Ask Upon the Foundations

[Terra Lanris]

Terra was recruiting. There was no question about it at this point. Many people had come through Omega, some were associated with gangs, and many were not. What she needed were more able-body people who wanted to make money and didn't have a problem with a little bit of "questionable" activity.

She had put word out that she was looking to put together more people for a business, and she'd gotten another pluck from someone else that was reputed to be a tiefling. Terra had opted to meet the person on friendly ground. Asteria had given her access to one of the more private rooms in Afterlife, where the thumping music of the club wasn't so loud. It had become one of their unofficial places of business since they'd started their little "alliance."

Today was another chance to not only pull someone into the fold with an "audition" of sorts, but also to kill another bird with the same stone. She waited, looking out at the crowds of people and downing one of her drinks in a single go before pouring herself another. Those Tiefling livers were great.

 

[Jabari Din]

Truth be told, Omega wasn’t so different from most of the places where Jabari inevitably found himself. While the asteroid outpost had certainly seen an uptick in Syndicate activity, it was still largely unremarkable and unknown to the wider Galaxy - and it was exactly in these types of environments that Jabari often picked up contacts and sources of employment. Unsurprisingly, it was for that very reason that the Tiefling had arrived on the outpost in the first place.

Nevertheless, Jabari couldn’t help but wonder if he was getting in a bit over his head. The Tiefling had thus far limited his ‘career work’ to small time smuggling gigs - the usual Spice Runs out of Mon Gazza or getting weapons from the Core past official government sanctions. It was all straight forward - no strings attached. But this? Jabari wasn’t stupid, and he knew that getting involved with Crimson Dawn was a whole different league and came with risks of its own.

Even still.. There was the potential to make it big running with one of the Syndicates - and more profits meant being able to send even more back to his folks on Bandomeer.

Putting any reservations behind him, Jabari strolled past the entrance of the Afterlife - meandering his way through the crowd and towards one of the primary rooms where he was set to meet his potential business partner. The Tiefling was dressed nicely enough - wearing a pair of dark jeans, low-cut shirt and leather jacket. He packed a peacemaker on his hip, while his collapsible wen-shen stashed on his hip.

It didn’t take him long to arrive at the room where Terra was waiting, burgundy eyes fixating onto the fellow Tiefling as a faint grin traced his lips. “‘Ya must be Terra.” He said, his voice tinged with that Bandomeeran drawl as he slipped into a booth. “Jabari.” He extended a hand to shake. “I hear you’re hirin’.”

@Phoenix

 

[Terra Lanris]

He arrived promptly, which was a good first sign. She always said that it was bad for business to be late. He looked... well, not all that much different than what she'd expect. He was better dressed than some but not out of place in a place like this. A bit punk, perhaps, but it'd do.

I am. Jabari? Have a seat, she said, motioning to the booth across from her. She made a motion offering him a drink as she sipped her own.

I am hiring. You're not affiliated with anyone, are you? she asked. She had done some research but found little about him ultimately. It meant she had some questions to ask before things got started.

What's your normal work? she asked. There was room for all sorts of roles to be filled right now, and if it was simply an enforcer - not surprising given he seemed to have more than one weapon - that was just fine with her.

 

[Jabari Din]

Jabari’s lips tugged a bit wider when Terra spoke, flashing the fellow Tiefling a charming smile as he regarded her for a moment. “Pleasure to meet ‘ya, love.” With introductions out of the way, the Tiefling slipped into the booth and took a seat just opposite to Terra - facing towards her as they conversed.

As she indicated, Jabari reached forth and grabbed one of the bottles off of the table - using the nail of his thumb to pop off the wooden cork that kept it sealed. He selected a glass that looked clean enough and poured himself a drink.

“Sure ain’t,” He said, taking a swig from his glass. “Usually fly solo. Independent contracts, no strings attached, that sorta deal.” Of course.. The fact that he was actually reaching out and considering a gig with Crimson Dawn was evident enough that the Tiefling was looking to venture beyond the latter strategy. “I reckon this’d be a more exclusive position.”

The Tiefling reclined in his seat a bit, his smile tugging a bit wider when the woman questioned his line of world. “Smugglin’, primarily. Dipped my toes into other things, but that’s the meat ‘n tatters of what I do. ‘N I’m damn good at it, too. Ain't get caught yet, and I'm faster than most ‘o the schmucks that’re for hire ‘round ‘ere.” There was no lack of confidence in his words at that assertion.

“What kinda job you hirin’ for?”

@Phoenix

 

[Terra Lanris]

Terra nodded as he mentioned working freelance and mentioning smuggling. Both were the same story as her. She'd started on her own, worked to build a shipping business both legit and not, been only partially successful, and joined Crimson Dawn.

Everything, she said honestly in answer to his question. My business partner and I are expanding our ventures significantly. I own my own expanding company involved in Shipping and Charters, she said. She knew he would be able to figure out it was a mix of legitimate and illicit business.

I'm also looking for pilots who aren't afraid to take some... she paused, trying to think of the diplomatic words for what she was talking about. More aggressive individuals on cargo acquisition, she said. She was, of course, talking about pirating.

I've got a job for us in that vein if you're interested. Pay now plus I can see what you can do. You know how to shoot or fight? she asked. It wasn't a requirement, but it helped. They were in a dangerous business and it was likely to get worse before it eventually got better.

 

[Jabari Din]

Jabari nodded along when she mentioned owning her own expanding company, and he didn’t miss the mention of a fellow business partner. It was becoming increasingly clear that there would be no shortage of work running with Terra and her little gig, and, well.. Jabari really couldn’t complain about consistent employment.

“Nice way’a puttin’ it.” Jabari couldn’t help but smirk at the woman’s more diplomatic wordage of what was essentially downright piracy. Not that Jabari much cared either way - so long as it wasn’t that Wildfire shit he had heard about, the Tiefling didn’t much care what kind of work it was - so long as it paid well.

“I’m game,” He said simply in response, throwing back what remained of his drink. The Tiefling had come to Omega looking for work, and now he had not only found a job - but one that paid upfront. Which, as far was criminal work was pretty damn rare. His smile tugged a bit wider when the woman went on to question whether he knew how to fight.

“I can,” He said with a nod. The Tiefling didn’t elaborate about his own Matukai training or abilities, preferring to play that card closer to his chest for the time being. The knowledge that he could fight and hold his own would be sufficient for her, though. “So, what’re the details?”

@Phoenix

 

[Terra Lanris]

This seemed like it was going to work out swimmingly and Terra smiled slightly. She didn't press him on details of his combat prowess, knowing that her own was... not nonexistent, but limited. If he said yes that was good enough for her for now.

Good, she said with a nod. Job's as-advertised. We got word of a rather rich mogul on Dressel. He runs a high stakes card game out of his house with his friends every years. Millions in cash changing hands that night. We know where and when and we're going to hit it, she said.

You'll fly one of the ships and help transport the crew. We'll all hit it together and get out, she said. It was the very basic plan, but it provided him an idea of what was going on.

Two crews of six. I'll fly one ship, you'll fly the other. I hope you weren't lying about knowing how to fight, she said with a snicker. Ideally we do as little killing as possible, she said. Though the truth was it was because she didn't love killing people, the excuse she used with most people was that it was bad for business, which was entirely true. Killing was a step up that got more heads turning toward you.

She pushed herself up and started heading toward her ship. Questions?