Deus ex Machina [Coruscant Rotary Club]

[Cryax Bane]

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Location: Coruscant Underworld, The Cream and the Crop Casino, Golden Hour Opera House

It was opening night at the Golden Hour Opera House, the theater run by the Coruscant Rotary Club deep under the bowels of Galactic City on Coruscant, and it was an opulent affair the likes of which the Coruscant Underworld had not seen in ages, or perhaps ever. Who would have guessed that the shadowy band of criminals some of whom, think red eyes and blue skin, were known more for organ theft and slaving, would bring one of the galaxy’s finest classical musical traditions to most dangerous neighborhoods of the Undercity? However, contrary to expectations, one hand of the CRC aimed to enrich the streets of Coruscant just as the other hand bloodied them.

Finding “performers” who could sing for hours without mangling their voice boxes had been a herculean task for the beleagured Bothan stage manager, Frab, a former employee of Cryax Bane, but given a choice between singing and ending up at a slave fair on Zygerria, most of the performers sang their little hearts out in ways they never knew they were even capable of. As the audience began to file into the enormous theater which could hold an audience of nearly one-thousand, Frab hustled around the theater, making sure everything was just so. Currently he was snapping at late-arriving orchestra members, and right after that he would make sure that the Bith lighting director wasn’t asleep in her booth again.

Tuxedoed ushers handed out flimsiplast programs to arriving guests, a mix of Sith and socialites alike. The programs detailed the timetable of various acts and intermissions, along with a few notable press excerpts about tonight’s performance of The Agony of Tarkin. Popular during the Rebellion Era, the Agony of Tarkin was a suitable opera for the enjoyment of an audience who resided on a Sith-controlled world. It was about the demise of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, who died aboard the first Death Star in 0 BBY. It was a tragedy of course, unless you were anti-Imperial in which case you might find the opera a barrel of laughs.

Cryax Bane of the CRC surveyed the frenetic scene from the balcony, where VIP members of the casino, as well as high ranking members of the One Sith and Techno Union could be seated stratospherically far above the usual rabble. The performers had done well during their rehearsals, but most of them had never performed before a live audience before, so Bane felt a prelude of unease about the evening’s show. Let's face it though, as long as a stray Chton didn’t get loose in the theater like one had during the dress rehearsal, then a few forgotten lines could be forgiven. While entertaining, it would be certainly bad press for the Golden Hour Operahouse if half of the front row were eaten.

[member="Roger Kranos"] [member="Nergal"] [member="Hades Michae"] [member="Mitzi May"] [member="Kerrick Ikon"] [member="Griffin Coldwell"] [member="Wilhelmine Dahma"] [member="Smeg"] [member="Gerion Ardik"] [member="Darth Vornskr"] [member="Lorelei Darke"]

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

Countess Dahma, owner of the CoCo Town establishment, The Wilhelmine Dahma Gallery and sultana of the arts in Coruscant wouldn’t miss the opening of an opera, especially one as tragic as the The Agony of Tarkin. But there would be intrigue and possibly comedy as well to be had from the audience as Mina very much looked forward to watching the performance of the Coruscanti socialites as they hobnobbed around the Golden Hour Opera House, preening like peacocks, their heads swiveling around like surveillance droids to assess their competition.

Mina’s wardrobe had been understated lately because she had been spending more time in boardrooms versus ballrooms, but tonight she pulled out all of the stops. Luckily for the audience, the Countess had a VIP box seat high on the upper balcony. Otherwise no one would be able to see beyond her very wide, very large, white feathered hat:

Spoiler

The Countess of course did not want to rush into her seat like an eager dowager, so she mingled in the Opera House lobby, conveniently “bumping” into those Coruscanti who could help her and ducking and hiding from those who she wronged or who weren’t famous enough or wealthy enough to waste her time on.

Mina actually didn’t know that this was an opera performed entirely by slaves, so when that tidbit of information was revealed by fellow guest, an exquisitely dressed Codru-Ji, her four arms sheathed in lace and satin, she responded. “Slaves?!?”

“Can one be purchased when the night is over?”

