[His expression is unreadable for a few seconds, then he lifts a shoulder in a shrug.]

Sure.

[There's a reason he likes Ling coming around, frankly. There's a reason he brought him up here tonight; that he dragged him behind the bar last time. Yeah, the kid's good looking, but it's a little more than that. It's . . . what? His tenacity, maybe. His blatant greed. He's made it clear to everyone paying him any mind that he's here to elevate himself, and that kind of honesty is refreshing. There's no bullshitting, no desperate attempts at charm or lies.

The fact he's just a little younger, that he's so very inexperienced in certain ways (and very experienced in others, frankly) is just bonus.

With a sudden laugh he shoves his fingers through the kid's hair again, pushing his head forward and breaking his solemn little moment.]

So how far up do you have to go, huh? The Yao gotta be somewhere near the top, you spend money like it's nothing to you.