Ask Dinner with a Queen

[Baal]

Taris. For Baal it had always been home, and it had always represented something of a land of opportunity. Sure, it had seen its fair share of troubles over the years, the virus, invasion, bombings and more - but come what may, it had always managed to come out on top. The politicians liked to romanticise it, calling it the 'indomitable spirit of the people' that had seen them coming back from the edge every time.

But they knew different.

Greed. Partnered with the desperate need to survive and thrive, they made a powerful combination. Now, as they sat here, dressed in a fancy black suit with a Canto Cane clasped in one hand, Baal (for one) felt every bit the city don, a man who used greed in his favour. Today they had come to one of the nicer restaurants in the Upper City, to meet with a Queen no-less.

Sure, Juvexia was a planet they'd had to do some homework on, but she was a Queen none-the-less.

One they could do business with.

"We are expecting company." Baal introduced them as they walked into the restaurant, a very polite waiter taking their overcoat as Baal swatted them away from taking the cane as well "Kindly show her in when she arrives." he breezed past the waiter and over to their table. It was a table with only two chairs, for a more discreet and intimate lunch.

Let's up she doesn't show up with an entourage, Baal thought, communicating with his twin as he did so. These royal types have a habit of coming with a small army of retainers, don't they? I wonder if this one is the same?.

@Eccles @LadyRen

 

[Eccle]

A whiff of scented smoke crossed the waiter's nose. Was it vanilla? Grapefruit? Binka fruit from Agamar? Or rodian musk? He wasn't sure. In reality it was a special concoction of Binka Fruit, stale Bantha milk and a hint of Glitterryl. It was the favorite smoke of Eccle'baal's left head.

"and be on your best behavior," he warned the waiter before they breezed passed him and went over to their table, "we're not wearing a suit for just anyone," right, brother? Eccle didn't like to wear suits. He much preferred simple clothing like in those Preef Callo HoloMovies. He could wear his double-holster with those. Dual-holsters on the left wearing only a single belt. It was a brilliant thing the Freem Gotra had managed to acquire for him.

"She can't bring an entourage if I can't bring my pistols," he said internally to his brother, "I could shoot them all like the rodian." Okay, so maybe he wasn't a good shot at all and wielding heavy blasters was for some reason ruining his balance anyway, but let a Troig dream! Oh how he sometimes wished he was a rodian. "Next time we should bring the rodian from the Freem Gotra as protection, Baal."

@Nor'baal @LadyRen

 

[Electra Juvexia]

The urban jungles of Taris didn't look too bad and it was rather obvious that the planet was thriving under the Empire's banner. Still, she found it way too urban and rather enjoyed her green vineyards and lakes on Juvex, but the Queen usually found many details that were worth complaining about. There were so many people here...citizen milling about, busy traffic, tall buildings towering everywhere and even the restaurant they had chosen as the venue of their meeting was apparently also not the finest. It had also been a while since she had last heard of Covax and she was quite pissed by that, so to say that she was in the best mood was a lie.

The Queen always traveled with a whole entourage of guards, handmaiden and servants and even if this was Imperial space, it made no difference. This 'Eccle'baal' had arranged for her to pass through customs and she entered the restaurant with two handmaiden and four guards dressed in Civilian clothes and weapons hidden from sight while the rest stayes in the surroundings. The six would take a seat at a table near the Queen and mind their own business until she'd call them, but her attention was fully directed to this 'Eccle'baal' now.

Electra wasn't too fond of aliens...Why did this thing even have two heads?! It was an abomination of nature and she despised the sheer looks of it, however if that presumably sentient thing wanted to cut a deal, she would someone managed to survive a dinner. She knew this was necessary as her husband (@Nor'baal) was useless as always so she'd obviously play it nice like a professional. Internally, she simply wasn't amused, from the outside though, her perfectly deceptive smile was on her lips as she approached the Troig in her stupidly expensive and over the top, golden gown. "Gentlemen" was that even the right way to adress them? Was she dealing with one or two client? "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance". It absolutely was no pleasure and she would have rather just done something else, but work was work and had to be done.

@Nor'baal @Eccles

 

[Baal]

Rising from their seat, Baal extended all four of his hands, in what he understood to be the customary 'handshake' that these humans so enjoyed. "You honour us with your presence, your Majesty." he smiled, before offering a slight bow and returning to their seat once again.

She has certainly come well-protected brother. he thought. Perhaps she does not trust us, or perhaps she is afraid! humour tinted his observations as he observed the Queen. There were many ways in which they felt this relationship could be used to their mutual advantage, and Baal was keen to explore all of them in considerably more detail.

Before they did so, however, a waiter appeared swiftly at the table. Deftly, he scooped up a wine menu. "I hear the Naboo vintages are in hot demand this cycle?" the waiter looked distinctly uninterested, "A bottle of Domaine de la Maison sur le Lac, if you please." Produced on the mid-rim world of Naboo, Domaine de la Maison sur le Lac (Domaine for short) was a purple-coloured wine, which featured on the side of its bottle an artistic recreation of Varykino, the Lake Country retreat of the once-royal House Naberrie.

