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Ava walked to the grand stair case and began to ascend to the third floor. She roamed the halls eventually finding her way to her old childhood bedroom. Still, it was as she left it 3 years ago. The only tell that it was no longer hers was a small duffle bag of Oscars spare clothes and a damaged mask on the windowsill. She smiled to herself, recalling when they'd first met.
It was a chilly and wet night in the month of wind back in 1844. She was 16 and in a fog of melancholy that found her doing reckless things acting on impulse rather than thought. She had gotten into a fight with Armand that evening while at his office and sat out on the ledge 3 stories above Holger Square. She often sat there to collect her thoughts, there she didn't exist to the world and she watched everyone down below. She watch as a wolfhound pup chased after a rat on its way to the kennels, watched as two overseers shared a cigarette off in a dark corner where they wouldn't be seen without there masks. She saw a mother tug her young son behind her as they walked out of the building. Up there she saw it all, saw people do stupid things that she could have easily shouted to prevent and saw people do things she didn't expect. Just sitting there and watching was a good study of the human condition. When she'd had enough of the cold she stood up and crept over to the window that she'd come out of and walked back into the building. She hadn't gotten more than 10 steps before a voice called out from behind telling her to remain where she was.
This had happened before, all she had to do was turn around and they'd see it was just her and she could leave. But, as she turned the Overseer didn't recognize her, instead he questioned her. She became annoyed and walked towards Armand's office but the Overseer was close behind grabbing her arm and tugging her away. She broke from his grip punching him and catching him off balance. Then she got behind him and choked him out. It was reflex, she'd had to learn to fight dealing with petty criminals and mad heretics. Not that Armand knew but the circles that she dealt in where as merciless and cut throat as they were intellectual.
Realizing better of what she was doing and noticing that the Overseer had begun to stop struggling she let go. "Shit! I'm sorry, you grabbed my arm and I just kind of went into fight mode." She said to the Overseer that was now gasping for air on the hall floor. He had fallen on his face leaving a large dent in his mask.
"By the Void, where did you learn to fight." The Overseer said after a time, still struggling for air. He reached and took off his mask to get a better breath before looking up at the petite woman who'd just nearly choked him unconscious. "Who are you?"
"Who are you?" Ava quickly retorted skeptical of the young man in front of her. She wouldn't admit it or show it in the slightest but she was almost caught up in his gaze. He was very handsome, and not much older than herself.
"I am an Overseer to the Abbey of the Everyman, and I belong here!" He said rising to his feet. For the first time Ava realized just how tall he was. "Now I'll ask again, who are you?"
"My name is Ava Hedsworth, if you must now, and I'm Armand's daughter." She replied staring up into his deep gaze. "Look, you seem to be new here so I'll let this slide, but never, and I mean never, grab me like that again." She finished with a glare "Otherwise I'll leave you unconscious and naked in the interrogation chair. Got it?" And with that she walked away.
Of course at the time she didn't know that the Overseer was Oscar Moore, and she didn't know that he stared with as much interest as she walked away as she had while he peered down at her. The two had a spark and even if there first interaction was icy he was swimming through her thoughts for days after they first met and she his. However if you'd ask her that night if she'd fall in love with him just 2 years later she'd have laughed.
Ava crossed the room toward Armand's things and grabbed the mask sitting on the windowsill as well as an old journal she had hidden under her bed and went back down to the study where Oscar was sat at the coach reading a book on Bonecharms.
"Can I have this?" She asked Oscar causing him to look up from the book.
"Sure." He said confused, "though I don't see why."
"This is the mask you were wearing when we first met, isn't it?" She said holding it for him to see. "The dent, I remember it."
"You remember that?" Oscar asked surprised. "Wow, I thought for sure you hated me then. I remember watching you walk away wondering if I should go after you again."
"Yes, I do, and no, I didn't hate you. I found you interesting to be honest and I actually thought you were quite good looking. I remember you standing up towering over me with that dented mask in your hands. It was amusing that I'd bested you." She said smiling while looking at the old mask.
"I love you, Ava Hedsworth." Oscar said placing the book aside and standing up.
"I know, I love you too." Ava said looking up into his eyes as she did countless times before.
