Playing Games [Day 2, ME]

[Kuni Koyuki]

Immediately following the party, Koyuki was quick to return to the embassy briefly and then make her way here. A small satchel worn at her hip she had a day bag for the next event of the evening. Not even sparing a glance at the twin statues when entering. Right up to the kiosk, she makes quick use of the terminal. Spends half a minute looking at the vending machines, and then heads to the room she rented for the next couple hours.

Once in the room she sends the message to Hato, just the room number and nothing else. Inside the room was comfortable, sparse and certainly not luxurious by any means but it was serviceable for what it was. With the eye of a Kuni she moved about the room, checking everything. Underneath the bed, pillows, behind countertops and other assorted furniture in the room. She wasn't looking for anything in particular, but getting a full sense of the surroundings she was present within. A small worry in the back of her mind that she might find something from a previous guest.

Eventually, she settled down and took to simply waiting. Laying on the bed she thought to close her eyes but couldn't get the desire or will to. So she lay there, eyes toward the ceiling, and stared blankly at it as if it might grant her some divine providence.

It never did.

[Hato]

It was a well thought out meeting place, well timed too. The big sake party meant that local security and intelligence assets would be a bit busier with drunken diplomats than paying heed to wolves. Hopefully the worst they would get up to would be an ill-advised swimming session, but somewhere in the World of Dreams there was likely something far worse happening. Even though it promised good dreams, sake seemed to fuel nightmares even more strongly.

The guardian statues were a good sign, as was the mostly automatic system of handling things here. Didn't mean there weren't watchers, but found security devices drowned so much easier.

Hato made her way to the number sent to her communicator and knocked softly.

[Kuni Koyuki]

There was no answer.

A minute passes.

The door opens a crack at first and then slowly swings open more, inside Koyuki's already walking away into the room. Walking back to the bed, and laying a hand on it. Using her hand as an anchor she bends over to collect the satchel she'd left on the floor, hefting it onto the bed. Glancing up, briefly, to look at Hato as she entered Koyuki sat back down on the bed once more with the satchel at her side. She didn't say anything, just waited for Hato to get herself situated inside the room.

[Hato]

There was no answer.

A minute passes.

The door opens a crack at first and then slowly swings open more, inside Koyuki's already walking away into the room. Walking back to the bed, and laying a hand on it. Using her hand as an anchor she bends over to collect the satchel she'd left on the floor, hefting it onto the bed. Glancing up, briefly, to look at Hato as she entered Koyuki sat back down on the bed once more with the satchel at her side. She didn't say anything, just waited for Hato to get herself situated inside the room.

Hanging out in the hallway with the door open was definitely not a smart move, and so Hato swiftly entered the room, quickly and quietly closing the door behind her.

She wasn't sure how secure the room was, so she simply followed Lady Crab's example and said nothing yet.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Maybe if she could detect it in her eyes, Hato would notice that slowly over time Koyuki grew more and more amused. She would sit there, in silence, looking at the woman while saying nothing at all.

[Hato]

Maybe if she could detect it in her eyes, Hato would notice that slowly over time Koyuki grew more and more amused. She would sit there, in silence, looking at the woman while saying nothing at all.

Hato was somewhat surprised at the Kuni's silence. Given how direct and to the point she had been in her pitch, Hato had assumed that she would have gotten right to business.

Of course, she had already prodded Hato about being too emotionally open, so it was possible she was testing the ronin's patience. One needed to be willing to wait patiently for the right opportunity and then to move like lightning.

Hato doubted the Kuni had rented the room long term so she need merely wait for either the Kuni to get to business or for the time on the room to expire.

And if the time expired, or the Kuni decided that Hato had failed her test and wasn't worth working with?

Well, Lord Lion was probably still looking for a Go partner.

And so Hato waited in silence listening to the quiet details of the room. The gentle dripping of water from the faucet, the air circulating in the slightly warm room. And she waited.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Eventually, Koyuki broke. As Hato expected, she wasn't about to waste the whole of her day here and she was on something of a schedule. Standing up with a slight sigh, although not discontented in its delivery, she walks over toward Hato and then past her. With a few presses of a button she flicks on the air-conditioner, and the sound reverberates in the room. Testing with a hand it was working she turned to Hato, finally offering, "Good evening, Hato-san. I.." she shook her head, and walked past her once more.

Returning to the beds side, "So, are we playing the game together Hato-san? I suspect you would not have shown up otherwise but then- you do seem the sort who would rather refuse me in person."

