Private Shadows of the Grid

[Daxin Veyr]

Lily Decoria

---

The Hollow Circuit was alive with the usual mid-level Denon chaos: pulsing violet and cyan neon and thick bass music. The air smelled of spiced liquor, ozone, and too many bodies.

Daxin Veyr leaned against the bar. No Jedi robes and no obvious lightsaber. He was supposed to just be another sharp-looking spacer nursing a drink.

He kept his mental shields firm. The emotional noise in the bar pressed against him constantly. There greed, suspicion, and fleeting lust. It was a lot for him to manage. If he couldn't manage this, then he was never going to be able to act as a full Jedi Knight.

His dark eyes drifted across the room to where Lily Decoria sat. She was leading this one. Their target was Korrin Vex, a slick Mirialan info broker and suspected middleman moving Force-attuned artifacts through Denon’s undergrid. Word was he was meeting a buyer tonight, and the Jedi wanted to know who that buyer was and where the artifacts were coming from.

Daxin caught Lily’s eye from across the bar and gave her a small, subtle nod. He finished the last sip of his drink. He made his way over to her table and slid into the seat across from her.

"Still no sign of our friend?" he asked.

A half-smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he leaned forwards. From a distance it would look like typical Zeltron charm, but he was just moving closer to drop his voice.

"Few nervous people here."

Daxin settled back in his chair, posture relaxed but ready, scanning the entrance while staying focused on her. The mission was clear: tail Korrin Vex once he arrived, see who he met, and trace the artifacts without being noticed.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Denon
Outfit: Casual
Equipment: Arwr Da
Tag: Daxin Veyr

Lily had not done a lot of tracking and casual operations like this one. She was someone who preferred to take the fight in open and handle a situation quickly. It had taken time for her to understand the importance of tracking and taking stealthier approach to missions. Several missions she had realised that her preferred methods were not always the best methods. So, over time, Lily had developed the ability to track and lean into a cooler head approach.

Sitting at the bar, she was drinking a non-alcoholic cocktail, something that would appear alcoholic and feminine enough to not arouse suspicion but allowing Lily to keep her senses throughout the mission. The jacket and outfit was something to avoid standing out too much, Lily wasn't really used to wearing outfits in this style but it was something that seemed to fit the planet that she was on. Watching as Daxin walked over to her, it was the first time that Lily was going to be working on a mission with the Padawan. She didn't know much about him but he was clearly a Zeltron based on his skin tone and some of the attitude he demonstrated.

It was going to be interesting to see how he handled a mission like this.

"Not yet but still plenty of time for him to arrive." Looking around the bar, Lily giggled softly, "well, this is Denon, and quite the dive bar. Nervousness is a guarantee, but don't fret. As long as we don't do anything outlandish, everyone shall be too focused on their own business to acknowledge us." One of the benefits from her previous training on Coruscant. Everyone was usually too preoccupied with their own issues to take a look around see what else is going on.

As she ordered another beverage, the Mirialan entered the bar. "Here he comes, don't stare, use your periphery vision to track him." Lily mentioned to the Padawan as she smiled to the bartender and accepted her drink. "Also, get another drink, we aren't going to be rushing from here."

 

[Daxin Veyr]

Lily Decoria

The bar’s emotional soup pressed in on him from every side, sharp spikes of paranoia, the dull haze of intoxication. It made his skin prickle beneath the charcoal jacket, but he kept his expression relaxed, that familiar half-smirk curving his scarred lip as he met her gaze.

He could feel her focus. It was steady. It was almost refreshing compared to the rest of the room.

"Fair point," he murmured. His tone carried just a hint of dry humor.

"Everyone here’s too busy guarding their own business."

Daxin’s gaze lingered on her for a beat longer than necessary, curiosity and something lighter flickering in the Force between them as he waited for her lead. He smiled from one corner of his mouth. It tugged at the scar on his top lip.

His dark eyes flicked briefly toward the entrance as the Mirialan - Korrin Vex - stepped inside, then slid back to Lily. He could sense the shift in the room’s tension, a subtle ripple of recognition and wariness brushing against his senses like static.

Daxin raised a hand to flag the bartender, ordering a non-alcoholic cocktail. No one would question a Zeltron with something colourful in their hand.

He watched using his peripheral vision. The mirilan did a small circuit, greeting some people before taking the stairs to the mez floor above.

