Dominion The House Always Wins -- Darkwire Dominion of Bovo Yagen Hex

[Aspect of Defiance]

The galaxy was changing yet again. Wars and rumors of wars filled the collective ears of those that were paying attention to any form or news regardless of the source or ideology of those reporting it. Powers were shifting and changing, something which was inevitable. The powers that be, and alliances which were forming from them, were challenging the notion that some nations were too large to fail. Turmoil and fear gripped people from all corners of the spiral. Not even the Southern Systems were immune.

Many pointed to the Confederacy First doctrine as a form of isolationism when in truth it had been about border security. The notion that a nation did not have the right to protect its borders was assinie at best, and only proven to be necessary by the Agents of Chaos. Their attacks had more than justified the decision. Yet, friendly relations were also needed. During a time of war, those who suffered from it most needed a reprieve. To that end it seemed the techno savvy neighbors of the Confederacy to their northern borders would provide ample opportunity.

Bovo Yaggen, a world which was more land mass and jungle than ocean would be the home for Luminous Sun’s new casino. Citizens of the Confederacy, Bovo Yaggen, and those loyal to Darkwire alike, all received an open invitation to attend the grand opening. With many cultures having festivals to honor the dead, or to celebrate the ghoulish things of nature, the party boasted enjoyment for all.

The main gambling floor was filled with all kinds of games and tables, from pazaak, sabaac, roulette, slots, and more. Webs, cauldrons of water filled with dry ice, witches, goblins, mummies, and monsters from the pages of every folklore found their use as decoration for the room. Other rooms filled with carnival games traditional to harvest celebrations were off to the side, enticing all to press their luck and win trinkets of various sizes. The dance floors were teaming with those looking to celebrate the night through movement and loud music. While others sat among the bars drinking to their heart's content, and beyond.

As for those in attendance, some chose masks and costumes, while others were content to simply be themselves. The night was open and free, designed to rake in funds for the casino, but give the war weary citizens something they all desperately needed, several hours of carefree fun and relaxation.

Spoiler: OBJECTIVES

The house always wins right? It is the grand opening after all, and games have been tipped to ensure the house wins big. There is something out of place about it all… those in orange and black seem to be losing at a higher rate than others, as if they’ve been targeted. Will you figure out what’s going on?

Drink big! Win big! What is a little friendly drinking competition between likely allies. CIS vs Darkwire in what should prove to be a contest for the ages. Who knows what the winning faction might receive?

Many rooms of the casino are filled with all kinds of carnival games from ring toss, to bobbing for apples, cornhole, dunk tanks, darts, and more. How many can you play? Will you win a prize for that special someone?

Dance the night away on one of the several dance floors provided. Whether you came with a date, or decided to show up stag, there is plenty of music and fun for you here.

What is a spooky party without costumes, masks, and a contest. If you decided to dress up, show off your costume! You might just win a prize!

Still can’t find something to do? There is plenty in the casino to explore. Play the games. Enjoy conversation. Do a bit of everything. It is entirely up to you!

 

[Deryn Kaaldos]

​

Two wins, seven losses. Deryn was thinking he may have some more luck in Pazaak tonight but no. It was still the same as ever. However, unlike his usual bet, it was Galactic Credits going down the drain. More often than not, it was Hutt Coins that found its way into the enemies hand. Luckily, he had quite a bit of Galactic Credits on hand, so he could play more. However, Galactic Credits were the most used among the currency in his credit holders. It was an even-slope then, well, uneven if you consider how much he has lost. Still, Deryn ever so irresponsible with his money, kept on.

In his tenth game, Deryn slipped out a card that added five from the main deck to his seventeen, turning it twenty-two. He grimaced underneath his helmet as he had to use his minus three card from his special deck to bring it back to nineteen. That was his last card, but nineteen was hard to beat as you needed exactly a twenty and no higher or lower to win and his opponent was on thirteen. His opponent, a wealthy looking Zabrak, slipped out a plus three card from the main deck. Deryn could hear a spike in his system, a sudden rise, a positive look, and he knew that he had already lost. The Zabrak pulled out a plus four from his special deck, and the game was over. Deryn had lost once more.

"Good, uh, game....?" The armored bounty hunter said as he saw his credits swiped away. The Zabrak only smiled cockily as he left the table, wanting to spend off his earning. Deryn leaned on his arm, frustration starting to get to him as he lost more and more credits. "Kark, why do I do this?" He waited for another game. He swore to himself that this will be the last one, like he did the previous game, and the game before that.

