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[Silco made his way to the appointed location, eyeing Blackie who he had taken a trip on and a very abrupt trip off of at one point. Still, Richard had forced him to interact with the beast of burden enough that he was confident enough to approach and pat the horse awkwardly on the shoulder. He looked around the area as he did not, looking for signs that this might not be the only bunker here.

It was smart to have one or more. He was currently investing in such himself, both because he preferred to be underground and because it did seem a safer option to retreat to.

He eased his way down into the bunker silently, his eyes adjusting easily to the dimmer light as he moved further in, the orange of his left iris glowing balefully from his skull. Yet, he approached and reached out to touch the small of his lover's back, and it was easy to feel at home with the scent of the earth and the dankness of this space against his skin.]

It seems you've becoming a prepper for emergencies. This is a pleasing space to be in.

[Aren't you glad that Richard socialized you with his horse, Silco? Because now the Blackie only responds to the pat by a casual whip of a tail and that's all. And just like with Whitey, you're family.. Sort of.

Richard hears when his lover enters the bunker through the metallic staircase, his steps quietly echoing in the enclosed space. He had various papers in his hand, each one containing hand written notes about the local flora and fauna linked to some scientific exams and tests. Honestly, it all escapes Richard. Just like the charm of the place. The bunker vaguely reminded him of the cells in his dungeons, though it was lacking the bleak and chilly air that made your bones to shiver.]

You did recommend me to look into this place. [He says and turns to look at the other man over his shoulder as he approached, placing the papers back down on the desk.] I believe we could utilize installations like these for our cause.

[He touched the horse, and that seemed good enough by his books. He would never understand the need for pets or such affiliations, but others were keen to take such bonds on. It was safer and more secure to be underground in the bunker as it didn't require being on a horse's back either. And much like when he took Richard to the caves, Silco was perfectly at home underground.

He looked up and around, examining the structure. He had spent many years of his youth in the mines, and reinforcing underground spaces had been critical to survival. He had a keen eye for the types of riggings that would promote safety, and this space wasn't nearly large enough to be much concern aside from perhaps from a large earthquake.]

So I did, and it seems you've agreed with the value of this place to a degree, yes? [He reached out to take a few papers to hand and examine them while his other arm slide around Richard's waist. Normally he wouldn't, but they had once again spent significant time apart from one another.] We should formulate more outside and inside the city.

[The touch on his waist is more than welcomed and Richard does not hesitate to shift on his spot so that they're pressed side to side. It has already been a little over the week since their last meeting and even that had been abrupt one - as was often the case when they'd meet in middle of the day at the inn, disguising it as nothing more than business transaction. It had been a while since they had proper time to be alone. Not that the blame for that could be pinned just one of them, no. Silco had his priorities with his daughter and Richard looked the other way, not contesting his lover's time nor pursuing it.]

What do you make of this structure? It is smaller than I thought. [He lifts his gaze from the papers up to the ceiling where the dim light was weakly shining. The bunker wasn't small per se. There were a couple of different rooms including small bedroom and bathroom with plumbing. They could definitely use the place, yes. But he wasn't sure if it'd be enough to cater for everyone's needs.] This is very different from any crypts I have been to, but the entrance could easily be disguised. But I see the strategic risks here, as well.

[On one hand, Silco knew they should arrange to spend more alone time together given the extended periods, especially when in comparison to a few months back. On the other, Jinx was telling him he should, and he steadfastly refused to do so in case it was a trap and disruption to returning her to form. So, his arm tightened even further when Richard stepped in against him, gloved fingers stroking over his lover's hip even as he examined the papers. He found little of interest in the ones that he was holding.]

Too large and too expansive without the correct supports could suffer from cave-ins. It is a good start if nothing else. It will be private for a small amount of people. [It wouldn't suit the necessary population of Aldrip of course, but for a select few that may be in Richard's favour - him - he could see this being comfortable living. He dropped the papers back on the table and lightly tugged his lover to move with him to explore the other rooms.] Crypt is meant to keep dead corpses dry. This space is for living and has been equipped as such. Strategic as in only one way in and one way out, you mean?

