Ask Nar Shaddaa [Slicer's Vice] Rollin' In

[Kai]

THEME​

Kai vaulted over the side of the TN-Y after it came to a stop. The rest of his gang left the vehicle in their own manner. A Kaleesh by the name of Bruggan was his stoic right hand man. The other two were a Lepi by the name of Jax and a Barabel who was called Presh.

The four of them stood outside the Slicer's Vice looking at the signage for a moment. They were out for a night of fun and Jax had suggested the establishment. It was a little outside their normal operating area but also seemed to be a neutral place despite it being in a seedy of Nar Shaddaa. More like seedier. He looked around at the general area. Nar Shaddaa was a sketchy place no matter where one went. It just looked prettier in places.

"Alright boys. Enjoy yourselves. Try not to get us kicked out." Kai said as they began walking in. The music was audible even outside but it really became clear once they got through the doors that mitigated some of the volume. For a moment they looked around at the dark area, trying to scope out the different dancers and choose where to head. Kai of course wanted a drink first though he continued to enjoy the eye candy of dancers. One dancer saw them standing there and began walking over. Bruggan made himself the first one to be approached by the dancer and was quickly taken to a chair where he wasted no time in spending credits. The other two made their way to the more general seating area to watch the performance. There was no need for them to stick around when there was plenty of potential company of the opposite sex.

Moving to the bar he looked around at the selection. "Cognac, corellian if you have it." It was a common beverage and knew that brand names differed from place to place. Without even looking for a smoking sign he began pulling out his cigaras. He held it in his mouth as he tried remembering which pocket he put it in.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

The drinks were pouring, the girls dancing. Pantoran, Zeltron, even a couple Twi'Leks amongst several other races mixed and mingled. The music was pounding, bodies glittered in the pulsing ambient blue and gold light. Nash wasn't on the circuit tonight; she liked watching from the sidelines, keeping tabs, marking how some shelled out their credits cheap, some seemed to have endless pockets. She dressed herself in a cropped t-shirt with the club's logo printed in neon blue and pink and black shorts; dark hair was swept back as ears flicked, listening in to different conversations, voices.

It was the quartet involving the Grysk that had caught her eye. Gaze of green-gold watched speculatively from her place on the bar as they slowly split, sipping her water with lips slightly curled in amusement. Most of those that came here were regular Humans, the occasional Near-Human or Humanoid coming through to ogle. But a Grysk…?

That was a first.

Tonight was no different from any other. Drunk patrons escorted out, more brought in; the feel of the room was in a haze of booze and lust, and she enjoyed that rare moment of peace where there wasn't any girl drama, or grief from her bouncers. The Zeltron behind the bar, a Zeltros named Sunshine, gave the skull-like visage a bored stare before sauntering off, leaving Nash alone for a brief moment to eye the newcomer for another beat, before keeping her eye on the rest of the crowd. His drink would come soon, but perhaps a bit of conversation couldn't hurt.

"Must be nice to have such loyal friends," she remarked, head tilted slightly to give him a side eye. Perhaps he was here to meet someone... but considering he didn't give her girls a prolonged look, she doubted any of them were it. So that left her or her bouncers.

She would just have to wait and see.

@Darasuum

 

[Kai]

A particularly attractive pink skinned woman attended to his order. He looked around the establishment while listening to her make a comment towards his associates. "What makes you think they're loyal?" He said in response.

Slowly his head panned back around to look at the bartender. Kai brought a drink to his mouth, sipping it now that the Zeltron had his curiosity. As his eyes rested on her he looked around to see if there was anyone that might have told her to approach him. Sex sold in a commercial world and it was reasonable to expect the same thing even in the seedier parts of society. She is cute isn't she? Kai exhaled through his nostrils, imagining some steam existing from them though nothing but the sound could have been noticed in the bar.

"This normal for today?" He asked giving a nod towards the general occupancy. "It's a pretty nice place"

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

Sunshine simply gave him a blank stare, her face automatically turned into a stony one before stalking off. "'Scuse me, boss," she spoke, one hand cocked on her hip. "Too slow, gotta check inventory. You cool?"

Without waiting for an answer, she stalked off, hips swaying with every movement. Straight to the back.

Nash chuckled, perking a brow at the disappearing Zeltron. "Sure, kid. You do that."

