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m-feline · 2 months

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To adapt, to survive, to live - ch 24

Silco x Freader

Tags: mention of tattoos, business, rumors, magic powers, snakes;

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The next day I woke up alone in bed. Silco had gone early to work as he had to make a few inspections of the factories and go up from there. For one part I was happy he wasn't there when I woke up. I knew my day was going to be a busy one. Besides visiting three houses for the children, I also had a meeting with no other than Councilwoman Medarda. She had expressed very enthusiastic interest in some of my products that weren't on sale yet. Her plans for them were different from what I had intended. Though, I was still wondering how she heard of those products before I was going to launch them, this was an opportunity that I wasn't going to let pass.

The snake in me wanted to remain in the warm and soft bed. But I knew that I had to get up and get dressed before Jolynn would come and get me. However, someone else beat Jolynn on coming to get me.

“Hello,” Jinx sang as she opened the door to Silco's and my room without knocking. There was a time when I used to give her a lecture about knocking first, but I had dropped that topic a long time ago. I didn't even bother with the “I’m-still-changing” excuse.

“Morning, PJ,” I said as I slipped the long frock dress over me that left my back open. When it was just Jinx and me and I wasn't in a bad mood, I always called her by a nickname.

“Where are you going?” Jinx asked, trying not to sound probing yet failed at it.

“I have a few errands today, mostly checking the businesses,” I said.

“Will it take long?” She asked.

“What do you need, Jinx?” I asked as I did my makeup. She was obviously wanting me to come with her. The question was, was it for food, a new gadget, or she wanted something from my stock. Please let it not be the last one.

“I finished something,” Jinx said.

“Oh, does it say boom?” I asked teasingly as I put shadow to my eyes.

“No. But once I don't need it I could make it say boom,” Jinx joked.

“Is it a new gun?” I asked as I added mascara.

“No. I said it won't go boom,” Jinx said as she walked a bit closer.

“Guns don't go boom. They go bang, bang, bang,” I said and shot with my fingers at the mirror.

“Okay, fine. It won't go bang, boom, ka-boom, or…” Jinx said as she got right next to me.

“Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta,” I half shouted and began to tickle her. We both laughed and sat on the bed to calm down.

“You always do that,” Jinx said giggling.

“Cause you love it,” I said.

“When I was a kid, I'm a big girl now,” Jinx said.

“Oh, well I guess you are too old for my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches then,” I said as I got up.

“Nooo! Never,” Jinx said dramatically and clang to me. “I'm never old enough to let go of you or any food with jelly.”

“And that's why you will always be my PJ,” I said as I booped her nose.

“Madam, are you ready to leave?” Jolynn asked as she slowly peeked inside the room.

“Okayloveyoubyebye,” Jinx said hurriedly, kissed my cheek, and rushed out of the room. But returned to peek behind the door. “But really, come later to check my design.” And then she was gone.

“If she wants another tattoo I refuse to take any sides this time,” Jolynn said sourly.

I laughed at her comment. Yes, it was quite a scene when Jinx wanted to get a tattoo.

***

Silco and I both were sitting on the couch in his office drinking coffee when Jinx dropped down from the roof behind the coffee table and simply dropped the “bomb”.

“Can I get a tattoo?” She asked as innocently as she could. Silco just glanced at her and resumed drinking his coffee, expecting me to handle this.

“You know what I say about tattoos,” I said sipping my coffee.

“Yes,” Jinx said, pouting.

“Good. Now, will I like it?” I asked.

“Hmmm, yes,” Jinx said after considering it a bit.

“Will you be able to hide it if I don't like it?” I asked. Jinx seemed to ponder again and look around herself before she gave an answer.

“Yes.”

“Is it your own design?”

“In a way.”

“Will you get it done in a proper tattoo parlor and not some cheap joint?”

“I hoped you could recommend one that uses your ink.”

“Will you pay for it and stand still enough till it is done?” I asked.

“Yes.” That answer came fast.

“Sure. Go right ahead.”

Silco almost choked as he spat his coffee when he heard my answer. Fortunately, he managed to keep the couch clean.

“Yesss!” Jinx cheered and before Silco managed to catch his breath the girl was already at the door. “Loveyoubyebye.”

