On Holiday

[Molly Black]

Holiday Towers, Ison Lounge

The Ison Lounge in the city's Holiday Towers was one of the few places Molly Black felt remotely safe. Owing to the fact that her friend Arri owned the place the, on the run, Informant was relatively certain that should she require a quick escape, one could be provided for her. For now, she sat on the second level of the moderately well-appointed lounge, just above the bar sipping her drink from a straw while jotting notes down in a script that no one...hardly anyone.. could make sense of. It was better than secret code. It was chaos in characters, and it was damned useful to the informant when she needed to keep information on a slow simmer for later recovery.

Adjusting the knit collar of her ensemble (http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/Drakania/molly-cloud_zpsqiibynke.jpg) with her left hand, her right hand held her chin, as she poured over the recent tid bits of information she had been able to dig up from her position of exile. Every so often her blue eyes lifted to scan the lounge, making sure no new surprises were going to be sprung on her.

[Tonyh Vankar]

When Tonyh had been invited to a gala on Cloud City, he had made sure to book a hotel for a few days, because it wasn't every day he flew to Bespin. Frankly, he hoped that the trip would offer opportunities for networking and business but he also liked to have some downtime to take a breath in between being all out professional and charming, while making sure nobody was trying to double cross the hell out of him. Watching his back was something he had learned while at military academy years ago and it had always served him well.

That evening he had decided he had earned said downtime. He had made sure to call his daughter via the holonet prior to getting ready (http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/Aruna7/Tonyhs%20outfit_zpsakroxnfl.jpg) to go out and have a good time. While it felt weird not to have Sonya with him, he couldn't deny that he was loving being on his own and be able to be a full time adult. A little break from Daddy life wasn't to displease him, regardless of how much he adored his daughter. Time away from the kiddo was a weird but welcome change of pace during his time on Bespin.

He had decided to go to the Holiday Towers. What he had read about it sounded engaging. He arrived not so early but not so late in the evening. He didn't feel like being in the loudest part, so he chose to go to the lounge area. The place was busy and he had to make his way to the second floor to find a sitting spot, with his drink in hand. While he was prone to be found with whiskey, he had gone for a rum-based cocktail. After all, tonight was leisure time.

The layout of the booths was a bit confusing. The seating arrangements weren't so clear cut. He found an empty spot not afar from a beautiful brunette who was busy writing. He didn't want to disturb her but wanted to make sure that he could sit where he planned to. So he quietly walked up to her and cleared his throat.

"Please pardon the interruption but I am unsure whether the seats here make for a large booth or two separate areas and I didn't want to assume."

[Molly Black]

Of course she had seen him. Her attention to detail was one of her better honed skills. She'd seen him the minute he had walked into the Ison. She wasn't exactly sure who he was, but Molly smelled credits. He was attractive too, she could not help but notice that. Molly had not had a serious relationship since Hadrian Mortmain - years ago. The man had killed for her, literally, and then disappeared after making it big in the Casinos. After that, she had been too busy to entertain the concept of a date. Well.. she had been in a dark spot that one time and had briefly considered Smitty a viable choice to shack up with, but she'd eventually slept it off. Doctor Henning had no problem ogling her legs while his... instrument had been woven into her garters, but the minute he had it, the good doctor's interest in her had waned significantly. Never mind that this whole mess she was in was entirely his fault.

Vilen just plain scared her.

Men were trouble and she'd yet to meet one worth more of the same.

Still, there was no harm in looking. He was rather handsome.

"It's one big booth, but it's just me here. You are welcome to join me." And serve as part of my cover..

[Tonyh Vankar]

While Tonyh could be a flirt, he hadn't expected the brunette to invite him to join her at the booth. Nor had he meant to. He wasn't going to decline and complain though. He smiled warmly to her and tipped his head. "Thank you." With how she had been busy with her writing on her own, he made sure not to sit too close, as not to invade her private space. Private space had lost some of its meaning since he had had his daughter but if it wasn't for Sonya, he liked to keep his space.

"Interior design still baffles me more often than not." He mused with a chuckle as he took a sip of his drink. Then he realized he hadn't introduced himself. "I'm Tonyh." He wasn't so certain of how much she wanted to stick to her note jotting, so he wasn't pressuring her into conversation. He had had his share of people trying to talk his ear off at the worst moment and disliked the idea of doing that to someone else. If he wanted to annoy an idiot, he would have other ways to do that, depending on how much the person had been a thorn in his side.

[Molly Black]

Smiling a little at the man's self admitted deficiency in the art of interior design, Molly took pity on him. "The lay out is a little screwy. I think they do it on purpose."

