R1M20 JHR Lore Reward

Going off alone as you do allows you to show yourself to the water, the flames of the manor before you framing the evening's rippling river waters magnificently. The thought of the rest of the world becoming such a fireball nearly distracts you, even, from your intended goal, but in this moment, you reorient yourself and hurry towards it once again; yes, you WILL track him down.

Not long after you begin to lie in wait by the riverside for a chance to approach, he dismisses that accomplice of his, calls your presence out, and as he sits there, sweating and attempting to regain his stamina, speaks to you calmly and emphasizes a certain pointlessness in trying to surprise him... You've seen the postmatch.

"No hard feelings, right?" The tall, bald man paused on that point, looking as if sizing you up and assessing your character. "Nobody who died here means a damn thing to you, I'm sure, Malaise... If they had, you'd'a tried to turn me in or turn on me before that little accident sent you in, right? But nah, unlucky as we both were to run into each other, we can make somethin' better for both of us from it, I think. So let's make nice... My life's story, whatever you wanna ask, however that appeals to ya, go ahead."

It seems he'll be willing to speak until he isn't... However long that is. It likely depends in part on how you carry yourself here.

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A. Ask about his background - how did he get to be who he is now?
B. Ask about his connections - why does he have the strange things he does?
C. Ask about his future - if he means to 'give up' being Aurelio's serial killer, what comes next?
D. You have some other question about him to ask.
E. You aren't here to chat; you have some request for him.
F. You have no interest in anything Mr. Jones can offer; kill him here and now.

"The feelings of mine mired mind are not for such mere mortals to decide upon, Jones. You run the risk of losing that lethargic life of yours, currently, and I would merely remind you that to make another solitary assumption about my inner workings, so to speak, will be the last words that ever escape your excuse for a face."

"In other words, I'm fascinated by how deeply and truly you are a failed figure. If you postulate that it was luck - something I do not hold any degree of faith in - that brought me to your abode, even of the bad variety, you are stating that a realistic chanced outcome brought you gasping to this riverbed. What you can do for me is very little. I am above you in every conceivable way."

"Though I am nothing if not generous. So I grace you with my brief conversation. What are your petty little plans for the future?" (C)

They're on their belly by the shore, legs lifted slightly and ankles crossed, putting on a mock lounging display of intently listening. It's unclear if they actually care - but they're just out of range so that MCD won't keep him from focusing on his response.
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Manta's response earned a bemused sigh from Mr. Jones, who mulled over his words awhile, meeting Manta's mock-casualness with some of his own, shifting into a more relaxed cross-leggedness and putting his sword away, no longer leaning into it - seemed he had regained some strength in this moment spent hearing Manta rant, and grew more relaxed, more okay with his various scuffs and scrapes. The opportunity to kill him quickly seems to have passed.

"Call it what you like... I consider myself a lucky man, to have run into you, that even while you call me a big ol' failure, and honestly, you of all folks has the right to after that showing in there." He chuckled. "I consider myself a lucky man, anyway... There's a lot I have that others don't, and I live every day appreciatin' that and wanting to live that out to the fullest, unrestricted."

"Livin' in a society isn't an opt-out thing for a guy like me, who quite likes to live life and not be some kinda caveman Fred Flintstone-type, and I worried I was gettin' a mite too famous as Aurelio's latest local celebrity... Nah, what's for me now is more anonymous charity work, and more livin' life somewhere I can just cut loose and have fun. I'm sure, someone like you knows all about all those underground rings that run about..." He sighed. "Hell of a time, but it's all just so... Monetized, yeah? But hey, they wanna make it less fun for 'em, that's on them! Stand Users like you, and that Casey girl, they're all over the damn place, and call me a ripoff of that Cairo all ya want, but I wanna have a hell of a time spreadin' what happens to the world when you mash 'em together, move that little underground out of its hovel and into the modern, internet age! I've always been a tech-savvy guy, yeah?" He looked out to the river. "Course, I still got all my obligations out here, but... Hey, that's all volunteer stuff, charity, public service, yeah? Good for the soul!"

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It seems he's willing to talk more... Will you?
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"What an endearingly thoughtless concept, at the risk of sound akin to a internet dweller, that your soul can be helped. This matters little to me, of course - the only important piece here is that while I never intervene in directing the course of nature in an unintended way, only speeding the course to its ultimate conclusion."

"Your actions have caused me to break from my principles today. You are a lifeless leech, and it would have been only natural for me to let you die today, be it by my hand or that of another a fourth as strong as myself." They sigh, glancing down at their hand as if examining it in disdain. "Run about, tire yourself with the minutia of the underground ring. For a creature such as you, this is a fitting secondary course, rife with lost fools pummeling each other for their misguided searches for meaning or worth. As you do so, remember this-"

"As far as I am concerned, you owe me a hefty debt. Your opinion in this exchange is not something that is valued - I am saying it is so, so that is how our dance will operate. Call me when you feel presentable enough to make good on my prior act of charity." And they're sliding backwards into the water, now.

"Not that I have a telephone. You'll work something out. Try not to die on the way home.....  and don't interfere with my associates." They're only talking about Born Bad, of course.

Manta tired of this petty chatter.