Log:Shadowport: Golden Orb

Party to end all parties!

OOC Date: November 12, 2020
Location: Golden Orb
Participants: Shadowport, Eriu Jynx, Zhu Yan, King, Netep Muri, B'haav Adasta, Swindor of Hale, Liz'diot, Khalim, Rale, Karr'roga, Kaavenn

[Eriu Jynx] The Golden Orb is definitively not as busy as it normally is but the place has been decked out and arrayed with a wealth of food along several tables. Upbeat music is presently playing to fill the high ceilings and create an inviting atmosphere that is accompanied by the arrival of red head in a rich emerald dress. One shouldered with a high slit it not is only flattering but it SPARKLES! Jazz hand sparkle. Eriu is busy giving off instructions to those that arrive as well as the staff.

"Now he's not here yet but you are going to celebrate Yan's ..belated birthday. Its a suprirse so lets put some energy behind it."

She turns about, checking the food as she carries her heels hooked on her fingers, mmmming over each dish with interest as she sniffs, stares and nods. Passable at least. She braces her hand on the edge of one of the laden tables so she can slide and wiggle her foot into a heel and then the next. Wiggling her toes once she is all in, she makes sure the strap is settled at her ankle and she smooths her dress downwards over her hips.

"If anyone pulls a gun for any reason whatsoever other than to defend any of us. It will not be pretty," the Hapan warns to any and all within ear shot.

[King] "This is what you pulled me out of hyper for?" King asks, looking over at EJ. "You said get all gussied up, so I figured it was some sort of high-class job," King says, looking much more put-together than usual. His hair's even combed! Under the hat.

His hand runs over his moustache and he deflates, "That's not even mentioning how long it took for my passenger to get all of /his/ stuff together. Would've been near about back to Yag by now," King grumps, moving to plop down in a chair and kick his feet up onto a table, his arms folding over his chest.

[Netep Muri] Netep Muri, first of her name, blackest sheep of her family, does not need a reason to overindulge in fine wines and fine dines. It does, however, make her feel like less of a wasterel to have one. At least she's adhered to dress code for an establishment of this caliber.

Mostly.

The nomadic little space gypsy swishes in on a silken stride, bangles clink-clattering together with each landing of leather-soled heel. Night pearl earrings dangle and sway from her earlobes while other msicellaneous gems and minerals stud the remaining rim. A sparkly, black handbag is anchored to wrist (safeguard against forecasted sloppyness) and her hair....

Well, it's something, as always. No delicate updo tonight, just the wild expanse of space. Curly space. That plus the tattoo ground her from becoming /too/ fancy in tonight's parade of glitz and glam. Wouldn't wanna upstage the birthday boy, after all.

"You'll always be pretty," she croons in passing to EJ, bumping tha Hapan's hip lightly with hers, en route to her first glass of the evening.

[Rale] "Never need an excuse to party!...Or to actually meet most of the people here," Rale declares as he strides in, leaving his enormous, clunking P2 droid forlorn at the door. He is wearing a black suit of high caliber, shoes clacking smartly on the floors as he makes his way toward the tables, enormous ears swiveling this way and that. "Besides, doctor said I need to eat better. Heya Friend King, new other friends." He is humming cheerfully as he makes to hop onto a chair so as to be even with the 'normal' people.

[Kaavenn] Being summoned means showing up precisely on time as requested. He debated not showing up out of sheer stubborness, but professional pride dictated this would have been a violation of the First Standard. That, and he doesn't like waking up dead, which is likely what EJ would arrange for him. Besides, it is finally a chance to possibly relax with nothing going wrong, no summoning or shooting for a change. Just one night with drinks would be perfect for Kaavenn, he needs the distraction. So he has arrived in his tailored suit, and no rifle in sight. Though there is at least one suspicious shape at his waistband.

[Swindor of Hale] A glittering figure enters the Golden Orb, pausing very briefly as he appears. Swindon of Hale stands straight, chest puffed out, and gives an approving nod as he takes note of the decor, spread, and ambiance. He had been goggling at just about everything that he's seen on Nar Shaddaa in his short time on-moon...but this? This is most certainly is scene. His stride across the room is smooth, his head held high. Regal? Obviously.

Swindon's path is clear...toward King, and the group that has gathered around the well-dressed, apparent host. A brief inclination of his head toward the battered gunslinger that has been his ride, and then a low(for him) bow toward the aforementioned well-dressed Eriu Jynx. He is preparing to speak, definetely something charming, and perfectly chosen....and then he blinks as his head straightens up. Eyes fall on Netep Muri, and the slow blink happens again. And then they briefly skitter down to Rale, as the small creature speaks. Jaw drops agape briefly, and then it closes with a snap.

This is his element, damnit. Face regains composure, but he can't quite get words out coherently enough to speak just yet. Kaaven, looking apparently mundane in comparison gets only a brief glance.

