Ask A'Salting Slugs

[Braclin Grello]

Nimban.

Notable for being a planet in Hutt Space that had an almost unheard of distinction; it was one of the only planets in the history of the Galaxy to willingly offer to join the Hutts, specifically the Hutt Empire at the time. There hadn't even been any of the 'courting' that Hutts liked to do when it came to actually taking a planet into their fold - literally not even a hint of blackmail, deceit or fraud. If he had been around back in those days, he'd have thought that the Nimbanel were trying to pull a fast one on the Hutts but, apparently, not.

Now though it was just another world in Hutt Space, though it was seen as a gateway into Northern Sith Space these days, though this had far more to do with the Sith expansion than it did the Hutts actually getting off their tails and doing something. Still, his point was that it was basically just a little Sith-spit hell-hole close to other, more interesting, places and that meant that it was perfect for a Hutt Holiday Home.

Which, in Basic, translated to a stash-house.

Someone from the Sith side of Northern Space had sent out a message, asking to make contact with someone who was willing to hit that same Holiday Home and who was available. Brac was interested before the offer of actually making credits came into play - when it came to credits, he could make off with some of the loot but the prestige and the thrill that would come from ripping off a Hutt?

Worth meeting some Imperial for a drink to check on that type of opportunity.

Stepping into the gambling hall, Braclin immediately headed over to the cash desk and bought some chips he could play some hands of cards with. Just while he was waiting, he might as well, right?

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

In general, Vahliri wasn’t a frequent traveler to Hutt Space - and Nimban was no exception to the rule. There were a multitude of reasons for that fact, though it largely boiled down to the half-Annfyn’s disdain for the slavery that was so common on Hutt Worlds, and her general disinterest in working with any resident Crime Lord. She had little reason whatsoever to pick the Outer Rim planet off the Atlas.

Until about a week prior.

Over her many years as a Sith, Vahliri had developed into a voracious study - often spending quite a bit of credits and efforts in pinpointing bits of valuable knowledge and artifacts, seemingly lost to the ages. The particularly piece had alluded her for months, until she’d finally traced it back to some second-rate Fa’athra crimelord - one known for a particularly lavish resort home on Nimban.

With nothing much else to go on, Vahliri didn’t hesitate to begin making her way to the planet - intentions clear. Luckily, it took no time at all to locate an individual who was equally eager to break into the stash house of a Hutt.

With only a few minutes to spare before the agreed meeting time, Vahliri stepped into the gambling hall. Her sensitive ears were immediately filled by the music that blared from nearby speakers, dampened only by the earbuds subtly tucked into place. As expected, the half-Annfyn had forgone any identifying clothing for something more casual - sporting a pair of jeans, jacket and low-cut blouse. Her dark hair was pulled back into a loose braid, draping down her right shoulder.

It only took a few minutes of scoping out the hall to spot Braclen - someone who met the general description of who she was set to meet with. Exchanging a few chips, Vahliri made her way over to the cards table - slipping in just across from where the man was sitting. “Got room for one more?”

 

[Braclin Grello]

Braclin wouldn't lie to anyone who asked, and he would never lie to himself, and claim that he spotted Vahliri as soon as she came into the gambling hall. She was pretty enough, sure, but being able to turn heads in a place like this was pretty much unheard of. He did, however, notice her when she started making her way over to the table he was at - though only because he wanted to see if she was going to be a threat to his growing winning streak.

Two hands counted as the beginnings of a streak and he'd stand by that.

"If you sit next to me? Sure." he answered her as he anted up on the hand he currently had, "People play worse when they're across from someone who looks like you."

He didn't even really mean to start flirting - he was ninety percent sure that she was his contact. Which was why he wagered almost all of his winnings on the current hand, eyeing her slightly as she approached. Watching her as she approached, he almost cursed himself for falling into the same trap he was trying to set for the others.

Damn, he might have to play this up to keep from losing money.

"Think you can handle these stakes?"

He wasn't talking about the table but they didn't need to know that.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri would’ve been lying if she claimed that Braclen hadn’t caught her eye. Mostly because he strongly resembled - and almost certainly was - her contact. But there was also a large part because the man was rather good looking, too. Her amber eyes lingered on him a bit longer than was necessary - a smile beginning to tug at the corners of her lips. The half-Annfyn slipped into a seat just beside the man - adding her own ante to the pool, and was promptly dealt two cards by the dealer.

“Oh?” She asked with an arched brow, tilting her head towards the man for a moment or two. “Perhaps I should've picked a different seat, then." She said with a smirk.

Her amber eyes flicked towards the center of the table - watching as three additional cards were placed face-up. Her gaze once more panned across her own hand, before she decided to place another bet - a small stack of additional chips sliding towards the center of the pool. Somehow, she doubted that Braclen would fold.

“Highest stakes are the only ones worth playing,” She added with a grin. The other plays at the table proceeded to fold or check her bet, until it finally landed upon Braclen once more.

“I’d say we’re both too invested to back out now.” Once again, the half-Annfyn wasn’t talking about their table.

@Nefieslab

 

[Braclin Grello]

Oh yeah she was definitely his contact alright - you got eyes of that beautiful shade of darkly simmering amber by kicking puppies and drowning kittens.

Just needed to make sure he didn't turn out to be the puppy in this scenario.

"I guess so." he agreed at the comment about the stakes, not commenting on her moving seats because it might give the impression that he was affected by her physically, "These kinds of stakes make it fun - and if it ain't fun, it ain't worth doing."

He eyed her when he said that and, maybe, his eyes strayed a little bit but she was a big enough girl to handle someone noticing that she was easy on the eyes. But he wasn't about to start acting like some of her Imperial Simps just because she probably only looked better spread on his bed.

Without missing a beat, he pressed all of his chips in without so much as checking his cards. Instead he finished his drink with a gulp, ignoring the heat that spread through him with practised ease.

"Honey, I don't pull out."

He just raised an eyebrow and looked her right in the eye as he spoke, holding her gaze for a second before noting that the dealer was checking scores. Winning would be nice but he wasn't about to cry about losing - he was trying to score bigger here after all.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri couldn’t help but grin ever-so-slightly at Braclin’s words, her head tilting ever-so-slightly. “I’ll keep that in mind when this is all over.” She commented without missing a beat. Wasn’t worth doing if it wasn’t fun? The half-Annfyn allowed her mind to wander on that note for a moment or two, amber eyes lingering on her partner in soon-to-be-crime. From his sultry brown eyes to the stubble that brushed the edge of his jaw, her gaze lingered - drinking in every detail and enjoying the equal amounts of attention she was receiving.

She couldn’t hide the playful glint in her eyes when Braclin put all his chips into the pool. He was confident, that much was certain - and Vahliri couldn’t deny she enjoyed that.

“Good.” The half-Annfyn said, an amused exhale flowing through her nostrils. Without missing a beat, the half-Annfyn downed the last of her drink and played her cards down onto the table, revealing a straight flush - much to the dismay of the two to her left. Her amber gaze lingered on Braclin and whatever hand he had to play.

Regardless of who won, Vahliri knew they both had eyes on a bigger prize.

@Nefieslab

Roll: 10/10 for poker hand... Lmao