She glanced to the Grysk at her bar, striding past him to get behind the counter. In response to his own reply to her question...

"Well then, perhaps not trust. Have an understanding with?" She teased, tail waving slightly between her legs as greenish-gold eyes glinted with mirth. At his question she hummed, eyeing the low crowd. It was true, it was a little thin...

"Business is slower during the daylight hours, yeah," she responded blithely, tapping a nail to her chin, "and thanks. Remade it myself from the ground up." A hint of pride touched on those words... and a sheepish pride at that. It wasn't her dream job, but in a galaxy like this, could you really afford to get what you wanted?

@Darasuum

 

[Kai]

Kai could tell from his peripheral vision the Zeltron was done with him. Whether she had been trying to work a tip out of him or some kind of special attention he had not bought into it. When people did not know who he was they mostly stayed away from him. Those that risked getting close, and continued to do so, were the kind he was curious about.

Still, the young Grysk turned his head long enough to watch the sensual hips of the Zeltron's leave. Soon enough his view was replaced by another beautiful creature. His eyes raised immediately to see the eyes of the Cathar staring back at him. "Understandings are...important...yeah." He said and then drummed his fingers along the bar counter. By the floating FORCE it's a mother loving cat girl...erm...woman. Dude, bro, chill. The Grysk cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

Only after the Cathar got behind the bar did Kai realize that the Zeltron had not served him. His fingers closed around nothing since no drink had been served. A warlord would totally murder somebody over this sort of thing. Nah, too much work.

Daylight hours, wan accurate way of saying it. Nar Shaddaa had an eighty three hour 'day-cycle'. The average single day on the Smuggler's Moon was over three standard cycles. But that just means the night life is that much sicka amirite? Mhm hhehe

"Must have been recently because it looks great." He said with obvious intent to flatter her. It did seem to do alright. There was always potential for this kind of business. The cogs in Kai's head began to turn.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She always loved the shock on people's faces when they really looked at her. The ears and coloring were one thing... but when she grinned, it was a mouthful of felinoid fangs.

Just enough to seem almost Human, but never human enough. Wasn't that just the way.

She smirked and leaned forward on the bar, head tilted slightly. "Pardon her, she's always grouchy this slow time. Cognac, yeah?" Without waiting for a response she turned, and when the music changed, couldn't seem to help a small shake of her hips to the beat, greenish-gold eyes shuttering with a small grin still remaining on her lips.

"Could do with some improvements," she hummed to herself, glancing towards the stage and sliding him his drink. "But in a place like this... the bosses can only be stingy with so much, you know?" Her eyes slid towards the lead dancer on the stage; a leggy Pantoran was slowly slipping off a sheer white number, smiling down at Jax. She started leaning towards the Lepi when Nash spoke again.

"We've been hit by a loss recently... but that's always the way. People do like a show." The silk slipped off blue shoulders, and the girl let it deliberately fall in Presh's lap as she turned away, starting the rest of her routine.

"So what's a handsome mug like yours doing in a place like this?"

@Darasuum

 

[Kai]

Kai would nod thankfully at the confirmation despite her not seeing it. But his eyes did drop to Nashyr's butt. It was a good view while it lasted. His head cocked to the side and then looked towards the stage as he tried to imagine the club owner on the stage. Yeah I'd throw a dollar at it.

When Nashyr served him his drink he thanked her and took a greedy sip that was followed by a satisfied murmur. She continued to talk and that was fine. Kai was comfortable listening to the music and the Cathar. His eyes watched his men have fun. "Like what? A dancer quite?" He asked about the loss.

"I'm just out with the boys..." He gestured towards the ones he had come in with. Bruggan was still being entertained by the same dancer though now he seemed to be getting a lapdance. "...blowin' off steam. Figured adding a little beauty to the evening couldn't hurt so here we are." Kai took another generous sip of his beverage. He was still on the fence about getting a dance. Right now it was up in the air with the other options being to just get plastered at the bar until his mates were ready to move onto the next place. "So I noticed you have a tail." He said in a plain tone.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She flinched, only briefly, at the mention of a dancer quitting. Truth was... it was still sore, losing one of hers to something as stupid as mindless, brute murder. But unfortunately, it wasn't an uncommon thing. "Something like that, yeah," she managed a smile, cocking a brow his way.

