Bright Lights, Bigger City [Open Club Thread]

[Kaiden Rohn]

[member="Hazel Zanteres"] said his name. Rohn. He would've corrected her once upon a time. Commander Rohn. He would've said politely. He would've smiled and gotten another drink. He was a young man then. Full of hope and vinegar. Hadn't seen the ugly side of the galaxy yet. Hadn't seen the ugly side of himself yet. He blinked, and a couple things happened. He felt his heart-rate race. His hand instinctively twitched. It wanted to grab the gun and start blasting. A man caused a ruckus in the corner. He heard, even through the music, the distinct sound of flesh meeting flesh. [member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"] handled the pair with the same brutality that Kaiden would have. The difference being that, he let them live. Kaiden was hyper-lethal. Nobody crossed Kaiden and lived to tell about it.

But then again, all his friends were dead, save one or two here and there. [member="Kiyron"] was spotty- the spook had spook things to do nowadays. He blinked and processed her words and her face. He knew the pained expression all the same. It was the same one he wore. Between the flashing lights, the electronic music and the robotic people, he saw the pain dance across her face like one of the drugged-up sluts in the room.

"Remember when I was happy and all my friends weren't dead?"

He inwardly cringed at his words. Perhaps he drank more than he thought. He regret his words, but they stemmed from truth. Kaiden's hawk-like gaze set upon [member="Viktor Alexander"]- and didn't say much other than I will fucking kill you. Kaiden ran a hand through his hair. The man was approaching middle age, and his hair wasn't as full, or having any less of gray hairs than he wanted. He wasn't so intent on getting laid tonight- no, tonight was simply to try and forget, try and move on.

As much as he could, at least. Hazel may have done well, but Kaiden simply looked..downtrodden.

 

[Ishana Pavanos]

Ishana hadn't been on Zeltros since her days at the OS Imperial Academy. And now as she stood in Blush with her First Order TIE Fighter Jacket, loose fitting combat pants and boots. She couldn't help but smile and as she walked across the club, the pilot took drinks as they came. The first floor was crowded, too crowded. If she had been working the club then she would love to start her shift here. Now? No way, Ishana made her way to the stairs and climbed. Much to her surprise she found [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] talking to a blonde. With a smirk, she headed there and within moments the brunette reached the pair and cleared her throat. "Excuse me miss but what's a club like this doing with a girl like you?" Ishana gave the red head her signature cheeky grin.

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Kaalia chuckled. "Did I scare you? I'm so sorry." Her tone was a lighthearted one. "I'm doing well, my knees are healed back up and are back to a hundred percent. Thanks again." She flashed [member='Hazel Zanteres'] a big smile as she went for a playful smirk herself. She never expected the doctor to make such a gesture, but it was definitely an interesting one. "I definitely know that need. I actually came here for the same reason. It's been a hectic few weeks, but I don't think I need to tell you how that feels." She took a glass brandy from a server's plate after placing some credits onto the plate the drinks rested on and raised it. "To a night without worries." The redhead took a good swig, letting the liquid pour down her throat. She had learned to appreciate the burning sensation it left in her throat, and the buzz it gave her loosened her up a bit more.

A split second after Kaalia set her glass down she heard a familiar voice, and one that made her eyes light up the moment she heard it. She turned towards the voice to see the figure of [member="Ishana Pavanos"] in front of her, a sight the redhead definitely didn't mind seeing in the slightest. She reached in for a hug. "Ishana! It's so good to see you!" When she broke the embrace off she continued. "I was just looking to get some stress off my back. I've been busy." She turned back to Hazel, and went to introduce the two to each other. "Hazel, this is Ishana. Ishana, this is Hazel."