​

 

[Gemma Hentz]

Location: Casino Bar
Wearing: x
Waiting for: Gren Blidh

Gemma Hentz's emerald green stilettos stepped up to the entrance of the casino. In light of the grand opening, it seemed that they'd done quite a good job of getting the word out – their marketing team ought to be praised. The crowd was dense, filled with an unusual mix of people – party goers dressed for dancing, hard-luck gamblers hoping to hit it big, and... individuals parading around in costumes.

Well, she supposed it was that time of the year.

As for her own ensemble, she'd chosen a flashy green dress with a very low dip in the front. Hazel eyes, her usual come-hither-stare, surveyed the scene as she walked inside. Truth be told, she wasn't much of a gambler. But tonight, she was taking something of a gamble.

However, this gamble had nothing to do with the casino – it was merely a place to meet. And she couldn't have passed up the chance to attend such a party. As an up-and-coming member of the Corporate Authority, an Executive of the First Bank of Denon, she wanted to ensure that her face was seen here tonight. More than that, she hoped that this joint venture between her and Mr. Blidh would give her an even bigger boost up the ladder, so to speak.

Confident strides brought her up to the bar, where she perched ladylike on a stool. With her back to the entrance, she drew out a small compact and gazed into the little mirror – watching over her shoulder. She waved the barman over, but did not make eye contact as she gave her order.

“A Bespin fizz, please.”

Now, she supposed she just needed to wait. But there was little comfort in it.

 

[Danielle Mueller]

Location: Luminous Sun’s Casino, Bovo Yagen.
Objective: Mix & Mingle.
Wearing: Click here.

​

A break away from business and training under Adron Malvern seemed to be just what Dee needed; The two had made progress where recent turbulence was concerned and her future alongside the Exarch was once again reaffirmed, yet to be able to let her hair down and try to relax a little for a change, to live for herself for a day or two, that was something she could greatly appreciate.

The World of Bovo Yagen was something else, and the grandeur of the Casino was no disappointment either. As young as Danielle appeared, she had gained entrance through a few handy tricks she had learned from her mentor and now it seemed she was free to enjoy what the place had to offer, as well as those of a similar mind.

Socializing wasn't exactly one of Dee's strongest skills, in fact quite the opposite, she was prone to doubting herself to such an extent where she often expected others to immediately do the same. It made life away from Shor and everything that had once been familiar to her very difficult, although her confidence was slowly growing and she becoming gradually more accustomed to the life of an Adjutant, jumping from one place to the next and meeting all sorts of people along the way. So much so, that earlier that day she had decided she wanted to try and make some more friends...Perhaps even meet someone special, though she wasn't jumping ahead of herself, so to speak.

Her getup was a blend of street and casual-night wear, nothing over the top nor representing her position as the Exarch's adjutant; Instead Danielle had wanted to strike it out for her own sake and see what she might find at a little more face value without those old power dynamics at play. She wanted...-No, she needed some genuine friendships to call her own and so impressions of political prestige wasn't going to do her any good in that regard, she'd assumed.

First things first, though. A little liquid courage was in order and so she made her way towards the bar, ordering a strawberry daiquiri to get herself off to a light start, turning to put her back to the counter and watch the life within the vast area grow as the minutes passed by.

​

 

[Alistair Key]

Tag: Mr. Antilles | John Locke
Wearing: xxx
​

A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth as the music rang in his ears. The loud bass pumping through the casino, the decorations, and the lights, which filled the entire building made Alistair happy. Tonight was going to be a good night regardless of what happened. Everything Alistair could ascertain through his information brokers had told him John Locke was going to be in attendance somewhere. While he was certain the tech mogul would arrive fashionably late, Key had only one real goal for the night, make the Exarch loose his balance.

He wondered if he knew he was alive? Did Locke know the man he had once helped, the man whose name made up half of the company name, was not as deceased as everyone had thought? By the time the night was over, John Locke would know that he was alive. Alistair had plans, big plans, and tonight was the first step in all of it.

The woman at his side ( Mr. Antilles ) was considerably as... interesting... as he was. How did he know her? The details were fuzzy. Alistair did not remember much of his past before the accident, only bits and pieces. The fragments of what he did remember painted a bleak picture of society around him. It failed.

It failed everyone.

It failed... HIM.

The police force had refused to pay for his treatment, insurance had denied him, and naturally when Locke could have helped, he hadn't. His disfigurement had ensured that his wife had left him with their only child. Much of his life from that night had been an attempt to put the pieces back together, but every turn, every attempt, failed. Why put the pieces back together when tearing the society apart that had ripped his world apart could be so much more rewarding.

Alistair moved into the crowd. He had to be ready for the moment Locke arrived.

"You remember the face of this guy we're looking for, sugar?"

The question was whispered, maybe she would hear it over the music.

"Like the hat... I wonder if I could pull off the look."

