A/N: Hello. This is far from the first time I've used this site, but it's been a while. I am planning on using this as a practice for writing my own particular story was highly influenced by my time in the Dark Brotherood and my adoration for the annoying Cicero. I hope you enjoy its development! I generally update near the end of the week.

"Ooh! Oh my! What happened here?" The joker questioned in a theatrical tone of surprise as he leaped over a rotting corpse. "Dead! Dead they all are! But how? How did such a thing happen?"

"I was the one who killed them, actually. I'm rather surprised they're still here, based on how often this place is used." The dark elf glanced back at her companion. He gawked as he stared into the rotted eyes of one of the faces. Hesitant for but a moment, he jabbed at the dead man's chest. "Ohh-hoooo! Heehee! He's been dead for quite a while now, hasn't he? You killed him too? Even this monstrosity of a man? Thick- TALL! All in all; he alone has enough blood to paint this hall! Well, he had. Had enough blood. It's all but dried up now, of course. He's dead! That's why! Because you killed him! Heehee! But you did kill him right?"

"Of-"

"OF COURSE! Of course you did, for you are the Listener! Oh, great and powerful Listener! Why should Cicero ever have doubted you? What you say must be true!" Skipping over the drawbridge, he hummed to himself.

"Cicero never understood thieves, really... take someone's things before you kill them? And they call me crazy..." He released another laugh, putting a hand on his stomach.

The listener watched him with dull amusement, walking a few paces behind. "Astrid had good connections with the Thieves guild. We may as well use them than squander in the ashes of the sanctuary, don't you think Cicero?"

"OH! The sanctuary! MY- I mean, our – poor mother almost burnt to death in there! And you too! All because of that harloting slanderer! Mocking mother so! But she has met her doom. Yes, yes she has! That overgrown sheepdog too! Now you are Mother's Listener, and Cicero is still the Keeper! Listener and Keeper, as it should be! Hnmmm?"

She scowled at him, then shaking her head. "I don't like it when you speak of our den mother like that. She was still a child of Sithis, even if her ways were rather... different."

Cicero stopped and gave her a look of protest, his eyes bulging out of his skull. "She was your den mother. The only mother Cicero has is the Night Mother!"

"Of course, but don't forget that it was Astrid who brought me into the Family; if it weren't for her there wouldn't be me. I won't deny that she really slipped up, it was me she betrayed. She made amends with the Night Mother at her end though, and that is that."

"Hnnm, I suppose you're right... Though there were other ways you could have come into the Family."He pouted, now walking in stride beside her. "But a traitor is a traitor! Cicero will only not speak another bad word about that treacherous traitor because you told him to. Oops! I already did!" He covered his mischievous smile as he giggled. "Listener, tell me again why is it we are in the Ratway?"

She looked ahead, pointing towards the mouth of the tunnel. "After we get through that room there's a door to the Ragged Flagon, a pub. It's the gathering place for the Thieves Guild. I suppose you could say it's like their own sanctuary. We're meeting a man by the name of Delvin Mallory, our connection through Astrid. Apparently they had been in business for a long time together."

"Ah! So we're going to have some thieves fix up our new home! A strange thing; thieves placing and not taking." He scratched his head.

She smiled slightly as she pulled at the door handle."I suppose you could say that." As they walked through, a light from the ceiling revealed their faced to one another. Cicero grinned as she glanced at him, excitement bubbling over in his eyes.

"It's her again." A woman groaned.

"Looks like she brought a friend with her this time too." Said another.

"Hey Delvin! Your customer from the Dark Brotherhood is back! Hurry up so she can be on her way again!" The woman shouted towards the back as the two figures approached.

"What a warm welcome. I suppose the Thieves Guild is just as famous for its hospitality as its thievery." The dark elf said loudly as she put on a smile. Cicero now drew back behind his lord, smiling all the more: the Listener had a way with her words and tone when she wanted to. Not a sight one often saw, though. Putting on a show, she was! Making herself more assertive! Not that she wasn't frightening enough on her own to earn respect without being very assertive.

"A lot more hospitable than your lot. At least we don't stick daggers into people's guts." The woman snarled. An amused look faintly spread across the Listener's face.

The Listener smiled and muttered something under her breath. She leaned back against the bar counter, shifting her weight between her sore feet; they had been on the road for days with little rest.

The bar tender looked at her nervously as he cleaned one of his mugs."H-hey, you're going to need coin if you're going to buy something." He said faintly. She turned to look at him.

"Yes, but not for your business I'm afraid. Maybe some other time. We're here strictly for business matters today."

A pale man in black entered the room, making his way towards the elf and the joker as soon as he laid eyes on them."Ah! It's you! Sorry I took so long, had to finish some personal business." Pulling a chair back from a small table, he indicated the two seats.

Politely refusing the offer, the Listener simply approached the table. "There's no need Delvin, this will be short visit. But thank you."

Nodding his head, he folded his hands togther. "I can't say that I was expecting another visit from you. I thought that you all had been wiped out! I supposed I was wrong then. Is... Is Astrid still..?" The joker stifled a laugh as she shook her head. "Oh, I see then. What business can I attend to for you?"

