Howlin' For You

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

Ya know.

I never really believed in holdings grudges, simply never saw the point of it all. ‘Cause the only thing you are really doing is make sure you miss the golden opportunities in life, you get so fixated and emotional that it starts clouding your mind, profitable ventures, chances to improve on shet? It all goes away into a blur of mistaken wroth and maybe a bomb or two, where was the profit in that?

Where was the silver lining?

Jimmy’s burned down, no one really knew how it happened, official word on the street was a malfunction, gas leak, whatever the hell they were selling. But I knew the truth of the matter and it only told me that Chiasa was a blunderbuss, short fuse, big explosion. Like I said, I don’t hold no grudges. Jimmy’s was a fine bar, but it was only a bar.

Just a building that could be rebuild if needed and the name would live on regardless. Point was, when the twi’lek joined me at the counter in the new bar, Berry’s, I didn’t even look at her.

‘Should probably shoot ya.’ I simply said, before my hand went for the bottle instead of the revolver. Nah, I didn't shoot her, instead I poured the new President of the Red Ravens a drink, they would probably both need it by the end of this.

‘Drink up, blunderbuss.’

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

"Probably should. I suspect you'll have to get in line though."

Came the reply with a wry grin.

This was dangerous, and the Twi'lek did not like it in the least, a bullet could take more than usual these days. Still, the Unkindness had to come first, always. She had burned down this mans pet project. Jimmy's. It hadn't been much of a bar, as bars go, but this sort of thing tended to upset people. Of course she'd left his hidden enclaves and such alone. Did he know she knew about them? One would think he must, gods knew enough droids and Raven affiliates wandered Nar Shaddaa these days. But, as she'd established before, for all that he vexed her with his Cryax involvement, he did do quite a bit for the planet.

And she was stretched terribly thin.

Cryax's betrayal. A failed coup. Patricia being hyper focused on her family. The Ravens continued to grow and for the most part it was just Chiasa, alone at the top struggling to hold it all together. It wasn't even a case of a wish and a prayer. She didn't have time for wises, and she didn't believe in anything enough to pray. She mostly just bluffed, and waited for it to be called. This likely explained why she was here alone, with only her two RICO units waiting outside. The moment she stopped pretending to be invincible..

What happened when she died? This had been on her mind a lot lately, not that any were privy to it. All things died in time, but she suspected her time was closer than most. She had been largely resigned to this before. If she moved quickly enough, if she got her dominos in order, it didn't matter. It would be too late to stop her from accomplishing her goals, and even without her the Unkindness would continue and flourish.

But now?

Now with no one who might be able to pick up the reins?

[member="Khaleel Malvern"] had liked to think himself the underworld King of Nar Shaddaa once. Perhaps he would like the title back. And if he proved capable there.. If he turned out to be an asset.. If he could protect her su'si ercio.. At least he'd not told her to kark off yet. She still wasn't particularly sure how to proceed though honestly.

Hey, remember that time I burned down your bar because you presumed to have your thugs take over part of my Casino? Good times. Anyway, I need you to take control of Nar Shaddaa again. That's just a start. I need someone who might be able to succeed me. I'm all alone here and I can feel death closing in. I need someone. Anyone. The fact that I'm coming to you just shows how damned desperate I am.

Yeah. That would go over well. Besides. When all you had were masks and bluffs you couldn't afford to take them off or break them. So she didn't say it. The usually silver-tongued Twi'lek just accepted the drink and tried to figure out where to go from there.

"Thank you."

Blunderbuss?

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

Some said that ya could never really bluff the bluffer, ain’t sure if that’s the truth or not, but only a blind person wouldn’t notice the precarious position the gal was currently positioned in. I didn’t know about Patricia and her family, was never really close with any of the Ravens besides Cryax, but the point was… I knew that she was stretched down to infinity and beyond currently.

Point was, I had always been a big bluffer. If ya decide to play, play big and hard or don’t play at all, no? So that’s what I did with Cryax, worked out in the end, but it could have gone a lot of different ways.

