Cantinas with Cassidy

[childofrebellion]

When Cassian enters, he's changed into a shirt that maybe once was red and a suit jacket that's casual and like the other one, once belonged to a larger man.

It helps to sell the character if his clothes show someone trying to improve and get farther from the Outer Rim.

He looks around for Cassidy as they want to use as much of the night as they can.

Comments

[irish_vagabond]

"Great! Lead the way-- oh, shit."

He hangs back for a moment.

"It's nighttime, right?"

[childofrebellion]

"Yes, its no good going to these places during the day,"

Outside the door, its a busy city street with speeders, stormtrooper patrols and a variety of aliens. Its fairly clean with a shop or two and the respectable look that comes when bureaucrats live near each other in too small a space. Cassian steps out the door and waits for Cassidy.

[irish_vagabond]

"Oh, okay, cool."

Actually he's very relieved to not have Cassian open the door with direct sunlight blazing through it.

He follows him out, taking everything in and trying not to gawp.

actual stormtroopers omg

"You live in this area?"

[childofrebellion]

"For now, yes, I have an assigned apartment in the building. The inside of my ship's bigger,"

Its twilight and Cassian shifts his manner to be slightly nervous seeming with the watchful glances of someone new to the neighborhood.

He heads towards the noisy part of town, where there's the hum of ship engines and bright lights come into view.

[irish_vagabond]

He snorts a chuckle. "Yeah, there's apartments like that in big cities back home that'll still cost you a fortune in rent."

Cassidy lopes alongside him, hands in his pockets, his eyes wide behind his sunglasses. The lack of wheeled vehicles is crazy, but the airships are crazier. It's fascinating to just watch them zoom overhead.

"Y'know, back in the 1950s and '60s, people were promised flying cars for everyone by the year 2000. Pfft, we still ain't got shite. Not like this."

[childofrebellion]

Cassian tugs Cassidy out of the way of a speeder that's wobbling,

"Careful, they'll get you if you're not watching and are awful at banking."

[irish_vagabond]

Cassidy steps aside just in time for the speeder to weave past.

"Traffic must get insanely dangerous," he remarks.

[childofrebellion]

"This isn't too bad," Soon they're surrounded first by restaurants and bars, they begin being slightly respectable but bad singing can be heard nearby.

Cassian stops in front of a pub that looks cheap but trying to be nicer called The Nexus when he talks his accent is heavier, "This is the best place to go for an after work drink."

[irish_vagabond]

Ah, yes, nothing like the strains of drunken singing wafting through the doors of some run-down dive bar. Some things really are universal.

Cassidy looks up at the sign...which he can't read. The letters look like runes.

"We goin' in, then?"

[childofrebellion]

"Yes, we are but I don't think for long," He walks in and a Rodian waves to him. "Willix, you came. Come have a drink. Bring your friend. We're celebrating."

"Thanks, this is Cassidy. Why are you celebrating?" Cassian moves towards the table, the outfits are similar to what he's wearing, bureaucrats having

Another voice, a dark skinned woman says, "Oh someone from the Outer Rim? Need to get you better friends but come on, the rum's good here. A big shipments passing through, lots of work but chances for bonuses."

[irish_vagabond]

Cassidy does enough staring from behind his sunglasses (and casting a sweeping gaze through the entire room and its denizens), but once he removes them and tucks them away, he's all charm and pleasantries.

"Hey, how're ya," he greets the other two, and slides into a seat next to the woman. Because of course.

"Oh, the Outer Rim's not so bad, it's where all the fun happens, don'tcha know."

[childofrebellion]

She gives him a long look before smiling as Cassian sits down and orders another round of drinks, "I'm good. Fun, what do you think is fun?"

Cassian turns to the Rodian and says, "Ganto, this shipment going to mean more work?"

Ganto lifts his drink and smiles, "Forms, so many forms but you'll see."

[irish_vagabond]

"That's classified," Cassidy sniffs teasingly with a grin, as he lounges in his seat. "But who knows, after I get a few drinks in me, I might tell you."

The round of drinks arrives and Cassidy raises his glass to everyone at the table before taking a sip. The taste is unlike anything he's ever had, but it's still familiar. In any case, it's still not going to get him drunk.

"So, what's your name, then?" he asks the woman. "Come here often?"

[childofrebellion]

"Classified, really, maybe you can tell me your secrets. I'm Enla," She leans towards him and sips her drink.

Cassian and Ganto get into a deeper conversation that moves into names of forms and work. Then the whole tenor of the pub shifts as three officers in grey uniforms enter and of them says, "This is where everyone drinks?"

Ganto elbows Cassian and says, "They're from the ship that came in."

[irish_vagabond]

"Enla, that's a lovely name," he says, also leaning in with one ear tuned to Cassian's conversation. "Very nice to meet you, Enla. Y'know, I've always thought that there should be no secrets between people if they're gonna get to know each other, I'm very, very big on honesty and transparency, I think it's just really important as the basis of any--"

He turns his head toward the newcomers, but remains unfazed. And then he turns back to Enla as if they weren't there.

"--relationship, d'ye know what I mean?"

