[ A written message on a napkin is left for Silco in the Valentia bar, as promised. It's in flowing, neat script, and the bartender gives Silco an odd look when he comes to get it. ]
I'm looking for somewhere with a view, away from busy streets. Perhaps you know of a place that's quiet?
A day later, Mel will receive a return note. The bartender looks perturbed, but he'd eventually acquiesced when Silco lifted something to line his pocket with. ]
Go to where Patho-Gen and the upper crust ignores. Where the streets look like what you wouldn't spare a thought towards before.
You should think about investing in something for working. I've heard there's a workman's wear shop that should cater to you. Look for the Cat.
[ And if she heads to East Sophia, she'll find a workman's wear shop, with a cat on the sign. Some cute cat pun that I'm too tired to come up with rn, and if she enters, the shopkeeper will send her to a private back room. ]
( a random request that seemingly comes completely unprompted — but really there are about twelve adhd steps missing from point a to point silco. it makes sense to him, okay. )
Harry’s handwriting is compact, the notes he passes to Silco’s people are dense with information, the edges frayed where he’s torn them from his notebook. Every now and then a particularly detailed observation spirals down the side of the page, he clearly wasn’t able to keep his eyes on the paper while writing.
Observations are split equally between people and places. The upkeep and age of buildings are noted, with several in East Sophia noted to be in need of repairs lest the damage over time dangerously compromise the structure’s integrity. This is clearly an area of some expertise for Harry.
Observations are occasionally non linear- with Harry having to go back and mark where certain notes connect to each other. A description of a classic style Basileios manor house and occupants is interrupted by the recollection of a family in East Sophia who might be sympathetic to the cause. Her husband was injured in a construction accident and their eldest daughter vanished sometime ago. They have two more children to feed. Then the manor notes continue. A possible infidelity is noted.
Observations sometimes lack proper names, included instead are repeated descriptors: Hooded Man, Tired Housekeeper, Yellow Dress, Shady Doctor, The Old Woman Across The Street, and so on.
Families, their happiness, their unhappiness, status, and health appear frequently.
He'll find whatever account he has well compensated, and if he finds that he stops by a dealer for anything he uh. Needs. He'll not only be provided with a large "sample" but prices that would be considered next to nothing. Pretty much enough to keep the dealer compensated for the trouble, and that's it.
Silco knows how to inspire "loyalty", after all. ]
[ When Silco heads to his subterranean retreat, he’ll find a very simple box and note waiting for him. There’s no wrapping, and the note itself is very brief, though written in a very elegant script. ]
A token of my appreciation for your recent assistance—
[ Inside the box is a quite handsome knife. It’s well weighted and clearly expensive, even if the design is overall subdued. If that raises some questions about where it came from, that’s a good impulse, naturally. Yet, since there’s nothing in the papers or even talk in the police force of a thief, maybe Hugo is as good as he’d claimed. ]
So, I've learned something rather interesting, and you'll understand why I feel it's relevant to share it with you.
However, before I get to that, I'd like to correct what I believe is a slight misconception between us. I don't take any offense, mind you, since it's somewhere between a compliment and a reasonable perception because of elven genetics, but.
[ it is rare for silver to come to the underground tunnels when silco is not there; he aims his visiting hours, so to speak, to coincide with silco's, to give his reports, to be updated on any new developments, any new allies to the cause, anything to watch out for.
today, though? today, silver is there before silco. he sits in the chair silco had drawn for him, the first time he'd seen the tunnels — there is a terrible stillness to him, an ocean of grief and horror and something else that is near tangible. it laps at his feet at the same time as blood drips from his clothes, one drop at a time.
his hair is a mess. his eyes are red. he seems entirely unharmed.
and, as he hears footsteps, he looks at silco with quiet desperation, like the tether he has to the cause, still, is the only thing keeping him afloat. ]
I didn't know where else to go.
