Public Big Gamba Big Stakes

[Jacen Breska]

BIG GAMBA​

WEARING:: Pictured
EQUIPMENT: NOTHING
LOCATION: :: CANTO BIGHT CASINO ::
TAG: Braze

Jacen stared at the pile of credits on the table. The world around him lost it's color, and sound faded in and out as he dropped his gaze down to his hand.

A pure sabaac. Almost unbeatable.
Almost.

He raised his eyes again, looking at the man who looked like he wasn't even old enough to be here. And at the hand he laid down. An idiot's array. It was impossible.... that's what Jacen kept telling himself. He must have cheated. That he had the perfect hand to beat Jacen's? It was impossible. But that he lost wasn't what was important. It was what he lost. The droid attendant floated over to him, datapad in hand, "Jacen Breska. By the laws of this establishment and by your own hand, you have wagered and lost a week of indentured servitude in lieu of your buy-in of twenty-five thousand credits. Do you contest this result?" The droid stared at him, it's yellow eyes glowing softly.

Jacen ran his hand through his hair and stared down at his hand again. He shook his head slowly, "A vocalized answer is needed, Jacen Breska." The droid said, "No!" Jacen snapped, pulling his hand away in exasperation, "No I don't contest it. I lost." He looked over at the contract as it was displayed on the datapad. The Droid nodded it's head and turned, hovering over to the winner. "This contract states that Jacen Breska is your indentured servant for a period of time not to exceed one week and beginning at the moment of your choosing. In addition of this contract, you have been temporarily awarded 25,000 credits as a security deposit. Should Mr. Breska seek to escape his contractual obligations, a bounty will be placed on him for your convenience." The droid dropped the contract datapad on the table in front of Braze as the rest of his winnings were pushed towards him, then in a monotone voice it continued, "Congratulations on your winnings," before it hovered off to continue it's duties.

Jacen looked around. Several guards around the area eyed him. They'd certainly been in this situation before, and were ready for Jacen to try to run, almost begging him to. He turned his head back to the table, then raised his eyes to his new...master. He sneered internally at the thought. Now, legally, he was a servant. It ate at him.

But for now there was nothing he could do. There was no way out. The casino would ensure the deal was honored, or it would become an even bigger problem. So he sat, opposite the man, and put his head back in his hands.

It wouldn't be that bad. How much trouble could you get into in a week?

​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jacen Breska

Braze watched the transaction with curiosity before sitting up and moving to lean across the table offering a single pale hand tipped in black polish. An easy smile spread across his face, "Good game."

 

[Jacen Breska]

BIG GAMBA​

WEARING:: Pictured
EQUIPMENT: NOTHING
LOCATION: :: CANTO BIGHT CASINO ::
TAG: Braze

Jacen's eyes widened at the nonchalance Braze displayed. As if owning Jacen for a week was nothing to write home about, just another day of the week.

He wanted to punch the kid's lights out. But the guards would probably take exception to that, and at the end of the punch, Jacen would still contractually be obligated to be Braze's servant. And Braze would probably not like that Jacen punched him, and his week of servitude would become infinitely more unbearable.

He had to play nice. Be amenable. It was the only way to make it through the week. So, hesitantly, he reached out and shook Braze's hand.
"Yeah...good game." He said softly, fighting the urge to scream out double or nothing.

"So...now what." He said flatly, no interrogative tone in his voice. It didn't matter, of course. When Braze decided the week started, Jacen was a servant. What next didn't matter, he'd have to do it.

Good game. What a little bastard. One week. You're dead. He thought to himself, glaring at the little cheating bastard with white hair.

​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jacen Breska

Braze didn't squeeze his hand roughly or jerk him forward or anything like that. No, it was a gentle, simple handshake. Braze seemed to gather his things and gently put them away on his person. "I think I will cash out here... My name is Braze, by the way. I see I've gotten quite an opportunity with the Jacen Breska. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you." Braze offered gently.

"Perhaps you'd allow me to get to know more about you over a fizzie and a good steak; my treat? I like to know the strengths and weaknesses of my... business associates." He stepped right around the table and past Jacen crooking a finger in a come hither motion over the back of his shoulder with out glancing back.

There was no doubt about it, Braze looked to be even less than a featherweight at his small stature, but he walked with an easy sort of calm confidence as he moved to climb up and sit at the bar on one of the taller stools, his feet not reaching the floor with how much higher than his hips the seat was. He flashed an odd translucent card that didn't look like a currency card to the bartender and put in an order.

