Coruscant First Charity Auction

[Ellie Mors]

Xzav lingered in the background, which he found strange - apparently his stark contrast from the rest of the guests had done little to bring attention to himself. Which was fine, he supposed, but he had hoped to meet whomever it was in charge of this home-grown rebellious movement. A black-gloved hand reached up and tapped the side of his helmet, or appeared to, and words that were made silent by his choice of attire were uttered just beneath the reflective and glossy material.

"I suppose I ought to meet with the Mayor, then." He said, out loud, as he drew his hand away from the side of his head and returned it to his side. His voice was somewhat strange, as though it had been forced through a modulator of just slightly less-than-stellar grade, either because he didn't care about the quality of hiding his voice or because he wanted those he spoke with to know that he altered his voice. It mattered not, however, as he ventured back into the throng of people that meandered around the casino like drunken cattle.

Soon, he hoped, he would find [member="Zeradias Mant"] somewhere else in this hotel. And then they would talk.

 

[Domino]

"Sorry?" Domino said snapping her attention back to the Zeltron next to her. Her thoughts had been on a muggy jungle world where slaves had been kept as cattle, a blond valkyrie, and the bubblegum princess. Mentally she scrambled to catch up to what they were doing. "Right, sorry," she apologized again, the woman and her entourage had moved on and were out of sight now. "I used to own and act as CEO for Phenix Industries. Ships and components mainly. though we dabbled in everything." The Twi'lek couldn't help but give a grin over the rim of her nearly empty glass. This part was always fun when she allowed herself to show off a little, not because she used to be a CEO, there were more of them than brands across the galaxy, but because sometimes people linked that to the other position she'd retired from, others reacted when she told them "My name is Domino." Most of them did anyways.
[member="Farah"]

((Sorry about the wait, it's been a busy week))

 

[Kuzo]

Twin Stars Hotel​

Presidential Suite​

The suite that occupied half of the top floor of the Twin Stars Hotel was bigger than most apartments Irajah had lived in. Heck, she suspected the walk in closet was larger than the entire footprint of her apartment when she'd lived in Avalonia. Warmly lit and open, she still suspected that they could have put four luxury suites in the same space and no one would have batted an eye, but what did she know? As [member="Jairus Starvald"] had pointed out, she was easily impressed by things like that. She had shrugged and agreed and let it go- he wasn't wrong after all, not on this.

Sitting in a white upholstered, overstuffed chair, the dark haired woman had her feet propped up on a matching ottoman, her hands folded over her belly. Six months pregnant with twins, things were getting to the point where the sheer enjoyment of simply sitting couldn't be over stated. Oh, it would get worse before it was over, but for now she could tap her toes to the soft piano music she'd selected to listen to as she waited, eyes closed and relaxed.

She and Jairus owned the hotel- through a series of dummy corporations to keep their names off of it. Just like the Medical Center and the Mechanic's shop (and increasingly more businesses in the neighboring Agua district), it was best that way. The hotel had been built deliberately on the edge of the neighboring district, with more credits being funneled into the 'beautification and improvement' of that district- in reality the intent of deliberate gentrification to drive more of the poor from here into the Agua district for Raj's particular needs. The needs of study, of her work. Keeping it under wraps very much necessitated an influx of people and what better way to do that? The opportunity to work the grand opening of the hotel into support of Coruscant First was icing. Irajah and Jai didn't particularly care, but Irajah had certain ill opinions of the Alliance and their methods- so anything done to poke that bear in the nose was perfectly lovely as far as she was concerned.

Hazel eyes opened, at the sound of the door.

A petite blonde woman she didn't know sashayed in and Raj looked her up and down for a moment before-

"It's a good thing I'm not particularly vain, or using my favorite dress that I can't fit into anymore and looking better in it than I ever did as part of your disguise might make me wroth," she said with a smirk.

She didn't get up. Remained relaxed. But she did lean forward a touch, eager for news.

"Sooooo how's it going down there? Anyone we know? Any chance it'd be okay to go down ourselves later?"

The petite blonde was, of course, Jairus. She didn't need to see through his work with the White Current to know. Bonded in the Force, he couldn't sneak up on her if he wanted.

