la_sombra

(where is she going with this? oda grunts an agreement, largely because he is not sure how to respond. he would say he tries to be a gentleman, but at times his job requires a more aggressive approach.)

Not always. I must dirty my hands on occasion.

[Sombra suppresses a laugh at his admission. She suspects another derail, but her mind goes to the original subject she teased him about.

It’s almost too easy to imagine him close, teeth at her throat, a hand twisted in her hair. Her mouth goes a touch dry at the thought.]

We all do, sometimes. It’s just nice to know somefolks don’t jump to violence at first provocation.

[Of course, she neglects to mention she’s usually on the receiving end of such threats.]

(oda nods in agreement, blue eyes catching hers in the mirror briefly. night city is much the way it is---in his opinion---because people lack restraint and turn to violence over the smallest infractions.

he cannot get back to japan fast enough, but they are well and truly stuck here for the time being.)

What is your skill set? Outside of netrunning. (if anything can grab his interest it is discussing strategies.)

[The question is unexpected but for once Sombra tries to take the conversation seriously. Honestly she doesn’t always like to think about what her life has amounted to outside of her hard work as a netrunner.]

I’m a bit specialized. Fairly athletic, I guess.

[Her attention turns back to him, expression a little hard to read.]

What about you? I imagine you have to be good at a little bit of a lot

(he almost deflects before remembering that they would be allies. it would probably be good to know one another’s strengths and weaknesses. to a degree.)

Mantis blades. Katana. Firearms if needed. I have trained since I was very young.

[Sombra gives a small, impressed whistle at mention of the weapons he’s proficient in.]

Remind me to stay on your good side.

[Her gaze returns to the city going by, partly to avoid making him feel scrutinized or like she’s watching him (though she definitely is, a little).]

Have you always served the Arasakas?

You will be well protected during the job. (oda does not like to boast; his work will speak for itself. at her further probing question he considers if he wants to answer. it is not necessarily even a personal question but it could lead to some which admittedly puts him on edge.)

Since adulthood, yes. However, I began training in my adolescence.

Glad to hear it. [Knowing someone has her back, even temporarily, is a nice change and Sombra can't help but relax. Oda seems capable and there are far worse things to deal with than a stuffy bodyguard.

It also doesn't shock her that he started training young, though she would have guessed that he might have served a lower-rank family before being elevated to serving the Arasakas themselves. Idly, she wonders if he's at the entire family's beck and call or if he specifically serves one member.]

Makes sense. Feed talent early.

Arasaka-sama's personal bodyguard trained me himself. It is a great honor to serve Hanako-sama.

(he affirms, again avoiding dilvulging anything too personal. the road begins to narrow and the traffic thins as they descend the hills into north oak. it is harder to see her as the neon glow becomes more distant, only a flash of purple each time they pass a streetlight.)

[Sombra watches as the city begins to fade away, eyes going up to the sky in the search for stars that she usually never gets to see. It's so quiet that if she were anyone else, she might forget the stakes of this car ride. Instead after a lull, she speaks again.]

You're lucky.

Lucky? (he questions her simple statement; it sounds as though she wants to say more. but sombra is not wrong, though oda would perhaps use a different word. fortunate.)

Arasaka gave me a purpose, an education, a valuable skillset. I owe much to them. But I also put in the work, more than what is required of me.

[She makes a noise as she sits up, just shy of dismissive in tone.]

What's it like to have a place in the world?

[Sombra's tone is a hair meaner than she intends, but she can't help the surge of envy. Oda might have been good enough to be noticed by Arasaka, but there could be dozens of folks like him that never got their chance.]

(ah, there is is. her tone does not bother him, though when he glances in the rear view mirror there is a certain edge in his sea-colored eyes.)

Purpose does not always choose us, at times we must determine it ourselves. (a pause, and an assumption:)

You value your freedom, do you not?

Of course. It's harder than you think to stay ahead of the game.

[She laughs as she says it, knowing full well it's never that simple. Sombra makes it a point to be difficult and difficult to find for a reason, though now it's more of a game than actual necessity.

If it hadn't been for the other streetkids she ran with, she might have never learned how to be a netrunner in the first place.]