"Nice to meet you Tonyh. I'm Molly." She was meant to be going with the cover name Temperance Minock, but the truth was...she hated the name. Even if it came with a rather hot, fake, Chiss husband.

Not bothered by the company, she kept drawing her insane little shapes and swirls while she spoke, turning them into a spiral pattern. "So I know you are not into interior design.", she teased. "What brings you the Holiday Towers?"

[Tonyh Vankar]

Tonyh couldn't help chuckling at the brunette's remark about the layout being "a little screwy". "Stylish and functional are the winning competition in my view. That's probably why I wouldn't make any money in interior design." He shook his head and took another sip from his drink. It felt good not to have to go on with his sale pitch over and over again and just take things as they came.

"Likewise, Molly." The name suited her he thought. He couldn't help observing her drawing. Sonya would probably be fascinated as well if she had been there. He realized she had asked him a question and answered it truthfully, at least without giving away his black market business goals. "I was invited to the big gala a couple of days ago. Came here to network and find new business opportunities, since Cloud City is the place to be. I mostly work in export of cultural and antiquary goods."

He paused and then didn't resist inquiring about her as well. "What about you?" It seemed only natural to ask and he was genuinely curious.

[Molly Black]

"Oh! A Gala? Shmancy!" Molly grinned. "I'm pretty sure I've never attended a gala."

Networking, on the other hand, she did like A Boss. She might know some of faces he met with, directly or by reputation.

"Me? Oh, I'm just a waitress, sugar. Profits for me come from running my ass off, and putting up with more than 'the girl who brings your food' should have to." Molly lamented the down side of waiting tables by taking a sip of her own drink, which turned out to be a fizzy pop, not anything alcoholic.

"Cultural huh? Like crab-stuffed cream puffs from Mon Calamari?", she posed with a teasing light in her eyes. "Sorry.. I know food. That's about it."

[Tonyh Vankar]

Witty and cute was a devastating combo and Molly definitely had that. Tonyh liked people who said things as they saw it and weren't using rhetoric to bore their audience to death. That was why he had never considered a career in politics, despite what some of his relatives had suggested when he had left the military life. When he was a soldier, things were straightforward and he still liked that. He liked doing black market dealings as well because people operating there could discuss better than official pompous a-holes thinking so high of themselves with their fancy company names.

"Just a waitress?" He said that before thinking twice, but he had the impression there was more than met the eyes - which already was quite gorgeous - with the brunette. He grinned and then blinked at the mention of one hell of a dish. "All right, since you brought it up and are a local, please tell me they serve crab-stuffed cream puffs from Mon Calamari around here. I've not had any in a long time."

Then he shook his head and chuckled. "And no, I deal in vintage and antique jewelry, paintings, scultpures for the most part. Sometimes old designer furniture too."

[Molly Black]

"Is anyone really ever just a waitress?" Grinning, she set her drink down.

Molly scooted around the booth, slightly closer to Tonyh, the light of conspiracy in her blue eyes. Or it might have just been the shine off the Ison's lighting.. "Can you keep a secret?"

She looked around, to make sure it was just Tonyh that would hear her next words. "I have a secret desire to design shoes and jewelry.."

"So tell me about this Gala I missed?", she invited with a warm smile. "Any famous people in attendance? A prince maybe? Was he single?"

[Tonyh Vankar]

Tonyh liked her response to his question, though he couldn't help thinking she might just be dodging the subject as well. Sneaky and clever, she was! "Good point." He simply remarked, for most people were quit complex beings. Save for morons. For them, there was no complexity in their idiocy, sadly enough.

He watched her scoot closer to him and slightly leaned closer to her as she asked her whether he could keep a secret. "I do." He wouldn't have succeeded in the black market if he wasn't able to do that. Even with his official company, being able to remain discreet about some buyers could prove in very handy. He quirked a brow and smiled to her. "Jewelry design can always use more talented creators." He said truthfully, especially since it was one of his primary markets. "Do you happen to have some designs with you? I'd be curious to see them."

He chuckled at what she queried about the gala. "My, only available for single princes? The single aspect is a good one, but princes only? And here I was going to offer to buy you your next drink. I guess I'm off the market by your standards." He teased with a mischievous grin. "As for the gala, there were certainly a lot of bachelors. The company was more diverse than I had expected, which was good, plenty of opportunities for networking. Some of the buffet was delicious but some others, well... I'd never use that catering company ever again."

[Molly Black]

"Designs? Umm, I'm afraid not. I don't exactly have a portfolio or whatever." Molly took a timely sip of her pop. Maybe she could convince him to help her move some..fine goods.. later, in case she heard someone needed some thing. Better to keep it all delightfully vague.