"Tell me everything."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Cecile Miraxus"] [member="Sargon Vynea"]

"Oh, I respected that part of the model just fine. The issue was-"

He broke off as someone new bought in: a blonde human who stank of wealth and claimed naivete. Maybe she was being honest, maybe she was a card shark, or - most likely - she had an inflated opinion of her own skills. Regardless, Jorus set out to take her money.

"Raise," he said, sliding a datacard into the small pile of chips. "Coordinates and deed to one uncharted habitable moon."

 

[Sargon Vynea]

He rose his eyebrow up at the play, an interesting game indeed it seemed. "Ah, the mystery bid, could be worth a fortune, could be well it's a moon so a much larger fortune depending on the mineral deposits." Checking his own cards he was only at eighteen and not nearly where he wanted to be for a bet of this size. Still the entire idea was to keep the game going and drain the house. "Why not, I'll see you for one another round, never owned a moon before."

Nodding his head to the newcomer he was curious to see if this naive thing was a reality or just a ruse she played. It was a good ploy, but he wasn't the type of man who believed women were weak or dumb, and he doubted Jorus did either. "Ma'am if you do take my friend's moon here, you have to let me know if it was worth the bet. The mystery bid just makes me itch with curiosity. It's a cruel thing really."

[member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Cecile Miraxus"]

 

[Farah]

Farah wasn’t offended that the Twi’lek’s attention seemed to be elsewhere. As long as she had her wine, cheese and a gaggle of hoity toity rich strangers to watch and judge, the Zeltron was content. Sometimes it didn’t take much.

“Oh.” She swirled the glass in her hand gently. “Ships and things. That’s pretty neat.” In truth, Farah knew very little about ships. She knew that they flew and that they got her from one planet to the next, but that was about it. Honestly, she didn’t know much about anything if it wasn’t relevant to the medical field.

“Farah.” She offered her name in return before taking another sip from her glass. Her brows knit in disappointment when she found that it was empty, placing it on the counter and waving the bartender over. “Why did you retire, Domino?” She looked young.

[member="Domino"]

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

At the mention of Mishel's friends, the Hapan glanced back at the building in silence. The last time she had seen Mishel she had been part of the First Order - or at least seemed to be anyway. Hazel would've never expected to see the young woman in Galactic Alliance space.

How things had changed.

"Well, it's good to see you Mishel." She returned her daughter's hug, before watching and listening as Mishel began to ramble.

Hazel wondered if it was just her general demeanour, or if she was a bit off put but the changes that had happened. Both physically in the form of her horns and the more spiritual with the shift in alignment. They always seemed to be the mirror of the other; once Dark now Light, and what was once Light was now Dark.

"You certainly don't go long without acquiring another scar or two." The comment amused Hazel, given she had at this point essentially erased all of own.

Her attention shifted as Mishel revealed the damaged neurotransponder, and it certainly looked like it had been through hell a couple times. Frankly, she was surprised Mishel was even able to use it in its current condition. The last she knew, the tech was still from the First Order. She was unsure whether [member="Mishel Noren"] had it modified since, but fortunately for her Hazel knew just the person to ask.

"Well, I just so happen to know someone who would have a field day fixing it." If anyone could, it was Sinara. "For now, let's get you off your feet, yeah?" Hazel motioned over to the bench and took a seat.

"So Mishel, what's happened since we last met?"

 

[Talon Vosra]

She looked at her cards and then looked at the two men and decided that she was going to use this as an opportunity to study interspecies interactions. It was a fun thing to do sometimes and this was a new situation to observe.

She took a moment and arranged her cards so they read in proper sequential order from left to right before she considered the bet in play. The moon could be utterly useless to her but with her resources even an asteroid could be made useful. It was hard to put an actual value on it though.

"Interesting, indeed." She said as she adjusted her cards so they were evenly spaced and the same height as they sat in her hand, "I'm not sure I've ever had a deed to a moon, uncharted or otherwise. Let me think."

She didn't need time to think. She had already decided to raise. She slid a few thousand credits forward and sat her cards and opened her hand bag. She wrapped her handkerchief around a Durindfire crystal necklace. She had a deep seated love for the silver color the crystals gave her lightsaber but this one had been cut into faceted sizes and placed in the hapan silver chain. She made certain it was mysteriously wrapped and placed it carefully on the table.