It would make a fine pairing for his own choice of meal.

"I shall order as well, if you please." he nodded politely "The braised Thakitillo to start." he asked, as the waiter made a swift note of his request.

Baal fell silent, as he handed over to his sibling to place his own order. As he did so, he rested his right uppermost hand on the head of his cane, and looked over at the Queen, asking "Tell me, have you been to Taris before?"

 

[Eccle]

THEME​

Eccle felt a tingling ran through him and his twin, through Eccle'baal, when the beautiful Tionese woman in her golden dress approached the Troig with the confidence, posture and grace of royalty. These was no mistaking her identity as their esteemed guest and somehow Eccle felt suddenly underdressed, and their chosen venue, while being the best restaurant Upper Taris had to offer, to be lacking the class befitting royalty.

Baal was the first to reply to her, but Eccle made sure to echo his twin's words. "Truly an honour, Majesty," the left head of the Troig, always rash to employ enforcers and gunslingers, the one that idolized infamous gunslingers like Preef Callo, was, and quite rightly so, a bit stunned by beauty.

He managed to refocus on the topic of conversation by the time his twin began talking about the wine he wanted to order and, agreeing as always with him, Eccle nodded his head in approval yet felt more rebellious as he tried to impress. "For me please the Port in a Storm" he smiled at the waiter as he, too, closed the menu and the waiter made a swift note of it. Port in a Storm was a risk, sure, but in the past he had been able to handle it and well, which female didn't enjoy a man who could hold his liquor, right?

"And to match it with-" the Troig's left hands went towards the left head to scratch it for a moment until Eccle seemed to have the perfect idea, "-ah yes, Flash-fried Zuchii and let's have some Huttese slime-pods to start us off with."

Surely a fine exclusive dinner like that would impress royalty! And if that failed, well.. Eccle'baal did have the Freem Gotra work for them. Maybe one of their expensive signature tradegoods could grace her majesty's beautiful neck.


@Nor'baal @LadyRen

 

[Electra Juvexia]

She had stridden over as gracefully and majestically as always before she had elegantly sat down, crossing her legs as lady-like and royal as ever. Her entourage sat a few tables away, close enough to spring into action whenever needed, but far away enough in order not to eavesdrop.

She hated prying eyes and over curious ears, so being seated in private was much preferred. Still, this was no conversation beneath four eyes as there was obviously an additional head that still initiated her, especially because she began to wonder who was the one calling the shots in the end. Did she have to wrap one around her finger? Both? Would they buy anything anyway? Time would tell.

Of course she honored them with her presence...she usually did. She left it uncommented and refrained from rolling her eyes. Professional as she was, a warm, yet faked smile of the full lips received the compliment seemingly happily, but she really wasn't sure whether traveling to Taris would be even worth it.

One waiter soon made his way over to their table and disgusting food choices followed which made her begin to wonder whether she should simply send one of her royal sons the next time, but then again, none of those moron's were good with such businesses..."For me the spiced salad with Meiloorun fruit filets as an entree and I'll join in on the Domaine de la Maison sur de Lac", she told the waiter with a feigned smile before she turned back to the possible business partners, knowing she had to tend to their questions as well. "As a matter of a fact, I haven't, but it surely is a fascinating world", she lied sweetly. What annoyed her a lot was that her Whisperers hadn't been able to pick up many details about this Troig, but maybe there was a different way to retrieve information. "Tell me, do you come here often? The restaurant seems exquisite". It wasn't, at least not to her standards, but maybe it was to Taris' standards...

@Nor'baal @Eccles

 

[Baal]

No expense was being spared on this particular meeting; Eccle'Baal needed to ensure the Queen left with a positive impression of them. She was enjoying the finer things in life as well, perhaps because of her family's wealth or because she was used to having others dote upon her - as far as Baal was concerned this was a good sign. The Queen's ease with wealth no doubt spoke of her planet's considerable influence and resource base, something they intended to exploit.

"It is a planet of great wonders, your Majesty. We hope you enjoy your time here, and perhaps, if you do, your visits could become a more frequent blessing?" he heaped praise on her as the waiters bought their food and wine. This place used organics as servers, a sign of class and sophistication which showed that perhaps this place was worth the not-inconsiderable price tag. Eccle'Baal could afford it, however, so Baal paid it little heed.

"Juvex is a world we have yet to visit, perhaps soon your House could entertain us in a return exchange?" he enquired, gently steering the discussion back to areas of mutual commercial interest "We are business-beings after all, and keen to ensure that the profits of commerce are shared with those whom we consider part of our circle of commercial contacts." he lied, they had no interest in becoming friends, mutual gain was merely a good way of doing business.

Baal paused for a moment and reached into his pocket, gently activating his Nal Phiones recorder as he withdrew a small box from within his pocket and passed it to his twin. Our gift, brother, I am sure she would receive it with the good intention with which it is meant, be so kind as to offer it, would you?

