An empty lightless void of nothingness. A place where even colours don't exist, but simultaneously do exist. A theme in this ancient forgotten space. Coinciding with the nothingness… is everything. Everything that is, everything that isn't or hasn't wnd everything that will ever be.
Concepts shift from one state of existence to another In a chaotic dance of eternity.
In the dimension corvo finds himself in a hazy state of barely knowing or understanding anything at all, just going with the flow. But at the same time his mind has never been so crystal clear.
He is standing in what appears to be a concrete and fancy gazebo that the rich use to flaunt their status. But it also seems to be combined with various other regions familiar to his lost mind.
In front of him, or more accurately all around him is a horde of beserk enemies. Various types of them being the watch, the overseers, the bottle street and dauds whalers. All of the surrounding him abd rushing him at any chance they get.
Corvo meets each attack with the same, if not more, aggression than the opposition becoming increasing more beserk.
Though unlike usual where he can dodge or even escape if need be with his powers, in here he is deprived of them. Forced to endure as gunshots pierce his body from all sides, as swords cleve his body apart as well as waves of flame cooking his body to a crisp and keep fighting.
As behind him huddled up into a ball is Jessamine and Emily. Corvo not inly has to take his own attacks, but also theirs. Jumping in front of bullets meant for them with his mind working overtime to calculate which he can dodge, what he can't and what he needs to tank with his body. Every new wound causing more and more pain.
The more pain experienced the more adrenaline that stampedes through his veins like a raging elephant, using more more strength that his muscles start to tear from the brains protection being breached, his brain speeding up to the point that time slows to a crawl and making his brain overheat.
This cycle continues endlessly for what felt like years upon years until he couldn't go on anymore and his body collapsed from the constant destruction, betraying his needs in times of desperation.
The slip up allowed the adversary's an opening to get to the two corvo was protecting.
They grabbed Emily, pulling her into their horde of the endless with wicked grins on their faces, staring at corvo the whole time as despair creeps up to his face.
Then they also grabbed Jessamibe by her neck before a group of the run at her as if to tackle, but pierced her body through with a army of swords.
Corvo tries to look away, to the avoid the sight of his lover and daughter being takrn from him again. But no. The horde finally descends upon him this time. They grab every inch of him, leaving only room for his eye lids to been forced open, only room for him to see…
"aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA …..
————
—-AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH."
A roaring voice tore its way out of corvos throat violently as he shoots up from his bed, reachkng the roof with his leap and hitting his head.
With a mind still hazy and leftover adrenaline pumping through his body he grabs his open sword while glaring at any living being in sight…
…this being a maid in the corner who was just being silent while doing her work not to disturb his sleep who just watched said man bend a metal bed in half with a jump straight to the ceiling.
And is scared shitless by the sight alone, some embarrassing fluids that will not be discussed, escaping in her fear as a sword is pulled on.
*Huff* *Huff* *Huff*
Heavy breathing escapes corvos mouth as growing clarity returns to his eyes once more. Immediately dropping his drawn sword and slumping to the ground with a violently shaking body.
"Huff…. huff… im.. sorry. Please leave…for now, while I regain my bearings."
He speaks up after a while, his embarrassed eyes refusing to meet the scared worker, politely asking her to leave.
To which she promptly does, reaching a speed nearly as fast as corvo for a second as she scrambled to escape.
While could only sit there and him racing heart slowly calm down.
"Ughhhh… for fucks sake"
——-
After taking a while to calm down corvo finally got up after his 'relaxing' sleep, getting dressed in a clean shirt and trousers before heading down stairs.
As corvo leaves the door from the pub he hears pierro talking to someone from around the corner.
"know the Golden Cat. Not as a patron, mind you. I designed some specialized devices For them. I kept the blueprints, if anyone's curious."
A laugh nearly leaves corvos mouth at the man's attempt? at flirting, threatening to nearly escape his lips. But what happens next makes him unable to hold it in.
"Don't. I brought you tea as a courtesy to a colleague. I won't make that mistake in the Future."
"Pfffffttt!"
The two turn around to see corvo with his hand planted firmly on his face, forcefully suppressing his laughter that continues to show itself by the shaking of his shoulders.
"- cough cough… sorry to interrupt you two. I will come back later for my business with pierro."
"No that's okay, corvo. We are done here. I have to get back to the admiral, he has news for me."
Callista says now completely ignoring tbe inventor before waking off without any goodbyes.
"I'm sorry Callista! I only thought- never mind, thank you for the tea."
Pierro shouts out to her departing form, perhaps In an attempt to save his failure, but he gives up knowing better.
*sighhhh*
He walks back into his workshop with slumped shoulders and a weary sigh of dissapointment.
"Come in, corvo. I assume your here for your gear yes?"
Pierro calls out as he looks behind him to the know calm corvo who nods in acknowledgment.
"Yeah you mentioned they would be ready about this time so i came to check up on it as i will be leaving soon."
"Of course of course. They are indeed ready corvo, over here."