“Wait Jinx…”Silco tried to shout after her but his coughing made it difficult. Jinx however didn't get out of the door, when she crashed with Sevika.

“Hey, where are you running?” Sevika asked.

“I'm going to get a tattoo,” Jinx said happily.

“Oh hell no, not another freaking moving tat,” Sevika sighed.

“It will be a regular one, but she gets to use my new inks,” I said while I patted Silco on the back as he tried to clear his throat.

“Oh well, in that case, go crazy,” Sevika said and was about to leave it at that, but she saw the face Silco had, so she corrected herself. “But nothing big, okay.”

“Oh come on,” I let out. “It’s a tattoo, not a signia. And everyone in the Lanes has one. Or hopes to have one.”

“Are you serious?” Sevika asked.

“Yup. Go ahead, honey. Jolynn has a list of parlors that are responsible enough to use my stuff,” I said and waved at Jinx.

“Got it,” Jinx said happily and left.

“You really don’t care if she gets a tattoo?” Silco asked.

“I had this rule with kids before, if they answer even one no to my questions, they won't get any tattoos. She said yes to every question so she is free to do so,” I said as I set down my coffee cup.

“She didn't say yes to one of your questions,” Silco said.

“Even better, she asked for me to recommend a place, meaning she isn't going to some shady unhealthy joint but a proper place to get her tattoo. And it is partly her design so I know there is a fifty percent chance that it will turn out nice,” I said.

“But you are cool with the whole concept of tattoos on your kid?” Sevika asked.

“Again, we live in the Lanes. Besides, even if I say no, they do it any way but make it in haste and secret, and it turns out horrible,” I said. “And for someone who already has a snake on her back, I can't say anything against her getting her own.”

“You could have at least tried,” Silco sighed.

“Oh please, are you telling me you don't have a Tattoo?” I asked him.

“No, not even one,” He said.

“Sevika?” I asked.

“Okay, I see where this is going, and I'm going to stop it here,” Sevika said. “If the girl wants a tat and you are fine with it then all should be fine.”

“Is that so?” Silco asked, sounding a bit irritated.

“If she has had this thought before then she knows best,” Sevika said and turned to leave the room. When she opened the door she almost bumped into Jolynn. Both women avoided each other just fine and soon Sevika was gone and Jolynn entered the room.

“Jolynn, I need a list of the best tattoo parlors that use my inks,” I said.

“Why do you need that?” Jolynn asked curiously.

“Jinx is getting a tattoo,” I said and immediately Silco gave me the most sour look.

“Good for her,” Jolynn said.

Yeah, she regretted that choice of words for a long while. In the end, Jinx got a cool tattoo of smoke clouds on her right arm and side with the blue ink I made for tattoo parlors. And I have to admit, in a way, it did look nice. As for the rest of Jinx's look, she had this loose and wild appearance. I had to modify her favorite pants a couple of times and get her new shoes, but she always wanted to have her vibe on them. And she now had this long two braided hair look with modified weights as bands. Completely erratic look compared to Silco and me. Since we both were leading figures in our own companies, we had to keep up with certain decorum. Me especially since I had caught the eye of a very influential person.

***

“By the way, ma'am, we received an invitation for lunch,” Jolynn said as I finished my makeup.

“From who?” I asked.

“From her,” Jolynn said. She knew not to mention any names in the Last Drop. Even if I lived here, and I still owned the place, this was still Silco's workplace. In order to keep his people away from my businesses I told Jolynn and my other workers to avoid using names here. Silco just needs one misunderstanding and if he knows their name, I could lose a client, a worker, or in worse cases a protégé. That almost happened already and it took a lot of convincing to get Silco to release the boy alive. But I had no problem knowing who Jolynn referred to when she said “her”.

“See I told you she will contact us first,” I said.

“Still, I don't trust her. She invited us to a restaurant at the top,” Jolynn said.

“A little power play. She simply tries to test our metal,” I said. “Let's bring some samples, shall we?”

“I'm sorry, madam, but I can't find you on the reservation list,” The butler said. I mentally rolled my eyes, his voice and manner of speaking didn't show it but he was clearly looking down on me and Jolynn. The very few people that went in and out of this restaurant weren't wearing anything flashy or something that my own outfit lacked, but sadly the same couldn't be said for Jolynn. Her outfit was neat and decent, but she always had that air that she was from the sumps. And no matter how nice I dressed up they would use her as an excuse. Which is why I decided not to even try to please these people.