The masked man reached for the hat in attempt to pull it off her head and try it on for himself. Maybe it was the finishing thing his ensemble needed for the night. After all, the man needed a look to match the charisma he exuded.

 

[Abel Denko]

B Y O O​

Tag: Meili Feng , Fauvel Astier
Theme: Click

The Sins of the Past.

Long ago, when the Lord of House Denko was a far younger man, ends were met through sordid ways. On Nar Shaddaa, law and order were dictated by the numerous criminal organizations. Thus, what would be abhorrent to a democracy was commonplace. In this reality did Abel find his first calling: to be an Enforcer for the Black Suns. It was the furthest thing from honest work - but it kept his pockets full enough that he could keep a roof over both his and his sister's heads. In time, he would move on from the "Enterprise" and move into a far cleaner line of work.

But being an Enforcer required hurting quite a few people.

And though the man of the present was good, the adversaries of times past would still thing him as Evil.

Enter the sellsword from Locke and Key. Long ago, they had crossed paths on opposing sides of an ambush. She was sworn to protect her employer's shipments. He was sworn to steal them for the Sun. They battled once before, which ended in a stalemate. And, in truth, Abel had forgotten her face. That is, until they saw one another across the Casino. As his gaze met hers, he knew that there was no way this night would end peacefully. And thus, if he was to "answer" for his previous sins, he would do so in his own way.

Like usual, he was accompanied by his apprentice Fauvel. Yet he instructed her to tarry in the Casino and to keep watch on the evenings proceedings. And, if he did not find her in an hour, to get on her ship and head back to Ilyria. Simply put, if he was dead, he would not have her waiting and lost.

With his instructions given, he ascended the fire escape stairwell to the rooftop. It was there that he found his old adversary waiting. Abel took a moment to shrug off the duster that had clung to his shoulders, revealing the sleeveless cuirass that always occupied his torso. His off-wrist was adorned by a bracer - a Lightshield that was dormant. His dominant hand found and unclasped his lightsaber. "You've come a long way for an old grudge." He said, moving in a semi-circle about the woman.

"Let's settle it."​

 

[Lunara Azure]

Spoiler: Also

Location: Casino | Bovo Yagen
Tag: OPEN
Wearing: This

​

The noise. That was the first thing that struck you as the casino doors swung open, the sound of bodies moving and laughter. The sound of casino chips clinking and dice clattering, the fwhip of cards rubbing over one another. The young woman’s blue eyes squinted for a moment against the light, standing a moment in the doorway. She could feel the energy of the place, the energy boiling off everyone, the force filled with that sense of wellbeing and happiness you could only find in a place of entertainment, a place where people gathered to enjoy themselves.

It was like a warm pool of water washing over her, that warmth sinking into her bones. There was a sense of floating along on it, carried away by the currents of the force. There was almost a magnetic element to the room that drew her in, made her want to loose herself in it. You always heard that a casino was designed to pull you in, was designed to get you to step further and further in until you had nothing left. A faint smile pulled at the blonde’s lips at a memory danced to the fore of her mind, a white-haired man she had offered the same choice. Well, she felt right at home now.

The click of heels echoed around the entrance as the blonde stepped through the portal, shrugging the coat off her shoulders, that cold smile still on her face. It didn’t take much, a small touch of the force to the wings attached to her back, the feathery accoutrements shifting and spreading on her back. Almost like living attachments, waving as she breathed, as if she were a real living Diathim. A deep breath, a step forward as the wings spread to their maximum length as she raised her head, beckoning a server over to collect her coat. A step forward, wings folding down on her back as she made her way to the bar.

There would be plenty of time to explore the casino, first she wanted a drink.

 

[Meili Feng]

B. Y. O. O.​

Location: Casino Roof | Bovo Yagen
Wearing: This
Wielding: This
Tag: Abel Denko | Fauvel Astier

​

They said that you could never escape from your past, that your sins would always catch up with you. No matter how far or how fast you ran, they were always there waiting for you.

It was supposed to be an easy mission, a milk run. Provide security to a freighter transporting weapons and droids from a manufacturing facility to a salesroom. Just the sort of mission you gave a wet behind the ears squad fresh out of basic training. Something to whet their teeth without any real danger, to get them working together as a team. The kind of basic assignment that was given to fresh blood all over the galaxy.

Milk run? That had been a laugh.

They’d come out of no-where, the pirates, those horrors who preyed on the ships that rove through the darkness of space. Meili’s siblings had told her about combat against pirates and mercenaries, but nothing had really prepared her for the reality of the situation. It wasn’t anything like training, like the games that they’d put themselves through, there had been no safety net, no guidance from trainers. There had just been the bright light of blaster bolts tracing patterns in the air, of the sound of her teammates and enemies falling to the ground, screaming in agony.

There had never been any screams before.

