WHO: Sebastian & Various
WHAT: pax is onto something with this permanent catch-all idea
WHERE: Various
WHEN: u know
WARNINGS: threads with content warnings will be marked in the subject lines! Since it’s Sebastian, there’s a decent chance to run across (gross) violence over anything else tho
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no subject
[ A pause, and then he makes it clear, again, because Silco does not make the same mistakes twice. ] Obviously the development of Shimmer, the methods, what it took, and in addition how we came into possession of this location, dealings within Kowloon itself beyond Draumahol's known business. Birdie's dissipation, and my... patron. I think Aetós has enough hunting for them, that the prospect of that getting out would make me an inconvenience.
[ And he knew what Aetós would do if he was inconvenient.
His lips pull in distaste, because he does not like people knowing about the existence of his daughter, or her name. Silco hates the idea of having a weakness, particularly here where she could be exploited, should one of his enemies learn of her. Sebastian might be one of those said enemies now, so he swallows his discomfort to make a deal that should be necessary. ]
I think you and I both have secrets we would hunt any down if they dared spread, and since we would both prefer to keep them out of the minds of other bearers: We are in agreement.
[ The problem with working so closely, is that they both know some dire secrets — but then again, they both had an interest in others not knowing those secrets. ]
no subject
Absolutely. I planned to talk this over with you, but I imagined there was not a rush, exactly.
[ Plus. He does know Silco. He probably needed some time to cool down. ]
Ah, and for what it is worth, I would prefer you keep my new alliance to yourself, but it is not something I will insist on. That is merely a personal headache for me to parse through, so it would be better to make that “reveal” at my own pace, essentially.
[ He sighs, like this is a petty annoyance to deal with. Since, well. Kind of. He’s finished his counting at this point, so he takes his standard cut, then gives Silco a nod to pocket the rest. ]
I am no more thrilled about that particular development than you are, trust me.
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As if I would bother.
[ They both knew that the longer Sebastian was not obviously Meridian, the more that played to Silco's favor, after all. That was something he Was good at. Secrets and obfuscation that led to him somehow wiggling his way out of a circumstance that would have otherwise had half of Zenith in Draumahol tomorrow looking for him, to do him in. ]
I am quite certain your new... [ a tight smile, ] Friends will be all too thrilled to learn that development, even if you are not.
[ He understood, of course, that there had been something broken in that altercation. He remembered hearing a name but couldn't for the life of him remember it, as if the words had somehow screeched through his head like oil, or perhaps it was a leftover effect of his contract. He suspected that whatever it was that... Florence had actually done had earned the ire of the demon, obviously.
Odd, he thought, that he had been of more value than Sebastian.
But perhaps there was sentimentality to be found among Zenith, after all. ]
I do hope they welcome you with open arms, you know.
[ He added, though the curl of his lip was twisted with an irony that said, very clearly, he found it unlikely.
Well, save for a few notable exceptions. ]
no subject
You know very well they will not. And for so little… I have been very reserved in how I have dealt with Meridian, and now for what?
[ He sighs heavily and shakes his head. ]
Would it be that I at least earned it. I should have tortured more of them for the simple enjoyment of it.
[ the problem is that he feels the hatred isn't totally justified, correct, ]
no subject
They have always hated us, but the fact that you are unapologetic in what you are seems to offend them in a way that surpasses me.
[ A pause. And a tip of his head. ] Well, not anymore I suppose.
[ Not now that he had openly shattered quetz, and made them experience it. Silco had always been dramatic.
While he could have shared that Sebastian had been privy to it, help make it more difficult for them, Silco was both far less powerful than Sebastian, and that knowledge kept him from being... too petty. ]
Perhaps they will remember that without you, I'm... merely a man, hm? It could work to your advantage.
[ Also. Well. His. ]
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[ Sebastian didn't really agree with Silco's assessment here, because very few knew what Sebastian truly was. It was very much intentional. There were a few that knew he was dangerous and clever and spread that knowledge as a result, but calling the eternally and manipulatively polite demon unapologetic didn't seem quite right.
Or: projection much??? ]
But regardless, the sentiment is true. I imagine there will be questions about why I left, but... [ He trails off, since he feels the mark tingle as if preparing a whip for him, so he just frowns further. ] It will have to remain mysterious, apparently.
no subject
[ Silco? Project???? ]
I suppose if they are particularly curious, they will simply have to weather their disappointment. Neither of us are willing to say anything, and well. I doubt Florence would share.
[ If she even knew what had happened. That, Silco wasn't sure of. He knew who had been there just as much as Sebastian had. It had not been Florence Deshayes. ]
Personally, I'll enjoy watching some of them be rather angry about it.
[ Said mildly. ] The only thing worse would be getting me to join.
no subject
True enough. If you were to join me, who knows? Perhaps Zenith would win simply by virtue of all of the Meri quitting.
