Logged: Feb. 27, 2001
    Logged by: Alexandre
    Titled: Sour Winnings
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    Characters: 
    Alexandre 
    Terrick 
    
    Royal Regent Restaurant -- Coronet  
    This is one of the more opulent restaurants in town and is known to be one 
    of the most expensive. Each table is impeccably set with perfection as 
    expected from a 5 star restaurant. A maitre' d waits at a podium to take 
    your name then leads you to your table. Each waiter is dressed in a duck 
    tailed tuxedo and stands ready to serve your every need. The restaurant 
    sits at the edge of the beach-line with broad open windows surrounding 
    the restaurants edge offering a magnificent view of the ocean beyond. 
    A Bith musician in the center of the restaurant provides a nice touch to 
    the rich atmosphere of the fine dinning experience. 
    
    The usually rich atmosphere of this fine restaurant has been completely 
    reversed for the evening. The lights are low, and the room is filled with a 
    soft, haze of tabacco smoke. The smell is slightly sweet in nature, hinting at 
    high quality tabacco. Some tables have been moved aside, and a large, 
    round table has been set in the empty space. In the center of the room, 
    the usual singer sings a soft and relaxing tune. 
    
    Around the table, sit eight men. Each man has a hand of cards, a tabacco 
    stick and a semi-spherical glass of dark amber liquid. Behind each man 
    stands what appears to be his own personal waiter, dressed in the usual 
    penguin outfit. Several people sit in a separate waiting area, hoping for a 
    chance to try out their luck in what appears to be a very high-stake game. 
    
    The door swings open to show a cloaked man his face covered by a heavy 
    hood to where all one can see is a slight smile about his mouth. He studies 
    the bar looking for someone he had some questions for someone and word 
    on the street was that person was in here. He walked over to the table and 
    started looking over the players from the background looking for the 
    familiar face of someone he rescued. 
    
    Apparently, the newcomer has entered at the end of the current hand. The 
    silence of the game is broken by a loud laugh, as Alexandre's hand is 
    revealed. "Count them fellows!" The son of Melnikov announces joyfully, and 
    reaches for the pile of credits that has been dedicated as the pot for this 
    particular hand. "You are all seem very surprised, yes?" Alex says as he drags 
    two arms full of credits across the table. Even with the large sum that he has 
    taken, the mountain of credits collected for the winner of this tournament
    still covers over half of the table's radius. "Yes, very surprised and very 
    generous! Yes?" He laughs again and pulls a cloth pouch out of his pocket, 
    into which he begins shoveling the money. "As much fun as I have here. I 
    will be go on my way now, and let you gentlemen enjoy the rest of the 
    evening," he announces after bagging his winnings. He ties the opening of 
    the pouch closed, and walks off from the table. 
    
    Before Alex even begins to rise from his seat, there is already another eager 
    young man standing next to him, waiting to replace him in the game. 
    
    Terrick looks over toward the son of Melnikov and examines his face. 
    Terrick's face had indeed begun to frown as he made his away around 
    and firmly placed his hand on his shoulder, "Son of Melnikov..." he said 
    grimly, "I suggest we speak now...." removing his hood he revealed his 
    facial features and with that he motioned to an empty table, "And with 
    your winnings there you can pay for the drinks while we talk.." he snorted. 
    
    Alexandre smiles softly as he is assaulted by the brave bafoon that 
    provided for his easy exit at the Cantina. "Do kindly not touch me," he says 
    in a rather firm tone of voice, while maintaining a pleasant yet fake facial 
    expression. "My winnings are none of your business... and the drinks are 
    served only to the contestants tonight." 
    
    Alex Squints softly and eyes the Jedi for his reaction. "As for your suggestion, 
    oh dark and mysterious one... If you wish to talk, I -suggest you- to improve 
    upon the softness of your tone of voice, yes?" 
    
    Terrick's facial expression remains a constant empty his ice blue eyes 
    studying you in the most constant way possible and his voice unmoved by 
    his harsh words, "What concerns me is the fact you led a fire fight into a 
    public place." his words were cold and calculated, "Why would a pair of 
    bounty hunters be after such a sarcastic young man?" 
    