[childofrebellion]

Slowly the talking resumes in the pub and Enla smiles at Cassidy, "I do. I'm from Onderon and I'm going to end up back there but with power some day. If you know how everything moves, then you can be part of it."

Ganto swallows his drink too quickly and Cassian pats him on the back and says, "They're not looking at us."

"I know, but they'll come and check in a few days, Willix."

"And we'll be ready for them," Cassian's voice is reassuring.

[irish_vagabond]

"Ooh, ambitious! I like that."

Cassidy himself is the least ambitious person he knows.

"So, what kinda power we talkin' about here, eh? Business? Politics? Although, when you think about it, politics is a business. You've got to work your way up in both, an' like you say, it's all about how everything moves like cogs in a machine. But are you gonna be part of that machine or will you be the one pushing the buttons, eh?"

He can hear the tension in the room die down, but it only really shifts to a guarded wariness.

[childofrebellion]

"It is, it is and I'm good at business. Its all about knowing what and who is coming and going and making it easier for them to get what they need. When they come to our office, I'll have it all lined up. What about you? What are your connections and why are you with Willix? He's an Outer Rim nobody and too nervous to go far," She sips her drink and considers Cassidy, maybe he can be a way in.

"Last time a ship came through, I had a mistake on a form and it was awful," Ganto says to Cassian, his head in his hands, "I don't want to lose my job. I wouldn't be a good criminal."

"Why would you need to be a good criminal?" Cassian asks as he gets Ganto a refill.

"Because that's what my relatives do and its always hanging over me. But I want to be respectable and safe."

[irish_vagabond]

"Oh, hey now," Cassidy says gently, evenly, a perfect diplomat, "Willix isn't a nobody, he's my good friend. And anybody can go far if they put their mind to it, just for some people it might take a little more time is all. As for me?" He smiles winningly. "Making connections is all I ever do."

The word criminal tweaks his attention and he glances at Ganto having a mild breakdown.

[childofrebellion]

Cassian's patting Ganto on the back and getting him another drink, "I know, that's what I want to and this is how to do it. I mean listen to Enla, she's full of ambition and doing the same job. Thanks, Cassidy, I'm going to get closer to the Core someday."

"No, I'm above your pay grade but I'll help you boys along if you help me. Connections, tell me about your connections," Enla laughs and pats Ganto's back while he hiccups and gets a hold of himself.

[irish_vagabond]

"Well, I'm making connections with you, ain't I?" he says to Enla with suave affability.

Leaning across the table toward the fella with the unfortunate bug eyes, he then says, "What was your name again? Ganto, is it? Look, Ganto, dude, you can't let your relatives' reputation hold you back, alright? Be the one who breaks the mold. I'm sure you'll do fine on your next inspection."

[childofrebellion]

"Cassidy knows about drugs, not like spice but the stuff they give you when you're really banged up. We met when I was banged up from an angry neighbor," Its pretty much all truth and enough to make Enla talk more.

That makes Enla look at Cassidy for his own sake as she says, "I have a relative who works in Navy Medical. I could introduce you, see if we can't save the Empire some money."

Ganto smiles at them all, "Yes, I'll do better, no one will ever have a bounty out on me like that horrible Greedo."

"No, never," Cassian watches Ganto who's seeming to calm down a little and sway.

[irish_vagabond]

Cassidy smiles and nods along to Cassian's story.

"Aye, it's a specialty of mine," he tells Enla. "Pharmaceuticals, I mean. Trade, import, export, market value, that sort of thing. Y'know, funnily enough, I was considering branching into the military, after all, that's where the best business is, I mean somebody's gotta keep the boys in uniform up an' running, eh? So who is this relative of yours, then, I'm totally, totally up for a face-to-face some time."

Greedo, holy shite

And here Cassidy is, dressed like a bad Han Solo cosplayer.

"There now, that's the spirit," he says encouragingly. Because even Rodians need an encouraging word.

[childofrebellion]

Enla leans on Cassidy and takes a long drink, "Yes, he's on Onderon but knows people in Coruscant. I'll get you talking and if you show him good quality, its all quality for the Empire."

Ganto stands up and waves, "I'm going home, see you later and we'll show 'em,"

Cassian stands up with him to make certain he can walk and then Ganto wanders away.

Once Ganto's gone, Cassian takes a drink and says, leaning on his accent, "Cassidy knows where the proper stuff is. Stars, I was hurting but he had one that I could even work with."

Enla laughs as she says quietly, "I might like a sample of one like that."

[irish_vagabond]

All quality for the Empire. Yay, go Empire. Jaysus.

Cassidy gives Ganto a mock-salute before turning back to Cassian and Enla. He's got his arm casually draped across the back of her seat and is certainly not adverse to her tipsy leaning.

"Unfortunately I didn't bring any samples with me tonight, but I'm sure we could arrange something," he assures her with a grin. "Oh, an' that reminds me, I'll be off-planet on a business trip for a couple of weeks, so if you get in touch with your man on Onderon in the meantime, just pass that info onto Willix, would you? He'll let me know. He's good like that." He throws Cassian a wink.