He glanced back to Jacen and patted the empty seat next to him, offering a coy little smile.

 

[Jacen Breska]

BIG GAMBA​

WEARING:: Pictured
EQUIPMENT: NOTHING
LOCATION: :: CANTO BIGHT CASINO ::
TAG: Braze

He squinted his eyes, "You know who I am?" He asked suspiciously. Maybe this guy, this....Braze...wasn't so bad.

"Yeah, alright," he said simply as he pushed off the chair and followed Braze to the bar. He had no issue talking about himself. Certainly not over free food and drink. He sat down at the bar next to him.

"I appreciate the wording you used," he said with a dry chuckle, "business associate. I like that," he nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. Maybe this guy wouldn't die after the week was up. Perhaps a wound. A serious, possibly grievous wound.

"Strengths and weaknesses." He echoed, tapping a finger on the bar, "What are my weaknesses...." he asked himself quietly. "I don't know what my weaknesses are. I don't think I have any. As for strengths? I think I'm probably uh..." he thought, "I think I have too many to count. I think I'm probably the best person you could win for a week. You really lucked out." He furrowed his brow. Why did he bet himself in a sabaac game? What a silly thing to do.

At least he was in servitude with a fan. Or at least someone who knew who he was. Could be worse.

​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jacen Breska

"I know your name," Braze chirped simply in reply. "And a handful of others that competed in some big fancy fight circuit. That's pretty broad, all things considered." He tilted his head, studying Jacen for a moment. "Well... you look like you can handle yourself in a bare-knuckle brawl. Ever fight Sith or Dark Jedi before?"

As he spoke, Braze shifted on the tall barstool, pulling a datapad from a bag wrapped in neon-colored, tiger-striped rainbow faux fur. The playful texture looked wildly out of place against the dim, polished wood of the bar. He tapped the screen, then angled it toward Jacen.
"Hey... you ever met any of these folks? Razmir Tezhyn , Mauve du Vain , Delsin Shaw , Abraxas Colt , Koda Fett , Tobi Sharpe , Mercy , or maybe even Jerec Asyr ~?"

The lineup was a rogues' gallery, grainy stills of rough, battle-hardened types, some glaring into the camera, others smirking like they'd just gotten away with something.

Beside them, the bartender slid over a tall, slender glass fizzing with pink and amber bubbles. A curl of citrus peel draped over the rim, while tiny red berries bobbed lazily up and down in the carbonated swirl. The drink sparkled in the low light like liquid candy, sweet aromas wafting up with every pop of the bubbles.

Not long after, two plates arrived, each holding a thick-cut steak, seared dark at the edges and glistening under a drizzle of seasoned butter. The air carried the scent of cracked pepper, garlic, and charred fat, each plate flanked by golden potato wedges and a small dish of roasted vegetables tossed in olive oil.

​

 

[Jacen Breska]

BIG GAMBA​

WEARING:: Pictured
EQUIPMENT: NOTHING
LOCATION: :: CANTO BIGHT CASINO ::
TAG: Braze

His chest swelled with pride, "Yes I've fought a sith before. Beat one in the Kaggath. They're not invincible, you just gotta be smart," he smirked, letting the bold observation settle before adding, "Which I am."

But then he grit his teeth at the mention of Mercy and Koda Fett .
"A recognize a few of those names. Razmir Tezhyn and Mauve du Vain ran the Kaggath. I think I seen them from a distance. Delsin Shaw is a Sith I've seen around. Think he's like...the Princess' boyfriend or something, I dunno. Maybe just a bodyguard? Not sure."

His face pulled into a scowl and he drank the entire glass of whatever was set in front of him so fast he almost didn't taste it, "Koda Fett. And Mercy. Yeah. I know those two. Fought them in the Kaggath. At the same time. I would have beaten either of them alone. Wouldn't have even broken a sweat." He shook his head in frustration, "but the fight was fixed. They didn't want me to win, so they set me up in a dumbass four-way fight."
He pursed his lips in anger and exhaled slowly.

"Mercy. Tsk. A freak of nature. Koda Fett, I heard he dropped out after he advanced. Not a real fighter, just a coward who claimed a couple of bounties. I have something to deal with him if I ever saw him again. See him try that shit with his blaster again...."

