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[Nevizkas]

It had been almost three days since Cyutadakyr had found herself marooned on Sarka. Without any money or the means to leave on her own, the pureblood had been scouring the local spaceport and establishments looking for easy marks. Unfortunately, thus far none had been located that would be suitable for her designs. In part, the wealthy mining industry present on the planet meant that most ships came and went with something of a heavy guard, whether droid or otherwise.

Times were getting desperate, soon the local authorities would start to notice the red-skinned lady spending far too much time in one spot. Mindful of this, and really just needing an excuse to get out of the cold, Cyu made her way into the nearest saloon where she could start working on her next target for swindling. With any luck, she'd get a cold drink and a hot meal out of it, plus whatever she could squeeze outa his pocket.

But more than that, she needed mobility.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

He had been hunting a highly sought after artifact that the Crimson Dawn had been gabbing about for ages. He finally tracked it back to this planet. The only complication was that it was locked away in a treasure chest in the royal palace. Kai had been on the planet for weeks, but he still hadn’t figured out how to pull this off. The palace was heavily guarded, and even with his tricks he couldn’t spot an easy way in and also make a successful getaway. This was beyond a one man job.

The fiani was moodily drinking at a local saloon pondering his next move when his giant ears picked up some nearby chatter. There were whispers about ‘that demonic wretch again’. Local patrons kept casting nervous looks over towards a particular customer. Kai followed their gaze to spot…wait, what? It appeared to be a pureblood woman working her charms on a particularly ugly Sarkan. The overgrown lizard was practically giggling with delight to whatever she was saying, promising her a nice place to stay. He recalled whispers about this pureblood, but this was the first time spotting her and realizing it wasn't just some folktale.

Kai observed them, recalling from working with Crimson Dawn that pureblood were always Sith. That meant they had abilities. Abilities that could come in handy. He had seen this particular Sarkan come to this bar many times, and by now Kai knew he had a wife and children. Kai called out to the man, “Oy, how is Tula doing? And the kids?” The man looked mortified, looking as if he wanted to snap the Fiani in half. In turn, Kai simply smiled happily, his tail eagerly swishing back and forth. If the Pureblood looked his way, he would simply pat the chair next to him for her to join him.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Laying it on thick and fast, Cyutadakyr surprised even herself at how quickly the mark was falling to her charm. There just must have been something alluring about the crimson hue that buttered up the best of them, but alas it was not to be.

An annoying twang shot through the air masquerading as speech as the pair heard another interjecting into her heist in the making. The terrified man, caught like a hare in a trap, sprung from his chair. "I ain't wanting any trouble." he grumbled before quickly finishing his drink and making for the door.

Caught betwixt bewilderment and contemplating butchery, the pureblood's fist clenched into a ball as she made her way over to sit beside the overgrown rodent. Looking toward the barkeep, she confidently spoke, "My new friend here said he'd buy me a drink, something pricey."

Turning to look at Kai's direction this time, she whispered with a giddy smile that simply did not match the tone of what followed one bit. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't give you a matching eye-patch."

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai grinned at her soured attitude. The barkeep found her unsettling, “She’ll have an Emil’s Harem,” Kai called out. It was pricey, but it got a couple of snickers throughout the cantina. Once it came out, she would find that it was a drink with multiple frozen bananas with a milky drink in the glass. The bananas had to be consumed first to get to the drink. It was an old nod at the former Chancellor Emil Ro and his harems, “You can’t use your hands for this drink,” Kai explained in case she wasn’t familiar with the controversial drink.

He lit up a cigarra in the meantime, finally answering her question, “A matching eye patch would look almost as stupid as you working your 'charms' on Galvon Dur,” He said with a jut of his chin, “He can hardly afford his own drinks here,” Kai said with a smirk. Galvon was known as a snivelly little bastard with nothing to his name and entirely too many mouths to feed. He had gambled away all his credits on scams and shady women. One of whom happened to be sitting across from him.

