3/17/2025 Kick Recap - "You Lack Paranoia"

Lang takes care of some errands and notices a farewell text from Clark, who's going on vacation for two weeks. Lang notices the kickups are lower than expected, assuming Larry is the one not paying since he wasn't around. Blarney's has some leftover rubble outside, Lang finds CJ who is cleaning up. She wasn't there for whenever it was bombed, but has been cleaning it since. Larry is surprised to see Lang early, but quickly apologizes for his absence and the lack of kickups. Lang is disgruntled, but accepts his time away for being sick. Arush calls to check in, considering appointing Zeek as the South's Underboss while Clark is away. Lang thinks its a good idea, they chat about the 500k Blarney's owes him, but he wants a boat instead. Saab made the promise of a boat, Lang claims to investigate it and tells Arush if he doesn't claim his money within 5 days, the debt is nullified.

Lang meets CJ in the Nest to recap the weekend, neither of them know who blew up Blarney's. CJ met with Isaac over the weekend, they were being spied on by Noxee, Norman's bird. CJ believes that Isaac and Norman have fought before, inferring that Isaac has been stabbed many times. CJ thinks that Noxee follows her around and tells Norman about all of her conversations, but Lang doesn't believe it. They want to meet Alice, CJ warns that they should avoid Shang since they have a relationship and she is less likely to help them if something bad were to happen to him. Other people have received anonymous messages about Shang, to the point where he confronted CJ about it. She tried to confront the anonymous texter, but they refused to reveal their identity. Lang spirals on who they might be, considering it might be Gigi. CJ tries to tell Lang that Skipper and Shang are friends, and there might have been a miscommunication before, but Shang isn't that dangerous. Lang disagrees, hoping to kidnap Shang and look at his phone. Lang gets anonymously pinged to an alley nearby, he tells CJ to wait while he runs over.

Larry calls to get Lang's help, he wants to press Zero and James Kelly for messing up the ammo market. Lang suggests setting up a meeting, and if he needs back up, he'll help. Lang finds a taxi van with a Faceless folder in the trunk titled "Interrogation". Lang returns to CJ and reads the folder, she assumes it is about Skipper's interrogation. There is a coded puzzle on one of the pages, but Lang is too old for it. CJ takes her time figuring it out while Lang takes a nap on the couch. CJ figures out that it says: "A single thread unraveled can bring down the whole tapestry. some ties are harder to cut than others. the consequences of who you stand with will soon be clear." Lang thinks that he should call the cops and tell them about this, but doesn't believe they'll do anything. CJ shows Lang her pocket worms, but jokes about Lang living in a nest, and how often he phrases things in a funny way. Alice isn't around, so Lang calls Saab to meet.

On the way to meeting Saab, Lang tells CJ that he is an excellent hitman. Saab arrives, upset about the bombing of Blarney's and that he has an incurable plague. Saab shows them a photo of Hydra's twatter post shortly after, assuming that they bombed Blarney's in revenge. Lang has CJ recap the entire Isaac v Norman story, and promises to get a cure for Saab by the end of it. Lang gets a call from an unknown Russian person who wishes to sell his crew ammo, but CJ notices that Isaac is standing in the forest watching them, so he hangs up. Isaac disappears, CJ gets a text from Officer Trygg to see if she's safe, Lang spirals into suspicion. Upset with CJ, Lang sends her into the forest to look for Isaac, but she doesn't find anything.

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They leave the forest, Saab thanks them for helping him, but Lang takes ownership of it. He finds a payphone in Vinewood and calls Officer Opal anonymously. He wants to meet and provide her information about a leak in the PD, so she agrees to meet at the old Casino horse stables. CJ tells Lang that the Marshall's are looking for Ursula, so she's been hiding. Lang realizes that CJ lacks paranoia, and tells her that is what has kept him alive all these years. Isaac calls CJ to send Lang his regards and remind them of their conversation. Lang spirals harder, questioning why CJ joined Cypress in the first place, and why she's so polite to everyone she meets. CJ argues that she's polite out of fear, and the people she deals with are so powerful that she doesn't intend to be rude to their faces. Lang tells CJ about someone very close to him being a plant during his days in the restaurant, and that it might be repeated now.

