(D12, EE, Nakahama Koku, Open) A wheely good time

[Kuni Sumie]

"Blackmail is a gamble, as is all forms of bussiness. We gambled, we lost, we take our chips and see what we can cash out." He checks his communicators. No messages yet... Perhaps he'd gone too far the prior night.

"Yes that was her name. Yasuki Honoka..." He had seen the most likely reason she was there, she was quite unsubtle about it, he wondered who else had caught a glimpse of that. "I think I've got a few theories... Once the pieces fall into place we'll see what was her angle." He leans back against the seat, eyes pried away from the ethreal lights.

"Are you unhappy with our partnership? I don't believe anyone in the delegation will blame you for deciding to drop out of our dealings. Evenb after so much investment."

"Yes that was her name. Yasuki Honoka..." He had seen the most likely reason she was there, she was quite unsubtle about it, he wondered who else had caught a glimpse of that. "I think I've got a few theories... Once the pieces fall into place we'll see what was her angle." He leans back against the seat, eyes pried away from the ethreal lights.

"Are you unhappy with our partnership? I don't believe anyone in the delegation will blame you for deciding to drop out of our dealings. Evenb after so much investment."

"Are you unhappy with our partnership? I don't believe anyone in the delegation will blame you for deciding to drop out of our dealings. Evenb after so much investment."

"Are you unhappy with our partnership?"

"Are you unhappy with our partnership?"

In a separate cabin in the Nakahama Coin, Sumie set down her holorecorder and laid down her listening device. She should have known! Hinata and Taraka were in bed together this whole time! Figures, a treacherous Yasuki was behind everything! This was likely her plan...

1. Sell a used Flying Battle Carp that never won a single match
2. ???
3. Profit! No, steal Hinata from her!

Money acquaints a man with sleeping bedfellows...or something!

Ugh! No wonder she was so dismissive last night! She knew him ALL ALONG!

[Yasuki Taraka]

He slowly, agonisingly, turns pale. Even if his On remains intact. He folds his hands over his lap and puts on a smile. "I guess it's my fault for talking about blackmail huh?"

"She invited me over to one when she intercepted my delivery and retrieval of Umiko-sama's message. Mentioned something about a train looking room? She's probably mad I managed to slip away..."

Taraka chuckled.

"Not everything is blackmail, Bayushi-san. When the bill arrives at the restaurant, do you accuse the waiter of blackmail? Bills come due, debts are paid, that's all." she said.

"Though how you managed to catch Kuni-san's eye I'll never know. All that girl obsesses about is how she can be an outsider. I'm surprised she manages to breath air because that's so mainstream. Actually, repeatedly holding her breath is probably how she got the way she is." she offered.

[Bayushi Hinata]

Hinata doesn't laugh at the comments, leaning to the side once more. "The truth is I've no idea either. Iam eye-catching yes I know but... The way she acts is indeed so focused on one single direction... and I agree Iam probably not that direction at all."

"It must be awfully lonely, tryng to live life as far away as possible from others. Maybe I just caught her eye and... Well she decided she wanted someone. Can't say I've not gone through the same experience once or twice."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Hinata doesn't laugh at the comments, leaning to the side once more. "The truth is I've no idea either. Iam eye-catching yes I know but... The way she acts is indeed so focused on one single direction... and I agree Iam probably not that direction at all."

"It must be awfully lonely, tryng to live life as far away as possible from others. Maybe I just caught her eye and... Well she decided she wanted someone. Can't say I've not gone through the same experience once or twice."

He was good looking, there was no denying that.

"Hmm, you're pulling off more 'Farmer and Snake' than 'Scorpion and Frog' there, Bayushi-san.", she said referring to the two fables.

She shook her head.

"Choices have consequences, and not just for those involved. Kuni-san chooses to live like that, and she receives the pain of solitude which she convinces herself is what she wants, except when you remind her that it's really not. Senshuken-san chose to risk everything to try and marry the governor, now we won't have a branch of her company here." she offers.

She looked over to him.

