Sloshy Summations

[Molly Black]

One by one, Molly's cohorts departed her rented apartment. They had something like a plan. The facts had been established before the alcohol had been consumed. Thank the stars. It was a matter of waiting, and trusting now. Trust was not Molly's strong point, but these people were her friends. They wouldn't sell her out unless they had a good reason. Or to save their own necks. Or if they needed the money. Or... shit.At the very least she was no worse off now than she had been yesterday. Today she had her Black Sun contacts actively involved in step one of clearing her name. Get the ship. It seemed like such a waste of time to some. Why not just buy a new ship? The answer was sentiment. Sorsha had given her that ship. Also all her shoes were in the luxury sized closet in the master suite. Not to mention all her other clothes! And some other things, worthless to most but priceless to her.

Hiccuping, Molly began the task of picking up after the get together of crime bosses and enforcers that had just left.. Freaking slobs for the most part, but she loved their collective shady asses.

Ooo, a bottle!

She'd been about to upend the contents when her door chimed. Someone forgot something? Shrugging, she went to answer it.

"I told you. You have to wait..." She hiccuped. ".. to tie me up until the heist...", Molly grinned, anticipating the return of Xel Naga.

It wasn't Xel.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

The man who wasn't Xel waited for no invitation before stepping into Molly's apartment, brushing by her fortunately without knocking the bottle in her hand. He took in the room - the furniture still warm with the body heat of other beings, their scents on the air - with one look, then levelled his bright red gaze at Molly.

"What heist?"

[Molly Black]

It was fortunate for Molly Black that when she rotated out of the Chiss' way, there was a conveniently placed wall. Her back collided with it, just a touch harder than she had intended. Hard enough that her only response was a bit of an "Ooof.."

She tilted her head at a curious angle. "Hello to you too."

Of all of the troubles that clung to Molly Black, like so much static cling to her silk stockings, Vilen was the one she had the least information on. Which made him just a little scary. Her good fortune was holding tonight though. The alcohol gave her the bravery she needed to not cave when he leveled his red eyes at her.

"You strike me as someone who doesn't miss the little details, Vilen. Did you miss the Black Sun parade that just marched out? That heist."

Up went the bottle. Molly looked positively pleased with herself as she swallowed. "That's my crowd. That's who is going to help me get my shit together."

If such a thing were possible..

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Two humans and a Cathar had been walking away from Molly's apartment as Vilen arrived. He recognised one of them from somewhere, a holo-billboard perhaps. Black Sun. He tucked that piece of information away in his mind, to investigate later. While Molly practically glowered at the back of his head, Vilen looked at the handful of wine glasses, the remains of the party.

"You're planning to steal from the Empire," he said, a guess.

[Molly Black]

Molly had been heading toward the kitchen. She stopped short, giving the admittedly scary Chiss a rather withering look.

"I thought you knew who I was? I thought that this was what we were doing? I thought this was what you bloody wanted? I have to rat on all my pals and you..' She jabbed a finger in his general direction. '.. don't toss me at the nearest stormtrooper!"

Each repetition of the word 'thought' became increasingly louder, and testier. Scowling, she disappeared into her kitchen, although once there she couldn't remember what she had been after in the first place. So, to avoid Vilen' and answering his questions she just hopped up on the counter and continued drinking.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“Perhaps our relationship could be made more... mutually beneficial,” came the reply from the other room, followed by a moment’s pause before the Chiss stepped into the doorway to the kitchenette.

[Molly Black]

Something about that Chiss really knew just how to set her off.

Molly glanced down to the bottle in her hands. Champagne. Not a quarter of an hour ago she had been celebrating with her friends. Perfectly tickled with their planning session, and convinced of their success. They knew what they were doing! Then Vilen showed up, and now here she sat, grouchy as you please.

And here he came again. Surly blue gaze sloshed Vilen's way at his suggestion.

"Oh? Are we negotiating..?" That put a different spin on things.

For that, she actually set the bottle down and sat up rather straight, hands propped on the counter on either side of her hips, legs dangling over the sides. One hand lifted, gesturing invitingly to the available counter space just opposite her, as though it were the best seat in the house for such things. Really, it could be worse. Cooling leftovers and melting desserts were in reach, and open bottles strewed amid that.

"You have my attention."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“We can make an equitable trade.”

The Chiss came further into the kitchen, pausing to look over the counter-top Molly had motioned towards. His mouth pressed, for a moment, into a thin, almost disappointed line. The counter was littered with the same clutter as the table in the lounge. Vilen crossed his arms behind his back and instead of clearing a space to sit, he turned to face Molly directly, standing in the centre of the kitchen.

“In exchange for information about the Black Sun, I can provide you with information about the Galactic Empire.”

[Molly Black]

"Hmmm.", was all Molly said, noncommittally.

Scanning the counter, her blue eyes widened in shock. "They didn't even try the cake?"

In obvious irritation, she leaned over toward the cake in question. Layers of dark chocolate, raspberries from Naboo dripping in syrup, and more chocolate. What kind of crazy asshole didn't even try a bite of that? Molly grabbed a rather large knife and sliced off an equally large piece, flipping it onto a plate. Rolling onto her right hip, she reached into the drawer beneath where her left leg dangled and retrieved a fork. Stabbing a piece and bringing it to her lips, her eyes closed. Pure bliss on her face, a groan of almost carnal pleasure escaped her lips as she dragged the fork from between her lips, clearing away any traces of raspberry delight.

Opening her eyes, she immediately stabbed another bite, but this time held it up toward her guest, fully expecting him to try the damn cake.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Vilen looked down at the fork, somehow resisting both the cake and the urge to lift an incredulous eyebrow. Instead, he took a judicious step backward, aiming to be out of reach of the almost inevitable lunge that he suspected would come when he opened his mouth.

"An usual choice for an opening gambit in negotiations."

[Molly Black]

Molly make no move to lower the fork, simply shrugged a slim shoulder.

"I made this cake, I'll have you know."

She lifted her chin a notch, expectantly, ready to shovel cake between his blue lips.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Vilen knew the expression on Molly's face. It was the kind you saw across the table during a game of Sabacc. Either a bluff, or the precursor to a stunning victory. What were Molly Black's tells, the little ticks and twitches that would reveal whether she was moments away from folding?

Stepping forward, Vilen held Molly's unwavering gaze. "I don't eat cake," he said, and reached around her for what looked to be a clean glass and a bottle of something dark purporting to be Tevraki whiskey.

[Molly Black]

Well, that was a pity. Molly ate the bite herself, but clearly was disappointed with the outcome, tasty as it was.

She was aware that she was being studied, but it was fine. She was doing some personal recon of her own, and she was used to this sort of thing. He wasn't going to get anything but cake.

As Vilen reached for the bottle, her gaze stayed locked with his, equally unflinching. "I already told them about you." Her friends. The agents of the Black Sun that he wanted intelligence on. If she went missing, someone should know who to shoot at..

"Are you allergic to chocolate, or do you just not like tasting delicious things..?" She licked the fork.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

The revelation that her Black Sun associates knew about him was not unexpected. In Molly’s position, who wouldn’t have confided in a friend about a stranger insinuating themself into her life? It was not ideal, of course, but not disastrous.

“I didn't realise we'd reached that stage of our relationship. Perhaps I should tell my friends about you too, then,” Vilen said, thinking aloud, as he thumbed off the top of the whiskey and poured himself two fingers worth.

“As for your cake,” he paused lifting the tumbler of whiskey almost to his mouth. “I’ve no desire to deprive you of something you clearly enjoy so much.”

[Molly Black]

"You have friends?!", she blurted out, unrepentant. "Did not see that coming. "

"I do enjoy my cake. It's yummy. I made it for people that I like, for them to enjoy. So, that's that then. You get none." To emphasize her point, she placed the domed lid over the cake with some finality.

"Resume playing!", she yelled through the wall, at the music in the next room.

"You could have just showed up like an hour ago. Met them, gotten names and all. Made friends. Had cake. Then you would know about the heist and what a flawless plan it is, and we could be onto better things by now, but noooooo."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

It wasn’t too large of a leap of logic to assume that everyone Vilen had seen coming and going from Molly’s apartment was part of the ‘flawless’ heist in the making. Aside from the human female he’d recognised from a holo-billboard somewhere, the other two were distinct enough to be researched further. The felinoid, especially. Hadn’t he seen her somewhere too?