She took another sip of her brandy as she let the two introduce themselves, but had to struggle to not spit it back out. [member="Mishel Ren"] spoke through their telepathic link once again, this time asking what 'sex' was. Kaalia wasn't the one to give her 'the talk', and this definitely wasn't the place, so she had to shove the question off somehow. I can't explain that right now, Mishel. You should ask Samka when you return to the Bastion, okay? She was sorry for saddling Samka up with such a thing, but she was her appointed caretaker and there was no real way of avoiding the topic anymore. The other question was kind of confusing, but the redhead figured there was just a mixup with something. It's probably a misunderstanding. Don't worry about it. She prayed there wouldn't be any more questions from the brunette, but she closing the link felt wrong. Who let her come here...

 

[Ishana Pavanos]

"A pleasure," Ishana greeted the blonde. The pilot listened to the red head and smiled. "I can think of another way to unwind." She whispered into [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]'s ear and then flashed Hazel a grin. "Brandy, huh?" The brunette scanned the room and made haste to grab a glass from a server before rejoining the two women. Ishana took a sip or two before settling an arm around Kaalia's waist. "Hazel, yeah? Same question what's a club like this doing with a girl like you?" Hazel just looked way too clean to be here but she didn't mind. Her one hand brought the brandy to her lips while the other tugged at the red heads waist.

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

"Maybe, just a bit." Hazel admitted, letting out a small, light laugh afterwards. She certainly hadn't expected to hear the redhead's voice so close when she had last saw her down below. Then again, where [member="Mishel Ren"] went [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] wasn't too far away - especially in a place like Club Blush. "As I said then, I was just doing my job. But I'm very happy to see you're back on your feet." She reached for her drink and raised her glass to Kaalia, a glint in her eyes as Kaalia returned her smirk, "To a night without worries." And similiarly downed the rest of it in one go. She let out a slight ahh as she felt the harsh liquid rush down her throat. Even years later, after probably consuming her own weight several times over in the stuff, it still managed to give her that little kick she needed.

With her glass now empty, Hazel settled herself back at the bar with a request for another sitting on her lips, only for the bartender to apparently read her mind and already have another placed before her. He simply nudged his head across the bar to where [member="Viktor Alexander"] was sat. Hazel's eyes followed, briefly falling on [member="Irajah Ven"] before moving to the man in question. She gave him an inquistive look, running a finger along the glass' rim before she took a sip of the drink he had sent her way.

Hazel let out a pleased hum as she followed it with several more sips. The man had good taste, she could appreciate that.

Finally the Hapan returned her attention to [member="Kaiden Rohn"], having heard the man's words not minutes ago though they had been more of a grumble to her while she had conversed with Kaalia. She gave him a warm, caring smile; a familiar sight if she were acting as a doctor right now. And boy, did Kaiden certainly pull on those stings. As Hazel wanted nothing more than to help the man. But that was the whole point of tonight, to be away from that side of things and to relax.

She didn't blame him for it though, it was just in her nature to feel like it - no matter what. She gave Kaiden a knowing look; an understanding one. Hazel knew what he was feeling as she too had lost her squad, having been there on Coruscant that fateful day.

Hazel went to speak, but was halted when she suddenly heard Kaalia's voice speak her name. She turned around to see a woman; [member="Ishana Pavanos"] had walked up to their location. She gave Ishana an appreciatie gaze, looking her up and down. "Same to you." She said, taking a sip of her drink and watching with a twinkle in her eye as she watched Ishana whisper to Kaalia.

Oh, this ought to be interesting... The thought cross her mind as she watched the pilot wrap an arm around the redhead.

She took a swig of her drink. "Oh me? Much the same as Kaalia, just looking to unwind some stress."

 

[Samka Derith]

Spice.​

Spice was a plague on the civilised galaxy.​

​

As far as Samka Derith was concerned, planets like Zeltros could pump every single one of their citizens into mentally shattered zombies and find themselves in the pockets of various, brutal Hutt Cartels if that was their wish. It wasn't their problem. But it became their problem when the spice flowed across to their side of the galaxy. Even the First Order, with all the power and funding given to its police and boarder security could struggle to completely halt the supply of such drugs to their people. There had been an incident a week previous where a Stormtrooper stationed at the forest moon of Endor had shot dead two of his colleagues in a spice crazed fit of hallucinogenic paranoia, apparently convinced the two men were Ssi-Ruu soldiers wearing human skin suits. It was an extreme reaction even for one high on spice. The First Order's reaction would be swift and surgical. Across the region members of the Order of Ren and the First Order Security Bureau would strike out, disrupting the operations of the cartel identified as responsible for the manufacturing and selling of the spice. Her mission was just a part of a greater operation unfolding and she took pride in that fact. Here at a club on Zeltros, one of the suppliers thought he was free to drink and dance his night away. It would be the last night he ever had.

