Calm Before the Storm (Star Wars Rise of the Empire) IC Main Thread

[TheCorsair]

Alone in the common room of the ship, Sev contemplated his next move. Which, to be honest, he would have liked to make onto the sultry Twi’lek. Bondage wasn’t really his kink, but she’d made it hot when she’d straddled him and threatened him. Probably wild in bed.

But no. That was getting him off track. The real issue, the important issue, was getting off this ship intact. He’d been pressed, that much was clear, and so he’d played along. Gotten excited about taking down Ghoutta - who he owed some misery to anyway - so he could act like he was part of the team. If people trust you, he knew, they let their guard down.

More power to them and their vendetta. The schlasg had it completely by. He just didn’t plan to be there when...

When...

A familiar perfume caught his attention. Turning his head, he saw... fuck. Alythra. She was aboard? Still? What was a high-class escort like her doing here? More importantly, what was the high-class escort he owed 15,000 credits to and then held at gunpoint doing here? Even as he wondered it, he felt ingrained manners kick in. “Good afternoon,” he said, rising and offering a little bow. “May I be of some small service to you, Lady Alythra?”

 

[LeaT]

Jiljoo and Kameron in Kameron's quarters

Jiljoo resisted the temptation to tease Kam about his furnishings or to call him 'Master' again. He really was the kind of guy she could fall for and she hadn't felt that way since Val died. Almost as soon as his hand rested on her thigh, a lekku stroked across his back to wrap about his shoulder, as if to invite him to lean closer. She enjoyed the small intimacy between them with no one else around to judge or to impress. "Well I'm not sure how many are in their right minds these days." She said softly as she leaned into him to kiss his cheek, it was quite sincere with no teasing from her for once.

"No, you would be a terrible Master." She agreed with a light smile, "but you do know how to pretend don't you?" She asked as she turned towards him, wanting to look him in the eye as she talked to him. She thought briefly about the last time she had been in this cabin, before Kam. That had been a terrible master but still preferred to whatever Ghoutta would have held in store for her. She shivered slightly at the thought of having to face that perverted beast again. "We are going to have to practice, our lives may depend upon it." She told him, needing to impress upon him the seriousness of the task he had set for them. "Would it help to see just how much I can enjoy serving you?" She asked, just a hint of a tease as her cheeks dimpled with her mischievous smile.

 

[Xanaphia]

Alythra and Sev, Common room

Alythra offered Sev a warm smile, perhaps a misleading precursor to the conversation they were going to have. "We have an outstanding matter to discuss, in regards to my compensation.Sit please." She took a seat across from him, maintaining friendly, but firm eye contact.

Alythra wished she could just drop it. They had a lovely evening together, afterall. If it weren't so much, and she weren't so broke, she wouldn't have brought it up at all. But things were desperate, and he did owe her. "I don't expect you to pay me back all at once, but I do expect us to come to an arrangement. Whether that involves you working for Captain Kameron and using those wages to make payment, or working directly for me to repay your debt."

"I have already lined up work when we arrive on Taris, and could have you act as my driver. I am prepared to offer you one thousand credit per job you assist me with, unless you have some other idea on how settle your debt."

 

[breakingcounsel]

Captain’s Quarters, Lucky Hand

Kam moved his hands to gently hold onto the curves of Jiljoo’s waist, smiling slightly as she leaned to kiss his cheek. He suddenly found himself wishing he’d shaved before she came in, as he was looking a little scruffy. “I get what you mean,” he said, chuckling. “We gotta make sure we look good for the Hutt, don’t we?”

Despite the excitement he felt at her teasing question, Kam stood. “Let me at least shut the door before we see just how much we’ll enjoy this,” he said, crossing over to the door to press the button, the old mechanism giving a soft clunk as it slid the door shut. “Now... How are you going to ‘serve’ me?”

 

[LeaT]

Captain's Quarters, Lucky Hand

Jiljoo stood as Kam did but did not follow him to the door. She felt a thrill of excitement as he closed the door, she wasn't exactly the shy type but she knew he would be more relaxed without the threat of an audience. She looked at one of the stanchions that reinforced the upper and lower deck of the relatively large Captain's Quarters, it would make an excellent pole from which to perform. "Well I've been told I'm a good dancer." She said with a hint of false modesty, as she wrapped one hand around the pole and swung slightly towards him but just out of his reach. "Of course, in front of Ghoutta you can't ask me to do something, you must tell me, order it." She told him softly, as if she were his coach and trying to teach him a new game. Her small tank top was plain but stretched against the soft fullness of her breasts. As she leaned back, still holding the stanchion her lekku stretched out behind her in a graceful arc.

 

[breakingcounsel]

Captain’s Quarters, Lucky Hand

Kameron chuckled as he headed back towards the raised bed platform, watching as Jiljoo spun around one of the support poles. As much as this was going to be an educational experience for him, he was looking forward to it. “No requests, just orders, eh?” he said, stepping up to stand beside the pole and the Twi’lek, hands reaching to hold her curvaceous hips. “So... if I was to to want you to dance or do something else for me, what would I say?” His fingers toyed with the lower hem of her tank top, lifting it to expose her beautiful cerulean flesh.

