Ask Nal Hutta Good Business, Bad Men

[Alfie Shepherd]

It wasn't every day someone like Alfie got a job offer. You could never have enough credits and no one could change his mind about that. However, this new client was about as much a nobody as he was- even if it was another Hutt. Well, Alfie reckoned you'd find Hutts all over on Nal Hutta, anyway. Alfie did his research, as he usually did about new people he'd be speaking regularly with, and couldn't find much besides the Hutt's acquantence with Nor'baal. So, that meant the Veteran couldn't push the slug around if he didn't want to answer to the head of the Cartel.

Typical business attire was all Alfie wore today, though he kept his blaster pistol snug under his suit coat pocket. You couldn't ever get too comfortable around a Hutt. Though the Veteran didn't think this meeting would result in violence, it was a precaution worth taking. The meeting was held in one of the Hutt's residencies, so Alfie wouldn't have the advantage of being on his own turf. Smart move. Once he was inside, he took a seat and awaited his business with the new benefactor, lighting a long cigar to pass the time.

Now it would be a waiting game. Alfie leaned back in his chair and relaxed, blowing a few smoke rings. He was as comfortable as ever- and this wasn't even his own place. That was a gift of the Veteran's- treating every where he went like he owned it had it's perks. It should confidence without being too prideful. Ego was important, but left unchecked, it would ruin you forever. The Hutt Cartel made that fatal mistake one too many times, and Alfie wasn't too interested in repeating history.

@Xorism

 

[Skelgok Desilijic]

There was always time for crime and good business, and often good business was criminal. Skelgok was in the mood to expand his operations and had come up with a rather ingenious design, opening a saloon and making someone else run it for him. Now there were many ways to achieve this and the young Hutt did have a small stash of credits on him to do so legally, so that remained a possibility but that would depend on how the day went.

The intimidating Hutt arrived fashionably late to the meeting, although a droid would have served Alfie some light refreshments in the meantime. Flanked by two armed gamorreans, he felt quite safe in his home and soon joined his guest. Speaking in Huttese, a protocol droid would translate if the man was not following along.

"Greetings, welcome to my home. Today is an auspicious day and one that will no doubt be extremely profitable should we enter into an arrangement. But first, tell me. Why should I work with you and not the next person to come in here? What makes you the man for the job?"

@Charles

 

[Alfie Shepherd]

Alfred wasn't sure what to think when four new arrivals entered the room. Then, Alfie remembered that Hutts liked to show off their power (and weaknesses) for all to see. Skelgok wasn't any less prideful than the young Veteran had already imagined. This was good.

"I'd rather..." Alfie paused, taking a long smoke. "Show and not tell." Now Alfie decided to sit up straighter to be more professional, but his blank stare never changed. His piercing blue eyes held contact with the overgrown slug's. "I want men. However, loyalty is hard to find amongst criminals." Then came another smoke ring followed by a pleasant sigh. "Money seems to do the trick, and you're lot have lots of it." Nobody liked a mooch, so now Alfie had to try and appeal to Skelgok.

"You give me credits..." This time he paused to take a drink. "...to hire a band misfits, and I serve under you." The whiskey was delightful. "I will be the face while you will be the brains. You give the money to me, so I can bring more for everyone else." Of course, Alfie didn't actually mean to flatter the Hutt. It was just something to get Skelgok in the right mood. Alfie would make Skelgok feel like he was in charge. This was his own home, of course.

@Xorism

 

[Skelgok Desilijic]

The immense Hutt sat there watching the man's every move, weighing his words and body language. Bold people were often someone you could rely on to take chances, to seize opportunities, and make a lot of credit. But bold people also had a tendency to turn up dead, if they rattled the wrong tree.

"How do you think we have so much of it? not by spending it on every cretin that comes beggaring." Skelgok's expression wasn't dismissive, remaining open to the idea. "So far you have only explained how you will cost me money, not how you plan to make any."

If Alfie had any knowledge of how the cartel worked, he'd know there were always kickbacks on every level. Any credits made by his gang would have a portion taken by Skelgok, who in turn paid the next above and so on until the top. That would of course only be the case until the Hutt managed to carve out enough turf that he was the last stop on that gravy train, but all in good time.

@Charles

 

[Alfie Shepherd]

What Skelgok had inquired had long been on Alfred's mind. Alfie wasn't going to do any slave business but wasn't against spice or munitions smuggling. There could always be more room for more thugs to join the gang once the pay got better as well. Being called a cretin tempted the darker more prideful part of Alfred to end the Hutt and the deal- but it was easier to simply push those thoughts away and feed them later.

"You don't have much reach outside your home." Alfie tilted his head with interest. "I will give you as many footholds in this galaxy that I feel like giving. You can't start an empire..." After puffing his last smoke ring, he snuffed the butt of his cigar on the table and left it perfectly balanced. "...By sitting in your own filth. Allow me to be an extension of yourself." Hutts usually didn't like moving around anyway, and Skelgok didn't seem any different. "Or don't." Alfie stood up and nodded his head to the Hutt. Perhaps he could find better business partners elsewhere.

"Like you said," But the whiskey really was delicious, so he'd stay to finish his drink one last time. "There are plenty enough cretins just outside. If you think you'd have better luck with them, then I best hope you remember the face of your new competitor." His lifeless gaze filtered back onto the Skelgok. "Fight pits are easy to start, but difficult to maintain. Smuggling rings or only decent when consistent- I'm willing to do the hard work so you don't have to." Slowly and steadily, Alfie turned to face the exit whilst he spoke. If the Hutt wanted him, now was the time.

