ic: contact post

[12second_orz]

[The video cuts to a plain black screen with the word 'UNAVAILABLE' written in white, with Tonegawa speaking over it.]

At the moment, I am away from my desk. Please leave a message and I will get back to you at the most convenient time.

[beeep]

Comments

[action]

[deservesabone.livejournal.com]

[Sam will be there just a little bit early, eager to please like a good dog. ...Hell of a building Tonegawa's working out of. They must be pretty established in the city.

The secretary tells him it will be a moment, so he sits and waits.]

[action]

[12second-orz.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you could make it. Please, come into my office.

[action]

[deservesabone.livejournal.com]

Hey. [a smile that he's finally being seen. Sam follows him in and thanks the secretary as he passes her.]

You've got a nice place here. [once they're inside] How's the company been treatin' you, bein' a Newcomer?

[action]

[12second-orz.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I run a tight ship here; you're only as good as you look, if you will.

Please, take a seat. Would you like a coffee?

[action]

[deservesabone.livejournal.com]

Haven't heard that one before. But sure.

And no thanks. I'll take water if you've got it though. [he tries for a smile, but it's lopsided.] I'm a pretty cheap date.

[action]

[12second-orz.livejournal.com]

That's fine.

Now. Where should we begin?

[action]

[deservesabone.livejournal.com]

I guess at the start. I'm buyin' some land, and I'm gonna need a good twelve thousand to get the project started. Maybe more, but I'm gonna see what I can do with that as a start.

What would the rates be on a loan like that, if I got it?

[action]

[12second-orz.livejournal.com]

That depends entire, Merlotte-san, on what it is you'll be doing with it. What will the land be used for?

[action]

[deservesabone.livejournal.com]

A buildin' project. Nonprofit. The rest I'd like to keep quiet for now, 'least 'til I have everything moving.

[action]

[12second-orz.livejournal.com]

I see. Taking that into account... The usual rate is twenty-percent compounded interest per month.

[action]

[deservesabone.livejournal.com]

[Sam grips the chair arms, like he's physically reeling from the number.]

Twenty - ? That's, uh. That's a little high, Tonegawa. I don't know if I can do that.

[action]

[12second-orz.livejournal.com]

You have to look at this from my perspective, Merlotte-san. This is an incredibly risky business to be in; so many men simply try to run with the money or only pay back a small amount before vanishing. And from your perspective, well. Not to be indelicate, but what chance do you think you would have at a bank?

[action]

[deservesabone.livejournal.com]

Now hold on. [he leans in as well, tone hardening.] First off, We're on a fuckin' island and we've got the Pull - I'm not goin' anywhere. Second off, it ain't like I'm unemployed. I've been here two years now. I own my own bar and grill, all right, you'll get your money back.

Lastly, I've still got connections. Might not be able to use the banks so long as AGI runs 'em, true, but I've got people I know. I'd rather not have to go to them, but they're there. [he leans back.] Twenty percent's too high. Period. I'm gonna have to see that number lower by at least five percent or I'm walkin' out of here.

[action]

[12second-orz.livejournal.com]

Ah, no. You misunderstand me. Given the amount of men who run, the insurance is necessary for me to cover myself; if I loan a man several thousand dollars and he vanishes without paying back a cent, I'm simply left without several thousand dollars. It's in part precisely because of the Pull and the Core that I have to be so cautious, given the rates of disappearance and death here.

I don't doubt for one minute that you're a man of your word. I'm sure you'll pay me back- you're the one who's beginning to sound as though you doubt yourself. If you can get it paid back on time, where's the problem?

[deservesabone.livejournal.com]

Yeah I'll pay it back, but not in two months. S'gonna probably be around four. [or more, since he has to go apartment hunting. And even revealing that much isn't good business practice, but Sam's tired of feeling jerked around.]

Look, I made my offer. You bring it down to fifteen percent or I'll just have to find another means of gettin' this done.

[12second-orz.livejournal.com]

I can shake on sixteen.

[deservesabone.livejournal.com]

[it's still too much, and he should say so. He should just walk out and try and figure this out another way.

But this is the easiest and quickest way to get it settled, and there's no other way that'll let him have the project underway by Christmas. Sam eyes Tonegawa for a cautious moment, but then firmly shakes the man's hand.]

All right then. Where's the paperwork?