[member="Cryax Bane"] [member="Roger Kranos"] [member="Nergal"] [member="Hades Michae"] [member="Mitzi May"] [member="Kerrick Ikon"] [member="Griffin Coldwell"] [member="Smeg"] [member="Gerion Ardik"] [member="Darth Vornskr"] [member="Lorelei Darke"]

 

[Roger Kranos]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7bqZIpC3Pg​

"Here at the Cream and the Crop Casino, anything is possible..." The words flowed through the veil of glitterstim, his blue eyes fixed upon the woman and her white outfit. Quite spectacular, he thought, as he brushed the glitter and stars from the his vibrant suit of silver and platinum. A pretty credit thrown in the face of another and anyone could have fashion, but only a few had the sense for it. He could tell this woman was part of the group, just by the designer fashion on display. The way the white flowed into streams of bows and displaced colors, like sounds in the air simulating a rainbow response, he fought the urge to lunge out at it and catch it, a man with a net chasing butterflies. His beard hung low, streaks of grey in the hair giving a pronounced sense of wisdom and age, that meshed well with the black hair tied back in a knot.

On his arm, he held the grip of [member="Mitzi May"], his free hand clasping against hers to help aid in the ambiguity of their relationship. His middle finger showed the Ring of Aza'zoth, glowing a spectacularly dull hue of green. Giving Mitzi a tender sideways look, relishing the touch of her skin and the electric synapses of a mind rigidly tied to rampant drug abuse, he turned back to the women he didn't know. In the background, he felt the sound of the stage and it's acoustic amplification through the Golden Hour Opera House, recalling the days of old before being given the casino by the One Sith. Things were good, he thought, as he bounced his head back and forth to the beat of a song trapped within his skull. If only he could let it out.

"I'm so sorry, we're being rude..." He smiled and laughed. "I'm Roger Kranos and this gem on my arm is none other than Mitzi May." He would have extended his hand to greet [member="Wilhelmine Dahma"], but he was currently preoccupied with clinging to life at the side of Mitzi. Without her anchor, he might just lift off, like a balloon forever lost to the bouncing touch of a golden ceiling. Man, that would be neat!

[member="Cryax Bane"] | [member="Nergal"] | [member="Hades Michae"] | [member="Kerrick Ikon"] | [member="Griffin Coldwell"] | [member="Smeg"] | [member="Gerion Ardik"] | [member="Darth Vornskr"] | [member="Lorelei Darke"]

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryGSEnC6Oxk[/youtube]

Countess Dahma assessed the man in front of her as though he were a piece of art and he was in some way shape or form. His suit was of the finest quality, Mina could tell that. But she could tell he was full of spice because she was a procurer of such spice and knew the signs of addiction and what to look for if someone was using.

Mr. Kranoos seemed way too enamored of her hat and well that was one of the signs. And occasionally, her wardrobe had that affect on people. But mostly it was spice users who admired her wardrobe the most.

"Roger Kranos," she said savoring the name like a succulent chocolate. "I haven't had the pleasure to meet you or Miss Mitzi May, but it's good to meet your acquaintance"

"I'm very much interested in your relationship with this opera house. Are you a patron? An owner?"

This man was an interesting fellow as was his companion. They were both Coruscanti residents that the Countess wanted to know better.

[member="Roger Kranos"]

 

[Kerrick Sereta]

"Anyone ever tell you that you worry too much?" Standing next to [member="Cryax Bane"] on the balcony, those were the only words Kerrick spoke for a moment, looking out over the crowd milling about below. This was a far more high-class event than xe had ever imagined to attend, let alone as a member of the VIP crowd. Operas were never something that had interested xem in the least, whether it was assisting in the production of them or attending afterwards. Being one that preferred to keep occupied rather than simply sitting through an event until it came to a close, xe would likely become bored halfway through. Of course, that didn't mean xe would leave or show any other signs of disrespect. Despite being a criminal, xe had certain standards to abide by. The CRC did run something of a tight ship, at least in the public eye.

