Owner	Pose
Raith	The Lower City Cantina is bustling with the usual music, droids serving patrons either at a booth or from behind the bar. At the bar itself sits a short haired woman with green skin, smoking and shouting something at the holo viewer. "I told him! I told him that rock was gonna jump out...now it's gonna be at least two weeks before he's back in...kriffin' moron..." Credits are sliding up the bar, down the bar, and across the bar in both directions. Very likely from Raith and other patrons making bets on the races going on.
Athena	As the credits are sliding up and down the bar, a tall, hooded stranger enters the cantina. He looks around furtively before pulling back his hood, revealing crimson eyes that gleam in his dim establishment and blue skin like that of a Pantoran. He could have passed as one, but... his eyes are a dead giveaway. And he has no facial markings whatsoever. He approaches the bar, and looks around for the bartender, his dark, perfect brows knitting together ever so slightly.
Raith	Raith gathers a bit more of her winnings before noticing the man in the hood walking in. When he lowers his hood she lifts a brow and then shifts to turn and face him more. "Now there's a hood I haven't seen before. You want in on some of this action? I'll even give you the better odds.." And she grins in a way that screams trouble with a pretty face.
Athena	He regards her with little to no expression. Whoever this stranger is, he's very hard to read. "I'm looking for the barkeep," He says, his Basic accented in a way that Raith won't be able to put her finger on. He's from out of town, isn't he? And he doesn't quite look like any other alien Raith will have ever seen in her life...
Raith	"Yeah, that's gonna be Rocky." Raith offers before leaning over the bartop to look down the length of it. "Ayo! Rocko! You gonna keep us thirsty down here or what?!" When she settles back and gives a shake of her head her attention goes back to the stranger. "You don't look like someone who comes around places like this often. If at all. Sure down sound like you belong down here. Where you from?"
Athena	The crimson eyed stranger gives Raith a mildly skeptical look before turning his attention towards wherever Raith is yelling. "I just arrived here from Tenoo," he says, "...did you need, or want something from me?"
Raith	"I don't need or want nothing from nobody. I just tend to recognize faces and I don't recognize yours." Raith grins then before looking back up at the holoscreen. "Twenty credits says she hits her booster too late..." Muttering that to the twi'lek on her other side before returning her attention back to the stranger and offers her hand. "They call me Raith."
Athena	"Anybody," he corrects her gently. "You mean you don't need or want -anything- from -anybody-." He doesn't shake her hand, actually, instead he just gives her a coy look and a little smile that elevates his already stunning looks. It's brief, though. "Well met, Raith." He then gets up and starts to go looking for the barkeep.
Raith	He'll find the barkeep just a few several stools down from where he was first standing. Raith just looks down at her hand for a moment and then her gaze follows Mister Stranger as he walks away. "Rude." Then she turns back to the holoscreen to watch the race.
Athena	"Excuse me," he says to the barkeep. He lowers his voice. "Look..." a pause. "I didn't come here, alright?" He slips him a few credits. "But I was hoping you might know the name Baelin Kalregar?"
Raith	The barkeep eyes the stranger up and down, reaches for the credits, and then gives a nod. "Know the name. He comes around every so often..." He then motions down the bar, right back towards Raith. "She's had a few run ins with him too.."
Athena	"Any idea where he might be... now?" When Rocky mentions that Raith has had runins with Baelin before, he glances over at Raith, his expression once again unreadable. "...is that so?"
Raith	"Couldn't tell you, friend. Sorry." The barkeep offers while picking up another glass to clean. "But yeah. Last time I saw him here he was talking to her. Probably selling her some of his infamous overpriced spice."
Athena	At this, his brows crease slightly. "Mm," he says finally, his expression still blank. Then he slips the barkeep a few more credits and says to him, "For the lady, then. A round of whatever she pleases." Then he starts heading for another cantina across the street.
Raith	The barkeep grunts something under his breath, takes the credits and then goes to serve Raith another drink. When she protests that she didn't order anything the bartender, who only agreed to know the stranger wasn't actually there, mentions that it was bought for her. Raith looks around for a moment before seeing Mister Stranger walking across to the other cantina she actually stands up - abandoning her drink - and following him. "That was a waste of practically decent credits you know."