[B'haav Adasta] B'haav Adasta walks into the Golden Orb pushing a waist-height metal cart covered in a white table-cloth. While this is normally the sort of thing that may draw attention, it is likely eclipsed by what the Balosar is wearing this evening - a fine pair of black pants, a white shirt and a black tie, just like the servers. He seems to have traded in his usual hats for a solid-looking black hairnet that matches his hair nearly well enough to seem invisible, and definitely seeks to keep him as under the radar as his hidden antennapalps. The contents of the wheeled tray slosh for a moment as he crosses the threshold, causing the Balosar to quickly and deftly adjust, avoiding spillage as he wheels it around the perimeter of the main room. "Just keep my head down, look like I belong here, everything will be fine."

The psychologist finally pulls up the cart near one of the serving tables, removing the cloth to reveal a covered metal vat, which seems to have some sort of ladel sticking out of the top of it. He stands nearby, ready to serve as necessary.

[Liz'diot] "FETID!..." Everyone knew that grovally evil genious voice that was muffled by the entrance, still loud enough to pierce the heavy walls of the Golden Orb. "Stay here you neurotic, neuronic, neuropathic, metalic mechanations of Doom and Gloom, for I AM GOING TO GET LAID!"

"Roger, Roger." The two B1's said, posing up outside somewhere to wait for their master to leave...

Entering the Golden Orb came the small dimunitive and sickly form of Liz'diot THE OMNISCIENT. "YASSSSSSSSS." He proclaimed loudly before hefting up a bottle of amber liquid with his small and lanky hand, and chugging it down his mouth hole (Bith had face buttholes BTW). Once completely drowned in the intoxicating substance, he announced his arrival further by SMASHING the bottle onto the ground. "INDEED."

The Bith wore (see desc) his usual attire, bellbottoms wig, and all. Cybernetic Legs carried him further into the establishment.

[Khalim] There's something about stepping out of a flight or tactical suit and into a /suit/ that sets an evening correctly right from the start, and Khalim's feeling it a little bit. The Mirialan cut of his suit jacket is just a hint more showy than is the Coruscanti norm, but not enough to be, itself, /showy/.

Newly invited to join this motley crew after a recent and at least rudimentarily successful anti-slavery prison break, he recognizes but a few faces. Some are, in fact, surprising. Dark brown glances shift about, taking stock and establishing a quick first circuit for hellos and introductions.

The food tables, though, are the first destination. A glass in one hand is priority number one, and he begins beelining in the direction of what appears to be the booze tub. Or tray. Or table. It's got the booze.

[Karr'roga] For a People of such mass, it can be disconcerting to some how quiet The Barabel can be. It is perhaps less disconcerting and more terrifying, for those who have never seen one. Like the man who stares at Rale, at the others. This, Swindor of Hale.

Behind him looms Karr'roga, in his armor of many hooks, blades, and spikes. That Smasher Armor. The large killer stares down upon the man looking aghast, and behind Karr'roga? That large paddle-like tale swishes and sways off the ground, yellow, slitted eyes peering around at his Clan. Tribe. Family. There's not a breath, there's not a word or a growl. Karr'roga is quiet behind Swindor, standing there with the bald head turned slightly aside, and long fangs wetted by the tongue. When his nostrils shift, so do the thermal pits reveal themselves like wiwnking eyes, scanning the 'Of Hale-ian's' thermal signature.

Then the eyes look to Eriu Jynx questioningly. Then back to Swindor. Then back to EJ. Then back to Swindor - and finally, over to King.

[Zhu Yan] The summons had gone out in some sort of missive which Zhu 'The Man With No Plan' Yan was slow to read, by which I mean he read it almost right before leaving. It again brought into question whether or not the slowly-aging and not-so-slowly-weight-gaining smuggler could actually read. But he tried. Dress up fancy, it said. Right. That part was easy.

zzzzzZZZIP.

The Jacket was now prepared for an evening of fine dining and assorted stuffiness. Underneath it was his normal wear of spacer gear, perfect for such an occasion. Strapped into his holster was the aging Bryar, definitely an inelegant weapon for this uncivilized age. The short-in-stature smuggler shoved his synthskin'd hand in his hair and pushed it vaguely to one side, ish, and patted down his almost-untenable beard. P E R F E C T.

Yan's invite had been given a time fifteen minutes later than everyone else, which meant he showed up yet another fifteen minutes later than he was expected. He was objectively underdressed, armed, and had hardly put any effort in. Honestly, this was no different from normal, which again begs the question of why EJ constantly puts up with his foibles. With his mind firmly focused on the concept of filling his stomach, the shaggy short suspicious spacer pushed open the doors of the Golden Orb and...

[Eriu Jynx] "You will thank me later, its free drinks and food. Enjoy it," Eriu smiles sweetly at King before she sidesteps with the hip bump given by Muri. "Ohhh I like the hair..wait..your eyes.." she has to take a moment to convince herself that the blue is definitely not a normal color for Muri but in the end a thumbs up is given to the other woman.

That's when Rale is given a bright smile, "Ahh glad you could make it, and you too," this said to B'haav with a wink to follow for the Balosar but its Khalim that gains her attention. She starts his way and stops when she notes a face she does not recognize, the sparkle of her dress collecting about her and shimmering as she stills. Karr'roga gets an eyebrow raise and Liz for his part just sorta confirms Port is taking over the Orb.