At last, the Chiss took a sip of the whiskey.

“What better things did you have in mind?”

[Molly Black]

Head tilted at an angle, Molly's eyes gave him a rather bold once over before shrugging and taking another sip of the champagne. "Hard to know since you're late. Shame too, it might've been really good."

Setting the bottle down, she braced her palms on the counter. Sliding forward, hips first, she slid to the floor which put her extremely close to Vilen. "In fact, I'd bet on it."

Slipping out of the kitchen, she grinned to herself.

"Worry less about them. Ask me what I've been up to."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

It was inevitable. Where Molly lead, Vilen followed. Back into the chaos of the lounge, each slow step feeling making him feel more like he was being lead on a wild bantha chase.

“What have you been up to?”

[Molly Black]

"Thank you for asking, Vilen! Let me tell you."

Turning about, Molly looked like she was about to impart some info, for free. Unfortunately, at that moment there was an audible scratching from the area of the apartment's door.

"Ummm. One sec!", this she called at the same, unopened door.

She supposed she looked a little crazy. Good. Let him worry. She had to worry all the time about what kind of trouble he was.

"Could we take this... this way?" Surprisingly sweet now, Molly seemed to have no shame about dragging Vilen into the apartment's one and only bedroom. Making sure the door was shut behind them, she leaned against it.

Let him worry, indeed.

"So... I really don't know how much you know about my work. But if what you want is for me to be back in business, that is information being acquired and sold to the right parties, then today was a good day."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

The impromptu tour of Molly Black's home continued. If the rest of the apartment was chaos, the bedroom was order, all smooth silks and an abundance of furniture that would have fit in any one of Cloud City’s high-end hotel-casinos. There were hints that the room was for more than just show, however: a closet door cracked open just far enough to hint at rails of dark fabric within, a dressing table with some personal affected tucked against the base of a mirror.

Vilen took a long sip from his whiskey, the slight burn in his throat now just a mellow tingle.

“Enlighten me.”

[Molly Black]

Molly's head thudded backward against the closed bedroom door while she spoke. "It's been a rather eventful couple of days. I've met with some of my former bosses, pretty sure I'm sorted out with them, yeah."

On the other side of the door, her music continued to play, only now there was also a fair amount of rustling that Molly did not seem at all disturbed by.

"But more importantly, I got some assistance (https://theholo.net/forum/showthread.php?56972-Some-of-our-Masks-Wear-Us-(Molly-Black)) throwing some local squatters, posing as staff, out of the Cloud 9. That's a restaurant in case you weren't aware..", she continued.

"Why is this important? It's how I keep my my information clean, if you take my meaning. The better the place does, the more I have to offer. I know the place like the back of my hand, and I know the owner. If she comes back, trust me. It'll be far better if she finds a familiar face."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

The rustling might not have bothered Molly, but it didn’t escape Vilen’s notice. His red eyes flicked between her face and the door she leant against, his senses suddenly alert to the possibility that there was more to Molly’s evasiveness than trying to avoid his questions.

Cloud 9. A legitimate front for Molly Black’s less than legitimate endeavours. “We should go there together sometime,” he said, taking a step toward her.

[Molly Black]

"Don't worry. It's not an ambush of Black Sun thugs.", Molly looked devilish. It was nice, watching him try to figure it all out. "The truth is, I'm an enchantress from a far away world. Even now my powers are at work in the other room."

He wanted to check out the Cloud 9, or her?

"We can go. You might want to let me have the place sanitized first.", she frowned a little at the memory of just how much work she was going to have to do..

Vilen was approaching. It reminded Molly that her back was literally already to the door, and there was no further retreat, should she want it.. She was still not at all sure, but it was giving her a hell of a lot of pleasure toying with him.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

An enchantress. That elicited a rare smile, his head canting just a touch to one side. Whatever she, or anyone else, was doing beyond the bedroom door, Vilen had to resist the urge to bite.

“I don’t mind a bit of mess.”

[Molly Black]

"Really?", she sounded skeptical, having pegged him for the tidy sort.

Behind her there was another curious scratching, this time at the bedroom door. She made no move to open it, but lifted her knuckles and knocked twice to the side of her head. One knock came back, followed by a scurrying of feet.

"I don't mind messes, as long as fun was had in their making."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

There was that noise again. Vilen turned away, gesturing with his glass in a motion that encompassed the bedroom before them.

“So. Was there some plan behind bringing me in here?”

[Molly Black]

"Well, I was not under the impression you were sleepy.." There was a laugh hidden in Molly's dry commentary. There was also a look of serious speculation. She was definitely considering all possibilities.

Stepping away from the door, Molly gave him a theatrical invitation to pass. She knew what they would find on the other side. The room put back to rights. Every speck of food that had been left out would be either consumed, or outright missing.

She should have put the cake away...

"I suppose you're free to go. So are we negotiating or what?" Vilen was given a rather exaggerated sigh, as though it was all his doing that they had gotten nowhere.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Vilen made no attempt to leave. For the first time since he had arrived, Molly didn’t seem intent on escaping into another room when posed a question. He had to capitalise on that.

“This seems like the ideal place to negotiate."

[Molly Black]

Molly peeked around the tall Chiss in front of her, just to clarify that they were in her bedroom. What kind of negotiations were they about to have? She grinned. "I like it.

"My answer is no."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

It had taken some time, but at last they were coming back to the real matter at hand. Vilen dashed off the last of the whiskey in the tumbler. In the face of Molly’s refusal, the Chiss actually smiled.

“Do you have a counter offer?”

[Molly Black]

"I'm working on it." Molly promised. The trouble was she'd had an awful lot to drink tonight. Good thing too. If she hadn't she might not have gotten this far.

"For starters, you're never going to get what you want blackmailing me. I'm too much of a pain in the ass.", she nodded, agreeing with her own sage advice. She was a pain in the ass. She'd find a way to use any information she did acquire, against him.

Since Vilen seemed determined to stay put, she went back to leaning against the door, ankles crossed. "You'll definitely want to rethink that bit."

"Oh! And I am not ratting on the Black Sun. They'll just have me killed, or tortured, and that's no good either. I don't do pain. I'm a lover not a fighter.", she smiled sweetly.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“I see.”

She was honest about herself, at least. That was more than could be said for Vilen himself. Red eyes looked Molly over. Perhaps he could turn her self-directed honesty that to his advantage.

“If you were in my position, how would you win over Molly Black?”

[Molly Black]

You should have eaten the damn cake. Molly thought, but kept it to herself.

"Like if we started over?" She tapped one glossy red fingernail against her lips thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose it could be that I was extremely grateful that you saved me from getting busted at customs. Not sure that quite sells it, I might've been alright on my own. Probably not.", she admitted.

"If I liked you, it would be much better. I'd be persuaded to be all kinds of helpful then."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Now that was a novel idea, and not a tactic that Vilen had a vast amount of experience with. His career history being what it was, the cudgel of fear and intimidation had always been his weapon of choice and the best way towards a swift resolution. Then again, those metaphorical blows had always been delivered with the weight of a higher power, of the Ascendancy and latterly the Galactic Empire. Without their overt endorsement of his actions, and with the evidently powerful counterbalance of the Black Sun, twisting Molly’s arm was apparently going to be impossible.

“Hm. That might be… challenging. You’ve no doubt noticed I’m not especially... likeable,” the Chiss concluded, with a wry smile.

[Molly Black]

"No way..", she replied with mock astonishment. "Well, you are the most charming, scary blackmailer I've had, if that helps at all?"

Crossing her arms before her, Molly continued. "It's not all bad though. I mean, you obviously have excellent taste." Her arms uncrossed, just briefly enough to indicate herself.

Probably not Molly. You were the just the easiest pickings..

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

The most charming, scary blackmailer. Some of his former associates would laugh Vilen out of the room at that description, but if that was what he had to work with, that was it. If he was honest, Molly Black was the most charming woman he’d ever tried to blackmail.