It had been like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

And he’d been there. This man standing across from her. Blade had met blade, kick and punch met and countered as they fought to a standstill, till both sides retreated bloody and bruised. Her life had only gotten more complicated since then, enemy after enemy, pirate, slaver, force ghost monster. She’d faced them all and survived…somehow. Yet that face remained burned in her mind, her first fight, her first failure. That stain on her honour she thought she’d never be able to expunge.

Karma had an odd way of catching up with you, of coming full circle.

This was meant to be a joyous occasion, a celebration for this planet. She’d been dragged here against her better judgement, she’d owe the Sith a drink after this.

A chance for a second chance to re-write her fate, to expunge that stain. A chance to take out all the anger, all the despair that had been building up since her encounter with that monster.

A weapon had no place in an outfit meant for a celebration, but she’d felt naked without it, slipping the weapon into its holster at her back. She was glad she’d made that choice to not worry about the lines of her outfit.

Cool rain fell around her, plastering her hair to her body, running down her neck, a cool cold touch that she barely felt. All that mattered was the fight, her focus on the man circling around her as she hefted her blade up into a guard. Dark eyes watched him, unfocused, watching the muscles move beneath his skin, the fall of his feet on the roof, that steady careful pacing that spoke of training and confidence.

The petite woman matched his movements, each motion carrying the grace of a dancer, the economical movements that spoke of years of training.

“Fate has a funny way of bringing us exactly where we need to be.”

Tense muscles unwound, powering her forward in the space between one heartbeat and the next, the power of the petite warrior’s sithspawn body unleashed in a moment as she brought the blade down from its guard in a fast cut.

“Let’s end it.”

 

[Yula Perl]

Location | Dance Floor
Tags | Open

It was not her blood to turn down a party invitation.

On the dance floor of the Luminous Sun Casino, a leather-clad Zeltron was already several drinks in. She’d been unabashedly dancing the night away, reveling in the high-intensity energy of her surroundings. As long as the bass thrummed in her body and the alcohol warmed her chest, she was in her element.

But Darkwire hadn’t come here solely for fun, and even the party-high Zeltron understood that. They were a smaller group, operating in the shadows of much larger galactic powers. If they were to sustain, they’d need friends, or at the very least, allies with mutual interests that would keep them afloat.

The music died down momentarily and Yula took this opportunity to make her way back to the bar. Pushing her hair away from the light sheen of sweat on her face, she ordered a Tatooine sunrise.

At the very least, CIS provided good drinks.

 

[Abel Denko]

B Y O O​

Tag: Meili Feng

How poetic.

If memory served, the heavens also wept bitter tears during that fateful day. The scene was almost identical, save for one specific fact. During the assault on Locke and Key's holdings, there was complete and utter chaos. The explosions of starfighters raining down ordnance above. The hymn of blaster fire surging across the gap. The symphony of dying men. All of that was absent here. There was only the gentle song of raindrops shattering upon their forms, and upon the rooftop around them.

For the Lord of House Denko, meeting a demon from his past was a surprise. But it was one that he anticipated would occur at some point. The role of Enforcer had required that he bring misery to others. Directly or indirectly, he had seen narcotics flow into the streets of many worlds. He had broken the bodies of foes. Pried what little wealth the meek had away. In every sense of the word, he had been amoral. Even the light within him now would not absolve him of his crimes. He knew this.

But as the saying once went, Let the Victor be Justice.

There were few things that the Lord recalled specifically about their battle. Save for how grueling it turned out to be. One fact, though, which screamed into memory was how surprisingly strong the woman was. Her features did not betray this fact - perhaps leading to why she had been hired in the first place. Yet, while Abel could recall this fact, he was a completely different animal than their last encounter. Since then, he had been trained, meticulously, in the Force. Since then, his estranged spouse had shown him the ways of Mandalore.

Suffice it to say, Abel had no illusions about losing this day. He would be the Victor. He would be Justice.

It began. The woman said her peace briefly and launched an explosive attack. The dance of moving in a semi-circle about one another came to an abrupt end as her blade came crashing down. Instinct flared. His reflexes saw his form sidestep the assault, whilst his off-wrist swing forward. On a whim, his Lightshield burned into being - the swing aimed to send its form screaming into her exposed arm. The old man's lessons had told him to do as much - never make the first move. Observe. Adapt.

Overcome.​

 

[Ruby Jaxx]

​

Aww yisss.

Ruby strolled into the casino with a grin; this was gonna be epic. The bright lights of the machines and the little beeping sounds they made instantly drew her attention, and she walked like a moth to a flame. Before her, the screen of one machine blinked in such a way that she wanted to instantly empty her pockets into it. But the joke was on the machine, really...

She had nothing in her pockets but lint.

