[Jayde Moon]

As she notes the Yakuza taking Athos and Minnie, she rushes quickly to where the Yakuza left their vehicles.  Her Sleeping Tiger is activated as she moves quickly and quietly to the nicest of the vehicles, presumably the leader's, and slips a stealth tag onto it.  Having tagged the main target, she proceeds to slip a few tags on the other vehicles, just in case the leader goes somewhere different from Athos.

[spoiler]-3 to perception rolls to spot her, in addition to any modifiers for darkness[/spoiler]

[gilga]

@Artie you manage to get unnoticed but distances are so small that people are going by foot. The Joke and the now shattered warehouse are like 50 meters distance. You can spot that Bruno is taking Nagisa back, Athos is taken to the basement, and for some reason Minnie is taken to the second floor. If you want to try and find some evidence this is the time, all the Yaks seem to be securing the Joke and none of them seem to be looking at the shattered warehouse.


@Athos a couple of men take you into a small basement room. Mr. Ando tells you.
"Look Athos I am a businesses man, I am willing to release you if you buy the warehouse full price, non negotiable plus a bonus of 100k for the discomfort your family caused me. You have not much time to negotiate because the longer I keep you here the more suspicious they'll become."


@Minnie - you are taken to the second floor of the Joke to a small hotel like room. There are two guards at the door and two down the window. Strawberry waits there for you sitting on the bed. When you arrive she get up toward you and warmly greet you.  "I am so glad you are still alive. I managed to snatch you for just a short while before they question you. Please don't try to runaway or anything. It is a big favor I am pulling just to be able to talk to you like this." This is actually the first time you hear her voice and it is like music in your ears, you have never heard a voice quite like that.

[Shaman_Yuri]

A dream…

Minnie hadn’t known what to expect as an answer to her impromptu question, but that certainly wasn’t anything she could have imagined.  How often had she dreamed in her life?  Her training with Mouse had been in dreams.  Did that mean she was a spirit in Mouse’s home?  What about all the dreams she’d had of tropical beaches, castles, and other worlds?  She’d read so many books and lived so many lives  in dreams that stemmed from her outlet.  Was she manifesting as a spirit somewhere else?  The concept was mind boggling and yet again she had to shove an exciting topic to be back of her mind because real life was being so insistent.

Her attention and ears perked up when she was guided by some insistent escorts to go up rather than down stairs with Athos.  She did NOT want to be separated from her friend, but it happened so fast she didn’t have a chance to start her seduction efforts again before she sensed Strawberry where she was heading and decided to see what happened next.  She made her way through the archaic wooden hallway to the room holding Strawberry’s vivacious astral signature.

"I am so glad you are still alive. I managed to snatch you for just a short while before they question you. Please don't try to run away or anything. It is a big favor I am pulling just to be able to talk to you like this."

Minnie had once heard a  carillon.  She had been taken to the University District for a rare house call with a client and the unearthly chimes from a nearby bell tower had entranced her.  Strawberry’s voice drew her back to that sound.

I wonder how many instruments were inspired by people like Strawberry.  As if there was anyone else quite like Strawberry……

The intriguing woman rushed to greet Minnie as she entered the warmly lit room.  Her escorts stayed outside in the hallway and the white painted door closed behind her.  It was clear the men were to have no contact with the strange redhead.

I can’t really blame them for not wanting to come in.  If Strawberry and I joined efforts, I don’t know if anyone could withstand us. …

In fact…… she cut off the thought for now, but held it in reserve in case she needed a ‘break glass’ option.

“Strawberry,” she asked urgently, “are they going to hurt Athos?  There no chance I’m running away because I will not leave without my friend.”

[gilga]

@Minnie, Strawberry answers "They respect my domain, I'll know if they torture him. I would not be too worried as long as he is in this building." She grabs your hands and look you straight in the eyes, you can sense that she is very excited "Finally, someone I can actually look at... and touch" She whispers. "Will you dance with me Minnie? I haven't danced in a while and we'll need some privacy for what I am about to tell you."
[spoiler]
How would Minnie introduce herself ? Minnie? Yulia someone else?

