Log:Explorer's Guild: Ord Mantell Bombshell

Explorer's Guild: Ord Mantell Bombshell

OOC Date: January 4, 2018
Location: Ord Mantell: Lady Fate Casino
Participants: Explorer's Guild: Corr Waldin, Zul Gradnk, Rail Onasi, and Sapphira Solari; Special Guest Distraction, Hex

It's a beautiful day on Nar Shaddaa, which just figures, because the Explorers are leaving. Corr's sent out a call to whoever can make it to meet at Eebua's (RIP) starport to board the Arcadian Rhythm and dovetail a mission with a cargo run. "I got a guy on Ord Mantell says he'll sell us submergence suits cheap," the director explains, walking up the boarding ramp with whoever's already joined him. "Could come in real handy for this job on Chandrila I'm getting set up. The price is crazy good, so I figure we best take advantage." He's dressed differently than normal, nicer, a lot nicer, for him. The clothes are all new, even if they're reasonably plain, and the bump on the back of his shirt neck might be a tag tucked in there still. "I know it's short notice, but I never could pass up a real good bargain."

Zul Gradnk nods and eyrolls, smiling "How lucky you have me then." the pilot argues, also dressed nicer than usual. Probably to show off she is the boss here "And you are going to Chandrilla?" she asks, surprisedly, raising an eyebrow "Could you catch me some tasty, deep-sea fish?" she asks, grinning

First day on the job. Rail Onasi has found his way to the starport and onto the designated ship. He's seated in a jumpseat in the cargo bay, hands resting in his lap as he watches the other two for the moment.

Corr moves further up into the ship, stepping around a loading droid as they busily stock the hold with various cargo, mostly clothes. Fancy clothes, plainer clothes, all of them new, a couple of them maaaybe matching the outfit he's got on. Maybe. "Ord Mantell's kinda like Nar Shaddaa, but cleaner. And bigger. This fella wants us to meet him at a local casino, so uh, let's try to fit in." He glances over at Zul, then at Rail. "Not today, but sometime soon." A brow furrows as a thought occurs to him. "How'd you get on here before us?"

Zul Gradnk waves her Lekku "That... is a good question." she glares "What. The. Hell. Are. You. Doing. On. My. Ship?" she asks, glaring "And I would say Ord Can't be like Nar. Ord is so booooring." She eyerolls.

"The door was open," Rail says, jerking his thumb at the boarding ramp. "You told us to meet on the ship, right?" he asks, pulling his datapad out to make sure that he didn't make a mistake. "Uh...sitting," is his answer to Zul, as he scrolls through his messages.

"Zul, this is Rail," Corr jumps in, straightening his shirt self-consciously, pushing his thumbs down into his waistband to smooth out the tucked portion again. It's like a nervous tic. "He's new but he's workin' with us now. Rail, Zul."

So they're dressing to rob a casino, right? Wait, is this Defiance or is this the Guild? Eh, the lines become so blurred on Nar anymore. Enter Sapphira Solari, dressed for the part. She's wearing a red, form-fitting dress with strategic cutouts to reveal her midsection and slices of her back. To some, it's fashionable. To others it kind of looks like the cutouts from Buffalo Bill's Silence of the Lambs person-skin-dress. But whatever, it's fashionable in the skeezier monied circles, and it's what Sapphira wears. A certain someone might recognize it as a dress that her ex-husband picked out for her. Click click click go her high heels as she comes out from one of the heads, where she was getting changed. In her hand she has her bag of clothes and a clutch purse, containing a multitool, a butterfly knife, and a pistol. It's a larger size clutch, for obvious reasons. Her long red hair has been left down, save for the one side that has been shaved to a stubble in another fashionable style that her player doesn't really get. "So we're robbin', right?" she asks, having missed much of the briefing, but just going on assumptions of, well, you know. Being a Defiance girl in a non-Defiance guild.

Zul Gradnk nods "Well..." she sighs "Welcome to the explorers guild then." she explains "Although, Corr. Could you ask your newbies to wait for you in front of the ship? If you weren't here.... well... I would have kicked him out, I am afraid. As I would have thought he was an inturder..." As Sapphira comes in, Zul smiles "Hey Sap... I have no idea what we are doing. I am only flying this ship."

