Open Nar Shaddaa No Money, Big Whammies

[Keck]

theme​

"Are you deaf and dumb? I said no! I don't take food as payment. No credits, no ship, no deal!"

Keck frowned in dismay, slowly pocketing the snacks he was offering. This was a lot harder than he'd expected. Fishing around in his pockets, he pulled out the scrip he had on hand, offering it with a hopeful smile. "Credits?" The angry-looking Iktotchi threw up his hands in frustration and despair. "That's not enough! More credits! More! If that's all you have, then get out!" Dejected, Keck slipped the three chips back into his purse and exited the store.

Keck wanted to buy a bigger ship than his X-thing, which was way too cramped to sleep on. Seeing magazines advertising 'The best starcraft deals in the whole galaxy!!' in Nar Shaddaa, he knew that was the perfect place to go. But the diminutive Jedi definitely didn't expect to deal with people this strict. Back on the station where he trained, the Jedi were very sharing and helpful - but definitely not so much, here. He'd already spent most of his credits just paying for parking! Where was he going to get more?

Stepping out into the busy streets, Keck's senses were immediately assaulted by a dizzying array of lights, sounds, and smells. It was more than anything he'd ever experienced before, and he couldn't help but stand there for a moment in awe. This place was crazy! So much to see and do! Wait, that's right. Credits. Need to get credits.

How do people get credits?

Wandering down the bustling streets, he spied a large sign with the flashing words "CASINO: BIG WINNINGS! GET CREDITS FAST!". Perfect! Just what he needed. The Force always brought him where he needed to be. Keck hustled inside as fast as his stubby legs could carry him.

 

[Hiraya Manawari]

He knew he was not supposed to be in Nar Shaddaa as his Ma told him, but here Hiraya was, accompanied by a Knight who got carried away with helping a pair of pretty girls. The two Jedi weren't even supposed to make a stop here but the need to refuel the ship arose when they were making their return trip to Starlight.

Bored out of his mind while he waited for the Knight to return, the Tiefling felt the itch to step out of the ship and look around. He wouldn't leave the spaceport, he told himself, but then his wandering feet and wide crimson eyes made for such a persuasive combination – and now Hiraya was wandering the streets, a slight bounce to his steps while he nibbled on a rather large lollipop he'd bought from a smiling old dude.

The streets of Nar Shaddaa wasn't exactly the prettiest nor the safest place for a teenage Jedi to be wandering around – alone – but his current attire made up enough for him to blend perfectly in the crowd. There was not a single identifying mark that identified him as a Padawan of the Jedi Order. No braid, no saber. Just he, himself, and–

Carmine eyes alighted on a large, gaudy sign with the words flashing in eye-hurting, mind-numbing neon lights:"CASINO: BIG WINNINGS! GET CREDITS FAST!". Hiraya was not a gambler, nor was he interested in the pursuit of greedily hoarding credits. But he was a teenager, and like many teenagers his age he was absolutely taken by the prospect of entering a casino.

There were no guards posted by the entrance, or if there was they didn't give a kark about who entered the establishment.

With a lopsided grin twisted further by the large lollipop held between fanged teeth, Hiraya took a step closer, eyes bright with mischief. He heard hurried footsteps behind him, and politely made way for the frog-like sentient when he realized that the latter was headed in the same direction as he was. Popping the candy from his mouth, the Tiefling offered them a toothy, boyish smile.

"Here for the creds, too?" he asked them, not realizing in the slightest that he was talking with a fellow Jedi, and a Knight at that.

@Shalken

 

[Doorcuttah]

The largest and brightest lights in the district, the shiniest things you could imagine. These were the pulls that drew butters in with reckless abandon. Although he'd only a small stack of credits to his name, the mighty Orcolan knew that it only took just the right amount of luck and wishing hard enough to make dreams come true.

ANd what was a casino if not a place where dreams came true? Well, I suppose they are also fun places to hang out and meet interesting new people, hear ridiculous gossip and of course the free drinks were properly the best part by far.

Unfortunately, in this case, luck had not been on his side as he continued to fork over another credit into the machine. The thrill of pulling down the handle on a slot machine was exhilarating, a tempting allure of flashy success and wealth just waiting to drop into your lap aaaaaaaaaaaaand diddly squat.

"Ah crumbs." Butters said, furiously mad in the way only those who knew him would know, since they knew him in the way that they would know. Clutching an XXL Orcolan strength can of Emryc Energy, the only manner of recourse was to push another credit into the machine and try again.

The next pull would totally be different, he could feel his luck changing for the better!

It didn't and by now he was almost entirely broke.

@Shalken @marshland

Roll: 21/100

 

[Keck]

Before heading inside, a lanky horned figure seemed to be going in as well. This was great - the more the merrier! "YAH! Come too? Make big credits together!" he invited, puttering into the loud establishment unimpeded.