“There isn’t any reservation, I'm expected there,” I said calmly. “You don't believe me then send someone to inquire about it.”

“Ma'am, I cannot send someone to bother our customers while they enjoy their afternoon tea, that would be so disrespectful,” Butler said, still trying to sound polite about it.

“Then get us a table then,” I said, still calm and polite.

“We are full,” Butler said. That was a fat ass lie, I saw at least three tables free from the doorway. I was sure Jolynn was now either feeling guilty for causing me trouble, or she was getting angry, and she was now perhaps considering using her pens as something to stab the guy. From what I saw from the side, Jolynn was about to simply use words to stab the Butler. However, I was better than that. I knew who I was going to meet and I knew how to make this man regret his words.

“Fine then,” I said as if I was giving up. The Butler looked surprised but not as surprised as Jolynn.

“Madam?” Jolynn asked.

“Let’s go, Jolynn. Why should we stay in a place where we clearly aren’t welcome?” I said as I turned to leave and said my next words just loud enough for the certain someone to hear. “I’m sure we can offer someone else our products. It's a good thing I brought samples with me. Maybe we will find someone who is ready to start something entirely new.”

“Wait.”

That was too easy. I expected to reach the door before we were stopped but instead, I simply needed to take one step. The one to call us to stop was a woman I had met a couple of times already. Elora, assistant of the council, especially assisting Mel Medarda.

“Please, do come in, we have been expecting you,” Elora said courteously.

“Oh, really?” I asked as I turned to face her. “And here I thought we were not wanted here.” I enjoyed seeing the Butler going pale as he saw Elora asking me to come with her. He was even more worried when he saw me glance at him with cold eyes.

Elora guided me and Jolynn to the dining hall full of tables. Some had patrons sitting and enjoying their afternoon tea. At the end of the hall, where there were fewer tables and no patrons at all, only one table was occupied. And a woman with a dark skin tone sat enjoying her drink. By the look of the cup, it wasn’t tea but a Turkish coffee. When she saw us coming, she set down her drink and rose to greet me.

“Madam Industrialist,” Mel Medarda greeted me.

“Oh, please, do not call me that way. My husband is the Industrialist, not me,” I said. “Just Madam will do.”

“I meet many madams, it will be awkward if one day I get you mixed with someone else,” Mel said.

“Madam Snake then. Or do they perhaps have an astonishing snake on their body like me?” I said proudly. For this meeting, I wore my favorite green backless, long-sleeved frock and nice leather pants. I liked the frock because it showed so well my snake on my back without making me look too indecent.

“No, I haven’t seen anyone with that sort of mark, even the style is entirely different,” Mel said. “Where is the design from?”

“I’m afraid I can’t say,” I said smiling. “Are we going to keep standing or shall we sit?”

“Let’s sit. Your companion can wait at the side,” Mel said. Ah, we’re doing this again.

“But of course, she can wait with your assistant,” I said smiling.

“Elora stays with me,” Mel said.

“So will Jolynn with me then,” I said. There was a moment of silence. If anyone would have seen this they’d say a cold war would erupt between us. But the only thing that erupted from Merdarda was a delicate and genuine laugh.

“Oh, how refreshing it is to talk to you,” Mel said as she wiped a nonexistent tear from her eye. “Anyone else would try their best to flatter me or feign being interested. But you, you barely greet me, and you already make sure you aren’t looked down upon.”

“If I do that, then my products aren’t that good,” I said.

“Please, do sit,” Mel invited. “Elora and Jolynn can share the next table.”

We all sat down, Jolynn kept the bag where my samples were. So she made sure she chose a place where she could see when I needed anything. Once we were all seated the Butler came to our table, trying to look as if he had done nothing wrong. Yet, I could smell his discomfort.

“Ah, Jefferson. Right on time. I would like a refill for my coffee, and…” Mel said and left her words hanging to offer me something.

“Just plain water from the tap,” I said without even looking at the man.

“Really? Did you already have something before coming here?” Mel asked curiously.

“No, I just lack the pallet that you Piltoverians have for tea and coffee,” I said as if I was apologizing.

