Ask New Tricks

[Damon Crow]

CANTO BIGHT, CANTONICA
11.25pm local time
​

Canto Casino never slept it seemed. Damon Crow had walked its arched halls more times than he cared to count across half a dozen lifetimes, yet they always looked the same. Every iteration of the galaxy had its rich and powerful, who endured through peace and war, food and famine. All of them seemed to come here.

He weaved between the many patrons without attracting too much notice for a change. He had dressed up slightly, dispensing with with his renowned longcoat in favour of a smarter leather jacket and dark shirt. He still bore his chain and rings, many of them with more pedigree among pirates than half the people in the room. There was also no getting away from the hook that had replaced his left hand, a constant reminder that he was not completely infallible.

Damon was in the market for contacts and a crew. He could not very well climb back to the top of the pirating leagues without one. He would need men and women of ambition and varied skills. Fighters yes, but also clever cats and ruthless rogues. Canto Bight was one of the few spots in the galaxy that attracted such folk like moths to a flame.

He drew close to a nearby casino table and paused to watch a few moments of the game. There were few things more enthralling than fortunes made and lost.

@LouJoVi

 

[Dorian Pecore]

Cantonica was probably one of the planets with the greatest number of rich people outside of the Core. Every year, the city of Canto Bight attracts thousands of the most wealthy individuals of the Galaxy. All of them seeking to throw themselves in the hedonistic aura that surrounded this place.

However, not every person visiting the planet wanted to relax. Dorian was there for his newest job: find someone to buy a ring that had been used by Queen Jamillia of Naboo. Of course, the object was never owned by the monarch. The young man had found that cheap piece of bijouterie in a small street stall in Coruscant and thought that he could have a good money with it.

After giving it the appearance of antiquity, the con artist had traveled to Canto Bight to find an idiot to sell the ring. His strategy here was simple. Under the fake name of Ennis Cartrys and with his hair dyed blonde, Dorian had used his good looks and charisma to approach a group of wealthy individuals.

Since it wasn’t the first time that he did this type of job, Dorian had easily earned their trust. He had learned how to talk with them and he was even dressed like one of them. The young man talked and drank with them, laughing at the terrible jokes that these people said. He was only waiting for the perfect moment to offer his product.

And it was now.

“Since my parents died, I needed to run the family business alone.” he said with a voice full of sadness, no one could say that he was lying. “The worst part was needing to get rid of their things.” Dorian drank some of the whiskey that was inside his glass, while using his left hand to remove a small box from his pocket.

“I discovered that ring. It was given by Queen Jamillia of Naboo to a relative of my mother. I’m planning to sell it.” Dorian watched how they stared at it with surprise and interest. Now he only needed to wait for the offers.

@Alhon

 

[Damon Crow]

The game itself disappointed in the end, the players were washed out regulars with not a spark of interest or intrigue between them. Damon pitied such people, he could think of few greater sins that being uninteresting.

Laughter and good cheer off to his right drew his attention and he noticed a group of patrons seated in a booth. They immediately had more promise, mostly men but a couple of women, real finery and genuine jewellery of note glinting on their persons. A good pirate could smell real money anywhere and this lot had some at least.

Damon stalked closer, appearing to absent-mindedly fiddle with his hook as he did. It was a crude piece of work but he had discovered it could at least be a useful conversation starter.

Studying the group further, there was one who stuck out, a young man in the centre beginning to hold court. He was a handsome little thing, with dark features and a proud face. Damon could have looked at him all day, even if his eyes narrowed at the hair that was a little too blonde and the outfit that was a little too grasping. Something was amiss, though none of the wealthy folks seemed to notice. He listened intently.

Queen Jamillia of Naboo indeed. It was clever. Most would know Jamillia was a real past queen of Naboo, a world where it was possible, even common, for royal heirlooms to be gifted down handmaidens' families. But unlike most, Damon had actually seen Jamillia in the flesh. It was a freakishly long time ago, but he could still picture her. A small woman, with small hands, and fingers far too slight for that heavy rock.

"My my" he said, affecting a sudden stop by the booth as if the ring had caught his eye. "That be a beauty". He spoke to the whole table, but looked squarely at the young man, a knowing look in his eye. "For sale you say? Well I've had poor luck tonight, but it's not every day a man has a chance to bag a two hundred year old ring. Can we come to some accord?". He pulled a credit pouch from his pocket, smiling.

