1/02/2024 Kick Recap - "Bigger Than Cypress"

Lang takes care of a few errands until CJ contacts him to meet. He meets her in the Forge where she tries to prepare him for the news. CJ explains that she got into a complicated mess with Norman Bones, and she's afraid that the deal she made with Norman is going to bring the apocalypse to everything. Lang is confused, he doesn't believe in Norman Bones, and can only relate Norman to gang politics. Lang tells her not to be afraid of Norman, but she's more afraid of Martin who warned her not to deal with Norman before. Lang tries to calm CJ down, and CJ remembers that she might have also started a war with the Manor by mentioning Franky's name during a scuffle with the Manor, and now his ex-wife (who is in the Manor) is looking for him. She contacted Tony about it, and he said it was a south problem, Lang agrees. Lang gives her an oxy and seems concerned that she hasn't slept. Lang asks about her relationship with Edgar, who she claims is her friend. Edgar took her on a few crazy adventures and ultimately introduced her to all the Norman Bones stuff. CJ makes the relation that every time she talks to Edgar, her life gets worse. Lang has her reflect on that, for her safety. CJ tells Lang that she loaned Tony 400k for car stuff, Lang thinks that's the most important issue so far. Lang gives her a new rule for 2025, don't lend Tony Corleone money. CJ thinks she's being chased and watched, Lang asks if she's seen this card he has, and shows her the Faceless card. Lang jokes about his problems being way more real than hers, and CJ remembers that Andi warned her about Norman and the lighthouse, too. Lang wants to stir so he wishes her well and becomes a crow and flies away.

Lang calls Edgar to complain about him giving everyone a poor impression of him, he's simply a good old man. Edgar says he's gathering supplies for the jobs, Lang will have his people around. Tony calls to check in, offering to show Lang his new car. Lang tells Tony it was silly to ask CJ for money, but Tony let's Lang test drive his new Furora GT. They return to Cypress and run into Liya, Skipper, Bubbles, and Larry. Lang pulls Skipper aside to chat, but Zeek calls to warn them about war with the Manor. Lang wants to get their Ammunation HQ done asap, especially with war on the horizon. They gather up and head to the crate, Lang narrowly completes the hack and they get a few deagles and glock parts.

Returning to Cypress, Lang finally pulls Skipper aside to chat, Skipper asks for Martin to come join them. Skipper says he's been marked by the Faceless, and he was told to rat out Edgar to them, or else they're going to kill CJ. Skipper mentions that Gigi might be involved, Lang gets mad that Martin isn't speaking, but Martin suggests that they kill CJ anyway since she's dead regardless. Martin asks Lang if he knows Norman Bones, but Lang is convinced he's a gangbanger from the Besties. Skipper tells the story that CJ saw a crow and followed it to the lighthouse, even against his own advice. Saab arrives and they ask him what he thinks about Norman Bones, Lang thinks Norman Bones is Saab in disguise. Saab admits that they did take a lady to the lighthouse once, but that was more of a northern Cypress issue than a 'Saab kills women' issue. Martin thinks Norman is too cool to be Saab, so Skipper reviews his texts and tells them CJ might be beyond saving. Martin is frustrated that CJ persisted beyond his warnings, and even after Skipper warned her many times, too. Lang reminds them that her deal with Norman was to kill someone, or Skipper dies, but Lang is really confused now.

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They find out CJ is awake, so they call her to meet. CJ says she's with Saab to get food, so Lang calls her in a panic to flee from him, since he's obviously the killer. Martin laughs about their panic, since he's sure Norman isn't Saab. Lang talks about how old he's getting, Martin asks if he's in Lang's will. Lang isn't sure where his belongings will go, so he tells Martin to sell all of his belongings and put the cash in his coffin.

Lang, Martin, CJ, and Skipper head into the Forge to talk, but Lang takes a call from Edgar about an interruption. One of his group who has the access card is in police custody, they are going to request a prison transport and attempt to break him out of cuffs. Lang thinks he's crazy, but needs to handle the conversation about Norman. Edgar tells Lang to tell Martin that his son, Jay Hobbs, will be joining them. Martin and CJ yell at each other about Norman, Martin warned CJ not to go to the lighthouse and is convinced that CJ is going to kill them all. Lang doesn't believe in Norman's spectral powers. Lang brushes this off in frustration and walks away, but hides around the corner. Buddha uses his admin powers to mess with Skipper, Martin, and CJ while they continue to talk in the Refinery

Edgar calls to confirm that Lang is down to help with the break out, Lang is getting prepared so they plan to meet near the prison and try and stop the police convoy. Lang gets equipped and heads over with Martin and Saab. They hide Lang's lime green car in a few bushes, Luciano calls while they wait and tells Lang that things with the Manor have cooled off, but they expect disrespect. After much time, Edgar relays that the transport is on the way. Martin is nervous and mentions that they raid over this, so Lang calls Liya and quickly transfers the Forge into her name. The transport arrives, they hop out and shoot at it, and then flee. Lang drives away but fakes like they're lost and involved in the chaos to make Edgar think they're working hard. They drive back into the city, Lang ejects with Saab and they both go down.

After getting back on their feet, they return to Cypress. Lang renames his old key to "BESTIES CARGO WAREHOUSE" and tosses it onto the highway. Martin gives Lang a new key to the Forge, Lang compliments Liya's new hair, she notes that she's not trying to be mistaken for CJ at the moment. Larry asks to have a chat with Lang, on behalf of himself, Liya, and Bubbles. They head into the Smeltery to chat, Larry is frustrated with all the crazy stuff that's happening. Martin shares that Gigi wants CJ dead, Larry gets texts from Gigi warning him about snakes in the grass. She continues to tell Larry about her concern for him, and the people she cares about. Larry wants to know what's going on, he thinks Lang is being coy. Liya and Larry ask about the Faceless, and Lang mixes up what they're curious about. Lang shows them the card that he's marked by, Martin doesn't want to get involved any deeper. Martin tells them about what Gigi said, and her wanting to NOT get involved in the chaos, and that's why he warned CJ and Skipper in the first place. Gigi called Martin again today, to remind him of his vow to kill them for not listening to him. Lang doesn't want to kill anyone, and he doesn't believe in Norman OR the Faceless. Larry suggests killing Edgar, and then getting some help for CJ and Skipper. Bubbles passes out from hunger, they all find it spooky. Buddha starts exploding things, causing them to panic

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They drive in a panic to the Rooster's Rest parking lot, Liya is convinced that Lang and Skipper are causing this. Lang asks Martin what they should do, but he doesn't know. Lang presses Skipper about what deal he made with the devil, he gets dragged around, and then lit on fire in front of everyone. They panic, so Lang leads them to the tunnels that lead through the wine storage to the Rooster's Basement. Larry and Martin come to a realization, but Lang calls them back to the tunnels to discuss a plan. Lang gives everyone a short recap of their work with Edgar, and their encounters with the Faceless. Skipper tells them of his confusion, his 3 different encounters, and Gigi's involvement. Lang thinks they should work with the Faceless, Larry thinks they should fight them, but Lang argues that it's okay to be scared of higher powers. Lang lets them out of the tunnels and 'heads to bed', Buddha follows the northerners around and continues to torment them with the dev panel. He changes into a crow and stands outside of the bodega windows, even encountering Andi and Luciano who seem confused as well. He teleports to Edgar who is being interrogated in the PD, and walks around as a crow on the floor until he's over it