zauneyete | KENOS IC CONTACT

KENOS IC CONTACT

SILCO

CONTACT

WRITTEN ◦ ACTION ◦ COMMUNION

[ Communion with Silco is like being doused in cold, polluted water. It feels like taking a breath is difficult, like there's fingers around your throat, pain all over. The water is too-slick like it's almost more pollutants than water, and the water crashes against you, inescapable, even if you were to somehow find the ability to breathe, there is still no escape from the sickening undertow. Somewhere, perhaps deeper in the water, or something else, is a simmering, vile hatred, resentment, and it feels like it should be hot enough to make the water around you boil, even if it's almost too-placid, and too cold. Like all of this hatred is buried deep. Then again, the fact that it feels so close means it must burn so hot. ]

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[ This, at least, Silco can appreciate.

Amos is correct, in his logic, he thinks. Shard bearers are not common here, and the amount of power and ability that they can amass is beyond normal, even for the unusual beings here. It is something to be kept safe, and he remembered the way she had spoken about Silco being dissipated.

She had not been happy -- perhaps even some of that displeasure was with him.

He did not foresee that she would squander them. ]

Correct. There would be no use in that. However, I do hope that the beast isn't... given the opportunity to skitter away.

You know how some of those among us can...struggle. With doing what needs to be done. [ A beat, a moment of weight in his tone. ]

Not like you and I, of course. We have no qualms with such things.

[ Amos hums, lone and toneless, as he takes a second to gaze at their surroundings with blackened eyes. They've only just begun to exist in this space — or at least, he's pretty sure Kowloon is relatively new for Silco too — but there is something to the way the both of them immediately fit in, something to the way that they're both likely to spend a fair bit of time here worming their way into their respective corners, and something to the way that not everybody of their ilk will be able to say the same.

Eyes back on Silco's. ]

Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though. What're the chances any of them get to it, and someone like us doesn't? That thing isn't getting away; one way or another, it's gonna die.

[ A beat, a tilt of his head. ]

You anticipating trouble?

[ Because if his tone is anything to go by, Amos certainly isn't. ]

Hm.

[ He said, and it's the sort of tone that said 'yes', but that was vague enough that it gave Silco time to think of the right words.

Of course he was expecting trouble, because he had been a man recently murdered on the streets. Of course, just like with the Thing from Horos, he expected no end to the danger here too, but he'd thought himself wiser, more cautious, and more adept at dealing with the odd, supernatural, and overpowered that they had to deal with here.

And all it had taken, of course, was an arm around his neck for long enough, and he'd died in the street, like something disgusting, to be thrown out with the trash. ]

There are plenty about that could get into our way. They may even try to beat us.

I suggest we are cautious, when we go for it. Let's just say I have experience, with some of our newer arrivals, and they may get in the way.

[ Vague enough that it would leave him guessing, perhaps, but Silco certainly had been on edge. ]

[ Amos remains oblivious to Silco's obvious trauma when it comes to being murdered in the middle of the street. He came back to life, didn't he? What's the problem? Just kill the guy who killed you and move on.

... Though come to think of it, Silco personally killing anyone might be a little tough, just because. Look at him. Amos is pretty sure he could literally snap him in half if he wanted to. (And despite them being in a street and Amos being of similar build to a certain someone, he does not want to.)

He quirks an eyebrow, not really sure what the problem is here. ]

Someone gets in our way, then we kill them too. The tree needs to be kept safe; it can't be as long as that thing's running around in it. Someone doesn't understand that, then they can die with the dryad. [ A beat. ] The kind of person who'd want to protect that thing probably has a problem with killing anyway, so shouldn't be too hard to get rid of them while we're at it.

[ C'mon man, this is easy stuff. They've got nothing to worry about. ]

[ Amos. He Did kill him. That's the whole problem here. Revenge works two ways.

Silco looked him up and down, and shook his head, one eye closed for a brief moment -- the other always moving, always watching -- as if Amos's simplistic view of it was the way to go.

Perhaps it was, too.

After all, if anyone else was going to be involved, and they were going to get in their way... well, Silco certainly wasn't going to hesitate. He would slit someone's throat if they tried to hold him back again, and there was a high possibility they would encounter someone who didn't want to deal with the creature.

Amos and he, though, were used to these beasts by now. They needed to be culled. ]

I suppose it can be that simple, can't it? [ His eyes flicked to Amos, now. ] Just keep one eye opened, and make sure you anticipate anyone trying to hold us back, hm? No need to be overconfident.

[ Kill him better next time?? Though if he knew the full story, he'd say maybe everyone should get over it, since clearly they're even now. But Amos isn't close to knowing even the half of it, so,

He inclines his chin at Silco's look, waiting. Wouldn't be surprised if he was missing something here, but murder really is an efficient way at solving a lot of problems. If he's missing something — doesn't matter. He's already got his plan of attack, loosely speaking.