Blue eyes looked to the Chiss, awaiting his response. Wearing a dark dress, xe had come alone, not bothered by the fact that xir only company tended to be Cryax himself when xe wasn't working. It worked as well as anything, and it was the way things would remain. "I don't think you have to worry about anything happening. There are people around to help with things if something needs done." Including xem. Beneath the chair xe would take for the night xir blaster was concealed, in full working order should the situation call for it. Perhaps an unnecessary precaution, but it was always better to be careful. "Just try and relax for once. We're criminals, I think we deserve it now and again." Typically a quiet one, xe really only talked around the Chiss, a man whose life xe had saved years ago near the planet Teth.

From there things had culminated, ending most recently with this excursion. Once more xe looked over the balcony to those Coruscanti that had deigned to attend, many of them of a high class society, which was unsurprising. Apparently a viewing of The Agony of Tarkin was appealing to those others. Only time would tell if it was as seemingly enrapturing as the number of attendees promised.

 

[Quietus]

What a pair, he and she, two cut rocks mined from the deep reaches of Coruscant, polished and pristine. At the arm and hand of the platinum peacock was his gleaming gilded hen, Mitzi May, shimmering splendidly beneath the lights of the opera house, a vision of opulence topped by the piece de resistance: a multi-tiered diamond necklace laced around her neck.

Raven hair smoothed and glossy, pale eyes traversing the myriad faces in attendance, she watched the people come and go with a gaze of content detachment, of regal authority. It might not have been her establishment, but certainly she was part of the bread crew maintaining it. As the public facade of the CFFC, Mitzi May was recognizable, she was enviable. Known not only for her formal appearances within the market, but also as the owner and proprietor of the grand Maybell Hotel and a hot flashpan performer on stage, she'd become something of a starlette here on Coruscant. She felt it, too, for what might've seemed the first time in many years, and Roger was to blame.

"Oh..." the feathered flair of a woman on approach caught her eye, and in her half-Holiday state, 1 gram of Toma in, Mitzi reveled at the woman's ensemble, "Pepper would just adore her." Mitzi squeezed Roger's hand and offered a greeting to [member="Wilhelmine Dahma"] as introductions were made.

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"A pleasure," she said softly, painted lips tipping a faint smile, Mitzi claimed the initiative to take Lady Dahma's hand in proper greeting, "and a little bit of both. Roger and I are only two of the small group of shareholders within the parent company. You could say it's something of a family affair..." Her smile stretched at this, amusement showing though the Dahma wouldn't know why, "your gown is fabulous, dear. My daughter would simply love it, don't you think Roger?"

[member="Roger Kranos"]

 

[Roger Kranos]

[member="Mitzi May"] was but a bouquet of flowers, constantly glowing and thriving. Was Coruscant her water and nutrient? Were it Kranos' presence, or perhaps his constant delivery of much needed drugs from the production labs of the Coruscant Flower and Funeral Company. He did his best not to stare but beneath the weight of carsunum, she would find those blue eyes dead locked upon the elegant form that squeezed his arm. If only he could break free! Oh yes, a dove! He turned back towards [member="Wilhelmine Dahma"] and smiled.

"As Mitzi has informed you...we are shareholders. So a bit of both..." Patrons and owners, the two went hand in hand here at the Casino. Why own something if you couldn't enjoy it? Oh man, carsunum and it's up and downs, how did he get by! He leaned over and smiled. "And Pepper would most definitely approve." He nodded towards the seat, right next to the newcomer, for the delicate Mitzi to sit and enjoy and converse. Though how she expected him to enjoy the theater, what with her looking like that, he wasn't exactly sure. She was hell bent on turning his attention from entertainment to something he found far more entertaining. But he wouldn't let her win, not this time. No, the opera would gain his favor this night! He was sure of it, but...that necklace. That necklace! Mentally shaking free from the incapacitating paralysis of such viewing, he sat in kind.

Enjoying the delicate plush of the seat, he made a flare of elegance with an odd hand gesture, one he thought might indicate how much finesse he had. He was in it now, fully abundant on the acumen and peacock like display. "It seems you have us at a disadvantage now, ma'am..." That's right, all respectful and what not. "I didn't catch your name or where your interests lie. Do you frequent this establishment often?" He would know this woman, understand her, and discern from where exactly such fine display of fashion had originated.