Open Zavus Turnyars: Observation

[Covax]

Deep in the bowls of the city planet of Coruscant's level 1215, the Quick Draw Cantina opens it's doors for a very special event. The Zavus Turnyars. As the first and second matches begin, images of the fighters fill the viewscreens of the modest sized central room. Two male Weequay man the bar, capable of pouring anything from top shelf mixes to backwater rot gut. In addition to a couple of Crisp E-O droids serve finger foods, coffee and other assortments.

In addition to the fights on the screens, customers may watch several Twi'lek dancers both male and female move who about the floor as requested. As well a Sabacc tables and betting droids for the fights. Security is handled by local thugs at the doors and looming in the corners of the Cantina while the KnowOnes run cyber protection and run the numbers within the hidden room of the Syndicate bar.

New member to the Syndicates, the former independent mercenary Covax stands by the bar as the doors open. The bloodsport event was the idea of one of his recent clients Darth Caelestis, so the newly minted criminal thought "why not make a little profit off of someone else's good idea."

Spoiler: OOC Note

Like other observations, this is open to anyone to have a little fun, mingle, etc.

 

[Aska Ryun]

It had been a long few months for the mercenary clone. Overcoming a crippling disability, leaving her friends behind for some “soul searching”, working whatever jobs that came her way. Basically doing whatever she could to keep the thoughts of everything she once held close to heart from bubbling to the forefront of her mind. Often this led to her downtime being spent in the only place she knew could help her forget; every cantina from Ord Mantell to Bestine she came across lightening her account by substantial amounts. Of course, the money didn’t matter. Between her little “protection racket” on Onderon and the income those miscellaneous jobs had provided, Aska was never left creditless.

Her last job bringing her back to the core and to a place she despised, Aska was fully prepared for a night of hard drinking, good spice and gorgeous women. It only seemed fitting, after all. If she was to be on a world she had sworn off of then why not partner it with all the other things she promised to never touch again only to go back on her word? Of course, Coruscant could provide her with some of the most upper class establishments to frequent and a vast potential for high end clientele. She could mingle with the customers of such places, drink expensive champagne and have sophisticated conversations.

”Fuck that,”

Instead, Aska went to the lower levels, Level 1215 to be exact, and found the liveliest place she could. Quick Draw Cantina; a hive of degenerates and scum lords. In other words, home. No more glitz and glamour of royal estates. She was amongst the rest of the garbage of the galaxy and it felt good. She’d cross into the bar, the hood of her green leather jacket pulled over the back half of her head with a cigarra hanging from her lip, and smile for the first time in days.

The first few hours would be spent ordering countless shots and betting on the podraces, which would provide her with a tidy sum as Gugnar the Great (self proclaimed) crashed his racer into the top slotted Immik Hi’rari and kept him from placing in the top three. With those winnings in hand Aska proceeded to hit the sabaac tables, only growing her nightly profits. She would leave the table on occasion, disappear into the refresher to pour a small amount of spice in the pit between her thumb and index finger to snort before returning and betting even more on the cards.

Taking a break from the tables, Aska walked up and took a seat the bar as the holoscreen began to display a tournament of sorts, hosted by the Sith. If the authorities of the upper levels ever found out, the place would undoubtedly be shut down for the night. Fortunately, laws meant little in the lower levels. Ordering another beer, Aska watched as two men met in the arena before spotting a familiar face some way down the counter. Motioning to the bartender, she’d whisper an order to him and he would walk off to complete it.

”Oy, Covax,” the bartender would say gruffly as he placed a shot in front of the merc. ”Dame at the end of the bar wanted me to give you this,” Giving Covax a wink, the man would move on to taking other orders from patrons but if Covax looked down to where he had been told she was, he would see Aska casually leaning back in her seat with one foot on the edge of the bar. Beer in her left hand and put to her lips with her eyes on the holo, her right hand lifted in his direction with a lifted middle finger.