"It can't hurt a girl to aim big, right? I'm sure I would make a fantastic princess." Probably not, as the laughter came out anything but ladylike at the imagery of Molly Black, princess.

"You can buy me another fizzy pop, sure. I'll even go big and have one with a cherry in it."

Now he had her thinking of food. Her tummy threatened to rumble in protest at it's empty state, but she soldiered on with visions of crab-stuffed cream puffs. Who had those? Cloud Dance maybe?

[Tonyh Vankar]

"It was worth asking since you were doodling even here." He grinned, still curious about what style of jewelry she might come up with. Where interior design eluded him, jewelry was one playground he had extensive knowledge and experience in.

"Well you'd be one refreshing princess for sure." He replied with a chuckle. "Good then, let's go big and get you another fizzy pop, with the cherry. I'll settle for another whiskey." He beckoned a waiter to their booth and placed the order.

"I've heard a lot of interesting things about Cloud City but some I'm unsure whether they're just rumors or if there's some truth to them. The place is said to be quite the hub for business of all kinds. What is your opinion on it, since you live here?" He wasn't sure what she would know or might be willing to share but it was worth asking.

[Molly Black]

Doodling. Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing, Tonyh.

"Right..", she grinned, finishing up the last intricate, scrolling, lines of what she had been working on before setting down her very girly, pink pen.

While she waited for her fizzy pop to be delivered, Molly pondered the mysterious Tonyh, wondering just exactly what he was asking her. It sure sounded like he was asking if there was room in the pool to dip his toe into some 'off the records' business. It was just as likely that he was aware of who she was and was trying to set her up, make her admit something...

Geez, Mol. Maybe you need something stronger than a pop?

"You have heard right, Tonyh. Cloud City is home to all manner of business, ranging from the extremely legit kind, right down to deals so shady they never see daylight. My opinion? Well! Fancy that, no one ever asks the waitress her opinion!", she winked.

Scooting closer still, Molly resumed her hushed voice. "All depends on what you are looking for and how much shade you are comfortable with."

[Tonyh Vankar]

This woman was hard to pinpoint in who she might be. Even in the short while he had spoken to her, he had noticed how many different aspects blended, sometimes in harmony, sometimes almost in contradiction, with her. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't charmed. He kept that to himself for now though he had no problem displaying interest. It'd be a shame not to.

"Everyone should ask the waitress her opinion. She hears more than many probably think she does." He replied with a grin, satisfied with the possible options he might have on Cloud City, proving he found the appropriate middle man - or woman.

As she scooted closer, his arm rested over the seat's top, his hand brushing against her shoulder. "Let's say I don't just work in antiquaries and luxury commerce. Let's pretend that I dab into unofficial dealings regarding certain equipment of interest to both organized groups and private customers... Would that make this place even more of the one to be these days?" He was speaking in a vague fashion but he was careful about what to reveal. As conversation would progress, he would see about revealing more.

[Molly Black]

Molly's perfect lopsided smirk softened a bit at his words, turning into something genuine. Admiration maybe? She did not sense any sarcasm in his comment, only astute observation, which was dangerous enough on it's own, but paired with the businessman's looks, it was a time bomb waiting to go off.

"You're a sharp one, Tonyh. Maybe too sharp."

Leaning in to the increasingly private nature of the conversation, Molly toyed with the fruit in her drink absently. "That would put you exactly where you want to be, I think. Yes."

Cloud City was haven to the sort of deals he had described, and more..

"Maybe you should have my contact information.", she smiled then. "In case you need to go out for crab-stuffed cream puffs, or move some merchandise unexpectedly."

[Tonyh Vankar]

The last thing Tonyh had expected when trying to find a place to sit after picking his drink had been to stumble on a woman like Molly. She had a lot in her favor and he couldn't help being enticed into who she was and all that she might be that he ignored for the moment. It wasn't about unveiling a frustrating mystery but more the genuine thirst to know someone better.

"I heard that before." He replied with the most subtle hint of... Was it regret? sadness? It was hard to tell especially as it was just fleeting.

He smiled as she leaned in closer. When she talked about him having his contact information, he canted his head to the side, looking straight at her. "Why put off the crab-stuff cream puffs? We could very much discuss contact information and merchandise moving over a plate of those. What say you?"

