Luck of the Draw

[Chevu Visz]

Zeltrons. A species notorious for their lustful need to party the night away. Jorda Ulluto, former socialite turned criminal infochant was no exception to her species. The incredible luxury casino and hotel resort called The Dragon Palace Casino on Antecedent was one of Jorda's favorite party spots. Not only did it lavishly cater to all manner of vices and pleasures, but it was one of the best places in the galaxy to trade information, which was her specialty. The Zeltron woman sat, cross-legged in a tight black dress and too-high heels, at the bar in the middle of the main floor of the casino, sipping on a Sonic Servodriver and letting her hazel eyes absorb the scene.

While she planned to hit the sabacc tables at some point during the night, right now she was anticipating meeting some other members of the Red Ravens, a criminal syndicate that she'd recently taken a consulting job with. Her real job, working for a Sith bounty hunter, wasn't set to begin until the Sith Lord had all of his affairs in order. And in her experience, idle hands did the devil's work. Although in Jorda's world, that type work was the very best kind.

[member="Flynn Soriano"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jorda Ulluto"]​

​

A brown leather boot, stubbed out the butt of the spent death stick, before existing the street to cross the threshold of the Dragon Palace Casino. Flynn had just come of feeding and is feeling good. He has a strange view of justice, some darksider in an alley assaulting a woman, something he just can not tolerate, was swiftly dealt with. Now he wanted a drink, as darksiders leave a bitter taste in his mouth.

Looking around this buzzing establishment, Flynn reached for his back pocket, pulled out his half full pack of death sticks and threw one in his mouth. His eyes constantly scanning the place as he lit up, took in a long deep draw before releasing the green toxic fumes from his pursed lips. The black leather trousered, polo neck jumper wearing Anzat strode to the bar. He is here to meet a member of the now infamous, Red Ravens. He only has a name, Jorda Ulluto.

He had to wonder exactly how he would fit in this group. He has been around the galaxy a long while compared to others. Formerly of the former CIS, infiltrator and executioner, had done much work for them in the past. Although he had moved from there and joined other groups, he was never truly happy, maybe this would fit the bill, so to speak.

Flynn pushes up to the bar to order, next to a woman in black heels and dress, a Zeltron by the look of her and no doubt full of mischief. Flynn grinned at the thought of it as his whiskey arrived before him. "Pure genius my good man", he complimented the bar tender, before turning to the lovely lady beside him.

His eyes traveled over her entirely, until he finished at her feet. "Those heels will do you harm or me, if you stay in them too long". He turned sideways and leaned against the bar, raising his glass to his lips with a grin.

 

[Chevu Visz]

The man who sidled up next to her was handsome no doubt about it, and looked to be human or near-human. She thought she'd seen him around the casino before and that meant he was probably a Red Raven, too. Jorda lightly snaked into his mind, just looking for subtle emotions. Zeltron telekinesis didn't offer much else. The main feeling she got from him was one of being sated. That was intriguing. Perhaps he'd just come from a date?

The Zeltron flashed the man a perfect smile, the product of the most expensive orthodontists on her home planet. She glanced down at her ridiculously high heels. "Well, I suppose at some point someone should take them off me tonight." She pushed a long lock of jet black hair behind her ear and smiled coyly, meeting his eyes with no hesitation. Then she stuck out a well-manicured hand, adorned with chunky rings and expensive bracelets.

"I'm Jorda Ulluto. What brings you here to the Casino tonight? Business or pleasure?"

[member="Flynn Soriano"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jorda Ulluto"]

He could feel her probing his mind, not an easy thing to do to Anzat however for the moment he allowed her to have her way with him. Flynn could easy return the probing, but elected not too, as he turned to put out his half smoked death stick in an ashe stray on the bar. "Find anything of interest to you, my lady?", he finally asked her after she had concluded her search.

"I have no doubt someone will rid you of your .. shoes. If for no other reason than to save your legs", he smirked as he turned back to look deep into her eyes. He took her hand as she extended it coupled with her introduction. He lifted her hand to his lips and placed a soft practiced kiss on her red skin.

"Then I have found who I am looking for, I am Flynn Soriano new to the Ravens, a pleasure to meet you. So you could say I am here for business purposes. But I am not adverse to pleasures".

 

[Chevu Visz]

The Zeltron woman raised an eyebrow when Flynn playfully challenged her foray into his thoughts. So he was something. If not Force sensitive, then some near-human species that possessed a similar talent as she. But what? Jorda liked guessing games. And she would find out some way or another.