In his mind, the Kaggath was rigged, he was made to lose. They ganged up on him and stole victory away. Never mind that both of them had, independently of each other, made him eat dirt one on one.

Jacen touched his jaw, feeling where his new teeth were. Mercy had knocked several of them out, and the new ones just really didn't feel right.

She owed him teeth.
​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jacen Breska

​

Braze let a low whistle out as he sat back and sipped at his fizzie pop. "Wow... tell me how you really feel about them... " He mused aloud listening to the emotional roller coaster. "Oh? They did, huh? And what was the prize?"

Braze asked, fingers flicking lazily over his datapad until the Posted Bounty came up. He scanned the text with idle curiosity, but his attention lingered, long enough to make it clear he was measuring every detail. A side tab opened quietly, and a few shorthand notes were jotted down.


"So—did someone actually win that big old fight? Or was it one of those situations where the right person was always meant to win? Because…" His eyes lifted slowly from the screen. "…I heard from a little bird that Razmir Tezhyn might've been accepting some hefty bribes for the Kaggath. "

He let the claim hang for a moment, then tilted his head with mock innocence.
"Tell me...does that sound like something Razmir would do? Or is it just the sort of rumor people spread when credits start moving under the table? Speaking of... have you heard of any one named Kyric , or Drystan Creed ?"

Braze leaned one elbow against the counter, keeping his tone casual but his gaze sharp.

"Strange thing though… I heard there weren't many Sith in it at all. I wonder if there were more Jedi than Sith in such a... public tournament. Almost makes you wonder...why use the Kaggath name at all if it wasn't really Sith business? Just for the theatrics? To get the crowd roaring so no one noticed the fine print? A convenient scapegoating title for misdirection?"

A faint smile ghosted across his face,
"And here's the real kicker..." he said, lowering his voice just a touch "I could swear I've seen Razmir around before… and that pink lady? She she practically appeared. One day nothing, next day she's got bounties stacked so high you'd think she owned the Exchange. Making big moves like that so quickly so suddenly... mnn mnn mnn... Makes you wonder...where does all that funding come from? And why now?"

He swiped to another listing and spun the datapad toward Jacen with a flick of his wrist.
"Oh hey... while we're on the subject… have you seen this bounty? No reason. Just curious ..."

 

[Jacen Breska]

BIG GAMBA​

WEARING:: Pictured
EQUIPMENT: NOTHING
LOCATION: :: CANTO BIGHT CASINO ::
TAG: Sevrin

He put a credit in the juke box.


When you put a cred in the juke box...you gotta let the whole song play out.

Jacen inhaled.

"No, I was pretty thoroughly smashed after my fight. I only know Koda Fett withdrew because someone told me. Last I heard That Kyric you mentioned and Mercy were in the finals. No surprise there. Least not from her. I was the only one who could have beaten her, probably. She probably won the whole thing."

He inhaled again,

"It doesn't surprise me that those syndies were accepting bribes. It's the only reason I could have lost. Even if I was burned at the time the fight ended. I shoulda won. Coulda gone the distance. Shoulda. So yeah they probably accepted bribes! It's the only reason! AND YEAH! It does sound like something that Razmir guy would do! Bastard! Couldn't let someone like me change the status-quo! HAD TO CUT ME AT MY KNEES, DIDN'T HE?!"
Jacen was getting animated now, passionate, and had to take a breath to stop from screaming out in rage.

Then he inhaled,

"I don't know why they used the damn name it didn't make any sense. I think Kaggath is supposed to be specifically some Sith-y thing. I think they just used the name because it'd draw Sith attention. Then, yeah, not many Sith actually showed up because they're all just karking cowards. You know who did show up? Me. Me and CT-312 . And some other normal people. More normal people then Sith, I think. Brave heroes, all of them. Maybe some enhancements...I'm not sure. I don't care. They showed up, they were brave. Bunch of fancy pants Sith didn't show up, wouldn't risk their lives but mere mortals would. And they're in charge....pathetic. ANOTHER!" he gestured at the bartender and slammed down a credit, "Alcoholic. Don't care, gimme that bottle who gives a shit." The bartender handed him a bottle and Jacen pulled the top off and took a swig.

