A Rrrock and a Harrrd Place (Taataani)

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri smoothed her clothing in the floor length mirror that was leaning artfully against the wall in her penthouse. Not nervously, of course, the Black Sun Vigo was beyond nerves at this point. After being a guest of a crazy hyu-mann, tortured, pampered, and baffled, Sasseeri felt that a day of shopping in the upscale Chiba district was probably just what the doctor would order.

Of course, spending said day of retail therapy in the company of ones half-sister who had spent most of ones childhood making ones life miserable... Sasseeri sighed, pouted at her reflection, and adjusted her top one last time. The deep vee in the white shirt set off her cocoa cleavage perfectly.

With a final glance, the half-breed Cizerack left her sanctuary and went down to meet Taataani Meorrei in the lobby of the Nabooian Queen casino.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"jI'm expected to what?"

Taataani balked, looking at her favorite manservant with a guarded expression as she flicked her stim into an ashtray nearby.

"Gamble, mjisstrresss. jIt jiss a cassjino afterr all."

She looked at the expectant hanger-on, some smartly-dressed Zeltron hovering around them with a tray of rather expensive Chandrilan bubbly.

"Arre the drrjinkss frree?"

"Compliments of the house, Madam Meorrrei."

With a glib smile, she plucked one from the tray.

"Taurrifarr, take one too. We'rre pajyjing forr them whetherr we ljike jit orr not."

The manservant dutifully took a drink for himself, nodding to the Zeltron attendant. Taataani, for her part, tipped back the entire drink in a moment, setting the empty back on the tray. She paused, looked at Taurrifarr, and took his drink, and downed it too.

"Go ahead and take anotherr."

She smiled, pushing her glasses up her nose as she puffed again on her stim.

"Now, what arre the rruless of thjiss game? jI want to wjin."

Tail swishing behind her, she leaned over the gaming table as the game master explained the point of Bothan cubes. Taa smoked as she listened, ears easing forward as she tried to drink up every aspect of the game she was apparently going to put money against.

"Alrrjight, jI underrsstand that. Taurrifarr, a chjit pleasse."

The manservant passed a credit chit to his mistress, who authorized 50,000 credits on the red side of the cube landing up. Other bets were placed, and the cube was suspended in the antigravity column, floating and turning endlessly in the air, until at last the antigrav terminated, and the cube fell to the table, blue side up.

"Sshjit."

Exhaling purple smoke, Taataani extinguished her stim and rolled her eyes as her tail wrapped around her middle.

"Sshe'ss late on purrposse, jyou know. Sshe jusst wantss me to sspend monejy on herr ljittle...gamess."

"Would jyou ljike anotherr drrjink, mjisstrresss?"

Rescued from annoyed dejection, her ears perked up.

"Oh that would be loveljy. Would jyou?"

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

She should have expected Taa to be drinking and gambling, the female was a complete degenerate. She wasn't even that late! Sasseeri hurried down an escalator, her bodyguards lengthening their strides behind her.

"My dearrr sjisterrr, jI was hopjing we could," she intercepted the drink Taa's manservant was about to hand to her, "get somethjing to eat whjile we werrre out. But perrrhaps you've alrrready drrrunk yourrr lunch." To take some of the sting out of her tone the Vigo sniffed the drink and then tipped it back.

Maybe Taa had the right idea after all. Still, there was no reason to drink from the well. Sasseeri resisted making a face at the inexpensive liquor, and passed the empty glass back to Tok. The big white twi'lek male made the receptacle disappear. Tik, his twin brother, scanned the group at the cubes table for any threats. Or something. She left those things to them. They were very particular about her safety.

"Come, come, jI have a speederrr wajitjing." She was anxious to get off the floor, and to somewhere else, where there weren't as many prying eyes.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Nothjing ljike an aperrtjif, then."

Taa smiled politely enough, gesturing with a nod of her head for Taurrifarr to follow as the entourage left the casino floor and followed Sasseeri to the speeder.

"jI wass begjinnjing to thjink jyou'd forrgotten about ourr ljittle dajy out. Of courrsse, jI sspend about asss much tjime on Corrusscant now asss jI do back home, sso jit doess make an outjing a bjit convenjient, no?"

She gave her half sister a glance, inwardly cursing that she seemed to be in better shape than the elder Cizerack. Losing weight was a game for the young, she thought to console her jealousy. She'd like to see Sasseeri when that little black tail was in her seventies and with over a dozen cubs notched on the nursery walls.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

She would have liked to have ignored Taa's invitation entirely, but at the time she'd been a little desperate for an excuse to get away from former Grand Inquisitor Tear. Of course then she'd been 'released' a few days later, wjithout apology, mjind you, and was sitting on top of an exciting, if volatile, business opportunity.

And had to honor her engagement with her older sister.

Half-sjisterrr, she amended in her mind, giving Taataani a cordial smile as they walked out to the valet. "Yes, forrrtujitous even." Saanjarra, morrre Taa on Corrruscant? Does someone hate me? Thjs has been the worrrst few months on rrrecorrrd forrr me, and that's sayjing a lot.

The wind was picking up as speeders pulled into and out of the station, smartly dressed valets hopping as patrons tipped and came and went. A sleek black speeder, stretched to fit about fifteen comfortably inside its plush interior, was waiting. Tok appeared in front of them, how he'd managed to get there first was anyone's guess, and opened the rear door for the three passengers.

Sasseeri waited for her sister and her manservant (how quajint) to slide into the speeder, and then followed, giving the twi'lek warrior's forearm a frrrjiendly squeeze as she passed. Tok's pale lips split slightly, revealing teeth points in what might have been a smile.

The brothers were happy to be together again, that was certain.

Sasseeri sat comfortably on the butter smooth nerfhide seats, her body language and face not revealing how uncomfortable she actually was. You didn't get to be the head of a galaxy spanning criminal organization if you couldn't hide what you really felt from others. "jI was thjinkjing to stop at Chjiba Chanel beforrre we eat. Any objectjions?"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Chjiba Chanel, mjy that brrjingss back ssome memorrjiess."

