A Simple Exchange

[Díleas Nimbus]

The Bound Nautolan Cantina
42:54 hours
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The Bound Nautolan was one of Nar Shadda's classier places, or at least, a cut above most of the ramshackle Cantinas that would fall apart from a quick tap of the walls. Díleas came to this place fairly often nowadays, it was a good alternative to the Toasted Twi'lek since the gang, and subsequently it's quality of booze, has begun to decline. The place wasn't so busy that you couldn't move or get a seat, but it was still crowded enough that you could find a decent level of interference for conducting all manner of operations. Díleas herself had mainly come here for the drinks, after all, when you're a barely managing Basadi who constantly toes the line between life, death, destitution and affluence, things tend to be a little hard to deal with some days. She looked away from her private booth in the secluded corner, her gaze falling, entranced, to the enslaved Nautolan in the water tank from whom the Cantina got it's name, swaying and swimming gracefully up and down and all around it's small living space.

It was only recently that she had received word from an interested party that wanted her to look over some artifacts they had in their possession, moreover, they asked for Díleas specifically. It was certainly a strange request to her - she was a no one after all. Simultaneously, this was the first offer she had received regarding her expertise in antiquity, and she was never one to pass on an opportunity to examine something old and rustic, so she was hard pressed to say no to such a tempting proposition. All in all, this had the potential to help her get her foot in the door, and she was not about to let the opportunity drift away, but she was not so stupid as to rush in blind.

She knew nothing about her client, but she could at least control the circumstances of their meeting. She had set the location a day in advance, trying to give as short a timeframe as possible, then it was simply a matter of arranging for some protection nearby, just in case things went sideways (sure, she didn't have money, but there much more carnal ways to secure a man's allegiance). With the clock ticking though, she couldn't deny she was starting to worry a little - barely a minute till the specified time and nothing yet.

She looked down at her outfit with apprehension, frowning a little as she paused to consider things a third time over. Perhaps they had taken her for a stripper and just move past her, assuming she had stiffed them instead of showing - wouldn't be the first time she's gotten that remark.
"Please show up, by the force," She breathed softly, hoping the silent prayer would find it's way to whomever it needed to.

@Nyxova

 

[Risha Sharro]

Nar Shadda. Not exactly Home of the Republic. Still, a real Sith would stand out a bit much in a place known for its lack of discretion. The rabble might steer clear, but the powerfully entrenched might get ideas. Poor ones. Ones that'd end with their hired help dead by the dozens if need be. Not the reason Risha Sharro had come to this factory of pleasant smells, however.

Covered head to toe in her customary orange and black suit of armor, none were the wiser regarding the coloration of another faceless mass on an already crowded planet. Anonymity was at times worth the lack of recognition. Though in a way, she wagered if she had enough dealings even her obscured appearance might become known in the right circles. Might open new opportunities.

Risha had arrived ahead of the scheduled meeting. Taken a seat at the bar and ordered a drink. Nothing fancy, just the swill any regular would gag on. The Sith could not begin to imagine what these creatures got from such terrible drink; or how they could live with themselves cowering in the shadows. At least some of the thugs held their heads high. With the last of the glass emptied, however, the extraction tube retracted into the helmet. Time to get to work.

"Reh vah," the Sith's low-modulated voice hissed as she rose from her seat. A man to her left sagged in visible relief, though a flicker of the pain and terror twitched at the corners of his eyes. Pitiful wretch. Thing had tried to steal her case quite some time ago -- how long Risha hadn't bothered to remember -- and for his effort received a kiss of the Force. Nothing excessive. So many Imperialists like terrorizing the masses; Risha just needed to be left alone to conduct her business.

Fingers wrapped about the handle, Risha lifted the thick case from the floor as she stepped away from the bar.

When the time struck, the orange jacketed figure slowly strode in the general direction of the meeting place before a gentle turn she took her position. Aside from the helmet hiding every angle of her client's head, she might also spy the handle and guard of a sword over the woman's left shoulder. Another reason the thief had chosen a poor target. "I hear moving merchandise here can prove lethal in unskilled hands," Risha commented, the face plate of the helmet turned in Dileas' direction.

@TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Díleas Nimbus]

The seconds ticked on, the incessant droning of patrons and roaring of drunkards all blending into a cacophony of disorienting waves as Díleas tarted to wonder if coming here tonight had proven to be a mistake. The doubts she had about this deal magnified with each lost moment, riding the beats of the bar's music into the forefront of her mind. She barely noticed her fingers beginning to absent mindedly tap the cracked leather seat she sat in, her mind too busy scanning the crowds over and over again, having gone from waiting to actively seeking out her target. Perhaps this was a test of sorts, after all, some people could be strange like that, preferring only to deal with those that demonstrated a certain level of mental or physical prowess. She never thought much of it, all pseudo-intellectual pretentious survival of the fittest kark in her mind, but there was benefits in having a working knowledge in such things.

Thankfully, it seemed she wouldn't need to start jumping through hoops like a damn dog tonight. A slight shift in the crowd caught her eye, drawing her gaze through the scum and the meat to find a rather...unusual figure. Nar Shadda was a pit of beasts all tearing at each others throats, you had to be on your guard at all times to have even the slightest chance of living here. Not only was this particular individual not on guard, she seemed totally relaxed and utterly uninterested in the goings on around her, though the people around her were clearly eyeing her up, not to mention the case she carried. She wasn't from around here, so she had to be the client. Díleas straightened herself up and took a small drink of her blue milk, letting it slosh around in her mouth while the stranger approached. There wan't much that could be deduced from her appearance, she stood out more in how she carried herself rather than how she adorned her body. It was no real matter to her either way, she was here to do a deal and she would see that through, her precautions were in place so she could afford some measure of relaxation.

