Heir to Emptiness

[Leilani Paaie]

Location: Zeltros
Mood: Aggravated
Message for [member="Arekk"]


She was falling back into old habits for whatever the reason and the Zeltron wasn't sure she liked it or needed it. There was a difference.

Right now she was problem solving while she had been away tending to business she had left the shop in the hands of her two employees. They in their infinite wisdom, which meant they lost their minds, had sold a painting to a man no one wanted to cross. If he figured out the painting was a forgery he'd have her head on a plate, as well as the other two.

No way she be able to say it was a mistake because the next question would be why did she have a fake in the shop, a question she didn't want to answer.

Mr. To'lan was a zabrak with a nasty temper, he didn't like to be crossed and he hated being made a fool of. She knew from experience that he'd would take it personal about the painting.

Feth feth. what to do. Could just go steal it...could go and throw herself on his mercy....could get him something he really wanted. He wanted something that had once belonged to Dryden Vos. But where would she find something...anything. The crimson dawn ring, his weapon of choice, his ship..what else was there to have.

Three known places, Savareen, Vandor, and Dathomir.

She began drumming her fingers on the table top. Vandor was ice, Savareen was desert, and Dathomir jungles. If she had her choice it would be Dathomir.

Well it was decided, Lianna would be it. She'd go to the Tower in the capital and steal the painting back. She'd need help though.

There was one person she would trust to show up

//Job on Lianna.

Art heist.

Could use help. Up to it?//

 

[Arekk]

Arekk's Apartment, Ethos City, Lithios​

"The gilding on the mask had cracked to reveal the rot underneath."
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[member="Leilani Paaie"] ​

​

Some things never change.

Like the lit cigarette resting inside an ashtray right next to the computer terminal in the slicer's apartment, feet kicked up on the desk while he surfed the Darknet for valuable information and messaging through encrypted channels with prospective clients for different jobs until a notification caught his undivided attention. Smoke blew out of his nostrils as his lips toked the cancer stick and his body comfortably adjusted itself upright to read the incoming message from someone very... unique.

His interest peaked when his eyes laid on who was the sender, eventually typing a reply after perusing through the rather short message.

//Depends.

How much are we talking about?//

If you're good at something, you never do it for free someone once told the fallen Jedi turned slicer in his childhood days, those of running through the streets of Coruscant pulling all sorts of tricks and scams. This wouldn't be the exception to that even if it was a friend on the other side, despite whatever happened between both, time was money in his head.

Always was, always will.

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[Leilani Paaie]

Location: Zeltros
Mood: Apprehensive
Interacting with [member="Arekk"]

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Is there more I could've said ​

Now there only pictures in my head ​

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​

​

She wouldn't tell him everything this time she couldn't, well she could, she just wasn't sure she was able to. She had to remember to keep this a strictly business deal..no champagne..no....falling back on old habits no matter how hard looking at him was.

Leilani closed her eyes remembering to keep a hard edge remembering who and what she was. She pushed the emotions to the darkness where they belonged, this was about keeping alive.

//Consider a daily rate, it will be easier than a flat fee. Length of job should only be a couple of days but I don't know what I don't know. Skills needed - Slicer, Back-up//

She looked over to the table there lay the tools of a trade she thought she had left behind. She had to face it she'd never be out of it there was always something there to pull her back, or push her in. This was a push more than a pull. She might just as well put herself out on the dark web.

She thought about the Zabrak. How she had met him was as important as knowing where he kept the knife he prized so well. To'lan was almost a psychopath never knew what would set him off. He had helped her out when she needed it, she had paid that debt in full. He on the other hand had taken her desire to leave personal. She would be walking back into it with some risk and the unknown factor of his reactions.

Feth, Leilani of the dark Isle was going to have to rise.

 

[Arekk]

Arekk's Apartment, Ethos City, Lithios​

"The gilding on the mask had cracked to reveal the rot underneath."
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[member="Leilani Paaie"] ​

Everything had changed in the timespan they hadn't seen each other and there was almost zero chance that they'd ever go back to how things used to be, Ar'ekk had already moved on love-wise and his emotions were finally falling into the right pieces after two years of constantly feeling the struggle. There wouldn't be denying that what they had shared was special and that it did give him some life in one way or the other, the slicer was grateful.

