Ask Thrift Shopping

[Zhaan Duran]

Ord Mantell was a good planet for business by Duran's estimation, the sort of place where all kinds of stuff went in and out without too much scrutiny. Heavy influence from trade guilds and a historic syndicate presence was just the combination he was looking for. It was a big place chock full of opportunity for Duran and the ones he worked for.

'Course he was a pretty good shot but damn if he didn't count as 'muscle'. At least not nearly so much as his companion for the day, a big Orcolan guy who might as well have 'hire me if you want someone folded like a lawn chair' tattooed across the billboard he called a torso. And yet no one'd bothered giving him anything even resembling a big-ass rifle. Did he not get jobs, or what?

Either here, that was changing today. Zaid and Duran were off to do a little discount thrift shopping on behalf of the latter's client. And by thrift shopping, he meant robbery. A small-time gang ran as a middle man's middle man through the back of a dry cleaner's in the red light district. Their greatest defense was secrecy but, unfortunately, one little rat squeaked pretty loud when bits started getting pulled off. Now they knew the spot, and they needed to do was apply a bit of diplomacy.

Which here meant the aggressive kind.

So there Zhaan was, a thin cigar clamped between his teeth burning idly from beneath his hat. It was raining a bit today, but he didn't mind so much, especially as he waited on a public bench beneath an overhang.

@Altaris

 

[Zaid Durmaz]

This was hardly Zaid’s first time visiting Ord Mantell. Despite whatever polished exterior was put on for tourists and the rest of the FWA, it was all but public knowledge that the planet was a hotbed of Syndicate activity, and it remained a constant venue of employment for the half-Orcolan - even amidst the territorial conflicts between the Black Sun and Hutt Cartels. So long as he got paid, Zaid didn’t care who his employer was - and that was precisely why he’d taken the job with Duran.

Zaid casually strolled his way through the streets of Worlport, moving between the glittering casinos that made the city infamous and managing to tower over practically every other person around him. As per usual, the half-Orcolan was dressed in a simple pair of trousers and a armorweave blast vest, a pair of blaster pistols holstered on his hip.

While the half-Orcolan strolled forward, his eyes were fixated down onto the datapad in his hand - a faint, tusk-filled smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he stared down at the message he had just received.

Stay safe out there, Fly-Guy. Good luck.

Zaid couldn’t help the almost giddy look in his eyes as he stared down at the message, having come from the half-Orcolan’s long term boyfriend, Ayaz - having grown entirely accustomed to receiving a send-off text from the other Orcolan. He was one of the few constant things in Zaid's chaotic life. It made all the risky jobs he undertook worth it, and gave him a reason to keep fighting in the worst of times. Knowing that his boyfriend would be waiting for him back on Tirsa.

Always. See you soon, Starburst.

He quickly typed down the message and hit send, his smirk tugging a bit wider upon the usage of that playful nickname for his boyfriend. Zaid tucked the datapad into his pocket and continued right along - moving towards the rendezvous point where he was set to meet the Chiss gunslinger.

Naturally, it didn’t take Zaid very long to locate his would-be partner for this operation. A few moments of casually scanning came to an end when his gaze settled upon the blue-skinned figure seated on one of the public benches and otherwise separated from the rest of the crowd. Not to mention, the ridiculously wide-brimmed hat that the Chiss was wearing didn’t help maintain a low profile. The dude looked like something out of a Wohn Jayne gunslinger Holo, and it was enough of a confirmation in Zaid’s mind to gradually make his way in that direction.

Within a few moments, Zaid plopped down onto the bench right beside Duran - reaching his arms back and spreading them wide across the spine of the seat. After a few moments, he glanced towards his companion. “Must be Zhaan.” He gave a small jut of his chin.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Zhaan Duran]

Zhaan looked up from his people watching as the Orcolan approached the relaxed seating arrangement, crimson eyes peaking out from beneath the brim of his very nice hat. The cigar moved slightly as his grip on it readjusted to take it out, lightly flicking ash off into a tray by the bench. Yup, this Zaid guy was definitely as big as advertised, no doubt about that. Duran greeted by the big guy with a casual nod as Zaid sat down.

"Must be," he agreed in accented basic, spoken quite casually. "Think we stand out?" Sure Orcolans were out and about a bit but they weren't the most common sight in the broader galaxy. Not as damn rare as Chiss- he'd been mistaken for a Pantoran more than once- but still. Then again, Ord Mantell was one of those places where everyone of any creed, race, or culture could blend well enough. So long as you didn't piss off too many people.

"Plan's quick and simple. Go in, secure the building, grab some free gear, get paid." Or at least it was supposed to be simple but one never knew how things could go in this business. "Maybe we'll have a lucky day and they'll just give up, eh?" Zhaan added in a joking tone, lightly elbowing the other man. "C'mon, let's get going then."

Lowering his hat's brim to keep the rain out, Zhaan stood from the bench and crossed the street at a leisurely place and strode into a side alley, assuming Zai was following right behind.

@Altaris