1/7/2024 Kick Recap - "Every Thread Counts"

Lang takes care of some errands and meets up with the northerners by Legion Square. Bubbles hit a lick so he hands off 50k to Lang, and Martin gives Lang his 50k, too. Lang stashes the money safely, and Martin advises him to pile the new kickups in a safe space so that it doesn't conflict with the money piles they have for other resources. Lang picks up and drops off some money at the clubs, and then returns to Cypress to help the crew prepare for Maze Bank. Martin complains about the fish in his office, Lang mocks his desk size, Lang makes a mess of Martin's office. Skipper isn't around, Lang offers to do the RC-Car hacks on the roof, Martin tries to explain the hack to him.

They head to the bank and Lang takes his time opening the vent. Lang gives the hacks his best effort, but Bubbles fails the doors and they leave. They pivot the plan into a Cash Exchange and gather supplies. Martin and Lang get pulled over by Carmine right outside the Forge, Lang threatens him, until he leaves. Lang gets gas and meets Bubbles and Liya at the cash exchange, realizing that Delver is their hostage. Delver is normal now, he's not as weird as he used to be. Delver had an epiphany and came to terms with his new life, which isn't like his old one. The police arrive and Lang threatens to kill the hostage, continuing to banter with the police about Carmine who arrives on scene. Lang threatens the cops, calling them out for being scared. Lang quickly loses the cops and everyone in the car is surprised at his driving skills. Lang twats about the cops being a joke, and then calls Carmine to brag. Carmine doesn't like that Lang makes him feel like shit every time he sees him.

Lang returns to the Forge, Liya asks Lang if he spoke to Clark, so Lang calls him. Clark tells Lang that Ilya was blooded out over consistent disrespect, constant questioning, and Clark shot him after Ilya called him a pussy. Lang presses Clark for making decisions like that, and distills most of the issue to Clark having an ego. Lang immediately calls Ilya, but can't reach him. Lang calls Martin over to explain things, Martin isn't sure if Clark is a Don since they appointed Zeek for a day. Lang offers to destroy the south once and for all, but Martin calls him out for treason. Lang doesn't want Ilya blooded out, so they discuss what options they have. Lang and Martin race to the hospital and the Cypress waters to see if they can rescue Ilya.

They return to Cypress and run into Saab, Martin calls Saab a pussy to see if he reacts, but he takes it respectfully. Lang gives Saab a ride to his car, and then calls Zeek to get the tea. Zeek had no idea Ilya got blooded out (Lang is the leaker), but he knew he got shot. Zeek explains that it seemed like Ilya challenged Clark, but he wasn't sure it escalated to blooding out. Zeek takes a call, Martin runs around chasing him to over hear it. Zeek says that over the past few weeks Ilya has been pushing things with everyone in South Cypress, including calling people out and arguing with leadership. Lang warns Zeek that he might be next, and they all leave.

Lang blames himself, and tells Martin about how he shouldn't have left the South. Lang tells Martin the story about how Luciano was disrespected during the Manor talks and Martin over exaggerates how cringe he feels about it. They stop by the food court and Martin calls someone a pussy through the Frank's booth gate. Lang twats in honor of 'the destroyer of worlds', and Lang nearly shoots Dubois who is hanging out with Northerners outside the Forge. Lang tells them that Ilya got blooded out for calling Clark a pussy, and everyone reacts accordingly. Saab laughs, so Lang sends him to timeout. Tony asks about Ilya and his relevance to the group, but Lang reminds him of how upset he is, since they're Dons and should be informed of decisions like this.

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Lang, the northerners, and Octo chat about how the South is operating and reflect on their time with Ilya. Lang harps on the agreement he made with the Dons to maintain structure and only blood out treasonists. Everyone has the impression that Clark did the blood out on his own, Saab cheers from the corner so Lang remembers to call him back over. They discuss what Lang's next steps are, and they head to the Cypress waters to pay their respects. Martin rides with Lang and suggests that he should just bring Ilya in, regardless of the rules they set before. Lang is concerned that will further divide Cypress, and Martin thinks it might be time to officially separate completely.

Lang and Martin get changed, running into Jay Hobbs at the clothing store. They meet with the northerners by the waters, in the rain, and speak highly of their time with Ilya. Bubbles and Tony wish Ilya well, Lang let's Larry speak about his time with Ilya and how proud he was to fight along side him. Lang has everyone aim into the sky and shoot in his honor.

