Log:The Mirialan Connection

The Mirialan Connection

OOC Date: Friday, May the 8th, 2020
Location: Mirial
Participants: Zerna, Sion, Barad, Nerys Arda, Lokir and Nubri as GM

Nubri sighs as the chartered ship, a Baudo Yacht touches down on Mirial, on a walled off starport, which is covered under a building made from permafrost, as the Mirialan in charge of the mission exiting the gangway soon thereafter, wearing a long, dark blue, military-style overcoat with a similarily colored synth-fur collar and brass buttons over a crisp white shirt and dark green tie, currently covered by a light blue scarf. Black pants peek out from under her coat, joined by a warm, fluffy hat with black-furred earflaps "Right." she breathes out, covering her mouth with hands covered by black leather "Welcome to Mirial, I suppose. We might be here for nothing. I had my contacts on Correlia check that Kryll guy.... first they found our old, bounty-hunting friend, then they found him as having died three years ago. So, either it is a fake name or..... Seev is a paranoid madman, as usual...." she explains, leading the team towards two waiting speeders, a black ZZip Astral 8s and a dark blue zZip PCL X-X, apparently older models, as evidenced by gauges in place of an MFD, but still luxurious nonetheless. Nu is heading towards the X-X, which, unlike it's larger cousin, lacks a chauffeur holding the door open "We shall reach the casino in...." she checks her chrono "10 minutes. Anyone feeling any numb limbs already? I am afraid it won't get any warmer." a cold wind comes up, Nu climbing into the speeder "Let's just pack up and get to the location." she says, switching to coms once she gets behind the wheel "Also, don't tell Seev I doubted him. He will likely go off on the Bothan Mind Rays screwing with our perception. Again. And then he will make us wear hats out of candy wrappers..." she raises an eyebrow "Can anyone remind me why I am friends with that madman?" she stops "You know, don't answer. I think I just have a terrible taste in people."

There were those who came to gamble and those who came to be seen...by those who came to gamble. The sort that were simply destined to be someone's good luck charm. The red-headed woman was one of those. Her dress was a brilliant teal green, all diaphanous silks, bound together with only the most delicate of knot work. Slim and small, but the strips of fabric, that slipped apart to reveal the length of her legs from ankle to the tops of her thighs, combined with the high heels that sparkled on her feet, made her legs seem impossibly long. The coat she wore over that dress was not so much an accessory to be discarded when the temperature warmed as an enhancement of the dress, a playful attempt to conceal something paired with a dress that wanted to reveal everything. The artfully tumbled froth of hair that her red locks had been piled into were just icing on the cake. When they touched down, and as they made their way to the speeders, her lips pursed. And her voice, when she spoke was entirely practical and not at all in keeping, for the moment, with the picture of high society socialite she appeared, "I'll take the limo." That was all she seemed to intend to say. She knew little of the mission and less of the people involved in it. Oh, one thing. "It's Nerys, by the way, for those of you who don't know me, Nerys Arda."

Lokir descends the gangway, cane in hand. He is clad in a stylish black tuxedo. His face his hidden behind a series of tight linen wraps, paired with a stylish set of sunglasses. Atop his head sits an elegant, over-sized top hat. White, linen wrapped gloves set off the ensemble--CPD Shock gloves in clever disguise. All said and done, Lokir resembles an extremely dapper tusken raider. <Flatline here. I feel perfectly comfortable.> Befitting his elegant finery, Lokir joins Nerys in the limo.

Now . . . you might well and truly think to yourself that if one were to take someone who looks for all the world pretty much _just_ like an English Bulldog . . . . and then dress him up in a fancy Tuxedo . . . that this laborious and protracted effort would in no way improve said person's appearance. And yet . . . . you might well be surprised . . . since that is pretty much exactly what has happened here, and . . . it's actually turning out remarkably well. I mean: It Works.

<<https://tinyurl.com/yau6zgpn>>

Who knew? Not Barad himself, no, that much is sure. Out of the corner of his eye, Barad happens to catch a glimpse of himself in one of the passing fancy mirrors and just about does a double - take. Who's _That_? "Oh, that's me." Barad's brain realizes, and communicates this to the rest of Barad. Sheesh. These formal events! Barad hopes this one works out better than that Bith fiasco on Canto Bight. Well, here's hoping!

