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[ The distaste comes to his face clearly. It’s another little indicator of Sebastian being more open now that their business is concluded and also likely to the level of patience that Sebastian has. He’d carried on for a year in full deferential politeness without complaint, and even now that he’s being more honest, it doesn’t seem to be something he holds against Silco. ]

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, ]

[ Silco gets it though. He nodded. ]

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. ]

...I believe that statement applies to you more than I, if I am honest.

[ 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.

Hm.

[ 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.

[ Sebastian sighs gently, and the tenor of it is an unsaid "of course you would", but that annoyance doesn't last long. The latter sentiment gets Sebastian to laugh, and he shakes his head, though it's a gesture of agreement in this case. He reaches up to run a hand through his hair and unsettle how it's slicked back. He's done with his shift, after all, and he prefers the look and comfort of those long, messy bangs. ]

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. ]

Hm?

[ 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. ]

[ He doesn’t have personal investment in the answer, not anymore. If he did, he’d probably push more and drag Silco into another little trap. Sebastian has been very good at setting them for Silco, because he’d quickly realized that for all of Silco’s caution, he’s weak—nearly ignorant—to psychological games. At least on the level that Sebastian plays them.

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.

[ Before... all of this happened, this would have set Silco off. Even now, the thought of it forces his hand, a tightening of it that feels all-too painful. A reminder of his fingers digging desperately through the rubble, coming up with nothing. Seeing Gen flee with a box had made him angrier, and he'd felt it, the way his body started to pull apart at the seams, the discord and distress mingling, as his skin flaked away, the bone and sinew of his body exposed, open veins leaking a trail of shimmer throughout Kowloon.

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. ]

[ Sebastian just continues to watch Silco coolly in the face of his defensive anger. It’s expected, since he knew full well that this was something that provoked the man so sharply that it was comical. But also… It’s not like he’s afraid of Silco. He’d killed Sebastian, yes, but it was truly only because Sebastian allowed it. In a true fight, he was sure that his former master wouldn’t stand a chance.

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?

[ Silco paused, for a moment.

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. ]

[closed] ※ catch-all!

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help i had to tag this one first

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cw a little bit of body horror 8)

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