Log:Starflares and Slave Lords

Starflares and Slave Lords

Location: Fortress of Binding
Participants: Emma Starflare, Gooza

Whatever the time is, it's typically party time at the Hutt Labor Lord's palace. The band on stage plays a fast-paced tune, while a Twi'lek bartender takes cocktails and food orders with gusto. Most of the service staff, in stark contrast, don't look particularly pleased to be here.

On the central, raised dais of the main floor, Gooza sits with a ten-foot hookah waterpipe to his side. Puffing smoke toward the ceiling in broad plumes, the Hutt Lord surveys his surroundings with a satisfied smile -- itself displaying jagged, slime-tinged teeth. "Hahahah. Play that one again! I like that one!" 

Into the palace another walks, certainly striking in appearence even when compared to most of the patrons in the palace. The blonde woman's hair was back, her lithe for wrapped in a tailored form-fitting white bodysuit, a simple black jacket worn over the top almost certainly to provide passable coverage for concealing her weapons. She pauses near the doorway at first entry, those intense blue eyes of hers sweeping the crowd before coming to rest on the Hutt at his dais. Seems the 'king' was in this castle.

"And get me two tankards of that stuff I like! The green bubbling drink -- -extra- carbonation!" The Hutt shouts to the bartender from across the hall's floor, punctuating his command with a deep laugh. Helping himself to another hefty inhalation of the waterpipe, the Hutt blows smokerings toward the ceiling before bringing his beady, green eyes to rest on the newcomer for a moment. "Hahahahah. Welcome, little one. Welcome to Gooza's Palace."

Well, she'd been addressed...or at least Emma thought it was directed at her. Bowing her head in return, the woman's gaze comes up to meet the Hutt's unwavering while she speaks. "Thank you," her words come out smooth with a honeyed accent one might almost take for Rylothian. "After the last 'Hutt lord' that came to this moon and his rather...alternative approach, I see that you are more of a 'traditionalist'." Her stance shifts a little, weight to one leg while her head tilts to the side as she looks the Hutt up and down once more. "I imagine you and Majun are not on good terms." "Hahahah. I am on good terms with everyone, so long as they are on good terms with me, little one." As the Hutt speaks, a Twi'lek slave carries two three-liter tankards up to the dais, offerig them out toward Gooza. The Hutt takes one in each hand, chuckling as he levels his gaze back on Emma. "But I suppose you are right, I could be described as a traditionalist in how I conduct my affairs. And what is it that you do, hmmmmm?" The gastropod pours some of the bubbling green drink down his throat, belching loudly afterwards.

The woman's lips come to a slight hint of a smirk at his answer, another nod given but this one of acknowledgement rather than affirmative. "I am a specialist," Emma answers, that smile never leaving her lips. "A 'bespoke' problem solver as it were for a higher class of client. Sometimes I make a problem disappear in certain ways if needed, other times I might stand between someone and a potential problem." That smile widens a little as her eyes turn over the room and what security there could be to be found in the Hutt's domain. "Particularly in situations where it does not do to have more obvious protection. A gamorrean doesn't quite fit a designer dress as I do."

"Hahahah. I do not hire Gamorrean dancers, no." The Hutt Lord seems to find that quite amusing, bellowing a laugh that echoes throughout the fortress for several moments before pouring more of the heavily-carbonated green liquid down his throat. "And you are available for hire, I take it? No pesky political allegiances." There's another laugh as he sets one of the tankards down and takes up his hookah pipe, inhaling deeply and then blowing the floral-scented smoke toward the woman. "I am among the most high class of clients, of course. Hahahah."

The smile remains, but she shifts her hip to the other side now, her arms crossing lightly under her bust as she addresses the Hutt. "I am, of course. For the right price. But then, what would politics matter to one who was on good terms with everyone? Seems like quite the unneeded fuss, no?"

"Hahahah. Not quite. There are some who do not, ah, approve of our ways. And -my- ways, particularly. They call themselves liberators, but really they just want my credits and power. You understand? It is all just business." He smokes from the waterpipe, following up by gulping from his tankard. "In any case, I may have an offering for you -- if you are interested in an assignment, mercenary."

"I may well be," Emma speaks, her gaze flicking for a moment from the Hutt to one of the slaves passing a little too close before she looks back to the host. "Depending on the offering, and the rewards of it." Another smile, almost certainly as practiced as any combat skill, follows. "One can only maintain a reputation by having standards after all. It's only professional." "Hahahah. I am glad I am up to your standards, little one. Of course, it is a singular honor to work for the Hutt Cartel." The Labor Lord bellows a deep laugh at that, swigging again from his drink. "There is a Bounty Hunter, Aenaria, who owes a debt to the cartel. She is wanted for questioning by Lord Grohk -- if you can find her and bring her to us, you will, of course, be rewarded handsomely." The Hutt eyes her for a moment before blowing smoke rings toward the ceiling, laughing again. "Or perhaps I should just offer you a position as a dancer, hmmm? Hahahahah." Emma laughs, nodding her head. "I will see if I am able to locate her and bring her here. Perhaps if I were aware of the questions in need of asking, I may even be able to retrieve the answers you seek." A pause, she gives another soft laugh at his second 'offer' and clicks her tongue. "As great and powerful as I'm sure you are, I very much doubt that even you would have the funds to hire me for -that- position." Another glance is given towards the slaves and she smirks with a jerk of her head towards the Twi'leks. "Besides, I do not quite fit the 'theme' of your seemingly favored staff."

"Hahahah. I am not certain, but believe the questions mostly relate to -when- she will be repaying the debt, and what she can give us now. In any event, they are best asked by Lord Grohk in person." The Hutt takes another puff of his waterpipe before laughing again. "Yes, you are probably too strong-willed to work here. Then again, stranger things have happened." He laughs again, a deep and bellowing noise that goes on for several seconds. "You will be rewarded with 10,000 credts if you can bring her in. -Alive- only, of course."

"If nothing else," Emma's amusement comes at his comment, "your girls attire would present quite the challenge to conceal a weapon. But far from an impossibility." With that, the blonde woman uncrosses her arms. "Payment on presentation to this place, or would it be preferable for this Lord Grohk to meet with me in person." A pause, she lets her hands come to rest on her hips before she tilts her head to the other side. "He is of course welcome to speak with me at his convenience. Ask for Emma Starflare." "Hahahah. Bring her here first, hmm? Then I will have her taken to Lord Grohk." The Hutt finishes his tankard of green liquid, letting out another audible belch and returning to his waterpipe as he looks her over. "I am glad you are interested in the job, Emma Starflare. And yes, dancing on my stage would not be a very good role for you -- nowhere to conceal a blaster! Hahahahah." The Hutt clearly finds that amusing.