From her vantage point still in the van, CSpan did notice that there is a crowd gathering - even if the words are indistinct.  The body languages on display are undeniable.  Tension.

Too many players... she mused to herself.  The helicopter isn't subtle, nor is the limo.  There are a lot of edgy Vulpez and only Priest (and herself in Auwana) interested in Sou-rat.  The team is way outclassed and out-gunned.

Her hand instinctively goes to where her larger piece of hardware is, but the platinum blonde nomad knows that her greatest weapon is her vehicle itself.  She kept an eye on the gate and its defenses.  And kept her van idling and ready.  She wasn't in the greatest position to help them, but standing next to Priest and Sou-rat was the straightest way to the morgue CSpan figured, if bullets started flying.

She had to hope they could dodge long enough for her to get Auwana to them.  If she could get there, at all.[Private to Referee: OOC:  Just trying to scope out a viable way to get herself and the van to her teammates if necessary.  How thick is the gate (and is it closed) and how much firepower can they bring compared to her van?  And let me know if I need to roll anything Perception or Tactics-wise.]

Fennec rubbed at the back of her ear, a seemingly nervous action but in fact she flicked on her comm to connect to Tony and Cuddles.

She let Sou-rat speak, explaining who he was and look the girl over. The Nomad felt a trickle a sweat lace down the back of her neck, despite her leaning casually against her ride. When the Yakuza goon decided to chip in, anger flashed across her face.

"Please tell me you're not the daughter of a Yakuza boss!" She hissed quietly at Ai, hoping very much the guys at the other end of the line were picking some of this up. This job was turning out to be a farce.

"And the last few people who said they worked for Mr. Matsudaira followed that up with trying to zero me." She responded quietly but with a hint of defiant anger in her eyes as her nervous grip tightened on the pistol. "I'm starting to wonder if he's actually going to show up one of these times or just keep sending overpaid corpo goons..." She trailed off as a man loudly called out from outside the car. "Oh no... what's my dad doing here!? That was not part of the deal at all..." she started panicking a little, her eyes looking for a way out as she started looking for a clear way to bolt once she was out of the car. "If he's here, I'm not going to be... I'll be damned if he's going to get me back under his thumb. So if your boss is actually here and wants this to proceed, someone needs to get rid of my dad and his goons."

If the girl is acting, she should be getting gigs on one of the premium channels. Ibrahim is satisfied that she is who she claims to be.

"He is indeed here, in the limo. And he wants to proceed," the exec responds. He straightens up and turns to Fennec and Badge. "I will try to convince the Yakuza that their role in this little drama has ended, but I need to confirm one fact. Did Ms. Hikage hire you to 'rescue' her?"

Badge was not keen to have to address the uninvited guest issue. So when Sou-rat confirmed that Ai is genuine and suggested trying to solve the Yakuza problem, so the grim man almost felt like cheering. Almost, as the words of Mr Hasegawa made it hard to believe that Ai's father would back down just like that.

The blue-eyed man nodded to the posed question. "Yes, something like that. And that is why we know our side didn't 'invite' any other 'interested parties' to the meeting. We went to some extreme lengths to avoid that." Shrugging after his remark, Badge proceeded to watch intently how the exec planned to handle their 'guests'.

Priest looked very visibly surprised when one of the yakuza walked up to the gate and claimed that Ai was his daughter using a fake name! He looked even more surprised when the woman in the van, who kind of looked like she was who everyone was talking about, seemed to confirm that her father, was in fact, a fragging yakuza boss!!

He looked with wide eyes at Sou-rat and gestured emphatically with both arms at the yakuza as if to say "And you invited them here??"

He muttered to himself but with a bit anger, amusement, and confusion in his voice, "¿Cuándo diablos me uní a una telenovela?? ¿Tiene una hermana gemela malvada con un parche en el ojo?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 14:51, Tue 04 July 2023.

"Thank you. Let me see if I can resolve it without a fight. Mr. Matsudaira is not and will not be your enemy in this. Nor will we."