She gave out a low, throaty chuckle when he kissed her hand. The man was smooth, and Jorda had no doubt that his raw charisma probably made quite the ladies' man of the galaxy. Drawing back her hand once his lips had left it, she reached into her black Corellian leather clutch and pulled out a deathstick herself. She lit it and softly blew smoke rings.

"Well, Mr. Soriano. I believe that you'll find both here at the casino." She grinned. "I haven't been in the Ravens too long myself. Well, not officially anyway. My former employer used to send me here as an attache before I finally joined their ranks. So, I have alot of inside information about the Ravens." Jorda's hazel eyes followed the bartender, and she signaled to him that she could use another Servodriver.

"What would you like to know about them, Mr. Soriano? I can tell you quite a bit." She quickly added. "Where are you from by the way?"

[member="Flynn Soriano"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jorda Ulluto"]

Flynn watched Jorda place a death stick to her full red lips, for a moment lost in her actions as her lips pressed around the filter. Only to become tantalized as she pursed her lips and blew rings of smoke, a well practiced and educated smoker it seemed. She is attractive, there is no denying this, but Flynn got the feeling she is also dangerous. He grinned now as he moved close to her.

Placing his nose near her ear, a gently touch to her skin, he whispered in a low voice, "If I tell where I am from, it will send rippled shudders through your body and excite your mind". He is teasing her of course, however there is some truth to it. Most people on hearing is origin become immediately distant or moreover, fearful of him. He is used to it.

He pulled back from her ear and raised his half filled whiskey to his lips, his eyes remained fixed on her and he spoke his answer to her question through to her mind now. Nexus. Just one word, lets see if she speaks the truth about her knowledge. His eyes dropped to look into the diminishing contents of his glass, swirled the ice around before only raising his eyes back to her.

 

[Chevu Visz]

As Flynn whispered to her, Jorda felt heavily distracted by his lips tickling her earlobe. The Zeltron's eyelids involuntarily fluttered, and she leaned a hand on the bar to steady herself. Easy there. He can tell if you're hot and bothered. With a raised eyebrow, she shook it off, and watched him sip his whiskey. Then came a word in her mind, a thought that wasn't hers. Jorda had no way of pushing him out so she let him linger there.

Her eyes never leaving his gaze, she answered his question without hesitation. "The Nexus is the Red Raven's military operation, run by a man who calls himself The Black Hand. Morgoth is his name. That's all I really can tell you though." She grinned at the man. "I'm not so interested in military operations myself. I prefer to wage my wars with words and intimate knowledge about my targets."

Jorda grinned wickedly and then softly leaned a hand on Flynn's arm. "Now you really have to tell me where you're from, darling. Don't leave a girl hanging like that."

[member="Flynn Soriano"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jorda Ulluto"]

Flynn's force sense peaked as she began to speak of Nexus and the mysterious man behind the military operation. He sensed no lies in her, a lack of knowledge yes but no intent to hide. From the little that she knew, told Flynn this operation is secret and therefore should not be spoken about further. He would find out more himself and see if that was the place for him within the Ravens. He would say nothing further to her on this topic.

He left her hand resting on his arm as he turned to place the now empty glass on the bar and nodded for the bar keep to refill both drinks. Turning back he took up her hand in his, gently fingers caressing hers and he watched her face with intense eyes. "I am from Anzat" he whispered as he released her hand to her lap.

The fresh drinks arrived and Flynn turned to gather them fully expecting her to be gone by the time he turned back.

 

[Chevu Visz]

Jorda felt a hitch in her throat as Flynn revealed his origins. She almost involuntarily drew back her hand, but then he released it so at least that didn’t give away her poker face. From what Jorda knew of his race, Anzati were dangerous creatures who fed indiscriminately on the life force of other sentients. And it seemed that this one might consider her his prey tonight.

Her eyes narrowed defiantly. Jorda had narrowly escaped death at the hand’s of a Hutt crime lady, and the beautiful Zeltron infochant was a woman who even the Sith came to for ideas. She refused to let herself feel threatened.

“Did Lysle Rigger knowingly hire an Anzati into his ranks? Or is your true nature a secret from him?” she asked him with a raised eyebrow. Where she was open with him before, her body language now spoke a different story, colder and more closed off. It was a shame because she had been enjoying his touch. Why did all the good ones want to grievously maim or kill a girl?

[member="Flynn Soriano"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jorda Ulluto"]

Well he was wrong on one account, she was still there. He turned back and sipped his whiskey feeling the cold ice against his top lip. His eyes fell on her again, noting her strong body language and he smiled wryly.

