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[conflictresolution]

"Leave a missive, but be brief about it."

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[conflictresolution]

I have reason to believe he's aware we are lovers. Not a discussion you two have had?

[traumaticus]

you told him.
despite of what we had agreed on, you told him.

[conflictresolution]

I did not. I became aware of his knowledge on a different conversation with him, and I neither confirmed nor denied what he knew.

[traumaticus]

why did you not deny it?

[conflictresolution]

We did not speak of it openly. I wasn't going give it air.

[traumaticus]

and instead you chose to provide soil for the seed of doubt.
i assumed you would know better.

[conflictresolution]

Sometimes silence and skirting the issue is better for all parties involved.

[traumaticus]

charles is no fool. he is unsettlingly perceptive. with him the seed needs to be ripped out before it has any room to grow.

when did this happen?

[conflictresolution]

Charles does not appear to be the type of person who rumormongers. Is it a fear of discovery or shame of me that has you wishing cover this up?

Weeks ago.

[traumaticus]

we had an agreement.

why do i hear from this only now?

[conflictresolution]

His discovery was not on account of my telling him. I didn't provide the matter air to breathe, nothing more.

It was not a problem that came into play.

[traumaticus]

and yet he somehow found out through you.

i wonder what other problems there are that you have kept from me.

[conflictresolution]

An unforeseen ripple that has borne no fruit. He spoke with Jinx before speaking to me.

Fear and shame then. Very well, we can make one less problem if you wish it so.

[traumaticus]

[oh, so it was the daughter's fault then? it was frustrating and angering to see how silco kept failing to follow what such small ripples would cause. richard came from world where rumors like these had more power than the deadliest blade - they would spread uncontrollably like a disease. something like this was fatal for his legacy, for richard the third. and silco did not see it.

'he is looking to break away from you. he does not respect you, richard. and why would he? a demon like yourself should know better.'

it hurt and stung, like any sort of betrayal does. and it doesn't help that silco seems to be determined on pointing the knife at him. how dare he speak of shame and fear? despite knowing richard's true form?]

if that is the outcome you are seeking then so be it. say a word and i'll release you from this pact

[conflictresolution]

[He had not seen the value of ostracizing Charles over a realization of information that may or may not have value for the man. He had been, perhaps, more frustrated that Jinx had been speaking of him in such a way but that too couldn't be helped. He expected she had found some connection and used an opportunity. No doubt Ragna knew he had someone, but the man was far too antisocial to say anything.

Silco had spent a lifetime with nothing, building up loyalties and experiencing betrayals. Everything he had came to him through a fight of some sort. Honestly, being with Richard might have been the easiest decision he had made regardless of the dogged trouble from his daughter that came with it.

Yet the idea that he couldn't and shouldn't be pleased to have the connection that they had, that it might be considered a shameful dirty secret offended him. It was not the first time that he had considered that Richard's apparent high status might be a point of contention. Oil and water.]

I'm not ashamed of what we have. I don't feel the need to hide it constantly, nor rip it out by shallow roots either. If someone has a problem with our pact, I have no issue providing them a sharp drop and sudden stop. I've murdered for less.

But if a whisper of possibility is enough to spook you to belittling my judgment, we seem to have larger problems.

[traumaticus]

i have given you my reason why i wish to keep this out of light.
what is the problem, then?

[conflictresolution]

And I have acquiesced to the request and respected your reasoning.

When I made the deduction that Charles knew of us, I made a judgment call that he wouldn't be loose lipped. That my assessment of his character calls into question our pact is a stretch at best.

[traumaticus]

is that why you keep twisting my words and intentions, trying to place your own doubts in my mouth.

it offends me that you did not trust me enough to tell me when it had occurred.

[conflictresolution]

I wasn't having doubts until it seemed to upset you. Have I not safe guarded our pact as best as possible?

I trust you more than you know. My actions are an oversight that won't be repeated.

[traumaticus]

if that is the case then pay no heed to the traps within your mind that try to lure you into self-doubt and shame. trust in me and in my choice to respect our pact. i chose you as my lover out of my own free will.

[conflictresolution]

I feel no shame for us. I never have and I never will. Does it shame you to have a trencher as a lover rather that someone you would consider more pure of blood?

[traumaticus]

no. it does not.

text -> action

[conflictresolution]

I trust your word on that.

[By the time he sent that message, Silco was nearly at the inn. He had been heading in that direction soon after receiving the first message, and his pace had increased to a quick stride as their messaging escalated. Now he had calmed again and walked with his usual confident stride that once he reached the doors of the inn and pushed inside, he look composed.

He looked around for Richard and granted, he was not one to frequent the inn. He had moved out of it as quickly as he could as soon as he had arrived, so it took him a moment to regain his bearings of the place. The only sign he had hurried was the fact that he had clearly been running his fingers through his hair repeatedly.

As soon as he spotted Richard, he walked his way over, having eyes for no one else in the place.]

[traumaticus]

[When Silco sends the last message Richard fully excepts the conversation to be done. Despite their eventual agreement of sorts he still couldn't exactly say that his mood had been lifted. No, he was still feeling sour and disappointed in the how their little exchange had gone. So, he sets his tablet down and goes back to work.

He's in the small office room behind the reception, going through the papers and checking the numbers. With his back turned to the door he doesn't even notice it when Silco first arrives, as he's fully focused on his work splayed in front of him on the desk.

But when he does notice Silco's presence in the room, he turns around to face him while also offering him a mildly surprised look.]

I did not think you would come.

[conflictresolution]

[He surveyed some of the patrons of the inn and its attached tavern. There had been a recent influx of newcomers to Aldrip, which meant that there was a general business to the place. It was a good time to take it over, he expected. This would be a good way to start a grassroots movement of people as well, catch them while they were new.

However, that wasn't at all why was here. He moved around reception desk and into the doorway of the little office that his lover was currently shuffling papers in. He kept his hands in his coat pockets as he observed the younger man, studying Richard's body language before his lover noticed his presence. He made a point of looking around the office space after that, covering up his previous interest in the younger man only.]

You've acquired the inn and attached tavern. I've been told you're supposed to celebrate such acquisitions as victories. I expected you and I could share a drink.

[The upheaval in the conversation hadn't prompted him to come; he came because Richard now owned the inn and that was enough of a reason to come and pay a visit.]