A Den of Ravens (Cryax Bane)

[Nimue Stormson]

After her little excursion to Zeltros, the planet home world of the Zeltrons, Empress Nimue of Effekt had agreed to go with the president of the organization known as the Red Ravens, a chiss by the name of [member="Cryax Bane"] , to the their base of operations. Have met the chiss on a number of occasions and getting to know him more as both colleague and business partner of a sort, Nimue would agree that so far of all the people she’d met on her trip throughout the galaxy he was one of the few she could trust. He’d helped her at least once and in return she’d stood by him in a time when threatened. Though set occasion was another story…​

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The previous night Empress Nimue had wanted to see what the party life of Zeltros was like and, after being invited by an underling of Bane, had come to a rave party where she proceeded to become quickly intoxicated. During that time the Empress had made a fool of herself, thankfully not many knowing who she really was and only seeing her as another drunken partygoer. She’d thought she was strong enough to handle alien alcohol on her first try. Obviously it wasn’t as simple as she thought. Most of that night, however, had been a blur.​

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The morning she woke the Empress had felt like death. Her skull felt too big for her head. Everything was a grand dizzy motion that made her sick. Every time she moved she felt like she was going too far for her own good. And all the while she groaned and moaned, trying to piece together what had happened. Even the men who were charged with guarding her didn’t fully know what had happened, being that they had lost track of her during the party itself. However they did remind her of her trip with Mr. Bane today.​

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Sometime later the Empress had come to the docking bay to meet with Cryax and the ship to bring them both to Atecedent. The men carried her bags for her, at least half a dozen of them, with one being made to carry her golden horned crown, while the Empress lead the way. She was dressed far more casually than usual, wearing a large dark green trench coat, comfortable heels, her hair kept in a ponytail, and only wearing a pair of hoop earrings. Sunglasses her covering her eyes while in her hand she carried a cup of what was later revealed to be coffee. It was clear enough the Empress was suffering for her overactive partying nature from the night before.​

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax didn't even have to double-check the number of the docking bay on his Datalogger. He knew he was at the right place when he spied the familiar gold horned crown sitting atop a woman's head. He was scheduled to meet Empress Nimue Stormson to take her to Antecedent in his Galaxy One luxury transport and show her the town.

It was the night after a wild party on the planet of Zeltros, and although Cryax wasn't hungover, he thought he might have a stubborn strand of silly string lodged in his ear. Empress Stormson on the other hand. Well, he had heard that the woman was found in a state. The poor thing. Zeltron partying wasn't for the faint of heart. A wide welcoming smile on his face, the Chiss strode over to the Empress, his hands spread, his bodyguard droids in tow.

He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "Empress Stormson. It's wonderful to see you again. You look. Uh, I don't know how to put this but a bit tired. Did you sleep ok?" He had to stifle a laugh. The poor thing, indeed. "Come, and let me get you situated on my transport ship. I could get you a caf. And juice is very good for a hangover."

Cryax hoped that the Empress would have enough stamina to enjoy all of the activities that Antecedent had to offer. The planet was a veritable hive of sin and vice. If the noblewoman was only beginning to get her party legs, this trip was going to hurt.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Upon seeing the chiss Nimue only nodded before walking over to him and accepting his kiss. She did follow up, however, with a little grown. Everything was still taking time to readjust to her state. Some noises sill rung and her head still felt like a cracked egg.​

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When he asked how she slept her eyes peered past her sunglasses and had an aggravated look to them. She seemed ready to say something but only sighed in the end. Apparently she didn’t have the mentality to say anything clever or the like.​

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“I only feel as though the gods are curing me for letting myself get out of hand.” She said before waving to the men to start loading her things. “However this café’ you have is very helpful.” She indicated the drink in the cup before sipping more of it down. After that she’d said “You said you had more, yes? I think I’ll need a barrels worth at least.”​

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After seeing the ship she nodded to him before getting in, finding the inside far more luxurious than she’d thought. The seats, the view from the windows, even the droids that were awaiting them. The Empress kept glancing over at the droids curiously. She’d been exposed to the protocol ones, but not these armed versions which were obviously for protection sake. She didn’t know whether to feel nervous or intrigued by the metal warriors.​

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[member="Cryax Bane"]​

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(Basically coffee scene​

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[Cryax Bane]

Inside the sleek and luxurious interior of the Galaxy One, the transport's wait staff wasted no time making Empress Stormson comfortable in the transport's main lounge. More cups of caf as well as Champagne mimosas were brought out, the Holonews was turned on in case she felt like watching, and a Bothan masseuse even came in to massage Nimue's feet with his furry paws. Cryax's bodyguard droids were dismissed to the side of the room, where they merely stood like sentinels. The ship's pilots then bustled through the cockpit in order to prepare for takeoff, navicomputers set for Antecedent.

