Missed Connection

[Tmoxin Temi]

Now that Morpho Pharmaceuticals was primed to be on the Techno Union Executive Council, and with the job of Foreman in her sights, Tmoxin decided to pay a special visit to Bothawui for some good old-fashioned information gathering. Native world to the Bothans, the temperate and beautiful planet was known especially for the Bothan Spynet. Since her lead researcher, Dr. Oovan had recently been assassinated in the halls of her very offices, she was on a hunt for the rival company who managed to pull off this stunt. She also wanted to keep an eye on the neighboring Hutt Cartel. Too much information? Never an issue with the Morpho CEO.

Of course being a secretive organization as the Bothan Spynet was, the Hapan executive wasn't completely sure she was in the right place. She had been instructed to meet her contact of this shadowy network in a cantina on the outskirts of the Bothwui Shipyards. The Hapan hadn't visited a dingy bar since her time in the Red Ravens where she frequently found herself in nightclubs, Hutt Parties, and sometimes in seedy alleyways, guarding Cryax Bane and his criminal colleagues. But such was the price of accurate information, she mused, entering The South Swing, a name which referred back to violent winds experienced on the Tiaran'grast Sling Course.

Once her brown eyes fully adjusted to the dark of the club, she saw that it wasn't too squalid. Most of the patrons appeared to be Bothan ship-workers and engineers. Humans and other humanoids could also be seen about, enjoying drinks and playing Pazaak. Tmoxin was wearing a short, white dress with her honey-colored hair pinned up and to the side.

Spoiler

To the casual observer, the Hapan would seem slightly out of place, but she did not outwardly show that she was intimdiated or even concerned. With one Mirari bodyguard droid in tow, she slid into a bar seat, ordered a Corellian whiskey and waited for her contact to arrive.

[member="Meryn Dupont"]

 

[Minnosh]

Meryn wasn't from Bothawui, but he was starting to like it. He felt like he understood the planet, how to use it. Its mystery was being slowly unraveled. And when someone with his ambition caught on to something like this... Well, he could picture himself staying here quite a while. The Human male was looking for somewhere to set up shop, a location to begin his little enterprise. This planet seemed as good as any. Of course, he wanted to do a lot more than simply what his company description seemed to indicate. Bothawui provided him with the means to do just that. But a little assistance might go a long way in seeing him accomplish his goals at a comfortable pace. He wouldn't mind the added sense of security.

Similar to how there were various species present, there were various outfits worn as well. Meryn was one of the few, but not the only, who wore a suit. Dark blue, with a white shirt underneath. Though it was hard to make out the fabric's quality in this light, had he been asked, he would have been able to assure them that it was of the finest make. The price he would leave out, lest he unintentionally gave whoever he was talking to an inferiority complex.

Spoiler

Meryn found himself in one of the corners of the bar, enjoying the expanded view it gave him on everyone else, as well as the restricted view they had of him. He liked to feel in control of the room. This way, there were no unknown factors shifting around behind his back. All elements were accounted for. One element in particular drew his fancy. She was a white pearl that stood out in an otherwise predictable sea of dark colours. It was refreshing.

Seeing as two things were happening, he had also just finished his drink, he made his way over to her. To the casual observer, she might have seemed out of place. He did not observe her casually. "It's not often I see girls come in here with their own robot bodyguard." to be fair, it was not often he saw anyone come in here. This wasn't exactly his go-to joint. "I wonder what that tells me about you. Is this your first time here, and you're worried about what you might find? Or do you know what you're walking into, probably knowing you shouldn't, but you came either way? Either way, you like danger." he said, trying to figure her out. He carried himself with a certain level of confidence that most could not match. He seemed as if he had not a care in the world, like nothing could go wrong. If the unexpected came up, he'd laugh it off, or simply keep on walking. He was mostly just enjoying himself, and didn't seem to bothered regardless of which way this conversation took. He'd find amusement in it.