Reaching out, she gave one of the buttons a couple of presses just for fun. But the screen flashed that she needed to insert credit vouchers first. With a sigh, she shoved her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket and started walking. Somewhere, amidst the music and voices and beeping, there was a call:

"Drink, drink, drink!!!"

Ruby paused, looking in the direction of what seemed to be a competition of some kind. She made her way over, there were tables and many mugs and people seemingly matched up -- their eyes locked, their lips guzzling booze. Ruby sidled over to one of the bystanders, clustered around one of the tables.

"What's going on here?" she asked, gesturing to the table, where one of the men was belching rather loudly.

"Drinking contest, luv," he replied, nudging her with an elbow. "You in?"

"In?" Ruby shrugged. "What's in it for me?"

"Free drinks and a plate of hot wings is what."

Ruby glanced sidelong at the man, a grin forming on her lips. "Hecks yes. Sign me up!"

Tag: Open!

 

[Calixte Diantha]

​

Location: Casino Ground Floor
Objective: Shake off the dust, Mingle
Tags: | Open |
Wearing: [Every Girl Should Have One]

----------------------------------------

How long had it been? Honestly, Calixte could not consciously recall the last time she had gone out to do anything that wasn't related to dealing with someone else's clan, supply runs, information seeking, or any other job and stress related event. She had become so consumed in everything that involved taking care of other people, that she had legitimately lost a bit of herself someone in the mix of it all. The sass that defined her had ebbed, the sarcasm that had once laced every word had been tamed. The very fire that burned behind slate grey colored eyes had dimmed, all due to the mundane day to day. It was a drastic enough change that the redhead took notice herself.

She had seen the way she had changed, had witnessed all of the things about herself just sort of drain away in the time she had spent off of the grid. Well, enough was enough. Cali was a creature of habit, and one of those habits? People - she needed to be around others. She needed fresh interaction, exciting and enticing conversations. The possibility of things going wrong at any given time, the ability to stir up trouble if she deemed the situation suitable to do as such.

And so she had left. Not without word of course, she wasn't inconsiderate. Calixte had made sure that her departure was recognized, and then she had put in the time to find out what was going on with the long neglected (by her) Confederacy. Color her both surprised and pleased to find out about this shindig on Bovo Yagen, and it had been a no brainer to make that her first stop.

The redhead had dressed without a second thought; every woman should have a little black dress in their wardrobe after all, and it had been far too long since she had worn hers - any of them, really. Trading heels for boots was a little odd, it had definitely been a while since she had dressed up for anything, least of all in something to strut around in for the night. Whatever the case, she had entered the Luminous Sun's Casino without a hitch in her step and with all the confidence of someone who was there on purpose.

For only a moment Cali's gaze swept the area, but it didn't take her long to find a bar. She made her way forward and when she reached her temporary destination the request for a drink rolled off of her tongue with that flair of sultriness she had misplaced for so long. The fact that her flirty nature so easily fell right back into place pleased her and brought a smirk to just one corner of her mouth. For the time being, she leaned her frame against the bar while she waited for her drink, but she turned herself around just enough so that she could watch the area around herself. There were plenty of people around, though none that had piqued her curiosity enough to abandon her post just yet.

But the hour was young, and there would be plenty of time to insert herself into someone's company...eventually. Drinks first.

 

[Cassus Akovin]

Spoiler

Connecting...
Connecting...
Connection established.

Cassus tapped on the controls of his wrist, altering the appearance of the holo-shroud covering his person. Lots of people were dressed up for a thematic festival on Bovo Yagen, but the boy Bounty Hunter wasn't interested in investing any capital into elaborate props. Though, it was ironic to think this while utilizing a holo-disguise matrix openly, an arguably far more expensive item than any homespun costume.

The boy appeared as a kind of deformed humanoid Acklay. Personally, he was rather impressed with the level of distortion he could get the disguise matrix to look as realistic as it did. Though he couldn't help that it occasionally glitched out. He wasn't bothered though, it was clear he was projecting a 'costume' rather than appear as someone he wasn't. It also lent credence that the boy wasn't trying to be deceptive, just some rich geek enjoying himself at the casino.

" Deryn Kaaldos , do you intend to break even if we find a bounty? Personally, I would like to make a profit tonight..." Cassus said to his Guild mate.

 

[Palm-Imer]

Wearing: XxX
Tagging: Deryn Kaaldos ~ Cassus Akovin ~ Danielle Mueller ~ Calixte Diantha

​

Fun was something she didn't come across very often.

Between her responsibilities as an Ambassador, her role as a representative between Illyria and Geminidae and her newly found place among the Confederacy's Knights Obsidian, Palm had become all work and no play. It was about time that she ditched the serious demeanor, put on an eye-catching dress fit for the occasion and allowed herself a night of drinking with no ulterior motives or impending interests related to the act of entertaining a glass of corellian whiskey between her fingers.

