“By killin’ someone high up on the ladder.” Ally said, glancing over at him and then past him at something that wasn’t there. “And then decidin’ that there are more people that need to die. The money just kinda happened out of nowhere.”
Dorian raised a brow but shrugged, unfazed, "I mean you're not incorrect, even if assassinating people is in the wrong. Surely there's someway to get rid of people that doesn't involve killing them? exiling them to another continent or something?"
"Death is the only sure removal of some people. The only sure way t' keep 'em from comin' back over and over." Ally said, shaking her head. She made the deaths slow and painful, but he didn't need to know about her need for punishing these people before killing them. "Besides. If ya plop a bird down in a different forest, and it don't fly away, it's gonna adapt. It'll learn the new rules, learn t' thrive instead o' just survive. They don' stop just cause they're in a different place."
He sighed, leaning forwards onto his knees, "I guess you have a point there. Even if I didn't wish you did, you do," He ran a hand through his hair, "Guess I need to get out the castle more after this… that's if we survive, that it."
“Let’s hope we do. I’ve got people t’ take care of, an’ it’s way harder t’ do that when you’re dead than alive.” She said, closing her eyes and tilting her head back for a moment. Those scars on her neck stood out with the movement, for her a reminder of things she wished she could forget, and for everyone else, usually an attempted conversation starter. “The more ya know the world around you, more likely you are t’ survive.”
"Fair point," He looked over and noticed the scars before looking down at his lap. Did he ask the personal question and potentially get slapped or try and strike up a conversation… "How'd you get those scars?"
She stilled, eyes still closed and head still tilted back, as something dark flickered across her expression. "From my first kill, o' course. Tha' was my personal kill." She left it at that, words open ended as though willing to give answers if prompted, but not by herself.
He nodded a little, leaning forwards, "How long ago was that?" He was curious now. At some point he knew he should stop asking questions but he was going to be stuck with Ally for a while so he might as well try and get to know her.
"Two years ago." She said, one hand coming up to trace the scars. "I spent three years….'living' with the man I killed, before finally killin' him. At that point, there was no other option." It had been the only way to get herself and the others free.
Dorian nodded, looking at the scars for a moment before looking at her face, "Who was he?"
“Marius Rockeste, a man with too much money and a very particular interest to blow that money on. And that was collectin’ people. Living people.” His death has been in the news, a big source of gossip and conspiracy for quite a while. But nobody had ever found out about the people he kept prisoner. Like young Ally, his favorite doll and most loyal, or so he thought. Or all of the other ‘dolls’, the people she’d freed. Nobody would ever know, chances were. And she was fine with that, if it meant keeping the others safe.
(Sorry I disappeared there, been busy with home and Christmas stuff)
Dorian raised a brow, "That was you? Wow, I didn't think I'd ever find out who did it but there you go, must've been fate or something."
“Fate is a lie perpetuated by people with somethin’ t’ gain.” Ally muttered, shaking her head. “There’s no fate, just karma and luck. You got unlucky as hell gettin’ found by me, but luckier’n you coulda been, if the police or some slaver’d found ya.”
"Whether it was fate, karma, luck, the universe or some coincidence I'm glad you did. It's better then being dead in the street or something. Besides, you're even helping me, I doubt anyone else would."
Ally was quiet for a moment, before shrugging. "You're probably right about that. Especially if they recognized you. Down there, you're not exactly the most popular of people." She said, eyes flickering along the sides of the road. "Hell, I'm not even sure why I didn't just leave you there. But I guess it was a good thing I didn't."
"Do… do people here just hate me or is it my entire family?" He asked. Dorian new he wasn't the most lovable or likable of people in the world, but surely he had some redeemable qualities that people liked?