"I am afraid I do not know who you are," she begins, "This is a private party." This is said to Swindor as she is motioning towards the door. "Kaavenn, Roga, as I am unfamiliar we may need to escort our ..unknown out. Anyone claim knowledge of this man?" She asks first and is about to take care of the possible problem no matter how elegant when the doors burst open. "Well drek.." She plasters a bright smile on her face and then turns.

Fancy Yan.

Her smile slips and Eriu lets her lips part. "Uhhhh Surprise!" She throws her hands out even as she is eyeing that jacket like the offending staple it is.

[King] "Rale," King offers in return, pinching the brim of his hat and offering a tip of it to the tiny bat monster. Then his passenger's wandering in, looking every bit the high-society type that he is. "Your Highness. I see my directions weren't too convoluted for you," he remarks, arms crossing back over his chest. "Apparently, we got roped into a birthday party, but I supp-," King's cut off by the appearance of Roga, who the gunslinger just snaps at a couple of times before ushering him away with a series of 'get's.

"I'd be thanking you now if it was worth a thanking. And that's His Majesty Swindor of Hale. He's with me. Well, with us, now. Or...will be when y'all have a listen to him," King answers back to EJ with a grunt, before he looks at the now-arrived Yan. He does not yell surpise.

[Netep Muri] "Heeeeey..." Muri waggles a knowing finger at the server who definitely isn't---er. Well technically he /is/ given that he's pushing a cart about, but that's not the point. "I know you. What's with the get-up? You earning extra commission for this gig?" She has a got at one of those sloshy contents, plucking it up daintily in hand. *SIIIIIP* "Good on you. Jinx didn't pass me such an offer."

It's just as well, Muri.

Her glass lowers from lips just in time to join in the belated "KHASAAN'I!" She sloshes only a little with the overly enthusiastic gesticulation.

[Rale] "Is that why the guy shines so rekkin' brightly?" He chitters at Swindor, looking amused as he comments to him "Not a glitterstim afterimage, sorry. That's what the last guy thought!" He's so amused, especially as he notes the Barabel behind the human and can't help but let out a little SKREE of amusement. Kaavenn is given a bit of a wide eye, clear recognition there and a bit of panic, but glossed over quickly as he straightens his suit in time to beam at Yan. "Surprise!" He yells in his very surprising, squeaky voice. might startle someone not expecting it.

[Kaavenn] Free food and drinks he hears told to King, fair. It's mostly why Kaavenn is here too. Rale gets adoubletake, and a rather fanged smile. He is not overtly menacing, but his glowing red eyes likely do not help. A sharp nod towards B'haav but he puts a little distance from the Balosar to start. Nothing personal by his mannerism, he's just seeking to stick along the outside of this little gathering. This plan is paused as EJ has need of himself and Karr'roga.

The Shistavanen's gaze turns onto Swindor, and he winces, as if the man is too bright and colorful. He gives a nod towards the dressed up pilot that is Khalim. "And that one, M'la- erm, Miss Jinx?"

Suddenly Zhu Yan appears, and is getting yelled 'surprise!' at. Given how the Assassin realizes he would react at such, instead of yelling 'Surprise!' he goes for "BEHIND YOU!" at Zhu Yan. Better someone besides him get shot... hopefully noone they know are behind Yan.

[Swindor of Hale] For his part, Swindor is still a bit too distracted by the various unusual to him creatures to reply to Jynx, at least before King interjects and gives her an abbreviated explanation as to he his. He speaking to others about removing him, and glances over his shoulder. A large start is given, and the lean, exceedinly noble fellow looks anything but for a moment. He tenses, and one hand half flails at the sword on his hip...the sword that probably wouldn't penetrate a Barabel's hide, and the other grips at the high collar of his jacket. A rough clearing of his throat, and he seems to breath a sigh of relief as King does interject on his behalf with Jynx, but more importantly with Karr'roga. A lot appears to happen at once to the bewildered Swindy, and the shouts of surprise to the fat man in the leather jacket, followed by Rale's chittering voice referring to him cause his eyes to flit rapidly between them. He doesn't even have a chance to flash a disapproving look to the very loud, and crass Bith that has entered. Wait. What the hell is a Bith?!

[B'haav Adasta] Well, it's not like B'haav was TRYING to hide, but he also wasn't quite expecting to be so noticed. The slight and unremarkable Balosar is normally quite good at blending in, unless his wardrobe has something to say about it. But blending in around those that know you is harder, and it gets even easier to spot him as his face turns a brilliant red after the Hapan's remark. If anything... It's a different shade of red than usual, and it jumps out when contrasted with the black-and-white ensemble he's wearing. He lifts the lid off the vat and begins to stir the soup again, deliberately not looking anywhere as he tried to stop his face from burning hot enough to ignite the Golden Orb - there are likely deposit issues.