Her lips quirked into a smirk at his mention of her tail; she lifted it to wrap around her thigh loosely, leaning over the bar and crossing her arms beneath her bust. "Yeah... that a good or a bad thing?" she chuckled, then tapped a nail-claw on the bar. "Not unusual for my kind... but yeah, it's a thing. And it doesn't stop me from doing what I like."

So he was being a little friendlier and a bit more chatty than some of her other patrons; she was a sucker for a sad story, and this guy seemed to have 'story' written all over his skullish face. She could also be friendly for a little while.

@Darasuum

 

[Kai]

"That's too bad." He said to be somewhat polite. Nashyr did not expand on it and answered vaguely so he figured she did not want to share or did not care. If that were the case than Kai was not about to push.

"I think it's an interesting thing." He answered after hearing her proud tone when speaking about her tail. She had the body language that said she knew how she looked and liked it. So far he was just not sure if the Cathar was going to enjoy messing with him. Beautiful creatures, the smart ones, tended to use their looks like any other tool at their disposal. Kai was not handsome, but he took his macabre appearance in stride.

"What is it you like by the way...aside from renovating clubs and serving drinks?" He knew both of those things were job based activities. But he wondered if she was willing to open up more about her personal interests. Kai killed the last of his cognac, setting the cup back down on the counter. He brought his skeletal hand up to his mouth and made sure there wasn't any residual alcohol wasted on his mouth.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

Huh.

Most didn't care what else a stripper wanted to do; there were some ambitions, sure, but she often felt too old to want to pursue any ambitions beyond what she did on a daily basis. Perhaps that train moved on... for only a split moment, she remembered Max. And then banished the thought as soon as it appeared.

"Gym. Speeder races.. dancing." She winked at him, then grinned. "You want to get to know my hopes and dreams now, too? I'm afraid that's gonna cost you a little more than a drink."

Appearances didn't faze her. The many races that came in to see her xeno girls were often not human themselves; though she had a couple human girls on her rotation, that was often during high-profile gigs and better parties.

They were good girls, but they liked to be bad. And as a result, she often spent more cred springing them from gangsters' claws than otherwise. But most tended to judge her based on appearance, so she upped it. There was a term for it... 'glowing up'?

But she was proud of her looks and her achievements in a galaxy who often slammed doors on her face. To most, it may not have seemed much of a life, but it was a life for her... for now...

@Darasuum

 

[Kai]

A humorous hum came from the Grysk at hearing Nashyr's answer. She was witty and he could tell she liked to play and flirt. Kai wondered if she was that way because of her job or if she had picked her job because of the way she was. "Hmmm, I don't think you ever told me how much I owe you for the cognac. I just assumed you liked me enough to give me free drink." His tone was laced with the same flirtatious nuance that the Cathar had used. But the mention of 'cost' was not going to stop the dark sider from pursuing his curiosity.

"How much does a lap dance cost?" He turned to look around for any kind of signage of prices. Not every strip club was the same. Kai wondered how many more Nar Shaddaa had compared to other planets. He often thought of exotic dancers as empty calories. It might be enjoyable to partake but ultimately it would not be very healthy. It did not stop him from eating a bag of chips every once in awhile and he wouldn't judge anybody for dancing or being a patron of a burlesque display.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She grinned at his joke; at least he had a sense of humor, most who came in didn't have their heads on tight enough to know witticism if it jumped up and smacked them in their faces, or were too glued to her girls to even notice prices. "Most don't even ask anymore," she hummed idly, tapping a nail to her chin as if to think on it.

"Since I like you... twenty credits for the cognac." Greenish-gold eyes gleamed with feline mischief. "And lap dances? Depends on how much you've got to spend... but baseline is another twenty, but keep adding them and my girls get a little more friendly."

She glanced at the stage, and tilted a brow, humming in amusement. The Pantoran… Siggy… had already begun leading Presh towards one of the private booths. Tal'inka, a crowd favorite Twi'Lek, began next, and she already had her eyes on Jax. Nash pursed her lips thoughtfully in a grin, tilting her head back towards her companion. "Never underestimate the power of credits," she teased, then turned, seeming to tap some controls beneath the bar. The blue lights of before became a gentle wash of lavender; against Tally's skin and the glittery ensemble she wore, it glinted mauve and deep lilac in some angles, the music becoming slow, almost hypnotic.

