Ask Undercover Nuns

[Kasimir Reyes]

Ord Cantrell was beautiful. Noonish, the sky was a pale blue and peppered with white clouds, and a light breeze was sweeping through the trees. Birds sang. Children played. In the small countryside town he was staying at, each building, set with limestone and baroque-style architecture, ivy and rose vines flowered against their walls, painting the town in color. There was more greenery than people, and at this time of year, twice as much sunshine. It was the perfect picture of spring.

So perfect, in fact, Kasimir thought he might vomit.

He wasn’t used to this. For the longest time, he’d lived and breathed Coruscant, from its wonderfully bleak skyline to its disease-infested streets. He missed that old polluted stench and the delicious taste of porgs fried in gutter oil. But lavender and chamomile? Hot tea and cinnamon tarts? Worse, laughing children? It was a nightmare. A nightmare he couldn’t quite wake from.

Seated at a table outside, a cup of tea with a porcelain saucer and a silver spoon before him, Kas waited for his newest friend to arrive. He didn’t know much about them, besides the fact they were among the only people willing to sign up for this little “heist” he had planned. It was the sole reason why he had left Coruscant in the first place. Something valuable was hiding on the planet, precious enough that whole governments might war for the opportunity to seize it.

And Kas had every intention to steal it before they could.

He sighed wistfully, mixing his tea with one finger, tasting it, then spitting it out. It was only a few more minutes of doing just that before he finally caught the girl he was looking for—young, with flowing black locks and the height of a kitchen sink. He’d already forgotten her name, but it didn’t matter. He cut straight to business the moment she reached his table.

“Why, hello there,” he told her with his best imitation of a smile. “You've come just in time. I was about to order us some food.” Kas handed her a laminated menu. “Get whatever you like. Lunch is on me.”

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Truth be told, Vahliri was pleasantly surprised by Ord Cantrell.

Since her elevation to Championship, the half-Annfyn had found herself exceptionally busy with Imperial missions and her, personally research ventures. Both of which had become notorious for involving the most unpleasant and often downright creepy planets imaginable. As a result, the half-Annfyn was just a little bit excited to be on a world that wasn’t automatically trying to kill her. The faint trickle of a nearby water-fountain brushed against her fluted ears, and the half-Annfyn could smell the perfume of tended roses and lavender that hung light on the moist air.

It was beautiful and serene, and it was an environment that reminded her fondly of her own upbringing on Indupar.

While she could’ve easily toured the city for leisure alone, there actually was a purpose for Vahliri’s visit to Ord Cantrell. This particular artifact was something that the half-Annfyn had been hunting for quite some kind, and it was only after weeks of searching that she finally pinpointed its location. While ‘heist’ wasn’t exactly her preferred method of approach, Vahliri knew it was likely the only route to get what she wanted and was willing to work outside her comfort zone. Glancing down at her NalPhone, Vahliri continued to stroll down one of Ord Cantrell’s cobblestone sideways - gradually approaching the location where she’d agreed to meet her contact. She knew him by reputation alone, but their goals aligned for the moment and that was enough for her.

Rounding a corner towards the cafe, Vahliri had dressed in civilian clothes - opting for a black skirt and matching boots, alongside a jacket pulled over her cream-colored top. The half-Annfyn’s black hair was pulled back into a loose braid, while her lightsaber was safely tucked into a small pouch on the inside of her jacket. For the moment, she decided to keep her true affiliations a secret from her partner in crime.

Spotting Kasimier, Vahliri offered him a small wave of her hand before slipping into a seat just opposite to him. “Glad to hear I didn’t keep you waiting,” She smiled towards the man, taking the laminated menu and giving it a quick glance over. When the waiter arrived, she handed off the menu to him, “Just a coffee and croissant, thank you.”

Her attention flicked back to the man opposite to her once the waiter left. “Vahliri,” She said, extending a hand to him. “Pleasure to meet you.”

@Song

 

[Kasimir Reyes]

“Vahliri,” he drawled, enunciating each syllable as if he was test tasting her name, before finding he quite liked it. “Very pretty.” He slanted a glance at the girl, taking her in, estimating her age—probably around his, give or take a couple years—just to see how she’d fit on this little “heist” he had planned. She looked perfectly ordinary. Decent fashion sense, neutral colors, and an almost harmless, saintly face. But looks could be deceiving. Kas knew, and he had to wonder just what secrets she might be hiding. Fortunately, he didn’t care enough to even consider asking.

As the waiter finally arrived, Kas smiled and gave his usual answer when it came to restaurants like these: “Whatever the special is, if you can.” He had never bothered to check the menu and make his own selection. He was far too indecisive for that. He was only ever purposeful when it came to a sneaky missions like this, and the moment the waiter disappeared around the corner, leaving the two strangers alone under the shade of an umbrella, Kas was quick to cut to the chase.

“Hope you can excuse me for calling you out here to explain, instead of just transmitting you the necessary information. I always need food before a committing to a job. I’m at my most murderous on an empty stomach, you see, and the last thing I want is to leave a bloody trail of bodies in my wake. Not good for business, I’m sure you understand.” He placed a finger to his chin, thinking for a brief moment. “Unless you’re working as an assassin, then I guess it is,” he added to himself, before waving a dismissive hand. “Which isn’t the point. Forget I said anything.”

He let an awkward silence settle over the table. By now, it must have been increasingly obvious that Kasimir was both not sociable and too sociable. Every time he tried to get to a point, he tended to take several detours on the way.

“Now, what was I saying? Ah, yes. Business. We both already know why we’re here—it’s just a matter of what we do to get what we want.” Kas tapped his fingers together like that of an excited child. “Fortunately, I have a plan.” With the flick of his hand, a device fell out of his sleeve and landed in the table’s center. One switch, and a hologram of a shining convent materialized and hovered between them. “We’re going to sneak into one of the oldest religious sanctuaries in the Outer Rim, of course.”

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri flashed Kasimir a small smile, tilting her head ever-so-slightly when the man remarked that her name was pretty. “Thank you,” She said in response - lips tugging just a hint wider as she regarded the man. He was certainly polite and charming - a far cry from the sort of unsavory, criminal types that the half-Annfyn had expected for the other half of this operation. Of course, looks could certainly be deceiving and she had no doubt there was more to the man than he let on. She casually folded her hands into her lap, leaning back ever-so-slightly in her chair as the waiter left.

The half-Annfyn merely smirked a bit when he spoke, “I don’t mind at all,” She gave small wave of her hand. “After all, you’re treating.” She didn’t seem phased by his assassin comment, offering him a vague shrug. “Certainly isn’t my style of doing things. Well, when it isn’t necessary, anyway.”

“Oh?” The half-Annfyn looked especially intrigued when the man went on to elaborate that he did, in fact, have a plan. Her amber-hued eyes were drawn towards the holographic image that was placed between them - haze shifting from the convent and back to Kasimir when he spelled it out further. “Really? I didn’t quite take you for the Virtuous Nun type.” She grinned. “Color me surprised.” She leaned forth, placing her hands onto the table as she inspected the holographic image. “In all seriousness though..” The half-Annfyn muttered, musing over the plan in her mind. “I like it more than blasting through the front door to get what we want.” She tapped her fingers against the table. “Besides, who would suspect a pair of bright-eyed converts?” While gaining entry to the convent likely would’ve prove too difficult, Vahliri knew that pulling off the heist would still require quite a bit of skill and luck.

“I never did catch your name, by the way.”

@Song