He had no intention of buying the thing, but the kid had spunk. Perhaps they could help each both profit from tonight.

@LouJoVi

 

[Dorian Pecore]

One of the many things that Dorian learned during his life was that someone with his type of job always needed to be aware of their surroundings. The young man couldn’t stay too relaxed or he could slip with his lies. He also needed to pay attention to not be surprised by someone that could have discovered his true intentions.

It was thanks to his sense of awareness that Dorian noticed the man with a hook in the place of a hand approaching his group. The young man was curious about this person, he didn’t seem to be the type that would be in a place like Canto Bight. His dark appearance and leather coat would fit more in a seedy cantina in the lower levels of Coruscant.

In other words, the mysterious man was Dorian’s type. He appreciated a guy with bad boy vibes.

However, he would think about it later, now he needed to sell this ring for the most stupid. Dorian was close to convincing a rich male Pantoran to buy it for his wife, when he heard a voice coming from next to him. The Coruscanti didn’t need to see to know that it was the mysterious man who was talking.

The sound of the credits moving inside the man’s pouch made a bright smile appear on Dorian’s face. It was like music for him. He could even say that the bag full of money was a gorgeous sight, like the guy that owned it. “Well, without any doubt we could reach an agreement!” the Coruscanti gestured for him to sit by his side. “My name is Ennis Cartrys. Could I know yours?”

@Alhon

 

[Damon Crow]

There was a glint in the other man's eye as he turned to Damon and the pirate suspected the con man was in his element. He was certainly a con man, that part was clear already. Whether he knew Damon had him sussed, that was still to discover.

"Excellent" he replied, clinking his credit pouch once more. The stray nuts and bots inside sounded much like credits, but were worth less than nothing. Still, they did the job of making him seem a man of means and not a pirate and convict. "Damon Crow, Captain Damon Crow" he replied, a great believer in reviving the mystique of his real name. Ennis, by contrast, why that name was as real as Queen Jamillia's ring here.

Damon opted not to sit, instead putting a booted foot on the empty seat and leaning on his knee, silver hook and his many ringed fingers gleaming in the posh lighting. It gave him a slightly dangerous, but eager appearance, leaning over the table as if salivating over the ring. "Your comrades look to be of limited means" he lied, looking the wealthy patrons up and down "perhaps a quick deal and I can be on my way?".

"How dare you!" the Pantoran snorted, slamming his drink down "I do business in twelve star systems". He turned to Ennis, smarting. "I'll give you five hundred credits for the ring. It's worth more than anything this - pirate - can pay!".

Damon was pleased but affected a scowl. "Twelve businesses and not a clue about royal heirlooms" he chuckled "Tis worth at least two thousand credits - what say you Mr Cartrys?"

He turned to Ennis expectantly, though if the guy was smart, he would let this play out for a further round at least. The posh fellows would sell their mothers before they lost a haggle to a pirate and Ennis could walk away with some pretty credits. Pretty credits for a pretty boy Damon thought. He would want a cut at the very least if this went to plan.

@LouJoVi

 

[Dorian Pecore]

”It’s a pleasure to meet you, Captain Crow.” Dorian smiled at the man, while thinking that there was more behind this name than a simple member of the navy. He was even more curious about the Pirate. He really didn’t seem the type to feel interested in jewels of a long dead Queen. Unless if it was with the purpose of pillaging.

He watched the pirate place his boot on the seat, a position that made many of the rich people around them look with disgust due to the lack of refinement that Damon showed. From his part, Dorian didn’t mind. It wasn’t the first time that he saw someone acting this way. Besides, it also left the man near him more charming.

The con artist was already going to say that they could have a deal when the rich Pantoran from early on interrupted with his rant. Another thing that Dorian learned was that wealthy people were always prideful. They would never tolerate if someone said that they were less rich, or heaven forbid, poor.

They hated anything that was related to poverty, including those that lived on it. Most of the time, it only happened because of the actions of rich people. Due to their arrogance and apathy to the misery of the Galaxy, Dorian had no remorse in tricking them and taking their money.

The small dispute between Damon and the Pantoran was a show to the con artist. It was amusing to see the two trying to convince him to sell a fake ring to one of them. “I think that my Pantoran friend here still has more to say.” Dorian turned to the man in question, who was already preparing his attempt to cover the Pirate’s offer.

The two could do what they wanted, because in the end it would be Dorian who would win. He only needed to wait for the right moment to have his bank account being fuller and an idiot ending more poor.

