Description: Since the landmark Street Fighting Law was passed in Southtown, one could only wonder what the repercussions of this ordinance would be. On one hand, it has been a great boon to the city's wealth of fighting franchises and tourism. The most popular sport in the world. On the other hand.. Wheels have begun to turn as an executive from a philanthropic organization comes to the Garcia Foundation with an offer. One they perhaps cannot, could not, refuse? To what ends would a man go, for the love of his fellow man? Will Robert Garcia, the wayward heir of a financial empire, begin to take up the reins he had long forsaken for the Kyokugen way?
It can be hard for Alberto Garcia to reign in his son at times. As overly enthusiastic as his son can be in his martial arts persuits, as well as his...romantic...ones, it isn't often that his son spends much time outside of Japan when not on tour. Still, Robert does know his place. When the word comes down from on high that there's a business function that he attends, there's no backtalk, just a great deal of pouting around the dojo for a few days as he gets ready for the plane trip. He isn't a *completely* worthless son after all, and besides, there's absolutely no way that he would be able toafford Yuri's mall binging for even a month without the gratuitous allowance his father gives him.
One guest in particular is met at the front desk by a handsome and well-dressed, if stern, security officer who phones ahead briefly, only to offer her to a guide who can't help but gush about the wonderful history of the Foundation as Marise is led to the conference chamber. Don't forget to stop at the history center on your way out!
The second floor of the Garcia Foundation's lofty tower HQ facilitates public meetings such as these, numerous conference halls and waiting rooms making up the majority of its space. Marise would enter the room to find Robert with his back to the door and standing at the window. His attire is slightly more formal as is befitting the occasion; white slacks with a matching shirt, a blue vest worn over. Arms crossed thusly, the man gazes outside the window, gazing out from the confines of the executive office and burning to...well, do something. Anything really, as long as it doesn't involve standing here waiting for half an hour in case his guest arrives early. Is this the same way he's going to find himself ten years from now, when his father decides to pass the business on to him? Man, that'd be such a drag...but he can't just abandon the business that has been there for his every want and need since childhood, or more importantly his father. Still. It's *way* too nice of a day to be cooped up in a room like this.
"It is a nice day, isn't it?"
A lilting feminine voice fills the conference room, announcing to the Garcia scion that his long dreaded appointment is finally at hand.
And with a glance, perhaps it may not be as bad as he was expecting..
Standing in the entrance from the hall is a tall woman. A tall.. Beautiful woman. Dressed smartly in an Earth toned business dress, a jacket fitted over her gorgeous form. A black skirt fitted to her knees and hugging her hips most flatteringly. A business case dangling from one hand as she looks ahead to the young man and offers her most dazzling of smiles. Medium-length black hair swept up into a neat bun with thin lensed glasses balanced neatly on her pert nose. Luminous brown eyes sizing the man up with focused attention, modestly painted lips smiling a bit more widely in approval as she continues,
"The weather has been wonderful lately," Approaching across the carpeted floor, smooth grace even in tall heels, "Miss Mura Inoue. You're a hard man to track down, Mr. Garcia, I'm glad I finally managed to catch you." Offering her hand to him, eschewing a more traditionally Japanese bowing greeting in favor of a more European one. Adapting to the local culture is good business, after all. When in Rome..
Woah. Not what he was expecting at all, by any stretch of the imagination. Her beauty immediately strikes him, of course - he's not an ascetic martial artist after all, nor will he likely ever be. But as he extends his hand in greeting, meeting it with a smile that would normally be stocked with natural charm - it almost falters for a moment. It's very well concealed, the expression widening into a disarming grin to compensate for the lapse, but there all the same.
Something has the hairs on the back of Robert's neck standing straight up, and he's not sure why. That chill he felt? That's...probably because he's not used to dealing with tall chicks, he guesses. He has no reason to suspect that the chill he feels is his natural intuition is trying to tell him something here, and he is not yet wise enough in his years to recognize it for what it is. "Ah, Ms. Inoue! It most certainly is bright and cheery..."
He pauses for a moment, sizing her up. And then the momentary unease is replaced by...laughter? He's like mercury! "You wanted to bow just then, didn't you? I spend alot of time in Japan , so I can sort of tell. A fantastic country with a wealth of culture, as well as a history in martial arts discipline." He's spoken several sentances without slanging at least once. The unclean sensation it leaves momentarily distracts him from his earlier discomfort - it's always like this when he first gets back to Italy from abroad. He'll get over it in a few minutes. In the meantime, he offers the gorgeous woman a nod and pulls out a chair for her, before walking around the table and seating himself. "So, what is it that you wanted to discuss? I'll admit, I'm not so firmly attached to the company that meetings like these are entirely common, and I'm intrigued."
