@carvcr sent a prompt. » " if they strike once, you just hit 'em twice as hard. "
“ now, son, ” silas began, his voice smooth as always, laced with a layer of honey dipped in friendliness. “ i do not condone violence for the sake of violence. around these parts, you’ll learn that to be true, & you’ll also come to learn my teachings don’t always allow for unwarranted violence such as that. ”
the smile on silas’s face didn’t falter as he took a half-step closer toward the younger man. “ should you choose to stay with us, as your mama has done, then you’ll come to be quite familiar with these ways. am i making myself clear to you? ” his voice was low, but gentle as he spread his arms out wide.
he remained there before stepping back after a beat. his calloused hands lowered to his sides, fingers brushing the hilt of a hunting knife tucked at a loop in his belt. he gave in to the silence & allowed the sounds of singing crickets to take over. it was late, the only light around them came from the porch, which silas stood so proudly on, & the few other porch lights that had been turned on around the compound. the warm summer air came through the breeze, which blew across the area in slow motion.
after the beat, silas’s grin faded momentarily. “ i ain’t got all night, son. surely you don’t either, so either join me inside & we can forget this little act of violence between you & michael ever happened, or you can spend the night in the dog house. the choice is yours. what do you say? ”