Log:The Easy Way

A debt is repaid, with the debtor none the wiser

OOC Date: March 8, 2018 (Australian Time)
Location: Kafrene, The Gas Pipe Pub
Participants: Zhu Yan, Gren Delede, Sabella Lockheart, David Ironside

The short story: Zhu Yan gets what he wants, Gren Delede visits the bank, Sabella Lockheart reconnects with family, David Ironside goes window shopping.

The long story:

Who in their right mind would drag their posteriors all the way out to the airless mining rock of Kafrene? It was a dive. There was nothing here but rocks, gravel, and tears. But, defying all expectations, the ruggedly handsome bomber jacket with a person in it was sitting in the Gas Pipe Pub, looking at the series of tubes and praising whatever lord he worshipped that they would actually serve him the crappy Corellian whiskey he loved.

Gren dragged his arse out here...but then...he was just in system, actually. The older man walks into the pub, looking downright menacing in his black TIE flightsuit and a pair of heavy blasters. He's clean shaven, which is different, as well. He spots Zhu, and walks toward the bar, sliding into a stool next to the old comrade. His new comrades will join them, if they wish. "I hadn't gotten a message on that accounts since before I died. What can I do for you, Yan?" Business? Right down to it.

Comrade David Ironside is not a communist. He's been at the bar for while, scouting the area ahead. He looks the part of anyone who'd frequent dive bars like this, leaning on the bar in a spot that lets him overlook most of the interior unsuspiciously. David's leaning on the bar, his hand closed around a glass of whiskey, that he doesn't seem to have touched otherwise. From his position he can listen in on Gren's conversation with Zhu Yan fairly easily.

Sabella Lockheart follows Gren on into the Pub, pausing as she blinks and glances over the place looking along curiously at the ceiling and then off to another part with a soft oh escaping her. She hums and glances over the room, catching sight of where Gren heads off to and soon follows along humming a bit to herself. She hops up onto a free stool while tucking a set of gloves into her jacket pocket. A curious glance is sent to Gren at the 'died' comment before a half wave is sent to Zhu Yan. It's been a while. She didn't see much of a reason to not join in as she has met Zhu Yan plenty of times in the past after all.

"Sab, good to see you, you haven't been on the radar for a while which, considering the state of the galaxy, is a good thing right now!" The semi-dishevelled smuggler beamed wildly when he saw his old friend. It had been a while! Still, Zhu Yan was here for business, and business in this case, was not good. The smile fell off his face uncharacteristically, and he turned on his stool to face Mr. Delede. "I'm here about Sar," he said, probably the most common thing for the man to hear these days. "I'm sure you're aware of the huge debt he owes me. It's been a year, he ain't paying, and judging from the bruises to my stomach," and his face was a little bit shiny as well, where it could be seen under the beard, "he never will."

"Sar. Right." Gren's voice is neutral, but his face says it all. He's sick of hearing about what Sar has been up to, of late. He looks between Yan and Sabella, and adds. "Sar did that to you?" He does not sound pleased. Yan -did- help rescue Sabella, after all.(Right?) "Assume I don't know about any debt. And I'll assume that you aren't pulling a con. How much does he owe you?" Sue him....Delede knows Zhu Yan, and likes him. But, does he trust him? He pointedly does not look in Ironside's direction.

David, playing his part, doesn't need to keep eyes on the trio to hear the conversation. Of course it's about Sar. Everything is always about Sar. His neutral visage running the risk of cracking into a sour frown, he brings the glass of whiskey to his lips to hide it, masking said Sar-related frown with a slight wince as the amber liquid passes from his glass into his blood stream.

Sabella Lockheart wiggles a hand towards the bartender asking for a drink, yes she drinks sorry dear 'ol dad! A curious look is sent back to Zhu Yan and she smiles. "Well... Given things that happened what choice did I have?" She questions with an amused tone. "Deal with any ice blocks lately?" Yep she still remembers that first conversation they had. The last time she saw Zhu Yan he was helping her get out of a certain busted up ship. As for the talk of bruises she tilts her head glancing from Gren then back to Zhu as she waits to see what the answer might be. As for dear David she pointedly ignores him as well. She knows the game.

"You're a dangerous man to con, Gren, and you know how much I avoid it where I can." Yan explained, nodding as he went. True to a point, but Zhu Yan's breakneck speed attack on the First Order convoy hauling Gren's daughter was a testament to how flexible he could be on it. He sighed, one big long one built up over months. "Lemme fill you in," he said. "About a year or so ago, when Sar left you guys, he came to me to get back on his feet." His explanation was measured and emotionless. Emotion had gotten his ass kicked before. "He saw a big ship, a YZ-775, and came to me for a loan. Five hundred thousand credits. So yeah, he was a friend, I loaned him the creds and he went and bought the Big Deal." He pointed a finger down on the bar, as though to underscore an impending point. "Since then, nothing. I'm patient, I waited, but enough was enough. Ran into him a week or so ago, got into a fistfight, don't even take bets on who threw the first punch because it was him. Said the Big Deal was Resistance property now, and he was too poor to pay me. So that's the debt. Five hundred thousand, or I repo the Big Deal."