“I do. Is it too much to hope that you have poor taste?” he asked, gesturing towards himself with his empty glass.

[Molly Black]

Now it was Molly's turn to smile. Not a contrived one either, she actually smiled. "Mmm, 'fraid not. I like the finer things in life. Things that sparkle. Fancy shoes that no one but me is crazy enough to wear. Room service..that sort of thing."

Her head tilted, still trying to figure him out. "I'm not sure where you rank just yet, but I'm working on that too."

His glass was empty. Blue eyes narrowed as though she had just remembered something. "What do you eat? If you're going to be around me you'll have to tell me at some point. I can't not feed people, it's kind of a thing."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“Mm, I thought as much, based on all of this,” Vilen gestured to the bedroom around them. If there was one thing in the room that did not fit, it was the Chiss. The word ‘sparkle’ was about as far from being a suitable way to describe him as ‘fancy’ was. Vilen’s entire aesthetic was functional, nondescript even, or at least as nondescript as a blue-skinned, red-eyed alien could be.

Noticing the glance at his empty glass, Vilen lifted an eyebrow.

“Are you inviting me to dinner? I’d happily take a Firaxan shark fillet.”

[Molly Black]

"Maybe.. I haven't decided yet." It was an honest answer.

Molly herself was unsure of what the hell she was up to at this point. She could only blame so much of it on the champagne and drinks with her friends. While she enjoyed flirting with a handsome face, the truth was that she probably had some malfunction in her head that attracted her to the wrong sort. She'd had exactly one lover, and while Hadrian had never harmed her, he had definitely been a homicidal madman, to frame it kindly. Even that had been a while ago. Since then she had either been too busy, too selective, or just plain on the run.

Then there was Vilen. At worst he had tried to blackmail her, but they were working through that . What truly alarmed Molly about him was what she didn't know. He seemed well connected, capable and probably way too smart for her. Thus far he hadn't smacked her around or anything, so he had that going for him at least. He could just decide she wasn't worth all of her eccentricities and toss her at a storm trooper, as she had claimed, or worse right off the city, but he hadn't. Still something about him gave her a fair amount of trepidation to tread carefully. It didn't stop her from having the most annoying compulsion to find out if she liked the taste of blue.

"Shark, right.. I can do shark. I thought you wanted to go to the Cloud 9? I had it closed for now, but maybe.. before it reopens?"

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“Here, or there.”

After everything Vilen had observed, it was difficult to say with certainty whether Molly was being sincere. Still, there was something almost softening in her attitude. The evasive woman who had lead him on a baffling, evasive tour of her home was replaced with someone else, someone who seemed to be looking at Vilen through a more trusting lens. Unexpected, surprisingly even, but not a bad thing. She was certainly keeping him on his toes.

“I should probably put this away,” he said, holding up the empty glass, “And let you get some rest.”

[Molly Black]

"You should?" Molly raised an eyebrow, shifting to the side to peer around Vilen at a mirror. Expecting to see a train wreck looking back, she was baffled to only her perplexed self. "Oh.. right."

Stepping to the side she opened the door. As she had expected everything was put back together, and there was no speck of food remaining. The little devils had left the alcohol though, Molly noted happily. Good thing too.

"So negotiations to be continued then?"

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“To be continued,” Vilen agreed, stepping past Molly into the miraculous tidy lounge. Whoever, or whatever, had cleaned up the remnants of the party had done a fast, efficient job. The Chiss set his glass down alongside the remaining bottles, which looked as if they were arranged ready and waiting for the next round of party-goers to arrive, then turned to look back at Molly.

“Tomorrow?”

[Molly Black]

"Sure." Molly agreed without thinking it through. As negotiations were still ongoing, she was still selling herself in a way. She had to be accommodating. She'd figure it out. She usually did.

"You should probably see the place sooner rather than later, as it's the cornerstone of my greasy little empire."

Emphasis on greasy and little. If all went well she would be smelling like a restaurant again in no time. Her 'little' workers were the surprisingly handy rookery kids from the tenement levels, not too many down from where she currently resided. Whatever, no where to go but up. She had done it before, and she would do it again. She found them jobs, and kept them reasonably fed and paid when she could. For goodness sake, some of them were almost of an age to apply for work at the Cloud 9.

No freaking way.

Maybe one..

"Better make it late though."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“After sunset,” Vilen agreed. That would be plenty of time to do a little reconnaissance on the diner before hand, and perhaps survey some of the more loose-lipped locals about the history of the place.

“Tomorrow,” the Chiss repeated, lingering in the doorway to the apartment for a moment longer. “Goodnight, Molly.”

And then, without looking back, he was gone.

[Molly Black]

The following morning found a groggy but determined Molly Black at the doors to the Cloud 9, enormous cup of stimcaf in hand. Hoping no one recognized her, she had donned a pair of baggy, colorful-paint spattered overalls, over a black tank top. Absolutely not something she would ever wear unless she expected to be filthy. She stood outside the closed establishment for a moment or two, mentally preparing herself for the mind boggling amount of work she would have to do just to get the place open. That was not even accounting for the time it would take to get her other operation back to running smoothly, but like she kept telling herself. She had already done all of this once, she could do it again.

Also, having friends with deep pockets lined with credits helped too.

Molly turned her pony-tailed head to the sight of cleaning crew that she had hired for the morning, shiny industrial cleaning droids that would do in an hour what would take her weeks.

"Hey there. Right on time." Opening the doors, she let them get started, instructing them to pitch it all. She was replacing everything, not trusting the years of funk that had accrued in her absence. It was as she had phrased it to Vigo Kandle, 'a shit show.'

While they got started, Molly drank her caf, keeping her shades on at first to keep out the day, but also putting on music despite her headache. She couldn't work without it, and she had so much to do. After stimcaf... The only clean surface to be seen was the actual bar, so she climbed up and lay on her back looking up at the ceiling while she answered her comm.

"Hey Soolah. Sorry I bailed on my appointment today."

The chattering of Sullustese in her ear was enough to let Molly know it had not been appreciated, but Soolah was not just her manicurist, she was also a friend.

"Oh gods above, don't ask. I was kind of stupid yeah, and I'm telling you there is nothing there! Trust me, I was even kind of trying. So take your gut feelings and stick them in some paraffin!"

After gabbing with the Sullustan nail technician and finishing her coffee, Molly disappeared into Mu's office to make sense of the chaos in there, to try and sort Mu's belongings that she had left behind, from the junk left by the most recent slob who had been posing as a manager. By the time she had even made a path through the office, it was already almost lunch time. The cleaning droids had scoured the place to an impressive sanitized standard that even she appreciated. Deliveries of new foods were arriving. It was almost like new again, and made her nostalgic. She almost felt like pushing a broom around, or wiping a table. Almost..

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Cloud City was a place of strange duality. By sunrise, half of the city was wide awake and had been hard at working in tibanna mining facilities for hours. The other half meanwhile was still sleeping off hangovers from the night before, or had not long fallen into bed after long session in one of the city’s many casinos.

Vilen fell somewhere in the middle of these two and found himself in the mostly deserted upper levels of the city, where even the Cloud Guard and Stormtroopers were few in number. Having no desire to be seen wandering the city alone by either group, he ducked into a shop that ran card games all day and night, and whiled away the hours, losing and winning credits, until the pedwalks were crammed with tourists.

In the anonymity of the crowds, the Chiss could move about more freely. He joined the tail end of a tour group that started in the city’s upper levels and eventually wound it’s way down into Port Town, where the Weequay tour guide promised the group would get to experience ‘the real Cloud City’. Sure enough, one of the group had their pocket picked within minutes of entering Port Town’s sprawling market.

As the group began to disperse and confront the possibility of haggling to buy a souvenir of their trip, Vilen lingered beside a stall selling spices by the sackful. As he feigned interest in what the stallholder had to offer, his eyes twitched up and looking through the knot of market stalls to the more traditional streets beyond. When the crowds parted in just the right way, he could catch a little glimpse of the exterior of the Cloud 9 Bar and Grill.

