The Time to Hesitate is Through - (Arriana, Irridia)

[Kalail Rotas]

Holiday Towers - Port Town, Cloud City

There was never a quiet time inside the hotel bar. With the millions of sentients that pass through Cloud City, their weary traveled bodies needed a bed to sleep and a drink to soothe their nerves. Or, if one was feeling lucky enough, they tested their chances inside the casino attached to the Holiday Towers. It's multiple features were often tantalizing enough to bring hundreds of beings through it on a daily basis.

Of course, that was what it appeared to be on the surface. Underneath the warm lighting and fortunes coming and going inside the casino, a darker element pervaded its halls. This establishment was also a center for local Black Sun members to pass off intel, weapons dealings, money, and of course fun. Kalail Rotas was here for business and pleasure, but as one of the newest leaders of the criminal organization, she was sacrificing the later for the former and hoping to finally land a new recruit for herself.

Fate had a wonderful way of showing up and in this instance (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20128), it happened to be a sensuous redhead with the most amazing sea green eyes that Kalail had been yearning for. It was not like her to become so fixated on a lover, but Irridia Solensis had appealed to her, and not just to her libido.

It had been three months almost to the day since that night at Radick's, but Kalail was still feeling that ache for a particular body against her, where as in the past she would have gotten bored long before now and dropped them - and never politely. Once some spacer wouldn't get the hint and firebombed his swoop bike. Message was loud and clear after that.

But here she was, months later and still having that obnoxious feeling in the pit of her stomach as if she was some giggling school girl. It was odd to her, feeling inspired by anticipation and letting her mind wander to how they would celebrate Irridia joining her with Black Sun.

Because she was not taking no for an answer. She allowed the shuffling of feet since it was a good excuse to keep seeing her, but Kalail wasn't going to let one of the best damn Smugglers pass up an opportunity of a lifetime.

Kalail eyed the entrance from where she had staked her claim at the bar counter, and still saw no sign of Ri. Eyes drifted back to her half emptied glass of whiskey, which was mostly watered down from the ice. Kalail's presence was being maintain as the sophisticated accountant from Corellia and Coruscant, unlike her drunken and dangerous persona that Ri was privy to. It would be an eccentric experience for Ri seeing it for the first time - her lover stoically sitting at the bar with her legs properly crossed like a good lady, a black business suit, with the jacket currently draped over the back of the stool, a white blouse that covered the entire length of her arms (it was even buttoned all the way to the top of her neck) with black pumps that emphasize her legs pleasantly. Even her hair was up in a simple bun.

It was delightfully fun to pretend to be so boring and normal when inside a raging fire kept trying to burn out of control.

[Arriana Rezner]

The Ison Lounge was enjoying another profitable day, as two shuttle loads of off-duty Imperial soldiers had found their way into the bar and were playing a never-ending drinking game, to see who would be the last one to fall unconscious. Arriana had guards watching over the drunkards, whilst she took a leisurely took of the room, a proud tilt to her profile as she admired her own success. There was, however, something else to admire on that particular day. A smile curving into her lips, she sauntered up to the bar.

“Kalail, darrrrling.”

A long-time associate of Sorsha Kasajian, the Cathar was familiar with most all of the former-Vigo's family – including her fiery cousin, Kalail. Yet, this prim and proper vision was not the Kalail she was used to. Arriana gave her an appraising glance, leaning one hip against the counter of The Ison Lounge's bar.

“It's good to see you. Vhat brings you to Cloud City?”

[Kalail Rotas]

"Why business of course," she countered and patted her sealed briefcase that was on top of the bar. Kalail noticed the spark of surprise in the Cathar's eyes and and fought the smirk that so desperately wanted to come. She basked in reactions to her alter ego, enjoying how others dismissed other qualities that were just as deadly as the deadlier proton grenades that she could whip up. She could crush anyone by leaving an electronic paper trail light years long on anyone's account, leaving them without a cred to chew on. Both means of destruction got her off in different ways.

"I'm meeting someone here to discuss terms." She already was talking as if Irridia had signed the dotted line. There was no reason for Kalail to think otherwise.

[Arriana Rezner]

“Terrrms,” the Cathar purred, with a slight nod. For all the Holiday Towers was a legitimate and profitable business venture, its main purpose was to act as a front for the Black Sun's under-the-table business dealings. If Kalail wanted to use the premises to conduct such business, she was certainly at liberty to do so. After all, in the hierarchy of the syndicate, she was the Cathar's superior. It had been a long time since the pair had spoken, but Kalail seemed distracted. Although Arriana was curious if Kalail knew of her cousins whereabouts, she held her tongue.

“Is therrre anything I can do.. to ensure the meeting runs smoothly?”

[Kalail Rotas]

Her well played stoic features pulled back into an appreciative smile. "I'm confident the meeting will run smooth, and you are more then welcome to meet her when she arrives."

She picked up on some unspoken curiosity but Kalail was not sure what had piqued the Cathar's interest. She was about to comment further when a loud clang of metal reverberated as glass hit the floor. The Imperial drunkards had accidentally knocked over one of the waiters when a pair of then had risen to use the fresher. The waiter carrying the drinks now carried it mostly in his once immaculate suit jacket.

