Private Hospitality

[Raigryn Vayd]

Theed, Defence Industry day

Niki Priddy

Raigryn didn't have a particular interest in the latest technology on the market. He attended these conferences for a chance to catch up with old colleagues who had moved into industry. But mostly, people offered him a free ticket and he could enjoy the food and drink.

There were wide, expansive halls with stations for the smaller manufacturers. Side rooms were used for conferences or demonstrations from the larger corporations.

There was a row of personal walkers along one wall. Beneath each stood branded marketing reps trying to engage anyone who glanced up in a conversation.

Raigryn turned off the main hall. PGEM had taken out an entire space. There were tanks and IFVs up on platforms.

He smiled. He had been a cavalry office in his day, so had started with a small armored command.

 

[Niki Priddy]

Raigryn Vayd​

The display was nothing more than just that.

Displays.

All of the weapons had been rendered inoperable for the sake of safety measures. Not that the Executive of PGEM had any worry about those on Naboo of taking such drastic measures to commandeer one of her displays for their own intent.

At least not currently given the trend she had noticed among its people's. But safety was something she usually didn't skimp on.

Which was partly why the hulls were still actively using their anti-infantry Defenses. If only to keep the more curious from doing such silly things as getting bright ideas.

The hall they had rented out was packed with items more recent to their inventory. Even having a private security officer standing at one end of the hall to actively showcase the armor they wore.

Niki herself was present to look over the items, cataloging everything they had used for the display.

The coming and going of guests was a slow ebb and flow. Most simply curious. A few asking questions. None seemed brave enough to directly engage her however. Eyes hidden behind a pair of her rose colored shades as she checked over her final tally on the datapad and looked up to see an older male examining the IFV.

One specifically used for command purposes as she slid beside him and let the datapad rest against her hips.

"You have prior military experience?"

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

Raigryn was unaware he was speaking to the owner of the company. His first assumption was that the entire team would be from the marketing department to keep the local military brass entertained.

"It has been a while, but yes," Raigryn replied. "We used to have a full unit in the old Tenloss armoured platforms. The command variant had an infuriating bug with the friendly force planner. Whole squadrons kept disappearing off the map."

"Solid platform though. Nigh on indestructible. Galaxy was lawless. Not exactly more dangerous than now, but chaotic."

"How is the conference going for you all?" he asked in a friendly tone, making light conversation.

 

[Niki Priddy]

Still studying him, she listened to his experiences and catologed the issue as something to look into.

Despite the lack of her own experiences behind any sort of military vehicle she still held a great interest with regard to direct feedback. Something she would have to spend a little time correcting.

"You still keep the bearing of a military man." An idle thought as he finished his explanation.

Despite not actively using her cybernetic, her body had become overwhelmingly adept at reading body language. Posture, how one spoke, even how the eyes tracked on different things spoke volumes about a person before they had ever uttered a word.

"And the issue sounds like an alarming one to have in the field. But, likely made you highly flexible and adept at making snap decisions." Scrutinizing her design once more now that she wasn't on the factory floor. Away from any assurances by assemblers or engineers to immediately correct any issues.

Gaze sliding over to him at the comment of the conference as she made a slight nod.

"Far less exciting than others I have been to. There was one I had deployed my team to in which we had a rather esteemed member of the Sith Order arrive at." She smiled at the memory now. Having been sweating bullets at the time, she realized she had found it highly amusing as time had passed. "A great many prospective buyers and sellers at that conference. And surprisingly peaceful despite the company. Or perhaps because of."

Having been sweating bullets at the time, she realized she had found it highly amusing as time had passed. The smile shifting from humor to something far more ironic as she glanced up and down the hall.

Save for her Private Contractor and a few other civilians, there weren't many prospective buyers.

"This one almost seems... boring, truth be told." Looking back to him as she let the datapad press to her hip. "Anything interesting catch your eye? "

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

"It is somewhat risky to make snap decisions when you can't work out where your squadron js is and you can only look out though a hatch smaller than your hand," Raigryn remarked.