Sensing her cautiousness toward him, he chuckled lowly to himself and shook his head as his smiled widened. "Don't like me so much now huh?", he gave her a mock sad face, before turning his back to the bar once more, and resting against it, lifting one foot to hook the heel of his boot on a low rung that circumnavigated the bottom of the bar. His eyes fell around the room, taking in all the patrons this night, most in the process of getting drunk or chatting up respective pleasure partners for the night. Others he could see and sense engaged in conversation of a notorious nature, one would be disappointed if this place did not hold council to such activities.

He lit another death stick, "Lysle Rigger? I have yet to meet the man", he said as the death stick bounced between his lips. "I will tell him when the time comes, and only to those that need to know". He did not look at her but kept his eyes fixed on a girl moving on the dance floor. He shot a sideways look at Jorda, he is not about to placate her mind, it is better to keep distance from people, he works better that way.

 

[Chevu Visz]

Jorda cooly watched the Anzati puff on his death stick, noting what a nice set of lips the man had. She chuckled at his mock frowny-face and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I still like you, darling. More than I want to, given what you are." She let her hazel eyes give his body the once-over. "No offense, but I'm merely making sure that you're not looking to put me or the other Ravens on your menu."

Her pulse rate returning to normal, Jorda then shrugged. "From what I hear, Lysle is soon leaving for the Fringe on some business that may tie him up for a while.You may or may not get a chance to tell him before he goes. I believe he's left the slicer in charge. Cryax Bane. Now the Chiss I know quite a bit about." She grinned. Cryax was pitifully easy to get information out of. If you were female and had a pulse.

She leaned in and tilted her head towards the dangerous creature's ear. With a light hand on his shoulder, she whispered. "Whether or not he needs to know is up to you. I will keep your secrets if you promise not to drink me."

The former socialite had partied away her youth on her home planet, and the monotony of endless soirees on Zeltos had led Jorda to detest boredom. The Zeltron wasn't a stupid woman, but she enjoyed a good courtship with danger as it was the galaxy's best cure for ennui. With that in mind, she hailed the waiter who brought them a round of shots.

With a grin, she lifted her glass in the air. "To secrets then?"

[member="Flynn Soriano"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jorda Ulluto"]

He grinned, "I don't dine on friends and I have learned to control my hunger through the force...", he thought a little, "Some what... ", he added, however there are times he need to satiate his natural cravings, but he targets those that need to be eradicated.

"I shall be sure to try and catch up with this Mr Bane soon, but in the mean time I shall enjoy the company I have here and now". He put his hand over his heart, "I here by solemnly swear that I will not attempt to eat you". He said as he raised his own shot in the air to match her, then in a flash the liquid was gone burning down his throat. He face grimaced. "That was horrible, lets have another".

He signaled for the bar keep to refill. With business sort of completed, it was time for the fun. "I believe the Ravens hang out here? What other excitement can be found among the ruins", he asked looking at the some of the patrons.

 

[Chevu Visz]

A low, throaty chuckle escaped Jorda's throat as Flynn made his little vow. She rolled her eyes and grinned at the handsome Anzati. "I probably shouldn't be saying this to a man who looks like trouble, but I'll guess I'll just have to trust you." The Zeltron laughed and then threw back her shot with the finesse of a veteran drinker.

"Excitement you say?" Jorda tapped a long black fingernail on the bar. "Well, there are the card games and games of chance, of course. I also could show you where to find the spice dealers if that's what you're into." She let her hazel eyes survey the room. "I'm sure you'd be able to find a few commercial pleasure workers around here if that's your bag. Antecedent is a lovely place to satisfy your sins."

"If you're looking for a more violent kind of fun, the Ravens also have a fight club down the street. You could fight yourself or just watch two strapping young men beat each other up. I choose the latter." she added with a wink.

[member="Flynn Soriano"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jorda Ulluto"]

"I always satisfy sins", he said, "And not always those of my own".

As the bar area was beginning to become more crowded, it also became less tolerable to Flynn. "You offer a large range of choices for fun, I will remember them for the future to be sure. But I do have a lot of pent up energy that needs expelling in some form or another", he returned her wink.

"A fight club huh?, then sounds like just the thing. You fancy a wrestle?", he grinned as he stubbed out his spent death stick. "Or do you like to watch". He liked to idea of a fight, just the ticket to wind down from his feeding.

"Take me to the pits of blood!", he said referring to this fight club of the Ravens. "Let me make a name for myself, however, it might not be one that will instill fear and reputation of skill", he grinned joking with her. Although Flynn much prefers the sword, he can well enough, he just hope good enough this night.

