The Horologicon

[Breanna Volsh]

Bree stood outside the doors of the Palace looking across the walkway towards the group that had taken up residence just outside. At first she had thought this all very harmless, even quaint. The first day she offered them refreshments and food, hoping to show her good nature that truly was her nature that would reassure them and send them home.

Day two they began a slow marching circle up the walkway to the doors and then back down the walkway. Bree had arched a brow at them and their behavior. The word was they were an order of monks that believed in refraining from pleasures of the body. The Palace just happen to be the latest stop on their mission to rid Nar Shaddaa of one of it's most lucrative businesses.

It was also the best front Bree had for moving the slaves around to ensure their freedom. She sighed as she was now looking at day three, normally this wouldn't be considered such an inconvenience however, the Palace was open 24/7 and it's clientele liked the freedom to come and go without notice.

Today they offered to send in someone to read to them from their book of hours. Bree could only imagine what was in this book of hours, but if it would make them happy, and provide an opportunity for them to come to an accord.

"By all means send in someone to read to us"

Bree waited now for the monk, covered head to toe in a robe resembling that of a Jedi, face unseen, movements barely visible, and no telling was this order male or female.

[member="Ariadne Van'Shelaq"]

 

[Ariadne Van'Shelaq]

The notion of a ready made pleasure pit seemed all the rage back when the initial framework was put into making the infamous 'Pink Palace', the sheer lack of subtlety with which the shrewd Zeltron businesswoman worked causing quite a stir for the myriad of men and monsters who stalked the face of Nar Shaddaa. How could such a place survive here? It was almost like tending to a rose bush in a rancor pit, dangerous and wholly unnecessary if one were to consider the variables. Who was to say that the great emporium of glorified prostitutes would survive on its own during the first few weeks of opening? Any individual lacking in intimacy and hoping to seek a moment of debauchery could easily descend into one of the lower wards and buy themselves a cheap girl for the night and use what ever money was left over for the filth they excused as alcohol down there. Alas, the Palace's popularity neither dwindled nor stumbled and quickly established itself as the go-to for more...healthy exchanges with women providing 'special' services.

Ariadne remained a pedestrian observer when the establishment began its gradual ascension into infamy, from the very start of its opening to the long and seedy nights filled with lustful clientele clamouring for a chance with its pink skinned inhabitants. Initially, the notion struck her as wholly inefficient in the grand scheme of things, ten girls tending to that many slovenly and desperate street rats seemed like charity work at best and a logistical failure at worst...and yet it worked. The Maître d' known as Breanna created a successful pocket of business that responded well to the ebb and flow of Nar Shaddaa's beating black heart.

It was making a profit and any Kingpin, Cartel boss or pimp worth their weight in credits knew that supporting the pink palace was a worthwhile investment.

Having observed the recent developments on Breanna's turf from her shadowy perch, the self styled Baroness of the Undercity felt a certain ebullience sneak its way into her frosted persona. It was an amusing sight, seeing the flock of solemn and pious monks dawdle outside the gates of infamous palace. Tracking their movements had been little more than a personal mission to pass the time, their purpose almost as vague as whatever droll rubbish was scribbled in their holy book.

Alas, something else spurred the young woman into action. Fleeting murmurs and whispers passed through glass and smog told word of a new development, one that posed incredible risk to the Palace's mistress and the contents with which she was smuggling.

Slipping through the hubbub of malnourished monks, the pale skinned predator stalked the book wielding representative, the fluttering rhythm of his heartbeat guiding her steps past the crowds and the elaborate entry. She was a nobody, a woman without a name other than the title she carried and the sheer anonymity of her little venture granted the half Firrerreon some peace going into the Pink Palace.

Of course, halting the stray monk with a swift hit to his cranium and tossing his frail figure off to the side, sans cloak and book, allowed for much easier entry. She'd reveal herself when the time was right. Although not one for theatrics the woman found herself stifling a fanged grin at the itchy disguise and the now unconscious holy man.

