dumbshow | whale post

[Corvo's just going to watch this disaster of a seating arrangement unfold with his own hands rested in his lap. Honestly, he would speak up if he weren't preoccupied thinking about that smirk. Who allowed him to do that?]

I... don't think... [He starts, leaning away to just look at him trying to take up his side of the carriage. He bit his lip, fighting off a laugh.] I don't think every citizen we pass by is going to recognize you. The half-starved, poorly cut look is unfortunately common.

[What about the artist behind the painting he and Emily absolutely kept? It's probably hanging in the safe room. He's going to ignore it. They were approaching the next station, anyway.]

[Well, his next dismissive gesture uses both hands, so there. He's literally a god to some of these people, or a bogeyman, or a mysterious creature of legend or whatever else— but each of the stories remember his black, black eyes.

Currently staring at his own feet, and after a moment of that, up at the sky from where he's remaining slouched.]

Ah, but for once, the Outsider will truly walk among them. [There's less crazed graffiti about him in Karnaca, compared to Dunwall, but the shrines still hum for how they're close, so he's within the bounds of making this joke.]

We're here. [He says, seconds before the carriage actually pulls into the station. He has to be like this, from down here. He'll get up and cooperate in a moment, it's fine.]

[His bounds for the joke was probably debatable to Corvo, but he won't say it. It was astonishing that he'd made so many in the past hour. He'll take the time before they arrive to laugh quietly to himself, given how uncomfortable getting up was probably going to be.

Except when he stands as the carriage stops, he offers his hand without thinking. The Outsider could stand up on his own, or simply appear outside the carriage, he remembered. He blanched, but it was too late to pull back now.

It was just a habit. That was all.

Except it was a habit he'd had with Jessamine.]

[The Outsider is bothering to sit up in the first place, rather than skip to just being outside the carriage already, and so he pauses when Corvo holds out his hand. Once again he isn't expecting that hand to be offered to him for any reason, and now it's to help him out of the carriage?

His eyebrows raise again in mild surprise. Hmm.]

Old habits die hard, Corvo? [He could just as well be talking about acting as Lord Protector, here, so please don't cross the wires too much. Less haltingly than before he moves to take Corvo's hand, but at the last moment slides his fingers past the Mark on Corvo's skin to take hold of his wrist instead.

In one fluid motion he pulls himself up to standing, and in the small standing space in the carriage, it's purely coincidence that he winds up as close to Corvo as he is now. Coincidence. There are those black eyes again.]

Now then, I came all this way, so I hope there's something interesting to see.

[Corvo already didn't know what to do with his own offer, so what follows is even more perplexing. The Outsider actually took his hand. He was much closer than Corvo had anticipated. He hadn't meant to meet those eyes. But he had, and it sent a shiver down his spine.

His unmarked hand misses the carriage the door in his lack of focus, but thankfully he grasps it on his second try. No, he wasn't anxious, he was just-- he was just. Off guard. Right. Explains the flush.

He hadn't let go of his hand when he stepped out of the carriage, he realized. How embarrassing.] I'm-- I'm already interesting enough to you to make up for it. You wouldn't be here otherwise.

[None of Corvo's momentary lack of focus escapes the Outsider's notice... unfortunately. But of course, the great leviathan is accustomed to making people uneasy, so he simply smirks again instead of staring like he doesn't understand what's going on.

The color rising in Corvo's face is new, though. Interesting indeed.]

You've uncovered my little secret. [not that his thing about Corvo was ever a secret, but. Step back so he can get out of this carriage, meanwhile.] It's been so very long, but I think I can afford to trust your judgment again.

[So, show him around.]

You shouldn't. [Corvo smirked in return, but it didn't last as he contemplated why he didn't want to let go. He released him with reluctance before stepping back, waiting for the Outsider to step off before he started down into the Palace District.

In contrast to Emily's trip through the city, the boulevard was cleaner, and peaceful. The windmills still ran high above, but it was to keep power to the street lights rather than electrocute or shoot anyone. A grand old tree loomed past the buildings, leaves beginning to turn with the change in season. In place of guards were citizens, smoking cigars and rolling dice.

The open shop windows made the old man's eyes light up. He'd forgotten they were done renovating.] It looks like business is better. About that pear soda...

[There's a feeling to walking through the district streets that's a bit like stepping down into a fishbowl, to the Outsider. He is a distant, watchful figure, and now to say he's taking a stroll through the Palace District for no reason other than he feels like it, and Corvo invited him— how novel! He walks with his hands behind his back, looking around and taking in the city from down here in its belly, rather than from afar.

It does look better than it had a year ago. He'll give Emily credit for that; she certainly came into her own as Empress during that trip. His mind is wandering, connecting point to point - Emily, the city, the bloodflies, the witches, Delilah - and so he has to catch himself and return to the moment, when Corvo speaks again.]

I've never— well, you already know. Color me curious what this city has to offer. [just buy him a drink...]

