What Sober Couldn't Say

[Tybalt Stryder]

Harvest Day (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Harvest_Day_%28Tapani_sector%29) was greatly celebrated across the Tapani Sector, even when people couldn't remember how the holiday came to be in the first place. Tybalt found that ironic, but not so surprising with how some noble houses were so set in their ways, unable to see their flawed ways centuries after having established them. Part of him even forgot how he was truly Tybalt Des Fontaines, heir to the Garobi's supposedly leading family, the Des Fontaines Lord and Lady. Of course House Barnaba (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/House_Barnaba) and even worse, House Melantha (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/House_Melantha) kept their fangs way too deep in his homeworld politics, since his family had been too vocal about House Mecetti (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/House_Mecetti) was the one to give allegiance too instead of Melantha. That was what had motivated him several years ago to take a surprising road. He had morphed into Tybalt Stryder, an eventually infamous scoundrel who worked in several Tapani provinces, providing his investigator and infochant services to the one who would pay most. Truly the reasoning was to glean as much information as possible, and establish a network that could throw out the Barnaba and Melantha representatives keeping Garobi under their thumb. And to achieve that, his family and people would need outside help. It was a slow process but it paid decently and he was hoping to be ready to achieve his goal within the next years.

For now, he couldn't resist grinning at the thought of mingling right in the enemy's den, as he had chosen to celebrate Harvest Day on Barnaba (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Barnaba) itself. Of course, he had little interest in playing tourist for real, but the holiday provided so many banquets and celebrations that many people drank even more than usual, and loose lips were what he was after.

Tybalt (http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/37700000/Comic-Con-Portraits-of-Sam-Heughan-outlander-2014-tv-series-37793397-1365-2048.jpg) had got up very early, to be able to stroll by the docks where all the supplies arrived for the different mansions hosting celebrations. Offering a helping hand here and there was often welcome, because the service staff was mostly worn out after having had to put up with their employers. It was a good way to hear semi-veiled complaints about certain individuals and how they behaved the night before. That would give Tybalt a list of potential targets to befriend when he would find his way into a ball on the next evening.

[Mithra Sev'rata]

While Mercury was more inclined to keep her business ventures localized in the Hapes Cluster, she had been told time and time again that the Tapani Sector was brimming with opportunities. She always designed her plans around marked events that would supply plenty of cover; holidays, grand galas, and parades were a few of her favorites. Harvest Day was an adequate alibi of sorts and since she had never worked the region, she had a bit more leeway with her identity. Clad in a rather unique garb (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/e4/20/c9/e420c9c460b94d0ab5433e45bca2146f.jpg), along with a plain black mask over her eyes, she prowled the streets nearest the main spaceport on Barnaba's wealthiest continent; a location recommended by her contacts.

She liked what she saw as far as merchandise went; these nobles didn't seem to spare any expense for the parties that would ensue. This was merely a time of observance, though. The fun would come later, when she infiltrated their homes and robbed them of their wealth beneath their very noses. She was a very selective thief, however, and only the rarest of items would appease her. Those particular pieces were difficult to discern through the vast number of supply crates stored by name along the docks.

One particular station captured her attention; judging by the liveried staff and the fancy golden emblem emblazoned on the cargo containers' side, she'd found her next mark. Rather than saunter by all obvious like, she took an aerial approach; easily bypassing certain security measures and sticking to the shadows, keeping an ear out for any juicy tidbits that would bolster her theory that she had found a big catch. Loitering on a catwalk strewn above one of the docks, Mercury overheard a pair of dockhands discussing the unveiling of a one-of-a-kind necklace that would be officially displayed at the Sarveor Residence. Anyone who was anyone would be there to observe. She felt the telltale pitter patter of her heart and knew that she had found the object she was looking for.

Now, all she needed was more information about the poor fools she was about to swindle. She turned to leave and as she did, she caught sight of a long-haired man that had been eavesdropping on the same conversation she had. A slender eyebrow arched beneath the leathery veil of her mask. Competition? She hoped so.

[Tybalt Stryder]

Hmmm, the Sarveor Residence would be his destination for the evening, it seemed. They had been on his to-do list, but now he got an opportunity to mingle with them and their friends. It was said that a branch of the family had a beef with House Melantha, which could very well serve his designs. He was fairly sure that a few drinks and smiles and the right touch would get him to glean some information from some of the ladies. He had no problem using seduction as a weapon. And being very good at what he did in - and out of - the bedroom had proven quite efficient. Of course, finding the piece of info he needed in between moans could take time, but he eventually got to that point. And nobody had ever said he couldn't enjoy himself in the process as well.

He knew he'd find a way to get an invitation, one way or the other. The day was still young but that didn't mean he would waste any hour.

He was still eavesdropping on conversation when he had that familiar gut feeling of being watched. Casually moving and looking around, he caught the brief sight of a presence above, scampering off into shadows on the catwalks. It piqued his interest and made him wonder what it might be about. He filed that in the back of his mind. He was always on guard in his line of work anyway, so time would tell whether this brief and vague glance would bring anything later on.

For now, he was starving and an ungodly large breakfast was in order.