She wears white slacks, a white jacket and waistcoat, as well as a nice, black blouse. On her lapel, a starship is pinned. She chuckles "I might join a heist, though. It could be fun outflying the law enforcement!" she eyerolls at Corr. As her holster on her belt proves, Zul is very much armed.

"I'll do my best to not do it ag-," he's sidetracked by Sapphira's entrance. She's done up all nice, of course, but it's mostly because he recognizes her from that one time they were wandering around the Undercity together. "...Sapphira?" he asks, looking like he's not sure if that's her name or not.

Since it's apparently fashion week, Rail's just wearing his normal red leather jacket and tunic. And some pants. And boots.

"We could just steal 'em," Sapphira suggests with a slight smile of amusement, before she remembers that this is Corr, not Hex. She draws the smile in quickly and blushes appropriately. "Not that we would, sir." No, certainly not. Stealing bad. A few more steps in and she moves to take her own seat, stowing her bag of normal clothes underneath and away somewhere that they won't get thrown about in hyper. She keeps her knees tight together as she looks around at the group, giving Zul a fond smile. "Well if we're gonna do anything silly, let's do it before we all eat." Because there will be nibbles at the casino, no doubt! Then, upon hearing her name, Sapphira notices Rail for the first time. It takes her a few second to place him, but then she smiles. "Well hello, soldier. Funny meeting you here. A few steps up from the underworld trash heaps, though, wouldn't you say?" She looks at Corr, then to Rail again, finally catching up with the conversation. "You're with us her now?"

It's a beautiful day on Nar Shaddaa, which is why the Explorer's Guild is predictably leaving. Corr's sent out a message to members and known associates to the effect of 'Meet on the Arcadian Rhythm for job' and now they've gathered here, dressed up for the casino on Ord Mantell. "We're not robbin' em," Corr tells Sapphira, amused himself, adjusting the ride of his pants. He's wearing all new clothes, which is odd for him, with the tag tucked into the neck of his shirt. Specifically, they match some of the clothing being loaded on as cargo. "If any of you are feelin' like you'd be out of place at a high stakes casino, I'm sure we can find your size somewhere. Zul, get ready to take us out, please. Figure this is about all that's showing up." He gets set to close the loading ramp.

Zul Gradnk eyerolls and smiles, patting him on the back "Don't worry, Rail." she grins at Sapphira "You are right!" she admits "Before I get my thre stomachs full, sounds like a good idea. Do you think they have noodles?" she eyerolls at Corr "Corr. I am sorry, but I am the captain here!" she argues, opening it up again, poking her tongue out at him "Do you think I would be out of place?"

"Looks that way," Rail says with a smile to Sapphira. "Though, I feel a little under-dressed compared to the rest of you," he adds, looking down at his outfit. At Corr's announcement, Rail stands up and starts going through the clothing, looking all-around confused at the prospect of F A S H I O N.

"How's this Gambit treating you, ai'jou?" Hex asks the pilot. He's strolling up the entry ramp, smoking. Who invited Hex? Why's he here? Gross. But too bad, he's here. And half paying attention. "Oh man, Zul, what if there's a buffet," distracted already. He is, as ever, wearing his horrible flower duster, and pauses. "We are meant to be fancy?" He looks down at himself, and then starts unspooling some kind of gold braid from his pocket. "I could add some trim, ka."

"What, you didn't think the lekku-hat was fancy enough?" The knitted lekku-hat in Defiance colors. What could be better! Sapphira is seated with a large clutch in her lap, wearing a cutout shealth red cocktail party dress, with her hair down and the ugly half shaved away to look 'cool' or some shit, but mostly just to cover the growing-in period while that hair comes back to cover her gnarly head scar. She's got lipstick on and other such nonsense. The sight of Hex seems to thrill her, though, and she grins from ear to ear at her other boss. The one that doesn't hate her. And then she looks to Rail, poor boy who looks so out of place. She rises, her heels clicking as she makes her way over to the clothes and him. "Here," she offers, moving to start to set some outfits out for him. One all black slacks and button-down, one a long men's tunic of silver slashed to show red beneath, one a form-fitting white jumpsuit that looks like some artsy-fartsy fellow's take on 'utilitarian.' "Any of these strike your fancy?"

