For a Good Time, Call: 9376-Three Oh Nine

[Dashal Vance]

Annaj​

Private residence of Matsu Xiangu​

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The foggy din of atmosphere created a hauntingly surreal feeling to the beginning of a fascinating journey that would ultimately pair a Hapan slicer with the likes of an illustrious, and forewarned difficult blind date. They had taken some liberties with the idea of a Blind Date, as he was already aware of the striking image of a woman that would likely stir the cause of religious worship in the youth. A promised time of fun and frivolity was key to this most momentous occasion. The slick slicer had no issue with carving out a good chunk of his recreational activities to consort with the fetching figure of this mysterious woman of which his new client had so graciously hinted at their pairing. He didn't know a great deal about Matsu (yet), but if her matchmaking skills were as sharp as the digits of her artificial arm, he'd have to make fast friends with the woman - aside from just getting her the intel she so fervently sought.

The private port for docking was currently playing host to a shining example of a Taylander class shuttle. Dash didn't own a vessel of his own - all his trips were either rentals, or other versions of stow-away, while resembling a legitimate traveler. He'd been on enough ships to understand them, or slice into their nav control system to take him where he wanted. It wasn't an issue of credits, it was an issue of anonymity. A little less convenience to remain under the radar. People started to see the same ship here and there and suspicions would arise, and he couldn't have that. It wasn't the classiest thing on three legs, but it was certainly hardly, well built, and it was simply an 'A' to 'B' vehicle. His plans were far more imaginative, and he liked to think the first impression would only add to the wow factor of what he had planned.

The image of the slicer was pretty much set for Dash, but he'd foregone the dull browns, and muted grays of his normal garb. A more fitted and shiny leather tunic graced his torso, with hints of teal blue to match the somewhat dulled appearance of his eyes. All Hapans had a natural inability to see in low level light, which left them with a toned down sheen to their visible irises. His hair, perfectly combed into the spiked and slightly gelled appearance. He'd really cleaned up for this date - and he'd had time to prepare. At the current moment, his seated position atop one of the support struts of the domed shape of the vessel was aptly enjoying the scenic view. No, he wasn't watching the holoclock. He did that..the pair of beauties would never be ready. He knew enough about the ladies to understand that time best stand still for them to get gussied up. A watched pot never boiled, and impatience was not the name of the game. No...the current game was his favorite portable version of Trooper Terror, and it was being played on a holoscreen between his two hands. He liked to keep busy, and dexterous.

It had only been a couple of days since he'd first met Matsu at the power planet, and discussed the deal of finding her mystery date. Granted the date she had in mind with Krius was certainly not going to be anywhere near as fun for him as Dash planned to have with Kesare. The idea of blood, destruction, retribution and death did not a fun time make. He'd opted for the less gritty, less gruesome, and far more pleasurable side of things. Apparently women responded better to flowers, and chocolate as opposed to mental torture, and hallucinogenic visions that ended with amputation. Go figure!

[member="Matsu Xiangu"] | [member="Kesare Salazar"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