[Molly Black]

Any other day? Molly would have slapped her hand down, hollered 'Check please!' and followed the handsome rich guy to taste bud nirvana. Today? She was being careful, or supposed to be being careful. She should not be talking shop with strangers for starters - but this was who she was! She was that perky, daringly stylish, girl who knew a guy for just about everything, for the right price. She could not find what people needed if she didn't talk to them! If she did not find the people the things - she got no credits. No credits, no shoes.

On the other hand... it would be just like someone to send a guy like Tonyh in here to lure her out from the protection of Arri. Crap-stuffed cream puffed, Molly bait.

She made no move to leave her seat..

"Maybe we could order them... Have them delivered here?", she wondered aloud, hoping he didn't think she was nuts..

[Tonyh Vankar]

Molly's reaction was a surprise, which left Tonyh wondering whether had had misread her. While he was good at "getting" people, he was only human after all. And maybe he was tired with all the running around of the past few days. When she finally spoke, he still had a hard time figuring her reaction out, but he went with it. Maybe she felt safer in this place than following a random person around. She was obviously more of a local than the perfect tourist he was, and it made him ponder on what her situation might truly be.

Yet, he wasn't going to shoot down her offer. "Sure thing." He smiled at her, hoping that it would reassure her a bit. "Do you know where we should order those. Any extra is worth the delivery, especially now I get this booth layout right." He gestured towards the nearby table. "Enough room to place an indecent amount of crap-stuffed cream puffs, right?"

[Molly Black]

Grateful that he hadn't seemed too offended that she didn't want to leave with him just then, Molly relaxed. "I was thinking... maybe the Cloud Dance? Tell you what, I'll go see if I can get someone to order them for us. You stay here, so the interior design doesn't baffle you. Which means, don't run off because I'm not at all sure I can afford crab-stuff cream puffs for two.", she smirked.

It wouldn't take much effort really. Molly knew someone everywhere. What she was more concerned with was having those same contacts look into this guy, based on what information he had told her. His name, and business on Cloud City. If he checked out, she would relax even more..

[Tonyh Vankar]

"Sounds good." He couldn't help laughing at her jab regarding interior design. He took it in stride and was the first to make fun of himself regarding such matters anyway. "I'm not the kind to run off, unless someone is shooting at me with an assault cannon and I'm running out of ammo." And even like this, he had been known to try to get the damn foe down before calling it quits.

He watched her get up and wander off. She was intriguing.

He had no opportunity to ponder on Molly that his comlink beeped. He frowned when reading the message. It was from Arranea, the longtime friend and former colleague who played nanny and bodyguard to his daughter. Worry plagued him at once when she said that she was taking Sonya to the medcenter because the little girl had got pretty sick at her daycare. He might not be father of the year but he hated not being there when something happened, minor or major - please make it be minor, whatever higher powers there are - to his child.

[Molly Black]

"Right! Be back in a jiffy."

Descending the stairs to the bar below, Molly stopped for a minute chatting it up cordially with the barmaid, who she seemed to be very familiar with. There was a lot of nodding and laughing. At one point, Molly pointed up through the Ison Lounge's levels toward the booth space she was sharing with Tonyh. In the end, the food was ordered out with the promise of a hefty tip for the delivery, and the other matter was being looked into. Just who was Tonyh?

Returning to the table, she gave him a thumbs-up. "Cloud Dance's freshest Mon Calamari crab-stuffed cream puffs are being prepared for us. I should tell you, it was extra for the delivery and the rush."

Tonyh seemed a touch more tense than when she had left him. "Everything alright?"

[Tonyh Vankar]

It took a lot for Tonyh to be overwhelmed with worry but anything happening to his daughter caused that. He kept exchanging messages with Arranea, while waiting for Molly to come back. His friend watching over Sonya kept her clear head no matter what, which also made her perfect for the job.

He was caught out of his rumination when Molly returned. A faint smile showed on his face. He didn't want to be a buzz-kill, especially since she had nothing to do with Sonya's predicament. "Oh that's wonderful. And of course about the extra. Good service is important."

When she asked whether everything was alright, he shook his head, a bit sheepishly. "Got a message that my daughter's at the medcenter to be checked. She's got sick. It should be nothing serious but..." He would normally keep such things to himself and be a rock, but he accepted to be human in front of Molly, which was normally blatant craziness in his view. "I hate when she's not well, especially when I'm not there."

[Molly Black]

His daughter? Molly's mind reeled that this obviously successful, very handsome, potential business contact was a family man.

"Your daughter?", her mouth finally caught up to her brains. "Sorry to hear that!"

"Listen, I was just joking about not being able to afford the tab. I can be a big girl and handle it, if you need to go check on her?" She offered him an easy out. Dinner with strangers in a bar did not trump a sick little kid.

