Kindness and Charisma

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Amusement crossed his face. "Me?"

That really begged one question.

"What were you planning to do if I hadn't come?" It was a good question given that he had originally supposed to simply stay home. Perhaps she had assumed that she could simply do it herself, or maybe she had thought there was something else she could do.

Either way, if he was getting involved then he wanted to know the whole plan. "I don't want to get stuck talking to that gasbag unless I know that."

It was a valid question he thought.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

She couldn't help the twinkle of amusement cross her cerulean gaze at Wes' nickname of the senator. No, no, don't beef up the man's pride more than it already is. And it was risky telling him her plan even if she would alter it slightly. Though, she could always lie. She was karking good at it.

"Fine. You'd just be an extra buffer. The original plan is already working. He's more than inebriated and he'll make his rounds bragging to anyone that wants to brown-nose him - mostly half the lobbyists who're here. There's a trash-chute up on the second floor and just down from the office. That's the painting's exit. Mine was going to be through the front door. Satisfied?"

Foot tapped impatiently and she gave another worried glance around.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

He smiled slightly.

"Well enough." The Senator was a bit of an idiot from what he'd seen, and the plan was simple enough that it could work. In his experience the crews that went for the complex plots usually ended up failing. The easier you made something the less things could go wrong. It was a logic that had proven flawless time and time again, something he'd learned fairly early on back at the Casino. Why add needless complexity when a trash chute would work?

With that he turned from her. "I'll handle it."

He'd gotten a few business cards anyway.

"Just make sure no one sees you." He told her. "Be a shame to have that painting all to myself."

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

That button-nose of hers' scrunched up and her face soured a bit even though her lips twitched at the sides. "Yes, I'm sure you'd absolutely HATE that." Cerulean-eyes rolled slightly but she gave a small nod. She couldn't exactly trust Wes but she had contingencies in place if he betrayed her. She wasn't that cold to betray him to someone like the senator - not if she didn't have to. And she needed him as a fence.

Probably just this one time with his wandering hands.

Just as quickly, she gathered the long fabric of the formal dress she wore and glided up the stairs to the study. Head turned once, giving the retreating form of Wes one last glance over her bare shoulder before she disappeared from view.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Vrak wasn't exactly thrilled about his job in all of this, after all he didn't like the Senator very much and talking to him seemed like something of a chore. That being said the idiot was probably foolish enough to just blather on for an eternity after he said one simple thing so maybe all of this wouldn't be so bad after all.

The Forger sighed, then turned.

He made sure to straighten his coat, eyes set forward as he nimbly wandered back toward where the party was going on. A part of him still thought all of this was a bit ostentatious, but then again hed grown up in a Hutt casino decorated with golden statues and painted dancers.

Who was he to judge?

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

(LOL - "Vrak." Wes better not secretly be that crab man!)

She had a plan and it was a good thing she already executed it because that trash chute was already too much in use with the party. Hopefully Wes wouldn't ruin everything. She was betting on him NOT trying to save her and with how things had already played out, she was pretty sure he would do exactly that. Act like a typical underworlder. Very predictable.

After she disappeared upstairs, she came down just a few minutes later. A painting canister was clutched behind the folds of her gown. Just hidden but mostly hidden in plain view. Even though Wes was talking with the senator, she could feel his roving eyes. Looking for her. Just a few more steps.

Someone jostled into her back, causing her to stumble. A gasp left Alex's mouth. The senator's eyes broke from Wes and immediately fell on her as she tried to straighten.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Wes glanced towards The Senators eyeline, distinctly noting that his glare was focused on someone in the distance. He frowned for a moment and then followed to where the Senator was looking, acting surprised when he saw Alexia. He smiled slightly and then shifted his attention to the Senator once more.

"Ah." He said. "Lovely little thing you have there."

The Senator turned back towards Wes, glowering at him.

"I prefer Twi'leks myself." Wes said plainly, the man in front of him almost immediately losing all emnity towards him.

Once The Senator realized that Wes suddenly wasnt a threat, things of course changed completely. They could be friends, after all Wes wasnt trying to steal his woman or anything.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"Alexia, dearest," the senator's voice boomed over the room. People cleared a path. He assumed Wes would follow. A large hand reached down and gripped her ivory jaw, forcing her chin up. She tried to keep the wince from her face. "I was worried you'd left."

Something he had a problem with.

"No dear," she began, place a hand on his wrist so she could slip her jaw free. "I was just...," his gaze went to her arm behind her back.

