[ She's right, of course. This is an invitation. Tell her to choose a side, let her see just enough. She doesn't need to know what they're running to understand that it's vital. He could stay small, only push a few drugs, but he's consolidating. Drawing it all together. Making them work to eliminate him. Put this into a position that the structure will fall apart and be irreparable once they reach out.
Once they try to take. ]
Whether it is by food or military might, they will find a way. However, we are all in this together. The people here and we augmented are not a part of their class. They start to remove from us, and from my people here, and they will lose resources. Profits, work, people. [ Food will become a necessity. He's got to secure it, first. ]
They are built on these backs. They bear the load down too hard, and they will see what happens when the foundation splits.
[ Analogies are good. They are safe. They conceal. ]
[ And conceal they do, but not from her. How much will Silco allow to happen in order to instigate what he feels must be done? 'We are all in this together.' What a magnanimous approach from someone who has been clear that he does not see himself as one of the ones suffering the most here? But he uses all the right language, a true politician, a true manipulator.
Just like her. ]
I'll provide what aid I can. They deserve all of the support and help they can get.
[ She knows it sounds too formal, but there's a tone in her voice that says the truth: this is something she agrees with and believes in, even if Silco's methods in the end may come to a place she will not follow. Until that point, it is her truth. These are the people pushed down by society, by the elites. People like her. If she has any hope of remedying the past, it must start here.
It isn't atonement. Forgiveness is out of her reach. But she can do better. ]
[ Her words are stiff, and formal, but they ring true. Someone who looks like her, who speaks like her... they have never heard something like this either. Not from someone like Mel. She may be augmented, but that means little to them.
They are used to that.
They are not used to someone like her speaking out like this.
It means something.
Silco nods, satisfied. ]
Then we will be working together, towards that end. Won't we?
[ It curdles in her stomach. There are worse people to ally with, far worse causes to get behind. The end result of this may still be bloodshed but it will not be the rampant and indiscriminate decimation her mother would (will) do to Zaun and Piltover to get what she wants. Silco, at least, genuinely seems to want for circumstances to change here...if only as a testing ground. He likely cares so little for the outcome, only to learn from it. If the people here succeed, then all the better. If they should fail, he'll know what to do in Zaun and Piltover when he returns home.
If he returns home.
Mel turns towards Silco. He is not a man of trust, just as she is not either, but she can offer this much: she offers her hand. ]
We will. There's much and more that can be done.
[ Carefully. But she would be foolish to spurn an alliance where, if nothing else, she is garnering information. Silco may not give her more than this...but at least she knows where to find him. In time, these people may give her their begrudging trust as well.
Silco pauses, holds for a moment. His eyes look between the hand, and her, but to spur it now is to spur her potential help, and to deny help for the people here who need it. His hands are clasped tightly behind his back, before he finally lets them go, and lets them rest at his side. ]
And it will be done.
[ He points out, as if to say that words are cheap, but they must have follow through. ]
As long as we all understand that, we'll make our way forward.
[ He reaches out.
He takes her hand. For just a brief moment.
They are imprinted, and something settles within him, even as he loathes that the contact does so. Like that violent, angry thing is brought to heel, even if momentarily. ]
[ Within her power, within her means, as long as they are treading a path that she can walk. But outside of outright harm and war, there are too many pieces she can agree with, and while she is well aware of the risks posed by allying with Silco at all...she needs to know what he's up to. She needs to keep an eye on him. Takasugi and the others, while willing to look in on her behalf, will never quite know what to look for and she cannot continue to endanger them.
This is something she has to take responsibility for. One day, they will return to Piltover, and while she fully expects Silco will turn and bury a knife in her chest...
For now, they can be allies. And perhaps one day he'll be willing to help her in turn.
The touch is, by far, the worst thing โ because it touches deep within her, trying to lure her into security. It wants her to trust Silco; it wants her to be willing to stay close. Even now, she won't let it drown her. Mel releases his hand once the contact is made, their efforts entwined. It's enough. ]
Thank you. For showing me.
[ Without the browbeating. But even with it, this was something she needed to see. And Silco's willingness...means something. That's all she's willing to admit. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ She's right, of course. This is an invitation. Tell her to choose a side, let her see just enough. She doesn't need to know what they're running to understand that it's vital. He could stay small, only push a few drugs, but he's consolidating. Drawing it all together. Making them work to eliminate him. Put this into a position that the structure will fall apart and be irreparable once they reach out.
Once they try to take. ]
Whether it is by food or military might, they will find a way. However, we are all in this together. The people here and we augmented are not a part of their class. They start to remove from us, and from my people here, and they will lose resources. Profits, work, people. [ Food will become a necessity. He's got to secure it, first. ]
They are built on these backs. They bear the load down too hard, and they will see what happens when the foundation splits.
[ Analogies are good. They are safe. They conceal. ]
no subject
Just like her. ]
I'll provide what aid I can. They deserve all of the support and help they can get.
[ She knows it sounds too formal, but there's a tone in her voice that says the truth: this is something she agrees with and believes in, even if Silco's methods in the end may come to a place she will not follow. Until that point, it is her truth. These are the people pushed down by society, by the elites. People like her. If she has any hope of remedying the past, it must start here.
It isn't atonement. Forgiveness is out of her reach. But she can do better. ]
no subject
They are used to that.
They are not used to someone like her speaking out like this.
It means something.
Silco nods, satisfied. ]
Then we will be working together, towards that end. Won't we?
no subject
If he returns home.
Mel turns towards Silco. He is not a man of trust, just as she is not either, but she can offer this much: she offers her hand. ]
We will. There's much and more that can be done.
[ Carefully. But she would be foolish to spurn an alliance where, if nothing else, she is garnering information. Silco may not give her more than this...but at least she knows where to find him. In time, these people may give her their begrudging trust as well.
Maybe. ]
no subject
Indeed.
She offers a hand.
Silco pauses, holds for a moment. His eyes look between the hand, and her, but to spur it now is to spur her potential help, and to deny help for the people here who need it. His hands are clasped tightly behind his back, before he finally lets them go, and lets them rest at his side. ]
And it will be done.
[ He points out, as if to say that words are cheap, but they must have follow through. ]
As long as we all understand that, we'll make our way forward.
[ He reaches out.
He takes her hand. For just a brief moment.
They are imprinted, and something settles within him, even as he loathes that the contact does so. Like that violent, angry thing is brought to heel, even if momentarily. ]
no subject
[ Within her power, within her means, as long as they are treading a path that she can walk. But outside of outright harm and war, there are too many pieces she can agree with, and while she is well aware of the risks posed by allying with Silco at all...she needs to know what he's up to. She needs to keep an eye on him. Takasugi and the others, while willing to look in on her behalf, will never quite know what to look for and she cannot continue to endanger them.
This is something she has to take responsibility for. One day, they will return to Piltover, and while she fully expects Silco will turn and bury a knife in her chest...
For now, they can be allies. And perhaps one day he'll be willing to help her in turn.
The touch is, by far, the worst thing โ because it touches deep within her, trying to lure her into security. It wants her to trust Silco; it wants her to be willing to stay close. Even now, she won't let it drown her. Mel releases his hand once the contact is made, their efforts entwined. It's enough. ]
Thank you. For showing me.
[ Without the browbeating. But even with it, this was something she needed to see. And Silco's willingness...means something. That's all she's willing to admit. ]