[ home? no, there is a corpse in his room, the body of the man he cares for more than he can put to words. and he knows, oh, he knows there are others who would offer him sympathy — palamedes, tifa, liem. but he has never done well with goodness, kindness, and it is not what he seeks out, now. instead, he is here, looking at the mismatched eyes of a man he believes has endured much, too much, and hardened himself as a result. and, as such, can perhaps tell him how to do it, too. ]
Edited (wow i totally know what month it is--) 2025-09-08 20:41 (UTC)
[ Silver knows Silco's comings and goings enough to know he comes by when Silco isn't present. It leaves the man paranoid, when he notices it, the signs that his sequestered, hidden little corner of the underground has been invaded. He slips deeper in, his fingers seeking out one of the knives he's started to carry on him, before he stops, as soon as he not only sees who it is, but...
The state of him is what stills his hand from bringing the blade out. His hand drops, and he looks him up and down.
Silver knows that he will not get sympathy from the man. He is a sharpened blade, but he also understands something that perhaps sympathy will not get him. What it is to change; and what it is to move in the face of this. He moves instead to his desk, and pulls out a bottle of liquor. ]
Didn't you? What happened?
[ He looks fine, he doesn't look fine. Something is wrong, but he comes to Silco. The man knows enough; but perhaps he doesn't know enough. To come to him is to come to quicksand, and beg it to let him pass.
The answer, will always be the same, unyielding. ]
[ A week and a few days have passed since nearly half the Augmented population vanished, and Bruno had stopped showing up for work, undoubtedly amongst the missing. It put a dent in the tunneling work; the other workers, suddenly missing their giant badger friend to shoulder the brunt of the digging, left with only human hands and shovels to carry on, assuming they hadn't been given other orders while waiting to see what would happen.
And they'll still be left wondering about where Bruno is as he slinks back into the tunnels in the other form he's practiced often: a mouse. He can get by quickly, unseen, his nose tracking down wherever Silco has set up his office. If it's still out in the open, if it's been moved somewhere more private, wherever it is, he can find it with ease.
He'll pause nearby, though, ears perked, listening for the man, trying to discern if he's there, if he's alone, if he's, well, anything. He wonders if Silco would even notice a little mouse in the shadows, even with how Bruno's eyes glow a bright green while shifted like this. ]
[ He's been making efforts to move his workspace (and let's be honest, also living space) somewhere more secluded. There had been a dent in the work without some Augmented he'd employed now gone, and his mind turned to other things. Of course, the latent paranoia, the righteousness of being Correct about all of this, and the need to go to ground, as it were. He knew what this kind of thing led to, and he understood that it would always lead to more deaths, more captures, more subjugation.
Thus, he is already behind a locked door, his desk and couch moved back where others could not see. A ticketing office, perhaps. He still had something rudimentary for the floor — people worked best when the boss was present, but Silco kept odd hours, and worked long into the night, and he had ensured that he would be difficult to take without a great deal of trying.
Enough lead time that he could go to ground, if needed.
So Bruno finds him, staring at a sheaf of paper, a cigar burning away in his ashtray — comically drawn on, of all things, it's surprisingly cute — and he's focused on that, instead of —
His eyes snap to the dark, his lips peel into a grimace. His eyes look into the dark with a sharp awareness. Of what this means, of what this was. ]
Finally come for me, have you?
[ He pulls the knife from the wood of his desk, where he'd impaled it some weeks ago, in his anger. ]
The factory is legally mine now, by the way. I'd like to thank you for your assistance, so why not drop by one evening? I have a surprise (that you'll be pleased by) to show you, and besides.
What do you drink? Let's share one in my "penthouse".
(And because I can guess your distaste, it's not actually a penthouse. I've just made my apartment the top floor, since why pay for two places, right?)
[ A simple box is left for Silco in his underground one day, brought to him by the man she's met before. The one who guards the door. Inside is a set of cigars and a small bottle of whiskey. There's no note with it. There is, however, an initial at the bottom of the box for the keen-eyed: ~MM ]
[ Unlike most of the gifts that Hugo gives, Silco’s is much more understated. Being too showy is something that Silco would surely balk at (and/or complain about), so Hugo’s gift is presented simply. It’s a long, cardboard tube, and inside of it is a large format map. Without looking at its notation, it’s confusing, since it doesn’t really look like streets… But closer inspection makes it clearer that this is a map of the Karterian sewer system. Rolled up inside it is a brief note. ]
It’s an old version, but no less useful. Considering the state of things, I severely doubt they’ve undertaken construction to expand recently.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
message.