The wine was poured, and Baal swilled it about in his glass before taking a noisy sip. He nodded to the waiter to pour a full serving "Juvex is independent I believe? Tell me, have you the same legislative flexibility with regard to hallucinogenic chemicals as the Consortium does?" he asked, seeking to probe a little deeper, and examine the possibility of commercial spice dealing.

 

[Eccle]

Any gift would pale in comparison to the beauty of this woman, Eccle replied telepathically to his twin. Regardless, they had prepared a gift that was extremely rare and thus extremely expensive to the common sentient. Eccle'baal's left hands produced a small case that he opened in view of the Queen to show the necklace made with shards of bled Kyber. Its red glow would steal the show in any black dress, but when the light hit them they would shine in a beautiful orange. Not unlike the eyes of a Sith..

"A necklace of bled Kyber" he slowly closed the case and put it down on the table, "these crystals are extremely rare-" especially since the Sith -the only known Force users to bleed kyber crystals- were forced into hiding, "-and combined with Andrinan's craftmanship," a Chandrilan jewelsmith that was famous throughout the galaxy for creating the crown jewels of royal houses, "It is the second most beautiful thing I have ever set my eyes upon," the first one being the Queen, so he slowly shoved the case across the table and towards her.

Their wine then got refilled as Baal started the negotations on the thing they were truly after. The whole galaxy knew of Covax's demise at the hands of Preef Callo and the Supreme Mogul of the Hutt Cartel. Beings like Eccle'baal knew the vacuum a Crymorah boss left in their wake..

@Nor'baal @LadyRen

 

[Electra Juvexia]

The waiter went his way and she already wondered whether the food would live up to the apperent status of the restaurant - according to Taris standards, that was, obviously. She already assumed it wouldn't come any close to the royal delights offered on Juvex, but maybe it wouldn't end up insulting her extraordinarily refined tastebuds.

As they curiosly began testing the waters, she carefully planned which details to disclose and which to keep to herself. "It would only be polite to return the favor of inviting you. I'll make sure that my servants will arrange a rendezvous at a stunning venue...". She elegantly stroke a strand of loose hair against her ear before she gracefully folded her hands into her lap again.

The second question left a slightly sour taste in her mouth linger as his inquiry seemed shamelessly direct - something she actually appreciated in business situations - yet the Queen wasn't easily going to admit that Juvex was maybe not the place they thought it was. "I'm the Queen. I have all the legislative flexibility needed" in fact, for legal reasons she'd had to double-check with her husband, but she usually skipped such unnecessary bureaucracy anyway. "Hallucinogenic chemicals though? Do I strike you as a secret drug lord?" a sweet chukle followed before she shook her head, facing the same head again as she continued, "What exactly is it that you are suggesting and how do you assume I'll profit from it?". The question was asked rather bluntly, but there was no need to tiptoe around the issue. Also, while she wasn't a drug lord herself, she was having an affair with one and the legislative was as flexible as her morality.

The two-headed being continued and she studied them closely without appearing to do so. So they were obviously sweet talkers and ass-kissers, yet they began to play their cards well. While she was used to receiving superficial compliments about her radiant, mesmerizing beauty, the gift they suddenly offered caught her attention immediately. She still wasn't sure about what goals they actually pursued, yet she had to admit to herself that this necklace was a fine delicacy that offered an intriguing beginning to possible trades - giving that it was real. "Oh...you have now sparked my interest" she admitted, even if it was still rather mild for now as she was no one to melt down easily.

She slid her hand over and gracefully reached for the package before carefully examining the crimson beauty. "Hmm..." she shifted it in the light for a little while before she added, "How come you've gotten into the possession of such a rare treasure?", she simply couldn't help but to wonder, but it was more than curiosity that drove her. How deeply involved with the Empire were they, if they possessed jewelry obviously created by a Sith.

@Nor'baal @Eccles

 

[Baal]

”Yes.” Baal replied flatly to the Queen’s query as to whether they saw her as some sort of drug peddler. ”Even with your family's influence, there are some activities that cannot pass unnoticed by those with the capacity to look closely.” he continued, leaving it unspoken as to how Baal and his sibling had arrived at the conclusion that she was, in some way or another involved in the trade of narcotics.

It always paid to ensure that the person with whom one intended to do business was kept on their toes.

What else did the siblings know?

Perhaps it was a lucky guess, or perhaps not. Baal would not elaborate in either case. Instead, he intended to focus on the mutual gain both parties could gain from any business relationship. ”We have reason to believe that you have yet to secure a business partner on Taris.” he began, fully aware that any business partner she could have secure would have come to their attention, such was their influence on the world they called home ”This world is considered, rightly, a gateway into the Empire, a market yearning for such goods.”

He paused as their food was brought over. Thanking the waiter with a polite nod, he continued ”Our proposal is a simple one. Export. We have a shell company, which specialised in such matters, and we control the docks here on Taris through one of our partners. Should we be provided with an export charter, granting us a monopoly over the export of goods from Juvex into Imperial Space, we are confident that payments can be made for the bulk purchase of goods, Doonium, foodstuffs, and of course, certain hallucinogens, that would ensure your riches grew beyond counting.”