On Holiday

[Molly Black]

Holiday Towers, Ison Lounge

The Ison Lounge in the city's Holiday Towers was one of the few places Molly Black felt remotely safe. Owing to the fact that her friend Arri owned the place the, on the run, Informant was relatively certain that should she require a quick escape, one could be provided for her. For now, she sat on the second level of the moderately well-appointed lounge, just above the bar sipping her drink from a straw while jotting notes down in a script that no one...hardly anyone.. could make sense of. It was better than secret code. It was chaos in characters, and it was damned useful to the informant when she needed to keep information on a slow simmer for later recovery.

Adjusting the knit collar of her ensemble with her left hand, her right hand held her chin, as she poured over the recent tid bits of information she had been able to dig up from her position of exile. Every so often her blue eyes lifted to scan the lounge, making sure no new surprises were going to be sprung on her.

[Tonyh Vankar]

When Tonyh had been invited to a gala on Cloud City, he had made sure to book a hotel for a few days, because it wasn't every day he flew to Bespin. Frankly, he hoped that the trip would offer opportunities for networking and business but he also liked to have some downtime to take a breath in between being all out professional and charming, while making sure nobody was trying to double cross the hell out of him. Watching his back was something he had learned while at military academy years ago and it had always served him well.

That evening he had decided he had earned said downtime. He had made sure to call his daughter via the holonet prior to getting ready to go out and have a good time. While it felt weird not to have Sonya with him, he couldn't deny that he was loving being on his own and be able to be a full time adult. A little break from Daddy life wasn't to displease him, regardless of how much he adored his daughter. Time away from the kiddo was a weird but welcome change of pace during his time on Bespin.

He had decided to go to the Holiday Towers. What he had read about it sounded engaging. He arrived not so early but not so late in the evening. He didn't feel like being in the loudest part, so he chose to go to the lounge area. The place was busy and he had to make his way to the second floor to find a sitting spot, with his drink in hand. While he was prone to be found with whiskey, he had gone for a rum-based cocktail. After all, tonight was leisure time.

The layout of the booths was a bit confusing. The seating arrangements weren't so clear cut. He found an empty spot not afar from a beautiful brunette who was busy writing. He didn't want to disturb her but wanted to make sure that he could sit where he planned to. So he quietly walked up to her and cleared his throat.

"Please pardon the interruption but I am unsure whether the seats here make for a large booth or two separate areas and I didn't want to assume."

[Molly Black]

Of course she had seen him. Her attention to detail was one of her better honed skills. She'd seen him the minute he had walked into the Ison. She wasn't exactly sure who he was, but Molly smelled credits. He was attractive too, she could not help but notice that. Molly had not had a serious relationship since Hadrian Mortmain - years ago. The man had killed for her, literally, and then disappeared after making it big in the Casinos. After that, she had been too busy to entertain the concept of a date. Well.. she had been in a dark spot that one time and had briefly considered Smitty a viable choice to shack up with, but she'd eventually slept it off. Doctor Henning had no problem ogling her legs while his... instrument had been woven into her garters, but the minute he had it, the good doctor's interest in her had waned significantly. Never mind that this whole mess she was in was entirely his fault.

Vilen just plain scared her.

Men were trouble and she'd yet to meet one worth more of the same.

Still, there was no harm in looking. He was rather handsome.

"It's one big booth, but it's just me here. You are welcome to join me." And serve as part of my cover..

[Tonyh Vankar]

While Tonyh could be a flirt, he hadn't expected the brunette to invite him to join her at the booth. Nor had he meant to. He wasn't going to decline and complain though. He smiled warmly to her and tipped his head. "Thank you." With how she had been busy with her writing on her own, he made sure not to sit too close, as not to invade her private space. Private space had lost some of its meaning since he had had his daughter but if it wasn't for Sonya, he liked to keep his space.

"Interior design still baffles me more often than not." He mused with a chuckle as he took a sip of his drink. Then he realized he hadn't introduced himself. "I'm Tonyh." He wasn't so certain of how much she wanted to stick to her note jotting, so he wasn't pressuring her into conversation. He had had his share of people trying to talk his ear off at the worst moment and disliked the idea of doing that to someone else. If he wanted to annoy an idiot, he would have other ways to do that, depending on how much the person had been a thorn in his side.

