A/N: Otherwise known as: the one in which the author knows nothing about humans in medieval times. Hopefully you can forgive me for the horrible historical inaccuracies that will no doubt happen. The most I know comes from Skyrim, and I'm hoping that my proof-reader (who does pay attention in history class) can help fix anything that is horribly wrong.
Anyway, it's NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) again, and guess who's writing 30,000 words? Hopefully me. My goal last year was 20,000, and I did it, so let's see how well I do. I'm also aiming for a slow relationship build up with this one, as well on more focus when it comes to other characters and their backgrounds. Haha, yeah. Good luck to me.
The crowded, bustling streets of the market make a perfect cover.
Sure, it's hard to navigate at times, and the sights, sounds, and smells would be a sensory overload to anyone who hadn't grown up with it, but it comforts you. You haven't visited your hometown in ages, but it's not entirely your fault. Your occupation is the reason you left, as well as the reason you're back now.
The castle is off in the distance, looming above the thatched cottages. It's impressive, you'll admit that much. And to think, somewhere in that huge expanse of stone and marble lies your target. The boy that doesn't exist. You mean that figuratively, of course. He exists, but no mere commoner would know that. It must be a combination of the king's paranoia and overprotectiveness, because though everyone knew the queen had been pregnant, they had been told it was a miscarry. You know better.
You feel the weight of your bag pressing firm against your side. It's empty, save a few piece of parchment, but those few pages of writing are your entire future. If you pull this off, you'll never have to work again.
All you have to do is kill the prince. Easy enough, right? Yeah…
This job will probably take years to complete. Good thing your employer isn't in a rush. You need to set up a home in this town. Ingrain yourself in their lives and culture. Gain their trust. Then, get a job on the castle staff; a gardener, or something simple that has to work outside most of the time. You need to study the layout. On one of your parchments is a map, but while it shows you the upper towers and bedrooms and where the prince sleeps, it doesn't show you how to get in, or even the staircase that will get you up there to begin with. You need to learn the guards schedules. Find and opening or flaw and seize the moment.
So, basically, all you need to do is the impossible. As hard as it sounds though, you know you can do this. The pay will all be worth it. It's what he would have wanted. You know it is.
Pulling yourself back to reality, you refocus on the busy market around you. You need… someone. A pawn. Someone that's influenced easily enough for you to use them as a cover story. It will be more believable if you have a friend or a roommate of some kind that is gullible enough and trusting enough to not ask too many questions. You don't need them per se, but it will definitely help with things like rent. You're not going to buy a permanent home. Your job is to gain their trust, not to become a part of anyone's life.
The sound of laughter draws your gaze away from the castle, and you look to your left. There's two people coming out from a shop, and for some reason, the younger of the two immediately catches your attention. He looks almost your age. Maybe a little bit younger, if you had to guess. The older of them is about in his mid-thirties by the looks of things, with short, brown hair and surprisingly well-kept facial hair. He's wearing an apron that's ratty, worn, and stained from years of use. If the sign above the door is to be believed, the building they just left is a "Sweet Shoppe" which likely meant a bakery or sweetmeat shop.
You watch the younger one, a blond boy who looks much cleaner than his older companion - you assume, his employer - take a small basket of sweet rolls from the older man and tuck it under his arm. They share a short conversation that you don't pick up, and hug briefly before the blond finally turns to go. He approaches a stand outside the shop that you didn't notice before. There's a brunet standing there, looking bored until the blonde approaches. They're friends, you guess. The new male looks a lot like the older one who disappeared back into his shop. So maybe it's a family shop? That makes sense, you guess. The blond you're so interested in chats with his friend for a bit, laughter and smiles all around, before they too share a hug and he sets off again.
You think that this is the type of person you're looking for. He looks comfortable and secure in his routine. Which means that he must have been living here for a while. He has a job from the looks of things, friends, and you see him share a few nods of passing with the occasional commoner as he passes them. You know that he'll make the perfect cover.
Falling into a steady pace, you avoid looking directly at him as you walk towards him. You pretend to be infatuated with your surroundings, faking surprise when you bump into him harshly. He gasps a little in surprise, the basket of treats jostling in his grip despite the way he holds it tighter automatically.
"Sorry!" You apologize, reaching down and picking up the two sweet rolls that landed on the ground. "I didn't see you there, Mr…?" You prompt him for his name, holding out the sweets as a sort of offering.