Sadly, the party in the limo comes to an end soon.... for now, as they pull up in front of an icy palace, welcomed by staff, bowing to them, lead towards what apparently is the VIP Lounge..... Visz apparently went all-out. Chandeliers out of ice. Ice tables covered by green felt, staffed by well-dressed Mirialans, and guests from all over the world. Oddly enough, it feels warm enough to take off any overcoat, as Nu does, undoing her buttons as they are lead to a Table where a.... rather short Mirialan Male with a Dali-Like Mustache welcomes them.... White Pinstripe Suit.... seems alright. Apart from a ridiculous, wide-brimmed hat. Covered in flowers. And a shirt, looking like Nexu Stripes. And a plaid tie... "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" he jumps up, clapping his hands, speaking in the kind of Coruscanti Accent that sounds like a parody of a high-class one.... or someone trying way too hard to pretend to belong to that class "I am being bled dry just as we speak! Over the past few days I kept losing my money! I... I don't know who it is. I just suspect it is a human! And.... I think he was talking with a member of my staff.... a redhead! Male and tall! The card shark!" he cries out, looking around "YOU NEED TO CATCH HIM!" he peers at Nubri "Beanstalk! You are joining me! OFF TO THE CCTV CAMERAS!" he yells, holding his hand up, legs apart, trying to look like a hero, or something of that sort, blinking as he looks at the group, pointing at a suitcase on the table. Made out of Silveroak "100 000 in chips. Spread among you. Pretend to be gamblers. Try to find the man." he orders, almost about to turn around until he notices someone out of the corner of his eye, getting on a knee to kiss Nerys hand "And who are you, pretty lady? After you catch him, want to meet me in my suite?" he offers, before winking at Lokir "And I will love unwrapping you." he says, grinning and waving, turning and seeing Zerna, spreading his arms, but before he can say anything, Nu grabs him by the ear and starts dragging him off "Come on. You can flirt with everyone here later." she looks at the rest of the people there "I am sorry. He always is like this." And then, the pair goes off, the white-suited part flailing widely.

Seems Zerna was already there and just....mingling her way around and dancing her way through the crowd. Upon her arrival, she had a fur coat of some sort on before passing it to coat check. No one seemed to mind the dancing girl with a gun....or if they were even paying attention. Probably not the knife hidden someone either. With that done....and when she sees the group, she makes her way over...as if just being nose. However....at the suit invitation she just stares at him and says with a smile: "l'ii sm'kwi pagri xul howr kunu qi kallatum kai nitum alum iqbu l'ai enki." All said with a sweet smile.

Nerys, who had gone through the actual business of ensuring she had all of her equipment neatly stowed, while they were //inside// the limo, put her face on when it was time to get //out// of the limo. By the time one of those high-heeled shoes touched the ground she was every inch the sort of arm candy one would like have on their arm. And Oh! Look! There was an arm. She held up a hand, delicately, just above the place where Lokir's arm would be, if he lifted it enough for hers to rest there. And that was how she would enter the casino, walking with the slightly sway-hipped gait that off-set her dress to best effect. Once she arrived at the table, she found herself accosted, first by words and then by the taking of her hand, "Oh, he is a gambler," she offered to her companions. But whether he would win the gamble or not would have to wait as he was soon running off. "Well, I am in the mood to go and find some fun." Her eyes lifted from the now mostly abandoned table, scanning the room as though looking for the most fun thing in the room.

Lokir nods. "Of course, dear. Let's gamble these paltry sums among the common people. Charity is a virtue." Cane in one hand, Nerys on the other, Lokir seeks out a game of chance where his keen nose and sharp eyes may provide an advantage--in spotting the card shark, of course...

Someone gets out of the front of the limo-speeder, bidding goodbye to the driver as she shuts the door. Clad in a white longcoat trimmed in fur at the collar, cuffs, and hem, along with white hosiery and tall white boots, Sion moves to join the rest of the group. She's just in time to see their employer being dragged away by the ear. "Why do I have a feeling I shouldn't be sorry to see him go?" she asks nobody in particular, nodding her greetings to the crowd, but especially to Zerna. "So... we're here to suss out a card shark, a red-haired Human male. At least they're not common. But in this crowd..."