"What's that you have there," a meaty-hand snatched up the tube. Cerulean eyes flickered to Wes, offering him a silent warning to keep his mouth shut. Things were going according to plan. Minus the additional bruises. She'd hand to inch further from the senators grip for the next part.

"It was supposed to be a surprise, DEAR. It's a painting. For your birthday." Wes would be surprised, or maybe not, to find out it wasn't The Last Battle of Endor inside it was something else, a rendition of the Death Star. Very cheap. But a good enough decoy.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Wes really was rather surprised, though at the same time he oddly wasn't.

When you dealt with people in the underworld long enough you had to understand that everyone lied. No matter who they were, everyone did. Generally the prettier they were the more they lied. Wes knew that, so he had expected something like this from her. One couldnt really blame her, he wouldve done the same thing.

"Apalling." Wes said, probably much to the ire of both Alexia and the Senator. "Terrible quality."

Clearly it was not an original piece, but still terrible. "Where'd you get this the One Credit Chit store?"

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

The senator's face turned redder than a sith pure blood. He reeled on Wes. "WHAT?! If Lexi got it for me, then it's magnificent I tell you! No matter where it came from." His fingers balled into fists and he took a step toward Wes.

Cerulean-eyes widened and she quickly latched her fingers around one of the senator's wrists. Wes, in that moment, would hopefully realize he had to get her out if he actually wanted to fence the real painting and keep their bargain. This is where she definitely needed the help. And the extra muscle.

"Sugarpie, it's okay. Really. I'm not offended."

He snarled but didn't listen, dragging her lithe form with his as he swung a fist toward the painter.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Unsurprisingly, Wes didn't really like fighting. He wasn't very strong and a spinal injury in his childhood meant that he could really only move in certain ways. Luckily for him the Senator wasn't much faster than him, and he was dragging along Alexia's weight as he swung his fist. Both of those things really helped him, but of course Wes knew that he couldn't just outdo the man.

Mostly because that would ruin his plan.

So he let out an inward sigh, and lead into the punch.

He felt the Senator's knuckles connect with his face, knowing that it would bruise but not break his jaw. He wanted to scowl, but his face wouldn't really allow it while undergoing the shock of being struck. In his head he began to curse because of the pain, but the effect of what had just happened, and what the Senator had done was more than enough to satisfy the fact that he'd done it in the first place. As soon as Wes fell back, clutching his face and landing on the ground, the people around him began to speak.

"Oh my god did you see that?"

"Did the Senator just hit that man?"

"Poor guy."

"I bet he didn't even do anything."

"I got it on video."

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

SMACK!

She released the senator's arm. He was still trembling with rage. She quickly knelt by the downed form of Wes perhaps with a hair of genuine concern on her face. "Are you okay? I'm so sorr-," before she could finish she felt the meaty fingers of the senator latch around her arm and yank her to her feet and to himself.

Dark-hair tumbled free from her up-do from the whiplash and for a moment, she thought she would blackout.

"Do. Not. Go. Near. Him." Jealousy was as blind as his rage.

Everyone was watching now.

"Ow you're hurting me. Let. Go."

His hand didn't release its grip around her arm. His other hand came up to latch until her jaw. There were a few gasps in the crowded room. She grit her teeth, trying to see if Wes was moving from the corners of her eyes and now much he was acting. If he was acting at all.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Wes sat on the floor. He was in pain, though he'd had worse. The Casino wasn't exactly the best place to grow up in and he'd gotten hurt more than once because of stupid things he'd done as a kid. His tolerance for pain wasn't great, but he would survive this. He had no idea if Alexia would though, then again, it seemed that even a Senator's powers could only go so far before they were finally pushed them off their high horse. Good thing too cause the man looked angry.

"STOP!"

It was a womans voice, but it was quickly followed by that of a man.

"Leave her alone."

Nearly a dozen people from the crowd stepped forward, two of them moving to Wes on the ground and the others all stepping towards the Senator to make sure that he let go of Alexia.

No one really liked seeing a woman get hurt.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

After about the third voice of protest and as folks pressed in the senator finally turned his manic gaze from Alex. Slowly realization crossed his face. Still, a woman and a bothan had to pry her free. A ripping sound filled the room as he managed to rip one of the sleeves of her gown.

A few more guests stepped between Alex and the senator. The others managed to get Wes to his feet. "I never want to see you again," she finally found her voice as she looked at the senator's face between the gap of people. Looking down, she saw that her hands were trembling but not of her own volition.

