Public Trading, Whiskey, and the Frontier Living (Open invite)

[Aeshi Tillian]

Tillian Outer Rim Trading Post & Distillery


Aeshi popped a cork out of the whiskey bottle and inhaled the aroma. Rich, strong, and with good hints of the local roots and spices, they all mixed well together to add a very unique flavor to the galactic whiskey community. It and the native artisan woodcraft were her two most valuable trade goods. And really, she had no idea why there was such a demand for the local Imyni woodwork, but if people were willing to pay, she wasn't going to complain. It paid the bills and all she had to do was go to the local marketplaces and buy them from the hardware store and home-goods shop. They weren't art for them. Just the usual day to day utensils for the most part. She had agreed to pay several of the biggest artists on a monthly basis to let them focus on crafting their masterpiece, and she'd buy their pieces in the meantime.

She poured a glass and set it on the dingy counter. Carved from the same wood of the tree she lived in and operated as her trade post, it stretched clear across the main building, with a credit reader in the center, a top-tier safe underneath, and smaller, assorted goods spread across the top. Bottles of Tillian-Cola and the other whiskey she had been distilling sat in neat rows and stacks, braced by elegant branches. It was quiet. The business was slow. But then, it always was. This wasn't where she did her business or made her profits. She'd set up base here for a reason. Quiet, out of the way. Only the most diehard merchants came all the way out here. Well, that or the most desperate rebels and criminals. Lot like her people.

A long sip of whiskey brought a satisfied smile as she leaned back in a chair and kicked up her boots on the counter and closed her eyes, savoring the taste. She'd had some premonitions that there were going to be guests arriving, and it was the only reason she'd showed up to the counter. Usually, one of the local retired Imyni spacers handled the post, but she was here, so they were enjoying their retirement.

Now, she had an idea she'd been working on, based on the latest dispatch from the family headquarters. OPA was dissolving and a multitude of other groups were beginning to pop-up, one of them from Susefvi-- the Rimward Trade League. The Tillian Family Enterprises was officially aboard as one of the biggest corporate backers. And they needed something to prove themselves on the galactic stage.

The Imynusoph Run. She just needed to chart the course and invite competitors.

 

[Eldin Daine]

Imynusoph
Aeshi Tillian

Was a pretty planet with large rainforests, always a lovely view from the cockpit window. It was not until you went outside did the true nature of the place kick in. Humid and insect ridden. Eldin hates insects, damn blood suckers. The crusty old Jedi he had encountered told him to rub mud on his neck, he was certain the old man was having a lend of him. But today he was not heading into the forest but toward the trading post out here. Good whiskey was hard to find, and even more it was harder to get good amounts for a good price. With a little luck this trip might prove fruitful for him and the Whistler's Hole. The place had been going well, a steady stream of visitors to Hoth. Everyone is always looking for something different in a holiday, Hoth certain fit the bill for that.

He broke through the edge of the rainforest and headed toward the village, at least it looked like a village, it was hard to tell considering the population of Imynusoph was one on the lesser side. Rare for the galaxy. Refreshing in fact, the streets were not crowded, which gave you room to walk with leisure and time. There was a sense that everything could wait.

Pulling out a piece of paper, he check the name of the location and contact. One, Aeshi Tillian. Now that was a name that rang a bell.

A dingy bar, how many had he been too over the years, they were like a second home to him. But this one had a laid back feel to it. Now this was a place he could get used to quickly. Eldin spotted a familiar face, maybe it was just her features, but then the penny dropped. Subterrel, prospecting.

"Nice digs", he approached the bar and leaned an elbow on it. "How are ya Miss Tillian?", he flash her his winning smile.

 

[Len Vert]

He trudged through the forest, stepping over fallen trees and smacking bugs that landed on him. Usually long, scenic walks weren’t his thing. But the rumors of fantastic whiskey and space races made him take one.

Space races were a thing he had rarely seen across the galaxy. Usually they were stopped by police forces, or sometimes pirates. Heck, even the Kessel Run was still getting shit down to this day.

After what seemed like an eternity, he had finally found the village. It wasn’t very large, but he wasn’t here for big-city exploration. The only thing that was in his sights was the bar.

Walking right up to the building he pushed the door open, revealing the mostly empty building. Few people were scattered about. He was told to look for women named ‘ Aeshi Tillian ‘. Kinda an odd name, but this was an odd galaxy. Walking up to the opposite side of the bar he rested his arms on the counter, looking for a server.

Eldin Daine

 

[Aeshi Tillian]

Eldin Daine Len Vert

Aeshi looked over the lip of her glass the two visitors made their way into the main room of the trading post. One she remembered from her brief foray into planetary minding. He was the first to approach, while the other was one she didn't know and had never seen before. Didn't come across as particularly dangerous, however. Which was good.