[Molly Black]

The next delivery wouldn't be arriving for a while, so while she waited Molly kept busy by personally going over the previous order. She shoved crates, one after one, into a dry storage closet and began unpacking. Soon enough she was working up a sweat. Strands of her dark hair had come loose from her pony tail, which she just kept repeatedly blowing out of her face.

Knowing that for now she was alone, a sound from elsewhere in the kitchen gave Molly cause to stop and turn her head. "Hello..?"

No one answered back.

Gulping, Molly reached for a broom handle mounted on the wall. Sliding it loose, she wielded it in front of herself like a staff. The fact that she had zero training with a staff not factoring into her decision at all.

Could be anyone. Hungry kid. Sobered up former manager. Someone looking to rob the place. Sexy blue-skinned blackmailer..

She peeked her head out of the storage closet cautiously and didn't see anything either. Maybe she was imagining the noise? Nope! There it was again, she swung around and held her broom like a bat now, ready to beat the hell out of whatever she saw. Nothing, again. Tip-toeing, in half-unlaced boots her nerves were beginning to get twitchy. When the rodent came skittering out at her, more afraid of her than she was of it, Molly screamed her head off and swung the broom handle into a stack of freshly-printed menus which exploded behind her as she dropped the handle and ran, barreling through the double doors of the kitchen back into the dining room. The rodent, the only one not already removed by the cleaning crew, trotted out behind her between the swinging double doors and out of the Cloud 9.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

To Vilen’s left, a Bravaisian trader haggled with a customer over the price of what appeared to be live eels. Ahead, a pair of Theelin performed acrobatic stunts, aiming to delight passing tourists and part them from their credits. Off to the right, the doors to Cloud 9 swung open, without anyone appearing to come or go, and a muted shriek sounded from within. Vilen’s brow furrowed.

Excusing himself from the stall he was browsing, the Chiss shouldered his way through the market crowd towards the diner. When he reached the doors, he saw a closed sign on display, though the door was clearly. With eyes narrowed in suspicion, he took a step back and carefully began to push the door open.

“Hello?”

[Molly Black]

The moment the door to the Cloud 9 had started to open, Molly had ducked behind the bar, hunkering down. That was definitely not the next delivery, they'd have come around to the kitchen door. Now who was trying to get her?

When she heard the questioning greeting, Molly knew her day could not get worse.

Vilen.

Shit, shit, shit.

She made no move to rise, or emerge from behind the bar. "Umm.. Vilen, hey there. Aren't you a little.. early?"

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Without quite stepping in through the front doors, Vilen ducked his head in just far enough to scan the interior of the diner. Apart from a few droids shuffling about the room or moving through a cleaning cycle, it looked empty. He ventured a step into the diner.

“I heard a scream?”

[Molly Black]

Of course he'd heard that. She was not admitting to the place having rats, that was not the sort of information she wanted circulating. "Yeah, that was me. Sorry.", came her response from behind the bar. "Caught a glimpse of my own reflection."

With her back to the underside of the bar, Molly wasn't exactly exaggerating. If Vilen already only tolerated her in her cutest little black dresses, he would be completely repelled by her in her current state. Molly was not prepared for that sort of rejection, even from her..whatever he was. To be decided later..

"I...didn't start on your dinner yet." She pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting a sense of doom. That wasn't entirely true, she had, it just wasn't here.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Red eyes took a closer look at the main dining room and bar. Molly was nowhere to be seen, and yet he had definitely heard her inside this. Was this another of her misdirections, or was she… hiding? Perhaps it had been a little premature to come barging into the diner so early in the day.

“Do you need help?”

[Molly Black]

Molly looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully at Vilen's question. More than he knew.

Damsel. Distress. The whole tale of it was true, and she was the damsel. The only problem was, Vilen did not really strike Molly as the hero in her misadventures. Technically speaking, she still owed him for getting her through customs. She did not need to start collecting a serious debt to the guy, not when she still knew so little about him. There was a lot that needed to be cleared up in the murky details of just what their relationship was. He was her blackmailer, on hold? Did not inspire desire to ask for help.

"Nah, I'm good. Just a little scare, really." Molly's voice was a bit muffled now, with her head resting on her knees.

"But hey! Vilen? Out of curiosity, if I had been in trouble... were you by chance going to dash in and do something?" She had a feeling she'd like to see that..

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

In the silence that stretched between the question and Vilen’s answer, Molly heard the doors to the diner shut and footsteps moving slowly closer to the bar.

“Maybe.”

[Molly Black]

Molly could hear Vilen moving closer.

Well, this was just great not only was she probably a mess, but she was also about to be caught hiding behind the bar. Like hell, I am.. Spinning around on her denim covered bottom, Molly made herself immediately busy straightening items on the shelf below the bar. In this case, glasses that were already straightened.

"Oh, well.. I was going to take a rain check. A girl like me could definitely use a heroic rescue, to be redeemed at a later date."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“I don’t know about heroic, but a rescue seems… plausible.”

He came up to the bar, leaning both forearms on the counter top as if he were a customer waiting to be served.

“You’ve got a well-located place here. Must have cost you a chunk of credits.”

[Molly Black]

"Honey, if I'm rescued, I'm not going to quibble over the semantics. It'll be heroic enough, I'll take it."

Molly was completely serious too, she'd take it, gratefully, if that day ever came. She was still having a hard time picturing it though. Especially when the not-heroic Chiss appeared above her. Reaching up, her red-painted fingertips wrapped around the bar as she unfolded herself and stood up, dusting off her hands. Whatever, so she looked like hell.

"Yeah, it's my baby.", she said with a touch of pride.

As far as Port Town was concerned, the Cloud 9 had always been a touch above the rest, even for a greasy spoon of a place. Most of note, they did have the added benefit of privacy that Bliss provided, relative privacy anyways. Some of her best stuff had come through the 'back room' of that club.

She tipped her chin in the general direction of a piano on an empty stage. "When we first opened, we had Lili Von Wolfson singing nights. I think, just maybe...I can top that." Molly's poor abused ears recalled the singer's dulcet tones..

"You'd think that, right?" With the benefits that came with being back with the Black Sun, transferring the Cloud 9 Bar & Grill to her had been pretty painless, and the credits she needed to get it done properly, well..

"I have better than credits. I have friends. Lots of them."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

If he was at all taken aback by her appearance, it didn’t show. Molly Black could have worn a Tusken-raiders second-hand cast offs and still looked like something out of a holovid.

Vilen glanced across at the piano.

“Is that another of your many talents?”

[Molly Black]

"Absolutely not.", she looked toward the piano. "The best I have is singing, badly, in the shower, I'm afraid."

The stage was in a half-decorated state, sparkly blue and silver tinsel behind the abandoned piano, but little else. The poor thing was probably out of tune. Maybe Ali could come over and either have a look at it, or put it out of it's misery.

"Well, you're here now you might as well have a look around, check everything out. I mean, if you want..", she shrugged, blowing the escaped strand of hair from her face for the millionth time that day, wondering all the while why she didn't just fix it.

Pointing toward each location, she rattled them off. "Kitchen. 'Freshers. Bliss, which requires a keycode normally, but it's inactive right now so have at it while you can.", she teased. "That's where we get rich."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

His red eyes touched on each of the locations that Molly indicated. There was more to the interior of Cloud 9 than the exterior suggested.

“A self-guided tour? I was hoping you’d be my guide. We can skip the ‘freshers, but Bliss, I am interested in.”

[Molly Black]

"I figured I dragged you along on the last tour.." Not exactly, she just hadn't wanted him to catch any of her little friends. She was protecting them from him, one of the biggest unknown factors in Molly's life.

"Alright." Molly agreed with only a slight hesitation. She wiggled her toes inside the boots she had worn, regretting it now. Without the extra inches that her usual heels afforded her, she always felt small.

Having the barricade of the bar between them had been her last line of defense, but she came around it all the same.. "This way then.."

Stepping from the Cloud 9 into Bliss was always like upgrading, Molly thought. Floors slippery with fry grease and spilled alcohol gave way to plush carpet. Neon lighting was replaced with softer, warmer schemes, the kind that relaxed you and made you want to stick around.