Might not be the time to bring stuff like that up though, so I just took another sip from the glass and contended myself with playing the waiting game. I had all the time in the world, and in the end this was Chiasa’s show.

Didn’t have much input to give anyway, 'least not besides the obvious that she already knew. Instead I just grunted an acknowledgment on the ‘thank you’.

Never hurts to be polite if you ask me.

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

He was not going to make this easy. Well. That was fair. And the other reason she'd not brought anyone. If she was going to be forced to degrade herself, at least none of hers where here to see. Hopefully he did not intend to make her lower herself too much.

How far are you willing to bend? Frangas non flectes, no?

In public. When I am the Ravens. But for them. For them, when their eyes are not on me..

"I understand you had an agreement with Cryax, and now Cryax is gone."

There. This was an acceptable opening statement. She did not particularly want to grovel if he was going to deny her anyway. Best to edge about, to feel him out, to try and understand who and what she was dealing with first. To be quite frank, she did not even know the full particulars of his agreement with Cryax. The Chiss had started to go a bit funny around that time.

They'd taken Nar Shaddaa and all he wanted to do was have his little slicing empire there, leaving everything else to the two women he'd set under him as he got more and more eccentric. Eventually his nervous breakdown could not be denied, and out of respect and affection he'd been left President in name.

That had obviously turned out to be a mistake.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

Khal had been a diplomat, probably one of the few reasons that he actually managed to get Nar Shaddaa from Bane in the first place, the Chiss had seen something in him. Perhaps the potential to become some good influence for the Ravens, of which most… weren’t particularly gifted in bringing things in a diplomatic manner.

People changed though, that was the nature of the beast and it wasn’t any different for the Crime… Lord? Maybe. The Rapturing, spending an eternity in hell? It had taken its toll from the once warm man.

But it didn’t mean he had to be a complete ass.

‘Relax.’ Khal finally replied, putting down his drink and looking for a lighter. She was really making him want to smoke again. It was clear to him that even that little admission was a hard stretch for her, and while he wasn’t the giddy man he once was? ‘Bend anymore and you might hurt yourself, stripes.’

He didn’t mind playing that role again, at least for a little while until this meeting was over.

‘What did Bane tell ya about me and the deal we made?’

Gotta start somewhere.

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Right. Force user. Active surface thoughts. She couldn't spend the energy on maintaining mental defences the way she usually did. It was all being used for something else. A lowgrade continual hum in the Force taking it's toll, draining. But it was necessary. Besides, perhaps her lack of walls would.. help. He'd likely pick up on any major lies this way. Not that she usually bothered to lie.

"He didn't."

This was true. The only reason she knew about him at all was that after the Dredge incident she'd had eyes on Cryax. Not all the time, but certainly far more than he knew. And of course anyone who walked into what had at the time been for all intents and purposes her Casino and secured a room with their own men drew her attention.

"You may have noticed he'd gotten rather.. unstable."

And from all reports it had just gotten worse. The criminal underworld was only so big, and most gossip wound up on Nar Shaddaa eventually. Her own pilot had mentioned a rising, and dark criminal presence in the deep core. Coruscant in particular. And where had she predicted Cryax would flee to given his past behaviour? It did not take a genius to put two and two together.

The Ravens were not, well they were not good guys, by any stretch of the imagination. But neither were they particularly bad. Civilians died sometimes when they were in they way, or when their lives meant the Unkindness would live. But they weren't targeted. The Ravens were just as likely to help someone in need as kick them. They were a group of people who hadn't so much fallen from grace as sauntered in a vaguely downward direction. Credits and Chaos.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

Neither did Khaleel, but probably for different reasons. Lies were messy, they complicated things and could put ya in a difficult spot later on, ya had to keep track of ‘em and in the end you had to guard yourself from starting to believe all dem lies you spread. So why bother with that? Why make life more complicated than it was? Only thing Khal did was… bend the truth every once in a while, make it more pretty and acceptable for the people to take, make it lighter and make it dance.

Just to make the listeners happy, of course. Because nobody liked the whole truth.

Confidence Man 101 right there.

