Permanent Arrangement

Michi has connected.

FireFlyGM has connected.

Michi says "Hi!"

Michi says "I think Carina is here but AFK."

FireFlyGM says "Bonjour"

FireFlyGM says "Awesome!"

Carina hugs.

Michi says "People!"

Carina says "Hi."

Michi tickles.

FireFlyGM says "People?"

Michi says "There are people here."

FireFlyGM says "True. There are."

FireFlyGM says "Trying to figure what to do."

Michi says "In what sense?"

Carina cuddles Michi and GM.

FireFlyGM says "In the sense that I don't want to fall asleep :)"

Michi says "Aha."

Michi says "You and Carina should do a scene!"

FireFlyGM says "Plus I'm cold."

Michi says "Plug in your blanket."

FireFlyGM says "I do need to do that."

FireFlyGM says "Scene?"

FireFlyGM says "Is there something you'd like Carina?"

Michi says "Sure. Some backstory or such."

Carina puhses Michi over into GM. "I prefer the biological hot water bottles." :)

FireFlyGM hehs.

Michi eeps.

Michi says "What? Its a good idea. GM needs to RP to get a feel for things."

Carina says "I agree. I'm up for RP."

Carina should post the logs of our two scenes to the journal.

Michi says "Good plan!"

FireFlyGM says "Definitely."

FireFlyGM says "It would be good for your GM to know what's going on. :)"

FireFlyGM says "So Carina. Gotta read to the Kidlet but did you have something in particular you'd like to flesh out in your background?"

Dorota has connected.

Carina says "Not really. I just think it would be good to get us involved in some RP."

FireFlyGM ahs. "Give me a few to get settled in then. :)

Dorota says "What's going on?"

FireFlyGM says "At the moment, not much."

FireFlyGM says "Ok. Electric blanket plugged in, under covers and turning it on. :)"

Dorota says "I nearly got blown away a couple of times today."

Carina says "OK. First scene is posted. Looking for the second now."

FireFlyGM says "Yay!"

Carina puts up the second.

FireFlyGM reads.

Carina says "Thankfully, they're not long."

FireFlyGM nods.

FireFlyGM is slow reader though. :)

Carina cuddles. "No problem."

FireFlyGM oks and bops everyone on the nose. Just cuz she can.

Michi eeps!

Michi says "My nose!"

Carina would probably do something like lick Gm's hand in passing, returning the playful.

<OOC> FireFlyGM says, "Ok Carina. I think I have a scene if you'd like."

<OOC> Carina would love. :)

<OOC> FireFlyGM says, "ok. Going to throw you right in the middle of this. Not sure how it'll work but we'll see."

The night before, Carina Yuzu accompanied John Chan to a company outing and then retired afterwards to his private quarters. The next day, Carina found that she was not allowed to leave the premises. After many inquiries, she was lead to John Chan's office. John Chan rises from behind his desk and moves around to the front where Carina Yuzu is standing. "My dear blossom. I know you must be confused and a tad irate. I completely understand how you feel."

Calm, composed and regally polite, Carina follows to Chan more because it will get her answers than because she has any desire to acquiesce to anyone right now. "No, Mister Chan, you have no idea how I feel right now. You cannot. You have violated our contract and guidelines. You know the consequences of such an act. But, as you have been polite, I shall be as well. Explain yourself, please." She was so attentive and kind, reed-flexible and gentle the night before. But not now. This is the stell rod within the water reed, and she will give no more than she absolutely must.

<OOC> Dorota peeks.

<OOC> Carina says, "Backscening, D."

John moves into Carina's space, taking her hand before she has a chance to react, kissing it gently. "You have been and inspiration to me and I could not let you leave in all good conscience without beseeching you to extend your contract a mite longer."

Carina lifts the hand not clasped up to gently touch the side of John's face. "I am happy and proud to be such an inspiration to you, John, and you know that. And had you come to me to discuss this, we could have come to an arrangment. But you chose not to talk to me until after you had made your will a fait accompli. And that is a violation of our contract. You know that." She waits to see what he will say, how he will say it.

John closes his eyes as her fingers touch his temple. "My apologies. I was called away to an important meeting that could not wait. I thought you would understand my concern at having you leave before we could properly discuss."

"The same message you left for others to prevent my departure could have been left with me, asking me to stay until we could talk, John." Carina offers, smiling even if it isn't the deepest or most genuine of those expressions. Individuals with influence and power often fail to consider the impact of their will or desires upon others. They get so used to there being no consequences to their actions. Carina has to work around this, and gently so, to help John see his error. After all, she has a meeting with a contact in six hours; she cannot afford to miss that without sending word.

"I am here, now. We both are. So let's discuss this. You would prefer that I stay longer. What more do you have in mind? We will need to publish an ammendment to the contract." Carina leads, beginning the conversation.

John excitedly leads her over to one of the chairs and then sets another one close by. Once she sits, he'll settle down too. "The ammendment would be simple. You would amend to remain on in my employ permanently as my personal companion."