"So there's the gaming tables... Umm, there are a few meeting rooms, and there are even a couple suites in case any high rollers decide to make an evening of it. The surveillance was alright when it was put in...but I have a guy who's going to upgrade it for me.", Molly grinned. Of course she did.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

It was strange, to see a club during the hours it wasn’t in operation. Without shadows and pulsing music that would turn Bliss into a haven for indiscretions, the club looked well-furnished but felt somehow hollow. On the topic of surveillance, Vilen could spot only one camera. If there were others - and he didn’t doubt there were - they had been well concealed. Inwardly, he was impressed.

“I can see how this would be good for all sorts of business.”

[Molly Black]

"Yeah, I was pretty impressed my first time in here too." In fact, Molly had't even started her employment at the Cloud 9 with clearance to Bliss. That had come later.

Back then it had been Mu getting the place going. Molly had walked, a bit woebegone and without a credit to her name, through the doors of the Cloud 9, under the direction of someone else. Maybe she was repeating some loop? Then, as now, she had taken the job as a way to pay someone back for a favor. At first glance, Molly had been turned away by Mu. Instead of leaving, Molly had picked up a broom. Her stubbornness had won her the job, she suspected. Her perkiness had made her popular. Her ability to manage situations that could be described as 'bananas' had put her in charge.

"It is. So what would you do with it?", she wondered.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“Run it into the ground, most likely.”

When she glanced at him, Vilen smiled. He paced further onto into the club, toward the gaming tables.

“I’m not well suited to running a place like this.”

[Molly Black]

"Hmm.. at least you're honest." That was all Molly said for a moment, walking in the same direction but bypassing the gaming tables toward a room full of billiard tables. She sat on one watching Vilen, as he checked out the club.

"So what exactly are you suited to?" That sort of information would make her life so much easier. If she just knew what he wanted, she was she could get it for him.

Molly's blue eyes went upward to the ceiling tiles, still pondering the to-be upgraded surveillance.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

An interesting question, Vilen thought, as he ran a hand over the fabric of a Sabacc table. It looked almost untouched, like the first hand of cards hadn’t even been dealt on it yet. Someday soon, someone would look at that table and see the potential to win big.

“What do you think?” he asked, turning his back to the table.

[Molly Black]

Perched on the billiard table still, Molly's denim clad legs dangled over the side, booted-ankles crossed and kicking slowly. Tilting her head, she gave Vilen a leisurely perusal, as if she had not done so each and every time she had encountered him. She could probably have a suit made for him with her qualifications. She squinted a bit, as though she were truly trying to piece together the riddle of Sev'ilen'sabosen and come up with an answer.

"Chandrila Beach swimwear model?"

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“Tried it,” Vilen countered, straight-faced. ”Apparently my… complexion wasn’t suitable.”

He braced both hands on the table behind him, leaning back against it.

“I used to be what we call in Cheunh an en'catehan'casi ch'an'itepert. An analyst of… secrets. An agent of the law,” he added, with a small smile.

[Molly Black]

Molly shook her head regrettably at Vilen's failed modelling career. "What do they know..?"

Trying to get the image of Vilen lounging about in a swim suit, pool side, on her soon-to-be rescued ship out of her head, Molly reached for one of the balls on the table. She rolled it back and forth across the surface, before sinking it in a pocket. She wished Cheunh was one of the languages she had better command over. The truth was, she had not met many Chiss, and it was a complicated language to take on.

"So.. what does that mean? You got to determine which secrets were assets and which were chaff?"

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“Something like that, yes.”

Stepping away from the sabacc table, Vilen pushed his hands into his pockets as he paced back towards the billiard table.

“I found the secrets. Extracted them. Then used them.”

He walked along the uppermost edge of the table, perpendicular to where Molly sat. He doubted that what he was about to tell her would come as any surprise.

“Mostly, it involved gathering… vuct'sucer ch'icaseiti, or compromat, as the Imperials call it. Blackmail material. Not the sort of work that generally puts you in good stead to play host."

[Molly Black]

Watching Vilen approach a little warily, Molly chewed her lip in indecision about her own intelligence where he was concerned. She had first hand knowledge of how good he was at that particular job, else they would not be here discussing it now. "Huh.. I cannot imagine why?", she responded sarcastically.

"Now, bet on it, I haven't been trained by any special forces or anything.. It's just my experience that people give up more when they are cozy like. Desperation makes people irrational, don't you think? Information can become.. hmm, inaccurate maybe?"

While she did not appreciate being blackmailed herself, Molly was not above using the tactic when it got the results required. She just went about it a different fashion, which brought her back to her own intelligence, or maybe a lack thereof..

"Hey Vilen.. Come here for a minute..." Molly tilted her face toward him, leaning back on the billiard table with a mischievous look.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“It’s about what you can do with the intel, not… necessarily how accurate it is,” he said, as if that summed up his entire approach to intelligence gathering. “A half-truth can be much more powerful than the whole truth.”

When she called his name, Vilen looked up from examining the top of the billiard table. A quizzical eyebrow lifting for an instant, he turned on his heel and walked until he was standing in front of Molly.

“Yes?”

[Molly Black]

"I suppose so..", she allowed, knowing she'd made use of less than half of a truth in the past. A smidgen was often enough.

When Vilen was before her, Molly had her calculating smile back in place, wondering just how far she could get with her mysterious Chiss. "Let's have a demonstration!", she suggested.

Indicating the free spaces on the table to either side of her hips, she patted the spots. "Hands here, if you please..?"

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

A demonstration? Vilen looked a touch incredulous, but obliged regardless, resting blue fingertips on the felt of the tabletop, right where Molly had suggested. His red eye shifted down, to narrow margin of space between them, then back up to her face. He was practically stood over her, pinning her in place.

“Yes, I can see how this might... encourage you to tell me a secret or two.”

[Molly Black]

"Probably, yes..", she admitted, unwisely. She was pretty sure Vilen was oblivious to the effect he had on her. If he had been, surely he'd have taken advantage of it by now.

Despite the fact that he was practically up against her already, Molly leaned up at a precise angle, it seemed like she was about to kiss him actually. For a moment, she even considered it..

"That'll do nicely, I think. Now we go see the office." She gestured back the way they had entered, back out into the restaurant.

"Unless.. there was something else here you wanted to see first?"

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Vilen’s hands remained exactly where they were. He even leaned forward a fraction, his red eyes fixed to her blue.

“Wasn't there.. something else here that you wanted to show me?”

[Molly Black]

"Oh, I think I definitely do." Molly confirmed with a slow nod.

She didn't take her eyes off Vilen, not with him so close. She felt, just a little, breathless. Sort of pressed in on all sides by him. It was not a bad thing really, but the only place to go was back against the felt of the table.

Not quite sure if she was supposed to be intimidated or turned on, she swallowed and then smiled. "It's in the office."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Vilen tipped his head back for a moment, considering Molly as she smiled up at him.

“Not out here? Not… on this table?”

[Molly Black]

Oh, hot damn. It would seem Vilen knew exactly what he was doing.

With some effort Molly kept her smile from faltering, although her pulse did increase. She took her eyes from Vilen's red ones long enough to glance over her shoulder at the table top. Stretching out her arm, she ran her fingers back across the felt surface, flattening her hand experimentally. "Hmmm."

Molly would be lying if she said she had not considered this, and more with Vilen. More than once. It had been her intention to show him something clever. This was where cleverness got her.

She looked back at Vilen, shrugging a bare shoulder, not about to be out-bluffed in her own club. "I have felt cheated a honeymoon."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Vilen slid a hand across the table until his fingers covered hers.

“Cheated?” He squeezed her hand. “I’d never be so dishonest.”

[Molly Black]

Aware that her insides felt as substantial as a jelly filling in one of her desserts, Molly still manged to stave off the urge to squirm.

She did curl her fingers around his though.

"Careful, Vilen. I might get the impression that I'm something other than marginally useful and problematically pert."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“Surely, only a fool would believe that.”

Vilen leaned in toward Molly, until their bodies were almost pressed together. A smile twitched at the edges of his lips for just a moment before his mouth met hers.

