"You're one of the few that really make me work hard for my money." Giran admitted, ashing his cigarette. It had been some time since he had to haggle his services, and the woman before him was a formidable negotiator, friend or not.
Persuasion on the other hand, was thrilled to give the broker a hard time. She dug into her handbag, pushing a stack of large bills toward him. "For your troubles," she stated trying to ease Giran's chagrin, "And I'll even cover lunch for today."
The broker smirked, agreeing to her proposal. "Who could say no to such pretty face? I'm flatter for the meal sweetheart." He scoured the menu with a new vigor, a meal on her was going to be expensive. "But let's not call this a date, I can't be having the boyfriend angry with me when the second one is born."
She let out a dry chuckle, no matter how great of an ally, men of his stature couldn't seem to help themselves when around a younger woman. "Hate to break the fantasy, but that would imply two things. One, I'd allow you to get that close."
"I don't know what you're talking about," he tapped his temple, "I have all your measurements memorized." She shook her head, this dirty old coot, it was last time she would ask him to get her some designer support items.
"Two, you would have be able to get hard to even try. Don't know many at your age that don't need a little pill to assist." She snickered, handing her menu back to the waiter. Giran didn't bother with a reply, he knew he wouldn't win against such a vicious little thing. He raised his hands in defeat and accepted her offer.
After dining on such an extravagant meal, he was feeling rather charitable. "Tell me what you really want."
There was definitely something, and she replied with haste.
"Do you have a way to contact the League?" He smirked, it wasn't very often that he saw Persuasion as vulnerable as she appeared now. Anxious. She rested her chin in her palm, staring at him softly.
What her companion didn't see was her other hand fidgeting with the hem of skirt, she hadn't heard any news about Tomura's movements after losing contact with Kurogiri. All she could ascertain was what the media outlets were allowed to report. Heroes burst into the Shie Hassaikai and rounded up whatever underlings were left and their creepy boss, Overhaul. Then the League of Villains had targeted Overhaul's prison transport. Not to free him, but for reparations.
Utter radio silence. She was getting antsy. She had always wiped their memories of her visits so none of Tomura's band of misfits would be accessible to her. The broker was her only option unless the doctor reached out to her.
"Okay, babydoll. This one will be on the house." She swooned, seeing he already had his cell phone in his hand. "Hey Jin. Yes, yes. I'm good. I have someone that wants talk to the big boss, put Shigaraki on the phone."
"Thank you, thank you." She mouthed quietly as he shook his head amused. It didn't take much to please her. "Tomura," she breathed, listening to him grumble, "when am I going to see you?" Just him hearing him sigh, she could feel his exhaustion.
"Master left me with something to do. I'll see you when I see you." "When..." She laughed, he's still a huffy brat. "Are you doing...?" Tomura sighed loudly this time. She could hear scrapping from the other side, he was probably scratching his neck, which sounded dry as fuck. She hadn't been able to communicate with Tomura for weeks, or gauge his stability. Without master or Kurogiri, she feared for the struggles that lied ahead for her lover.
"Do you need me to send you some money?" She stared at her fingers, she could probably hock a few of her rings, get them a million yen or so without dipping into her back up funds. She needed to bankroll and acquire assets for now, because her master wouldn't be incarcerated indefinitely. "I could scrounge up some funds to give you in a pinch, but it won't be nearly enough."
"No need."
"Tomura, please." She sighed, leaning against Mira's stroller. "I won't be able to help for a while, it will take me months, almost a year, before I'm up at where I used to run."
"Listen. Worry about the kid for now, I'll take care of myself." She could hear murmuring from the background. Something about 3 hours are almost up. "I need to focus on the mission at hand—
"Shigaraki! He's waking up!" A panicked voice interrupted.
"Gotta go, the boss battle is starting." And with that, Tomura hung up. Giran noticed her mood sour, as she handed his phone back.
"What's up sweetcheeks?" He chuckled, when she huffed and got up abruptly to leave. Her heels were digging hard into the laminate as she stormed away.
She was irate. She had spent all this time worrying about Tomura, and he's too busy playing a fucking video game?!
"So?"
The grand commander asked while thumbing through the report. From the few pictures they had, this woman definitely had the charisma and skills to align herself with several heavy hitters in the underworld. Yakuza, high rolling businessmen, vigilantes, run of the street thugs and possibly... the league of villains. ReDestro's fingers stop short of her pouty lips, certainly her looks and Meta ability make her an irresistible ally.
Curious smirked, giving her intel excitedly, "Persuasion's connections and meta ability makes her extremely valuable. She probably can get juicier information that we could ever get from wiretapping or satellite." Curious was practically jittery thinking of all the possibilities.
"Weaknesses?" Grand Commander turned toward Skeptic.
"If she can't speak or be heard, her commands don't work. It is unknown whether her commands have to be worded specifically or her tone effects the potency."
Tapping the folder, ReDestro asked, "Mhmm…How about recordings? Can she use her ability from recordings?" His question was met with a litany of shrugs.
This villainess was difficult to collect information on. She would make a great asset to the Liberation army.
Unfortunately, without knowing 100%, it would be unwise to think the woman didn't have a trump card to protect herself. She operated primarily by herself, she had confidence in her abilities. They couldn't force her, under distress she could say anything. The Liberation army needs her compliance, mutually.
"Does anyone have any ideas on how to make a connection with her? Inviting and nonthreatening would be ideal."
"Approach her at an event, you are her type. Rich, well known and influential." Hanabata offered. Smiling, ReDestro nodded his head in agreement. "Could be the same said of Skeptic," the man mentioned sneered, "nevermind. Grand commander you're the superior choice."
"You could offer her security." Nodding, ReDestro understood. Persuasion had a level of safety and certainty working under All For One, and with his incarceration her protection was severely lacking. Especially with her child, who his underlings could not confirm its father or his affiliation to Persuasion. Without a DNA sample of her child and potential paternal candidates, it may stay unknown.
He glanced at the reports again. Recently, she had an encounter with the pros. The heroes had to close down a entire public park to corner her. She rebuffed and deflected questions about The League by asking Eraserhead if he wanted to be the father. Maybe she wants to scope out a reliable man for her kid? Or perhaps she had information about that band of misfit scum?
Tracking her down would be beneficial either way.
"Is there any event coming up that she might show up at?"