[/spoiler]

[Shaman_Yuri]

Minnie gulped.  Although control of her mental passion was never…quite…in question, her body was another thing entirely.  Her heart jumped at Strawberry’s touch, and then kept pounding in Minnie’s unusually-placed ears.  Rarely had she ever been truly excited before in her life and then it had always been something bad – a serious threat from a client with her helpless and disallowed from responding.  Now twice she’d had this exhilerated feeling in just the past 30 minutes.  Her near death experience in the warehouse, this time such that she not only could but DID do something about it, and now this.  She’d heard from her clients and Tony that people became addicted to this ‘rush’ of excitement.  She’d never quite believed it before.

She believed it now.

Is this how other people feel around me? she wondered as she gazed into Strawberry’s brilliant green eyes.  If I had any less experience at doing the same thing, I’d be eating out of her hand now.  Hell, if she asked I still probably would!

 "Finally, someone I can actually look at... and touch" Strawberry whispers into Minnie’s twitching ear. "Will you dance with me Minnie? I haven't danced in a while and we'll need some privacy for what I am about to tell you."

And isn’t that what she’s asking?  If not to eat from her hand, to take it?

Still, it was clear that the feelings in the room were not one sided.  The tremble in the woman’s whisper…the shimmer of her vibrant eyes.

Not sure who was leading and who was following anymore in this dance between the sheets…sans the sheets…Minnie nodded despite a lingering fear of just what she’d be when the stepping was done.  “I...” she swallowed again to moisten her suddenly dry throat.  “I’m not much of a dancer,” she admitted, suddenly finding herself shy and looking downward.  What is wrong with you, Minnie!  Eye’s up girl!  She looked back up and again lost herself in those emerald pools.  “A mentor of mine was teaching me but…well…our classes appear to have been interrupted by fate.”

Something about Strawberry made Minnie feel like she was ten again.  Like the nightmare of the past decade hadn’t happened.  That all the shame and pain she’d accumulated paying her keep might be no more than a very bad dream.

She thought of Dream of Passion.

Maybe it was just a bad dream.  Is Strawberry waking me up?

Tossing caution to the winds she opened her arms to Strawberry’s embrace and let the more experienced woman lead her in whatever might come next.

[gilga]

@Minnie Strawberry puts a soft and romantic music and embraces you. You can feel her delicate body and you instinctively attune yourself to her rhythm. Her smell is intoxicating and
for a moment you just want to forget everything.  You can tell that Strawberry is very excited. She dances with you for a couple of songs feeling you. Her eyes close and she seems to just enjoy her moment with you. 

You are a bit disappointed, when after a couple of songs she whispers to you, and what she whispers sort of remind you where you are and what just happened.
"Mr. Ando accuses your boss lady for trying to kill him.  If we do not prove him wrong, it will start a war and many will die. It is all my fault -  I was to protect the warehouse.  But so many things happened at the same time. Powerful Shadowrunners - doing god know what in my domain killing people and using military grade weapons.

 I think there were 3 groups, maybe more -  I got distracted - I tried to keep casualties to minimum, subtly interfering in their affairs but these just kill without thinking. I am not really invincible like the Yakuza thinks. I am only flesh and blood.

One of these runners knows about the warehouse. I learn everything I can about any powerful person in my domain - I can find them for you. Please, we have to stop this war." You can hear in her voice that she is crying. "Just hold me until they take you away from me. she whispers.
 

[Shaman_Yuri]

Minnie holds Strawberry in silence as the two sway back and forth in each other's arms.  She doesn't know what to think about the story she's just been told.  What she does know is that the goals of everyone important in her life - Athos, Strawberry, and the Family - appear to be aligned.  She will stop at nothing to find the culprit and bring this sorry affair to a satisfactory conclusion.

And then, once the dust had settled, she'd finally be able to sit with Strawberry and tell her the story she had promised the amazing elf.

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos has to duck to enter the basement room, which is mall enough that he takes up a considerable amount of the available space.  He keeps the smile from his face as he looks down at the Yak boss.  "Ando-san, thank you for doing as your honor demands and giving me this chance.  We both know that I will refuse your offer and that you will now try to convince me to do this thing.  The Family did not do this and Dona Valentina would have me killed if I agreed.  We appear to be at a stand-off.  Would you agree to letting me go so that I can find out who did this if I promise to return to you and show you the proof?