[Tonyh Vankar]

Even worried about Sonya, Tonyh could tell that the revelation about his daughter was unexpected to Molly. He couldn't blame her because most people didn't imagine him with a child. He most often tried to keep his little one separated from his business talks anyway.

"No, no, it's all right. I apologize for my ramble. She's back home on Centares. So going to check on her would take me a few days." He relaxed a bit, knowing that Arranea was taking good care of her and would keep him updated. "She has the best nanny in the galaxy, so she's well watched over."

He offered an embarrassed smile, feeling a bit stupid for his mini freak out over Sonya's state, especially since everything should be okay.

[Molly Black]

It probably shouldn't have been such a shock to Molly. People did that sometimes. Had kids. Just not too many people that she was acquainted with. All of the kids she knew worked for her. They were easy enough to manage. The trick was to keep them focused. Treats after business. The little ankle biters all loved her cooking, and she loved feeding empty bellies, so it worked out well.

Tonyh's daughter though, Molly got the impression she had nothing to do with business. She had a nanny.

Smiling Molly returned to her seat. "Centares, huh? Never been. Well, if you are sure."

It was all kind of adorable, Tonyh not afraid to show his concern for his daughter. Added a whole 'nother delicious layer to the man. Dangerous...

"I don't have any kids, unless you count the one next door. I do feed her, but technically speaking she has a mother."

[Tonyh Vankar]

"Traveled a lot but always went back home, to Centares." He had grown up wanting to see the galaxy and had done as such, still did to a degree, but his love for Centares had never dwindled. "I am." He confirmed to Molly as she sat back down. He wasn't the kind of parent to strut around telling everyone how amazing his progeny was but he was proud of Sonya and loved her, regardless of how clueless he could feel as a father. Yet, he had never even considered a second to put her up for adoption when her mother had dropped her on his lap, quite literaly.

"Having more than one mother is better than having none." He said a little pensively. He would have nothing against Sonya having ties with her mother but that had never been something his one night stand had agreed to. "Does your feeding that kid means you have hidden cooking skills?" He teased with a slight grin.

[Molly Black]

Uhoh, he had a wicked smile.

That was bad news for Molly Black. She really couldn't help herself, her cheeks were suddenly no longer under her own command. They rose upward of their own accord, answering the challenge with a suitably sly grin of her own. "Perhaps.."

"I do agree with you, by the way. About the mother thing. Everyone should have a mother."

She got the impression his comment implied a lack thereof in his daughter's life. It could be an unfortunate thing, or maybe it was for the best. She had no way of knowing, but unless he was a damn good liar, that was genuine affection and concern she saw in his eyes when he spoke of her.

"So, how old is she? What's her name? Details man!" She leveled her skewer, designed to look like a miniature lightsaber bearing fruit, at him before plucking off a cherry.

[Tonyh Vankar]

Gods be damned, he liked her. That hadn't been the plan when he had decided to take the evening off, but for sure fate had a twisted sense of humor. Nothing new there, though, Tonyh mused.

He nodded to her agreement about the mother matter. He couldn't fathom why Sonya's mother had erased her from her life. That baffled him and angered him, but he had done what he could for the woman to reconsider, to no avail, so he had given up. Sonya was better off with people who loved her, like he did, like the Vankars did and like her nanny Arranea did.

He couldn't help chuckling at her series of questions about his daughter and his laughter turned into a howl that killed his lungs when she used her skewer like some kind of lightsaber. A good sense of humor was always a treat.

"Beware what you wish for! In three minutes, you'll beg me to stop raving over Sonya. I can easily turn into the annoying kind of father who brags, just so you're warned. Or you'll try to choke me with one of the puffs you ordered." He suddenly had a mischievous and somewhat conspirator-like expression. "That's why you brought these delicious treats up, isn't it? So you'd have an extra weapon against me, hmm?"

He winked and then sat upright again, answering her question properly. "Sonya's three years old. She is as curious as a kid can be, asking the most direct and sometimes embarrassing questions. She is a prankster and I've heard a lot from her daycare director more than once." He laughed, remembering how he had cheered for his daughter's mischief talents, much to the director's annoyance. "She has a good heart and if I make sure not to brush what she wants to talk about off, she's rather easy going."

[Molly Black]

Molly was fully prepared to smother the man in expensive imported cuisine if he turned out to be the sort to blather on about some boring subject. Unexpectedly though she found herself continuing to wear the grin, listening to him talk about his daughter. Sonya.. "No promises.", she said, of the death by seafood.