Oscar grabbed her face and touched his head to hers. It was one of those moments you'd wish you could get lost in forever but soon enough Margo called from the entrance downstairs announcing that she'd gotten home and Armand would be home in 5 minutes. They broke from the moment, losing it to time. They walked down the stairs and greeted Margo.
"Ava, I'm so glad you're home!" Margo sang as she put her things away in the coat closet.
A few years after their move to Dunwall Margo began teaching children at the orphanage that had been set up in the old Whiskey Distillery. It was all redone and made into a suitable home for the scores amid orphaned children left by the rat plague. AfTer the plague the Distillery was being run by petty criminals, abandoned by both Slackjaw and the original owners it was refurbished, it was the perfect size for a portion of the orphans and there were two other similar orphanages elsewhere in the city.
"Sorry I haven't been visiting as much lately, I've been really busy." Ava said embracing her mother figure. "I have some great news to tell you though!" She added beaming with excitement.
"Well, what is it?" Margo inquired.
"I submitted a proposal to be a Void researcher to the Abbey... Khulan granted it. I have funding and won't have to study in the shadows any longer." She grabbed the report she'd left on the table in the entryway and handed it to Margo.
"Wow, A. This is serious, but you must have something in mind that you'd like to do when you start. What is it?" Margo said weary of her child's future. Though she lived Ava and trusted her the Void itself and all the mysteries it held terrified her.
"One word." Ava began with a sly smile. "Pandyssia." She twirled around giving a dramatic motion with her hands as though she were in a gown showing it off.
"I-I don't understand." Margo stuttered after a moment of silence.
"Well, Pandyssia as in the continent. I want to chart an expedition there. From a lot of my research I've gathered that there are still remnants of cultures long passed that may have had better insight to the Void and it's true impact on our world." Ava was thrilled at the idea and it showed. She spoke with such passion and conviction it was easy for anyone listening to get caught up in it, but Margo had become immune to such things.
"No." If was Oscar that spoke first. "I will not let you travel off to Pandyssia with some second rate guards and a team on mere intellectuals. There's a reason it's not a settled area and there's a reason for so much mystery. You can't, I won't let you."
"He's right, it's dangerous. Why do you need to go, couldn't you send someone to collect things you may find of interest?" Margo agreed with Oscar.
"Margo what I may find of interest may be mere rubbish to someone else. I need to go, I need to search old ruins and scout for artifacts, I need to do this because I see the value where others run off like a hound with its tail between it's legs." Ava argued.
"Who exactly do you have running scared now, A?" Armand interrupted arriving home.
"It doesn't matter, and it's a moot point anyway. I don't have permission and I haven't even brought it up with the High Overseer. As of now it's a pipe dream." Ava sighed disheartened by Margo and Oscar's lack of enthusiasm.
"Hello, that still doesn't answer my question..." Armand said waiting for an answer.
"We were talking about what I want to ask Khulan to fund when I officially start my job. We can get into it later but for now I'm starving so let's eat." Ava answered still a little defeated.
"Whatever..." Armand sighed to himself as he shrugged off his overcoat. He'd grown accustomed to one worded and inconclusive answers when it came to Ava and her studies.
Everyone made their way into the dining room and sat at the table dinner was set and Cynthia, their house keeper, was just finishing pouring everyone some wine.
"Good evening young lady, haven't seen you around much lately." The woman smiled at Ava. She's been their housekeeper since Ava was 11, when Armand was offered a second in command post to the High Overseer. This job came with more responsibility, the least of which not being that he would step up if anything ever were to happen to Khulan. But, with that responsibility came more money and a higher social status, all of course helping Ava to work her way to where she was.
"I've been very busy, my studies have consumed a great deal of my time." She offered as she reached for her wine. She'd decided to take Armand's advice and not tell a lot of people about her new job. Not until Khulan had announced it.
"I've always said you were a gifted girl." Cynthia said as she placed her hand on Ava's shoulder. "Now if there's nothing else I think I'll be leaving for the day." Cynthia stated, more so as a question.
"Thank you Cynthia," Margo began "I'll see you out. Be careful during the feast dear." She stood and walked Cynthia toward the door. And a moment later Margo was back and the family began eating.
Thanks for Listening.