"Supplies. I need the Dawnstar Sanctuary cleaned up and refurnished." She crossed her arms over her chest.

The man had a genuinely surprised look on his face. By the tone of his voice, he seemed rather fasinated."The Dawnstar Sanctuary eh? So that's where the lot of you are staying now? ...Alright I'll do the best I can to accommodate, but I need gold. The credit from the amulet has already been spent."

Cicero danced over, hooking his chin on her shoulder as he cupped his hand to her ear. "What if he's lying? A thief is a thief is a thief that he is! What if not a septim was spent? Hnmm?" The elf retrieved a large bag from her robes. Cicero's jaw dropped at the sight of it. "All that shiny, clinky gold!"

"I wouldn't be flashing that around here." Delvin said in a low voice, greed showing in his eyes.

"Hnm, yes but then of course every person in this room knows what I'm capable of. No need to spill blood without a price tag attached to it. I'll buy anything and everything you have." Shrugging the joker off her shoulder, she handed the bag over to the man. He nodded.

"I hear the Emperor's body was left with only a small wound. They say it was from an arrow, but when they found the body there was no weapon to be found. Strange choice for a mage such as yourself, I would have thought you'd have made a bigger statement than that. I'm curious, why'd you keep the arrow? As a trophy?" He muttered in a low tone. She moved closer.

"He was a polite and willing victim. How could I give him a treacherous demise? Killing him was enough of a statement. Business is business, and I decide how I kill. I fancy myself well in the Destruction school as I am in all the Arcane Arts, but I am first and foremost a master of Conjuration. Ponder that and your thoughts about the missing arrow shot by a mage should be put to rest."

"A master Conjurer?" He said as a smirk appeared across his face. "Well lets just hope I never have to be on your bad side."

"Let's hope indeed." Turning, she grabbed the attention of the joker who was rubbing his chin in thought. "Cicero, we'll be leaving now."

A smile cracked across his face again. "And we're OFF!" He said jogging back by her side. When they were out of earshot, he bent towards her again, giggling.
"That bar tender! That sneaky, tricky, squirmy little man! Did you see him? Leaning in REAL close?" She glanced at him as he began strutting and bobbing his head about. "Oh the Listener and the Keeper! The Listener and the Keeper! We're off, we're off, we're off! Where to? Cicero doesn't know- but you do! I shall listen to the Listener!"

"Cicero." The Listener said once they reached the drawbridge.

"YES My master?" He replied merrily.

"I need you to head home to the Sanctuary, separate from me. I have some personal business to attend to alone here in Riften, so I can't be seen with you. We split once we get to the exit into the canal area. Understood?"

"Oh, well if you say so. Mother needs me anyhow. Yes, she does... She must be getting lonely there without me!"

When they neared the exit, the dark elf withdrew robes from her satchel, then commanding Cicero not to look while she changed if he wanted to keep his head. After a few short remarks from the joker, she threw the strap of her bag over her shoulder again, now wearing a master mage's robes, her dark hood and robe folded in her hands. Placing them in Cicero's hands, she turned to leave."Take these home. I shouldn't be seen with them." Cicero grinned as he narrowed his eyes at her.

"The Listener is always cautious. Always planning ahead. That's why you're still alive. I'll see you at home, my dear sister!"

Nazir sat hazy eyed as he stared into the small fire. There hadn't been much to do since the demise of the Family and the sanctuary near Falkreath. He had cleaned up the new sanctuary somewhat, but with help on the way he didn't see a need to do so much manual labor all on his own. Babette certainly wouldn't help him. The old hag. Sucked his blood for free, and otherwise sat around all day doing absolutely nothing. He rubbed his hands together. The Dawnstar sanctuary was definitely bigger, but it sure was colder. He wondered what Babette thought of the cold, though he assumed it was one of those things that didn't affect vampires all that much. He perked up when he heard the heavy door of the sanctuary push open. He chuckled a bit. "Madrale, did you get what we needed? I thought you left us for dead!" There was no reply. He heard the Night Mother's coffin doors drag open. "Uh, Madrale, you didn't have your tongue cut out when you were gone, did you? It would be quite hard for you to act as the Listener if you can't speak." Still no reply. He then stood, glancing at the upper room. Slowly his hand grasped the hilt of his scimitar as he sneaked up the stone stairs. Turning the corner he froze when he made out the figure cooing over the Night Mother's corpse.

"YOU!" He exclaimed. The joker turned and presented himself.

"Yes, it's me! Cicero! Hello my brother!"

"You're dead, Madrale killed you months ago!"

"Ah! No, you see Cicero didn't die!"

"Well I can see that!" Nazir drew his Scimitar as he took long strides. At seeing his intent, Cicero recoiled with hands up in surrender.

"Please don't harm Cicero! Poor, loyal Cicero is innocent, really!"

"Innocent? Heh, you're anything but innocent you damn bastard!"

"What's going on? I heard a commotion!" A small girl entered the room.

"This fool is still alive! How in Oblivion he was able to do that, I can't imagine!" He stepped forward, grabbing the joker by the collar of his suit.

