Description: Shihong delivers the fighter / petty thief Ayame to Geese Howard's doorstep. In the ensuing conversation, a deal is made, one that Ayame can't very well afford to refuse...
Question: How do you explain carrying an unconscious young woman on your back?
Answer: Very carefully.
After the Saturday Night Fight festivities, it was a chore to finagle with the medics to take charge of the unconscious young Ayame. 'But she's hurt!' they said. Shihong argued the girl was no pushover and was very likely fine. Any argument they threw at her, the Chinese woman swiftly countered with a precise, razor-sharp argument in kind. Eventually the SNF medical crew gave up and let the woman take Ayame off her hands.
So, from Howard Arena to Geese Tower did the woman walk, carefully toting the girl on her back through the streets. Sure, it earned her a few odd and awkward stares, what with her cargo, as well as being dressed to the nines in a rich red cheongsam, but the woman was left to her own devices; after all, who would bother her?
No one, that's who.
Entering the Tower, Shihong was again greeted by numerous odd looks, to which she replied with a stare, before calmly explaining she had 'business to attend to' with the 'big man upstairs,' which was the truth, to an extent. So, uninterrupted, the woman entered the elevator and rode to the top, where she went through the usual security measures, as unnecessary as they were, along with her unlikely cargo.
And that brings us to now.
Carting Ayame on her back, Shihong steps into the office quietly, giving the girl a light and careful hefting up to keep her from slipping. Regardless of however Howard himself replies, the woman simply wanders into the massive rooftop office and carefully slides Ayame from her back, setting her down on the floor. Pulling a small vial from the inside of her red cheongsam, holding it carefully between her fingers.
"Just a moment," she explains to her employer.
Snapping the small vial, she runs it lightly underneath Ayame's nostrils, smelling salts to wake the young woman from her tired slumber, using the other hand to absently tap the girl on her cheek. "Time to wake up little Ayame~" the woman lightly chimes, sporting a Cheshire's grin.
"Ahhh...remember how I said I had to talk to you sometime? Well...I was half-truthful."
She gestures aside when the girl is more coherent, toward the desk of Geese Howard.
Coldcocked by a simple yet effective punch to the face by the famous Dr. Tran, the last long while passed in a state of being blissfully unaware of the endeavor on Shihong's part to cart her all the way from the fight to Howard's stronghold tower. Having to recover consciousness with the help of a friendly SNF medic is hardly a new experience for the regular contender. Having to be woken up on the floor of some tower office, on the other hand, is very much new.
The world is blackness until the wafting of that horrible smelling vile beneath her nose, causing Ayame to stir quickly, shaking her head, her right hand coming up to rest against the side of her forehead, nursing a headache she's got after that grueling fight. Or maybe it's just risidual effects of having her head disappear into Preston's armpit at one point.
"Nngh." the girl grunts, rolling onto her side, her left hand coming up to try and brush away Shihong's tapping hand, looking like she intends to just go back to sleep. "Too early," she mutters, one brown eye cracking open just briefly before closing again.
That lasts all of one second, however, as both of Ayame's eyes open wide and she sits up straightaway, glancing back and forth quickly, her right hand already slipping down to her belt, no doubt enroute to retrieve one of her knives, "Where is this?!" she snaps demandingly.
Geese drops A Diving Board.
It's not the standard practice to drag people to Geese Towers unconscious and dump them at the rooftop doorstep.
But this is hardly something that calls for standard procedure.
Shihong had been asked a while back to retrieve the ever-so elusive and mysterious fighter Ayame. The method here today leaves a bit to be desired in terms of subtlety, but nonetheless accomplishes the end goal: bring Ayame to Geese Towers. That isn't to say there are no odd eyes, but.
People have learned not to question things. In the end, ignorance is truly bliss.
Ayame is delivered to Geese Tower's rooftop office, set on the ground like a floor mat. It's not the expected welcome, but it works. And as Ayame begins to stir and come back to the realm of consciousness, she might hear another voice amidst the haze of a groggy wake-up call.
"... see you took creative license in how to deliver her here. But, better late than never." Ayame stirs. Her eyes glance back and forth, and it is then she'll probably see her gracious host: Geese Howard himself.
"Well, look who's finally awake."