Was the designer back into vogue? Taataani's outward appearance was delighted, but inside she was panicking. Did Sasseeri know something she didn't? She looked her half sister over, deciding that no, her outfit was slightly better looking than the half-breed's. Then again, Coruscant was the trend-setter. Fashions made here ended up throughout the galaxy. She hadn't wore Chiba Chanel in five years, but now she was worried that she was already missing something important. What if her appraisal of Sasseeri's fashion chops itself was outdated. She couldn't be caught dead in public with anything even slightly less perfect.

"That ssoundss ljike a perrfect lead-up to lunch, actualljy."

She resisted the urge to unconsciously reach up and make sure her wig was immaculate. Taurrifarr was put in charge of discretely taking her aside if he noticed any fashion malfunctions. He was an invaluable handler.

"Now, jI rrealljy musst know, and jyou'll forrgjive mjy currjiossjitjy, but mjy, jyou've rrubbed sshoulderrss wjith ssome verrjy jinterresstjing people herre. jI'd love to hearr of jit."

Mainly, she just wanted to have a good idea of Sasseeri's Coruscanti sphere of influence. Knowing those sorts of things was a good insurance policy.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

jI'm surrre you would. Sasseeri resisted hugging herself at the thought of who she'd recently 'rrrubbed shoulderrrs' with. "Oh, one doesn't get jinto the upperrr echelons of Corrruscantji socjiety wjithout learrrnjing a ljittle djiscrrretjion."

She leaned forward a bit though, letting a smile trace her lips as she shared, "But Moff Jewett frrrom the Boeus Sectorrr was rrrecalled to jImperrrjial Centerrr a month ago. He's stjill herrre, drjinkjing hjimself to obljivjion at least once a week jin my VIP rooms. Worrrd jis," she looked around as if an Inquisitor might be hiding inside the limo with them, "he's a Rrrebel sympathjizerrr. jI don't know what the Emprrress has jin mjind forrr hjim, but jits surrre not to be pleasant."

Sasseeri grinned salaciously, almost enjoying feeding her elder sister's gossip habit.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Good gossip hit Taataani's bloodstream in about the same way as drugs might. Her pupils nearly dilated at the rush of intrigue.

"How possjitjiveljy ssorrdjid!"

She leaned forward a bit, elbows on her knees as she partook of the tasty gossip her half sister dished about the powerful movers of the Empire.

"Poljitjical jintrrjigue, and not harrdljy two sstepss underr jyourr nosse. That kjind of knowledge jiss rreal powerr, ljittle ssjissterr."

Taa tried not to sound nauseated at the moniker. She needed to keep Sasseeri close, even if it made her queasy at times.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri shrugged, sitting back against the leather seat and reaching over to fish for a bottle of water from the stocked mini bar set into the side of the speeder. "Of courrrse jit jis. But, as jI sajid, jI am known forrr bejing djiscrrete. Otherrrwjise the jinforrrmatjion hyperrrlane would shut down to a trrrjickle."

She offered her sister some water, hoping to dilute the drinks the Cizeri matron had already imbibed, and Taa accepted, though she didn't pop the top. Her half-sister tugged a bit at her hair, and Sass narrowed her eyes. Was that... a wig?

Sometimes she forgot the thirty year age difference between the two of them. Now she was weirdly fascinated, and dying to know the state of Taa's scalp. If she'd gone bald it would make her day. No, her week!

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Of courrsse, jit'ss alwajyss besst to appearr to know farr lesss than jyou do."

That was certainly a philosophy Taataani cherished, and she put it to use every chance she had. She had a feeling that Sasseeri knew plenty about keeping her cards close to her chest, and it was more or less confirmed.

The limo finally pulled up to a main thoroughfare in Chiba district, adjacent to a smartly-designed establishment that occupied six levels in the nearby tower. It was Chiba Chanel, their destination. The vehicle stopped, and the driver promptly debarked to open doors and escort the two ladies and their guests into one of the bastions of galactic high fashion.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Orrr jin yourrr case, prrretend to know farrr morrre than you do. Taataani was unbearably pretentious, as always.

Sasseeri accepted Tok's help out of the limo and gave herself a little shake before hooking her tail over the crook of her elbow and walking towards the entrance of the store. Taa followed soon after with her manservant, Tani-something, and Tik brought up the rear.

The inside of the building was cool and artistically lit, and Sasseeri was warmly greeted by Greta Opsilon, assistant to Mr. Chanel himself. "Ms. Reeouurrra! It has been... too long." The Zeltron gestured with a long white cigarette holder that was currently holding an unlit stim, and shook her long lavender hair out of her eyes as she kissed the air by Sasseeri's cheeks.

"jIndeed, but jI've been away on busjiness." Sasseeri returned the kisses. "jI just love the new summerrr ljine. Could we see some of the drrresses? jI need somethjing casual that jI can drrress up for djinnerrr jif jI need to."

Greta was looking at Taa, and Sasseeri acted like she'd almost forgotten her guest. "Oh, jI apologjize, thjis jis my half-sjisterrr, Ms. Taataani Meorrrei."

The Zeltron extended a fuschia hand towards Taa, "A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Meorrrei. Would you like to see anything in particular?" Without waiting for a reply Greta turned, snapping fingers and calling to an unseen person, "Drinks in lounge two! Two iced blood wines, if I'm not mistaken." She winked at the two Cizerack.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Treatment fit for a Rrou'fai, and far from the Cluster to boot. Taataani's ears pitched upwards in a pleased posture, eyes drinking in the magnificent fashions adorning tastefully-decorated mannequins. Even the store attendants were dressed with all of the pomp and innovation of runway models. The thrilling display was almost intoxicating, if it wasn't for the fact that Sasseeri's presence would keep her somewhat sober to this fashionista's binge.

Caught a bit off-guard at the question of preference from the Zeltron woman, Taataani had little recourse but to agree with Sasseeri that she wanted to dive into their summer selections. It was true because they were all splendid, but it seemed droll to agree in lockstep with that black-tail. Before she had time to berate herself for her lack of foresight, a human male with a shaved head approached with two goblets on a tray, each with a deeply sanguine drink inside and studded with ice cubes throughout.

