Hatate Quest

[Oldmansour]

>To Daliah: "How's your gross been?"

>The grey-haired youkai grins. "Nothin' but black ink. Believe you me, Wings, Music is Money."

[Hello Purvis]

>"How much black ink?"

[Oldmansour]

>"How much black ink?"

>Daliah pats Yogan on her shoulder. "Enough to afford this little number for my star act here and have plenty of change left over, for a start. Nothin's too good for my talent, ain't that right, kid? 'course it is!" she finishes, once more answering her own question.

[Hello Purvis]

>"And how much was that, precisely?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And how much was that, precisely?"

>"What, you wanna sit down and go over nickels and shillings?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Why not? It's important to know how much an up and coming star brings in, don't you think? That's how you can tell people are actually coming and the whole thing isn't just a bunch of wind. Wouldn't you agree, Miss de la Vega?"

[O4rfish]

>"Why not? It's important to know how much an up and coming star brings in, don't you think? That's how you can tell people are actually coming and the whole thing isn't just a bunch of wind. Wouldn't you agree, Miss de la Vega?"

I don't think Hatate would use the word "wind" in a disparaging way.
How about
>"Why not? It's important to know how much an up and coming star brings in, don't you think? That's how you can tell people are actually coming along and the whole thing isn't just a bunch of hot air. Wouldn't you agree, Miss de la Vega?"

[Hello Purvis]

Nice catch.

[Oldmansour]

>"Why not? It's important to know how much an up and coming star brings in, don't you think? That's how you can tell people are actually coming along and the whole thing isn't just a bunch of hot air. Wouldn't you agree, Miss de la Vega?"

>"I tell you what, Miss.... What was your name again?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Himekaidou."

[O4rfish]

>"Hatate Himekaidou, managing editor with the Kakashi Spirit News. May I take your photograph?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Himekaidou."

>"Hatate Himekaidou, managing editor with the Kakashi Spirit News. May I take your photograph?"

>Daliah grins. "Sure, sure, by all means, always a good time for a photo op, isn't it, kid?" she says with an overly enthusiastic clap of Yogan's shoulder.
>The smaller youkai almost manages not to grimace. "If you say so, boss."

[Hello Purvis]

>"After you answer the question, of course."

[Oldmansour]

>"After you answer the question, of course."

>"Oyeah. As I was sayin'.... What was I saying? Oh yeah! As I was saying, once I organize the kid's next show, you and me can sit down, and I can show you some numbers. How's that grab ya?" With a growl, she aims her eyes behind you and towards Hina. "Assuming one twirling pile of bad luck will get outta my way."

[Hello Purvis]

>"So, you're saying you haven't even counted up the money? Isn't that a little strange?"

[Oldmansour]

>"So, you're saying you haven't even counted up the money? Isn't that a little strange?"

>"Can I take that as a no?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I dunno. This is getting pretty suspicious."

[Oldmansour]

>"I dunno. This is getting pretty suspicious."

>"Right. Suit yourself." the tall youkai says dismissively. "Saddle up, people, we've got a mountain to climb." she bellows, walking past you and giving you no further attention than you would a fly.
>Yogan, however, seems quite uncomfortable about the scene. "Ohh, I'm sorry about this." she says to you.

[Hello Purvis]

>Glance to the kappa band. "So, how much has she paid you?"

[Oldmansour]

>Glance to the kappa band. "So, how much has she paid you?"

>The bespectacled Kappa, in the process of packing away her stove, answers, "We actually didn't ask for money. Boss paid us in mechanical parts, which the three of us to tinker with the instruments we use, as well as our other areas of interest. She also covers our meals, accomodation and clothing, within reason, of course, plus the odd knick-knack here and there."
>"But I'll be honest with you, Himekaidou-san." She jerks her thumb towards the other two kappa, shouldering their backpacks. "Those two would have done it for free."
>"So would you!" the pair retort in unison.
>Specs grimaces. "Okay, maybe." she grudgingly admits. "Money really doesn't matter, in the end. We're happy enough adding our sound to Yogan-chan's. Money doesn't mean near as much as music does."