It's a good thing he's spoken for, or at least that he *considers* himself spoken for in any event. He has enough distractions as it is.
hough there is a strange.. uneasy tension in the room. Perhaps they set the air conditioner a bit too cool to compensate for the hot weather outside. Perhaps its just having a business meeting with such a charming lady.. But then there is something.. off-putting about her.
Mura's laughter is pure as the man astutely points out the slight cultural faux pas she nearly committed, "Ah yes, it can be difficult to catch myself sometimes. Why thank you," Shaking his hand with surprising firmness, perhaps as a way to demonstrate she is certainly here for business rather than a more.. fluffy purpose, appearances to the contrary, "You are very kind. My country is a wonderful place.. and infact, your experiences there is very much part of why we sought you out personally." As the chair is offered she smiles once more. A sincere 'thank you' is given as she takes the seat, bonelessly settling into the cushion with a smooth, easy grace. Scooting herself in as she sets her briefcase down on the table carefully, shifting the business vessel about for the locks to face her.
"I would like to take this moment to again thank you for seeing me. You see," Flipping the locks open with her manicured thumbs, openning forth the case and beginning to withdraw several bound and sealed documents. "I represent the Yasuragi Group. Our organization is a non-profit philanthropic effort based in Kyoto."
Beginning to hand the Garcia Heir several of the less sensative documents, mostly brochures about their business and the works they do. Images of funding various relief efforts throughout the world. Mostly medical support, supplies and blood donations to wartorn countries. Dafur, Baghdad, Bangkok.
"Recently, our interests have noticed a disturbing trend in medical expenses in Japan. Most specifically in the county of Southtown in southern Honshu. As you know, several years ago city ordinance was passed legalizing free-form bare-knuckle fighting. Since then, public medical expenses have skyrocketed. Southtown alone is draining Red Cross resources at a prodigeous rate and Hospitals are beginning to strain with victims of this... law." Her voice seeming a bit, distressed at the issue at hand. Her eyes, drift to the paperwork before her as she begins to hand over more charts and graphs. All of them showing a rather bleak picture of wounded and injured from legalized street fighting.
"Frankly, with the numbers our organization is seeing, we believe that Southtown qualifies for International philanthropic aid, not unlike several warzones across the World. We're in the final stages of seeking approval from the Japanese Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs for operating there. However, the catch is.. We need more corporate sponsorship in order to begin our efforts there."
As Robert thought, he's just imagining things. It certainly can't be anything that has to do the woman herself. It's not like he's sitting across from VEGA or anything. God, that still gives him the shivers. Picked up his own car and tried to HIT HIM WITH IT. And that whole glowy emo-power...ugh. Luckily, Robert is an idiot, and completely incapable of connecting the dots as to why he's suddenly reminded of this experience.
The younger Garcia nods in time to her points, meanwhile taking to leafing through the documents one by one as they're offered. It looks legitimate enough. Still, as his guest draws close to her selling point, the wrinkle in Robert's brow is quite visible with little effort at concealment. Any involvement of politics immediately sends Robert's interest running south, but this is a finely crafted trap he finds himself in. It could be mere coincidence of course, but he is his father's son, and the Garcia Foundation is not run by a fool. He certainly is an excellent person to approach about this...after all, he's not only a reasonably world-reknown fighter with a local interest in Japan, but he's also a strong critic of Geese Howard's policies. To turn his back on both of these things is simply an impossibility. Even if there were an ulterior motive, even if this paperwork wasn't all that it seemed to be; if he waffled on this and the information went public, it'd cast a very unfavorable light upon himself and the company. He doesn't have a *problem* with what is in front of him of course, but that doesn't make finding himself backed in the corner all the more pleasant a realization.
The young man has absently picked up a fancy balled-point point from the table over the course of the explanation, which he spins in his fingertips as he continues to flip through the documents with the other. He finally looks up, a smile once again gracing his features. Passible enough to fool the majority of people, but definately fake. "Well, I imagine I can't just sit back and ignore an issue like this while my favorite sport causes so much trouble for others. The Garcia Foundation will be more than happy to offer its sponsorship for such a noble and *necessary* venture." God, this smile hurts. Can he go back to Japan yet? He gathers the stack and passes it back over the table to Ms. Inoue. "I take it you have some paperwork prepared for the occasion, as prepared as you are?" He's all smiles still, but it still conveys the fact that he knows he did her homework.