Sou-rat turns and spies Priest's gesture. He rolls his eyes as if to say, I know. Hopefully, he can try to talk his way out of the mess he got everyone in. He can hear Valerie admonishing him already. You sought an advantage without looking into hidden motives. Now you're in a fix; how are you going to fix it?

The exec steps off from the others briefly and pulls out his agent. He dials Matsudaira's assistant.

"Tell Matsudaira-san that the girl wants to fulfill her end of the agreement, on the condition that we remove the Yakuza threat. I will endeavor to convince them that it would be in their best interests to avoid armed conflict," he says. "However, it will be more difficult knowing now that her father is their boss. The helicopter may be of use, both as a show of force, and as a possible means of Ms. Hikage's escape."

He doesn't wait for an answer, which is probably career suicide, but he doesn't have time to wait for Matsudaira-san to make a decision for him. The exec approaches the gate, but he doesn't immediately address the man with the clenched fists. Instead, he texts Tanaka directly.

++The girl was not abducted.
She requested assistance from the nomads & has no desire to return with Hasegawa-san.
Girl's desperation is palpable. Result may not be what Hasegawa-san desires.
Nomads also seem willing to defend her; risk may be high to achieve a fleeting victory.
Would you be able to convince your master to abandon his goals today? I will also do what I can.++

Message sent, he pockets his agent and approaches the gate.

---

OOC: I wanted to say more, but this took a bit to write and I've hit the end of my day.

Sou-rat can't tell whether Tanaka received or read the message; likely he has an internal agent.  Hasegawa steps forward when Sou-rat approaches the gate, apparently assuming that the exec is stepping up as spokesperson.  "Are you in charge of this operation?  Where is my daughter?  In that vehicle?" he points to Fennec's car.  Tanaka remains stone-faced as do the other three with Hasegawa.

"There is no operation; this is simply meant to be a meeting, Hasegawa-san," Sou-rat responds calmly. "And, yes, your daughter is present.

"However, your presence presents a problem; while your interests as her father are legitimate, her current disposition makes the probability of conflict much higher," he explains. "Your daughter was never abducted; she requested help from the nomads and their allies. As such, they will fight hard for her freedom, especially on their own turf. I don't know what risk to yourself and your assets here you will accept, but losses on both sides are likely to be very high, and any victory you may achieve will likely be fleeting, at best.

The exec leans in slightly and lowers his voice so that Hasegawa can hear. "If I may instead offer a suggestion? Your daughter is poised to become highly placed in the Matsudaira family, a family with competing factions that can be manipulated," he continues. "Allowing her to step into this role and then finding a way to reconcile with her would give you and your organization an opportunity to take advantage of this new connection.

"The possibility of having a major corporation in your pocket has to be better than having to hold onto a daughter who is constantly trying to get away from you."

---

OOC: Let me know if you need a Persuasion roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Sun 09 July 2023.

Priest had moved just a bit behind Sou-rat. He did his best to look like muscle. He tried to emulate the confidence and walk that Foggy would use to try to look badass. He wasn't in her league, of course, but he could pretend for a short while.

He kept his hands away from his weapon and pockets, trying to look like he was unconcerned for the most part but ready for anything. He wisely kept his mouth shut for the moment and let Sou-rat talk.

The exec waits for a response. Nothing. Just a stone-faced glare directed back at him. He doesn't try another tack - at least, not yet - and he turns on his heel and heads the other way.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Mon 10 July 2023.

Before Sou-rat can leave Tanaka speaks up.  "A challenge has been issued, to withdraw now would be an intolerable loss of face," he says as Hasegawa steps back stone-faced.  "Control of the girl is required before she assumes a role in the company; once under their dominion it is more difficult to establish.  I thought you understood," he adds in a lower voice for Sou-rat's ears only.*

---

Anyone nearby (Priest) can hear the second sentence on a Perception check.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:17, Tue 11 July 2023.

Priest restrained his face from making an expression. He wanted to sneer. He wanted to smirk. He wanted to make a threatening face. He wanted to be intimidating. But he didn't. He kept his face as smooth as he could, straining a little to do so.

