Private Payment Must be Made

[Tsiflam]

SETTING: Asylum : Criminal Shadowport
TAGS: Braze

Tsiflam would never usually be this far out from the grime of Port Nowhere but the reward money for this debtor was enough to persuade him of the importance of moving around in the Criminal Underworld.

Asylum was a shadowport but one that had lost its importance to the major outfits like the Black Sun and the Pyke Syndicate which meant it was prime territory for those looking to make a name for themselves. We weren't talking big leagues here but enough to scare people when you walk past.

The Devaronian adjusted his dirty brown jacket over his shoulder as the large horns on his head pulled in the meager light from a nearby flickering sign. Making him look less like a gangster and more of a patient demon on the hunt.

A simple hiss of the door was all that announced his arrival in this particular hive of scum and villainy. He stopped at the table where Greesk, the Rodian debtor, was trying to become part of the wall.

The subtle hum of Halfjack stitched to his back was the only sound Greesk could hear over his own pounding heart.

There was a slight tilt of his head as the IG droid's chatter flooded his earpiece. "Target located. Probability of Host failure is 94% if engagement involves lethal force. Recommend leveraging target's known asset, the freighter Misty Dawn." Tsiflam ignored the data, planting his massive hand on the table, crushing a damp cocktail napkin.

"Greesk," he said, the voice a low, casual rumble. "Let's talk about the Planter's investment."

Greesk started stammering, his antennae flickering wildly. "It was bad luck! The shipment--"

He cut him off with a low, chilling chuckle. "Luck is for chumps. Now, I see the lever on your face. It's fear. But I need something tangible."

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tsiflam

Outsourcing materials was one of the small hurdles Braze needed to overcome. Not all equipment was easy to just go out and buy or even barter for these days. He'd have to make do with what he could, where he could.

He'd found himself stopping at the shadowport of Asylum, searching for a few key components he needed for his project back on Veridia. Fortunately, the Black Sun had interests elsewhere at the moment, allowing him to move through the port at his leisure.

After hours of navigating the chaotic maze of stalls and hangars, Braze had taken refuge in a cantina to grab a quick bite and a drink to refuel.

Unfortunately, peace never seemed to last long in places like this. Some Devaronian thug was looming over a scatter-brained Rodian, the kind of trouble that tended to unravel quickly.
Braze was quiet initially as he observed the man... and his… droid? Seemingly fused to his back. Not every fight was worth picking, but the instinct to protect and intervene still tugged at his heartstrings. He glanced around, gauging the distance to every possible exit as the mood in the room began to shift.

For once, he wasn't itching for a fight… but he also wasn't about to sit by and watch someone get crushed right in front of him.

"You're making a scene. You mind keeping it down? Some of us are trying to eat."

 

[Tsiflam]

SETTING: Asylum : Criminal Shadowport
TAGS: Braze

The low rumble of his own voice had barely finished echoing when the new flat tone cut through the stale cantina air. He didn't immediately look at the speaker. Instead, he let the silence stretch for a moment, forcing the interruption to hang awkwardly and giving the Rodian, Greesk, another agonizing chance to reconsider his options.

Tsiflam finally turned his massive head slowly, his horns catching the faint blue glow from the back corner.

He found the man or boy from the looks of it cleaner than most of Asylum's scum, sitting too far from the entrance for someone who clearly didn't belong. A hungry person, judging by the statement as the Devaronian filed this observation away in his brain, already noting the distance between the stranger and his holsters should things turn violent.

The IG unit didn't wait for a verbal prompt. A burst of data clicked in his inner ear. "New Hostile detected. Male, mid-range kinetic signature, elevated heart rate indicative of moral conviction. Recommend immediate non-lethal disengagement." Tsiflam suppressed a sigh. He looked down the length of the cantina table at the man, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Tsiflam's voice was softer now, almost polite. "If the view is spoiling your appetite, maybe buy a bandana on your way out. Wrap it around your head. Saves you the trouble of watching."

He pulled his hand off the table, the ruined napkin sticking momentarily before peeling away. He let his gaze drift back to the sweating Rodian. "See, Greesk? You are disturbing the customers within this venue. Pay up, or this nice fella here is going to have to watch a Rodian be added to the menu."

 

[Braze]

​

Tsiflam

Braze snorted, jade green eyes narrowing at the man. "What, all that attitude and you still can't hear? Are you deaf or just dense? I said you're loud. I don't like bullies," he said softly, setting his cup down and moving to stand up. "But if you're looking to find out how loud I can get, then by all means... go ahead and try me big guy."

