Thank you to everyone's continued interest in my story, please leave any suggestion or just comment to let me know how my writing's going so far.

Garrisso- Thank you for your interest in my story! And, you know how ol' O is, always keeping his interests at bay until things get real juicy!


Over on Clavering Boulevard, in the Hedsworth home, Margo was preparing some things to take with her to Armand's office. She had always stayed at the Office during the fugue feast, it was safer and Margo wasn't one to want to party or be reckless, she and Armand had gotten that out of their system years ago. Ava m, however, had not and just wanted some freedom to have fun with her friends. For as much as Armand and Margo trusted Ava to keep herself safe and out of harms way, to see their daughter focus her life's work on such uncertainties as the void, well, it was terrifying. The uncertainty she faced always loomed in the back of their minds.

Margo heard the front door open and walked downstairs, she knew it was Ava because the door had been locked. "Hello dear, I'm just getting some things ready to take to the Abbey." Margo said as she went in for a hug from Ava.

"Well, we won't be long, I'm late meeting with Uncle Ernest," Ava began. "And he's kind of a tit with punctuality." She laughed.

"Well, you know how I feel about him." Margo said rolling her eyes. She never liked him, ever since the day he'd found out Ava had moved back to Dunwall. All he wanted was to make sure Ava wouldn't go after the family fortune. "Ugh, that man is pathetic." She scoffed thinking about how he'd always treated Ava.

"He is, but he has a mansion, a mansion that legally I could go after since father was never taken off his mothers will. And while I have no want for a mansion I do need it for the fugue feast because 12 plus people would be rather packed together on my home." Ava smiled to reassure Margo that his rude quips didn't bother her.

"Doesn't make him any less of a tit." Oscar muttered as Bauble whined to agree.

"Oh Bauble, please don't growl at him!" Ava begged as she patted the dogs head. Bauble had never like the man and his habit of referring to her as 'that mangy stupid hound', did not improve her disposition. Bauble simply gave a short unenthusiastic bark.

"You two should get going, don't let me keep you." Margo stated as she hugged Ava again to say goodbye.

"Yes, you're right, I promise I'll come visit as soon as the feast is over." Ava said. "I promise I'll stay safe!" Margo was opening the door for them.

"I know dear, I love you." Margo said as they passed her to leave, she wasn't overly worried but she was a little.

"I love you too!" Ava sang as she walked down the stairs toward the street.

"Don't worry Margo," Oscar said. "I'll keep her safe, I promise." Margo nodded at Oscar and smiled before giving one final goodbye wave and closing the door.

Ava and Oscar walked back up towards the Abbey. The legal district, where the Hedsworth mansion was located, was within walking distance for them. Only a short walk from the street entrance to the Yard.

"So, about tonight," Oscar started. "Did you get food and alcohol and whatever else you need to hold a party during the fugue feast?"

"Yeah, I've got it covered." Ava simply smiled, obviously avoiding any explanation.

"So it's all there?" Oscar asked as Ava nodded yes. "Well how did you manage to get the mansion, food, AND alcohol?!" Oscar paused and sighed. "Don't tell me, it's probably nothing you should be telling an Overseer." He rolled his eyes as Ava simply smirked.

"He's scared of me." Ava stated plainly after an ominous pause. "He'd never say it aloud, nor would I expect him to. My father was always a little freaked out by the void when my mother taught us about it or spoke of it. I never understood why, but when Armand started teaching me about the Abbey and the Strictures it made sense. It's what the Abbey teaches, what it tends to breed; fear, uncertainty." Ava looked over at Oscar as they climbed the stairs just beyond the statue.

"Okay..." Oscar said drawing the word out, searching for explanation in her words.

"What I mean is think of all the hesitation that fear causes, and all the legitimacy it gives me when I have studied the subject." Ava stopped and looked around. They were in front of the courtyard leading to the Office now. "Ok, see that kid over there? One of the new overseers." She pointed and Oscar nodded in confirmation. "He saw the bonecharm I wear around my neck two months ago. Up until about a week ago he avoided me like a plague. But then one week ago, when I first offered Khulan my proposal, gossip about the "void girl" started and when he saw Khulan trusted me he wasn't as scared." Ava explained.

