HOOOOOOoo boy. Peridot keeps smiling, but her eye twitches involuntarily.

"Right! So... That's... The less exciting part," says Peridot, and she's keeping a brighter tone, but it's obvious she's uncomfortable about this bit. "Um... So obviously, an operation this big needs workers to keep things running. And... One of the ways the Ring Master fills those work positions is by striking deals with them, or! By... having people who owe her something pay off their debt by signing a contract of employment."

She pauses. Coughs. Waits to see if Lapis is picking up what she's putting down.