He shows corvo to the desk which the equipment lay upon.
Inspecting the mask first due to closer proximity, he notices the right eye socket now contains three different sized lenses compared to its previous two.
'It's not exactly needed but it's better to have and not need it than need it and not have.'
Putting the mask down corvo stars observing the next set of items.
The first thing he noticed is the undercoat now slightly heavier. Not by much but enogh to noticeable. It's coller raised slightly as well offering more protection. Not much changed other than that, other than parts of the coat being more sturdy in some areas.
"With more protection added more weight to the design was unavoidable, but I calculated with your physique i assumed the weight difference will be minimal."
With one last look over, corvo dons his newly upgraded gear before starting to leave with one last thanks to pierro.
"Cough cough… corvo, i would like to speak to you about something's more personal. Private even, something ive always struggles with you see…"
Pierro states to corvo expressing his intention for help of some kind in an incredibly awkward manner.
"… sure pierro, if it's something i can help with them I don't mind."
"Well. I… I struggle with interacting with women. You know… romanticly and the such. It's been something I've never been able to do."
Pierro tells corvo of his woes in hopes that he could help him, but…
'Fuck, Bros just like me. How am I suppose to respond to that.'
Corvo or more accurately Luke himself has a similar problem. He's been in relationships with women, but not for years probably. Though corvo himself is a different storie.
Shifting through his memories Luke can tell that his teenage years, in times he wasn't either training or fighting, he was quite hedonistic with the opposite gender.
'Though that isn't good advice either. Or is it.'
Corvo notices that he has been thinking for too long as pierros face continued to sink further in sadness.
'Fuck it, we ball.'
Luke decides to just spout some random bullshit and hope for the best.
"Well… probably not the best advice from someone not in the game for years now but… I think you should just not think to much. As you are smart you probably think that everything can be solved through logic and the like right."
Corvo questions him, getting a nod in confirmation.
"Sometimes you just have to wing it and hope for the best."
'Like right now.'
"Things requiring emotion has to be sparked by emotion. Inly then can it be guided by logic and communication between the two parties."
By the end of his speech corvo notices pierro with a enlightened look in his eyes and a smile tugging on his lips.
"Wow corvo. You put it in a way that I could understand, thank you. This has given me a lot to think about, perhaps this could help in my research as well."
Pierro quickly looses himself in his own world again but is brought back out of it by Corvo continuing.
"My last piece of advice is pretty obvious, but don't be a creep."
A confused look visibly showed on his face so Corvo continued.
"What I mean by this is not to treat women as some sort of otherworldly creature that is so interesting and needs constant observation. You need to first treat them as friends for even a chance for feeling and understanding to blossom between the two. Also to not be inappropriate around them unless it's mutual. For example, don't peak at them while bathing. But I doubt you do that so it's fine."
'That's I lie, I know he does periodically.'
By the end of corvos speech a guilt look appeared in pierros eyes as he turns away and starts to retreat back into his work shop.
"Yes thank you corvo. I will leave you to your work now… goodbye."
Corvo just stands there for a minute as his dissociation ends and he's brought fully back into the real world.
'Well… that works I guess. Pretty solid adivice, I think?…hope.'
With all this advice shit over and done with corvo head over to the loyalists across the yard and near the entrance to the sewer.
The two stand there in silence unlike the other times corvo walked up to them. They appear to be solely waiting for his arrival.
"Hello corvo. I expect that Martian will be joining us shortly.
I hate to start your day with such a strange matter, but the servants heard something last night, moving through the storm drains beneath the building. Most likely a weeper, poor bastard.
There's no hope for them once the plague gets that far along. Nothing more than a shuffling corpse full of sickness and insects, if you ask me. I'd appreciate you investigating. Just to be sure it's not a nosy guardsman that's getting too close."
Havelock pauses for a moment to rummage through his pockets, eventually pulling out a key.
"-Here's a key to the hatches. I'd send a servant down there, but they'd die of Fear on the spot, I'm afraid. Maybe Piero can concoct some sort of sleep poison for your cross bow if you want to go that route."
Corvo just stares at the man for a moment, as if he were already regretting coming to this place by the dead look in his eyes.
But eventually he just sighs and takes the key.
*sighhh*
"Yeah, sure. I suppose I don't mind. And I've already got some sleep darts for them in case it is weepers."
Corvo says as he makes he way to the mechanical sewer gate, inserting the key to unlock it then twisting the wheel to open the hatch.
Dropping down he is met with a dilapidated tunnel that gives off an impression that it has not had maintenance since its construction.
And the smell…
Surprisingly not as bad as he were expecting. Definitely not like the one he made his through to escape the prison, but the stench is still there. A more fishy smell that's probably brought in from the ocean, as well as a rotten stench of old piss that itches your nose.
'Better get out of here soon, lest the smell sticks to me.'
Staring his intent, corvo starts running at top speed. Following the pipes that lead him to the end that's covered in a body of water that depends till another pathway. Not fancying getting shit water on his clothes, corvo blinks across the gap, reaching the other side.