But, Sam thought as she walked through the crowds, did he have to spend it here? He couldn't have gone to a nice secluded spot with a nice holobook? Instead he came here and she? Well she had to fit in. Her dress was far too short with a cut in the thigh on one side because apparently even more flesh had to be on show. Then there was her top, her constraining yet open top which squeezed and re-positioned her bust into looking larger than normal. Samka grimaced visibly whenever she looked down but the intelligence was correct. She looked like a harlot but so did everyone else so ironically she wasn't drawing any more attention than the average person.

There was no weapon on her today, as much as it pained her to leave her Lightsaber behind, she had more than deadly enough for one target alone and weaponry just brought an additional risk of discovery. No need to bring a distinctive weapon when she could choke someone to death from yards away, after all, accidents happen. There had already been at least one fight today, she thought she vaguely recognised one of the men involved ( [member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"] ) but the young Ren didn't want to stick around and find out. But it wasn't just that man which was familiar tonight, there were other auras she recognised but couldn't quite place. Until now. It suddenly struck her like a ton of durasteel dropping on her head and she stopped in her tracks. Why were they here?

"Oh. Oh no," The assassin groaned.

[member="Hazel Zanteres"] - [member="Irajah Ven"] - [member="Ishana Pavanos"] - [member="Mishel Ren"]​

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"] - [member="Joza Perl"]​

@Everyone​

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

"Well, if that's 'just your job', then the least I can do is pay you for it. If you or anyone in the Lotus ever needs my help, don't hesitate to ask. It's the least I can do." The sight of [member="Hazel Zanteres"] drinking in such a manner was still an amusing one. She made more sides to her than Kaalia originally expected. It was always interesting to see someone who oozed seriousness loosen up with a drink, and this was no exception.

When [member="Ishana Pavanos"] whispered in Kaalia's ear she couldn't hold in a chuckle. The pilot was definitely the adventurous type, and she couldn't help but be dragged along every single time despite being a bit more safe herself. The redhead knew exactly what the words meant and the grin that was cast towards the doctor was the confirmation she didn't even need. Ishana was a handful for Kaalia, but that was just another reason she was captivated by her more and more everytime they met. "It's still my drink of choice." Kaalia picked her glass back up in response to the comment about her drink, and took a sip. When the redhead felt tugging at her waist she had to balance her glass to prevent its contents from spilling, but due to her slightly buzzed state a somewhat small amount still fell to the floor. "That was close, I almost lost my drink there." Kaalia returned the gesture by wrapping an arm around the pilot's waist herself. The glint in Hazel's eyes did not go unnoticed by Kaalia, putting a small grin on her face. In order to make sure nothing else would be wasted she downed the rest of the glass and set it back down with a satisfying thud. "Yup, I definitely needed that."

"So, Ishana," Kaalia said as she turned her head to face the brunette. "What brings you here then? Not that this is an uncommon scene for you, but I'm curious." Her head moved closed to Ishana's ear as she whispered something herself, resting her head on her shoulder as she did. "I see you eying her. Don't blame you." She smiled as she pulled her head back.

 

[Ishana Pavanos]

The club's dark lights made it easy for Ishana to lose herself, the free-spirited pilot spent her off days dancing for places like this around First Order territory. At her age, she had given up on settling and enjoyed what she could get, even if it seemed more often than not she was enjoying the redhead beside her. She smiled when Kaalia put her arm around her waist, the brunette leant over just as the younger woman whispered into her ear and in response, she lowered her head so that when she replied, "and I'm sure you were too." The heat of her breath brushed against her... well, against Kaalia's skin as she set the drink aside. A small chuckle escaped her lips the moment Kaalia asked her what brought her all the way out to Zeltros.