 

[Chevu Visz]

Jorda grinned at his enthusiasm. "We'll have to find a challenger for you first, darling." She took her Datapad from her handbag and punched in some information on the Cryptnet. "Right here." She pointed a long black fingernail at the screen. "That's where you challenge the other Ravens. Then you set up the fight. When you've scored a challenger, I will gladly be your cheering section." The Zeltron winked.

"I think wrestling with you would be losing game for me, Flynn. Not only do you have an advantage being a Force user, but your touch would probably make me lose focus. A girl can't fight when she's weak in the knees." She tapped a finger to her face and pursed her lips.

"This conversation reminds me that need to get myself some weapon training, and you look like the type who would have lethal contacts in your little black book. You don't happen to know anyone who could help me with that?"

[member="Flynn Soriano"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jorda Ulluto"]

He leaned in a little closer then was require to look down to her... data pad. "I shall look into it later, and you can watch but in the mean time let me see to your knees. I can't have them weak now can I?". He pushed of the bar he leaned on and emptied the glass of its contents before placing it on the bar.

"Shall we dance? it is a good way to put strength in those knees of yours". He offered her his hand to take so he would lead her to the floor. "What type of weapons are you wanting training in? I might be able to help you there, it just depends on what you are after".

 

[Chevu Visz]

Jorda tucked a strand of jet-black hair behind her ear and smiled widely, flashing her perfect white teeth. "I thought you'd never ask," chuckled the Zeltron. She placed her hand in his and, tracing the back of his hand with her thumb, let him lead her to the dance floor. The curvaceous Zeltron gently drapped one arm around the handsome Anzati's shoulder and let her other hand hold his, intertwining their fingers. Although her face was blithe, her hazel eyes betrayed her wariness. She was careful not to let him out of her sight. It wasn't an easy task given that the charmer's physical closeness was distracting to her.

"To answer your question, Flynn, just about anything I could hide in this dress. Sure I could benefit from some blaster training, but since my job calls for very close contact, I'm most interested in knives and self-defense, perhaps assassination techniques. Even poisons." She grinned wickedly. "I've always wanted to use a shock whip, too. Do you have a trainer in mind?"

[member="Flynn Soriano"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jorda Ulluto"]

They located a more open space on the dance away from the main body of dancers and without danger of being bumped into. He noted her gentle touch as her arm went around his shoulder and in kind, Flynn's right hand took her waist before sliding slowly around to her lower back to pull Jorda closer to him. He began to move her around the dance floor with a firmer grip to lead and soon the two were in harmony with the music.

The colour of her skin intrigued Flynn, much in natural employees red as a warning to danger and he was in no doubt this applied to her, however in nature red is the colour to the more sweeter of fruits that delight the senses. He decided that Jorda would hold both within her nature.

"I doubt there would be a weapon in the galaxy you could hide in that dress, it leaves no room for more then what it already contains", he smirked as he teased. "However, I could probably help train you in some of what you are after, knives would be your best choice in that regard, you could strap a knife or two, to your thigh to conceal it. Self-defense and assassination technique are also areas I could assist, poisons not so much, simply because I don't need them. You would have to find another for that".

 

[Chevu Visz]

Against her better judgement, Jorda let the Anzati pull her closer to him as they danced, letting him lead. Not only was the man a smooth-talker but he was also a good dancer. She let her eyes linger on the man's face, and couldn't help but sneak a look at the skin on his cheeks, searching for the places where his tentacle-like proboscises would extend. It wasn't so much fear, but curiosity. This was the closest she'd ever gotten to a creature such as he and she was fascinated. As they danced, Jorda moved her hand the back of his head, gently tracing the shape of his neck and intertwining her fingers in a few strands of his long brown hair.

"I would like to train with you then, Flynn," she told him with a smile. "After all a girl needs some protection in a galaxy such as this. She needs a secret weapon."

[member="Flynn Soriano"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Jorda Ulluto"]

"As you wish my lady. I will train you the best I can". He smiled as he looked into her eyes with an intense look. A momentary flash of darkness crosses his eyes, his Anzati nature flaring as she played with his hair. However, he pulled his self control back and checked it, his training with the former CIS paying off and his want to feed quelled once more. He is dangerous, he is unpredictable and because of this he will never allow himself to become close to anyone for fear of that day when he looses control, which happens. After all he is only mortal.

Suddenly Flynn gently pushed her away with the hand on her waist and raised the other to spin her on the dance floor. As she moved in the circle and returned to position, Flynn took her once more and pressed closer to her.

"A girl always needs protection, more so then most", this he understood well enough having seen what can happen to women not just outside on this planet either. He would hate for something bad to happen to her.