Pincer Party (Day 2, EA, expecting)

[Bayushi Tenma]

It was later than Bayushi Tenma had wanted, but her contacting people and making arrangements had finally bore fruit; It wasn't as if it would be possible to gather ALL relevant Scorpion actors in the area together; This WAS a Scorpion world, after all. But getting some of the names from the right people who were either new or active seemed good enough. After all, the only thing better for learning than hunting people down and getting to know them was having THEM come to YOU.

So it was that Tenma wore her uniform as she sat in a conference room she'd rented out. Tea and rice crackers were set out in a very old school manner, only somewhat ruined by the swivel office chairs set up around the table, as well as the floor-to-ceiling windows with the view of the city on one end of the room.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Bayushi Senshuken is one of the first to arrive. You cannot really be late when Speed is your middle name. The young courtier is dressed in a pair of black baggy jeans with red suspenders, a black T shirt with crimson mons, red sneakers and a simple red mask.

She enters the conference room and then offers a very official bow to the magistrate only to smile a very broad smile, a fact that can be seen despite the mask, once she straightens up. "Could that really be the one and only Bayushi Tenma san?" She chuckles. "It seems like yesterday that I kicked one Tenma chan's ass in the track." She takes a few steps closer, still smiling. "How have you been, Mrs Mighty Magistrate?"

[Bayushi Tenma]

Tenma chuckled to herself before standing up, giving a bow, "It's me all right, Sesha-san."

It'd been a while, but she decided to use the nickname she'd used for Senshuken back then, especially since they were the only two there yet.

"And I've been busy, as usual. Very busy even; Getting promoted, getting married, getting my pilot's license..."

She trailed off a little before indicating the table with a gloved hand, "Feel free to take a seat, eat whatever you fancy. It's mostly just snack stuff; Some rice crackers and mochi. Tea. Figured it was a bit early in the day for sake."

[Soshi Yuki]

Yuki walked in wearing office attire for an IT person from the Scorpion Department of Internal Affairs. Not him favorite look, but this meeting called for it.

"Hello, Madam Magistrate. I am Kochako Yuki, at your service. I work for the Department of Internal Affairs, as a covert 'IT Technician'." He said with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, and you as well." He looked forward Senshuken.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Promotion, marriage? Congratulations but do talk to me about that pilot's license. Please!" She beams a smile to the magistrate.

Internal Affairs? What the... Senshuken suddenly feels less comfortable. But if they worked for that department why would they announce it? She gulps. That's tricky. The Soshi is either brilliant or they are simply trolling. There is no need to find out the truth right now, though.

"It is an honor, Soshi san." She simply says and sits down in seiza.

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi wandered in with a cup of coffee, this basically counted as a morning meeting for them. The lights on the mask were off making it look like a normal, if well crafted and made of carbon fiber, Oni mask.

"Good afternoon minna-sama" Kazumi's voice was pleasant to the ear in the middle register, like a deep woman's voice or a higher pitched man. Though the voice itself didn't lend many feminine or masculine traits. Kazumi bowed

"This one is Soshi Kazumi, I am very grateful you agreed to a later hour Bayushi Tenma-sama I am a bit of a night Scorpion." Kazumi said with a light voice.

[Bayushi Tenma]

"Hello, Madam Magistrate. I am Kochako Yuki, at your service. I work for the Department of Internal Affairs, as a covert 'IT Technician'." He said with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, and you as well." He looked forward Senshuken.

"Good afternoon, Kochako-san. Talking about services can start in a bit. So for now, feel free to grab any chair and refresh yourself with tea and traditional snacks if you wish."

"Promotion, marriage? Congratulations but do talk to me about that pilot's license. Please!" She beams a smile to the magistrate.

Tenma looks over at Senshuken as she formally sat, "That? Not much to tell; I used to go up with my sensei, and what with the promotion and relocation here... I figured having a helicopter license would be a good sight more helpful than always relying on others."

"This one is Soshi Kazumi, I am very grateful you agreed to a later hour Bayushi Tenma-sama I am a bit of a night Scorpion." Kazumi said with a light voice.