 

[Tsiflam]

SETTING: Asylum : Criminal Shadowport
TAGS: Braze

His grin only grew wider as Braze let out a snort.

The young boy was more focused on causing mischief than he was on heeding counsel. Tsiflam had encountered numerous individuals of this nature throughout his time on Port Nowhere, consistently boasting but retreating when the Devaronian fired off a few rapid shots downrange.

During this little staring match the IG droid's eyes kept a constant watch on the other patrons nearby, noticing their faces become agitated by the scene before them and it was only a matter of time before this venue became a battlefield. Not that he was worried as after all he was a gunslinger, and had gotten the scars to prove it.

Halfjack offered another unsolicited opinion "Kinetic signature is escalating. Probability of Host failure is now 12% if engagement involves Hostile's known holstered asset. Recommended course of action: utilize psychological leverage by directly threatening the Rodian asset."

"Deaf or dense?" Tsiflam repeated the question back, his tone still mild, almost conversational, as he took a deliberate step to the side of the table. He used his size to subtly eclipse the petrified Rodian, Greesk, making it clear that Greesk was his property and his shield. "No, son. I'm busy. And I'm an artist."

"You ordered an appetizer, and now you're getting a whole show. And you want me to keep it down?" Tsiflam continued, his voice dropping slightly, the rich, low sound now vibrating with dangerous amusement.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tsiflam ​

Braze's gaze flicked to Halfjack, then swept over the Devaronian as he sized him up.

"You call that art?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Looks more like you're auditioning for a second-rate holo-drama. No, really. I've seen better villains on Coruscant's mid-tier stage circuits. I'm guessing pain is your medium and insecurity's the muse."

He shifted his stance, glancing at the Rodian before turning his attention back to the strange droid fused to the man's back.

"That droid of yours," Braze said, his tone light but deliberately cutting. "Is it your life support or your emotional support unit?" He kept a good several feet of space between them, more than twice an arm's length. Each step was calculated in time with his snappy words, testing whether the Devaronian would flinch first.

Braze was attempting to apply Dun Möch, to get under the man's skin and press every wrong button he could find.

"Don't tell me he does your thinking and your talking for you. That would explain the lag." He didn't let up looking for just the right way, to rub him the wrong way.

"You sure you're not compensating for something? That thing's practically a billboard."

 

[Tsiflam]

SETTING: Asylum : Criminal Shadowport
TAGS: Braze

The Devaronian recognized that this wasn't the typical bravado he had encountered, but rather a deliberate effort to provoke him into making a mistake. Common sense told him that this individual had to have some level of skill as otherwise they wouldn't even consider stepping in during a standard debt collection.

Tsiflam chose not to glance at his droid as Braze finally ceased his chatter. Meanwhile, the IG unit emitted a subtle, private frequency into the Devaronian's ear: "The Hostile is engaging in rhetorical psychological warfare. I recommend an immediate physical disengagement from the Rodian asset and a direct, focused counter-engagement to take advantage of the Hostile's known vulnerabilities: his exposed position and evident craving for attention."

"He handles my calculations," Tsiflam replied smoothly, his tone shedding the last remnants of its earlier forced politeness. "And at this moment, the calculation says you have precisely thirty-two seconds to stop embarrassing yourself and leave." He took a measured, slow step back from the table, giving Braze a wide-open view of the trembling Rodian, Greesk.

He had no desire for a broad, chaotic cantina fight, but he would stand his ground if necessary, if only to uphold his image as a fearsome gunslinger. The last thing the Devaronian needed was more rumors floating around the Criminal Underworld, especially not ones about him being outsmarted by a boy.

"I can only assume that by staying, you are an orphan begging for the attention your halfwit parents never gave you. Guess what? I'm not a therapist. And you're wasting my time." Tsiflam sneered, letting his smile return.

He let his gaze drift over Braze's stance and the clear space between them.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tsiflam ​

Braze wasn't standing in any fighter's stance, just his usual casual pose. The droid would see it easily, the youth's gloved hands bore vambraces lined with spiked fins, and his boots carried shinguards with dark blades jutting from the back of each heel. A strange set of details for someone so small, but not without purpose.

He watched the man shift, his gaze sliding past the Devaronian to the trembling Rodian behind him before looking back up.
"What's he owe you?" he asked, voice calm, almost conversational.