"I will see your bet and maybe raise you one piece of extremely rare jewelry with much personal value." She said as she looked away and did her best to look concerned, "But I honestly don't know what a four, a six, and an eleven even mean in this game."

She picked her cards back up and leaned forward on her elbows with the cards close to her fave as she went back through the process of adjusting them so they were just right and waited for the bets to be placed. She knew the cards could change randomly but the rules had genuinely never been something she had learned. She was more interested in their reactions, names, and what they considered themselves to be. She could gain those things while losing or winning. It didn't matter which.




[member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Sargon Vynea"]

 

[Mishel Kryze]

Mishel hobbled over and took a seat on the bench she set her crutches against it and winced a little. She ran another hand through her hair and exhaled as she rested her back. It felt good to take the weight off her hair was messy, badly in need of a comb or a shower - both. Things certainly had changed and the teenager noticed her eyes focused on her mother's new horns and she wanted to ask all the questions. But first to answer her mother's question, "all the thing." Mishel gestured and gave a rather dramatic sigh with a smile, "like..." her mouth opened but no words just a shrug and a bit of laughter, "it's all a bit upside down, yeah?" Another shrug, "don't even know where to start."

"I left the Ren, question mark."

The Tygaran looked her mother in the eyes and just, "and uh, yeah, there you go. I left, and it's honestly probably been the most freeing thing I've done?"

"Like, don't get me wrong, I - I think somewhere I still care about them and I sort of always will but, I just..." Her voice trailed again and her attention drew away from her mother, hair spilled over her shoulders. She focused on the ground, mostly on a single piece of dirt as she collected her thoughts, Mishel then looked back at Hazel, "just didn't feel, I don't know it was like I got back from Bespin and I was losing myself in something way darker and I just, there was this moment where Seiger came in and he basically whooped everyone used Ysalamir, a few Pikes and a lot of Force Lightning and I just broke down, I just lost it."

Mishel took in a deep breath and exhaled, "and you... you, you went dark." The teenager seemed a little hurt by it, "and I felt it when I was on Utapau and that's - that's where I knew that I had to go back to the light."

"I mean, this is after I left the Ren - cause, I was supposed to go reinforce some troopers at L-49 but jumped ship, got caught by some slavers and was rescued by [member="Joza Perl"] before Utapau, anyway, I was there and I realized you and Kismet were right, there had been a light but it wasn't there just because of what you did for me on Monastery. It had always been there, no one is born evil or born dark or even good, it's made. We make those choices, we decide - and I decided to take my light and let it shine." Mishel threaded her fingers together and shrugged again, "I uh, got this." She rolled up her shirt and showed the carbon fibre mesh, "from that Beskad yeah so I could've totally dodged it but instead I just took it because I was just so tired of the darkness. I was so tired of being depressed, of being angry with myself and angry with the galaxy, like it's so karking exhausting and I was done."

She shrugged again, "because if being a Knight of Ren means that I have to sit there and be this brooding entity for the sake of Seiger Ren then they can just gorram'en stuff their chit and take it somewhere else."

Mishel cleared her throat and looked around, "right, so uh, that's been me you know fighting Mandalorians on Utapau, having family reunions on Dagobah where I got this." She gestured to her leg, "cause I uh decided that I would do Force Speed which is great y'know, until you're fighting Force Slow and then get kablew'ed by someone else and end up falling through the trees, and uh, land, land on your leg the wrong way. And yeah... uh, lets see there was [member="Ember Farseer"] who is my master? I'm not sure if that's what he is... I guess mentor is a better word and uh yeah we were on D'Qar and then the Vergesso Asteroids and uh like I said, I'm here with friendos who are probably being nutters in there." A smile and then she leaned over and put a hand on a horn. "Are these like... okay, your turn mom, spill everything and can you at least give me the story behind these?"

"Also... don't spare any gory bits, please - I mean, I have literally blown up cities, and stabbed and killed countless things so.... yeah."

[member="Hazel Zanteres"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Sargon Vynea"] [member="Cecile Miraxus"]

It beggared imagination that she could be playing for keeps with zero understanding of the rules. The pastimes of the idle rich, maybe, but more likely she was just playing insipid games. On the other hand...well, screw it. She was just trying to keep him guessing, and it was working.