“I know you’re not lingering around this town like a rash that won’t go away by choice,” He said flatly as he took a drag, “I could use someone of your…skills for a job in exchange for getting you where you need," He timed his words carefully in case she was in the middle of deepthroating a banana. Those were not the skills he cared about right now.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

An almost bemused look scoured her face as the interesting cocktail was delivered. It was certainly not in her purview, but hey she thought, a free drink was a free drink. "Is that so." she pondered aloud while studying the weird glass and its contents. Staring at the barkeep until the latter awkwardly turned away to find something better to do, Cyu looked back toward Kai as he continued speaking.

The utter confidence projected by this stranger was both intriguing and annoying. Perhaps in a less frustratingly cornered position she'd have thrown him against the wall by now, but his 'offer' could potentially be worth hearing out, she pondered.

With an erie silence, the first banana began to shuffle in place, before sliding up and out of the glass. The second and third followed suit, before the fourth and final joined its fruity brethren a foot above.

Continuing to smile as before, she asked with a morose tune, "And what skills would that be?" as the frozen bananas snapped in half at their centre, falling to the bench unceremoniously. Certainly no threat or hidden message behind such act, of course. But regardless, he'd taken her curiosity, if he should choose to divulge further.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

As she displayed the tricks with the Force, his eye lit up and his tail eagerly thumped on the chair he was seated on. The display confirmed his suspicion, and it was all he needed, “Skills like that,” He said, pausing as he remembered something while he narrowed his eye, “And tricks of the mind. You can do that, right? You’re not an…” He lowered his voice, “Acolyte?” Param utterly failed when it came to swaying minds with the Force, and it was just the kind of tricking he needed.

“I need to pay the royal palace a visit,” Kai said, “I know what to do once inside, but I need your help. You get me in and I might even bring you back a gift in addition to finding you a way off the planet,” He said with a grin. It was impossible to tell whether he was genuine or full of shit. The smile seemed real enough…

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Oh great, her immediate thought came to mind. A force fanboy, that was just what she needed. In one sense, that was true, at least. The dapper looking 'businessman' as he was posed a dangerous yet lucrative ploy. One that could certainly end well enough for her, assuming the pureblood made it out with something worth carrying, although it was just as likely they ended up in chains or worse.

Perhaps that would suit him, she coyly wondered briefly.

Answering his first question, she remarked. "You haven't noticed anything, peculiar, yet?" Not that she had attempted anything on him but, alas, why not have a little fun of her own while they were at it, she grinned.

Taking the glass in hand, the pureblood knocked back its liquid contents before gracefully placing the container back down on the bench. "Sounds like a lot of risk for a possibility of a mysterious gift. At least have the courtesy to tell me what I'm hoping to get."

Signalling to the door, perhaps it was best they took this conversation elsewhere. "What's in it for you?" she looked back over toward his soft fluffy ears.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

The drinks must have been hitting him, because the Sith before him suddenly looked far prettier than before. His eye narrowed in suspicion, but he said nothing about it. Her grin after her quip was followed with silence, his suspicion clear. He didn’t miss the way her eyes drifted to his ears. It was always the ears. He half expected her to casually reach over and pet them.

He smirked as he threw back his own drink, “I don’t think you get to state the rules of the game, Cherry,“ Kai said with a fanged grin, “Look around,” If she did, she would catch virtually everyone quickly looking away as if they hadn’t been staring the whole time, “You’re public enemy number one around these parts. I bet they already sent for Jedi to come take care of you. Why do you think it has been so inconvenient for you to find a way out of this city?” There had been an unnecessary amount of hurdles anytime she tried to leave.

“So for now, you get me to buy you a drink and you will be satisfied with just that. You'll get more rewards if you're a good girl,” Kai said as he tossed down a few credits and rose to stand, “It’s not in your best interest to fuck with me so I wouldn’t waste your time,” He said as he politely tipped his head towards the bartender and waved goodbye. Kai made eye contact with her as he was at the doorway, indicating for her to meet him outside in a few to avoid making it obvious she was leaving with him.