"We got a schedule to keep here, Zul," Corr points out politely, adjusting his pants for the nth time and feeling for that vague shape at the small of his back for reassurance. "This don't stick out too bad, does it?" he asks of Hex, turning his ass towards the other man, but apparently he means the weird shape riding just around the back of his hip, maybe 4:30 on the clock. "Wait, what if they got detectors?" This is such a well-planned job.

Zul Gradnk grins, raising her Lekku, smiling "Kei'natau tun." she smiles "It goes well, muchu.And I hope there is a buffet." she grins "And I could almost buy this gambit of you, new." she chuckles "So, I can't complain. Although... it would be more fun were we actually robbing the casino..." she pouts "And I am going to be jealous. YOu get a nice lekku-hat... While mine have to remain cool... cold lekku are bad..."

Rail Onasi chuckles softly as Sapphira starts to help him. He purses his lips, looking over the different selections. "I don't really have the figure for that one," he says, gesturing to the jumpsuit. "That one looks pretty good, though," he remarks, looking at the most boring of the three; the all black suit, essentially. "You think that would work?"

Hex curls the tips of his lekku in amusement. "Saving those credits?" he asks Zul. "Take your time, ka? Take as much time as you need, to save up for whatever you want. Sapphira, how are you, you're looking very put together as usual." He exhales smoke and looks at Rail, contemplatively. "I don't know as we've met. Have we met? I'm Hex, if not." Then he turns is attention to checking out Corr, and frowning. "Koa, no, it doesn't stick out.... well it kind of sticks out. I think they probably have detectors. Don't most casinos have detectors? You might have to fight people with your sterling personality and your chiseled jaw." He draws on the cigarette, "Also fists."

"I'll make you a hat," Sapphira promises Zul with a broad smile, even while her hands move to pluck up the black button-down from the pile. Then she flits her green eyes back to Rail. "I think so, may I?" she asks, gesturing with the garment that she would hold it up for size. Once Rail gives his assent, she'd rest the shoulders along his, tugging the sides of it around him to see how it might stretch. "I think you'll be fine, just don't eat too much or breathe too deeply. S'good though," she says, eyes traveling back to his face politely, and then setting the garment aside for him. "You'll blend in without sticking out too much. Here, sir; you can wear this one." It's the silver robe she pulled out earlier, the one slashed to show crimson beneath. Ostentatious, just like Hex in his own way. "You'll look exotic and dignified in a garishly offworld kinda way," she suggests with a flourish, grinning fondly at her space boss. She offers the robe over. "And lots of breathing room under there." Or smuggling room, you know. Whatever.

"Damn," Corr breathes, pulling his shirt out of his pants and tugging the holster out of his waistband to set the DT-29 down on the nearest cargo crate with a thud. Blasters are heavy, yo, especially this fancy custom job a friend gave him. "I guess we'll have to choke out anyone who gives us trouble, then," he decides, glancing around. "Ought to be out of hyper soon, so get your outfits figured out." Words he never thought he'd say. "Our guy is supposed to be waiting at a sabacc table inside one of the main casinos. Now I ain't been in one before," which is a reassuring thing to announce, "but I seen their floorplan and it's big, so stay close together. They don't like no comm units or datapads bein' out and there's liable to be security and surveillance around, if we get separated, it's gonna be a trick to get back together, so don't get separated."

"Nice to meet you, Hex. I'm Rail. I'd shake your hand, but, y'know," he gestures to the Sapphira that's holding clothes against him. "Thanks," he remarks to Sapphira, picking up the suit and moving off into the refresher to change.

For the next few moments, a series of bangs, bumps, and 'oof's can be heard as the Nar Shaddaan attempts to change in the small room.

"Ay, what is this, what are you doing," Hex frowns suspiciously as Sapphira begins locating fashion options for him. "You just hooked that guy up with something where he can't eat or breathe? I wouldn't even be able to button that -- oh." The silvery thing looks more generous, ad he reaches out for it. "And you're sure this is tall, fat dude size?" At 'don't get separated,' his lekku drop briefly in sadness. "Tcha, Zul, that means we can't hunt down the buffet. Passing appetizers only. Sad."