He gives you a funny look for a moment. You suppose that you do look a little bit suspicious. Seeing as how you don't have a place to set everything yet, you have all of your possessions on you. And it's not a lot. You're wearing a torn up cloak that you've had for as long as you can remember, the hood up and casting your face in shadow and the rest of it hiding the details of your figure as well as the sword you keep strapped to your back. You try not to use that particular weapon too often. You like to stick to your sickles, which are strapped to your thighs, or your daggers, which you keep up your sleeves and inside of your boots. You have the small satchel with the details of your job in it of course, and another, larger bag with clothes and a canister of water. Other than that? Just the clothes on your back and a rather impressive bag of gold and silver pieces, if you do say so yourself.
"Dave." He says finally, bring you back to the conversation. You really need to stop zoning out. "Just Dave. And don't worry about it." He takes the sweet rolls from your outstretched hand, placing them back in the basket. "No harm done. I have plenty of them to go around. So," Dave adjusts the basket into his other arm, holding it against his side by placing a hand on his hip, "what's your name? You're new to town, right? I tend to recognize most people, and I don't think we've ever met."
Alright, good. This is going perfectly. You just need to keep the topic away from yourself as much as possible. Still, there's not really any harm in telling him your name. "Karkat." You say simply. "Just Karkat. And, yes, I'm new around here. Do you know the town very well?" Oh, you hope that you didn't misread something and he's actually only been here a week.
Dave nods, reaching up with his free hand to adjust his shades. You didn't really pay much attention to them before, but now they interest you. Shades are definitely expensive, and you wonder how he can afford them with the low salary that comes with working in a bakery. They aren't the nicest pair you've ever seen, but still. "I've... lived here for seven years, I think?" He tilts his head to the side, frowning. "Yeah. Seven years." He nods. "If you want, I can give you a small tour. This town isn't that big. I can't stay long, though. I have to be home soon. But I can point out some things on my way to the orphanage. It's on the edge of town, so nothing is really "out of my way" unless we go in the opposite direction." Dave jerks his thumb to the right, indicating the opposite way, you suppose. Interesting. So the orphanage is on the way to the palace? You think that you'll take Dave up on his offer. It will give you the excuse you need to get a closer look and maybe see what he knows about the royal family.
"Sure." You agree, smiling in what you hope is a friendly way. "That sounds like a really nice thing to do for someone that just bumped into you and ruined two perfectly good sweet rolls." You say honestly.
To your relief, Dave just laughs, shaking his head a little. So he has a sense of humor. That's fantastic. "It's nothing." He says dismissively, starting to walk and gesturing for you to follow. You do, syncing your pace with his easily. "I just like to help people out. Makes me feel useful, you know." Dave murmurs this last part, looking away, and you frown. He looks guilty and more than a little regretful as he stares at the ground. You almost ask what's wrong, but then the moment passes and he's back to his chipper self from before. You're beginning to think that Dave isn't really that happy of a person, but you don't pry. You just met the guy. You have no business poking your nose in his personal issues.
You clear your throat, trying to ease the sudden tension between you. "Is that why you're going to the orphanage?" You try hopefully.
Dave smiles, obviously relieved at the change in topic, and nods. "Yeah. It's the orphanage I lived in, so after I left, I made sure to come back every now and again with treats from the other kids there. Hence these." He holds up the sweet rolls for a moment so that you know what he's talking about before putting them against his side again. "It's sort of like a tradition. They love when I visit. And can you blame them?" Dave grimaces. "The shit that place can get away with calling "food" is ridiculous. Impressive, really. But there are worse orphanages. Probably. It's the only one in this town, and I've never left, so…" He shrugs a little, "I wouldn't know personally. But there's always something worse, isn't there?"
You hum in agreement, watching the silhouette of the castle against the sky get closer the longer you and Dave keep walking. This guy sure can talk a lot. You really couldn't have picked a better pawn if you had made him yourself. "That's true." You say. Now, how to change topics without being too obvious…? "Do you think the people in the palace realize that?" You ask with fake innocence, inclining your head towards the aforementioned structure.
There's a moment's pause, and Dave's smile drops into a deep and thoughtful frown. "No." He settles on after a moment. "A selfish king and a spoiled queen. That's all that's up there. Nothing deeply profound in the slightest." He mutters darkly. You're a little caught off guard by how venomously he speaks of his king and queen. You thought that the town loved them, which is odd considering how little time they spend out of their palace. But apparently not. You want to ask why the way he talks about them seems so personal, but again, it's none of your business. And besides. Why bother when the perfect conversation turner is looming along the horizon?