Hm. [There's a thoughtful hum from Richard as he allows himself to be guided through the room. It's not that he can't see the value of having claim on a structure like this, but he needs to be smart about how to use it -- especially if he wants to continue his current act and appear benevolent and concerned chosen among the others. Keeping this place a secret or limited would not necessary bode well with that image.

So, a storage then? A headquarters? And honestly, he can't quite see the appeal of this place as a living quarters. It is far too claustrophobic, reminding him of the dungeons. Or the tower.]

That. And there does not seem to be a way to see what is going on outside. As much as this place can work as a safe haven it can also quickly turn into a trap.

[He stepped them into the little area meant to be a bedroom and looked around particularly for the ventilation and supports of the room. It was seemingly well made, and he would consider sleeping here now and again if push came to shove. It wasn't nearly as big as other rooms that he had shared with Richard before, but it was underground which added a layer of comfort to him that he so often missed otherwise.

It was also well compartmentalized. He knew Richard would utilize it for something; the younger man had come into his own when it revolved around slowly gathering power.]

Oh, there are ways to see outside, but they involve technology. Surveillance that needs to be well hidden and upkept. Do you have plans for it yet?

[Richard took a look at the bedroom. It was small, yes. Just about the size of a single person room at the inn. There is a small shelf for personal items across the one person bed and in the corner there is another door that leads to small bathroom with a shower. The bed was poorly made with a wrinkled blanket. It was clear that someone had once been using the bunker as a living space a long time ago.

Though the mention of the potential surveillance does get his interest and he turns his attention to back to Silco.]

I have a few ideas yes. What would you do?

[Silco knew that this wasn't a long-term living space, but in emergencies, beggars couldn't be choosers. He spied the bathroom, and the fact that it was more than a bucket in a corner should have been appreciated based on some of the places that he had seen or lived in way back in the day. He doubted that Richard would enjoy much of a stay here; the younger man seemed to appreciate fresh air and open spaces far more than Silco did.

He nodded his head as he continued to examine the structure, and his arm moved up to slide across Richard's shoulders as they remained close together.]

Experiment. This could be initial planning and supply depot, but it's too small for anything substantial. It might be worthwhile to build a larger bunker nearby and connect the two with a tunnel. Determine what surveillance works and what doesn't at this location and then you can expand to others.

[Despite his initial contempt and aversion towards the technology of this word Richard had now grown accustomed to the wonders of the electricity. Indoor plumbing, for an example, had been almost immediate hit with him and it had became a luxury that he was not keen on giving up. Or at least it was much easier pill to swallow than magic, at times. Accepting it had broadened his horizons greatly.

And yet, despite all the comforts he still could feel completely at home in strange and otherworldly structures -- much like this one, just as Silco assumed. He still listened keenly at his words and thoughts. Though the picture that his lover paints for him with his words does make him snort out a laughter.]

It is starting to sound like you would like to build an entire city underground. Is the old age making you feel homesick and nostalgic? [He then spins around in Silco's arms so that he is facing his lover. A teasing smile slithers to his lips as reaches up to touch the older man's collar, fingers idly playing with the fabric of the shirt.]

[There were some advancements that simply needed to be accepted to build a better life for everyone, and the more accustomed everyone became to such luxuries, the more they would miss them when they would inevitability be taken away. During the electrical and network outage, people hadn't seemed to enjoy that, yet he and Richard maintained themselves just fine with hand writing and using candles. They were used to being without.

Silco turned his head and regarded his lover at the amusement, and the corner of his lip twitched slyly. Richard wasn't wrong. He did want to build a city underground and this was a good start to interconnect such spaces.] Perhaps. I lived a considerable portion of my life underground. It's underappreciated.

[His arm moved as Richard did as his lover slipped in front of him.]

Sound in muffled in such spaces. Think of all you could do and no one would hear.

We would have dungeons with a similar nature. Ah, all the atrocities and horrors one could do in the dark behind everyone's eyes and ears.

[Richard pressed his front against Silco's, closing the small gap between them so that they could feel the body heat to radiate from one another. His fingers spider walked from the collar to loosely wrap around the silken cravat. He then cranes his neck up, lips just shy away from touching the tip of the older man's jawline. The hold isn't strong nor is he trying to pull him down to meet him, but there definitely is possessiveness and control present.]