Nowadays it was just business sadly and that wouldn't change, a job was a job and the professional image over the personal prevailed all the time and this wouldn't be the case.

//It's a deal.

Name a location for a meetup. It will take me a day to get where needed.//

Blowing smoke out of his nostrils, Ar'ekk waited for the response to his message and looked past the foggy window as it rained ceremoniously outside. Leilani never had the chance to see Lithios which was rather funny, considering they had spent some time in other type of weather except a rainy one. Leaning back on his chair made him realize how much he missed the complete silence as his apartment was empty.

Time to work.

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[Leilani Paaie]

Location: Zetros
Mood: Confused
Interacting with [member="Arekk"]

It's a deal the words came quickly enough. She hadn't bothered to tell him that she was the one paying this time that there was no buyer there was only the possibility of trouble. She would arrive on Lianna before him she had business to attend to.

Her part in this was to figure out To'lan and the layout of where he had what she wanted. Why couldn't this just be easy? Why couldn't she just walk in there and go 'hey it's a fake I'll pay you back' She knew the answer to the question without even uttering it. To'lan was a psycho, grade A psycho. Everything was personal to him and if it was personal he could without hesitation end her, or anyone.

How was she going to do this?

First things first tell Arekk where to go.

//Lianna. Lola Curich. The Nebula Hotel. There will be a key code waiting for you//

She left off out everything else, she knew she should tell him more. Why she didn't tell him had more to do with her thoughts about To'lan than the what could have been with Arekk.

It would be a lie if she didn't say she thought of him. She roller coastered on what she would have liked to have said, or could have said, or should have said. She day dreamed different scenarios all with different endings.

Right now if she was honest to herself she needed friends more than lovers. Lovers could come and go and often weren't worth the credits spent on them, but friends. Friends were chosen, stuck buy you when things were good or bad. Just how did they get there from where they ended. She didn't know. She'd think about it.

2 days later she arrived on Lianna setting up what she needed.

The surprise was within the hour To'lan had one of his henchmen on her doorstep, "your presence is desired Ms. Leilani" Desired not requested. Like she really had a choice in it all. She had hoped for more time before meeting him. "blah"

"Tell To'lan I'll be along in an hour" The room was suddenly very quiet. Slowly the long legged zeltron walked over to the glass looking out on a planet that rivaled Coruscant. All the secrets hidden here could suck the life from anyone. She rubbed her cheek remember how hard To'lan had slapped her the last time she was on Lianna. She could almost feel the hand print the ridges from how hard he had slapped her, the heat, and her anger.

Maybe Arekk was here already...an hour. She needed to change.

 

[Arekk]

The Nebula Hotel, Lola Curich, Lianna​

"The gilding on the mask had cracked to reveal the rot underneath."
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[member="Leilani Paaie"] ​

Preparations were made for the trip to Lianna and Ar'ekk managed to arrive just in time for the meeting with Leilani which was just less than thirty minutes away from happening, a cigarette found its way to his lips like always while the waiting became a little more unbearable. Pacing back and forth just outside the hotel's main entrance the slicer just wanted for the job to go quick and easy but deep inside nothing was ever like that, right?

A little experience told him that much.

To say that Ar'ekk did not think of Leilani would be a lie considering they had shared some precious time together but that was buried for him, having moved on to find love with someone very special for him that he was willing to leave the criminal life for her. Things between the slicer and the Zeltron hadn't ended in the smoothest of ways but they were able to remain as friends, if that even exists after such experience shared, that could rely on each other for a lot of things.

Nowadays? He just wanted to focus and pull off the last gig of his life, definitely.

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[Leilani Paaie]

Heading to the Lobby

She had dressed in what she knew he would be expecting with a few added embellishments, the knife slipped easily into her boots, the stiletto style pins that kept her hair in place, and then that little blaster that hid nicely into her jacket pocket. She could curl her fingers around the grip while lightly touching the trigger. It somehow gave her comfort.

So there she was trying not to overthink anything right now. As she came out of the elevator she saw him standing there [member="Arekk"] she paused for a moment as she felt a twinge in her chest she didn't know why, after all it was a week right? Not a lifetime, or a few months or anything like that right??

It was...what it was. She needed him right now. She needed out of this life again, too many times had she been sucked in. She needed to educate the girls at the store to keep them from doing things like this, or she needed to get smarter help.