[ He doesn't think that's possible, technically speaking, or at least not realistic. Being Unharmonized is certainly worse than some of their (so-called) principles. ]
What would that even take? I imagine it would have to be similar to my own... misfortune.
[ He speaks of it vaguely because he has to, but it's not exactly mysterious. It's a personal, petty, and ruthless grudge that he means. ]
help i had to tag this one first
[ He asks, but it is quite the question. Silco hates, he hates so much that even trying to consider returning to the world from where he came, being shoved back onto that bridge, his fingers around his daughter, holding her up as she shuddered shaky, barely-there breaths, and only one idea that would possibly yield any results. He'd given up hope of that, with the distance, since a desperate ploy seemed slimmer and slimmer by the day.
Not when he has her shard, anyway. That would have been the only option, wouldn't it? If Jinx had asked him, begged him to bring it back, and could he? Knowing that she was dying in his arms anyway? Could he have ever chosen to do so? Was there any hope of it? Could he let her damn them both to suffering under Piltover's boot, and then dying? He had no doubt, if she was dead, he would have tried to burn them all to the ground — and heaven forbid: maybe even without a plan.
He didn't think she would even ask, really. She hated them as much as he did, but if he thought of what kind of circumstances it would take...
It would take that, or... Maybe losing her entirely, being asked to give her up. Oh, even his loyalty to Zenith's goals would not hold him there, then. He would want revenge, he would burn them to the ground if they ever dared to ask. ]
Mm, something like your own misfortune, yes.
[ He says, simply. Sebastian, however, can read between the lines. ]
no subject
He pauses and gives Silco a bit of an appraising look, but it ends with a laugh and a shrug. ]
Then perhaps I am feeling generous enough to offer advice.
[ He isn’t. It just occurs to him that this is another little game he can play, since turning Silco against Yima wouldn’t be that hard, not really. He just has to make Silco feel like it was his idea, since then Sebastian could strike his blow and avoid the potential consequences of it. ]
Misfortune can strike at any time, clearly. Ciel was shattered and I could do nothing about it. The same could happen to Jinx.
[ He’s again direct in a way he wouldn’t have been only a week or so ago. Their contract is null and void, so Silco no longer has the privilege of Sebastian’s careful deference. ]
No one needs to know who a Zenite’s Shard is to know that striking it is a wise tactical choice, hm? It is far easier than trying to attack its owner.
cw a little bit of body horror 8)
Silco knew precisely how vulnerable she was. He knew exactly how close he had come. If Set hadn't known, if Set hadn't thought to retrieve her —
He would have lost everything. He knows it. There was nothing Yima, or Florence, or anyone would have been able to do. For all that they appear as leaders, there are some things they simply would not do. For all of her compassion, care and supposed "love", there was something Yima would never do, even though there was a part of him that raged at the fact that she was fully ineffective at even protecting herself. And really, would she do anything to even protect — ?
No matter. ]
I am intimately aware of how vulnerable said shards are.
[ He hissed. He does not share how close it had been, how he had been forced to beg before Set to have his daughter returned to him, kept out of his grasp by a violent and petty war god, one who he understood intimately, and would not forget that, just as he could not forget how Set had been convinced that he had abandoned the two of them fully when he had shattered Quetzalcoatl.
How close he had been to being right. ]
Don't worry, Sebastian, your advice is noted and appreciated.
[ He said, with odd neutrality. He doesn't dare give away how close he had gotten to just that. ]
no subject
So, he shrugs casually as he brushes his cut of today’s earnings back into the pouch it had all been in. As always, it’s still very little. Sebastian doesn’t need much, so he doesn’t take much. ]
Of course. We have our understanding, so that is really all I have for the evening.
[ He ties the cord snugly and starts to stand, though he does look to Silco again. ]
Unless there was anything else you wished to discuss?
no subject
Considering.
He could demand more, he thought. Make sure that Sebastian didn't fight him in an Oracle — Silco knew as well as Sebastian did that he was weaker than him — maybe demand that Sebastian never even interact with Jinx, were she to show up.
But he knew better.
It would be giving up weaknesses. Exposing patches that Sebastian would find his way around. He was looking for it. Oh, he didn't operate on Sebastian's mind games, because Silco was a big fish in a small pond when it came down to it. Smart, sure, and cutthroat, but he was a master manipulator of people from Zaun, and to a lesser extent: some people from Piltover.
He'd perhaps learned too late that he would be unable to negotiate around Sebastian, so he didn't open his mouth. Thought about it, but didn't.
For once in his goddamn life, Silco didn't speak his mind. ]
No, I think that will be all. Thank you for your work, as always.
[ His smile was tight lipped, but hey, at least he........ kinda (?) meant it. ]