Open The Business Proposal

[Alden Dicosta]

(The "Open" tag comes with a caveat - your character would need to be a criminal and not under cover. Thorough vetting would have been performed, and only ones who passed would be invited. If you're not aligned criminal but think your character would reasonably be at the meeting below, then let me know.)
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The clatter of fine dishes emerged from the ready room, carrying with it towering trays stuffed with silver lined porcelain dishes, twisted stem wine glasses, and sterling silver cutlery. The four servers moved with practiced efficiency, aligning things just so on a long table that could seat fourteen - two on each end and six on each side. Although this seemed like just another routine day in terms of work, it was in fact a very not routine day - one of the hottest subjects of gossip was present, preparing for some sort of business meeting. Per special request, the top-tier chefs, servers, and all aides in preparation were human - not a single droid in sight. The manager had simply shrugged when the request came to his desk. The more money his customer wanted to spend, the more the glamorous Matagagi Hotel could rake in from the client, after all... and boy, was there money at play.

Finishing up her task, one of the servers shyly looked out of the wide open door leading to the patio and to the benefactor, mister Alden DiCosta.

DiCosta sat on one of the elegant, curved chairs on the patio deck, looking out over the dozens of miles of visibility that his elevation provided. From the view, he could see the city on Thyferra swell and shrink as traffic followed the same repetitive pattern, every hour, every day, and every year that he could possibly remember. Absent minded, the host of tonight's parties was quickly sketching what he saw on his daily datapad - mindless enough work that he could think while doing so and still manage to keep his hands busy. He looked down at his art and shook his head. Looks like I'm not going to be invited to many Coruscanti showings, he thought with a hardly perceptible grin. He decided that it was alright, as he couldn't think of anything he had forgotten. After all, he had been planning his debut to the galaxy at large for such a long time - the planning was so engrained in his mind that he was sure he could go over it backwards and forwards. Standing to do a final check, he walked into the now-set dining table, giving a close inspection of the work. He couldn't complain, and continued around the room.

The room was one long rectangle, running from east to west. On the east doorway is where his guests would arrive from the hotel's turbolift, getting an immediate view of their lavish surroundings. As he walked clockwise from the door he saw many things - first in one corner stood the tools of a five-piece band, well versed in subtle, soothing music. A long wall with art spanned into the next corner, where the hotel had set up a full bar fit for all of his guests. Then, he passed the doors to the kitchen, the space where he would begin his presentation, and finally wound back to the north facing patio, an extension the same size and shape of the room that could be entered by three high archways for guests to relax after dinner. Overall, he couldn't complain.

Hearing footsteps from behind him, Alden did a crisp turn and saw his head of security standing before him - one of his few trusted confidants, Gwyn Sionne. She gave a curt bow, the blaster on her back wobbling awkwardly.

"Good evening, Gwyn. I presume everything is in order?"

"Yes sir. Since we don't know exactly how our guests will interact, I've stationed two plainclothes guards in the lobby, four at the elevator entrance, and four more in the kitchen."

"Blasters only set to stun unless we come under attack, correct?"

"Of course. About your food request, I have worked with Aayana to follow your instructions to the letter. Each dish will be supervised by some of our own chefs, who are instructed to call the guards if the chefs even consider putting something extra in the food. As you say, the comfort and safety of our guests is of utmost importance."

"As they are. Thank you, Gwyn - as always, you're a lifesaver." The woman cocked a bit of a wry grin and shook her head. Alden was always formal when he was nervous about a presentation. As she walked away, Alden couldn't help but look at her notably well-proportioned backside before snapping his eyes away. He knew that Gwyn was rather happy with her girlfriend, which was good - as long as she continued to fill her duties, Gwyn deserved all of the happiness she can get, and if she were to ever hurt Gwyn... Well, it wouldn't be the first kneecap he had smashed.