    Alexandre quirks a brow; the smile on his face rock hard. "I believe this 
    concern is not within your scope of legal authority to investigate." He 
    responds calmly. His eyes focus on yours and stare into them. His general 
    manner of being seems to leave little room for negotiation. "Why do you 
    investigate problems in my personal life? Perhaps you are looking to be 
    hired? As my personal guard perhaps?" There is sarcasm in all three of his 
    questions, it is clear that he is trying to either redirect and avoid Terrick's 
    questions, or just to piss him off. 
    
    Terrick's kept his Jedi face empty and devoid of any emotion, he didn't 
    even blink and he went on unmoved in the conversation, "It is my right to 
    know the reason one would put his life on the line for such. And to figure 
    out why his favorite pub and bartender were blasted." he recalled 
    standing there in front of the men in a smoke filled room it had taken a 
    good day to recover from the gasses. "I am sure you can shed some light 
    on the situation I defended one and it deserves a good explanation of 
    why you put some many lives at risk..or should I ask Corsec to investigate 
    the situation?" 
    
    Alexandre laughs loudly, with little care of drawing attention. "Yes! Corsec 
    will shed much light on this situation for you," he says. "You have no right to 
    know anything about my life. As for your friend, the bartender. I do recall 
    him as the one to jump the gun, and not the Kozlov brothers..." he pauses 
    for a moment. "I was not one to point guns," Alex states in a clear but quiet 
    voice. He raises his arms slightly, to indicate the fact that he does not carry 
    a weapon. "I was not one to shoot at people. I was not one to foolishly 
    point peashooter at ace marksmen. I put no one in danged. Had they 
    been smarter, they would not have been hurt. As you can see, I am quite 
    well after the 'situation'." Alex looks Terrick up and down. "Your kind have a 
    hobby of giving advice and prying into people's lives. I do not owe you 
    any explanation, nor will I accept demands for any information. If you wish 
    to get anything from me, it will be on my terms." 
    
    Terrick smiled broadly about to laugh. But he erased it quickly and pulled 
    his hood over his head, "Well Sir.. why would two fully trained fully armored 
    hunters come in screaming your name and shooting.... and why would you 
    even know their names.." he paused thinking of a strategy, "You're nothing 
    but a thief.. you even probably cheated at cards over there at the table.." 
    he pointed as he had gotten their attention. "Why would you bring your 
    troubles into our worlds if you don't want to explain for such actions your 
    selfish acts would cost many their lives if someone wasn't there to stand 
    up to them." he turned to walk away, "I will take this up with the Hunting 
    guilds I am sure they will have some information on your bounty..probably 
    no more than a few hundred credits for being a petty thief" 
    
    Alexandre smirks. "I go where I choose, when I choose. What I do for a 
    living, is again, none of your business," he answers, amused at how many 
    times he has to repeat it for the Jedi to finally understand. "I doubt the 
    guilds will even speak to a non-member," he points out, knowing well how 
    guilds work... guilds of a different kind. "And as for you... You and your kind 
    are nothing more than bullies. You choose to force a lifestyle onto people. 
    You use your tricks to get your way when others don't agree. You use skills 
    you are good at, to successfully reach your goals, just like I. You sir, are a 
    MIND READING hypocrite." He announces 'MIND READING' rather loudly, 
    in order to balance out the players fear of having been cheated by him, 
    with a fear of being cheated through some influence of this unknown 
    mind reader of questionable intentions. 
    
    Terrick smiles slowly , "If one was here to force the answers he would of 
    already have...." this one was arrogant and such, "Next time my friend 
    when the Hunters come after you...someone won't be there to protect 
    you again...." he shrugged and begun his stride toward the exit he had to
    much to worry about and this problem was the lowest on his list he had 
    more important people to protect and more important puzzles to solve 
    he included the ironic statement, "May the force be with you good sir.." 
    as he disappeared through the doorway.