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Post by Halna Louvellu on Sept 6, 2007 14:46:00 GMT -5
The cabbie pulled up outside the Galaxies Opera House and leered at the two women in his mirror. "I'm going to cut you a deal, ladies. Let's say... 15 creds?" Halna rolled her eyes at his shameless flirting, but gladly took the discount. She slapped the fare down on the console and undid her seat belt.
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Post by Jhase Mereel on Sept 6, 2007 15:51:45 GMT -5
Jhase shot the driver a rude gesture and stepped out of the cab. "Halna, I wish you'd let me pay every once in a while," she said, and then paused to stare at the marvel of architecture that was the Galaxies Opera House. Patrons were flocking in, and Jhase was amazed at what some of them were wearing. Compared to that Twi'lek, for example, Jhase's dress was as conservative as her armor. She shook her head, looking around. "So, do you see your friend Paddie anywhere?"
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Post by Halna Louvellu on Sept 6, 2007 23:09:12 GMT -5
Halna shrugged as she followed her out. "Sorry. Habit, you know?" She glanced around, oblivious to the architecture Jhase seemed so in awe of. "Um..." She stood up on her tiptoes to look over the heads of the other patrons for Danny. "Oh! There he is! Danny!" She waved an arm over her head as she called his name. Suddenly realizing she'd used his first name, she winced.
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Post by Jhase Mereel on Sept 7, 2007 10:37:59 GMT -5
Jhase looked in the direction that Halna was waving in, trying to recognize any faces from the holo she'd been given. A young man in a smart black suit came striding out of the crowd, grinning broadly, and Jhase quirked an eyebrow. She hated to admit it, but Paddie was much better looking in person...
"Halna!" he said, dodging past an elegantly clad couple to arrive in front of the two women. "How are you? Glad you could make it tonight. And this must be your friend. I'm Danny Paddie." He extended a hand for Jhase to shake.
She accepted it, hoping her reluctance didn't show. Should she use an alias? She was fairly sure she could trust Halna not to give her away, but if Halna had become attached to him, Jhase wasn't willing to gamble their friendship against that kind of emotion. She settled on a compromise. "Jhase Corra. Pleasure to meet you." It wasn't a lie, after all... Corra had been her name once.
He nodded to her. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Corra. You have a very firm grip, by the way."
Jhase smiled thinly. "So I've been told."
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Post by Halna Louvellu on Sept 7, 2007 17:03:07 GMT -5
Halna waited for Jhase to introduce herself before saying hello. She noticed the alias, but, knowing Jhase's paranoia all too well, shrugged it off. As Danny turned towards her, she smiled. "Hello." She found herself blushing as he leaned in to lightly kiss her cheek. "You look lovely, my dear. It's been too long," he chided gently. She rolled her eyes at the comment, considering they had spoken just the day before. The heat rose to her cheeks that much more as she thought back to their meeting at Dex's Diner. "So... when does the show start?" she inquired, wishing desperately for this evening to go off without a hitch. Being with Danny alone was bad enough, but being out in public with him was horrible. Such an act all the time.
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Post by Jhase Mereel on Sept 8, 2007 9:26:18 GMT -5
Danny checked the chrono on his opposite wrist. "Oh, not for a bit. Come on, we've got Dad's box to ourselves tonight." Placing a hand at her elbow, he steered Halna gently toward the massive doors through which beings of all descriptions were flowing.
Jhase, her suspicions confirmed, kept the thin smile on her lips as she followed the two of them toward the opera house's entrance. She'd have to tread carefully, then. But a challenge made life worthwhile. Her back stiffened in automatic distrust as they passed the elaborately liveried guards at the doors, but of course they were every bit as much decoration as the sculptures adorning the facade, and about as much threat to her. She still longed for the cocoon of her armor; some of the dignitaries attending tonight had bodyguards in their entourages. Even though Jhase could feel the weight of the assorted knives and blasters concealed on herself, the sight of their inconspicuous, though not hidden, weapons still made her uncomfortable.
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Post by Halna Louvellu on Sept 8, 2007 17:34:32 GMT -5
Halna stiffened slightly at Danny's touch. His brow wrinkled in confusion. "What's the matter?" he asked under his breath. "Nothing. I'm fine," she snapped back. "All right, all right. Geez." She was sorry she'd snapped at him, but she didn't really want Jhase thinking she had feelings for Danny. Even if she did. And even if Jhase probably already thought so. She threw a glance over her shoulder at Jhase and sighed. This was going to be a long night.