"Ah, and a new face, if you'll pardon the Scorpion humor. Welcome, welcome. And it was no trouble. The earlier the better in my book, but it did give me some time for certain errands and important business this morning."

She motioned to the empty chairs as an offer, if the Soshi did not wish to stand.

"I'll give it ten more minutes to see who else is able to show up, so go ahead and make yourself comfortable."

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi nodded cute but very formal, probably should have been expected of a magistrate.

Kazumi moved to the open chair and sat down carefully taking a sip of the coffee through the mask, one with a quick eye would notice the front teeth on the mask retracting and moving back into place as the cup retreated from Kazumi's face.

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

"Hello there, fellow Scorpion." Ryuhei finally entered, delivering a blanket greeting. "Good afternoon, dear wife." He added with an underneath-the-mask smirk. "Hope I haven't missed anything relevant! Strategy meeting, eh?"

[Yogo Ono]

Ono had of course arrived earlier than anyone else. Like an hour later or so. He walked around the place, checked the walls, randomly jumped in various parts, he even crawled under some of the tables. Finally, he asked for the assistance of the air kami, it never hurts to be paranoid.

In the end he went for one of the windows, opened it and looked down. It was too high to jump without the proper drugs, but not as high as a ladder. He turned to one of the servants and asked for a ladder to be placed beneath the window. He asked Jun what time it is and satisfied with having fifteen more minutes before the others arrive, he called on the water kami. They weren't particularly forthcoming with their gifts.

He shrugged. Then he had an epiphany. He realized that Jun streaming bothered the kami. He wanted to scream at the heimin but took a deep breath and calmly ordered him to take Chuko mice hunting or something. As they left he made a mental note to check if Jun actually took Chuko mice hunting and punish him if he did.

Once alone he checked if the ladder was in place and since it was, he tried it.

This will do, I suppose

Once outside he drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, and started praying again. He thought about it for a little, but eventually, he tried again. Finally, he didn't look like his normal self. He climbed up the ladder. Apparently, he was late. The others had started arriving. He shrugged got in and closed the window. He offered a prayer to the fire kami.

Time to swing! Yaeee!

He reached into his pocket for some of the paper scraps he had ready and activated them. Then he turned and searched for Tenma.

[OOC: The window has Ward of Purity. Ono has active on himself Benten's Touch and Ward of Purity.]

[Bayushi Tenma]

Tenma watched Ono go about his work after dismissing the heimin, turning to Ryuhei afterwards, "Nope, we were going to start as soon as Yogo-san was done with his work, which seems about now. So..."

She sat back down in the chair at the end of the rectangular table, leaning back into it a little, "So, why don't we start with formal introductions; Who we are, why we're here. I know a bit from my reports, but still."

Tenma put a hand to her chest, "I am Bayushi Tenma, newly transfered to Oborozuki Province as a Clan Magistrate for the region. Most of you were samurai recommended to me by the local head office as active in the area and available to assist in the upcoming negotiations. The real questions are, what do you bring to the table and what goals do you have in the area?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshuken coughs to clear her thought.

"Hello, everyone. I am Bayushi Senshuken and I hail from a nearby province, Seizu. I am a courtier and a professional bike racer. I know the basics in the city and I was sent here recently to act as a formal aide to this small delegation. As a courtier," she shakes her head, "I can talk, I suppose. And I can drive. Fast."

She takes a holoslate out of her pocket and gives it to Tenma. "I have already started my work. This is a report of a deal that we can strike that I believe you will find useful. I believe that a team of a bushi and a priest would be most suitable for the job, especially if they know the slums. I was thinking of Yogo Tamiyo san, for instance."

REPORT

Deal with the ronin going by the name Taiki

He needs for a ronin named Cheung to be found. He offers intel on other clans and their dealings.

Intel on Cheung: Kind of a scholar, he has a workshop at 112 Third Barley Way. Possible locations to be found: the slums, the undercity, the desolation.

Intel on Taiki: there has been mention of a Taiki in the greater theatre of war, someone who supposedly participated in a few raids on Lion supply ships, taking a large number of their goods and potentially responsible for a number of casualties during each incident. Some say that such a person might have even led the attacks. Possibly the same Taiki.