"Why? Are you feeling friendly now?" She tilted her brow at the skull-looking guy before her. Perhaps it was a gut instinct, but she had the feeling he wasn't here to get an eyeful exactly... but that didn't mean the daylight hours were boring yet. But most didn't come to the Slicer's Vice to come chat with a cat woman. As charming and lovely as she was told she could be.

@Darasuum

 

[Kai]

If Kai had another mouthful of cognac he would have lost it by doing a spit take. His eyes opening in some expression of concern. Part of him wanted to see the bottle to learn why the price was so high, even for a strip club. But Nashyr continued before he could verbally express his worry.

The price of a lapdance was the same as the overpriced cognac. But Kai was pleasantly surprised about the price since he considered it to be something that would normally be more expensive. His frugality was quickly forgotten when the build up of delight, merriment and arousal wafted from his men. Seeing what who the cause was he was far from surprised.

Kai had the attractive club owner in front of him though and returned to hearing her make a quote about credits. It made him grin. Power is power Credits were one form but plenty of people thought physical might, debt, the force, military strength and the like were forms of power. Often there would only be a focus of one. But Kai knew they were all important. You'll take it all won't you?

Chuckling he contemplated getting a dance. "What are you talkin' about. I've been friendly." His eyes looked at the empty glass debating whether or not he should order a second drink if it was going to cost him so much. "How much for a dance from you?" Cocking an eyebrow he stroked his chin passively.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She grinned at his shocked expression, letting loose a small laugh. "I'm teasing you, couldn't resist." Perhaps he wasn't teased with very often; she enjoyed rattling others from time to time, seeing their reactions and knowing just how to push them out of their comfort zone. It gave her a good base to work with, and tested patrons on their willingness to part with their creds.

He seemed a bit reluctant to part with his. Perhaps she could change that. "It's six" she corrected, grinning. "Not the best of the market, but for a small place like this and the draw of people, it can't hurt to up prices in the future. Especially if I'm not feeling too friendly."

Her grin turned slightly wicked at his asking of a lapdance from her; bold choice of him, and certainly a good change of pace. "The rate stays the same. But since I'm feeling generous tonight, drink's on me, and the dance... we'll see." She chuckled at his mention of being friendly, but he could easily change his mind. Still... nice change from the dull routine of the day.

And he was coherent enough to probably keep his hands to himself. The daylight hours were finally looking up.

@Darasuum

 

[Kai]

He flicked a finger against the empty glass causing a dull ring. The Grysk kept the smile he had been wearing, growing more amused by the second. "Lead the way Mrs....?" Kai trailed off, cocking his head to the side giving the Cathar a chance to fill in the blank. Regardless of whether or not she gave him her real name, or an answer at all he would introduce himself in turn. "I'm Malakai Beck. But my friends call me Kai."

Provided Nashyr ended up showing him where they were going the skeletal legionnaire kept an eye on his criminal employees until he lost sight of them. In privacy of a more secluded spot he took a moment take in the sight of the Cathar. Taking a reluctant breath he was surprised he was bringing up business before pleasure. "I was actually mainly just hoping to talk to you with a bit more privacy."

Kai casually sat down like he was sitting with no expectation of anything but business talk at that point. The flirtation, the witty banter, it was maneuvering he had maybe not even realized himself. But Kai sat, waiting for Nashyr to take a seat and treat this like a meeting.

Wow, big surprise. Thought you'd go for it

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She smirked at him, leaning back to cross her arms beneath her bust. "Miss, actually. Nashyr Ris, at your service." Amusement glinted in greenish-gold eyes, then tilted her head back towards a set of stairs tucked out of sight from the regular view of the bar. "Follow me."

She sauntered up the steps with a confident gait, pausing at the top of the stairs to tap in the security keypad to her own private quarters and office. She had her back to him, about to gesture to one of the side chairs off to the left, when she registered what he was talking about.

