The Run

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"Doesn't work that way." Wes answered simply.

If he could do it on his own he would, and in truth the first part of the day he probably could. Jorba would be interested in who Alexia was, but in order to sell the painting he would need Alexia there. She was the thief, and she needed to tell the story to actually legitamize it. Wes wasn't exactly...uhh known for his sterling reputation.

He was a forger after all, and he'd started here. "Need you with me."

Wes said.

"You can get food on the way home." Wes offered. "So we dont eat soup for three days."

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

A long, exaggerated huff of air left her lips. Still, she made no move to leave that warm, comfy bed. "Why do you need me with you," she hollered.

Eyes closed as she got even more comfortable.

"You'll be fine on your own! Make sure you get some n'yorks and honey on your way back."

Yup, stubborn.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"No." He said simply. "You come with or I won't get anything."

Hard ball.

Wes could survive on soup quite easily, though he'd probably go eat something while he was out and about anyway. Jorba tended to have a dozen different buffets open all around the casino and he could easily sneak into one of those. This was more of just a way to get her to come with. "People know me as a Forger on Nar Shaddaa."

He told her.

"If you're with me it gives authenticity." Simple truth. "Easier to sell when people think its real."

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"That's cruel and unusual," she yelled again and turned to the other side, pulling the sheet down just beneath her nose. Cerulean-gaze narrowed at the closed door. Toes curled against each other on the mattress. Nose scrunched up.

"Who's to say I wouldn't just sneak out and get some bagels and smear on my own?"

He had a point about him being a forger and trying to sell a painting but she was going to admit that to him. Not when she was still very much warm and comfy in this bed.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

He shrugged.

"Kinda doubt you'd be able to find your way back here." True enough.

Nar Shaddaa was even more confusing than Coruscant. Unlike the Jewel of the Galaxy the Smugglers Moon had no real central planning. The city on this world didn't come about as a controlled growth, rather in short chaotic bursts that just saw it expand whenever it was necessary. It wasn't uncommon for alleyways to follow in one direction and then loop back around to where you originally started. Space ports, casinos, bars all seemed to be randomly placed.

This world was confusing, even for those living on it.

"You can try though." Wes said with a shrug. "Up to you."

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Finally, she pushed herself out of bed. "What makes you think I've never been here before?" She huffed and began dragging on some new clothes, running a comb through her silky strands of dark hair, the door swished open as she emerged. Palms pushed sleep from her eyes.

Feet shuffled over to where Wes was standing and she paused in front of him, arms crossed as her gaze traveled up the short distance to his face. "I'm coming with you because we need this sale to make it to the outer rim. Or even," she gulped. "wild space."

Yuck.

"But that's what you're wearing?"

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"Clothes." He said simply.

For a moment he was distracted by what she had said, wild space. The Outer rim had been his plan, but perhaps running towards wild space wouldn't be such a bad idea. The Chiss were an accommodating people, though rather unforgiving of criminals. His head shook for a moment and he snapped back to reality.

"Come on." He waved to her. "Lets go get paid."

A fraction of what they were going to get, but it was something. "Money is money."

He reminded her before she could even complain.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"Oh, I'm not complaining," she spoke without being accused. But it was all in the man's tone. Nervous gaze shifted around the room. They would be going out and if they didn't stay on this other hutt's turf, bad things would definitely happen. She bet Rasho already knew they were there.

For once, she wished she had a blaster and even more than that, she wished she would actually have the guts and stomach to use it.

She went to the door and opened it, ushering for Wes to follow, "I'm here with you. Let's do this. Getting bagels and smear on the way." At least she was willing to eat again.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

It was something he supposed.

There was still a lot to do today, but at least they didn't have to worry about getting killed. Well, at least they wouldn't have to worry about getting killed by Rasho anyway. Nar Shaddaa was by no means safe, and the fact that they were carrying a fifty million credit painting wasn't lost on Wes.

"Casino first." He told her. "Have to go see the Hutt."

He glanced at her. "Friendly Hutt."

As friendly as any of the slugs could be anyway.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Palms instantly grew sweaty. She pressed them against the fabric on her thighs. Another hutt. Lips pursed. She was a professional! She could do this. Hopefully.

And she did trust Wes. It took a lot but she trusted him.

"Okay," she said quietly, holding the door open. Her voice betrayed her thoughts. "Then bagels and smear?"

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"What?" He gave her a funny look. "No we can get those on the way."[

Jorga did always appreciate food.