If she found him again, he would have a smoke in a side alley. He didn’t like ruffling Sith feathers, but there was no playing nice with them. He half expected her to come barging in with a saber or trying a mind trick, which is why he paid off a few homeless people to bear witness in case she tried any bullshit.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Cyutadakyr was ready to fight each one in the room if they wished, her demeanour embellished this with flair. Not that it mattered, as the confident fox sang his tune and left, while the rest clearly preferred the company of the bottom of their glass to do more but stare.

The little shit's words stung just that little bit extra as her mind wandered over the memories of the past few days, the glances and puffed faces held in her direction. An annoying truth coerced in a feeble attempt to put the purebood in her place. Instead, it only increased her curiosity.

Having remained silent the whole time, she stood to take her leave after lingering a few minutes to enjoy the remaining peaceful moments.

It didn't take long to locate the wiley fox, of whom looked ready to bolt at a moment's notice to spend his totally legit credits. Cyutadakyr rolled her eyes as she approached, of course he expected an outburst. But wasn't like most Sith, she didn't retaliate on instinct, no, she'd let them stew in their fears first and extract her pound of flesh then. "Enough with the theatrics, patchy. Let's get this on with."

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

“Theatrics?” He asked as he took a drag. The nickname amused him, “Coming from the Sith doing a magic show with bananas that probably got authorities called on the bar,” He said with a smirk. Sure enough, down the street there were Ranger speeders trying to inconspicuously show up and park near the cantina. Nevertheless, Kai was pleased she wasn’t having an outburst. It was always hard to tell which Sith were loose cannons.

He started walking then, bidding for her to do the same. The little walk would take them away from the cantina and the populated parts of the city. He pointed to a large structure on a hill far away, “That’s the palace of the queen,” He explained, “There are guards manning every entrance and they never budge,” The irritation was clear in his tone. Normally he was used to more lax security, but these reptiles never wavered.

“I need you to sway the mind of the Captain and convince him to order a change of the guard,” Kai said. Clearly the Fiani had thought this out from observation. He had been planning this job for weeks now, “That’ll give me a big window to get in and get what I need. You’ll have to stay outside and keep watch. Once I’m out, we book it,” It sounded so simple when he said it, but he knew it would be nothing but chaos.

“You do this and I’ll get you off the planet and get you some Sarkan gems that can buy your way home,” Kai said. He didn’t know if she was going ‘home’ or if she even had one, but he knew what it was like to be stranded.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

"Whatever. You ruined my mark, can you blame me for wanting a little fun?" She almost pouted. The cantina was boring anyway, she thought. Full of old rags and gross players, none of which were her ticket off world. Even if she didn't trust the sly patchy one bit, it was a chance to do something exciting and potentially dangerous.

The little stroll away from their new-found friends the rangers was a welcome thing, as she wasn't exactly fond of doing time again after the last instant went so well. The flicker in her eyes however as Kai mentioned the palace and its riches bode well. The material wealth was of little interest to the pureblood other than affording the opportunity to leave, but more importantly, she understood just how jealously royals guarded their loot.

To then steal that right from under their noises was simply a reward in of itself as far as satisfaction went.

His plan seemed simple enough, not that she couldn't think of a million and one ways that he could run off without paying her a dime. But that was a problem for later Cyu, not that she'd mind if he did. It would simply give her another opportunity to get creative. With a nod, the deal was struck, and the pureblood left the fox to his own devices.

Re-appearing nearby twenty minutes later, Kai would find her smiling while playing with a series of cards. From a distance the palace seemed impenetrable but having gotten a closer look and with the right moves, Cyu had found not all was so absolute. Having caught the captain off-guard and playing poker with his men on the down low and playing up the importance of her own position, the captain reluctantly decided to push forward the changing of the guard to avoid getting himself or his men into trouble.

Which worked perfectly fine for their ends.

