Open Corellia Slinging twenty rocks

[Vipe]

Coronet City's Blue Quarter vibrated from sex, booze and spice.

Night came. Packed streets started being noisy, but it bothered no-one. This was natural here, accustomed drinking. The most famous bars couldn't offer seats anymore. Those who made reservations a few weeks earlier had the chance to peacock in front of the lengthy lines.

Vipe made sure to only keep a small pack of Sansanna spice in his pocket, in case someone tried to rob him. His stash was somewhere else in his nearby truck. Tonight was his last chance to make enough credits. Tomorrow he had to kick up. Vipe examined the crowd. As it seemed, he could choose anybody to find a customer. A group of underage humans stood by a less fancy cantina, some aliens played card across the street, and a few junkies always poisoned the air in the alley. Different risks. The last CorSec patrol unit passed twenty minutes ago.

Maybe if the situation was any better, it would be suspicious.

 

[Nick Shaw]

Nick leaned up against the wall of an unused building. He had stuck around Corelia after taking down a local crime boss to get a feel for who would try and fill that power void. He exhaled a breath of smoke before holding the cigarette back to his mouth.

He wasn't really out there looking for anyone, in particular, he noticed a handful of petty crimes going on here and there. If he stopped to arrest ever small-time drug dealer in this Quarter he would be here for years. For now, he was just watching.

Nick eyed the less busy cantina down the street. He could actually go for a drink, it had been a rough couple of weeks and there didn't seem to be all that much going on anyways.

With a bit of a sigh, he dropped the cigarette and stepped on it before making his way in the crowded bar. Maybe he would even see about a game of cards of tonight.

 

[Pidge Batana]

Pidge had finished her hit of spice. She wasn’t typically one to buy or do spice, but she had though she’d give it a try. It’d been a long day. Given, a small street dealer standing in an alleyway probably didn’t provide the premium stuff, but she’d taken it anyway. She really shouldn’t have because, mighty suns, it was potent. Her head throbbed and her vision swam as she made her way into the fancy cantina. A drink would only exacerbate the issue, but she wanted to forget the day had ever happened.

Pidge had just finished a very tough mission freeing low pay forced workers and it hadn’t been pretty or gone well. She wanted to drink her sorrows away or cry on someone’s shoulder, it didn’t matter which. Perhaps there would be a friendly face there, or even a kind stranger. Stumbling over to the bar, she ordered a drink before putting her head on the counter, cradled in her arms.

 

[Vipe]

Ideally, Vipe wouldn't sell to anyone. Spice ruined many kids dreams, probably even the Rattataki's very own. But he had to pay his dues tomorrow.

Vipe crossed the street as Nick and Pidge went inside. The young humans all looked up at him the moment he stepped into their circle. He was welcomed. They knew what he wanted. He knew what they wanted. The deal happened in the alley, though Vipe didn't have the stomach to stay.

The credits were enough, more than first expected.

With a sour smile on his face, Vipe stepped inside the cantina and sat beside Pidge.

"Hey babe, do you come here often?"

 

[Nick Shaw]

Nick was already sitting at the bar when the women stumbled up next to him. He glanced over, it looked like she was having a rough go of it.

When the bartender came over to him, he ordered a drink and leaned back in his chair. He looked up at one of the holo screens, letting himself be drawn into a game. The woman slumped her head down on the table which caused him to look over again.

He was about to ask if she was alright when one of the men he had seen outside skulking about came up on the other side of her. Nick had to fight the urge to roll his eyes at the man's pretty cheesy introduction but he instead turned back to his own drink and back towards the game.

 

[Pidge Batana]

The cantina was bustling and the holovids were on full blast. A few card games had started up and Pidge guessed the night would get rowdy sometime soon. She lifted her head as someone slid into the seat next to her. She caught a whiff of spice and it mingled with the other scents of alcohol, sweat, and perfume. “Hey babe, do you come here often?”, the man started. That was certainly one way to introduce himself, she thought. She looked over at him testingly. He was smiling.
“You’re a bit fresh. I don’t even know your name. I’m Pidge, though”. She forced a smile and called for a drink. She appreciated the concern from the man. The day had been long and all she wanted was a break. He might serve as a nice distraction.

 

[Vipe]

Probably to Nick's surprise Pidge didn't run away. She even cracked a smile. Vipe didn't expect anything else, he was overly confident. Women like hustlers, or so he thought.

"Pleasure, Pidge," he said. "Name's Vipe. I don't reckon I've seen you before, I'm sure I'd remember that." Vipe starred into Pidge's eyes with a smug smirk.

"So what let a pretty girl like you down?"

 

[Pidge Batana]

Pidge had to resist rolling her eyes. He wasn’t letting up. How could a man be so ignorant in the face of such sorrow? Suddenly irrationally frustration from the hyper lane of emotion she had just gone through, she snapped “Actually, you probably have seen me before, and a hundred other dancing girls of my kin. For all I know, you could’ve tossed a few credits at me while I was onstage. You seem a bit like the type, please don’t take offense.“ She knew her response was rude and even such an outrageous flirt as Vipe didn’t really deserve the jibe. She was exhausted and defensive.
“I’m sorry. I actually did work as a dancer for a few years to make enough money to make ends meet. Nights at the emergency medbay treating drunk patients, days at cantinas wishing I was the one who was drunk. It was tough work, but people tell everything to pretty dancers so I started a little information business. Unfortunately, an old employer of mine found out and finally caught up with me. He doesn’t even sell dancers anymore. He sells slaves. I thought I was done with him, but no such luck...”

