[He met Richard's mismatched gaze with his own, reminded of the similarities that had originally brought them together in the first place. Their scars. Richard spent a lifetime hiding his, and Silco spent a lifetime brandishing his. They took different approaches in their lives based on how their societies accepted them. Yet, their similarities were marked all the same, and he knew that they were back on dangerous ground with one another.]

So embrace your nature and stop living in fear. If people will revile you, step on their throats. Give them every reason to fear you, to be afraid to step out of line.

[His methods were harsh and his extremism was built on a lifetime of feeling powerless. He couldn't let people close because they could find a way to topple the empire of dirt that he had built. Yet, just like Richard, he still let people in. Jinx and Richard being the only ones in the last decade.

This was as close to a life of peace as he would have. He didn't care what he had to do to protect it.]

I frankly don't care who finds out. I find that people have far less interest in who someone is bedding with than you expect. It's not as if anyone is going to be hanged and set on fire for two men enjoying one another's company in this place.