Nothing too impressive, I'm sure. [Corvo looks away as he regains the Outsider's attention, for he might hae been watching that far off look with rapt attention. Or thinking about his hands, still. Likely the latter.

His own are deft, though, as they pass by a particularly chatty group of nobles. The man was foolish, keeping his back turned to the street with his coin purse hanging from his belt. He continues going on in a tipsy rant about the Howlers even as the weight was lifted off him.

Corvo couldn't help but look a little smug. It worked everytime. He poured the coins into his hand and dropped the pouch on the street, running his fingers over the Empresses' faces on them.] We can start with taste, then sound... [Then touch? Maybe.

Off he goes, making a beeline for a stand with open crates of soda. He slides the money across the counter and turns back round with not one, but two. With the way he's holding out the second, one is for the unseen companion.]

[The Outsider watches, of course, another ghost of a smirk crossing his face when Corvo lifts a man's purse cleanly off his belt and moves on. Old habits, indeed... He finds he likes the way Corvo's eyes lit up to see this street of shops, and the smug look on his face now is just as interesting.

Following Corvo past the milling civilians is easy; unseen, still, the Outsider has much the same effect on the small crowd near the food carts as he did on the guards at the carriage station. People who look in his direction look away after like their gazes have been trained to slide off the area he occupies. Some of them with more arcane inclinations might actually see him, but they're just as compelled to look away uncertain of seeing anything at all.

One small girl clutching her mother's skirts looks toward him longest of all, while Corvo buys the sodas. The Outsider shakes his head minutely at her and she moves away just as Corvo turns back to him. Among so many people, detached as he is from them, he still feels... somewhat better. He takes the bottle, holding it up to gently swish its contents and watch the liquid bubble as he does.

Neat.] I said it was long ago that I last had a full meal, not that it was never. I've tasted before, Corvo.

[Food, and everything! And blood, and iron, and he takes a sip of the soda only to blink at it a few times with more interest. It's good??]

You might have before, but not like this. They didn't even have this when I was a kid. My... [He trails off, thoughts of his mother and sister too difficult to elaborate on. And this was supposed to be a light-hearted ~~date~~ outing.

He watches the Outsider sip, his lips curving up into a smile as he brings his own bottle to his lips. There was just something so satisfying about his surprise. And, well, he knew he'd be right all along.] You like it.

Much about the Empire was different during your childhood. [He could cite his sources, but just rest assured that at least he wasn't aware of Corvo enough to have an eye on him then. He isn't that strange. Usually. He holds the bottle up, letting the light catch on it from a nearby lamppost.]

For example, this drink— and several of these shopkeepers, and the secret shop one finds by following their hands all did not exist back then.

[do u want to hear the history of black market shops in Karnaca]

That aside, I do like it. Now then, sound was next on your agenda...

You would be surprised at what they had in place of those shops. [Wait, no he wouldn't. He knew already. Why was he saying all of these stupid things today.

He shakes his head, taking a deep breath. With their hands holding their bottles, it left one free. If he could...

He took it without looking at him, walking ahead down the street. His threads his fingers through the Outsider's.] They used to perform somewhere around here...

[The comment back - of course he knew already - is nearly on the Outsider's tongue, his bottle still held slightly aloft, when Corvo touches his hand again. No, not touches, he's holding it. Corvo Attano just made an inane comment, got embarrassed, and took hold of his hand in the space between saying what he did and getting made fun of for it.

Needless to say, the Outsider is once again surprised into silence. He follows Corvo's lead, attention locked on their hands and even more so when Corvo threads their fingers together. He isn't sure what to do about this, all of a sudden— it's one thing to be interested, to appear before Corvo like he has, to do all the things the Outsider has done, and another entirely to hold his hand.

Corvo's search for the performers gives the Outsider a moment to sip at his soda again and consider his options. He could always recoil, retreat to a position of calculated distance and indifference... but Corvo's hand in his is warm in a way he hasn't felt in 4,000 years— perhaps longer. The discomfort of the Void seems to quiet a bit, although he knows it hasn't really.

So. A moment longer, and then he grips Corvo's hand back, rather than let it hang there limply. Show him the performers, yes, he'll mercifully shut up until then...]

[Corvo could come up with several excuses as to why he was in this position. He didn't want the Outsider to wander off, get into trouble. It was easier to Blink with him this way. It could cross Touch off his list of things to experience.

Ultimately, it just came down to the fact he wanted to. And the longer they last, the more he thinks the feeling may be mutual. He doesn't comment, both having nothing to say, and fearful of having him pull away. The silence was comforting.

The performers weren't far off. It was a turn down an archway, following the lights of nearby apartments. The black market shop that had caused his embarrassment was nearby, but he paid it no mind. Instead, his mark glows, and they're suddenly on the balcony above the starting music.]

[Okay, once again, don't daddy kink him... He's not a lost puppy, he's an ancient godlike being who can take care of himself. But he likes holding Corvo's hand, he's decided, so he won't think better of this and pull away late. This is... nice.