[SIZE=9pt] It was, all in all, one of the more normal situations Matsu had ever found herself in. And that made it strange. She was curled up in an arm chair, feet tucked beneath her as she scrolled through the feed on her datapad, jaw resting on one curled hand as she listened to Kesare pacing through the other room, picking it up even over the low thump of their music lacing through the rooms of Matsu’s estate. Matsu assumed the sounds were the process of getting ready and not assembling weaponry with which to kill her upcoming date. Matsu could never be sure with her best friend. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] Although naturally a perfect team – vicious, cruel and completely in sync – they worked so well together because between them there was perfect balance. Matsu was cool, a friendly face at first but capable of the kind of efficient destruction that differed largely from the hot, bloodthirsty frenzy of Kesare. One pulled where the other pushed and they ended up in a perfect middle, their compromise making them brutal. It was one of the things that made something as commonplace as waiting for a date to arrive feel so foreign – she was usually preparing to tear something down, not watch Kesare leave on a date she’d set up for her. The woman's reaction had been exasperation bordering on explosion but the Knight was confident that she could have at least thirty seconds of fun. It was a chance of a bet, but she was taking it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] She looked up when she heard the click of Kesare’s shoes, the only sound that gave away her otherwise serpent-swing approach. If she tried to kill ‘Vyce’ tonight she’d at least made it very much worth his while – in person was nothing compared to the picture Matsu had shown the slicer.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] Kesare went straight past her for the tray of alcohol glittering in the soft light of Matsu’s front room. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] The Knight had chosen the place for its proximity to the main areas of the planets’ capital but still affording her a sprawl worthy of a few whistles and a landing area catering specifically to her apartments. The datapad resting on the arm of her chair lit up as someone entered said landing space, showing her a transport arriving precisely on time. “Your date is here,” she said quietly, not even looking up from the screen of her pad as she went back to catching up with some of her old Master’s reports. The announcement was more perfunctory than anything else – Kesare would never make it so easy as to just go out and meet up with Vyce, but Matsu had to at least pretend to try.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][member="Dashal Vance"] | [member="Kesare Salazar"][/SIZE]​

 

[Kesare]

It had taken a lot of coaxing to get her to agree to go out with this ‘Vyce’ fellow, but Matsu knew Kesare better than anyone in the galaxy and she knew what it took to get her to agree to just about anything (trick me into believing that this is what I want, make me believe) That didn’t mean that she hadn’t made her best friend sweat it out for a few days. Patiently the Knight would casually bring up his name in a conversation that had nothing to do with him and everything to do with her until she was bored to death by the topic. If I agree to do this do you promise not bring up his name again?

Once Matsu had promised that it would be her final mention the agreement was struck with a resigned ‘fiiiiine’, and a roll of her eyes. What had really piqued her interest in the man hadn’t been his appearance or his fun, outgoing personality as Matsu had described him. It had been his field of work that caused her gears to click into place when Matsu had explained to her about his inconceivable capabilities of taking the smallest amount of data and plucking out more information from the HoloNet than anyone knew what to do with. She knew that she didn’t need to explain to her best friend about her ulterior motive when she rarely ever had to say anything that the woman didn’t know already (always two steps ahead - sneaky, sneaky) because if she was going to be subject to going out with some stranger then she at the very least would make sure that she’d benefit from it.

Despite her initial objection to the ‘date’ she watches the clock tick, tick, tick down to the planned time of Vyce’s arrival, feeling a touch of nerves that left her feeling rattled (find your control, you are in control) She loathes the feeling of her power slipping through her fingers like water, unable to grasp it as she stares at the extensive wardrobe with a slight dip in her lips. She settles on a slip of a dress, something tight to hug her curves in all the right places (look at me, I am going to DEVOUR YOU) paired with heels that weren’t for the faint of heart and her lips painted a deep, rich burgundy. She decides to wear her hair down, the loose curls framing her face and making her appear delicate and doll like (deceiving, liar, do not trust this girl!)

She finishes getting ready ahead of schedule and is already in a sour mood when she stalks into the sitting room where Matsu looks effortless and relaxed curled up on the armchair. She can’t get rid of the lingering feeling that she was making a mistake agreeing to this outing as she pours herself a glass of whiskey that ran down her throat in one smooth toss of her hand, her face scrunching from the kick it left behind before smoothing out and looking at her best friend. “For his sake he’d better think to show up on time unless he wants to count this as a very short outing.” Her tone is dry and does not hold a single note of joking as she looks at the Knight and her frown turns into a full-fledged scowl. “If this turns out to be a train wreck I hope you’re prepared to hear about it.” She cautions as she fills up the glass once more and swallows the amber liquid in one swig. Her gaze settles back on the time as she begins counting down the seconds while hoping wildly that he gives her a reason to cancel this evening before it even began.