"Hey!" You force a smile, pointing at the orphanage off in the distance. "Look, we're here. Isn't that great?" You laugh awkwardly, but either Dave doesn't notice it, or actually buys that your horrible act is genuine.
"Damn." He groans, still frustrated, but with himself, this time. "I forgot to point out the inn. You'll need a place to stay, right?"
You shake your head, feeling uncomfortable. You wanted a nice guy, not a selfless guy. "It's fine." You tell him insistently. "I can find it. You've been nice enough already." Seriously. Niceness to this level is not something you're used to, and you don't want to be, either. You don't want to get attached to him just for being a decent human being. Becoming dependent on Dave would ruin everything. One would think that, after twenty-seven kills, you would be less open to emotional attachment, but apparently not. You're just as vulnerable as everyone else, so it's best to keep your distance. That doesn't mean that you can't - or won't - use him to your advantage, though.
Dave frowns, still unhappy with the compromise, but nods regardless. "Alright." he turns, pointing back the way you came. "It's down that way. Just walk until there's a row of buildings on your left. It's the third one down. There's a huge sign, so don't worry. You couldn't miss it if you tried." You nod in understanding once he's done, filing the directions away for later. You're not going to get a permanent home, but you will need something more than an inn. The most you could keep a room there for is a week.
"And, uh, if you don't mind my asking," You begin, looking sideways at Dave as he continues on his way to the orphanage, "where do you live?"
He shrugs, taking a sweet roll from the basket (one of the ones you knocked in the ground, you notice) and beginning to eat it. "Doesn't matter. Family problems. I left, and when I do go back, I don't stay long. The orphanage kept me for a while, which is why I lived there. The girl who runs it is really nice. She inherited the place from her granddad, who passed away. But I'm getting off topic. To answer your question, I rent a room in a place just a little past the orphanage." He tears off a piece of the sweet and offers it to you, but you politely decline, shaking your head, and he shrugs before eating it himself. "I pay for it with my job at the bakery. I don't know if you noticed it in the town square where you bumped into me, but there's a bakery there. Sometimes, like today, I stop by the orphanage to just say hi to the kids and bring them shit." You nod a little in confirmation. God, he can talk a lot. It's great. Fucking perfect. You know so much about him already, and he doesn't even know your last name. To be fair, you don't know his last name, either, but it ties him to his family, and he would understandably want to avoid being associated with them if they drove him to leave.
"Dave!" A girl's voice catches your attention, and you refocus on your surroundings. The orphanage isn't off in the distance anymore. It's right in front of you, and a girl about your age is standing on the porch. She's pretty you think, long black hair and emerald eyes, but her large smile takes center stage. You don't think you've ever seen a smile that wide or so completely delighted.
She runs up to the two of you, wrapping Dave in a hug, which he awkwardly returns with one arm. The other is still holding the basket of treats, which you hesitate before gently taking from him. Dave gives you a relieved smile, now hugging the girl back properly. "Hey, Jade." He smiles as the wind blows and whips her hair around them both. "I wasn't gone for that long, you know. I don't work long hours."
The girl - Jade - just shakes her head and pulls out of the hug. You notice that they're holding hands despite the space between them, and it makes you frown. Are they married? Or courting? It's most likely the second one, but you hope they're just friends. Dave having a girl in his life that's not as gullible as him will just overcomplicate things. "It feels like ages." Jade pouts playfully, and her gaze slides over to you. She studies you for a moment, then her main point of interest shifts to the basket you're holding. "Extras at the bakery again?" She asks, walking forward and taking the basket from you. You let her. It's not yours, anyway. You feel like you're intruding, and the unfriendly way she looks at you makes that painfully obvious. Not everyone can be as accommodating as Dave, you suppose.
He nods, chuckling a little. "Yeah. You know your uncle. That guy can cook for days without stopping. It's almost scary - how hard it is to shake him when he gets focused on this shit." Dave jokes.
You feel out of the loop, but that's fine. You shouldn't ingrain yourself in their lives. You can gather from what Dave said that Jade's uncle runs the bakery. That's nice for them, you suppose. You honestly don't care all that much.
Jade laughs, heading towards the orphanage and gesturing for Dave to follow. He does, pausing to think about it for only a moment before grasping your sleeve and tugging you along with him. That confuses you. Aren't you done here? Dave pointed you towards the inn, and though it's hardly even noon yet, shouldn't you go? He helped. You're fine now. You made a connection. Why does he want you to follow?
