Business is Business. Except when it's Not

[Flint Murdoch]

One thing travelers like Flint always looked forward to was somewhere to take a rest before continuing on the journey. Takodana was such a place since it was out of the way from usual routes in the galaxy and had decent cantinas to buy a drink. Flint had landed during the day and by now it was starting to get dark out. He needed a place to lay low after getting himself into trouble with Kanja Club members. While they would call it a thievery of their money Flint liked to think of it as a "long term loan".

After landing his ship Flint, along with his droid BB-6, got a little more acquainted with the locals. Flint, being his usual self, talked his way into getting a few easy credits; after creating a distraction for BB-6 to pickpocket of course. After that they made their way into the nearby, stone cantina and helped themselves to a few drinks.

At the bar Flint, holding up his drink, said to his droid "Another toast to another great success." BB-6 beeped something which made him reply "Well a partial success then. I mean either way we made it out in one piece. And Kanja Club won't think to look here."

Beep, beep, whistle, wow.

"Huh? What do you mean thanks to you? I'm the one who got us the credits."

Beep, whistle, wow, wow.

"What tracker?"

Beep, beep, beep, wow.

"Oh... I didn't know. Well then a toast to you, Bea. You earned it."

He picked up a second filled glass, not caring is someone else had been using it, and handed it to the out-stretched claw of BB-6. She took it and toasted with him but didn't know what to do with the drink since she could not have it. After that Flint, after sipping down, turned and looked around at the rest of the patrons in the cantina. He tapped to the music while thinking there might be a chance to score more than credits today.

[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen had decided to take the day off and go have some fun and maybe just maybe get drunk. She walked straight into a cantina which she had frequented for the last year or so. As soon as she walked in she noticed a new guy she had never seen before sitting at the bar. So being the curious person she was she walked straight up to him and took the seat next to him ordering a shot of whiskey. "Hey there"

[member="Flint Murdoch"]

 

[Flint Murdoch]

As soon as she had entered Flint noticed the very attractive girl enter the cantina. Some of the others inside had as well but it was clearer and clearer as she came towards him that she was interested in the new guy. O the outside Flint played it cool, giving a confident smile and acting casual as she approached. Inside, however, he was trying to keep himself calm and trying to remind himself not to screw things up. BB-6 looked towards her as well, giving a few uneasy beeps when she finally came over and said hello.

"Well hello." he continued to play cool. "Come around here often?"

After saying that he mentally said 'wow, nice start flint. Nice start..."

[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

As soon as the man began to talk Aspen new this was her kind of guy. She looked at him and smiled her award winning single dimpled smile. She liked this guys style of talking to ladies. She looked at him and said "Actually yes I do. Though its the first time I have seen you in here" When she waited for his answer she just smiled

[member="Flint Murdoch"]

 

[Flint Murdoch]

"Wow. Must be a regular if you notice that." Flint smirked. After taking another sip he asked "So what in all the galaxy made you want to come over and talk to a complete stranger? Curiosity? Trying to see if I was like a Sith spy or something?"

As he continued to speak inside he was giving himself points for how smooth he was. Damned it all those old romance and thriller movies with the cool-guy protagonist hadn't been decent inspirations for half of the lines he was throwing at her. Hopefully he could keep playing things off the top of his head like this long enough.

[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I like to try to meet new people and especially pretty people such as yourself." She said trying to keep her arms covered where her scars were from cutting herself for she didnt like that part of her past

[member="Flint Murdoch"]

 

[Flint Murdoch]

"Oh so I'm 'pretty'?" he sarcastically asked. "I'd go with charming or handsome. You know the sort of things ladies look for. But hey, I can take what I can get."

Even as he continued he could hear BB-6 give an "oh brother" sort of beep. He bumped her with his elbow before taking another sip, noting how odd the girl covered her arms. To him, however, he just thought she was being shy or the like.

[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen didnt move her left arm but her right picked up the shot and drank it down ordering another before putting it back and smiling at him again "So what brings you here?"

[member="Flint Murdoch"]

 

[Flint Murdoch]

That quick drink made Flint raise an eyebrow, but he thought it was just more of the shy charm she was trying to give off. He smirked and nodded, playing it cool while he finished his drink before ordering two more.

After that he answered "Oh just finding a decent pit-stop while I'm traveling around the galaxy. My line of works involves a LOT of running around you could say. Then again had I known this place had such lovely sights I'd have come here more often."