Finally a snort then, unstable. Ain’t that the word of the century, but he wouldn’t say anything about Cryax. Mister Slicer had been a pleasant fella all the same, and he had given him Nar Shaddaa on top of that, can’t really look down on that, can ya?

The fact that he hadn’t told his associates about the deal though, that was telling to a degree, it showed that there had been fractures within the Ravens beforehand. That during their negotiations it had already been falling apart.

‘I see.’ Khal finally said, before finally litting his cigarette and offering one to her too, definitely a smoking day.

The Underlord looked over to her. ‘He respected my claim to Nar Shaddaa.’

That’s where it starts.

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

"I cannot let an outside force control a planet that mine fought and bled for."

This was a statement, but there was also an offer within it. An outside force no. But if that force should come in.. Should be made part of the whole.. As long as he was not a Raven, not affiliated with them, she could not hand over Nar Shaddaa.

This was where it had all started. This was where the Ravens had come into being. They'd picked a fight with the Suns, ruling criminals at the time and had to leave planet, to go consolidate elsewhere. Now they were finally back. They'd finally made it. Taken it. Beaten the Suns. Beaten the odds. To just hand that over to a man she didn't really know yet? To take the Raven name off everything they'd fought for?

She'd put down enough mutinies lately thank you. The Ravens couldn't stand many more. All the fighting she did for them. All the manoeuvring, scheming, plotting and sacrifices, and the ones yet to come.. What was the point if they all left? What she did, she did for them. Always.

Besides all that aside, if he offered nothing, why should she give him anything? He could not threaten her. She had the numbers and firepower. What she needed was help.

Please see the offer. Please help me. Be one of mine and no one will disrespect you. I will strike them down. What you want will happen. Keep bringing your Jedi. Keep your secret Exchange. Ask for an exorbitant salary and use it to feed the hungry. I do not care. Just help me.

I cannot keep the eyes of all enemies on me and run everything by myself. I am trying, oh I am trying, but I am not enough.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

Khal closed his eyes briefly, a sigh passing his lips as he heard and understanding finally dawned on just how fethed she currently was. Any reasonable and sane man would have flashed her the finger, would have laughed in her face and taken a walk, maybe try to shoot her in the back while she was busy drinking up the rest of that glass.

But you weren’t ever all that sane, were you, Khally?

And he wasn’t. It had been the women who were always his blind spot, the ones that made him go full Black Paladin mode without even considering any other option available. Ask Octavia, the Promenade Princess, what had happened when thugs had kidnapped both him and her.

Slaughter.

He gulped down another drink, right after putting away his cigarette. Seemed she would be the end of him, better have some pleasure in the meanwhile.

‘Are you sure you want my help, stripes?’ the Underlord calmly stated, before digging something out of his pocket and putting it down in front of Chiasa.

It was a ring, an old one. Cryax had known what it meant, would Chiasa too?

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Chiasa eyed the ring set before her. She probably did not get the full implication, but she recognized the sigil all right. Dammit, this was worse than she'd thought. Though he had the infrastructure here already. He had the connections already. But she'd done so much, dared so much to ensure the Ravens had their autonomy. That there were no strings on them, let alone chains. If she brought him in. If she gave him power. Would he help the Ravens? Or his own group. On the other hand, if he was brought all the way in. If he met her Unkindness. If he came to know them.. Homogenization could be just as if not more effective than conquest. If he protected them, if he cared for them, what did it matter what name or banner history remembered? If they were rememebred at all. They were not great heroes or villians after all, they were only criminals.

But they are my criminals. I will not see them left alone when I am dead.

And that was the long and short of it wasn't it? Her clock wasn't just ticking down, it was going faster than your average clock. The hands were spinning. How many choices did she really have?

"I do not have anyone else."

She looked away from him at that, down and to the side. It was truth, but it hurt to admit it. There were those who stood loyal, but not who could do what she needed. They were.. They were her su'si ercio. Her children. They needed protection, not to be thrown into the situation she'd put herself in. Those who were willing could not, those who could were not willing. She would not force them. But if he wanted Nar Shaddaa.. If he wanted to rule..