Barad plans to find the "Card Shark" by simply acting like a "Card Tuna" --- act like "Card Prey" that the Corellian simply can't resist. Sooner or later the 'shark' will come lookimg, eh? So Barad looks as overstuffed and out - of - place as possible -- which is easy enough to do -- making the rounds of the gambling tables where the players look as though they're **begging** to be relieved of their credits. Soon enough, Barad finds "his people" . . . . https://tinyurl.com/yb5dbamo

Two voices pipe in. The female one, Obviously Nu, sighs "Right..... So, I had a look through his immigration file.... name is wrong.... am decoding.... right. Rightie. Some six feet tall..." she looks over at her Szivhang, who barely measures up to under her chest "That isn't tall, Seev. Really..." she shakes her head"And.... it will take some time."

The male voice pipes in "WEST!" he yells "Slot machines. So what?"

"KREEEEF... THAT GIRL IN THE PURPLE DRESS! Look at her, Nu!"

"Would you *please* get your priorities straight? You are just like seventh grade with that Hapan Girl"

"So what? She was cute and would *totally* have accepted my invite to a date. "

"Yes.... of course.... if you hadn't been overweight and looking worse than a Gand up close." a moment of silence, the furious clicking of keys "Mmm, poor guy. So, apparently he once cut his hand and has a scar across the inside of his palm..." she rubs her chin

"And a picture should be in there.... can you try putting it into a database?"

"With the speed of the Holonet connection? I wouldn't make much progress decoding it. And I am not a slicer." she sighs "Anyone good with computers here?" she stops "Finally. the picture loaded. Clean-shaven, not much of a help. Freckles on his face, green eyes."'

Nerys, tipping her head in Lokir's direction, took a moment to slip her datapad from her pocket, "I think I will cash out for a few credits." Hard currency was usually the rule at such places. And it gave her the opportunity to take a gander at the bit of information they were able to retrieve, "Oh, perfect." She flashed a smile to Lokir and the rest, "If you will excuse me just a moment." And with that,s he sauntered off to the closest cashier to covert some of her credits into actual chips for use at the tables, taking the time, as she walked to attempt to see if anyone caught her eye. Taking her credits, her lips curled into a smile as she glanced back at Lokir, her tone rather pointed, "I'm heading to visit a roulette wheel or three, dear. And then, I think I might find the slots interesting. Or perhaps you'd like to try the slots yourself, I see a pair of men who look as though they might be down on their luck and ready to give over their seats."

Lokir nods. "Of course, dear." Setting off on his own course, Lokir racks his brain for telltale haunts of card sharks...and comes up empty. Foiled for the moment, Lokir plays the patient, well-dressed hunter, mixing in with the gambling crowds as the rest of the team fans out.

Zerna is busy dancing her way around the crowd. Needless to say she's...busy. Between smacking hands away and the like...she's failing to spot their target.

Barad is serving as the "Card Chum" in the "Card Ocean" who's acting as the "Card Bait" for the "Card Shark" to come and "Card Devour" . . . if we can't ID him yet, let's bring -him- to -us-! So . . . basically, he's hanging out with the swoop -bike racing fandom set, the Sabacc players, and/or other Correlians, muttering that Correlians are "terrible at playing dog-poker" while laughing too loud and looking as if he's carrying to many credit chips for his own good, etc. Looking like he doesn't belong, looking like he doesn't know how to gamble, and looking as if he would be the "perfect mark" for any circling, "Sharking," Corellian Card Wizard. Which is pretty easy for Barad to do, since Barad himself is terrible at poker, doesn't know how to gamble, and would be a perfect mark for any circling Corellian Card Sharkm- Wizards. A perfect act -- it's genius, really! "So overt --- it's covert," if you will. Barad loses another hand. "Bah! You're not better! Just got lucky! Away with you!" Barad sweeps the green felt clean of his remaining markers and proceeds on up to the higher - stakes tables. Two tables down . . . how many are there?

Sion pauses to hand off her coat to one of the valets, revealing a blouse, jacket, and wrapped skirt combo beneath. The heavy fabrics of the jacket and skirt imply warming circuitry within the weave. "Good luck!" she says to Nerys and Lokir. "I'll see if I can find anything on the casino computer that might help us. Stay in touch, okay?" Watching Zerna with a concerned look, she detours over to one of the casino's computer kiosks. It's just a basic unit, with tourist information, but the access code Nubri passed along to her from Seev gets her into a less-public part of the computer. She smiles, finding one program, and copies it, sharing it with the rest of the group. <Here! This might help us coordinate the search a little better. Could you mark off tables you've checked? Maybe hot-spot places you've seen red-haired, clean-shaven Human males?>

Szivhang rubs his chin "Soooooo.... we have news"

Nu nods "Our mark is in his early 40s. He blinks rarely on one side due to some freak accident involving.... doesn't matter right now. He can't blink on one side as often as the other. And he can't pull his mouth up on it as well..." she sighs "Not exactly the best news."