@Taz​

 

[Kho]

A young Mirialan woman, short and thin and dressed in all black that could only be described as gothic chic, soon approached the newly minted cantina. With the resolve of someone blessed with a one-track mind, she would toss the doorman (@Taz) a flirty little wink and a smirk as she stepped by him to enter the completely legal establishment, the golden digits of her left hand lifting to shoulder height to offer him an informal wave as she passed by. She'd heard about this place from a few different sources, and her curiosity had finally been piqued when she'd heard there was a unique tournament being broadcast to the little cantina. One that she could win big credits betting on. She was interested in the sabacc tables as well, of course, but it wasn't every day you got to watch Sith fight each other without worrying about your own health, and Kho was going to take complete advantage of the opportunity.

Letting her eyes flick from corner to corner once she was inside, as she non-nonchalantly pulled a pack of cigs from her jacket pocket and lit one up, she'd find herself counting up the cameras and different modes of security those in charge of this little joint had employed. They certainly had done their homework. Muscle, cyber protection, video feed. She would have to behave herself here. It wasn't your usual hole-in-the-wall bar where you could get away with being a little naughty.

Oh well.

Snatching a few items off one of the droid's trays of finger foods, Kho would make herself comfortable at the bar, taking a bite or two before deciding to test just how well the Weequay barmen really knew their stuff. There were a couple of lesser-known drinks she'd come to fancy over the years, after all. Waving one of them over, she'd almost purr her order to him. “Hey, handsome. A Sarlacc Kicker and a Rancor's Blood, if you don't mind. Did I miss much of the fight?”

The bartender would shake his head and point to one of the monitors as he went about making her drinks, her eyes staying on him for just a few more seconds before she turned her attention to the fights and immediately chuckled. Woman versus woman and man versus beast seemed to be the special of the day, and she had to admit it was hard to predict which one would be the more entertaining.

 

[Taldorak Trenessar]

Coruscant. The stomping grounds for one Taldorak Trenessar, an Enforcer with the Crymorah and a member of the Zaa Fenn. The Family had been giving the Hutts the business for months, if not years now, and finally fate caught up with them. The Sith had betrayed the Crymorah and killed Preef. It would be a war, but first, the Sith were silly enough to broadcast a tournament. And the Mandalorian was intent on finding their weaknesses before engaging. He would make a log of all the intel and then come up with a plan. The Sith had made a mistake starting a war with their only allies.

Reaching the door, Tal was immediately moved to the front of the line and waved through. The KnowOnes knew him and he had a finger on the pulse of the Coruscant underworld. His visor would scan the patrons of the bar before he crossed to the counter and leaned against it. His visor would be focused on the screen, but the Mandalorian was well aware of his surroundings.

The bartender would shuffle quickly over to him and Tal would just tap the bartop. "Special stock." he would then lean forward, his voice a whisper. "Tell your boss I want the recordings from all the fights." The Weequay would nod before disappearing to the backroom for a bit.

@Tess

 

[Covax]

It wasn't the rush of people he thought would come, but the numbers were slowly growing, and the night was young. Covax glanced up at the viewscreen in time to see things start off quickly. A redish haired fox unleash a blast of energy to her raven haired opponent. He had to hand it to the wizards. The lades looked good.

”Dame at the end of the bar wanted me to give you this,”

The human merc looked back over at the bartender, and then down the bar. Smiling as he seen the finger. Taking the shot from the bar he downed it, putting the shot glass down with a double tap sound on the old wood. The liquor tasted like blaster fire, and burned all the way down. "Her drinks are on the house, but only if she can drink the swill you keep with the cleaners." he told the bar tender.

He was about to go shoot the shit with his old friend (@Tulos ), when something far better caught his eye. The brown eyed raven hair tall drink of trouble gave him a wink and a little wave. He returned the gesture with a sly smile and a nod hello, watching as she passed him to belly up to the bar. Pausing to take a drink he suddenly realized he didn't have one. So, he followed after the young Mirialan (@Tess ).