It was an interesting game that he played, however. At least to him it was. Was she a misplaced pearl, left at sea before she learned to swim? As tended to happen with pearls dropped into the ocean, they were tossed back and forth between the waves, before sinking down to the bottom. Or, perhaps, there was more to her than what she was letting off. Maybe she could swim. She was hiding something, that was for sure. Weren't they all? Time would show how many secrets he would be able to uncover tonight. Time would show if she would discover any of his.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin sipped her whiskey, its familiar woodsy, smoky taste coating her throat and stomach with an enjoyably warm sensation. As she sat on the bar stool, she crossed her legs, and then twisted at the waist to survey the cantina again, looking for her contact. Two Bothans drinking, the Pazaak players, a group of young revelers of mixed races and species and then... a human male in a nicely tailored suit. A very handsome male... who just happened to be coming her way.

Tmoxin swiped at her hair nervously and arranged her skirt as the fellow patron approached.

But once he was in front of her, she was the picture of confidence. The corner of her mouth arched upward in a smile, and her almond-shaped eyes observed him just as intently. She thought at first he was just trying to chat her up, but when he speculated that she liked danger, the Hapan thought that he may just be her contact.

"I don't know if I particularly enjoy danger," she said with a raise of her eyebrows. "But somehow it finds me. Kind of like you."

She sipped her drink, until suddenly behind them, they would hear the Bothan bartender barking an order at her:

"Ma'am that robot needs to stay outside. It's making the other guests nervous."

She whirled around, and in a more authoritative tone said, "I will do no such thing. I'll have you know that I value my safety at all times. Especially in a place like this." Tmoxin let out a derisive snort. "The audacity," she said now to the well-dressed, quite attractive man, an amused smile gracing her features, so that he could see she was playing her own little power game with the bartender. The Bothan scowled, but with a rag, went back to wiping down the bar and didn't argue.

"But I am supposed to meet someone here today... or this evening I suppose," she said, because the sun was beginning to set. "I'm really not one to hide my identity, but apparently I'm to let this person - or being - know that I'm the Blood Monarch. Does that ring a bell?"

[member="Meryn Dupont"]

 

[Minnosh]

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

He couldn't help but smile at her. She was the very face of confidence. He liked confidence. Out of all the traits an individual could have, confidence probably ranked highest as the most attractive in his eyes. If someone he was dealing with, whether romantically or as part of some business transaction, Meryn quickly lost interest. More than that, he let his distaste be known. Some might call him a bully. He simply saw it as being better.

"I think danger is trying to tell you something. Maybe you're meant to be? Embrace it, don't fight it." he teased her. Lifting his drink to his lips, he realized he was in need of another one soon. He was about to draw the attention of the bartender, when something else entirely happened. Her bodyguard was being called away. How would she respond to this? Would she leave with it, or would she dare to remain in the bar alone and unprotected? The woman in front of him picked neither. Out of the possibilities he had imagined, she caught him off guard, surprising him. She was feisty. He had a feeling she was the kind of girl who was used to getting things her way, but not because it was simply handed to her, no, she claimed it. He could relate.

"Indeed" he replied, raising his near empty glass up next to hers. His amusement and approval was something he couldn't quite hide. The best part of it all was that the bartender didn't continue to argue. It wasn't worth it. The battle was lost, and he knew it. Continuing would gain him nothing. She was good. She certainly had caught his full attention, and Meryn was not about to let her go. This could be more than a few jokes and a quick interaction.

"Besides, in this weather? He might rust." A thought came to mind. At this point, he'd half expect danger to know what's what, and stop coming her way. He imagined it usually ended in the same manner. Or perhaps that was why danger found her so exciting. He certainly did. That was always the danger with these kind of interactions. When it was light-hearted and fun, there was no challenge. When he needed it to go one way, it was easy to become too involved and obvious. That tended to have a dulling effect. He'd simply have to continue making himself interesting. With his life, his plans, he doubted that would become an issue though.