"We tail him when he leaves or are we waiting to see who he talks to first?” His tone stayed casual, but the question carried quiet respect and a subtle undercurrent of warmth. It was the kind that came naturally when he let a little of that Zeltron charm slip through the Jedi discipline.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Denon
Outfit: Casual
Equipment: Arwr Da
Tag: Daxin Veyr

Lily gave a small smile as Daxin agreed with her, "it is good to be concerned about others during a mission like this, just be wary on overthinking such things. Easy to read too much into a situation or person's actions and then reveal your hand too quickly." It was not dissimilar to playing pazaak or sabaac. Though Lily was never good at either game, she was far too easy to read according to players she had lost a few games to before.

As Korrin Vex entered, Lily continued to focus on her drink and just allowing the Force to sense the presence and where he was wandering. It was interesting to feel the intentions and desires of the man. He was clearly here to connect with several people before going onto more serious business. Lily took a sip of her drink slowly and shook her head, "no one here will lead us to the artefacts. We need to wait till he leaves and heads to his actual business deal. So, wait till he is leaving. You head for the exit at the back and I'll wait a minute or two and follow him out the front." Lily instructed, sensing some of the Zeltron natural charm that was combating the Jedi discipline that Daxin knew well.

"For now, let's change the music to something a little more entertaining." Lily shifted from her bar stool and wandered casually over to the juke box, letting her hips sway a little as she shifted. All part of the ploy that she was carefree and just here to enjoy herself drinking and dancing. Not here to spy or tail a person.

Her fingers tapped on the screen, cycling through the music options till she found something perfect. Something with rhythm and electric energy that would be ideal for a fun night. Lily was using the time to also get a different angle on Korrin as well, watching as he shifted through the throngs on people as he discussed things just a little out of earshot. It was too tricky to read the lips and Lily hoped it would not be something about her or Daxin.

 

[Daxin Veyr]

"I got it," he murmured. His voice was soft and warm. He gave a small nod.

He could feel her focus. It was steady. Her own state helped him keep his head clear.

She’s good at this, he thought, the half-smirk tugging at the scarred corner of his mouth.

The Zeltron in him picked up the faint pulse of Lily’s confidence as she slid off her stool, and he couldn’t quite stop the appreciative glint in his eyes when she started moving toward the jukebox.

He watched way her hips swayed with a casual rhythm. His lingering gaze was obviously part of the ploy too. Daxin felt heat creep up the back of his neck. He took a slow sip of his drink.

He pushed away from the table a moment later, drifting through the crowd in the opposite direction. The bass from the new track Lily had chosen thrummed through the floor, vibrating against his boots as he positioned himself near the bar with the back exit in his line of sight.

The Mirialan was still above on the me floor and out of sight. He was porbbaly sitting down to have some serious conversations.

"Nice choice on the music," he said once she was close enough again.

"Dance floor to blend in while we wait?" His golden-brown eyes met hers with a spark of teasing.

He tilted his head slightly toward the back exit, waiting for a sign of Korron and her cue while the new song pulsed around them.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Denon
Outfit: Casual
Equipment: Arwr Da
Tag: Daxin Veyr

Lily could tell that Daxin was keeping his eyes on her, whether that was for the mission or just because he enjoyed the view from her, Lily was less certain on. However, it was nothing that Lily would discourage for now, they were playing roles and she was not going to compromise them by lecturing a young man on not ogling at her as she walked away. The thought nearly made her giggle at how ridiculous it would be and she knew that she needed to just focus on keeping things contained to what was important to the mission.

She grinned, "I enjoy anything with a good beat and the ability to dance towards it." Lily commented as she scanned over the bar, noting that there wasn't anyone walking upstairs. That meant that they would look strange if they suddenly shifted from the bar to the lounge area upstairs. Meaning they couldn't keep eyes on the target, just had to focus on the Force and sensing his presence which was something Lily considered less than ideal.

"Hmmm... We have the time. But don't get any ideas from this, you are a Padawan and I am not single." She whispered, she did not wish to mislead or give the wrong impression to Daxin. Finishing her drink, Lily placed it on the bar counter and slid from the bar stool. Walking towards the dance floor, letting Daxin follow her towards there.

The Echani Jedi Knight stretched her limbs and rolled her head as she thought about how much she enjoyed dancing. How close it felt at times to the Echani ways of fighting and communicating. Lily's body show shifting and dancing as she felt the beat of the music pulsating through her.

 

[Daxin Veyr]

Daxin felt the playful warning hit him like a gentle push, laced with Lily’s amusement and firm boundary. Not single. The other concern was nearly a challenge. He respected the boundary immediately, even if - for a Zeltron - a little flirtation was akin to saying food morning.

"Of course."

He let out a soft chuckle under his breath, the half-smirk deepening as he pushed off the bar to follow her toward the dance floor.

