Post by Ang on Feb 23, 2008 17:30:33 GMT -5
Ang N: Xai found herself wandering the capital alone, strapped with a couple of holdout pistols onto her leggings under a loose-fitting short dark red dress as to not attract too much attention to herself, she sauntered down the main streets, and wasn't surprised that no one noticed her, and was actually glad about it. She walked up to a smaller club, and noticed that there was a fairly formal party going on, and well...snuck in.
Maltez_Buffton: "So you're finally a made man, eh, Chit?" One man was speaking to the other by the door as Xaiyla snuck in. Both were wearing fine Elroodian suits, as were most of the members of the formal party. "That's right, Paulie. Got my own operation going on at Dellalt. Gods bless the Bufftons." The other replied, before raising his glass. The first fellow followed suit with a 'Here, here' before both sipped on the fine Corellian Brandy. There seemed to be about thirty men and women gathered in the smallish club, which was closed to the public for the important meet, all decked out in the finest Elroodian fashions. As Xai would make her way into the club, the whisper would reach her ear once more; "Closer than you might think."
Ang N: Xai wasn't quite as decked out as the other women...for once...and felt underdressed, even though her design was quite the height of Elroodian fashion at the moment. She did hear the whisper again, however, and panned a bit to the side, where the source would have been, but saw no familiar faces, though she got a few waves anyway, to which she half-smiled back to, thinking that everyone must either be too drunk to know who she was, or were just being friendly. She made her way to the small bar, and without asking, a perfectly poured cocktail was placed before her by a smiling bartender. "For the princess of course." He winked, and walked by to serve the next folk waiting. That was odd...
Maltez_Buffton: "Everyone loves their little Princess." The whisper continued. Around the bar, the celebration continued with three more boasts to the 'New Age' of the Cartel. Murmurs on the side continued, with talk of "Owning the Galaxy" and "Being Untouchable" being made out above other not-so-clear phrases. From the looks of things, the drinks had been going around the room for several hours now. Should Xai scan the room more closely, she would likely notice an individual sitting in the back of the room, wearing a brown cloak, hiding their features, with no drink in hand. Everyone around this person seemed to ignore them, or possibly not even notice they exist.
Ang N: Xai finished her drink, and smiled at the bartender as he came back to get the class. As she went to give him a few credits as a tip, he refused it, and said that all of her drinks were paid for by a generous guest for the evening, and that he wouldn't accept any gratuities. "Right...Thank you." She responded, and looked warily about the club. A few guests would swing by, and pat her on the back, to which she offered them a smile and a nod, but no words. Then she saw him, the cloaked figure in the back. At first she thought of it as a mirage, but the longer she looked, the more the figure seemed to develop before her eyes. Focusing a bit more, she closed her right eye briefly, as if she was winking, but this allowed the implant in her left eye to do its job. <c>
Ang N: A new toy of sorts she had 'installed' before she left Haven, the implant in her left eye was more or less a viewfinder, complete with an intense zoom to use when her helmet was not available. It took some getting used to at first, but now she had a good control over it, and the brief 'wink' she gave was enough to zoom in and out, and form a lump in her throat. She slowly reached for one of her pistols under her dress, but her arm was taken by a rather...jolly businessman who insisted that he dance with her. <E>
Maltez_Buffton: That jolly businessman didn't just take her arm, but also stepped across in front of her, blocking her view momentarily of the individual in the back. Jolly man chuckles boyishly, and tries to tug Xai towards the open dance floor. "Come my dear, let's show up these outsiders!" Once he moves again, the Buffton princess will once more be able to see past him... though the individual in question is no longer in sight, the seat empty as if no one had been there.
Ang N: "Um..." Xai responded at first, not quite expecting to dance, especially when she had lost sight of her target. Once he was gone though, she didn't exactly feel more relaxed, however, she was getting dragged to dance, whether she liked it or not. "Right, let's go then." She offered the man a smile.
Maltez_Buffton: Mr. Jolly Businessman chuckles loudly as he pulls the younger woman onto the dance floor, spinning around once and clapping his hands together in glee before taking her by the waist and shoulder. Though the music, laughter, and conversation were quite loud, she would be able to hear him perfectly as he spoke. "How are you these days, my dear? I haven't laid eyes on you in months."
