View source for A Businessman And a Thrill Addict

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2026-03-21
|Cast of Characters=240, 455
|pretty=yes
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Lower City is dim and rowdy as usual on Coruscanti nights, the streets busy with merchants, thieves, urchins, and other ne'er-do-wells. As is common, Kalregar and some of his crew are drinking and gambling at one of the casinos down here that often attracts the scum and the villainy.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's a good place to get a few deals, cheat a few of the inexperienced types. Currently, he's sitting at the bar, watching a swoop race on a holopanel near the back wall. A group of rowdy Trandoshans are arguing over bets nearby.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>Raith would usually be down at the swoop races, but she's not in these rounds. So she's found herself down in the casino having passed the merchants and urchins and thieves to get there. Into the casino itself eying the tables where people gamble what little credits they have away hoping to strike it big on just one more round.<br><br>She'll slide into a seat at the bar with one between herself and Baelin. Eyes drift to the screen as she watches the current race and then scoffs. "Somethin' strong and don't let it go empty..." This said to the barman before eyes go back to the holopanel. "Too far to the left. He's gonna catch his fin on a rock.." Muttered mostly aloud but to herself.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The bartender nods. "Comin' right up." the large Devaronian rumbles, going to fetch her a generously sized mug.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kalregar glances over at her as she comments at the feed on the screen. It seems she has quite the opinion, there.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...and sure enough, the commentators shout out in excitement when the featured swoop clips the rock and goes spinning out of control, crashing off the side of the track.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Called it, huh?" Baelin remarks with a chuckle.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>"That's his issue. He's always pulling too far to the left..." Raith comments with a glance over to Baelin and a half shrug offered. "Keep telling him to fix it but men are stubborn idiots on their best days." She looks back to the holoscreen to watch the racer being drug from the remains of his speeder. "Now the next race'll be delayed because they're gonna have to clean his heap of junk off the track."<br><br>She reaches into a pocket and tosses a pack of cigarillos onto the bartop, taking one out to light. "That kinda mess makes me happy I'm not racing that day."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The bartender finishes dispensing Raith's drink, and slides the mug over to her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kalregar laughs again. "Ha, well -thanks-, I guess." he remarks dryly at her jab at men, being a man himself. "You race for yourself, for wealthy sponsors, or a bit of both?" he asks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>"You're welcome." It's said back just as dry while Raith reaches for the mug and takes a long pull. "Well now. That, my friend, depends on the race." She answers almost coyly. "But however I do it. It helps pay the bills and it keeps me happy. Which is a good deal in my book."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Not afraid of losing a limb, eh? Or worse." Kalregar takes a swig of his own drink and turns to her again. "Baelin Kalregar." he introduces himself, and offers a handshake. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So, you been here a while? Or do you travel?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>"That means losing." Raith says plainly. "And I don't lose." Another swig of her drink taken while she flicks ashes and takes another drag off that cigarillo. Looking to the hand offered for a heartbeat longer than is courteous before accepting it. "Raith." No last name offered. Perhaps she doesn't have one? "Technically this is home...as odd as that may seem. But I do travel. Gotta keep my name in the circuit somehow..."<br><br>Another swig of her drink is taken. "And what do you occupy your time with, Baelin?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Nice to meet ya, Raith." Kalregar replies, nodding. He doesn't seem to mind her staring at the hand before taking it. "Oh yeah? You've never lost? As in, -ever-? How long've you been at this?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He shrugs at the question. "Oh, all sorts of different things--but I'm a businessman first and foremost. I buy, I sell, I travel."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>"I can't say I've never lost...but at the very least I keep control of my speeder...which is more than I can say for a lot of the others who race." Raith offers this and then shrugs. "Few years now. Long enough to know I love it and not long enough to grow tired of the thrill." Then she grins, flicks ash and smokes more.<br><br>"Is that so? That kind of talk in this kind of place could make someone wonder just what it is you buy and sell. Traveling must just be a perk of the job." She smirks. "So. What's your best trade right now?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Think you'll -ever- grow tired of it?" Kalregar asks out of curiosity.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, you know--mainly the products and services that are hard to come by, and those tend to be the ones that laws don't like." he replies with a smirk. Yeah, he can say that down here. "You make good money on swoop racing?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>"No. I think I'll grow too old before I grow tired of it." Raith offers, a hint of a smile teasing at her lips. She listens as he skirts around the answer to her question but she actually gives a nod of what seems to be approval. "You sell to big markets or do you keep some supplies for the little guys?" She downs another good bit of her drink. "I make enough."