She was confident in herself. She had an easy way that she owned the rhythm. It reminded him of flowing water. Graceful, controlled, and far more distracting than he wanted to admit.

He stepped onto the dance floor after her, keeping just enough distance to look natural while staying close enough to talk under the pulsing music. The beat thrummed through his chest, mixing with the chaotic swirl of emotions around them. Greed, lust, paranoia. All of it pressed against him, but Lily’s presence cut through it like a clear signal. Focused. Enjoying herself. Grounded.

Daxin moved with her, his own body finding the rhythm in loose, confident steps. From here he could keep Korrin Vex in his peripheral vision. The Mirialan was still talking, but the tension around him was sharpening. He’d be moving soon.

There was a teasing humor in his eyes, the half-smirk firmly in place as he faced Lily. There was a playful spark there, but no push. Just honest Zeltron charm, tempered now.

He spun once, stepping closer for a moment so only she could hear the next part. "He’s getting restless. I can feel it. Another couple minutes and he’ll head for the exit."

Daxin’s golden-brown eyes flicked briefly toward the target before returning to Lily, softer now.

"You enjoy a good dance?"

The music surged around them. Daxin kept his movements easy and natural, staying in sync with her while his empathy stayed locked on both Lily and their target. He tilted his head slightly, waiting for her next call, the small scar on his lip catching the neon light as his smirk lingered.

The mirialan headed down the stairs. Daxin realised he'd missed something. A guard watching from the bar. He would have to be more observant.

Lily Decoria

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Denon
Outfit: Casual
Equipment: Arwr Da
Tag: Daxin Veyr

Moving naturally with the beat, Lily didn't think too much about anything else, when she got the chance to dance the Echani took it. While she was trained in more ballet and classical dancing, Lily was capable of dancing to more modern forms of music and using modern dancing techniques. It was all an expression of emotions and a person's being, so she had explored and understood a lot of it in ways that was very enjoyable. She could also sense the tension still above them and agreed with Daxin that he was not going to be lingering much further. Lily gave a smirk to Daxin, "well, seems our dancing won't be continuing for much longer. Remember keep to the shadows and if you follow him from a higher position, I will keep to the ground myself." That way if either one lost track or had a risk of being made, the other could continue the following without fear of being caught as well.

"Can't you tell?" Lily raised an eyebrow with a glint of playfulness as she danced to the beat, a smile on her lips as it was clear that she enjoyed dancing a lot. "It is the closest that I feel non-Echani get to expressing themselves through movement. How about you?"

Sensing the movements of their target, Lily moved in closer to Daxin to softly whisper into his ear, "he is on the move. Act as if you are heading to the bathroom then use the back exit." She maintained a smile to him as she pulled back and continued to dance with the strong beat of the song. Her body moving fluidly and naturally. Korrin was shifting from the meetings and heading towards the stairs. Lily knew that her plan was to trail after him out of the front door. She figured that trailing after Korrin from two different angles would avoid the pair of Jedi from standing out as people following someone on their own.

 

[Daxin Veyr]

Lily Decoria

Daxin moved with the rhythm, his steps confident but controlled as he stayed in sync with Lily on the dance floor. The pulsing beat helped mask the constant press of emotions crashing against his shields. Greed and suspicion from the crowd mixed with the sharper spike of their target’s growing impatience. He kept his half-smirk in place, golden-brown eyes warm as he watched her.

Her playful question pulled a quiet laugh from him.

"It is a good way to let go for a moment," he replied.

"Helps drown out some of the noise in a place like this. Didn't grow up on Zeltros yet still love a dance. Some nature vs nurture science to check there."

He felt the shift in the Force as Korrin Vex started moving toward the stairs. Lily’s whisper brushed warm against his ear, sending a small ripple through him that he quickly pushed down. Mission first. Not single.

"Got it," he murmured back, the half-smirk tugging at the small scar on his top lip.

Daxin gave her one last appreciative look, letting the cover play out as he slowly eased away from the dance floor. He rolled his shoulders casually and headed toward the dimly lit hallway that led to the restrooms, using the movement to slip closer to the back exit without drawing attention.

His senses stayed locked on the Mirialan’s emotional signature while he stayed alert for anyone who might be watching them.

The humid night air waited just beyond the door. He paused for a second at the threshold, glancing back once toward the front of the bar, before stepping out into the shadowed undergrid streets.

He watched from a distance as Korrin Vex walked down the street. He'd picked up one of two guards in the club who now walked alongside him.

Daxin followed on a parallel street, using the Force to keep tabs on the group. Following from a distance made up for the fact that he'd never tried tailing anyone before. The guards probably would have noticed him immediately.