etraya | voice | un: vsmith

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?

What do I find more valuable? It depends on the investment.

Not all transactions are made equal, after all. Simply because "you" may die for me does not mean "I" will die for "you." It would be a negative investment for me if you went that far since I have nothing I can repay with in terms of action on my part.

Everything must be equal to ensure there is no debt.

I assure you that I have no interest dying for you, not yet anyway. I need to invest in us to reach that point. So your most important value is equal investments to remove the overarching idea of debt. Unless perhaps that debt is yours to collect?

Exactly. I despise people who try to accrue debt on others and then act like it isn't --

[ Whatever. ]

No. I don't want to collect debt, either. [ He flicks his wrist to the side, batting away the idea, even if it can't be seen. ] If someone feels indebted to me, that isn't a worthwhile situation for me to be in. [ His hand shakes as he continues to wave it in the air. ] I don't know if that person would pay me back for what I did, and they may grow to resent my actions.

An investment fails when either party oversteps their contributions.

It seems to me (and correct me if I'm wrong) but relationships to you are business transactions. The debits and credits all need to be balanced for an effective system, though I suppose the profits are subjective in this case. Are you a banker at home?

They're more like stocks and bonds, but that is about the same.

[ Numbers are more reliable than people so people should just be numbers. ]

I worked on Wall Street, but now I'm a priest.

[Ah. So like Chross. Never played an odd that wasn't profitable somehow.]

You really are a numbers man then. I understand. Safe to assume that you like statistics then? A priest? What's your religion?

No, actually, I hate them, but unfortunately, that is what the world is made of, doggy.

[ Please don't try to understand him. It's pointless. ]

The Order of the Holy Woman.

Woof, that's a tough one. You're quite the enigma. I'll figure you out, friend.

[Call him doggy, get called friend. They'll learn together.]

Sounds interesting. Tell me more.

Ugh.

[ He supposes he has to eat that one. ]

What do you want to know? It's part of our commitments that we offer insight to those asking, but I'm not one to preach even if I am a priest. I'm one to enlighten if asked.

Well, I usually start with what is your religious' edicts? What is this path supposed to accomplish to the common people?

Prayer and devotion to God.

[ He gestures above his head. ]

God gave onto us miracles and saved our wretched lives. It is our duty to those that have been blessed by Her mercy to show Her our appreciation and faithfulness. We can educate those that wish to know and join us in prayer, as well. However, unlike some religion, God offers Her mercy to everyone regardless if they are or not of the Order.

As such, we attempt to do the same.

What kind of miracles did She provide to humanity? I expect you have a book or a pamphlet to read on all of this? I definitely find myself interested in some of this stuff, though it's rather nebulous of what mercy and miracles and blessings actually look like. Maybe I'm just a simple practical old bartender and this is all over my head.

I don't have a brochure. This isn't a tourist vacation but our doctrine.

[ Somehow he doesn't sound all that mad, however. ]

But She gave us time, death, and means to purge ourselves of sin. [ He flicks his finger even though he isn't looking at anyone but in his apartment. ] The fact time is moving forward is due to Her. The fact a person can die is due to Her. And when death comes, She offers us a chance to fix what we did wrong while alive.

This has been granted to all people.

Most religions have written words about their doctrine, that's all. We have a lot of stories for ours.

[Look, what else was he supposed to do but read now and again?]

How do you purge yourself of sin? What is considered a sin with Her? How did you find this God too? It seems strange to me that a guy who puts transactional value on all interactions to find solid basis of belief in a nebulous entity.

I refuse to bring our religious text here.

[ And that's the end of that! ]

We walk the road of penance. It is where we must accept the wrongs we have done. A sin is what one feels guilt for, I suppose, is the simplest terms. So... some walks are easier than others. Even a wretched person will recognize killing someone is wrong even if they have all the excuses in the world. Even a madman without connection to the world will know something is wrong about them in their bones.

God will help even the most unruly of souls to enter Heaven... or they can just not. They don't have to walk the road if they don't want to... they can choose to go to Hell instead. It is purely up to them. [ Mercy without kindness. ]

A criticism about me that I've heard before, but transactional value is for the human world. The divine world doesn't have to worry about such numbers, and so... I am at peace when I think of it.

Okay, sensitive topic. I take the hint. Hmmm, so sin seems to be similar to most religions that I've been exposed to. It nice to see there is a constant thread with many of them across time and worlds at least; humanity is consistent on that as a baseline. We know we have the path to be bad and we have to make up for it. It's not a personal slight against you. I find it interesting. You're a fascinating conundrum, and it's been awhile for me. I appreciate your confidence.

Well, thank you. [ He snaps his fingers. ] You get an added 2%.

[ He hums, perhaps that is too low given what he's been put up with -- technical analysis shouldn't put something low due to personal feelings but fact, hm. ]

Nevermind. It'll be a proper 10%. [ 25% total seems generous but he feels that is related to fact over feeling. ] Anyway, it seems everyone is agreed to what a sin is... for the most part.

And a person cannot live without some confidence. Even a weak, powerless person like myself.

[He was about to type 'so basically standard interest rate' but then Vincent elevated it and hot damn, that's increasing fast... which means it can go down just as quickly.]

25%? You're starting to like me already. I see how it is. You like people who can take a hint when you're uncomfortable. I'm learning so much about you in this one conversation. And everyone seems to agree that sin requires punishment. How much or how bad and how long is usually in debate. True words there. Confidence is the way to the world. Everyone is good at something.

It's not about like. I don't like anyone. [ Let's make that clear. ] I appreciate people who can read the room.

[ Again, he nods even though it can't be seen. ] That is up to God to decide.

[ Meh. ] Even if you aren't good at anything, you should still be confident about what you are. The only person that should look down on you is the divine. People say that no one was put on earth to judge others. I judge everyone so I can't say that statement is true. [ He laughs to himself. ] We can judge each other without being smug and superior about it, however.

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