Protesting seems like making a bigger fuss than necessary though, and you allow Dave to lead you inside quietly. The place is dimly lit by oil lamps, but the windows make up for it. The stone walls are simple - functional - and the floor is old wood. At the sound of the door closing, children come running down the stairs, some hesitant and some literally bouncing up and down as the immediately crowd around Dave, clinging to his legs and smiling as they all talk at once. You can't make out any individual sentences with them talking over each other like that, but you can tell that they're excited. Really excited.
You immediately feel awkward and confused - fuck, how do you deal with kids? - but Dave seems completely at ease as he smiles and kneels down to be at their level.
"Oh wow, I missed you, Lynn." He laughs, hugging one of the little girls. You think she's maybe two or three, and she squeals in delight, her face lighting up as she's given attention.
There's not a lot of kids here, which is good considering that this is an orphanage. A quick head count reveals that there are seven in all. That's a relief. You had been so freaked out earlier that you thought there was a whole hoard of them.
"Jeremy got adopted yesterday." Jade remarks with a smile, and you notice a smaller kid hiding behind her legs and clinging to her skirt. Her hand is resting on the child's head, absentmindedly petting his hair like she's done this for him a million times. You like the ease of it all. Most orphanages you've been to don't have kind people like Jade to manage them. Especially not the one where you were raised. But you already know that you'll be reliving those memories tonight when you sleep, so thinking about it now would waste your time.
Dave hums in recognition, gesturing for Jade to hand him the basket. She does, keeping one for herself, which she hands to the little boy clinging to her. "Is that so? I hope it was a good family." He says conversationally, smiling as the other kids come up to him and take a treat. He must do this often then, if they're all used to it. You see one kid immediately shuffle back up the stairs once she has her treat, but the rest stay, seeming to just like being around Dave. You can understand that. He has a magnetic personality, and it's awful. Fuck, you've known the guy for less than a day and you can already feel yourself getting attached. You need to wrap this visit up, and fast.
Jade nods, chuckling a little as she kneels down in front of one of the little boys. "They seemed like perfectly fine parents." She said as she used a handkerchief to wipe the boy's mouth clean. Messy eater, apparently. "The wife had already had a miscarry, and they didn't want to risk another, so adoption seemed like the right choice." She explains. "Really eager for a kid. I think he'll like it there."
Standing back up straight, Dave tucks the empty basket back under his arm. "I'm glad." He smiles, and you actually believe that. He doesn't even act like he'll miss the kid, even though you can tell he does. Dave is just… genuinely happy that the boy - Joe, or something? - gets a family. It's making you choke up, and fuck, now Dave is going to be in your recurring dream, isn't he? Just for being a sap about something mildly relating to your childhood. God damnit.
"Dave." You speak up suddenly, catching both of their attentions. Jade looks like she had forgotten about your presence entirely, or at least like she wanted to, and Dave just looks interested.
"The one and only." He replies. "Sorry. Does being here make you uncomfortable, Karkat?" Dave frowns in concern, and you shake your head. Nope. You refuse to accept his pity.
Taking a few steps back, away from the kids, you just shrug. "No. I just don't want to intrude." You say, and that's truth enough. You feel like you really shouldn't be here, and Jade looks like she agrees. It's pretty obvious to see that, if there isn't a relationship between the two currently, she definitely wants there to be one.
Frowning, Dave nods after a minute. "Yeah, sorry about that." He says honestly. "I should have figured that you have better things to do than follow a stranger around. You still have to find a place to set yourself up, right? How long do you plan on staying? Do you need a job?" Oh, no. You are so not letting Dave work out the foundations of the entire next few years of your entire life. You are not going to become dependent on him.
But you're not going to lie about it, either. It's a small world. You'll probably see him again whether you like it or not. Lying always comes right back around to bite you in the ass. "I'm staying for a few years." You admit with a sigh. "But, really, you don't need to help me. I can find a job on my own." You insist.
Dave hums a little in thought, thinking about something before he perks up. "You know, I have a friend working at the castle who says they're in the market for a new groundskeeper, if you're interested." You open your mouth to protest, then immediately snap it shut again. This is an opportunity you don't want to fuck up. "I mean, there are some requirements, of course." Dave continues, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "A few questions, from what I hear. The royal family is pretty... private. They won't hire just anyone. But you're more than welcome to try for the job if you like."