"Y'know, got busted for another infraction flew out to the part of the galaxy that was far, far away from home," she answered. The balmorran turned to her drink once more and took no issue in downing it, and then grabbed another drink off of a roaming tray. Ishana sipped this one and pulled back, "here, don't know what this is but it's got a kick." The brunette offered the taller woman the small drink and sized up the blonde again, she leant back into Kaalia's side and whispered. "We can stay here or go somewhere else, but I want you," she spared a glance at the other woman and added, "she can come with us, if you want."

[member="Hazel Zanteres"] | [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]​

 

[Joza Perl]

“Alright buddy, time to leave.” The bouncer that approached [member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"] was the tallest among them, matching Nate’s height. “Get on out of here and there won’t be any trouble.” A pair of bodyguards had already started to drag away the partially conscious bodies of his opponents. The other that fanned out around the Dark Jedi Master were just as beefy.

X

“Knock yourself out, slick.” She looked from [member="Viktor Alexander"] down to the first floor where the second fight of the night was being broken up. “Though at this rate, you won’t have long to wait.”

That was how it went with Blush. The fights, the drinks, the spice. Joza didn’t particularly like spice, sale or consumption. Blush had a certain reputation long before she’d purchased the club herself, and turning it into something classier would be costly and largely ineffective given the unsavory district it was it, not to mention the number of lavish clubs in the more wealthy areas of the city. Closing it down would force spice deeper underground and deprive many young women of Indigo District of a paying job.

At [member="The Slave"]’s mention of exhibition, Joza blinked. “Didn’t think I was that much of one either.” But hey, surprises. You learned new things about yourself all the time. [member="Mishel Ren"]’s inquiry as to what sex was would remain unanswered for the time being, given that they were more pressing questions at hand. “Rubble, roof, in the end you were another enemy body plucked from the battleground.” And generously healed at the hands of the Silver Lotus, too. She didn’t care much for the girl’s oddly placed sass, taking a long drag from her cigarette as she considered all that Mishel had told her.

“It’s called Bright Lights.” She gave an idle response for the name of the drink before settling back into her seat with another shot cradled in her hand. “How old were you when you were taken, Mishel?”

One of the waitresses approached slowly from the side so as to not startle Joza when she leaned down to whisper next to her ear. A pair of crimson brows rose before Joza murmured back.

“Tell [member="Alkor Centaris"] to give me fifteen to twenty minutes. I’ll catch up with him then.” The last time she’d seen him had been after Mustafar when he too was injured. Still, this was the first time he’d willing gone to seek her out.

 

[Kaiden Rohn]

So many people, so many voices. And it all was ringing so many bells in his head. Danger. Same feeling about Coruscant. Same heebie-jeebies. Same tingle in the back of his neck. He felt naked. No armor. No protection. Infantryman had guts. Guts over fear. Guts kept him alive. He trusted it. And it was telling him that a lot of the people in the room were killers. Killers, crooks- and dark. Kaiden had felt darkness incarnate a few times. The fear, the natural reaction to simply get away screamed in his head. Or maybe it was the PTSD. Maybe it was the memories. Maybe it was the sobriety. His hand twitched again. His eyes dilated. His heartrate increased.

The only thing lacking in him was adrenaline. That wasn't there yet. Unknown to him, however, [member="Samka Derith"] was on a path that he had been many years before- waging a personal war against an enemy that was as relentless as he was. He turned back to the doctor. Place was crowding up- he didn't particularly like it. Lots of people swarming the doctor. She was popular. What had she been up to? The people talking to her gave him the same feeling of dread as most Sith. Were they Sith?

