Youngblood

[Itash Mecetti]

SPICE TERMINUS​

[member="Rook Lokar"] | [member="Ayessa Kroan"]​

​

In the aftermath of Rook's mission he got contacted through the usual channels.

Plans changed.

The meet-up wasn't on Nar Shaddaa anymore. It was Spice Terminus now. He hadn't karked it all up to hell an' back, so Rook didn't have to worry about being whacked out in the middle of nowhere. That was something, no? Spice Terminus had always been one of the primary transit points for spice running through the Outer Rim. It wasn't a surprise then that the Exchange wanted a piece of it.

[member="The Prince"] had acquired a casino just a few weeks ago.

Vin had run a gambling circuit for a whole lot longer here. Rook (and his unlikely companion) would get the coordinates for one of the cargo bays off the southern sector of the large transit station.

Once Rook's (Exchange's really) ship settled into the cargo bay one Vinon Demeaux would carry himself into it. Arms wide, smile big, teeth flashing white.

His attire still as luxurious and delicious as the day they met. "Rook, baby, I 'eard the good news from-" That was when he noticed the addition to the team. Vin eyed her up and down, making calculations in the back of his head, before he glanced back towards Rook. "Didn't realize dis was a party for three, Rook, why dontcha introduce me to ya new friend." It didn't really sound as a request.

 

[Rook Lokar]

Rook was a scoundrel, no? It should come to no surprise that he was to lie about the ownership of the YT-1500. Something that was lent to him for jobs under the Exchange itself, and specifically Vinon. He had allowed Rook that much. However, the young smuggler wanted it and he wanted it bad. Through lawful, or unlawful means it was bound to end up in his hands. Whether he run a job that warrants a prize as big as a ship, or it's stolen, perhaps found in a time of duress where it's a necessity. Who knows, only time would tell.

The younger man couldn't help but flash a grin in reply to Vinon's own. Vin had that air about him, and you couldn't help but smile alongside him. Maybe, this time, it was a self-congratulations. He was ready to get paid now, of course.

"An old friend of mine." Rook stated, his own grin across his face whilst his hand found it's way to her lower back; guiding her in. His other hand almost flowing in the direction of Vinon, allowing her the right to introduce herself.

[member="Vinon Demeaux"] - [member="Ayessa Kroan"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Parmic Sector, Spice Terminus, Undetermined Time
Interacting with [member="Vinon Demeaux"] & [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Silvertongue
——————————————————————

I don't know if I like you very much.

That was the absolute first thought in Ayessa's mind, though she didn't dare to let that show an inch on her face -- Something made her proverbial hackles raise. Could it have been Rook? Maybe, but she'd become accustomed to him during their travels through hyperspace, he wasn't a new element in her surroundings. Afixing a matching smile on her face nonetheless, the Kiffar offered a respectful tip of her head in Vinon's direction, "Ayessa Kroan. Yeah, I've known Rook for quite some time." Less than a week. "Hopefully I'm ruining any pre-laid plans." I am so happy my lightsaber is hidden right now.

A half-turn of her head then was to direct a neutral gaze to Rook. It was one of acknowledgement but also one of 'you-didn't-mention-this.'

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Ayessa Kroan"] | [member="Rook Lokar"]

Eyes moved from one to the other.

Calculating.

He could see the secret and the lies between them. There were things untold here and the Lorrdian teachings whispered that to him easily, but... there didn't seem to be much in the way of anxiety. They weren't overly on edge and that put Vin at ease. Somewhat. They didn't seem to be double-crossing him for now and that was all Vinon cared about in the moment. "Mmm, pleasure making ya acquaintance, miss Kroan." A nod of his own was lend to her, before he focused on Rook again.

"Friend of yours, eh? Or friend of ours." Hidden people talk.

Was she a personal friend or was she part of the game.

The answer here would determine just exactly how much Vin would be willing to say, how loose his tongue would get. Those within the game had knowledge that the normals lacked, no? HIs posture was calm, relaxed, no fidgeting whatsoever.

Even his mind was calm if Kroan cared to look.

 

[Rook Lokar]

A savvy businessman, or a paranoid figure with some authority to his name? Possibly both, really. Rook and Vinon may have been 'friends', but the truth was that they were nothing more than associates that treated one another with amicable hospitality. They both knew who was in charge of the operations 'round here, and it certainly wasn't the smuggler borrowing a ship from his employer's hangar. That much was oh so obviously apparent.