Entering, with little more than a nod at the pretty thing at the door, the Baroness of the Undercity strode past several private booths before ascending a grand staircase to meet the prominent purveyor of everything pink and pleasurable. The sound of a steady heartbeat rung through the shrouded female's ears, her cloaked eyes gazing upon the figure of one Breanna Volsh.

"The Force looketh upon your hidden sins Madame Volsh and it sees your trespasses." Ariadne spoke piously, recounting all the times she'd been preached to before. They needed privacy, not a public sermon for every whore and their buyer to listen in on. "Cleansing this place will take time." She uttered quietly, cocking her head slightly as her crimson lips coiled into a knowing grin.

[member="Breanna Volsh"]

 

[Breanna Volsh]

[member="Ariadne Van'Shelaq"]​

Bree arched a brow at this monk before her the face hidden behind shadows, what would a monk know about being a zeltron. And as for sins Bree tried her best not to laugh outloud. She took a deep breath she was doing that more and more these days. It was the tone it used when speaking, looking down on the staff it felt like.

"My staff is not a bunch of whores monk, and if you were to insinuate such a thing I might see to throwing your shrouded self off the causeway" Holier than thou reprobate Bree thought. "Cleansing" that brought her heart rate up slightly the last thing she needed was a monk wandering around the Palace attempting to "cleanse"

Bree wanted a drink and it was not water she wanted. She looked hard at this monk, no way to tell what it was thinking. No way to tell if it were male or female. Bree cleared her throat, "I thought your group wanted to read to us from your Book of Hours" She should have known this was all just a way to get inside the Palace. Fool that she had been.

She would need to isolate this monk and quickly, so how? Bree's eyes scanned the room quickly, pushing it out the front door seemed quite acceptable. Then she smiled, and remembered she was a good girl, she did not commit crimes on someone just because they lived differently.

"How about a donation for your group, why don't you come into my office and we can discuss it?" What group did not need money? Now only if it worked. She waited.

 

[Ariadne Van'Shelaq]

As much as she found the interior to be overly opulent and excessive there was little denying that what the Zeltron ran was an especially lucrative business. For a species well known for their 'specialties', Breanna was shrewd enough to capitalize on it and turn their talents into a profit. It was a mark of shrewdness and foresight, the considerable market that was available to such a woman spreading open like a blossoming orchid in a thunderstorm. It was clear, from simply listening in on the soft coos and simple pleasantries between the pretty girls and their paying clientele that business was going smoothly. It was acceptable, if not a bit too passive for Ariadne's liking.

Cocking her head like any curious monk would, the young woman momentarily glanced at her surroundings before taking a step forward, shrouded face right in front of the Zeltron's own. "My brothers and sisters hoped that you would heed the wisdom of our holy book but time is of the essence and now is not the time for empty prayers." Ariadne uttered, shaking her head before arcing her back ever so slightly. The disguise was getting itchy, the course material grazing at her porcelain skin and tugging against the darkened velvoid of her form fitting top.

No wonder the monks always looked so sour, their outfits felt ghastly.

Ariadne watched as the woman ruminated, the telltale glances across the palace and the wrinkling of her violet brow giving the Baroness just enough hints to gather some understanding as to what was going through the Zeltron's head. It was clear that 'Zen' the monk could only work so much before the feigned piety would slip off in favour of the woman's eternally present bluntness and venom.

"Yes, such dealings would be best hidden from any prying eyes." The pale skinned woman nodded, bowing deeply before flickering her eyes at her surroundings once more. The office would provide much needed privacy away from anyone nosy enough to look too long and hard at the Mistress of the Palace and her mysterious monk. Ari followed the woman, her hands hidden in the drooping sleeves of the outfit in the off chance that Breanna would notice the dangerously sharp nails painted in red. Such a reveal would only come once the pink skinned beauty was ready, ready for the truth of Ariadne's presence.