"Madrale must have spared him the time she was sent after him."

"I know, but I just can't believe that! Why would she let this fool live!"

"But she did! She did! The Listener can't kill the Keeper, and the Keeper can't kill the Listener, you see? I tried, I can't kill her, hee-Hee-HEE!"

"You're so annoying! I'll cleave you in two in a second!"

"Nazir, let him go. Madrale let him live for a reason." The girl put a hand over the one holding the sword. The Redguard glared down at her. He snarled as he put his scimitar back in its sheath.

"Fine. But until she get's back I'm not going to let him run wild, slashing things like last time. We've got to lock him up somewhere." The joker shriveled at this.

"Oh, please no! Don't lock poor Cicero up!" Nazir pulled him back on his feet again.

"Oh yes I am! You're not going to cause any more trouble for me!"

"Where are we going to put him?"

"Don't you worry Babette, I'll figure something out."

The dark elf appeared seemingly out of nowhere before the great black Door, which was situated on the outskirts of Dawnstar. It was still daylight, and though she was a well respected person in Dawnstar she didn't want any curious eyes discovering that she was one of the people who came in and out of it: no one could be trusted to keep such a thing confidential. The last thing she needed was to have the last standing Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary in Skyrim discovered from a sloppy covering of tracks. She hopped the joker thought the same. Her worry was soon swept away when she remembered his previous status as a full-fledged assassin of the Family. However, she still had her doubts.

"What... Is Life's greatest... ILLUSION?" The door whispered.

"Innocence, my brother." She replied.

"Welcome home, Brother." The hand upon the door flashed, indicating its accessibility. She paused for a moment, taking in the beating sound of the magic surging through the door before placing her hand on the imprint. It trudged open slowly. She had barely walked through the front hall before hearing echo of anxious voices.

"I think I heard the door open." She heard Babette said quickly.

"Yes, I think so to." Nazir replied. He quickly ran up the stairs to meet her. "Madrale, you're back! I thought you'd never return!" He looked her up and down. She was wearing a master mage's robe, like they wore at the college of Winterhold. "Where are your robes?"

"I gave them to Cicero when I told him to return to the sanctuary." She replied.

"Wait, so you DID spare his life?" He said in disbelief.

"I told you. Aren't I smart? Who knows how she would have reacted if you had killed the fool?" Babette said joining them. The elf glanced at both of them, pausing for a moment before looking over to where the Night Mother's coffin stood alone.

"Where is he?"

"Well, you see I didn't want to deal with him going all crazy again like last time."Nazir said hesitantly. "I wasn't sure how to deal with him until you returned."

"So we locked him up." The girl chimed.

"You locked him up." At first her look was of disbelief, but then she shook her head. "That's not terribly surprising really. So where did you lock him up?"

Nazir gave a sigh of relief when he saw no signs of anger. "Follow me, I'll show you." Nazir led her through a couple of the rooms before they came to where what must have been previously used as a catacomb or something in the like before the cave's use as a sanctuary. Pausing before one of the coffins, he let out an exhausted sigh.

"You put him in a coffin?" She shook her head again, chuckling a little.

"We couldn't think of any other secure place to put him." He replied.

"Okay now let me ask, how long has he been in there?"

"Long enough for him to finally shut up, and short enough that he is still in the land of the living. Let's put it that way. I'm just glad he's not talking. He'll probably be in shock enough to not talk for a few days." The contents of the coffin began stirring.

"I hear voices... Listener, is that you? Is it really you? Cicero knew you would come for him! Cicero knew it! The Listener, great and mighty! Cicero knew you wouldn't leave him to die! No, not like this!"

"Well, I've been wrong before," he said before giving the coffin a solid kick. The Joker made a few whimpering sounds.

"No need to be that way Nazir, it's just me, Cicero!"

"Yeah I know." He grumbled before picking the old lock on the coffin. When they opened the lid, all eyes landed on the joker. His eyes, which were momentarily closed, shot open. When he made eye contact with the elf, a relieved smile grew across his face. "LISTENER!" He exclaimed. "It IS you! It's really you! I knew you'd come for me!"

"Yeah I did," she replied, kneeling on one knee beside the coffin. "Where are my things?"

"Things? What Things?" He paused for a moment. "OH! You mean THOSE things! Right here, here the are! Cicero had no time to put them anywhere else you see, before they locked him up!" He pulled them out from under his coat. "Here they are! They kept Cicero nice and toasty warm while you were away! You save Cicero in so many ways! Oh how you plan ahead!"

Nazir leaned towards her. "If I were you, I'd consider burning those."

"You're a mean one! That you are, you're a mean one Nazir!" He whinned. He then broke into a laugh. "Oh but no matter, I still have the Listener! She listens to poor, sweet Cicero."

As Nazir continued throwing insults at the joker, the elf felt another presence enter her mind. She felt herself drawn to leave and return to the front room of the sanctuary. A woman's voice from the distance could be heard in her head as though it were also right in front of her. It was loud and cold, and consumed her attention."Listener. Come to me, come to my coffin."

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