Bagels weren't exactly a common staple here on Nar Shaddaa. Usually the food was...well it was about as alien as could be. Nar Shaddaa was generally operated and run by Hutts, not the humans who lived here. That was something the planet had developed into over thousands of years. Criminals ruled here, not governments. "There's a store down there."

He pointed down the street.

"That should have bagels." Probably.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

She looked outside. There was a shop called Chewies. "Good," fingers wrapped around Wes' hand and her slender form began tugging and ushering him toward the door. "Cmon, cmon," stomach rumbled in protest. Not eating for so long and then not eating that much last night had its effects.

She was famished.

She began to lead the forger with their stolen painting in tow down the stairs and toward the outside street door. Fingers didn't loosen up around his hand, either. She was a determined woman on a food mission.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

He wasn't hungry, though he'd forgotten how much he'd missed Nar Shaddaa while he was gone. That sentiment was probably a pretty odd one considering that This place was a nightmare to some, but the Smugglers Moon was his homeworld, and that meant more than a bit of dirt.

Wes felt comfortable here.

"Slow down." He told her quietly. "We're liable to get stabbed."

That was sadly true. If people saw you run they assumed that you had either just committed a crime or you didn't want to be on the street, either way it made you a target.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"Wes Spalding," tongue clicked against her teeth. "This is not my first time on Nar Shadda." She tugged him through the crowded and dirty streets and slipped inside the small shop. There was a very long line.

Naturally, since this was one of the few bagel shops on the moon. Cerulean-eyes looked at all the options. There were so many: salted, French toast, chocolate chip, asiago, everything, and of course, the more exotic, bug juice, spice coated, and Zeltron pheromone scented.

Yuck.

Should probably stick to traditional.

They shuffled forward in the line.

"You getting anything?"

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"Nah thats alright." There was a lot of food, but he just wasn't all that hungry. There would be plenty of time to catch something to eat later, especially if Jorga hadn't changed. Selling the painting would also likely take place over a meal, so there was no reason to rush on it.

"There will be some later." He told her. "Hutts love to eat."

Though generally what they ate wasn't...really well it wasn't food Humanoids could stomach. "So I'll eat something then."

A part of him still worried that they wouldn't be able to sell the painting. He was confident that they could, but in the back of his mind the fear remained. If they didn't sell the painting they wouldn't have enough money to make their run, and if that happened...well they'd be fraked.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"Okaaaay," she murmured. "I was even going to buy," she nudged him lightly in the ribs and ordered an asiago bagel with smear. She finally released his hand. Took all but a second to get her food, nestled in a plastic wrapper. Best thing was, she could eat and walk.

Between bites, she looked up to Wes, butterflies bouncing in her stomach for the hurt meet. "Okay, let's go."

She had to follow his lead. Something she was getting more used to around Wes. Things being outside her control.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

They wove their way through the streets of Nar Shaddaa.

Most of the time Wes stuck to side alleyways and roads that were hidden from the public eye. It wasn't exactly safer, but it was faster. He knew that they needed to get back to the Casino as quickly as possible, and he didn't really want to waste any time by taking the more usual routes. "There."

He pointed up to a bright neon sign.

"We'll meet Jorga in there." He told her. "He should know some buyers on Nar Shadda or Nal Hutta."

Either would work.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Unfortunately, the barista messed up and gave Alexia the zeltron pheremone bagel, which tasted oddly like the asiago one. She continued to happily munch away through the last bite. There was a trash bin before they entered the doors beneath that neon-sign. Rolling up the wrapping, she pitched it inside. Fingers ran along the lines of her lips and across her mouth, then fidgeted and adjusted her clothes.

She turned to Wes as they entered through the doors.

"Anything on my face?"

Hopefully there was a smear of smear!

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

He blinked again. "No you're good."

Though he was fairly sure that the Hutt wouldn't really care if she did have something on her face. The Slugs weren't generally known for caring about their table manners, especially when it came to food. He frowned for just a moment as they finally passed into the casino.

"Just stay quiet for not." He told her. "I'll try to handle this."

He frowned. "Unless someone asks you something directly."

Paid to be prepared.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"Okay, okay, I got it," she smiled and pushed him along, following closely behind. Funny, she never noticed how warm his eyes seemed or how his sharp features made him look more rugged and attract-

Head shook, a finger pressing against her brow.

She must be losing her mind.

Cerulean gaze tried not to drift down to Wes' rump as they entered the Hutt's private chambers.