"jI djidn't know jyou drrank Pai Leeha, Sasseeri."

She gave her drink a discrete sniff, eyes widening almost imperceptibly. By Sanjaara, their bartender had a very gentle hand. The spice was perfectly subtle.

A small army of attendants began to prepare several dozen garments, which was just the vanguard of what the two felinoids had in store for themselves. One minder unfurled a dress that featured a bucolic, airy linen, and Taataani ran her fingers against it with a small smile.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri sipped her bloodwine and raised an eyebrow at her sister's surprise. "jI am cerrrtajin therrre jis a grrreat deal about me you neverrr carrred to know."

Now, that was a little too far. She sipped the drink again, ice spheres clinking together in the silence. Greta was conducting the models, something Sasseeri usually enjoyed greatly, but she'd managed to spoil the mood for herself.

Can't a half-brrreed enjoy bloodwjine? No, no, jits totally unexpected. Taataani was still so narrow minded it was a wonder she could operate at all outside of the Cluster.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Sso crruel..."

Taa's ears lowered a bit in mock hurt, tickled that she'd gotten under Sass's skin with that one. Covering her delight expertly with a well-timed sip, she gestured casually to her goblet.

"...jI carre, we've jusst been sso farr rremoved. That'ss whjy jI'm enjojyjing ourr ljittle outjing sso much. What jI mean jiss that a Pai Leeha, that'ss harrdljy the ssorrt jI everr ssee jyou jyoung oness drrjinkjing."

An expert deflection, if Taataani said so herself. She was distracted from any further barbs by one of the models sporting a shawl made of a material she didn't recognize. She gestured for the model to approach, and she watched the way the fabric gave with her movement. Just the sort of thing to keep the wind off, but still be light and breathable.

"Oh jI do adorre a good sshawl, but jI don't know. jI don't ljike the drresss wjith that."

Like the workings of a clock, the models repositioned themselves to offer her another option. She looked to Sasseeri, wondering what she'd think.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"Yes, jI suppose you'rrre rrrjight, Taa. A shawl jis just the thjing to djisgujise a multjitude of sjins, as they say, and that drrress doesn't make jit look too matrrronly." Sasseeri pointed to a strapless sundress, bright blue and with a flirty skirt that fluttered just so. "Thjis jis morrre what a young one ljike jI would wearrr.

"jIn fact..." she looked over at Greta, "jI thjink jI should trrry that one on, when we'rrre done brrrowsjing. jIts beautjiful."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Ahh, Sasseeri, good tasste asss alwajyss. Majybe jyou'rre rrjight."

Taa stood silent for a second or two, lips in a twisted pucker as she thought over Sasseeri's little skewering comment. She was insinuating that she was a frump? Well, there was no having any of that!

Taa met eye contact with Greta, and nodded her agreement. Arrangements were made for the outfit in her size, too.

"Now, comforrtable sshoess to match?"

The bane of Madame Meorrrei's wardrobe situation, she was known to empty entire shoe stores of unmolested boxes to find shoes that were both adorable and (more importantly) comfortable. Too often, she eschewed shoes whenever she was in a place convenient enough to kick them off. She was unwilling to admit that at her age, sometimes feet just hurt for the hell of it.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

She nearly laughed as Taataani requested comforrrtable shoes. "jI don't thjink they have anythjing wjith less than a sjix centjimeterrr heel."

The Zeltron was looking slightly distressed as the tension between the sisters grew, and she waved away the models after making a few decisions on more outfits for her two guests to try on. "Shoes we have, heels, and gladiator sandals." She drew a shape in the air with her cigarette holder. "They are... very popular this season. And... very flat." She smiled, hoping to have made the elder Cizerack happy, but nearly wilted under the force of Sasseeri's fierce displeasure.

Sass did, of course, keep a happy face on. "Oh, splendjid!"

Tik helped her to her feet as Taa's manservant did the same for Taataani. Greta showed them to the changing areas, cloth pavillions opposite each other with a grand three-sided mirror between. They hadn't needed to tell the Zeltron assistant their sizes, of course, she had sized them up the minute they'd walked in. And she had helped Sasseeri many times before, and knew her shape intimately.

"The footwear... they will be in shortly. Do not worry... I know just the ones for the outfits we have picked!" Greta slinked away, snapping her fingers loudly and calling for sandals.

Sasseeri looked over at Taa, and said, "jI'll show you mjine jif you show me yourrrs." She winked, and disappeared into her changing tent. Tok came inside with her, Tik waited outside, in case of a sudden Rebel invasion no doubt.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani watched Sasseeri step into her changing station, letting her genial expression darken a bit when she was out of sight. Taurrifarr, credit to his upbringing as always, read his mistress's body language effortlessly and parted the tent to let her enter, knowing that it wasn't good for his health to say anything, unless he really wanted her pent up Sasseeri rage uncorked in his direction. Still, he got singed by some collateral damage, as Taataani cast a petulant, venom-filled expression that landed in his general vicinity as she yanked the curtain closed.

As she worked off her garments, and worked into the suggested outfit, Taurrifarr had a few minutes of silence, standing alongside the Twi'lek, Tik, who also seemed to be enjoying the change in his own way. The big felinoid, for lack of anything to tend to or tidy, adjusted his tie and tried to look aloof.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Once ensconced inside the changing room, Sasseeri hurriedly shimmied out of her clothes and pulled on the blue strapless sundress. Ach, and the gladiator sandals, they were to djie forrr, as Greta had promised.

Tok wasn't exactly looking at her, but he wasn't really not looking. Sasseeri turned about experimentally and tugged at the bust of the dress. The Twi'lek twins were harder to get a rise out of than... well any other male in the universe. They were very very good bodyguards though.

Her commlink rang.

[Kal Olorin]

I twirled a stylus between my fingers, and dropped it noisily as Sassy picked up.

"What jis jit?!" She sounded like she was trying to be quiet.

"Uh, you told me to call you in thirty minutes so -" I tried to pick up the stylus again and it rolled off my desk and pinged into the garbage can.

"Well, call me agajin jin fjive." And then she hung up, after interrupting me.