"It's got two layers, see? So the under layer might brush over your tummy but it gives a lot, and the top layer's very flowey, so it doesn't matter how much you eat, you'll look the same." Sapphira assures her other boss with a grin. She glances back over her shoulder once at the sounds of poor Rail trying to do basic things. "You alright in there?" With the question asked, she turns back to the group. "We shouldn't stand too close together though either, right? That'd attract attention. Maybe in pairs, always in eye sight of everyone else? I mean us as a big group'd look pretty silly." They are a very silly group. Speaking of, Sapphira goes back to the box and rifles through before handing a garment off to Zul. It's yellow, with a high manderain collar, no sleeves, a cleavage slit down the front, and a high side-slit too. It's all slink, bby. "Here, quick. Put this on and we'll be ready I think."

Zul Gradnk raises an eyebrow at the outfit but nods, running off to the cockpit to get changed and get the ship landed before returning "Hm... I agree, technically." she explains, smiling "And we shouldn't be too close." she agrees "Are you sure yellow looks good on green though?" she smiles "And you. Just abusing my deliveries." she winks, twirling and grinning.

Once the Arcadian Rhythm has landed and the unloading cargo process has begun, Corr leads the group to their casino, the Lady Fate. A well-known and popular establishment, it's bustling with various gamblers out to make a buck and more likely losing a lot of them. The security is tight, and despite their best efforts, no weapons have made it inside. The explorers are on their own, with only their wits, fists, and Hex's ass as defense. As they make their way inside, gaming tables stretch out as far as the eye can see, chandeliers hang at regular intervals, dancing with crystalline light, and the air is filled with the rolling tune of the slot machines and the stank of tabac. "Welcome to Ord Mantell," Corr mutters unceremoniously as he looks around, trying to get his bearings. "Our guy's in C17, wherever that is. Anyone see a directory or somethin'?"

Hex has changed into the outfit Sapphira gave him. He doesn't seem to be bothered by the fact that it's basically a man-dress; Twi'lek dudes traditionally wear that kind of thing, as evidenced by my man Bib at Jabba's Palace. He's got a new cigarette by now, and didn't bring any weapons. He raises his brows at Zul, twitching his lekku at her to say in the Lekku language, "flutter flutter flutter crimp *swish* arch flick curl *swish* crimp *swish* flex. flick flex arch crimp, arch flex crimp curl arch curl *swish*." Then he moseys along with the rest of the group, and snaps his fingers, pointing out something for Corr. 'I was looking for a menu, ka, but I found a directory. Over there, see?'

Zul Gradnk looks around but shakes her head "All these... signs..." she says, distracted by everything, before smiling at HEx and waving back 'Congrats! And you are right. Poor Humans. How can they survive without Lekku?'

Sapphira doesn't see shit. She's dazzled by the lights and the sounds of it all, letting her head turn on a swivel to take in this sight or that scent. She'll even have to be nudged along to keep up. "Oh, look at her dress, how pretty!" the little girl-next-door-turned-kinda-crimminal points out with a grin. "Oooch, I wonder if they have any shops in here. Casinos keep shops usually, don't they?" Because O-em-gee-shopping.

After almost dying in an attempt to get dressed, Rail has re-emerged, joining the rest of the group, now dressed to the nines. He doesn't have to deal with getting his weapons confiscated because he forgot to get it anyway. "See what, now?" he asks of Corr, having been distracted by a cocktail waitress. But, hey, he's got a glass of champagne and a shrimp tart, now, so.

There's a lot going on in here, a lot to see and process, and that's sort of how it's designed, just a big sprawling expanse filled with ways to lose money in the most jubilant, colorful way possible. And folks are lined up to do it, wandering around between tables and slots, some with chips, some with cups full of tokens, big, small, and in between. "Right," Corr nods, moving over towards the directory and gesturing at the others to follow. "C17." He finds it eventually, pointing it out on the helpful map. It's not too far, and it doesn't take them too long to get there. 'There' is an area exclusively for gaming tables, a high-stakes area where only the biggest players are allowed. "That's him," Corr announces, pointing over at one of the tables and moving to go in, but an attendant blocks his path.

"This area is for patrons with over five hundred thousand credits to wager. You must exchange credits for tokens in at least that amount to enter," she informs him, with a wide smile.

Hex smokes his way through the casino, trying to dull the pain of the fact that Rail found a shrimp tart and he didn't, and keeps a wary eye on the surroundings. Mostly he's spending his time glaring at anybody whose gaze lingers on Sapphira or Zul for too long; anybody who looks like they might be working up the courage to speak to those girls. When the attendant blocks their path, both brows lift, but he doesn't say anything... which is probably best for everyone. Someone smarter can do the talking.

