#the hound pits pub

[craanbery]

[mynonsenseistingling]

Dishonored

[invisiblestation]

[melanie-ohara]

I'll Be Your All For Now

Whumpuary2024, Day 27 - Prompt: Sleep Deprivation

Lord Pendleton is drunk, and Wallace Higgins takes it out on Cecelia

I hate Wallace. Fuck Wallace.

AO3 Here

It had been easier before young Lady Emily had arrived. Wallace had only ever insisted on Master Pendleton's room being perfectly cleaned and the bar neatly swept, and didn't mind if the other rooms gathered a little dust. The soon to be Empress changed all that. With her child's curiosity taking her all over the Hound Pits, Wallace insisted that every room as well as the courtyard and the street outside be spotless at all times. Of course, Wallace didn't muck in himself: he was a butler, which limited his responsibilities to bringing Lord Pendleton wine and listening to him rave drunkenly about his brothers. Cecelia knew he had to keep his fingernails clean or Pendleton would throw a tumbler at his head, but she wished he would at least pretend he felt bad about putting her and Lydia to work at all hours of the day.

The first time he made her work through the night, Lady Emily had tripped on a stone and skinned her knee. The girl had hopped back to her feet and carried on playing, but Wallace was insistent it not happen again, and he made Cecelia walk the yard all night with a lantern, collecting any stone that might do the young lady injury and tossing it in the Wrenhaven river. By the time she finished, the sun had risen over the water and, despite the beauty and tranquility of the river at dawn, she was already late to start preparing breakfast. After almost thirty-six hours, she collapsed into her bunk with her eyes aching to close. 

It didn't stop. Pendleton grew more and more belligerent the more he drank and the more assassinations he ordered, and Wallace took the brunt of his short temper. The day Pendleton bruised his face, he ordered Cecelia to sweep the building from top to bottom twice, which meant waiting for Lord Corvo to wake and leave for his nightly excursion to the city. Lydia was safe from his ire, of course - she had Havelock's favour, after helping him run the bar for so long. She even pretended not to know the Overseer Martin spent most nights in the Admiral's quarters, when she wasn't there herself. Wallace's ire grew stronger and his reasons for keeping Cecelia working at all hours became less and less convincing, until she finally decided he must just like doing it - he liked it when she could barely keep her eyes open, or fell asleep standing up and leaning on a broom in the cellar. Maybe it made him feel better to pass on Pendleton's ire. He had never liked being reminded that ultimately he was lower than the nobles he served, so he had decided to show Cecelia that she was lower than him. And because she was the bottom rung of the ladder, with nothing below her but the rats, there was nothing she could do about it except suffer.

After a week, Cecelia barely knew what she was doing any more. Her body moved mechanically - certainly stiffly enough to be some kind of Sokolov automaton - while her mind drifted. She barely even slept when she did make it to bed now, since Wallace could call on her at any time to clean the toilets or unblock a sink, or go down into the wine cellar and look for a bottle she'd never be able to find because she couldn't read the labels. She lost track of time, and Wallace chastised her for sweeping the same spot for an hour, or staring slackjawed at a wall while holding a cleaned glass. He never raised his voice, which she thought was strange, as Pendleton was always screaming. Wallace's cruelty was quiet. 

"Cecelia, isn't it?"

The voice that drifted to her through the haze was soft and polite. She'd heard Callista Curnow speak from time to time, around the grounds of the pub, but she mostly only talked to the nobility. As a governess, she was above the other servants, though technically her duties fell under Wallace's purview. She probably wasn't even aware of how tyrannical the butler had become.

"Yes miss," Cecelia said, standing up straight and going to put her hands behind her back politely, only to find she was holding a mop. "Oh," she said.

"Are you quite alright?" Callista asked, resting her hand on Cecelia's shoulder.