She gave him a look after a while of his contemplation. He blinked in return. He got another drink. Straight brown liquor. He just wanted to forget now. Some pilot was weaseling his way over to the women. Kaiden hadn't even thought of picking up girls in a long time. Barely had time for himself, let alone another person. He turned and eyed the girl with the colored hair moving through the crowd. She looked different. He could tell the way that she moved. She had the graceful poise of an assassin, the lethality mixed with silky-smooth way of carrying herself. The Coruscanti man slipped out of the bar- silently. In a moment, it clicked. The sobriety was coming back- in a deadly way. Training took over. Approached on his weak side so if he drew his gun, he could just turn and dump the magazine into her.

Then she stopped and seemed upset. Maybe she just was some skimpy girl in a seedy club. Maybe he was just a washed up commando who had been wrong again. Maybe. But then again, the galaxy wasn't known for it's curveballs, truth be told. It followed a pattern, had a set of rules. And right now, the air seemed electric. Tension rose as he neared the colored hair girl. He stopped, blending in with the crowd as best he could. But he was different from the club goers- looked hard. Looked mean. Not a young man trying to get laid. He was a damn near middle-aged commando in the middle of a club. He looked out of place. At least the darkness hid the deep scars on his face.

He closed in on [member="Samka Derith"], but was truthfully unsure why he was. He slipped away from [member="Hazel Zanteres"] and the rest of the people at the bar without a word.

 

[Alkor Centaris]

The Force moves darkly around one about to kill.

Above the mishmash of emotions in the club, the predatory senses of a killer seized Alkor and ripped his gaze toward the crowd. He could taste bloodlust, a distinct flavor that he had drank deep from many times. He was accordingly out of his seat in a split second, one hand on the blaster pistol Keira had encouraged him to carry.

It was not intended for him- he would have felt more danger imminent to his person. There was still danger, however. His dark eyes shifted across the crowd, a murky sea of unknown faces. "Where are you," he whispered, a sound drowned beneath waves of conversation, violence, sex, and dance.

"Come out," he snarled, his thoughts probing maliciously. He searched for the source of the tension with the brutal grace of a feral hunter, and his senses dragged his eyes toward an odd sight.

There was a woman, short in stature and dressed like anyone else in the club. He was certain that something about her was different, though what he sensed was not the cold, dark hand that writhed around her spirit.

Alkor stayed back, watching. He felt it there, somewhere nearby.

When he saw it, his grip released the projectile weapon and went for something more familiar. The dark cylinder entered his palm and felt light, ready to ignite at a moment's notice.

"Found you," he muttered, waiting to see how [member="Samka Derith"] would react to [member="Kaiden Rohn"] .

[member="Joza Perl"] would not be happy if people in her club just started dropping like flies, so Alkor took precautions not to make a scene.

 

[Mishel Kryze]

"Bright lights?" Mishel questioned and thought no more of it as she ordered one from a passing waitress. Joza's idle response told the girl nothing of the woman herself but the next question drew the young girl's attention and this time she looked on the woman with more seriousness. The coloured hue of the lights that danced across the Zeltron's skin reflected within Mishel' eyes as she waved off the smoke and relaxed her shoulders. The burning buzz of alcohol wormed its way through her system, and her mind was numb but her honesty did not fade, "I was waiting to turn five." She replied with sadness in her voice, "the Kraal had come to Tygara and mama told me that I would be safe in the Fortress but then she was called away." Her eyes glossed over with the memory, they were distant, "and so we went, believe guards and my governess were there and as we travelled we kept having to take detours. The streets were ripped apart and the battle still raged."

"Next thing I knew there was an explosion," an artillery strike, well placed at that, "our vehicles were tossed, and then there were boots. Black boots, blaster fire, screaming and someone picked me up."

She brought the drink known as bright lights to her lips just as soon as the waitress had given it to her. "I think I must have been screaming too much, or loudly I suppose. All I recall is a hand, a black-gloved hand over my face." There was a casual shrug, "don't recall much after that, I opened my eyes and I was on a table. They told me not to worry and I would be fine, and then they injected me with something and the table moved up." Another drink as she continued her story with her matter-of-fact tone, "then they closed the doors to the bacta tank and it began to fill with liquid. I cried, I screamed, no one listened - they told me I was being given a gift. I just wanted to go home." Mishel finished the drink off and then felt something, rather someone move through the force. An aura to be more exact and one that she recognised straight away. Unfortunately, just as soon as Mishel rose to her feet she sat back down as whatever she was drinking had a heavy hand on her shoulder. Then again this was drink number five and she regretted having something on that concealed her own force aura.

