Night quickly took its course as the light of morning sun slowly arrives across the horizon - gracing the two men with a beautiful view of Dunwall, almost enough to eclipse all the hate and ugliness the city is filled with as they set sail and travel making their way back towards the houndpitts pub.
"Hmm. Lord Pendleton said he would meet us here. I'd check the wine cellar if I was. Losing family gives a man a certain thirst."
Samuel, the boatman, guides the boat back to shore as usual while letting corvo know of any requests passed along from one of the loyalists-giving his own pieces of wisdom along the way. Perhaps due to old age or even the life he has lived, the man always has useful advice to give out.
"Thank you, Samuel." Words of appreciation leave corvos mouth as the two share a nod before he walks of, heading to the wine cellar/room where as defined by the name is a storage building solely for alcohol.
Walking up to the building corvo is greeted by the owner of the houndpitts who's name will remain unspoken, definitely not because I can't remember or anything no, seemingly trying to look cool and aura farm outside of the building. On leg pulled up to be solely standing on one leg and resting onto the building along with his torso, striking a stupid pose only seen in a movie.
"I imagine you made that masquerade a lively event. I doubt there will be another high society party that will live up to it. I trust you enjoyed the boyles hospitality?"
His words flowed out smoothly, the intent spoken out to corvo with a familiar casualness that seems odd coming from a stranger.
"Yeah, haha. It was definitely interesting alright."
A small smirk curls up on the edge of corvos lips as he recalls what happened throughout the night.
"It was an interesting show. Like watching a play, full of blatant fakes and drama, or perhaps even like skittish animas."
"Haha. Then I'm glad you have enjoyed yourself, sir corvo. Lord pendleton is waiting up stairs for your presence, so I shan't keep you."
The owner his turns away and says a few words of fair well as he gets back to what can only be presumed as his buisss duties as he walks off- away from corvo.
Who also takes it as his cue to get this conversation with the man over and done with so he can finally rest after a long nights work.
"You did it. And now we've done away with a woman, and a noblewoman at that, but Boyle was a viper. She helped the Lord Regent kill the Empress, so I don't feel a thing for her~"
Trevor Pendleton pauses, taking a big gulp of his liquor followed by a burp and childish giggling.
'Drunk as always I see. I always thought he hated his family when playing the game, guess I was wrong huh. Then I guess it must be hard to work with the assassin of his family…. No use pitying him though, a little bit of power caused him to instantly give the order, so he only has himself to blame.'
"Personally - I heard you upheld my name in a rather spectacular style and at some risk to yourself. I want to thank you for it. This little item has been helpful to my family over the generations, but I think you'll find more use for it than I ever will. Go on, take it."
(A/N;Corvo did the little duel thing offscreen because it's quite frankly boring af👍)
Pentleton opens his suite jacket, opening a hidden pocket stationed within and pulling out a large object from its reaches, hesitating for moments before steeling himself before handing it over to corvo.
"You've had a long night, Corvo. But I fear it's not over. Havelock and Martin have already cooked up something more for you. They would like to see you now. In havelocks chambers, right above the bar. Goodbye, corvo."
Without waiting for a reply Trevor walks over, unsteadily shuffling his way down the flight of stairs, disappearing where ever the man takes himself to drink and cry away his woes.
But corvo dosent even acknowledge his departure, staring down deeply at the object resting in between his palms.
'These things… they are everywhere. Before acquiring the mark 'I ' never caught sight of even one of these runic markings, much less the whole whalebone runes.
I wonder.. are they now seemingly attracted to me by the scent of the void, or perhaps the connection I have with the void. Or, is the black eyed dipshit pushing them my way somehow. Attempting to corrupt me by giving access to stronger powers.
Though I have no a grudge against the man. God? I can't help but be suspicious against him, the being himself dosent even hide his scheming attempts, perhaps not finding the 'mortals' worthy of his secrecy, maybe just not finding it worth the trouble. The real question is, does this make him more trustworthy/predictable …or even less?
Somethings to ponder i suppose.'
Corvo finishes his thoughts on the mystery surrounding him, though his mind dosent fully shut it down, he unconsciously continues to speculate, trying and failing to dig deeper- only to fail no matter how much his brain burns and russs, only managing to trace against minor clues that ultimately lead him back to a dead end.
Through this he drags his tired body, mostly mentally drained, up through the building to enter havelocks room.
"Corvo. the time has come. Everything we have done, everything that YOU have done, has served to make this moment possible."
"The Lord regent is exposed, Corvo. Vulnerable. And now everthing is in place to strike at him. We're one step from the throne."
"One man, one beating heart, is all that's left of the forces that brought this city to the brink of ruin."
"It is simple, but it will be far from easy. The Lord Regent's paranoia has reached an all time high.
He has lost the support of the Overseers, the Parliment, his finacial base, and he s lost Sokolov, who made his security technology. So at Dunwall Tower he has consolidated every remaining loyal man around him."
The two men talk in talk, one by one, and subtlety surrounding him with hidden arms and stern faces plaster onto them.
…a power move. They have gotten so used to corvo obeying their orders, seemingly without question that they don't expect retaliation against the disrespect. Something corvos tired brain is not in the mood for… and pissing him off.
Unnoticed by corvo but definitely by the two men standing in front of him, the mark on the back of his hand glows slightly in a beautiful yet intimidating display of power, causing the two to step back slightly-sweat pooling on their foreheads.
"What? I have just gotten back, not only am I not at peak conditions I have neither got any sleep for the last 36 hours."
But the two men are too experienced in their craft to allow some pretty lights, ones they can't even comprehend, to fully scare them off. So perhaps stupidly, perhaps the only move they can play, the two carry on.