For all his earlier jabs, there was no trace of fear in him now. Only a measured bit of curiosity.

 

[Tsiflam]

SETTING: Asylum : Criminal Shadowport
TAGS: Braze

Tsiflam carefully considered his options as the question "What does he owe you?" lingered in the air for a moment too long. The Ithorian funding this little operation on Asylum was much more focused on credits than on a lifeless body, and if Braze wanted to handle the expenses, then that would settle the score in his books.

His gaze briefly scanned the cantina while his hand instinctively moved toward his holster, only to pull back, knowing that a fight here would be loud, expensive, and, worse yet, unpredictable with so many onlookers scattered about. Tsiflam may be a gunslinger, a debt collector, and a businessman, but he wasn't naive enough to provoke a conflict with even a slight chance of wounding someone important in the Criminal Underworld.

Therefore he would refrain from starting a fight without a valid reason, a sentiment his IG droid seemed to share as it made no further evaluations. The Devaronian lowered his head, his grin completely fading as he retrieved a small data pad from his pocket, as if he were doing some calculations.

"The Rodian, Greesk, owes the Planter 50,000 credits for a failed spice shipment and the associated penalties." Tsiflam stated, making the amount sound impossibly large. He crossed his arms a short while after, emphasizing the lethal weight of the droid on his back.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tsiflam ​

Braze shifted his gaze to the Rodian. "That true?" he asked, looking for confirmation from the seemingly petrified fellow. He wondered where the spice had been sourced and what it might have been turned into. Truth be told, he knew nothing of either the Rodian or Tsiflam. But by the sheer nature of the place they were in, the odds were they weren't the best blokes in the galaxy.

 

[Tsiflam]

SETTING: Asylum : Criminal Shadowport
TAGS: Braze

Tsiflam observed as Braze redirected his attention to the trembling Rodian. Verification was the wisest course of action in any deal, given that numerous individuals would deceive you out of all your possessions and continue to demand more.

The Devaronian had fallen for such scams himself not due to a lack of intelligence but rather because it served as a valuable lesson during a period when he was still overshadowed by more seasoned hunters at Port Nowhere.

He shook such thoughts from his head as arms remained crossed, the IG droid keeping a watchful eye or in this case eyes for any sudden movements. He needed to know if this was a legitimate offer of payment or just another stalling tactic before the kid inevitably started swinging.

The Rodian, Greesk, was still pressed against the wall, antennae twitching violently, but the direct question seemed to snap him out of his terror, if only for a second. "T-t-t-true," Greesk stammered, his voice thin and reedy.

His large eyes darted desperately from Braze to Tsiflam and back again. "But the penalties! They just keep adding them! It was... it was only ten thousand at first!"

Tsiflam sneered a flicker of his grin returning for the Rodian's benefit. "Shut your mouth, Greesk. The number doesn't stay still just because you run. You pay late, the number goes up. That's the cost of being useless." He didn't deny the principal amount; no need to lie about the minor details of Ithorian bookkeeping.

"Fifty thousand," Tsiflam reiterated. "That's the number that makes my employer happy and keeps the Rodian's insides inside him."

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tsiflam
​

"Well, that doesn't sound very fair, especially if it wasn't part of the original deal," Braze chirped. The irony of a Jedi playing peacemaker between two criminals wasn't lost on him, but he played the part with an easy smile.

He moved closer and slid into the booth beside the Rodian as if he'd been invited. "I'm sure there's a way to settle this like gentlemen; Consider me an interested investor. " he offered, his tone light and confident, the corners of his mouth curving with effortless charm.

The Rodian really should have been more business-savvy, particularly when dealing with people who didn't exactly abide by the law, much less honored a contract.

"It's your lucky day, Greesk," Braze said smoothly, leaning an elbow on the table. "I might be able to help you out." His voice carried a warm sentiment that was practically disarmed, the kind that made trouble feel suddenly manageable. "What happened to the shipment?"

He gestured casually toward the bar. "Maybe we let a drink take the edge off first, hm? Spotchka's on me."


With a flick of his wrist, Braze caught the eye of a passing server, a young Twi'lek with soft pink skin and shimmering blue lekku tattoo. She paused, her smile polite but not without a hint of amusement at the sight of yet another backroom negotiation.

"Three glasses and a bottle of spotchka please," Braze ordered after flagging her down with a raised hand.

The Twi'lek disappeared back toward the bar. A few moments later she returned with a small tray, the translucent blue of the drinks.