She managed a weak smile. "Yes miss," she said. Glancing around, she remembered that Wallace had sent her to mop the floor at the base of the stairs. As Callista nodded and took a step back, Cecelia went to dip the mop back in the water bucket. She knocked it over instead, and the brown water sloshed out over Callista's shiny black shoes. 

Callista gasped in shock as it splashed up her legs and hopped backwards out of the water's reach. Cecelia stared at it for a moment, and then broke.

"I'm so sorry!" she wailed, "Miss Callista, I'm such a clumsy fool, I didn't mean it!"

"No, no, it's quite alright," Callista said, but it was too late now. Wallace would have Cecelia start over the second he found out, and probably a whole list of other chores too that would keep her so busy she'd have to choose between a few minutes' fitful sleep or getting something to eat.

She let out a choked wail and fell to her knees in the dirty water, but still reached out for the bucket. Maybe if she could clean it up quickly, it wouldn't be so bad. Unless Callista told Wallace about her ruined shoes, of course. The governess was picking her way gingerly across the floor, trying to use only the tips of her shoes to step in the water as she came to Cecelia's side.

"Please don't tell Wallace," she managed to gasp out through heaving sobs. "I have to get it sorted out."

She was surprised when Callista kneeled in front of her and took her hands, pushing them firmly away from the toppled bucket and into Cecelia's lap. "I promise I won't," she said. "Now hush, it's only a spilled bucket."

"No, you don't understand!" Cecelia moaned, but Callista shook her head. 

"I understand you're upset, Cecelia," she said softly. 

She peered at her face, as if she was seeing her for the first time. Callista had three spotless and identical uniforms, which Lydia was in charge of washing. Cecelia only had the one jacket and trousers, and two threadbare shirts she had darned until there was almost nothing left of the original fabric. Where Callista's skin was smooth and clean, Cecelia's was pockmarked and filthy from a lifetime of small meals and endless work. And then there were her eyes. They were constantly bloodshot now, and ringed with circles so dark it looked like the makeup she had always wanted but never been able to afford. 

"You must be exhausted," she said. 

Cecelia shook her head and looked away from her eyes. "I'm fine, miss," she said. "I can still work."

Callista stood up suddenly, and held out her hand for Cecelia to take. "Not a chance. Come with me."

The only way to access Lady Emily's tower was through the Royal Protector's room, and Cecelia was terrified of tripping and waking him as Callista led her through by the wrist. She didn't dare look down as they walked over the bridge, which was built by Piero but still looked rickety and unstable, and she could scarcely stand it as Callista let go of her hand and left her to sway in the breeze while she opened the door to the child's room.

"Hello," Lady Emily said breezily as the two of them stepped inside. She was sitting on the floor with a doll and a tea set, but she stood up when they entered. "Oh, hello," she added, with a polite wave when she saw Cecelia, who curtsied. She wasn't sure how to do it, and the girl's giggle told her she had done it wrong.

"Go and play outside, Emily," Callista said, far more firmly than Cecelia expected from someone talking to an Empress, but the child seemed happy enough to take her doll and hurry out of the room. She was humming to herself as she skipped along the rickety bridge to her Protector's room. "Now," Callista said, turning to Cecelia again. "You need rest."

The adrenaline of standing outside so close to the unprotected edge of the building over a fall high enough to kill her twice over was waning now, and Cecelia had to admit the two beds in the room looked incredibly inviting. "I can't," she protested weakly. "Wallace would - "

"Wallace is not allowed in here," Callista reminded her. "Only Lydia. I'll tell him I've sent you on an errand. Emily always needs more pencils and drawing paper after all."

Cecelia wasn't sure what to say, but she felt tears of gratitude escape her eyes and she wiped at them with her sleeve before she started sobbing again.

"There, there," Callista said, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "Get some rest," she murmurred against the shell of Cecelia's ear. "I'll have a word with Wallace."