"Well, Sonya sounds wonderful." Molly admitted it honestly, the kid sounded cute. "Sounds a bit like me when I was that age actually."

Sore subject. Pick another, Mol.

She was spared by the arrival of their delivery, brought up the stairs to their booth by a rose-skinned female in a white chef's coat, her likewise pink hair was braided into a knot at the back of her head, very cute. Molly noted the style for later..

"Did you order the Mon Calamari crab?", the near-human woman wanted to know lifting two steaming handled bags.

[Tonyh Vankar]

"Noted." He replied with a chuckle, to what she said about death by seafood.

He grinned when she didn't mind hearing about Sonya. He adored his daughter and as much as she drove him crazy at times, and that he didn't feel he was anywhere prepared to be a father even after three years, he was delighted to have her in his life. "I can picture you being already full of mischief when a kid," he remarked right before the food delivery arrived.

He smiled to the near human and nodded. "We did, thank you for coming so swiftly," he confirmed before picking the bill and then organizing the payment, with a generous tip. "Here you go. Have a good evening," he added to the delivery woman.

[Molly Black]

Molly watched Tonyh with a critical eye as he paid for the food. He did not balk at the price for the rush, or hesitate to leave the Cloud Dance employee with a generous tip, either. He must have very deep pockets indeed, Molly thought with a greedy look that had nothing to do with the crab.

"It smells wonderful."

Making herself useful, Molly extracted the covered portions from the bag, setting them both up with dinner with practiced efficiency. It was clear that she was not just used to working with food, but at making people feel comfortable and cared for. People talked more when they were cozy like..

Sitting back with a fork in hand, she grinned. "Dig in!"

[Tonyh Vankar]

"It does!" Tonyh agreed with hungry enthusiam. He noted how Molly organized the delivered food and he couldn't help smiling. "If it wasn't for the challenging decor, I'd feel like home. Oh and Sonya would either be digging in the food already or ask what this new weird dish is."

He chuckled and dug in with his fork right when the brunette said to do as such. He lost his impeccable manner when he made a very satisfied moan at the sampling of the crab puff. It was absolutely divine. Damn, she knew what she talked about when she picked good food.

After regaining some measure of composure, he winked to her. "Perfect choice of place to order these little devils from!"

[Molly Black]

"Well, at least she's the type to be curious about new foods! That's a sign of excellent taste."

Smiling, Molly went about carving her food into bite sized chunks before sampling a bite and closing her eyes in relish. "So good."

"Yes, the Cloud Dance. They tend to have a higher standard than some. They have some brilliant menu choices. Definitely the sort of thing I would do, were I in charge. Which I am not..", she laughed.

Lifting her fizzy pop up, she smiled. "New friends?"

[Tonyh Vankar]

"She is curious about everything," Tonyh drawled before making a face and chuckling, remembering when Sonya had recently found her nanny's sex toy. That had caused a very entertaining - and frightening - conversation. His expression sombered a bit as he checked his comlink, finding no update from Arranea. He really hoped this stop at the medcenter was nothing serious.

He focused on the moment, the divine food and enjoyable company. "Cloud Dance? I'll have to remember that. What else would you do if you were in charge?" He queried with a grin, wondering about what her answer would be.

He nodded and smiled, raising his own drink. "New friends," he gladly agreed.

[Molly Black]

Wiping her mouth on her napkin, Molly smiled into the linen a minute before answering. "I'd expand! I'd take my smart menu choices and make them available all over the city."

It seemed a theoretical question, but in truth it was something she'd had on her mind for years. How could she increase the business and reputation of Cloud 9, and expand her own information trading business. The answer was incredibly simple. Food trucks. She could revamp the menu at Cloud 9 to include items easy to eat on the go, find an investor to help her get set up, and make sure the people manning the portable food dispensaries were people who worked for her. From the tourist levels right down to where the workers refined and froze the tibanna gas. Even Ugnaughts had to eat, right? Hold the bacon on theirs..

"There is a lot of potential here, if you are smart about it."

[Tonyh Vankar]

"Availability can be a strong component in business development. As long as you are careful to go for an organic growth, it can present so many possibilities," Tonyh mused in between enjoying the food. He liked the way Molly was thinking and he businessman in him couldn't help mulling over options.

"Having a stronger presence can also be good for keeping up with what others in your branch are doing." He wasn't just speaking about purely legal business but also keeping your ear to the ground about what else might be going on. Having developed as a weapon and military equipment provider in the black market for the past years had definitely helped me be sharper about the market.

"Money is a good means to multiple ends for certain."