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[member="Dashal Vance"] || [member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Dashal Vance]

Only so much could be done in the great galactic game of waiting. Dash had never excelled at the sport, and he found the league rules to be a stifling nightmare of political hokum that he simply could not abide by. Granted most of his plays was for early termination, and he would get more flags thrown on him than a pod-race on the city streets of Coruscant during Life Day. Yes -that- many flags. Evidence of this restless nature was the rocking back and forth that had his legs kicking and the holo screen bouncing with every pump of his knees. Sure, this was for a marvelously good cause - but did he really have to exude patience in the process. Cruel, cruel torment. Annaj wasn't too bad of a place though, all things considered. It seemed remote enough up here, with that layer of fog that haunted every precipice and city spire in the distance, while the trees below were shrouded in the distant rolling fog. The slicer had always been more urban prone, preferring the permacrete jungle to that of the actual forests, lakes, and rocky mountain cliffs that peppered the backdrop to this scenic of planets. He was drawn to the lights, the sounds, the bells and whistles like a mynock to power cables. He'd been on less reputable planets, and found them high and above better than the more solitary, less refined, and more organic types of systems. Anyplace where a junction box couldn't reach was not a planet he particularly cared to step foot on, although sometimes you went where the information led, even if it did turn out to be a dead end.

The premier security force was something of a different color, as Dash's teal gaze had started to wander his quickly unwinding patience. They weren't decorated, uniformed or even really stepping in militant gait. He'd seen enough of that - even on Hapes where the militia there were pretty much all women. They'd tried to teach him some structure there, but that had only turned into a great big hologame for the boy with code for blood. These gents were more gritty, less polished and they were sporting some artillery that would make big game Wookie hunters salivate. The digital display was altered as he brought up a few snapshots of some of the weapons in his Trooper Terror holocade game. They looked similar to the munitions in the virtual world, and he was just about interested enough to get a closer look. Seconds later that decision was easily made as the tech screen vanished in a blip of light, and his dismount came. Sliding off the strut, and grasping a durasteel rung - Dash vaulted across to the docking door. Hands clasped to the ledge gave a hearty swing, and his feet came down turning into a somersault before springing his feet. Ta-da!

"Is that the Heklor Kok?" The slicer preened with wide-eyed enthusiasm and perhaps just a slight chuckle at the tail end of the name. His interest bore a close resemblance to snooping as he got within three feet of one of the guards, directing his first digit to the two handed assault rifle held in the mercenary's grip. "The R-2's my default, I like a good suppression burst with Delta formations myself." The Hapan said with no lack of delight in his voice, as if he was talking like a true war hero - when in reality he'd never even held a gun - at least not one that hadn't been attached to a holo-sim. His bright white smile levelled up towards the grizzy fellow who was currently looking at Dash like he was his next meal. The charging click of the mag pack was heard next as he started to slowly growl in a low slightly audible tone. It simply meant..get going while your legs still only bend one way. That apparently only got half the message to Dash. "Right...I like the compact mag, and the additional targeting site...and....oh, you probably want me to leave you to wandering aimlessly looking for bogies and some such." He offered in candid fashion.

"No...I want you to stand still for target practice kid. Beat it." He gave a head jerk towards the main entry doors. He knew Dash was here on request of Matsu, and thus he couldn't really use him as a life size target for the few seconds he'd be alive. A two-finger salute was offered in silence before Dash turned and made tracks towards the entry way. Brushing the motion sensor door aside like he had some kind of esoteric connection to the Force. He wasn't so lucky, but who wouldn't pretend to be a Force User when confronted with automated technology that was predictable? On another point of interest - Dash's auto doors open with a wink or a blown kiss. And they sighed like a girl swooning. The main corridor was lavish and spoke of elegance and affluence as he lightly trailed his clean digits along the various accouterments that littered the various shelves and tables in what he presumed to be the main lobby to the estate.

