Crystal Chimeras

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

Location: Countess Dahma’s penthouse in CoCo Town

Good help is so difficult to come by, thought Wilhelmine Dahma as she looked through the curriculum vitae of half a dozen personal assistants, none of which had even remotely the skill set she would need in a savvy, dedicated PA. The Countess had recently fired her fifth assistant in a month for a calendar mishap and even though she had the Coruscant Culture segment of HNN on a wall-sized monitor in her living room, she wasn’t paying attention to it. Until she suddenly heard the following snippet, spoken by a chipper news reporter:

"And in other news the Coruscant art world was a-buzz with the recent sale of Crystal Chimeras for two hundred and fifty million credits, one of the largest amounts paid for a private collection of that size. And of course, since the Galactic Museum auction attracted so much attention, not only for the large sale, but also due the controversy with droid abolitionists over the collection, art historians and experts alike are putting the entire collection value at five hundred million credits…”

Mina's head whirled around at the screen to finally give it her full undivided attention. The Crystal Chimeras auction was one she had sorely wanted to attend but missed because her latest inept assistant put down the wrong date and time in her meeting diary. And now someone had purchased the entire collection at once… and the value had nearly doubled! She was practicaly felt sick with envy and pushed her tea away as she felt physically ill... until another idea came to her. With her new gallery just about to open perhaps she would feature this collection, the story behind it and have the new owner make an appearance. It would be excellent PR for both of them and perhaps she could find out what else the collector owned and if he or she would be willing to have her sell any other art pieces they wouldn’t mind parting with. At the very least she would ask them for a private showing of this very unique collection.

After a few holocalls she came up with the name "Irani" as the current owner of Crystal Chimeras. He or his company was located on Etti V, but there wasn’t much else the Countess could find out about him beyond that. So she sent him a message and hoped he would oblige her a visit:

//incoming transmission…

To: Darell Irani
From: Countess Dahma

It has come to my attention that you are the current owner of Crystal Chimeras. I would very much like to feature your collection in my Coruscant Gallery and hopefully provide you with representation on other pieces you may wish to sell, not from the collection but from other art you may possess. I will be featured on the Coruscant Culture segment of HNN next week and am happy to promote the collection and what other interests you need promoting.

May I meet with you on Etti V? At least allow me the courtesy of one small visit to see Crystal Chimeras in its entirety since I would have surely bid three million credits on the collection and thus outbid you during the auction.

//transmission ending…

It was always good to throw in a little bravado at the end to peak someone’s interest - if this Mr. Irani fellow thought that the Countess was wealthier than he - even though she probably wasn't - he would almost surely grant her a visit.

[member="Darell Irani"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Wilhelmine Dahma"]

Darell Irani did not believe in coincidences, which was a fairly pretentious way of thinking, but throughout the years he had gathered enough experiences in the maybe’s and probably’s to realize that things happened for a reason. Sometimes it was a quiet steer, but usually it was the menacing push of an invisible hand that made you act without thinking- and yet it all turned out fine at the end of the rollercoaster ride.

When his agents had spotted the Crystal Chimeras collection, he had held his doubts. He was a collector of art, yes, and it was through those channels that he had known who bought the collection in the first place, with a quick swoop. Everything. Ovmar had always been a fan of the wild chase and burning crash, it was his… call sign.

But there it was, on sale, almost as if Jared had wanted him to buy it.

And so he did.

Just waiting for someone to waltz in and knock on his door, and here it was. A message from Countess Dahma, sitting on a comfortable leather chair in an equally-comfortable office on his estate on Chandaar he could not stop but wonder.

Was that all she wanted?

Eventually after smoking his cigar up, he started to tap up a response which read thusly.

To: Countess Dahma
From: Darell Irani

It would be my pleasure, attached to this message are the coordinates and time of the meeting.

A very short message, which indicated that Irani was fairly secure in his position. The coordinates would be set to Chandaar, instead of Etti IV. It had been a thought and ponder, but the art was currently still on his estate.

Besides, he would be able to give her a warmer welcome here.

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

Derellium was a lush green planet with a lucrative wine trade and perhaps Darell Irani owned one of these wineries… maybe he owned them all, she mused as the Countess exited a nearby docking bay from a luxury freighter and began making her way to his estate. Her own private yacht was in need of repairs so she booked passage with a high-end travel company to Derellium where Mr. Irani had agreed to show her the Crystal Chimeras collection.

