I think the bastard would like to think so about being smart.
[He's never told anyone this much. Even Malkuth, who knew about his garden, his children, didn't hear about Garnet, and how he became his namesake.]
[How odd, to be known. How much odder, that the man who knows him is one who has caused him pain, seeks to break him, asks to try to break him in return.]
[He hums, not letting go.]
Anyways. We follow the flow. Do what we can. Everything in our power. For better, or for worse.
[ His fingers instinctively tighten against the larger man, a grip into his shoulder, a hand around his wrist. Curled together like this, he could be seen β mistaken β for a softer man, for someone who sought comfort in the arms of someone who understood him in that way. Is it? It feels as if his heart beats alongside his, for at least this half-second.
They could not be more different, perhaps. Vergilius has a soft heart wracked with guilt, he can see it, the shape of what keeps him distant; whereas Silco's heart is a gaping hole, spiked and trapped like anyone who peers too deep in would be caught and stuck, unable to pull free without ripping something of themselves free in the process. He would always cause pain, even inadvertent.
It feels something like an inevitability, that their children are so matched, these precious little things that they want to protect by any means necessary, care for despite the forces in their way. Silco can see the shape of their similarities β project, even β and how they're making some odd structure between the places where they meet up. Cutting each other in the process, maybe making something out of what they cut off. ]
[They're similar. They're not similar at all. Silco wants to tear it all down in spite, and Vergilius tears himself down out of spite. There's a push and pull here that's more evident by moments like these, where they practice the semblance of humanity while being, so, well? Not human at all. Twisted from human.]
[They're the type of people mothers warn their children about to make them behave, though how ironic, given how their children did not behave at all.]
[He's very close to him - and it makes Vergilius have the urge to step away, as if he is dancing at the edge of that gaping hole of Silco's heart. It must be tempting to be pulled in. It's easy to fall into a pit like that.]
[He wonders if, maybe, his heart can make that hole smaller. But that's right. They'd destroy each other. That's how different they are.]
...Mm. [And he is starting to detach himself, after a moment, ready to step away.] That being that, you're still alive. After dealing with a goddess, no less. You have to count your lucky stars.
It was not the goddess with a tender heart and too much power for how easily set off she was. No, she was easily excitable, and easily subdued. She didn't want to hurt him, it was clear. She always tried to give him the chance to turn tail and run. Mind, he disliked that, but... It was something.
The demon, though. He was the danger. The dangerous one. The one who'd nearly taken his soul, and threatened him in his room, and covered everything with dark, slithering things. Drowning him in it.
His lips twitched.
He did not dare admit fear. That he wanted to not be near the shadows. ]
But, I do not think it is luck. Merely... [ A smile. Tight, and a little mean. He does not hold him there. ] An unwillingness to die.
[ He'd never thought there would be anything like Zaun, but the city sounds so similar to it. Just like it. Violent and cruel, a hard place to make harder people.]
Me? Poke my nose into things?
[ He hasn't moved yet, just a slight twitch of a smile, unblinking eye staring up at him. ]
Get into danger?
[ He folded one leg over the other, like some preening lord, looking up at him. ]
That doesn't sound like me at all. I don't do those things. [ A beat, a twitch of that chipped grin. ]
If I can avoid it. I suppose if not, well. Those orphans will be fairly well funded, hm?
[ It wouldn't help anything, he'd just be weirder about it.
Maybe stab him again for fun. Clearly he can take it.]
I think it's best to have a plan in place, yes. That is, if you'll accept it. [ He's so obnoxious about it, a tip of his head, still looking up at him. ] And think of all the good it would do.
[He actually seems as straightforward as ever, like a businessman who could care less for anything beyond the fine print. He's played in these sort of deals before. Vergilius scoffs.]
I'll draft a contract and you'll sign it. Even in the City, one's word means nothing.
...Never did one, huh. No computers where you come from? Its more blase than you think.
[Sometimes, a horrific world that runs on the suffering of many.....really just happens to be the same world with a lot of boring paperwork for most things.]
I see. Well, if it makes things easier, then far be it for me to complain, hm?
I suppose I need to get with the future as it is, if I want to blend in.
[ The leader of the ring he's a part of at the moment thinks he's eccentric for doing it by hand, actually. Kind of annoyed too, but he deals with it because Silco's books are very clean. He hides all kinds of things in there. ]
You don't need to tell me. I dealt with plenty of people like you before breakfast. Business dealings and all. Once I murdered a whole Syndicate to get a password for a client.
[At least fifty or more people in one go. Its how it is.]
[ He says, like they aren't talking about wanton murder. ]
I remember, you decapitated that traitor, recently. [ He laced his fingers together, index fingers pointing outward. ] I don't doubt you've got the stomach for my line of work.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[He's never told anyone this much. Even Malkuth, who knew about his garden, his children, didn't hear about Garnet, and how he became his namesake.]
[How odd, to be known. How much odder, that the man who knows him is one who has caused him pain, seeks to break him, asks to try to break him in return.]
[He hums, not letting go.]
Anyways. We follow the flow. Do what we can. Everything in our power. For better, or for worse.
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They could not be more different, perhaps. Vergilius has a soft heart wracked with guilt, he can see it, the shape of what keeps him distant; whereas Silco's heart is a gaping hole, spiked and trapped like anyone who peers too deep in would be caught and stuck, unable to pull free without ripping something of themselves free in the process. He would always cause pain, even inadvertent.
It feels something like an inevitability, that their children are so matched, these precious little things that they want to protect by any means necessary, care for despite the forces in their way. Silco can see the shape of their similarities β project, even β and how they're making some odd structure between the places where they meet up. Cutting each other in the process, maybe making something out of what they cut off. ]
Hm. [ An affected sigh. ] No other choice.
