Open Wheel of Fortune

[Darth Stolas]

It felt strange and, at the same time, quite comfortable to be where Morgan was at this moment. On a space station inside the Grand Casino, the sounds of live music, laughter, cries of despair, and the many different kinds of gambling going on filling the air. Part of it made him feel habitually uncomfortable while the other parts felt right at home. He wasn't sure if he liked it yet or not, but he seemed to be having fun and it distracted him from everything else bouncing around his head.

Dressed in a fine suit that somehow managed to be far from the flashiest thing presented in the casino he still got some attention solely as a result of his subtly silver-toned skin and eyes like brightest amber. Luckily his face wasn't one people recognized but he'd already had an awkward refusal from a young lady in search of well-funded attention. A cigarra burned between Morgan's lips, ashed at regular intervals to his side. Morgan was armed only by only a retractable staff-baton handed over to casino security and his own varied skills.

Thus far at his present table he was in the lower half of success, although not exactly losing per say. The idea of playing a game based purely on chance was novel to the Firrerreo who mostly played with words to get what he wanted. Of course Sabacc wasn't without a pattern and Morgan was capable of learning how to count cards so he'd avoided that and gone for croupier instead. As he sipped a strong vaguely green drink he couldn't help but think his family wouldn't approve-

And he found himself taking an inordinate amount of interest in just how fast the gambling wheel was spinning, as if trying to find a pattern. There were too many variables but it kept him from thinking about other things for the moment at least. Technically he was here for work and was just waiting for a most curious contact to show up. A Hutt, of all things, had made contact to 'Stolas' through his network of Sith agents and criminal elements. Morgan probably had Kara Lok to thank for this as he tended to pay more generously than the norm. It encouraged good work and return business and, frankly, the Drasts had a bad habit of sitting on their money.

More things to stubbornly not think about. Things like the look on a man with silver eyes if they ever gazed on Prince Morgan Ali gambling in a casino. He gulped down half his drink and pushed some tokens forward for the next bet.

And actually won something this time with a call on black! This was fun. Where was this Hutt, anyway? Golden eyes looked around the vast chamber for what felt like the hundredth time this evening.

Morgan hoped it was the kind that bent under pressure. He had work to do and old goals that'd resurfaced lately and he was certainly self aware enough to realize his patience could be frayed thin under the right circumstances. Besides which, Hutts were even more reviled than the Sith these days by the common people of the galaxy. While the Senate was talking about wars and territory the plague the Clans unleashed was the main concern of most.

Since he was already in a gambling mood he decided if this Hutt showed up on some kind of hover-sled he'd buy them a strong drink.

@Nor'baal

OOC: Dice rolls for gambling are 34 and 77.

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

The Wheel had become something of a Hutt hotspot of late, especially following the exile of the species from their homeworld. Its allure of games, drink and a degree of seclusiveness coming together to form a delightful offering to the gastropods who now called it a 'home away from home'. For his part, Nor'baal had found it quite the place to relax, and do business (two of his favourite things to do).

In front of a large floor to ceiling artwork of the 'Desolation of Varl', moved into the gambling hall by the casino's owners to make their Hutt guests feel more at home, Nor'baal was reclining before a table, which seemed a distance to wriggle.

Upon closer inspection, it was not the table itself that was wriggling, but rather the contents of the bowls, plates and bottles resting atop it. A moorish array of exotic creatures, some of which were on the verge of extinction thanks to their 'honoured placing' on many a Hutts feasting menu.

Nor'baal saw the Sith approach from his reclined position, and whilst he was resting on his sled, giving the impression that he was some great slob, there was no denying, from those who had seen it first hand, that the Hutt could move under his own power if needed.

As the man approached the gambling area of the Hutts banqueting table, Nor'baal plopped another riggling fish-like creature into his mouth, plucking it from the glass aquarium in front of him with a slopping sound. Drool gathered at the corners of his mouth, as he rolled the treat around in his mouth, relishing its bitter flavours, before, with a grotesque gulp, swallowing it.

Fully aware of the man who had come to see him, and who was likewise, fully away of Nor'baal, the Hutt waited several minutes before addressing him. After shovelling down more food, he looked up at his visitors and said, in Huttese <Woy uba pacmhan bu cohai pacinepou dee ata nay banki dotkola?>

 

[Darth Stolas]

Ah, there was the Hutt in question. It looked immense. Morgan wasn't sure what else he could've possibly expected from a Hutt aside from wriggling snacks and everything else. At least his expectations weren't completely dashed. The Firrerreo had to suppress a grimace- not from the sight of it but from other things the Hutt somehow brought to mind.

