(D6, EM, Serenity Bakery, Expecting) This is how we knead the dough

[Yasuki Taraka]

The early morning bakery demonstration at Serenity Bakery was always as much a feast for the eyes as their food was a feast for the stomach. The place was filled with good scents as dough was turned into baked goods, just like relationships started off like raw ingredients and over time were turned into something much better.

Taraka was dressed fairly lightly today. She had a shopping trip and a spa date to attend, after all. She placed an order for a couple cups of black tea and a shareable order of sweet buns and made her way to the casual seating top await the person she was meeting with.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

It doesn't take long for Senshuken to arrive. She's dressed in her usual street yet fashionable style. Buggy pants, t shirt, suspenders and sneakers, all in the colors of her clan. Her mask is a simple one, the kind often used by medical personnel, only that it is made of black silk.

She approaches, helmet in hands, and offers a bow. "Good morning, Yasuki san." She takes her seat. "How are you doing?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka bowed at the arrival of the Fun Scorpion.

"Well enough, Bayushi-san. I've certainly been enjoying watching you climb up the leaderboard. I hope you've been enjoying it as well." she said.

She motioned to the free spot at the table.

"Won't you join me for some sweet buns and black tea? I always find it a good way to get your day kickstarted, and if you haven't taken the time to watch their demonstration in the morning, you're really missing out on one of the treasures of Nakahama." she offered.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Oh my! Your game is so fun! It's the highlight of my day to day activities so far." She grins and reached for the second cup of tea. "This is for me, I assume."

After a couple of sips, her mask returns to her face along with the grin that is obvious even behind said mask.

"Nakahama is a truly cherished place. I have really enjoyed all the little geeky events it has to offer. Tourneys, card games, drones, larp. You and your kin have marvel ideas! I cannot wait for the upcoming race and everything else on offer."

[Yasuki Taraka]

It was in fact for the Fun Scorpion, Taraka was not double-fisting tea.

Taraka nods.

"Well the new governor and her karo wanted all the guests to see the very best our island has to offer." she says. "The Crane and the Scorpion might have better known traditions in the fields of entertainment, but the Crab have always needed ways to blow off steam when not on duty. Way back in the day that was sake and draw lot plays, but we've had time to branch out."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"I have met both Lady Ayame and Lady Umiko. Despite any rumors that hover over their heads, they both seem more than capable. I am certain that Nakahama will become even greater in the future."

Another sip. "How do you envision the future of the island if I may ask? And yours? That of your business?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Rumors always hang over the heads of the famous. The rumors of the janitor's infidelity will never catch the attention of the people at large unless it is VERY spicy indeed. But typically a product of a mixture of envy and sour grapes. But given how well things have been going...the biggest issue being an overzealous magistrate trying to be a wet blanket at a party? Even the most skeptical greyhair will eventually stop referring to her as the 'new' governor, just simply 'the' governor." she said.

She took a sip of tea.

"I think we're going to be seeing some real growth coming out of friendship street, and we're going to see a lot more diversity in our marketplace soon. If you asked me to go down to the Azure Dragon and bet on who is going to be snatching up the most prime real estate, the odds right now are probably the Scorpion and the Dragon."

She took one of the sweet buns.

"As for the future of Flying Battle Carps, it's probably too soon to tell if it's destined to be a fad, a craze, or a new tradition. I'm putting my all in to it, to honor my mother's memory, whether that will be enough it's too soon to say."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

The Bayushi nods in agreement. "You have a keen mind on both politics and commercial activities." She chuckles softly. "But I am sure that you already know that."

She takes a bite and chews slowly. And a sip. Then she looks at the other woman across the table. "I come to you with a proposal. You are quite influential in this whole island I dare say and I would like your support for my clan instead of the Dragon or anyone else that might have drawn your attention."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka smiled a bit at the flattery. Everyone liked being told how smart and clever they were, it wasn't just something Scorpions enjoyed.

"Well to be fair, Bayushi-san, that's half a proposal." she says considering things.

She broke the sweet bun in half to emphasize her point.

"You want my unwavering support to upgrade your clan's prospects from seemingly inevitable to actually inevitable."

She pops the half in her mouth.

"Our markets are very diverse but nothing in them is free, Bayushi-san. What is the Scorpion clan willing to offer me to obtain such?" she asked.

All of the interactions with Senshuken up to this point had leaned into approachable and friendly. With business on the line, however, her much more calculating and shrewd side came out.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"The chance to decide what one of our major investments will be. Something to support your own business? Something that will help you expand? It's up to you along with 10% discount on this business for the first five years." She replies readily.

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka chuckled.

"It's not my First Market, Bayushi-san. Getting the right to choose which Scorpion interest moves in next door and a 10% discount for five years? I know my support is worth more than that."

She sips her tea.

"My lord, my family, myself. If you want on this rather exclusive list of people I offer unwavering support to, you're going to have to do better."

She took out her abacus to run numbers with.

"But in respect for your skills as a pilot, I will provide you a counteroffer. Assuming you land the contract, you are going to have access to so much that Green Carp has to offer. You'll have priority on merchant licenses on all the islands, the lowest taxes, you'll be a key partner on all future island development projects and have your own priority dock at Skycarp."

The beads on the abacus went click click click and the numbers ran.

"I don't simply want to be on the Scorpion boat riding in on this rising tide of koku, Bayushi-san. I want to own a piece of it. And benefit from all that entails." she summarizes.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She nods in agreement. "Very well. A business of your own then. How big are your dreams, Yasuki san? And how long will our co-operation last?"