The man sits calmly upon his ornate chair, dressed in black business attire and a blue tie; his hands fold in his lap as Ayame reacts out of surprise and instinct, making sudden and brazen demands. Howard just leans back, allowing himself an amused smile. "There's no need for to go for your weapons, and I really wouldn't advise it myself," the King of Southtown intones, pale blue eyes looking towards where her right hand moves. "No, I just had Shihong here bring you to me so we could have a little chat. I doubt I need to introduce myself, do I? And I don't need introductions from you, either. You've made quite a name for yourself, Ms. Aya Ichigo." He pauses. "Though, I guess you go by Aya/me/ now." A frown creases his lips. "Let's hope your fighting style is more inspired than your ability to make up names. In any case..." Howard leans forward again, eyes narrowed upon Ayame thoughtfully.
"... welcome to Geese Towers. Let's talk."
Knelt by the girl's side, Geese's remark earns him a faint smirk, black eyes briefly drawing to a close as she pulls the vial out from her cheongsam. Thoughtfully she purses her rouge red lips, brows knitting slightly before she merely exhales and moves her arm, placing the broken vial by the girl's nose.
"It was the most sure-fire method. Besides, you told me I had a week. I was already pushing deadline."
When Ayame comes to the woman explains the situation briefly, gesturing toward the man himself seated like a king. Withdrawing her hands, the Chinese woman just continues to sport a wide grin, her expression far from malicious as she regards the young weapons prodigy stirring from her painful slumber.
But her sudden and impulsive (but expected) response earns her a soft gasp from the woman at her side, a pale hand lifting, palm up as she offers a gesture for her to please cease and desist. "Oh, no need for those," she murmurs quiet to the girl, even as Geese explains it himself. "It's quite okay, I promise." A wink follows, however less-than-reassuring it may be--especially in Howard's company.
Standing upright once more, the Chinese woman extend an arm, offering a hand to Ayame. As Howard talks the woman just offers a tiny grin, patiently waiting until he's spoken before she explains her actions.
"I apologize, Ayame, if this was a little unexpected. I have been meaning to get you in touch with mister Howard, because he has expressed interest in meeting you." Pausing, the pale-faced woman lets her smile broaden a touch, a genuine gesture before she continues. "I figured the best means of getting you two together with the least means of resistance--" And to save her neck. "--was after you were knocked out in our fight."
Grinning demurely, the woman adds with a sing-song tone, "So~orry, Ayame. It'll be worth your time though. I promise." Or she hopes.
Regardless, the woman turns, facing Howard directly before she bows her head slightly and takes a few steps back, placing poor Ayame at the center of attention.
Her hand doesn't quite reach her belt, stopped short by Shihong's quickly timed grip. Surprisingly firm, her encouragement to not bother reaching for her knife is reinforced with a certain sense that she would only be making more trouble for herself with a woman of Shihong's already proven talent right at her side like that. The girl is too overwhelmed to get angry, sparing the Chinese enforcer anything beyond a somewhat bewildered expression as the startled girl tries to take it all in.
It's about then that she finally places the second voice she detected in her transition from unconsciousness to being awake and her brown eyes snap toward Geese, the girl making no further effort to reach for the butterfly knife sheathed at her belt. One leg comes up, bent at the knee, as if she's ready to test her footing and evaluate her ability to bolt. She recognizes Geese immediately, his public image no secret. The natural assumption is that this is about the petty crimes she's committed in Southtown. Hitting shops that pay their monthly Syndicate 'protection' dues, trying to make a big hiest at a drug house that only went south when Birdie got involved... She can think of any number of reasons Geese Howard, lord of Southtown Syndicate, might be interested in seeing her.
He indicates no introductions are necessary, and the Asian teen shakes her head, mouth tight lipped, face just a little pale as he describes having a chat. But that's nothing compared to the expression on the girl's face the moment he drops her given name. No one knew it. No one was supposed to. She had played fast and loose with her 'first name' before, but her family name? Too flustered to really bristle at his jab at her rather unconvincing alias, the runaway merely sits on the floor, tensing up more by second.
Shihong pronounces her apology, and the girl glances at her somewhat wide-eyed, still having not found her voice yet. She's in so much trouble, she's certain. Undeniably horrible amounts of trouble, and not even the sing-songy tone of the Chinese woman she's come to respect highly since first trying to mug her so long ago is doing much to assuage her initial fright. Shihong backs off, leaving Ayame sitting alone on the floor, which seems a somewhat ridiculous way to address someone like Geese Howard of Southtown.
