[Day 4 LA] Trickle Down Economics (Expecting/Closed)

[Yūrei]

Yūrei leans back against the corroded wall behind her as the drizzle continues to patter down harmlessly on the battered tarp above. Her little nook on the roof of an abandoned low rise offered excellent sight lines to the roads and alleys around it, perfect for a meet.

Sure it wasn't exactly very warm or very pleasant, but it was private and she knew the area. She didn't know the Scorpion who was coming to meet her, some kind of new courtier? And so discretion was the better part of valour. She'd make sure they were trustworthy, or at least the closest a Scorpion could pass for it before she'd be comfortable meeting anywhere else.

She checks her communicator with a sigh, wondering why she always got here so early, then remembering it was because she disliked being killed in an ambush. Not that she expected one, she'd reached out to a friend who'd spoken to a contact and they in turn had passed the message on. But you couldn't be too sure, especially after what had happened last night.

Unconsciously she rubs her shoulder as it starts to ache.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

And here she is at the slums once again! And on a joyous occasion for that matter because joy is a matter of perspective after all.

Bayushi Senshuken has again parked her bike in the last safe place before entering the district, a nearby parking lot, and walks to the meeting point. She is dressed in a pair of red and black, checked, baggy pants, a black T shirt, a pair of two weeks old, red sneakers and a black biker's jacket.

The young woman finds a corner to stand, one where she can be seen and waits to be approaced.

[Yūrei]

Snip

Yūrei peers down from her vantage point. Black and red, that had to be the contact, looks like she wasn't followed either. Or she was, but they were keeping a polite distance.

With a little sigh at the realities of the World of Dreams she pulls out her communicator and types a shortage message to the contact number she had.

'Building on the corner, use the alley door, 5th floor.'

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshuken checks her communicator after the beep. Meeting with strangers in such confined spaces isn't her cup of tea. She thinks for a moment and types back.

Don't get funny with me. It would be an unnecessarily perplexing idea.

With that she departs for the next meeting point.

[Yūrei]

Snip

'I wouldn't dream of it samurai-sama, this is for your protection as much as mine.'


She follows Senshuken's figure through her binoculars, gaze darting around the area. A small group of labourers returning from a shift get a few seconds, while the elder grandmother on the other side of the street gets a few more, but ultimately neither looked much like a tail.

The building she'd directed the Scorpion to was old and disused, listing slightly in the rain. The water had found its way inside, likely from a hole in the roof and was leaking down the concrete stairway.

On the 5th floor one room had cleared been destroyed by fire, blackened timbers and ruined supports gape forlornly. The only thing out of place was a large laminated sign with an arrow pointed out to where a surprisingly new and sturdy looking fire escape bridge connected to the next building. It was there, one floor up on the roof that Yūrei would wave to the Scorpion if she made the trek.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

And the trek she makes.

She makes it to the roof and looks around her attentivelly before finally heading towards the woman to offer a small bow. "Greeting, ronin san." She says seriously. "A friend told me about this place. Quite the sightseeing, no?"

[Yūrei]

And the trek she makes.

She makes it to the roof and looks around her attentivelly before finally heading towards the woman to offer a small bow. "Greeting, ronin san." She says seriously. "A friend told me about this place. Quite the sightseeing, no?"

"It's a rather beautiful view Bayushi-sama."
Yūrei bows respectfully, clad in her usual tunic and leggings.

"Can I offer you a something to drink?" Reaching into a cooler set up on a cheap plastic table with two chairs
"Beer?"
Wait, she looks pretty young
"Or soda maybe?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Yes, a beer sounds great." She takes her seat at the indicated chair.

"How should I call you? I am Bayushi Senshuken." There is no need to actually hide her real name. It gives her power, or so she seems to believe.

[Yūrei]

"Yes, a beer sounds great." She takes her seat at the indicated chair.

"How should I call you? I am Bayushi Senshuken." There is no need to actually hide her real name. It gives her power, or so she seems to believe.

Yūrei tosses her a beer before pulling out a cranberry juice box for herself and settling opposite

"I go by Yūrei. It's an honour Bayushi-sama."

Leaning back in her chair, looking over the other woman curiously
"I've certainly heard the name before. How can I assist the Scorpion?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

For coolness's sake, Senshuken grabs the tossed beer and opens it to take a sip before speaking.

"I've heard good things about you, as well, Yurei san. I was told that you are quite effective in gathering the coin of the season, intelligence, in exchange for... I don't know. Other types of coin."

Another sip. "The Scorpion are always interested in such exchanges."

[Yūrei]

For coolness's sake, Senshuken grabs the tossed beer and opens it to take a sip before speaking.

"I've heard good things about you, as well, Yurei san. I was told that you are quite effective in gathering the coin of the season, intelligence, in exchange for... I don't know. Other types of coin."

Another sip. "The Scorpion are always interested in such exchanges."