Opal arrives, Lang reads through the folder and details the interrogation to her. She asks to see the folder, but Lang doesn't want her seeing the coded message or the picture of the Rest. Lang promises to get a burner and text her the copy of the interrogation, she wishes them well and they all leave. After getting the burner phone and sending the texts, Lang returns to the city with CJ. Lang crashes into Tony and hides the car in Cypress, hoping that he doesn't chase them down. Lang ditches CJ and calls Saab to vent his concerns about people around him being plants, eventually questioning him for returning as well. Saab claims he's not a plant, and came back to the city because he was going broke. Lang comments about how much of a failure he is, and calls him back to Blarney's. While he waits, he does some construction, removing the rubble from the entrance. The rifle connect calls to ask if Lang needs more equipment, but Lang hasn't used any of it. The connect suggests if Lang is interested in terrorism, which he is, so he'll remain in contact.

Saab and the boys arrive at Blarney's, discussing that Arush added interest to the debt he owes. CJ calls to say that Alice is around, Lang agrees to pick her up and go to the meeting. Lang expresses to Saab that they almost made money with Blarney's, but this debt is too large. Saab tells him that he's already made most of the money, and he's sure to pay it entirely in no time. Lang wants Saab to hide in the trunk for this meeting, so they head to pick up CJ. Lang tells CJ Saab is in the trunk, they head to the swamp docks outside of Fort Zancudo and ping Alice. Lang and CJ make small talk about trust while they wait, she is afraid that he doesn't trust her.

Alice arrives and CJ tries to begin a conversation without revealing too much. Alice tells them that she was with the group that tried to get Edgar back from Purgatory, but she's ultimately trying to accomplish more. The artifact that Norman holds is a ring, and Alice has a plan to remove it. Lang asks about the plan, but she seems reluctant to share until CJ tells her they were sent by Isaac. Alice claims that she has Hope(?), a celestial being that helps her reach Norman without him knowing. Alice has been working on trying to get this ring for a while, Lang asks how they can help. Alice has been working with Marlo, James Kelly, and BonBon. Alice needs Norman alone, distracted, and not standing at the light house. Alice details her motivations: she and her friends have been afflicted with Norman's punishments for a long time, unfairly. Lang wants to get the plan moving as fast as possible (not because Survival is next week, surely). Alice agrees to contact them with her next steps, and leaves.

Saab hops out the trunk and joins them for the discussion, Lang suggests taking the ring for himself and killing everyone. Saab suggests faking his death, Lang reminds them that he's still going to kill Marlo the next chance he gets. Lang thinks he might have to dig Saab and CJ's graves early, but they hope not to die.

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Lang thinks he's seen the timelines and there is only one that will end with their survival, and then mutters about wanting the ring for himself. They leave and stop by City Hall to read the updates to the VAF policy. Lang twats negatively about the DOJ, they head back to Cypress. Flippy calls to get Cypress signatures to contest it, Lang agrees and gives his sign off. Lang pulls Saab aside to remind him about his new side quests: get his hands on both Trygg and Shang's phones. Before Lang leaves, Saab thanks him for everything he was given, and for letting him join Cypress. Lang finds it corny, so he walks back over to the nest.

CJ comes up to chat with Lang before he heads to bed. Lang had time to reflect on why he's so afraid of his past. Lang put his life into protecting the Rooster's Rest, so his issues with trust will remain until it's not involved anymore. He holds bonds so closely, hearing her comments about how easily she makes friends, or loses them, bothers him. Lang tells her about Yeager, getting an island and an army, just to get away from the him. All that Lang has left is the Restaurant, and it will remain his final treasure. CJ understands, and will treat her relationships more seriously. CJ didn't know the weight or the burdens Lang carried, much of her recent time has been spent learning about that. Lang shares that they put bombs in their necks, Talon was evil, and trust is their most important factor. Lang tries to balance the heaviness of this conversation by reminding her that she's allowed to have friends and her own relationships, but sacrifices need to be made depending on how deep they get. He reflects about Jacob, Ellie, Denzel, Yeagar, and the rest of the Guild. CJ vows her loyalty to Lang, raising that everything she's learned has only deepened their bond. Lang apologizes to CJ, reminding her that she's in a mess. He claims that everything she's done up until now would be considered easy, compared to what's to come.

A storm rolls into the city, and Lang heads to bed.