["Victory or honorable death." That is the motto that Richard and others had stood behind during the War of Roses. Despite having gained more insight and grown out of naive fantasies of glory, he still believed that there were some things that were worthy enough for one to gamble their lives. Just like crown had been for Richard. He was very painfully aware that all it took was one small mistake and his body would find its way to the flames of stake, tortured and beaten.
Richard does not dare to extend his fingers to touch the skin in front of him. Instead settles with just observing the discoloration of the bruises marring the delicate area with keen eyes.]
Scars and bruises are lessons carved on our bodies. [He says, echoing Silco's own words from their prior meeting. Richard doesn't know the details of the circumstances or just what had went down in the tower, but he does feel like whatever it had been has brought Silco to crossroads of sorts. What was the lesson that this recent trauma left on the man. And was it enough to make him quit or would he continue.
Time to see just how strong and the monster truly was.]
[Silco did believe that there was a lesson to be learned from his death, even if it was the verify all those rumours about death not having permanence here for some. Perhaps in the Tower for him, but he knew the sister had returned as well so the pair of them had shown that this place hadn't seen fit to be rid of them at the moment, even if it had been an outward fear of Jinx's. In time, he would even come to understand more of the situation because of this he was certain of it.
He snorted softly when his words were about-faced on him, and he nodded his head slightly to acknowledge them.] And so they are. These will fade with time, but I will always remember the feel of those fingers around my throat and how consciousness was stolen from me. [He had fought, of course, and in a sense, he had also won that contest of tempers between them on some level. Even if she didn't die, she would be horribly injured and requiring extensive recovery.
He regarded Richard for a long quiet moment at the question, and at the end of it, he lifted a hand so he could use two fingers to tuck the ruff of dark hair back behind the younger man's ear.] If I have reached the end of my strength, then I have no point of being here. Retirement where I'm from is a permanent cessation. There is much for me to do, even if the one I am doing it for will punish me for as long as she sees fit.
[There is no reaction from him when the fingers reach out to brush his hair. The golden eye stares back the damaged red one in silence, listening to the words. A small smile appears on his lips. Silco is right, there is no stopping for men like them. Not as long as the breath runs in their lungs.]
Body and mind will remember. [He says in agreement and raises his other hand to place on top of Silco's fingers, the leather of glove concealing the ugly burnt underneath it. A small sign of comradery. ]
And what do you get out from doing this for her? Love? Gratitude? Salvation?
Body and mind will remember. Those memories will either break you or forge you to something stronger. [He liked to think that he would build stronger walls, prepare himself better so that there would never be a repeat performance. And even if there was, perhaps this place would see fit to keep him here given his dedication to making a life here. Isn't that what the Council and powers-that-be wanted?
His fingers twitched under the feel of Richard's, and he was aware of the warmth emanating even with that glove. He was reminded of the scars that Richard concealed with various tactics, and it was not uncommon. Silco did the same when it suited the narrative he needed.]
Legacy. [She would survive, and he hoped she would survive. She could hate him for the end of time - and such an outcome would wound him deeply - but he would continue.] She is perfect, and I would burn this world down if it meant she could continue as she wants to be. That is the sacrifice I make for legacy.
[Unlike Vander, there would be no proud statues honouring him. Perhaps he would be spoken of with fear and respect for a generation or two, but history was written by the victors and Zaun had yet to succeed.]
[Body will remember what mind does, and vice versa. Richard can agree with that. Though, he is not entirely convinced which effect the recent encounter and the marks left by it has had on Silco. They both know that there is no such thing as pulling back nor stopping for men like them. Giving up would equal death for them. And yet, he can see the traces of doubts wavering in the man's resolve.
Richard understands the meaning of legacy, better than most he assumes. The strength of a king is not only measured by the present but also the memory that he leaves behind. Their time on the earthly kingdom is only limited one, and once that time is up it's up to their legacy to keep their memories alive. To keep alive. A king without an heir is a dead one. But yet, the Silco's words make it seem like he is already looking into the time without him - unconcerned with his own life. It's like conversing with a ghost.
Richard, once again, finds himself from wondering what had truly been the reason why his own father had desired the crown for himself the first time. Why had he tried to grasp on the light of paradise. Had it been for himself? Or for his sons?]
I see. [Richard hums, letting go of Silco's hand and moves back, leaving the man's personal space. He takes few steps back but doesn't return back to his practice just yet.] And if she does not want your empire, what then?
[His fingers twitch where the warmth faded as Richard's grip released and the distance grew between them. It took him a moment to recognize the lurch on his gut as a sign of his discomfort to have lost Jinx for so long already. Was he using Richard to fill the gap that she left as he had nothing else by his empire of dirt? They had a strange manner when they were around each other, and no one else thus far had dared to come close to touching him with any kind of curiosity or familiarity.