 

[TheCorsair]

Alythra and Sev, Common room

“Straight to the point, I see,” Sev remarked after Alythra finished with her terms. “Well, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. I can’t imagine that you move among the ne plus ultra of Galactic society without having a head for business.”

He made a show of considering her offer, acutely aware that he didn’t have much of a choice. Oh, certainly he could simply skip out on the debt. He’d done that before, but that had been debts owed to shadow bankers and crime lords - dangerous, yes, but not the social suicide that defaulting on this debt would represent. Alythra, after all, knew many of the Right People. The sort of people who could see him exiled forever from Society.

“I am assuming,” he said carefully, “that by ‘job’ you mean bodyguard and collections as and if necessary, in addition to driving?” He sighed theatrically. “I had rather hoped to work off my debt by providing you with other services entirely, but... no. I was your client, not you mine. Therefore, I am forced to accept the extreme justice of your kind offer, with a caveat that I may pay off any uncleared debt at any time I find myself in possession of a surplus of funds. Shall we drink on it?”

Looking under the gaming table, he grabbed the flask he’d noticed earlier. It sloshed promisingly, and he retrieved two mismatched glasses to go with it. “I can offer you,” he began, unscrewing the cap, “a finger of...”. Pausing, he sniffed the air dubiously. Then he sniffed the bottle and made a face. “Of What smells like unrefined promethium cut with alcohol. Perhaps we should shake on it, instead? Or would the sworn word of a gentleman suffice?”

 

[LeaT]

Jiljoo and Kam, Captain's Quarters

Still holding the pole with one hand she swatted his hand playfully but painfully away from exposing her firm blue tit flesh. "Those are only for my Master!" She teased, playfully before answering him. "You could simply say to 'dance' or 'strip', or perhaps both." She told him just before swinging gracefully about the pole, lifting herself easily and putting her wonderfully athletic and limber body on display for her Captain and 'acting' Master. "But the way you say it is just as important, as if you have absolute confidence that whatever whim you demand, you have no doubt I will obey." One lekku swiftly but softly caressed his face as she spun about. She was practically challenging him to take what belonged to him, or at least what they were going to pretend belonged to him.

She wondered if he would be able to pull this off convincingly. A sign of hesitation on his part could easily be taken as a sign of weakness and their whole cover could be blown. Kam had to appear to be her rightful owner or Ghoutta would get ideas of his own. Despite his desire for the cerulean twi'lek that had escaped his grasp, he knew enough to maintain at least the appearance of property rights in his own club. Once outside though, they would need to watch their backs, and fronts. "You should probably have me on a leash as well." She suggested, thinking a collar would give her a place to hide a weapon or device without attracting too much attention to herself.

 

[Xanaphia]

“I am assuming,” he said carefully, “that by ‘job’ you mean bodyguard and collections as and if necessary, in addition to driving?”

"I doubt it will come to all that," Alythra noted, resting her chin on her hand. "I don't often take clients who can't pay, or pull a weapon on me." She smirked at that, still enjoying the playful banter between them. Liar or not, he was damn charming. "Besides, I am very accomodating to my clients. Why would one want to hurt me?"

“I had rather hoped to work off my debt by providing you with other services entirely, but...

She simpered, not discounting the idea outright. "Hmm, perhaps such arrangements could be made, at, oh say, one hundred credits for each orgasm I reach. Unless you are suggesting I arrange clients for you to tend to. I could speak well of your talents to potential admirers..." Still, they reached an agreement and she passed on the questionable alcohol.

"I will hold you to your word, Sevastian," Alythra declared, taking his hand in a firm shake. It was easy to remember the evening spent together as they touched, and again she regreted hounding him for payment. Maybe if things went well on Taris, she could forgive his debt.

"We are now entering Taris' atmosphere, and will land in 30 minutes," Nykei announced over the ship speakers.

"Well, if you aren't interested in knocking a hundred credits off your debt right now, I will retire to my room."

 

[breakingcounsel]

(Perhaps after this, we can move to private conversations? Seems like we’re pairing off. )

Captain’s Quarters, Lucky Hand

Kameron couldn’t help but chuckle, moving his hand away from Jiljoo’s sizable bust. “All right,” he said, acknowledging her instructions. “Dance, girl.” He grinned, watching the Twi’lek’s precise, deliberate movements as she spun on the support stanchion.

“I can see why anybody’d want to have you for themselves,” he said after a few moments, chuckling. “I don’t think I could put a leash on you, though. And if I absolutely had to put a collar on you, we could rig it with a comm in case we get separated in Ghoutta’s palace.”

 

[TheCorsair]

Alythra’s expression told him she was in complete agreement about the liquor - Well, alcohol at least - that he’d found. With a smile, she wisely opted for a handshake instead. "I will hold you to your word, Sevastian,"

“But of course,” he agreed, trying to think of some way around his promise. None came to mind. “When shall I expect you to call on my services?”