Kalail raised a brow towards Arri.

[Arriana Rezner]

“Imperials.”

It was funny how one word could express so much. Pinching the bridge of her nose between thumb and forefinger, Arriana suppressed a sigh and instead smiled knowingly at Kalail, as the unfortunate waiter made a bee-line for the backroom of the bar. It probably wouldn't be the last time that night he'd have to endure that kind of embarassment, but it was tolerating just that kind of behaviour that earned Holiday Towers the repeat custom of so many, unlike some of Cloud City's more picky entertainment establishments. Kalail's raised brow was matched with a smile.

“Shall ve go somevhere.. a little less busy?”

[Kalail Rotas]

What should have been an instant response to gladly find quieter quarters so they could be themselves, Kalail hesitated and looked down at her wrist chronometer. There was still a respectable amount of time left before Irridia would arrive.

Absently straightening her watch, she nodded and got to her feet, "That sounds like a splendid idea."

[Arriana Rezner]

The bar was spread across multiple tiers, the upper levels of which were generally reserved for specific, respected clientèle. Arriana left word with the doormen that any guests for Kalail were to be sent up to join them upon arrival, before finding a suitable table that was attended to by a pair of pink-skinned Zeltron's in figure-hugging outfits. As she sat down opposite Kalail, Arriana favoured the twosome with a smile full of promise, as they deposited some of Atton Kira's famous cocktails on the low table in front of their boss.

“Nothing too strong. Just something to varrrm you up,” she assured Rotas, knowing that it wasn't best to conduct business whilst heavily under the influence.

“So, Kalail... vhat news from Imperial Centerrr?”

[Kalail Rotas]

Now free from the confinements of normalcy, Kalail let her hair down, both literally and figuratively. Light hair spilled over her shoulders, releasing the tension that the tight bun had been causing. She was a few minutes shy of a headache. She shook out wavy hair and flipped her head. Any member of Black Sun under the old guard would know that a mischievous smirk from Kalail meant trouble.

"Shall I translate that?" She licked her lips and crossed her legs uncharacteristically nervous as the one on top bounced. "I think what you meant is, 'Vhat news is therrre of Sorrrsha'?"

She winked. "Am I close?"

As much as it was a sore spot with the Vigo, Kalail was putting on a good front.

[Arriana Rezner]

Arriana held Kalail's gaze. At first she wore a pure sabacc face, unreadable, but in a matter of moments a smile began to worm its way onto her lips.

“Perrrhaps. You cannot blame me forrr asking, hm?”

[Irridia Solensis]

The past few months had been pure bliss.

Well alright, not all of it had been bliss, given that she'd taken on four Kessel runs and spent half her time outrunning Hutt enforcers on Tattooine.

The bliss had come the handful of times both hers and Kalail's schedules had permitted them time off enough to meet. Passion and pleasure were often the order...they needed so few words between them. And yet...she'd not been able to get the blonde out of her head since that night at Radick's, what seemed a lifetime ago.

Irridia sighed as she rose from her seat and padded barefoot down the hall to her quarters aboard her ship. She'd docked in Cloud City at the dock number Kal had left in her message, almost an hour ahead of schedule. The time was used to make the ship far more presentable than it had been the last few months. Four Kessel spice runs and dealing with Hutt enforcers on Tattooine didn't leave a girl a whole lot of time for housekeeping.

Speaking of time, Ri was about to be late - and that would be unforgivable.

Black silk and leather (http://modelmayhm-5.vo.llnwd.net/d1/photos/080803/17/48961e8e2c3db.jpg) wrapped around her body, buckles snugly fastened in short order. A short black leather skirt and thigh-high black velvet boots completed the ensemble, and she left her scarlet locks loose and flowing. Only a single blaster was tucked away at the small of her back, out of reflex more than anything else. When one was in her line of work, one never went anywhere unarmed. Ever.

A few minutes saw Irridia inside Holiday Towers, stiletto heels clicking across the floor as she made her way to the Ison Lounge. She paused and spoke to one of the doormen, who pointed to a discreet set of stairs and motioned her inside with a long, lingering glance.

Ri smiled as she ascended the stairs, fingers smoothing the fabric of her top as she ensured that her blaster was well hidden. Sea green eyes cast around the slightly more intimate area until they brightened at the sight of Kalail. The woman might have been dressed in a strict and conservative fashion, but what the fabric hid, the cut and fit of the garments revealed. She stopped to appreciate the sight for several moments before regaining her composure and resuming her steps.

"Ah hope ah're not kept you waiting fer too long, darlin'..." Irridia purred, proffering a smile for Kalail's companion before the blonde commanded the rest of her attention.

[Kalail Rotas]

She laughed and kicked Arriana playfully under the table. "Nope. I can't blame ya at ..."