I'm looking for somewhere with a view, away from busy streets. Perhaps you know of a place that's quiet?
[ It's not signed, but who else could it be? ]
return message.
A day later, Mel will receive a return note. The bartender looks perturbed, but he'd eventually acquiesced when Silco lifted something to line his pocket with. ]
Go to where Patho-Gen and the upper crust ignores. Where the streets look like what you wouldn't spare a thought towards before.
You should think about investing in something for working. I've heard there's a workman's wear shop that should cater to you. Look for the Cat.
[ And if she heads to East Sophia, she'll find a workman's wear shop, with a cat on the sign. Some cute cat pun
that I'm too tired to come up with rn, and if she enters, the shopkeeper will send her to a private back room. ]action.
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good lord this tag became chunky despite my best efforts, sorry
i love it
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TEXT; @FIREFIST
TEXT; @eyeofzaun
Any work in particular that you are looking for?
[ i see u pax ]
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text; @j.talis
Still breathing?
TEXT; @eyeofzaun
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1/??? A GIFT FOR JAYCE WHEN THE BLOCK DROPS
2/????
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text; @b.mads
That you can just DO??? Or maybe just me I don't know but
I have no idea if this is normal?
[ And, unfortunately, Silco is the only one Bruno knows well enough to report this surprising new turn of events, thanks to the barrier at Kelesis.
Wait.. he's never texted Silco before now. Or anyone, actually. ]
This is Bruno by the way. I don't know if thing tells you that or not.
TEXT; @eyeofzaun
I have met some who can, yes. It depends on the soul.
I do not shapeshift, for example.
[ That he knows of. Yet. ]
What did you turn into?
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we want to go to action?
alwayyyys
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@entei
I was hoping you could help me procure something.
@eyeofzaun
Staring.
?? Well, nothing has ever been gained from not seeing what a random message is for. ]
I'm rather talented at procurement. What is it you need?
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a place to put Harry’s reports
Observations are split equally between people and places. The upkeep and age of buildings are noted, with several in East Sophia noted to be in need of repairs lest the damage over time dangerously compromise the structure’s integrity. This is clearly an area of some expertise for Harry.
Observations are occasionally non linear- with Harry having to go back and mark where certain notes connect to each other. A description of a classic style Basileios manor house and occupants is interrupted by the recollection of a family in East Sophia who might be sympathetic to the cause. Her husband was injured in a construction accident and their eldest daughter vanished sometime ago. They have two more children to feed. Then the manor notes continue. A possible infidelity is noted.
Observations sometimes lack proper names, included instead are repeated descriptors: Hooded Man, Tired Housekeeper, Yellow Dress, Shady Doctor, The Old Woman Across The Street, and so on.
Families, their happiness, their unhappiness, status, and health appear frequently.
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He'll find whatever account he has well compensated, and if he finds that he stops by a dealer for anything he uh. Needs. He'll not only be provided with a large "sample" but prices that would be considered next to nothing. Pretty much enough to keep the dealer compensated for the trouble, and that's it.
Silco knows how to inspire "loyalty", after all. ]
🎁
A token of my appreciation for your recent assistance—
[ Inside the box is a quite handsome knife. It’s well weighted and clearly expensive, even if the design is overall subdued. If that raises some questions about where it came from, that’s a good impulse, naturally. Yet, since there’s nothing in the papers or even talk in the police force of a thief, maybe Hugo is as good as he’d claimed. ]
@ mockingbird (hi jill)
However, before I get to that, I'd like to correct what I believe is a slight misconception between us. I don't take any offense, mind you, since it's somewhere between a compliment and a reasonable perception because of elven genetics, but.
Mr. Silco, I'm 35.
HEHEHEHEHE
Alright? I'm far older than that, mind you.
[ LIKE??? ]
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and then. stupid,
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forward-dated to september 20 (more or less)
today, though? today, silver is there before silco. he sits in the chair silco had drawn for him, the first time he'd seen the tunnels — there is a terrible stillness to him, an ocean of grief and horror and something else that is near tangible. it laps at his feet at the same time as blood drips from his clothes, one drop at a time.
his hair is a mess. his eyes are red. he seems entirely unharmed.
and, as he hears footsteps, he looks at silco with quiet desperation, like the tether he has to the cause, still, is the only thing keeping him afloat. ]
I didn't know where else to go.
