Josh has to work hard to suppress the urge to fidget. This isn't going at all the way his contacts and backers had insisted it would, and the longer it draws out the more chance that something will blow up in his face. Something that just might be the fat sleazeball and his restless bodyguards... which also hadn't been part of the plan. He'd been told to expect a solo buyer, solo seller and the... christ, the merchandise. Not two goons who are obviously armed and, from the looks of them, itching for a shot at busting his kneecaps. Not that he'd give them very good odds of succeeding, but the only way this ends well for his side is if it ends with him peacefully walking away with the girl, and that's not going to happen if things degenerate into violence.
He's not sure what the hell to do at this point, though, because Big Red doesn't seem to have any interest in budging, even for a significant boost to his profits, but there's no way in hell he's letting the girl go now that he's seen her. "I thought one of the first rules of business was to maximize your profits." He doesn't quite manage a sneer as he gives his supposed competition what's meant to be a dismissive look. He can see the guy checking him out, and has a pretty good idea why... and the only reason he's not wired is because he'd been expecting to be swept for bugs when he got there. He's been wishing like hell he had a wire for the last ten minutes, though. Wishing Ryan and Ethan or someone with a better potential read of the situation could feed him information or lines... or that he could at least warn them there's a damn good chance he'll be coming out hot sooner rather than later, because things are possibly going to start going south fast.
He tries to look casual about shifting both closer to the girl, and to put Sleazebag between himself and his bodyguards. And given he's damn well trained, even if this isn't anything he'd ever expected to be doing, he mostly succeeds. The same with the assessing look, at least partly camouflaged as irritation and disdain, that he gives to the bodyguards. Looking for any sign of weapons, gauging how they move, how fast and strong and effective they're likely to be, his odds of getting to and out the nearest exit with the girl if things go bad enough he has to cut and run. It... honestly doesn't look good, but that doesn't mean he won't try. And big as the seller is, at least he doesn't seem to be much of a threat.
"Best way to get rid of me is to sell me the girl, I'm sure he can go find himself another toy somewhere else." He's still managing to project confidence despite his building anxiety, and he takes a chance and partially turns his back to the fat man and his flunkies, hoping he can somehow manage to convince the big redhead that it's easier to just sell to him for an inflated price and move on. "Are you really going to turn down a ten percent bump? Wouldn't you rather be selling to someone with a better appreciation for the value of your merchandise?" He pauses, looks considering for a moment. "Especially if it led to repeat business. At a similar price."
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He's not sure what the hell to do at this point, though, because Big Red doesn't seem to have any interest in budging, even for a significant boost to his profits, but there's no way in hell he's letting the girl go now that he's seen her. "I thought one of the first rules of business was to maximize your profits." He doesn't quite manage a sneer as he gives his supposed competition what's meant to be a dismissive look. He can see the guy checking him out, and has a pretty good idea why... and the only reason he's not wired is because he'd been expecting to be swept for bugs when he got there. He's been wishing like hell he had a wire for the last ten minutes, though. Wishing Ryan and Ethan or someone with a better potential read of the situation could feed him information or lines... or that he could at least warn them there's a damn good chance he'll be coming out hot sooner rather than later, because things are possibly going to start going south fast.
He tries to look casual about shifting both closer to the girl, and to put Sleazebag between himself and his bodyguards. And given he's damn well trained, even if this isn't anything he'd ever expected to be doing, he mostly succeeds. The same with the assessing look, at least partly camouflaged as irritation and disdain, that he gives to the bodyguards. Looking for any sign of weapons, gauging how they move, how fast and strong and effective they're likely to be, his odds of getting to and out the nearest exit with the girl if things go bad enough he has to cut and run. It... honestly doesn't look good, but that doesn't mean he won't try. And big as the seller is, at least he doesn't seem to be much of a threat.
"Best way to get rid of me is to sell me the girl, I'm sure he can go find himself another toy somewhere else." He's still managing to project confidence despite his building anxiety, and he takes a chance and partially turns his back to the fat man and his flunkies, hoping he can somehow manage to convince the big redhead that it's easier to just sell to him for an inflated price and move on. "Are you really going to turn down a ten percent bump? Wouldn't you rather be selling to someone with a better appreciation for the value of your merchandise?" He pauses, looks considering for a moment. "Especially if it led to repeat business. At a similar price."