Very quietly to Sou-rat as the other man stepped next to him he turned and tilted his head to Sou-rat and said, "Then maybe next time, he shouldn't issue a challenge in public that would cause a loss of face when he doesn't get what he wants."

The young woman kept her eyes locked on the Corpo meeting with the Yakuza leader across the way, already trying to think of ways to get out of this situation with everything rapidly falling apart. Her eyes went to Fennec and Badge for a second before focusing on the bigger threat.

Sou-rat stops, turning his head only slightly, but enough to let Tanaka know he hears him. His eyes meet Priest's as the latter man has his say; for appearances sake, he doesn't respond, even as he fully agrees with the medtech's assessment of Hasegawa's intransigence. Finally, he returns to the gate, meeting Tanaka face-to-face.

"Your master's unilateral escalation complicates matters beyond all reason; I truly only came here to facilitate a meeting," he says. Considering his next words carefully, the exec adds, "My impression of the young woman is that she will do anything to avoid the exact circumstance your master desires - even to the point of self-harm. Despite what you may think, I know something of family honor; it is a bit different in my culture, but embarrassment - losing face, as you call it - wastes too many good lives. I wish to avoid this for her sake, and your master's.

"If I can arrange it, would your master agree to a tripartite meeting between himself, his daughter, and Matsudaira-san? Only them, and within the compound walls here. That way, they can find some common ground that allows for face to be saved without this whole affair devolving into unnecessary bloodshed."

"Did you calculate this to be a three-way meeting, then?  Were the other parties informed of our equities?" Tanaka asks.  "Hasegawa-sama has the only valid claim as her father to guide her in deciding how to face the future," he adds his hands hanging loosely at his sides.

"Considering I was never made aware that it was your master who was her father, no, I didn't," Sou-rat replies, his rebuke a little harsher than he had intended it to be (and certainly not meant to be directed to Tanaka, who never had any reason to divulge that info). "Validity has little to do with anything at this point. The reality of the situation is that, if your master is unwilling to compromise just a little, blood will be shed, and his daughter may take extreme measures to ensure he has no control over her going forward.

"I'm trying to keep people from dying - your people, the nomads, Matsudaira's people, and mine! A three-way meeting is the only way to achieve that."

CSpan's fingers fidgeted on her van's steering wheel, drumming out a quick staccato beat as she waited and watched Sou-rat work.  His body language seemed to speak that he was in control of the situation.  Or at least working the situation.  Priest looked worried.  Or was posturing, which she read as being worried.

But, the platinum blonde nomad was quite aware that the longer that any negotiations took, the more likely they were to fall through.  In this day and age, plenty of people didn't have that level of patience.  Or foresight.  At least, that had been her experience up to this point.  Too much of the current culture was fast times and pretty corpses.  She loved speed, but she also liked living.

And she was pretty sure that this situation was turning into a standoff.  Or a delaying tactic.  And if a third party were involved it would be a Mexican standoff.  Any more interested parties and that situation became a firefight and a pooch screw with her and her group caught in a crossfire.

CSpan wasn't sure what she could do about it.  Her mind was racing.  Could she get her friends out alive?  How much folly was she willing to engage in?  And how good a driver was the chauffer in the limo blocking the gate?  And could she get her hands on that helicopter?  So, many unknowns.

Thus the fidgeting.  And the waiting.  The Waiting was the hardest part.

Priest mumbled under his breath, "Nadie espera un trío. Pero por lo general son más divertidos, escuché."

He let out a small sigh as the yak-man went on, fighting hard to bite his tongue. Valid claim to decide her future?? She was a PERSON, not an investment or a pet! His eyes narrowed and his he clenched his fists as he glared at the 'father of the fragging year'.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:51, Sat 29 July 2023.

"Ask the others, see if they will accept a three way meeting.  We can be reasonable," Tanaka replies keeping his voice level.  He folds his hands before him and adopts a waiting posture as his boss paces like a caged lion, impatiently.

The Vulpez leader moves up to Fennec, meanwhile, and speaks in a low voice.  "This is not our fight, mija.  If this is going south it needs to happen somewhere else, not here," he says.  There is no anger towards her, he is speaking as though stating facts.

