video, attention all entrepreneurs

[jacksonian]

[ On the screen is a portly, jowly little guy with slicked-back hair and a smarmy manner. Mark is here to offer a really good business opportunity, yeah - but people could be excused for not being all that interested in that business opportunity on the basis of this kid looking and acting like a junior supervillain. ]

Hello. My name is Mark Vorkosigan, and I'm the founder and CEO of PKE, a full-service investment firm catering both to the imPort and native communities. I'm announcing today that PKE is expanding its business interests.

ImPorts are creative thinkers and capable entrepreneurs who still have trouble getting an initial loan to start their businesses. Local banks don't trust imPorts, because we disappear, or because we get attacked by the Soviets, or because bad things happen to us. So banks deny us loans, or charge us high interest rates. And this hurts our community.

So I am making it PKE's explicit mission to provide investments to fund your business ideas. Do you want to start a business? Then you should start here, with PKE. You can respond here and run your business idea past me, and if it seems viable, we can set up an appointment at my offices to discuss particulars.

[ And, with his smile growing broader and also quite savage, he goes on - ]

Oh, and just for those of you who weren't aware, Lucifer got Ported out. I'm hosting a party in celebration. Open bar, free food, live band. Everyone's invited. Next Saturday night, De Chima. RSVP here.

Comments

text; cw drugs, discriminatory language and vulgarity etc., etc., etc.

[pillz]

do u want some occaine @ ur party
or
ur meeting w venture captalists from outer space ;(
might make u taller
what do u say

text, 1/2

[jacksonian]

No.

text, private, 2/2

[jacksonian]

How much?

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

I can't help but take a little joy in the celebrations cropping up, in the wake of his exportation.

voice;

[jacksonian]

[ And Mark can't help but agree: ]

He was a piece of shit. I hope it's awful, wherever he went back to.

Are there other celebrations going on? I should send along a bottle of champagne to help them.

[Video]

[protects_the_small]

Well, that is a large relief. Will you have an effigy to burn?

[Video]

[jacksonian]

[ With just a hint of nerves, since he is certainly thinking about where Lucifer stands in their shared history - ]

Uh - I wasn't planning on it. It might be a good addition, though. Where do you buy those?

text; private

[resoundingpledge]

Dress code?

text; private

[jacksonian]

[ He wishes beyond all wishing that he had the courage to encourage her to dress in something cute and/or sexy. The best he can do is: ]

I was thinking club wear.

video;

[wizzardly]

My only request is a baked potato bar. They're one of the best things this world has to offer.

video;

[jacksonian]

The ones with the cheese and sour cream and all of that?

video;

[mirrordarkly]

What a shame. I had yet to visit his church.

video;

[jacksonian]

Apparently it's still open. Which must be depressing to him, wherever he is. He isn't even necessary for crazed shittiness - they can handle that by themselves.

[instars]

RSVP.

[jacksonian]

...Really?

text; anon

[nastygram]

I'm interested. I think.

text; anon

[jacksonian]

In the business or in the party?

video

[dendarii]

I was having just the same thought.

video

[jacksonian]

Do you want to come to my party, then? Or will you be having your own?

[heart_wrenching]

He- he did? Seriously??

[jacksonian]

[ For Winry, a genuine smile, helplessly relieved. ]

Yeah. Seriously. Even the news has confirmed it.

[smoking_analyst]

Well you certainly know how to get everyone attention. If you led with the last part a few more might have stuck around for the whole thing.

[jacksonian]

[ A shrug. ]

The ones who didn't stick around get to miss out on free booze and food. Next time they'll learn to pay attention.

video;

[textualhealing]

Wait, Lucifer's gone? For real or is he just holed up being his usual self?

video;

[jacksonian]

[ He knows that Jeff had decently-friendly relations with Lucifer, so his voice is just a little on the wary side when he says - ]

Really gone. Dead, hopefully, wherever he is.

[dun_moch]

[Hello seeming junior supervillain, have a senior supervillain smiling at you! Er, that is, have a political idealist who sometimes seems off-putting because of his black clothing and ultra-deep voice.]

That is excellent news on both counts, sir. I regret that I will not be able to attend your party, but I will most certainly wish all attendees a very fine evening.

Now, then: I have been giving some thought to expanding my band's merchandising operations. Perhaps a PKE investment could help us broaden our reach?

[jacksonian]

[ oh yes
that's a nice old man there ]

Hm. That's definitely possible.

[ He smiles and steeples his hands. ]

I'm sure you make excellent money already, of course - I know how popular and regarded your band is. But I'm sure that we can do more. The keys, of course, will be to both sell the same things to more people, and more things to the same people.

voice; cant believe i didnt see this sooner i hope a late tag is fine.

[dreamshades]

[ Pan has all but ignored everything in this post but for one crucial element:

Lucifer was gone.

The boy can all but laugh now. One of the few to match him in power was taken from play and now he doesn't have to keep an eye out anymore. ]

I don't even think I can add anything to this but a glorious thing to hear. He was such a stick in the mud.