The Scoundrel seemed to reply with the lowering of his head for the briefest of moments, an amused huff accompanying it in the moment. All the while, his feet shuffled forwards towards Vinon, and passively nudging Ayessa along as if it were a reminder that said 'remember we're walking'. Ultimately, however, resting his eyes on Vin's.

"Bit of both." Rook replied with a smug grin and slightly squinted eyes, almost as if he had accepted a subtle challenge. The Smuggler was capable of slipping many things by many people, but not Vinon. Even at a young age he was more than capable of detecting whatever nonsensical nonsense was within his presence. No matter how minimal it truly was.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"] - [member="Vinon Demeaux"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Parmic Sector, Spice Terminus, Undetermined Time
Interacting with [member="Vinon Demeaux"] & [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Silvertongue
——————————————————————

Secrets and lies did about sum it up.

But if it was one of necessity, was it really that bad?

The Kiffar's gaze remained casually on the unknown in her circumstances-- Vinon --Before Rook's directing hand stole her focus and kept her moving onwards. Bit of both, huh. She didn't let an inch of how that made her felt show. It was like being caught between two wild animals, careful not to upset either one lest they sense weakness and attack.

It was plain to see which predator was the alpha here, though, and it wasn't the one tenatively on Ayessa's side of things. No, it was the one with a level of calm radiating off him like the way a chill wafts off ice that made her decidedly unsure of him.

"Your ship's lovely." An empty comment to fill air, though she did actually like the vessel well enough. Even if it wasn't actually Rook's. Clever ploy there, but it was another deception to add to their steadily growing pile, and any irritation she might have felt at being played evaporated away.

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Rook Lokar"] | [member="Ayessa Kroan"]

Rook's answer was taken with a nod.

Anyone else might not have understood or know what to do with it, but Vin got it.

It meant that Kroan was only partially in the know. Enough to pretty much realize who and what they were, but not deep enough in the game to be a participant. More like a spectator that went along with things because the momentum was pushing her forward. "Thankya," He turned around and gestured for them to follow him. "One of the finer ships. I see Rook brought it back in one piece, s'good." They settled themselves down in a private hyper-lift that would take them into controlled territory.

One of their places.

It would be safer there than in the other places on Spice Terminus. Hope there is a reason ya bringing a Forcer into my home, Rook. Vin thought to himself, but didn't air it yet. The observation would come out of nowhere. As if Vin could sense the Force himself.

That was nonsense, of course.

But there were methods to discover a forcer. The small gem had lit up in proximity for a moment.

"How did you two meet then?"

 

[Rook Lokar]

Always in the dark.

Rook began to straddle along, moving at an easy pace alongside the other two. His hand fell from her lower back, swaying by his side with each step, in tandem with the other. The same strut he always seemed to have, the one of a man who thought themselves too good for their own boots. Confident in their ability to get everything done, but it was sure to land himself in hot water. If not for Ayessa's subtle, yet mystical, intervention already, he may have been ventilated.

​At the question he quirked his brow, but not anyone bar himself. Rook already lied once, and it involved this question. May as well keep it going, huh? "Uhm." He sounded, moving one hand on his hip and the other to cradle his chin as if in thought. "How did we meet?" Rook mentioned, forcing the answer to be one of Ayessa's responsibilities.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"] - [member="Vinon Demeaux"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Parmic Sector, Spice Terminus, Undetermined Time
Interacting with [member="Vinon Demeaux"] & [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Don't Take The Money
——————————————————————

Being stuck in an elevator with these two was possibly the worst experience of Ayessa's newly-awoken life thus far.

It beat being almost killed on Nar Shaddaa. It beat being almost killed on Zeltros. It was a close second to Kiffu, but thinking on that was likely to make the greatly uncomfortable feeling rising in her chest even worse, so feth that. The rusty scent of carbonite filled her mind then and it had to leave before she started hyperventilating. Inhaling a little sharply she looked first to Rook-- Thanks, now I really need to look like I've got it together --before looking to Vinon. He knew. He knew, star's end, how did he know? How could he tell? This was slowly spiraling out of control for the Jedi. She couldn't even sense a trace of the Force gracing that man, so how did he know?