I sighed, leaned over too far trying to fish my writing implement out of the can, and my rolley chair slipped out from underneath me.

Desk jobs were for the birds. I couldn't wait to get back to Cloud City.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri threw the commlink at Tok, changed her mind and demanded it back, then let him hold it anyway. "Come out wjith me though," she said, and flung back the curtains and exited the changing pavilion. Greta was outside, and she cooed at the Vigo, fuchsia skin bright in the nearly all white room.

"Gorgeous! The blue - it sets off your skin tone... just so. As I said." She beamed, and Sasseeri took a look at herself in the large three sided mirror.

"jIt jis verrry flatterrrjing. Chanel desjign has gotten betterrr everrry yearrr." She smoothed the cotton-like fabric over her slender hips, enjoying the sway and movement in the skirt. Until Taataani emerged from her side of the room, of course.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"How doess thjiss classp..."

Taataani stood there in an awkward state of half-dress, poised in front of the mirror while she fooled with how exactly she was supposed to do this. It was so much easier to figure out when you had manservants around to fuss with this sort of thing.

Eventually, she gave up, slinking the dress off entirely for the moment, and left staring at her reflection. Frowning, she turned to the side, making a concerted effort to suck in her tummy. Oh if only that worked for the other side! She put a hand on her generous derriere, and gave it a push, willing it to conform. No such luck under the sun.

"Taurrifarr..."

She sighed with exasperation, resigned to having him deal with the problem. In the meantime, she popped open one of the hatboxes arranged inside, and tried on one of the recommended pairings. Facing the mirror fully and wearing nothing but that hat, she adjusted it a few times on her head, finding an angle she liked, and then held the dress up to her troublesome figure haphazardly, smiling in approval that, in theory, it was a good look.

Taurrifarr slipped into the dressing room with his mistress, and she again slinked the dress on, exposing her back to him, so he could work.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri stared at the opposite pavilion, as Taurrifarr entered it instead of Taa coming out.

Was she going to come out at all? She looked down at the golden sandals on her feet, admiring the onyx stones set into the leather.

"Taa!" she called finally, as minutes ticked away and her upcoming commlink call loomed nearer. "Arrre you decent?" Ha! That would be the day.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Comjing!"

The reply got a little warbled as Taurrifarr expertly cinched her up in her dress, turning her around to check his handiwork. She made a gesture for him to hurry it up, because she didn't want to make Sassy think there was something amiss. Taurrifarr worked her shawl expertly around her frame, helped her into her shoes, which, thank Sanjaara, were comfortable enough to melt into. At last, her hat, and she was ready. Taurrifarr dutifully drew back the tent flap to let her pass in triumph.

She gave her half-sister a once over. Yes, lovely. Damn her.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

That hat! It was... it was darrrljing.

Curse that woman!

"You look splendjid, sjisterrr," Sasseeri purred, content to play the part as her out was coming soon enough. "Grrreta knows her busjiness, yes? Djidn't even ask you forrr yourrr sjize!"

The Zeltron smiled at the praise, coming over to fuss over the two Cizeri females, unlit stim still attached to the holder in one of her hands. "Ah yes, just... so." She fiddled with the shawl, artfully rearranging a few folds to hide those extra pounds Taa thought no one could see.

Well, Sasseeri could see them, anyway. And now Taataani looked even betterrr, which was infuriating.

Chanel's assistant turned to Sasseeri and pulled her hair up, exposing her long neck and creamy cafe au lait skin above the bodice of the strapless sundress. "Much... better." She fixed it in place with a pair of chopsticks she'd pulled from thin air. "Here we see that less... is more."

"Ahhh," Sass turned her head a little to the side. "jI love jit. jI'll take jit. And the sandals."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Sasseeri, that look jiss deljightful on jyou."

Doling out the prerequisite amount of flattery, she fumed inwardly that it was true. Worse, she endured a little bit of special treatment from Greta, who could detect enough protruding pudge on her person to make a case for concealing it. She pretended she didn't notice, but had a good inkling that Sasseeri did.

"And jyourr hajirr, jyou look jusst ljike jyourr motherr. No, even betterr. Sshe would be envjiouss."

Looking to Greta, she nodded to Taurrifarr, who made arrangements on a pre-authorized credit chit.

"Me too."

She didn't look at the cost. She was sure it was atrocious. Even if it was a poor bargain, she most certainly wasn't going to play frugal in front of her sister. If she had to sell a yacht to make these sandals hers, it would happen.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Had to brrrjing up my motherrr, djidn't you. She didn't let her shame show on her face.

Taa was beginning to throw credits around and Sasseeri was running out of time to make an impression. "jI'm gojing to trrry on anotherrr drrress, that florrral numberrr..." She didn't bother with credit chits or anything like that, Chiba Chanel had an account for her and Greta would charge her accordingly.

Sasseeri ducked back into the pavilion, pulling on another dress as quickly as she got out of the blue number. She flounced out in the asymmetrically cut piece, something that would be appropriate for only the most elegant dinner party. Greta made a pair of stilettos appear and Sasseeri was putting them on when her commlink rang. Tick produced it, and answered it for her.

After a moment, during which she didn't actually hear the big Twi'lek talk, he handed it to her. "Sasseerri." She raised an eyebrow, "Olorrrjin, jI told you not to jinterrrupt me."

[Kal Olorin]

I rolled my eyes. "Right. Well, its been five minutes."

"That doesn't sound good."

"How long do you want this conversation to -"

"Dammjit Olorrrjin, jI'll have to come jin to take carrre of that!" Sassy sighed. "jI am makjing a note of yourrr jincompetence."

"Hey! I'm the one doing you a favor!"

The line was dead. I stared at the comm and then leaned back in my chair and kicked my feet up on the desk. Whatever.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taa's ears twitched, lifting at least half of Sasseeri's conversation as she tried to be discrete, or at least, tried to look like she was trying to be. No, that would be too paranoid, wouldn't it?

"Trrouble at home?"