In addition to her love of art, Mina had a fairly extensive hat collection. So for this occasion, the art dealer wore a white hat with mesh ovals, a grey suit jacket, leather gloves, a matching skirt and heels all tailored and of the finest quality.

Spoiler

A Nautolan bodyguard named Krikor was at her side as she arrived at Darell Irani’s mansion, a sprawling piece of architecture nestled in an upscale neighborhood. Of course it was a lavish property, she told herself as she drank it in with highly critical blue eyes. He had a five hundred million credit art collection sitting somewhere within those walls. Was it gathering dust? Or did he have it prominently on display? And what other rare and expensive pieces of art did this mysterious businessman own? She would have to be patient to see, but her excitement mounted just the same. To Mina, collecting art was more thrilling than drinking a one of a kind bottle of champagne or flying off to a paradise island in Wild Space somewhere.

But she also enjoyed the art of the deal, and as the Countess emerged from a luxury rental speeder with bodyguard in tow, she wondered just what deals that Mr. Irani had the appetite to make today.

“Mr. Irani, the Countess Dahma has arrived,” the gatekeeper would soon announce.

[member="Darell Irani"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Wilhelmine Dahma"]

Coming out of the estate’s high gates was a man of dignified presence and old money, his stride showed it of, his posture only underlined it and the icy blue eyes that looked out on the world and claimed it all only bolded it more. It was the way of things when you were born into a noble house, and it was in the way of things when you were a Sith Lord too.

But as the Duke of Derellium studied his guest she would find that his attire wasn’t all that special, he had no intricate hats decorating his head or exquisite designs on his suit to mark a man. No, it was a simple tuxedo, stylish and stately all together.

Black, which was more an ironic statement than anything else, but that was a simple joke between him… and him.

Couldn’t have it any other way really.

At any rate, Darell approached the Countess and gave a shallow bow to indicate a certain level of respect, and at the same time the Gatekeeper would pronounce. Not all that loudly though, because even the hired personnel had an air of subtle superiority around them.

‘The Duke of Derellium.’ he would announce and then step back to give the two Nobles some breathing room.

Irani would smile then.

‘Countess Dahma, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I presume I find you in good spirits and health?’ after her answer he would offer his arm and guide her towards his majestic estate, to continue the flow of the conversation, of course.

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

As soon as the Duke got close enough, Mina could tell the man just reeked of credits and it was an intoxicating smell to the Countess. But she wasn’t the type to just swoon and make-out with any old rich duke or baron. The Countess had no small number of suitors right now, and although she was always on the hunt for a sugar daddy, she was a woman who adored the chase no matter what. Most of her admirers just gave up chasing after awhile and that was absolutely fine with the Hapan-born art dealer. She preferred her own company most of the time to a decrepit, ailing grandfather wanting to talk about the weather, the stock market and how he was going to finally get her to marry him. Tres gauche.

But Mr. Irani was far from a hoary old man. She sized him up with her crystal blue eyes as though she were appraising a painting for its value. And in his crisp black tuxedo, the Duke was indeed a fine work of art.

“Thank you so much for meeting with me. I couldn’t be better now that I’ve arrived on this lovely estate to meet the man who owns Crystal Chimeras,” she said, taking his arm. Although he couldn’t feel it through his suit, her black gloves were made of the softest, finest leather in the galaxy. In fact, the Countess's entire outfit looked and was expensive. Which is why her credit accounts were always a little over-extended.

As they walked together, the Duke would notice that they couldn’t get too close, first of all because of propriety, but second because the Countess’s hat was so elaborate, he would have to give her a wide berth so that it didn’t smack him in the head.

"You know, Mr. Irani. Your purchase of this extraordinary collection has caused quite a stir on Coruscant. Why every one in CoCo town talks about the sale. But you were rather hard to find. I had to do some digging to find your name associated with the artwork.”

The Countess had no reason to think she herself was in danger, not on this lavish estate with a handsome, wealthy man on her arm, but her Nautolan bodyguard stayed behind the both of them, a couple paces back.

“But as a gallery owner I am familiar with the private nature of collecting. Especially when there are so many thieves in the galaxy. I suppose you have more than a passion for art, but a passion for business as well. I’m very interested to hear more about what drives you.”

She didn’t want to come out and ask him what he did as it could be considered rude, but his business ventures had to be lucrative if he could afford the steep price for the much sought after Crystal Chimeras collection.

[member="Darell Irani"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

In the grand scheme of things Darell Irani was a patient man, he did not mind to play the long game and as such the fact that her hat was keeping them neatly separated for proprietary reasons did not serve as a source of annoyance to him. Instead there was clear amusement radiating from his replies to her questions, because they were questions- poking neatly into his doing and business without overstepping the bounds of respectability.