[member="Breanna Volsh"]

 

[Breanna Volsh]

[SIZE=12pt]Bree was beginning to think that Monks were going to be the very bane of her existence this Monk was dangling on her last nerve.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Bree nodded, “Yes let’s go into my office where we can discuss amounts” What she hoped is that it would be a onetime gift Bree nodded to everyone hoping they would continue working, or whatever task they were on.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Tia had recently volunteered to make sure the oil was blended for each room before the beginning of each night. [/SIZE]


[SIZE=12pt]Bree stretched her legs her steps a bit further apart than normal perhaps it was her urgency that said she wanted to get this over with. They walked the flight of stairs to her office from the landing Bree could look at the floor and see the bar, and the entry to each of the rooms. She gave it a glance before entering her office.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Her office was looked over the small area where the Palace sat she could walk out onto the small balcony and survey everything around her. A reminder of just what a small piece of the galaxy she lived in, worked in, she smiled was part of. This monk was slow almost as if he were uncomfortable in his own skin, or robes. Was that part of being a monk to be tortured by your clothes. Yeah, definitely not the life for a zeltron.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She looked back at the Monk, “Please take a seat, and can I offer you some water?” She pointed to a chair that was close to the desk, Bree stood in front of the desk slowly she sat down taking in the details of the monk.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“So..how much are you looking for?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]@Ariadne Van’Shelaq[/SIZE]

 

[Ariadne Van'Shelaq]

Although the notion of dressing up as some pious monk and beseeching a well known businesswoman to heed to some holy calling was amusing, for the first few minutes anyway, it was something that detracted from the reality of the Baroness' visit. This was to be a standard Undercity deal, an exchange between two parties on the grounds that they could benefit from one another's patronage. It was a rare thing indeed for Ariadne to extend such an opportunity, let alone come all by her lonesome without any aid, but the lack of danger that Breanna and her staff offered brought little concern to the shrouded cartel boss. Things would be fin once they were behind closed doors, away from the silly small talk that chimed throughout the Pink Palace.

Taking the offered seat, bunching teh sides of her robe at her hips for good measure, Ariadne remained silent for a moment before clicking her tongue and gazing at the Zeltron in front of her. Such deftness even when faced with the prospect of a nagging monk, why weren't others as assertive as the admittedly attractive female?

"Enough to bring me business as well." Ariadne uttered, cocking her hooded head as she gauged Breanna's reaction. The patronizing tone of the monk had all but vanished, replaced instead with the woman's silky purr. "Tell me, Ms Volsh, before we continue, how many know about the smuggling you are doing?" The Baroness stated in a matter-of-fact voice, drumming her nails against the base of her seat before leaning inwards."Because I have come here to offer you something instead."

The perks of anonymity, it even made dealings that much more intriguing.

"I'm sad to say I haven't come with words from some god, although I'm sure you're relieved to hear that." Ariadne grinned, finally bringing her hand up before slowly pulling the hood away from her face and revealing the pale skinned visage beneath it. Lips were painted in red, auburn eyes burned with curiosity and a modicum of satisfaction and the woman beneath the cowl was nothing like the man beaten and bruised in the alley next to the palace. "You wouldn't believe how easy it was to steal this." She smirked, razor sharp teeth glistening behind her crimson lips.

What would Breanna do? Only Fate knew that.

[member="Breanna Volsh"]

 

[Breanna Volsh]

[member="Ariadne Van'Shelaq"]​

Bree had been busy looking over the accounts that she could move credits from to cover paying the monk. But when the monk asked about the smuggling she did. Bree's brilliant blue eyes showed the ice stare that most zeltrons never exhibited. Then she smiled, "Smuggling." Bree had several well rehearsed stories for when it was brought up that she was doing something other than providing a service.

She watched this figure before her as her curiosity peaked to know what was it a monk could offer forgiveness, promise of an after life what. "I'm not sure what you can offer...since I don't"

Then the great reveal well now that caught her off guard she slipped back slightly careful not to fall off the edge of the desk now. If her cheeks turned a darker shade of pink it would show that she felt embarassed to be caught off guard.

"I'll be damned" Bree laughed, "Well then...their monks they I don't know I've not known anyone like them. Is it a story you can share?" Bree was surprised and yet relieved she wasn't sure how to deal with those that think themselves so pious.

But this fair skinned ruby lipped female had slipped passed unseen to get into the palace. "You have me at a disadvantage now you know my name but I don't know yours" She hoped the woman would share it good to know the name of someone who took a risk to come in and talk to her.