#.journal of the knife ; da.ud | inbox.

[dimensionalspades]

@coveitous said: ❛  if i try, i fail. if i don't try, i'm never going to get it.  ❜ / cross to daud!

- avatar || accepting -

. "You're welcome to give up." As ever, with a creature such as him, his tone was sharp and unyielding, eyes narrow points as he watched them.

. "Failure is a maw, you can either seal its lips or allow it to consume you. Fear of it serves nothing but your enemies." Whalers either excelled, or they were returned to Dunwall's streets. Daud did not coddle anxieties or insecurities. Much as some of them looked to the Whalers as a family, Daud knew it was a business, and the consideration of closeness only gained you weak spots.

[dimensionalspades]

@coveitous said: "I don't think this is going to work…" / cross to daud smh

- general || accepting -

. The roofs of Dunwall were as dangerous as the streets below, constantly patrolled by the City Watch or crawling with shadowy assassins. For now, the latter prevailed, Daud and Cross staring down at the safehouse, guards lain in a heap behind them still dripping red.

. "If you're interested in taking on a few dozen more guards at the front entrance, be my guest. But don't expect my company." This was the only entrance available save that. Daud was undaunted by increased security, merely adding a few more bolts to his quiver and an extra swipe with his whetstone. "If you lack confidence, trust that I have enough for both of us."

[dimensionalspades]

@coveitous said: "If you think this is bad, you should see the other guy." / also cross to daud

- general || accepting -

. It was good to have a sense of humor in the face of your pain, Thomas had once said. It didn't serve Daud to- it was rare the Knife found something worthy of amusement. Perhaps that was something to be said for either his unconventional upbringing or that he found little humor in dealing with pompous blustering nobles whose only worth was in how deep their coin purses went.

. "The only reason I would need to see the 'other guy' is to confirm if he was dead. Do I need to confirm his death, or are you competent?"

[dimensionalspades]

@healingbrews said: It is odd, and perhaps self-indulgent of the witch, but as Daud lays in her care and her magicks bloom across various wounds--she offers him a gentle press of her lips against his temple. (Daud)

. He hated feeling weak and exhausted, but whoever the one was that kept making and handing out these concoctions was quickly rising on his hit list. As soon as they figured out the name, Daud was paying them a visit. Until then, laying in Hinoka's makeshift nurse's bed wasn't terrible. At the press of lips, he exhaled, cracking a scarred eye open.

. "I don't plan on dying yet."

[dimensionalspades]

"So, you're Daud... The Daud... You know, I always pictured you as being... a little taller. Of course, I mean no offense! Hey now, what's with the look? You're not bothered by the uniform, are ya? Surely I'm not the first Overseer to seek out your... special talents...?"

. Whenever an Overseer would come seeking the Knife of Dunwall, the old blade always found some special amusement in it. Just how much cognitive dissonance did it take to denounce the Outsider in all his forms, then seek his most notorious patron?

. The comment on his height received an appropriately disparaging look, sharp eyes watching the other with disdain. But Daud otherwise paid it no heed, focused on the new question laid before him. Who would the Abbey want killed that they could not murder themselves? Was it a personal grudge, a tiff between Abbey members? Maybe it was just one poor bastard that had wronged this particular zealot. Perhaps the Abbey had finally taken to removing political opponents now, such that they needed a professional hand and not just the drunken swinging of their footsoldiers. The assassin didn't hear music, so he would entertain the man for a short while. Though, he left the Overseer in dragging silence for a long moment. Regardless of if he was going to take the job, his curiosity had been piqued for better or worse.

. "30 seconds," he said by way of reply. And then, "if I don't find your job interesting, I'll take a finger as payment for wasting my time."

[dimensionalspades]

@healingbrews said: “All my flowers grew back as thorns.” [Daud, after Delilah's death removed the witches gifts]

- reputation || accepting -

. Sorrow he didn't understand as well as he should. Grieving did not come naturally.

. What would he do if the Outsider's gifts were stolen away? Land harshly the first few jumps, in all likelihood; the lack of ability to turn into a spectre at will would be missed in his line of work. Retraining the Whalers to work without their abilities would be more than enough trouble. But he had made some plans, if vague, about that possibility. The Outsider's Mark could not work forever, right? Some day, either it would cease working or else he'd be too old and fragile to use it. Or, perhaps, he would further anger the Void's keeper into such a punishment.

. He would endure, in such a case. As would she. Hinoka was more than the black magic Delilah gave her witches.

. Perhaps, then, what muddied his feelings was that he was the cause of her grief, and he bore... gentler feelings for her. Hinoka had become important to him, and he cared what happened to her, that he knew. But, vocalizing it beyond the intermittent kindnesses he offered her felt like an impossibility. On top of that, he didn't regret his actions. Delilah was forever trapped in her own painting, and her gifts had been stripped from the world. If that wounded Hinoka in some way... so be it.

. "Delilah's flowers were poison. I'm sure in time you'll find the means to grow better ones without her." A pause, staring at the horizon of Dunwall and the shadows cast by a sinking sun. "Thorns are more useful in Dunwall."

[dimensionalspades]

Valentine application: [For Daud]

Name: Yoshitaka Hinoka Age: 35 Do you like to cuddle?: Yes Can we make-out?: Please A night in or dinner out?: A night in Ice cream or chocolate covered strawberries?: Chocolate covered strawberries! What makes you a good Valentine?: A proud healer and florist all in one. I'd ask you to point out the last redhead you've seen in Dunwall. Would you cook for me?: Absolutely! Would you let me cook for you?: Do you know how to cook?

. "Thought you were asking to join the whalers."

. "Don't know where we'd get chocolate-covered strawberries. As for redheads, I know one other, but she's less of a healer and more of a cutthroat."

. "No, I don't know how to cook."

[dimensionalspades]

🌸 Julian

🌸 Daud

🌸 Leon

🌸 Jack

- what they like || accepting -

"Given what happened to her, she's incredibly resilient. Getting pitched through hundreds of years and landing in a war with aliens would be difficult for anyone, but she's acclimating just fine. Hinoka's adapted well to working in the infirmary, and we've gotten more than a few projects started in the labs- a fresh perspective can make all the difference sometimes. Lastly, she's incredibly sharp, and I appreciate her wit. We keep each other's spirits up."

"... I've never met anyone in Dunwall more kind. It's a rare talent, caring about the people the Empire usually forgets. And she's honed her abilities in new and interesting ways compared to other witches. Extremely resourceful as well, manages to source what she needs even if it's not readily available."

"Hinoka's funny as hell, for one. I know she's pretty aware of her brains, but she's still smarter than she gives herself credit for. She's too hard on herself, sometimes, but everyone is at some points. She's pretty hard-headed, too, which helps; stubbornness isn't really a negative trait as far as I'm concerned.

"Hinoka seems to be a pretty solid addition to any team she's a part of, whether it's a matter of knowledge or capability. She also seems to get along with most people, which can be a rarity when you deal with all the colorful personalities we've got. Being a quick and responsive support on missions is a pretty big deal."

[dimensionalspades]

TAG DROP: Daud