[Hato]

Eventually, Koyuki broke. As Hato expected, she wasn't about to waste the whole of her day here and she was on something of a schedule. Standing up with a slight sigh, although not discontented in its delivery, she walks over toward Hato and then past her. With a few presses of a button she flicks on the air-conditioner, and the sound reverberates in the room. Testing with a hand it was working she turned to Hato, finally offering, "Good evening, Hato-san. I.." she shook her head, and walked past her once more.

Returning to the beds side, "So, are we playing the game together Hato-san? I suspect you would not have shown up otherwise but then- you do seem the sort who would rather refuse me in person."

Hato nodded lightly.

"Assuming that Lady Crab's terms are fair and Lady Crab's expectations are reasonable, this one is willing to put their life towards accomplishing Lady Crab's goals." she consented.

The Crab was dead wrong about the refusal though. When ronin were refusing great clan samurai it was best accomplished from as many city blocks away as one could manage. Some people took such rejection very poorly and ronin did not have the shields a clan samurai did from retribution.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Koyuki lay out her hand to the other side of the bed, a place to sit. It was large enough for them both to sit comfortably without being uncomfortably or distractingly close. Hand laid out to show her the way fell down upon the satchel, fingers rolling over it with a soft pattering as the pads of her finger tips hit in succession. Waiting until Hato sits before she would continue, she is rather insistent upon it in fact.

"Ten koku up front," she begins, her tone shifting down into that professional one she wore. "Twenty on completion, and a bonus depending on what you bring me. Complete this job, and you'll earn yourself some good consideration for the ticket off-world. More you do for us, the easier it will be to acquire you a writ to Green Carp. There.. someone like you will find a way to rise above her station. It's a trading port, and so you are sure to find your skills needed there in equal if not more demand. I'll send a written recommendation along. My word won't get you much, but it will help."

"Do these terms sound agreeable, Hato-san?"

[Hato]

Koyuki lay out her hand to the other side of the bed, a place to sit. It was large enough for them both to sit comfortably without being uncomfortably or distractingly close. Hand laid out to show her the way fell down upon the satchel, fingers rolling over it with a soft pattering as the pads of her finger tips hit in succession. Waiting until Hato sits before she would continue, she is rather insistent upon it in fact.

"Ten koku up front," she begins, her tone shifting down into that professional one she wore. "Twenty on completion, and a bonus depending on what you bring me. Complete this job, and you'll earn yourself some good consideration for the ticket off-world. More you do for us, the easier it will be to acquire you a writ to Green Carp. There.. someone like you will find a way to rise above her station. It's a trading port, and so you are sure to find your skills needed there in equal if not more demand. I'll send a written recommendation along. My word won't get you much, but it will help."

"Do these terms sound agreeable, Hato-san?"

Hato sat down to listen to the Crab's terms. They were neither overly generous nor overly stingy.

"Hmm, of course, most of that 10 koku will go into expenses of the operations on Lady Crab's behalf. If everything goes well, it will cover the expenses. If problems arise though...." Hato said considering.

Hato paused.

"This one would offer this as a counterproposal. Eight koku up front, eight koku in a few days when this one has managed to prove oneself reliable enough in Lady Crab's eyes i.e. this one has neither drunk away Lady Crab's money nor fallen prey to the magistrate's tender mercies. Fourteen koku on completion, bonus based on Lady Crab's assessment of value, guaranteed ticket off world upon any transfer of data unto Lady Crab." she suggested.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"I could not guarantee the writ after any transfer of data, Hato-san," she said, after a long minute of thoughtful consideration. "You must understand writs of travel are valuable, and cannot be given so easy. If what you return to me with is of sufficient value I can easily make such a request of our resources but to promise it upon such a condition would be difficult. However, I would like to first focus upon this matter of the payment. Eight now, eight in a few days, I find myself needing to understand how you think this would benefit you, or myself?"

"I do not know how I could be certain of either of those proposed scenario without knowledge the job has been completed. So, I would ask you earn some trust now and explain how this would help your proceeding. As I imagine that is part of the goal of this plan for payment?"

[Hato]

Hato nods.

"This one understands that the writ of travel is valuable, Lady Crab. For this one, it will likely be a matter of life or death. If this one aids Lady Crab, and does not receive a way away from the Scorpions, this one will likely not see another year. Even with the writ, this one may not see two, depending on just how wronged the Scorpions feel The writ transforms no chance into a slim one." she says seriously.