With a mimosa in hand, Cryax sat near the Empress racheting up his charming smile a few notches. After the Makeb attack, it was nice to kick back and entertain his charming royal friend. "I hope that you start feeling better, Lady Stormson." Here the Chiss grinned wickedly. "I was sincerely hoping that you and I could get into some trouble on Antecedent today." He glanced over at the half dozen men the lady had brought who were hovering around the cabin awkwardly. Were they going to babysit the Empress for the entire trip?

"But if you're not fully recovered from your exploits, there's a full suite with a bedroom on the Galaxy One." he thumbed in the direction of the ship's master suite. "If you're feeling like a nap would cure you of your ills, you're welcome to lie down for a while and get refreshed."

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Once relaxed and in a seat the Empress sighed with relief. Looking around this shuttle truly was the definition of “luxury”. Another cup of café, freshly poured and ready, in her hand that she sipped to help ease her head from the burden of a hangover. The bothan masseuse who’d arrived wasted no time in slipping her shoes off before rubbing her feet. She seemed ready to object to a dog-like creature trying to touch her like that, but the feel of the fingers pushing on her feet made her give coo of relief before she settled in her seat again.​

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With a big smile on her face, the glasses still over her eyes, the Empress hummed with delight as [member="Cryax Bane"] told of more trouble to get into on Antecedent. She only gave a little hum of her lips in an agreeing tone, a little too caught up in her relaxation, before hearing him ask if she needed more time to rest. She shook her head even as he mentioned there was a bedroom in the back for her to rest in.​

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Looking over with her eyes peeking from her glasses she asked “Will you be there five minutes later if I do?” It was a coy yet still flirtatious gesture, as always to be expected from her. After that she looked to the guards who’d kept watch on her during her time here and said “Thank you, gentlemen. You’ve been a grand help. That’ll be all.”​

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She waved them off and all of them nodded or bowed in respect before getting off the ship. Once they were off the empress sighed again and sipped down more coffee, another coo of delight from her as she awaited take-off.​

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"I hope you don't think this is all fun and games for me, Sir Bane. We do, after all, have business matters to discuss. That was another thing we promised afterall." ​

 

[Cryax Bane]

The Chiss raised an eyebrow when the Empress dismissed her guards. Sure, he was plying her with champagne and Bothan masseuses, but he was still a dangerous criminal, a wanted man and a murderer. Cryax found himself touched that she trusted him enough to let her men go, especially when the rest of the galaxy seemed to think of him as a snake. Even rarer were people that he himself could trust, but the Empress certainly had potential of someone who could fit that bill. He just needed to help her shuck off her naivete, a result of her culture's seemingly self-imposed isolation from the rest of the galaxy. This trip to Antecedent would be a good start.

At her jesting about joining her in the bedroom, Cryax was coy in return. "If I join you, you won't get any sleep, Lady Stormson," he laughed and adjusted his tie. He figured his boyfriend wouldn't mind him flirting with the Empress. Frell, the Morellian was flirting with Preliat Mantis right in front of his face the night before. And then there was that thing with his brother. Ugh. He pushed it out of his mind for now.

"We can talk business or pleasure Lady Stormson. The choice is yours. Do you have any specific deals you'd like to discuss with the Red Ravens? As you know, our businesses aren't always above the board so I hope that it wouldn't bother you that you might get your hands a little dirty with us." Cryax gave her his charming smile, and leaned back in his seat awaiting her response.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Feeling like she was in the Hall of Eternity with her gods Empress Nimue cooed again with delight. The drinks, the relaxing seats, the view from the window seat, and the masseuse. All of it a lovely combination. She really ejoyed the foot massage most of all, given that she’d never had one or even thought of having one in her life. Of course she was listening to [member="Cryax Bane"] the whole time, but it was just very hard to tell given her state. Even when she removed her sunglasses, revealing her emerald eyes, she still looked more distracted than she was.​

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After his first comment about not sleeping she giggled and said “That’s the point.” After letting him react to it she said “I shouldn’t joke though. You and Jalek are too attached. Part of me feels wrong for all that I say, Sir Bane. I feel as though I’m interfering at times.”​

Then came his response about business talks, to which she said “I am an Empress after all. I tried to avoid getting my hands dirty unless it’s needed. But that’s where hired men come in.” She looked over to him with a bemused smirk and said “Think of it as you having friend in high places, while I have some in low. How you say ‘you scratch my back and I’ll do yours’?"​