She smiled pushing everything down like she had always done, "Hi thanks for coming. We have to go, we're expected." She headed to the door, "seems there are eyes on us already and questions are being asked."

She waved for a cab, she looked back to make sure Arekk was there. She wasn't trying to come off aloof her mind was just focused on what she needed to do. "I can play twenty questions with him, I'm hoping that he still likes to walk and show off. I, we, need him to show us where the painting is."

The cab pulled up standard yellow cab like anywhere in the galaxy, driver looked ok. "I've know this him for a while, he's a zabrak and full of himself, think typical crime cartel warlord who thinks they have it all. Except they always find something they don't have."

Leilani rubbed her cheek without thinking sometimes the sting came back.

"Can you help me not die during this? I'm sure he has security, I'm certain he's changed it a few times cause that would be his OCD kicking in." She looked to Arekk, that little twinge wasn't so hard this time. Work helped.

 

[Arekk]

Lola Curich, Lianna​

"The gilding on the mask had cracked to reveal the rot underneath."
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[member="Leilani Paaie"] ​

Once his blue pools layed on Leilani's figure time seemed to stopped albeit for a single second, his heart rate was nothing but normal and his cool was kept down as one would want it to stay as. Their fling had occured at least six months ago, from what the fallen Jedi could remember, yet it continued to feel like it only happened a few weeks ago. Arekk wanted to remain focused on the job and not let anything affect that but it was nearly impossible, of course.

"Hey, Leilani." A nod found its way to her, hands resting in the depths of his signature leather jacket's pockets while walking alongside her. "Seems like that's a commonality anywhere I go. We'll be okay."

His legs kicked in motion and the slicer tailed Leilani while they went outside to catch their transport, staying at a considerate length from the Zeltron girl. She looked packed and ready to take down an entire army, her outfit told him that much. Gentle nods followed as she began explaining the current situation, who they were meeting and such with Arekk appreciating every fine detail so they wouldn't get caught by surprise.

"Nobody's dying today. It should be a piece of cake just like that art collector on Lithios, remember?"

She knew, the one where he practically went head-on against a concrete wall to eventually snap that art collector's neck at the end. Pretty nice.

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[Leilani Paaie]

In the transport heading into goddess knows what with [member="Arekk"]

"I don't mind commonality what I find an aggravation are the circumstances. I don't know what he knows or thinks he knows. If he already knows that the painting is a forgery he'll reveal that in the first few minutes to catch us off guard. If that happens...you leave. Don't look back." It wasn't bravado that was making her say this to him it was layered. First she would take the punishment it was her people he had no involvement in that, second she owed him a life for crashing through a wall, and third she wasn't all heartless and anger she cared no matter what some things didn't just go away.

"I know." She nodded to his we'll be okay. Of course they would be okay. Everything always worked out one way or the other that made it ok.

She laughed as she leaned back, "Yes I remember you breaking through walls. I'll never forget it actually damnedest thing I ever saw." She looked at him without looking away this time, "how are you doing Arekk?" She hadn't spoken to him until she needed him. They had to start somewhere right...be friends..so what do friends do....help and talk...so far.

 

[Arekk]

Lola Curich, Lianna​

"The gilding on the mask had cracked to reveal the rot underneath."
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[member="Leilani Paaie"] ​

"I mean... Isn't that what usually happens to us? We get caught off guard?" Always being the smarty-pants, always trying to crack a joke. That atleast helped with the nerves that might be building up prior to this meeting. "But hey, I said don't fuss."

It's not like this would be their first rodeo regarding shady deals and meetings with less tha conspicous individuals interested in some pieces of very fine art. And it'd definitely not be the first time they would eventually get backstabbed by said dealers and swarmed by countless of armed thugs with the thirst to get rid of them both, they would be okay. They just knew it.

"That was pretty wicked, huh? I got a killer pain in my shoulder for weeks, even after your massage." The fallen Jedi said while remembering the old days where Leilani had picked up his broken pieces and tried to put them together. It was fun while it lasted but his heart was somewhere else, for someone else. It was a fun time he wouldn't forget, though. "I'm fine, Lei. We'll talk after this, alright?"

Not the time or the moment to talk about them. There would be time for closure, to put words to thoughts. After they escaped unscathed from whatever danger approached.

