#young daud

[lemmeburnit]

When you finally see the void

[doctorpariahdax]

my favorite things I’ve done this year. 

[nekrosmos2]

I’m not very productive these days, so have some Young Daud sketches I made a while ago

[intentandinvention]

at every moment some farther distance, chapter 7

The first week settles the chill into his skin, tucks it beneath his layers of fur and paints it on his lips so that they crack and bleed. The stove extends its warmth to a small area, but the cold creeps in through the ceiling and the walls, leaves tendrils of ice on the wood. On the third day it begins to snow and the world outside presses on the boarded windows, blacks and whites alike transmuted to violet in the shrinelight.

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[doctorpariahdax]

Outsider: What'cha thinking about? You've been sitting very contemplatively for about half an hour.

Daud: Just....wondering....actually maybe it's good you're here. You said that the mark may provide guaranteed immunity from further gaining illnesses, diseases...and so on.

Outsider: I did say that, because it's true.

Daud: Including developing physiological 'diseases', symptoms, etc.

Outsider: :squints:

Daud: I really like smoking but the constant threat of developing a heart disease, gum disease, lung disease, various infections, not to mention cancer-but if I'm free from those threats-

Outsider: Daud, your mother would not want you to smoke.

Daud: Right, and whose fault is it that she's not here to reprimand me in person?

Outsider:....:lights a match for Daud:

[doctorpariahdax]

Daud Sokolov 3/?