"Playing to my ego. That's a way to earn points." This is a joke from Gren, though it is grim. He is a rather dangerous fellow, and he recognizes it. "I've counted you a friend, Yan. And, I'd like to keep counting you a friend." There is a pause, and it really seems to indicate that there might be a but coming. "But, you're putting me in a damn difficult situation." He purses his lips, clearly not pleased with the tale that has been told. His anger does not seem directed at Zhu, though. That is obvious. He strokes his bare chin with his right hand, and sighs. "I don't have 500k to give you, and I know Yavok doesn't either. And, you aren't repoing that ship with anything short of a First Order fleet...so, I've got to decide if keeping up good ties with you is worth a fleet asset. Pissing off Sar sweetens the pot, though." This is why he gets the big bucks. He falls silent, looking thoughtful.

David has to hide his face behind his glass again, though not out of frustration this time. Nobody's used the YZ-775 yet, to his knowledge. This could just go away with returning the ship. It's the easiest, simplest way to get out of a thing without the Resistance looking worse than it already does now. Also Sar's fault. His face doesn't betray his thoughts, though, even shuffling aside to let a pretty young spacer girl order a drink, his eyes giving her the ol' ocular patdown from this proximity. She's clear, though, and Dave turns back to his drink.

Sabella Lockheart coughs a bit as she hears all that Zhu Yan has to sayand a faint glance founds between thet wo before she gets her drink and is sipping from it. Yeah... She isn't going to comment on anything dealing with this, all for Gren and Zhu to hash out it seems.

"I know. And it ain't fair for me to kneecap you without you being able to pull Sar's knees off as a replacement," Yan explained, with a quizzical expression appearing on his face as he realized that the metaphor was running away from him. He shrugged. No matter. It was only wordplay. "I gotta consider, though, what happens if he doesn't pay. Credits are part of the story. Reputation is the other. Letting people get away with debt sends a bad message to everyone. 'Zhu Yan is an easy target' and all that." He frowned, thoughtful. "And you can't collect from a dead man."

"I get it. And Sar's been a real pain in the dick, of late. For more than just you." Gren's sighs, and runs a hand across his face. He taps the bar, and points at the droid tending it. "Coruscanti whisky, if you've got it, droid." A glance over at Sabella, still thinking about that rescue. "Putting this aside for a few moments....I noticed you've been selling off your assets. Any particular reason, Yan?"

David turns to the bartender, ordering a refill. Actually scratch that, he'll need a bigger glass. Filled with something non-alcoholic. He's only using it as a cover, anyway. His attention not on any glass, Dave scans the bar interior again. A drop of condensated water falls on his jacket from the ceiling, and he glances upwards with distaste. "Ugh.." he grumbles, but then his drink arrives and he goes quiet again.

Sabella Lockheart coughs a bit at the part of taking Sar's knees off as a replacement. "Maybe Sar has better knees?" She questions with an amused tone at the idea and a faint glance is sent back to Gren. Don't pull her into this... Yes Zhu helped get her free but... Well but nothing that was sort of a big deal actually. Another sip is taken from her glass and she peers back to Zhu as the question from Gren.

"Honestly? Liquidating," stated Yan plainly, looking into his own glass of absolutely dreadful Corellian whiskey. Someone needed to teach this man some FINE TASTE. Rotgut was not a drink, it was an engine cleaner. "I have stuff sitting around I never use. I haven't flown the Heartbreak 1 in almost a year." Ah, that old beat up T-65C with the silly name. It was a rare sight anywhere other than the BWC-HF-001 except for that one time Tarion Tavers used it as a shuttle. "I figure, I can convert it all into credits if people wanna buy some stuff. Might do them some good." He glanced over at Sabella. "Sar's old. His knees are junk," he said, with that smile starting to come back to his face.

There's a nod from Gren. "Just wanted to make sure that you aren't going broke. I was going to offer you a steady paycheck." A smirk, and he adds..."It sounds like a gassy Gamorroean when he walks across the room. You don't want those knees. Pop Pop Pop." A grin for Sabella, and then back to Zhu. "I need to buy a fighter, but I can't afford the Heartbreaker...I'm looking at an E-wing. I'm short. Would you be willing to extend me a small line of credit? I'm could get it all back to you in a few months....and you know I'm bloody good for it." A pause, and adds..."And you know that I'm going to get you that 775, regardless. I'm not a pirate, or a thief. Not when I wear the Phoenix." He glances at Dave, and makes a quick gesture with his finger. He can relax, if he's inclined.