He opened his mouth to reply to her direct question, but then he changed his mind. Perhaps... "I think you're supposed to meet me." he said. Of course, it only came out sounding like another cheesy pick-up line. Or perhaps that was part of his cover? Or at least the cover for his cover. "But now that you mention it... That does ring a bell. I appreciate your discretion. You won't be needing your droid, but I won't argue to it keeping us company. I think we both know how that argument would end regardless" he joked, laughing. Of course, he was quite a different man than the bartender was. "Shall we?" he got up from his chair, gesturing for them to move. Was he her contact? Nope. Was he gonna try to convince her that he was? Definitely.

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin still couldn't tell if the patron beside her was just another pick-up artist in the cantina looking to tie one on before the evening was complete, or if he was indeed her contact. He wasn't dressed like the other humanoids in the bar. In fact by his dress and mannerisms, she would be surprised if he ever went into place as dingy as The South Swing. He nearly ordered another drink, but then he stopped.

Her bare arm brushed up against the arm of his suit, and she could tell by the fabric it was expensive. The cut of it also fit him just right. The Hapan executive sipped her own glass of whiskey; the alcohol would flush her face and add color to the spate of freckles across her pale chest, but in the dark of the cantina, he may not notice this.

And there it was - he finally admitted he was her contact. Clever Bothans, sending a human like this! Now she could tell exactly why the Bothan Spynet was the best in the business. The unexpected presence of a human agent… the fact that he resembled someone with whom she would be spending an evening or going out to a restaurant or holoshow… it was all part of the charade, and Tmoxin was impressed. And if this elegant, blonde mystery man was going to be her agent, she was already calculating how many credits she would need to keep him on her payroll.

"Very well," she said, sliding off her barstool in a fluid motion. The Mirari droid clicked into action at her movements. She would feel apprehension if not for his playful remark about her security detail. And since the Hapan executive spent time around criminals in her past, she assumed she would know if this person was someone who was about to scam her. If he was a gangster or even a blackmailer, he hid these traits well.

They exited the cantina and standing outside of the entrance, Tmoxin glanced around to make sure they were alone. "I assumed we would stay inside, but I suppose we need to go somewhere even more private. Also what should I call you?"

[member="Meryn Dupont"]

 

[Minnosh]

It appeared that she bought his little lie. Good. Very good. This meant they could move on to the next stage. He was looking forward to getting to know her. She appeared to be an individual of some influence and wealth. It wasn't unlikely that she could become a valuable contact in the long run, to further help him in his plans. That is, of course, provided she didn't want to murder him after he revealed that he was not her contact at all. He wondered how long he could string her along.

This worked out for the bartender too, who saw her droid walk away along with the pair. He placed an arm around her, putting his hand on the small of her back to guide her back from the way they came. It could be to play along, and create this facade of a successful pick-up situation, or perhaps he was simply a gentleman. Chances were they were both. It certainly garnered little suspicion, perhaps a few disappointed looks from some way too hopeful males.

"Too many eyes and ears. You understand" he said, while looking around to eye the company that surrounded them. Even in his mind, he went 'Huh. Smooth', and gave himself an internal pat on the back. "I'm 'The Contact'. You can call me Alexander. Of course, that's not my real name, but you know how this goes." he said casually. To himself, at least, he felt like he was playing the act perfectly. Of course, this was the easy part. "Shall we? I have secured a location not far from here." he informed her. A hotel room. He didn't go into detail, allowing her mind to wander freely. Perhaps she'd nod knowingly, assuming he meant that he had checked it for bugs and such. He did his best to appear professional, after all. Now, she had come here to do business. He had the duration of this walk to alter her priorities. Meryn would begin walking, expecting her to follow.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Alexander, as he called himself, walked forward and Tmoxin found herself hesitating to follow. Mostly because she was distracted by the view of his broad back, and how the expensive suit fit him just so. He must have had a tailor, she mused, for a suit to fit that well. It was almost a crime.