Braze met her gaze briefly, offering a soft "Thank you," that carried just enough charm to make her smile widen before she slipped away again.

"See?" he said, sliding one of the glasses toward Greesk then the next to his tall red skinned 'friend'.

He needed a clearer picture of who was lying, who was desperate, and just how deep this deal had gone. If he could win Greesk's confidence, maybe even take care of those debts, he might gain all the leverage he needed to unravel the entire operation from the inside.

 

[Tsiflam]

SETTING: Asylum : Criminal Shadowport
TAGS: Braze

The Devaronian squinted as Braze settled into the booth beside the quaking Rodian, creating a form of shielding. This shield though not physically present rendered his target more untouchable than before. If he were to draw blaster on this new member of their group, it could easily result in the debtor's death if the shot went astray, and the Ithorian Crime Lord would certainly be displeased about his credits not being repaid.

He paused briefly, seemingly weighing the potential harm to his reputation should any unfortunate events occur for the pair. However, with a swift shake of his head, he kept his arms crossed, indifferent to the shifting dynamics in the room. He allowed the offhand remark about fairness to linger in the air, almost challenging the boy to respond to his own statement.

They were entrenched in the realm of the Criminal Underworld, where agreements were as unpredictable as the weather. He noted the arrival of spotchka as Halfjack performed a chemical analysis of the incoming drinks, just in case any unforeseen trickery was about to befall them. There was a hunch that the boy was not as dimwitted as the Devaronian previously believed and so a certain level of suspicion would be healthy right about now.

"Right....a casual toast from a complete stranger ordering drinks. I'll pass." Tsiflam was entirely honest in his refusal. His large, heavy hand moved instead to gently tap the side of his thigh, right where his holstered blasters sat. It wasn't a direct warning but a subtle confirmation of where his leverage truly lay.

"You're not a gentleman, kid, and I'm not running a charity," Tsiflam rumbled, letting the silence stretch until Braze's smile should have felt stiff. He ignored the question about the shipment entirely. That was between him and Greesk, and none of this boy's business.

"Fifty thousand, non-negotiable. That's the bottom line," Tsiflam stated, his horns pulling in the dim light. "You want to invest? Fine. That's the price of your seat at the table. Pay it now, and the Rodian walks. If not, the debt remains, and the only thing taken care of is Greesk's spine."

 

[Braze]

Braze didn't seem perturbed by the towering figure's demands nor his intimidation tactics. He seemed oddly amused, something barely hidden beneath a veneer of faux politeness. Reguardless if he wanted information and a peaceful route he'd have to cough up the large sum. The risk being he'd get no valuable information form this... but some times that was the price to pay.

"Right... Where do you want the payment sent? Got an account on Muunilinst, maybe a... numbered reserve for plausible deniability, or Mygeeto Reserve Vaults for crystal-backed security?"

He didn't seem to Bristol at the man's declarations as he reached over and plucked up a glass. It seemed to be just simple spotchka and he took a sip of the drink relaxing back as he turned his full attention to Tsiflam and his droid.

 

[Tsiflam]

SETTING: Asylum : Criminal Shadowport
TAGS: Braze

Tsiflam observed the boy take a purposeful sip of the spotchka, showcasing that intimidation tactics would not easily unsettle him. The Devaronian felt no disappointment in his inability to provoke the boy; instead, he was pleased to witness that Asylum still hosted the more unsavory elements of the Criminal Underworld.

The boy was either part of their criminal circle or had a solid understanding of how things operated, which only piqued his interest further. The Devaronian's eyes narrowed slightly, following the movement of Braze's throat as he swallowed the drink. He shook his head slowly, a dismissive response to the mention of high-profile, traceable accounts.

"Muunilinst? Mygeeto? Are you trying to get me on a watchlist, kid?" Tsiflam's voice was low, slicing through the background noise of the cantina. He had no desire to leave a clean electronic trail that could lead back to the Planter's operations or, more crucially, to himself. He uncrossed his arms, allowing his shoulders to droop slightly, a sign of fatigue.

Leaning forward just enough to be confidential, he compelled Braze to meet his eyes.

"You're in Asylum, not the Core Worlds. We operate with credits, untraceable. There's a secure terminal located near Hangar Bay Three. You can transfer the funds to a secure data chip." Tsiflam extended his hand, palm facing up, showcasing a small, blank, heavily encrypted data chip that he had discreetly retrieved from his inner jacket pocket.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tsiflam
​

Braze sat up curiously, looking over the data chip that had been produced. He reached out, pressing the tip of his finger along the edge as if testing whether it was real. His expression was favorable and easy to read.