And a Blink later finds them on a balcony, looking down at the performers. The Outsider might be smiling behind his bottle of soda, as he takes another drink, shifting to lean over the railing to look down at the performance as it begins. They're still holding hands, so he uses the hand holding the bottle to gesture meaningfully out over the makeshift performance area below.]

The finest view in all Karnaca. [Fun date activities: ragging on Jindosh. After that he'll go quiet again, listening to the music and watching the musicians below. It's... well, the song-] Oh, Corvo— I know this one.

[Fun date activities: listening to your own sad backstory.]

[Corvo would kill to be able to rag on Jindosh the entire date, but he was none the wiser. He's still smiling. It must be a record in the Outsider's presence, at this rate.

He joined him leaning on the railing, considering and ultimately ignoring the fact he could let go of his hand. He instead drinks from from his bottle, not paying much mind to the actual lyrics until the Outsider spoke up. His brows knit, and took another sip as he focused more on the lyrics.

Until.

He almost choked.]

Outsider's eyes-- You. [He swallowed, shaking his head. What's the point of using an Outsider swear if he was right there?] What're the odds...

[Yep, that was definitely about the Outsider. The more he listens, the more he makes a face.]

There's only one way they'd know that story.

[Ahaha... ha. On second thought, he could have waited for Corvo to figured it out himself, but where would the fun be in that? True to form, he's still making that half-smirking face when Corvo realizes, and then when he so brazenly accuses the Outsider of - what? Gossip?

About himself? Why would he do something like that??]

Musicians are always looking for new material. [ha... Corvo should really be congratulating himself on being the only person who can accuse him of gossip and get away with it, but never mind that for now.] I must have been feeling sentimental.

[Corvo probably would be congratulating himself if the subject weren't so unfortunate. Knowing he was just a boy, a boy with nothing...

He squeezed the Outsider's hand in a small, perhaps poor attempt at comfort. What was he supposed to say about this? It was so long ago, and it wasn't as if apologizing for it would really help anything.] ... I'm sorry.

[It was all he had, though. It was his turn to have the undivided attention, staring at the Outsider's profile with a concerned frown.] But no one's going to lay a hand on you like that again.

[He sounded so sure, so genuine, though it wasn't like he really knew what the future held. Wishful thinking.]

[It was a long, long time ago, on the one hand. But on the other, that island in the Void still exists, and it's very hard to forget one's own origin story.

Ultimately, it was too long ago to haunt the Outsider now. The fallout does, certainly, as being one with the Void is unpleasant at best, but being one with the Void also gives him bigger things to worry about than how he got there. Most of the time.

Corvo is trying to comfort him. He blinks, looking up again from the musicians and over at Corvo with an unreadable expression. He can't remember the last time someone told him he would be alright— his mother, was it, 4,000 years ago? Before she died, before she left him so impossibly alone?]

I showed the Empress the place where they made me. It's there, in the furthest reaches of the Void, in the darkest corner. Did she tell you that Delilah found it? I inspired her.

[He's bitter. Why did he ever give that girl a Mark?? He'll let that sink in before he shrugs and looks down at the music again.] It was tiresome, hearing how many people believed me to be a whale with legs crawled up from the sea to judge mankind.

I remember. It was dark, cold, and surrounded by your followers. Stone, how they'll stay. [He didn't spend much time imagining what she'd described. It disturbed him, knowing the Outsider was once hurt. That he once felt pain.

He wouldn't ignore it, though, as uncomfortable as it made him. He was just as bitter about Delilah, though it was for his own home rather than the Void. He looked away to lean back, resting his bottle on a windowsill before he faced him again.] She'll have her own little corner that someone can one day ruin, if we're lucky.

And you look better than a whale on legs, anyway. [He tried to offer a faint smile, through the ritual killing being sang below.] Even if your judgement is just as annoying.

How many whales on legs have you met, dear Corvo? Present company excluded. [why is he like this

At least they're both bitter about the things that matter - Delilah, the ritual killing, all of that... good stuff. The Outsider leans a little more over the railing, like he really wants to hear this part.]

They left out the struggle. [why is he like this?] Poetic license?

[Here, he looks at Corvo, like give him an opinion on this...]

Don't be smart. [Corvo mutters, but he laughs quietly none-the-less. He looks back out at the pair and their small crowd, at least still somewhat enjoying himself. There was some irony standing right next to what they thought only appeared in ancient history.

At the question, though, he struggles. Both Jessamine and Emily had tried to have him find meaning in these things, but he didn't understand then. He still didn't now. He's a simple man.]

... Limited imagination. [He tried to make light of it.] They fit in the screaming, at least. Satisfied?

No. [Well... he isn't. It's hard to be satisfied with a song all about the time you were murdered, even 4,000 years later and with all of his irreverent comments about it.

In any case, he's had enough of listening closely to it, instead straightening up from the railing and moving half a step back, to consider the rest of the street. Hmm.]

What else are you going to show me?

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