Ask Growing Pains

[Z'Kair]

Kai’s haul was getting to be unmanageable, and he refused to work with his usual fence. Rumor had it that Sleek from Sleek’s Shinies was in the business, though he had only known her as a general parts repair and seller. The fact that even he didn’t immediately know her game meant she was good at it.

He stepped through the door and had to immediately restrain himself from swiping something. The rows upon rows of parts and gadgets were absolutely ripe for the taking. Kai vaguely recalled Sleek from having conned her into a lifetime supply of Emryc Energy before. Expecting her to want to skin him for the trouble, he decided that coming in with a massive amount of business would make anyone set aside past transgressions.

Kai walked over to the counter and dinged the button repeatedly to get her attention from wherever she was. He had spice to smuggle and couldn’t wait around all day. His tail was twitching as he looked around at all the merchandise, his gaze roaming for any cameras.

@Remileah

 

[Yoshiko "Sleek" Ryder]

— Image

Location: Nar Shaddaa, Sleek's Shinies

___The door to the warehouse swung open, though nobody stepped through it. Instead, Sleek's BD-series droid was the first to greet Z'Kair, hopping up on the counter to warble with annoyance. Its zoom-capable photoreceptor whirred as it focused on the man. Realised who he was, the photoreceptor unfocused as the droid's head bobbed and tilted, and the droid beeped with curiosity.

___"Di-Gi? Who is it?!" Sleek's voice echoed from behind the door. "En't nothin' so ruttin' important that they en't able t'hit it once and wait a gorram minute! Ghoomba, if that's you, I swear I'm gonna deposit m'boot so far up yer arse the interest alone'll be enough fer me t'retire early!" she barked as she kicked the door open, ears splayed flat against her head in frustration as her tail whipped up a storm behind her. When she saw Z'Kair, she stopped. Her brow furrowed.

___"Well, would y'lookit what the loth-cat dragged in," Sleek scoffed, her lips turning up into a grin as her tail settled behind her. "En't never thought I'd see you again," she laughed, her ears perking up as her mood shifted instantly. The woman walked over to a stool behind the counter and plopped down on it, resting an elbow on the countertop before resting her chin in her hand. "Sorry fer that. Thought y'were someone else," she said. "Welcome t'Sleek's Shinies. What brings y'here?"

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai winced as Sleek came charging out, his gaze first flicking down to her enormous- nope, eye contact. He looked her in the eye, thankful for the grin instead of hissing and attacking from the Emryc Energy debacle, “Who did you think I was?” He asked with a scoff, “Maybe I can get some items from them to sell to you,” Kai snickered. It sounded like a win/win to him.

“I’ll cut to the chase,” He said, sliding a datapad over for her to review, “That’s inventory I’m hauling right now that I need off my ass stat,” Kai said. If she looked, she would have to scroll down for a while to get the full scope of how much he had to dump on her. As if merchandise wasn’t enough, he even included a banking ship in there that she was free to strip for parts or reconstruct as she pleased.

“I’m giving you bulk, Sleek,” He said, “At least do me a solid on margin on this one,” Kai said with a smile.

@Remileah

 

[Yoshiko "Sleek" Ryder]

___"Thought y'were that Duros gonk from down the way, name-a Ghoomba," Sleek replied with a roll of her eyes. "Y'wanna go nick some things from him, I en't gonna tell y'no."

___As Z'Kair got to business, Sleek reached out to take the datapad. Her ears flitted as she listened to the Fiani, scrolling through the impressive list with a whistle. Di-Gi hobbled his way over to the woman and mounted her shoulder, leaning forward to appraise the screen with her. She scrolled and scrolled, remaining silent as she reviewed the complete inventory. Occasionally, she would hum, tilt her head, or pause momentarily. Once she finished, she set the datapad down on the counter.

___"That's a lotta scratch," Sleek said, looking up at Z'Kair. "I need ya t'level with me: how hot is all-a this?" she asked, lacing her fingers together to rest her hands on the counter. "I need t'have an idea if I'mma have mercs or Hutt enforcers come a-knockin' sometime soon. I'm also assumin' ya en't defaced anything, removed tags, short-circ'd trackers, replaced serial numbers?" Sleek inquired, pulling her hands apart to gesture with open palms. They rested on the counter again.

___"Y'are sellin' bulk, I'll give y'that. If all-a this is still preem, en't been touched, gonna be a lotta transcation costs. I'll give ya seventy-thirty, my way," Sleek offered, her tail swaying thoughtfully behind her.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai scoffed at her responses, crossing his arms over his chest, “Nothing is hot in Nar Shadda,” He said with a smirk, “I’m in a rush to get the cash, but I’m in no rush for anyone cracking down on me. If you want a bigger margin, you’re best off operating in the Core. I can get you set up if you give me a permanent higher flat rate cut,” He gave her a fanged grin.

There was no doubt that even on her best deals, she was losing out on a lot of potential revenue because there simply wasn’t that big sense of urgency. Most things were stolen in Hutt space and it was a safe haven from Core authorities.

“For now, make me a better deal or I’m sure I can find someone else willing to take all this off my hands.”

@Remileah

 

[Yoshiko "Sleek" Ryder]

___Sleek pursed her lips and nodded. What the other Fiani said was true: merchandise on Nar Shaddaa wasn't typically "hot," not unless it was stolen directly from one of the Hutts themselves. The woman raised a hand to rub thoughtfully at her chin, her eyes narrowing as Z'Kair made his proposition. Her index finger tapped against the counter, her brow furrowing as she mulled over his offer. Eventually, Sleek sighed through her nostrils.

___"A'ight," she began, "I'll bite. I'll give ya 40% right now, but if y'get me sittin' pretty on a core world, I'll give ya the other 10%. All future scratch y'bring me, I'll split with ya fifty-fifty. Cosinder it an official business arrangement," Sleek raised her hands to rest her chin on her fingers. If she could get a cosy spot on a core world, the half-split with Z'Kair would be negligible. She'd make more than enough from others to cover that deficit, and having a consistent business partner would be a considerable boon.

___Assuming he followed through.

___"Same amenities as I got now," Sleek continued, gesturing back towards the doors leading to her hangar and warehouse with her head. "'Specially the hangar. Lotta my on-record business comes from fixin' starships, but I can get a warehouse somewhere else if I gotta. How's that deal sound fer you?"

@Sreeya