Slowly Ayame pushes her hands against the floor then rises gradually to her feet, wobbling a little on unsteady legs before finally standing up straight and facing Geese directly. "All right," she manages to say, knowing full well the only choice she has is how hard she wants to make them /force/ her to chat, which isn't really a very appealing choice to explore at all. The color is only just barely managing to return to her face as she tries to figure out what else Geese must know about her if he's got her real identity so well pegged.
There's something to be said for taking someone by surprise. It's a good tactic in any scenario, business or otherwise. Because when people are surprised...
... they're so much more susceptible.
Geese Howard is a patient man, and it is evidenced by how the blonde-haired man so calmly waits for Ayame to get her bearings on the situation. It is certainly a lot to absord at one time -- not that Geese particularly cares about Ayame's feelings or concerns. But the fact that he lets this all sink in for her, well...
... the cold reality is far more effective than groggy confusion could ever be.
"Mao is right, you don't have anything to be afraid of from me right now. What kind of man would I be if I just struck down some poor girl for no reason?" He offers a cool smile here as he leans back, index fingers pressing against his chin. He's not so sadistic to create problems for Ayame for no reason. No. Only if there -was- a reason-- "But you look a bit tense. What're you expecting?" Geese takes a look at Ayame, and then looks towards the edge of his roof. "... it seems like you're nervous of something. Don't worry. I'm just a businessman.
"And I'm here to discuss business."
He waits a moment, to let the words soak in, before continuing on seamlessly, icy blue eyes refocusing on his new guest. "Now, Mao has told me quite a bit about you... Ayame. And, curious man that I am, I decided to find out all I could about you. Saturday Night Fight footage only goes so far, after all. It seems you've been pretty busy over the years -- the recent months in particular. A girl with unique talents like yours is bound to be noticed eventually in her comings and goings. Especially when they're not all precisely legal. Please, correct me if I'm wrong." Howard even allows time for Ayame to protest; he rotates a wrist, waiting expectantly, a blonde brow raised. And then:
"But I didn't really bring you hear to discuss your past. What's done is done, and I'm nothing if not a man who can recognize talent. And you've made your talent -very- well known here in Southtown." Geese stands here, slipping his right hand into his pants pocket as he moves away from his seat, back presented to the pair as he looks out over the skyline of Southtown.
"I'd like to put that talent to good use. For me."
He gives her time to collect her wits, Ayame's mind kicking into high gear to make sense of everything. Her senses are acutely aware of every little detail as she tries to catch up mentally to everything that has happened, putting together the pieces of the puzzle that will reveal how she came to be here right now, standing before none other than Geese Howard. He assures her there's nothing to be afraid of and Ayame simply nods her head in slight acknowledgement.
He asks what she's expecting and the girl doesn't really have anything to offer. "Just surprised," she remarks, taking the moment Geese spends looking out over Southtown to glance surreptitiously around the room, marking exit points and high ground... just in case.
He insists it's for business and she seems to calm a little. She's dealt with people who can think like that. Elle was very much about business. But standing in front of Geese is a far cry from her introduction to the mercenary leader many months ago. He mentions Shihong's accounting of the girl and Ayame starts to smile faintly for the first time. So it would seem the regard she has for Mao is not one-sided. He references her comings and goings, and the dubious legality of many of them, and even though she's given a window of opportunity to protest the accusation, she says nothing. She may lie her head off to nearly anyone, but there are some well beyond her capacity to decieve, and she's willing to bet Geese is one of them.
"You want me to do a job for you?" she asks, a hint of surprise in her voice. This is the strangest career interview she's ever been through. And she's had some strange jobs. "I've probably got time..." she states guardedly, not really sure what he knows of her previous affiliation and the demise of that employer due to a minor issue with kidnapping and torture. Not so petty crimes for a change.
Of course Ayame doesn't have anything to fear -- right now, at least. Because Geese Howard is relatively self-assured he'll be getting what he wants, for a variety of reasons. If not, well --
-- then she might have something to be concerned over.
"Things don't go on in this city without it eventually coming back to me. I'm a very attentive man when it comes to my city. Consider me a... concerned citizen." The way he words it, the inflection of his words, implies something entirely different. Concerned citizen, in the end, just means he's a very concerned over the city -he- owns. 'Citizen' is too humble a term. "I make it my business to know -everything- that goes on." His head rolls back, a calm, self-assured smile spreading across his lips.
"Of course, I'm not just concerned about my city. I also have other things that I look out for. Like my Saturday Night Fights. They bring entertainment to people all over the world, and the... safety of the people who participate is of -utmost- importance to me." It's another lie, but one delivered with such sincerity, how could it be perceived as anything but the truth? Howard glances over his shoulder, pale eyes looking towards Ayame. "Recently, there has been a brush of fighters disappearing after their matches. Someone is abducting them. I'd like to find out who.
"The safety of the fighters, after all, is at the forefront of my concern for my fights."
Howard turns again, to regard Ayame and, in turn, Shihong. "I'd rather not send my own people to investigate. They'd stand out too much. So I'd like you to do it for me. I'm sure you can find the time." The King of Southtown speaks casually, smooth voice coming out slowly as he takes a step forward. "Consider it a step towards repaying me for turning a blind eye to your antics. Sounds simple, right?" Simple indeed. Of course, any job for Geese is hardly ever simple...
... and they're almost always a binding contract.
'His city.' Ayame doesn't miss the implications. No one as in deep with unsavory sorts as her is blind to the going ons of the Syndicate, but she's also very aware of the way the majority of people see the man before her. Popular with the masses, he gives them their entertainment and they give him his power. It's no surprise that he moves on to discussing that informal 'accord' he has with the world.
The Saturday Night Fights, an entertainment empire the likes of which the world hadn't seen before. It took someone with Geese's vision, wealth, and influence to finally capitalize on the most popular sport there to such a degree. Naturally, any threat to the participants outside of the matches themselves would be cause for concern, Ayame realizes as he continues to elaborate.
Fighters disappearing may make some reluctant to get involved, diminishing numbers, and potentially impacting ratings if it got out of hand. No wonder he'd want something like that curtailed. "Really," she remarks, her voice calm now, the girl putting on a persona of seeming far more controlled than she was when she first awoke, as if the shock of ending up here has already been dealt with. "I hadn't heard anything of the sort. It must have been kept under wraps thus far. The only post-fight disappearance I know of so far is my own," she continues, coming across just slightly amused though she avoids looking at Shihong behind her.
He'd like her to look into it then. The implications clear - do this or risk having him trying to collect on whatever trouble her routine mischief might have caused him and then some. "I'm available," she states neutrally with regards to finding the time. Shed off one crazed employer for another. At least life won't be boring this way. He takes a step forward and Ayame flinches, some of her compsure threatened by the increased proximity, but she doesn't budge, instead clasping her hands behind her back. "Yeah. Simple." she agrees, brown eyes meeting Geese's for a moment until she breaks away, shifting her gaze to the large window instead.
"I imagine you have someone who can give me the information I need to get started - Fighters who vanished, locations of the matches, names of SNF officials on hand..." Her mind has already begun to try and solve the puzzle. While usually doing everything she can do to /avoid/ her antics being figured out, deciphering and dissecting mysteries is something she enjoys putting her mind to.
All the while, Shihong remains ever silent as she stands back, long arms folded neatly behind her back as she merely observes the exchange before her. Grinning softly to herself, the woman is privately amused at the situation facing Ayame. The girl is handling it quite well, Shihong decides. Of course, the Chinese woman knew she would. The weapons prodigy has yet to disappoint her, after all.
When Howard mentions his request, however, the woman's features stir slightly, her lips pulling into a thin line. She nods only faintly as he regards the both of them, and the situation facing him, that he cannot send his 'own people' to investigate. A pity; she'd rather like to stick her nose in where it doesn't belong. But that...is a job that fits the tiny weapons girl best. Their conversation remains theirs for the time being, with the Chinese woman silently observing still.
When she obliges the crime lord, however, the woman's smile eases into a pleasant gesture, despite the fact she's standing behind the blonde, who is looking out the window. She needs information, though...
"Both instances thus far have occurred not in Southtown, but in Metro City," the woman chimes up from behind, as slender arms fold neatly over her chest. "An inconvenience, definitely. Also, it could be mere coincidence; however, it seems too convenient. Disappearances happening in Southtown would definitely be noticed." Eyes dart aside, to look to the blonde man seated at the far end of the room before she continues. "I personally suspect the culprit in question wants to avoid precisely that."