Your very own city, then. Who would live there? Who would govern the underground?

Indeed. And have you ever taken part of such vile viciousness in the dark where no one can see or hear but you and that which you have unleashed upon?

[His chin tipped towards his chest so he could watch Richard rest against his front, and he was keenly aware of those fingers sliding down toward the center of this throat. There was pressure from the grip on the silk around his neck, and his shoulders stooped almost naturally forward. His fingers tightened on Richard's shoulders, digging his fingers in with a similar undertone of possessiveness.]

The underground has always been my domain, and it will remain such. I wish you could see my city; most dislike it, but it is beauty and innovation and ambition and survival all wrapped into iron and glass.

[His words came soft and anticipatory, like he was providing a secret to Richard that he hadn't spoken of in the past to anyone else.]

Nay. The church has its own commission to carry out the necessary interrogations. They are rather private in their methods but... I have seen the aftermath.

[Even if he wasn't privy to all secret art of the torture he could easily fill the blanks with his imagination. After all, in his world death was everywhere and there was no escaping the sight of maimed and tortured bodies of those who church deemed criminals. Most of them had been harrowing sights as the remains could only barely be recognized as humans. Of course, the subject hit rather close to home with Richard. He knew that those horrors would await him if he would ever be caught.

Richard listened to Silco's description of the city in the fissures, his only pride and love outside of his daughter. And he now thinks that he can paint a picture of Zaun in his mind. He can still remember the glimpses of the bridge from that dream. And then there was The Last Drop, which gave him impression of the city with its unique interior.]

And what is the role you see me play in your city of monsters?

That sounds wholly uncatholic of them...

[Silco sounded far more amused than disparaging to the role that the holy sanctity decided to take with those that they considered offensive. From what he had read of that religious text, the purpose of the religion was twisted and perverted with the agendas of men. It was a tale as old as history itself. Love thy neighbour indeed, he thought.

His city would go on with or without him, but it was similar to every Zaunite: the dirt under one's fingernails. It never was removed no matter how one scrubbed. The city was like a brand upon them all, and he had elevated it to new heights under his reign, promoted scientific and technological advancements and yet... they still weren't yet free. Someday.

He looked at Richard, drawing up his hand to cup the side of his lover's face. His thumb stroked under Richard's golden eye.]

You would be at home there among the monsters, Richard. I would provide you an appropriate seat of power within it to make your mark, to be able to embrace who and what you are without fear.

Does it? They are simply carrying out the will of the God. [The holy text in bible did contain several sections with explicit description of the punishment that God would bestow upon the wicked. To him it was only natural that the church would persecute the criminal's breaking their Lord's word. It was no different to any other jurisdiction that sought to establish justice and balance.

The mismatched eyes gazed into another one. He noticed how the mood around them shifted along with Silco's words, turning from playful tease to something more intimate and quiet. It feels like a lifetime since anyone spoke to him this way, promising him the power and freedom create his own paradise. A soft laughter escapes from Richard and the corners of his lips tug up into a brief smile, showing a glimpse of his pearly teeth before his expression reversed back.]

And what about here? [Richard cranes his neck up to whisper the words against Silco's lips, making sure to keep a faintest gap between them. He inhales Silco's scent with his nose, holding the eye contact.] Where do you see my place in this world?

[They were both ambitious men who craved for power and control, stopping at nothing to make their wishes into reality. Ah, except that wasn't really the case with Silco, was it? The man had had stopped out of the game and paid with his life when he had decided not to give up his daughter. The girl who was ultimately his weakness -- his world as the man had put it.

Richard knew very well that Silco sought to gain control over this place and wished. But for what? Only to pass it down on the chaotic little girl who would run it all into ground in no time. It was that decision that kept creating a chasm between their herats. As long as Silco hung on that dream their goals would never truly align.]