[Molly Black]

Smiling a little at the man's self admitted deficiency in the art of interior design, Molly took pity on him. "The lay out is a little screwy. I think they do it on purpose."

"Nice to meet you Tonyh. I'm Molly." She was meant to be going with the cover name Temperance Minock, but the truth was...she hated the name. Even if it came with a rather hot, fake, Chiss husband.

Not bothered by the company, she kept drawing her insane little shapes and swirls while she spoke, turning them into a spiral pattern. "So I know you are not into interior design.", she teased. "What brings you the Holiday Towers?"

[Tonyh Vankar]

Tonyh couldn't help chuckling at the brunette's remark about the layout being "a little screwy". "Stylish and functional are the winning competition in my view. That's probably why I wouldn't make any money in interior design." He shook his head and took another sip from his drink. It felt good not to have to go on with his sale pitch over and over again and just take things as they came.

"Likewise, Molly." The name suited her he thought. He couldn't help observing her drawing. Sonya would probably be fascinated as well if she had been there. He realized she had asked him a question and answered it truthfully, at least without giving away his black market business goals. "I was invited to the big gala a couple of days ago. Came here to network and find new business opportunities, since Cloud City is the place to be. I mostly work in export of cultural and antiquary goods."

He paused and then didn't resist inquiring about her as well. "What about you?" It seemed only natural to ask and he was genuinely curious.

[Molly Black]

"Oh! A Gala? Shmancy!" Molly grinned. "I'm pretty sure I've never attended a gala."

Networking, on the other hand, she did like A Boss. She might know some of faces he met with, directly or by reputation.

"Me? Oh, I'm just a waitress, sugar. Profits for me come from running my ass off, and putting up with more than 'the girl who brings your food' should have to." Molly lamented the down side of waiting tables by taking a sip of her own drink, which turned out to be a fizzy pop, not anything alcoholic.

"Cultural huh? Like crab-stuffed cream puffs from Mon Calamari?", she posed with a teasing light in her eyes. "Sorry.. I know food. That's about it."

[Tonyh Vankar]

Witty and cute was a devastating combo and Molly definitely had that. Tonyh liked people who said things as they saw it and weren't using rhetoric to bore their audience to death. That was why he had never considered a career in politics, despite what some of his relatives had suggested when he had left the military life. When he was a soldier, things were straightforward and he still liked that. He liked doing black market dealings as well because people operating there could discuss better than official pompous a-holes thinking so high of themselves with their fancy company names.

"Just a waitress?" He said that before thinking twice, but he had the impression there was more than met the eyes - which already was quite gorgeous - with the brunette. He grinned and then blinked at the mention of one hell of a dish. "All right, since you brought it up and are a local, please tell me they serve crab-stuffed cream puffs from Mon Calamari around here. I've not had any in a long time."

Then he shook his head and chuckled. "And no, I deal in vintage and antique jewelry, paintings, scultpures for the most part. Sometimes old designer furniture too."

[Molly Black]

"Is anyone really ever just a waitress?" Grinning, she set her drink down.

Molly scooted around the booth, slightly closer to Tonyh, the light of conspiracy in her blue eyes. Or it might have just been the shine off the Ison's lighting.. "Can you keep a secret?"

She looked around, to make sure it was just Tonyh that would hear her next words. "I have a secret desire to design shoes and jewelry.."

"So tell me about this Gala I missed?", she invited with a warm smile. "Any famous people in attendance? A prince maybe? Was he single?"

[Tonyh Vankar]

Tonyh liked her response to his question, though he couldn't help thinking she might just be dodging the subject as well. Sneaky and clever, she was! "Good point." He simply remarked, for most people were quit complex beings. Save for morons. For them, there was no complexity in their idiocy, sadly enough.