"Like that Maths exam in fifth?"

"Don't remind me of it or I will shave you bald prematurely."

And.... there is a Corellian joining Barad. A red haired one, even. But.... she clearly is female. And too young. Still, she puts a few chips on the table, sending him a smile

Nerys, already set to wander off into the crowds, only just managed to sweep past Sion, giving the appearance of attempting to nudge her in a playful way, or perhaps to proposition her, though her words were not audible, as did happen so very often in places of excess, and in so doing, she managed to take the chip and upload it into her datapad. Almost immediately three of the roulette tables were flagged as possible, which was the direction Nerys was now off in, and two of the slot machines.

Lokir is happily to be led along by Nerys. He knows he looks good--the linen strips, the gallon-sized top hat, the unnecessary cane--it all screams arm candy. At least, he thinks so. But he keeps his eyes and ears sharp. Sadly, his fine senses are a bit overloaded by all the din. Lokir plops down in front of a slot machine, puts some coins in, pulls the handle...and strikes out.

Barad piles his own Sabacc chips up into a tottering stack, matching his chips against the Correlian's existing bets. Ahah! This is __Perfect.__ This hot young Correlian redheaded female just became, well, part of the "Shark Bait" now. Perhaps she'll help attract the attention of the older male Corellian redhead? Well. This certainly cannot -hurt- their chances . . . . Barad makes darn near certain that any circling Corellian sharks would, at least, glance over to notice: "Bah! Correlian loser! Take -that-!" Barad's paw deliberately makes more noise than might be strictly needed as he *thunks* down added cred - chips untidily. "Gimme two cards! Yeah. C'mon! 'Flasks 'n Sabers!'" Barad needlessly urges the dealer, too loudly.

Sion gives Nerys a smile and a whispered comment of her own, laughing lightly as she turns her steps towards the Lugjack and slot machines. At least you don't have to know how to gamble to play those! She finds a machine that a hard-luck player is just vacating; the poor woman's fingering the pearls at her throat and sobbing quietly. She settles casually onto the stool and slips a credcoin into the slot and pulls the handle, but her eyes are darting around to find any potential redheads. Bingo! She hastily taps hotspots onto the casino map at the machines in question. < I have two possibles: One is long-haired with blue eyes. The other has plas-specs and a buzzcut, green eyes. Seev, did your gambler have long or short hair? >

An intoxicated answer reaches them "My... shushpect.... uhm.... he hash two headsh and four eyesh...."

A sound of a chair being pulled away reaches them "Green yes. The hair.... might be a ponytail, the picture it too grainy." she explains "He doesn't seem to wear specs, but I think you can't wear them for immigration..."

Nerys, gliding over towards the tables, came up alongside one of the players, her voice softer, huskier than usual, perfectly pitched to reach the ears of the red-headed man she was now standing next to. Well, sort of leaning into, "I have such terrible luck at roulette, but I do so love to play." She pulled a creditchip from her small stash, offering it to him, "Perhaps I could borrow your luck for a while?"

Barad may have found the "Card - Shark's Remora?" The "Card Shark's Pilot Fish?" One of them, maybe. Barad doesn't really know. Klatooine is full of deserts. But yeah, that fish that sharks can use, to navigate when they're in "New Waters" . . . whatever the heck that fish is called. Barad returns the redhead's look. The accomplice of their Correlian Quary? The quary in drag? Who knows. But!: Who 'smiles encouragingly' when they've been insulted? Let's "play this hand out," and find out, maybe, just what the Deal is . . . .

Lokir slides through the crowd towards sabaac, clearly miffed by his partner's sudden interest in other being's dice. Angling towards the towering piles of chips, Lokir edges towards one of the marks--and spies a metal prosthetic. No dice.

At the Lugjack and slot machines, Sion calmly continues to slowly play... and watch the longer-haired slots player. Unfortunately, she has to remove the hot spot she put out on him. < The blue-eyed man isn't our mark. Nothing wrong with his eyes. Looks like the tables are our best lead so far. >

Sounds of a scuffle come from the CCTV Room, again greeted by a drunk voice "HEY! HEY HEY! DOGGIE! MICIE PLEASE!" he requests "GIVE IT TO THE GIRLIE! I WANT TO ASK HER OUT ON A COOOOFEEEE!" the sound of hand hitting face and hand hitting back of hand come from here

"Anyone.... please give this idiot a brain..." she sighs "No new news on my end. How's progress?"