A flash of a mischevious smile grew on her face, and was quickly worked over as she busied herself admiring her figure in the mirror, tail swaying this way and that. Inwardly, she wondered if the voice on the other line was one of her ne'er-do'well criminal colleagues. She wasn't some naive dupe. She did have some semblance of understanding of how her half sister paid for her clothes.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri looked at Taa, knowing she couldn't appear too eager to leave. Unfortunately. "Therrre's a VjIP demandjing to speak wjith me. Olorrrjin has been trrryjing to placate hjim, but jI'm gojing to have to go back. When jits a whale that drrrops a mjillion crrredjits a vjisjit, unforrrtunately he's payjing for my attentjions."

She hesitated, seeing the next thought cross Taa's mind. "Not jin that way, you strrrumpet!" She laughed genuinely, for the first time of the day, and then sobered. "Anyway. jI'm sorrrry but jI have to cut thjis shorrrt. Grrreta, dearrr, can you wrrrap up my drrresses and send them to my penthouse? Oh, and thrrrow jin a few hats, jI just love the one my sjisterrr jis wearrrjing."

The Zeltron, bolstered by Sasseeri's sudden good mood, was all smiles and agreements. The half-Cizerack slipped into the changing room and quickly changed into her own clothes, putting her hair up into a pony tail as she exited. "You can stay as long as you ljike, Taa, and jI'll jinstrrruct my drrriverrr to take you wherrreverrr you want. jIts too bad thjis came up, jI was so lookjing forrrwarrrd to lunch."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Nonssensse, jI won't have ourr wonderrful dajy ssulljied bjy ssome sself-jimporrtant hangerr-on."

With emphasis, she clapped a hand over Sasseeri's shoulder and gave her an empathetic squeeze.

"jIt would take no lesss than the Emprresss herrsself to denjy me qualjitjy tjime wjith jyou, ssjissterr."

She wasn't quite sure if she was sane, saying these words. It was a battle of excruciating scale to put up with Sasseeri's raasha'kou antics, but probably worth it to keep her close and under tabs.

"jI'll go wjith jyou. jYou'll be done jin no tjime, and we can have lunch wjith ljittle to no delajy."

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

She nearly jumped away or slapped at Taa's hand when the older Cizerack gave her shoulder a squeeze, but managed to control herself. Could she say it was the Empress?

...no, that would be too much.

But would jit rrreally?

"Well, jits... compljicated. jIt may take a whjile." Sasseeri paused, and added, "You'd be borrred, wajitjing."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Sasseeri, jI've been handljing tjypess ljike thjiss ssjince jyou werre jyoung. Rresst asssurred, jI can endurre a few matterrss of bussjinesss."

She made a gesture to Taurrifarr, to have him deal with the balance with Greta, and make arrangements for her purchased wardrobe. Returning her attention to her half sister, she continued.

"jI jintend to corrrect cerrtajin unkjindnesssess of mjy jyoungerr jyearrss. jI admjit, jI wassn't therre forr jyou, ljittle ssjissterr, and jI won't make that ssame mjisstake agajin."

She put up a stoic front, but inside, Taa felt a little nauseated at her proposal.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

You always werrre a nosy bjitch. Sasseeri looked at Taa a little incredulously, but couldn't tell her no without making it look like she was trying to get rid of her. Of course she was trying to get rid of her, but there was an art to this, and Taa was obviously being difficult on purpose. It was her default position.

"Well, then, jI'm afrrajid we'll have to get gojing." Sasseeri smiled at Greta who returned the expression and kissed both Cizerack, but would have to have a lie down after the stormy felinoids had left. Her fuschia skin had faded to raspberry, and she directed the boxes and bags of clothes loaded without her usual flair.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani gave an emphatic nod.

"Besst be on wjith jit, then. jI'd ljike to get back to ourr planss."

She sneaked a conspiratorial grin in her sister's direction as the entourage was again directed back to Sasseeri's speeder.

"Majybe jI'll even gjive jyou a few tjipss about how to deal wjith ljittle unwanted djisstrractjionss, jyess?"

Taataani was almost certain she was calling her sister's bluff on a ruse, but if she was, then Sasseeri was certainly keeping the facade up nicely.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"Ha! jI mean, yes, maybe." Sasseeri laughed to try to cover up her slip, but really, who cared what Taataani thought?

jI do. Frell it was true, too. Getting back in the Meorrei good graces could be just what she needed to bring Black Sun into the Cluster. More than Draa'guurra'naatarr on Carshoulis Prime anyway. She couldn't even visit the frelling place!

The ride back to Nabooian Queen wasn't long, but she kept it filled with talk about the clothes they'd seen, and the ones they'd purchased. "jI just love hats," Sasseeri confessed as they pulled up to the casino. "jI've neverrr worrrn one jin publjic. Can't get past the mjirrrrorrr beforrre jI chjicken out."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Oh, but jyourr hajirr jiss too njice to coverr up."

It was honest complements coming through, even when tinged with jealousy. Taataani's thin and brittle hair broke too much to grow out and style as she pleased, leaving the frustrated Rrou'fai to resort to (albeit masterful and expensive) wigs to cover the fault.

She considered her sister's bit of small talk, and gave a little shrug.

"Majybe forr a wjindjy orr rrajinjy dajy, but onljy then, Sasseeri."

Upping the ante a bit, she gave a conspiratorial look to her half sister.

"Sso, jI'm jusst gojing to assk jit. No tjime ljike now to do sso, but...cubss? When?"

Even if she was an untrustworthy raasha'kou halfbreed, Taataani could simply not imagine a woman of privilege (whether legitimate or ill-gotten privilege) wasting that sort of gift by not having children to dote on.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"Cubs?" Sasseeri's eyes widened, and for a moment she didn't know what to say. "Uh, jI'm not -"

Tick opened the door of the stretched speeder, and saved her having to answer. "Oh, we'rrre herrre." She nearly jumped out, accepting Tick's hand for assistance at the very last moment. "Get me Olorrrjin," she growled at him, quietly so her sister wouldn't hear. The Twi'lek nodded, leaving her with Tock as Taataani and Taurrifarr emerged, the latter holding a pair of hatboxes.