Keck thought the streets were a lightshow, but even they paled in comparison to the dazzling display inside. Tables of blinking lights surrounded by patrons, flashy server droids puttering about offering drinks and food, and noisy slot machines all beckoned hapless wanderers in. Unable to take it all in at once, Keck dashed to the nearest attraction, taking a seat next to a huge Orcolan. Noticing the glum look on his face, Keck couldn't fathom how anyone could be sad in a place like this. Maybe he was hungry? Snatching an empty (and possibly used) plate from a roaming droid, Keck poured a large portion of his various crispy bug parts onto it, pushing the plate of food into the Orcolan's lap. "Have snack! Feel better, yes?" the diminutive Jedi encouraged with a cheery grin.

Taking a few moments to actually figure out what he was supposed to do with this flashy machine, Keck slotted one of his credit chips into the device before jumping to grab the crank, using his full body weight to spin it. Watching it spin and make many bloopy noises, he was delighted when it stopped with a little victorious fanfare, pouring a moderate sum of credits into the winnings tray. Wow, it WAS easy to make credits! Ecstatic, he carefully picked out all the silver chips - they were worth more, of course - and divvied up the gold ones between the lumbering one sat next to him and the horned friend that followed him in.

@marshland @Xorism

 

[Hiraya Manawari]

Hiraya could not help but be drawn to the frog-like being's energy. Although it was his intent to enter the casino, he couldn't refrain from replying with a cheerful "Yeah, let's go!" as he followed his new friend inside with an energetic bounce on his steps.

Keeping his eyes on his new acquaintance, Hiraya followed them towards the slot machines. He politely declined offers of food and drink from the serving droids, and was mindful not to bump into anyone for fear of earning their wrath or irritation. The young Tiefling kept his tail close, letting it wrap around his tail so it wouldn't hit anyone if he wagged it too much from excitement. The pair stopped beside a rather glum Orcolan, an amused snicker escaping him when the small being offered the big guy some snacks.

...but come to think of it, did those bugs taste good?

Ignoring his gnawing curiosity, Hiraya's attention was swiftly directed to the slot machine that spewed out credits into the winnings tray, crimson eyes growing wide with surprise when the frog-like being split some of his winnings between him and the Orcolan. He honestly did not need the credits, he was just here to witness the fun and games. But his hands still closed around the golden chips, eyes shining with gratitude.

"Ah, thank you! Um...?" he blurted out through a mouthful of lollipop, his words tapering off into an unspoken inquiry of the little guy's name. "My name's Hiraya, by the way!"

Shifting his focus on the slot machine in front of him, the Padawan slid onto the seat and inserted a chip into the contraption. Imitating what he saw, Hiraya grabbed and pulled the crank, twining the index and middle fingers of his free hand in a universal sign of good luck. He watched the signages spin, hoping to win the jackpot...

...which, of course, ended up in complete and utter failure.

"W-What...?" he spluttered, looking rather affronted. Inserting another chip and pulling the crank again, Hiraya stared so intently at the machine in front of him, fanged teeth digging into the candy hard enough to crack the confectionery. "I'm gonna get the next one, just watch!"

@Shalken @Xorism

 

[Doorcuttah]

The unfortunate setback by way of the machine would have stopped if not for the timely adventurer who arrived and promptly provided both snack and credit for the hapless Orcolan. With an outrageously large smile, he'd have slapped Keck on the back if not for the high possibility that it would send the poor chap floating away.

Instead, he happily took the gifts, downing the snacks and placing the credits to the machine immediately. "I do thank you kind friend! Everyone calls me Butters, what's your name?"

But alas the good news stopped there, even with the good fortune of Keck, the machine continued to gobble up the funds and soon if his luck didn't change, Butters would be out once more. What were the heckin' odds on these things, he wondered.

@Shalken @marshland

Roll: 52/100

 

[Keck]

Keck was even more excited when the Orcolan actually ate the food he was offered! He looked to his newfound friends with a wide, derpy grin. "Keck!" he blurted out, especially happy that this friendly stranger was hungry enough for the snacks. But what was also definitely hungry were these noisy lever machines - both his newfound friends fed them credits, and nothing happened. How strange. They were supposed to take the credits and make more of them, right? Maybe their machines were broken. Keck slotted some more chips into his machine and cranked it once again, only for his to break too! A glum frown settled on Keck's face - no wonder it wasn't super packed in here if their machines were broken. Someone should go tell a manager.

Marching over to someone wearing very fancy clothes, Keck tapped their leg and pointed out the slot machines. "Credit makers broken! Not giving credits!" he declared before turning and marching off to some other exhibit, proud of having done a good deed of reporting the faulty equipment. Keck didn't hear the stranger drunkenly gripe that he didn't work here, pal.

Spotting a group of people gathered around a table, the amphibian noticed they all had some cards in hand and piles of circular tokens next to them. One figure grabbed a large pile of the tokens from the center of the table, adding it to his own. This was such a brilliant idea - making easy money and playing a game while doing it? Genius! Keck rushed over to a nearby table that some people had recently left, grabbed an entire armful of the round tokens and some cards, then carried them over and dumped them onto the table with the other players. He pushed his coins into the middle of the table. "Keck play too!" He was all in.

@marshland @Xorism