Stepping in beside her, close enough to heard in the noisy bar but not so close to invade her space. He waited for her to order, then added. "and a gamorrean bourbon." Looking at the Weequay. Then looking to the woman, "It's nice to see them fighting themselves for a change instead of pointlessly glassing a planet."

 

[Kho]

Kho has always had something of a sixth sense where it came to men, so when she felt the brush of air and familiar tingle at the back of her neck that signaled the approach of another person to the counter next to her, she already knew who it was. It seemed the bouncer she'd flirted with at the door had followed her in. Not that it surprised her, but it sure brought a smile to her face.

He was kind of cute.

Popping another bite-size appetizer between her soft red lips, the Mirialan turned to give the much taller man an appraising look, soft brown eyes lingering a bit longer on his tattoos and muscular frame than they had when she'd passed by him in the doorway. Then they flicked up. To meet his eyes. “Hi there~” She finally piped up, resting a jacketed arm over the back of her stool and leaning in toward him.

“Hmm?” His offhand comment about the fights made her shift her gaze back to the screens briefly, just long enough to catch the dark-haired woman retaliate against her opponent with a two-pronged ploy to try and blind her enemy before throwing literal conjured fire at her. Clever. Kho's eyes soon met his again, though. “Oh yes, I much prefer watching them fight from a nice, safe distance. One or two sectors away is usually a good buffer... did I hear you right? Did you order yourself Gamorrean bourbon? To drink?” She leaned in just a bit closer. “Do you actually like the taste of it? Or are you just trying to impress me with your durasteel stomach?”

@Taz @Rhogar

 

[Covax]

Covax could not help but give a coy smile. As he could feel as much as see her eyes looking him over. He turned his body to face her, to better allow her examination. Holding his hand up playfully, as if under arrest by a ranger. While also taking a moment to allow his own eyes to look her over.

His own much darker brown eyes scanned over her appearance. From her softer brown eyes to her red lips that seemed to pop from her greenish/brown skin. He wasn't normally about the "goth" look, however in this case he could hardly take his eyes off of her. So much so that he was literally ignoring the other Enforcer her walked up to the bar.

As she turned to him and leaned over the chair with her arm. Covax seen the perfect picture pose, so with his left eye he took a picture. Something to remember the night with, he thought. "Oh I don't know, sometimes it's fun to play with fire." he replied. The Weequay then bringing them their drinks, and Covax gave him a nod of thanks. "Put it on mine," he told him. Then returned to her. "Perhaps a little of both? Actually President Thorne suggested it to me, it's better then you think. If you brave enough to try." he said playfully before putting the glass to his lips to take a drink.

@Tess @Rhogar

 

[Taldorak Trenessar]

Something entertaining to his left would catch the Enforcers attention. But only briefly, and it would illicit a silent laugh. He would then remove his helm and set it on the bar, adjusting his braided hair before sliding a credit chit to the Weequay. "I don't want to see the bottom of my glass." He'd then take his glass and drain it almost all the way in a single gulp, leaving a thin line on the bottom.

Thankfully for Tal, the Weequay was not one to disappoint and he would quickly shuffle to the Mandalorian and refill his glass with an unmarked bottle that would be returned to a separate cooler beneath the bar. "Anything else?"

"Yeah, give me a menu. I'll see if I can get your droids churning out some wild osik." Tal responded, his gaze flicking to the left with another silent laugh, before refocusing on the match. The match he was watching was a familiar Mandalorian facing off against a giant of a man. So far it seemed to be a good fight.

@Tess @Taz

 

[Kho]

Reaching over to pick up her cig from the ashtray, Kho's amusement would only grow as she noticed a sudden flash of red in her bouncer buddy's left eye. Was that what she thought it was? Oh ho. It seemed someone had had a few upgrades. That meant he had money. With a fresh smirk on her face, she'd bring the hand-rolled stick of tabac to her lips and take a slow pull, turning her head so when she let it out she didn't blow smoke directly in his face.