Besides. It could work couldn't it? If he was used to shadows all the better. While she yet lived, while eyes were yet on her, everyone else was free to act.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

‘We will be blood.’ Khaleel finally stated, making the ring disappear again as quickly as it had appeared. Because that’s the long and short of it, didn’t really matter if most of her flock were incompetent and prone to short-sighted mistakes, what mattered was that if he did this? Really did this? He wouldn’t be on the outside of the deal anymore.

He couldn’t return to the old agreement with Bane, sticking to Nar Shaddaa and make sure all that shet was fixed and safe, old Malvern had only wanted that. But these days he realized that there was so much more to it than that, that he needed to do more and make sure that his people were protected.

And so the explanation came. ‘Blood, stripes. It means that you will cut me in at every corner and make sure I stay in the loop.’

Another long look at her, catching her eyes.

‘No more negotiations where you and yours lose control. No more emotions ruling the Ravens, emotions that ruin business.’ a scratch of the chin. ‘If you want me to protect yours, have your back, those are my terms.’

A final shrug.

Take it or leave it.

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Every corner? No one was privy to everything she had planned, everything she was doing. Not ever. It wasn't safe for them. And it wasn't safe for the Ravens. Traitors at every turn, no one who could be counted on. Besides which, for all that he could clearly pick up surface thoughts, could he hide his from those who pried? Her own mind was a treacherous place, full of traps and snares, and she'd come up with a multitude of ways to throw off or mislead an intruder. Could he?

The bit about emotions and losing control was.. well normally it would be a bit insulting, but she supposed based on what he had seen it was fair. That one instance, when the Wrath had been allowed to wander in without warning when he should not have been present. When Cryax had opened his drunken mouth and spilled things he shouldn't have. When Autonomy had been denied. She would stand before the Dark Lord himself and tell him off if he tried to take the Ravens freedom. Which in a way she had. A Voice. His Wrath. Allies were one thing, Masters could not be tolerated.

Besides. Business had been booming since. Upstarts they might be, but the Rebel Alliance needed guns, and lots of them. The Sith never had. Plus it opened up the Mandalorian and Republic markets. Credits flowed, and with all eyes on her, there actually hadn't been many repercussions for the Unkindness. The bounty was a bit inconvenient, but such was life.

Still. Blood? Her blood had sold her. Ideas like family were fairly foreign. The Ravens were the closest she had. She supposed it would be like that then, save that he wanted to be on equal footing rather than protected.

What would you not do for your Blood? Nothing. There is nothing. Sacrifice everything.

Pain. There was pain immediate and personal tied to that thought which bubbled up before it could be suppressed. This was when she wished she had her walls in place.

Betray the Unkindness. This is the one thing. They are blood too, in a way.

Su'si ercio meant, in Ryl, many children. This was largely how she thought of them. They were deadly children. Armed and armoured, but this did not change the fact that her original feeling of a simple territorial nature had gradually morphed into something more.

All of this took her a tight jawed moment to sort through.

"Done. We are blood."

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

There were hundreds who were clamoring for protection, who needed the hand of Chiasa above them to be safe from the threats in the shadows. But how many were willing to step up? To show yourself and take responsibility, be of use to the collective? And maybe the most important part, be actually of use and competent?

Fair few in between, probably.

But Khaleel had already proved his worth, Nar Shaddaa was stable, peaceful… at least as peaceful as a Hive of Scum and Villainy could get.

He didn’t show that he felt her pain, it wouldn’t have been respectful. Men and women like them, they didn’t like to show their weakness. Khal could understand that, instead he simply waited and in the end nodded once.

His hand extended itself for a shake, to seal the entire deal.

‘Blood.’ he agreed.

There was a little surge in the air, almost impossible and imperceptible. Power being crafted by words spoken, oaths were not given lightly and some oaths could not be broken just as simple as that.

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Hand was taken, pacts were sealed. From the zing in the air perhaps this was one that would not be idly tossed aside on a whim. One could only hope.

It was funny wasn't it, how a little thing like a handshake might well change the course of the Galaxy, but that was how things went. People only saw, only remembered the big dramatic heroic moments, but it was the ones like these that made most of the difference.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]