Morgan forced himself to focus and approached the other being and sat down at the new table. Quietly he ordered a Tatooine Sunrise for the Hutt in reference to his private bet about it being on a hover sled and threw the next bet in the moments of silence. This time his bet was a loss and he chuckled in spite of himself and then immediately became annoyed at something else entirely.

But moving on, the Hutt was speaking.

Golden eyes moved from the table to the slug-like sentient, an eyebrow raising at the precise wordage it used. Morgan didn't bother replying in Huttese given that was likely expected.

"I speak fluent Chuenh, yes. If a little out of practice." That Morgan replied at all answered the Hutt's question while dismissing his assertion. The Firrerreo was in some ways a practical sort and the simple fact was that the Hutts hadn't ruled a proper empire in millennia. Now they were mostly known for dirty dealing and plagues.

He almost mentioned his native language but the commentary caught in his throat before it went anywhere. Slender fingers fidgeted with the datapad on his belt. The many grotesque mannerisms of the Hutt were casually passed over in favour of Morgan's irritatingly persistent internal thoughts. Cigarra ash was tapped from the end into a tray.

"You have a proposal." His moods always tended towards slightly mercurial but it was like they were being buried in other things. In this moment he chose to be straightforward. Morgan was working and he had standards to keep up.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

As his guest indulged in a smoke, Nor'baal took the hint and did likewise, his pudgy right hand clasping the tender stem of a hookah pipe, which bubbled at his side as he looked the man up and down, trying to size him up. Slender, as was commonplace in even what the humans called 'big', this Sith was a morsel, of that Nor'baal could be in no doubt. In another life, the Sith would have made an excellent slave.

Yet his daydreaming was not to last and was soon interrupted by his protocol droid, as the Sith said something in basic that Nor'baal had not really listened to, simply assuming that the Sith would be too busy grovelling and saying how great the Hutt language was to have any original ideas.

"Woe bo, bu Beh sey goo cohai douapianke Chuenh, pionpoe goo doth ' doi time', mee kancanta. Goo gee woy nobata geh dee lhonu an sauepoh jensm dee Bimahau Bmala, bu Yih.

Chuenh!

The Hutts eyes widened as he supped on the hookah pipe.

<Tah Beh gee pisua Droida whao ata cuee see mah biduensie gee hee heee see woy kaa!> his mirth was plain, as the garrulous Hutt boomed it out across the table, punctuating his statement with a deep echoing laugh. Now this was a human he could do business with.

Even better, the man had ordered Nor'baal a drink - such flattery! Nor'baal was an easy Hutt to please, good food, fine drinks, and a hookah to a hand, and the criminal was ready to do business.

"I respect that you do not attempt to speak the noble language of the Hutts." he boomed, ignoring the fact the man did not wish to speak Huttese, or indeed, did not know how to "And I thank you for coming all this way to speak to the illustrious Nor'baal. Indeed, Master Sith, I have a proposal that I believe would be of great benefit to us all, but it must be only for your ears."

With that, Nor'baal reverted to Huttese, and his voice lashed across the gambling hall.

<Jot ten.>

With a scraping of chairs and some small commotion, the denizens of this den of scum, left, leaving only the Sith, the Hutt, and his droid. The massive gastropod focused his attention on the Sith man and spoke with gravitas "Around you, you see a station rich in the trappings of decadence. Through peacetime, it does well, but through war - it excels. People from across the Galaxy flood here, the sellers of war spend their profits, the victims drown their sorrows. But the House, the House always wins. Master Sith, you are a man with an eye for business, otherwise, why would you be here? How would you like, to share in the splendour of the Wheel with me?"

 

[Senin Ravelo]

The Wheel was really an impressive space station, with its luxurious Grand Casino that could surpass even the ones of Canto Bight. This type of establishment was banned in Senin's homeworld, G'wenee. However, there were several illegal casinos scattered in the planet's cities. The police was too incompetent to close all of it, being difficult for them to even catch the owners.

Senin decided to visit the place in search of some fun. His life as heir of the Ravelo family and Sith Acolyte could be boring sometimes. Of course, the man preferred this boredom to having to live on the streets again.