He offered her a smile, still under the impression that he was dealing with a mid-level head of marketing or events.

Raigryn had thought he would slide past this polite conversation and continue through the conference. Instead he remained where he stood.

"Difficult to get the boards to sign off on these events when you don't come right back with sales," he mused, "I suspect the value is in the contacts made. Chief bean counters don't like anything that doesn't come with a number."

"And regarding my bearing," he said, offering a conspiritorial smile, "You have probably noticed that people tend to listen to tall, older men who stand straight and speak clearly. Regardless of how idle their thoughts might be."

 

[Niki Priddy]

"Risk is worthwhile when your life and the lives of others are on the line." She offered in kind as she smiled. "But more information is always valuable in some way."

His comment about the viewport made her stare at the companies a moment longer before returning his smile.

Commentary about getting approval for such events was met with a gusty sigh. More often that was the truth than not. Her own whimsy at showing their products having earned her more ire than desire within the department managing her company's funding.

"Anymore the board likes to balk at my travel ideas. But given I decide who the company does and does not supply, it's a sort of tug of war at times for approval despite who I make contact with." Her idle hand rising toward her lip to grab something that wasn't there at the thought of dealing with the board. A frown forming as she scratched her nose instead of lingering on the awkward movement.

Her attention fixating on him as she began to speak on a different topic. A smile that a loth cat would be jealous of replacing the frown as she nodded.

"There is some truth in that, yes. Aside from the ones who need to listen the most." Thinking on more than a few fresh faced recruits that decided they knew more than their commanding officer.

That idle hand now extended in a handshake as Niki let the smile remain.

"Niki Priddy, of Priddy General Engineering and Manufacturing." A habit she had never shaken revealing itself finally that she was simply a representative for her company. More than a few times gaining insight from such a front as she followed up her statement. "Who do I have the pleasure of meeting today?"

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

"Raigryn Vayd," he replied.

The name of the house was well enough known. His personal reputation perhaps not, at least beyond Naboo politics. His handshake was firm, but respectful.

"I bet you enjoyed my ignorance?" he said, grinning from ear to ear. Age lined his face, but his blue eyes were bright.

"So you built and run all of this, but still enjoy the local trade shows?" he asked. Raigryn had been thinking of cutting off the conversation politely and continuing on his way, but now he was fascinated to meet the owner of such a galactic powerhouse.

 

[Niki Priddy]

"A pleasure, Mister Vayd." Further insight granted by the revelation of his name.

A surprise in some ways, but not entirely unexpected in others.

She had expected some of the more military aligned families to show, but Vayd was one that had stuck out in particular given their record.

A none too subtle grin crossing her face with his query in regard to his ignorance.

"I did find it a bit enjoyable, yes." She offered with a hint of amusement in her tone that reached her smile. "I do not expect everyone to know of me, and at times prefer the anonymity. But it is amusing every time."

Her eyes canvassing the scene around them at his next question before nodding slightly.

"I did. It's been many years and many contracts since I began though. I won't lie. I rather enjoy sitting behind my screens and blueprints. I also enjoy getting outside opinions and views." Arms crossing as she examined the vehicle once more. Critical now as her mind nitpicked through the design once again before letting her eyes move back to him.

"If I sit in an echo chamber, I cannot offer safer, more reliable systems if I don't learn of problems that my own might not catch. Or ignore."

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

"CEO, sales and in design, fascinating," Raigryn said. He seemed to wear just a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.

"Safer and more reliable systems," he mused. "I would have thought real combat data would be your best feedback. Trust me," he said, glancing around, "They don't let many real tankers to a show like this."

"I tell you what... I can probably get some time in with Major Vayd and 4th squadron whilst they're on the range for feedback. I'll ensure they speak freely. But it'll cost dinner. Although I'll pay just so you don't have to fill in all the 'anti bribery' forms."