Dave raises his glass to Gren and the others at the gesture, opting to stick to the background either way. He'll relax, though there's a lot on his mind right now and this seems like the best time to come up with ways to deal with them. The mention of a T-65c had him moving out of his barstool for a moment, but the idea that Gren couldn't afford it seems to have cooled his jets (hehehe) by a lot.

Sabella Lockheart chuckles and grins at the idea. "True that." Is said about Sar's knees. "He can still run last time I saw." She lightly taps a finger upon the bar at the tought before peeking over at Gren slightly. A blink seen and she can't help but seem amused, they are here talking about Sar owning Zhu money and now Gren wants to borrow as well? She goes back to sipping at her drink. She does trust Gren more then Sar on certain things, and knows he is good for it.

Zhu Yan tilted his head to one side, grinning wryly. This was his life now, a put-upon loan shark. "Give me a number, Delede. If it were anyone else I'd say no." He glanced over at Sabella. "Sorry Sab." Jackass. "As long as you get me the ship, or the credits, I'm happy. And if it makes Sar suffer for it, all the better reason."

"I'm going to say 75k, but it might not be quite that much. I've got some backpay to claim. And a few assets of my own to dump." Gren replies...in other words, he's been a busy man, and he hasnt looked at his bank account of late. "For a rag tag group, I do alright, though. That's a few months pay." A smile, and he drums his fingers on the bar, and then sips some of his whiskey. "I'll meet you on the Smuggler's Moon with the ship, though. Knowing he ripped you off pisses me off, Yan. We've all fought side by side...you don't do your friends dirty."

"Hey man, I may not be Resistance, but I'm one of your friends in the underworld," Yan explained, grinning his messy little head off and sipping some more of the paint stripper he called a drink. He made a face of supreme disgust and put the glass down. "You get me parts for my home base, I rescue your daughter," WE rescue your daughter, Yan. Don't steal the credit, "I say we got a pretty good working relationship. Seventy-five thousand is easily doable."

Sabella Lockheart shrugs a bit as she hears Zhu. "Nothing to be sorry for. Just don't come after Gren's knees and we're be alright." Another sip to her glass makes it empty and she peeks over at Gren slightly at the amount is given and then the tak of when to meet for the ship. "Am I gona have to keep you and Sar apart when he finds out all this?" She'll throw a wrench at Sar's head! Or something along those lines. She does have Haulii after all.

"It's always good to have friends in low places..." Gren agrees with a slight smile, and takes another sip from his glass. "I don't know why you drink that garbage, Yan. Nothing good ever came out of Corellia." His own refined(sort of) whisky is drained. "Alright, then. I think we have a deal. I'll bring the ship. What do you want it called? I'll have to reset the IFF." He offers the other man a hand. A delighted grin for Sabella! "She does care! She wants me knees intact." And then..."He'll be pissed. But, he's earned whatever he gets. Plus, I do outrank him. Severely."

Dave smirks behind his opaque yellow drink. Everyone's friends now! Apart from Sar. That's fine. He makes quick work of the drink, glancing towards Gren and Sabella for any sort of gesture to indicate they're wrapping up. Because he'll stay behind for a while, in his faster ship he'll make it back to base before they do anytime. His eyes wander to a cute bright blue Twi'lek girl, but only after receiving aforementioned gesture from high command.

"I ain't going for anyone's knees, young Sabella! People 'knee'd' those!" explained Yan, highly amused, and he started straight-up guffawing. Laughing at your own jokes. Good man. Of course, the talk of moving ships bought him back to reality. "Name? Uh, let's call it Yellow Line for now. Follows the theme of lines and colours and whatnot," the short smuggler said, looking mildly befuddled after being put on the spot. Honestly, he was not expecting an immediate win here. He looked at the glass of liquid pain and said, "I drink it because it's cheap, and if I get used to expensive stuff, I'm gonna send my bank balance into the floor. Logic, yo!"

Sabella Lockheart lifts a fingers slightly at the 'young' it. "You make it sound like I'm a kid." She points out with a smirk. As for Gren she smirks and eye him slightly. "Yeah well... Suppose you've grown on me a bit." HE is her father, she cares about him to SOME degree, don't expect a birthday card just yet though, and a Father's day card is SO out of the question. "Oh I am aware you outrank him, but I know how pissy he can get over other things." She has to deal with him on away missions. A curious glance is sent towards Dave and she smirks a bit before rolling her eyes.

"Puns." Gren's response is a shudder, and he stands from his stool. "I should be getting back to the fleet, and sorting this out." The former Imperial pilot looks at Sabella..."I'm sure you can catch a ride with a friend, if you want to stick around. Or, I can give you a lift." Zhu gets a nod. "Lines and colors. Got it. I'll get the techs on that, and then I'll see you at Corestar."