"Well, that adds up to twenty-one," Jorus said evenly. "That's a high hand, one of the highest. Maybe it'll still be there next time your turn comes around. I'm digging the jewels, wrapped up or not. I'll raise...ten grand, plus a hyperdrive rated at point zero three."

 

[Zeradias Mant]

"Miss Paige, the pleasure is all mine. Thank you once again for hosting this wonderful event.", Zeradias said politely. His curiosity was peaked, though. "Lord Mecetti? I've not heard of your house. Where is your seat?", he asked. Zeradias was familiar with nobility, only having ascended to their ranks recently before the Iron Empire's collapse. Though that empire fell, his seat of power remained. He made an effort not to use the title needlessly, or flaunt it to anyone at all. He was Coruscanti, and he was no better than his fellow citizen. That was the image he was sought to project.

Of course, this was needless small talk made simply to satiate Mant's curiosity more than anything else. There were more relevant matters to attend to, however. "My peer, Mister Law, the party's deputy leader, should be reaching out shortly if he hasn't already. Security at the event thus far has proven to be a valuable asset. Pending the event's success, I think a retainer would be agreeable to the party, should it be amicable for yourself as well."

Turning his attention to Paige, he continued. "We're elated to have the support of both GenPals and yourself, as well." A less practical product than others, her company shattered expectations, enjoying financial success and a widespread support base.

Creeping up from behind him came a staffer, whispering in his ear. Other guests eager to catch the ear of the mayor doubtlessly. He shooed away the man and returned his attention to the pair of hosts before him. At the very least, he could show his attentiveness in thanks for their generosity, though he had little doubt mutually beneficial arrangements would be made in the future. Others who desired Mant's audience would get it, but they would have to wait.

[member="Cassandra Paige"] | [member="Itash Mecetti"] | [member="Arcann Law"]​

 

[Sargon Vynea]

It always inevitably came to this, when money wasn't quite enough to satisfy the pot and they had to throw something private in, something to really spice it up. Now sadly that put the monetary question on him, in the end the idea here was to beat the house, and the house would try to value those things out as little as they could. Not an easy option, but they'd try to call the mystery moon a pygmy possibly, and the covered jewels they'd under value. So, why give them the option. Putting a hand on the heaviest chips he weighed them out carefully before tossing them in. He'd never intended to use the million plus chips, but it seems present company wasn't going to accept anything but that. "Well I believe this calls for some drinks."

Waving over a waiter who was only to happy to help what was becoming a high roller table quickly he passed out a tall thin glass of champagne all around. "Never realized the explorer business could be so profitable, Jorus, then again if you're the first one there I suppose it's your flag to plant. Let's play this out then shall we." Watching as the cards randomized he fought off a grin, Moderation and endurance, only three hands that could beat that, of course with Jorus' pirate like luck he just might. "Alderaan, time to see how deep the house's pockets are."

[member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Cecile Miraxus"]

 

[Domino]

"Nice to meet you," Domino gave the Zeltron a nod. Why had she quit and sold her company? Well there had been the people that had tried to take it every time she'd gone on vacation for more than a week, she'd gotten tired of the constant work and headaches, and there was the massive profit that selling it had brought in that would have set any family up like royalty for several generations. "Ehh, I got bored, and the bidding war that the sale brought about was fairly lucrative." Actually on the scale of pure economic value Domino had probably lost out of several million credits, but you couldn't put a price on knowledge. Though you could put one on the rare crystals and the holocron that the sale had netted her, along with the huge pile of credits.

And if Domino was disappointed that the reveal of her identity as the Prime Vigo of the Black Suns, or former Black Suns as they'd fallen appart sortler after her somewhat controversial retirement, hadn't elicited more of a response she didn't let it show. She was used to disappointment these days and she knew that trying to shock people with her past was a bit of a childish game. Instead she finished off her glass and set it back on the bar for the waiter to reclaim when he took Farah's new order and she took up her second drink. "So, what brings a doctor that hates mingling with the high society to a charity ball?" Yeah it was an auction, though Domino had yet to see any actual bids on the data pad that she'd left laying next to her elbow. That made several of the offers up for bid rather tempting as a quick transport and resale if nothing else.
[member="Farah"]

 

[Simone]

Almost enough.