The Correlian, smirks, collecting more money, eyeing Barad's chips with interest. At Sabacc, two marks are left. One left in a boring, gray suit, starting to bald in the back, keeping quiet the other in a pompous golden tuxedo, laughing, seeming to win and having a good time, wearing a monocle'

Nerys giggles. Don't judge. She made it sound good, as she leaned in, arms pushed together just a bit as she leaned forward, making the most of her quite uninspired cleavage She spoke softly to the gambler, as he ran through her credits, losing one round and then winning the next, "Keep it, handsome. Think of it as a tip for letting me borrow your luck. I see someone who's making the frowny face." She touched the man's shoulder before she turned towards the sabaac tables and her poor abandooned +1.

Lokir tries to find a spot closer to the table to get a look at the Golden Boy. Sadly, Lokir finds himself unable to quite get close enough to get a good look.

Barad challenges "Monocle - Guy!" . . . . pushing his unsteady pile of Sabacc chips over the table and into that play. Barad brushes Corellian - chick off with just enough disdainful disinterest to hopefully make her offended enough to react and thereby add to the attention he can garner from "The Monocle." Can't hurt to "Raise the Stakes" at this point. Nossir. Barad rolls the Sabacc dice and collects his starting hand of two cards. He places the "Nine of Sabers" firmly into the "Inhibitor field" . . . . . . . .

Abandoning her position, Sion moves to join the little group at the tables, staying farther back but not out of sight. She moves to watch the man in the gold suit and monocle, ordering a drink to hide her intent. As the waiter moves off to get her order, she gets a better look at Monocle Guy. Moments later, she takes off the hot spot on him. <Monocle Guy blinks normally. He's just a high-roller, looks like. So... the Gray Man? Can anyone see him?>

Nu nods, getting up from CCTV "Stun him. The, someone off to the speeder and off to the spaceport. There is a shuttle waiting for him. As to the rest of us." she smirks "We have free rooms for at least tonight and a week of our choosing."

Nerys hip-swayed her way over towards the Sabaac tables, flashing a smile that was half adoration half 'forgive me' towards Lokir. A girl just had to do what a girl was going to do. She sashayed over towards the man in the grey suit, pulling out a few credit chips in one hand, the other teasing at the folds of her dress with the other, hand lightly curled as though she were trying to keep the silks from opening and revealing //to// much as she bent over, "And what does a girl need to do to bet on you?" Lean. Look. Boobies, as she tossed down the cred chips. Gotta hand it to those Corellians, they were sneaky, as Nerys managed to bring her hand up as if to tuck a lock of hair behind his ear. Jabbing the point of the tiny feathered dart concealed in her hand at his neck. The toxin was rapid release, and her swayed falling right into her chest. Oh, Seev would be so jealous, "Honey! I think he needs help, some fresh air."

Lokir slides over smoothly as Nerys easily incapacitates the mark. "What in the...unhand my companion you rascallio...oh. Yes, I see ol' chum...too much to drink I expect. Still, no excuse to take liberties with a lady...c'mon lad...ther' we go..." With his cane in hand, Lokir "assists" the incapacitated mark towards out of public view.

Barad keeps on betting and betting .. .. .. .. so that the tension (!and the -attention-!) around his table will keep on mounting. Saving the dramatic "Payoff" moment for the instant the team is ready to move --- so that Barad can be loud and animated for it --- thereby calling attention _away_ from the guy who just got "Talz-Darted to Sleepy - Land." "Hello, Shark . . . meet: Thorazine!" Barad finishes up his hand with a wide, expansive flourish and a rambunctious surge up to his hind - paws in triumph. "Bah! See? Nine of Sabres -- Inhibited! Plus -Fourteen- on the Morph-and-Flip, with Flagons inverted. . . . TWENTY THREE, BAYYYYYBBEEEEHHHHHHH!" Barad flashes a toothy grin. Oh my, that's a lot of teeth.

Sion, for her part, moves to assist with the carrying-off of the Gray Man. "I can help. I'm a qualified medic," she says as she catches up with Nerys and Lokir. "I'd suggest the side door by the restaurant. Maybe some cold air will revive him." And get him out of public view for a discreet removal via landspeeder. She's already initiating a call for their pickup.