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[Leilani Paaie]

Location: Transport moving across the city towards the unknown with [member="Arekk"]


"So far yes" She nodded in agreement to the don't we get caught off guard. It was true really if you think about it a bit everything with them had caught them off guard.. Not all bad either just unexpected.

"Yep that's what you always, talk about it later. Except ya know sometimes there isn't a later. Sometimes there is only right now." That was as honest a statement as it could get neither one of them knew what would happen. She knew that they only had this bit of respite before whatever storm they would find waiting for them.

Leilani dipped her head down, then pointed towards the tower, "Ya see that...that's where we are going" It was a marvel of architecture for certain. It did not exactly blend into the surrounding area either. She had a feeling that when they built it that was the purpose stand out.

She let him study the structure for the moment, "WE of course are going almost to the top." She hated that place with its twists turns and bad memories. She was out after all this no more side jobs she had enough legitimate work that she didn't need this...feth she didn't need this now. If it wasn't for those ridiculous girls trying to be helpful...oh goddess Leilani wanted to choke them both and string them up by their thumbs.

"Thoughts?"

 

[Arekk]

Lola Curich, Lianna​

"The gilding on the mask had cracked to reveal the rot underneath."
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[member="Leilani Paaie"]​

"You really want to talk personal things now, Lei?" He countered with rather annoyed but quickly realizing his tone was too angry, too violent. It was almost like that wasn't his personality at times! "Come on."

The building was massively built and it stood high to let everyone see and know who ran things. If their purpose was for it to stand out then they had gotten their money's worth for it was a really magnificent structure.

"All the way up, huh? We never get the easy way, do we." Arekk said while laughing, looking all the way up but covering his eyes from the blinding sunrays impacting his sight. It was a long way down, totally. "My thoughts are that if we get into trouble, we'll need to bring parachutes."

Funny. Not helpful, not at all Arekk. But they were already there and it was time to go up.

What else could they do?

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[Leilani Paaie]

Nearing the tower with [member="Arekk"]

She laughed, "OH you know better. I never choose the right moment for anything." She winked at him because it felt like the right thing for her, her personality, her way to ease her own anxiousness at what lay ahead. She knew some of it already what was there.

Knowing how he was she didn't think was so personal he couldn't say, but then maybe he didn't want her to know that stuff. She'd have to live with it.

She thought about what would happen there would be the posturing for position. The hidden insults, the over exaggerated compliment, and then he'd walk them about the place like a King. That was his weakness though she had to remember that, reinforce it. "his weakness Arekk always remember his weakness is his need to be on top, to brag...." Could it save their lives, she did not know she only wanted them to have every advantage walking into the den of vipers or at least this one viper.

"NO." there was a hint of sarcasm there, good sarcasm. "Its never easy" She continued to laugh, "parachutes huh....might work..." She looked at the building again and again. "There's a floor of his personal security before his living quarters. I don't know the numbers." She use to, hell she use to set the patrols. She use to...whatever she wouldn't think about it.

Leilani felt sick for a moment remembering what she had done. Why she had done it. She wasn't proud of it. Should she tell Arekk about it now, she looked over at him while he laughed. It was good to know he laughed still, "When we make it out I'll buy the champagne." Friends. They could have a celebratory drink.

She decided not to tell him. If it came up she wouldn't deny any of it, why? Lies only meant more lies. She was tired of them, tired of trying to remember who she told what. Too many twists.

feth.

They exited the transport, "maybe a tight rope" She smiled, was she kidding, or serious? She headed inside her eyes scanning for changes, looking over at Arekk, "tell me what you see" she knew he saw things differently, an aspect that she had not developed.

 

[Arekk]

Lola Curich, Lianna​

"The gilding on the mask had cracked to reveal the rot underneath."
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[member="Leilani Paaie"]​

"But now?! How about we talk about this after getting out of here?" The exasperation in his voice was clear but he meant well, not to be too standoffish against Leilani. She had his heart once and viceversa, it wouldn't be fair to treat her like that. "Champagne? Deal."

A millionaire tycoon that was as excentric as anybody would have a massive building like this crawling with armed forces, security guards, turrets and whatnot. Their chances of surviving would diminish a bunch but if they were smart about the stealthy approach they'd make it out unscathed, that was the only way anyways. It's not like they couldn't fool everybody and get to wherever they needed to go.