Cecelia shook her head but couldn't bring herself to argue when she could see the bed over Callista's shoulder. It looked the way food looked to the starving. When Callista pulled away from the hug she stumbled towards it with an eagerness that would be embarrassing if she wasn't so desperate to lay down her head. Callista waited with her until she had pulled the blankets closed and settled against the pillow with a sigh. She wanted to apologise to the governess for the state of her clothes and how she would have to change the bedclothes before she herself went to bed, but before she could get the words out of her mouth, the warmth of sleep had claimed her.

Callista smiled down at a curl of red hair spilling across Cecelia's forehead, and then turned and let her sleep.

[presiding]

Wow, wow, okay. I don't know where to start.

The ghosts of the hound pits pub is one of the most amazing things I've ever read. I could feel the tragedy and the haunting atmosphere in every word, and it filled every moment with a bittersweet tone. I was waiting for the heartbreak to hit full force and when it happened, well, it was brilliant.

I already loved Billie, but you also made me love Cecelia in ways I can't explain. Let's just say, my soul is in pain and I have to lie down for a second to process how much everything hurts :)

No, but seriously, you're an amazing writer. Thank you so much for sharing your work!

😭thank you so much - aaa i'm really glad you enjoyed the ghosts of the hound pits pub!

i love them both too! cecelia is someone i overlooked myself on the first playthrough but when i came back to the game i found her really compelling, and wanted to do her some justice. to date it's the fic i've been most happy with, despite being doomed to not be as popular as something more fandom-palatable (more horror than romance; a rarepair; a F/F ship).

in a coincidence that made me laugh i've been (lovingly) accused twice recently of having a predilection for bad outcomes in my stories - i'm a big softie.... who admittedly does love high stakes & tension. i like the cathartic potential of fiction!

thank you SO much for reaching out, it means a lot to me :') <3

[tixij]

I've replayed dishonored like 500 times and it's still showing me things I had no clue existed

[iamthekarmapolice]

i think one of my favourite moments in this game so far is exploring the temple of shar and seeing the wizard tower from the underdark across the distance. the same wizard tower that i was at 10 hours ago and could see this temple from, wondering when i was going to get there. it’s so satisfying when you can see a place from another place in a game!!!!!

[witchblade]

dh2 not having its own hound pits pub hurts it so badly replaying dh1 and running around and talking to everyone and hearing them all be like waow events are occurring is so fun. for me. which is why im replaying it.

[deepdwellingsteamboat]

The Hound Pits Pub at night DISHONORED 2012・dev. Arkane Studios

[carnalapples]

i love that the loyalists are all 2 seconds away from fucking nasty or killing each other. wonderful ambiance at the hound pits pub

[nevermindigotthis]

I think there should be a Dishonored TV show.

Imagine this: The Series follows several POV characters: Corvo (duh, probably in a low chaos run with some deaths), Emily (duh, little girl and the horrible no good very bad day, we see how she deals with the conspiracy and it can give some background on the villains), Daud (big regrets, has his whole Delilah story which, for TV reasons, happens at the same time as Corvo's revenge plot so the series can cut between them), and lastly Billie (lovestory with Delilah, betrayal of Daud, mercy in the end)

There can be amazing parallels between Corvo's low chaos revenge and Daud's quest for redemption, with a tense confrontation in Episode 8/9. Delilah as this secret foil that Corvo doesn't even know about, for dramatic purposes Daud has to defeat her in the last episode, so there can be a moment where the audience doesn't quite know if the Emily Corvo just rescued is still Emily. (For dramatic purposes this also needs to be the high chaos ending where Emily almost falls to her death, even though we're in mostly low chaos)

The Series (rough draft):

Episode 1: Corvo returns from his trip. Jess is murdered, Emily abducted. Title Screen. 6 months later. Corvo is being tortured in Coldridge. Daud is depressed and guiltridden. Billie is unimpressed. Episode ends with Corvo breaking out of Coldridge.

Episode 2: Corvo meets the Loyalists. Daud meets the Outsider who gives him the name "Delilah". Also he turns down contracts. Billie expresses her disapproval (again) and leaves the hideout to cool off. Emily is being held captive by the Pendletons who are being creepy and she tries to find a way out. Corvo gains the Mark of the Outsider and the Heart.