@Alhon

 

[Damon Crow]

"Three thousand credits!" the Pantoran retorted, the amount bursting from his lips "and remember I actually have the money!". The fellow was, quite rightly, unconvinced of Damon's ability to pay.

"Tied up in land I imagine" said Damon, rolling his eyes dramatically. "A real bargaining man carries credits enough to seal a deal" he extolled, as if educating the whole table "I have mine here" hefting the pouch "and I can offer you three thousand five hundred for the ring Mr Cartrys. Right here, right now".

"Four thousand!" the blue skin shot back. His wife put a sudden hand on his arm, a sign he had perhaps gone as far as he could, but it was no matter. Damon had pushed him to an acceptable place.

"Four thousand?" he said, as if genuinely wounded by the Pantoran's counter offer. After a long pause, he turned back to Ennis. "Alas, four be a step too far for me. If the man can pay you four thousand good credits for the ring, here and now, I fear I cannot best it".

The Pantoran was already pouring his credits onto the table, in a rush to prove his wealth. No doubt the quick-fingered Ennis would have them gathered up in no time.

"I be defeated then" Damon said sullenly, casting the posh fellow an insincere smile and heading for the bar. "Do find me again, Mr Cartrys, should you have any other bargains to be struck".

The pirate stepped away, fancying a drink. With any luck, the intriguing Ennis Cartrys would follow.

@LouJoVi

 

[Dorian Pecore]

Dorian watched with amusement while the Pirate and the Pantoran tried to outbid each other. When he had thought about this scheme to win some easy money, he never thought that there would be a dispute for his fake money. If it wasn’t for the fact that he needed to maintain his disguise, the con artist would be laughing.

This small dispute reached an end when the Pantoran offered four thousand for the ring. Even Dorian was impressed, not having thought that someone would pay so much for that thing. “Well, it seems that you lost, Captain Crow.” he smiled at the Pirate, before turning to watch the idiot that he had tricked drop all the credits on the table with a metallic sound.

He loved that so much!

“Of course! I can probably find something for you. Besides, I would like to see a good looking guy like you more times.” Dorian said, while winking at the Pirate. Damon could have good looks, but seemed to be dumb enough to believe that the con artist would bring anything that wasn’t fake.

Once the pirate walked away, Dorian moved to collect all the credits. When all of them were safely inside a pouch, the Coruscanti gave the ring to the Pantoran. “It was a pleasure to make business with you.” he said to the guy, before drinking some more of his whiskey. With his pockets full, he would only remain at the table long enough to not raise suspicion about his sudden exit.

When it was enough time, Dorian excused himself from the group of wealthy people. Ennys Cartrys would need to disappear before the Pantoran discovered that the ring was fake. However, before that happened, he decided to go after Damon. The Pirate had left him intrigued. There was no good reason for him to want the ring, but he even entered a dispute for it.

Before going after the Pirate, he stopped in the bar to grab two glasses. Every conversation becomes better with a good drink.

@Alhon

 

[Damon Crow]

The pirate's smile froze when Ennis described him as a good looking guy. It was not that it was untrue. Damon was indeed blessed with chiselled dark features and his hidden Anzati heritage meant he had the looks of a thirty year old, rather than his true age. Nor was it that he confined him romantic interests to women; he had always been open to both.

But the conman was being honest for the first time today, and far too bold for their first meeting. He would get into trouble wearing his passions so openly on his sleeve.

Damon said nothing in reply, instead drifting off mysteriously. He wound his way to one of the corner bars, sidling around the very end to sit on the last stool, with his back against the wall. It was far from the gambling tables, but a good spot for people watching where no one could creep up behind you. The bartender enquired if he wanted a drink, but he waved the man away, dark eyes scanning the room as he waited.

Sure enough, Ennis Cartrys appeared a few moments later, drifting towards him with two drinks in his hand. That was a small win; Damon never paid for anything unless he had to.

"We meet again" Damon said, offering the stool opposite to Ennis. "Is that for me, very generous indeed!" He took the second drink from Ennis' hand without waiting for permission.

He examined the other guy properly as he drank deep. Ennis had to be in his 20s at most, with a casual style and slightly wild blonde hair. Too blonde to be real. He was a prettyboy though for sure and there was a certain fire in his brown eyes. Damon was an instinctive judge of character after decades roaming the galaxy; he sensed this young man had a lot to learn but may equally have a lot of potential.