As the Garcia scion mulls over the initial bid of her offer, Miss Inoue awaits patiently. Her gaze attentive and clearly enthused about the subject matter. But then, Philanthropists are an interesting lot. While deeply entrenched in some very business interests, the focus is not on monentary profit. But humanitarian profit. It certainly must make it easy for people like her to sleep at night.
Though, certainly it would seem Miss Inoue is pleased that her company's diligent homework has indeed paid off. Listening to Robert rather quickly accepting the business proposal earns a lifting of her eyebrows and a growing smile, "Why, that's wonderful to hear! We were hoping that you would be sympathetic to the plight of these poor young people."
Then reaching into her briefcase to pull out another folder. This one, however, is quite sealed. A few unlatching motions across a few tied knots at the edges of the folder before revealing a triplicate contract. Titled 'For Robert Garcia Only'. Carefully sliding the papers across the table towards the man as she leans forwards, further explaining,
"Of course, we arn't simply asking for handouts. Once we complete our paperwork with the Japanese Ministry any amount you furnish for our efforts will be a corporate tax write down. And.." Flipping the pages of the contract to another section, "..The Garcia Foundation will be given a no-bid contract, if a certain financial obligation is met, to refurbish the Southtown Hospital. Expanding the medical wards. A contract worth.. in excess of one billion yen according to pre-estimates. This will ensure that many victims of street violence in Southtown will be given proper care exceeding many world standards. And with proper charity channels cleared from other International organizations, top care can be given even to those without medical insurance, health coverage or personal finances. And, of course, they will all have the Garcia Foundation to thank for it." Turning her bright smile back to him as she clicks a pen with her thumb, offering the sleek metal impliment to him.
Eyes flick back and forth between the contract and his guest as both reveal the terms they offer in kind. He does actually read it, you see. As the one who will inherit the company, it's not even an option. His dad has *quizzed* him on contracts he's read like school exams. Things aren't just nutty when he's staying with the Sakazakis, after all! ...Which is probably why the old men get along so well. He can't find a single chink in the wording of the contract though. In fact, if anything, it's almost *too* good of a deal! His mind pores over it from any number of angles, some taught by his father, others stemming from his own personal insights...not a chink anywhere. Huh. The old man would probably forbid him from leaving the country for *half a year* if he let this one get away. "Hmm. Well then! I can't see any reason to not sign this, and all the details seem to be in order." He lifts one hand to scratch the back of his head in disbelief. "Man. I'll be impressed if you can follow through on some of these figures in terms of how many you can aid through this, but even half that would still be remarkable. However...I'm sure you'll understand that I can't offer you a signature immediately without running this through our legal department, but you have my assurance that we'll be getting back to you shortly."
Rising from his seat, Robert Garcia circles around the perimeter of the table while producing his wallet, removing a card and placing it face up on the table beside his guest. He offers his hand again as her sign to rise, which he would shake with the firmness of a sealed deal that can only be given by a fighter turned businessman. "Thank you very much for your time, Ms. Inoue. I'll see to making sure that it is very well spent, and that many will be aided by this project of ours."
The business woman doesn't seem dejected in the least at Garcia's reluctance to sign immediately. Far from it, it is standard corporate practice afterall. If anything, the woman clearly looks elated that the younger Garcia is most aggressively optimistic about the deal. She was afraid he'd be a harder sell, but the woman is very glad he saw the genuine value of the offer immediately.
Rising from her seat as he does, the woman likewise smoothly steps to the side to face the man fully. Clasping that offered hand between her own remarkably cool hands, Mura states, "I assure you the Garcia Foundation will not regret this. And no.. thank you. On behalf of all of the those injured and hurt on the street. I was.. we were hoping that you would feel this way. You are a kind and giving man.. Unlike many in the corporate ladder, if I may be so bold. We will be in touch."
Accepting the card with a slight blush. The gesture is quite endearing, even if wholly unnecessary considering she has his contact information already and then some. But the personalized information is rather charming.
Still, shaking the young heir's hand once between her own once more, she adds, "Your father must be very proud of you." Lips pulling into a dazzling smile. Only then releasing his hand, almost reluctantly, and collecting her papers and heading out.
Soon.. Southtown will get exactly what it deserves..
Log created on 00:47:42 09/02/2007 by Marise, and last modified on 15:37:51 09/02/2007.