Zul Gradnk grabbed a handful of shrimps off a passing waitress, eating them right now, and offering a few to Hex. She raises an eyebrow at the attendant. "Oh, we have that amount in credits. It is just, my friend carries them in her purse... And it wouldn't be nice to search a ladies purse, would it?" she asks, waving a thousand credits in front of the attendant "Surely, there is no interest in checking her purse, is there?"

Wait, what? Who's friend? Since Zul does refer to a female friend, and Sapphira and her big clutch are the only other female bits that are here, that must mean her. Oh, right. Time to act rich, or something. The redhead, conveniently standing in the middle of the group, looking around and then jerks her chin rather dismissively in Rail's direction. "Uh ... right, you. Fetch me one of those, won't you? There's a good boy." She of course means the champagne. Or does she? It's rather up to Rail to decide what is grabbed or fetched for her, since she's apparently the rich one now. She nearly twists her ankle as she turns to look back to the group, casting her bright green eyes to the ceiling. Pretty chandelier! "What's the hold up, now?" she groans, sounding more nervous than, you know. Rich and in charge.

Rail Onasi pops the tart into his mouth and chews away, looking around along with Hex. "I need to remember to eat before the next one. I'm starving." Then Sapphira's ordering him around. "Oh, yes...uh...of course, ma'am." He wanders off into the casino for a moment, returning with a crystal platter that he'd dumped the food off of and swiped. "Got it. Here you go, boss."

Corr just stands there smiling woodenly while the ladies jump into action to persuade the attendant of their high-roller status. At first, the pretty Zelosian seems like she might be convinced by Zul's gambit, her emerald green eyes blinking thoughtfully at the explanation and a halting "Well..." coming out as she starts to consider letting them in anyway, until Sapphira decides to act rich by spraining her ankle and demanding alcohol at the same time. "...I'm sorry, but the house's rules are not up for debate." She signals now for the security to move in.

The security in question is made up of a duo of aliens that look pretty darn fearsome, one a Sauvax having the aspect of a giant crab and the other a five-tentacled Iyra, with eight eyestalks that all glare at the party. "Now hold on just a second," Corr stalls for time, frowning at the attendant and her goons.

Fearsome aliens. Rats. Hex sighs and puts out his cigarette in a potted plant, before stepping forward to speak to the girl again. "flex *swish* curl *swish* curl flutter flex flick flex," he signals to Zul in lekku, and then proceeds with creating a distraction. Which might possibly get him arrested, but, it's a distraction at least, right? He's a little closer to the Zelosian than is nice, probably close enough to draw concern from the Sauvax and the Iyra, speaking in a low voice. 'The house's rules are not up for debate? I think you know that they are, ai'jou. Every gods damn person past this point has broke some rules to get there, you know it, and I know it. The lady came here to have a good time, do you understand? The hell purpose would she have coming back here if not to spend enormous sums of money, you stupid twit? You really want to stand here and get in the way of that? Based on what, you didn't see each of half a million credits? You don't like how she looks? Then don't look at her. You aren't worthy of it anyway. Call off the beasts and get out of the way or there's gonna be a problem here, ok ka?'

Zul Gradnk curses as she sees the aliens. "Oh, cha'Kin!" however, she nods, before pushing Corr, Rail and Sapphira past there. "No time to explain." she whispers.

Uh ... oops. Sapphira made it worse, and she clearly blushes about that. She opens her mouth as if to speak, to try to dig herself out of or further into this hole, but then there's Rail at her elbow with a plate of food. She furrows her brow, and shakes her head. "No, not-." Whatever words she intended to try to get out are overtaken by Hex and his booming voice. She's quickly shuttled through by Zul, however, and she doesn't argue. She just casts one last look of concern over her shoulder to her nice boss. Man, Kasia's going to be so mad if she finds out that Sapphira got her husband arrested. "Where is this guy?" she hisses back to the group, eyes darting around for C17. Get it done and get out, ok ka.

"You wanted a drink, didn't you? That makes more sense," Rail says, nodding at the revelation. He looks around for somewhere to set the platter before he settles on bending over and setting it on the floor. He clears his throat and dusts off his hands.