But not quite.

Like any soldier in a fight, Simone adrenaline was pumping, a carely contained grin on her face as she smashed through the commands. An alert flashed in the corner of her eye, she granted it a glance but didn’t let it worry her. She didn’t do things like this without knowing the risks, if anything the idea of getting caught simply made it all the more fun.

She passed through the command screens till she found what she was after. Enter pre-designed programme number...what was she on now? Didn’t matter. Drag and drop. Upload.

Diadact’s most recent influx of charity funds started to deplete.

Rapidly.

The funds went all over the place. Some dropped into the accounts of local orphanages, others into off planet untraceable accounts, but the transactions were many and even if they could trace them all, there was no way to get that money back.

Now to burn.

She pulled up her link with Jorus.

T A G G E D​

​

N O E S C A P E​

​

D O N A T I O N S S U C C E S S F U L L ​

​

B U R N T H I S L I N K ​

This was her least favourite part of the job. She was willing to place a bet that Diadect were good at what they did, and as such had been triangulating on her for some time. She’d no time to purge everything, and even if she did? Such things could be undone. Know this required something more damaging.

She tore open the main units, and slapped explosives just inside them. The kind that burned really hot. Leave nothing behind, or so she hoped. Another alert screamed to life. Someone had tripped her motion sensors and was inbound.

“Kriff.”

She bolted for the door detonator in hand.


[member="Itash Mecetti"] [member="Sargon Vynea"] [member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Simone"]

It was a good thing insurance existed.

The Didact teams weren't taking any chances this time around. Around the same time that they approached the locale, local cameras were interfered with remotely, it would be chalked up to faulty wiring and ancient archaic tech. They breached Simone's location - stun carbines and personal shields energized - with strong force and it didn't take long before they got face-to-face with the Zeltron slicer herself. Circumstance had it that both the outlaw and the Cresh Team squeezed their respective triggers at the same time.

Stun fields from their Incapacitors lashed out at the same time as her detonator triggered.

The resulting shock-wave took out the first squad and that would have been that. If not for the fact that this was an important event for Didact (for Cassandra anyway), they had send three operative teams. One taken out, two for mop-up duty.

The following events happened quickly, the two squads moving in and cleaning out the location swiftly. Tech confiscated, the incapacitated bodies disappearing into black body bags, all neat and all professional. They disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. That was the one thing where Simone's chosen location had worked against her.

This deep down in the undercity nobody gave a shet what happened to others. As long as it didn't happen to them.

[member="Zeradias Mant"] | [member="Cassandra Paige"] | [member="Arcann Law"]

"Obulette, mister Mant. It is the principle seat of House Mecetti within the Tapani Sector." Lord Itash replied politely, but he seemed just a little bit distracted. This wasn't very strange considering he had to keep one eye on the proceedings as well. Not just as a host, but also as the one coordinating security. The fact that he was in reality coordinating the capture of Simone as he was having this conversation was besides the point.

A nod followed soon after.

"We have already intercepted several attempts to introduce on the digital accounts. Luckily we made the decision to split our efforts into the digital and physical spheres, so neither would be automatically compromised." He further informed before the glance in his eye sharpened. She was secure and that meant they had some business to attend to soon enough.

No sense in informing the mayor right away.

Not when they still needed to figure out the identity of the slicer and where her allegiances lay. The intercepted communication would certainly provide some hints to them, but Tash didn't expect it would be difficult to figure out the rest.

"We are equally happy to show our support for your cause, mister Mayor, a strong Coruscant for the Coruscanti is a worthwhile goal."

 

[Simone]

She hadn't been lying when she'd said there was no escape, but she'd expected to get more than a few paces outside the front door of her little hovel. She turned on the spot to regard the troops and their weapons. Her last thought before she depressed the detonator?

[member="Sargon Vynea"] and [member="Jorus Merrill"] were going to have to save her sorry pink behind if she was ever going to get a date.