[Molly Black]

This was not at all what Molly would have planned for. If she'd had the teensiest inkling that she would be making out with Vilen on a billiard table, she'd have worn something.. prettier. She even had the something pretty at home, hanging up, waiting for her to put on later when she met him for dinner, but if it was to be cover-alls and boots, so be it.

Everything about Molly was eager for a taste of him. Reaching up with her free hand, she curled it around the back of Vilen's neck, not being shy about it at this point. She had a suspicion they were still negotiating, maybe even now, so she felt obliged to be clear about what else she wanted.. but maybe they could work that out later.

In the back of her mind, Molly tried to keep it together. Delivery, due at any moment. Mountains of work to be done. People to hire and train. But it was all shoved to the figurative back burner. Forgotten for now, as she chuckled in delight, kissing Vilen back.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

If there was a negotiation taking place, it was impossible to say who had the upper hand. Molly’s fingers dug into the back of Vilen’s neck, and he caught her lower lip between his teeth.

There was a noise from the diner proper. Something or someone knocking, metal against metal. A delivery?

It was Vilen who broke the kiss. He leant his forehead against Molly's for a moment, whilst his hand still pressed hers to the table top. Then, he stood up a little straighter, though his eyes were still fixed to hers.

“The office. You wanted to show me something in there.”

[Molly Black]

They could have knocked for a while longer, Molly was in no rush.. Kissing Vilen was very telling of just how very fantastic the rest of it would also be, but yes.. somewhere in there she had been trying to make a clever point.

"Right.." Scooting forward, Molly grudgingly dropped off the table. They could always come back later, maybe continue from just where they had left off.. There was still dinner to be considered, she remembered rather optimistically.

The knocking was indeed the expected delivery. With a touch more bounce in her step than was necessary, she retraced their steps back toward the dining room, and then the kitchen. Answering the delivery, she gave the suppliers extremely precise directions, as well as instructions as to where and how to unload in her kitchen.. She was very exacting in what she expected, but it would be perfect.. And she'd have their asses if it wasn't.

Returning to Vilen, she showed him into the office. Mu's office, Molly still rather thought of it as. For the moment, at least, it was going to have to be shared space. Molly slid into the desk chair, and from there brought up the surveillance feeds from around the property. Most of them were completely absent of activity. She quickly moved past the incident with the rodent and the broom like nothing at all interesting had happened.. But the gaming rooms of Bliss did show herself, and Vilen, as they moved through the space. The infochant looked very entertained with herself as she tinkered, rotating angles, enhancing and sharpening, and then finally.. she grinned.

"Done." A moment later, she'd sent her work in a file. To Vilen.

"A little souvenir. Maybe you can blackmail me with it later." It sounded like an invitation..

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Vilen lifted an eyebrow at the footage. Had this been her intention all along? The surveillance cameras had captured crisp video of the two of them at the billiard table, from multiple angles. That explained were the cameras were.

“It doesn’t look especially incriminating,” the Chiss said, pulling his eyes away from the feed as he sat perched on the edge of Molly’s desk. “We’d have to do more than that for there to be any leverage to it.”

[Molly Black]

"Yeah, I'm not sure incriminating is a good describing word for what that was.", she admitted, having also sent herself a copy.

Legs crossed in the swivel chair, Molly swung side to side just a little, watching Vilen. "Well, I'm sure we can do better, when I don't have to answer the door every five minutes. Also, in my case I'm not sure who would care. But, I think my point was.. if all that's required is just a smidgen of truth, that much can be manipulated."

"This is the old system, by the way.." She grinned. "Did I mention? I'm having it ripped out and upgraded."

So knowing the locations of the cameras today, would be of no use when the Cloud 9 officially reopened.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“I think you did mention that, yes.”

Vilen glanced down, smiling to himself. Now, both of them had a video that neither of them could do anything useful with, outside of keeping as a memento of an admittedly electrifying kiss. It had felt like she wanted to kiss him, hadn’t it? When her fingers curled around the back of his neck - but there was something about her expression now, while she watched him, that made him wonder whether she had manipulated him merely to prove a point. That she could? He had allowed it, though, hadn’t he? What was he doing?

Vilen got up from the desk and walked around to the opposite side.

“I’m… distracting you from your work.”

[Molly Black]

"You are." Molly confirmed, without sounding like she was complaining. He was distracting, but she liked it.

She watched Vilen move away. Something about it felt like more than physical distance he was creating. Which did not mix well with her inclination to go lock the doors, and then show him the rest of Bliss, one spot at a time. She managed to refrain from outright pouting, but just barely. He was probably right, she had a lot to do, and less time to do it. Closing the surveillance feed stopped the sexy imagery from looping on her desk, and the whole office seemed let down about it.

"You're coming back later..?" She glanced up from the desk, waiting on his answer..

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

A nod. “After sunset.”

There were a few hours yet before the skies over Cloud City became stained pink. Enough time to think on and evaluate the circumstances he found himself in.

“Thanks, for the souvenir. I’ll.. see myself out.”

[Molly Black]

Well, that had gone flop quicker than one of her 'kids' overblown chewing gum bubbles.

Molly waited until she was sure Vilen had left before throwing her arms up in the air, leaning back in the desk chair. Obviously she was being stupid. She'd had a better handle on the situation when she'd just assumed he didn't like her at all. Now, she had no idea what to think.

Muttering, she got up to go and make sure her kitchen was as she had decreed. Everything seemed to be as she had requested, but even that did nothing for her mood. Picking up a wet towel, she bunched it in her hand and threw it with more force than she should have, thinking it would simply splash against the metal doors at the rear of the kitchen. Instead, the same door opened as if by fate, and the wet projectile went out it, sailing past the head of a deliveryman.

Molly covered her mouth apologetically. "Sorry! So sorry.. Are you done? Should I sign something?"

Finishing up, Molly realized she had limited time to get home, changed and then turn right around to return and cook dinner. The whole point of which had been to show him the Cloud 9. Well, now he'd seen it. She was still muttering to herself about it when she locked up to go.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

It was hours later when Vilen found himself back outside Cloud 9. The setting of the sun brought Port Town to life, as daylight was replaced with neon hues. The crowds were thicker, louder, and all the more diverse, as tourists from the upper levels ventured down into the levels of Cloud City that were infamous for everything, legal and otherwise, that they had to offer.

Vilen had changed, exchanging his nondescript daytime attire for something sharper: a charcoal suit and collarless white shirt. He could have passed for a customer at one of the city’s higher end casinos, if the tailoring had been better. Regardless, the outfit spoke of enough money that his walk to Cloud 9 was repeatedly interrupted by people trying to sell him something to drink or smoke.

When he found himself back outside Molly Black’s business, Vilen paused. He needed to focus, needed to remember why he’d approached Molly in the first place. Instead, all he could think about was that kiss. Swearing under his breath, he gave the door to the diner a testing push.

[Molly Black]

Having been blessed with a healthy bit of sense, Molly had already done most of the work for the dinner. All that remained was to get back to the Cloud 9 and finish. After some serious recovery time. Having spent the day working, Molly felt a little gross. More so when she took a look in the mirror at her overalls, and messy pony tail. No damn wonder Vilen had walked out on her. She was probably lucky he hadn't run.

After showering and asking herself repeatedly why she was even bothering, Molly was making her last looks in the same mirror before leaving. A completely different woman looked back at her. One in a new little black dress that she had bought just for the occasion. Checking the seams on the back of her stockings, Molly was satisfied she'd managed a small miracle, and also that Vilen absolutely did not deserve this much fuss.

Back at the Cloud 9 in a short amount of time, Molly was shrouded in an oversized brand new chef's coat. She completed the meal, randomly watching the sky outside change colors through the kitchen window. He had said he was coming, if that was still true he'd be arriving any time. Music played while she worked, which was a definite must for her. No music, no Molly food, and she had done pretty good. Firaxan shark fillets, as requested. Seasoned with calarantrum root and seared. Fluffy rice with a Corellian spice that she liked, and diced up Bellassan peppers. As well as a Kibla green salad. She had not wasted her time with dessert..

Hearing the door, Molly leaned her white-linen clad elbows in the kitchen window, peeking out. "Ahh, so you did come back."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

With the door closing behind him, the sounds of Port Town became muted. Instead, Vilen could hear the faint beat of music coming from within the diner itself.

