Hello! This is Chapter 5 of my Dishonored fic On Thin Ice
Give me some feedback in the comments if you see this please, I am really self-conscious about my writing so constructive criticism would be helpful :)
Below the cut
When Rothwild woke up, he was strapped into the interrogation chair.
“What do you want to know that's worth crossing a man like me?”
Daud thought for a second. “I want to know about a ship named Delilah,” Rothwilds’ breathing got progressively heavier. “What’s behind the name?”
“Choke on your own spit!” He spat back to Daud.
He seemed confident too. He gives his own fear away. Daud pulled the lever beside him and sent about 1000 volts of electricity down Rothwilds’ spine. He arched his back and yelled in pain.
“Who is Delilah?” The tone of Dauds’ voice stayed the same. Cold. Numb...
“Mommy!”
“Get away!”
“Corvo!”
His small flashback ended with the sound of slowed, heavy breathing.
He didn’t remember pulling the lever.
Rothwild, although still in slight pain and shock, came back with another one of his snarky remarks.
“Ha! Think I’ll give up a friend on the first tickle? That’s the kind of thing I pay your sister for, down at the Golden Cat.”
Daud was slightly phased by this and decided to come back with a snarky remark of his own, tone still dull.
“We’ll feed you through your own factory. See if we can get oil out of your blubber.”
Silence.
Another jolt of pain went down Rothwilds spine like a snake. He recovered more quickly this time.
“You know your work, I'll give you that.” Rothwild seemed slightly calmer than before. “We can talk this out. Like businessmen.”
I highly doubt that.
“Why did you name it Delilah?” Dauds’ tone changed slightly. It sounded more like a question this time.
“What do you care? And it wasn’t me, the previous owner named it, after some sweetheart of his, a painter. Now piss off.”
A painter?. Daud wanted to know more and sent another shock of agonizing pain into Rothwild.
“Who was the previous owner?”
“Barrister Timsh! All right?” Rothwild practically shouted.
Timsh?
“He told me the story. Delilah was a woman he knew. Grew up working in Dunwall tower. Got kicked out and became a painter. Had funny airs, like proud. She caught his eye, but it was worse than that. He couldn’t think of anything else, just her. She warmed into his mind somehow. He built that ship for her and a lot more. Gave her half his fortune. Then he got scared. Came to me afraid. A man like that, afraid!” He laughed, “he wanted to dump the ship and I needed a business partner, so we made a deal. Meant to change the name. Wish I’d done it.”
Most of his words came out fast but just legible enough for Daud to understand.
Timsh knew Delilah?
Daud heard a voice and quickly turned around. It was Billie.
“I hope that was satisfying. Here’s the room key, when you’re ready to go.” Daud took the key and stuffed it into his pocket.
“Sir?” She started, “Earlier I spotted crates bound for the most remote corner of the Empire. Might be worth stuffing him in one, just to tie things off. He doesn’t seem the type to forgive.”
Daud was thinking about it, but got cut off in thought.
“Of course - why go through all the trouble, when a blade to the neck would accomplish the same thing?”
Daud grimaced at the thought. He couldn’t bring himself to kill after.. you know.
Billie had always been slightly more brutal than Daud. Killing most of her victims with a blade to the side or neck. She was quick on her feet and skillful.
Daud told Billie to prepare Rothwild for the crate regardless. She complied and knocked him unconscious.
Daud silently made his way to the roof and out of the hatch.
The Legal District was their next stop.