"So I've seen the razzle...and you must be the dazzle." Came the voice of the five-ten Hapan slicer as he stepped into the softly carpeted room. Teal eyes seeming to pop with the color selection of black leather and teal accents as he moved in to cast his gaze upon the curled form of Matsu and her dear friend. Oh yes, the picture did the girl no justice, but there would be plenty of holo-pics being taken on their excursion. He had no doubts, and most likely in very compromising positions. Not for blackmail of course, but just for momentos to place around their bedroom when the two of them finally wed. Yeah...like Dash would ever settle down. But just look at those legs! The sheepish and still smug grin rested like a permanent fixture on his handsome visage as he strode forward only to lean against one of the pieces of plush furniture decorating the abode. "Mats, you don't lie girl." He eyed the cybernetically enhanced lady before turning his full attention to the heart-stopping bombshell before him. "Ke-sar-ee." He said sounding out each syllable with accented praise hosted on his tongue. "Bound to make any man sorry for wasting your time. So I used the opt-out option instead. You ready to trip the light fantastic?"

[member="Kesare Salazar"] | [member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

[SIZE=9pt] Matsu suppressed the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose, taking a deep breath instead when she heard Kesare’s retort to the knowledge her date had arrived. Vyce would have to be a bit stupid not to show up on time for an outing with her – there was such a thing as being fashionably late, but not when it came to escorting a woman like Kesare out for the night. But Kesare couldn’t seriously think that Matsu would set her up with the dregs of the Galaxy, could she? If anything the Atrisian thought she’d done rather well – admittedly, she’d only met the guy once but he’d seemed like a lot of fun and not interested in anything beyond that, which was good for Kesare. And he was Hapan, a people known for being far more attractive than the typical human. Really, at least she would have something nice to look at if he became a spectacularly surprising bore.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] But Matsu wasn’t worried about that.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] The screen of her datapad changed to show the view from one of the security cameras as the mercenary Vyce tried to engage pressed a small link on his comms to give her a heads-up. Kail had made sure they would all be aware she was expecting a guest but she could see why this particular man – Barhis, to be specific – had decided to alert her. She couldn’t help but grin at the careless way Kesare’s blind date pointed and gestured at a hulking beast of a man who clearly had no interest in his conversation. “Prepare yourself my girl – as long as Barhis doesn’t snap and kill him, he’ll be here momentarily.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] She could feel Kail’s presence from the far side of the room as he stalked in from one of the hallways. Sometimes she thought he must have a preternatural sense for situations in which there was the possibility of harm to Matsu, and he was certainly a good deterrent to those thinking of trying anything with the mask cinched tightly to his face, a potential for ruthlessness boiling in his movement.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] Vyce arrived just as promised seemingly right after and she turned her head to see him better than the view the security camera had provided. He had cleaned up and Matsu was slightly vindicated as she couldn’t see how Kesare would object to how he looked – teal was his color. She could practically see his wheels turning as he turned his eyes to her best friend. “I’m many things Vyce, but a liar isn’t one of them.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] She could tell she was quickly disappearing in to the background in the wake of Kesare so she simply smiled, waving them on their way in the hopes no homicide or interplanetary disasters were impending. “Have a good time you two,” she offered before lifting herself from her chair to move towards Kail.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Please Kesare, be gentle.[/SIZE]​

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[SIZE=9pt][member="Kesare Salazar"] | [member="Dashal Vance"][/SIZE]​

 

[Kesare]

Patience wasn’t her strongest quality and she knew her temper left something to be desired (it was a work in progress) Her gaze strayed from the time and back to Matsu, the softness of her voice easing the edge out of her body and allowing her a moments peace. Setting down the glass she crossed back over to where her friend remained tucked neatly in the center of the room with her datapad and peered over her shoulder with a piqued sense of curiosity. “Now that would be something to see.” Her tone is wicked, a grin flirting with the corners of her lips as she too watched the figure of a man gesturing this way and that while Barhis looked particularly unimpressed and increasingly annoyed the longer the man stood there.