“It’s the royal family. And ‘cause you’re one o’ them…” Ally left that for him to fill in the blank. “None o’ us have exactly benefitted from the choices they’ve made. Opposite, actually. Higher taxing without seein’ those taxes go t’ healthcare or the schools, straight up findin’ their families goin’ t’ the gallows for stealin’ a loaf o’ bread ‘cause they couldn’t afford t’ feed their families. Things like that.”
Dorian’s jaw seemed to tighten up a little, though he tried to relax his body, “I understand why everyone hates us. I told father about those laws, about where the money should go, where it needs to go, but does he listen? No, he doesn’t,” He sighed, shaking his head, “Guess it’s my fault for not pushing the matter.”
Ally looked over at him, that intense gaze studying him for a beat too long. "You don't get to blame yourself for the failure of your parents, and people you had no control over. The only ones to blame are them. Maybe I should have realized that a bit sooner myself, instead of holding the same hate for you I did for your father." She said finally, shrugging a shoulder.
Dorian let out a dry laugh, “Yeah well, I’m the crown prince, I could have tired to do something more then I did,” His fist tightened, though it unclenched a moment later, “I’m part of the royal family, it’s my job to do what’s right for my people and I did t. So it is partially, my failure.”
"You're right. It is your job." Ally said, shrugging out of her coat. She was wearing a tank top underneath, the only clean shirt she had had left, which showed off the scars littering her skin and the muscle from pulling herself up the walls of buildings. "But tell me somethin'. Do your folks, your family, ever listen when ya do try? 'Cause what's the point in fighting so hard to get them to change things if they're never gonna listen."
“The point in trying is for the greater good of the kingdom,” Dorian ruffled up his hair, narrowing his eyes at his knees as if they’d wronged him in some way, “I’m supposed to do shit, to help people, and I can’t even get through to my own damn parents and brother. They might not listen but I can try and get throw their thick skulls.”
Ally rolled her eyes, shaking her head. She didn’t argue though knowing there was no winning with him. If he was set on screaming at a brick wall, then he was welcome to do so. She believed firmly in finding other ways when you found a door locked, but it seemed he didn’t see the world the same.
“You ever been to Cavernin? That’s the city we’re headed to next.”
"Once. But it was a long time ago now," He replied. He couldn't remember much from his last trip. He'd been young and probably didn't care too much at the time, "I haven't been back in years."
"Well, you're going back now. I'd have suggested going to Hyval, and stealing a boat to make the trip safer an' quicker, but ya don' seem fond o' 'em." She said, eyes flickering along the road at the sight of a spectral caravan much like theirs. When the little girl sitting with the man up front waved at her, she lifted her hand back, forgetting for a moment that she was with someone as she shot her a smile. "So we're goin' the inland route. Cavernin is known for thieves, so watch out. An' it's also known for brothels, but we ain't got time for ya t' go sight seein'."
The mention of a boat instantly set Dorian on edge, but when Ally said they weren't going anywhere near them, he relaxed once again, "Apart from the sword I don't have anything worthy of being stolen, anyway."
"Your life is a thing anyone would find worth stealing, if ya let 'em down on cash." Ally stated, her eyes watching the ghostly caravan with a small smile until they had passed it. Even then, her head turned to keep an eye on it, making faces at the little girl, before she turned back to the road. Focusing on Dorian. "And if you're dead, that means I'm on my own. Which isn't actually the worst, but I made a promise."
“Promises can be broken. I’ll try not to die but with all this bullshit going on I don’t know how long I can actually keep saying that.” If anyone was to recognise him then he’d immediately become target number one. If he already wasn’t, that was.
"Just because they can be broken don't mean I break mine. You're coming out the other end alive, 'cause I say you are." There was a certain vehemence in her voice that bespoke something else. A past event, or events, that had caused her to refuse breaking promises. "And besides. If you give up, who's going to change anything for the world when you get back?"
He smirked slightly, "I guess that's a fair point. So, how quick are you gonna disappear after all this is over? You're an assassin, and I could one from what I can tell so you just gonna turn into a pile of smoke as soon as I'm back on the throne?"