Pidge trailed off and looked around nervously. Hopefully no one was eavesdropping. She didn’t want more trouble. Taking a swig of her drink, she pretended to relax a bit. In fact, she had a high alcohol tolerance and would act drunk if it got people to tell her more. This man, Vipe, seemed eager enough to talk, so hopefully she wouldn’t have to keep wasting credits on drinks. “So what does a devilish scoundrel like you do for a living?”

 

[Vipe]

Pidge first seemed drunk but somewhat cute, now Vipe totally changed his opinion. For him, she was whining. Saying something about why her life wasn't straight. As far as he was concerned, he needed to do another line to handle Pidge.

Vipe gave up on understanding. Understanding women. No, that's not for him. He grabbed his glass and drank, heavily. The drink wasn't enough though, it was a good week and he still had some on him that he didn't sell. "Kark," Vipe blurted out. "I just said you were pretty. What's wrong with tipping dancers? I shouldn't tip them?" Just for a second, Vipe gave nick an unfriendly glare. It was getting too personal, a conversation that should be private by all means.

But what Pidge explained, he could relate to that. A bit of empathy. "I see, damn that's tough. I mean, that you turned on him." Vipe sucked on his teeth. "I meant no offense, you know that."

"Devilish scoundrel!" Vipe laughed. "I like that! If I told you what I work you'd probably laugh at me."

 

[Pidge Batana]

Indeed, Vipe did not respond well to her cutting remark, but he seemed to let up on her a little after she explained. Tracing her hands down her lekku, she let a genuine smile show. She was finally getting somewhere. “Well, I assume you’re no angel. C’mon, I’m curious. And I’m not gonna laugh. You are talking to someone who will do anything to get credits. I even cleaned out someone’s fuel injector. It’s folks like him who are high and mighty”

Pidge may have had a bit too much to drink, now that she though about it. She had gestured at the a man in spiffy suit and tie near them flippantly. She was glad there appeared to be no police in sight. Their presence made her skin crawl. Of course her crimes were petty, but for all the police cared, she was a murderer. Something resembling anger and disdain crawled up in her throat, making her nauseous. She flushed with anger. She really was on an emotional rollercoaster. She needed to calm herself down again. She was at a bar with a relatively handsome man, drinking to her heart’s content. There was no reason to be anxious. It wasn’t as if anyone knew she was planning to hack the criminal records soon.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, Pidge saw a player at the table slip a card from his sleeve and exchange it with one is his hand, handing the extra card to a waiter with his drink. Pidge saw an opportunity and called the waiter over. She winked at Vipe then turned to the waiter and smiled sweetly. Standing up, wobbling a bit, and gripping his shoulder for balance. She tried to subtly slip the card from his grasp.

 

[Vipe]

Vipe smirked, swirling his drink slowly in the glass. It would feel so great to just tell everything. It really would. However, by the end of the week he would be in pieces. For now, he had to use his somewhat true legend.

"Okay," Vipe gave in. "I'm a waste management consultant."

Someone has to take care of the trash, right? And there are people, - usually associated with the mob - who run that gig. Vipe also used it to keep up a believable job, and also it's great to get rid of things.

"Oh I see what you mean," Vipe smiled innocently. "Kark!"

As Pidge grabbed the card Vipe poured his drink, seemingly by accident all over the waiter.

"Sorry!"

 

[Pidge Batana]

Pidge, startled, jumped away as a drink splashed towards her. Vipe seemed to have suddenly lost all ability to control his arms and had also acquired instant butterfingers. Certainly a diversion, but not the kind she had expected. Thankfully, she was able to grab the card. The poor waiter was much too focused on his current sopping state to notice and hurriedly excused himself.
“Smooth, although perhaps a bit of warning could have been given. Although I came here to drown my sorrows, I did not literally want to swim in alcohol.” She jokingly snipped at him quietly. “Although I do suppose you need a new drink now.” Pidge ordered another and flashed the card at Vipe. “I think we could have a bit of fun with this, maybe planting it?”

 

[Vipe]

Perfect execution. Vipe was already amazed from himself, but they just got a card to use all night, hopefully.

Pidge finally seemed cheerful. Vipe let out a silent chuckle as she jumped aside. "Sorry! It just felt natural," the alien laughed. "Why don't we go to another place, have a bit of fun? I know a casino that's not far from here."

Vipe grabbed the drink that the bartender brought, ready to leave.

"I like your thinking."

 

[Pidge Batana]

“Good, let’s head out before anyone misses us.” Pidge threw a look at the man who had been subtly watching them. She had no reason to be wary of him, but he looked too clean to be a frequent at the bar. Trying to forget her suspicions, Pidge wobbled precariously toward the door, almost bumping into a couple of tables.

Stepping out into the cool night, she kicked at the rats scurrying in the street and headed towards the Casino. She turned a blind eye, trying to avoid looking too hard down the alleyways at the deals happening. Sometimes watching too hard was enough to cause a fight around here.

“I can’t say I do much gambling, but you can try to have some fun with that card. I’ll join you, but I might try to make some credits by messing with the slot machines.“ She casually pulled a computed spike part of the way out of her pocket to emphasize her point.