“Oh, come now. No need to be modest,” Mel said. “This place also has a good collection of liquors.”

“Do they now?” I said as if I was pleasantly surprised and turned to the Butler. “Then a Bilgy whiskey between years 13 and 15, would be easy to find.”

“I-I will check what we have,” Butler said nervously. I detected a flitch of discomfort when I said “whiskey”. They mustn’t have it then. Good. It would embarrass them even more. The man left, while another waiter asked Elora and Jolynn for their orders. I didn’t pick what Elora ordered but I knew what Jolynn always asked when we got to this side of the bridge. A Cappuccino, size large, if they had it. I’m sure they have at least that. If they can’t bring that then… they were screwed.

“Now, what can I offer you, miss Medarda?” I asked after both the Butler and the waiter were gone.

“Right, to the point,” Mel sighed, smiling. “Aren’t you going to wait for the order?”

“If they can’t get Jolynn her Cappuccino then I will never come here again,” I said. “As for the whiskey, well… I know my husband already bought all of it from years 14 and up.”

“Poor Jefferson, he is going to have a hard time finding one,” Mel pitied him.

“That’s what he gets for looking down on paying patrons,” I said proudly.

“Come now, he didn’t know you were invited here by me,” Mel said.

“Oh, so it is normal for other kinds of people to come here for tea?” I asked sarcastically. “Or then I’m right when I say he is stupid to think I would come here by my own choice.”

“Where else would you have liked to meet?” Mel asked, smiling.

"Well, that nice place a block from the bridge is nice. Not much great coffee, but they have delicious treats. Especially the sweets,” I said reminiscing.

“Alright, we can meet there next time,” Mel said.

“You tell me. Will there be a next time?” I asked.

"You think I asked you here just to freshen up the conversation?” Mel laughed. “No, I want to invest in your products.”

“Oh, I think you misunderstood me,” I said. “I’m not looking for investors. I’m looking for buyers.”

“Don’t you need more money to mass-produce your products?” Mel asked curiously. “Especially that oil many use here at Piltover.”

“Two notes, one, my husband is my primary investor. If there were others, he would have their heads. And nuts,” I said, and Mel had no problem understanding what I meant. “And two, I don’t need to mass-produce anything. The oils are sold now because of the Progress Day. Time after that, no one buys it. Except for someone who wants to make something even bigger for the next year.”

“Well, I’m that someone,” Mel said confidently.

“I didn’t take you for a tinker, miss Medarda,” I said surprisingly.

“Not me precisely, but I know people who are going to take the progress to the next level,” Mel said.

“Some competition to the Talis boy?” I asked.

“No, he will be in it as well,” Mel said.

“Is that so?” I asked sarcastically. “And what are you going to do? Shoot my products to a faraway land faster? I can just pay the cargo fee, and my inks get to the Bilgewaters.”

“That’s not all Hextech can do,” Mel said.

“What else has it done except shoot an airship to the distance?” I asked.

“Talis is still studying it. Whatever comes next will be big,” Mel said.

“And we at the Undercity have already made our own big thing,” I said proudly. “Our people can now get augmentations to fix whatever they have lost. We have fresh air even at the bottom of the sumps. We have discovered new types of flora and fauna that can be used either to heal us or to feed us. And we have used that, to make fuel that powers your machines, and pigments to your decorations. Do tell me, what is it that you want from me? And most crucially, what can you give me in exchange?”

“Let's start with the second topic. You talk as if Undercity doesn’t need us anymore, but that isn’t true. You still need us to look after you,” Mel said with her diplomatic voice.

“You mean looking after us while sending enforcers to our streets and abusing defenseless kids, women, and the sick? Or do you mean looking after us by sending us to mine and taking all the labor’s work, while we choke on gas that eventually kills us?” I asked. Mel was silent for a moment. She didn’t look offended, or that she felt bad. She simply looked as if she was bracing herself for even more accusations. “You said, that we act like we don’t need you anymore. That is exactly what me and my husband are doing. We are becoming self-sufficient. We don’t need the support that never comes to the Undercity. We don’t need your pity. And maybe one day, we shall no longer even be attached to you. To prevent such a day from coming too soon, you just need to show us other kinds of benefits in exchange for our products and services.”