Spring was a special time of year in Gristol; in Dunwall there was the new harvest festivals, some circles celebrated the new lunar year, and laughter often filled the streets whether it was snowing or the sun was shining(the beer was good this time of year too). In the Academy, most people’s spirits were lifted as well; a new trimester begun, students and professors alike weren’t held down by performances or overdue tasks - not in the beginning at least - and there was a general levity after the brief hiatus of schooling. Anton certainly enjoyed the breaks as much to his ability as possible - mostly enjoyed with drinking - , though he knew the general idea of returning to performance based judgement were not favored by students that were unlike himself...in that they didn’t perform well. It was hardly a month into the spring trimester and several branches of the Academy had already administered tests or timed papers for the students, and for someone like Daud, with no prior formal academic training, these test periods were hellish. The only things that kept Daud admitted at the academy was his performance in chemistry based philosophies and sciences and Sokolov’s word. There had already been several suspicious happenstances  surrounding Daud’s stay at the academy, but Sokolov’s vouching meant something in academia...and so the boy stayed. Under close supervision. While some aspects of the boy’s physical and mental health improved others faltered. Daud, unlike Sokolov, did not excel in science...math....his talents with chemistry were more  intuitive and natural instincts achieved through his childhood - Anton surmised the boy’s mother was a witch of some sort...perhaps touched by the Outsider herself - and thus more of a fluke of knowledge rather than a studied artform. Still, he had commendable talent in that field, and in comprehension and writing. Ironically, the latter are required and advised for any scientist to get anywhere in life but they never seemed able to effectively communicate their thoughts and works in legible ways. Daud could, however, and by being Sokolov’s assistant it granted the two time to help one another. To Daud, Sokolov was a mentor, and a confidant. To Anton, the boy had a good head on his shoulders but a heart that was willing to aid in his research and a hand for sabotage. ....Lately Sokolov had been using Daud’s skills of sabotage more than anything else....So as to repay Daud for his recent efforts in ruining his colleagues work, Sokolov was having the boy scribe data for him. Rather absent-mindedly, Sokolov prattled in front of Daud who rested his cheek on a desk, scribbling intensely on several pages of notes. Unceremoniously, when Daud ran out of ink, he wouldn’t notify Sokolov, and the philosopher would only notice when after several moments he didn’t hear the cricket like scratching of the paper. With the recent bouts of testing, Daud’s mood had visibly sunk, his face shallow and tired. Sokolov admired those less fortunate than him who persevered in gaining knowledge that didn’t ‘click’ with them so to speak...and oh how Daud was trying to persevere. Sokolov sighed, watching as Daud filed another small ink capsule into the body of the pen, “You know when you first came here I wanted to kick your teeth straight through the back of your head. You were impatient, angry, smug. So confident....Felt like I was looking in a mirror.” Daud smiled shallowly a bit at that. “So I have to ask what’s changed. You’re...quiet.” Sokolov had an idea - Daud’s recent connection to the Outsider, the mark on his hand deigning him a chosen of the black eyed god and his ability to access and manipulate the void to his own will, to manifest supernatural powers....well that would change anyone’s mind about their place in the world.  Albeit, they had spoken extensively about Daud’s newfound abilities, his new ‘friend’ in the void, the trauma that seemed to follow Daud’s waking moments - Anton didn’t outright admit it but he sympathized for the boy. “You have that book...Moral Philosophers...something....there’s a saying in it that you actually underlined and scribbled around. Something like: ‘the more I learn the less I realize I know’....something like that....” Now, Anton realized he empathized with Daud.  “I just feel stupid. Everyone is better than me at...” he shrugged, “Everything of value the academy teaches.” The boy shrugged, trying to end the conversation, the pen returning dutifully to paper to await Sokolov’s stream of consciousness. Several moments later, Anton’s yellow teeth spread into a wide grin and he labored to not laugh. “You, heh...When I was your age and I didn’t immediately excel at something do you know what I did? I’d quit. Blame the material, the teacher, and then everything would collapse in on myself like a dying star....I’d blame myself, tell myself  I was less than nothing, pathetic, stupid, you get the idea.” Sokolov could feel Daud raising his head in curiosity. “Besides, you’re far and beyond better at something that’s most important here that the Academy doesn’t teach and I’m not just speaking about pick pocketing and burglary.” he tapped the papers in front of Daud. “You understand what people think, say, how they act, the messages they try to convey....You see right through people, - and I’m not making a joke about the weird,” Sokolov flailed his hands for a moment, “void thing you can do with your eyes....you know how to show others what someone is thinking. You have a good head for words and that’s far more important to the world....what’s the point of having knowledge if you don’t know how to share it?” Sokolov was hoping for something more than an apathetic stare and some muttering, but yet, that is what he received. Daud lowered his head and awaited Sokolov’s prattling. “I ...appreciate perseverance. Galvani....” Anton started again. Daud peeked up from under his narrow brows. “There was a test recently. Differential...inferential mathematics? Something of the sort?” The boy nodded. “What did you get? The grade....the points...what was it?” Sokolov had noticed over the past two months that Daud had certain tells...he could lie straight to the face of the Pandyssian Oracles in a game of poker and get away with it, but the boy very clearly hated sharing personal information.  “73.” Daud said curtly, putting the pen down, knowing that Sokolov wasn’t about ready to let the conversation leave his control. A wide smile came over Sokolov again, though this wasn’t for show or from humor. He walked back towards the ice box in the back of his office and pulled out a large bottle  of vodka, and two shot glasses. He saw Daud immediately stir, confused and a bit worried. Sokolov poured two shot glasses and slid one with meticulous grace over to the boy. “Congratulations.” Anton lifted his glass. A sour look came over Daud, “Don’t mock me,” he hissed. Sokolov chortled. “I wouldn’t dare, I know what you can do to people with or without scorning you.” “I barely passed!” Daud spat out crudely, still shunning the shot in front of him. Sokolov leaned in towards the boy, “And last time you weren’t even close...” Silence cut the tension between the two after a moment, the boy’s face relaxing and lowering. Anton picked up Daud’s shot, and placed it in his hand. A chime hung in the air for a breath as Sokolov knocked their glasses together and took his shot. “To improvement.” Daud eventually took a shot, giving in to Sokolov’s sentiments. The boy’s throat burned and he coughed, contorting his face. Anton softly, and quickly, placed his hand on Daud’s head, ruffling the few centimeters of buzzed hair the boy had. “I’m proud of you. Now...as you well know I have an alcohol problem and I’ve opened Pandora’s box, soooo! Before I get shitfaced let’s finish these data transcriptions shall we?”

[doctorpariahdax]

Daud Headcanon 14/?

While in service to the actor, Daud was one of the children he kidnapped who lingered the longest, unable to ‘free’ themselves in one way or another.  Part of it was being emotionally unable to detach himself from the younger children who kept finding themselves in the ‘employ’ of the actor. He looked after them, comforted them when they were torn away from their friends, their family, and gave some of them a bond - the closest thing they had yet had as a family. He was the older brother who tugged at their collars and chased them, snarling playfully and pretending to eat them when he caught them. He wanted to make them laugh - he understood how much a laugh could save children in the position they were in - he wanted them to feel safe. The children always commented on Daud’s crooked sharp smile, how he’d defensively bark at them, how he hounded after them to make sure they were safe and organized. He was their alpha wolf, protecting the pack of misfits.

[doctorpariahdax]

I’ve drawn older Daud a lot so wee, adventures, have some rough drawings!