As he had dressed earlier, he pat himself down, checking the positions of gear. His daily mobile datapad - check. Synthweave suit - also check. Alert button should his party fall under attack - double check. His modified DT-18 blaster... Missing. It took him a moment to remember that he had left his prized gun in his permanent room in the hotel as a show of good faith. Alden was no fool and knew that violence was always on the table, but he'll be damned if he was the one who started it. Taking off his sunglasses as a bartender delivered him his favorite drink - three measures of gin and one measure of vodka, and a half measure of lilet wine. Ice cold from the mixer, it was finely garnished with a long, thin lemon peel. He couldn't get enough of it. Walking to the end of the dining table on the far side from the elevators, he sat and simply sipped his drink, waiting for his guests to arrive.

 

[BX 166]

BX-166 looked around the hotel as he entered, swiftly avoiding people as they passed by. Man if they were busy! The droid looked around, spotted the turbolift to the suite where the receiving would happen, and approached it. The guards stopped him, likely surprised to meet an over a century old droid design, and asked him his intentions.

"I heard that mister DiCosta has a quite interesting proposal regarding some... special wares, inviting people from all the Syndicates" he said in response. The guards let him in, and he went through the turbolift. He had his blaster pistol on the side, just in case it was needed, to try to not look excessively threatening.

Ding! The lift stopped, and the door opened, revealing the droid to the large room. He scanned the room, spotted Alden, and approached him. "Mister DiCosta, I suppose?" he asked.

@Santoro

 

[Kallixus Ranjir]

Kallixus had forgotten the last time he had been invited to a high-end dinner by the head of a crime family, no less! He had ensured to dress the part. Arriving in a Guild d'Lanseaux Luxury Speeder and wearing a black suit of the same brand, Kallixus had left his pistol behind in the speeder as he stepped down and entered the venue.

He was immediately drawn up short in front of a heavy set guard, who had the bearing of an ex-soldier. The guard was less of a doorkeeper and more a brick wall, an absolute titan of a man - and by the cut of his suit, expensive to hire. The DiCosta family were doing their best to impress. A display of wealth, such as that which was on offer, was all well and good, but the Syndicates would be keen to see if they could back their wealth up with muscle.

If the guard at the door were anything to go by, the DiCosta family would not disappoint.

As observant as Kallixus was; however, the machinations of the Syndicate families fascinated him. As a fixer, he stood to gain significantly from the ripples a new player on the block could send out. Ever one to keep his options open, Kallixus showed his invitation to the guard and walked through and into the event proper. He clocked the expensive artwork on the walls, the well-arranged dining table, and the man who sat at the apex of it all, Alden DiCosta.

A slight man, he nonetheless looked at home, a spider at the centre of his web, crowned at the high table and watching as his guests entered.

Walking over to the kingpin, Kallixus smiled in greeting and would hake DiCostas hand if it was offered "Mr. DiCosta." he went on to introduce himself "Kallixus Ranjir. You've made quite the name for yourself already, so I hear. It was a pleasure to receive an invite to this," he paused, mulling his next word "...gathering."

 

[Alden Dicosta]

He had just finished a second round of his cocktail before the lights above the turbolift door began to blink, indicating a passenger heading to his floor. As if reading his mind, Gwyn re-emerged from wherever she had been (it was hard to tell sometimes) with a datapad extended out towards him. He looked through one of the hotel's security cameras and saw a grainy image showing...

"Wait, is that a Separatist droid? As in Clone Wars separatist?" Alden asked, looking up to his guard.
"Yes sir, that seems to be the case."
"Huh. Well, drop the recording and scrub the feed. He'll definitely be an interesting guest."

Alden stood up to brush off his suit, surprised to see no lines. The new synthweave cost was worth the price so far, but he didn't feel like taking a blaster bolt to test its full capabilities. As he looked up, he put on his warmest smile and stepped around the table, heading towards his first guest.

"Alden DiCosta, glad to meet you. Feel free to just call me Alden - we're all friends here." Unsure of droid protocol, he omitted shaking hands. That was always best reserved for after the deal was closed, anyway. "I'd heard of bounty hunting droids before, but you're the first I've come face-to-face with. In any case, your reputation proceeds you, BX-116."

DiCosta pivoted and swung his arm out to indicate the room, immaculate, well-lit, and missing most of the typical underworld grime and disorder one would come to expect.