He watched her scoot closer to him and slightly leaned closer to her as she asked her whether he could keep a secret. "I do." He wouldn't have succeeded in the black market if he wasn't able to do that. Even with his official company, being able to remain discreet about some buyers could prove in very handy. He quirked a brow and smiled to her. "Jewelry design can always use more talented creators." He said truthfully, especially since it was one of his primary markets. "Do you happen to have some designs with you? I'd be curious to see them."

He chuckled at what she queried about the gala. "My, only available for single princes? The single aspect is a good one, but princes only? And here I was going to offer to buy you your next drink. I guess I'm off the market by your standards." He teased with a mischievous grin. "As for the gala, there were certainly a lot of bachelors. The company was more diverse than I had expected, which was good, plenty of opportunities for networking. Some of the buffet was delicious but some others, well... I'd never use that catering company ever again."

[Molly Black]

"Designs? Umm, I'm afraid not. I don't exactly have a portfolio or whatever." Molly took a timely sip of her pop. Maybe she could convince him to help her move some..fine goods.. later, in case she heard someone needed some thing. Better to keep it all delightfully vague.

"It can't hurt a girl to aim big, right? I'm sure I would make a fantastic princess." Probably not, as the laughter came out anything but ladylike at the imagery of Molly Black, princess.

"You can buy me another fizzy pop, sure. I'll even go big and have one with a cherry in it."

Now he had her thinking of food. Her tummy threatened to rumble in protest at it's empty state, but she soldiered on with visions of crab-stuffed cream puffs. Who had those? Cloud Dance maybe?

[Tonyh Vankar]

"It was worth asking since you were doodling even here." He grinned, still curious about what style of jewelry she might come up with. Where interior design eluded him, jewelry was one playground he had extensive knowledge and experience in.

"Well you'd be one refreshing princess for sure." He replied with a chuckle. "Good then, let's go big and get you another fizzy pop, with the cherry. I'll settle for another whiskey." He beckoned a waiter to their booth and placed the order.

"I've heard a lot of interesting things about Cloud City but some I'm unsure whether they're just rumors or if there's some truth to them. The place is said to be quite the hub for business of all kinds. What is your opinion on it, since you live here?" He wasn't sure what she would know or might be willing to share but it was worth asking.

[Molly Black]

Doodling. Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing, Tonyh.

"Right..", she grinned, finishing up the last intricate, scrolling, lines of what she had been working on before setting down her very girly, pink pen.

While she waited for her fizzy pop to be delivered, Molly pondered the mysterious Tonyh, wondering just exactly what he was asking her. It sure sounded like he was asking if there was room in the pool to dip his toe into some 'off the records' business. It was just as likely that he was aware of who she was and was trying to set her up, make her admit something...

Geez, Mol. Maybe you need something stronger than a pop?

"You have heard right, Tonyh. Cloud City is home to all manner of business, ranging from the extremely legit kind, right down to deals so shady they never see daylight. My opinion? Well! Fancy that, no one ever asks the waitress her opinion!", she winked.

Scooting closer still, Molly resumed her hushed voice. "All depends on what you are looking for and how much shade you are comfortable with."

[Tonyh Vankar]

This woman was hard to pinpoint in who she might be. Even in the short while he had spoken to her, he had noticed how many different aspects blended, sometimes in harmony, sometimes almost in contradiction, with her. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't charmed. He kept that to himself for now though he had no problem displaying interest. It'd be a shame not to.

"Everyone should ask the waitress her opinion. She hears more than many probably think she does." He replied with a grin, satisfied with the possible options he might have on Cloud City, proving he found the appropriate middle man - or woman.

As she scooted closer, his arm rested over the seat's top, his hand brushing against her shoulder. "Let's say I don't just work in antiquaries and luxury commerce. Let's pretend that I dab into unofficial dealings regarding certain equipment of interest to both organized groups and private customers... Would that make this place even more of the one to be these days?" He was speaking in a vague fashion but he was careful about what to reveal. As conversation would progress, he would see about revealing more.

[Molly Black]

Molly's perfect lopsided smirk softened a bit at his words, turning into something genuine. Admiration maybe? She did not sense any sarcasm in his comment, only astute observation, which was dangerous enough on it's own, but paired with the businessman's looks, it was a time bomb waiting to go off.