"Beggars are cheap, Mister Desilijic. And I am no beggar... Nor am I cheap."

@Xorism

 

[Skelgok Desilijic]

The Hutt sat there listening as the small man spoke quite strongly. On a bad day, he might have considered ending the conversation there but today was a good day. Skelgok let out a bellowing chuckle and waved the man back. "No, you are certainly not. Come sit, let us discuss business then."

The scion was not just interested in committing petty crimes or having someone to bash heads for him. No, he would climb the rungs of power and squash anyone who dared get in his way on the road to wealth and glory. Finding partners to assist him in these things was worth their weight in credits.

"How does a saloon sound? I know of one that has gotten behind in their tribute and is thus ripe for the taking. With my credits and your newfound gang, you'll have a base of operations and a legal front to clean the money you might start earning on the side. How would you go about doing this for me?"

Of course, if everything went well and he proved that he could find loyal men to back his blaster, then more work would pop up for him. Including a highly lucrative opportunity to help the Hutt pursue his own personal political goals...

@Charles

 

[Alfie Shepherd]

Now they were getting somewhere. After Alfie took his seat and leaned back in it, he listened to the rest of the Hutt's proposal. A saloon didn't sound half bad as long as Alfie got enough firepower to keep it from falling apart. Though, with Skelgok being a Hutt, Alfred wasn't too worried about a lack of men. Now that it was apparent that Alfie's compliance meant that he would be an equal to the Hutt and no less, there was room for more in the conversation.

"I'd like this place settled in the core. Given the state of the New Republic and the Free World's, I only see more promising opportunity." Alfie also didn't want to be stationed on a backwater planet no one has ever heard of before either. "We can write the establishment under my name as to not draw any unwanted attention. We cannot afford to be too proud. Laying low, for now, will allow our little posse to grow and fester beneath the noses of those who are no longer worthy of leading an entire system."

But what would be the name of this sub organization? Surely the Hutt Cartel had plenty of pirating brigades, but this was different. Alfie wasn't a stupid thug who throw his weight around just to make a statement. He had a vision and he wanted to see it come to fruition. "Perhaps..." He poured himself another glass of that delectable whiskey. "...Fondor? Kuat? Corellia? A planet with a large working class would be most beneficial. I don't want entitled Coruscanti brats draining our resources."

@Xorism

 

[Skelgok Desilijic]

The core came with complications, but complications could also be highly profitable. So far the business proposal seemed reasonable and the Hutt sat there occasionally throwing affirmative noises. With a finger in the core worlds, the cartel could tap into an incredibly lucrative market, both in legal and illicit trades among other things.

"Agreed, on paper the business will be in your name and myself as the silent financial partner. As for where, I am fond of Fondor and Kuat, perhaps in time we will expand to both but in the meantime, I leave the decision to you."

Alfie raised an interesting point and one that had only recently become feasible. If they were able to take advantage of the chaotic storm in the cores and latch onto the discontent that would undoubtedly come from the lower classes, the wielder of such a weapon would have a powerful reach when the time was right.

"Is there anything else you require?" He flatly said to the man.

@Charles

 

[Alfie Shepherd]

This little business meeting had proven to be more fruitful than Alfie expected. Perhaps the Scion would scam him later down the line when he was confident enough. Or... Perhaps these two would make one of the most frightening duos the galaxy had ever seen. Time would only tell, but Alfie hoped for the latter. Alfred had his fair share of betrayal.

"Kuat is closer to the ISC, but also has much more resources than Fondor," The drive yards could prove to be an insanely beneficial take over if the two worked carefully together. Alfie always said that the best way to hide was in plain sight anyway. "But, if no one knows you're wallet is connected to the hip of the saloon, no one gets hurt." Kuat it would be- hopefully Alfie wouldn't regret this later.

"Yes, actually..." Alfie grabbed the bottle of whiskey he adored. "...Where in the hell did you come across this? The Blood of Corellia 22 A.B.Y.?" The brand was not as well known, but it was the young Veteran's new favorite drink.

@Xorism

 

[Skelgok Desilijic]

Skelgok would simply nod as Alfie spoke about Kuat. It would certainly be a prize worth taking, although given its status among worlds, not something that they could dream of doing brazenly. But there would certainly be room for an underground movement and after all, it was his head on the line, not the Hutts.

Watching him swipe the bottle, Skelgok laughed. "Tributes. In this business you pay tributes, something you would be wise to remember." Of course, he didn't say that it was a tribute given to him, nor did he wish to reveal how he had come across the bottle. Perhaps that was a tale for another day, or perhaps never.

In the meantime, Skelgok stood back up to end the meeting. "My droid will see to it that some funds are made available to you through an offshore account. Next time we meet, no doubt you'll be well on your way to becoming a wealthy and respectable business owner."

@Charles

 

[Alfie Shepherd]

Alfie carefully set the bottle back on the table and bowed his head to the Hutt. The warning of tribute probably should have gotten Alfie on edge, but he wasn't worried about money. He was more worried about how honorable any Hutt could be when it came to making deals. If Skelgok wasn't just another gluttonous slug, he'd see the power between their partnership. Alfred wanted to trust him, but he couldn't. Not yet.

"Till next we meet, Mister Desilijic."

@Xorism

[Exit/End Thread]