Not a choice I would take, regardless.
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[They're the type of people mothers warn their children about to make them behave, though how ironic, given how their children did not behave at all.]
[He's very close to him - and it makes Vergilius have the urge to step away, as if he is dancing at the edge of that gaping hole of Silco's heart. It must be tempting to be pulled in. It's easy to fall into a pit like that.]
[He wonders if, maybe, his heart can make that hole smaller. But that's right. They'd destroy each other. That's how different they are.]
...Mm. [And he is starting to detach himself, after a moment, ready to step away.] That being that, you're still alive. After dealing with a goddess, no less. You have to count your lucky stars.
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[ He pointed out. He knew which he feared more.
It was not the goddess with a tender heart and too much power for how easily set off she was. No, she was easily excitable, and easily subdued. She didn't want to hurt him, it was clear. She always tried to give him the chance to turn tail and run. Mind, he disliked that, but... It was something.
The demon, though. He was the danger. The dangerous one. The one who'd nearly taken his soul, and threatened him in his room, and covered everything with dark, slithering things. Drowning him in it.
His lips twitched.
He did not dare admit fear. That he wanted to not be near the shadows. ]
But, I do not think it is luck. Merely... [ A smile. Tight, and a little mean. He does not hold him there. ] An unwillingness to die.
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[Live. Live. Live. It rings like a bell inside of their worn-out bodies.]
...You'll keep not dying, as long as you stay out of danger and stop poking your nose into things.
[He's backed up now, but he's tipping his head, giving the man a little Look.]
Will you?
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Me? Poke my nose into things?
[ He hasn't moved yet, just a slight twitch of a smile, unblinking eye staring up at him. ]
Get into danger?
[ He folded one leg over the other, like some preening lord, looking up at him. ]
That doesn't sound like me at all. I don't do those things. [ A beat, a twitch of that chipped grin. ]
If I can avoid it. I suppose if not, well. Those orphans will be fairly well funded, hm?
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[There's a brief urge to throttle him like a weasel. It passes.]
So. You're really wanting to go through with that deal, huh? Given your...eagerness.
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Maybe stab him again for fun. Clearly he can take it.]
I think it's best to have a plan in place, yes. That is, if you'll accept it. [ He's so obnoxious about it, a tip of his head, still looking up at him. ] And think of all the good it would do.
[ Think of the children...?]
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[He folds his arms, sighing- an aquiesance. Sometimes men really do have soft spots.]
A hundred thousand kryptos and nothing less. And a receipt to prove the transaction.
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[ He smiled, hands spread. He blinked β with that eye it looks a wink β but he finds it respectable.
Anyone who didn't ask for proof was a fool, and Vergilius did not seem a fool. He wouldn't be worth Silco's time, if he was. ]
Ah, ah. Very smart, when dealing with a Zaunite. Do you want to shake on it? Make it official? Or is my word good enough?
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[He actually seems as straightforward as ever, like a businessman who could care less for anything beyond the fine print. He's played in these sort of deals before. Vergilius scoffs.]
I'll draft a contract and you'll sign it. Even in the City, one's word means nothing.
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A contract? That's downright formal. [ A beat. ] Signed in ink, yes?
[ he has to ask, he knows now to question these assumptions, that things are done like normal people would. ]
I have no issues, if it is ink.
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[He looks a little incredulous like WHAT ELSE WOULD IT BE, SIR]
Or I'll send you an electronic copy and you can sign it like that.
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[ His last contract had manifested in the form of a brand, searing pain carved into his skin. His lips thin, both in memory and in... well. ]
An electronic copy. Alright.
[ He has no idea how to do that. He'll figure it out. Probably. ]
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[Sometimes, a horrific world that runs on the suffering of many.....really just happens to be the same world with a lot of boring paperwork for most things.]
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No computers, no. I did all my bookkeeping by hand. [ He says it archly, as he's having to learn to do it electronically.
He doesn't like it. ]
It's been an adjustment.
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[Understandable.......his mildly backwards world......]
It will be simpler this time. You don't need to do too much on your end. Makes your life easier.
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I see. Well, if it makes things easier, then far be it for me to complain, hm?
I suppose I need to get with the future as it is, if I want to blend in.
[ The leader of the ring he's a part of at the moment thinks he's eccentric for doing it by hand, actually. Kind of annoyed too, but he deals with it because Silco's books are very clean. He hides all kinds of things in there. ]
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[A little sigh and a shrug of the shoulders.]
Easier, though. You should get with the times, old man.
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[ He says. He's still trying to get a handle on the whole "computer" thing. ]
I suppose I'll have to, if I want to compete.
[ compete? With what? Don't worry about it. ]
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[given him being hired as a whole bodyguard]
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I will.
[ After the contract is signed. ]
I prefer my dealings above board, you know. It makes things so much easier if each part understands their roles perfectly.
[ to be fair... everyone commits crimes in crime city. It ain't a big deal if you're all criminals. ]
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[At least fifty or more people in one go. Its how it is.]
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stop stop you're already hotHis lips twitch into a smile. ]
That sounds flashy.
[ He says, like they aren't talking about wanton murder. ]
I remember, you decapitated that traitor, recently. [ He laced his fingers together, index fingers pointing outward. ] I don't doubt you've got the stomach for my line of work.
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[Yeah, yeah, he knows how you run, Mister Silco. Murder is the top of the line here in SilcoWorld.]
Anyways, I'll send it to you later. The contract. And you can let me know if you have any questions.
π
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