Ang N: Xaiyla didn't recognize the man, which meant little, as when you run a business, albeit the largest one in the galaxy, you're bound to have a few fans, "Well...I'm here on vacation really, this is my first time on Elrood in quite a few years. I see things are going well?"
Maltez_Buffton: He chuckles again, and then spins both of them around flawlessly in time with the music. "Yes, you definitely needed a vacation... though won't this interfere with your hunt?"
Ang N: "I'm afraid I don't understand what you are saying..." Xaiyla hadn't exactly made it public that she was returning to work as a hunter, unless one of her cousins blabbed. Something wasn't right, something didn't FEEL right, and it was from extensive experience that she knew one didn't need the aid of the Force to know something was amiss. She tried not to focus on it so much, and concentrate more on her dancing, but it wasn't sitting well with her, despite the expert moves of her steps.
Maltez_Buffton: "I knew you would be an excellent dancer...” The jolly man continued, changing the subject, "You always were so graceful." The music began to slow, however, and the businessman stepped in closer, changing pace to match the song. "So tragic, the life of this Princess," he whispers, "constantly losing everyone she loves, hatred filling her heart. She seeks revenge, yet is in no hurry. Does she savor it or dread it?"
Ang N: There are a few moments in life where you're in an impasse to either shoot to kill immediately, run, or let things play out. This...was definitely one of them. "What are you doing here...?" Xaiyla sneered, but didn't chance the pace of the dance, not immediately wishing to create a scene. "You must have a stronger wish for your death than I thought....Marcus Thorne."
Maltez_Buffton: "You would be surprised at what I wish for." The jolly man answers, grinning. "The question is, however, do you kill this innocent man dancing with you?"
Ang N: "Let him go..." Xaiyla whispered, "If you wished to dance with me yourself, you have but to ask as a gentleman would."
Maltez_Buffton: "And risk bringing this to a sudden end? I needed to know what you would do, first." The jolly man answers, though stops dancing almost immediately. From behind, Xai would hear a different voice whisper to her, "May I have this dance?" Upon turning around, she would find the former Jedi dressed in a pure white tuxedo, smiling softly towards her.
Ang N: Her stomach wrenched at the sight of him, but she maintained her demeanor, "As long as my partner obliges." She nodded toward the businessman, who gave a light drunken laugh and offered her hand to Marcus, "Enjoy, young lad!"
Maltez_Buffton: Marcus nods towards the businessman in thanks, and extends his hand to Xaiyla for her to take. "I certainly plan on it." He replies to the drunkard's exclamation, though never taking his eyes off of the Buffton.
Ang N: Xaiyla gently takes hold of his offered hand, and offers a smile, though the look in her eyes was anything but happy to see him. Once they began dancing, she spoke to him softly, "So are you planning to kill me off right here, in front of all of these people celebrating? On my home planet? Will that give you pleasure and make you feel heroic again, Thorne? To get me while I can't defend myself properly?" Her left hand twitched a little within in own, and felt as cold as durasteel in space.
Maltez_Buffton: He chuckles softly as he pulls her just a little closer as he, too began to dance. "Oh, dear Princess... I have no intentions on killing you." He pauses a moment. "I only wish we could settle our differences without murderous intent."
Ang N: "I'm afraid that when you conspired against my family, aided in the murder of my uncle and father-in-law, and then murdered my husband yourself, you failed to grasp that...I don't really like you much. Sorry if that hurts." She said it entirely with a smile, as if joking to the onlookers, but to Marcus, the tone of her voice would feel like daggers.
Maltez_Buffton: He grins, collaborating the 'joke', then shakes his head. "I also tried to save your Uncle and father-in-law, but they refused my aid... and as for your husband, you have my condolences. I never wanted to kill him... He came after me."
Ang N: "You're a terrible liar." She leaned in as the music changed and whispered into his ear, "I can see right through you...I've seen the holo taken of you and Keiran Lang killing Ith'li Shaon, and I doubt you would have tried to stay Caedmon Cato's hand from taking the life of Maltez Buffton, it's not your place to be anything more than an accomplice...a 2nd in command. Is it? You were foolish to act on your own behalf to kill Halran, regardless of how silly he may have been acting, and now, you will die for your mistakes."