He is scooping the creamy-golden soup into small cups, easy enough to sample from and discard, while a pile of bowls are conveniently nearby. He looks up at Netep Muri's comment. "No, I simply... was trying something different. A-" He begins to continue when she says her last, and his face turns an even brighter shade of red that seems to make the soup glow as he fidgets with the ladle.

At the calls of 'Surprise,' the Balosar looks to the doors and sees the bejacketed leader of the Shadowport entering. The red in his face immediately drains to several shades paler than his usual tan, and he begins stirring the soup attentively. Too attentively.

[Liz'diot] Despite his declaration of 'getting laid' as his goal for entering, the small sickly Bith decided to find a spot where the rest of the group was... yet isolated from the in his own way. Gathering what drinks her could he just continues to down the beverage as goggled covered black orbs inspected each female with that disgusting sort of preditory lewdness that only a perveted under seed alien as creepy as Liz'diot could muster. "Yasssss...." He whispered to himself, chugging down a whole glass of bourbon.

When Yan arrived, he tosses the glass, allowing it to break loudly on the floor where Yan stepped. "Get stuffed Zhu Yan, you insufferrable fetid HUMON waste product. HAHAHHA" It was likely clear that the Bith was already hammered six ways to Katunda and raring to positivly embaress himself with drunken antics. "Birthday boy, who needs Birthdays when you're a SIXTH DIMENSIONAL BEING. YASSSSSSS." Glug, glug, glug.

[Khalim] It's a good thing Khalim has drink in hand, because to be completely honest he hasn't the slightest notion what's going on here, or why, just that he received an invitation to a social function via planetary comm network, and repeated drink-to-face motions are a pilot's best social camouflage. At least as far as he's concerned. The Mirialan does notice soup being ladled into small cups, and blinks at recognition of the Balosar moving the product. "B'haav?" he says, certain that "no" had been the answer to the question of professional kitchen credentials. "No Nerf stew this evening?" he asks around the emergency of a wry smile.

It's at that moment when Yan makes his grand entrance, triggering yells of 'Surprise!', 'Behind You!', a thrown chair, and one high pitched Chadra-Chitter. He shifts his attention to the door for a moment, caught too off-guard to yell anything himself. Not having expected a surprise to begin with.

/Drink-to-face motion./

[Karr'roga] Through the ordeal of Eriu Jynx's commands, Kevin's sudden attention, and the level of freak-out Swindsor gives: The Barabel finally makes a noise. Shoulders swell, knuckles click as large claw-muscles flex to flex those claws and the crocodillian rumbling of Karr'roga rises to the volume of the mus--

Then King is there, shoo'ing him. The fanged face of Karr'roga is, for a moment, confused, but then the rumbling stops. There's a gust of air sent at His Highness from the Barabel's nostrils, and the large tail gives a thud to the floor. Still. The slitted pupils glance at King, then His Highness, then Kevin, then EJ and th

The arrival of Yan comes with Karr'roga grabbing a nearby chair, and hurling it directly at The Most Wanted. "SSSSURPRRRIISE ATTACK!"

[Zhu Yan] BEHIND! Yan turned, spun, and the Bryar was in his hand before he'd even realized his hand had moved. A finger tightened around the trigger, enough to put tension, not enough to set off a hunk of burning murder. Where was the danger?! It was only as his brain stopped churning over possibilities of attack and murder and mayhem that he stopped to consider that maybe he wasn't exactly under assault and something else was going on.

So thus, when Yan turned back to the Shadowport, he felt vindicated.

KLANG was the sound of a chair hitting the doorway and spiralling out into the street, having narrowly avoided the projectile by a hair by embracing the spirit of a waterfowl and ducking. His hand was in his hair in surprise, feeling that his head was still barely attached. SURPRISE registered in his ears slowly, ringing, and yes he was definitely surprised. And THEN his eyes started working and he realised that he was being thrown a birthday party in only the way The Shadowport could. By expecting attacks, making attacks, insults, strange men dressed VERY well, and EJ just totally nonplussed in the middle of it all.

The Bryar returned to the holster and the frazzled smuggler in the doorway straight up lied. "Thank you all, for remembering that I had a birthday recently!" Maybe he did, it was written on his forms. "Is this what you meant by 'dress nice'?"

[Eriu Jynx] Chair goes flying and Eriu breaks that narrowing gaze from Yan to look at Karr. "I suppose it only makes sense. So excitable," she remarks to the barabel with a crook of a smile but Yan makes the mistake. The horrible mistake of drawing Eriu's attention back to his ensemble.

"No."

Its said simply before she rubs at her neck and then takes a few steps towards him to offer him a quick kiss to his cheek. "If you ever get that invitation again," she says lowly for only him to hear as a syrupy sweet smile touches her lips and her eyes scream 'danger', "Might want to step it up a bit more. Okay?"

She claps her hand on his arm and steps back so she can join the others, sweeping a hand up through her auburn hair as she blows B'haav a quick kiss. "Karr, there are some questionable meat things at the end..rare..ish." They are in fact bleeding and given their own table just so if he decides to eat none of the other food is possibly at risk.