Mel gave a sigh, and I saw her fumbled her ring. By the looks of it, it was some mark of family, group, or other affiliation. Whatever it was she stared at it for a moment while fumbling it before she turned to face me.

“How does it sound if I can give you special protection? Not just from criminals but from Enforcers as well?” Mel asked.

“Why would I want that?” I asked surprisingly. “All my guys need is a drop of deluded Shimmer, and they can even throw gorillas out of my premises.”

“Not necessarily to you but to your…other project,” Mel said. “Most of your product’s income goes to support houses for children in the sumps, correct?”

“True,” I said.

“But besides ‘your guys’ what other protection do those children have?” Mel asked.

"They are looked after by some selected individuals, who see that children are fed, clothed, and have a warm bed to sleep in. Once at a certain age and if the children want to they even arrange work for them,” I said.

“But besides that?” Mel asked. “What other protection do they have?” I quirked my eyebrow at her question. I was truly getting interested in her offer.

“What exactly are you offering?” I asked.

“Your guys, as you said, can only protect the children to a certain level. But what about their rights? What if someone comes and starts to abuse them? Someone… dare I say this… from Piltover?”

I was now genuinely surprised. It takes a lot of guts to even admit that, even for a Pilty. But for a Councilwoman? She was aware of what the Undercity was going through. And she knew one day we could become strong enough to rebel again. But this time, it wouldn’t be an attack on the bridge. It would be simply growing apart from them. Only by keeping us happy could they prevent such things from happening.

“You do realize it’s not just any Pilty who would dare to go after these children,” I said, lowering my voice. “I know because I saw four of them at this very side of the bridge when I still lived here with my mother.” Mel knew my past. She had made her investigations before we met the first time. And she knew about the four Enforcer officers who murdered my mother. She knew that it was thanks to me and my husband, Silco the Industrialist, who made sure Enforcers never came across the bridge again in groups. Maybe one or two, but never in groups. The Shimmer had done its job. Now, we have become free of their leash. If they wanted us to behave and not bite them, they had to be smart and careful.

“With my power, no one can touch them,” Mel said seriously.

“Not even a council member?” I asked. “I doubt any of them indulge such vile desires but some of their relatives or acquaintances might.”

“Yes, if I were to give you my protection, no one, not even a council member, can touch them without first facing me,” Mel said. That sounded very good. Ever since I made the houses, no child has faced trouble with Enforcers. There were some squirming with some Shimmer junkies, gang fights, and a couple of incidents with the workplaces, but nothing serious. But once Silco starts his independence campaign for the Nation of Zaun, things will be different. There will be war. And my resources might not be enough. Having the protection of a Councilwoman will become handy.

“How much oil do you need?” I asked. “In exchange for your protection.”

“For now all you have left,” Mel said. “After that, I can give the certificate that you are under my protection.”

“Is there anything else you wish to get from me?” I asked.

“I heard that you had something new coming up,” Mel said.

“Indeed I do,” I said. I motioned to Jolynn, and she quickly passed me the bag with my samples. “These little beauties are meant for massages.”

Mel didn’t show much interest in massage oils and aromatherapy oils that I had. But she had a small glint in her eyes as I explained the properties of the oils. What really had her attention were the two bottles of oils used for lubing augmentations and other machinery. With that as a clue and her previous words regarding the Hextech, I believe she has plans to be part of something else. Is the Hextech going to be expanding its uses? Then, the reason she wants my oils is to help produce them. Already, my oils were well used in many inventions about to be presented on Progress Day. She wanted more of it. Well, then, in that case, I better show something new.

“And to finish with a cherry top, I have a new product to show,” I said. “You are first to see it but I also do hope you will keep quiet about this till we launch the production.” Mel didn't show it but she was curious about what I was about to show. I brought out a bottle that was slightly bigger than other bottles. The liquid inside didn't look much different from my oils for augmentations.

“The oils I made before were meant to lubricate the gears of augmentations and make them easy to handle and fix when they… wear out. But later as new type of augmentations were made and new type of tech came to market the same oil needed to adapt to that. So after several attempts I have managed to make an oil that not only lubricates the gears, it also cools off the machinery, making it less probable to catch on fire. With this sort of oil, the machines can work faster without the risk of overheating too fast. For this to even catch on fire it requires a very high temperature,” I explained.