Yet she didn't let any of that internal panic show. And panic it was, don't be mistaken, so she couldn't hide everything. An eyebrow twitched, she bit her cheek, her face seemed a shade or two lighter and tried to keep her voice level as she was basically thrust into the spotlight by her so-called partner, "We, uh, met on Nar Shaddaa. I saved his hide from some hired guns looking to slag him." Wasn't a lie, she had technically done all of those things, but they had met on Kiffu at a fruit merchant's stand first and that was where she agreed to join his crew. A decision that was now being torn about in her head as, after speaking, her gaze drifted to the side of the lift, then to the floor, the roof, then finally straight ahead.

I really hope I don't vomit in his lift.

"And where did you two meet?"

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Ayessa Kroan"] | [member="Rook Lokar"]

Pretty little lies.

Vinon wondered why they lied, why they bothered. Hell, he could almost taste the bile rising up her throat from the stress she was experiencing. It seemed that this sort of thing wasn't what Kroan usually did in her free time and that turned this from concerning to... basically amusing, really.

"The slick Lokar almost being wasted by hired guns, eh?" Vin squinted over her head and met Rook's eye. "Trust it ain't our business that caused that?" The last thing Vinon needed right now was a turf war starting up on Nar Shaddaa. Some maniac had already attacked the smuggler's moon a few days back and caused an untold amount of mayhem and chaos. Surprisingly enough the Exchange earned more money when things were quiet and less stressful.

Good business didn't need rampages on the streets (or nukes for that matter, though that last part was just a rumor).

"One o' my contacts sprung this lad from unjustified imprisonment."

Geonosis was a bench to get through from what Vin understood. His contacts had probably saved Rook from either a life as a slave, breaking his back in the mines, or from an untimely death in the jaws of one beast or the other. "Ran a mission with 'im, didn't feint on me an' the rest is history." Ding, the elevator went and the doors slid open. In the distance they could already hear the sounds of the nightclub. Music, the beat, but it was muted from this room.

"Sound-proof," Vin winked at them both before striding lazily into the place. Much like Nar Shaddaa the backroom of the nightclub was furnished beautifully. Rich and exorbitant. "Rook, why dontcha pour us some drinks while I get to know ya... old friend."

 

[Rook Lokar]

"No, it was before I met you." Rook chimed in briefly, his eyes somewhat squinted whilst his head gave several short nods. The Smuggler prided himself on his ability to lie, and so if, or when, Vinon decided to come clean with the fact he knew they were lying, the blame was surely going straight on Ayessa. Her tongue didn't seem to be made of the same material as these two scoundrels. Suppose being a Jedi didn't exactly prepare one for the life of living in deceit, now did it? Can't exactly blame the poor girl, Rook roped her into this. Into something she hadn't quite expected. Again.

His eyes shifted upwards at the sound of the ding, looking to the light that flashed in that moment. Then, of course, back to Vinon as he gave that... command, almost. Rook was hesitant, but so would anyone else. Both eyes resting on Demeaux with a mouth ajar. What was his angle?

Rook happened to roll his eyes, heading off in the direction that seemed to house the bar. Turning mid-stride, shouting out, "The usual?" He questioned, before turning back around and continuing on his way.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"] - [member="Vinon Demeaux"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Parmic Sector, Spice Terminus, Undetermined Time
Interacting with [member="Vinon Demeaux"] & [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Don't Take The Money
——————————————————————

The relief that graced her the moment they left the lift was palpable. Like learning to breathe again. Colour returned to her face in a flush and she even looked back at the cursed thing before the sounds of their voices pulled her attention, "He did mention something about a Geonosian prison train."

Dark eyes swept the back room almost appraisingly; now that the anxiety was gone, she could probably rub two braincells together and try and turn this around. Maybe. Vinon was different stock than the others she had fooled oh-so-long-ago. Chances were this wasn't going to end well no matter what she did. But a glass of something hopefully-strong would serve to calm her elevator-related nerves so she only smiled gracefully and nodded, trailing her companion to the bar.

Though companion didn't seem like the right word anymore. It felt more like he was preparing to throw her to the wolves, and the Alpha of the pack was inviting her to drinks.

Blasted scoundrels.

"Well, I'll have what he's having." I really hope alcohol hasn't changed.