Then he inhaled,

"That pink lady? Mauve? She's really pretty. Like. Really pretty. But yeah there's nothing about her and then suddenly she's wanted for millions. It only makes sense people were pouring funds into the Kaggath. It was probably some laundering scheme or some such and I didn't even think you had to really worry about that with credits. But it's the only thing that makes sense! All that money? All those credits? They swindled us, all of us! It was all rigged!"

He took another inhale, then exhaled, and took a deep swig of his bottle.

​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jacen Breska

Braze picked at his meal in an unhurried fashion, letting Jacen's tirade run its course without interruption. He listened intently, though the faint glint in his eyes suggested he was already plotting trouble. When Jacen finally paused for breath, Braze leaned back with a sly little smirk.

"If it's any consolation…" he began, tone dripping with casual mischief, "I heard that Mauve du Vain is actually an advanced droid body with synthskin loaded with pheromone emitters, all being piloted by a little Zilkin guy at the control panel."

He delivered the line with such offhand confidence that it sounded almost believable, even as the corners of his mouth twitched with suppressed amusement.

"Think about it," he went on, voice low and conspiratorial. "They're perfectly, unnaturally attractive because they were scientifically formulated to be that way. It's all a ploy to reel in sad, lonely guys~" He gave an exaggerated shrug. "I mean… a smoking hot babe, filthy rich, just appearing out of nowhere with all that power? Kinda suspicious, don't you think?"

​

 

[Jacen Breska]

BIG GAMBA​

WEARING:: Pictured
EQUIPMENT: NOTHING
LOCATION: :: CANTO BIGHT CASINO ::
TAG: Braze

"You know, I thought she was!" Jacen said, slamming a fist on the bar top.

"No, yeah, that makes perfect sense! I always suspected there was something off about her. I mean, I've never really met her. But you're right. Wow. She's like a plant. Like a conspiracy but a person! It's the only thing that makes sense!"

His eyes widened as he began to piece it together,

"Wait. If that's true...then was the Kaggath some sort of plot to siphon the wealth of the galaxy to make these...like a legion of Mauve Droids? Think about it. Just one of them pissed off enough people to warrant a million credit bounty. Imagine what would happen if there were a hundred of them? A thousand?"

It was a threat of galactic proportions. If it was true. If nothing else it warranted further investigation.

"How did you hear about this? Is it some widespread thing? Why hasn't anyone done anything about it? Is that why the bounty is on her? Someone knows the truth?"
​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jacen Breska

Braze had to bite back a wild grin, forcing his expression into something resembling composure as he lifted his glass for a long, leisurely drink. When he finally set it down, he gave an almost sheepish shrug.

"Yeah, I bet you're right. All those credits just to plant Mauves everywhere, make it impossible to figure out which one's the real deal." His tone was the perfect mix of mock-serious and deadpan, playing straight into the ridiculousness of the rumor. He might have felt a twinge of guilt… but it was far too entertaining to let go.

"Oh, you know… just what I've heard around the cantinas, when folks start placing bets and talking big." He leaned back slightly, watching his companion with that easy, knowing smile.

"So tell me, big fella" Braze's voice took on a teasing lilt, "you think you're as good in a fight as you say you are? Here's a deal: help me finish a job, and I'll let you out of your contract early. Sound fair?"

​

 

[Mauve du Vain]

"If it's any consolation…" he began, tone dripping with casual mischief, "I heard that Mauve du Vain Mauve du Vain is actually an advanced droid body with synthskin loaded with pheromone emitters, all being piloted by a little Zilkin guy at the control panel."

On hearing those words, one of the patrons at the bar, an Arconan, turned in his stool to glance at the pair with his big, multi-faceted eyes. Then he abruptly turned back around and started typing furiously on his datapad.

 

[Jacen Breska]

BIG GAMBA​

WEARING:: Pictured
EQUIPMENT: NOTHING
LOCATION: :: CANTO BIGHT CASINO ::
TAG: Braze

He turned to face the young man as he offered the deal.

"One job and you'll let me out early?" He repeated, tilting his head, "It's gotta be quite the job. What is it?"
He nodded after a moment of thought, "Someone needs killing or something. Sure. Yeah I mean...if it's just the one fight, why wouldn't I agree? If I'm as good as I think I am, it'd be no problem. So. Sure. If the job's a someone, who's the someone?"
​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jacen Breska

"That's a conversation for behind closed doors. Eat. Savor it. When you're done, we'll take care of business and get things moving."
​