Except Silco's relatively easy agreement throws him, a look of surprise flitting across Amos' face before he lowers his chin, looks back at Silco properly again. They're on even ground. In some ways, they're one and the same.

Well alright then. Amos' smile is easy, empty. ]

Sure thing. Don't need any dead weight dragging us down. I can handle it.

[ It's a balancing act — his faith in Yima, his remembering what the dryad is capable of. They will kill it, and everything'll be fine afterwards, but it's the actual event itself that remains to be seen, and that's the bridge they gotta actually cross still. That, and everything that'll come along with it. ]

Let me know if you got any ideas to deal with things, too. [ Since there are apparently things Silco is anticipating that Amos isn't. ] You know, beyond the flaming woodchipper.

Oh, I'm sure I'll have a few, once we have a timetable. I've been doing some reading, taking some notes...

[ These days it's impossible to stay too far from Highstorm for long. There is a point at which it aches, and he can do nothing but scamper back toward the city, tail between his legs, the draw in his shard, and the ever-increasing cold irritating to the point that he must return.

He wants to stay down here, in this city, where the streets are packed, and there's a thrumming energy that Silco can't help but want to lay his fingers on the pulse of. It's so similar to the undercity that he can feel it, the draw, but the pathways here take too long, and the discord continues to hold him back. He will have to achieve a solution, although Yima had done him the favor of staving off the worst of it. That only does so much, when he wants to stay here, in this thriving undercity, filled with every debauchery known to man. ]

Don't worry, it won't just be the woodchipper. That's not my invention, but I have every faith in the builder.

[ It will not be there. It's too big to teleport with them, apparently. ]

[ He cocks his head, genuinely curious. ]

You'll have to let me know when you got something, then.

[ Will Silco? Hell if Amos knows; he'd consider the odds about 50/50. There's no doubt in his mind that Silco's going to want to hold onto some trade secrets, but then again, he's smart enough to know not to withhold everything from a potential ally — and as long as they're both Zenites, that's what they are in his eyes.

Amos wants to spend more time here, too. He wants to be here throughout the days; he needs the time to work his ins, to find that pawn shop, to establish himself. It's a completely different world here — he isn't a little boy on the streets of Baltimore, nor is he a teenaged grunt. For the first time, there's potential for him to have his own agency in a place like this — somewhere that he recognizes is comfortable, because now in addition to knowing the rules, he has the size and the strength to back himself up. He can make his place here, he can use it as it's meant to be used, and it can be all for him.

So he powers through the discord until he recognizes he's too on edge, until he recognizes his irritability and discomfort is going to make him say the wrong thing to the wrong person, and then he retreats. He's testing his limits every day because he has no other choice; because he's been through worse.

He reaches up to give Silco another friendly little pat on the shoulder; time for him to get exploring again. ]

Well, as long as you got faith. I should probably meet 'em one day.

[ Surely not having the woodchipper there is literally the most distrustful and dishonest thing Silco will ever do in his life. ]

[ He snorted. Little did he know, of course, that Amos had already had an encounter with Silco's genius daughter. ]

Right. I'm sure it will happen. Now, I'm sure you have plenty of places that you have to search out, just like I do.

[ His lip curled, and he looked over the crowd. As much as he was nervous -- perhaps even afraid - of finding others from topside down here, he too had plenty of connections to make. Plenty of strings to pull, and people to talk to. Similar to Amos, Silco had not been down here his entire life, he didn't know the faces of every major player, and every person who he could manipulate. He would have plenty of opportunities, but he wanted to beat any other players down here.

He had the wits, he would soon find the product, but he wanted top be established well and before he saw too many down here. ]

By the way, I'd recommend being ... cautious about who you bring down here, hm? Make sure you vet them, properly before we start sharing Kathova's secrets. I don't know about you, but I don't want this place getting...pushed toward some of our fellow new arrivals in Meridian.

[ Not that he thought Amos's resolve was lacking, but perhaps those he would choose to share with. ]

[ Amos does have his places to sort out, his ins to make, his good — relatively speaking — company to find. The sooner he did that, the easier things would eventually be. It's all good.

He gives Silco a blank sort of smile, had been just about to take his leave when he'd added that addendum. ]

You run into trouble with the Meri's already? That who killed you? [ It's rhetorical; he knows better than to expect a real answer to that question. ] Shit, you don't got anything to worry about with me. I got a reputation of my own to formulate here, I'm not gonna get that all fucked up for myself by bringing down anyone who don't belong here.

[ Although they are in Springstar, so who knows. There'll probably be some of the newer members of Meridian finding their way down here at some point. He doesn't think he's met too many of them, but there'd bound to be some that'd fit right in down here.

Maybe that Vander guy. Maybe it's just because they share an aspect and seemed to reach an understanding and mutual respect that much quicker than most, but he seems pretty cool. ]

Anything's game as long as it doesn't draw anyone's attention above, right? 's all gonna be good down here.

