Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

The Cascader very specifically was left in his room, in his luggage. The sharp lines of his face, the subtle imperfections on display. The older Pantoran man was in the grand stairway of the cruise liner, hands clasped behind his back. His regalia finely pressed, perfectly tailored to his form, more muscular than what had been seen in his time in the Senate.

There was a hint of nervousness as he waited for the Countess.

Verash arrived with a small purse that matched her festival inspired gown. She smiled upon seeing the Pantoran and said warmly, “Good afternoon, Privateer Mixo.”

"Countess Organa." He bowed to her, "You look stunning." Durasay was honest, suddenly feeling the stiff collar of his regalia, the half cape flitted behind his arm.

"This is quite the cruise."

“The Queen spares no expense,” she replied.

“But please, Verash is fine, Countess sounds so impersonal.”

The dark blues of his regalia, highlighted by silver piping and fixtures, with the accent of yellow that matched his tattoos. The perfect picture of a Pantoran noble. Yet he felt somewhat out of place. Damning his courage, the man stood to the side of Verash, offering an arm.

"Still, the expense feels kind of flat, without pleasant company, Verash."

“I was thinking the same, wealth can only buy so much. Good company is priceless. So Privateer Mixo, I am curious about this ship… can you tell me about it and her crew? I just find it fascinating,” she said smiling warmly at his side.

"Fastest ship in the sector... of any given sector. The crew are close as family. There is Prirnu'dim'suazzo, or Nudimsu for short. A Chiss pilot of exceptional skill and talent. And then Hacha Tsuko, Duros mechanic extraordinaire." He smiled as he spoke of the two crewmates. "And the Turtle herself. The scourge of Mandalorian fleets at Bankor. She looks like any old freighter, but I'd put her up against any starship in the Republic or Sith Imperial Fleets, and expect to come out on top."

The pride in the ship came through in his words. "Available for any transport needs a person might find that wants a more personal touch and... professional discretion."

She smiled and said, "Always the salesman, I wish I had known of your services early on."

"It's difficult to turn off. I suppose that's why one career easily slipped into the next." Durasay grinned, looking to Verash's features. His eyebrow cocked in question.

"And why is that?"

"I had a delivery go awry and it's now just a big mess, I would feel terrible involving you in my affairs, Durasay?" she said honestly.

He pondered. "Verash. Deliveries gone awry is our specialty. If there's something that we... that I can do to help, I wouldn't consider it a burden." His yellow eyes met hers.

He had a bad habit of just jumping in to help those who asked, to seek out high risk adventure. "If you'd like just.... talk about it?"

"It's a complicated story, we are going to need wine," she said nervously.

"Like you said, the Queen spared no expense." His smile was reassuring, as they walked. His eyes now scanning for a server, or maybe a concierge, who could help them with that.

Once they had wine and she had a few sips she said, “Well the long and short of it is that I have been trying to purchase a piece from the museum for some time now before… well before a rival of mine gets it. It completes a set that I already possess. Now I am not proud of this fact but I eventually resorted to a more brute force method of acquisition that blew up in my face.”

“I am not sure on the details but maybe someone died my courier was waylaid by Jedi and my goods were returned to the museum. That’s the last time I purchase, allegedly purchase, the services of Mandalorians from unscrupulous people over the holonet.”

She finished her wine and said, “Anyway, now I am back to square one and I am sure my rival, Ghoun Rist is plotting to get that piece for himself.”

There was a pause as he listened. His eyes focused on her face, as if reading her. His lips formed a hard line. "Could you tell me anything the item? Why would the Baron want it for himself?" As ever, knowing more about the detals could save lives, and Durasay was not one to just throw lives away. Whether unknowns, knowns, and most of all, himself.

He knew that Hacha and Nudimsu had taken a job on Delaya. And the details were... lining up a little too closely.

So there was going to be a third way... or some awkwardness.

“They are containers clay jugs or vases, supposedly from the early colonization era of Alderaan. Very rare and valuable. Baron Rist wants it to spite me, I am sure. He fancies himself a collector but he is second rate at best,” she responded.

The Pantoran thought on the matter. Retaining beside Verash, he took a sip from his own wine as he thought. "Simple pottery? Or more ritual use? I'm sorry for all the questions. I suppose you've also piqued my curiosity on antiquities." He chuckled, looking at her over the rim of his glass.

“I actually am not concerned with any ritual use, but it does complete the set and it is old and valuable. Supposedly dating back to a time that our people might have worked or tried to coexist with killiks, according to some scholars. Not my concern,” she admitted.

“I am hoping to cut a deal with House Alde, and the sum is significant but I could use a reliable courier to get it to Delaya, and the Turtle is fast and I trust you.”

He listened, nodding. "Having your trust is immeasurable. I'll bring it to the team, but we can ferry payment, no problem. I do have one question," he hesitated, thinking over possibilities.

"Any chance your rival has an ear with House Alde? Just wanting to cover bases, to be prepared for any fool hardy attempt at interdiction en route."

"It is possible though I would expect him more to just hire people to intercept the delivery," she responded. "It's what I would do, if I were as nefarious as he was."