[member="Joza Perl"] | @Samka Derith | @Alkor Centaris | [member="The Slave"]​

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

Even without looking at him, she could tell [member="Kaiden Rohn"] was growing agitated, or just general unrestful. Hazel knew he was going leave at some point, she wasn't sure when but she could tell he wasn't as comfortable anymore. She had intended to keep her attention on him for a while longer, but with the recently ongoing developments between her and the two other woman close by, Hazel had a feeling that wasn't going to be the case for the rest of the night. So she did the next best thing she could think of.

She motioned the bartender over in between serving and asked him for a pen and paper. It was probably on odd request, but she knew the bars generally accommodated such things incase any of their customers needed something as simple as that. With it in hand she wrote a simple message, neatly tore it out and folded it up. Then she waited a moment for Kaiden's attention to be away, before she slipped it into his pocket. Whenever he did find it and read it, it would simply say: If you're ever in need of help or just someone to talk, come find me. I'm generally on Monastery a lot, as part of the Sacred Lotus. Just ask for my name and they'll let you land. - Hazel Zanteres.

She may not be acting as a doctor tonight, but she'd be damned if she didn't still try and help.

After that Hazel returned her attention to [member="Ishana Pavanos"] and [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]. She had been watching them with interest still, easily able to catch it whenever each took turns at looking at her. She couldn't hear what they were whispering, but she was fairly certain she could guess who the subject of them were. She sent a sly smile towards them, then with one lift of the glass downed what remained of the drink. Hazel stood up and moved closer, leaning her head closer to them. "All you have to do, is ask." She whispered quietly to them, her tone a mix of angelic and sultry - a sinful combination.

Her eyes briefly lingered over towards [member="Joza Perl"], and an idea struck her. "In fact, I can take this to a private place that's a lot more comfortable."

Hazel's hands gently brushed down both women's backs, fingers teasing before she moved ahead of them. Walking with a seductive sway of her hips, heading towards the stairs that lead towards the VIP floor.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

The Slave watched the conversation take place, a mysterious drink in one hand, and a drug filled cigarette in the other. His eyes casually moved between them in his quietness, but he could hear the murmurs of the crowd below; and although severely hindered by a menagerie of intoxicating substances, he could feel the tension rise through the force.

As much as Joza could keep his attention by her meer movements, there was a special place in his heart for watching the artistic expression of violence. In the way painters made a magnum opus in the deepest trenches of their depression, so too did a warrior have his greatest moment in the heat of anger, and he was hardly a man who’d be willing to miss such an ideal opportunity. His eyes wandered from the soft pink hues of his self proclaimed goddess to watch the crowds just over the balcony railing.

Filling his lungs with smoke, he peered over the jamboree with a pleasant quaintness; his viridescent gaze catching small glimpses of faces, but only a few seemed to catch his attention. First, the movements of [member="Kaiden Rohn"] towards [member="Samka Derith"], then to the patiently tense [member="Alkor Centaris"]. None of these individuals were the usual rabble you’d find in this area of the city… No, not at all.

Kaiden moved with efficiency in mind. At very least he was trained, but to what level The Slave couldn’t be sure. His face held stories he wouldn’t tell, the way he seems to hold a chip on his shoulder, all screamed the veteran of a bygone era and a conflict the youth would never again hope to see. At least that’s what he likely thought; yet there was a faint nobility to him. Perhaps he was a war hero? The possibilities were endless he supposed.

Yet, there was something more interesting going on with Samka Derith. Perhaps it was her voluptuous form, the way her dress contoured to her well shaped curves, or the way she seems so uncomfortable in it all. This wasn’t who she was, and it wasn’t hard to tell on a meer first glance; the slight downwards look she carried showed stress, if not disappointment. Stood up perhaps? Trying to impress a local crime lord? She was catching glances at the very least.