"That…" You can't help but smile. Huh. That was… surprisingly easy. You wonder for a moment how Dave befriended someone who works at the castle, but the you decide that you're not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, and that you don't really care to begin with. "That sounds great, actually." You confess. "Thank you, Dave. Really."
He just shrugs, like saving you months of searching is no big deal. "Don't worry about it." He says dismissively. "It's the least I can do after wasting your time. You could be all moved in and comfortable by now." Dave actual looks guilty and regretful about it too, and you can't help but wonder exactly what happened in his childhood that made him so eager and desperate to please. You've met more than your fair share of broken people, and while Dave seems fine, you can see his cracks from miles away. You're not going to get invested, though. Definitely not. He's not your problem. You're only using him.
Jade clears her throat, putting on a clearly fake smile as she turns to you. "Well, now that that's covered, do you know where you're going to stay?" She asks politely enough. She doesn't trust you, you realize. Not that you blame her. You wouldn't trust you either, but it's reassuring to know that she isn't just a major bitch. She has her reasons, likely revolving around you being a shady strange and her having a house full of kids to protect. In which case, kudos to her for having a brain. Unlike some girls you've had the displeasure of meeting during your travels.
You nod, moving away from the kids and towards the door. "Yes, actually." You say, and she seems relieved. "Dave told me about an inn nearby. So I'll just stay there for some time and rent a real house once I have a job." It's a nice plan. Certainly more than you had when you first walked into town this morning.
"You remember how to get there, right?" Dave asks, sounding something like a doting mother. "Back the way we came, third building on your left?"
Rolling your eyes, you can't help but smile. "Yes, Dave." You sigh. "I remember."
He turns a faint shade of red, embarrassed, and laughs a little. "Good, good. I have to be home soon, but what if tomorrow I give you a proper tour of the town?" He offers, sounding a little too hopeful. "Afterwards, my friend can meet up with us can give you a little insight into that job on the castle grounds. If you're still up for it then. Don't be fooled - that castle is not the best place to work." Dave warns you seriously.
You ignore the warning, considering your options, and- fuck it, you don't even need to think about it. There's no downside to this. You get closer to fulfilling your purpose, and Dave gets to satisfy his misguided attempts to fill the void in his life by helping people. Everyone wins.
"That sounds good." You agree, nodding. "Do you know how to find me?" Talk doesn't really mean anything if in the end Dave doesn't know where you are.
Dave nods, trailing after you towards the door. The kids seem sad to watch him go, but they also look resigned to it, and hang back. "Yeah, I've been to the inn before. I can just ask for you and they'll tell me which room." He explains.
You open the door, stepping out and giving a little wave. "Well, thanks for all the help, Dave." You say, hoping that he's planning to stay a bit longer and you can head off alone.
But, no, that doesn't happen. Dave steps out with you, sharing a brief hug with Jade before shutting the door behind him. You honestly wouldn't be surprised if she peeked through the windows to watch the two of you. She seemed like something of an older sister to him, or just a clingy girl with a crush, maybe? Either way, it comes with her being protective. How wise of her. You honestly have no problem with murder. Not that Dave has really given you a reason to want him dead, but hey. The day is still young.
Seeing the odd look you're giving him, Dave just shrugs, beginning to walk. You follow, if only because there happens to be a single path that leads you back to the main road. The two of you walk in silence, and you don't exactly know why. Is something on his mind? Did you see something that you shouldn't have?
When you reach a crossroads in the path - one heading back into town and the other heading towards the castle - Dave stops walking. You could just continue on and ignore him, but something makes you follow suit, stopping next to him.
"Hey, so," Dave begins, looking away, "it was nice meeting you, Karkat. See you tomorrow?"
You frown a little, confused by where he's going with this, but nod regardless. "Yes, that seems to be the general consistence. Why? Worried I'd duck out the window on you?" You put in a fake laugh, just to try an lift his spirits, but it doesn't look like it worked.
Dave looks like he wants to say something, but finally, he just sighs and shakes his head. "Never mind. Tomorrow, then." He pats you on the arm and turns to go, heading towards the castle. He did say that he rents a place just a little past the orphanage.
You almost stop him. Almost. You watch him go, one step, two, then three, until you merely shake your head and turn the other way. He's not your problem. And he never will be. You're going to make sure of it.
A/N: Fuck, this chapter was so hard to write. But I did it. Yay me. The next one should be better. Maybe. I'm not going to make any promises.
So many theories to be made. So many unexplained little hints. Good luck with trying to figure all of it out!