It was almost as if there had been a shift in the air when Vyce entered the estate, she can’t quite put her finger on what it was until he stepped into the room and she watched as the room lit up in his presence. Her gaze is immediately drawn to him, he is the star of the show and it is evident to her already that he is accustom to being the life of the party. In another life she would have called him a class act (the energy is practically rolling off of you, you burn bright my boy) She already finds his energy to be draining, like he is sucking the life out of her to keep himself constantly moving and for a fleeting second the thinks maybe this wasn’t worth it. She is forced to remind herself the real reason she sold her soul to the devil and agreed to this outing (besides it wasn’t like it could be any worse than any of those ‘dates’ that she had no say in showing up to)

Slinking towards him she tilts her head just so, her gaze studying him with a quiet intensity as she works to get a read on him. Although she can’t read his thoughts he is still an open book to her and she can feel his attraction (silly boy, if you were smart you’d turn back now) and a hint of fascination as she stops just short of him. Of one thing she is certain is that he does not mean her harm, but it still doesn’t give her much to grasp at and she remains weary and at arm’s length.

“Vy-ccce.” His name rolls off her tongue in a hiss and she is now close enough to study the Hapan’s features. She is able to give Matsu credit where credit was due with his dark, sharp features because he admittedly was handsome and to anyone else he would have them swooning with that cerulean gaze of his, but to her he was just another nice face lost in the sea of many other nice faces where they all started to blend together and she was left feeling neither one way or the other. She offers Matsu and Kail a final lingering look that reads along the lines of ‘what did you get me into?’ and watching them disappear from the room like they'd never been there in the first place.

(I can’t make any promises)​

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“You could say something like that.” Her tone is dry as she once more allows her gaze to move over his features. “Let’s just hope for your sake that I won’t have to make you sorry for wasting my time then.” The threat is thinly veiled as her features slip into a casual smirk that hints at a secret she isn't willing to share with him before she went to grab her clutch and starts towards the door where she pauses in the threshold and waits for him to catch up. “And here I thought you were the one ready for this evening.”

The estate has become home to her and she easily navigates their way back out to Matsu’s private bay where Barhis looms large and imposing nearby the ship that she assumes is Vyce’s. “I saw you made friends with Barhis earlier.” She makes a casual mention as she offers Barhis a nod and in return she thinks she earns a look of sympathy (at least Barhis is on my side) Just as they are about to board the aircraft she comes to a dead stop, her eyes narrowing slightly (you can never be too careful, too sure) “Before I allow a complete stranger to whisk me off, I’d like to know where you’re planning on taking me. Please.” She felt it was a fair request considering her track record with anyone trying to take her anywhere and she’d even thought to use her manners this time. They couldn’t say she wasn’t at least making some semblance of an attempt, right?

[member="Dashal Vance"] || [member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Dashal Vance]

A common theme seemed to strike at the heart of the situation - where both women were met with an equally bone chilling persona that spoke of one particular thing - predators. Both Matsu and Kesare had the body language and seductive tone of a huntress. Most of the Galaxy seeing the pairing of the younger slicer and the mature woman just about eight years his senior as a big game feline toying with her prize mouse. Dash however saw something a bit more subtle - the cool grace and coiled demeanor of a sultry serpent looking at him with hunger deep in her murky brown eyes bordering on complete ebony. Her apparent prey, a lean muscled exuberant and cavalier slicer that seemed to be sized up as a decent snack, and something to play with until they pounced. Despite the sirens and flags waving in his face to back off from this suicidal attempt at wooing these women, he flew in the face of common sense and general logic. Despite his incredible intellect, Dashal Vance was still a boy trying to stave off the transition into manhood and revel in the prime of his youth. You only go around once - unless you believed in reincarnation, in which case Dash wanted to come back as a fortune cookie that read 'look behind you.'

The slicer was not bashful in his appreciation of Kesare's presence, and he saw no pretense with the woman that was equally looking him up and down. There was however, a distinct difference in the manner in which she appraised him. Less like she had won the Galactic Lottery, and more to point of trying to determine the best temperature at which to roast him, and which wine best paired with Hapan on a stick. It gave him a small shiver down his spine before the smirk on her painted lips was mirrored on his own turning into a full fledged smile. Matsu was quite honest when she had made the arrangements with him at the power plant. Kesare was not some moon-brained little whisp of a girl who flung herself affectionately at the first coy smirk or devil-may-care smile. He'd met those before, and he liked them well enough - he'd even assigned Zhellday to their particular color of the feminine rainbow.