They return to Cypress and Tony wants to chat with Lang in the refinery. Tony says he got approval from Nino for the underground to be built, and asks for approval to work with Bruce Baylor (the previous warehouse property flipper). Lang still thinks he's a rat, but if he can help Tony, then Lang thinks it's fine. Sophia wants to open up a repair shop, so Tony is going to work with her on that. Finally, Tony mentions that he's bringing back Redline, his old racing crew. Tony asks Lang to help break into the bank to secure his old funds from back in the day, (rp bank heist?) Lang agrees. Before Tony even asks, Lang agrees to finally bring Octo to the north. Tony speaks on the same sentiments that Martin raised earlier, suggesting that the north finally becomes something on it's own. Tony wants to bring Gigi to whatever they do next, Lang finally spills to Tony about all the drama she's caught up in. Tony clarifies any issues with the plans he has, but Lang just reminds him not to bring in treasonists, otherwise he has his back no matter what.

Lang calls Andi to meet, but she's busy. Edgar calls to chat, and they both laugh about who is more trustworthy. Edgar says that Skipper was lying about the mission he was given, but won't tell Lang because he doesn't trust him. Lang gets frustrated with Edgar, and threatens to go through Jay and Gigi's phones. Edgar wants to catch up later, Lang calls CJ to see if there were any loop holes for Skipper to be caught lying. CJ doesn't know anything about the Faceless, and agrees that Edgar is probably bluffing.

Andi finally arrives and they chat about Ilya and the way the South has been operating. Lang asks Andi about her perspective on things, but she argues that he should be talking to the other Dons. Lang gives Andi the same complaints, she agrees that the blood out ritual should have been honored regardless of how quick the punishment was. Lang informs Andi that he plans on splitting the North completely, Andi tells him that she's going to have to tell the South about his plan, and Lang calls her out for betraying his trust if she tells them. Lang thinks Andi is arguing for the sake of arguing, and isn't listening to him, but Andi disagrees and thinks that her role is to inform them if Lang doesn't plan to. Lang wishes her well and hopes that he can execute his plan cleaner, than her informing them and making a mess of things before it starts.

Lang calls Martin and confirms the plan to split from Cypress officially, Martin understands and agrees. They intend to bring Octo, Ilya, and Teddy with them. Skipper is awake, Lang takes him to chat in the Forge about if his lies got leaked. Skipper ran into Officer Peters yesterday and bragged about Skipper being marked by the Faceless publicly, Lang and Skipper agree it's a mess. Skipper leaves, Saab and Martin join Lang and continue to chat about their plan with Edgar.

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They decide to hunt Edgar down, kill him and take his phone. Lang informs Saab of the official separation, he prefers to keep the name so they want to use 'Northside' instead of 'North Cypress'. Saab laughs, Lang wants to hear him out, but Saab refuses to share his thoughts. Martin tells Lang that it's good after Lang was a treasonist for trying to get Gigi killed, but Lang explains his frustrations with Gigi trying to stir her way into getting people killed. Martin thinks that Larry would have spoken to him if Larry was actually getting stirred, but Lang argues that Gigi's intent was to get people killed, and that rubs him the wrong way.

Lang notices that Edgar and Gigi are both on the phone, and jokes about not being that guy who notices these details, eventually getting through to Edgar. Edgar seems suspicious on the phone, Lang calls him out for it, but he's free to meet soon. Lang and the boys decide to go meet with Gigi in the meantime. On the way, Lang tells Martin that Edgar reminds him of JP. Martin complains about the people who twat when they're awake, Lang thinks they should start. They drive to the dam and wait for Gigi to arrive.

Lang asks Gigi what her involvement with Edgar is, which is nothing more than exploring the FIB building. Gigi knows about the Faceless because she did a mission with Luciano that she told Lang about, but he brushed it off. Edgar showed her the card, she was aware of who the Faceless were by then. Gigi offered Edgar a place to stay when she knew he was homeless, but outside of that there was no other intention to get closer or learn more about his chaos. Gigi details when they were followed by the Faceless, and when Edgar went to meet them, but not her directly. They asked if she is marked, she says yes, but they are confused since she said they never interacted. Gigi got marked a few days ago, but merely because she was with Skipper fooling around. Gigi tells them Edgar is being used as a tool for the Faceless, and considered Larry as easily influenced, so she texted to warn him.

Lang tells her that honestly everything is very suspicious and confusing, and her being involved adds to the mess (Lang doesn't believe anything he's hearing). They joke about how they thought Norman and the Faceless were working together. Saab mentions that Edgar is dealing with Norman to try and ressurect Aliyah, Martin is astonished. Gigi details that PS2's body is locked away, Edgar is trying to get access to her body for Norman to return her soul. Lang finds this incredibly boring, so they leave.

Lang asks Martin for his thoughts, but doesn't believe anything Gigi said. Martin tries to argue that CJ has done way worse than Gigi, but Lang doesn't think that they should be compared. Martin is unsure why Gigi is focused, Saab notices there are plenty of holes in Gigi's story, but Lang heads to bed.