Athena	He's just outside the cantina when she catches up to him. Again, the brief, coy smile. "Now, why would you say that?" he says, folding his arms.
Raith	"I mean. They'll come in handy, I guess, cause I told Rocky to just hold on to the credits but... you didn't have to do that." Raith offers, and then looks off a moment. "Why did you buy me a drink anyway?"
Athena	"Well," he says, leaning against a nearby lamp post, "I think you were lying when you said you didn't need anything from anyone. Almost everyone, especially folk down here, needs favors." "Perhaps I can be service to you."
Raith	Raith narrows her eyes and then lets out a huff of breath through her nose. "I can't think of anything off the top of my head. So unless you got something in mind you want to offer...which I'm pretty keen on thinking you got something on your mind since you were being..." She looks back to the other cantina and then to him. "Nice."
Athena	"If I told you I was staying at the Alisandre hotel?" He tilts his head to one side. "But please. If you have something else you'd like to suggest..."
Raith	"You haven't even given me your name and you're offering me to come spend time with you at your hotel room?" Raith lofts a single eyebrow upwards. "What's the catch?"
Athena	He seems amused. "Oh you wanted to spend the night? Well, I don't know about that. There are two beds, but..." He shrugs. "I thought you might want to enjoy some of the amenities. Room service, free drinks, a pool, and of course, a private taxi service to anywhere on Coruscant. These retrofitted Nubian speeders might have seen some action racing back in the day, but now, they're hardly utilized by the hotel's guests, so the taxi drivers are rather delinquent."
Raith	"I never said anything about spending the night. You went there yourself. Enjoying room service requires being -in- a room..." Raith offers, amused as proven by the smirk that touches her lips. "Alright, I'll bite. I could use a spin in the lap of luxury...and if it's on someone else's credit...that's even better."
Athena	The smallest of smiles graces his expression. "See? Not so bad, admitting you do want things after all." He motions with his head towards the tram station. "It's about an hour ride from here. Think you can wait that long?"
Raith	"Oh I don't know. Depends on if you can keep up with this riveting conversation." Raith offers before shifting to follow his direction. "And if you decide you're going to stay mysterious or at least give me the courtesy of a name. You could just make one up too, you know. What's it really hurting?"
Athena	He steps forward, and taking her hand, kisses it gently. "My name is Thaarin," he says. "And rest assured, I will." Then he lets go of her hand, and turns to head for the station once more, as if his greeting were nothing out of the ordinary.
Raith	Raith stares at him as he kisses her hand and keeps that smirk. "Well, it's nice to meet you Thaarin.." Then she falls into step beside him to head for the station. "So, what brought you to Coruscant from Tenoo?"
Athena	"Work," he says, and offers no further explanation. "And how about you? How did you end up on Coruscant?" The tram arrives, and he steps onto it, stepping aside to allow inside after him.
Raith	"Racing." She offers in curt response. "I'll be around for a few more circuits before trying to find a ride out to the next one. Likely on Tatooine or maybe Manaan." Offering that next bit while getting on the tram with him and finding a seat.
Athena	"Oh?" he says, a brow arching ever so slightly. "Is that so? Well, that's surprising you don't have your own. So why's that?" he asks. The tram lurches as it leaves the station, and his gaze drifts to the passing cityscape outside.
Raith	"Because it's cheaper to buy a ride than to maintain my own ship and even a small crew to keep it running. I have my speeder, and she costs me enough to keep her track worthy." This said before she lifts her shoulders in a shrug. "Sometimes I can find the same people running between planets. Like cargo runners and such. Make nice with them and you're pretty golden."
Athena	He turns to look at her, a mildly inquisitive look passing over his features. "Cargo runners and such? Like who? You've run into some interesting sorts, I take it."
Raith	Raith watches him through her periphreal and then shrugs. "Oh I don't remember names off the top of my head. My only rule - especially if I'm in the outer rim - never do business with slavers. Otherwise, if there's cargo running to somewhere I need to go. Make nice. Take the deal. Get where I want to go." Then the smirk sort of curls into a grin. "I've run into my fair share of interesting depending on your definition..."