Hmm perhaps. There are several portions that describe your God expressing considerably cruelty. There's an appearance that in order to prove one's loyalty to the religion that they must suffer and cause suffering. [He had picked up and put down the book several times, finding parts of it interesting and others insufferable. He found it amusing that a 'holy' book promoted such vulgar acts, and at times, Richard seemed to have a religion founded upon us or them.

He too was keenly aware of the shift and especially Richard responding to it. Silco was extremely proud of his city, building a legacy upon the corpses of it so that he could prove that he was not that dirty little thing that was spat upon. The warts, flaws, beauty and twisted nature of his city and its people was something that he promoted, especially the violent and eclectic peoples.

He tilted his head slightly as he considered his lover, and it was a subject that he had considered now and again as Richard became more and more ambitious. From shy standoffish young man to stiff but confident young Prince, Silco could see that Richard needed encouragement and backing from another confident monster.

He leaned in, a whisper of their lips against each other for a moment.] I wouldn't dare to presume where you might take yourself with the right encouragement. There is no seat of power as you have at home, but that doesn't mean you can't rule. [Richard was dangerous, playing the helpful knowledgeable public appearance while behind the scenes pulling strings.

When would their ambitions clash? He knew that his lover did not approve of his daughter, but Jinx seemed to be taking a step back from her little Inx club or whatever it was. No surprise. Would his lover try to fill that void?]

Where do you wish to see yourself, Richard?

The life upon the Earth is suffering itself. [There is a sense of finality to his word this time. The world was the hell and pain was the way of living. No matter how he'd run or hide the suffering wouldn't end. The sinful desires would always follow him like a shadow. That is the realization that had he come to during that night when Buckingham had forced him to admit his true self. It was the reason he continued to fight, knowing better than to let idle pleasures make him compliant and fat. It was something he was sure Silco would agree on.

It was what pushed men like them to defy the fate.

Richard's fingers slid up along the smooth silk of the cravat, past the collar so that the gloved tips could make contact with the skin. The long and thin digit kept caressing Silco's throat, carefully pressing on the Adam's apple before moving up to feel the sharp edges of his jawline.

He was right, of course. There was no throne for him to sit on nor a crown to gather light from. This world continued to be bleak and hellish with its all confusing and irrational nonsense. The most people continued to be insufferable, but at least he got along with them better now. Sort of. They would not want a ruler, or so they'd think. Richard had his plans for that, which some of them he had openly discussed with his lover, while keeping some cards still hidden. And he had no reason to think that Silco didn't do the same.

His thumb kept brushing Silco's chin, reaching up to lightly pull on the lower lip as he he considered Silco's question.] I suppose only the time will tell where I land, hmm?

But I can promise you this, you will want to stay on my good graces. [The words are spoken as a light whisper, despite carrying weight of the dark promise. One that was willing to see how the cards were played out between them.]

But you don't think I only invited you here to talk, Silco? [It had been some time since they last had came together like this.]

I won't dispute that reality, no. However, there are methods and activities which can lessen that suffering for oneself. [His tone was far more whimsey, aware that both himself and Richard would bask in sin and never feel regret for it. This was who they were, and in that, the suffering was eased as they had each other to share aspects of it with. They had limited time of course, which meant they had to make the most of what they had in this false reality.

Silco stood for the slide of Richard's hand along his collar, touching his throat (which caused faint tension), and then he leaned into those fingers sliding along his jawline. His hand moved to caress the side of Richard's face with a finger, drawing back that curtain of hair so that it could be tucked behind the younger man's ear.

He leaned in closer, as if he might share a secret but decided not to speak. No, he studied his lover in the dim light of the cellar-like bunker. With no throne, he knew that there were other avenues. He wondered if they should venture down that path together or separately, meeting somewhere in the middle. Had Richard ever brought people to their knees before? Silco had. Shimmer. There were other methods, ones he had slowly maneuvered himself into since the start of his tenure here.]

Indeed, a mystery to be certain. Time will tell. [He had an idea. Silco was keen to understand rivals for power after all. It wasn't his fault he happened to be bedding one of the most dangerous ones (it actually was).] Have I ever stepped from your good graces for long, hmm? There are many reasons we still enjoy one another's company.

[He feigned curiosity.] Did you not invite me here to show me your new little hide-out?

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