expiationnet | 04. Video; Now Presenting...

[The video opens with Silco standing in front of an new establishment in the entertainment district. There is the sound of renovations coming from within, a pile of old debris and broken items off the side that will be repurposed. Still, the sign is lit up announcing the place.

Silco gestured with a hand at the new establishment, the corner of his mouth twitching in what might be his version of a smile.]

This is The Last Drop, a bar from my home in The Lanes. I have been blessed to have it brought here for all of you to enjoy with me. A little taste of my home called Zaun, and it is as rough as it is eclectic.

[He turned to look at the place as the sounds of hammering and saws continued inside. He didn't even seem annoyed at all.]

Apologies on the noise, but it's not in the state I previously left it due to a ruffian having a fight inside before it arrived here. It's unfortunate, but not unexpected given where it came from. Some people can't handle their liquor and emotions at the same time.

Anyway, The Last Drop will be open to serve the community of Aldrip in one week's time. I invite all of you to attend the grand opening. It will be quite the party.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... You really do like getting involved in that business crap, huh.

[ Jinx has told him as much, though he still has no idea why people would be bothered by him buying and/or running various places. It's not like a bar is gonna hurt anyone, right? ]

It's where my strengths lay, and it's what I enjoy. I see no harm in making it so that the Chosen have control of resources in case the natives turn on us again.

[He understood why it made people nervous, but he frankly didn't care. He was doing this, and now he also had control over the production of currency.]

Yeah, me neither. [ He makes a small pause. ] ... Some others do, though, don't they?

[ He'd maybe understand if he was gathering some political power or something that actually affects people... but as far as Ragna can tell, he's just selling stuff. Which is as harmless as it is boring. ]

Of course. People need something to be unhappy about, and others are threatened with ambition. Maybe they feel a loss of control.

[He made a low humming sound which was his 'thinking' noise.]

However, I can't control how other people feel; that's on them.

Right.

[ He goes silent for a moment, mulling over what exactly he's trying to say here. He did promise Jinx he'd keep an eye out for her old man, but... how is he even supposed to do that? It's not like he can just... offer his help or something equally pathetic. ]

So. [ A beat. ] Y'know.

[ It's like he's trying to communicate using nothing but around five different words and caveman grunts. ]

If someone tries to start some shit... Yeah.

[ Nailed it. ]

[This was not the first person who had had association with that had trouble using their words to actually state their intentions. He didn't get the sense with Ragna it was for a care about questionable association.

The kid was just tongue-tied to actually state things openly. Unless it involved Jinx, but she had that effect on people.]

I will be certain to send for your assistance should things get out of hand.

[Triumphant? You bet. Silco had been aiming for Ragna's version of protection for awhile to dissuade people from having a physical go at him. Now he apparently had it.]

[ Ragna breathes out a sigh of relief... somehow, getting his message across feels like an accomplishment. At the same time, he's not exactly sure if he's comfortable with the fact the man can apparently read him like an open book... ]

Mhm.

[ Well, as long as they have an understanding... this should be fine. Probably.

Still feels awkward as fuck, though. ]

Great. That works.

[Well yeah, Jinx talked about Ragna a lot, and Silco had been following him silently on the network when he could. He had met the man enough to get an idea of the limits of his communication skills.]

If you require any resources to remain comfortable, let me know.

There's nothing about this whole arrangement that's even remotely "comfortable".

[ He's bitching just for the sake of being difficult, really. It's not like anything being discussed here is a big deal, or even an inconvenience to him. But he can't just admit it, now can he? ]

This situation is what we make of it. The offer remains.

[Let him bitch and moan about. That wouldn't stop Silco from making good on the situation.]

Gah, I get it, I get it! Just... don't make this any more awkward than it needs to be.

[ Apparently, all one needs to do to make things "awkward" for him is to show him some common human decency. He's not used to that. ]

Would you prefer if I added some insults to lessen the bar of decency?

Kinda, yeah.

[ That would be something familiar, at least... It takes a couple of seconds for him to register just how stupid that is. ]

Wait, no. That'd just piss me off.

[ The man is full of contradictions. ]

Excellent, I'll be certain to call you brute from now on, and I won't ask for permission to provide comforts.

WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING A BRUTE, OLD MAN?!

[ It's almost comical how easy it is to get him to blow up like that. ]

Tch, fine by me! I'm not asking for anything anyway!!

You. I already said as much. You don't need to ask. I'll decide for you in that case. Jinx will help, so who knows what you will receive.

[ ... Why does it feel like he's signed himself up for some real mess? ]

Just... make sure she doesn't come up with anything too crazy...?

[ He does remember her setting up a dating profile for her old man, after all. ]

I will do my best to reign her in, but I make no guarantees.

[This is the kind of mess you get associating with this family, sorry, not sorry.]

04. Video; Now Presenting...

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