[gilga]

@Athos - Mr. Ando tells you
" I will tell you as much. I know quite a lot about the Finnigans - perhaps more than yourself. It is a matter of age and it is my job to know the competition. You are new in this level of power - I am running the show for 20 years.  I was a player for 20 more years. There are certain traditions in the Yakuza, and despite my own personality I cannot ignore them. You see Athos, I have no ego, I have no honor I am nobody, I am just a man in a position of power - but that power is not my own. Killing me, will just place some other person in my position - this is how I got my position of power to begin with.

Someone else would have killed you guys already, instead your mouse friend is in the warm embrace of Strawberry and you are talking to me here.  I am not allowed to torture you in here. To the outside viewer this night would appear as if we retreated her to celebrate the signing of a deal and your friend had a pleasant and romantic evening with the lusting lady.

I am a flexible man, I played along with Strawberry's very odd show.  I could have just killed her, I really could. However, the entire neighborhood worship and fear her like a vengeful goddess.  They behave better due to that fear, it is useful. Do not illusion yourself,  a single half naked lady cannot protect herself from the Yakuza.   I decided to play along - and make her appear even bigger by signing a compromise treaty with her. Then again, if I kill her I will need to spend my own resources to keep the people in their best behaviour. It will work as long as she does not get too ambitious.

So creativity and flexibility are not the problems here. I would happily let you go if I could just do that. Even if I am at the top of the pyramid now I am part of the system. The only way that I can keep quiet about what just happened. Is if I lie and say that the transaction happened before we visited the warehouse, and that visit was just a formality. The building was demolished to build a bigger one.  I'll then use your 100k to give all my men a bonuses and send them to some course in the motherland. You'll have about a week to understand who sold you out, and bring their disgraced body to me.

If you fail, I'll tell my equals that I took the money to secure a ceasefire and that I need the time and money to prepare for war anyhow. If you don't play along Athos... I'll just have to follow protocol. I guarantee you that I will take no enjoyment from your demise. You'll get your money back, when I get that body I need to seal the deal."

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos considers the words of the old man as well as his other options, none of which are good.  He looks the Yak boss in the eyes and says, "I need my commlink and my gun.  I was told that you have an account number to give to me to clear the transaction.  Once the money is paid I will expect my associate and I to be released and that your men will not bother us as we look at the ruins of the warehouse.  If we are in agreement I will pay you the money agreed upon."

[gilga]

@Athos He gives you the account number.  "It is your warehouse Athos, you just bought the place. Your friend is in Strawberry's room, I am not sure what they are doing in there but  I cannot imagine that she suffers. Feel free to knock politely on their door it is the first room in the second floor."

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos takes his 'link and makes the call to transfer the funds and holsters his gun after getting it back.  He bows slightly to the Yak.  "Ando-san, I will get to the bottom of this.  Someone wanted to start a war here and I will find out who.  He lets some of the men guide him up to the second floor, where he knocks on the indicated door.  "Yulia?  It is time to go, if you are ready.  I will be over in the warehouse so please join me when you are through."

Athos descends the stairs and leaves the Joke to go back to the destroyed warehouse.  On the way he places three calls.  >>Bruno.  You did well tonight,  We will talk later as I still have the other two phases of this little play to finish out.  If you have not dropped Nagisa off, you may return here.  There is work for her to do, I think.<<  >>Artie.  If you did not get blown up, please come to the wreckage of the warehouse.  I need your sharp eyes.  No bomb I know of is completely destroyed when it goes off.  There will be something remaining for us to find; some clue.  I saw part of the bomb before it went off and this was no amateur job.  Someone will know his explosive fingerprint and lead us to him.  I do not want to waste too much time.<<  The last call is to a normally unavailable number.  >>Dona Valentina.  The transaction is completed, but there has been a complication.  Someone wants war between the Family and the Yakuza and wired the warehouse for demolition.  I believe that the intended targets were you and the Yakuza boss you were dealing with.  Such an act would have enraged both sides.  My associate and I managed to get the former owner out of the building just before the explosion.  He is justifiably upset and I can understand his feelings.  I am trying to search the ruins of the building for some clue that will lead me to the bomber.  I can say that it appeared to me that the explosives were Mafia produced.<<

[gilga]

Athos takes his 'link and makes the call to transfer the funds and holsters his gun after getting it back.  He bows slightly to the Yak.  "Ando-san, I will get to the bottom of this.  Someone wanted to start a war here and I will find out who.  He lets some of the men guide him up to the second floor, where he knocks on the indicated door.  "Yulia?  It is time to go, if you are ready.  I will be over in the warehouse so please join me when you are through."

