[It's like a growing wave next to him, the air thickening with a palpable pressure that he only had an ability to look out for because he had already raised an emotionally traumatized daughter. He remained close, of course, thinking his physical presence may be enough to stave off whatever black hole that Richard's thoughts were falling into.

The distance between them seemed to gulf quickly even before Richard made motion to move away from him, and he expected that there was something that he said which had had the opposite effect that he had intended. For all intensive purposes, this conversation and all of its topics were over, and they had to start from scratch slowly and carefully once... whatever this was passed.

He sighed from his nose when Richard eased away, and he pushed his fingers through his hair as he watched the younger man retreat away. This was one of those 'I will hide under the desk with you' moments, he expected, though very, very different with Richard. The tells were similar.

Silco gathered himself, tucking away all the vulnerabilities he might want to expose and straightened his spine. Like that, he set his shoulders and threw off the blankets and slipped from the bed, making a point of stretching casually.] I will join you then.

[He came around the bed and offered a hand to Richard, gesturing with his head towards the bathroom.] Let's go. We don't have to say anything at all if you don't want to. Just us enjoying indoor plumbing and clean water.