But there was something about her contact that was a little suspcious. She couldn't put her finger on it and supposed meeting one of these Bothan spies - as highly recommended as they were - was likely an unsettling experience for anyone. Stop being so bloody paranoid, she mused. But Tmoxin had been lucky lately in many aspects. Her businesses were profitable, her relentless networking had landed her more lucrative contracts... it had been awhile since something bad had happened to her. Perhaps it was the fact that she was spending less time with criminal organizations and the Sith. Legitimacy was foreign to her, and it often felt strange, but she had worked hard to pay off her debts, make amends to those she wronged and keep herself out of a deserted Sith dungeon.

As they strolled together, the streets became cleaner, the neighborhood looking more decidedly upscale. Good, at least we are going somewhere nice. His pace slowed near a nice, luxury hotel. If this was their meeting place, it did not ring any alarm bells. She had her bodyguard droid - and of course her contact had no idea she was a Dark Jedi Knight. She quickly scanned him for a Force signature but could find nothing.

"The hotel bar looks quite deserted. I'm assuming that's where we're going, Alexander."

And of course, another drink with her intriguing contact was a pleasing thought.

[member="Meryn Dupont"]

 

[Minnosh]

Indeed, Meryn's suit was tailored. As with many aspects of his life, he didn't leave it up to chance. He didn't hope for the best, but expended the necessary resources to ensure the desired result. In the end, the suit fit him well. However here he was taking a gamble. A calculated risk. No doubt, she would either find out, or he would have to come clean about his deception. The question was, could he still secure a measure of her resources for himself, as well as her trust? It would be interesting. While games rigged in your favour were obviously beneficial, the thrill of the not knowing was fun.

The neighbourhood slowly changed to something that decidedly suited him better. He was still the type to stand out, but not as much as he had in that bar in that gritty district. Here, he seemed elevated, yet he fit in. "So, tell me something interesting about yourself. Something they wouldn't have told me." He never specified who 'they' were. It was safe to assume there was a 'they' somewhere, right? While they walked, she scanned him with the Force. He was clueless. Against the Force, he had no other defence than a quick head and common sense.

They stepped into the nice hotel. She immediately drew his attention to an empty-looking hotel bar. That was slightly unlucky. He could've drawn her upstairs to an even more private location, where they could've enjoyed the rest of their conversation over a bottle of champagne instead. But he was getting ahead of himself. The droid that followed in behind them served as a constant reminder, of his mechanical harbinger of misery should he tread wrong with this woman. He had teased, but she was by no doubt dangerous.

"Of course." he said with a smile. As with so many things this evening, he pretended it was all according to plan. He imagined he'd kick butt at improv classes. Without a word, he would wave to him the attention of the bartender; no great feat considering how empty the place was. He ordered two whiskeys, as he had noticed she had been drinking it before. It just so happened it was his favourite type of alcohol as well. Hopefully, it was of a slightly finer taste than what the South Swing had to offer. Judging by the lack of stain and stench, it probably would be.

When the drinks were put down on the counter, Meryn picked them up and handed one to Tmoxin. With a confident smile, he said "There you go. Next round is on you, yes?" He was teasing. With her looks, he imagined she was used to getting her fair share of free drinks. She probably assumed that was what was happening now. But he wasn't the type to blindly offer free drinks, and through them try to guilt the girl to stay for a chat. He was different, or at least he liked to think so. There was another side to it as well, as he wondered how she would react to having to put money on the counter herself. After all, if she was broke, she was no good to him.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

“You want to know about me? Are we suddenly speed dating?” Tmoxin asked with a wink, a sign that she was subtly teasing. “I will think about that as we get settled.”

They entered the hotel bar. Unlike the last bartender, this one, another Bothan, less surly and dressed smarter than the last, did not bat an eye at her mechanical bodyguard. They stood at the counter, and Alexander ordered two whiskeys. She took hers, but didn’t drink it yet. Her new companion was very charming, and Tmoxin could feel herself letting too much of her guard down already. The alcohol would only hasten that. There would be a time for inebriation later. Right now she needed information. And also owed him an answer to his question. And even more pressing – should she tell him the truth or a lie? Would he know the difference? Should she reveal information that made her seem like an upstanding citizen of the galaxy or something less savory? Tmoxin had an equal mix of both in her past after all.

