Now I'm Trapped Within Your Walls

[traumaticus]

Who: Richard & you
Where: Aldrip & Woods
What: Catch-all for May
Warnings: mentions of dead animals, possible npc death? violence?

(ooc: here's a link to Richard's permission post for the curious)

Comments

[conflictresolution]

[He lifted his tumbler to his lips and sipped the amber liquid, watching Richard over the rim of the glass. So, he had competition sitting right across from him. It was good to finally meet someone with actual ambition, especially one he expected had already developed skills for such endeavors. Dangerous but he'd reassess the longer Richard was here. Perhaps they could use one another ambitions.] Don't be concerned. I pay them very little heed and do as I please with the resources that I have.

[He set the tumbler back down a moment later.] There is plenty of room for healthy competition in both Aldrip and Rumpitur that I've seen. A quiet life is for those waiting to die.

[Be still his cold beating heart to hear such words from Richard. Few were quite so eloquent about it, least of all the Chem-Barons that he endured.] Indeed, there is more than one way to put down opposition. Thankfully, she does well for herself making her mewling pointless. I would welcome suggestions on how you have silenced your critics.

[traumaticus]

[Richard enjoys the playing the game, it's true. Just like a beast that's been shackled down for too long earns for the freedom after getting sniff of the fresh air for the first time. Both his mind and body keeps longing for the battlefield, even if instead of bloodied war zone it is the grand halls of the castle.

But perhaps for everyone's sake, he has not yet decided whether this world, city of Aldrip with its curiosities, is something he deems worthy of fighting for.]

I couldn't have said it better myself. [Richard, in return, raises his glass in a quiet toast before taking his final sip, emptying the tumbler once again.

There's a quiet chuckle from him, no doubt brought to surface by the dawning intoxication he was experiencing. Oh boy, does Richard have stories to tell? Granted, most of his recent atrocities were done by using a middleman. James Tyrrell, the assassin that Buckingham hired for him. But luckily, he's not drunk enough yet to let his lips go loose on the subject. They had established that they both were beast rather than men, but he'd still keep some of his fangs hidden if possible]

Imprisonment. But that is dull and obvious answer, as you know. However, it all boils down to a tale you can tell, the art of deception. One needs to spin such ploy that it will fool the eyes of each good soul. That way you can cage even the God himself and no one will bat their eyes at the devil horns you are wearing.

[conflictresolution]

[It was curious how similar their thoughts were; it had been a long time since he had been able to speak plainly to anyone but his daughter. Normally, he had Sevika who understood the trials and tribulations of managing the enterprise of the Undercity. He had never, ever considered himself a lonely person; he filled his days with too much to allow such notions.

It was strange to speak openly about what it was that made him. It was... comforting? No, he was certain that for all the talk of loyalty, neither he and Richard could maintain that long-term.]

Too alike, we might be dangerous to each other. [He was certain they were hiding so much more beneath the surface. Still, the game they were playing was exciting.

He waved off the idea of imprisonment with his other hand.]

We're already imprisoned in this place, and it is a dull choice. Of course, people are so focused on the imprisonment this place offers, that they may not realize a different cage is enclosing around them.

[traumaticus]

[Even the beasts long for companion. Richard had learned that the hard way. For way too long he had tried to freeze that part of his soul, killing himself while hiding in shame. All until he had encountered another soul who earned the same thing as he did, and had no qualms about soiling their own worth by embracing a demon like him, becoming his other half. Now, Silco could never replace that, and despite the weakness of his own soul responding to all subtle baits that the man has lied in front of him, he does not even entertain the thought. But the comfort is there. Definitely. Not only had he been able to recognize the curse of witch plaguing him, seen right through his shield, but he could offer him the conversation that made him feel the first time since his arrival that he was not a mere stranger.]

I am like no one else. [He declares, with sound of finality in his words. They might both be monsters here, yes, but still in Richard's eye they're fully different breed. He places his empty tumbler on the table and leans back on his chair, sitting more leisurely than before.]

That may be so, but yet I am still able to sit here and enjoy a drink with you. I had a warm meal and before that I visited the woods. The bars around this cage are loose enough to give us taste of hope. Use that hope to trap her, seize it and plunge her into despair. Once the spirit has been crushed the body will follow.

[conflictresolution]

[When one was surrounded by other versions of monsters, it was easy to feel at home there being the biggest fish. Aldrip and by extension Rumpitur and Ketsora were full of people either naïve or Chosen who wanted to live their little 'best' lives and didn't stray far from what was considered legal or just. He considered it a lack of motivation and being hide bound. Richard was one of the few people who made overtures of being something more, similar to the sense he got from Emet-Selch before the mage left.]

Oh yes, we are all individuals. Kindred spirits then. [He was amused by the finality, like it was some kind of declaration. He wondered when they might turn their attentions to seeing if they could destroy each other as a threat to their own personal goals.

Of course, Richard was too new to have personal goals here yet. They would come. Silco would be ready to give a hand up or a smack down depending on what suited his own personal motivations.]

Hope is an excellent motivator, if provided in the right quantities. She wants what I have; she might be disgusted by it but it is truth. [He raised his glass to a toast as well, drinking back the last of the whiskey.] I need her to break her relationships, isolate her but by her own actions. I want her to experience what it is to be alone with one's own mistakes. [Just like her adoptive father.]

[traumaticus]

[Kindred spirits, huh.. Richard can give him that, yes. It also makes them potentially dangerous to each other, as Silco had said it. Either that or good allies, depending on where their passions lead them and whether their ambitions can learn to coexist in the same room.

Healthy arm prompted up on the armchair Richard leans his cheek against his knuckles. Silco is painting a rather interesting scenario. A brute girl, marred with ugly envy and driven to see his downfall? He does not know the details of their situation, but there are bits of it that echoes familiar to him. Elizabeth had sought to destroy him and his family with any cost, hoping to gain the control over the crown.]

There are ways to make that happen. When properly cornered desperate people tend to make the most grave mistakes, leading to their own destruction. Gain a trustful ally from her side and let the snake to slither into the garden. Let the venom do its job and reap the results.

[That was how he and Buckingham had initially gained the crown prince's respect, ensuring the position of regent to Richard.] I hope this counseling will be satisfied payment for the meal and drink.

[conflictresolution]

[The problem with the scenario he was trying to set up was that the Enforcer was loyal to the point of idiocy so far, and there were enough moral souls in this place that they took both women at their word regarding him. It put him in a position where he had to be subtle and work slowly to destroy their relationship. Jinx helped, of course. But the sister was as stubborn as Vander and ten times more reckless.]

I want to watch her go down in flames publicly. However, that process must be slow, meticulously planned and requires this place to assist me with that. So far, she had tainted potential allies against me, so I must work diligently to show myself a benefactor for all.

[He shrugged his shoulders; Silco had been playing long games for a considerable amount of time. This was no different. He would be patient.]

I had no intention of charging you, counseling or no. You being an interesting person is payment enough this time. [He picked up and offered Richard back his coins.] Another drink another time.