EVESDROP + LITTLE LYRIC
Eavesdropping.
He's attentively listened to the woman's urgent concerns for several minutes now, the same woman who watches over Lyric whenever he can't take them with him. No interruptions, no but's, no complaints on his part. She seems genuinely distressed, and with good reason. The Church's eyes are everywhere, lately even more so, seeking any sources of heresy and impurity to purge.
She's a respectable widow; her husband was a heroic Church Hunter. Yet that doesn't make her immune to prying eyes and draconic punishment... no one is. Furthermore, and unbeknown to anyone in Yharnam, her great-grandmother was a servant at the demonic castle, who fell in love with a humble farmer and eloped to the city. The ghost of accursed blood lingers in her delicate and pale features, insufficient to mark her as suspicious but a potential danger nonetheless.
She reaches a state of despair, breaking into tears and speaking without thinking: what will the Church do to her; to her children, if they find out a VILEBLOOD visits her house? That his child stays with her own while he's away...
That's enough.
"Lyric is not a vileblood," he speaks at last and cuts her anguished tirade short; the hateful word carries a venom that's impossible to miss. She steps back instinctively, but his heart is devoid of compassion. Her fear means nothing to him except for leverage to turn the situation in his favour. "As such, Lyric has no real ties with Cainhurst — unlike you."
This is a matter that goes far beyond mere sentimentalism, and she's depleted her luck with him. Now it's time to remind her that he's reasonable but not merciful. Theirs is an arrangement of convenience. Simple as that.
"Let this be the last time I request your services. You shall never see me again, nor Lyric. Double the payment should be enough to buy your silence."
She's about to object — he won't even give her a chance to do so.
"The alternative is no dreadful possibility but absolute certainty: fear not what the Church may do, but the death I shall bring to your home should you refuse or attempt anything at all."
The threat is clear and terrible as burning light. She relents, and her eyes are those of an agonizing deer, staring at the maws of a bloodied beast; with silent tears and resignation. Terror is a firm, strangling collar around her neck. It serves him perfectly.
"Two days." A last indication and the end of their conversation and any struggle. It's settled. The Hunter of Hunters wastes no more time, turning around and heading towards the door.
Lyric is there. How much did they hear?
He sighs and closes his eyes, silently cursing himself; heavy bitterness spreading through his chest. Although, a gentler sentiment softens his steely features instantly when his gaze falls back to the small child.
"I told you to wait outside. Eavesdropping on other people, adults in particular, is not polite at all." A most lukewarm reprimand, whereas he's quick to pick Lyric up and carry them inside the house in his arms, whispering softly and without any real bite. "Everything should be fine, though... just be good and wait for me, yes?"