When Molly appeared in the kitchen window, Vilen arched an eyebrow. “You thought I wouldn’t? I’m.. wounded.”

His expression, a smile that curved at one corner of his mouth, said he was anything but.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

[Molly Black]

Molly really had no idea what to think about him one way or the other. She was beginning to suspect that she had been better off with her original casting of marginally useful, and Vilen as unlikable. At least she had known where she stood then.

Forget the recording. Molly knew what she had felt. There had been something there.

Her answering smile was guarded at best. "Maybe.."

"Want to carry these?" She slid two covered plates into the window.

They could have sat at any table. Everything was all shiny and new. Technically they would be the first people to sit anywhere, new furniture being part of the upgrades. She had already set them up at a table wisely close to the bar, which Molly had stocked herself earlier in the day. Turning off the kitchen lights since she was done, Molly came into the dining room shrugging out of the chef's coat. Hanging it up, she turned, walking to the table.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

As Molly entered the dining room, Vilen looked up from the table where he’d deposited the two covered plates. For just a beat, he paused at the sight of her, watching her approach and finding himself hungry for more than just dinner. It had been a good idea to wear the suit. Now, he just had to keep on making the right choices for the rest of the evening.

When Molly neared the table, Vilen drew out a chair for her.

“What would you like?” he asked, with a slight tilt of his head toward the bar.

[Molly Black]

Molly mentally explained to herself, with fraying patience, that she was not at all interested in Vilen in a suit. She did not care how good he looked in it, or care to think about taking him out of it. She didn't. She did not. Did not care. Nope.

Sliding into the seat he had pulled out for her, Molly pondered the bar and her choices. All of which she knew off the top of her head, having been the face behind the bar pouring them not so long ago. She even had two named after her, alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions which both happened to be as blue as Vilen when poured.

"I think I'll stick to a Vishay water, but I wouldn't say no to a Jun-lime in it. There should be some chilled."

So.. she was still drinking, but Molly could drink those all night and remain clear headed.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Behind the bar was a veritable treasure trove of bottles from all corners of the galaxy. Casting his eye about for the Vishay water, Vilen saw vintages and styles that he knew weren’t cheap. Like it’s owner, Cloud 9 had more to offer than one might assume on first glance.

Taking a cue from his host, Vilen fetched a chilled bottle of water and two glasses for the table. If she was going to be sharp, then so was he. He paused at the bar only long enough to drop a slice of lime in each, before taking his seat opposite Molly.

With a slight smile, he looked down at the two covered plates then back up at her.

“Shall we?”

[Molly Black]

"It would be a shame if we didn't." Her reply came with the suggestive arching of one brow, and a smirk.

"After you, I insist. I did make it for you after all."

Cooking something for someone, and then having them enjoy it, was high upon the list of Molly's favorite things. She blew through a ton of her credits feeding a number of kids that worked for her, but it beat the alternative. Hungry kids weren't picky though. She wasn't trying to impress them. Vilen on the other hand..

"I hope you like it.", she said, meaning it. Keeping her fingers just on the handle of her own domed plate, watching him.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

The aroma that rose from beneath the cover as Vilen drew it away was incredible. She’d done just as he’d asked, and with obvious skill. When was the last time he’d eaten a meal that someone had put time and care into making? It had to be years, years of rations and fast food and dining out at the cheapest places he could find, and now this. Vilen’s mouth was watering already.

“I’m impressed.”

A mouthful of the crispy skin on the seared fillet and Vilen couldn’t fight the smile of appreciation.

“It’s delicious. Thank you.”

[Molly Black]

She did a good job of acting like Vilen's reaction might not matter one way or the other to her, or at least she approximated that she did. Apart from the fact that she did not visibly relax until she was sure he liked what she had prepared. Only then did Molly allow the tiny smile she had been holding back to form.

"You're welcome."

Even though she already knew that she had nailed it, having it confirmed by Vilen did interesting things to her tummy. Molly always liked feeding people, but she was strangely delighted feeding him for whatever reason.

Removing the lid from her plate, Molly began by cutting her portion into deliberate, bite-sized morsels. Her blue eyes glanced out the windows, to Port Town already waking up. Soon enough there would be crowds of people.

"It's nice.. being the only two people in here. Don't you think? Kind of privileged?", she grinned, sipping her Vishay water.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“It is. It’s nice reprieve from… the city.”

His red eyes followed her blue to the movement outside. Cloud City wasn’t Coruscant, by any stretch, but it’s position as a tourist hub certainly made for heavily crowded pedwalks. It made blending in easy, of course, but that didn't make the crowds any less irritating.

“Do you often provide your customers this kind of service?” he asked, concealing a half-smile behind his glass as he took a drink.

[Molly Black]

Molly had a mouthful of rice perched on the edge of her fork, but paused before taking the bite. "No."

The bite of food now gave her time to chew, swallow and come up with a suitable reason for what it was she was doing. Because no, in the years that she had lived on Cloud City, and worked at the Cloud 9, she had never had someone over for a private dinner. Not once. She had been alone in the Cloud 9, or down to just her and Mu, or her and Spenny, but this was different and she knew it. She swallowed her food, and sipped her drink..

"I think this is a first..", she admitted, still watching him warily.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“It really is a privilege, then.”

As he ate another mouthful, a question wriggled on the tip of Vilen’s tongue. It was something that he’d thought about most of the afternoon, since leaving Cloud 9. No amount of introspection would reveal an answer. After thoroughly mulling over the question, he came out and asked it.

“You ought to dislike me, but you don’t. Why is that?”

[Molly Black]

Oh, they were going to have that conversation now?

Molly wiped her fingers on her napkin and sat back in her seat to ponder how best to answer that, without sounding completely nuts. She had quite a task.

"Who says I don't?", she took another sip of her drink. Right, she had. The way she had kissed him. Or had he kissed her really? She was going to have to check the recording again for confirmation, and a few sick kicks just because...damn, it really was hot.

"I don't think you've committed any unforgivable sins against me, not so far?", she shrugged. "I've been smacked around before, but not by you."

"Actually, you have been quite instrumental in getting me back on track. So yeah.. you won't eat my cakes, and you have a thing about running off when I least want you to, but I've had worse.."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

The comment about being smacked around made Vilen’s brow furrow. It was hardly a ringing endorsement, was it? That he was preferable to someone who negotiated with their fists. He swallowed what he’d been eating. Knife and fork still in hand, he stared down at his meal for a moment longer before speaking.

“I’m not planning on... running off anywhere tonight,” he looked up, meeting Molly’s eyes. “Not unless you tell me to.”

[Molly Black]

"Hmm.. I guess we shall see." Molly kept her healthy skepticism all the same, it would be less disappointing maybe if she knew it was coming.

Being an infochant all these years made telling someone the entire truth not something that came naturally anymore. When she felt unsure, she played her cards close to the chest. The problem with Vilen was that in this little game, either her hand kept changing, or the rules did.

She had assumed at first that he did not like her in the slightest, that he only put up with her as a useful idiot that could potentially get him access to her many networks. She had fully intended to let him keep that impression while getting back in with her Black Sun contacts, and then promptly send them after him unless he forgot ever hearing the name Molly Black. But each time she had encountered him to report on how she was doing, getting back into her business, that had changed just a little. She'd found him less scary, more interesting. A little less intimidating..more exciting. Somehow she'd wound up being extremely attracted to him, even if he was up to no good. There was no explaining that to her lady parts though, and definitely not now after kissing him.

Could she even explain that?

"It's not something I make a habit out of, you know.. kissing people who want to blackmail me."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“I’ve never kissed someone I was trying to blackmail.”

Vilen skewered another piece of shark, but he hesitated before lifting his fork.

“I should have turned you in to the Empire by now, and you should have had your friends in the Black Sun make me disappear - and yet here we are, eating dinner."

[Molly Black]

At least it was a first for them both.

Just the words 'turned you into the Empire' set off an immediate increase in Molly's pulse. She paled, her eyes even darted to the closest exit, as if she were planning exactly what she would have to do, if she were forced to bolt. It would not be the first time. It would be regrettable, and she would have a whole new list of people after her, overextended as she was, but that was what she did. She ran.