The opening of Luminous Sun's new casino on Bovo Yagen, and its invitation extended to the Confederacy seemed to be the perfect excuse, and so far the night had been delightful.

The many decorations hanging about made for a wonderful ambience, and as if they had not been enough, people parading themselves this way or the other while clad in amazing costumes was bound to do the trick. Her own choice of attire couldn't truly be classified as a costume, but its metallic accents and the shining stones embroidered onto the thin fabric certainly gave something to look at. Luckily for her, it was a lot more comfortable than it looked.

Palm made her way towards a nearby bar, although it was the card games that had caught her eye, her body demanded that glass of corellian whiskey she had already pictured in her mind's eye before she actually joined the tables. She was not a gambler, preferring games of intellect over those of chance, but that did not mean she could not see the fun in them. She stood next to a redhaired woman, to whom she gave a small smile in greeting. Like her, the golden eyes of the Ambassador went out to the tables while she waited for her drink to be poured.

"Looks like fun, doesn't it?" The questioned hang loosely in the air, she had never felt uncomfortable about chit-chatting with strangers. However, it was then that she caught sight of a familiar face. Danielle Mueller, Adron's adjutant and apprentice. With a gleaming look she beckoned her over, a part of her wanted to comment on the fact that the young lady was currently enjoying an alcoholic beverage, but decided against it since she trusted the young woman's judgement and maturity. "Fancy seeing you here, Dee." After saying her hello, her gaze glided swiftly between Danielle and the redhaired woman, addressing them both.

"Well, might as well join. Maybe Lady Luck will feel kind tonight. If any of you are interested, I would love some more company," With one more smile and an open invitation, she thanked the bartender and turned to head towards the pazaak table, perhaps followed by two ladies. Her gaze fell on the ongoing game and the three individuals around the table. A man, a young man, and a Zabrak. The cards chose to smile upon the latter, whom after collecting his gains decided to leave.

Taking a sip of her whiskey, the amber gaze of the geminaie fell on the two that had remained. "Good evening, gentlemen." She greeted them, offering a nod to the card dealer too as a hello. "I'd love to join in but I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with this game. Perhaps you wouldn't mind teaching?" Palm was sure the dealer would explain if the two other players refused, but hopefully she'd be able to establish friendly conversation with the ones that would soon be her opponents in this gambling game.

 

[Zlova Rue]

The giant rock of ice clinked in the bottom of her glass as it touched the table top. Golden eyes stared out at one of the dance floors filled with men, women, and other varieties of life struggling to show off their moves. Every now and then her eyes roamed to one of the other floors in sight. And you know what she saw? Nothing. Not a single, interesting body moving in the joint.

After she tossed back the remainder of her single-malt, the red Twi'lek stepped away from her table and began to saunter toward the dance floor she'd had an eye on for a while now. It was way passed time someone did something to fix this sad, sad scene. Zlova wasn't complaining about the way some had been eying her from afar when she was just standing at a table either. Something about a red woman in black leather with black tattoos covering her entire body. Well, if they wanted to look, she didn't care. But if they stepped up, they better have a good game or they weren't stepping back the same way they'd stepped up.

The sound of her knee-high boots on the floor were drowned under the ambient noise. So a small shout of surprise intermingled with alarm followed Zlova giving the 'next in line' a gentle shove back. That flicker of ire and even a sense of defensiveness from those with the pretty thing were soon squashed, however. The red Twi'lek stood over them, head high, and golden eyes peering down at them for a moment. Did they really want to follow her up there?

Because a second later, the red woman would take hold of the dance pole and begin demonstrating how she'd survived on Nar Shaddaa as a dancer at a prestigious club. Not that any of them knew her backstory, or cared. That was fine. Zlova didn't care about theirs either. All she wanted from them was exactly what they'd give without exchanging a single word -- their attention. Ascending, descending, spinning around, hanging out from, and countless other acrobatic feats followed on that dance platform the crowd could observe near or far.

Stereotypes could earn you a saber through the belly, but they also made damn sure she got paid if she lost everything else in the galaxy. And she had once. Good thing she was as talented as she was beautiful. And Zlova would happily let this crowd know it.

Several minutes later, she steadily stepped down from the platform and gave the next girl a warm smile. Maybe they wouldn't match her skill by the end of the night, but there was something for people of all species to aspire toward if they wanted to claim to be the best here.

Having livened up the night a bit, the red Twi'lek moved through the crowd in search of another drink. Or perhaps good company, but that was painfully hard to find some nights.