“What uses could this have?” Mel asked, looking at the bottle.

“We already tested with the automobile of a friend of my husband's. The car worked normally, on foul smell, no overheating even if we made the car go several laps with unthinkable rounds. The engine was still working, and the car made no unsafe sounds, indicating that it was damaged. I made this mostly for the machines my husband uses in his factories to avoid any accidents happening for the workers.”

“Any other uses besides that?” Mel asked.

“Let me say it this way, if there is any machine that has trouble overheating or is dangerous for excess use of power, this thing will make it safe again,” I said. “Or at least the other one under work will.”

“The other one? You are already making another?” Mel asked.

“Similar to this one, but it also can be used as fuel for certain types of machines,” I said.

“What? The same thing can be used as fuel and lubricant?” Mel asked with shock.

“Why yes. But I would recommend not trying it at the same time. If you use it as lubricant you have to make sure that the machine or a certain part of the machine never gets heated to a certain point. Because then the substance evaporates and creates energy needed as fuel. If you use it as fuel you need to keep the machine at a certain temperature for the fuel to activate and create the energy that is needed to keep the machine moving.”

“But otherwise, the same thing works for both uses?” Mel asked.

“Only if the machine is right,” I said.

“So if there is a different source of fuel for the machine, this can be used as a lubricant,” Mel said looking at the bottle.

“And the best kind of that,” I said smiling. “This will only keep the gears moving, it will also cool off the part exposed to air, and it does not catch fire easily. Unless you force it, of course.”

“Do you have it ready?” Mel asked.

“We still need to determine the correct temperature for the fuel properties. But as a lubricant it is already confirmed to work as good as the one in your hands,” I said.

“When will it be ready?” Mel asked.

“Not too long, in a week maybe,” I said. “If we get the right resources to expand our tests, then we could get it done faster.”

“Then what about this, is this for sale?” Mel asked. I smiled internally as I knew she was hooked.

“Oh, that? That is a sample. I'm not going to sell anything for now. As I said, it is for my husband. He needs it more now,” I said as if I had no better to offer.

“Aren't you interested in selling it?” Mel asked.

“I am tempted, but as I said, my husband needs it more. For now, everyone in Piltover isn’t even building anything that truly needs it,” I said.

“What could be something that needs it?” Mel asked.

“Something small yet very powerful. Something like…”

“The Hextech?”

“Your Hextech is very big for needing my products,” I said and glanced outside the windows where the big tower stood. “But if the Hextech is the fuel source I believe my substance will make a great lubricant as it keeps everything going on and cooled down. But who am I kidding, we don't know what else we could do with Hextech yet.”

“We don't, but I know someone who does,” Mel said. She looked calm, but I sensed that she was excited.

“Something else than shooting an airship to the distance?” I asked as if I didn't believe her.

“That was just the beginning. I'm sure you too are curious as to what else we can do with it,” Mel said.

“Curious, yes I am. But I'm also a realist. For now, Piltover doesn't need my newest products but styles for my usual offers,” I said as I slowly gathered the sample bottles into the bag. “I apologize for taking your time, Councilwoman Medarda. I had hoped that maybe you too would wish to buy my products. But I'm afraid I go now with the demand, which is my husband and the Undercity. But once we get news of Hextech's new inventions, I will happily meet you again. Maybe by then, we will have something better to offer you.”

“Hold on, there is no rush,” Mel said. “You still haven't received your order.”

“Which is to blame for the poor catering of this establishment. At least, they brought the Cappuccino to Jolynn. But I rather remain thirsty than drink some cheap wannabe whiskeys,” I said and got up. “And now, if you excuse me, I need to head back. I need to make sure my husband has a meal when he gets back home.”

“Just a moment,” Mel said as she got up from her seat. “If there will be new inventions and other uses for Hextech, will you join me and others to sponsor them?”

“Only if they actually invent something,” I said. “Otherwise, I keep selling my products the same way as before. But I will keep bringing my best and newest products to you for early picking.”

“Could I have that sample?” Mel asked.

“But of course,” I said, using my sweetest tone as I finished the bottle from the bag. “Do pass it to your 'someone who knows about Hextech' person. And remember, this is only for lubricant. I'll bring you a sample of the other one once we confirm it passes all tests.”