But she just chewed, and swallowed like everything was fine. Better than fine.

"I should let you pick the meal again. It was a good choice.."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“I have good taste. Sometimes.”

While he enjoyed another fork full of Molly’s undeniable excellent cooking, Vilen couldn’t help but see how Molly blanched, her skin shifting to an ever paler shade of white. He wondered, did she see the same shifts in his complexion when a little heat rose into his cheeks. He set down his cutlery.

“I’m... not going to turn you in. You have my word, however much that is worth.”

[Molly Black]

He clearly had good taste, he had chosen her of all the lucky souls in Port Town, to blackmail. That showed wisdom at least. While she might not have the gimmicks that others offered, she had better. She had reputation, which she had earned as the original article in Port Town, and that was invaluable.

Despite her attempt to brush off her little wrinkle of fear, it seemed Vilen had picked up on it. He could have used it. Could have let the night progress, pushing the odds in his favor with it. Instead.. he was reassuring her. Giving her his word that he would not turn her in.

What was it worth? Molly wondered. It could go either way. It could be worth absolutely nothing and when she was no longer useful to him, find herself handed over to the Empire for whatever she was worth to them. Probably.. very little. She did not even know what they thought she knew. It was a waste of everyone's time and effort really.

Or maybe his word was as invaluable as her reputation and he meant it.

"I don't want my friends to make you disappear.", she managed after a moment. "I would... miss you."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Eating was a good excuse not to speak, not to have to formulate a reply to that. As he chewed, Vilen felt his pulse pick up the pace. It had been a gamble, hadn’t it, from the start? Betting on Molly Black’s willingness to do what was necessary to avoid the eye of the Empire. There was a bigger gamble he could make, of course. It was a calculated risk, but the more he thought on the calculations, the more it felt like he could predict the outcome.

As casually as if he was commenting on the amount of seasoning on the fish, Vilen said:

“I’m wanted by the Empire too.”

[Molly Black]

Molly paused with her glass at her lips, considering that revelation.

"Did you at least do whatever it is they are upset about?", she wondered, taking the sip. She wasn't sure if it would be better, worse, or if it mattered at all.

All she had done was help a friend, but as they said about good deeds... she would be punished for that one for the foreseeable future.

Thank you, ever so much, Dr. Henning. You and your little laser sword..

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“Guilty as charged.”

Exactly what he was guilty of went unsaid, for now. Instead, Vilen ate the last of his shark filet.

“You’re the only person who knows I’m here. I am... trusting you with this piece of information.”

[Molly Black]

Molly managed a few last bites of her salad, but she could not eat another bite beyond that. Whether she was just full, or it was the natural indigestion that accompanied talk of the Empire, was debatable. Either way, the lid was replaced and the plate slid out of her way.

She didn't pry, but knowing that he was also wanted by the Empire did make her feel slightly better. Of course, it went back to whether she could trust him or not. She wanted to. It could be a ploy designed to make her feel more comfortable, she supposed. Having the same problem in common was convenient, and gave her about as much leverage over him as he had over her. Why though?

"You can trust me. I might know all of the bad guys, but I'm not really one of them. Thought that would be obvious by now.", she smiled.

"I am wondering about something though. If you aren't blackmailing me anymore.. what does that make this?"

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Vilen sat back from the table, lips pursed in thought. His red eyes searched Molly's face. He couldn’t read any mischief or malice in her smile. Perhaps she was sincere. He hoped so; that was what he was counting on, the assumption that she would no more turn him in to the Empire than hand herself over. That she was, ultimately, a better person than he was.

Vilen lifted his glass and frowned at the contents. “I think I’d like something stronger to drink.”

Without waiting for any reply, the Chiss was on his feet and reaching over the bar.

[Molly Black]

It would be unwise for her to have anything stronger than the Vishay water.

So naturally Molly thought something stronger sounded like just what she wanted as well. Sliding her legs to the side, she rose from her seat moving around the bar resolved to making herself a drink. "I suppose.. I might as well.."

Reaching up for a glass suspended above her head, it might have been old times the way she had the bottles ordered for easy grabbing. It had been a while, but some drinks she would never forget the recipes for, including the electric blue concoction she was presently mixing. From the assortment of top shelf spirits, Molly grabbed one of the highest priced bottles she had in her stock, Breath of Heaven.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Vilen had laid a hand on something far cheaper, a spiced Corellian rum that poured the colour of copper. There was no art to his drink: just a glass, and a healthy measure. By contrast, Molly appeared to be performing alchemy.

The Chiss took a sip from his glass.

“If I’m not blackmailing you,” he began, echoing Molly's question. “Maybe… we could work together.”

[Molly Black]

While it was true that Molly Black had friends in just about every circle, when it came to business she had always been on her own. Preferring not to risk her reputation on someone else's potential bad judgement.

She had bad judgement of her own it seemed, drink completed, Molly took a deliberately small sip. This was the stuff you drank to make yourself stupid, best to go easy.

"So...", she said, swirling her drink in her glass. "You want to come play err...en'catehan'casi...whatsit with my information network?"

Cheunh not being one of the languages she spoke, Molly knew she was going to botch it badly, but as long as he knew what she meant, that would do.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

“Something like that.”

With a slight smile at Molly's attempt to pronounce his old job title, Vilen set his glass down on the counter top that now separated the two of them.

“As I said… a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

[Molly Black]

Molly set her glass down as well, one manicured fingertip slowly circling the edge of it's bowl while she thought carefully about what she was considering.

Something foolish, it seemed, and at a terrible time to take a risk.

"Do you want to be my partner..?", she asked the question while examining the blue contents of her drink as though the answers to all her troubles would be found there, but looked up for his answer.

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

Vilen watched for a moment as Molly’s fingertip circled her glass, eliciting a low note. The quiet hum seemed to give sound to the Chiss’s consideration of the question, as he debated the sincerity of it. He leaned one elbow against the bar top, his red gaze shifting from Molly’s appropriately coloured drink to her eyes.

“Would you like that?”

[Molly Black]

Other than Soolah the manicurist, who was being paid to care, when was the last time anyone asked Molly what she would like? Considering it only made it seem even more sad and pathetic so she shrugged, moving on.

She had no reason really to trust Vilen, or to like him.. and yet that did not seem to have stopped her from doing both lately. Maybe not with everything, but enough. Enough that she could admit that she wanted to do both, despite the obvious risks. Despite the fact that they had started out with him blackmailing her. Having been on the receiving end of that, she could attest to his effectiveness.

"I think..", Molly answered slowly, pinned a little in his red gaze.. "..maybe I would, yes."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

The smile that curved at the edges of Vilen’s mouth was barely restrained. He reached for his drink, forcing himself to pause before speaking, to consider the implications of Molly’s words, by taking a sip.

“Good. How do we make our partnership official?”

[Molly Black]

If Vilen really was going to be her partner, truly, there were a thousand things they were going to have to talk about. On the surface everything about her, and her operation, probably seemed inconsequential and that was just how she wanted it. The truth was complex, and like herself it had many layers. Space waitress. That was how she would prefer to be seen. Never mind the bits about the Black Sun, the Empire, the Jedi, the Dark Siders, and stars forbid anyone asked about her life before she showed up on the doorstep of the Cloud 9.

Molly watched Vilen sip his drink, a slow smile forming on her lips before she likewise took a sip of her own.

Glass in hand, she made another little shrug of a gesture. "Well.. you've already kissed me. I'm open to suggestions."

[Sev'ilen'sabosen]

With the last of his glass drained, Vilen took a step back from the bar. His eyes never left hers.

“Well... is it too late for that honeymoon?”

[Molly Black]

Vilen really had to stop looking at her like that. It made her far too agreeable, even for her. Or maybe that was the Breath of Heaven in her Golly Molly. She tipped the glass her way, peering down into it suspiciously before taking another unwise swallow.

Molly just shook her head, not taking her eyes off him after that question.

Suddenly lit up with a smile, she beamed at him. "Well, well.. Mr. Minock. I told you, you'd learn to like me."