[King] Watching Yan and EJ, King sniffs sharply and pulls his hat down over his eyes, leaning back in his chair. To Swindor, King speaks up. "I reckon y'all must not have an abundance of alien species on Hale, huh, Swindy? Most're harmless. 'Cept for the dog fella; Kaaven. He'd shoot you for a Mon Cal flan. Then Liz...well, he'd just harvest your parts. Roga, though; the big lizard? Well, I'm not calling this company polite, but I still don't wanna list the things he'd do to you," King explains.

"In any case, make yourself at home. Eat up, drink up. This ain't the usual, so enjoy it."

[Netep Muri] YAY no one died. Yet. EJ's got a handle on Zhu (literally) and that means Muri can relax her stupid grin and sip this soup with dignity like she meant to grab soup and not alcohol. It's for the best, though. Nutrients. Thick, creamy stache. Whatev.

Running her tongue over her upper lip for good measure, Netep saunters over to the two faces she is NOT familiar with in this dysfunctional familial unit, ie: Rale and Swindor of FALE. Or, as she knows him, dude with fancy getup. Probably more cred in them pockets than cells in that cranium, who knows, maybe he'll surprise her! "Cap'n Muri," she introduce, extending a hand to whoever deigns to take it first. Or at all.

[Zhu Yan] "No?!"

Was Yan genuinely shocked? "I thought it was alright!" He zipped up the jacket! It was like if he were asked to attend a fancy shindig on Hapes! EFFORT! "Eh, I'll keep it in mind." Yes, Yan, because being dismissive has worked so wonderfully for you in the past. Moving on. Yan finally, finally, took further steps into the Golden Orb. Food. Food EVERYWHERE. "I thought this was just gonna be a dinner," he mused, moving aimlessly but with some sort of aim, looking around at the familiar faces, giving a squint to the unfamiliar ones, and saying to people, "Be with you in a sec." Because his aim was the soup.

Where B'haav Adasta was hiding.

"Bav," he said, his expression serious and his voice quiet. "I got something I need to tell you." OMINOUS.

[Rale] Rale giggles in entirely too much glee as chairs and glasses are thrown and insults fly. "You throw a great party, Friend EJ! I love it, such a lovely group we have." He hops down and takes Muri's hand in a clawed, firm shake and beaming smile. "Captain Rale, a pleasure! Been here long? It has been wonderful, big fan of all we got going on, even the extremely frightening Barabel over there." He is all exuberant now, looking from face to face as he snatches up a drink. "And nobody got shot! A real win, I think, even if the night is young and the Bithness is just starting!"

[Kaavenn] The tactic works, and noone here is shot... the thrown chair he has nothing to do with. Shrugging, Kaavenn heads for the food and drinks to gather up something for himself and go take a seat on the outskirts of the place.

[B'haav Adasta] B'haav Adasta just has to keep his head down. Or at least keep it attached. That's the goal, until he knows where he stands. He's stirring the soup too much, but a question from Khalim about that soup slows his hand and pulls his eyes up from the soup to the Mirialan, steel-grey eyes glinting with recognition. Oddly, a small smile crosses the Balosar's face as he gestures to the soup. "Creamed Nerf and Tuber Chowder, actually." He continues to watch the development of the situation by the door, prepared to pull his cart behind the nearest table and duck for cover. It's an important instinct to have around Shadowport, though the safety has more to do with not wanting anything to happen to the soup he spent most of the day on. However, this vigilant awareness comes with the drawback of seeing an offhanded gesture made by one Eriu Jynx in his direction, and B'haav turns the brightest shade of red. He quickly squats down, resting on his haunches whil hiding behind the serving table. One of the servers is giving him a look and gesturing to get back to manning the soup, clearly not having any issue with not remembering this particular member of the staff.

"I can just stay down here," the psychologist is deluding himself when he hears his name called out by the man of the hour. "Kriff... No, I can't. Wait, can I? Maybe I can... I can crawl under the tables? The tablecloths are... No." He stands back up, having been out of view behind the table a conspicuous amount of time. He attempts a friendly smile, but it comes across more sickly.

"Ha... Happy birthday, Zhu Yan!" At least he said the name right. To be fair, as much as he does wrong, he always says the name right.

[Swindor of Hale] A swallow, and Swindor looks at King, and frowns. "I've seen some images...and the walk from the spaceport to here...but...no. Any other species that might have been on Hale prior to being lost to the galaxy died long ago." He hands are now straight to his sides, curled into tight fists, trying to and probably failing to look composed. "I certainly bloody hope this isn't the usual. I shall have a drink." He didn't even narrow his eyes at being called Swindy. He is off kilter. King's descriptions of the various beings and what they might do to him do not exactly fill him with confidence, and he takes a deep breath. "What of the small creature? He is rather adorable in a grotesque manner." A chair is pulled free near to King, and he carefully takes a seat, swinging his saber out of the way and then reaching for a bottle. He really doesn't care what is in it. He needs some muddle in his head. "What of the man with the questionable fashion sense? He is your leader, I presume?" He could infer that, apparently.

