[Day 12 LA] Drinks On Me (Expecting)

[Yūrei]

Yūrei is engaged in hushed discussion with the barman before he finally relents and agrees to open a tab. Normally ronin wouldn't be invited in to somewhere like the Frog. But money did have a way of talking, as well as the promise of further payment for an interesting information. With a smile she orders herself something sparkling before wandering to stand and stare out the window.

Her guest should be here any minute.

[Usagi Rei]

Still dressed in his usual work clothes, Rei entered the bar. His usual pleasant manner didn't seem to be present. Instead, there was a rather bleak expression on his handsome features.

Eyes narrowed, he swept the area with his gaze, stopping when he spotted Yurei. Managing a bit of a smile, he started to wave, realized she was looking out the window, and approached her instead.

"Hey, Yurei-san." He said as he drew close, still smiling wanly. "I hope you've been well."

[Yūrei]

Snip

Yūrei turns around, her smile turning into a slightly concerned look as she raises an eyebrow.
"Rei-sama, so good to see you!...Are you alright? I know you're usually happy to see a pretty women for drinks."
Gesturing at the bar
"Anything you want is on me though."

[Usagi Rei]

At that, Rei managed a bit of a smirk. "You're right. My day is looking up." Then he sighed. "Sorry. I've just come from a rather difficult meeting. It'll pass." He shook his head, eyes briefly closing.

The offer made Rei stir himself a bit. "l'll have my usual." He tilted his head, regarding Yurei curiously. "That's very generous of you, Yurei-san. I take it things are going well with you?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Well I hope it keeps looking up, people a little sad is attractive, but you shouldn't actually be sad."

She gestures for him to join her by the window
"Things are well actually, quite well. I've come into a little money, am looking to change how the underworld works, you know how it is."

[Usagi Rei]

"I'll do my best." Rei said. He sighed as he looked out the window, staring distantly.

The statement, though, had Rei look back. "Oh, change how the underworld works? Right, yes, of course I know how that is." He made a face. "What do you mean?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

She smiles cheekily over her glass
"Oh, just setting up my own Otokodate, no big deal. I'm thinking of changing the rules of the game a little, making things better for ronin and those who hire them. Sound like something you might be interested in?"

[Usagi Rei]

Rei paused as the server delivered his drink.

Then he picked it up, looking at Yurei. "Well. I didn't realize you were so big-time. I'm impressed, Yurei-san." He cast her a slightly playful smirk. "Tell me more."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"I mean, not big time yeeeet. But I'm working on it."
Leaning over and dropping her voice to a whisper

"So, right now we have a problem. It's hard for clan samurai to know which ronin they can trust, and who might be suited for certain jobs. And at the same time ronin are completely vulnerable, how do they know they won't just be disposed of? I think there's an opportunity for a group of middle men here, one that can match ronin and clanners to one another."

[Usagi Rei]

"Hmmm." Rei said, frowning, still holding his drink. "A way to sort the good ronin from the bad ronin would be good. We rely a lot on personal relationships, but that has a trade-off between speed and accuracy. If there was a way to do it faster..."

He spread his hands, still holding his drink. "So you're going to try to do that?"

[Yūrei]

"Hmmm." Rei said, frowning, still holding his drink. "A way to sort the good ronin from the bad ronin would be good. We rely a lot on personal relationships, but that has a trade-off between speed and accuracy. If there was a way to do it faster..."

He spread his hands, still holding his drink. "So you're going to try to do that?"

Something like that. Rather the going out and trying to find individual ronin the clans could approach a fixer and provide some basic job details, then the fixer goes and find the appropriate ronin for the job. The Clanner sits down with them and if they approve, they get hired and the fixer gets a share of the payment."
Matching his gesture

"So I'm going to try that. I figure it's safe and more efficient on both ends."

[Usagi Rei]

"Hmmm..." Rei took a sip of his drink then, his expression thoughtful. "I would certainly trust anyone that you set me up with, Yurei-san." He flashed her a grin. "I'd like to think that goes the other direction, too. Not that he'd exactly set her up with Sakura, but he'd helped a bit...

His expression turned more serious. "My only concern is the Scorpion. Do you think you can deal with them, or at least fly under their radar?"

[Yūrei]

"Hmmm..." Rei took a sip of his drink then, his expression thoughtful. "I would certainly trust anyone that you set me up with, Yurei-san." He flashed her a grin. "I'd like to think that goes the other direction, too. Not that he'd exactly set her up with Sakura, but he'd helped a bit...

His expression turned more serious. "My only concern is the Scorpion. Do you think you can deal with them, or at least fly under their radar?"

"I would only send you the best, like a ronin friend."
She smiles before hearing his question, turning to look out the window across the city to the Scorpion embassy.
"The Scorpion need to be brought on board, you can hide for them but only so long. Some things you have to get in front of. But I'm confident if it feels it gives them a better control of the underworld and less unregulated chaos they'll see reason."

[Usagi Rei]

"Well then," Rei said, lifting his glass to her, "I look forward to seeing what you come up with. And, perhaps, to a productive partnership." Smiling, he took a drink from his glass.

Setting it down, he sighed. "After all, I expect to be here for a while, yet. Which is good. I kinda like it here."

[Yūrei]

Snip

That seems to genuinely please her as she mirror the gesture in salute

"You are? That's wonderful, everyone usually leaves after the court. And there are so many more restaurants...cafes...buffets you can take me too! And they'll all be kinda business and who you can put the tab on the embassy."
With warmth in her voice.

"And if you need help with anything, you know my door is always open. Like, you know, marksmanship training."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei chuckled. "Hey, the embassy budget doesn't stretch far enough to keep Yurei in restaurant food." He flashed her a grin. "But from time to time, sure."

His expression grew more serious, although he still smiled, as she went on. "Oof!" He grinned. "And here I thought Akodo-sama was the only one who took shots at me like that." He sighed, shaking his head. "But thank you. I expect I will need help with things, from time to time. Perhaps soon, in fact."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Damn, I should have picked a Crane or something, I wonder if Hinata-sama is still available."
She flashes a smile.

"She means well, I had a little chat with her afterwards, Akodo-sama is very fond of you."
She mouths something that could be 'you sly dog'
"Just say the word and I'm there, this whole initiative is built on relationships after all."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei grinned. "I imagine Hinata is around here somewhere. Possibly we should check the park. Make sure to look up."

His expression turned a little wistful. "I am very fond of her, too." Glancing at Yurei, he gave a tiny shake of his head. "It wasn't like that, though. Just... we have a connection."

Washing away the wistfulness with a dash of shochu, Rei sighed, then smiled at Yurei. "I hope your new, ah, endeavor will allow you to still see your old friends. Especially former ronin who seem rather attached to you."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"It wasn't?....Huh, that explains why she didn't know about the lotions." shrugging ruefully "Well, good on you having a platonic woman friend, she seems very proper. She also gave me a bunch of money so I'm pretty sure Akodo-sama is kind too. I hope you two can enjoy eachother's company."

Signalling the waiter for a refill
"Especially even old friends in the minor clans? Ones who are very sweet? I'm trying to make sure there's enough time for them. I think she...uhh, we had a bit of a discovery during the, you know. But it was a good surprise."

[Usagi Rei]

"She's leaving." Rei sighed. "But we mean to stay in touch."

The next bit made Rei smirk. "So I'd gathered. And it was fairly obvious the two of you were connected, after that. I mean, at the party last night, she shouted about her girlfriend several times."

His expression became less playful, although he still smiled. "Regardless, I'm happy for both of you. It's a good fit. Tsuyo will be pleased to hear she was right."