FUTUROLOGY NETWORK.

[so here's a video of kaz. his st. bernard puppy, barend, is on his lap. look at barend!! isn't he cute? isn't he the cutest puppy you've ever seen? he is so cute, in fact, that kaz brekker, bastard of the barrel is petting him. like, for real, kaz is touching something with a pulse. it's a miracle.

and barend is just so cute right? focus on that for a moment. before you listen to what he has to say. itll put you in the right mindset. remember: chill, cute puppy. that's absolutely the point of this video.

totally.

100%]

Here's the thing -- [or, maybe, kaz is going to start lecturing because he's put on his "i'm a lieutenant of a gang" voice. it's the same tone of voice he used when he beat up the entirety of the dregs, but he doesn't know that happened yet. one day.] -- when you all wanted to act like killing was the most unreasonable thing a person could possibly do, there was at least a sense that you had the moral high-ground. "Think of Perdition's Rest! We saved people."

[kaz laughs, a little (a lot) coldly.]

Most of you didn't even want think of what kinds of existences you were saving - both there and back in Woodhurst. You'd rather force a man to live through grueling circumstances and inflict emotional pain than have to live with the idea that your precious hands had been soiled with blood. And anyone who suggested otherwise was immediately jumped on because, Saints forbid anyone suggest what you were doing was wrong. What's the point of moral high-ground if people don't recognize your superior position for what it is?

And it has to be self-perpetuating. So in the wake of this announcement, you're all going to find ways to tell yourselves how you did the right thing, how Oska wasn't your fault, how every life spared is the right thing to do under every circumstance. But a lie, even a nice one, is still a lie.

[he takes a deep breath and shifts, enough so that barend jumps off and scampers away to go find something else to do than sit with his scary teen criminal.]

That's not even really the worst part. The lack of cohesion in this team means that mistakes like these are going to keep happening. [he gives extra emphasis the last two words, trying to drive them home] The kind of work we're doing right now is sloppy at best, and we're lucky it was Oska that got hit and not one of these precious planets you've been trying to save along the way. This mistake could have been a lot more deadly, and the next one almost assuredly will.

I know your responses are going to be a mixture of accusing me of wanting power for myself and being heartless for wanting to kill. Let's all just acknowledge it now, together: if heartless and practical are one in the same, then fine. And power? I honestly don't care enough about this team to want it. I also don't care what your final decisions are - only that we should make some attempt to make them as a group instead of this haphazard decision making we've been doing thus far.

[he pauses, shrugs]

Or we can keep making more mistakes -- and then the decisions will be made for us.

[ kaz has been here for awhile now, but hasn't managed to actually post to the network. until now. the video opens with kaz and nami, sitting next to each other. kaz looks the perfect picture of an adult businessman ready to offer a deal. ]

Good Afternoon, Audentes. Here in Woodhurst, there are opportunities available to us that weren't in Perdition's Rest. [he means it in a general way - business, taking advantage of resources - but jesper picks a pretty great time to walk past in HIDEOUS colors. so that too.] But those opportunities cost money, and the meager budget ALASTAIR gave us won't last for very long.

[ if kaz is the very image of a businessman, nami is his perfect opposite: the miniskirt she wears is certainly not appropriate for any legal job... she picks up the sales pitch with ease and enthusiasm, though.] You could always work long hours to support yourself and any supplies we might need for this mission to really succeed... or you could let us help you!

["""help"""]

As it just so happens, we're feeling generous about a recent acquisition, and are willing to lend out some extra money to help with your ventures. The money can be repaid in interest or via favors of equivalent value.

[ kaz nods towards nami, who they've agreed between them that she can take care of the interest aspect. he could do it himself, of course, but he'd rather let her feel like shes contributing something here. ]

[ she hmphs, clearly there's been some disagreement here... ] Yes, really generous! Too generous, in my opinion. Anyway, the longer you take to pay us back, the more you'll owe us, so keep that in mind! [ pausing, she points imperiously at their so-far imaginary audience. ] Ah, and if you die, then we get the right to confiscate anything we want from your belongings, to pay for your debt! It's just fair, don't you think?

[ even death won't save you from this particular debt collector... ]

Moreover [ and clearly, more importantly ] Ghezen frowns on deals made in bad faith. We'll hold up our end of the bargain if you hold up yours. Feel free to contact us here or either of us privately if you wish to discuss.