etraya | voice | un: vsmith

I don't think many would agree with wisdom, but sure. It feels like the past and future should be reversed to me, but what do I know about cards. How often do you do this?

It's a vague reading, anyway. [ For fun. ]

Let's see... the last time I did a reading was about six months ago. [ A beat that feels like a shrug is tossed in. ] So, I don't do them that often.

Definitely. The ones that lived in my city read on the streets or these hole-in-the-wall places where they could read people's microexpressions and make educated guesses. It seems to draw quite the crowd of people. Maybe you should consider doing it more often.

I hope they made a good amount of money doing that, then.

[ Ugh. ] No. That would mean I'd have to talk to people more than I want to, which is very little.

They did! They could fleece a desperate person out of a lot of coin. It was fascinating to watch when I was a boy. And why don't you like talking to people?

Good for them.

[ Being a hypocritical person, Vincent sounds irritated about how they did well, however. ]

Because I don't like people. [ Well, that's not completely true. He dislikes outsiders, but that's ingrained in him. ] But I'm willing to put that aside for how useful a person may be. Fair, right?

Everyone scratches out a living however they can. Use the skills you have, right? Did someone hurt you and now you're gun-shy about engaging with people now? Though, I do find it fascinating you engage based on a person's perceived value.

Yes, they do.

[ Anyway! ]

No one hurt me? Yes, their value is based on what I give them. Is it accurate? Probably not, but people's worth is different to different people. So I think I'm operating in a reasonable and rational way.

That is rather generous of you. That is more altruistic than expected. Do you not expect anything from anyone in return?

[ ......................... is this person messing with him? ]

What do you mean? They have to have some use to me or I'm not going to do anything for them.

Just curious why you would see their value based on what you would give them then, as you stated above. So they do have to provide something of value in return?

You're right. I did word that a little poorly. My mistake.

[ But anyway. ]

Yes, they have to be useful to me in return. Otherwise, there's no point to give them anything.

And what makes a person useful to you in a place like this?

Honestly, it depends on the person.

There's no set criteria. If there were, that'd be easy. But all investments have a baseline and that baseline means there's some usefulness to them. Be it that they simply wish to ensure a mission is successful or not. That means they have at least 10% usefulness but that doesn't meant that they're anything else. Liquidation of that payout is difficult to acquire since a relationship usually needs to be maintained and held in order to ensure maximum amount of --

[ He waves his hand. ] -- it varies.

[Oh boy, there's a lot to unpack here. Including a few red flags.]

Ah, so you value transactional relationships in relatively simple terms. Are you using these readings to find new people who can provide usefulness to you after a reading?

Exactly. Good on you.

[ He makes a flicking gesture to the side. Even if he's on voice, he's still making hand gestures. Don't @ him. Anyway, he increases the person's value a little. It's nice when someone gets it. ]

No. I'm doing it because I'm bored. If I was doing it to find anyone useful, I'd be incredibly disappointed due to how many people seem to want to irritate me instead.

[Patronizing little fellow, wasn't he?]

If you do this for boredom, I'm now extremely curious what hobbies you fully engage in. I figure the spectrum of irritation would just line up who you would be willing to talk to further and who you will write off.

[ 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. ]

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