She raised an eyebrow at Eldin's comments, removing her boots from the top of the counter and sitting up in the chair, "It's Captain, not miss. And I'm doing fine, Eldin." Aeshi pulled over the open bottle of whiskey and poured out another tumbler. "How's our mine on Subterrel doing? Hit any lodes yet?"

With one hand she pushed the glass over and called to the visitor, who was leaning against the bar. "I got Tillian-Cola if you want to try something different- carbonated whiskey blended with a soda beverage. Or, I've got this bottle of whiskey that's already open. 15 years distillation. Local blend, unqiue flavorings. Also 10 year, 20 year, and some 30 years, but you'll need to buy the bottle if you want any of those."

"What brings you two out all the way to my quiet outpost?" Outside, she could distant rumble of thunder as the air grew progressively more heavy and humid. Storm coming. They'd want to tie their ships down tightly on the landing platforms in case the trees started to sway. The great trunk of her tree shifted slightly beneath her feet, but nothing dramatic yet.

 

[Eldin Daine]

"Captain", he raised his glass to her. "Nope nothin' yet, nothin' substantial".

Carbonated whiskey blend with soda, not that was just evil. "Naw, I'll save that for the clients", now the sound of thirty year old whiskey sounded just perfect. He ordered a bottle, it was best to try the goods before committing to ordering crate loads of it. He pulled up a stool and propped down on it. On the other side of Miss .. er Captain Tillian was a man, odd looking fellow which Eldin paid no attention to unless he decided to get rambunctious. He assumed she was talking to the guy and included him in the mix.

"Welp, I need a supplier of whiskey for the Whistler's Hole, a little place I got on Hoth". He poured a glass of the whiskey and brought it to his nose. "Woody .. hm, what is it aged in?", the colour of it was dark and as he swirled the liquid in the glass he noted it clinging to the sides. A sip was all it took to tell the quality of it. He gave an impressed looked before taking another mouthful.

"That is very fine stuff Captain". Eldin placed the glass down on the counter, he was going to savour this allow it to sit in his mouth for a moment. Pity Kahne Porte wasn't here, he would really enjoy this drop.

Aeshi Tillian | Len Vert

 

[Helena]

It hadn't taken more than 3 hours aboard the Calista, a small passenger shuttle from Terminus to Imynusoph for the woman. Hadn't cost her a dime either - though a Duros by the name of Hal Hemet was going to be a little light in his account after her little trip. Oh sure, she could have bought, stolen, or liberated a ship from Terminus Impound lots but Helena wasn't a pilot - in fact, she was a bad pilot. It was something she could never quite wrap her mind around. Control surfaces, engine dynamics, mechanics - no. Code she could handle, programming and electronics. Piloting was another thing entirely. Her brief jaunt had proven valuable, the contract job she'd received had paid well enough to rent a decent pad back on Terminus. Which is exactly where she was headed, at least - she had been before the two empty glasses had found themselves on the table before her. Unlike the majority of her 'purchases' these were paid for with her own account. She smiled silently.

Motioning for the waitress who'd brought the first two drinks she spoke up. "Another double if you would." Turning back to the small datapad in front of her she began tapping away, a listing of real estate properties on Terminus scrolling across her screen. Periodically she'd murmur or shake her head at some feature or price tag. This went on for some time, her third whiskey on the rocks nearly finished by the time her attention was drawn by the worsening weather conditions. "That's not promising." she muttered. Tabbing again through her datapad she brought up her message thread with the pilot who she'd contracted to fly her back to Terminus.

Weather conditions worsening. Flight delay inevitable.
Storms likely to last into the evening. New departure time in the morning.

"Kriffin' hell." she swore. That meant she was going to have to find some place to stay - and outside certainly wasn't going to cut it this time. It wouldn't have been the first time she'd been out in the rain or cold for an evening. The real question was where was she going to find a place to stay way out here? It was a trading post, and the city wasn't far by any means but without any mode of transportation but her feet it was going to be an interesting affair. Well. It's not closing time yet. she mused internally, ordering a tall glass of some local brew she couldn't pronounce. Turning back to her pad, she paged through a few more listings on Terminus before her ears picked up on a conversation nearby. Almost unbidden, a thought popped into her head. This is a trading post afterall. Maybe they have some interesting knick knacks. Intoxicated shopping. That always ended well - didn't it?