I'm probably the best runner in NC, or one of them anyway. But I'm also lucky, y'know?

I am too rigid for mercenary work, (oda readily acknowledges this about himself.) And I suspect you are too much the opposite to find meaning in employment with Arasaka. Our own "luck", as you say, works in different ways.

(they are getting closer to the estate, only a few minutes away.)

I suppose you're right about that.

[An astute observation, she supposes. Sombra ponders luck and fortune as Oda drives.]

(they arrive in short order, pulling up to a large black gate with an arasaka logo. there is no mistaking it. oda is waved through without issue and heads to park the vehicle and let sombra out.)

Do you have questions before we go in?

[Sombra is smart enough not to gawk, her gaze roving greedily over all the details of the estate that she can see. In short, it's nothing less than what she would expect from one of the most powerful families on the planet.

She stretches a little when she exits the car, shaking her head at his question.]

Not really. Any advice? This is your territory after all.

As I said, behave. Hanako-sama is to be respected, though she will not fault you for ignorance of our traditions, (he notes and gestures for sombra to follow him to the front door. at the moment hanako is the only arasaka occupying the estate---otherwise this meeting would not be happening.)

She will likely invite you to stay in one of the guest rooms before the job tomorrow. You should graciously accept.

Don't worry, I'll be on my best behavior just for you.

[She is nowhere near fool enough to test any of the people Oda serves, but she cannot let the last opportunity to tease him slip by. Sombra winks at him before taking a breath, straightening her posture, and following him to the front door.]

I will make sure to be appropriately appreciative of Arasaka-sama's hospitality.

(that "just for you" gives him the slightest pause, that bristling. oda also feels warmth rise in his cheeks which he has the mentally will away---hm.

oda sets his palm on a biometric reader by the door and it slides open.) This way. Hanako-sama will be upstairs in the study. It will be brief. (the inside of the estate is a sleek combination of blacks and metal and red accents, a generous accent of plants. he ascends the stairs and waves to dismiss the guards at the top.)

Hanako-sama, (oda steps through the double doors into the study, assuming sombra is right behind. he bows respectfully towards the woman, sleek and lovely dressed in white, seated primly at a tea table.) I have brought your netrunner hire. She has passed your tests...adequately.

[For all of her teasing and talent for annoyance, Sombra is as good as her word. She takes in the estate, enjoying its tasteful and very distinctive design, and makes a mental note to find some plants for her own apartment.

Oda announces her arrival to the lady of the house, she remains the picture of good manners as she also bows. It takes most of Sombra's self-control to keep from side-eyeing his use of the word 'adequately' to describe her talent at netrunning.]

Good evening. This opportunity is an honor, and I appreciate it.

(oda gestures for sombra to follow now that have been announced. hanako remains seated but smiles in their direction.)

Sombra-san, I am pleased you have accepted our task. (the heiress's voice is light and delicate. oda moves to sit kneeling beside hanako at a respectable distance, the cushion opposite them clearly for sombra.)

I wanted to be certain all your questions were answered before tomorrow. I would take on this task myself...were it not such a delicate matter.

[Sombra takes a seat, also kneeling, on the offered cushion. Her expression is properly attentive, masking most of her nerves at meeting The Hanako Arasaka.]

I appreciate your thoroughness. Looking at the dataset, I have no further questions about the job itself - only the method you would prefer.

It is delicate work, I assume you will want it done cleanly. I can also lay a trap for any netrunners that come looking after me as insurance, either a virus or a deletion event.

(oda sits attentively, listening but his focus is only half on the conversation. his gaze though keeps drifting back to sombra.)

You may do as you think is best. I trust you will do good work and make discretion your priorty. I am happy to ensure a bonus if, after a period of time---six weeks, perhaps---your measures continue to hold. (hanako smiles gracefully.)

If there are no other questions, it would be an honor to have you as a guest of Arasaka. Oda-kun? (hanako looks over her shoulder towards him.) Please show Sombra-san to our finest guestroom.

(it is exactly as he had known it would be; hanako extending her good graces as is proper but also to reduce visibility or the chances of sombra interacting with anyone else prior to the job.)

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