BB-6 gave another beep before finally rolling off and away. Flint ignored her, knowing she was going to head back to the ship for now. Fine with him. He felt she was cramping his style so-to-speak.

[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen smiled and blushed at his flattery. She then dropped her arms and took another drink. She smiled as the droid leaves "'And then there were two"

[member="Flint Murdoch"]

 

[Flint Murdoch]

"Oh don't mind Bea. She'd just going to make sure the ship's ready. I have to head out tomorrow." he explained while also making it sound more sooner than it sounded. "Still have work out there to finish." He smiled at her before adding "You know I don't think I ever got your name. I'm Flint."

Meanwhile outside BB-6 continued to roll out of the catina only to suddenly stop when she spotted a group of familiar looking thugs coming towards the cantina. They were Kanja Club. Needing to act fast she ducked behind a statue before they walked by. Unfortunately there wasn't a chance she could warn Flint in time.

[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I'm aspen." She said holding out her hand to him for a handshake not noting the men walking in

[member="Flint Murdoch"]

 

[Flint Murdoch]

Taking her hand Flint leaned in to kiss it, only for his sight to see an unfriendly group walk in. Flint gasped at the sight of the Kanja Club members before [member="Aspen Laval"] would see them. Before she could turn back he'd already leaped over the bar to hide out of sight from them. He panicked a little while trying to think of any and all ways out of this. Maybe one of the windows? Maybe he could sneak for the bathroom and try to get out there? It would have helped if Bea hadn't already rolled off and left him behind.

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen was freaked out by the sight of him jumping over the bar only to turn around to the sight of the men walking in and she stood up in her crop top and jeans ready to fight if needed

[member="Flint Murdoch"]

 

[Flint Murdoch]

As Kanja Club entered everyone else in the cantina went quiet. Obviously the reputation preceded them. The leader of the group stepped forward with a blaster over his shoulder and looked around at everyone. When he spoke it was in basic so that everyone could understand him.

"I'm looking for a man named Flint Murdoch." he began. "He owes us a lot of money. Give him up now and you'll be free to enjoy the rest of your drinks. Don't and...well..."

He snapped his fingers, all of his men blasting at the roof above. Some screamed at this before it was made clear they were going to get nasty otherwise. Flint, hearing this, got on his belly ad started to crawl for it. He figured if he stayed low he would be able to make it out. It might have worked at everyone not stopped and looked at him as he did. Finally Flint, seeing the door, tried to run only for one of the men to stop him.

Surrounded Flint gave an awkward chuckle before saying to the leader "Leench. Buddy. Well fancy seeing you here. Looking good. I, uh, don't suppose you-" He got a hard punch to the gut before saying "I guess not..."

[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen very quickly produced a thermite detonator and looked at the man "You can either leave now or leave in pieces with the rest of us" She said not scared

[member="Flint Murdoch"]

 

[Flint Murdoch]

At the sight of the detonator Kanja Club pointed their rifles at [member="Aspen Laval"] while Flint was suprised she had that. He was coughing a little too much from the punch but looking up he looked more worried. He didn't know what was worse, that she might actually do it or that for all he knew she might get clumsy and drop it. Or even so if one of the Club members shot her first and things went even further downhill from there.

Leench looked at her and said "Easy, pretty lady. This bad man stole our money. All we want is to get it back. And I'd hate to see that pretty body of yours full of holes or worse. Put that detonator down before you do something we all regret."

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

She primed it to explode in her hand not scared "I said the door now." She said stepping between them and Flint

[member="Flint Murdoch"]

 

[Flint Murdoch]

Everything went still as the tension in the room rose. The Kanja Club didn't drop their weapons and Leench was obviously not letting Flint just walk away. The con man on the other hand was practically biting his nails because either way if they didn't give up he was screwed. He kept looking back and forth between the two before Leench began to speak.

"I-" was all he could say before an explosion outside caught everyone's attention.

Taking the opportunity Flint, using his mechanical arm, punched one of the Kanja men before running for the door. Leench ordered for the others to shoot as Flint ducked and ran out the door. They tried to follow but then again there was still [member="Aspen Laval"] to deal with.

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen was quick to pull her blaster and shoot the leader and two others before holding the thermal detonator and skirting along the outside of the men towards the door. "Let me go or I will blow this whole place up." She said before turning and running out the door

[member="Flint Murdoch"]