Okay a few notes, almost glad I did unplug yesterday, it gave you a good chance to discuss all this stuff. I needed the day, had a big test that I managed to dropkick pretty good even after spending a long time studying for so I wasn't in the best mood, and I also had an issue with my 14-year old daughter that required some downtime too. Anyway, back to the game.
Sammy's knowledge check on Guiles:
Guiles is a former bodyguard turned personal manager, around Pathfinder/Horizon he is generally the guy they put with people that have real talent, but also have "problems," his years as a bodyguard for these same stars helping him keep these troubled souls from being destroyed by the bright lights. He is a guy who handles people and problems, not the type like Fermin who is more of a sweet talker.
He has been with Christy Daee since she signed with Horizon, almost 10 years ago when she was a tween/teen star on the rise. This is important because Christy must have been a mess when they signed her, and that she is still with him says that she has kept him very busy putting out her brushfires the whole time.
A note for everyone on Christy Daee, for all of you. She is one of the hottest singers in the world right now, and for a person with that much exposure she has a relatively clean image. Your characters may not listen to her music, but you do know her. Current day equivalents would be in area of Katie Perry or Arianna Grande.
A note on Shadowrunning in general, different jobs come with different payment arrangements. While it is certainly reasonable to request an advance to handle specific expenses related to the job, situations where you are tasked with the retrieval of an item are generally handled in a money for object fashion. Nobody pays a bounty hunter for a target ahead of time.
This is not to say you are wrong to walk or question a job, just that operating as though you should be paid for your time when you are just starting out is a good way to price yourselves into the poor house.
Something else to be aware of in reference to the gravy train that has been mentioned. Your characters should realize by now that you are being DRASTICALLY overpaid to guard props, regardless of the circumstances. You being paid for what you represent as a resource for Fermin and Pandora, it is a very real and realistic threat for Guiles to make if you turn down this offer, especially if Pandora and Christy are friends as he intimated, that you could be sent packing back to Seattle tomorrow.
I tell you all of this as players, to let you know how things work in this world. How much your characters know about this is up to you, and I will respond accordingly. Torley as shown himself to be a bit of a snob in negotiations, and he is new at this after all, he fell into to face role by natural talent. This could be a 'fake it till you make it' tactic, or just him needing to learn on the job, or him just playing hardball, but regardless I will let it play out how it happens.