She had thought that Lady Crab was more considerate of what she was asking than Lord Lion, but perhaps she was just a straw hat on the beach to either.

She shook her head.

"But first things first, the upfront money. This one will need to obtain things Lady Crab need not know about in order to succeed. As with many things purchased, more money buys those things of higher quality. However, these are not things that can simply be purchased from a vending machine."

She took a moment to think of poor dead Oro and Kos.

"It is risky for those who deal in such goods. It is not inconceivable that this one would pay these disreputable types and not receive the tools she needs. Thus requiring more money spent."

She paused a moment, but wasn't done explaining.

"Sixteen koku is a safe enough amount of money for the duration of all operations. However, it's too much money to carry around. Lady Crab would likely suspect that this one would simply abandon Lady Crab for sixteen koku. It is difficult for a ronin to explain carrying that much money around. And if this one is captured, sixteen koku is a heavy blow for Lady Crab to receive naught but suffering for. Eight koku will likely take care of operational expenses for awhile, and if this one fails, is even less of a blow to Lady Crab than 10 koku." she finished.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Koyuki listened patiently, for what it was worth she held the expression of one earnestly working things out with Hato. Nodding as the ronin spoke, and with small knits in her brow moving numbers and calculations around in her head.

"We have access to equipment, sake, and other valuables as well. In terms of payment, if any of such things might be more useful to you Hato-san you but need inform me what it is you require. Much of what we have on offer is that which I would expect someone of a more martial bend might be interested in," she looks to Hato, reading her expression to the minute of detail as best as she could. "However, perhaps in your case if you are so concerned that the Scorpion might come for you sooner than later such a thing can be granted to make you feel more at ease. I can promise the writ by the end of our working together, and- I can explain why felt that was proper."

Given the moment, as one would expect Hato would, she continued, "By the end of our working together. Whether we work this one job, and you part, or we have further dealings. I would have elected to grant you the writ at the cessation of our time together, not upon the data transfer. In this way, Hato-san, our investment is not risked of course but as with the koku you are not vulnerable to losing something so valuable. A writ of travel might make you quite the target. However, I can understand the desire to have it placed into your hand sooner, not later," she says, and with that last sentence her voice grows just a touch softer.

[Hato]

Hato considered the Crab's words carefully.

"Ah, this one believe this one understands, Lady Crab. This one did not plan to offer this one's services to Lady Crab for one job, but for the season." she clarified.

She shook her head a bit.

"Perhaps it is better to lay out one's concerns more concisely. If this one needs support for a mission on behalf of Lady Crab, this one wants assurance that the support will be there, rather than finding oneself standing in front of a vending machine without a coin. And when the season is over, that the exit is there for this one to leave through. This one realizes this one is demanding a lot. This one is not a Crab. If this one is caught, this one expects to be left to the Scorpions." she clarifies.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Koyuki nods as Hato lays it out, the miscommunication laid out like a beast and slayed with a less than clean cut but it lay defeated all the same. It was a mental image that might have brought a smile to her lips, but it only rose in her eyes as most emotions did. Shifting her position on the bed, her shoulders turn, as to face Hato more directly.

"I will do what I can within reason, Hato-san. For some, I may need to replace the value of coin with the support dependent upon what it is you ask. However, for what I personally can do to aid you it would be in my best interest to see you alive long enough to complete this game of ours. Now with a better understanding, I will amend the contract further. 10 koku up front, and upon returning on that first investment you will have earned yourself another 20 which I will keep in safe holding for you. A base from which you might ask for at any time, but so that you do not risk it yourself. For operational costs, once more in the future, I will grant you another 10 upon that occasion. Following that time, you will be granted another 20 koku which you may ask for at any time or exchange for equipment of anything that I might afford to grant you."

"Should you come into possession of further useful information, I would be glad to know you would thing of me first. In such a case, I would happily work out an arrangement to pay you for whatever you might afford us. As with my previous pitch, bonuses may be allotted dependent upon the delivery of your promise. Upon the cessation of our time together, I shall grant you the writ and be glad to know that you have earned not only your chance but the funds in which to see yourself prosper. Does the terms of this contract suffice for your desires, Hato-san?" she asks, this time meeting the woman's eye to gauge her most directly.

[Hato]

Koyuki nods as Hato lays it out, the miscommunication laid out like a beast and slayed with a less than clean cut but it lay defeated all the same. It was a mental image that might have brought a smile to her lips, but it only rose in her eyes as most emotions did. Shifting her position on the bed, her shoulders turn, as to face Hato more directly.