"So... what, people let their guard down?" Oscar laughed.

"No they believe whatever I say because the fear has lead them to total ignorance. I say one thing and any explanation I give is accepted." She said as she began to walk again. "I tell uncle dearest that visions of the void show the man he cheated 10 years ago coming offer him he is scared. I offer a solution, he takes it and is in my debt. Don't worry I only do it to him, but he's an ass and deserves it." Ava scoffed the last part.

Ava and Oscar had almost made it to the legal district when Bauble stopped and wandered over to the street entrance to the Yard. Standing in the doorway, with a cigarette up to his mouth in one hand and his mask dangling in the other was Haskil.

"Are you serious Bauble?!" Oscar yelled, startling Ava. "He didn't call you, and I asked you to stay at my side." Bauble walked back over to Oscar and whined. And as usual Oscar couldn't stay stern. "I'm sorry I don't mean to yell at you, you just need to listen a bit better."

Haskill began to laugh at the disobedient hound and how Oscar couldn't stay mad. "Shit, just this morning one of the new overseers was in the kennels cleaning them out and bauble refused to leave. I had to go get her and she followed me around until you got here." He finished.

Oscar glared briefly at Haskil as he always did when he'd make fun of Bauble. Bauble and Oscar seemed to be comic relief to the Office of the High Overseer but when it came down to it Bauble was fierce and loyal. Whenever there was any sign of danger she turned into a completely different hound and listened to Oscars orders.

"Well that's because she doesn't like new overseers." Ava chimed in scratching Bauble behind the ears. "They always seem to be more aggressive to the hounds then they need to. We all know she doesn't take that." Ava said with a small laugh.

"Don't you have some security checks to do, somewhere else to be?" Oscar asked.

"I'm doing it." Haskil stated. "I switched with one of the new guys, he's locking up the armory and I'm watching the door." Oscar said as he put his cigarette out on the sole of his boot.

"What to fuck, Haskil!" Oscar said getting upset. "You know how much I hate it when they move stuff around or get into things. The armory is mine and if anybody should be locking it down it should be you or one of my recruits." Oscar sighed letting his frustration go.

"Oh no don't worry it's one of my recruits. Dante... I think... I don't know I haven't remembered all their names." Haskil said as he put his mask back on.

"You have literally 3 new overseers working under you." Ava said with a snort. "You can't manage to remember three names?"

"Not when I have 12 other guys who, get this, actually know what their doing. Sure espionage and securing contraband seems daring and fun, but really it's just a pain in the ass. I always lose at least one to Oscar, every damn year." Haskil retorted. "'I thought we'd be infiltrating occult circles, I want to transfer.'" Haskil spit out in a mocking tone.

"I have 5 new guys, and 8 others under me and I've managed to remember all their names. And you can't do the 'well I have more people' bullshit because of those 12 five are our close friends." Oscar said as he poked Haskil in the arm. "And I've got 5 coins on Dante wanting to train under me. Cozying up with heretics may sound appealing and daring during the trials but when they find out it's mostly securing contraband, testing weapons sounds a lot more fun."

"Until they learn you also need to fix said weapons. And don't get me started in how complicated the mechanisms are becoming." Haskil said raising his arm as if to swat the idea away. "And besides what about checking in and keeping track of everyone's weapons. That's a lot of overseers, I'd choose contraband and canned hagfish while scouting for witches any day." Haskil finished.

"Is it always a pissing match with you to?" Ava said speaking up. You both have equally respectable positions with pros and cons. Also, we have to go so you can finish this later if you must." She sighed.

"Alright, alright. Have fun tonight buddy." Oscar said patting Haskil on the arm. His merely grunted in response.

"See you later Haskil, sorry you had to work." Ava said with a pout.

"No, no, someone needs to watch over this place. Have fun... just don't be stupid." He said with a sigh as he squeezed her arm, the most affection he alone could show. He patted Bauble on the head one more time before the three where off to the Hedsworth mansion.


Thanks for Listening.