“Honey, I only play with their kind of fire when I know I'll win. I like living.” She'd reply to his comment about the Sith, looking him up and down again in one quick sweep of her eyes. “But there are other kinds of fire I like to play with every day~”

Once their drinks had arrived, she'd reach out for the Sarlacc Kicker she'd ordered. It was a tall glass of almost black-looking liquor, complete with a frothy cream-colored head and one hell of a kick. It had to earn its name somehow, didn't it? As he offered to pay for her drink, she'd raise her glass in tribute before taking a sip. Then she paused, waited, and when the 'kick' hit she let her head tilt back as she let out a soft hum of pure pleasure. The Weequay had earned himself his own wink from the young woman, and Kho made sure he saw it.

“Thank you, handsome.” She'd say to the bartender, her gaze soon finding its way back to the bouncer in front of her. “And thank you too, honey. I love a generous man...” She nearly purred, his comment about ISC President Thorne quickly piquing her interest - as well as a slender eyebrow. She leaned in close again. “Oh? You've met the big man himself? In person? Then what are you doing slumming it with the rest of us?”

She was joking of course. Everyone had to make a living somehow, no matter who they 'knew'. Catching movement out of the corner of her eye though, the Mirialan would tilt her head just a smidge, enough to let her eyes flick from her new friend to a nearby Mandalorian further down the counter. She was just in time to watch him pull off his helmet in fact, and she never would've guessed in a hundred years the face and hair that'd been tucked up underneath that thing. Talk about a surprise.

Back to the man in hand, she scolded herself.

“My name's Neela, by the way. And you are?” She asked, bringing her attention back to her very generous acquaintance and his own interesting curiosities. “If you'd like we could trade. I could take a sip of yours, and you could take a sip of mine... have you ever had a Sarlacc Kicker?”

@Rhogar @Taz

 

[Covax]

Covax heard the little laugh from behind him. He tried to ignore it, and continue the conversation. "I suppose you have a point. Especially after Callo's number came up. But the money can be good, and you can't win if you don't play." He said, as watched her look him over. He's was either fresh meat or a fresh mark. But he was enjoying the game either way. "Mmm, with the right spice we could go a couple day. See who wins then." He commented with a wink.

A coy smile came to his mouth as she her raised an eyebrow. "We have mutual friends, and I like it down here in the slums. At least you know where the knife is coming from." He commented. He was of course referring to the politics of the Senate. The games, the backroom deals. The Syndicates and the Hunter's Guild profited from some of those deals.

It was then that Covax heard the other scoff like laugh and the clink of the helmet on the bar. The former merc glanced over his shoulder to look as the mando. "Not a true mando then huh?" He commented to the other Enforcer, before returning his attention to Neela. "Covax," he replied to her name. He then raised an eyebrow of his own about switching drinks for the moment. Both because he didn't know Neela more then she was very attractive, and he just made a verbal jab to a mando.

"Why not!" He finally said, sliding over his glass toward her.

@Tess @Rhogar @Tulos

 

[Kho]

“You can't win if your dead either honey, and forcies are known for getting people like you and me dead real fast.” She replied flatly to his comment about Callo's demise, taking another slow puff of her cig. His offer of spice certainly picked her spirits up, though. Letting the smoke out through her lips, her tone seemed to immediately shift to one of more enthusiasm. “Oh yeah? You know a good dealer? Spice has a natural talent for shifting the odds, or making a good time great... I'll admit that. But you're going to have to explain to me what you mean by win. A fight? A game? I never play for free, but I love a good bet, and as long as there's something worthwhile for me to win... I'll play~”

At his comment about always knowing where the 'knife' was coming from around these parts, the Mirialan couldn't help but laugh. He was right, though. More right than he might realize.

“Covax~” She purred his name once he'd given it, a wry smile settling on her lips. It suited him, she had to admit, though the comment about the Mandalorian down the way brought yet another laugh from the young woman. “The helmet thing's a myth, or so I was told.” She said as she handed him her glass - so he could take a sip of her Sarlacc Kicker. In turn, she would lift the glass he'd slid her way and bring it to her lips to take a sniff of the Gamorrean bourbon. She had a mind to warn him about the 'kick' in her drink, but decided some things were much more fun to find out on your own.