Tag: Talohn Atar | Yula Perl | Open

 

[Talohn Atar]

Perhaps one person might catch her eye in the crowd as she dances. Simply due to the ridiculousness that is the outfit. All of it, a normal tuxedo, topped with a baby barf green mandalorian helmet, meant to look as ridiculous as possible. With the tuxedo, the fellow is wearing leather boots instead of dress shoes. No gloves on the hands, revealing that whoever is under that is some sort of furred species. Though the weirdo eventually disappears as that tide that is the crowd shifts about.

Talohn, taking off his helmet, takes a seat at the counter beside his droid, Madlad. This droid, and it's psychopathic tendencies, had more of a reputation than Talohn himself, some would say. Most who met it and lived all agreed, it was a dark creature that needed to be scrapped. It had all the flexibility of an assassin droid, yet the official license of a protocol droid.

Talohn himself wasn't bad looking, as far as beings with fur go. He's actually quite the handsome specimen of his species, but not everyone likes shedding. He looks to be in his late twenties at most, with sharp orange eyes that seem filled to the brim with life. Perhaps that feature would make him recognizable. The merc that fought a sith and lived was talked about a little bit a few months back, perhaps it was still in memory some? It mattered not, Talohn was here to relax.

"Smoneone enjoyed the Twi'lek." The droid states in it's deep and dark voice, causing Talohn to shake his head. Madlad slides the drink over that it ordered for Talohn, some sort of Alderaanian red wine. Talohn happily takes up the glass, and downs a large gulp. "So, what have you been up to? No trouble I hope?" Talohn questions his mechanical partner in crime.

Madlad sits there in a long silence, before it speaks up once again. "I have come to a conclusion. Before, I disagreed about oceans technically qualifying as a soup. But I have taken a few weeks to ponder this discussion. I have run the numbers, and as it turns out, my answer has changed. The ocean does in fact qualify as a soup." Talohn instantly puts his heads in his hands. "For the love of the stars, not this discussion again. You change your answer every two weeks, come on! The original discussion was an entire year ago." And thus, the cycle that starts every two weeks begins anew, as they both begin to argue about what and what doesn't qualify as soup, along with whether or not a hot dog is a taco.

Zlova Rue | Open

 

[Zlova Rue]

Someone called out her 'name.' The name they wanted her to be, anyway. Reached out toward the stars... and found they were out of reach for a reason.

Zlova fluidly pivoted to the side, and around to the muscular man's back. Two fingers stabbed into the lower region of his exposed spinal column. Few were wearing genuine armor this evening. Her left hand snaked over his left shoulder to take hold of his jaw as her head slithered over the right shoulder. "Don't try to move. You'll just fall on your face." She'd used a delightfully straightforward technique to momentarily incapacitate his nerves' abilities to send signals to his legs. Most managed to stay standing, unless they threw their center of gravity in any one particular direction. "Didn't you mother ever tell you? Red girls are dangerous. Follow me again, and I'll show you she wasn't speaking metaphorically."

After unraveling herself from the man, she resumed course for a bar nearby. Still plenty of time to get back on the floor. No need to take center stage again. More intimate dances among the crowd would be enough, especially now that so many of them knew who to look for a good time. If they could keep up.

"Hello there, kitten." The warmth and unseen sense of another behind a person might tickle up Talohn's back. Her voice was soft, warm, and only inches from his furry ear as well.

Or so it seemed. Zlova was actually five feet behind him, but an invisible Force projection made it seem as though she were right on top of the man. Better to test how he'd react and how quickly he'd do so before risking a brawl and ruining the festivities. His droid partner wouldn't feel or see any of it. Too bad for him to be left out, but that's the way the Force worked when it came to droids.

Tag: Talohn Atar | Yula Perl | Open

 

[Darth Argentum]

Objective: The Winner Is...
Deryn Kaaldos Cassus Akovin

Darth Argentum studied the casino over a flute of champagne. Or, Maro Dansk did, as of late a free agent but also the Chairman of the Bank of JanFathal. Events had transpired in such a way where he now found himself in need of other business prospects. Perhaps this was the place.

Getting into CIS space had proven incredibly easy. He hoped finding another niche would be as well. Opportunities seemed to abound in this part of space. It had certainly piqued his interest.

He'd taken care to hide his true identity behind his sorcery. So he stood out only for being a Muun. But then, most beings would only assume he was just another investor in the casino. Nothing to take note of beyond a first glance.

Often a drunken one at that. He hadn't touched his beverage. Intoxicants were never something he'd indulged in in spite of the various soirees he'd attended. The Muun had smelled it, recognizing the brand on the bottle. and it seemed pleasant enough. But appearances were deceiving.