Athena	"Well, slavers certainly seem interesting. I hear indentured servitude is legal in the Republic, so I'm sure they get away with their fair share of criminality. I am wondering though, about the more illegal sorts. Like, for example, spice smugglers?"
Raith	"Maybe it is, but that doesn't make it right." Raith quips before hearing him steer the conversation to a more specific topic. This catches her interest, though she gives him a wary look. "Spice smugglers is a pretty specific example." Though she turns her head to look out her own window. "Might be I know a smuggler or two. But I'm not a snitch. You haul me off to some Republic Deputy and I know nothing."
Athena	"Oh please," He says, "do I look like law enforcement? I'm just a peasant from a backwater world in the Outer Rim. Why would I have any interest in doing that?" he says with a disarming smile. Then his expression sobers. "But you're right, it is a pretty specific example. I might be working class, but once upon a time I had a best friend who fell for the allure of spice smuggling. He heard the runners could rack up six figure sums, in less than a week, provided they didn't get caught. That was several months ago. I hope you understand why I'm concerned."
Raith	Raith seems to sober a little at that and shakes her head. "Oh I don't know. One more spice user off the lower streets of Coruscant. It'd be the highlight of the day..." She says this much before giving a dry chuckle. "But I get it. The concern and all. Could be I have someone I've gotten some off of recently. Was surprised he took me for my offer and not a credit more because I've met a couple runners who would be vicious about their costs. I'm sure if the cards are played right...could help try and ease your mind about your friend."
Athena	His brows furrow. "Do you know where I might be able to find him?" "And what was his name?"
Raith	"Only couple times I've seen him was actually at the cantina we were just at. But I haven't seen him since our deal." Raith offers. When Thaarin asks for a name, she hesitates. "Name won't be that easy to get off of me."
Athena	"I see," he says demurely. "When was the last time you saw him?" They're coming up above the lower levels now, and the artificial sunlight will start to stream in through the window.
Raith	"Been a couple weeks since I've seen him personally...that's not to say he hasn't been around." Raith offers, wincing as the sun starts to stream through. "Damn, I forget how kriffing bright it is up here..." She looks to him then. "I could probably set up a meeting if you want."
Athena	"Oh really? A couple of weeks is recent enough," He says, and when she says she could probably set up a meeting, his eyes light up a little. "I'd like that very much Raith," he says, "thank you." He smiles mildly, and briefly. "You're very kind. Here I am, a complete stranger, and yet, you're offering to do a good deed for me. I won't forget this."
Raith	Raith makes a face. "Don't get sentimental about it. You're treating me to room service. The payback is setting up a meeting." Then she smirks. "And you kept your word. The conversation has been acceptable." Then she glances out the window again. "Galaxy needs a little more kindness sometimes. I may be an asshole, but I'm decent where it counts."
Athena	"Don't tell me what to do, or how to feel~" he says playfully. "Now, that sounds like something you would say, doesn't it?" Then he gives her this fond look, that might make her feel a certain way...
Raith	"You...corrected my speech earlier. Consider that payback." She quips before catching that look from him and she shifts in her seat some. "I mean...I did say it...so..."
Athena	He smirks a little. "Alright then, we're square. Although I have to say, I don't mind owing you at all. I've thoroughly enjoyed your company, even if you haven't enjoyed mine." He winks. The rest of the trip to the hotel goes by quickly. Perhaps they make small talk, perhaps they don't. Either way, Sonner rather than later, they'll have arrived.
Raith	"I haven't -not- enjoyed your company. If I can't tell you what to do, you can't put words in my mouth." Raith offers with a smirk. Then they arrive. She glances up at the hotel and blinks. "You know...I'm just now realizing as many times as I've seen this place...I've never been inside..."
Athena	He smirks back, slightly, but doesn't offer her a response. Once they disembark, he gestures for her to go ahead. "Well, now's your chance. Never too late for a first time," he says, showing her the door.
Raith	Raith stands still for another moment before she walks into the hotel once he shows her the door. A look of awe actually washing over her as she looks around and then back to Thaarin. "Impressive."
Athena	Thaarin seems amused again. "Well I'm glad you're impressed. But I'm guessing you'd like to see the hangar now...?"