[Molly Black]

Molly found herself putting things together in her head, just from listening to Tonyh talk. Damn if she couldn't see all the little pieces lining up. It was hard to trust a thing when it felt too good to be true, but at the same time, she could hardly refuse a stroke of good old fashioned luck for a change. Particularly when it came with such a charming smile. It could be that they were mutually beneficial to each other..

"So Tonyh, I'm terribly interested now. Obviously you know what you're talking about. I can tell instantly when I'm being conned, it's a gift..", she grinned. "And not at all the case with you."

"Would you ever consider investing in a business?", Molly wondered out loud.

[Tonyh Vankar]

Tonyh had strong boundaries and gods forbade stopping him from making people pay when they harmed him or his business; but he knew when he saw an opportunity, and he valued solid partnerships both in his personal and professional life. That was why he hadn't hesitated putting some things on the table and being frank with Molly already. He had good instincts, and not just because of having been in legal and illegal business for years, or even being one hell of a sabacc player.

He grinned at the brunette's statement about her gift. "That's one perk you don't see that often." He raised his half-empty glass. "Also, thank you."

When she inquired whether he would consider investing in a business. "Now, I am the one terribly interested. Yes, I would consider it." He waited for her to tell him more about what she had in mind.

[Molly Black]

One thing she did have in addition to a great pair of legs, was excellent intuition. It was rare for her to meet anyone, human, near-human or freakish alien, that she could not get a bead on after a few exchanges. She was very interested in learning as much as she could about Tonyh, and telling him about her operation, but not so much that she was going to risk being overheard by anyone just sitting about.

Taking a last sip of her fizzy pop, Molly smiled. "Great. Want to dance with me?"

The Ison Lounge didn't have a dance floor to boast about, it was a casino not a club, it was small, but it was noisy and the constant motion would keep her sassy lips from being read. The rest she could manage herself..

[Tonyh Vankar]

Molly's reaction was interesting, and puzzled Tonyh for a moment, although he didn't show it. Military and dealing with black markets had taught him a lot over the years. Without missing a beat, he finished his own drink and was on his feet. Offering his arm in a slightly theatrical way, with a bright grin, though his gaze remained serious, he waited for the brunette to get on her feet.

"I'd be a fool to say no."

As they headed to the dance floor, he realized that it was more crowded than he thought it'd be for such a small one, and the sound level was definitely louder. A perfect place to discuss business if one wished to avoid people prying.

"Oh..." He gave a pointed look at his new friend. "Cunning plan, another good reason to do business with you." Beautiful and intelligent was a deadly combination and Molly certainly had it.

[Molly Black]

"You would be, yes..", Molly teased.

Oh, the positively horrible things Molly had to endure in her line of work. With a grin, she turned and rested her hands on Tonyh's shoulder's. Firstly because, it was just too tempting to not to enjoy herself for a change. Things had been entirely too stressful for far too long. She was too young to feel as old as she did. Secondly, because the line of her pale arms also did wonders for blocking her mouth from being read, and her words were spoken to include a radius of only two.

"Thanks, you'll find I'm surprisingly adaptive." It was a touch more crowded than Molly had accounted for, but that was not necessarily a bad thing.

She let Tonyh do the leading, navigating around the other dancers, while she lead the conversation, beginning with more information regarding who she was. What she could do, and would be doing just as soon as she was able. About how having an investor to get her started could benefit them both. It was like she had said, she wanted to expand. Business had been good before and she had only been a waitress, helping Mu and then Spenny run things for the restaurant and Bliss. All the while farming all kinds of information, and then figuring out how to make it look like it had come from anywhere but her. The city was big, she had a person for just about everything, and a whole lot of eyes. What she did not presently have was the capital to do it the right way. There was potential, but no credits to make it happen quickly. She knew all the people that she could get a loan from and yeah, no thanks. She was girly, maybe a bit frivolous, but not stupid. That being said, Molly fully expected Tonyh to have some conditions on how and when he expected to have his investment repaid, if they came to terms.

[Tonyh Vankar]

"Adaptability is too often underrated," he commented with a smile, for he had seen too many people go to their downfall because they didn't know how to handle change. As they began dancing, he naturally led and kept the rhythm, adjusting his steps to the music, all the while listening to what she was telling him. She had definitely been thinking about her project for a long time and considered many angles. She was organized and definitely had street credits, something he valued. Of course he dealt with people who were in different spheres, but he preferred pragmatic people.

