Nar Shaddaa

It was late, and most of the crew of the Starcross had retired for the evening, hyperspace was boring after all. Zan found himself in the comoon room alone, sipping at a glass of whiskey.

He had acted like his pockets were pretty deep when he was on the phone with Arsele, but the truth of the matter was he wasn't much better off then her. So slipping out his black communicator he started flipping through his contacts. Thera would probably be at the Viper right now, Devi might be available though.

Selecting her contact information he leaned back and waited, wondering if she would pick up.

The call takes awhile before it is eventually received. The Nautolan tore off her gas mask and then gave him a toothy grin. "Aye, if it isn't my favorite investigator. I'd offer to buy ya a drink but that's not really an option right now." She tossed the mask aside and looked back to him. "Hold on, hold on. I have two guesses to make. One: you're going to ask me to get you that drink when you land! And two: you're going to ask me for some work!"

She put on a mock pout. "When's the last time you called me just for chat?"

He couldn't help but smile at her response, he really should call Devi more often. "Why would I call you for a chat when I could just invite you for dinner when I get back? Then I could see my Jade Rose in person, instead of from light years away."

"Still, you are right, on all three accounts. So before we get to the first two, how are you? Still chasing off all those suitors unworthy of you?"

"Will that dinner reservation be just for the two of us or will it include all the other women you've promised?" she said teasingly before blowing a kiss. The dealer stretched out her arms, apparently sore. "Yeah, nobody suiting my fancy. It's a little difficult when my suitors either buy from me or work with me. After all, they say not to mix business with pleasure." She shot him a smirk. "And you don't think I would date one of my druggies, would ya?"

"Just the two of us of course." He replied with a easy smile, reaching a hand up as if to catch the blown kiss. "Mind you I may be to busy to sleep the first few days I'm back in Nar Shadda, but I'd never double book a dinner date."

He lifted his glass to his lips to take a sip. "I'm not always sure they know what they are talking, I mix business with pleasure quite often, and it doesn't get me in trouble too often."

"You are right though, it must be hard to meet a proper gentleman with the hours you work, and those druggies are completely out of the question."

"Then how can I refuse? We'll have to see when the stars align then, Zanebry," she replied with a smirk.

Devi let out a giggle. "I don't get how you do it. Business and pleasure, that is. When you throw in a lot of money, there's bound to be bad blood, ya know?" She shrugged. "But I suppose your charm might carry you through. Anyways, as for me, I think I fall into the category of 'married to her work' or whatever the saying is."

His own lips curled into a pleased smirk. "I'll be looking forward to it Devi."

"Honestly? It might be because the pleasure means more to me then the money involved. This world would be a dull place without beautiful women and good whiskey, and I might as well not work at all if I can't enjoy the company of both."

"You could always get a divorce Devi." He teased as she mentioned being married to her job. "Or at least take a vacation sometime." He looked her over for a moment. "I can tell you've been working long hours again."

"Not everyone feels the same way, Zanebry," she said, her tone a bit more serious than before. "You can court beautiful women who aren't related to your business life, ya know. And keeping it on the down low is good in case anyone comes knockin' for revenge."

Devi looked back to her lab and then back to him. "Aye, I think my husband would keep a good share of the money! And as for a vacation, well, where else would I go? Nar Shaddaa is already a great place to kick back and relax."

"You're right Devi, I know, and I do try to be careful, one of the reasons why I crew with the Starcross some now days, it keeps me from being so reckless." Though there was another problem altogether developing on that front. "Still I'll keep what you said in mind."

"He probably would at that." He replied with a chuckle, easily slipping into the less serious side of their conversation. "I hear Makeb is pretty this time of year, and could be you meet someone beside a co-worker or druggie there"

"Though you aren't likely to see me there either, which understandably might be a bit disappointing." He teased.

"Maybe it'd be a good idea to become a permanent addition to the crew. But I dunno, it's up to you to decide what to do with your life."

The Nautolan smirked. "I hope it'd be a good place to go at any time. It's a luxury planet, after all." She let out a small chuckle. "Ya know, I'd probably end up trying to peddle my wares to all of the other guests there. And then it wouldn't be a vacation anymore, now would it? Especially if I don't have you around."

"I don't think I could give up my ship honestly, there is something liberating about being able to go anywhere i want. That and the Starcross doesn't come with a bar."

"I'd have no choice but to come along then, to keep you out of trouble and to stop you from doing anything too strenuous." He smirked. "To make sure you relaxed properly, I know a thing or two about relaxing you see."

"A drifter of Nar Shaddaa always has his excuses," she mused. "Can't say I feel the same about the need to fly. There're enough hotshots out there to do it for me."

Devi smirked. "I'm not sure how my husband would feel about that. He might think you're trying to take me away from him!"

"True, and I could give you at least another half dozen reasons, but I won't bother." It all came down to commitment anyways.

"The jealous type is he?" He shook his head and sighed, though there was a bit of theatrics in it. "Might be best we stick around Nar Shaddaa then, at least for now. If he ever really gets on your nerves though, let me know."

"Whatever you say, Zanebry," she said with a soft smile.

"I'm sure we'll stay in touch. Speaking of which, I believe ya had something to ask me!"

"Ah yes, drinks and work." He answered with the easy smile. "The first can be taken care of at dinner, the second I believe will take a bit more discussion."

"Well, what are you looking for? I thought ya had a lot of jobs lined up, Zanebry. What changed?"

"The peace talks mainly." His lips curled into a momentary frown. "They are giving me something of an uneasy feeling. Can't help but think that things might get a bit bloody, so having a bit of extra cash on hand should i need to make a hasty exit, well it seems wise."

"so I decided to call you up, see if you had anything coming up. Doesn't need to be a rush job or anything, I'll probably be busy my first couple days back in."

"It's always good to have an exit strategy," she noted, more serious than before. However, she bounced back to her normal demeanor quickly. "I don't have anything beyond the usual smuggling at the moment. I'll let ya know if that changes, though."

He offered her a warm smile. "Thanks, I appreciate it Devi."

Leaning back he took another sip from his glass of whiskey, not quite ready to end the conversation but preferring the lighter tone of their earlier talks. Still he felt he had to bring this up.

"If you don't mind chatting about business a bit more, I caught wind of something earlier that I was wondering if you have heard anything about. A recent string of disappearances?"

The Nautolan paused, her cheerfulness evaporated. "Yeah, I heard of that. Hard not to when I'm in the thick of it, ya know?" She looked over to the entrance of her lab and then back to the holocommunicator. "I'm pretty secure here so I don't think I have anything worry about. But stay safe once you get back, alright?"

"I will, I've already started to take precautions." He offered her a smile and nodded towards her lab. "And I know you are pretty safe there, but you can't stay there all the time, so if you ever need me give me a call. Even if it's only to take you out shopping."

"Good. Can't be having ya disappearing on me. Who else will take me on dinner dates and shopping?" She smirked and picked up her gas mask. "Was there anything else ya needed, Zanebry?"

"I'm sure some lucky gentleman would eventually come along, he probably wouldn't be as stylish as I, but you can't have everything."

He offered the Nautolan beauty a smile, and tipped his hat to her. "No that's all for tonight Devi, have a lovely evening and the sweetest of dreams."

"Well, if he's out there, he's certainly pretty late." She flashed him a smile. "I'm not sure how well ya can sleep in that ship but all the same to ya. Anyways, signing off now." And with that, the communication cut out.

Bringing his glass back to his lips he took another sip of his whiskey.

Sweet dreams? He'd be happy if he didn't have nightmares.

/scene.