Just Richard. Just Jinx.
Yet, it was the question that caused him to close his blue eye as he allowed the effect of it to wash over him. What then indeed. So far he had convinced Jinx to want what he wanted, but this wasn't Zaun. This place wasn't full of their struggling people, downtrodden and stepped on by the higher society. This was Aldrip, a pathetic illusion of what society was supposed to be and without any of the nuance entertainment of his own city.
He finally regarded Richard after an extended silence, and for just a moment his professional mask slipped to reveal the pain of the question and the loss of a daughter. Almost like he was grieving both.] Then it falls to the scavengers and everything I did was little more than a side-note in a history book. Assuming this place bothers with history... if not, then my life and goals equate to my death: a zero sum.
[He sighed and turned away.] Return to your practice. I need to return to work. [His empire of dirt.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-29 10:06 am (UTC)Richard does not dare to extend his fingers to touch the skin in front of him. Instead settles with just observing the discoloration of the bruises marring the delicate area with keen eyes.]
Scars and bruises are lessons carved on our bodies. [He says, echoing Silco's own words from their prior meeting. Richard doesn't know the details of the circumstances or just what had went down in the tower, but he does feel like whatever it had been has brought Silco to crossroads of sorts. What was the lesson that this recent trauma left on the man. And was it enough to make him quit or would he continue.
Time to see just how strong and the monster truly was.]
And if you have what is the alternative for you?
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-29 03:48 pm (UTC)He snorted softly when his words were about-faced on him, and he nodded his head slightly to acknowledge them.] And so they are. These will fade with time, but I will always remember the feel of those fingers around my throat and how consciousness was stolen from me. [He had fought, of course, and in a sense, he had also won that contest of tempers between them on some level. Even if she didn't die, she would be horribly injured and requiring extensive recovery.
He regarded Richard for a long quiet moment at the question, and at the end of it, he lifted a hand so he could use two fingers to tuck the ruff of dark hair back behind the younger man's ear.] If I have reached the end of my strength, then I have no point of being here. Retirement where I'm from is a permanent cessation. There is much for me to do, even if the one I am doing it for will punish me for as long as she sees fit.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-29 04:59 pm (UTC)Body and mind will remember. [He says in agreement and raises his other hand to place on top of Silco's fingers, the leather of glove concealing the ugly burnt underneath it. A small sign of comradery. ]
And what do you get out from doing this for her? Love? Gratitude? Salvation?
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-29 05:08 pm (UTC)His fingers twitched under the feel of Richard's, and he was aware of the warmth emanating even with that glove. He was reminded of the scars that Richard concealed with various tactics, and it was not uncommon. Silco did the same when it suited the narrative he needed.]
Legacy. [She would survive, and he hoped she would survive. She could hate him for the end of time - and such an outcome would wound him deeply - but he would continue.] She is perfect, and I would burn this world down if it meant she could continue as she wants to be. That is the sacrifice I make for legacy.
[Unlike Vander, there would be no proud statues honouring him. Perhaps he would be spoken of with fear and respect for a generation or two, but history was written by the victors and Zaun had yet to succeed.]
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-04 01:49 pm (UTC)Richard understands the meaning of legacy, better than most he assumes. The strength of a king is not only measured by the present but also the memory that he leaves behind. Their time on the earthly kingdom is only limited one, and once that time is up it's up to their legacy to keep their memories alive. To keep alive. A king without an heir is a dead one. But yet, the Silco's words make it seem like he is already looking into the time without him - unconcerned with his own life. It's like conversing with a ghost.
Richard, once again, finds himself from wondering what had truly been the reason why his own father had desired the crown for himself the first time. Why had he tried to grasp on the light of paradise. Had it been for himself? Or for his sons?]
I see. [Richard hums, letting go of Silco's hand and moves back, leaving the man's personal space. He takes few steps back but doesn't return back to his practice just yet.] And if she does not want your empire, what then?
(no subject)
Date: 2024-07-04 03:05 pm (UTC)Just Richard. Just Jinx.
Yet, it was the question that caused him to close his blue eye as he allowed the effect of it to wash over him. What then indeed. So far he had convinced Jinx to want what he wanted, but this wasn't Zaun. This place wasn't full of their struggling people, downtrodden and stepped on by the higher society. This was Aldrip, a pathetic illusion of what society was supposed to be and without any of the nuance entertainment of his own city.
He finally regarded Richard after an extended silence, and for just a moment his professional mask slipped to reveal the pain of the question and the loss of a daughter. Almost like he was grieving both.] Then it falls to the scavengers and everything I did was little more than a side-note in a history book. Assuming this place bothers with history... if not, then my life and goals equate to my death: a zero sum.
[He sighed and turned away.] Return to your practice. I need to return to work. [His empire of dirt.]