He mused on all that she was sharing, taking mental inventory of what he could get out of the investment. While he was a fair business partner, he wasn't a doormat. Once Molly had finished and they had danced a full other song, he began speaking, adjusting his tone and stance to continue keeping the conversation as a two-person audience. He was willing to put in a five to seven years window for payback. It was a partial gamble, but he also knew that you didn't just establish yourself in the blink of an eye no matter how well you knew the business. Shall Molly make a fortune earlier, she was welcome to pay him back before the deadline obviously. He wasn't keen on charging any interest for the reimbursement, and was more interested in a blanket 2% of Molly's benefits. Short term, it paid less, but long term, it would likely be a stronger pay-off, and an incentive for their partnership to last.

He didn't beat around the bush and told Molly that what he was most interested in was the access to her network, and any relevant info that could allow him to expand his other business in Cloud City, whether with locals, or visitors.

[Molly Black]

Molly had been impressed with Tonyh already, but after their little impromptu business dance, she had even more respect for him. He knew his stuff, that was obvious. The terms he offered were not only fair, they were pretty damn favorable. She was not going to get a bigger slice, or a better deal from any other source. Excitedly, her heart did a little pitter-patter. She was so stinking close to getting the credits she needed to open the Cloud 9, Molly could practically smell the nerf filets..

"Oh, you will definitely have access to all my goodies, including my network. Think of me as the cheery receptionist for bigger scarier people. And, just know that most of them like me, so I can probably get you some equally reasonable help from their dazzling array of services.."

[Tonyh Vankar]

"Most cheery receptionists aren't as dangerous as I bet you can be," Tonyh observed, not joking despite his amenable grin. For what he had picked on Molly so far, he doubted that she was defenseless. She seemed resourceful and with a solid head on her shoulders. That was why he was willing to invest and take a chance on her, regardless of how recently they had met. He knew value when he saw it. And he had been looking for a good angle to develop his business on Cloud City. She was looking for an investor. It was a very good deal.

"That's good. Solidifying a good customer base is important. Expanding it is crucial." Pondering on the money she needed, he paused for a moment. "Once you have the cash, how long before you're ready to open?"

[Molly Black]

Molly Black, dangerous? She stopped and considered that for a moment before laughing, as they moved through a splash of light. Maybe in another life, in this one the scariest card she had to play was 'Call for Xel Naga'.

"Expanding is the plan. All over the city.", she promised.

Considering how much work she had ahead of her, not to mention the upgrades, the ordering, the hiring! Since she had thrown every single 'staff' member the hell out of there, Molly had no one. Maybe she could persuade the chef from the Cloud Dance away, put those crab-stuffed cream puffs on the menu for good.

"I'm not going to lie to you Tonyh, there's a lot of work ahead first, but it shouldn't take too long. The Cloud 9 Bar & Grill has good bones, she just needs a little TLC, you know?" Like me.. "I'm eager to get the place open and get paying back your investment already.. I don't like to owe people, so I really appreciate this."

[Tonyh Vankar]

Danger came in many shapes and forms, and Molly's resourcefulness was a definite marker. Tonyh knew how to recognize that. He noted how his remark caught her off guard, but he stood by his observation. He grinned when she confirmed her plan to expand. "Perfect, this is what I like to hear," he responded without hesitation.

He was pleased to see she took some time to ponder the time table, despite how she had exposed her project in solid enough details. She wanted to get the job done and knew what she was dealing with. "We can figure out the details next week, but I'm thinking 300,000 for starters, by the end of the week. I will be able to provide the next two funding installments - same amount - in three...." He pondered, tracking what transactions he had upcoming. "And five weeks. So you will have all the funding in less than two months, so you should be able to get started right away."

[Molly Black]

"That's.. perfect." Molly wanted to stop dancing with Tonyh, only long enough to stop and do her own uncontrolled version of a happy dance, spinning around like mad and bouncing about.. If she knew him better, she'd have hugged him. Dancing was one thing, one did not pounce upon ones investor. Not until after the shit was signed anyways.

This was going to save her ass, yes, but it was also going to give her a damn nice hand to play.

"Please don't turn out to be a creep. I'd be real sore about having to question my instincts.", she teased.

[Tonyh Vankar]

Tonyh had expected that the time table and financial installments would suit Molly, but her joyful reaction comforted him all the more. He had a very good feeling about this deal, and it would serve them both tremendously. "I can say the same," he replied with a grin. He had thought it would take much longer for him to set a foot in the business door on Cloud City. Every once in a while, fate smiled upon him, as his daughter was a testimony to. He had learned that fate worked in mysterious ways. While he was no religious person, on the contrary, he knew that certain things happened when you least expect them.

He laughed dryly at Molly's teasing. He couldn't blame her to say that. "I have way more interesting things to do than being a creep, so you will be fine."