"They leave in ten, I'll watch, but you're on your own if you get caught." She replied with a smirk. He hadn't exactly asked her what to do other than watch, and she was perfectly fine with that.

@Sreeya

roll: 18/20

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai was impressed. It was always a gamble when working with Sith. Sometimes they made things far worse than intended, but this one played her role perfectly. The Fiani was given his window, and it was his turn to do his part. With the changing of the guard, he slinked in the shadows and towards the palace. With even one of the reptilian guards out of the way, he was able to easily sneak right in.

Being Fiani came in handy for his line of work as he was nimble and flexible enough to get past people and through narrow passages. Kai jumped up on a ledge, hoisting himself up onto a balcony and springing down on the other side. From there, he used a fusion cutter, knowing that the second story doorways weren’t as well guarded as the first. He cut enough to slide his arm through and unlock it from the other side, sneaking in.

As soon as he stepped inside, his sharp ears picked up noise. A lot of noise. After a bit of creeping around, he quickly realized that the royal family had a lot of visitors. Kai quickly spoke into the temp comlink he gave to his Sith companion, “It appears we’re gatecrashing a house party,” He muttered, the exasperation clear in his tone.

Interior difficulty: 18/20

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Cyutadakyr certainly had the easier of the two jobs, as far as the plan went it seemed that all she had to do was sit back outside and relax while Kai ran himself into danger after danger in the hopes of finding the elusive prize. In fact, she could only snicker when his startled voice called out the hilarious context that he'd somehow stumbled into a house party.

Keying the comlink subtly, she called back after him with a chuckle. "I'll keep an eye on it, Patchy." She paused for a moment before a realisation hit her. "Wait, all that 'planning' and you didn't notice the massive party being planned?" Maybe for all his bravado, he was a little too reckless.

Just a little in the foreground, a number of costumed entertainers began showing up near the entrance and loudly speaking amongst each other. "What the heck are we going to do, Jonas?" the fruity green one spat, quite angered toward the lemony. "How is it MY fault Jhonathan, we're roommates, I'm not responsible for him showing up!" The other brightly colored costumes broke into a general argument as it began circulating that without their missing member, the rainbow quartet wouldn't be able to perform, let alone get paid.

"Ah, there he is!" the blueberry yelled while pointing in Cyu's direction. Glancing up from her feet, she was startled by the encroaching fruit salad. "Oh, dammit, it's just a Zeltron..but maybe this can work out still.." One said in response as they got closer.

"What the fu..." was all the pureblood could muster in confusion, they proposed a solution to their problem.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Before long, Cyu would be shoved into a Cherry costume and pushed into line with the other fruits. The costume was hot, itchy and rode up in all the wrong places.

The palace opened up to a massive foyer and grand hall where tons of guests were milling about. However, it would become immediately apparent that it was a costume party.The sarkans were dressed in all sorts of animal, fruits and vegetable costumes. Unfortunately for Cyu, she was wrapped up in a dance troupe. She would be led promptly to a stage.

On her way there, she would spot a particular Fiani standing in the corner looking extremely scandalized in a little bowtie while holding a tray of drinks. The next time they ran into each other, some things were better left unsaid. For now, Kai didn’t notice her and assumed he was in here alone.

Before long, she was on the stage with the others as the song for their performance started. This was a surprise party for the royal princess, hence the lack of announcement and fanfare. However, the party was in full effect now.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

The crimson yummy, tummy, funny, lucky gummy bear took to the stage in the most ridiculous, irritating and unflattering outfit of all time. Worse, all eyes were upon them as they made for the stage to begin their number one hit, much to the excitable princesses gathered to watch. The Sarko princess in particular would be the most popular girl on the block, with her parents securing such talent for the party!

But there was no way that Cyutadakyr was going to be the odd one out standing there idly drawing unnecessary attention to herself, both the attendees and her furry partner in crime. Thus, with no ragrets, the pureblood watched intently until she started to get the hang of their style of dance and movement. Mouthing the lyrics was all she hoped would be necessary, but the most criminal thing occurred next.