“I once ran an underground fixed Sabaac ring in a special VIP room for high rollers. This was in the Golden Nautolan Casino on Nar Shaddaa.”

She laughed, however, when he suggested she buy the next round. “Why Alexander, I could buy this whole bar if I wanted to.” She finally took a sip of the whiskey which tasted smoky and expensive.

“But I have a question for you. The information I just gave you. Was that a truth or a lie?”

If he were an intelligence agent would it come naturally for him to know?

[member="Meryn Dupont"]

 

[Minnosh]

"No. But we have to look the part, don't we?" They didn't. "Regardless, it is easier to make a connection than fake one." Definitely not true, but in this case he did not feel like a liar.

As they grabbed their drinks and initiated conversation in a locale of slightly more class, he felt way more comfortable. He did not regret moving their location for a second. There were much fewer distractions here as well. Not that he couldn't handle competition. Familiar with the nature of men, he felt well capable of disarming it. The alcohol would only improve the move, and hopefully leave her less aware of any subtle hints that revealed that he was indeed not her contact at all.

Her comment about being able to buy the entire bar revealed quite a bit. She was well off, and he doubted she was faking it. "Ah, I see. In that case, the next two rounds are on you" he teased about her add another round to her tab, with no real intent of going through with it. Whatever the situation called for at the time. The truth she revealed about herself was unexpected. He had to wonder if she was bluffing. The question that followed let him know it was just as much a test. As an intelligence agent, should he know? Was this her way of vetting her contact, to make sure if he did his homework?

"Well, it wasn't in your folder" he joked, trying to leave two options equally plausible; one being him having seen her folder, the other being the mention of a folder was just a joke. "The person I see in front of me now? I'd say no. But I can tell you are full of surprises, and you've worked to get where you are today." it was a weak claim, in that it was true for most people. Who wouldn't say that they had worked hard or faced adversity, despite favourable upbringing or not? "So I say yes. It is true."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]






[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin swallowed the entire glass of whiskey, which mixed with the previous alcohol in her system, began to dull her nerves enough to relax. She suddenly wanted to know more about this mysterious man. Would she get any truthful information from him at all was the question? Or was his entire life a series of aliases, fake names and stolen identities? Surely he had a home somewhere... even a family possibly.

When Alexander suggested she buy the next two rounds, she stopped pondering and turned to him. "I'll do better than that," she said, her brown eyes locking onto his. In a well-practiced hand motion, the Hapan executive hailed the smartly dressed Bothan behind the bar. "A bottle of champange for me and... my friend. And send one up to a vacant room. I will be staying the night." She side-glanced at Alexander to catch a hint of how he felt about this sudden development.

"And not just any room. Your best room."

Chilled champagne was swiftly deposited in front of them, along with two full glasses of the amber liquid. As Alexander answered her question, Tmoxin bit the edge of her lower lip and said, "You're right. Unless you are holding a truth scanner and then well, you're just cheating then." As she ended her sentence with a melodic laugh, she moved closer to this tall, blonde-haired human in the expensive three-piece suit. Closing the gap between them, except for a little room to lift their drinks, she said, "It's your turn to tell me something. How about a secret that you also don't tell very often?" Instead of information, the request for a secret may have felt a little more intimate.

[member="Meryn Dupont"]

 

[Minnosh]

He feared she would reach the truths about him just about as quickly as she reached the bottom of her glass. How she would respond where nothing was left but the truth, would be interesting to see indeed. However, it seemed like he wouldn't have to worry too much about that. So far so good. Tonight was a night off from work. A vacation. He could do his job in the morning, and face the consequences then.

Glancing at Meryn, she would find no hesitation in him, nor any lack of confidence. He merely smirked, and lifted his glass to her with one subtle nod of the head, before he too found the bottom of his glass. No objections were voiced. Tmoxin seemed to have been speaking the truth about her wealth, as she now demanded their finest room without a care. Very good indeed. Or so his business-mind thought, but she was quickly shutting that part of his brain out. Privately, he didn't care too much.