"He knows something is coming. He knows YOU are coming. And everything depends on him being correct. Piero will help you prepare, then Samuel will take you close to Dunwall tower, near the water lock.
Last time you were there was the horrible day that all of this started. Now you will go there and end it. Good luck, Corvo."
They don't answer his question, only subtly shifting all his pent up emotions by bringing up one of- if not the worst day in his entire lives. Redirecting his anger to an even more hateful source, one that will allow the loyalists to create another power vacuum, one they are prepared to instantly fill in.
And it worked. His brain tired from lack of sleep as well as being on guard in his mission allows the deep anger directed to the lord regent to take root and blossom. To tunnel his vision into one of the goals he has had for months, something the man so dreams- if not downright yearns for.
But still, corvo is still pissed of at the clearly power hungry duo before him ordering him about so Willy nilly. So presses his hand to his face and glares at them, taking deep breaths to calm himself before speaking out.
Siiiighhh
"Fine. But I will need an hour or two to get my Affairs in order before my departure."
"Of course, corvo. Take the time you need. But just remember, we have a mission to do. For lady Emily."
And with that corvo leaves the loyalists to whatever they do and walks out the room.
….
….
….
He eventually makes it back into his room with the intention of restocking any ammunition or consumables he may need for his next mission. And hey, what better place than the treasure trove itself.
But walking into the room he realises that he isn't alone.
Callista sitting on his bedside, looking over a sleeping Emily, a sleeping Emily that stole his only bed! Though This time her sleep is deep and uninterrupted. A good sign of her healing.
"It's nice to see you, corvo."
Callista greets him from the other end of the room. He voice gentle , quite and almost motherly in a way. Perhaps her care for Emily has grown quicker than he ever thought.
"Yeah… likewise, Callista."
He nods her way in acknowledgment of her presence before continuing to prepare himself, getting all the equipment he needed before getitng the rest from pierro.
"So… we haven't really had a chance to talk about the other night, haven't we?"
Callista looks down, an embarrassed expression touching down upon her face. A sore subject for all new relationships, especially ones that so quickly jumped the gun and went all like they did.
"Yeah, I know. I apologise for that-truely. I accepted your advances, so I should have made some time to.. talk. But I'm sure you are aware what I have been doing."
With A bitter smile corvo turns around, finally stopping giving her half of his attention to give his full to the women.
Walking over he sits beside Callista on the bed, carefully placing himself down to not risk waking up Emily.
Placing a hand down gently on Callistas shoulder, he takes a minute works up his courage before he speaks.
"Callista." Corvo turns his head, looking straight into her eyes. "What we did… it was to sudden I think."
Callista flinches back as if physically blown as tears start welling up in the corner of her eyes, a dull ache of sadness growing inside her heart- like a void.
"I underst-"
She goes to speak, to express her understanding of their differ in standings. They are Two completely different people on the edge of two differingworlds.
"But."
He interrupts what she was going to say, the word hanging up there for a moment I'm awkward silence.
"But I do not regret it."
Callsta pauses, conflicting emotions settling and rising in a steady motion before turning one last time into something else…. Hope.
"I've had to do a lot of bad things, things I'm not proud of. Things I know I will continue to commit and carry on my shoulders. I will also busy, perhaps I won't even be able to spare a single moment for you for long periods of time. So if your able to wait for me, if you even want to wait- because I know how selfish it would be to ask that if you. But if you are willing… perhaps we could give a relationship a chance."
Corvo speaks out in an almost breathless voice. Extreme nervousness permeating about in this whole scenario, but he pushes on because although he dosent love her, hell they barely know each other and meeting only less than a month ago, this isnt a game. Callista is a real person, with real feelings, feelings that he is starting to care for. Although a hastey division- if not outright stupid, he accepted her advances that night and followed through. So he would like to take responsibility for that. And perhaps that decision Is stupid and childish. Getting so worked up I'm what was realistically a one night stand. But he is quite stupid, at his core the man is still the young man who is inexperienced in multiple aspects, barely debuting in the 'adults' world. But he goes into this knowingly, directing the scenario in a way that will make him feel proud of himself.
"Though… let's start of as friends, yeah?"
A stiff and awkward smile slowly grows onto his face, forced maybe, but still a smile nonetheless.
"Pftt…"
His heart shatters when the long thought out speech is only responded to with… a a burst of laughter?
"Oh god! I'm sorry corvo! I just… didn't know you could even speak that much. Nor show so many expressions."
Her face reddens In guilt, even more embarrassed now than before, all the while corvos mind goes blank.
'Wow. I'm never going to express my feeling again. Kill me now please. No no, I've got a gun! I'll do it myself….'
As suicidal thoughts start to rapidly flow in corvos mind, it all comes to a sudden stop when feeling a soft pressure touch his cheek and a head promptly resting on his shoulder.
"I'm fine with that, corvo. It was definitely a hasty decision on my part, hehe. So yeah, it would be better to start all over again. This time though as something less serious, yeah? By the void do we have enough of that going on around here."
Corvo in turn rests his head on top hers as the two share a bout of laughter, just taking some time to talk- hands resting snugly together in an embrace.
Though her expression quickly turns sheepish.
"But… can you still do 'it ' sometime? Because…. You know….. that was great."
"Pfttt, what a pervert."
———
Word count: 2,436
A/n; not much action today and a lot of yapping, but I'm trying to flesh out corvo a bit more as for nearly the rest of this arc should be filled with a lot of action. Give me some feed back if it is working because I'm kind of just doing it on a whim here, thanks.