"Please, make yourself at home. I apologize in advance, but I don't know if there's such an equivalent for droids to replace alcohol. If there is some sort of current to stimulate your computations, any of the attendants would happily be of assistance." He stepped calmly into the room to lead his guest towards the long table, but more importantly to show his back to the droid. You only know someone when you're at your weakest, and unarmed facing the wrong direction was a pretty weak mood. "I'm actually glad you received my invitation. From what I understand you do some work with the Five Syndicates - I'm nowhere near their level, so it's an honor you took time out of your schedule."

As the last words left his lips, another ding from the lift indicated another guest. Alden smiled again, a more natural one - at least his letters out weren't a total bust, and he had started to feel the bits of liquid alcohol creeping in, making him more fluid and calm.

"Ah - Kallixus! I appreciate the sentiment, but I know at least for the short term there's a long way to go. Your record is impressive - at least what I could find about it. Truly, the honor is mine." As before, he indicated a few items in the room, and before he was finished an attendant had reached Mr. Ranjir and asked for his drink order.

"I do hope tonight turns into a fascinating one for us all. I would imagine your time under contract for the Five Syndicates has given you a good perspective I certainly wouldn't have, so I'm sure I'll be asking for plenty of insider tips." Alden smiled like it was a bit of a joke, but it was actually true. Alden had typically preferred to delete his enemies before getting caught in a crossfire, so having two warfighters in the room made him strangely comfortable.

"Kallixus, this is BX-116 - I have a feeling you two may get along well. We should hopefully have a couple of more guests arriving shortly, so please make yourselves comfortable."

((OOC: Sorry for the delay @Nor'baal and @samdragon - real life smacked me around for a couple of days.))

 

[Alden Dicosta]

Minutes pass slowly as a slight but undeniable discomfort grows. Although Alden is by all measures a good host, you can sense his irritation grow as he looks down at the time on his wrist.

The Syndicates aren't coming, then. Alden wasn't particularly surprised by the fact, but more disappointed - this would change his timeline, and he would have to fight an uphill battle to be seen. It's not the first time, he thought, and it won't be the last. Arrogance is the path to failure.

With a quick tap on the table, DiCosta seemed to make up his mind. Cool and unperturbed, Alden smiles and looks up to the two. He had invited them for a reason, and he didn't have to split his attention anymore.

"Gentlemen, I think we can get started."

Servants came to place an array of food and drinks at the table, pulling chairs to indicate the guests should sit nearest to him. He sat at the end of the table, facing the elevator and knowing his security officer would alert him if someone tried to emerge on their floor. Alden straightened himself in the chair, stretching his arms out and then casually resting his palms on the tabletop - an old pirate's sign that he wasn't aiming a pistol under the table. That he was speaking in good faith.

"As you can likely guess, many of the invites this evening went unanswered. While less than desirable, in a way that allows us to speak more freely." He gives the two time to sit, stand, or leave - it would be up to them. "So in the sake of clarity, let me make one thing clear: I am not here to hire employees, or to make find underlings. I am here to find partners and like-minded individuals." He waits another couple of seconds to let that sink in before continuing. Although you are sure he's done some preparation, you don't get the feeling that he is going entirely off a script.

"The Jedi have always been far-fetched for me. I have seen nothing in my life that would indicate proof of some universal power they wield, but I will give them one thing - they are brilliant philosophers."

"Years ago lived a Jedi who wrote much about something called 'shatter points'. Among other things, it was an abstract concept to describe critical moments in time where the course of history is decided, or where small actions can have big consequences, like a stone in a pond. I believe that we are living in one of those times, and I believe I know how to strike this shatter point." Alden raised his right hand, slowly and non-threateningly but somehow smooth and measured at the same time. He slipped it into the left side of his suit jacket, and just as smoothly drew his hand out to show a crystal, only a few centimeters long and a centimeter wide. Opaque, it contained many shades of blue and grey which caught the light as he turned it in his hand.

"This, my friends, is called Azure Star, and it is the key to the future." he placed the crystal down and slid it on the table so it could be inspected. "Azure Star is a new synthetic spice compound created by the brightest minds in the galaxy. On its own, it provides a mild euphoria to most humanoid users - so little that it couldn't possibly pose a threat compared to even minor illicit substances. That perception is what gives it its true power."

Leaning back, you can see that Alden is in his element - talking straight to the point about something he is passionate about.