(We're up for offering a holding, in case we win, for all of Taraka's bid points so far and leave it open for the future with the promise that the Scorpion will be the first to talk to before the session 3 allocation of bid points.

We can negotiate further for the type of holding. Medium or Unique. Or roll even something even! Or drone duel the result. It would be thematic!)

[Yasuki Taraka]

She nods in agreement. "Very well. A business of your own then. How big are your dreams, Yasuki san? And how long will our co-operation last?"

(We're up for offering a holding, in case we win, for all of Taraka's bid points so far and leave it open for the future with the promise that the Scorpion will be the first to talk to before the session 3 allocation of bid points.

We can negotiate further for the type of holding. Medium or Unique. Or roll even something even! Or drone duel the result. It would be thematic!)

Taraka slid a few beads on the abacus with a nod.

"A decent counteroffer and reasonable questions, Bayushi-san. I find myself in the rather unenviable position of being asked to sell fish to a gambler on credit. Selling might reward me handsomely or leave me with no fish, not selling may simply leave me with a rotten fish." she says.

"I'm willing to agree to the stipulation that reward for me is contingent on your clan securing the most prized contract. This would, of course, mean I may well need to provide future support should it look like you are not finding the level of support you need to succeed."

She smiled.

"But my dreams are big indeed, Bayushi-san. While putting my full force of support behind you is a much stronger guarantee that your dreams will come true, it's not strictly necessary for them to happen. So I'll offer you a counter, rather than my full support right now, I'll offer a third of it (ooc: 11 bid points) now for the same terms (a holding). That should give you the edge you need and give me flexibility to dictate terms with the second most important new business partner.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Nope." She says with no hesitation.

"The way I see it there are three major players in this. We cannot give you a holding just for you to make similar agreements with the other two. I understand that you would prefer to take no risk, but risk and business come hand in hand." She shrugs almost playfully. "One third of your influence gives us no edge. It's what the others will take, as well. It doesn't worth what we offer."

"It's all or nothing. That's an edge worthy of a new business revenue. One third is," another shrug, "a part of a comedy routine you are testing?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka grinned.

"Hey, you can't blame a girl for trying to get the very best deal for herself. Just like I don't blame you for looking out for number one, Bayushi-san. We're not sworn oath sisters, we just doing what we think best for our clan." she said.

"You are right, you don't want me support all three of the top players equally. BUT you also don't want me to walk away here and throw my full weight behind one of the other two do you? So, what about this as a compromise, 2/3rd for you now (22 bid points) with the understanding that I may well need to provide more later because if you lose I get nothing."

She sipped her tea.

"Or as an alternative, you give me two holdings for my full and unwavering support. Complete exclusivity until the ink dries. Just call me your long lost cousin Shosuro Taraka. Then I'd have no reason to concern myself over the squabbles for second, just making sure you won."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She thinks for a moment.

"I have a business of my own, you know. It currently consists of a lab employing two engineers and a website. And a patent, of course. We are testing a new alloy for motors. The testing so far proves that it allows pistons to work in higher temperature and pressure."

She looks at her straight into the eyes. "How about this. We become partners. The lab in the World of Dreams and the production unit here. We promote the alloy together and share everything." She points one finger. "That's one. And a second business just for your likes. For your unwavering support in everything during this procedure." She shrugs. "That's if we end up being the most favored Yasuki business partners in this world, of course."

(2 medium holdings and partnership with Senshu if the Scorpion end up first. The partnership is fluff. The Scorpion get every bid point from Shosuro... Errr, Yasuki Taraka.)

[Yasuki Taraka]

She thinks for a moment.

"I have a business of my own, you know. It currently consists of a lab employing two engineers and a website. And a patent, of course. We are testing a new alloy for motors. The testing so far proves that it allows pistons to work in higher temperature and pressure."

She looks at her straight into the eyes. "How about this. We become partners. The lab in the World of Dreams and the production unit here. We promote the alloy together and share everything." She points one finger. "That's one. And a second business just for your likes. For your unwavering support in everything during this procedure." She shrugs. "That's if we end up being the most favored Yasuki business partners in this world, of course."

(2 medium holdings and partnership with Senshu if the Scorpion end up first. The partnership is fluff. The Scorpion get every bid point from Shosuro... Errr, Yasuki Taraka.)

Taraka grinned.

"You're a tough negotiator, Bayushi-san. Are you sure you weren't a Yasuki in a past life? You've got yourself a deal." she said.

She brought out her personal computer to formalize the terms of the partnership. Once it was ready she'd send a copy of it to the Scorpion and the big hatted records official to lock everything in.

She'd, of course, show a copy to Senshuken. It was laid out just as the pair had agreed.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

(do we have this figured out?)

[Yasuki Taraka]

(do we have this figured out?)

(Sort of. Craw has said that while I cannot have two for me, it is probably fine for me to take one, and gift one, as long as the gifted one is kept within the clan. Roping in a third clan would make things....awkward. I figure we toss in your proposed partnership, and You, Me and Crab Partner form a little business triumvirate. We supply you with the local connections, you provide Scorpion power, and we all get very very rich together. I've already donated all my points to your cause, and will keep doing so. Of course, all contingent on Scorpion getting 1st.)

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She nods. "I am equally pleased with our agreement, Yasuki san."

She finishes her tea and grins behind her mask, something that Taraka can see though. "How about the governor?" She asks again. "What's the deal with her? Is she betrothed for instance?"