Soon, Jolynn and I were out of the establishment, escorted with heavy apologies from the butler for failing to bring me anything. I knew my order was outrageous but I wanted to make that butler squirm after offending us. But I knew Silco had a bottle of good quality whiskey in his office for me to indulge. He did tell me that now I should only drink the best kind of drinks and nothing cheap to ruin my palette.

Once Jolynn and I were in the Undercity, I was feeling more at home and content with my visit to the top. Medarda had ambitions, no doubt about it. And she knew how to use all sorts of resources. When she first contacted me, I was surprised but also doubtful of her intentions. It took five meetings to learn that she was genuinely interested in my products.

“So are we selling her our new product?” Jolynn asked curiously. She had heard most parts of the conversation, but she still wasn't sure if I was playing all the cards.

“Of course, we sell it to her,” I said happily.

“But you said you made it for…” Jolynn hesitated.

“She doesn't know what Silco does in his factories. And unless she comes down here herself, she will never know,” I said.

“Is it faulty? The new product, I mean,” Jolynn asked.

“Of course not,” I fake gasped as if I was offended. “I never sell anything faulty. But if she believes there is competition for the product she wants it more, and she pays more.”

Jolynn finally caught on to what I meant as she made a silent “Aah” and followed me. We went to stop in a couple of parlors that used my products to see and hear comments about it. Nothing to report regarding the products only if we could make inks of other colors. We were visiting the last shop for tattoos when something very disturbing happened.

“Ugh, it's those guys again,” Jolynn said quietly while we sat and waited for the manager to appear. This was a tattoo and piercing shop that used my inks. So surely eccentric people visited this place. But it also meant the loudmouths from the café of yesterday were here. Well, unlike then this was not a place to calm and relax. So if they want to make noise of their hookups then go right ahead.

“You lie, dude,” One of the guys said.

“No, I tell ya, I totally did it,” Other said.

“You say that you fucked the Snakewife?”

Instantly, I felt a vein pop in my forehead. And I saw Jolynn almost rise up but she remained seated as she felt how tense I went. People of the Undercity always had a way to put nicknames for people who were somehow famous or infamous. For example, Vander, when he was alive, was called the Hound. Silco had now gotten his own names such as the Industrialist but in the Undercity, he was also known as the Eye. And of course, after becoming the second most productive business in Undercity, and the only one not affiliated with the Chem Barons, I too got myself a name. The Snakewife. The name hit off as I began to wear the green frock and the eye-catching snake at my back drew attention. And when they saw it move, oh, then they lost it. But I wasn't as big name as the Eye, since my dealings were limited for certain types of people, and I rarely made appearances. Which made it more disturbing for some loudmouth to use my name as a hookup story.

“Hey, she got the snake on her, what does that make her?” The second guy spoke.

“You could get killed if the Eye hears that you are fucking his wife,” The third one said. “Actually, if anyone hears of this…”

“Ma'am, just say the word, and I will silence them for good,” Jolynn whispered to me. As tempting as that sounded, I needed to remain calm. I could feel the snake on my face as it came towards my eye. But as it did, so did my sense. These guys had to be some wannabes who thought about getting a score while bragging about their hookups. Many people knew Silco from his reputation, but I wasn't that well known. They thought using my name would make them become big leagues. They needed a lesson. And Silco also had to make an example of them. He would never believe that I would do something like that, right? But how to make these pigs scream? Then, an idea came to me.

“Jolynn, give me a knife,” I said quietly.

“Here. If you want I can go and block the entrance,” Jolynn said.

“No need,” I said. I had wondered when to test this trick. When I got the book from Zain, I learned through it that I could do more with my signia. Many signias gave abilities to the one wearing it. But legendary signias, such as mine, could do so much more. Not only did I gain resistance to poisons, a young look, a healing factor, and other snake-like abilities, but I could do something entirely different. But to do the thing I was about to do, I needed to learn two things. One, my snake may move depending on my mood, but it remains on the left side of my body. I can move it consciously but only to the right side. Two, my snake is also connected to me more ways than the one. If focused enough, I can actually see behind my back, as if I was seeing through the eyes of the snake itself. Once I learned to control these two aspects, I could do something else.