[ home? no, there is a corpse in his room, the body of the man he cares for more than he can put to words. and he knows, oh, he knows there are others who would offer him sympathy — palamedes, tifa, liem. but he has never done well with goodness, kindness, and it is not what he seeks out, now. instead, he is here, looking at the mismatched eyes of a man he believes has endured much, too much, and hardened himself as a result. and, as such, can perhaps tell him how to do it, too. ]
SICKOS.JPG
The state of him is what stills his hand from bringing the blade out. His hand drops, and he looks him up and down.
Silver knows that he will not get sympathy from the man. He is a sharpened blade, but he also understands something that perhaps sympathy will not get him. What it is to change; and what it is to move in the face of this. He moves instead to his desk, and pulls out a bottle of liquor. ]
Didn't you? What happened?
[ He looks fine, he doesn't look fine. Something is wrong, but he comes to Silco. The man knows enough; but perhaps he doesn't know enough. To come to him is to come to quicksand, and beg it to let him pass.
The answer, will always be the same, unyielding. ]
im gomen for how late this is..... sighs at rl but we endure
dude it's all good literally everything is on fire
you are so right. we endure and backtag
EXACTLYYYYY
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October 15, post-kidnapping
And they'll still be left wondering about where Bruno is as he slinks back into the tunnels in the other form he's practiced often: a mouse. He can get by quickly, unseen, his nose tracking down wherever Silco has set up his office. If it's still out in the open, if it's been moved somewhere more private, wherever it is, he can find it with ease.
He'll pause nearby, though, ears perked, listening for the man, trying to discern if he's there, if he's alone, if he's, well, anything. He wonders if Silco would even notice a little mouse in the shadows, even with how Bruno's eyes glow a bright green while shifted like this. ]
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Thus, he is already behind a locked door, his desk and couch moved back where others could not see. A ticketing office, perhaps. He still had something rudimentary for the floor — people worked best when the boss was present, but Silco kept odd hours, and worked long into the night, and he had ensured that he would be difficult to take without a great deal of trying.
Enough lead time that he could go to ground, if needed.
So Bruno finds him, staring at a sheaf of paper, a cigar burning away in his ashtray — comically drawn on, of all things, it's surprisingly cute — and he's focused on that, instead of —
His eyes snap to the dark, his lips peel into a grimace. His eyes look into the dark with a sharp awareness. Of what this means, of what this was. ]
Finally come for me, have you?
[ He pulls the knife from the wood of his desk, where he'd impaled it some weeks ago, in his anger. ]
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text during celiagate;
You're practically begging for them to try to find you, Silco.
text; hehehehehe
I want to see their capabilities and what they are able to do. I want to see how far they will go, and what price they will pay.
You realize I am one of the few who live surrounded by their own people, yes? Do you not think that is an opportunity?
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let me know if you don't want Silco to have this intel/if it'll break character, whatever
lmao naw you're good
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text. @lauralae
are you hungry?
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Who is this?
[ She might have been, he, however...
Is Silco ]
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TEXT — @SET
TEXT
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text > action
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bow on one thread means me slamming my glass and going ANOTHER
What do you drink? Let's share one in my "penthouse".
(And because I can guess your distaste, it's not actually a penthouse. I've just made my apartment the top floor, since why pay for two places, right?)
HEHEHEHE
[ SUSPICIOUS ]
I'll bring the bottle. Hopefully you don't mind whiskey. Thankfully, I haven't developed to finding that distasteful yet.
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1/2
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i didn't expect for this to be the convo where furries come up but ykw sure
text; @wurmfren
text; @eyeofzaun
What's the nature of your intended visit?
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this paranoid fuck...
paranoid fuck meet understanding to a fault
late december.
@mockingbird
A shame, since they could have been useful. Alas.
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A shame, but like with most things from Kelesis, perhaps it is best if it remains precisely where it is from. I don't need their gains to find my own.
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merry christmas you old bastard (dec 25)
It’s an old version, but no less useful. Considering the state of things, I severely doubt they’ve undertaken construction to expand recently.