"Herrre, jI'll have the valets get ourrr boxes," she waved one over, "And you can come jin and put up yourrr feeet whjile jI take carrre of my whale."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Whale?"

What a queer term, although Taataani's mind ran away with it, attributing the moniker no doubt to some sordid agreements with the Hutt kadjics or other sorts a professional criminal might deal with.

She noted, with a small bit of annoyance that she'd evaded the question about cubs. She'd have to press her on that later. In the meantime, both she and Taurrifarr were seen to by Sasseeri's extensive entourage of helpers. Clothing was taken off Taurrifarr's hands, and for once, he looked at Taataani for a real loss of something to do. With a sigh, she offered her arm to him, patting him on the hand when he took it to escort her about. Her Arr'fai wasn't just for busy work after all, and she still adored her favorite man.

"Let me guesss, we'rre expected to gamble agajin whjile we wajit?"

She began running through the calculus. How much could she afford to lose in the casino that wasn't just outright embarrassing?

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"Taa, you needn't gamble, you arrre my guest." Sasseeri snapped her fingers and a concierge ran over. "Just ask hjim forrr whateverrr you want, and he'll see to jit you'rrre taken carrre of. Now, jif you'll excuse me..."

She was desperate to get away from her half-sister, and some of it must have showed, because Taataani suddenly began acting like she was going to come along with her instead of torturing one of her concierges. jI could strrrangle you rrrjight now, Taa! Maybe she would, too. Her hands were beginning to clench into bird-like claws when Olorin came whistling out of the turbolift.

[Kal Olorin]

The moment I stepped off the 'lift I felt Sassy's eyes on me, and when I looked at her the only thing I wanted to do was step back in and take it to the top and disappear in the gardens. Forever, hopefully.

"Uh, you wanted me, boss?" What was her sister doing here again?

The only thing less comprehensible than a woman was a Cizeri woman. Sasseeri grabbed me tightly by the arm and pulled me out of earshot of Taataani while smiling and making nice to her sister. "jI need someone to play a demanding whale. jIn fjive mjinutes." Her blue eyes looked as deadly serious as I'd ever seen them, and then she was all smiles and apologies again.

"Oh, yes, tell Mjisterrr Grrronjim jI'll be rrrjight therrre. Orrr betterrr yet, jI'll tell hjim myself." Sassy sighed a little dramatically as though she was being put upon, and then I found myself back in the turbolift heading back up to the suite level.

What. Just. Happened.

I grabbed the commlink off my belt and called up the first person who came into my head.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

A bit put-off that Sasseeri would insinuate that she couldn't afford her little games, Taataani pulled Taurrifarr along toward one of the gaming tables. Not really sure how to play any of them, she found the one she enjoyed the most seemed to have a lot of people crowded around it, and they were all having a very good time. Waitron droids and other organic helpers pushed drinks on the gamers here at a frantic rate, and the crowd would go quiet, then burst into applause in a bout of furious action.

"What'ss that game?"

Taa pointed in it's direction, and the concierge replied dutifully.

"Toydarian Shooters. You put bets on dice throws, whether it will be high, low, or a match. Decent odds to win, and even if you're not shooting dice, you can play and win on any throw."

Her ears stood up a bit at that, and Taurrifarr already had a chit out to notate an amount.

"jI can plajy a ljittle. Cassh out fjiftjy thoussand, ssweetjy. And jyou..."

She barely had to turn to the concierge again before he was carrying a champagne flute for the matriarch. How splendid, she didn't even have to ask.

"jI wassn't gojing to assk, but jif jyou'rre offerrjing, jI won't rrefusse."

A pleased little smile, and she took a sip, inching towards the table to find a spot to squeeze in. It didn't last long though, as Taurrifarr gave her a tap, and pointed silently to see Sasseeri headed for a lift to another level.

"Sshe'ss not leavjing me, come on, Taurrifarr!"

She dunked her champagne in one gulp, pressing the empty flute into the hands of the concierge as she abandoned the brief distraction. She was here for a reason after all.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri almost made it to the 'lift before her half-sister caught up to her, and turned around with a pleasant look on her face. "Oh, Taa, jI thought you'd be puttjing yourrr feet up." She pressed the call button for the turbolift behind her back with her tail, and the door slid open quietly. "Comjing up?"

There was no use reiterating that talking to a client was boring, or anything, the more she tried to get rid of her, the harder Taa put her claws in. Not literally this time, not like when she'd been a cub. Sass walked into the 'lift, holding the door for her sister and her enormous manservant.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Headed to the offjice?"

Taa leaned against the rail in the lift, her tail flipping around to her front where she smoothed over it's tufted end.

"jI can't wajit to ssee jit. To ssee wherre the magjic happenss."

Taurrifarr stood as far away from either of them as possible in the cramped space. Even this close, he managed to make himself unobtrusive somehow.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"jIts qujite the sjight," Sasseeri said. "Plenty of suborrrdjinates to boss arrround." She smiled slyly at Taa. "jI mjight even let you yell at a few forrr me."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

The door slid open, and Taa smirked a bit at Sasseeri's comment. The insinuation that she'd let Taataani do anything was supposed to be a jab at her not supposing to be here, but Taataani let that one fall by the wayside. Inwardly, she was more interested in observing Sasseeri in her element. The more she figured out from her sister, the more she'd have a keener understanding of where the little raasha-kou was doing her misdeeds.

"Oh, jI'm ssurre therre won't be need forr anjy jyelljing. Afterr all, jit'ss a qujick jin and out, no?"

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"Someone let thjis sjituatjion get out of hand," Sasseeri said a little darkly, her imagination working overtime to flesh out the scenario. "jI'm surrre you can apprrrecjiate the need to maintain djiscjipljine jin the rrranks."

The turbolift came to a smooth stop, and Sasseeri stalked out of it, letting Taa and her huge manservant follow her.

[Adjerban the Interloper]

"I gotta do what? I'm not a whale." Kal was technically my boss. Sorta. Sometimes Sass-tha-Fantastic-Ass would play favorites and I would be in charge (OF HER PANTS! HA-HA!) for a day. Well, I'd pretend to be in charge of Kal for a day (hour or so). It was a game. I'm not stupid. Usually.