The explosion sent her, and them flying. There was a brief and intense pain, and then blissful darkness. It wasn't hard to pick her out among the bodies of the first sweep team, pink skin scorched by the blast. she'd tell you she still looked good though, even with the little spots of red, leaking from her ears and nose.

~

It was some hours later the she woke with a groan, the taste of copper in her mouth, chest burning head throbbing. She tried to move her arms to check for injury and found resistance. She tried to move her legs too, and found resistance there too. Blind panic swelled in her chest. Had she inadvertently paralysed herself?

Simone forced her eyes open and lifted her head from her chest. Several blinks and she established she was not paralysed, but tied to a chair. A groan and she rolled her eyes, spitting the copper tang from her mouth on the floor between her feet.

"Can I have a cigarette please?" she asked the empty room.

-exit thread-

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Cassandra Paige]

Cass watched as the men traded words, smiling all the while. Her gaze flickered to Tash, one eyebrow arching ever so slightly at the part about the digital account- he had been the one that convinced her to put all of the funds funneled through tonight's event into the hands of Didact directly, and it certainly seemed as though that had been the right move. She would ask him for details later. For now, everything seemed under control and she turned her attention back to the Mayor.

"We simply support a free Coruscant for all Coruscanti," she murmured with a smile. "So knowing that movement is in such good hands, well, that is thanks enough."

She was certain he had other people to speak with, but let him lead the separation. Rude, otherwise.

[member="Itash Mecetti"] [member="Zeradias Mant"]

****

In the main lobby, the prizes were being drawn and announced.

To Miss [member="Asteria deWinter"] - The Advertising slot in InfoWars
To Miss [member="Vela Kryss"] - A GenPals pet of choice
To Mister [member="Jorus Merrill"] - The Alliance's Lament

(if you have not put in tickets for an item, those not yet called can still be bid on. Simply PM me)

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Sargon Vynea"]

Jorus bombed out, leaving the moon's coordinates in play on a datacard. He shoveled his chips into his pockets and stood, then slung his ysalamir frame over his shoulder. "I'm told I just won a thing," he said to the table at large. "If you'll excuse me."

He nodded to Sargon and headed out, stopping only to cash his latest chip haul and collect his Sith artifact.

 

[Sargon Vynea]

The Zabrak grinned as Jorus headed out, before looking over at the newest entry, "Seems the game is on you then, does the newcomer take the house, or do I own a moon?" He'd have most likely just thrown in the hand if Simone had sent messages to both of them, but at this point in time Jorus didn't look worried so everything seemed to be a goig quite well. Still it was absolutely the last hand, the deed was done no need to stick around and dare the house. It had even been a bit of fun, and completely legit, a quick check out and he'd call it a good day. He'd even somehow gotten himself a date, not that he'd been on a date in forever, Force what did people even do on dates? That part hadn't really struck him until now, but how hard could it be? No not a thought he really wanted to get into, but it be fun to find out.

[member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Simone"] [member="Cecile Miraxus"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Twin Stars Hotel​

Presidential Suite​

[member="Irajah Ven"]​

​

It had been rather amusing gliding through the various floors, mingling with people here and there, accepting champagne.

Watching the bets slowly occur around them, the bids.

Fun.

"Oh, you know how it is." Jairus murmured with a smile as he leaned in. His hand softly brushing her belly, kissing her - once their noses touched the Current started to pull back, until the lower parts of his body was still beautiful dress and woman, while the upper half was him. Jairus didn't let the kiss stop immediately, opting to deepen it for a moment longer, before pulling back and settling down in a chair next to her. "Bunch of rich arses thinking a big-stacked bank account gives them some kind of holy call to determine who lives and dies."

Jai wrinkled his nose.

In his day they'd have thrown them out of a window and installed a new order.

Power was power, money didn't come into the equation as far as Jairus was concerned. "Spied Jorus Merrill, seemed to be busy cleaning out some of them rich ones, but only a couple of them were ungracious about it." Also Sargon- the fact that a former Fringe loyalist seemed to be working together with Merrill only underlined for Starvald that the Galaxy had changed since those days.

"I think if we wait another half hour or so, we can go downstairs, maybe have a slow shuffle, enjoy the music and noms?"

Once it calmed down a bit more. Jai would be a touch more comfortable with it then.