"For the avoidance of doubt, you and I just sold a piece of scrap for a very pretty price". He would leave Ennis in no doubt he knew the ring had been fake all along. "But he doesn't need to know that - provided we both share in the plunder?". One way or another, they were splitting those four thousand credits.

"Where are you from?" he asked, setting his drink down and changing tack "and what's your real name?". Ennis had the look of a Coreworlder, but the name Cartrys was more common in the Rim. Besides, it was a poor conman who didn't at least use a fake name to begin with.

@LouJoVi

 

[Dorian Pecore]

Dorian allowed Damon to pick the second glass that he was holding. The Pirate was someone with attitude, the Coruscanti appreciated it. “I thought that you would want a drink after your small competition with that Pantoran.” he said, while following the man toward the stool. “I thought that you had a chance of winning.”

The Con Artist nearly choked with his drink when the Pirate revealed that he knew that the ring was fake. He immediately turned to look at Damon, while trying to remain calm. It wasn’t the first time that someone discovered his schemes, but it was the first that someone asked part o f his money to remain in silence.

“You are more clever than I expected, Captain.” he smiled at Damon, before drinking some more of his whiskey. “I wonder what gave me up. Was it the hair?” since he saw how his hair was after getting dyed, Dorian thought that he should have put on a wig instead. This color didn’t look good on him.

His smile grew when he heard Damon’s questions. The Con Artist approached the other man, leaning close to his ear. “My name is Dorian and I’m from the Core.” he whispered, wanting only the other man to know this information. He lingered close to the Pirate a bit longer, before moving away.

“My mom taught me that it’s dangerous to talk with strangers.” Dorian sounded serious, but his mother never taught him anything before she died full of drugs. “More details about my life only after the second date!” he winked, his voice changing completely from serious to flirting. “What do you think of having 25% of what I got with the ring?”

@Alhon

 

[Damon Crow]

"If I planned to win, I'd have won" Damon replied, savouring the shock on the con man's face when he realised the pirate had him worked out all along. "The hair certainly didn't help you" he agreed "but mostly I know a little too much for your scheme to work". Damon left out that he had actually seen Queen Jamillia in the flesh; people didn't react well to finding out the pirate was two centuries old. He reserved such truths for very good friends.

Thankfully the other man gave up his real name, which unsurprisingly suited him much better. "Dorian" the pirate repeated, playing with the name on his tongue. He had not met a Dorian in many years. "Far better a match I think". He noticed how the fellow leaned in close to impart the news, catching a scent of a boyish cologne.

"This is not a date" he said, fiddling with his sharp hook quite seriously. The con man was a serious flirt it seemed, but dangerously so. Had he not considered that Damon might kill him where he stood for making such an advance? "It's a business meeting". Whether Dorian could hold his interest, that kind of interest in future remained to be seen. For today, Damon's more pressing need was credits. "A partnership would normally call for an equal split...." he began "but I will consider 35%, if you will consider your future...".

He played with the rim of his glass again, over-the-top pirate rings flashing in the low light. "You called me a Captain and you are quite right. There was a time Damon Crow was the most feared pirate captain in the Rim..." he spoke seriously now, dark eyes remembering past times. "I aim to restore that reputation, master Dorian. To build a crew, find a ship and plunder the galaxy for riches and glory." He looked Dorian up and down, deciding once and for all he could use the young man's skillset.

"35%, if you serve on my crew?".

@LouJoVi

 

[Dorian Pecore]

"I'm sure that you would have." Dorian had no doubt that the Pirate would probably make up more credits to cover the Pantoran's offer, to the point of winning the ring. The only question was if Dorian would have enough money to afford it. Now that the Coruscanti knew more about the older man, he wasn’t sure if it was the case.

Damon doesn't seem to be the type of pirate that hides a chest full of treasures in a distant system.

The Coruscanti didn’t feel afraid when the Pirate started to fiddle with his hook. He was very aware that the other could kill him, but he doubted that it would happen. There were too many people around them and he doubted that Damon would want to have an assassination in the middle of Canto Bight. For all the luxury of the planet, it also had cops that were a pain in the ass.

Dorian drank the rest of his drink, before turning to look at the Pirate. "Okay, we are doing business." immediately his posture would change, with him becoming more serious. The flirty guy from early was replaced by someone else. "Look, it was nice that you helped me get more money, but 35% is excessive. I bought the ring and paid for it to be modified alone. What do you think of having 30% as a compromise?"