[Hello Purvis]

>"So...you guys get some spare parts, and Miss Yogan gets a pretty dress and probably some food. It sounds like Miss de la Vega is robbing you blind."
>Make sure that carries, and be ready to snap a picture if she has a fun reaction.

[Oldmansour]

>"So...you guys get some spare parts, and Miss Yogan gets a pretty dress and probably some food. It sounds like Miss de la Vega is robbing you blind."
>Make sure that carries, and be ready to snap a picture if she has a fun reaction.

>Yogan, somewhat to your surprise, aims a scowl at you. "Don't you DARE insult Daliah like that!"
>The trio of Kappa likewise seem rather upset at your choice of words, but none of them say anything at the moment. And neither, disappointingly, does Daliah.

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's only an insult if it's wrong. And...well, we see how much she's squirmed when asked about the money in front of you guys after boasting about it. And when we look at what's been said about your compensation... Sounds to me, Miss Yogan, like she's taking advantage of you not being up to speed with how things work up here."

[Oldmansour]

>"It's only an insult if it's wrong. And...well, we see how much she's squirmed when asked about the money in front of you guys after boasting about it. And when we look at what's been said about your compensation... Sounds to me, Miss Yogan, like she's taking advantage of you not being up to speed with how things work up here."

>"Then you're an idiot." The bespectacled Kappa says simply. "You should take more lessons from Aya. At least she never jumps to conclusions without more than one five minute interview."
>"Ladies, please." Momiji interjects, floating over to hover just above you. "Hatate might have jumped to conclusions, but there's no need to be insulting."
>"I think you should apologize." Yogan insists, still sounding quite cross with you.

[Hello Purvis]

>To Momiji: "What jumping to conclusions? It's pretty obvious they're being had. There's no other reason to be so shady about it unless something criminal is going on. And It's not like there hasn't been chances to prove it isn't."
>Cross arms
>"If there's evidence to the contrary, let's see it. If I'm wrong, maybe I'll see about pulling some strings and getting you up the mountain."

[Oldmansour]

>To Momiji: "What jumping to conclusions? It's pretty obvious they're being had. There's no other reason to be so shady about it unless something criminal is going on. And It's not like there hasn't been chances to prove it isn't."
>Cross arms
>"If there's evidence to the contrary, let's see it. If I'm wrong, maybe I'll see about pulling some strings and getting you up the mountain."

>"I'm trying to be diplomatic here." Momiji growls. "And how exactly is it obvious? Think about it, Hatate, why would Daliah's employees be defending her, be angry that you insulted her, if they didn't respect her and value her?"
>"What she said!" the other two kappa declare in unison.

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's kind of a common thing in exploitation cases, actually. Emotions aren't proof, though. You can feel strongly about the wrong thing. So I want to see something concrete."




Was that supposed to be intentional? Because it really is kind of a trademark of exploitational relationships. The people involved generally unconsciously undervalue themselves, and tend to be really defensive of their exploiter, from whom they derive a sense of worth. It didn't occur to me until now that might not have been what you were driving at.

[Oldmansour]

Was that supposed to be intentional? Because it really is kind of a trademark of exploitational relationships. The people involved generally unconsciously undervalue themselves, and tend to be really defensive of their exploiter, from whom they derive a sense of worth. It didn't occur to me until now that might not have been what you were driving at.

*looks around*
Are you asking me?

EDIT: I'll assume so. But I'll field that one in the morning, I'm wiped.

[O4rfish]

How much of a social reformer is Hatate?

[Oldmansour]

Was that supposed to be intentional? Because it really is kind of a trademark of exploitational relationships. The people involved generally unconsciously undervalue themselves, and tend to be really defensive of their exploiter, from whom they derive a sense of worth. It didn't occur to me until now that might not have been what you were driving at.

I realize it's easy to think the worst of Daliah, and to see Yogan as the sort of person to end up in just such a relationship as you describe, but I do entreat you not to jump to conclusions on either of them this regard.

How much of a social reformer is Hatate?

I'm inclined to leave that up to you folks. Most Tengu are societal conformists, but Hatate is quite young, and still has that sense of youthful... whatever it is about youth that makes them not want to conform to society automatically. Whether you choose to play Hatate as this or not, is in your hands.