It's a brilliant plan, distractions! Hex is very intimidating, which definitely gets the attention of the security guards and the poor pretty attendant he's bullying. All eyes are on this tubby green guy with the weird robe and the cigarette, and since none of them are Twi'leks, none of them pick up on the crimps and curls of his lekku.

Corr discreetly hustles past into the high stakes area as Zul makes her move, guiding them through towards their contact at the gaming tables. He just sort of stares when Rail sets the tray down in a random spot, pointing at it instead. "Hang on to that, you look like a waiter and you can use it as a clu- for champagne," he adjusts quickly as someone starts to stare at him.

Behind them, Hex's ruse continues to play out. He's succeeded, but in a way that is not ideal, mostly just painting a huge target on himself. "What he call you?!" the security Sauvax roars, pushing past the little plant-based lady to clack his massive claws furiously at Hex. "Green man not so smart when head tentacle cut off!"

The Iyra boogeys forward on his gastropod, waving his own tentacles menacingly. "Gonna attach 'em to my body, I- I need more tentacles, yours look real nice. Gonna have /ink/ after this, Grok," he tells the crab-guard. Not good.

"Maybe we should do somethin' about that," Corr mutters to the others, looking between their cheap submergence suits dealer and the idiot with the threats and the robe and not enough shrimp.

Painting a huge target on himself seems to be the idea, and Hex looks briefly panicked as he notices Corr hesitating over there. More lekku at Zul. "curl crimp *swish* flex flutter arch curl *swish* flex! *swish* *swish* *swish* arch! curl flex crimp flick *swish* curl crimp flutter arch *swish*!" Back to the body guards, and the Distraction. 'Twit. I called her a twit,' he answers the question, 'And what I'm gonna call you is a big ugly version of things I eat on the regular. You want to do this?' He spreads his hands. 'Go on. Make a scene. I love a good brawl and full-on customer pandemonium. Or take me away. Do whatever you want.'

Zul Gradnk nods "No. Corr. We need to do our job. It is what Hex wants." she says "Job first." she argues, pulling him with her "HE can't lose his Lekku for nothing!" she argues, before Lekku'ing to Hex 'I will take care of Boon if Kasia isn't home! I will lie to her if I need to!' she nods "Ok. C17!" She picks him out from the crowd. At least she thinks so, guiding Corr towards a table.

"Oh Rail, that's not what I meant-" Sapphira once more tries to explain, but then then there's commotion as they're all tripping over each other, trying to find the way to this elusive C17. "You all go ahead, I'll wait here, and let you know if trouble's coming," she explains, drawing up to the rear and pausing by a table long enough to swipe up a flute of champagne. Then she starts to look around, but of course she sees nothing; no, instead her eyes are fixed on Hex and the commotion while she tries to look inconspicuous with her champagne. La de da!

"Oh, yeah; cool," Rail says, picking the platter back up and holding it all waiter-y. "I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing. What's going on?" he asks of Sapphira before he squints, looks around, and just starts wandering into the high-stakes area, picking up empty champagne glasses as he goes. He's a natural.

Indecision is writ large across the Sauvax's exoskeletal features, claws clacking together less enthusiastically as he ponders the reaction of the crowds of customers if he lops this Twi'lek's headtails off right here right now. "Do /not/ maim him," the attendant utters sharply, putting that debate to an end. "Neither of you are cutting off anyone's tentacles. Take him downstairs, though, you cannot call the house a twit and not go downstairs." It's a rule! They have lots of rules here. The guards move to comply, assuming Hex doesn't resist too much, and then they might go back to trying to cut his lekku off.

"We'll deal with that later," Corr decides, pursing his lips together with frustration and concern as Hex is presumably ushered off, but who knows, he's not a smart man, he might try something yet. Zul identifies the seller again, and he heads that way with the others in tow. "You're C17, right?"

"NOT SO LOUD," the three-fingered Selkath bleats back, waving a hand at them, the tendrils hanging down on either side of his mouth jiggling with alarm. "Please, take a seat-" he starts to say, before noticing Corr's companions. "-Not you, the ladies," C17 corrects quickly, gesturing to the empty stools on either side of him at the gaming table. "Let's talk business. By the Progenitor, such lovely ladies," he burbles, plucking up his drink in the gap between his rubbery fingers and taking a swig from a long straw.

