etraya | voice | un: vsmith

[ Hobbies he actively engages in? That's a question, isn't it? He doesn't really think he has anything that he does that can be considered "a hobby." Feed and tend Heathcliff? Maybe? Complain to the creature? Probably? Think and plan and plan and plan and plan and -- ]

It doesn't matter, really. I only get along with a scant few but I have no intention of telling you their names. Because in the end, it doesn't matter who I am connected to, does it? I am who I am and they are who they are. That's all there is to it.

I wouldn't ask their names; that's between you and them. That's an interesting flippant attitude about people and their associations. You're an interesting one.

[Vander liked interesting complex people. They were entertaining as he did what he could to figure them out.]

Maybe I'll look into becoming one of the scant club members.

Well, yes. What they do have nothing to do with me.

[ Obviously. The only thing he could do to protect any of them is die for them. But how often would what they get involved in need him to be so drastic? His fear of death makes that a difficult hurdle to cross, but it's an investment. Anything else they happen to find themselves in, they know not to bother him. Relationship issues? Quarrels? They know how much he dislikes people and would keep him out of it since he'd make the matter worse. ]

Ugh. If you must? I don't see why you'd want to, however.

Doesn't it? Do your associates know that? I bet they do actually.

[This guy seemed like the brute honest type. He still suspected there was a lot to unearth here.]

You're interesting. I like interesting.

Yes. It's pointless to keep things from others.

[ Like the only thing he's hiding is he's a cultist, but he doesn't think he's a cultist. So -- there's a bit to unpack there, but whatever. ]

You're lowering your stock value if you're trying to be fresh with me.

Is it? The way I see it, everyone has their secrets and that's good. I didn't realize you'd already bid me up on the stock market. I promise I accrual interest.

I suppose, but intentions are another.

It's best people know that rather than waste each other's time thinking there is real friendship, no?

[ A beat then adds: ] So you say. [ About how he'll accrual interest. ]

Intentionality does make the difference when considering how to take a person's actions. Are you saying you don't believe in friendship?

That's right.

Real friendship does not exist. Only transactional relationships. You may be getting something emotional [ Ugh. ] from the person, but you are getting something from them, and they are getting something from you. If you give nothing to one another, eventually, there is nothing.

Furthermore, the level of betrayal a person feels towards anything is only related to how much time, effort, and investment they put into anything. It's just a stock going under that is upsetting, not the individual that they're lamenting, after all.

[That was an interesting take, but it was also one of the saddest things that he had heard in his life. Yet, he took his time to reflect before answering; this was the kind of 2 am just-before-the-bar closed drunk talk some of his patrons would engage in, just less eloquent.]

So you're proposing that friendship is a label added to a particular transactional relationship. I think you're boiling it down too far because love does exist. You ever been in love, Vincent?

No.

[ Ugh. ]

I'm not getting into "love" with you people.

Fair enough. Love is unreasonable and messy and beautiful and ugly all at the same time. It can move mountains and stall all progress. It's quite the emotion to experience. Anyway, I agree that all relationships are transactional in a way, but that's boiling down the bonds that people share in friendship and in loving relationships to semantics that are too simplified. That's my opinion, of course. We can agree to disagree on that point.

[ VERY LONG SIGH ]

Yes, we will agree to disagree, then.

Practically best friends already.

I will find a way to kill you if you utter nonsense like that to me again.

Oh, I'm technically already dead, so... To friendship then, transactional and all.

Shame it didn't stick.

[ Anyway. ]

Yes, yes... transactional relationship established. 15% baseline approved. The average and baseline has been ruled to be 10%. Dropping below is not advised. [ Certainly may sound like a joke, but well, it is how his mind works, too. ]

Yeah me too. I have an ugly future ahead of me.

[Anyway.]

What's the highest percentage above baseline do you have with a person?

[ Hmph. The desire to have the last word eats at him, but investments are being talked about so: ]

That would be telling and there's no telling you will get there.

Still, I used to have the baseline at 25% but market values had shown me that was too optimistic. So, don't celebrate too much, hm?

[Oh, one of those. Reminding him of Silco already.]

Just need to know where the top end of curve is, nothing more, nothing less.

[ Hmmmmmmmmm. Well, fine. So long as he isn't talking about irritating topics anymore. ]

90%.

Regardless of being 15% or 90%, that is how much my investment is in any individual.

Meaning, of course, my technical analysis tells me that if it is more profitable to me in the long run to lose an arm for someone... then I will. 15% gets you my occasional insight and thoughts on a mission, with the belief you will offer the same if asked.

The slightly above the bare minimum one can hope for from someone else.

[This conversation was fascinating. Vander was rather invested in how this man's mind worked. It was highly transactional and rigid.]

And what is it that you find more valuable in receiving in return in any kind of association with another person?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject