Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2, part 4 (Complete)

[Oldmansour]

>"Well then. What kind of compensation are you asking for?"

>Eagle stands from her seat, and pulls her chair out into the hallway. She straddles it backwards, and leans her arms against the back as she gives you her full attention. "Well, there's the good hand, and the bad hand. Which ya want first?"

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Bad."

[Oldmansour]

>"Bad."

>"Brave girl." Lynx compliments you.
>"The bad thing, from your point of view, is that you made me violate one of my principals." The Eagle starts. "I don't work alongside clients except in the rarest of occasions, and absolutely never on the first contract. You insisted I break that rule. Maybe you did it for the right reasons, maybe you did it for my sake, I don't know. And it doesn't really matter, because it doesn't change the facts. I don't break my rules easily, and I don't break 'em cheap."
>"I hope you understand, it ain't personal, and I genuinely hope this doesn't sour our relationship, or future deals. But I'm a woman of principals."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"And the good hand?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And the good hand?"

>Eagle nods. "The good news is, you solved the problem without me. And if you found it in Ran's, ya did it in a short space of time. Like I said before, I ain't about to charge a body a lot for essentially nothing. That's just bad business. So on that front, apart from the two items we agreed upon earlier, I ain't gonna charge ya much more than I would have anyway."
>The Dragonhawk rumbles, "Soft."
>Eagle winces. "Principals, 'hawk. I'm a businesswoman, not a crook."
>You hear a distinct popping sound from Kiku's location. A glance in her direction reveals her right hand is clenched very, very tight.

[Hello Purvis]

>It'll be okay, Kiku.
>"And I did agree to that."

[Oldmansour]

>It'll be okay, Kiku.
>"And I did agree to that."

>Hoping Kiku's restraint holds, you await the verdict from the businesswoman of the Manari gang.
>"Five hundred and twenty-five dollars." Eagle says solemnly.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Huh. What would it have cost if you did find it?"
>How much do we make off Aya in a shoot?

[Oldmansour]

>"Huh. What would it have cost if you did find it?"
>How much do we make off Aya in a shoot?

>"You mean if I'd found it after you and I split up?"
>It depends on the nature of the shoot in question, and the length of time you spend on it. But Aya's basic bottom rate for her models is eighteen dollars an hour. She has a generous nature, though, and takes good care of her employees, so you're never actually known any of your co-workers to make only that. You yourself, given your 'natural talent', as Aya has said, combined with your honesty and excellent attitude towards work, and your ability to work with just about anyone, you tend to make at least twenty-one fifty an hour, sometimes more. This of course is the rate for basic promotional and editorial works, catalogs and high-end contracts bring much more. The upcoming job she told you of earlier today would likely bring at least your usual rate, if not more.

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod. "Or if we were together when it was located."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Or if we were together when it was located."

>Eagle thinks about that. "Well, in that case, I probably wouldn't have charged you much more, honestly. Ran's reward woulda yielded a pretty penny, in one way or the other. No need to charge you more if I'm gettin' supplemented by another source."
>"If we were together.... probably knock it up to 550, maybe 575, dependin' on which one of us found it. But if I found it myself, let's say.... 650. Naw, 625, for yer first dealin' with me, and in good faith. Mind you, that would depend on how long it took, of course. More time invested means more money, you understand."
>"I might add, as well, that I ain't interested in just cold cash, if you'd rather swap goods or services instead."

[Hello Purvis]

>"What would you be interested in, instead?"

[Oldmansour]

>"What would you be interested in, instead?"

>Eagle spreads her arms expansively, but as she opens her mouth to answer your question, Kiku interjects. "You would be wise to stick to simple currency when dealing with one such as this, Byakuren. Her 'deals' are never what they seem."
>"You keep your tail out of Manari business, shrine maiden." Dragonhawk snarls.
>Kiku curls her lips into a fierce scowl, but Eagle waves her hand in a pacifying manner. Not at Kiku, but at her fellow Manari. "Don't ruffle your tail feathers, Dragonhawk. Kiku doesn't like me, doesn't trust me. Ain't exactly an uncommon sentiment, is it, now." She then glances at you. "And don't you let that bother you none, either. I was simply giving you more info to work with. I know cash is a bit tight for folks, even those in the modelin' world, so I wanted you t'know what your options were with me."

[Hello Purvis]

>"You've piqued my curiosity, in either event."

[Oldmansour]

>"You've piqued my curiosity, in either event."

>Kiku and the more muscular Manari continue to stare daggers at each other, but Eagle ignores them as she addresses your curiousity. "Well, I accept things like jewelery, bikes, CDs, both in leiu of and in concert with currency. As well as a favor or service I might be in need of. Say, someone I deal with owes me a grand, and they offer me five hundred cash and a collection of older, rarer books. Or, the use of their slave for a few days. That'd suit me just fine." She smirks a proud smirk. "I consider myself both versatile and reasonable."
>Kiku snorts derisively, which draws another growl from Dragonhawk.

[Hello Purvis]

>Chuckle. "Well, you do often quite a few more options than the usual vendor."
>Did she tell us why she makes a big deal out of hunting for stuff on her own?

I suppose we could try to haggle her down, but frankly I don't think it'd help things move smoothly at all. Five hundred isn't too bad, given what we have in the bank. And I think there may be some value to paying it upfront, especially if that actually catches us off guard.

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle. "Well, you do often quite a few more options than the usual vendor."
>Did she tell us why she makes a big deal out of hunting for stuff on her own?

>Eagle bows her head slightly. "I consider it a point of pride to be able to tailor my business to the one I'm dealing with at the time."
>She mentioned that she wanted to keep her 'trade secrets' to herself. She also mentioned something about how, the last time she worked with one of her clients on a job, it didn't end well either for her or the client. She did not elaborate.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Well, I have to say that does seem fairly steep, but then, the best always are worth more. Even if finding it did end up being less difficult than I expected, you do deserve your payment."
>Do we have enough money on us, or will we have to withdraw it?

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, I have to say that does seem fairly steep, but then, the best always are worth more. Even if finding it did end up being less difficult than I expected, you do deserve your payment."
>Do we have enough money on us, or will we have to withdraw it?

>"I don't break my rules for cheap. That's just how it is. Had we done things my way, woulda only cost ya twenty bucks or so."
>You are currently carrying $48.59 cash.

[Hello Purvis]

>"It would have been cheaper, but it wouldn't have gotten done what needed to be done. Just let me go visit the ATM for a moment."
>Presuming no objections, go do so.

[Oldmansour]

>"It would have been cheaper, but it wouldn't have gotten done what needed to be done. Just let me go visit the ATM for a moment."
>Presuming no objections, go do so.

>Eagle nods. "Of course."
>"Wise decision." you hear Kiku say quietly.
>You stand from the table and head towards the indicated area. Eagle, you note, returns her chair to its table as you do so.
>The ATM is situation in a recess in the wall across from the men's bathroom. There is a $1.50 service charge levied upon all transactions, and you may only withdraw $200 at a time. Do you wish to proceed?

[Hello Purvis]

>Perhaps Dragonhawk would be so kind as to tip it over...
>Oh well, we've probably gotten that amount worth of free stuff from the oni and the chef as it is. Might well do multiple transactions.

[Oldmansour]

>Perhaps Dragonhawk would be so kind as to tip it over...
>Oh well, we've probably gotten that amount worth of free stuff from the oni and the chef as it is. Might well do multiple transactions.

>From the look she's giving Kiku, she'd probably tip this thing over for free, just for an outlet. Ah, well. Being an upstanding citizen has it drawbacks, after all.
>Justifying the expense with the free food and drink you've received here, you withdraw $400 first, and then start the third necessary transaction. How much do you wish to withdraw on this one?

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's make it 150 even, enough to cover Eagle, and the meal.

[Oldmansour]

>Let's make it 150 even, enough to cover Eagle, and the meal.

>This ATM works in increments of 20, so you withdraw an extra hundred and sixty, bringing your cash on hand total to $608.59.

[Hello Purvis]

Fuck my dyslexia, I meant 150 =I

[Oldmansour]

Corrections applied.

[Hello Purvis]

>Count out what we need to pay off Eagle, and present it to her.
>"I am sorry I had to ask you to break your code, but please understand that at least a dozen people are very grateful that you did. Thank you so much for helping me."

[Oldmansour]

>Count out what we need to pay off Eagle, and present it to her.
>"I am sorry I had to ask you to break your code, but please understand that at least a dozen people are very grateful that you did. Thank you so much for helping me."

>As you tick off the crisp bills in your hand, you note Dragonhawk stop glaring at Kiku long enough to look a little surprised at the payoff. Lynx shoots her an amused smirk, which Dragonhawk responds to with another glare, a brief one, this time.
>Eagle nods as she accepts her cash. "I believe ya when you say you had good reason. And it makes me happy that my having to charge a penalty for it hasn't soured your disposition towards me. I'd be genuinely sad if I drove away the first person that gave me the benefit of the doubt in a long, long time, but I have to stick to my principals. I wouldn't be the woman, or businesswoman I am, if I didn't do that."
>With the Manari's cash due paid, you now have $83.59 in hard currency remaining.
>Eagle passes each bill casually, but carefully, through her hands, double checking the amount while checking for funny money. She does in a way that's almost automatic, so you expect she gives all cash transactions this treatment. Satisfied, she pockets the wad of bills. "Well, that takes care of the unpleasant part."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.