Senin arrived at the Grand Casino wearing a semi-sheer top with black pants and heels. He was also using a dramatic black eyeliner. The first thing that he did at the casino was go to the bar and buy a drink.

With his drink in hands, the young man walked to the gambling hall, watching the beings there playing. Senin wondered if he should join some table. While he was thinking about that, the Acolyte noticed an unusual scene. A man, who Senin identified as a Firrerreo due to his silver-colored skin, was talking with a disgusting Hutt. Only seeing the creature eat its food already made Senin nauseous.

He stopped near a pillar, far enough to not hear what they were talking about, but close enough to watch this bizarre scene while sipping his drink. The young man wondered what the two could be talking about. Knowing the Hutts, probably something illegal. Even with him being away from their table, the two would at some point notice that Senin was watching their conversation.

@Mr. Teatime @Nor'baal

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan's grin widened, flashing the razor fangs typical of his people. An amused chuckle left his throat as the Hutt's laugh boomed through the air. Frankly if this was the sort of stereotypical Hutt who brooked no challenge the two wouldn't have been likely to get along. So long as they could be 'friends' the Hutt would be treated politely at the very least. Morgan did speak Huttese, a language used across many worlds in the galaxy as a standard trade tongue, but this was the way the game was played.

Still he gave little indication he had any idea what the Hutt or his droid were saying. Instead he listened patiently while Nor'baal spoke after most others had left. A slender fingers spun the roulette wheel again for fun, deciding he'd go for black. Which is what it landed on his this time, more or less evening out his gains and losses for the evening.

"It is said, peace is good for business," Morgan said, his manner of speaking steady and deliberate. It wasn't loud but rather a volume that forced others to listen. "Just so, war is good for business."

Golden eyes at last lifted slowly from gambling to the large being across it. Their direct attention was intense as a bird of prey's, a hawk tracking from high or a hunting cat stalking through the trees. Morgan's people were civilized but they'd always be wild things.

A deep scowl found itself on the Firrerreo's face without him realizing before he suppressed the expression.

"The Wheel is unmatched. It-" His head tilted slightly to the side, keen hearing and the Force itself alerting him to another nearby. Morgan could tell when he was being watched most times.

"-will become even more. If I have my way," the Sith finished as his head turned back, ignoring the nearby human. An eyebrow rose, grin widening just a little.

"The house always wins, this is so. You have details?"

@Nor'baal @LouJoVi

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

A deep bubbling slurp came from within the Hutt as he gobbled down another aquatic delicacy. Nor'baal found this 'Sith' to be a fascinating man, less gullible and easy to manipulate than those goody-two-shoes 'Jedi', a keener streak for the machiavellian seemed to dominate the Sith - and Nor'baal liked it.

The Hutt, whilst he did not boast the force, was adept at observing people and his surroundings, fully aware, as the Sith was, that they were being watched. However, unlike the Sith, he felt no compulsion to keep his ambitions secret.

"Profit is was drives and motivates the Hutts, as you know Master Sith, and the way in which the galaxy is heading toward war presents an opportunity for us all." Nor'baal left it unclear as to who he was referring to with 'us all', he and Morgan, or the Hutt families. "You Sith are a curious people. But I believe we can do, how you say...." he waved his droid over and whispered, looking for the correct word in Cheunh "Ch'akasi."

He smiled at the man, keen to worm his way into his trust. On one hand, he wanted to use the man's strength and ambition to secure the Wheel and its fortune for himself, but on the other hand, he was keenly aware as to the damage such a man could do - just look at what had happened to that two-bit Rodian upstart, Callo!

"We take the station." he cut directly to the point "I manage it on your behalf, and kick credits up in the traditional manner. What's better? I, Nor'baal, know how to take this station, without a drop of blood being split."

 

[Senin Ravelo]

Senin continued to sip his drink while watching the exchange between the Firrerreo and the Hutt. At some point he noticed the man move slightly his head to the G'weneen direction, but soon he turned back, to continue talking with the enormous creature before him. This made the young man raise an eyebrow, so he was noticed. Interesting.

Feeling his curiosity increase, Senin decided to approach the table to hear what the two were talking. He walked as if looking for a table to gamble, stopping sometimes near the Hutt's table while looking at the other tables, as if contemplating where he should sit.