If Damon’s description of his job as a pirate was an attempt to impress the Con Artist to give him more credits it had failed. Dorian had spent most of his years in the streets, learning what was necessary for his survival. He could have learned many things to make him look like a man with culture, but tales about piracy in the Rim wasn’t one of them.

However, the offer to join the Pirate’s crew was more interesting. Dorian had his experience with gangs, but he never liked them. They were rabble, full of chaos and dealing with petty things. A pirate crew was different, there he could get treasures and even some adventures. The life of a Con Artist could be boring sometimes.

"Now that you said it, I accept. You can have 35% and I agree to join your crew." he offered his right hand to Damon. "You have my services, Captain. The Galaxy is full of idiots to be fooled by us."

@Alhon

 

[Damon Crow]

Dorian did not accept immediately, which impressed him. It seemed the conman could negotiate if he wanted to, yet another string to his bow. He countered with an offer of 30%, not unreasonable, but not quite what Damon wanted. He decided to say nothing, sitting back in silence and simply staring at the other man.

He could tell Dorian was unconvinced about the merits of piracy. Damon did not blame him; every man he knew who called himself a pirate was probably little more than a dimwitted scavenger with fewer morals than the rest. True pirates, masters of ship and space with a vision of their own for the galaxy, had been gone too long. He hoped he could show Dorian just how much he did not know.

Then the conman seemed to soften, taking up his offer and holding out a hand. Damon smiled wide. Together, they would do great things. "Then welcome aboard matey" he said, clasping Dorian's hand "we'll find a place for all those services of yours I'm sure". He flashed the conman a mysterious glance, just enough to suggest.

Damon reached out and downed his drink, breaching deep and grabbing his new crewmate's shoulder. "Come on Dory, lets go find the rest of the our crew!".

@LouJoVi

 

[Dorian Pecore]

Dorian smiled, while shaking Damon’s hand. He was curious to know what the pirate had in mind for his talents. “It’ll be nice to have some adventures. Being in the Core alone was getting boring.” the trough traveling the Galaxy and tricking idiots to take their money was exciting. The Con Artist couldn’t wait to start doing it.

The Coruscanti downed the rest of his drink and let himself be guided by Damon. “Do you already have people in mind?” Dorian asked, curious to know what the pirate had planned. If he wanted a con artist, the man didn’t seem the type to want to make a simple group of marauders.

“If you have time, we could continue looking around Canto Bight. There must be some other possible members for this crew.” if Damon found the Coruscanti, it was still possible for them to find other competent individuals.

@Alhon

 

[Damon Crow]

"Well you're not alone now" Damon replied, glancing back over his shoulder at the conman. He meant it, there was no better company than a ship's company in the half-Anzati's view. All they needed was some more members.

"Not anyone by name" he said, on that subject. "Most of the fine men and women I knew have...left these parts". He did not mention that many of his old comrades had died. A long life and thirty years in prison saw most of your bonds wither and wane. It did not matter, Dorian was proof he could start again in no time.

"I'm a sailor and a swordsman" he mused, weaving between small card tables "you young man are our cunning rogue". He glanced around the busy casino. "We be needing a rifleman or similar, someone who cover us from a distance, and perhaps some muscle, unless we plan on feeding you up". Dorian was not unimpressive by any means, and Damon was a fearsome combatant. But sometimes a boarding party just needed brute force.

"Reckon you know anyone who might fit the bill?" Damon asked "or see any prospects in a room like this?".

@LouJoVi

 

[Dorian Pecore]

”I’m very pleased with it.” Dorian smiled at the pirate. He had lived most of his life alone, doing anything that he could to survive. The con artist had dealt with gangs and even worked with some of them. However, he had maintained his relationship with them strictly professional, never staying around them for much time. Working with a crew would be different.

“I see.” the Coruscanti noticed the way that Damon talked about the members of his crew. He wondered what could have happened with these people, but wasn’t going to ask at the moment. There were only moments after the pirate had hired him, Dorian would not ask particular questions. He would wait for the right moment.

Dorian hummed, thinking about the individuals that Damon had described. He wasn’t sure if this cassion was the best place to find people that worked with this type of thing. However, Canto Bight was a large place and full of areas where mercenaries used to meet.

“If you are going after riflemen, then we should visit a cantina called Starry Dreams. It’s the place where these people usually stay.” he gestured for Damon to follow him. “Here we are only going to find a bunch of rich heirs.”

@Alhon