[member="Wilhelmine Dahma"] was a fine player of the game and that made Darell only more interested in where this meeting would eventually lead or end. Irani nodded non-committally at the first two mentions, yes he owned the Chimeras, yes he was filthy rich and no, he wasn’t entirely too forthcoming with the details of the how, why, when and who.

Eventually the questions subsided and Irani replied smoothly in kind.

‘Why miss. Dahma I do not kiss and tell on the first date.’ usually at least. ‘Perhaps after we have grown to know each other more intimately, that I will let you catch a peek behind the curtains, hmm?’

Did he just make several passes at her in two sentences without blinking or sounding remotely guilty about it? Why yes, yes he did.

Darell would lead them into the estate, long hallways with walls decorated with paintings and every once in a while a sculpture would stand here and there. Some men enjoyed to hoard items and then push them away in some kind of hole, for no one to ever see them again.

But the Duke of Derellium was different in this matter.

What was the point of buying art if not to display them and sharing their beauty with the world?

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

The Countess laughed as the Duke turned the tables on her and answered her questions with his not-so-subtle flirtation. Her giggle sounded like a chorus of bells. But it wasn't a lewd or inappropriate type of courting that he did - the opposite in fact. He was a perfect… rich… gentleman and Mina was appropriately impressed and enamored.

“Why I suppose you’re right,” she said, biting her bottom lip. Her heart-shaped face was pale, her expressive eyes rimmed with kohl and her silken red lips punctuated everything she said with a smirk or a pout. “I look forward to these intimate moments of which you speak."

The more she thought about it, the more Mina wondered, is he a politician? An ambassador? Surely she would have heard of his name in a public forum if so. His name, demeanor and exquisite manners suggested royalty, but again, not royalty she was overly familiar with. Mysterious Mr. Irani, she thought as she strolled along with him on his peaceful grounds. Just who are you?!? And more importantly, what is your net worth?

But once they reached the inside of the estate, the Countess became distracted with the Duke’s art collection. “Very interesting,” she said as she passed by his paintings. She circled around his sculptures with much admiration. I bet no other lady that the Duke spends time with appreciates his art collection like I do, she thought with a spike of jealousy just envisioning this handsome man with another woman. But it quickly passed and after carefully inspecting all of the art she could see and of course internally appraising it for its value as an art collector does, she turned to face the Duke again, putting her gloved hand on her hip.

“So where is Crystal Chimeras? Is it also behind these elusive curtains of yours?"

[member="Darell Irani"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Wilhelmine Dahma"]

There was a subtle balance that needed to be weighed in the art of courting, be too soft and the lady would not even realize you were trying to woo her, but… come on too strongly and all your efforts were spoiled all the same. Could Irani have pressed on and continued to wax away with flirtatious mentions after her last question? Undoubtedly.

But from a long life of wooing and seducing women he had learned that you always needed to keep a girl interested, always keep her guessing and pondering on what your intentions were. Until she was ready to seal the deal, of course, which brought all new rules with them.

‘Of course not.’ he chided her gently, before offering her a warm and pleasant smile. ‘Art of such excellence should never be hidden away in the shadows, it needs to radiate and be shown, otherwise… what is the point?’

And so he would lead her further into the estate, until they stopped at the end of one of the hallways which held a single door, locked and with a guard next to it. Darell halted their progress and faced Dahma with an apologetic smile right now.

‘My apologies, but your guard will have to wait here while we enjoy the collection.’

I’m sure you understand.

 

[Wilhelmine Dahma]

As the Countess followed the Duke deeper into his estate, she marveled at the amazing display of wealth that just radiated out of Mr. Irani's home. This man was perversely wealthy, but the Countess had no problem with a bacchanalian display of riches. In fact, it just endeared her more to the Duke. Don't fall for him yet, she chided herself. To keep yourself above the fray is part of the game.

"I couldn't agree with you more, Mr. Irani," Mina said and with a wave of her hand dismissed her Nautolan bodyguard to wait wherever the Duke required. Because what poor manners it would be if she insisted on all of this protection during every little exquisite minute she was with the Duke. Mina was smart but occasionally she would put herself into unsafe situations in her thirst for the perfect deal. Let's just say she had gotten good at crawling out windows and kneeing men in the cojones.

"Done," said the Countess. "Now let's enjoy the collection, my dear."

[member="Darell Irani"]