"I am a truth scanner" he teased, looking at her with that confident smile and playful eyes that drank in her presence. "Part of the job." he followed up with. It was partially true. Indeed, he was good at discovering when someone was telling the truth and when someone was lying, but most of the time, he had the cards stacked in his favour by conducting extensive research beforehand.

Meryn, or Alexander as she knew him as, didn't seem to mind their new proximity. In fact, while one hand grabbed the champagne bottle, the other landed around her waist. It was on the small of her back, but climbing slightly lower than one normally would expect. Now it was his turn to think of something, and he had to take a moment to figure out what he was going to reveal. "I once was a prominent and respected Republic citizen. People who knew, said I was next in line to become the planet's senator. That was until a scandal involving corruption, leaked information and speculation on slavery made it impossible. The secret is, it's all true yet they don't know the half of it."

"I'll let you figure out whether that's a truth or a lie on the way up"

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

If Tmoxin raised the stakes by booking the hotel room, Alexander doubled them by placing his hand on the small of her back. The material of her dress was light-weight, and she could feel his fingers pressing into the dip between her back and posterior. His fingers didn’t stop wandering until she caught his eyes with a challenging look. But truthfully, she was so captivated by the attractive spy that she nearly forgot why she was there in the first place.

As she watched him, describing how he was a Republican Politician in a previous lifetime, she lifted her knee and brushed her leg against his inner thigh on the inseam of his trousers. Scandal. The Hapan knew it well. They were kindred souls in that respect.

"I'll let you figure out whether that's a truth or a lie on the way up"

“Are we suddenly playing truth or dare, Alexander?” she asked, smiling. And even though her heart beat faster at the thought of being alone with her new contact, she fully accepted and appreciate that he may want to do more of their business in a private location. And truthfully, a bedroom wasn’t an usual place in which to negotiate for the red-haired executive.

He held the bottle, so she grasped his hand and led Alexander to the elevator of the building. She punched the button for the 5th floor penthouse suite and the elevator started up.

[member="Meryn Dupont"]

 

[Minnosh]

The stakes were being raised all over this place, and neither party showed any indication of folding. Neither seemed to be the type to play to fold regardless. The fabric of her dress and the looks she gave him was seductive in and of itself, and it was a challenge to show the self restraint to not let his hand explore further. But so far, he appeared the perfect gentleman, or at the very least he did a great job of faking one.

It was a good thing that she seemed as distracted as he did, for had she challenged him with some direct questions, it was likely that he might slip up. His head wasn't exactly in the right place, though he masked it with a confident expression and light, playful eyes. That confidence facade almost fell apart when he felt her leg brush against his. It was a subtle move, to be sure, but the implications, the tension; it was undeniable. His appreciation was noticeable. "Why, do you like to play games?" he asked, not really giving much away. If anything, he usually showed he wasn't the type to be thrown off. He always had some kind of response. Whether good or bad, his confidence often gave the listener the impression that it was the former.

When she took his hand, he wasn't hard to lead. Bottle in hand, he followed her into the elevator. 5th floor. It wouldn't be the longest ride of his life, but there was still that brief moment when the two of them were locked together, alone in this metallic box. His hand again fell around her waist, on the small of her back. As the doors to the elevator closed, he examined her eyes. Usually, he would be able to determine whether she was being polite or if there was some measure of interest there. His eyes never broke away from hers, as his hand seemed to grasp her waist a little firmer, pulling her closer towards him. At this point, they would softly collide, which naturally this was his intent. Without another word, he leaned his head forwards and kissed her.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

"Of course, I like to play Sabaac," Tmoxin said. "There's nothing better than having a hand of Pure Sabaac, don't you agree?" she asked as the elevator lifted up. "I would love to play with you sometime. I can tell you would be a formidable opponent."