 

[Niki Priddy]

"I have come a long way and wield a number of skills for the effort." Her head tilting in a mock bow. Straightening when he spoke further.

Her gaze pointedly shifted to the armored figure standing beside the display of different weapons. Their stance tightening up to a more appropriate military rest when they noticed her. A smirk appearing as she looked back to her companion.

"Safer and more reliable for my security firm, and the general market." Offering a bit more to her earlier statement as she weighed his words further. "But I never turn down the offer for more data. Especially that of a veteran unit."

Listening to his next words with growing interest as she thought on the matter. Enough that one neatly kept brow rose along with the corner of her mouth.

"That... sounds like a deal I would be sorry to miss out on." Eyes giving him a quick up and down before adding. "And I'll have to see about buying the one after, depending on how the meal goes."

Lifting the datapad and scrolling a little with a few taps before looking back to him.

"Unless there is a better time, I'll be available at 1800."

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

Raigryn grinned. Everyone was different. Their own little quirks and characteristics to discover. He wasn't certain that he was doing well. He was scheduled into a formal calendar like a business meeting, but she floated the possibility of another meal. He silently challenged himself to make that one breakfast tomorrow. If there was no scheduling conflict.

Maybe she truly only wanted the data. It would be fun to find out. At his age, he had given up on trying to learn from past mistakes.

"That seems a deal. Let's say 2000 at Copper."

Copper was one of the trendy new restaurants to spring up with increasing tourism. The food itself was always a tasting menu - not that you were permitted to see the menu - but the wines were all imported from little known locations in the outer rim.

The usual waiting time was three months, but he doubted that would impress the CEO of a galactic arms company.

Raigryn sat on a stool at the deliberately industrial looking bar, sipping a dark cocktail slowly. He had arrived early. Checking his watch, he found it was exactly 2000.

 

[Niki Priddy]

"It's settled. I will see you there."

Finalizing details on new projects that required approval on her end that had been held up by her own inaction of late watching Market trends once more. Burning time until a more relaxing event in her schedule arrived.

Niki had gone through the trouble to change her Outfit and Hair for the evening. Wondering quietly to herself if the hair might trouble the man. She hadn't changed her hair color in some time, and the shift felt refreshing in some ways.

And left a gnawing feeling of falsehood that served to remind her of what she was capable of. The feeling pushed aside for the time being as her heels clacked against the buildings marble floor.

Deciding ultimately that if the change in style shook the man, it was a warning to herself that she could not ignore.

Keeping a public persona and a business persona was something Niki wanted to maintain, and this seemed the best step toward that goal if she wanted to enjoy a quiet evening.

At least without someone from outside of the company interrupting the little personal time she allowed herself.

Entering the restaurant a few minutes prior to the designated time, she took the opportunity to check her appearance. Turning enough to check the backside of her outfit before a waiter took note of her arrival with their offer to seat her.

"I am expected by Mister Vayd." She informed them with a smile to the end of her words. The server blinking before taking a look over their shoulder and returning their gaze to her with an attempt at a subtle up-down of her attire before offering the same smile in return.

Guiding her to the seat beside Riagryn at the bar before leaving with haste as she arrived at exactly 2000.

"I hope I did not keep you waiting, Mister Vayd." A grin of amusement crossing her face with this new attempt at disorienting him. Removing her glasses from her clutch and placing them in their respective place in front of her eyes.

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

Raigryn glanced over his shoulder at her approach. He didn't turn to greet her, clearly not recognising her in his peripheral vision.

"Martell here had barely made my drink!" he replied as he turned towards her again. The bartender lingered close by at the sound of his name.

Raigryn slipped from his stool and turned to face her. He offered a slight bow before obviously glancing up at her hair.

"I'm surprised you found the time," he quipped. "It suits you very well."

"We can go to our table or you can join me for a drink here first," he offered. "Although dinner comes with a glass of wine with every course," he warned.