Mr Lemony tapped on her shoulder and mouthed that her solo was coming up next.

She panicked.

For a second.

And then the music took over and Cyutadakyr strolled centre stage and finally let loose, remembering the golden rule of show biz, the music sounds better with you!!

Meanwhile, a small child tugged at the shirt of the Fiani with wide, adoring eyes. A handful had started to gather around, all seemingly convinced that he was someone else. The first child questionably asked him, "Are you Robbin' Hood?" The boy next to the first scrunched his nose. "No way!, he's clearly Taails!" A tiner girl still, braver than most and certainly the most confident, declared matter-of-factly. "You're all wrong, look he's Swipper the fox! He's got a mask and the right ears see!"

The lad certainly had his work cut out for him, as the children would follow him like a shadow!

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai watched the performance with mild amusement, wondering what the guests must have been smoking to find this entertaining. However, his eye narrowed and he squinted as he watched the cherry. There was something oddly familiar about it. He spoke into his comlink and the pureblood wasn’t answering. On top of that, it was obvious the Cherry was improvising on stage. On beat, but clearly making shit up.

He was distracted when the kids began to gather around him. Kai glared at them, “No, I’m Nick Wilde,” He said with a growl, giving them a glare. It worked as two of them gasped in shock and ran. The third looked grumpy, kicked Kai in the shin and then ran off. The Fiani winced from the kick, hunching over and almost dropping his drinks. This was why he vowed never to have children. Stupid little shits.

Kai looked again at the ridiculous dancing Cherry. He was vaguely reminded of an old performance where one of the sharks behind a pop star was completely off their game. The Fiani snickered at the sight before stepping away and making his way down to the lower levels. With everyone focused on the ridiculous show, he could get away without arousing suspicion. He left under the pretense of getting more wine.

Meanwhile, Cyu’s enthusiastic solo was met with a mixture of confused cheering and applause. As she stepped back, the other fruits linked arms with her and began to hop and kick in sync on the stage. Clearly this was some sort of cultural dance as everyone in the audience began to do the same.

Kai passed by an angry pumpkin arguing with a flamingo in the sea of costumed guests. He slinked past a closet where a shoe was making out with a cucumber. The Fiani was finally in the lower levels and in the corridor right before the vault room. He knew this section would have some guards, and he needed to formulate a plan.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Meritocracy only got one so far and in the cut-throat world of interpretive dance, outshining your co-stars was the only way to get ahead. After her solo concluded to a mixed reception, the others sniggered and sneered behind the thin veil of a united fruity front. What possible talent could allow these produce to produce a better artistic rendering than the one she had just poured her heart and soul into.

Through the webbing and weaving of dance, they subtly forced her back and out of view as they engorged themselves on the crowd. One by one, their flair and expertise shone, highlighting why they were in fact the best of the bunch. The precision and skill on display meant that it was by no accident that Cyu's foot was stomped upon and then pushed around, in apparent breach of the cellulose convention governing ethical fruity behaviour.

No. How dare they.

It wouldn't do to simply lash out, sure she'd ensure they got their just desserts, but hurting them wasn't enough. She had to destroy them. Such a plot would require adequate stewing, and so for now, she simply smiled and waited.

Meanwhile, the fox with the child-rearing talents of a wet brick managed to avoid attracting any further vomit inducing attention. The guards were, to their immense and utter disappointment, spared from the night's festivities. Pouting near a door that they zealously guarded, a well-to-do ear might overhear that the vault itself was quite impenetrable and protected by the most impossible of challenges.

Woe to the unprepared.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai’s path was fortunately relatively empty. He came across two doors, to his great surprise, instead of just one. In front of them appeared to be two statues of what looked like weird, ornamental shields. Kai shrugged and started walking when the crotches of the figures came to life like some sort of demented puppets. The upside down heads started talking at once.

“Riddle us this!”