"I chose to support the Scorpion's bid for Nakahama. No one forced me to. The Mantis certainly made an offer that was lower stakes, lower reward. The Dragon have designs that would be good for the island. But I chose the higher risk, higher reward proposition that the Scorpion proposed."

She chuckled a bit.,

"And before anyone calls me out for breaking character, I am going to be very, very upset if Senshuken-san's libido is what ruins an enormous economic opportunity for me and my family." she said, aware of her own...less than compassionate nature.


"But, riding with her in the rally, picking out new clothes with Kazushi-san, drone dueling with Kotori-san...even taking a ride with the elusive Bayushi HInata-san on the Koku as we discuss all this....this all has value as well."

"....Which compared to the deal we had on the table is comparing a handful of fu to to a chest full of koku...but it's not literally zero."

[Kuni Sumie]

He was good looking, there was no denying that.

"Hmm, you're pulling off more 'Farmer and Snake' than 'Scorpion and Frog' there, Bayushi-san.", she said referring to the two fables.

She shook her head.

"Choices have consequences, and not just for those involved. Kuni-san chooses to live like that, and she receives the pain of solitude which she convinces herself is what she wants, except when you remind her that it's really not. Senshuken-san chose to risk everything to try and marry the governor, now we won't have a branch of her company here." she offers.

She looked over to him.

"I chose to support the Scorpion's bid for Nakahama. No one forced me to. The Mantis certainly made an offer that was lower stakes, lower reward. The Dragon have designs that would be good for the island. But I chose the higher risk, higher reward proposition that the Scorpion proposed."

She chuckled a bit.,

"And before anyone calls me out for breaking character, I am going to be very, very upset if Senshuken-san's libido is what ruins an enormous economic opportunity for me and my family." she said, aware of her own...less than compassionate nature.

"But, riding with her in the rally, picking out new clothes with Kazushi-san, drone dueling with Kotori-san...even taking a ride with the elusive Bayushi HInata-san on the Koku as we discuss all this....this all has value as well."

"....Which compared to the deal we had on the table is comparing a handful of fu to to a chest full of koku...but it's not literally zero."

"Choices have consequences, and not just for those involved. Kuni-san chooses to live like that, and she receives the pain of solitude which she convinces herself is what she wants, except when you remind her that it's really not. Senshuken-san chose to risk everything to try and marry the governor, now we won't have a branch of her company here."

"I chose to support the Scorpion's bid for Nakahama. No one forced me to. The Mantis certainly made an offer that was lower stakes, lower reward. The Dragon have designs that would be good for the island. But I chose the higher risk, higher reward proposition that the Scorpion proposed."

"And before anyone calls me out for breaking character, I am going to be very, very upset if Senshuken-san's libido is what ruins an enormous economic opportunity for me and my family."

"But, riding with her in the rally, picking out new clothes with Kazushi-san, drone dueling with Kotori-san...even taking a ride with the elusive Bayushi HInata-san on the Koku as we discuss all this....this all has value as well."

"....Which compared to the deal we had on the table is comparing a handful of fu to to a chest full of koku...but it's not literally zero."

...Kuni-san, now we won't have her company here.

Riding with, even taking a ride with the elusive Bayushi HInata.

We had on the table, handful of chest.

Taraka was wily as any Yasuki, but Sumie would easily read between the words! She couldn't pull a fast one over her! This fishmonger was her true rival this entire time!

"UGGGHH!" She growled!

[Bayushi Hinata]

"You can rest assured. She's taken responsibility for the whole thing. The Governor has already absolved the rest of us and promised it would not change our standing in the negotiations." He felt the hairs on his nape stand on end for a Monet, a shiver run down his spine before continuing.

"She's a racer. No place but first place. It's not a very subtle aspect of her personality I believe, but it's her greatest strength."

He looks out the window.

"She's ambitious, driven, cunning and proactive in everything she pursues. She wraps her hands around the wheel like she's taking it straight into tengoku full send." He turned back to her.

"I'm flattered. And slightly insulted. Had I become an entertainer my contract would be worth at least a third of a chest of Koku."