Hex doesn't resist beyond a scowl, and is escorted away... mission accomplished. "flex crimp," he assures Zul as he goes, lest someone try to mount an unwise rescue, "*swish* flutter curl curl flick, *swish* flick flex arch *swish*, arch crimp arch flutter curl flutter curl crimp flutter. flex *swish* flex flutter arch!"

Zul Gradnk smiles at him, and nods "Business..." she giggles, pretending to be a brainless Twi'Lek "Please, why not start with a drink?" she offers "It is much nicer for us that way." she winks. "And by Kika'Lekki... you are flattering me..." she blushes a darker green, trying to manipulate him a little.

Ladies, eh? Sapphira's a lady. And then she turns, and watches Zul and the flirting and the C17. Her slender green eyes widen slightly. "...oh, no," she groans very quietly, perhaps so only Rail or Corr could hear it. But this is the job, right? And Hex just sacrificed his Gods-given freedom for this mission! So, to the mission then. She downs her champagne quickly and sets it on Rail's tray as she moves past, moving to slip into the chair on the other side of C17. She crosses her legs, which is a feat in and of itself in the tight dress, and looks flatly to the man beside her while Zul flirts or ... whatever that is. "Listen, we've already sacrificed one of our own to get to spend time with you today, so let's not insult each other by flitting about the issue. You and this fellah," she jerks her head toward Corr. "...are gonna talk shop so we can get this all stitched up and be on our way. Yes?" Oh look, more champagne. She'll take that.

"Ugh, Sha'ron's the worst, you know?" Rail remarks to one of his fellow waiters as he makes his way to the kitchen, a platter full of empty glasses. "We /do/ get a smoke break, right?" he asks of his fellow employee.

"Who are you?" asks the other waiter.

"Hey, check that out," Rail says, pointing off into the distance and scurrying away.

"You have to be a high-roller to get back here, so, I suppose I can afford to buy a drink," C17 chuckles wetly, glancing between the two girls. "What will you have, there, red?" he starts to ask, but then Sapphira mouths off and she has her own champagne anyway, she's- she's an independent woman who don't need no man, is what she is, and it's a little unsettling. Like, really, it's making him sick. He lets out a burp of surprise and alarm.

Corr is the guy who set this up, but he's not paying attention. He's watching Rail wander off toward the kitchen like he's actually a waiter or something. "Uh, you're dealin' with Zul here," he announces, stepping quickly after our boy over there to make sure he doesn't get too far away from the group.

"So... you two," C17 muses, left to his own devices between the two women. "It's time to make a deal with ol' C17. You know, my real name, it's Chee Shevintin, but it's easier to type C17 when you've only got three fingers. I have the submergence suits ready for you. The price is twenty thousand a piece."

Zul Gradnk nods, her face becoming serious "Fifteen." she argues. 20 may be a good price, but you can go lower, maybe "It is a pleasure to meet you Chee." she smiles. "Zul Gradnk..." she explains, grinning.

Sapphira opens her hands in an expression of 'really, dude?' in Corr's direction. She just set you up for that so well! And then he's pawning the ball off to Zul again like it's a ping pong. Really, dude? Really? Still, Sapphira just sighs and turns her head away as if bored, taking a sip of her champagne while she considers the sights around her. Mostly, however, she's looking to that elevator, where they took Hex. Yes, he'll have to be rescued somehow....

"I'm doing what-now?" Rail asks of Corr as the older man redirects him back toward the table. "Do I still need the platter?" he asks. "I found a towel to drape over my arm. That's pretty slick, right?" he asks, waggling his eyebrows as he shows off the folded fabric.

"I'll let you have them for seventeen," C17 decides, amused at the coincidence. "Like C17, get it? That's a good deal," he points out with a flexible finger, tapping the table for a hit on his cards. "Here's the drop location," he tells them, handing Sapphira a chip. "I would say it was a pleasure but you kinda killed my buzz here," he admits, losing the hand. "Get out of my waters, now, you got what you came for."

Corr is there, waiting with Rail, trainee waiter, and he ponies up the cash to pay for a suit or three, which ought to keep this gambling streak going for our pal C17 a little while longer. "Good work, everyone. We'll uh. We'll see about getting Hex out. I imagine they're none too pleased with him right about now, but first let's go get these suits and get 'em on the ship. I'll see if I can get him sprung."

But other than one of their own being arrested and taken to a shadowy casino basement dungeon, this was a total success! Well done, everyone.