[Liz'diot] Liz is a lot like Kaav, just less quiet as he continues to drink himself into a likely coma... where no doubt he will dream of some brilliant invention that will one day terroize and murder several thousand people all at once.

[Rale] Rale raises an eyebrow, one ear swiveling to focus on Swindor and then looking to EJ first. "Do we really like this other new person? Is he...Liked by the group?" Very much said in the tone of asking whether its alright to shoot him later, grinning all the while.

[Eriu Jynx] "Mmmhmmm," Eriu sounds unconvinced. Hopes die hard and in this case they are slowly rotting from the inside out. She huffs out a breath and notes Yan enroute to B'haav and thus the Hapan's bright toothy smiled settles upon Rale, "Friend Rale, I do hope you enjoy."

She makes her way to a waiting glass of wine and takes a rather healthy drink, downing a good half of it quickly and with gusto. Her hand moves to her hip as she observes Liz being quiet...lips parting in something near surprise. "So sedate. Kaavenn, do you dance?" Innocent question.

But Rale's inquiry has her attention. "I am not sure yet. King is vouching for him so..we shall see. Probationary." She remarks.

Khalim gets a nod and she lifts her glass to the pilot as she finds herself a seat near Muri to slowly lower down onto as comfortably as she can in her fitted green sparkly dress. She's muttering a little into her wine.

[Zhu Yan] What? "Oh, thank you!" Still wasn't Yan's birthday but okay, he wasn't going to correct people. "Dude, relax. I'm not out to kill you. Yet." Hah hah hah, casual laughter. Not unpleasant at all. His smile to Bav was awkward. "Alright so I've been paying attention to you, right. You're doin' good. Real good. So I'm going to offer you a bit more in terms of, well, us. On the level of Liz, and EJ." Pause. AWKWARD. "Maybe not EJ. But you've got the skill and the capability and you use it well. So..." pause, "promotion?"

Yan was becoming more and more aware of the milling taking place behind him. Right. He'd have to turn and see to his FAWNING PUBLIC in a minute.

[King] "Rale?" King asks, tilting his hat back up and looking over at the Chadra-Fan. "Rale's alright. A real friendly-type and I don't think he could eat you, if he wanted to, so he's got that going for him," the Morellian explains, not even broaching the subject of his own alien status. "And yeah, that's Zhu Yan. Big man," King explains, sniffing sharply. "His lady there is EJ. That's the pair you gotta sell your plight, your highness."

[Khalim] An approving nod is sent towards the soup, the Balosar really -was- experimenting, and to solid effect it seemed. "Sounds worth a sample," he replies, picking up one of the small cups, and an accompanying spoon.

Zhu's arrival, and seemingly at least semi-serious words towards B'haav has Khalim nodding alongside a quick smile. "Happy Birthday," the Mirialan offers, before giving the pair space to talk soup. Shop. Perhaps both.

Excusing himself, Khalim meanders in Muri's direction, though not without noting Eriu's nod and glass salute, which he replies to with a friendly smile and salute in return. "Captain Muri," he offers, after having reached the pilot. "Hope all's been well on the trade lanes."

[Karr'roga] At mention of food? Karr'roga's eyes turn directly towards the bloodied table. There's a blink. Two. Nostrils even flare, and the large Barabel turns his eyes then to Yan with a rumble: "Zhu Yan. Yourrrr hatching is celebrrrated. Thissss One is told Softskinsss burst from their motherssss, and the weak are eaten." There's a cacophony of pleased (probably pleased?) hissing coming from the Barabel, as the large creature moves towards Yan. Large tail swinging behind him, "Thissss One is pleased you were not found wanting, and eaten by yourrr mother. Happy Bursting Day." A pause, there's a deep rumbling as if irrtated, "No. Birthing Day. Yesss." A nod, and the slitted eyes look to Eriu Jynx and as the large killer moves by them - the large tail pausing its swishing and potential to take out legs near the Hapan. One clawed fist reaching into the iron-plated satchel and pull forth a tube of glass that glows, and stuffing it into Yan's chest: Reactor Core. Though the words are growled down at Eriu Jynx, "Thisss is done rightly?"

[Netep Muri] Muri's duskily accented chuckle speaks of untamed fringes through which she doth roam. "Captain Rale. I have indeed, 'been here long'. From time to time. I spend time nowhere too long, for long. Pleased to make your acquaintance." She pumps the little hand a couple times all friendly like, then retracts hand to self and turns about to toast Khalim's glass with her soup cup.

"Clear skies, my friend. But I feel a touch of fog settling in o'er me memory. You've found employment with the port, have you? Fancy be." A crooked smile and second toast before she drains the last of the soup down her gullet and crumples lil cup in hand, like it was that much of an effort to do so.

[B'haav Adasta] 'I've been paying attention to you, right?' B'haav's normally reasonable composure is beginning to slip, and he looks away from Zhu Yan, hand holding the ladle like a life support line tethering someone to the outside of their vessel during maintenance, knuckles white as he tries to just stir casually while seeming to gently froth the top of the vat of soup.