Helpfully "Generally koku, but I had one client who insisted on paying in zeni. Said it was harder to track. After the last payment involved a small dumptruck his clan asked him to change course."

Yūrei seems content not to rush Seshuken, just sipping her juice and keeping her head on a swivel lest someone or some thing decide to interrupt their conversation.

Finally "I am always prepared to aid the Scorpion Clan. But in the interests of transparency I must warn you that those who are effective are rarely cheap as well."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"There are always will be more ronin who are effective and more factions that have koku to spend." The young courtier shrugs. "We can talk about it for hours, or you can just name your price and allow me some time to pretend that I'm thinking about and I struggle. Then I'll make you a lower offer, you will disagree and I'll adjust it or not. What say you?"

[Yūrei]

"There are always will be more ronin who are effective and more factions that have koku to spend." The young courtier shrugs. "We can talk about it for hours, or you can just name your price and allow me some time to pretend that I'm thinking about and I struggle. Then I'll make you a lower offer, you will disagree and I'll adjust it or not. What say you?"

A little amused.
"They told me you had a need for speed. Very well, I'll high ball you at say, 100 koku. I eagerly anticipate your lower offer I disagree with."
Her eyes still crinkling she sucks her juicebox dry.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She raises an eyebrow. "Don't you want to know the target first?"

[Yūrei]

She raises an eyebrow. "Don't you want to know the target first?"

The questions seems to amuse Yūrei.

"Unless you are about to name our system's sun, the imperial palace or the Clan Champion's personal bedchambers I should hope 100 koku would cover it. But now you do have me curious, Bayushi-sama. Would target do you have in mind?"

Raising an eyebrow.
"I hope this is not where you inform me of a plot to ransack and burn down an orphanage."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Ah, yes, yes." She chuckles. "Villainry just for the sake of villainry is my favorite pass time, I'm a Scorpion, after all."

"I want intelligence on the Crane supply lines that support the Mantis. Easy peasy for an operative of your caliber, I will assume."

Another sip from her beer. "100 koku is quite the sum, but before I answer I need two straightforward replies from you." She makes a longish pause, just to raise the anticipation. "Can I trust you to deliver in a timely fashion no matter the personal cost? And. Are you currently dating someone?" A serious question followed by a ridiculous, given the circumstances, one. Senshuken is curious to see this ronin's reaction to that.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"When you're not plotting, swimming or performing other nefarious deeds? A Scorpion's life must be very busy."
Tosses the box overhead to land satisfyingly in a small trash can.

"The Crane supply lines? They look simple enough, but there's always a few Daidoji around with hard eyes. Even an experienced professional needs to be careful. If I agree the a job I will move heaven and earth to see it done."
She reaches up a hand and slides her tunic slightly off her should to reveal several large pink circles of healing skin, gunshot wounds.
"I don't give up easily."

Pausing for a moment at the second question as she blinks.
"No Bayushi-sama, no-one at the moment. I prefer more flexible arrangements."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Good answers and a quite nice reaction. No signs of awkwardness, only slight surprise and no indication that the Bayusi's question was received as flirting. Ok, Senshu can work with this woman.

"I can do 100 koku. No bargaining as long as you give me what I want within 3 days time, today counting. A bonus of my choosing will also be given freely if the quantity and the quality of the intelligence is to my liking. I will need an answer today." She grins behind her mask. "Are we good for now? If yes, perhaps you could tell me about the flexibility of your agreements. Do people fall for that line?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Bayushi-sama was not exaggerating her preference for a speedy resolution. 100 koku for the information within 3 days time, counting today. And the possibility of a bonus if it meets your wants?"

Yūrei thinks on this for a few minutes.
"You will have my answer by the end of the day, perhaps even the end of this meeting."

Grinning ever so slightly at Senshuken's last question
"Some of them do. It can be hard for ronin to know who to trust, a loved one can even become a possible target. I like to keep things simple, mutual enjoyment with no expectations placed on one another. Some people find that attractive, others prefers more serious relationships."
Shrugging slightly

"Maybe one day if I am settled and comfortable I will court someone, buy them flowers, write them poems. But I think it's a ways off yet."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She simply nods at the potential agreement.

With the work done, she lazily leans back at the chair and grins again. "I'll stay for another beer if you don't mind." She kind of announces. "I have the need of feeling that I got some kind of reward myself out of this."

She empties her beer and leaves the empty can on the ground next to her. "I don't mind courting per se. It is... interesting. Like hunting, only more delicate and interesting. The hunter must be bold, strong and sensitive at the same time. With the ability to also be the prey from to time. Quite fascinating." She concludes and smirks. "As long as no marriage plans get into the equation which is hard because I'm either seen as quite lovable or as a real catch and thus the real prey in someone else's hunt."

"What do you do in your free time, Yurei san? As a hobby or for pure enjoyment?"