"You're a sharp one, Tonyh. Maybe too sharp."

Leaning in to the increasingly private nature of the conversation, Molly toyed with the fruit in her drink absently. "That would put you exactly where you want to be, I think. Yes."

Cloud City was haven to the sort of deals he had described, and more..

"Maybe you should have my contact information.", she smiled then. "In case you need to go out for crab-stuffed cream puffs, or move some merchandise unexpectedly."

[Tonyh Vankar]

The last thing Tonyh had expected when trying to find a place to sit after picking his drink had been to stumble on a woman like Molly. She had a lot in her favor and he couldn't help being enticed into who she was and all that she might be that he ignored for the moment. It wasn't about unveiling a frustrating mystery but more the genuine thirst to know someone better.

"I heard that before." He replied with the most subtle hint of... Was it regret? sadness? It was hard to tell especially as it was just fleeting.

He smiled as she leaned in closer. When she talked about him having his contact information, he canted his head to the side, looking straight at her. "Why put off the crab-stuff cream puffs? We could very much discuss contact information and merchandise moving over a plate of those. What say you?"

[Molly Black]

Any other day? Molly would have slapped her hand down, hollered 'Check please!' and followed the handsome rich guy to taste bud nirvana. Today? She was being careful, or supposed to be being careful. She should not be talking shop with strangers for starters - but this was who she was! She was that perky, daringly stylish, girl who knew a guy for just about everything, for the right price. She could not find what people needed if she didn't talk to them! If she did not find the people the things - she got no credits. No credits, no shoes.

On the other hand... it would be just like someone to send a guy like Tonyh in here to lure her out from the protection of Arri. Crap-stuffed cream puffed, Molly bait.

She made no move to leave her seat..

"Maybe we could order them... Have them delivered here?", she wondered aloud, hoping he didn't think she was nuts..

[Tonyh Vankar]

Molly's reaction was a surprise, which left Tonyh wondering whether had had misread her. While he was good at "getting" people, he was only human after all. And maybe he was tired with all the running around of the past few days. When she finally spoke, he still had a hard time figuring her reaction out, but he went with it. Maybe she felt safer in this place than following a random person around. She was obviously more of a local than the perfect tourist he was, and it made him ponder on what her situation might truly be.

Yet, he wasn't going to shoot down her offer. "Sure thing." He smiled at her, hoping that it would reassure her a bit. "Do you know where we should order those. Any extra is worth the delivery, especially now I get this booth layout right." He gestured towards the nearby table. "Enough room to place an indecent amount of crap-stuffed cream puffs, right?"

[Molly Black]

Grateful that he hadn't seemed too offended that she didn't want to leave with him just then, Molly relaxed. "I was thinking... maybe the Cloud Dance? Tell you what, I'll go see if I can get someone to order them for us. You stay here, so the interior design doesn't baffle you. Which means, don't run off because I'm not at all sure I can afford crab-stuff cream puffs for two.", she smirked.

It wouldn't take much effort really. Molly knew someone everywhere. What she was more concerned with was having those same contacts look into this guy, based on what information he had told her. His name, and business on Cloud City. If he checked out, she would relax even more..

[Tonyh Vankar]

"Sounds good." He couldn't help laughing at her jab regarding interior design. He took it in stride and was the first to make fun of himself regarding such matters anyway. "I'm not the kind to run off, unless someone is shooting at me with an assault cannon and I'm running out of ammo." And even like this, he had been known to try to get the damn foe down before calling it quits.

He watched her get up and wander off. She was intriguing.

He had no opportunity to ponder on Molly that his comlink beeped. He frowned when reading the message. It was from Arranea, the longtime friend and former colleague who played nanny and bodyguard to his daughter. Worry plagued him at once when she said that she was taking Sonya to the medcenter because the little girl had got pretty sick at her daycare. He might not be father of the year but he hated not being there when something happened, minor or major - please make it be minor, whatever higher powers there are - to his child.