Aeshi Tillian | Eldin Daine | Len Vert​

 

[Aeshi Tillian]

Helena Eldin Daine Len Vert

Aeshi only shrugged and took another long drink of her whiskey, "I suppose that's why I don't tend to do much business underground. Powerful enough scanners can find anything in an asteroid belt, but not in a planet's surface. Maybe we'll get lucky still." As the man ordered one of the bottles to try, Aeshi leaned back to the rack carved from the wooden wall and selected one, which she plopped on the counter and pushed across to Eldin. "Ah, Whistler's Hole. I think I have shares in that as well. How's business there?"

She considered for a moment and pulled down sample bottles for the other vintages. "Here, take these too, as samplers. Least I can do to help improve my investment." At the compliment, she raised her glass and tipped it slightly in salute. "What can I say? I do all my work with care. Everything from distilling to running blockades, usually with these as cargo."

Not far away, a third customer was on the third whiskey on the rocks, while surfing through a datapad for some reason or another. Aeshi didn't particularly care what it was, as long as the credit account stayed good. Her chrono chimed and she glanced at it, before downing her glass and standing. "Let's keep talking. I just need to rearrange some things put out the new merchandise."

 

[Wonderworker]

The inquiry nagging at his skull with every step was almost as irritating as the buzzing arthropods constantly endangering his flesh with their vulgar proboscis and seemingly insatiable appetites. Why had he chosen to embark upon the remote world? It was a question that needed no answer, and yet, he humored himself with another rendition of "necessity" and "curiosity" as if though the argument would be of suitable substance if only it were granted a twelfth repetition. Regardless, he wished that he had decided to wear the thick and heavy cloak which often covered his body -- it was far more suitable to deal with overheating than to deal with the mosquitoes and their easy access.

The miracle maker continued onwards with a jaunty step as he drew ever closer to the distillery and the subsequent structures. He had landed planetside a couple of days prior, performed some cursory work to excise any potential cultural hiccups from his demeanor, and begun work on analyzing the world for anything of use. It wasn't a particularly busy world, despite its technical presence on a hyperlane, but that wasn't an issue. He'd been raised among a relatively small population, and it was relaxing enough to not be surrounded by millions of others.

A squirming and squeal drew his attention away from the pre-fabricated structures ahead, and he redirected his eyes to the cage rattling at his hip. Within it, the rodent was buckling against the cages' walls in a desperate attempt at removing itself from the onslaught of insects. It was a pitiable display, but an unfortunate effect that the animal would need to endure. One never knew when it would be necessary to exercise one of his gifts for the sake of himself or the locals, and having a warm living body ready to sustain the miseries of others meant he could avoid the more debilitating symptoms that came with transferrence.

With a gentle and bare hand, he drew open the cantina's doorway, peering in for a moment before entering so as to ensure that he was in the right structure. He wished that he knew how one could reach out into the Force so that he might ascertain the nature of the bar's attendees through such mystic arts, but such deviations from his few gifts were lost on him. There was frankly little time to learn and master new talents either, especially with the increasingly frequent activities of his... were they sponsors, or did he simply associate with the Agents of Chaos to fulfill his own goals?

Masked as he usually was, the Wonderworker took a few steps into the establishment, meeting any curious gazes with a slight nod. It was good to let others know that he wasn't a criminal -- at least not a violent one. The residents he first saw seemed particularly inoffensive. A gathering of spacers, traders, and others in need of either the amnestic qualities of liquor, or else searching for some measure of companionship and relaxation. Casting his hidden gaze to the long slab of wood that served as a bar, he quietly took a seat, and waited to be visited by a member of the staff. Patience was a virtue, after all.

Aeshi Tillian | Helena | Eldin Daine | Len Vert

 

[Aeshi Tillian]

Wonderworker Helena Eldin Daine Len Vert
=================

The day was turning out to be busier than she had ever expected. Kark, it was the busiest day of she'd ever had at the outpost. Nearly more than she usually had in a year. If she'd known the dissolution of OPA was so good for business, she'd have started undermining them ages ago. Something about the newcomer gave off a bit of an alarm bell for her though. Perhaps it was the mask. Perhaps the caged rodent. Just something...unsettling. But that was the frontier for you, after all. Lots of strange folks. And the figure wasn't threatening or anything immediately, so that was good.

She pulled another bottle from a crate under the bar and called out. "What you looking for? I got a few different vintages. Only selling by the bottle, but you're more than free to convince some of these other folks to share. Usual barter price is a tale for an ale."

The joke amused some small part of her enough to reuse it whenever she got the chance. Not that there were enough people to use it with, but she had to seize the opportunity when she had the chance.

Aeshi picked herself off the chair and leaned against the bar before jumping up and over to sit on the edge. Her feet dangled just above the edge. "So, what brings so many folks to my little quadrant of the galaxy all at once?"