"A bunch of readings in the middle floor. Security, perhaps? I can't tell." The thermal readings were confusing to say the least, Arekk wasn't used to the new otpics as of yet but they did the trick. "Guess we'll have to find out and see."

They were gonna be fine. Things always went okay between the two and today wouldn't be the exception.

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[Leilani Paaie]

Lianna
On the Path of who knows what
with [member="Arekk"]

She gave him a sly look and smiled. He could be so excitable it kind of tickled her a bit that he hadn't lost that ability to be direct with her. Thank the goddess for some somethings she thought. He really could be a friend.

"Only the best for such hard work" She of course was speaking about the champagne.

The building it was like this knife stabbing at her so big it could swallow her up and no one would find her for weeks. She swallowed hard, "A marvel of architecture Arekk" A soft breath exhaled a bit too hard as her gaze traveled towards the top of the building. "A living building. It adapts to the environment, the windows change colors depending on the sunlight, the temperature changes too."

She walked slowly towards the front doors "Yes we will see for certain" Into the lobby all glass, shiny metal, columns to support the building a directory available to the first time visitor.

Some of the notable offices within were lawyers, weapons companies, medical supplies, Santhe family had a floor, and a company that dealt with providing everything for outside fun like speeders. She glanced at the directory taking what names she could as she approached the lift.

She looked over at Arekk, "here we go" Leilani waved her hand in front of the panel.

"Welcome home Leilani" A woman's voice of soft velvet tones greeted them, "Hello Karlie I'm expected."

"yes" the doors opened. It started out that all they saw was the lobby but once they cleared the awning of the first floor the elevator turned to clear glass and they could see the city laid out before them. "It's pretty at night here Arekk, a thousand lights, thousands of voices, no one ever has to be alone."

 

[Arekk]

Lola Curich, Lianna​

"The gilding on the mask had cracked to reveal the rot underneath."
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[member="Leilani Paaie"]​

"You know me too well, darling."

They could be friends, of course, but that would never happen due to obvious reasons. Once you've poured your heart out to someone and have done things for love's sake you really can't see that person the other way. That continued to be the way Arekk looked at Leilani, like someone he had given his heart to but decided to rip it away from her hands at the last minute.

Nevertheless, he enjoyed Leilani's company and he hoped it continued to be the same on her side. Who knew about things, right?

"It's a shame that the guy who runs this place sounds like a total karkhole." Always cracking a joke, always trying to lighten up the mood. "But I gotta hand it to the guy... It's a great building."

His blue pools were focused on the city skyline as they went upwards on the elevator in clear awe, appreciating every detail possible and watching every living person going about their lives. It was empowering, beautiful, breathtaking. A moment worth saving in your memory.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you."

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[Leilani Paaie]

The elevator heading up with [member="Arekk"]
Planet Lianna, the edge of the Galaxy

Here we go again, same old song again​

"He is in every sense of the word karkhole dear. An unpredictable son of a karkhole." Within her mind she continued that conversation about just what kind of guy he was. Unpredictable. Selfish. Lying. Determined, Psychopath.

She smiled, as fake as it could ever be behind it her thoughts raged. She took another breath. She wasn't going to lose her nerve but she worried she knew Arekk could handle himself. She could in a pinch. But the location it was not as bad as being in Cloud City but it wasn't as easy as running through the streets of Ethos City.

Slowly the elevator rose a few quick scans that verified who they were, what they were wearing, and if they had any sickness. She had forgotten that detail he had some issues with germs. To'lan it was a production to watch him around others and traveling was hilarious.

The doors opened standing there were two goons, she called them goons they were Gen'Dai how old were they no idea but To'lan trusted them with his life these two were his life guard, body guard whatever the word was.

"Gentleman we are expected."

"Yes Ms. Leilani but first you will allow me to scan you with this scanner, as well as your friend." Leilani stepped forward, "Of course I'm sure neither of us have anything you don't expect." Kel and Taman could defeat almost anything so they didn't care what weapons she and Arekk had, only that they knew what they were.

She stared across the room standing in the door was To'lan his arms crossed against his chest she could swear he polished the ring of horns on his head, while his eyes bore holes through her. For a moment chills ran down her spine.

"Arekk meet Kel and Taman they are To'lan personal guard." She expected nothing to happen yet. She had to find the painting.