"Thank you, Tanaka," Sou-rat answers with a respectful nod. The exec turns and meets with Priest, resisting the urge to sigh. To the medic he says quietly, "I don't know how much rapport you have with Fennec, but we need to convince her and, especially, Ms. Hikage, to agree to allow Hasegawa to join the meeting. It's the only way to avoid an all-out fight. I'm going to have to do the same with Mastudaira.

Oh, and could you let CSpan know we're still trying to salvage this thing? One miracle down, two to go."

He then finds a space out of the way of others and dials Matsudaira's assistant. "I need to speak to Matsudaira-san; I may have brokered the first step out of this mess, but I need his direct agreement."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:30, Wed 26 July 2023.

Priest blew out some air quietly. He gave a small shrug to Sou-rat. He didn't think he had much but it probably wouldn't hurt to try. But first, he stepped away from the gate and called their Nomad friend.

"CSpan? We're...working on this mess. I guess, stay frosty. Things still might devolve in to a firefight, but hopefully not."

After he hung up, he stepped over to Fennec and Badge. "Sooooo. I assume you heard most of that since those Yakuza aren't exactly quiet or subtle." He shook his head a little. "My friend is trying to keep things from going loco, but it looks like Daddy ain't goin' nowhere and wants a seat at the table for the discussion. Which, I guess, is better than him just trying to TAKE his daughter by gunfire. If she's really his daughter." He sounded like the fact that she was the daughter of a Yakuza boss SHOULD have come up before the last ten minutes.

He let out a small sigh, collected himself and when he spoke again he was serious and more 'proper'. "My apologies. We were wondering if you could please speak with Ms. Hikage and see if she would agree to allowing her father to attend the meeting in addition to our employer to help avoid unnecessary bloodshed. We have made it clear that if he is allowed to attend, it in no way is giving him anything other than a seat at the table."

CSpan clucked her assent to Priest brief missive.  "Motor is running." the platinum blonde nomad acknowledged, "and I will rush the stage as needed..."  Still, with the limo positioned where it was - and with the firepower being array around it, she felt compelled to add, "... but you may need to meet me halfway."

When the other side of the line detached, her fingers resumed their tapping on the steering wheel.  Her eyes settled on the spot where she knew that she could squeeze Auwana into to make life the most interesting for all parties involved.  And hopefully, give her peeps a fighting chance at surviving this brewing fiasco.

Badge watched on the ongoing exchanges silently. Currently their best bet was hoping that the suit-man's words would open some way out of this mess, that didn't involve shooting their way through dozens of angry Yakuza members.

As Priest approached them with his initial slightly heated attempt to get the message across, Badge's brows narrowed into a frown, but soon relaxed once more, as the man took a more polite tone with them and reiterated.

"I suppose we'll have to run it by her, since it doesn't seem like we're getting anywhere otherwise. However, even assuming she will agree, I have doubts as to how much of a compromise is her 'father' willing to make." Shrugging as the grim armed man summarized his thoughts on the matter, he turned on the spot and headed over to the car.

Casually opening the door, Badge glanced inside and addressed 'Ai'. "We have a complication ma'am, your Yakuza daddy won't back down unless allowed to join the meeting as third party. I know you're not keen on seeing his face ever again, but so far this is the best option we have. So can I tell them that we agree outright or with some conditions?"

She looked at Badge and the fear in her eyes was evident. "You know as well as I do that won't work, he's not going to let me leave with anyone but him given the chance." she said quietly before beckoning the Lawman closer and leaning forward to whisper in his ear. [Private to Badge: "Sorry, needed to use you as cover for a minute. AGENT, send message to Cuddles: 'We've got a problem, Ai's father is here with his thugs demanding to be part of the meeting with her. Ask her what does she think our odds of surviving that meeting are with his involvement and if she can give me ANY information that might help me fool him into thinking I'm her if we can't get rid of him?' Send message. I don't know who talked to him but with everything else looking bad about this situation, I really don't like this."]