"That would be most preferable - as I believe Matsu wants to keep me in one piece, at least until I find her the man she's looking to disembowel." A slow lean to the right directed his teal eyed gaze towards Matsu as she wished them well on their night on whatever distant adventure Dash had cooked up for the two of them. "By the way, he's been a busy Bantha, soon as I get a way to intercept, you'll have the entire package signed, sealed and delivered." Most professional businessmen didn't mix business with pleasure - and that went against every fiber of the slicer's being. You had to mix business with pleasure, because while he wasn't exactly in the pleasure business, if he wasn't having fun, he was doing something wrong. They had discussed when he'd be able to get the necessary document trails in order, but it seems that her target hadn't slowed down for a nanosecond - jumping from system to system, and apparently not alone. Matsu was proof positive in his book that a pretty face could hide and evil mind. Kesare was getting access to that same club soon enough it seemed - with all the privileges of an honorary member. In that same moment, the sultry vixen graced by him leaving and scent of her perfume to waft across his senses. A slow turn of his head shifted from Matsu to Keasre's body in full promenade as if the invisible hooks of her fragrance had captured his nostrils and turned his attention like a potent love spell.

"Long as you don't flip the table, I've been seven steps ahead in this game of space-chess." The charming tone to his vocals accentuated with the gait of his step crossing the corridor to her side. Dash was a thinker, and a planner. While on the outside shell, he seemed to be a carefree youth who rode the wind where it listed, and took chance and circumstance at face value, he was wholly organized. In default company his aggressive subject changes caused most people's head to spin, and attitude to rise against him. He didn't do well with his peers in social circles - as they often bored him. A few things could calm the mile-a-second speed of his synapses, and Kesare was a prime example of such a feat. She was a puzzle wrapped in a breathtaking package, one he was intent to solve. "By night's end, I intend to see a dazzling smile on those lovely lips." His confident tone exuded while the doors whisked aside and allowed them passage onto the docking pad where his rental waited, gleaming in the mid-day sunlight. He also intended other things with those lips, but he'd not sully the moment, or get himself gutted either. Dash was cavalier, but he wasn't crude.

"Oh yes, best of friends. We're planning a Trooper Terror marathon this Primeday - though I'll have to convince him not to blow the holoscreen away with real ammo." Cupping his hand against his mouth, as if passing a secret only to Keasre. "Guy's got a hair trigger on that thing." The glance to the PMC's soldier boy warranted nothing but a grunt of displeasure of the man who he'd apparently bothered with his laundry list of questions about the weapon he carried across his chest. Dash gave him a pointed nod, as if the grunt was some kind of secret code between two lovers of FPS games, and assorted snack foods. He knew the difference between a friend, and someone who wouldn't think twice about chucking him off the side of the landing pad just to hear him scream. Feet from the ship though, his attention shifted to Kesare as she posed that very polite question. The manners she summoned was kind of a shock, but he worked with it regardless. His footsteps didn't even falter though, as Dash just planted his right foot forward in mid-stride and pivoted on the toe point. A thoughtful expression presented, teal eyes searching the heavens while he gave light pats onto his vest until he was able to dredge up a single black metal coin from an inside pocket.

"Fair dubs." Dash said in pure slang (of an unknown origin), and took a close look at the coin before he flipped it in the air, aiming the trajectory to fall within ease of Keasre's reach. The object had an emblazoned fanciful white 'A' resting on one side, and the word 'Arcade' resting on the other. Around the rim were the numbers 9376 repeated five times over around the ridge. "It's a Shadow-port I did some work on a while back. I'm in good with the management, but I don't want to spoil the rest of it for you." Hands tucked against the leather of his belt for a poised stance. Scrutinizing her reaction, and throwing all his chips in, waiting to see if she'd raise him or call.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"] | [member="Kesare Salazar"]