And then there was Alkor Centaris. Of all the vagrants and party-goers, he was the only one that seemed ready to kill at this very moment. He was hunting someone, but to what degree? The energy he gave off was a dark ichor like sensation, the kind one would see more often in the insane or tortuous type. He wasn’t emotionally stable… Probably.

With a hand to his chin, it slowly became obvious to [member="Joza Perl"] and [member="Mishel Ren"] that he was distracted by something, but to what it likely wasn’t known. After a moment’s hesitation, he lurched back to their conversation, making a slight “Hmm?” noise, as though he didn’t quite hear them call his name amidst their many sentences.

He furrowed his brow, feigning interest while keeping careful notes on the rest of the club.

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

When [member="Ishana Pavanos"] whispered back at Kaalia she let out a "Maybe..." that was so silent and muffled all people would be able to make out of it was her lips moving. The heat of the pilot's breath tickled her, and it was clear the redhead's heartrate rose by the second. Something was in the air, and at this point she didn't know whether that was because of the drinks, the setting, the people around her, or just everything at once, but there was no fighting it. Ishana explained what brought her to Zeltros, but at that point there would already started blurring together and her mind started going into overdrive. She took the drink she was offered and downed it, feeling the kick as it came down. "That's powerful." She blew out air through her mouth as she set the glass back down, shaking her head for a moment to let it settle. She heard more words being whispered into her ear, but the blurring dissipated as soon as she heard "I want you." Her heart skipped multiple beats when she processed what was said, knowing what has happening next. She didn't dare resist what she was feeling however, and she slowly nodded with a smile.

Things got even more crazy for the redhead, however. [member="Hazel Zanteres"] got up and leaned in towards them, and made it clear that she knew just as much as the other two. Her words however were not what she expected. Kaalia couldn't say anything, her mind didn't let her. The doctor's tone was completely irresistable, and when she motioned the two to follow her, all that was needed for her to do so was the hypnotic sway in the blonde's hips. The trio made their way top the VIP floor, and all she could think of was that this was really happening. Was this really happening? One thing was for certain, and that was that Kaalia did not expect this night to wind up like this.

 

[Kuzo]

She slid a credit chit across the bar, offered the bartender a bright smile, and turned around with her drink (offensively pink, with an umbrella and everything). And blinked in surprise when she realized that someone was talking to her. After all, she wasn't really.... well..... dressed..... like most of the gathering here. Long sleeves and high neck tunic, the only skin showing on her was her face and the back of her hands. It was her usual look, but she figured it would serve the double duty of not attracting particular attention. Unless of course, it was the opposite, she mused suddenly.

Hadn't considered that.

She looked up at the red headed [member="Darlyn Excron"] and smiled (a rather surprised smile to be sure).

"I'm sorry," she said, a little flustered. She didn't recognize him. Her own time at the ball had been more than a little preoccupied. "I mean not- yes, of course you can." She juggled the drink over to her left hand, offering her right to shake.

She was about to introduce herself when the second person sidled up. She blinked in surprise.

"N-no, not taken," she confirmed to [member="Viktor Alexander"].

"Um. I'm Irajah," she glanced back and forth for a moment, offering them both a rather bemused sort of smile.

 

[Darlyn Excron]

Darlyn couldn't help but chuckle at the rather amusing state [member="Irajah Ven"] was in now. Ambushed by social interaction on two fronts. At least himself and [member="Viktor Alexander"] only had the one side to deal with. Still, two drinking partners for the price of one interaction, that wasn't a bad deal.. probably. Darlyn bought yet another drink (was this his third or fourth?) and shook Irajah's hand happily while waiting on it to arrive.

"Darlyn, a pleasure to meet the both of you." He gave off a rather entertained, confident sort of smile, half in a hope to keep Irajah calm from the sudden double ambush, and half out of his own amusement. Irajah's tunic, Viktor's suit and tie, his own obsession with his robes, it was like the setup to a bad joke. Under normal circumstances he might've even made said joke...