"I will do what I can within reason, Hato-san. For some, I may need to replace the value of coin with the support dependent upon what it is you ask. However, for what I personally can do to aid you it would be in my best interest to see you alive long enough to complete this game of ours. Now with a better understanding, I will amend the contract further. 10 koku up front, and upon returning on that first investment you will have earned yourself another 20 which I will keep in safe holding for you. A base from which you might ask for at any time, but so that you do not risk it yourself. For operational costs, once more in the future, I will grant you another 10 upon that occasion. Following that time, you will be granted another 20 koku which you may ask for at any time or exchange for equipment of anything that I might afford to grant you."

"Should you come into possession of further useful information, I would be glad to know you would thing of me first. In such a case, I would happily work out an arrangement to pay you for whatever you might afford us. As with my previous pitch, bonuses may be allotted dependent upon the delivery of your promise. Upon the cessation of our time together, I shall grant you the writ and be glad to know that you have earned not only your chance but the funds in which to see yourself prosper. Does the terms of this contract suffice for your desires, Hato-san?" she asks, this time meeting the woman's eye to gauge her most directly.

Hato seems pleased with the arrangements.

"This one feels these are good terms Lady Crab. Shall we move on to discussing what in particular would be of use to Lady Crab? The arrow may know the way, but the archer needs a target, nonetheless." she agreed, simply enough.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"Ancient enemies," she said, pushing the satchel more toward Hato but not yet taking her hand off of it. "Spider. It's always best to keep an eye on them when and where we can, know what they're doing. The embassy here is a rather typical target, but I worry that it is both well defended and perhaps too risky for a first foray. Don't want to raise the alarm. So, we'll be testing your teeth against the Shadework Combine Headquarters here on the world of dreams."

Koyuki rols her finger-pads across the top of the satchel to call attention to it with the soft patter, "Inside is both the first payment, 10 koku and any incidental information you might need on the target. We are looking for any actionable information, but almost anything will suffice in piecing together the larger picture. I trust your eye in terms of determining what is best. The more you can reveal about their operations, the better," she raises her hand off the satchel, and leaves it for Hato to take.

[Hato]

"Ancient enemies," she said, pushing the satchel more toward Hato but not yet taking her hand off of it. "Spider. It's always best to keep an eye on them when and where we can, know what they're doing. The embassy here is a rather typical target, but I worry that it is both well defended and perhaps too risky for a first foray. Don't want to raise the alarm. So, we'll be testing your teeth against the Shadework Combine Headquarters here on the world of dreams."

Koyuki rols her finger-pads across the top of the satchel to call attention to it with the soft patter, "Inside is both the first payment, 10 koku and any incidental information you might need on the target. We are looking for any actionable information, but almost anything will suffice in piecing together the larger picture. I trust your eye in terms of determining what is best. The more you can reveal about their operations, the better," she raises her hand off the satchel, and leaves it for Hato to take.

Hato nods.

"Understood Lady Crab, this one will prioritize accordingly and bend her will towards Lady Crab's enemies." she offered.

Hato uses her own hand to take control of the satchel, letting Lady Crab's honor the barest of covers in the exchange of coin.

"This one will send Lady Crab a single 1 text in two days if this one is still operational." she noted.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"I look forward to seeing your results, Hato-san," she says, but then slides a little closer on the bed. Looking her over, as if figuring something out. Intent in her expression evident enough to suggest Hato hold still.

"Now, we just need one last step. Forgive me, but I'm going to touch you now," she says, and starts to raise a hand, gently, toward Hato.

[Hato]

"I look forward to seeing your results, Hato-san," she says, but then slides a little closer on the bed. Looking her over, as if figuring something out. Intent in her expression evident enough to suggest Hato hold still.

"Now, we just need one last step. Forgive me, but I'm going to touch you now," she says, and starts to raise a hand, gently, toward Hato.

Hato had heard those words from healers before. A gentle permission for etiquette's sake when one performed healing due to the society's taboo of touching.

Hato did tense up at the words. Of course, the person she was thinking of didn't ask for permission for their very very intimate and unwanted touching.

But this was not there (even though the bed made it so much worse), and Hato had said she'd give her trust to the Crab, so she was just going to have to bear it.

She braced for it like the Crab was about to punch her in the nose, closing her eyes just a bit.