"In any case, the fighters who have gone missing thus far are Hayato Nekketsu, a phys-ed teacher from Taiyo High, an Ikari agent known only as 'Whip' and a mercenary woman named Vanessa." Pausing, a slender finger lightly taps her chin, black eyes peering at the ceiling above.
"The officials on hand of note would probably be Terrance Goodwright for the Hayato match, and Francis Dubois for the Whip and Vanessa match. Whether they could, or can, provide you any worthwhile information is truly beyond me." A helpless shrug follows.
But Shihong moves, stepping forward a bit to stand a little closer to Ayame and Howard himself. "Though mister Howard has insisted he not get his men directly involved, I will do what I can to assist you as indirectly as possible, Ayame." She glances aside, giving the girl a faint grin before she adds, "But I know you can do this yourself. You're a real smart kid, after all."
"Of course," Geese dismisses Ayame's words of a cover-up off-handedly.
"We wouldn't want to scare any of the adoring, simple fans with some nonsense stories about kidnappings."
Of course, Ayame's actions have amounted to less than a thorn in Geese's side. All her antics could have easily been ignored. But they serve a purpose. They're leverage. Someone as resourceful as her is best kept under heel lest they decide to try to get -too- resourceful... which brings us to today. The head of Howard Enterprises watches Ayame calmly as she accepts, and begins rattling off a list of needed information. Calmly, pale blue eyes roll to Shihong.
"Mao here will give you the information you need. I'd also note aside from location, there are no obvious connections between the people they have been kidnapping. You'll have to look deeper to find any meaningful connections." Howard has his theories; he's not a stupid man. But he's also not a man to take care of dirty work that other people can do for him. Shihong has attested to Ayame being more than capable, and everything he's seen -- and gathered -- about her indicates as much. And so he simply offers a calm, self-assured smile.
"That's all, for now. I'll need status reports by the week with what information you've gathered. The sooner you figure this out, the better. If you have any other questions, get in contact with Mao here," an idle gesture is afforded towards the enforcer as Geese moves back to his seat, settling down calmly. "She'll provide you with whatever information she can. Anything else... can wait until you've started this job. Any other questions?" Howard settles his hands into his lap, leans back... and offers a smug smirk, icy eyes moving back to Ayame.
"I'm sure you won't disappoint me."
Opulance, power, influence... Geese has it all in spades, that much Ayame knows clearly. If there were ever any doubt, being placed before him for this surprise (for her) meeting certainly lays any of those doubts to rest. He speaks about keeping the fans happy and she girl merely smiles faintly back. Hey, she can't complain, it HAS been a source of income for her, and the wierd matches they keep putting her in have been interesting from a training perspective...
He mentions Mao will provide information and Ayame nods her head slightly, not surprised. The woman seemed to be the sort to know a lot more than she lets on at first glance. Taking a step to the side, she glances toward the Chinese transporter, brown eyes fixing her thoughtfully. So full of secrets that one, and surprises to be certain. The details offered by the red dress clad Shihong are absorbed readily, recorded easily by Ayame's nigh perfect memory. Names, places, details, all of them tucked away for future reference. This sounds like an interesting problem to be solved, definitely.
At Shihong's offer of help, the girl smiles faintly, looking pleased at that bit of information. The two have proven to work well teamed together in fights before, now it's time to find out how well they work partnered outside of combat. "It's good pieces to start on," the girl states, grinning a bit at the compliment offered by the woman before whirling back around to face Geese as he settles back into his comfortable seat. "I'm going to need travel expenses." Ayame remarks with a casual wave of her right hand. She is, as they say, between jobs right now. "But other than that, no further questions."
She doesn't return his smirk. To even think of it strikes her as preposterous. She's reckless, not completely suicidal. "I won't," she states, noting the timeline in her mind. One week isn't a lot of time. He must want this solved /fast/. A slight bow of her head is offered before the girl glances back toward Shihong, figuring that the woman will show her out if it's time for that. Preferrably able to walk on her own too feet, unlike how she arrived here!
Log created on 23:03:16 04/09/2008 by Geese, and last modified on 16:44:57 04/13/2008.