“One of us leads-”

“OH FUCK NAH!” Kai screeched in terror, chucking his tray and empty glasses in full force at the possessed and demonic shields. He was so shaken that he sprang up, claws out, and managed to attach himself to the side wall. He skated across the wall, clambering over for a moment before breaking out into a full sprint.

“Abort mission! Abort mission!” He yelled into the comlink to his Sith companion, “Where the fuck are you!”

On his way, he managed to run into the cucumber from earlier, who promptly toppled into a melon, who tumbled over and rolled into the crowd. The melon guest rolled at full speed into a group of fruits standing there like bowling pins and it was a striiiiiiike as all of them collapsed.

At some point Cyu would find herself tripping on her ass with her fabulous cherry head rolling right off. Kai, who didn’t even know he had such a phobia of ventriloquist type puppets, was still trying to make an escape from the palace.

Dice: nat 1...

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Kai's bleating into her ear was only marginally less painful than the betrayal committed by her dancing companions, although far less pressing if you asked him. Without any clue or context to why the chicken little wanted out when they were already far too deep to back out now, she wouldn't even get long to consider how she might reply before..

The sudden escalation in commotion was soon overtaken by the arrival of tumbling fruits of all sizes, with even the furious pureblood landing on her backside. Worse, her costume came apart, and she watched helplessly as the cherry red head rolled off just out of reach.

Torn between the pressing need to avoid being caught by the authorities, getting off this awful planet in one piece and ensuring Mr step-on-my-toes got his comeuppance, Cyutadakyr was seething. Pushing her way through the crowd after pulling herself up in a terribly embarrassing manner, she managed to stumble upon the loose head, which was then slipped under one arm as she pushed through the crowd in search of her fearless companion.

It wasn't difficult to see where he'd gotten to, either, judging by the verbal retribution being inflicted. A small crowd of children circled the poor downed Kai led by the very same child that had earlier kicked him in the shin. Though they had no clue why he had come back in such a hurry, the sudden change from the smooth, slick operator that had spooked the children into a babbling crumpled mess was definitely something that school children couldn't pass up.

"Children. Your parents are coming." Cyu called out warmly, if that didn't work she had the means to truly give them something to be scared of. Their scattering promptly freeing the man from a heinous torture he totally deserved, but mostly avoiding unnecessary delay dealing with them. Standing at his feet, she waited for him to look up at her, entirely certain that he'd crack some wise line about her outfit.

Perhaps he'd also notice her piercing stare that simply translated itself, the get-your-ass-back-in-there-or-so-help-me-I'll-grab-you-by-the-ears-and-do-it-myself look.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

The way Cherry reminded the kids of their parents arriving made even Kai involuntary look around in fear of a parental ass whuppin, his ears flattening. Angry at his own instinctual response, he glared at the Sith. It took a moment for it to register what she was wearing. There she was - the legendary and ruthless Sith pureblood in a glorified tutu and tights the same color as her skin so you couldn’t tell where the outfit began and ended. On top of that, she had her hands on her hips and appeared to be prepared to beat him with a wooden spoon.

There were a lot of questions that bubbled to Kai’s mind. A part of him wanted to laugh. A part of him wanted to cry. But then he remembered he was wearing a stupid bow tie and a little butler coat that was far too small for him. How did his life choices lead to this?

“I can’t deal with crotch puppets,” He blurted out weakly as his choice of dialogue after a lot of self reflection. Around them, the chaos continued to unfold as the costumed guests started beating one another up. The downside was that the guards flooded back into the palace. The upside was that they were all focused on the shitshow on the main floor.

Kai sprang up to his feet and gathered up his courage, “Come with me,” He demanded. Perhaps she had some Sithy ways of getting past the demonic shields and puppets. Kai quickly led the way down to the same corridors. However, Cherry would notice that Kai started dragging his feet and conveniently falling into step behind her as they got close. He was outright hiding behind her by the time they arrived at the infernal door guards again. He vaguely felt like he ran and got his mommy when a situation got out of hand, but he didn't need to vocalize those thoughts.

@Xorism