And suddenly Alexander's hand was looped around her waist again, and his lips were on hers. The taste was better than any of the whiskey or champange they had drank. With both of her hands, she grasped his face and pulled him closer, raising her leg again to twine around his. The fabric of his suit on her bare leg was an indescribable feeling. She needed to get the contact information of his tailor. His suit fit him so well it was a crime and it was all she could do to prevent her knees from buckling.

Suddenly the elevator stopped at the penthouse suite she had hastily booked. Tmoxin, slightly tipsy now, bolted out of the elevator, and with one hand against the wall, she slipped her stilettos off of her feet. Fumbling with her keycard, she shot the agent a provocative glance, unlocked the room and entered the darkened room, knowing her mysterious contact was right behind her.

[member="Meryn Dupont"]

 

[Minnosh]

"Hard to argue with that." he said, giving her a nod of approval. He almost said that he didn't gamble, but that wasn't exactly true. He took calculated risks, rigged the game in his favour. He gambled, but when he did, there was a large chance that he would come out on top. The nod of approval transitioned into a smirk of approval. "We should. I'm sure I could teach you a thing or two" he was teasing, of course, and his expression showed her he wasn't being serious. Her little secret from before had revealed that this was kind of her thing, at the very least a favored hobby. Though Meryn wasn't the type to roll over at the prospect of a challenge.

Her leg raised, his free hand moved across it in a heated caress. The elevator kiss was rather amazing, and successfully had him hooked. Not that he wasn't before, but now he certainly had crossed the point of no return. The doors opened, and he stepped after her. Both, likely tipsy, and showing no indication of slowing down or changing topic back to business. He always felt like he had a mind for business in the morning. It could wait. She would still be around.

As she fumbled for her keycard, Meryn was making no helpful move whatsoever. In fact, he was being quite distracting, as he stood close behind her, his hands roaming as they saw fit, his lips tracing a path on her neck At this point it was pointless trying to hide the shortness of breath and increased heart rate. Her provocative glance made sure of that.

Stepping into the room, he closed the door shut behind them. In another fluid move, his jacket was tossed over on a nearby chair. The look in his eyes possessed no subtlety whatsoever. He was quite easy to read, for once. "Care to give me a tour?" now it was he who shot her a provocative glare, as he stepped towards her. It didn't really matter what she answered. It didn't matter if she answered at all. They were beyond words.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Alexander readily returned her affection. Tmoxin didn't like losing control over what was to be a business meeting, but the spy had a magnetism she couldn't resist. She had put her own emotional desires on the backburner for months. Her attraction to the charismatic man was a by-product of this, she rationalized. She moaned softly when she felt his lips trickle up and down the nape of her neck as she struggled with the door. His hands grasped her more firmly now, giving her a hint of the passion that was to come.

For an upscale Bothawui hotel the room was fairly luxurious. There was a terrace which overlooked a picturesque river with rolling foothills surrounding it.The bed looked roomy and inviting. But what caught Tmoxin's eye as she entered was the jacuzzi hot tub adjascent to the bedroom. Filled with rose petals, it had a vaguely honeymoon feel.

Spoiler

This made her blush as they certainly weren't getting married anytime soon. As he casually tossed his jacket aside, Alexander approached her. His desire mixed with the heat from her own body was drug-like, and she kissed him again. Turning around, she pulled her hair to the side and motioned for him to help her unzipping the white dress. As she waited, she said, "If this is how you get information from your clients, I imagine you are fairly successful intelligence agent." Struck by a sudden paranoia, she hoped he hadn't been hired by the Morpho rival who killed Dr. Oovan. Luckily she had no trade secrets on her, and Tmoxin's datapad was installed with the best encryption software. But she waved it away - champagne would help with that soon enough - and moved closer to him as he unzipped her, lightly brushing against him.

"Which should we tour first? The bed or the jacuzzi?"

