#spymaster!daud

[screwtheprinceimtakingthehorse]

Thrilled to present to you a preview of my piece for @cobbledbitsofbonezine that will be available soon! The Dishonored fandom is home to so many incredibly talented writers and artists; the contributions to this zine are off the charts. Check out mine above, featuring Spymaster!Daud.

[avengingspirit]

I really like the Spy Master Daud AU that seems pretty popular, but I’ve never seen anyone explain it for younger Daud? So I’ve been trying to think of a reason, and here is what I got..... plus some crappy last minute doodles to go w it cause my rambling is boring.

So instead of the loyalists helping Corvo out of Coldridge, Daud gets there first. He’s obvious capable of breaking someone out of Coldridge even without the use of his Void powers. And this time he has use of them. So ridden with regret he breaks out the man who took the fall for his kill. Corvo wants to slaughter him the moment he sees him, but luckily for Daud months of torture and imprisonment has left him weak and in a constant state of disorientation. When they’re out Daud takes him back to the flooded district. Eventually Corvo is conscious enough to pose a threat to Daud, but in hopes of dissuading his anger Daud offers to help him get Emily back, and possibly even restore her to the throne.

@whalesongrune helped me decide where the outsider should come into all of this-- I think Daud gave Corvo some of his powers like Blink as he does the Whalers, not knowing the Outsider would get involved. Then the Outsider comes to Corvo just before he was able to leave to start looking for Emily bc Corvo is still changing the fate of an empire.

Also I figured Piero would still come in but without the loyalists he’d seek out Daud with encouragement from the dreams from The Outsider?? So Corvo still has his mask and such. Though he’d be dressed like a Whaler otherwise. OR Maybe he doesn’t and Corvo’s whole deal is Whaler based I really can’t decide.. Maybe I’ll draw some concept outfits hhhh

It carries on in a similar fashion to Dishonored with the tasks Corvo has to complete to remove Burrows from his position. Even with getting Emily back from the Golden cat, though she hides in the flooded district.

Instead of the whole arc with the loyalists betraying Corvo and he ends up in the flooded district, part of the way through the plan Daud has set up to help Corvo the events of The Knife Of Dunwall occur, The Outsider comes to Daud and he keeps what he’s learned to himself. Daud disappears while Corvo is out, but Corvo has enough information to continue on his own, there are a lot more people to take care of without the help of the loyalists, and Emily is proven to be safe in the care of a few of Daud’s Whalers.

Daud returns. Through connections and the true heir being found they get Emily back on the throne with little issues, the men who were part of the loyalists accept Emily’s rule as their positions of power remain untouched with their sworn loyalty. Of course Emily is just a child, and though Burrows is exposed for killing Jessamine Corvo still is treated with animosity and he’s just a glorified body guard. How could they know who else was really in on Burrows plan? The men who would have made up the loyalists are obviously scumbags and untrustworthy.

So all is??? mostly well. Daud prepares to leave, but not before informing Corvo of what happened with the Witches to warn him.

Though Daud held the knife that ended Jessamine’s life, he’s also the sole reason Corvo was able to save Emily and the House of Kaldwin. And if he hadn’t, Burrows would have just found another way to kill Jessamine. Between that and how he saved Emily from possession Corvo starts to think he may be the only one he can really trust. He offers him a new life with a new name and a position as royal spymaster, a job Corvo was offered but would now be willing to hand over to Daud.

annnnnnd.... idk I guess that’s it.

I left a lot of things rly vague cause I might write this??? At the very least I’ll probs draw stuff from it using this as the idea for it... but it’d take a lot for Corvo to even not wanna smash Daud’s face in when he’s in 100 feet of him let alone make him spy master lmao so I figured he’d have time to trust him and see how much he regrets killing Jess etcetc......

S P Y M A S T E R ! D A U D (throws confetti)

[screwtheprinceimtakingthehorse]

If Looks Could Kill

Full chapter coming soon!

Corvo and Jessamine watched Daud as he fidgeted in his coat — not an unusual occurrence by itself. Although the Royal Spymaster’s customary robes had been altered to better suit Daud’s less elaborate style and to allow for the requisite freedom of movement, Daud avoided wearing them. Of course they weren’t suitable for patrols, anyhow, but the assassin would much rather he didn’t have to dress up for Court, either. Still, some days there was no getting around it — and getting out of it only at the end of the day, most often under Corvo and Jessamine’s gentle (and appreciative) supervision.

As it was, Daud’s obvious discomfort in this particular situation was only parallelled by his impressive glare, currently levelled at Anton Sokolov, who was more or less hiding behind his easel and canvas.

“I can’t believe I let you two talk me into this,” Daud muttered for the fifth time that morning alone. Jessamine nudged Corvo with her elbow, and he did his best not to grin. “And I don’t know what I did to deserve it, either.”

“Sitting for a portrait is hardly punishment,” Corvo said.

“Then how come there’s no painting of you anywhere around, Lord Protector?” Daud returned acerbically.

“I did make the suggestion after his appointment,” Sokolov interjected, recovering his bravery. “But was shot down by a very polite but shy young man.”

Corvo wasn’t sure anyone in the room appreciated the leer that accompanied Sokolov’s words. Before either of them could say anything, however, Sokolov continued, “And now, there’s going to be two of your handsome face, old Knife.”

Daud stilled, his eyes boring ahead as though he could pierce the canvas and stare Sokolov into silence. Or possibly into an early grave.

“Ah,” Sokolov said smugly, “you can try and glower at me all you want, but I have not forgotten the first time you stood for me like this.”

Corvo and Jessamine shared a curious glance.

“The first one?” Jessamine echoed.

Sokolov laughed. “Oh, he’s not told you?”

Daud gripped the back of the chair he was standing next to so hard the wood creaked.