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi listened for a moment before chiming "As I said I am Soshi Kazumi, local, familiar with the province and the underground and criminal worlds here, as I'm sure you've seen from my rap sheet Bayushi Tenma-sama." If Tenma had looked them up they would see Kazumi had an extensive criminal past but almost all non violent and petty crimes.

"I am also an expert with computers, programming, data architecture, and system infiltration. Also trained by Shosuro and am proficient in physical infiltration as well." Kazumi bowed "I am at you're disposal Bayushi Tenma-sama."

[Yogo Ono]

[OOC: I am posting now to avoid bottlenecking the thread. It won't happen before anyone else present has spoken.]

"Greeting mina-samas. This one is Yogo Ono, a servant of the kami specialised in wards. In short, none of any particular importance. It would actually be better for all of you to forget that you know me." He smiled and bowed.

"Now you will forgive me. The fire kami back there seem a little agitated." He said and went to the corner where he prayed to the fire kami.

[OOC: He just casted Mental Quickness on his pipe.]

Once done he lit up the pipe and stood standing to the left side of Tenma.

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

Man once called Moto Ruhe sat comfortably cross-legged, as seiza wasn't exactly his cultural thing, listening with some interest to the resumes. He decided to chime in with his own, though a non-extensive one.

"I am a freshly pressed Scorpion, until recently a Unicorn. I am a justicar of metal, harbinger of moshing and patriarch of throat singing and heavy morin khuur riffs." He made a pause to check if these people had a sense of humour. "But also a driver and somewhat a scout. Last but not least, I am Magistrate Tenma's sidekick spouse."

[Bayushi Tenma]

"Feel free to bug my husband if you can't get ahold of me; I'll obviously try to get back to you asap, since you were all so kind to let me take up some of your time like this."

With some introductions already made, she addressed them in order.

snip

She picked up the report by Senshuken first and looked it over, "...very interesting. Very interesting indeed. And..."

Tenma looks over to Kazumi, "It seems we have someone that might just be lerfect for what you're looking into. Tell me Soshi-san, how much does your familiarity with the local underworld cross over with knowledge of the districts slums?"

[Soshi Yuki]

"Hello, everyone." He put is tea cup down. "My name is Kochako Yuki, under Soshi Family. I work for the Department of Internal Affairs, as a hacker for the commercial crimes division. I make sure businesses aren't leaking Scorpion proprietary software and such."

He looked down at the teacup a minute, when back to Tenma. "And, I can do wet work when needed. I have training in a number of weapons, and getaway driving."

[Yogo Ono]

Man once called Moto Ruhe sat comfortably cross-legged, as seiza wasn't exactly his cultural thing, listening with some interest to the resumes. He decided to chime in with his own, though a non-extensive one.

"I am a freshly pressed Scorpion, until recently a Unicorn. I am a justicar of metal, harbinger of moshing and patriarch of throat singing and heavy morin khuur riffs." He made a pause to check if these people had a sense of humour. "But also a driver and somewhat a scout. Last but not least, I am Magistrate Tenma's sidekick spouse."

"Have you earned your mask Bayushi-sama?" He asked him discreetly (He used his hand to cover his mouth).

"Feel free to bug my husband if you can't get ahold of me; I'll obviously try to get back to you asap, since you were all so kind to let me take up some of your time like this."

With some introductions already made, she addressed them in order.

snip

Tell me Soshi-san, how much does your familiarity with the local underworld cross over with knowledge of the districts slums?"

Yes, tell as Soshi-sama. He seemed amused.

[OOC: Intelligence/Lore: Underword (Unskilled) roll: 36

[Soshi Kazumi]

Tenma looks over to Kazumi, "It seems we have someone that might just be lerfect for what you're looking into. Tell me Soshi-san, how much does your familiarity with the local underworld cross over with knowledge of the districts slums?"

Kazumi nodded "a fair amount, the slums in this district are mostly run by gangs that have worked things out with the local government. I have more than a few contacts I could call on, not allies or informants mind you but people I used to party with that could probably help track someone down."

[Bayushi Tenma]

Tenma puts her feet up on the table as she leans back thoughtfully, looking over at Senshuken, "Do you think that would help with the thing you brought up Senshuken-san?"