Open Pazaakodana

[Kel Dryden]

The Den
Far shore of Nymeve Lake
Takodana

Kel looked at the vast blue of the lake in front of him, with the mountains covered in lush green on the opposite shore. The young man closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The place was soothing, to the point that he forgot about the troubles he had gotten into on Nar Shaddaa. And don't even get me started about the smog and stench there. Kel exhaled discontently and took one last glance at the lake and turned around. The thought of his homeworld of Nar Shaddaa reminded him that he had work to do and people to meet. He checked the DL-44 on his hip, adjusted the flight suit, and headed towards "civilization".

The scoundrel's contact hasn't shown up yet, so Kel had some time to walk around the so-called Den. Even that name was an overstatement—what Kel was actually looking at was a strange mix of a small open-air marketplace and a tent city. As the smuggler walked closer towards it, his nostrils were hit by the smells of various meat being fried, alcoholic(?) concoctions being brewed, fusion cutters being used, and various animals grazing outside the camp. The constant hum of various languages was only interrupted by the occasional roar of a ship landing or taking off near the improvised town.

Noticing a large lean-to with quite a few small tables underneath, Kel smirked and headed towards it. If he were to wait for his contact in the Den on Takodana, he might as well get some distraction from his troubles. Taking a seat by a free table, Kell took out a deck of Pazaak cards from his pocket. Shuffling them with the air of a man who knew what he was doing, he asked loudly: "Anyone up for a game?"

 

[Chant Sindhu]

Walking amongst the makeshift settlement/market was a Mon Calamari in an orange flight suit. Her aquatic skin on top of the head shone from the sun above. With both hands stuffed in her pockets Chant Sindhu navigated through the stalls and tents at the Den, keeping an eye out for anything of interest.

This world could almost be Naboo’s twin. She concluded, glancing at the wilderness outside the Den. The thought caused a mixture of guilt and homesickness flooded her soul. Sighing Chant closed both eyes before whispering to herself.

“Stop it. No good thinking about that.”

Wanting a diversion the young Mon Calamari glanced around for anything to see or do. It was at that moment Chant heard a voice nearby at a lean-to and saw a brown haired human offering a game of chance. Thinking it over for a few seconds, Chant walked over to the man and took a seat opposite of him.

“I’m in. My name is Chant Sindhu and who might you be?”

@Catbert

 

[Kel Dryden]

At first it felt like nobody would be hopping into the game. Kel felt like he was being left hanging, as he shuffled the cards and looked around... Then, from where he least expected, a Mon Calamari approached and took a seat opposite to him. "I’m in. My name is Chant Sindhu and who might you be?" she asked.

At this point, the young scoundrel was glad he hadn't offered another game of chance instead. "I wonder what a Mon Calamari Sabacc face looks like," Kel wondered to himself. But on the outside he only grinned: "Welcome aboard. The name is Kel Dryden."

He shuffled the cards a few more times and started dealing them. As he did that, he asked in a laid-back manner: "Any bets, or are we just playing for fun?" Kel's current financial situation wasn't the most appropriate to gamble. He had been saving up credits for a little project of his. Losing those savings in the Den wasn't a part of the plan. Yet he still offered bets, knowing full well that most people would consider anything less child's play.

@Minuteman75

 

[Chant Sindhu]

Nodding Chant took the selection of cards given to her with one hand. Silently the freelancer hoped she wasn’t dealing with a cheat. I don’t have patience for that kind of poodoo. Of course they just met so Chant will try to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Folding her cards she glanced back at Kel, hearing his question. She considered it for a moment and shrugged her shoulders. “Just for fun. But if we end up playing another game may raise the stakes a bit.”

This was Chant’s way of testing what kind of competition she was dealing with. Admittedly it had been quite some time since last playing some pazaak but there was no turning back in her opinion. As soon as both were ready Chant drew cards and scored 17 points. Subsequently she chose to stand on that score and waited for the results.

@Catbert

 

[Kel Dryden]

"For fun it is then," the scoundrel smirked, taking turns with Chant to draw cards. "Sooo, is there anything in particular that you're looking for at the Den?" Kel asked in a laid-back manner to maintain the conversation.

Meanwhile, the game progressed. Chant's 17 was a good enough position. But the Mon Calamari decided to hold. Kel could only guess the reasons; maybe she lacked the cards to go back down in case of going bust. Either way, Kel was able to make his own play. The scoundrel's score ultimately went above 20, and he was on the verge of going bust. But luckily, he had just the card he needed to bring the score to 20 and win the round.

"Too late to offer her bets now, you bucket-brain nerf-herder," Kel thought to himself. But on the outside he just made a nod: "That was a close one." The young man prepared for the next round. A ship taking off nearby howled down any other sounds for a few moments; a gush of wind from the outskirts of the Den stirred his hair, as he had to hold on to the cards.

@Minuteman75

 

[Chant Sindhu]

In the midst of their game Chant heard the question. It sounded innocent enough to her so the Mon Calamari just shrugged her shoulders. “Rations and spare parts mostly. Also heard there is a speeder race being hosted tomorrow.”

After the first two rounds Chant’s expression was neutral but inwardly. My luck is terrible today. Looking back up at Kel and nodded in respect. “Not bad, not at all but let’s see what happens next.”