For a few beats, there was silence. And then... she suddenly started laughing. "Is that right?" she grinned, dark head tilted slightly. "And what a shame... I was actually starting to like you." It was his body posture, perhaps... or the way he spoke, that seemed to clue a few things in. She was starting to get a vague notion of what it was he wanted to talk about... and she chuckled once more, then turning to walk away and sit into her own chair behind her desk, legs stretched out before her and ankles crossed, one elbow on her desk to prop beneath her jaw.

"Alright then. I'm listening."

@Darasuum

 

[Kai]

Kai looked around and knew that she had taken him not to the normal area for a lapdance. She had fully intended on giving him a private dance and brought him to her office. She seemed to also find it amusing after he revealed his true intentions. "Well you don't have to stop liking me." A smug look evident on his morbid appearance.

When she took a seat he adjusted to face her in his chair. "Well, Nashyr, I am aware that your business...as you've told me down stairs...is not as good as it could be." He cleared his throat, not intending to be insulting but rather stating the facts. "Laundering credits and having multiple avenues of income is something that could benefit both our businesses. For that reason I'm wondering you would be a part of my organization." It was a testing of the waters still. She could spit in his face, jump at the opportunity or anything in between.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She hummed contemplatively as she listened to him open up with his business proposition, dark head tilted slightly. "A shame you didn't simply let me start with the lapdance," she smiled, finger tapping on her chin. "But I like you so far, so... I'll let this first case slide." Her teasing expression faded somewhat in the face of business, but what settled in its' place was the reason why she was in charge.

Calculation.

"I see. And being part of your organization entails... what? Protection for myself and my girls? Coverage for my assets? Contract obligation as a smuggling ring, or a potential to expand?" She pursed her lips slightly, then smiled. "Don't be shy with me, I like seeing how many pools I'm collecting my credits from. It's why Slicer's Vice has kept alive all this time."

@Darasuum

 

[Kai]

Kai had been acting honestly before. He did find the Cathar attractive and would have loved to have all his business agendas squared away with only time for goofing off. But life required work and he knew that he would end up playing just as hard as he worked, eventually.

Nashyr was an inquisitive individual if her questions were anything to go off of. "Yes to all of the above. Or at least I hope it to be if that's what you want. It could be more if that's what you want. What is it you desire, Nashyr?" Kai had a vision, not a premonition but a dream of great power and success. His confidence that it would come to pass was obvious.

The Grysk tried to seem open and enticing. If she had not been faking her attraction earlier it would only aid as the corruptible side of the force subtly beckoned her. Kai was not trying to dominate or force the Cathar. The act was more of to tug on her subconcious. He thought about how Zeltrons could influence people with their pheromones. He wanted Nashyr to answer and choose with her freedom of choice but at the same time he wanted her to be unburdened by negative reservations against him.

Kai doubted he would be able to do any sort of more direct mind manipulation. The Cathar was a business woman, stubborn, and there was something else about her that just told him she was resistant to more aggressive techniques. So for now he was just testing something out while he had her in a good mood. It would be easier if her mind was already amicable towards him.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

What did she want?

That was a good question; but not one that many people bothered to ask. She often knew the answer right away too; money, security. A stable base to run off operations as smoothly as possible with as minimal hiccups as possible. The arrival of the Jedi before this business interrupted all of that; for a woman of business, she seemed remarkably at ease.

"Hmm... I want better protection." One ear flicked as she spoke, her features turning from open, lighthearted candidness to a mask of remote weariness. "I recently lost one of my workers to a local gang; a Hutt affiliate, as a matter of fact." Her eyes gazed at his when she spoke, calmly stating facts. "The problem initially was dealt with... but my largest priority is not paying a premium for basic protection."

She raised a hand, palm extended as though to wave at the entire building. "Can you protect my assets with this joint affiliation and operation better than my local agent could? And if you keep your end of the bargain... how large a slice of the pie are you willing to share with a lowly strip club owner?" She tilted her head, the smile returning.

"I'm still feeling very friendly, and I'm liking what I'm hearing so far. Keep speaking my language, and I'll be sure both of us leaves happy." She offered him a small wink and then grinned, crossing her arms beneath her bust.

Not exactly conventional, but she hardly cared. What few assets she had, she had maintained and cared for, for years. And the Grysk, though not exactly up front with numbers, was a smart guy it seemed, despite the murder hobo aesthetic.

@Darasuum