While near the table, he heard the Hutt call the Firrerreo as "Master Sith". So the man was also a member of the Sith Order and probably a high-ranking one, this interested Senin. His master was never a social type and since he became his apprentice some time before his imprisonment, the young man never had the opportunity to meet other Sith. Perhaps offering his help to a high-ranking Sith could be good.

He became even more interested when he heard the Hutt talk about taking the Wheel. His ambition made him think about the possible benefits of helping a high-ranking member of the Order.

The young man decided to offer his services to the Firrerreo and walked to the table. "Hello, amigos! Would you mind if I join you two?" Senin sat in a chair regardless of their response. Crossing his legs he turned to the Firrerreo "Não é sempre que um acólito das Trevas conhece um mestre. Me sinto muito honrado." he said, using the original language of G'wenee. The Hutt's droid would probably be able to translate it. Then he turned to the repulsive creature "Magnificent Hutt, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

"My name is Senin and I offer to you my services." He said smiling. Then he continued to sip his drink while watching their reaction.

@Mr. Teatime @Nor'baal

 

[Darth Stolas]

A dark brow rose with curiosity as the Hutt spoke, ash tapped from Morgan's neglected cigarra. Delicately it was placed between his lips, the end burning cherry-red as he inhaled. Wispy clouds of spiced smoke fell lazily left those lips, briefly concealing his face in a haze of tobac mixed with something stronger.

This Hutt was interesting, if not atypical of its kind. Compared to the boundless and upfront arrogance of many older Hutt clans, Nor'Baal seemed somewhat flexible in attitude. By 'curious' the Hutt must have meant 'dangerous' since he was trying so hard. How fun, even if the sluggish, slime-filled smile wasn't doing him any favours.

"Yanee fa doth," he smoothly intoned, a mischievous but mildly dangerous glint behind his eyes. Nor'baal mentioned taking the station without a drop of blood spilled. This was the ideal scenario in the first place. Although Morgan had few qualms with killing he preferred to keep such business as quiet as possible. "You have my attention." He also had his own ideas, but best to collaborate, no?

Then their curious onlooker actually walked up to them. Morgan didn't look at the man directly but all the same he would feel the heavy weight of being closely watched. The droid rattled off a translation in Huttese to Nor'baal that Morgan understood just fine at their short distance away.

The sense of being watched quickly faded as the acolyte spoke. Even more than usual Morgan was disinterested in acolytes who bowed too heavily on flattery and subservience. He didn't speak again until Senin introduced himself and offered his 'services'.

"I don't care," was all he said, shrugging slightly in the Hutt's direction.

@Nor'baal @LouJoVi

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal was not overly pleased with the interruption from the second Sith, especially as he had expressly asked the room to be cleared. <Lohba tah bo doptkee.> the Hutt punctuated his statement with a lazy wave of his hand. Once the other Sith was escorted from the room, he would continue their conversation.

<Dotkot mee heee bai banbonzay pankhai dee Mou. Chatpop tytung hoohah caiot doth cuanica hhe boyonh haku bu Mou gee bai mo- jiu. Jeejee caiot unihohe wa bahea see jiu, bai paknee ata pankhai see uuateua woleuag wata, bu lhonu poyen, donahsea chaieya an yakai, an cuee.> he grinned as he spoke, already picturing the newfound wealth such a scheme could provide for him.

With the Siths 'skills' there was little doubt in the Hutt mind that they could stack games heavily in their favour. All that remained was to see if the Sith was game to give it a shot.

 

[Darth Stolas]

The Firrerreo paid little attention to the interruption beyond his declaration, not bothering to even look in the acolyte's general direction. Morgan's acolyte had taken the initiative to outright ask him to teach and such were his expectations for up and coming Sith. None of this pointless flattery garbage. That and he was in a very poor mood in general.

He refocused on the Hutt's proposal. Morgan refocused on Nor'baal's proposal. It was functionally the same as his own and thus he had no complaints whatsoever. Unbeknown to the other being, Stolas possessed the gifts of foresight and prediction in addition to general Force proficiency worthy of his position in the Sith. Intentionally he avoided using them when gambling for fun. However, he wasn't above cheating to win a little game.

"You will act as manager, I as owner. Agreed?" Golden eyes focused fully on the slime-covered being, narrowing ever so slightly. "And, don't push your luck with me." It wasn't spoken so much as a threat, but as a warning. Morgan was generous to his friends and allies, but ruthlessly harsh to his enemies. Best to be up front with everything.

@Nor'baal @LouJoVi