Negotiations

After spending the day gathering intel on the job, there's not much left to do but secure the contract. The Peanut Butter King manages the enclave from the office of the garage area. From that vantage point, he can oversee all repair work. The garage itself appears much as it did before the crash. You hear the squeal of air compressor powered impact wrenches and the whine of pneumatic lifts amidst the discussions among the mechanics. You can smell the motor oil in the air. The only exception is that the outside walls have been fortified with boards and scrap metal from junked cars.

As you enter the garage, you are greeted by a pair of PB King's personal guard, the Teddy Bears. Strong silent types in riot gear wielding bats with assault rifles slung over their shoulders. By all accounts, they prefer using the bats. They wordlessly direct you to the waiting area.

The room could easily be mistaken for a shrine to Elvis. Movie posters and statues of the performer and his movies adorn the walls. The speakers in the room are currently playing, Are You Lonesome Tonight. PB King is a busy man and you wait over an hour for an audience with him. Through the windows to his office, you can see PB King in his bright red, sequined jumpsuit speaking to several of his lieutenants: Duke of Earl, King of the Road, King Creole, King Nothing, and Killer Queen. The room has been sound proofed, so only indecipherable murmurs escape. Clearly, PB King is not happy about whatever information he is receiving and is reading them the riot act.

He snaps his fingers at one of them and they all file out the door. PB King follows them but stops at the door to his office. The group is silent as it passes you. PB King clicks his tongue and points at you, You the cats who come looking for the job? Cool man... Why don't y'all come right in. He makes an awkward karate pose as he points to his chairs with both hands.

PB King smirks at the awkward entrance as he walks around his desk. Alright, Youngblood, to what do I owe the honor of the presence of such a busy man?Sway Tracker
-----|____ Status ____|-----
RED|___ Expenses ___|-----
-----|_ 100% Mark-Up _|-----
-----|___ Hazard Pay __|-----
-----|_____ Labor ____|-----
-----|____ At Value ___|-----
-----|_ Buyer's Market _|BLACK
-----|___ As a Favor __|-----

Run follows Loan Shark to the negotiations but stands silently, staring at the memorabilia. " This guy has some serious dough." He thinks to himself.

I think you both no why I'm here. My contacts tell my that a shipments gone missing, and your going to need some takers to recover it. He leaves a pregnant pause before continuing Id like to offer the services of my network of talent. We have skilled pickets who are used to gathering in the Loss. I doubt you'd find Talent better then what I can offer.

PB King leans back in his chair and listens intently to Shark's pitch. Good news travels fast. As a matter of fact, I am looking for a bit of outside help. Of course, claiming talent is one thing and making good on those claims is somethin very different, man. Are you the kind of cat that talks a big game or can you and your boys deliver? As he questions your qualifications, an intensity washes over his face. Despite his relaxed demeanor, you can tell that he is analyzing every aspect of your response.

As a result of Ham-Bone's drinks, smokes, and funny stories from the bowling circuit before the Crash (but mostly the drinks), PB's boys loosen up a bit and start telling their own stories.

Naw, it's not that bad. PB King is actually a pretty cool, old dude. Just make sure you mind your P's and Q's. He's at the top of the food chain here. He made this place and guided us through the Crash. We all owe our lives to him. Treat him with the respect he deserves and you never have to see his bad side. R-E-S-P...uh, E...C? You know what I'm saying. The rest of the guys laugh at him and clink glasses.

Back in the negotiations room... Let me level with you King. I run a tight network, I know we can get your lost supplies. I've built it up over time like you built New Graceland. I'd like to think I've modelled my management style after yours; there's no better model after all. You see my people and I built up out relationships on respect. Respect for each other, respect for new Graceland and respect for you. So when I say we can go out there and bring back supplies you know we're not going to be skimming stuff of the top, we're going to give our all to go get it and bring it all back.

The intense scrutiny in his eyes fades and he smiles. Well, Thank you, thank you very much. Flattery will get you everywhere, Young blood. Alright, so hears the deal, like you said we lost a shipment to ol' Bacon's Scrap Sanctuary. Well, we've lost communications with it... And Bacon's for that matter. Don't really know where we stand. Right now my boys are doing some other things for me and I'd rather not pull them off. But it's a numbers game, if your price point is too high, I'll probably have to go with a different crew or pull my boys off their projects.Got a lot of mouths to feed in New Graceland Sway Tracker
-----|____ Status ____|-----
-----|___ Expenses ___|-----
RED|_ 100% Mark-Up _|-----
-----|___ Hazard Pay __|BLACK
-----|_____ Labor ____|-----
-----|____ At Value ___|-----
-----|_ Buyer's Market _|-----
-----|___ As a Favor __|-----

Claire waited by the van while the crew negotiated with Elvis impersonator. She sat on the curb next to Theodore watching the mechanics work like shit had never hit the fan. The dog began grazing on grass sprouting between the cracks in the sidewalk, she smiled slightly and pet him in his wide back. "Hey, buddy. They'll be back soon."

The threat of being undercut was real with the barbaric three roaming around. They seem like they'd do anything for dirt cheap. Claire wanted to expand her traits beyond just scavenging. She wanted to discuss setting the WM3 back, hopefully weeding them out.