Waiting for the next turn she held onto her cards as a wind caused by a passing ship blew on them. She smirked slightly in amusement at the state of Kel’s hair.

Thank the force I was born as a Mon Calamari. I don’t know how aliens like humans and Wookiees deal with having all that hair on themselves.

Keeping that thought locked in the confines of her mind Chant instead said.

“My turn to ask. Why are you here at the Den, beside playing pazaak with strangers like me?”

@Catbert

 

[Kel Dryden]

"A speeder race? Could be worth taking a look," Kel noted to himself as he proceeded to deal the cards. Rations and spare parts also sounded about right. Kel was around for pretty much the same thing. And now it was his turn to answer a similar question. "Ain't that a reason enough?" the scoundrel smirked briefly at his opponent's remark. "Seriously though, my reasons are pretty similar to yours. Buy some parts or upgrades for my ship, drop off some cargo, resupply, and move on." The scoundrel has finished dealing the cards and made his play.

And oh boy, was it a good play. As the opponents took turns in drawing cards, Kel ended up in a similar situation: his score was close to 20, and he secured at least a tie by playing a card from hand. Now Chant would have to reach 20. "Didn't know about the speeder race though. Thanks for the tip! Might stick around just for that," he tried to distract the Mon Calamari from her stroke of bad luck, as he noticed that Chant's cards weren't perfect, and she probably wouldn't score a 20. "You definitely should've offered bets, Kel."

@Minuteman75

 

[Chant Sindhu]

Chant uttered a chuckle at Kel’s joke much to her own surprise. This human is entertaining whoever he is. She listened to his own explanation and made some sense. Of course for all the pilot knew there could be more to the story but frankly unless it concerned her somehow or brought up Chant really didn’t care to pry further.

Got my own things to deal with anyway.

The former fighter pilot noted after they drew cards Kel held the advantage. “Did you take card lessons from Lando’s ghost by any chance?” Chant teased with a slight grin despite her bad luck. Might as well not sob over for spilled blue milk.

While the two spacers continue to engage their game of cards a Gamorran with a battle axe walks past them. Not before letting out gas from the rear in a loud fart. Immediately Chant gagged and leaned over, murmuring.

“By the tides that stench can stop a rancor.”

@Catbert

 

[Kel Dryden]

Kel chuckled soundlessly at the opponent's remark. He rarely had such luck with his cards, and of course it had to be when they weren't betting. But whatever—respect was just as important as cash, and Kel was keeping up the appearance so far. Waving his hand casually, he replied: "Not really. I'm just a lucky guy."

Then the Gamorrean walked by... Boy, was it worse than the smell of a Hutt's breath. For a brief moment, it felt like the wind from another ship taking off in the distance.... Full of banthas. That hadn't been washed for weeks. The complacent smile on the scoundrel's face turned into a grimace of disgust, as he had to put his cards on the table and shield his mouth and nose with a palm.

"Ugh..." after a few moments, when the initial stench subsided, Kel wiped his eyes from tears and put his hand back on the cards. "Not the classiest place for this sort of thing," he spoke while trying to catch his breath. "Even Nar Shaddaa smells like a better option now." With that, he proceeded to deal the cards for the round that could gain him a victory.

This time, his cards weren't perfect. Kel still had a couple of cards on hand, so he played one, bringing his score to 19. "I think I'll stand here this time." The Mon Calamari would have to at least match his score or surpass it to stay in the game. She had an advantage with more cards on hand, and could easily turn the tide of a round or two. The scoundrel figured it was time to make the opponent use at least some of those cards.

@Minuteman75

 

[Chant Sindhu]

Coughing a bit to the side, Chant Sindhu finally sat up again. That stench is something she would rather forget soon as possible. The pilot watched the other one play some of his cards. Need to tie or beat it to stay in this game. She realized but said nothing.

Instead Chant took her turn and checked what she had it was...not good. Reluctantly the Mon Calamari played her cards against Kel’s. It was as she expected. Sighing in brief disappointment with herself Chant looked over to the human.

“You got me Kel. Got me good.”

It wasn’t the outcome she preferred but the freelancer did count her blessings that the game hadn’t involved serious credits. I would’ve been kriffed. With that thought in mind Chant got up and offered her right hand to shake and a nod of respect.

“Thanks for the game. See ya around.”

Whatever Kel chose to do, Chant Sindhu would then turn around and disappear in the bustling crowd within the market. Both hands in her pockets the spacer looked up to the blue sky and whispered.

“Just another day in the galaxy.”

@Catbert

 

[Kel Dryden]

The Mon Calamari had the luck of an Alderaanian today. Even with all her cards on hand, she couldn't turn the tide of the final round. Kel nodded, standing up together with his opponent. Accepting the handshake, the young man nodded with a genuine smile: "Thanks for joining. You did good. I figure it was pure luck." He'd then grab the cards with one hand and give a two-finger salute turning into a farewell wave with the other, all while walking backwards.

You really should've played for cash. But then again... word gets around. the scoundrel turned back and looked down on the ground with a smirk, as he walked through the Den again, his hands and cards now pocketed. A few matches like this in the Outer Rim, and you might make a semblance of a name for yourself. Kel Dryden, pilot and gambler. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

// EXIT THREAD