"That could work too... though we could probably make this whole deal a little easier," he chirped, slowly meeting the man's eyes as his hand slipped into his sleeve. His movements were deliberately very slow, before he drew out a small black satchel made of velvet with a drawstring mouth.

He slipped two fingers inside and produced a slender, rectangular bar, shaped much like the data chip the man held, but forged from finely refined Aurodium.

Each bar was about one ounce, probably worth approximately five hundred thousand credits apiece. In side the tiny bag on the table was five more.

He wanted to ask a good many questions, but asking if his client was a supplier felt a little too audacious.

 

[Tsiflam]

SETTING: Asylum : Criminal Shadowport
TAGS: Braze

Tsiflam's gaze fixated on the velvet satchel that Braze revealed, and the expression of fatigue seemed to disappear completely with the surprising emergence of Aurodium. This material was extremely valuable in the Black Market of the Criminal Underworld, and it was clear that possessing even a single ounce could ensure a comfortable life.

If someone had five whole bars of it, it indicated they possessed considerable wealth or influential connections. Another possibility was theft, but there were only a limited number of planets with Aurodium mines. The odds of successfully hijacking a shipment and reaching this location without being detected by Law Enforcement agencies were a mere 10,000 in 1 chance.

His hand moved smoothly across the table, seemingly lost in thought, before he finally said, "Aurodium...a wise selection for settling debts." He spoke honestly, as the Ithorian Crime Lord known as the Planter would surely be satisfied with such a bounty, especially when base line credits were always devalued due to the Banks being taken over.

"Though surely you don't intend to part with such material without a catch. So speak plainly as to not waste our time." The Devaronian gave the Rodian a wolfish smirk as if daring the terrified alien to speak up about their little arrangement.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tsiflam ​

Braze's gaze never left the Devaronian as he gathered the little bag, slipping it out of sight and back into the hidden pocket within his sleeve. The faint jingle of metal died beneath the rustle of his robes.

"I thought I'd been pretty clear," he said, voice low and softly spoken. "I'd like to know what happened to the missing shipment. I'm particularly interested in getting my hands on some pure, unrefined spice."

He leaned back, letting the dim light catch the pale line of his eyes. "I did say I was looking to invest… savvy?" Braze straightened a little in his seat, every motion deliberate, like a duelist waiting for someone to make the first mistake.

 

[Tsiflam]

SETTING: Asylum : Criminal Shadowport
TAGS: Braze

He watched as Braze concealed the Aurodium back into his sleeve.

The prospect of the Rodian's debt being settled and him being on his way back to Port Nowhere was soon supplanted by a request for information. The Devaronian maintained his hand flat on the table, suppressing the impulse to extend his hand and strangle the boy for making such a ridiculous demand.

"I believed I had expressed myself quite clearly. Indeed." He remarked, his demeanor shifting subtly from calm and composed to noticeably irritated. The change in his voice was slight, yet it became quite evident that he was displeased with the direction of the conversation though did enjoy the smell of the coin given to him. "I am a collector, not an information broker. My employer is aware of the shipment and I don't ask questions"

He halted, allowing his eyes to scan the two individuals in the booth, the frightened Greesk, who was now breathing excessively, and Braze, who was searching for an opportunity. Tsiflam was not inclined to provide him one willingly, but the Aurodium altered the equation. A debt settled in hard currency was acceptable to him and there was no harm in leading the man in another direction.

"Tell you what. I'll give you a lead on some Pyke spice distributors." The Devaronian would offer a more reasonable exchange of information as the Pyke Syndicate was heavily involved in the creation of spice, raw and refined and would be much better patrons than the Ithorian Crime Lord he was working for.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tsiflam ​

Braze considered him for a long moment, lips pursed as if weighing how far to keep pushing. In the end he gave a small nod, deciding not to.

"All right. A lead on the Pykes is something. I can work with that."

He turned slightly, just enough for Greesk to see his face. "You heard him. Your number is covered. Stop shaking before someone thinks you are hiding more than a debt."

His eyes slid back to the Devaronian briefly.

"So your employer gets to stay happy. You get to leave this table without having to scrape Rodian off the floor and might get to keep a bit for yourself, and I get a line to people who can move raw product. Everyone wins."

He tapped the tabletop once with two fingers. "So what do you have for me? "