Athos descends the stairs and leaves the Joke to go back to the destroyed warehouse.  On the way he places three calls.  >>Bruno.  You did well tonight,  We will talk later as I still have the other two phases of this little play to finish out.  If you have not dropped Nagisa off, you may return here.  There is work for her to do, I think.<<  >>Artie.  If you did not get blown up, please come to the wreckage of the warehouse.  I need your sharp eyes.  No bomb I know of is completely destroyed when it goes off.  There will be something remaining for us to find; some clue.  I saw part of the bomb before it went off and this was no amateur job.  Someone will know his explosive fingerprint and lead us to him.  I do not want to waste too much time.<<  The last call is to a normally unavailable number.  >>Dona Valentina.  The transaction is completed, but there has been a complication.  Someone wants war between the Family and the Yakuza and wired the warehouse for demolition.  I believe that the intended targets were you and the Yakuza boss you were dealing with.  Such an act would have enraged both sides.  My associate and I managed to get the former owner out of the building just before the explosion.  He is justifiably upset and I can understand his feelings.  I am trying to search the ruins of the building for some clue that will lead me to the bomber.  I can say that it appeared to me that the explosives were Mafia produced.<<

@Artie you get a text  from Bekki - "Hey Artie... I know it is soon and the hour is late... but do you want to go out tonight?"

@Minnie - When Athos is at the door, Strawberry says her goodbye and shares her comlink frequency with you. It is difficult for her to let go, she holds you tightly for a long moment and softly whispers Feel free to call me *any time*.. As she does, her lips are almost touching your mouse hears and you can feel the air she gasps tickles and excites you. 

Athos about an hour later Bruno texts you.
>> Athos, I am glad you are alright man I knew you get out of this mess. That bitch maced me and bolted out, while I was driving. She locked the doors too - some hacking trick!  I nearly had an accident, that bitch!!! Long story short, I bolted out through the windshield and subdued her. She is alive and safe but it isn't pretty. The safehouse master was very angry. I believe Nagisa is being questioned right now. I am sorry if I failed you, I honestly did everything that I could but she was very upset and the fact that she did not trust me did not help one bit. 


Athos 2 hours later. you get a replay from Valentina's phone. (at about 2:00 am)

>> Athos, This is Robbie the 'Horse'. You met me the other day but your attention was someplace else. Listen, the thing is everybody are certain that Valentina was in that warehouse that blew up. As I was trying to figure out where she was -  I found her comlink in one of my personal places. Only she could place it there. I therefore believe that she is alive and hiding.
 
Things are getting ugly in the family the entire inner cycle are discussing the situation. I will be your boss until we figure out what happened to Valentina.  You seem to be the only else that knows she is not dead. I want you and Yulia to go off grid. Do not contact anyone in the family, anyone that knows you are alive may risk your life.

Your job is to find Valentina and figure out what really happened in that warehouse. Voices in the family are more emotional than rational at this point it will get very ugly very quickly and if you go back nobody will be looking into this mess.  Keep the rest of the funds on that credstick to finance your further endeavors I'll take complete responsibility, should things come to that, but do not over pay for stuff and do not spend it all at once. I may not be able to wire new money.
Good luck!
The Horse.

[Shaman_Yuri]

Minnie shivers at the intimacy of Strawberry's touch.  "any time" had so many meanings.  She doesn't want to leave - she has so many question - but now wasn't the time.  She has her duty and there is precious little time to find out who wanted them...or more accurately Dame Valentina...dead.  Before she lets go of her new...friend?...she asks two more questions in astral space.  "Will you contact me when you have more information, or should I check with you later to find out what you've found out?  And what about Dream of Passion?"

[gilga]

@Minnie Strawberry said "I will contact you in the morning with some information about work, I have some people pulling a long haul for me.
About my passion dream -  she will stay with you until she wakes up in the morning or until all her services are consumed. Me and her are mentally linked so, if you desire your privacy you can dismiss her. As much as it excite me to feel you so intimate, I respect your privacy, and do not want to make you uncomfortable"