Oh, his drink was here. At this point he ought to just buy the bottle of.. whatever he was drinking. 'I really should question my drinking habits sometimes..' he thought to himself as he picked up his third, or fourth, drink of the night. Man could hold his alcohol that was certain.

"Quite the busy little corner of the galaxy isn't it?"

 

[Nate Phantoms]

Turning his withering stare on the also rather large bouncer, his brow furrowed slightly at the mans height in comparison to the rest. Am I really that tall? Shaking the thought from his head he remembered where he was for a bit, at Joza's club. A killing of a few bouncers would not be good for reviews, and he was invited there. She could've locked him out.

Exhaling through his nose, he sighed, his drink soon meeting his hand as he eyed the man. "Yeah yeah, I'll be out shortly." Downing the liquid, he pulled on his leather jacket, brushing past the man as he made his way to the stairs. What a great night.

[member="Darlyn Excron"], [member="Irajah Ven"], [member="Kaalia Voldaren"], [member="The Slave"], [member="Hazel Zanteres"], [member="Mishel Ren"], [member="Alkor Centaris"], [member="Kaiden Rohn"], [member="Joza Perl"]

 

[Kenrath]

The look from the grizzled old soldier while seen was not reacted to in the slightest. [member="Hazel Zanteres"] however would have found her inquisitive looked returned with a wink and a slight raise of his glass to her before she wandered off towards ultimately the second floor and his former drinking buddies.

Viktor smiled to [member="Irajah Ven"] at her response.

"Now now no need to be nervous. I don't bite....................unless you want me too."

A brief devious grin crawled across his lips before it disappeared to give [member="Darlyn Excron"] a nod. Sipping the last of his current drink Viktor looked back at the good Doctor.

"So what brings you to this little slice of indulgence Miss Irajah?"

 

[Samka Derith]

Eyes were on her. She could feel it. Despite the efforts she'd gone through to disguise her appearance, including the corruptions of the Dark Side, she could feel gazes on her other than lust.

I should have known I'm far too sophisticated to have any sense of belonging to the social equivalent of a Gamorrean's armpit stain, the Ren thought to herself as she slowly edged away from a buck toothed man slurring compliments at her. If she stood out, well, no wonder. As if proving it to herself, she instinctively attempted to pull her dress down before releasing that a few inches above the knee was as low as it would go. Sam growled in displeasure.

But she had other problems. Apparently she wasn't the only Ren in attendance tonight, she recognised the presence of two figures she knew: [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] and [member="Mishel Ren"]. Given that Samka's mission was a solo venture and the likelihood of entirely different assignments given to other Ren in this exact same nightclub was a hair's width from impossible, it left but one explanation. Pleasure. Samka's lips pursed together, a habit she had when displeased, and looked up at the flashing lights, circling around the club, illuminating and then blinding patrons respectively. As she listened to the music, Sam wondered what on earth could compel members of her own order to come here willingly. She'd derive more musical pleasure for the roar of a TIE fly over, at least the noise was consistent and installed a good sense of patriotism. Unlike this assault on the senses.

She took a few steps forwards, now unsure whether her main objective was to find the target of her assassination order or the other Ren to seek explanations. However her path was blocked by a group of Zeltrons. Already she could feel the scent of their pheromones daring her to reawaken desires Samka had long since crushed so she turned on her heels (a pair of high heels for a change) and walked the opposite direction. She had a history with Zeltrons and she'd rather not resurface old memories.

Upon turning, what she did find standing in her path was a rugged, muscular man ([member="Kaiden Rohn"]) looking intently at her. Sam's initial thought was that this was yet another fool lusting after women far younger than himself and made to brush him off but, on closer inspection, the look he was giving her was not one of lust nor any misguided attempt to charm her. It was stern, suspicious even.

"Um, may I help you, Mister?" Sam asked the stranger in her sweetest voice.

[member="The Slave"] - [member="Joza Perl"] - [member="Alkor Centaris"]​