciously loud draws his undying attention.
This causes him to jump out the bed, almost to the other side of the room in fright and alertness. Only to be met with…nothing?
"Argh, for fucks sake. Am I going even more insane? Is that even possible."
In his view is nothing that shows what could have possibly made that noise, just the same over expensive tasteless room as before. His mind apparently playing tricks on him again.
He stood in spot for a minute, frozen in concentration, trying to make out, to hear for any sign that could have made that sound. But seeing as nothing changed even after minutes, corvo just let out a big sigh and gave up. He didn't have all day after all.
'Haaah… perhaps this is karma for trickling this women only to plan to send her off with some weirdo… it's better than killing her though, i hope.'
Getting over the matter by playing his favourite game of 'ignore it until it matters', the man continues on his journey. (😈)
Picking up Esma in a princess carry, holding her securely so no damage could occur during transportation, he makes his way down the steps. At the bottom of the stairs to the ground floor, a guard lay stationed there, defending the passage to the lady Boyle's room. His position there is a problem for corvo though as he can't get past within the guards line of sight.
Being the prepared guy he is, corvo grabs a small rock from out of his pockets, aiming then throwing it over the guards head to directly behind him- causing the man to jump in fright and turn around quickly.
Corvos hand glows in it's usually colour as it fills with power. Slow time activating almost instantly, turning the world an almost monochrome and draining it of any colour besides those on the black and white spectrum.
The guards movement slowed down to a crawl. Now with his back turned, corvo is able to quickly sprint past him. His new sound suppressing boots further enhancing his natural ability and bone charm power to stay silent while moving, to the point of supernatural quietness.
After slipping past tbe guard and taking further advantage of slow time to easily blink past the maids and servants, corvo makes it down into the sewer/water way. Only to find the creep, now demasksd, manning a boat with a built in bed, presumably for Esma and stationed ready to leave.
"Ahhhhhh… thank you, sir! Thank you so much, for both sparing my love… and for bringing her to me."
Corvo brings the women down, lowering her down into tbe boat while the man obsesses over her unconscious form, mutting crazy words quiet enough to go unheard.
But he pauses when gazing over her neck.
"What? Why are there bruises all over her neck?! What damage have you done to my future wife, bastard!"
He suddenly turns violent, ready to lash out at corvo, apparently thinking he abused her instead of…. What actually. A surprising innocent thought process for one of his age, or perhaps just insanity.
'Yeah… probably the latter.'
Corvo thinks as he watches the man all but froth at the mouth dispite knowing of his feats.
"Hey man, calm your self. Didn't do shit to her."
The man though dosent look convinced at corvos blunt words, his face looking more and more like the mask he was wearing moments ago, ready to jump at corvo throat.
That is until he sees the draw blade appear in corvos hand. A bucket of cold water instantly pouring down on his heightens emotions.
"..a-apologies.. my good man. My emotions got the better of me. We will he off now, goodbye. Please forget about us."
And with that, the two 'love birds' fly away. To disappear into the cannel, never to be seen again.
———-
Word count: 4,093
45k words! I think that is pretty decent for 16 chapts!