Maltez_Buffton: "I'm speaking of years ago, dear Princess." He retorted calmly, in a whisper of his own. "I attempted to save the Buffton Boss from his own arrogance and greed long before he tried his hand at Galactic Domination... and I tried to reach the soul of the Sith Shaon, when he still led his Alliance. Everything I have done has been for the greater good... even putting your beloved out of his misery."
Ang N: "If you were so bent on saving my uncle and father-in-law as you claim...why did you do nothing and allow others to take their lives? If you think that killing Halran was indeed for the best, you didn't see my tears, or the tears of my child...You didn't anticipate the pain you caused...You didn't think about consequence." She was starting to become visibly upset, but sucked it back the best she could, and added a bit of pressure to the grip with her left hand. To her, it was nothing, but to Marcus, a millimeter more of pressure would result in broken bones.
Maltez_Buffton: Marcus closed his eyes as he felt the grip suddenly turn into a vice, though a smile still made its way to his face, as if nothing was wrong. "I am not all powerful, and saving your Uncle and the elder Shaon were beyond my power. As for Halran... Yes, I felt the pain of your daughter and yourself, but such was unavoidable. You may choose not to believe me, but I have no control over that. Your husband would have become a destroyer of worlds, and you would have known a suffering that should be unimaginable as your daughter followed his footsteps to the Dark Side." He opened his eyes slowly, staring into hers.
Ang N: Xaiyla showed no fear as she gazed back into his own eyes, "My daughter's path will be her own. Light side, Darkside, senator, or bounty hunter, maybe all at once. The galaxy is hers for the taking, and I won't stop her...And neither will you."
Maltez_Buffton: He stops dancing a moment, his free hand moving to touch her cheek. "You won't stop her... but he would have. He would have made her a slave to the Dark Side, without any choice, without any hope of a different future. Her future is her own, and I have no desire to interfere."
Ang N: "Please don't touch me." Was all Xaiyla said as she went stiff to his caress, yet, she didn't jerk away, again the idea of NOT making a scene.
Maltez_Buffton: He ignores her, gently gliding his gloved thumb down to the edge of her lips. "A Buffton, shy to the touch? Unheard of." He smiles, coldly. "You enjoy this, Princess, just as you did when you tortured me."
Ang N: "I think you have a twisted sense of what enjoyment is." She turned her head away from him, slowly, as if casting a glance across the room, but enough to break his touch.
Maltez_Buffton: He leans in towards her exposed neck, his lips just inches away from her skin as he continues his whisper, now softer than before. "We could say the same for you. The Buffton Princess, who got pleasure out of sniping civilians from her castle's tower."
Ang N: "Only those that had sins...Marcus...Only those who sin need die, and now you inch closer to sinning once more it appears." She was tense, and she could kill him easily, right now, without a second thought, but her conscience hit her. Not here...not here on Elrood in the middle of an innocent party would he die, or she die.
Maltez_Buffton: "Sin is in the eye of the beholder, my dear sweet Princess. Is theft of medicine for a dying child a sin? Is murder to save another a sin? Is living a pompous and extravagant life while trillions wallow in poverty a sin?" He takes a deep breath, taking in her scent, a smile on his face. "He without sin..." He whispers slowly, before placing a gentle kiss against the side of her neck.
Ang N: "Please stop." Xaiyla winced at the kiss. "I will not plead again." Music had started up again, and she used it to her advantage and ushered Marcus to continue moving.
Maltez_Buffton: "Wonders never cease." He replies softly to himself as he pulls away and begins dancing with the Buffton lady once more.
Ang N: "You want me Marcus," Xaiyla grinned playfully as they danced, "I can tell...but you have an incredible amount of penance to pay before I'll absolve you."
Maltez_Buffton: He raises an eyebrow but smiles along, curious as to her sudden change in attitude. "The question, however, is... Are you worth it?"