I focused on moving my snake to my right wrist. Once there, I slowly moved it to the palm, and as it moved, I cut my palm with the knife. Right as it came closer to the wound, a smaller snake came out of my cut. Since it was my palm, the cut wasn't too wide, but wide enough for a snake to come out of my wound and curl around my wrist. Jolynn looked at my hand with a mixture of horror, shock, and surprise. I made a quick sign for her to be silent as I gave her the knife back. My hand hurt like hell, but I ignored it as I watched the small living snake coiled around my wrist. If someone were to see the snake, they would mistake it as a bracelet. I closed my eyes and focused to sense the little snake. It felt weird, I felt my body numb, but mostly, it was weird to look at myself through the eyes of the little snake. I didn't have more time to test these new sensations when I opened my eyes and faced the snake.

“Follow them,” I whispered. I don't know if the snake understood me or not. But since it was now part of me one way or another understood its mission. The snake slithered away from my wrist, and after I set it down, it went quietly, and unnoticed by others to the three guys who were still talking. I focused to make sure the snake followed the fool who had claimed to fuck me. The snake was so small that it easily slipped into the bootstrap of the person and remained there while looking like a little ring hanging there. I didn't get to check anything else as the manager came to see me. He saw my bleeding hand and immediately asked if I was okay. I dismissed his worries and left for his office to talk about businesses.

After my visit, I went back to the Last Drop and made meals for everyone. I had to apologize to Jinx as I didn’t have time to visit and see her newest project. But she quickly forgave me when I gave her favorite meal with a promise of desert. Once everyone was fed, including me, I went to my room and laid on the bed. For me to follow the snake, I had to close my eyes and focus on locating my snake. According to the book, this will be easiest when I have only one snake out there. If I have made more it gets more difficult to follow everyone. When I closed my eyes, I had no trouble connecting to my snake’s eyes. Even less, did I have trouble recognizing where I was. That disgusting pig had gone to a brothel, once again. It took me a good while to learn which one it was from all the places in the lanes. Once I focused more I could get the hearing and smells from the snake. The sounds I wish I could block, but it did give a clue that this was the place where the pig came to fuck the Snakewife. But it was the smell that gave me the clue where it was. Many places use different musk and perfumes to elevate their services. I know because I made a couple of them. But this wasn’t mine, yet it was familiar. It was familiar because I always smelled it on Sevika. And there is one place she frequents regularly. Babette’s. Hers is the most secluded and only lets in certain types of people. But now I had to make the visit and make a couple of things clear before something catches on fire.

I was about to try and get a sniff from who was this fake Snakewife when the door to my room opened, and Silco walked in. I opened my eyes, and the connection was lost to the snake. I turned to look at him and saw a very annoyed frown on his face.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Nothing,” Silco said, sounding vexed. It can't be nothing with that tone. I got up from the bed and walked to him as he pulled the cravat off. I helped with the vest, and he just stood but faced away from me. He was mad.

“Tell me, what happened?” I said calmly.

“I don't want to talk about it,” Silco said with a low voice. Wow, somebody screwed up big time. Hopefully, not someone I know.

“Bad day?” I asked. Silco didn’t answer, so it has to be it. “Is someone going to die?”

“Maybe,” Silco growled.

“Well, make sure they know why they are going to die. And make sure others who will see it know why as well,” I said as I removed the vest.

“Oh, I will make sure they know,” Silco said. “I will do so personally.”

Poor fellow, whoever they are. Silco can be cruel when he is angry. And he rarely is. He can be annoyed and vexed, but when he gets angry it is something to be reckoned with. I set the vest away and turned back to place my arms around his neck before I kissed his cheek.

“Anything I can do to make things better?” I asked sweetly. Only then did he face me and chuckled before he put his arms around me.

“You can do a lot of things to make things better,” He said, smiling his charming smile. “One would be you joining me in the shower.”

“Good,” I said and kissed him on the lips. “Just remember to shower again once you actually kill them. I would rather not smell their nasty blood on you.”

“Deal,” He said and kissed me again. Tomorrow proved to be a long one for both of us. I didn't know that it was going to be a complicated one as well.

#silco #silco league of legends #arcane #silco x reader #silco fanfic #jinx powder #mel medarda

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