The ship’s speakers crackled to life. "We are now entering Taris' atmosphere, and will land in 30 minutes.”

Sev glanced towards the cockpit. “As soon as that?” he laughed. “I’m not quite certain...”

"Well, if you aren't interested in knocking a hundred credits off your debt right now,” Alythra replied, “I will retire to my room."

The suggestion shot right through him. “Are you certain,” he replied slowly, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb, “that you wouldn’t prefer to return to your cabin before I reduce my deb by a few hundred credits?” A smile. “The common area is rather public, after all.”

 

[Xanaphia]

Alythra smiled as the tension between them shifted. Money was a rather uncomfortable subject, and debt compounded that discomfort. What better way to disperse that stress than in bliss?

“Are you certain,” he replied slowly, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb, “that you wouldn’t prefer to return to your cabin before I reduce my deb by a few hundred credits?” A smile. “The common area is rather public, after all.”

Alythra glanced about the space and shrugged. "I forget you humans are hung up on notions of privacy and modesty. As if pleasure were so shameful it needed to be hidden away behind closed doors and under silken sheets." She stood then, and stepped closer, trailing fingertips down Sev's face to trace his lips. "Still, I am a guest on this ship, so I shall endeavor to abide by your prim human customs, and adjourn to my quarters. Feel free to join me now, otherwise be ready to transport me this evening, 7PM local time."

With that, and the gentle sway of full hips, she left him.

 

[TheCorsair]

“Prim human customs,” Sev replied with a cheeky grin, “are sometimes all that keep us from getting shot by jealous human husbands.” He considered that for a moment. “Or thrown out a window. Or challenged to duels at inconvenient hours. Nevertheless...” he brought the flask to his lips, then hesitated as the stench of raw alcohol struck his nostrils.

“Nevertheless,” he continued, putting the flak back down with a hasty shudder, “I should be delighted to join you in your quarters”. Stoppering the flask, he admired the sway of Alythra’s hips as she paraded herself towards the exit. Then he rose, pushing up with his right arm to lever himself out of his seat.

That proved to be a mistake.

Sev uttered a strangled little sound as the effort strained muscles that were not fully healed, sending a jolt of pain through his chest. “Or,” he gasped, struggling not to swear in front of a lady, “perhaps I should rest a little longer. To ensure that I am ready to discharge my duties this evening?”

Gasping a little and clenching his fist repeatedly, he sagged back into his chair. Fuck, he thought, watching in a mix of pain and frustration as she left the common area. Fuck fuck fuck!

Irritably, he unstoppered the flask and swigged down a mouthful of harsh liquor. He sure as hell wasn’t going to take disappointment sober.

 

[Xanaphia]

Nykei eased the Lucky Hand down into the berthing pit, landing with ease upon Taris. Ignoring the twinge of her phantom limb and the memories of losing that limb. She didn't think she'd ever be back here, and even now, she wondered if it weren't a mistake. Oh, she wanted to hit Ghoutta, hit him hard, but even now, with the plan they had in place, there was risk. She might have regretted the way her life turned out, but not enough to kill herself over, but if they were caught crossing the Hutt, that was the best she could hope for. And in the meantime, they'd have to work for that slimy bastard.

Once the ship powered down, Nykei made her way to the common room, eyeing Sev with guarded eyes. She held out her flesh hand as he stopped the flask, and took a swig without stopping to smell it first. Coughing into her cybernetic hand, she scanned the common room. Where the rest of the crew was, she didn't know, and didn't really care to find out. It wasn't her business who was with who. Even if she thought she'd connected with Jiljoo before...

Turning her attention back towards Sev, she found something to discuss with the sly smooth talker. "So, are you meeting with Ghoutta to arrange the deal, or will Captain Kameron be handling that?" Captain Kam was straightforward and honorable, whihc lent Nykei trust him (to a point) but those same qualities could backfire in the rouse they planned to get over on Ghoutta. Nykei sure as hell didn't trust Sev and his slippery tongue, but he might be better suited to such negotiations.

 

[TheCorsair]

Sev watched with amusement as the pretty cyborg grabbed the flask and took a swig, then coughed as the raw alcohol burned down an unprepared throat. Clearly, from the way her skin flushed and her eyes watered, she was much more human than machine. “I wish I could offer you something tailored to a more sophisticated palate,” he said, rising. “Sadly, I find myself temporarily bereft.”

She didn’t seem impressed. “So, are you meeting with Ghoutta to arrange the deal, or will Captain Kameron be handling that?"

“I’m afraid I do not know,” he admitted. “The root of the scheme is mine, certainly. However, I am a newcomer to this gathering of Furies and would be forced to acknowledge his wisdom and admirable caution if he did not trust me completely.” He lifted an eyebrow. “I certainly wouldn’t, were our positions reversed.”

After a moment, he offered an apologetic smile and a half-bow, carefully favoring his still-healing abdomen. “But where are my manners? I am Sevastian Seegovia, the Baronet Organa-Nahal. Have we met before? I fear I don’t recall such a delight, but your face is most familiar.”