"You little bi--," a chiss stepped forward. "Senator," he spoke, cutting the foolish man off. "An ethics board is going to review your conduct first thing tomorrow morning. I'd suggest you watch what you say and do."

The foolish man still lunged at Alexia. He didn't get far. That didn't stop her eyes from rolling back into her head as she began to faint.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Wes didn't catch her of course, he was busy being helped to his feet by half a dozen other people who were now very concerned about his face.

He assured that that he would be alright, mostly because he would be, and then patted the woman next to him on the rump. Much to his surprise, and annoyance, she gave him a sly smile and a wink. The act was supposed to have made her go away in insult, but apparently this one was a tad more feisty that he had actually expected. He frowned for a moment and looked back towards the Senator who was now trying his damndest to run away from the people holding him.

Wes shook his head, then saw Alexia being caught in the arms of a rather handsome Twi'lek man.

He frowned for a moment, and then shrugged, turning towards the Senator and jerking his thumb at him. "Weird, right?"

Wes said with a smile.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

The senator practically blew-up, trying to physically throw people from his arms. His career was pretty much tanked. Feeds, posts, and tags were already flooding Spacebook. The male twi'lek hefted Alexia in his arms. "I'm going to take her outside and get her some air," he announced - not wanting anyone to get the wrong impression.

Eyes twitched beneath closed lids as she heard Wes' voice. She managed to keep them closed and her limbs limp enough that no one would question her knocked-out state. As soon as she felt the cooler air of outside hit her skin, she began to stir in the twi'lek's arms. Cerulean gaze fluttered open. "Wha-what's happening? Is he..," she jerked forward. "He isn't coming right?"

The twi'lek set her down gently. "You're safe. It's okay. Don't worry. I'm sure the Senator won't be in politics for much longer. Still, if I were you, I'd lay low for awhile. Do you need to go to the hospital or anything?" He shifted on his feet, a bit unsure.

Now this was HER kind of man: thoughtful, strong, didn't try to grab her rear.

"No, I'll be okay," she quickly assured him. I think I'll just walk from here and clear my head."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

By the time Alexies sorted herself, Wes was already outside.

The commotion had been easy enough to slip through, and besides that one rather touchy girl he'd gotten away fairly easy. Even though he'd been the one that had gotten punched Alexia was the one that got all the attention. It was all well and good of course, he doubted any of this would actually appear on the Holo-news. Yes the Senator would be called in front of the ethics board, but it was doubtful the video footage would ever see the light of day.

"Well." He said as he placed a cigarette between his lips. "That wen't well."

About as well as he had expected.

Of course that was if Alexia made it out.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

The twi'lek man, whose name was George, slipped back inside as Wes stepped out. Arms crossed almost defensively as the painter set a cigarette to his lips. "We're both out and alive," she agreed in response to his 'went well.' Looking down, she noticed her hands were still trembling.

Feth.

She was fine. FINE. She was finefinefine. She'd be okay. Yes? Yes, she'd be okay.

Quickly turning, she gathered the fabric of her dress and began walking down the mansion's outside steps, toward the road. She didn't wait for Wes to follow. She needed a moment. But she did call back to him. "You took that punch, didn't you?"

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

He followed after her, but only because he needed to go that way anyway.

"I did." Wes said as he blew out a puff of smoke. There was no smugness to his tone, just even neutrality. For a moment he glanced back at the Estate, as if checking whether or not someone was following. When he found nothing he seemed to be satisfied and kept moving, his eyes simply locking on the looming city in front of them. "Knight in shining armor and everything."

That wasn't the truth of course, he hadn't done it to save Alexia.

He had done it because he didn't like the Senator. "You can thank me by bumping my cut to 20 percent."

Wes thought that was fair.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Fingertips still trembled. She kept them out of Wes' view. She was a big girl and she could handle this. She'd dealt with worse and lived through worse. Why was this affecting her more than usual? Perhaps it was because she typically got out before things turned this violent.

Hand came up quickly and rubbed at her bruised jaw.

She snorted at Wes' comment. "Nice try but such a gentleman to try and up his anti." She gulped in the night air trying to keep the creep of betraying emotion from entering her voice. "I'll get you the painting tomorrow morning if that works for you?" Blues peaked out between messed up dark strands of hair that partially veiled her face as she glanced up at her fellow underworlder.