"Azure Star is what I like to think of as a companion spice. Without getting too much into the specifics and putting it plainly, Azure Star is designed to be mixed with any spice be it smoked, injected, or eaten. It enhances and lengthens the high that the user craves, and eases the following crash. There ends its benefit for the user. Azure Star drives addiction, pure and simple. In testing, over 90% of users were chemically and mentally addicted to the compound within three to five uses. It is relatively cheap to produce, and very easy to smuggle - it's not even on the radar for law enforcement. it is how we can use existing drug distribution for our own gain. It is how we can make so much money that we couldn't possibly spend it in a lifetime. It is how we will be able to afford to do anything we want."

Realizing he was getting taken away with his ambition, he smiled and took a beat to refocus.

"The Five Syndicates had an opportunity to get in at the ground floor and reap the most benefits. They have chosen to discard this opportunity, and so I place it in front of you both. The path forward is murky and dangerous, and we would need to gamble with powers far greater than us... for now. With the groundwork I have already laid, I will make enemies. We would make enemies. They will come for us with guns and ships and spies and betrayal, but I don't think that's new to anyone in this room. I believe each of us, if utilized to our fullest extent, can easily strike these enemies down, to bring them to heel, or to make them see our vision as clearly as you both can likely see it now. At all times keep in mind that I hold two things dear to me - business and loyalty. My vision is to make money and sweep away the selfishness and distrust that plague the black market, and I will take those who believed in that same vision straight to the top with me."

He took a moment to look each of his guests in the eyes - or in the case of BX-116, the sensors.

"So, gentlemen. While of course I would be glad to answer your questions, for I have set aside this night to solely be in your company, the real question boils down to one thing... Are you content doing what the Syndicates tell you to do and barely scraping by, or do you have the courage to make your own fate?"

 

[Kallixus Ranjir]

Kallixus listened intently as Mr DiCosta made his opening pitch to the modest gathering. From what he was saying, there was no doubt in his mind at all that the man had considerable ambition. The Fixer hoped he had the credits and the wherewithal to follow it through. Suppressing a sigh as DiCosta went off on some tangent about Jedi philosophy, Kallixus temporarily spaced out of the meeting, checking back in when the criminal returned to the business.

Azure Star. It was not something he had ever heard of before, a new drug on the market. But, Kallixus had seen this scheme before and heard of more than he had seen himself. Some drugged-up geek coming up with the new 'big high', almost always, these ventures collapsed under the weight of the more established distributors.

But not before a hell of a lot of credits had been paid out to others.

Kallixus didn't care what the drug could do. He didn't care about how it was made or, indeed, who would be selling it. Instead, he watched what business could come his way from this endeavour. Then, finally, DiCosta got to the end of his pitch and posed them all a question - albeit one with a considerably weighted lead-in.

Lighting a stim as he spoke, Kallixus looked the crime lord up and down. "Sounds like you've got one hell of a plan." he took a drag, making everyone in the room wait a few seconds for this mild indulgence before he continued. "I've had dealings in the drug biz. I've had dealings in the guns biz. And, I'm always looking for new clients." he stood up and fixed the top button of his jacket. "Provided they've got the scratch." he nodded to DiCosta, ignoring the droid.

"You know how to reach me." he turned and walked toward the exit, pausing at the door "I'll be watching you with interest. Don't be a stranger." Kallixus added, before leaving.

/exitthread

 

[BX 166]

BX-166 listened closely to what Alden had to say, examining with mild curiosity the spice the man showed, scanning it with his sensors. It was hard to read his expression, or rather, lack of them, so probably Alden couldn't read what he thought.

"I'll be honest with you, Alden. For obvious reasons, the Droid Gotra doesn't have much interest in spice since well, we don't use them. Maybe our associates at the Crymorah Syndicate could be interested... if they decided to show up. I bet my blaster that the Hutts would love this new spice, and even the Pykes would totally benefit from it, so they could mix it with the tons of spice they mine from Kessel. But. If you need droid guards for the shipments, or something like that, I could try and see if I can do anything. In any case, if you want, I can offer my services for it" he said, looking at Alden. If he had a mouth, he would be smiling.

@Santoro