"Not possible, I'll take some of your share from a warehouse, and we're settled," Mark smiled faintly at that, knowing that he wouldn't really do that. He and Ryden had built a lot together and had made the cuts of it at the very conception of each business. He'd never take away anything. But it was nice to be able to joke about things like this with someone. He had no one else like Ryden, and he always enjoyed the time they spent together.
He handed Ryden the folder and then watched him read without interruption, already aware it would take a moment longer than most. He did not rush or get impatient; he had never done that, and it was another thing he never would. Instead, while he waited, he reached for his glass again, taking a slow sip and taking another cigarette drag, his gaze drifting to the people around them, each deep into conversation but still some throwing glances their way. Perhaps it was the novelty of Ryden as a dining partner or just the usual curiosity when you were in the room with the owner of an establishment. He didn't care; currently, none of the diners tonight was of big interest to Mark.
"Florida has become… inconvenient," he said after a while when Ry flipped the page, tone even, as though commenting on the weather rather than a problem. "I have been pondering adjusting the location and moving from Miami to Port St. Joe," he summarised some of the document in these simple words.
“Ya got too much freedom on yer hands, chum.” Ryden clicked his tongue, the sound a clear and crisp tut, eyes still scanning the paper. They were both very much aware that this was just banter. He was also blind and deaf to any eyes and gossip that might be going on around them, treating everyone else in the restaurant but Mark as an NPC. At least on the surface. Ryden was, as a matter of fact, always hyper focused on his environment. It was why he always chose to not sit with his back to a door or windows, why he could give you the headcount of the people in the space with barely any miscalculations and how he read the room down to the very last detail, something as elusive as the vibe of it included.
“A’ight.” Ryden finally commented, handing the paperwork back to Mark, all read through. “Smaller than Miami, less crowds, less fuss. Checks out.” Was his first off the top of his head comment. “You set on that er still ponderin’?”