Such as the gambling that went on. Normally the house won more often than not. It was a fact of life for casinos. But beings in orange and black had seemed to win more than anyone else. He couldn't explain that.

He watched in relative obscurity, seeing where things would lead....

 

[Deryn Kaaldos]

Cassus Akovin || Palm-Imer || Danielle Mueller || Calixte Diantha
​

"What use is money if you don't spend it?" He replied to his fellow Bounty Hunter, Cassus Akovin , still intent on winning one last match. It was a funny thing, really. The older he grew, the less he cared about currency. He has been in the Bounty Hunting business for decades. He was once ludicrously rich but simultaneously ludicrously bored. To remedy such stagnation, he bought guns, upgrades to his armor, and gambled. After all, if time was money, he was already swimming in gold, being near immortal. Perhaps that was an instinctual response to having money. The Gen'Dai were after all known to step away from change, believing it only to be an illusion, and therefore quite a few stepped back from wealth - Deryn started to laugh while thinking of this. He couldn't resist it, he arched his back, hands pressed against the table as laughter came from within his helmet from the pun. Wealth brought change. Wealth brought change. He found it hilarious, especially in his desperate grasps at winning. The card dealer was thinking that the man, after having lost so many times, had broken.

Oh, he wished he could share the joke. Explain it even. But no. He'd have to explain what he was, and he wasn't exactly keen on revealing such information to a fellow gambler. Besides, it would scare off the other gamblers! His race was known to be immensely physically powerful as well as bat-shit crazy and violent along with their practical immortality! If the Wookies were avoided in gambling, what of the Gen'Dai? Well, he couldn't blame people if they avoided him because of his race at a game of Pazaak. Honestly, he was feeling like ripping the arms of the next person he loses to. He smiled at the idea. He wanted some violence right now. He already knew several people had a bounty on their heads but there was a problem with that. "There are plenty of Bounties in this room, par'ner. But the problem is that the Bounty is on the Knights Obsidian. Force-Users in total in fact. If you wan'a get yer' pay, you'll get trouble along with it." He added through his comms just as another person appeared.

"Uhm, yeah, I've got no partner at the moment. Feel free to take a seat." Did he want to rip Palm-Imer 's arms off? No. He didn't. Mostly because he heard some familiar clinking and he knew that ripping her arms off would be more troubling than losing another round. He thought it out even more, it wasn't a this or that, situation if he did. It would be a this and that and to be honest, as he started to rationalize, he began to believe he may have developed an early case of Gen'Dai psychosis. Must be a speedrun in his species, huh? "So you uh, play like this-" He began to demonstrate. The demonstration was cut short by the card dealer, who explained that he was doing it wrong. "No, you- you're karking with me, right?" He said as he watched the card dealer demonstrate the real way to play the game. He's been playing this game for the last - what - thirty years wrong. No wonder why he loses.

This will be the last game. The last one. He swears it on his mum. If he had one, that is.

​

 

[Talohn Atar]

Thus, their debate about soup went on. Until it happens. Zlova would likely sense his mind's resistance to her approach with the force, a telletale sign of a fellow force sensitive. Seems this kitten was more than he looks like. Talohn, on his part, had experienced being attacked by the force, thanks to his encounter with the amalgam. Whispers into the mind specifically struck him as scary, since Amalgam used the very same tactic to scream profanities into his mind. Thus, the second he hears the whisper, and that familiar headache caused by another force user's will, his eyes widen. "NOT AGAIN." He hisses.
Zlova would then be subject to an interesting sight, she'd likely be able to sense him using the force as well in the very moment that he attempts to flee. His body is fast enough that it looks like a blur as he moves to vault over the counter.

The infamous droid, Madlad, turns to face her, fists raised protectively. It then allows itself an irritated sigh once it realizes there's no threat, and it turns it's one lensed gaze to Talohn, who is now hiding behind the counter. "Get out from under there, idiot. It's not the Amalgam. It's just that red Twi'lek you were drooling over earlier."

Talohn's head instantly pops up, his expression one of embarrassed dismay. He's blushing under that gray fur. It may not be visible, but it's still obvious. At the statement in regards to him drooling, Talohn emits a sort of high pitched catlike hiss. "I was NOT drooling. How could you even know I was drooling, eh? I was wearing a helmet damn you. I swear to-" He then remembers that Zavlo is there, and those orange eyes turn to rest on her, a nervous chuckle leaving his mouth, with a nervous smile to match. Though, his nervous smile might be considered intimidating due to the fact that it shows off his teeth, which look like they could rip a hand clean off a man. "Uh...um...Hi." He looks around to see how many people are staring before he slowly vaults over the counter to sit back down in his seat. "Sorry about that..uhm...Name's Talohn Atar. You?" He asks, trying to salvage this situation.

Zlova Rue | Open