'I'm going to offer you a bit more in terms of, well, us.' The flush returns yet again, alternating in waves with the ghostly complexion on the Balosar's face, almost like some sort of color-shifting light show. He stirs harder, a few drops of sweat accidentally falling into the soup, while he just nods and attempts to look normal. He's attempting SO HARD right now.

'So... promotion?' B'haav freezes. This was not what he expected. Well, B'haav Adasta frequently expects a lot of unexpected things, like getting crushed under the wheels of the beat of a freighter he manages to take to Rishi on a daily basis. But this is so far out of expectation that he straightens rapidly. Too rapidly. The ladle, still in hand, sends a line of soup splattering as the Balosar locks up, looking at Zhu Yan. The wooden spoon, now upright over his white-knuckle grip, drips soup down his arm. Hot, very hot soup. B'haav drops the ladle quickly, and it falls back into the vat of soup with another splash. "I... Pro-... Sir? Zhu Yan, I mean... But..." Someone get a hammer, the Balosar may need a reboot.

[Kaavenn] Sitting like this gives time for observation, B'haav and Khalim figuring out the soup, Swindor amd King. Liz... beating him to the punch of getting blizted out of his mind. Rale is still watched warily because the Chadra-Fan is suspicious. In the meantime he tucks into his nerf cubes, medium rare and downs a large portion of whatever ale he had grabbed. He forgot to find out what it was, and is peering at it considering it's heritage.

So there is a lag from his ears to his brain to process EJ's question, and he nerely chokes on his drink just due to the random processing of it. "Ow. It depends on what the dance is, to be honest. I know one or two things to get me through. It's a matter of trying to blend in to specific spots. Such as on Hapes and their Balls and Galas. Though it is essentially impossible for me to blend in there. Best to deal with things from a distance."

Karr'roga is watched warily as Karr'roga always is, it's just business there. Netep he has to stare at for several long moments, trying to place the memory. Then he remembers. Her companion and vomiting on him. His nose wrinkles.

[Swindor of Hale] "Quite the motley group." Swindor says quietly to King before adding..."But, eccentricity is not particularly a flaw in the moneyed and powerful." He purses his lips. and pours himself a glass of the colorful liquer in the bottle that he'd just opened. "I am certain they'll be convinced. I can be very eliquent. Everyone likes me." He says this a little more loudly, looking at Rale solidly as he says this. "Regardless. Potential profit speaks to all but the most noble of beings. I care not for it, after all." A long drink taken from his glass, and he half chokes and pushes it away. That did not taste as he expected. Remotely. "The large beast is quite entertaining." Conversationaly, raspy. Best to think of that. Not the potential ripping and damage.

[Eriu Jynx] Watching Karr eat is a bit..worrisome. She sits there as the tale nearly catches her foot but just misses - likely on purpose. The Hapan regards the large lizard and then looks towards the bottle he pulls out and shoved into Yan's chest. It takes her a moment to realize what it is and there is a moment of uncertainty. "Yes, I suppose. A nice gesture." But reactor core! Nothing could go wrong.

She manages to catch some of King's words and she mmms, eyes sweeping over Swindor but her attention is on B'haav and Yan.

Stare. Sip.

Huh. She watches the two and then chuckles to herself as she pushes up to her feet and smooths her dress down. "Well there is music, dancing should be had, eating, drinking. Apparently business is on the docket as well." She eyes Yan and then Swindor before approaching B'haav and putting her hand on his shoulder. "Congratulations, Doctor."

[Rale] Rale grins back at Swindor with needle-like teeth, all cheer, a veritable font of good natured appearance. "Friend King and EJ said you are good, so I will endure your presence, not-friend Swindy." He winks and then tips his head to Muri, murmuring about 'absolutely loving your whole look, friend' and a tip of his head to Khalim and an aside. "So happy you joined the group, friend. Treat yourself." He then is off to the food, hopping onto the chair and snatching up a skewer to gnash upon a respectable distance from Karr.

[Zhu Yan] Well this wasn't exactly what Yan had expected. He knew the Balosar was neurotic, but this was above and beyond. He looked at B'haav like one looks at a live-wire with frayed insulation right in their walking path. "Uhhhhhhhh," right hang on Yan was processing this. "It's done, no take-backsies." A bit of determination settled Yan's nerves. Right. "Means I'll listen to your input a bit more." IE: A smidge more than never. "Don't spend all your new power in one place." And Yan in some sort of display of camaraderie thwapped the Balosar on the shoulder in a matey sort of gesture. HARD MAN YAN.

And Yan turned, finally to address his adoring public. "You too," he said to the far too deeply radiant Meeyuri, seriously that woman vomited colours all the time and Yan never knew what to expect. "Same deal. And you," and this time it was to... King? "We're growing and we're at the point we need people with brains who can call a few shots. Yeah? Yeah." Right. Yan's hands fell in his pockets, his eyes fell across the Batman and His Royal Majesty himself, and said, "I'll come say hello in a sec."

Then finally he turned to EJ and said, "Well?" Oh no. He hadn't consulted her.