[ Amos, if you bring Vander down here you will literally cause so many problems. So uh. Don't do that. ]

I should hope so, and yet... you know that eventually we will have to fight them, yes? The Meridian-aligned will look for any advantage they will find, and what better advantage than finding some of Zenith's more loyal types down here?

Put us in Ryad, and just... let nature work it out, hm? There are plenty of ways that this could go badly, and I have too many irons in the fire to worry about them. It only takes one that won't play by the rules.

[ Well, Silco's thinking of two Meridian-aligned individuals in particular. It shouldn't be surprising that he's focused on that, given that he does think Amos wouldn't bring down a troublemaker, but he still feels the need to make it clear. Vet them, carefully. He'd already brought Jinx and Kaeya down, obviously, and then there would be Sebastian, but there were no others that he would trust -- and honestly, he doesn't trust Sebastian -- he doesn't want to take the chance.

He doesn't need to deal with being killed down here, where his shard will be stomped on quicker than it could be picked up, and he cannot put Jinx through that again. His relationship with his daughter, as much as Silco talks about her in vague terms -- albeit affectionately -- is tenuous enough after his death as it is. ]

Just be certain, is all I would advise. Think of it as one concerned Zenite to another, hm?

[ A couple of weeks after this run-in, Silco might feel a chill in the air, even if he doesn't understand why.

But a small frown makes its way onto Amos' face at the mention of Ryad — contemplative, the very beginnings of an idea starting to form there, but that's all they are — beginnings. There's no urgency on his end; not when everything's going well, not when he's got himself firmly under control, not when there's any hint of that being disrupted. Yes, they'll likely come to blows against the Meridian at some point, but that's not now.

He's more interested in the part where Silco plays the loyalty card, and that makes Amos' smile that little bit wider, that little bit more real. ]

That's why we get ourselves established here first. I know shit's gonna go down at some point, but we got the head start. I haven't seen anyone else I know down here, and I don't know of anyone else who'd instinctually know how this place works. You probably know how to make yourself invaluable, right? You do that, won't matter what any Meri tries with you. Just make sure you trust your bodyguards.

[ ... It's said with the air of a joke, because it is one to Amos, even though he knows Silco won't get it. Just, you know. Sometimes you manage to get audience with the head of a criminal organization and then you kill him with your bare hands. Doesn't matter how invaluable you are if the right (or wrong) person gets to you first.

Except he also. Might be volunteering, on the whole bodyguard thing. The whole loyal Zenite thing is an easy way to get him, after all. ]

Me, I know I'm disposable — [ he grew up on the streets and was never destined for leadership. Of course he is, Silco should understand that — ] but I figure I got a better shot at surviving Ryad than you do.

[ No boasting, just facts. He does. Silco should understand that, too. ]

[ "Make sure you trust your bodyguards", he says, to a man who trusts literally nobody.

Silco's lips flickered into a smile, almost sarcastic at the statement, a flicker of recognition that what Amos said was funny, but more than that, it was true. Not that he'd trust his bodyguard, but he had something better, didn't he? His left hand flexed, the glove covered up the mark on the back of his hand -- but it was there -- his guarantee. Silco didn't want to let that cat (or demon) out of the bag, though. Not yet.

Not without dire need.

No, he would have to put other things together. He'd already spoken to Sebaatian about one of his plans, and the more he was down here, the more he would be reaching out, to make sure that everything fell into place. Don't mind the chill at the back of his spine in a few weeks -- it should be noth ing. ]

Probably. I'll know who to look for, when we end up there because some fool let a dangerous Meri in, hm? Wouldn't be us, though. I'm sure.

[ He's said his piece, of course. That he warned him was a self-serving courtesy. Silco couldn't help but worry that someone was going to let the other Zaunites about down here, and while Jinx would fit right in... The rest...

Eh. ]

Just...food for thought. To make sure we're on the same page.

[ That flexing of his hand doesn't go unnoticed, Amos' eyes flicking down to it curiously. Maybe a little suspiciously, but Silco's hand is gloved; he can't do anything. Though if that glove comes off at any point...

They'd cross that point if it happened. While trusting nobody seems like a bad judgment call (thought the Exalt in meta), there's something to be said for who you trusted and who you didn't — and there's that degree of power Silco can hold over him. Which, they aren't there. Silco had said as much earlier, and he's not an idiot, and he's absolutely not going to start shit on one of Kowloon's main streets, so they're fine.

Back to Silco's face, then. Back to that blank little smile of Amos', an expression that doesn't exactly convey that he's heard Silco loud and clear, even though he has. ]

You don't got anything to worry about, Shimmy. We're both from a place like this, yeah? We know the rules. 'course we're on the same page.

[ Maybe not in goals, but in understanding (or at least Amos thinks, and has no reason to think otherwise). But speaking of goals, Amos gives him one last nod; time for him to see about his. ]

I'll see you around.

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