PSL

[la_sombra]

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[la_sombra]

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?

[arasakadogs]

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.)

[la_sombra]

I suppose you're right about that.

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

[arasakadogs]

(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?

[la_sombra]

[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.

[arasakadogs]

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.

[la_sombra]

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.

[arasakadogs]

(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.

[la_sombra]

[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.

[arasakadogs]

(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.

[la_sombra]

[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.

[arasakadogs]

(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.)

[la_sombra]

[ Sombra inclines her head at both offers, smiling brightly as she returns her straight-backed posture.]

Thanks again for your generosity.

[She knows that it's pragmatic, but the show is nice at least. Rising to follow Oda, she bows lightly once more before leaving. Sombra waits a few moments, until well out of earshot of the heiress before she cannot help herself.]

Was my behavior satisfactory?

[arasakadogs]

(oda begins to lead sombra back downstairs and they are almost to the bottom landing when she asks the question.)

Hanako-sama was pleased, (he nods in approval; after so many years of service he knows when she is being sincere.) Come, the guestrooms are this way.

(oda leads through the estate, pointing out key locations such as the kitchen, a large sitting room with a television and so forth.) No one is to leave once the security measures are set at midnight. You are not confined to your room, however, and may use the amenities as you see fit, (oda explains, though even to him it feels...stilted somehow. finally they come to a door, entering to give sombra some semblance of a tour: king-sized bed, ensuite bath, a modest lounge. he keeps it all fairly to the point though finds himself...concerned about sombra being pleased with it all.)

Anything else?

[la_sombra]

I'll try to stay out of the way.

[While grateful for the tour, Sombra knows it's likely smarter to stay as close to her room as possible. Still, the estate is lovely and her mind goes to a time when she dreamed of owning such a property of her own. The guest room is no slouch, and she murmurs a quiet, impressed 'no mames' to herself. Hanako did say the finest guest room.

Oda asks if there's anything else and Sombra - ever fearless, ever shameless - immediately lets her gaze roll over him. It lacks the brazen heat of her earlier teasing, which seems to imply that this time isn't much of a joke.]

I'm behaving. Gotta rest before duty calls, right? [Her eyes track to his face, his lips, his eyes.]

Goodnight, Oda-san.

[arasakadogs]

You are not in the way, you are an honored guest, (oda corrects, pale brows slightly furrowing. if she looks for sarcasm in his tone, she will not find it. perhaps it is purely because of hanako's approval but it would seem he is trying to be less abrasive.)

(and then she gives him that look from earlier that makes heat rise in his cheeks and his mouth go dry. her gaze feels different from the first time, like maybe she is not trying to merely vex him. oda internally reprimands himself when he actually has a thought, wondering how long it has been. clearing his throat, he composes himself.)

Indeed. I will be doing a closing security sweep...if you think of something. (it sounds far too inviting when oda hears himself, making him seem to blush more.)

Goodnight, Sombra-san.

[la_sombra]

[Sombra smiles at him, noting his flush and biting her tongue. She knows better than to think he'll take her up on anything and she knows better was do anything but remain focused on the gig.

Letting him go should be easy.]

Wait.

[arasakadogs]

Hm? (oda turns back to face her, curious. she could ask for any number of things: a spare set of sleep clothes, if she can have something to eat...surely nothing else. right?)

[la_sombra]

[Sombra tries to speak for a moment, moving closer to Oda once more. She had jokingly promised to behave, sure that her nerves would settle as the gig became clear.]

I don't have anything to sleep in. [Her distance is just barely appropriate and the tone of her voice is anything but.]

Can you help me with that?

[arasakadogs]

(he bristles when she steps closer, a hair's width from being in his space. there is something...sultry in her tone and even if he could feign ignorance oda is readily betrayed by the resurging flush of his cheeks. he blinks, processing the implications of what sombra is saying.

he needs more time.)

I...will assist after my rounds. You could make use of the bath in the meantime...?

(it is all too clumsy but sombra has thrown him off.)

[la_sombra]

[Sombra squashes the impulse to laugh, smiling at the way he flushes further. He's cute when he's caught off guard and for a moment she is sorely tempted to just kiss him and see what happens.

But she behaves instead.]

Good idea.

[arasakadogs]

(oda nods and stiffly turns on his heel to walk back out into the hallway. his security sweep should only take ten, fifteen minutes given the inherent security of the estate. he slides the door shut behind him and begins his rounds and to make sure hanako does not require anything of him before she retires herself.

oda could makes excuses. lots of them, and many valid. but he is yet a man with desires, needs. though generally repressed, would it be so shameful to see what sombra has in mind? she is certainly pleasing to look at and their conversation in the car had been pleasant enough. for once could he permit himself?)

[la_sombra]

[ Sombra watches him leave, sighing a little after the door slides. There is no clean way to explain her treatment of him; it's part game and part nerves. Not that Oda isn't attractive on his own, but she can't help the impulse to push and see what she can get away with being in new territory.

Taking Oda's advice, she has a quick shower, letting the warmth take some of her tension away.]

[arasakadogs]

(as expected (but not guaranteed) the estate is secure and oda's rounds go smoothly. he finds hanako reading in her room and is dismissed for the evening.

when he returns to the guest room, oda hesitates at the door. he should tell her that it is improper, sombra being a guest and a contracted hire. the job must take precedence. or he could turn back and retreat to his own quarters and avoid it all together. and yet he opens the door and steps inside.)

[la_sombra]

[Sombra turns her attention from her own reading and smiles, a little surprised. She's decent, wrapped in a robe in lieu of having anything to change into. Her hair is still damp, coiled into a low bun to keep it neat.

This is dangerous, but she can't find it in herself to care.]

Hello, Oda-san.