[member="Meryn Dupont"]

 

[Minnosh]

The room itself was rather gorgeous. It certainly fit his standard, and it was the kind of place he normally would have enjoyed relaxing in, as he moved in-between (or even on) missions. However, there was another element this evening that distracted him from taking in the scenery. Hailing from Nubia, a planet where the people were known for their admiration of beautiful sights, one might have expected him to get lost in the picturesque river with the surrounding rolling foothills. Instead, his eyes were drown to the brunette beauty. He found her way more inviting.

The following kiss was even more intoxicating than the last. She was a captivating creature, and she certainly had him drawn in to her. When she turned around, it was hard to determine what came first: his hands on her dress or her asking him to help her with it. "I have many ways." he said, smirking from behind her, as he drew her zipper slowly downwards. "And I am." he teased. Fairly successful indeed. Of course, he wasn't on a secret mission to gather information on her. But she wasn't wrong, in that he wasn't entirely what he seemed. His intentions were different from the one she expected in him.

"The Jacuzzi, definitely" Meryn responded to her question as momentarily left her to pick up some glasses for their bottle of champagne. Or perhaps it was so he could return to admire her from a different angle. "After you" he said, and put down the bottle and the glass by the edge of the Jacuzzi. Then he started getting into a more situation-appropriate lack of clothing.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin could feel the heat of Alexander's hands, his fingers lightly brushing the curve of her back as the zipper slowly fell down. The anticipation of the moment was high, and the Hapan woman easily shrugged out of her dress, letting that fall to accompany her stilettos on the hotel room floor. She enjoyed the admiring view from Alexander, but he was also so beautiful and confident in her brown-eyed gaze as well. For a long-term mate, she had always pictured herself with an Imperial officer or a wealthy businessman. The fact that he worked for the Bothan Spy Network was only a slight deterrant. She had dated the other types and well, here she was alone. Tmoxin enjoyed cat and mouse games more than she liked to admit. She also liked to win, so whatever happened tonight with Alexander, the Hapan executive was determined to come out on top.

This would likely be difficult given his charade, but the red-haired Dark Jedi was none the wiser. She was now completely fooled by him and no longer on alert. But vulnerability was not apparent in how she shed the rest of her undergarments and stepped gingerly into the jacuzzi, letting the swirling water cover her, allowing her a little bit of modesty. She poured herself more champagne, and it was her turn to watch Alexander now.

The balcony window was open, and a refreshing breeze blew into the room. They would hear the sounds of faint music coming from a piano player in the hotel lobby. Lights from aquatic speeders blinked off and on as they moved in and out of the harbor. Between the heat of the water and the overwhelmingly stunning views, Tmoxin was completely relaxed and utterly defenseless. Normally that feeling would trigger an anxiety response from her, probably due to her military training. But presently she was prepared to let everything go and admit that she could get used to this type of easygoing life, especially if Alexander would remain by her side.

[member="Meryn Dupont"]

 

[Minnosh]

Though both of them had likely been in many similar situations in the past, whether it was the intent or a welcome surprise to an otherwise mundane business trip, this was slightly different. The attraction was there, but beyond that, the connection he felt was undeniable. They seemed compatible, despite how little he knew about her. Everything just moved along naturally. Meryn's mind was very much locked into the present, much due to Tmoxin's lack of dress, and so he didn't focus much more on what it meant. He was enjoying himself, and would like to continue doing so. And so he did.

Meryn was no longer thinking about his little agenda, or trying to keep her from asking the right questions. Instead, he was completely drawn in by her. He'd worry about the mission later. Right now, the most important thing for him to do was to lean in and kiss her. She looked absolutely beautiful. The dress had implied as such, and clearly, it had told no lies.

As she descended into the jacuzzi, he stood there distracted, for a few moments doing nothing but stare and admire her. When the water embraced her, he followed suit, by getting out of is suit. Now it was her turn to enjoy the scenery, as everything came off, and he too stepped into the jacuzzi with her. Much better. The open balcony window filled the room with the muted sounds of the world outside moving along. The music, the speeders, the sound of ocean meeting land dictated a pleasant atmosphere, allowing them to fade together into the background of the warm, bubbly water.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]