"C'mon Olorin." I protested quarterheartedly. My long ears drooped. We both knew I'd do it because it was my job, and Sass would have little qualms clawing my eyes out if I didn't. We both knew that I was better than nearly anyone else in the organization at this sort of thing, and Sass liked to have her best man on the job. The protest was a much tradition as it was to be annoying.

"Yeah. Yeah, I got it. 3 minutes." I said into the comm quietly.

[Kal Olorin]

"Not an actual whale," I explained with a touch of exasperation, to which Adjerban retorted that of course he knew what a casino whale was.

"Whatever. Anyway, get comfortable in the Emperor's Suite, Sassy's incoming with an audience, and she's burning pretty hot today."

I chuckled, "Be demanding. The bigger fuss you can throw, the better." Ending the call, I made sure that the suite would be made available, and ordered a housekeeper to go in and muss up the room to make it look slept in.

Oh man. I wish I could be there to see what was going to happen when Sasseeri opened the door to find Adjerban there. And with her sister! It was going to be epic.

I called Sasseeri's comm.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"Rrrjight. Okay, well, Adjerban Grrronjim jis an jimporrrtant cljient of Naboojian Queen, and jI'll meet hjim jin the Emperrrorrr's Sujite." Sasseeri ended the call and tucked away the commlink in a discrete pocket.

Adjerban? This would be... interesting.

Sasseeri smiled tightly at Taataani and adjusted the floor the lift was headed to. "Almost therrre." The doors opened and the Cizeracks exited, Sass leading the way into a plush hallway decorated in the height of current designing trends. The Emperor's Suite was on this floor, but no where near the turbolift they'd taken up, which meant they had a long walk in front of them.

Hopefully that would give Adjerban enough time to get to the suite before they got there.

[Adjerban the Interloper]

3 minutes? Cake. I was already wearing a decent shirt and throwing on a sport coat meant problem solved. I slid my service elevator override card, and I was on my way up to the Emperor's suite. The suite had nearly everything but it's own elevator.

The maids were there, and I gave them a quick wink before I fixed myself a glass of the most expensive bubbly and settled into a plush chair. Hey hey, not my favorite, but I had to play this up. I picked up the bottle, and tried to mentally settle on the route of bastard I would take. Smarmy asshole, or drunk, abusive danger? I took another sip of the bubbly stuff and decided I couldn't down it fast enough to be convincing, nor enjoy the process later.

Smarmy it was. Besides, I'm good at smarmy. Now all I had to do was wait.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"jYourr jimporrtant cljient awajitss, then?"

Taataani followed Sasseeri, curious to see just what sort of person carried enough gravity to throw both of the influential felinoids off the path of their busy day. Her tail twitched a bit at the thought.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri led Taataani through the hallways, passing a few other banks of turbolifts on the way. "Everrry cljient jis jimporrrtant," she said, a little sharply. This evasion technique needed some work. So far all it had accomplished was created an enormous headache and keeping Taa glued to her side.

Exactly the opposite effect intended.

She paused outside the suite, and said, "jIf you must come jin, you'rrre my assjisstant, Taa. And... he," she pointed a manicured nail at Taa's manservant, whats-his-name, "stays outsjide."

Sasseeri knocked on the door, and used her universal keycard to gain entrance. "Mjisterrr Grrromjin? You have some complajints?" Why had she made up such a ridiculous name? "Adjerban?" She smiled as she and Taa walked through and caught their first sight of him lounging in a chair, sipping some of the most expensive champagne they offered.

She narrowed her eyes at him a bit while Taa was behind her, but was meticulously pleasant. "What can we at the Queen do for you?"

[Adjerban the Interloper]

I tipped my hand a little at Sassy. I had to sell this damn thing. How did she expect me to do it? With water? I was supposed to be bailing her ass out, after all. With a couple hundred credits of bubbly hehe.

"Sasseeri." I said, with a little hoity-toity in my pronunciation. Not overdoing it. I stood, glass still in hand, and regretted that I hadn't located the whiskey. I gave her a kiss on each cheek.

"I come halfway across the galaxy, and you can't stop in to say hello?" I sounded a bit faux-wounded.

"Who's the lovely lady who's acquaintance I have yet to make?"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Taurrifarr, ne jethaa'ai arra tasa."

She gave her ever-present shadow of a manservant a wink as he understood to wait outside. Slipping in, she watched Sasseeri greet...

...not who she was expecting.

He didn't look like royalty, or a head of state, or anybody of that sort, but he had a certain kind of charm to him that Taataani was instantly intrigued by. Of course, she'd let Sasseeri be the gracious host and handle all of the introductions. Until then, the only thing Adjerban got out of her was a smile.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

She kissed at his cheeks as well, and beamed at him, in full bullshit mode. "Ah, well, jI was of courrrse gojing to come say hello, but therrre werrre some perrrsonnel prrroblems that needed attendjing to."

Sasseeri stepped back a bit and added, "Thjis jis Taataani, one of my assjistants. Taataani, Adjerban Grromjin."

[Adjerban the Interloper]

"Truly, it is my pleasure Taataani." I took her hand and gave it a delicate kiss. She had a cougar thang going on, and I could dig it. She's probably Sassy's family, a cousin or something. Hey. Hmmm.

"Both of you, please, have a seat." I said, and dropped back into the big armchair. I poured two more glasses of the bubbly I was tolerating. Whiskey whiskey whiskey whiskey.

"I know your time is valuable, Ms. Reeouurra, but I have some... complaints. For one, the casino layout has changed since my last visit. The lighting makes it possible to read cards off eyewear." I added a bit of gruffness to the last statement. It was mostly bullshit. There were two outer, lower value tables where, if you were the right height and someone had the right reflectivity of eyewear, you could read their cards. The problem was there simply wasn't any other acceptable locations for the tables. You could only bribe fire inspectors so far.