Episode 3: Corvo goes after Campbell, rescuing Martin along the way. Daud starts investigating (slaughterhouse). Billie is angry and leaves the hideout, meeting up with a lover who is afterwards revealed to be Delilah (her first appearance). Emily almost gets away from her captors, but is caught at the last second.

Episode 4: Corvo goes to the Golden Cat to rescue Emily. Daud investigates the Timshs. Billie scemes with Delilah to overthrow Daud. Episode ends with Corvo reuniting with Emily.

Episode 5: The Whaler hideout is overrun by Overseers. Billie reveals her betrayal, fights Daud and escapes. Corvo has a nice bonding moment with Emily. Corvo kidnaps Sokolov. Emily talks with the loyalists and gets the vibes that something is not right here.

Episode 6: The Boyle's party. Corvo identifies the right Boyle Lady and deals with her. Billie returns to Delilah who comforts her about having failed to kill Daud. Daud recovers from her betrayal. Emily has nightmares about Corvo dying.

Episode 7: Corvo goes to dispatch Burrows. Emily listens in on the Loyalists and their plans. Daud goes looking for a boat, and then for Lizzy Stride. Delilah reveals the beginning of her painting to Billie. Corvo returns to the Hounds Pit Pub and Emily tries to warn him, but is held back and locked in her room. Corvo is poisoned, Episode ends on him passing out.

Episode 8: Samuel drops Corvo in the Flooded District. Daud returns and finds Corvo. Emily is angry and ready to throw hands with the "loyalists", gets threatened. Bille and Delilah prepare for the ritual, Delilah tells Billie that afterwards she can go and kill Daud for real this time. Corvo wakes up and confronts Daud. They duel, Daud loses, asks for his life, Corvo doesn't say anything, but doesn't kill him. Corvo returns to the Pub.

Episode 9: Emily feels all alone in a cruel world, believing Corvo to be dead. Corvo and Daud both prepare for their final missions in a cool montage. Corvo infiltrates the Fort/Lighthouse and deals with Pendleton and Martin. Daud arrives at Brigmore manor, infiltrates it and finds the entrance to the void. Corvo goes on to search for Emily, her room is empty. Daud talks to the Outsider and confronts Billie and Delilah. Corvo finds Emily and Havelock. Daud fights Billie while Delilah (almost) completes her ritual. Corvo shoots Havelock and catches Emily. Daud injures Billie and goes to stop Delilah, bright flash of light. Emily looks up at Corvo with a strange smile. Delilah has vanished. Daud asks Billie if she's done it. Billie is angry as Delilah is gone, but has a heart to heart with Daud where they leave on relatively okay terms. Daud breathes a sigh of relief. Emily smiles and hugs Corvo, it's clear that she's still herself. Epilogue narration that everything turned out fine. End credit scene of Delilah very angry, but also very alive, in the Void.

Why 9 episodes, you ask? Well because I was trying for 10 but my planning which I came up with just now only wanted 9. 8 or 10 would make more sense from a TV standpoint though. I just think this would be such a cool series...

[mynonsenseistingling]

Dishonored

[no-light-left-on]

there is a copy of Young Prince of Tyvia in the Hound Pits Pub bathroom on the bookshelf right by the tub

[presiding]

cecelia looks a lot like billie’s lost love.

art by @yufiit commissioned for the ghosts of the hound pits' pub because dishonored needs some haunted yuri.

[cephalon-sancti]

Hey Emily? You know Sokolov had people kidnapped off the streets to do experiments on with the Rat Plague, right? He wasn't just some funny weirdo uncle, the man deserved to be put in the cage at the Hounds Pits pub. Corvo literally walks in on him denying life-saving treatment to some poor woman he also had in a cage.

At least Piero Joplin was contrite when you caught him peeping on Callista taking a bath.