Díleas swallowed and gestured toward the opposite seat in the booth as the stranger arrived at the booth, smirking at her little comment.
"On Nar Shadda, you'll find anything can be lethal in the right place, even something as simple as breathing," She explained, nodding toward her client with the smirk stretching into a polite smile. She was far from kidding: acid rain could devour your lungs before you even have the chance to scream in some places, not much of a problem for the denizens of the lower cities though. "I am Mrs D, in the interest of anonymity, I would prefer to forgo official names for the moment." In truth, she had no idea if the client had her name, so this could potentially backfire on her, but either way, it was a learning experience - everyone starts somewhere. "Would you like a drink? Or would you prefer that we get on with things so as to relieve ourselves of this place before we both puke?"

@Nyxova

 

[Risha Sharro]

Risha took the seat that Dileas had gestured toward. The case was set down between them away from the throngs of bodies littering the cantina. Too conspicuous to leave out in the walking area begging for another would-be thief.

What Dileas said struck true to the Sith. Nar Shadda was a lethal place; in fact, that quality made the poor taste in drink sufferable. The Force was strong here from the sheer amount of life that crawled over its filth-covered surface. The Dark Side in particular. A familiar, dark blanket that brought with it the comfort of home.

"Call me Ri, Mrs. D." Dressed as she was, Risha wasn't in a position to question the desire for anonymity. "I have several samples for examination. The rest is in a secure location." Difficult to haul around the larger items, not to mention dangerous. Just the case could draw the same attention as if the Sith walked around without the helmet. Like the street rat looking for a score earlier. "Are there any details I need to be aware of before we begin?" After all, it would be a shame to discuss the merchandise only to learn the contact lacked funds. Patient as Risha was trying to be around others, she didn't have time for games.

@TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Díleas Nimbus]

Ok, good, now things were starting to pick up a little. Waiting for the deal to happen was always the worst part, it was that window of time where anything could happen: double crosses, a sting operation, an assassination attempt, an outside context problem etc. Sure, that kind of thing could always happen during the deal as well, but there was a certain sense of relaxation that came with knowing things were going according to plan. Does wasn't about to get complacent though, she sat there and took in all her client had to say while she took the occasional cursory glance at their environment, spotting out thieves or cops or hitmen. She seemed to accept the name, that was good, though it made her a little inwardly uneasy not being able to see her client's face. For all she knew, the woman could be smirking behind the mask at having fooled her, she could be a man, using a voice modulator, and on and on and on.

Truth be told, she was probably getting a little paranoid since this was her first real deal, so for now she shoved all the thoughts aside and tried to press on. She looked down for a moment, ruminating on the question levvied at her before looking back up. "I can only pay through discretionary transactions, not credits up front, when we're done here, I will transfer the funds in whole to you after a few weeks of making sure it is safe to deposit," She explained, already thinking through the mental gauntlet she would need to cross in order to process this deal. She was right to ask about any other things that needed mentioning - too many of er co-workers had a bad habit of withholding certain pieces of information until it was too late to try and leverage more credits out of the business, which often tainted their reputation, or earned them a blaster bolt in the skull. "I apologize for the wait, but this is so that both you and I can walk away from this deal without any bad blood coming after us, it's always something of an inconvenience." She gestured toward the case, "Likewise, what can you tell me about these particular artifacts and their history?"

@Nyxova

 

[Risha Sharro]

Risha was always mindful of the Force around her, but didn't lean on it as a crutch. As she watched 'Mrs. D.' there was the look of someone cautious of their surroundings and the negotiations that had just begun. Cautious was good. This one might live long enough to see these items into the hands of someone that would appreciate them. Were Risha mindful of the woman's actual thoughts and not just the sense of fear that tickle the back of the neck for any in her position, she'd also approve of caution toward the masked figure before her. Smart. Hopefully smart enough not to anger Risha; she was already using a great deal of self-control.

Discretionary transactions over time. A dangerous proposition. Some would try to use that to take the merchandise and run. "I will consider what you said," Risha replied. After a moment she added, "I would not want any bad blood between us as well." Perhaps she'd make it a more pointed observation at the end if Mrs. D. opted to conduct this transaction. The mask hid who and what she dealt with; it would be a shame if Risha had to hunt the woman down.

The helmet turned aside as the garbed figured leaned over the case. The top split open to reveal the contents wrapped within the padded confines. Risha lifted one of the objects high enough to unwrap it from the protective material. A long, feminine figure made of carved stone, most of its features intact despite its age. "A sculpture from Falleen. Four hundred years old. A prominent figure of their Royal Houses," Risha held the statue atop the unwrapped material for Dileas to examine, "the adornments indicate she may have been the most powerful of her time."

The more reclusive a people were the most likely they had secrets buried in forgotten places. It was a nature lure to people like Risha seeking lost knowledge. Perilous journeys, but as the Humans liked to crow -- no risk, no reward. Risk was part of the... fun.

And if the woman did not feel statues would fetch a price, Risha reached back in to the case to retrieve another item. This one she unwrapped only partially and made sure the rest of the room could not catch the barest glimpse. What light trickled into the darkness of their world vividly shone off the surface of the crystal. A blue that would suck the breath from an artist's lips. It was not a large specimen, but certain people might kill for one that was. A single word should say enough, "Ilum." Not worthy of a lightsaber (or Risha wouldn't sell it risking some Jedi acquire the thing), but there were other uses for such a hardy crystal.

@TheBrokenMadMan