Kalail lost her voice. Which was a feat that no one in any legitimate or illegal organization would have thought possible. Any one that knew her realized that the blonde had an answer for anything, even it was just to be a smart ass. This time, it was hypnoztizing long legs covered in velvet that only gave a hint of skin between the short skirt - which taunt her to shut the hell up. It hugged curvaceous hips that reminded the Vigo of her last venture with Ri and fingers curled near her lap as if a phantom redhead had already straddled her. Eyes lingered to enjoy and yet continued upwards, undressing Ri with each shift.

She forced herself from licking her lips and had to remind herself to not stand up so fast as if a greedy wolf. Some how, Kalail managed to saunter to her feet to pull out a chair for Ri to take. "Not at all," she finally uttered and made the introductions. "Ri. This is Arriana Rezner, a close associate of mine."

Taking her chair once again, it managed to scoot several inches closer to Ri. "Arriana, this is Irridia Solensis. Ri for short. Penchant for making sure goods get to where they're suppose to be."

[Arriana Rezner]

Arriana watched as Kalail practically fell over herself to make her guest comfortable. A languid smile on her face, the Cathar studied the Vigo's latest playmate with one thin eyebrow arched. She thought back to her own smuggling partner, a Dug by the name of Bula who had a temper as hot as the Dune Sea. Apparently, by the looks of Ri, smuggling had become somewhat more glamorous since then.

“A voman after my own heart,” she said, with a glance back at Kalail, wondering how the two of them had met, and if this Irridia had gotten into more than the Vigo's pants and found herself a place in the Black Sun itself.

[Irridia Solensis]

She slid into the proffered seat, crossing her legs as she found a comfortable position. Her eyes lingered longer on Kalail than they likely should have, but all the readhead could ponder was when she could undo those ridiculous buttons. Ahh well, she mused, business first, pleasure later.

"A pleasure to meet you, Arriana."

A drink was shortly placed in front of her, earning the server a quiet thank you and a nod of her scarlet head. Flicking her curls over her shoulder, she smiled and sipped the drink before tilting her head to look at Kal.

"Now that ahm here, sugah, what's goin' on in that pretty little head of yers? 'Wrap it all up and come to Bespin' was a bit vague, darlin'."

[Kalail Rotas]

Arriana was looking delightfully suspicious and curious, but in the time it took for Irridia to sit, the Black Sun Vigo had found her poker face once more. Though it wasn't to say an eye or two strayed to enjoy such lovely legs that were beside her.

Reaching behind her chair, she pulled out a datapad from the hanging suit jacket and slid it across the table to Irridia. "This matter required a face to face discussion. Not suited for open channels."

As a smuggler, the redhead had her own personal channels but when it came to the matters of Black Sun, Kalail wouldn't trust anything related to the holonet unless they were approved channels of her organization.

"You see," she leaned back in her chair to continue with her explanation, languidly draping an upper limb over the chair's arm, "I've given you several opportunities to find the perfect career with us. But I don't get the answer I want."

She regarded the datapad before Irridia. "Consider that my final offer."

Kalail wasn't usually this persistent, but she wanted a yes from Ri. After quite a bit of digging, she was a damn good smuggler and would be an asset to Black Sun. It was difficult to find Smugglers that held a high margin of success. Of course, her personal motivations drove the Vigo to be more forgiven of the nos. She wanted Ri. It was as simple as that, but the redhead was not someone that she could just force to join. She had to work at it and had been planting the seeds steadily over the months to make this offer too tempting to pass up.

It had been difficult to write the offer up without being biased. As much as her own lusts wanted to just give Ri everything, the Vigo would never set a precedence to be walked over. Ri would get money to outfit her ship and make any needed repairs to increase her success rate, a monthly stipend for for food and rent, supplies and weapons provided by Black Sun itself with immense resources for any run, and of course a 30% commission on services rendered - which was 10% higher then the norm for new employees. That should give the redhead pause and consider her offer.

[Irridia Solensis]

It was more than she'd been expecting.

The smuggler sat up just a bit straighter in her seat, sea-green eyes carefully reading the offer as it scrolled across the datapad's screen.

Cash to fix her ship, a stipend for housing, a 30% commission on her services...it was a heady mix for someone who'd been working alone for what seemed like an eternity. She could also set something aside for her daughter's care...or perhaps, she'd see about bringing the youngling with her.

Of course, she'd have to tell Kalail about Aliyah first.

Irridia sighed faintly as she flicked through the offer one last time. If she were to be honest with herself, she'd have done it for alot less that what Kalail was offering her now. A home, an organization at her back, and steady work...with the added perk of being close to the enchanting blonde at her side. Really, there was nothing more she could ask for.

"I accept...but this doesn't tell me who I'll answer to. Or who's in charge of this here shindig, darlin'." Ri smiled, taking the stylus and signing where she needed to before passing the datapad back to Kalail.

[Arriana Rezner]

Arriana watched as a procession of emotions passed over Irridia's face. The woman had just been handed the keys to a very lucrative future – but it was clear this wasn't a simple deal. When there were emotions involved, it never was. Once again, Arriana was greatful that Sorsha had seen fit to partner her with Bula. The foul-tempered Dug was as far from her type as any sentient being could be. Thinking of Sorsha brought Arri back to the matter at hand.

“An excellent question,” she said, her eyes shifting from Irridia to Kalail.