Despite all of her control, Carina's eyes widen a bit at that. While not completely unheard-of, a permanent contract is a huge step, and not at all a simple ammendment, as a whole host of things would need to then be covered and detailed that were completely unnecessary for their previously short engagement. "John, I already have other engagements. I am certainly willing to discuss arranging for a longer term engagement, even possibly permanent. But that isn't something I can agree to on the spur of the moment. What brought this on?"

John snaps his fingers. "See there. You are beautiful not only visually but with your mind too. It is a pleasure to have someone of intelligence to bat around ideas like we did last night. I could not in all good conscience pass up the opportunity to have you by my side forever." John smiles at Carina, but his smile is not warm, it's cocky and the proper speech slithers into a dialect Carina had heard often growing up. "Afterall, a child born of the fisheries and worryin' about her mum and pa and feelin' sympathy for them that live on the edge. Such a child might want to show gratitude to the man who would save her from herself."

<OOC> FireFlyGM hopes that made sense.

Carina doesn't interrupt; she needs more intel, not less, right now to guide her actions, her responses. She can feel that something more is going on beneath John's surface, but sussing out what that might be is going to take a lot; he's a subtle and many-layered man, as she already knows well. Bringing up her background is clearly a ploy to make her uncomfortable, but she just continues on in the same tone. "Clarissa Romanov saved me from that life, as you must well know, and I have done quite well for myself since, John." He's playing for power. But he's playing with a brilliant fully-trained Companion, and she knows him in ways better than he does himself. It won't be easy to box her in. "Now. If you are serious about a permanent arrangement, you know that's going to take days of negotiations to nail down all the relevants. I'll call my people, have the standards sent over. Then we can meet tomorrow to discuss any relevant points and decide how to proceed. But for today, I have an appointment I need to keep, and you have research I know you are dying to get to. Why don't we plan for dinner tonight? I have the evening, and I am more than willing to offer it."

"How I would love to play this game all day. However," John waves a hand dismissively. "There is no need for all the dry negotiations when as you say, there is research to be done. Here is my offer to you. You would be given your own room, a personal assistant to tend to your every need, a chauffeur to take you shopping. All your needs would be lavishly met. For all of this, in return, I ask simply for the generous gift of your mind and the company of your person for as long as I see fit. If you do not agree to these terms, I regret to say I must inform the proper authorities of the spy in our midst." Then he names off names of men and women, ones that Carina recognizes as people who she was able to glean valuable information from. "Policy Decisions, Troop Movements, weapon schematics. You've been a very bad girl."

<OOC> Carina says, "Sorry for being so low."

<OOC> FireFlyGM hugs. "Power still out?"

<OOC> Carina says, "Came back, gone again. Just came back. I'm really struggling with this pose."

<OOC> FireFlyGM sorrys.

<OOC> FireFlyGM says, "didn't mean to stump you."

<OOC> Carina hugs. "Not your fault. Just hard."

<OOC> Michi nods. It is hard. THough you already know the outcome.

<OOC> Carina says, "But Carina doesn't. :)"

<OOC> FireFlyGM says, "doesn't hurt to give in at this point as I'd like to close up in the next pose after yours."

<OOC> FireFlyGM says, "cuz it's late."

<OOC> FireFlyGM says, "you can think on the pose a bit more and we can pick up on another evening."

<OOC> Carina hugs. "I'd like to finish this pose. But you can head to bed. I can always finish it, log it, and show it off when we can get together later."

<OOC> Carina says, "Thank you for the RP. I appreciate it. :)"

<OOC> FireFlyGM would like to close if she can so will stay a tiny bit longer.

Carina is entirely prepared to continue the verbal sparring, and is already figuring out what to ay and how to get through this. She's not just going to go for an open-ended permanent assignment, no matter how much luxury John offers her. That would be a violation of the Companion code just as much as anything else. There have to be rules, agreed upon in advance, for the protection of both. It's not an option.

But then John plays his real hand. Carina goes still. It's a loose, easy pose, but the stillness is there at her core. People are in danger. She lifts her gaze up and meets John's completely, once more. And she plays her hunch. She's sure he doesn't want to lose her. Sure enough he wouldn't dare actually tell the authorities. He wouldn't get the plaything he wants if he does. "You can make whatever call you like, John. But I have a call to make, as well. We'll nail down the specifics of the contract, done right. And we can do that tomorrow. I'll leave you to your research, and go make my phone call. You will join me for dinner, I hope? Even if it is late?"

<OOC> FireFlyGM says, "so who're you planning on calling?"

<OOC> Carina says, "She'll leave a message on her service, changing her reception message for new clients in a way that leaves a distress code for her contact, aborting their meeting."

<OOC> Michi heads off to bed. Night all. :

<OOC> Carina says, "Nini, Michi."

Michi has disconnected.

<OOC> FireFlyGM says, "Ok. Well, he isn't letting Carina go obviously. And I don't have the energy to actually pose what needs posin right. So I think we need to just leave it here and if we get a chance, we can continue on another evening."

<OOC> FireFlyGM hugs and heads off to bed.

<OOC> Carina snugs. "OK, honey. Sweet dreams."

FireFlyGM has disconnected.