Ang N: "Why wouldn't I be worth it, Marcus?" Xaiyla continued to dance, but kept her voice at a near whisper, "I'm one of the richest women in the galaxy. I have more power than your self proclaimed Emperor Lang; I even wish to kill you, what could be better?"
( TO BE CONTINUED...)
Maltez_Buffton: "So you're finally a made man, eh, Chit?" One man was speaking to the other by the door as Xaiyla snuck in. Both were wearing fine Elroodian suits, as were most of the members of the formal party. "That's right, Paulie. Got my own operation going on at Dellalt. Gods bless the Bufftons." The other replied, before raising his glass. The first fellow followed suit with a 'Here, here' before both sipped on the fine Corellian Brandy. There seemed to be about thirty men and women gathered in the smallish club, which was closed to the public for the important meet, all decked out in the finest Elroodian fashions. As Xai would make her way into the club, the whisper would reach her ear once more; "Closer than you might think."
Ang N: Xai wasn't quite as decked out as the other women...for once...and felt underdressed, even though her design was quite the height of Elroodian fashion at the moment. She did hear the whisper again, however, and panned a bit to the side, where the source would have been, but saw no familiar faces, though she got a few waves anyway, to which she half-smiled back to, thinking that everyone must either be too drunk to know who she was, or were just being friendly. She made her way to the small bar, and without asking, a perfectly poured cocktail was placed before her by a smiling bartender. "For the princess of course." He winked, and walked by to serve the next folk waiting. That was odd...
Maltez_Buffton: "Everyone loves their little Princess." The whisper continued. Around the bar, the celebration continued with three more boasts to the 'New Age' of the Cartel. Murmurs on the side continued, with talk of "Owning the Galaxy" and "Being Untouchable" being made out above other not-so-clear phrases. From the looks of things, the drinks had been going around the room for several hours now. Should Xai scan the room more closely, she would likely notice an individual sitting in the back of the room, wearing a brown cloak, hiding their features, with no drink in hand. Everyone around this person seemed to ignore them, or possibly not even notice they exist.
Ang N: Xai finished her drink, and smiled at the bartender as he came back to get the class. As she went to give him a few credits as a tip, he refused it, and said that all of her drinks were paid for by a generous guest for the evening, and that he wouldn't accept any gratuities. "Right...Thank you." She responded, and looked warily about the club. A few guests would swing by, and pat her on the back, to which she offered them a smile and a nod, but no words. Then she saw him, the cloaked figure in the back. At first she thought of it as a mirage, but the longer she looked, the more the figure seemed to develop before her eyes. Focusing a bit more, she closed her right eye briefly, as if she was winking, but this allowed the implant in her left eye to do its job. <c>
Ang N: A new toy of sorts she had 'installed' before she left Haven, the implant in her left eye was more or less a viewfinder, complete with an intense zoom to use when her helmet was not available. It took some getting used to at first, but now she had a good control over it, and the brief 'wink' she gave was enough to zoom in and out, and form a lump in her throat. She slowly reached for one of her pistols under her dress, but her arm was taken by a rather...jolly businessman who insisted that he dance with her. <E>
Maltez_Buffton: That jolly businessman didn't just take her arm, but also stepped across in front of her, blocking her view momentarily of the individual in the back. Jolly man chuckles boyishly, and tries to tug Xai towards the open dance floor. "Come my dear, let's show up these outsiders!" Once he moves again, the Buffton princess will once more be able to see past him... though the individual in question is no longer in sight, the seat empty as if no one had been there.
Ang N: "Um..." Xai responded at first, not quite expecting to dance, especially when she had lost sight of her target. Once he was gone though, she didn't exactly feel more relaxed, however, she was getting dragged to dance, whether she liked it or not. "Right, let's go then." She offered the man a smile.
Maltez_Buffton: Mr. Jolly Businessman chuckles loudly as he pulls the younger woman onto the dance floor, spinning around once and clapping his hands together in glee before taking her by the waist and shoulder. Though the music, laughter, and conversation were quite loud, she would be able to hear him perfectly as he spoke. "How are you these days, my dear? I haven't laid eyes on you in months."