"Bottom's up!" She would declare, raising the glass and clinking it against the one Covax held before taking a gulp of the mystery liquid and waiting for him to do the same.

Spoiler: Sarlacc Kicker

The 'kick' is that it is super spicy. You drink it, and a few seconds later your mouth is on fire.

@Taz @Rhogar

 

[Taldorak Trenessar]

Of course the idiot would make the two biggest mistakes of his life. Mentioning Callo and trying to question what he was. Hed look over at the boy. "If I were you kid, I'd watch where you're stepping. Not all of us are a cult that have built in straws in their helms. So ever make that remark again and ill be using that eye of yours as a decoration for every single cocktail I make."

So this bouncer was a nobody. That made him more than expendable to the Enforcer. "I would keep crass words about Callo out of your mouth. Most of this level pays some sort of homage to the Zaa Fenn." The kid was an idiot. Coruscant was a Zaa Fenn stronghold.

@Taz @Tess

 

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

Kara plugged herself out of the Zaa Fenn's encrypted access point and stretched our in the slicer's chair. Her "shift" was up. With the Zaa Fenn's crimelord, Marissa Hesse, moving shop to Coruscant the Lower Five gangs under Zaa Fenn control were more closely monitored and managed than before. That meant, among other things, that the KnowOnes worked from more central places like the back of the Quick-Draw Cantina. There was always a slicer present to monitor the HoloNet and run anti-dataplague programs to make sure the competition, the sector rangers or the Sith Empire could penetrate their many layers of security.

As Marissa's personal slicer, Scratch, entered the control room Kara got up from the seat and smiled. "Kept it warm for you," that seat was always warm, so it didn't come as a surprise, "Nothing out of the ordinary on the net. They're streaming some offworld tournament in the cantina, though." Scratch nodded, "Yeah its crowded out there."

A few minutes later Kara walked through the double security doors and entered the Quick-Draw Cantina. Scratch wasn't kidding. Kara spotted several known members of the Five Syndicates, including the Zaa Fenn enforcer Taldorak, plus some unfamiliar faces glued to the screens to watch whatever happened on that tournament. Kara didn't care that much, so she just made a straight line for the bar. "Spiced Chandrilan Rum," she told the bartender just as she thought she heard someone mention Preef Callo's name, "and a shot of sewer-riped moonshine." it was a vile and extremely potent drink, but here in the quick-draw cantina, the place named after the legendary gunslinger, they always kept a stock of the rodian's favorite drink. It was one way to honor the one that, for a short while at least, seemed to control the galactic underworld by the sheer speed in which he drew his blaster.

 

[Covax]

Covax gave a slight nod to Neela's comment. She wasn't wrong. Many of the underworld, not only Preef, had met their end at the hands of the Sith. But in the now Enforcer's experience as a merc, it was a risk worth the reward. It also helped that the human didn't fear the end.

"As a matter of fact I do. It's top shelf stuff to, and in your case I was thinking a little more fun and intimate. But lady's choice." he said giving a coy smile. Covax then gave a wink before the smile faded, into a look of cold hard stone. In was the look on his face he got when he knew a fight was coming. Then he turned to the Mandalorian.

"No, see first off boy, I'll step where I damn well please, I earned it." he said looking the other man eye to eye. "While you were playing with the lower five, I've been stacking bodies for Syndicates and Sith Lords alike. As for Preef Callo, I was there with him, putting the hurt on Durr the Hutt. Where the fuck were you? He played the game his way and his number finally came up. But before it did, he made me family. Now you're talking to the new Enforcer for Zaa Fann so if the gangs are paying homage, then they're paying me as well."