Though as he appears back into reality he see to people wandering around mindlessly into anything around them, all huddled up on themselves and cuffing violently.
In response corvo pulls out his cross bow with two sleep bolts for a non lethal approach.
One might ask, why bother sparing two brainless zombies when you have killed so many?
Well, that is because they sent completely mindless. Still retaining some sentience. Just under a boatload of conflicting instincts and emotions that dull their minds.
They are just sick people abd sokolov and pierro will make a cure if all goes right.
This is corvos mindset behind the weepers. So although he kills without hesitation against those who express malicious intent his way, he will not kill randoms indescribably.
*pew*
The noise of the near silent crossbow leaves tbe weapon as it shots out straight into the neck of the female weeper closer to corvo, promptly rendering it silent.
And with a quick reload, the male weeper around the corner is also neutralised, eliminating the threat.
Walking over the unconscious bodies, corvo heads over to the turned over shelf at the end of the pathway while bringing out the heart.
As it appears in his hand, the heart shows him the direction of the two runes in front of him. One placed in the shelf, another in the water tucked into the metal gate.
'…great.'
Before his already bad mood gets any worse he picks up the note covering the fist rune.
[I'm sorry, but I won't be here for the next meeting. Or ever again, For that matter. What happened here was unnatural and makes me sick to recall. I left the result of our labors here For you co keep, but I expect that the rats will consume it before you return. Goodbye.]
The note seems old. Perhaps a few years, but being inside a sewer its most likely less with the environment fitting the paper.
But he quickly disregards that and picks up the first rune as dopamine fill his brain.
'Always satisfied to get one of these babies!'
But now onto the second one.
Corvo goes and gets ready to jump on the water abd collect the rune, but quickly stops as an idea sparks on his head.
He backs up giving himself some space before shooting off, leaping as he reaches the ledge, flying high over the water before catching himself on the metal bares.
'Damn. I'm such a genius sometimes."
He takes a moment to gloat and praise himself, but that moment of arrogance causes his grip to loosen and allow his body to sink knee deep into the water before catching himself.
*SIGHHHHH*
A massive groan of annoyance is all his response to that before grabbing the rune and blinking back to shore.
Corvos drenched boots squelch and wet trousers sag as he continues on his walk if same to the exit of the sewers.
——
Corvo climbs his way out of the sewers exit, leading him to the front entrance of the houndpitts pub.
As he gets to his feet, he noticed the presence of someone he hasn't talked to before. A ginger girl with her hair styled in a bun, dressed in clothes the scream Victorian style peasant to a modern person.
Before he could get a word out, she speaks out first.
"You went down there in the sewers? I thought I heard a weeper in there earlier.
You're probably the bravest man l've ever met."
She gives him a sweet smile as she compliments him before bringing her hand out for a handshake.
"I'm Cecilia. I work here in the hound pits, but I'm sure you can already guess that, hehe."
"Hello Cecilia, I'm corvo. But I'm sure you likewise already know that."
"Of course, your famous after all! The rumours of your exploits and abilities are something everyone admired! But I'm sure you busy I'm speak to you later, goodbye."
The girl, Cecil's, introduced herself to corvo making quick small talk before walking away, presumably going to work.
'Doubt there anywork though, so I wonder what her job is for anyway? Nice ass though.'
Corvo give the women a quick up and down before getting back to his commitments.
Entering the pub he quickly walks over to Martian and havelock with beers in their hands, well in the hands of havelock while Martian stands there with a perpetual frown.
"Corvo! I trust you remember Martin. An Overseer before and perhaps again some day soon."
Havelock turns to Martian with a smile, apparently liking him more than his boyfriend Pendleton.
"I owe you for me rescue." Martian give his brief one piece before giving the stage back to havelock.
"Indeed, you've given us a glimmer of hope, Corvo, because we've gotten what we wanted From Campbell's journal. You've done it! We know where Emily Kaldwin held!"
"The Golden Cat, of all places. A bathhouse for aristocrats. Little better than a cursed brothel."
"But there's an unfortunate twist. It appears that Pendleton's own kinsmen stand in our way. The twins Morgan and Custis. Not only are they controlling Emily, but they have the controlling parliamentary votes we so desperately need."
Havelock says dramatically before just walking off for apparently more important matters.
"Yes, the Pendletons have to die. But most importantly, Emily must be brought here safely so we can protect her until the Lord Regent and his entourage have be delt with."
Martian also states before he too walks off.
'Wow. No thanks for walking into tbe shitter to investigate useless threats. Yeah go on and drink some more, in fact why don't I just get on my knees at this point. Dickhead.'
Corvo gives a big fat fuck you finger to havelock in his mind before ridding himself of the thoughts of the hypocrite.
'Now I suppose it's time for me to head off and get Emily back no?'
——-
Word count: 3,158
A/n-
Let me know if the mission dialog with the loyalists is a fat yap sesh or if it's good to keep in👍.