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I go wherever the demand is." Kalregar answers. "Sometimes it's one big market. And other times it's a lot of little guys."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That smile is noticed, but it doesn't surprise him. Not down here. "So you ever in the market for any of those things the laws don't like, you let me know. Or if you're up a little bit of adventure. Get off this planet, go somewhere exotic."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>That last bit puts a slightly bigger smirk on Raith's lips and she actually turns more towards Baelin to give him a bit more of her attention. "I may be in the market for something or things that the laws don't like. Laws are for losers anyway." She offers and then finishes the rest of her drink, pushing the mug back in a silent ask for a refill.<br><br>"I've been to a few places most people might call exotic...but if you think you can top any of them...I'd maybe be interested in what you've got to offer."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh yeah? What kinds of things?" Kalregar probes. "Spice? Slaves? Or are you looking for more services than products? Like someone you need to put on ice."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That depends on the places you think 'most people call exotic'." he replies to that last part.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>"Which also depends on what places /you/ think are exotic." Raith dances around that subject first with a smirk that turns into a grin. Then she goes back to the other bit. "I might keep you in mind should I ever need someone put on ice..." She offers. "But spice? Now you really have my attention..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ha! I dunno. Canto Bight?" Kalregar offers. He might be a touch drunk. "Yeah, you know--spice technically isn't -always- illegal." he remarks offhandedly. "There are medical uses."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>"So exotic - to you - means another place to get drunk and gamble?" Raith asks with humor alighting her eyes for a moment. Then she shrugs. "Yeah. I'm well aware of when it's not illegal...but what I use it for...I can't quite talk my way out of it being...." She pauses, then shrugs again. "Medically necessary." She grabs another cigarillo from the pack and offers the pack to him. "And before you ask, no, I don't use it while racing."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I guess so." Kalregar answers, laughing. "Just the first thing that came I mind I suppose."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So what do you use it for then, if not racing? And how much do you need?" he asks. "...well, more importantly, how much are you willing to pay for the good stuff?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>"I mean, to be fair, I was thinking of some place more like Manaan....but then...I'm usually only ever there for the swoop racing. Something about flying over the water's surface is calming." She pauses, takes a drag off her cigarillo. "Even if it's only for ten seconds."<br><br>There's a longer pause when he asks what she uses it for and then she smirks. "Meditation." Before she gives him a sort of up and down look and then turns more towards the bar. "In a perfect world you could get me a couple doses of glitterstim and I could make it worth your while. So let's say I've got...five thousand...burning a spice-hole in my pocket. Could you work with that?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Flying over the water in a swoop, huh?" Kalregar chuckles, envisioning that. "You really are a thrill addict." he laughs.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Meditation? Like the Jedi?" That was about the last thing he was expecting her to say. "From a swoop racing adrenaline junkie? You're just full of surprises."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Okay, 5k, for a couple of glitterstim...hm." he looks pensive a moment, before finally nodding. "Sure, I could make that work.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>"The way I see it. If I'm going to be dead in the dirt anyway, might as well have some fun getting there." Raith lets out a soft laugh at that and then tilts her head. "That's probably the least surprising thing about me..." That she meditates, of course. The fact that she's actually got a bit of the Force in her is another tale entirely and not one she spills on a first meeting.<br><br>"Very well. You bring me a couple doses of glitterstim, I'll give you 5K." Then she's the one actually offering her hand to him. "And if this goes well...you and I might become decent friends, Baelin."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:240|Baelin Kalregar (240)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Heh, fair point." Kalregar replies. "Especially since everyone's going to be dead in the dirt eventually anyway, right? Might as well make sure you get to have as many fun times as you can with the one life you've got."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He takes the offered handshake. "Speaking of having fun, I'll get you those glitterstim. Same time, same place--tomorrow."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:455|Raith (455)}} has posed:'''<br>Raith looks a bit surprised when he offers that he'll have the glitterstim here. Tomorrow. "I don't know if I should be pleased that you're quick or assume you're out to take advantage of me. But I suppose we'll see. Tomorrow."<br><br>The pack of cigarillos is placed back into a pocket and then she glances at the holoscreen as the commenters announce the next racer. "Ah. This'll be a good one. She's got some clean moves..." Though this might be a sign that their conversation is over. For now.<br> <br>
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