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Post by Jhase Mereel on Sept 9, 2007 17:07:47 GMT -5
Jhase followed the two as Paddie led them through a series of opulent rooms, into an equally ornate turbolift, and finally up into a private box. He ushered Halna into a seat at the center, and before he could seat her too, Jhase settled herself one seat down from Halna. Paddie glanced at her, apparently surprised, but took the seat between the two women.
Danny suddenly grinned roguishly, slipping an arm over the back of Halna's seat. "Lucky me, yeah? I get to sit between the two prettiest woman in Galactic City tonight."
Jhase rolled her eyes and ignored the urge to tell him just where he could shove his flattery. She looked out over the vast hall in front of them instead, noting that people were still being seated and wondering when the performance was going to start. She glanced over at Halna, suddenly wishing she'd asked a few more questions about Paddie. Did he actually intend to watch the opera? She was pretty sure she should start her questioning before the show started.
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Post by Halna Louvellu on Sept 9, 2007 18:54:06 GMT -5
Halna glared at him. "You aren't Corellian, Danny. Don't act it," she reprimanded him. Although the sight of Jhase biting her tongue was almost worth it. She coughed softly to keep from laughing. Danny shrugged, wondering what was wrong with Halna, but kept his arm firmly in place. He turned to Jhase. "So, Miss Cora. Let's not beat around the bush, shall we? I don't like political intrigue, no matter who my father is. I don't even like opera, but the private box is convenient sometimes." He gestured with his free hand to the various patrons in various states of dress - or undress it appeared.
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Post by Jhase Mereel on Sept 10, 2007 0:27:41 GMT -5
Jhase smiled faintly. "I admire your honesty, Mr. Paddie. I have no fondness for politics myself. All right then. My client thinks you know something of interest about a certain smuggler, a Corellian, actually," she added, glancing at Halna. "Alsten Kandarr. That name ring any bells?" She watched Paddie's face intently, determined to catch any sign of acknowledgment, however slight.
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Post by Halna Louvellu on Sept 10, 2007 19:39:19 GMT -5
Halna watched the exchange with warring emotions. Danny paused deliberately before speaking. "Alsten... Kandarr..." He shook his head slowly. "Nope. Can't say that it does." Halna thought the answer was honest enough, except for the way he immediately shifted, bringing his hand down to rest on her thigh. She flinched at the change of contact, knowing he may have inadvertently given himself away. Jhase really was that good. If he hadn't delivered Alsten's payoff from the Thieves' last job on Corellia, she wouldn't have been able to tell if he knew this smuggler or not. She sincerely hoped that she could only tell because she knew.
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Post by Jhase Mereel on Sept 10, 2007 21:18:55 GMT -5
Jhase raised an eyebrow. The man was a very good actor, but she could almost always tell. His oh-so-casual movement was as good as a confession, as far as she was concerned. "I don't like liars, Mr. Paddie. I would hate for you to give me reason to think you are one. Now, please tell me that you were mistaken, and that maybe you recognize the name after all. Or perhaps you know him by another name. Braxis Leran, for instance." She watched him intently. This was ordinarily the time she let her blaster do the talking, but she knew Halna was armed too, and wouldn't take her friend's threatening the man very well at all. Her mind raced as she tried to decide what to do if he denied knowing Kandarr again.
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Post by Halna Louvellu on Sept 11, 2007 13:30:44 GMT -5
"Braxis is a smuggler?" Danny chuckled. "Well, I never would have guessed that one. You've caught me Miss Cora. I know Braxis Leran very well. We've shared a meal many times. Of course, I've always known him to be an upright, forthright square of a man. Not the criminal-type at all." Halna beamed inside at the twists and turns in his little speech. Whether his father taught him how to do that or I did, I don't care. she thought.
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Post by Jhase Mereel on Sept 11, 2007 14:28:39 GMT -5
Jhase snorted. "He's a better actor than you are, then. Leran is a slimy little womp rat and of great interest to my client, as I believe I've mentioned before. I was hoping that you could help me locate him." She didn't believe his "forthright square of a man" story any more than his denial, and wondered why exactly Paddie seemed to be protecting him.
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Post by Halna Louvellu on Sept 12, 2007 0:11:24 GMT -5
Danny shook his head. "I run across more 'slimy little womp rats' in one day than you've probably turned in in your entire career. Look around. See many upright people?" He swept his hand across the vast hall. "No, I didn't think so. Leran will just get added to the list of phonies I keep in my dresser drawer. As for locating him, I can do better than vague directions to a shady hideout."
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