[Yasuki Taraka]

"You can rest assured. She's taken responsibility for the whole thing. The Governor has already absolved the rest of us and promised it would not change our standing in the negotiations." He felt the hairs on his nape stand on end for a Monet, a shiver run down his spine before continuing.

"She's a racer. No place but first place. It's not a very subtle aspect of her personality I believe, but it's her greatest strength."

He looks out the window.

"She's ambitious, driven, cunning and proactive in everything she pursues. She wraps her hands around the wheel like she's taking it straight into tengoku full send." He turned back to her.

"I'm flattered. And slightly insulted. Had I become an entertainer my contract would be worth at least a third of a chest of Koku."

Taraka shakes her head.

"And I love all that about her. It's just....I don't think her dream of marrying the governor was impossible. If she had followed the route I laid out to her, I believe she could have achieved it. But instead she tried to take shortcuts and now I won't get to enjoy seeing her around these parts." she sighed a bit.

She really had been a lot of fun.

She smirked a bit at the last comment.

"And I would have happily negotiated that for you, Bayushi-san. A pity we didn't get to spend more time together. Just an hour on the Koku. But...I assume you're fleeing the planet just as soon as a ship can take you out of skycarp?" she asked.

[Boogiepop]

There was an announcement made on the speakers. Bzztt-"To our honoured customers and passengers, we wish to remind you not to rock the cabin, please. It can be dangerous. If there is an emergency, please hit the emergency button and help with be sent shortly. Thank you and enjoy your ride." Click.

[Bayushi Hinata]

Taraka shakes her head.

"And I love all that about her. It's just....I don't think her dream of marrying the governor was impossible. If she had followed the route I laid out to her, I believe she could have achieved it. But instead she tried to take shortcuts and now I won't get to enjoy seeing her around these parts." she sighed a bit.

She really had been a lot of fun.

She smirked a bit at the last comment.

"And I would have happily negotiated that for you, Bayushi-san. A pity we didn't get to spend more time together. Just an hour on the Koku. But...I assume you're fleeing the planet just as soon as a ship can take you out of skycarp?" she asked.

"Shortcuts! Another racer specialty!" He chuckles. "I think she plans to return. I don't think she's given up entirely on such a dream, I think you'll see her again for the next race. Maybe she'll bring along a car of her own company's design and her own band to serenade Governor Ayame."

"Fleeing is a strong word. The scorpion have a solid position here, I don't think I'll be *allowed* to flee anytime soon... I don't mind staying a little longer just..." The words refuse to leave his mouth, a secret trapped on his tongue. "There's someone I'd like to follow... And I might not have the chance."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Scorpion!

"Hmmm, well I can guess who that isn't." Taraka admitted. "But, if you'd like some local help with that, you need but ask, Bayushi-san."

[Bayushi Hinata]

"Hmmm, well I can guess who that isn't." Taraka admitted. "But, if you'd like some local help with that, you need but ask, Bayushi-san."

"I would! Yes! Very much!" He says, a pang of desperation ringing in his voice. "She is so persistent! I don't know how she does it."

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Hmmm, well I can guess who that isn't." Taraka admitted. "But, if you'd like some local help with that, you need but ask, Bayushi-san."

"I would! Yes! Very much!" He says, a pang of desperation ringing in his voice. "She is so persistent! I don't know how she does it."

The desperation in his request caught her somewhat off-guard.

"Well, it's probably a combination of things, Bayuishi-san. You do stand out in a crowd. Even if she was just asking people for the 'handsome Scorpion guy' you'd be pretty easy to remember, but she's got a picture of you to show people as well. And people are motivated to help her, simply to get her out their own lives." she theroized.

"So there's things you could try. You could try picking up a new old wardrobe at 'Run-It-Back' to help you blend in to the local crowds a bit better. You could alert the Scorpion embassy staff that you've got a stalker....you could even tell the magistrates. I wouldn't count of them to actually be of immediate help, but if the Scorpion are going to be our partners here, they might listen a bit more."

She thought a moment before pulling out her communicator.

"Here, I can give you the contact for a friend of mine, Hida Genta. He's a good hearted guy, and a big yoriki. If you need help give him a call. I'll let him to know what your situation is and to expect a future possible call."