06. [Video] New Business

[conflictresolution]

[There is a new business in town, and yes, it was timed perfectly for when the silly matchmaking app launched its usual invasion posting for people to set their sights on. Maybe some will pair off, but even if they don't, Silco cannot claim to not be willing to provide options.

All are welcome to Shimmer & Shine, and yes, it has a massive big gaudy sign. Thankfully, there are also flyers around town advertising it, address and block party date plastered all over it too.

Silco was in his usual garb, lighting a cigar and snapping the lighter closed. He owns enough in the city that announcements like these require less and less effort on his part.]

Okcindr may advertise the opportunity to slog through the adventures of pairing off, but one can pay for that companionship for an hour or the whole night if they choose. Otherwise, one can simply come and admire the view and relax for the night of dancing and drinking.

[He flicked ash off of his cigar tip and tilted his head as if considering.]

Everyone is welcome to the front of the house. The back of the house has an age restriction.

[Does Silco know the age of consent in Aldrip? No. Does he care? Also no.]

Oh and as always, I'm hiring for my many ventures if someone is looking for coin.

Comments

voice; un: grimreaper666

[rebellions]

[ Ragna might never understand why anyone would like to waste their nights in company of other people, let alone pay for the, uh, "privilege". He has no investment in what other people do, however, so he's not gonna make too big of a fuss about it. ]

You're, uh, branching out, Papa Smurf.

[ ... Wait a minute. Don't tell him he'll have to accompany the old man there? Ugh. ]

voice

[conflictresolution]

[He isn't surprised that Ragna was going to make things awkward. Honestly, he should give the man a raise for that purpose alone.]

You're welcome to partake in any of my ventures whenever you like.

[A small pause as he takes a drag from his cigar.]

Though, what is that nickname you've given me mean?

[rebellions]

Thanks, but no thanks.

[ He figures Silco knows him well enough to know that would his answer, but it doesn't hurt to make his stance on the subject clear once more. ]

You're Smurfette's old man, no? So it fits.

[ Ah yes, that explains everything. ]

[conflictresolution]

I provide more than entertainment, I will remind you.

[Perhaps he would send Ragna a nice potted plant at some point. Or a tailored outfit, not that the man would let him that close as to make any measurements.]

I don't know what a smurfette is.

[rebellions]

What, you've invented a cure for people's stupidity and are keeping it all to yourself?

[ Now that might actually get his heart racing. ]

A cartoon character. She's blue. Like Jinx.

[ Which may be slightly inaccurate, but come on, you can't expect him to know every little detail of some really old show. ]

[conflictresolution]

Hardly, I have you as the cure for that.

[If Ragna needed a list of dumb people Silco didn't like, he'd provide and let the guy go to town on them over and over.]

A blue haired cartoon character. Does this character act like my daughter too?

[rebellions]

Guess killing them cures everything, yeah.

[ He'll take that as compliment! ]

Fuck if I know, do I look like someone who watches cartoons?

voice

[melnik]

[ Wow, Silco. Dirty the place up a bit and it's almost going to start reminding Miller of home. He chuckles briefly, indicative mostly of surprise. ]

How long have you been cooking up this one?

voice

[conflictresolution]

[His reason for doing this was multilayered, but mostly, it was to stick it to the Council and prove he could do it.]

Hmm, two months of thinking of it and then two months of investing in its creation.

I could use a man on the door, if you have the time.

[melnik]

Say no more. I'd be happy to help.

[ It's like he said, right? He really owes the guy one. ]

Is this kind of entertainment quite popular where you are from?

[conflictresolution]

Just like that?

[Well, he had been told Miller would be willing, but usually the adults were a bit more suspicious.]

In my city, if you can dream it, you can find it. We have many of these establishments throughout. Why not? People should enjoy themselves.

[melnik]

Are you telling me I should reconsider?

[ Because it had seemed a simple enough request to him. And considering the amount of thought Silco put into it, he had assumed that perhaps it was a familiar setting for him, as well. ]

I can't argue with that. It is certainly a way to draw a crowd. I wouldn't say that it interests me especially, but it is reminiscent of home. People seek out simple pleasures in times of desperation.

[conflictresolution]

What you do is up to you, I expect.

[It seemed there was no second thought on the matter. Well, he supposed it wasn't the first person to jump in both feet first, and Miller wouldn't be the last either.]

A preferred steady stream of people is the usual manner of clientele. At least bachelor parties will finally be entertained again. Desperate times does often require staring at someone shaking their assets, yes.

voice; un:curtaincall

[endcaller]

Ah, finally! Exactly what our lovely simulation needed: The chance to while away otherwise lonesome hours with AI-generated individuals of our choosing.

voice;

[conflictresolution]

Considering we also are AI-generated copies from our old lives, it seems fitting.

[endcaller]

Our bodies, perhaps! But us? I rather doubt it.

We have souls.

Would a soul with a warm body not prefer another soul with a warm body?

...Ah. Though, I suppose if pleasures are all that one is after any warm body will do, mmm?

[conflictresolution]

And what is a soul but the unique connections of someone's mind?

It depends what someone's expectations are for intimacy. Some may simply want a no-strings-attached show.

[endcaller]

A soul is aether and memories. Or, you could say, life energy and memories.

And it makes even a no-strings-attached show much more alluring.

[conflictresolution]

I haven't heard the term aether connected with a soul or life before.

You are welcome to partake, though you've never given me the impression such base carnal pleasures interest you.

text; un: brickfuckingmaster

[giraffic]

gross

text;

[conflictresolution]

Don't knock what I know you haven't tried.

Re: text;

[giraffic]

what kinda jobs would you even have at a place like that except beating people up for getting handsy

text;

[conflictresolution]

Bartenders, servers, cooks, cleaning staff, and yes, enforcers. Are you looking for employment, hmm?

This place doesn't have a stand up comic yet.

Re: text;

[giraffic]

it's something to do. i could be an enforcer.

text;

[conflictresolution]

Could you? I'm almost tempted.