Ang N: Xaiyla didn't recognize the man, which meant little, as when you run a business, albeit the largest one in the galaxy, you're bound to have a few fans, "Well...I'm here on vacation really, this is my first time on Elrood in quite a few years. I see things are going well?"
Maltez_Buffton: He chuckles again, and then spins both of them around flawlessly in time with the music. "Yes, you definitely needed a vacation... though won't this interfere with your hunt?"
Ang N: "I'm afraid I don't understand what you are saying..." Xaiyla hadn't exactly made it public that she was returning to work as a hunter, unless one of her cousins blabbed. Something wasn't right, something didn't FEEL right, and it was from extensive experience that she knew one didn't need the aid of the Force to know something was amiss. She tried not to focus on it so much, and concentrate more on her dancing, but it wasn't sitting well with her, despite the expert moves of her steps.
Maltez_Buffton: "I knew you would be an excellent dancer...” The jolly man continued, changing the subject, "You always were so graceful." The music began to slow, however, and the businessman stepped in closer, changing pace to match the song. "So tragic, the life of this Princess," he whispers, "constantly losing everyone she loves, hatred filling her heart. She seeks revenge, yet is in no hurry. Does she savor it or dread it?"
Ang N: There are a few moments in life where you're in an impasse to either shoot to kill immediately, run, or let things play out. This...was definitely one of them. "What are you doing here...?" Xaiyla sneered, but didn't chance the pace of the dance, not immediately wishing to create a scene. "You must have a stronger wish for your death than I thought....Marcus Thorne."
Maltez_Buffton: "You would be surprised at what I wish for." The jolly man answers, grinning. "The question is, however, do you kill this innocent man dancing with you?"
Ang N: "Let him go..." Xaiyla whispered, "If you wished to dance with me yourself, you have but to ask as a gentleman would."
Maltez_Buffton: "And risk bringing this to a sudden end? I needed to know what you would do, first." The jolly man answers, though stops dancing almost immediately. From behind, Xai would hear a different voice whisper to her, "May I have this dance?" Upon turning around, she would find the former Jedi dressed in a pure white tuxedo, smiling softly towards her.
Ang N: Her stomach wrenched at the sight of him, but she maintained her demeanor, "As long as my partner obliges." She nodded toward the businessman, who gave a light drunken laugh and offered her hand to Marcus, "Enjoy, young lad!"
Maltez_Buffton: Marcus nods towards the businessman in thanks, and extends his hand to Xaiyla for her to take. "I certainly plan on it." He replies to the drunkard's exclamation, though never taking his eyes off of the Buffton.
Ang N: Xaiyla gently takes hold of his offered hand, and offers a smile, though the look in her eyes was anything but happy to see him. Once they began dancing, she spoke to him softly, "So are you planning to kill me off right here, in front of all of these people celebrating? On my home planet? Will that give you pleasure and make you feel heroic again, Thorne? To get me while I can't defend myself properly?" Her left hand twitched a little within in own, and felt as cold as durasteel in space.
Maltez_Buffton: He chuckles softly as he pulls her just a little closer as he, too began to dance. "Oh, dear Princess... I have no intentions on killing you." He pauses a moment. "I only wish we could settle our differences without murderous intent."
Ang N: "I'm afraid that when you conspired against my family, aided in the murder of my uncle and father-in-law, and then murdered my husband yourself, you failed to grasp that...I don't really like you much. Sorry if that hurts." She said it entirely with a smile, as if joking to the onlookers, but to Marcus, the tone of her voice would feel like daggers.
Maltez_Buffton: He grins, collaborating the 'joke', then shakes his head. "I also tried to save your Uncle and father-in-law, but they refused my aid... and as for your husband, you have my condolences. I never wanted to kill him... He came after me."
Ang N: "You're a terrible liar." She leaned in as the music changed and whispered into his ear, "I can see right through you...I've seen the holo taken of you and Keiran Lang killing Ith'li Shaon, and I doubt you would have tried to stay Caedmon Cato's hand from taking the life of Maltez Buffton, it's not your place to be anything more than an accomplice...a 2nd in command. Is it? You were foolish to act on your own behalf to kill Halran, regardless of how silly he may have been acting, and now, you will die for your mistakes."