"Second, your kitchens..." Adjerban shook his head. "I found hair. In my food." I had more, but I paused and made it look like this was the edge of a brooding storm of nitpicky demands and complaints. I knew the Queen inside and out, so making a believable list of things that might go wrong was known list.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani took a supreme effort not to bristle at Sasseeri's mention of her as an assistant. Taataani? Just Taataani??? It was never just Taataani! The only thing to bring her mind back to the here and now was Adjerban's high-mannered kiss to her hand. At least he knows a lady, even without names and titles.

The Matriarch did get her comeuppance though. As she took the offered drink (how polite!), she sat back and enjoyed Sasseeri's guest kvetch about more or less everything he could. Taataani took some effort to hide her enjoyment of that behind her champagne flute.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri sat languidly in the armchair offered, but sat up a bit more at the beginning of his list of complaints. They sounded very... real. "We had to move thjings arrround at the begjinnjing of the yearrr," she explained, "But jI wjill cerrrtajinly have ourrr head of securrrjity look jinto the rrreflectjion prrroblem strrrajight away."

"As farrr as a hajirrr jin yourrr food - jI'm morrrtjifjied! Tell me when thjis happened - jI'll have the kjitchen staff apprrroprrrjiately chastjised. And, of courrrse, you eat forrr frrree forrr the rrremajinderrr of yourrr stay wjith us." She tsked. "jI hope you wjill allow me to make thjis up to you."

[Adjerban the Interloper]

"This morning." My notes of disappointment were evident. Like a fart. I crossed my arms over my chest and did some calculatin', like any real businessman gambler would. I've seen it done.

"I think we can come to a suitable arrangement." He stated, and waited for Sassy's offer.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani suddenly found her drink a bit more interesting than the rest of the discussion. A shame, there seemed to be some potential for intrigue. This whale was, on closer inspection, essentially a well-monied person with enough time to kvetch as a full time job. While she held some kind of kindred respect for that kind of life, she was hoping for something more salacious.

Still, she listened, ears bobbing as she sipped the fantastic champagne. She longed for some tawdry bit of scandal to stick to her half sister.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"jI'm cerrrtajin we can as well," Sasseeri agreed. Inside she was rolling her eyes. As long as this stayed nice and boring and long maybe Taa would just disappear.

"Yourrr rrroom wjill be comped, of courrrse," she said, opening with the biggest money saver. "jI'd offerrr you an upgrrrade, but you arrre alrrready jin ourrr fjinest rrroom." Sass smiled toothily. Please don't ask forrr enterrrtajinment, please...

Females, or males, were regularly supplied for their wealthiest clients, a fact Adjerban well knew. And he would probably ask for one... or three. And Taa would catch a hint of scandal and be stuck to her like a limpet.

[Adjerban the Interloper]

I stared Sasseri, keenly aware that I may or may not be stepping onto a land mine if I pushed hard. So, for a change, and to confuse her slightly, I'd be good. And I'd bring it up on our next negotiation regarding salary and benefits.

Benefits hah-hahahahahah. I probably should count my lucky stars she didn't just have me shot in a back alley. But that's not my style.

"Well..." I began. Sassy kept herself from twitching too much. Being nice made me crave brandy. Hey. Yeah. A top shelf Corellian brandy. "...that will do for now. Although," I added with a thoughtful pause, "I some Corellian brandy would be wonderful."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taa leaned back in her seat a little. Well, wasn't this dull? She looked from Saasseeri, to Adjerban, and back as they talked...

...about nothing at all. All the Meorrrei matron could figure is that she was being a yes woman to this character. It was glorified customer service. This was what she was dragged away from her to handle?

Taking another gulp of champagne, not bothering to chew over the subtlety this time, Taataani felt rather insulted. Her half sister needed to learn how not to micromanage in a bad way, or she'd never have time to herself to think.

She was half tempted to second Adjerban's notion for the brandy, but again she was hamstrung, realizing she still had to keep up pretenses.

Hopefully, somebody said something very interesting very soon, because what a damper on what could have been a good day.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"You shall have a bottle of ourrr best," Sasseeri said promptly. This was wrapping up quickly, and Taataani would expect their nice day together to continue. Her half-sister couldn't see her face, but she couldn't figure out a way to send Adjerban a message.

Or if she could, what message? Sasseeri made a tiny motion with her hands, a drrraw jit out gesture that hopefully her head of security wouldn't be too dimwitted to figure out.

[Adjerban the Interloper]

Draw it out? How was I supposed to do that without pissing her off, and amusing myself at the same time? Don't win 'em all.

"The soaps and scented oils in the bath? Disappointing, Miss Reeouurra."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

So, this was what her day was put on hold for? Taataani could almost feel her brains sliding out of her ears. This was a conversation fit for a janitor, for Sanjaara's sake!

Her hands slapped down to the table in unison, a little too loud for comfort, as it caused her ears to twitch. She quickly smoothed over her demeanor, keeping the guise of being Sasseeri's subordinate.

"jI'm ssorrrjy, jI, err...jusst rrememberred..."

What, what did she remember? She'd have to make something up...

"That thing!"

She flashed an ad hoc smile to her half sister, giving lip service to keeping in character, because at this point, why did she care? She was in great danger of being bored to death, and Sasseeri lacked any proper managerial restraint to have this sort of floatsam handled by a lackey.

She rose to her seat, continuing the facade.

"jI'll have to take carre of that thjing we talked about. jImmedjiateljy."

Ugh, how awkward, but she would rather gnaw off a foot to escape than stay here for this.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri was just about to say something about the majids forrrgot about yourrr sensjitjive skjin?! and then Taa was leaping up, making excuses and trying to make a run for it. Finally!

"Oh - yes, yes, you should take carrre of that. jI'm surrre jit can't wajit." She nodded to her half-sister, and then turned back to the 'client.' "Adjerrrban, jI apologjize forrr the ojils. The majids wjill be fjirrred forrr forrrgettjing about yourrr allergjies."

[Adjerban the Interloper]

"Thank you for your time, Miss Reeouurra." Adjerban frowned slightly, and nodded as Taataani fled out the door.

"I'm going to keep that brandy." I poured myself a bit, and a bit for Sassy, who looked less than thrilled.

"How do you put up with her?" It was probably sort of like putting up with me.