Not taking his eyes from the other Enforcer, but hearing the request for Callo's favorite. "Make it a round of shots for the house." If the mando made a move, Covax would make it just as quick. He was far more skilled then half the room gave him credit for, and just like the legendary gunslinger, much of that skill was with the Peacemaker on his hip. When the shots came for the house he slid one toward the Mando, and one to Neela. Raising the shot to clink with Neela and anyone else who would. "To Preef. Bottom's up"

@Tess @Rhogar @Eccles

 

[Kho]

“Fun and intimate? Mmm, will you promise to be a gentleman once we're all alone though?” Kho purred in reply to his offer of high-end spice and a good time. Her mind was already working out how she could pawn it off if she was able to get her hands on it, but to Covax she might have looked more like a recreational user who was ready to party. That was the vibe she was trying to put out anyway. When he winked at her, she'd bite her lip alluringly – that is, before the 'mood' suddenly shifted, the Mandalorian having decided to make some comments that didn't seem to sit too well with her new friend.

The guard dog had a little bite to him after all.

“Now now boys, we don't need to go wrecking up the place now do we? I think the paint is still drying.” She intoned, trying to keep the mood light as she tried to calm her new friend. Setting Covax's Gamorrean bourbon down on the counter, she'd let her fingers slide featherlight over his bare forearm, giving it a light squeeze up near the elbow in an attempt to curb the man's sudden burst of anger. She made sure her words were more honey-sweet than usual, too. “I'm sure our friend here meant no disrespect. He seems to be just as fond of your friend Callo as you are... he just didn't like your insinuation that he wasn't a 'real' Mandalorian. A simple misunderstanding, don't you think?”

She'd lean in toward the counter then and offer the Mandalorian a warm, friendly smile. “You're not trying to start a fight now, are you, sweet thing?” She asked, hoping he would back down as well so this didn't have to escalate and ruin her plans for the evening. Then the shots of questionable rodian-favored alcohol found their way in front of her. She made a slight face at it, as she definitely had heard the name when it was called out to the bartender and nothing about it made her think it was going to taste good. Why would she want to drink swill when there were so many nicer things she could get Covax to buy for her? Still, she wasn't going to complain and lose her mark, so she lifted the glass and clinked it against Covax's with a smile. “To Preef.” She parroted him, downing the shot and shuddering as it went down her throat. She quickly grabbed her other drink - Rancor's Blood - and chugged it in a very unladylike fashion just to get the taste of the shot out of her mouth.

@Rhogar @Taz

 

[Taldorak Trenessar]

His gaze would shift back to Lok, his new most favorite scoundrel. "Karly. They still keeping level back there?" The KnowOnes still remained bound to the Zaa Fenn, but there was a day when they weren't feeling loyal and Tal had to remind them they were picking poorly.

"You must be a little daft, boy. You're really out of your depth if you think you can go toe to toe with me. I didn't just stack bodies here, I personally took over Hutt bases across the galaxy. Killed their Pitlords, got senators not only owing us favors, but in our pockets. And I wouldn't ever brag about killing for the Sith. They betrayed Preef, and he helped them find their footing. Congrats, a new Enforcer. That means you still need to get your ears wet. And you'll have to realize something: You are loyal to the Zaa Fenn, now. No more jobs for the Sith. We're at war with them."

His gaze would then drift to Kho. Everything about her words were honied and set to disarm most men. But Tal, had been around many blocks. "To be an Enforcer is to always look for a fight. Keeps the dogs in their places, sweet thing. When you finally want to put your charms to anything real, come find me. In the meantime, stay focused on your mark." He would take the offered shot.

Before taking it his gaze would shift back to Covax. "Zaa Fenn isn't like other families that make up the Syndicates. They embrace loyalty and punish traitors. Your actions now, are to only ever benefit the Family. To do that, there are three things we're doing, boy. You're new to the club, I'm not. So show respect where it's earned. When you're ready to actually earn that position you have, find me. This isn't the place to discuss business. To Preef." Lifting the shot to his lips, he'd down it before sliding it across the bar to the Weequay.

Tal had been killing people with peacemakers for decades. In fact, the favored weapon of Preef Callo seemed to be very popular with the Underworld. But blasters were hardly ever as deadly as the tech a Mandalorians armor was adorned with.

@Taz @Tess @Eccles