Maltez_Buffton: "I'm speaking of years ago, dear Princess." He retorted calmly, in a whisper of his own. "I attempted to save the Buffton Boss from his own arrogance and greed long before he tried his hand at Galactic Domination... and I tried to reach the soul of the Sith Shaon, when he still led his Alliance. Everything I have done has been for the greater good... even putting your beloved out of his misery."
Ang N: "If you were so bent on saving my uncle and father-in-law as you claim...why did you do nothing and allow others to take their lives? If you think that killing Halran was indeed for the best, you didn't see my tears, or the tears of my child...You didn't anticipate the pain you caused...You didn't think about consequence." She was starting to become visibly upset, but sucked it back the best she could, and added a bit of pressure to the grip with her left hand. To her, it was nothing, but to Marcus, a millimeter more of pressure would result in broken bones.
Maltez_Buffton: Marcus closed his eyes as he felt the grip suddenly turn into a vice, though a smile still made its way to his face, as if nothing was wrong. "I am not all powerful, and saving your Uncle and the elder Shaon were beyond my power. As for Halran... Yes, I felt the pain of your daughter and yourself, but such was unavoidable. You may choose not to believe me, but I have no control over that. Your husband would have become a destroyer of worlds, and you would have known a suffering that should be unimaginable as your daughter followed his footsteps to the Dark Side." He opened his eyes slowly, staring into hers.
Ang N: Xaiyla showed no fear as she gazed back into his own eyes, "My daughter's path will be her own. Light side, Darkside, senator, or bounty hunter, maybe all at once. The galaxy is hers for the taking, and I won't stop her...And neither will you."
Maltez_Buffton: He stops dancing a moment, his free hand moving to touch her cheek. "You won't stop her... but he would have. He would have made her a slave to the Dark Side, without any choice, without any hope of a different future. Her future is her own, and I have no desire to interfere."
Ang N: "Please don't touch me." Was all Xaiyla said as she went stiff to his caress, yet, she didn't jerk away, again the idea of NOT making a scene.
Maltez_Buffton: He ignores her, gently gliding his gloved thumb down to the edge of her lips. "A Buffton, shy to the touch? Unheard of." He smiles, coldly. "You enjoy this, Princess, just as you did when you tortured me."
Ang N: "I think you have a twisted sense of what enjoyment is." She turned her head away from him, slowly, as if casting a glance across the room, but enough to break his touch.
Maltez_Buffton: He leans in towards her exposed neck, his lips just inches away from her skin as he continues his whisper, now softer than before. "We could say the same for you. The Buffton Princess, who got pleasure out of sniping civilians from her castle's tower."
Ang N: "Only those that had sins...Marcus...Only those who sin need die, and now you inch closer to sinning once more it appears." She was tense, and she could kill him easily, right now, without a second thought, but her conscience hit her. Not here...not here on Elrood in the middle of an innocent party would he die, or she die.
Maltez_Buffton: "Sin is in the eye of the beholder, my dear sweet Princess. Is theft of medicine for a dying child a sin? Is murder to save another a sin? Is living a pompous and extravagant life while trillions wallow in poverty a sin?" He takes a deep breath, taking in her scent, a smile on his face. "He without sin..." He whispers slowly, before placing a gentle kiss against the side of her neck.
Ang N: "Please stop." Xaiyla winced at the kiss. "I will not plead again." Music had started up again, and she used it to her advantage and ushered Marcus to continue moving.
Maltez_Buffton: "Wonders never cease." He replies softly to himself as he pulls away and begins dancing with the Buffton lady once more.
Ang N: "You want me Marcus," Xaiyla grinned playfully as they danced, "I can tell...but you have an incredible amount of penance to pay before I'll absolve you."
Maltez_Buffton: He raises an eyebrow but smiles along, curious as to her sudden change in attitude. "The question, however, is... Are you worth it?"
Ang N: "Why wouldn't I be worth it, Marcus?" Xaiyla continued to dance, but kept her voice at a near whisper, "I'm one of the richest women in the galaxy. I have more power than your self proclaimed Emperor Lang; I even wish to kill you, what could be better?"
( TO BE CONTINUED...)