[King] "With more than enough moxey between all of us to take that little throne for you. Then maybe you can hook me up with a seaside villa and all the accoutrements," King says with a grin, reaching over to give the noble a pat on the shoulder.

"Don't let nobody steal my seat, eh?" King asks of Swindsy before his feet are dropping to the floor and he's moving to stand, likely on his way to procure a plate of those baked dru'un slices. He'll forego the fish sauce after what happened last time.

"Yeah, whatever," is King's response to Yan, heaping some meatlump onto his plate, as well.

[Karr'roga] It is then that the Barabel finally levels his gaze upon that far off table. A far off table...of meat. Bloody meat. The nostrils flare rapidly, and those nictitating membranes flash rapidly; as the large tail sways wide and nearly claps Netep Muri. Then Rale, before slapping violently into the floor with a sudden surge of excitement.

The eyes shut in their deep sockets, and those thermal pits open fully to reveal only heat to the Barabel - who now moves in a straight line towards the table just for him. Fanged maw salivating uncontrollably with back turned to the rest, and THE SOUNDS HE MAKES as bloodied meat is grabbed by the fistfull and shoved into his mouth. Jaw opening to, like a Saarlac, devour whatever is put in there. Because three stomachs or something.

[Khalim] Khalim offers a simple nod at Muri's observation. "Though, to be honest," he says, voice even, smile absent, business-like, "I don't know what that means. I imagine I'll find out soon enough." Looking down, he notes the little Chadra-Fan and offers a quirked grin, "Hello Rale."

Yan's announcement to the room prompts Khalim to shift in position. Promotions, including Muri here right next to him. A wry smile crosses pear-green Mirialan features as he congratulates her. "So Cap'n Muri... promoted to... Commodore Muri? Swashbuckler Muri? Assistant Manager Muri?" A pause briefly hangs in the air before it's filled with a genuine yet mirthful, "Congratulations on more problems to solve. That's always how it works."

[Swindor of Hale] Endure his...hmph. The Batman(Swindor is in need of a proper batman) is pointedly ignored for that comment. Nose lifts into the air, and he watches his only actual aquaintance in the room get..promoted. An eyebrow lifts...this could be interesting.

Oh...Well. Watching the Barabel eat? Swindor looks like he's about to barf. His regality has failed him totally. All the blood. Zhu Yan's acknowledgment of him and King has him slightly nodding. His face has somehow, and this might not actually be possible, gone even more pale. From winter in the cold north complexion to six months dead pallor. "I've seen cleaner reactor breaches." Quiet voice, almost normal and not insufferable voice.

[B'haav Adasta] B'haav's body begins to unparalyze as Yan begins to grow the space between them, and with this increased sensation he notices the rather red patches of skin on his hand. He's probably going to need to ask Naia for some treatment if he can run into her; he's never cooked with Nerf before and he's unsure if there are things to be concerned about. But the pain is tolerable. Right until a Hapan hand lands on his shoulder and the burnt hand is forgotten. "Thank you, Eriu Jynx. I..." He has been trying not to look her direction so far this event, but he manages to glance at her before looking again to the soup with his face burning in a less medically-treatable way. "I shall make an effort to be a credit to this organization. I would not be here if you had not seen something in me, and I will try to live up to everything that you and Zhu Yan see..." He stirs the soup once, before dropping the ladle against the side of the vat again. "In me. That is, thank you."

Damn, the Balosar is jsut that awkward.

[Eriu Jynx] Then two more surprise promotions. This was meant to be for Yan! She blinks a few times when he asks her input. "Hard to say no when you have made up your mind so openly. So welcome to you all and congratulations. You will, B'haav. I have no doubt." This means she misses Karr's initial approach of the meat meatn just for him. A heavy exhale and she offers a tight smile to Yan before she tucks hair back behind her ear.

"Growing rather quickly, indeed." She muses and then downs the rest of the wine from her glass with a quick tip back of her head before she's moving to have it refilled. More wine. All the wine.

Food is definitely going to be overlooked when she sees how Karr is eating.

[Netep Muri] "What's deal?" Meeyuri's missed her own promotion, turning half about with raised brows and only mildly inebriated glaze within that stare eyeing the man of the hour. Give it a minute. She glance to Khalim then back to Yan. EJ. "Frell, yer trustin me with some 'shots', hey? Hah. Fancy that, valuing more'n my investment." The merger. Poor, poor Trader's Union. "Chakta sai kae, Zhu Yan." She lifts the crumpled soup cup, for lack of actual beverage. He won't regret this ever. Surely.

"Problems are solved via delegated, yeah? Easy thing." A wink for Khalim as Cap'n Muri's ego grows a half size from what it was fourteen seconds ago. "What this really means is...I've more clout to toss about in the cantina scene. Ladies and gents alike love a woman in power, do they not?" Aw yea. Get dat tail. She jingle-clinks along far enough to snag a glass of WINE this time. And then it's on to the pale, fancy man that King's dragged in.

"Khasaan'I, stranger." She tips her glass to taost against an imaginary one within his own personal bubble. "Y'look as though you've seen starweirds."