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(8/12/07 4:47 pm) Reply
Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)
Shakti traced her fingers around the edge of her espresso cup at The East Greyling Street Café. She sat at a table for two next to the window, her long maroon leather jacket draped over the chair behind her. Her thin legs were covered by the same pair of black jeans Shakti wore almost every day, paired with an black camisole and a vibrant crocheted duster to cover the skin of her shoulders, arms and back. It would take a careful and deliberate eye to see past all that color to the scars it covered, and the burns creeping up the back of her neck were covered by her thick black hair.
Earlier that morning she'd been met in the hall by the Wayne's ubiquitous manservant Virgil, and he'd informed her that Kassandra Wayne wanted to meet her for coffee and suggested--insisted?--that this would be an appropriate establishment. Ordinarily Shakti would never have set foot in a place like this. She always had the vague nagging concern that a place so upscale and pricey would tackle her out on the sidewalk and charge her ten credits for looking in the window.
She clicked her tongue in incredulous disapproval down into her stimcaf. This little cup had cost her a third of her last commission, but she was already living in the Wayne's house and Kassandra had already paid for her wardrobe, such as it was. They didn't need to finance her stimcaf habit as well. She did have a little of her own money, though her training had gotten in the way of taking assignments. Acceptable sacrifice. No way around it.
She'd gotten here a few minutes early, unsure what else Kassandra was doing today but well aware that she herself had nothing better to do. Plus, it would afford her an opportunity to observe the wealthy Sith, see how she interacted with people to get a better idea of what she might expect from Shakti. She wouldn't know until Kassandra arrived.
Edited by: Darth Shakti at: 8/12/07 4:48 pm
Re: Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)"My Lady...as requested, I informed Shakti of your desire to meet with her...she should be waiting at the café for you now."
"Excellent, Virgil...thank you. That will be all."
Kassandra turned from her mirror and smiled at the young man. He was made of rather strong mettle, though Maize with his tantrums did make him pale, to his credit, he was an impeccably trained servant. Precisely what they needed in the Governor's manse.
As he discreetly closed the door behind himself, the Sith Mistress cast her cerulean gaze back towards the mirror at her vanity. The large, flawless glass showed her a reflection that was most pleasing to the woman - flawless skin and a perfectly voluptuous figure, so carefully maintained through the Force and a vigorous work-out regimen.
Every lock of hair was neatly in place, artfully arranged atop her head in a casual style, some few tendrils brushing her shoulders. Deep, blood-red crystals adorned her ears, carved to match the pendant Maize had given her when he'd proposed what seemed now like an eternity ago. Kassandra's dress hugged her figure and fluttered lightly around her legs.
Simple heels had laces wound around her ankles, and she deemed herself ready. A delicate black purse in her fingertips, Kass stepped out of the suite and made her way to the waiting limo speeder. She would have preferred to drive herself, but decorum dictated that the Governor's wife had a limo at her disposal.
Minutes later, the speeder came to a halt in front of the beautiful café, the old stone exterior gleaming in the light. Gracefuly exiting with a hand from the driver, she bid him to wait as she went inside. A soft sigh passed Kassandra's lips as her bright blue eyes alit on the young woman waiting at a table.
"Shakti, I do hope you haven't been waiting very long...how are you, my dear?" she smiled, perching opposite the young woman and ordering a tall, decadent mocha-laden stimcaf.
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Posts: 51
(8/14/07 12:30 pm) Reply
Re: Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)
Shakti blinked and set her cup back down on its tiny saucer. Time around Maize had gotten her somewhat more accustomed to the sense of a Sith master's power and will pulsing through the Force around them. She had less difficulty maintaining her equilibrium now than she had the first and only time they'd spoken. "No, I haven't been waiting long. I'm... I'm fine." Shakti was momentarily keenly conscious of the fact that she barely knew this woman and yet was sitting here across from her wearing clothes that Kassandra had paid for.
"I did want to thank you for letting me do some shopping on your accounts. The clothes I came over with have blaster holes in them and I didn't end up getting another round of pay for about three days." Shakti chuckled and took a sip of her stimcaf. "Don't know what I'd have worn otherwise. Might have had to borrow a suit from Virgil."
Re: Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)
Settling herself back in the plush chair, Kassandra eyed the young woman across from her carefully. Her fashion sense was certainly different from that which the Sith Mistress had hoped, but it could have been worse. At least the girl wasn't adverse to color, given the bright woven threads of her sweater. There was a good base to work with, she decided.
The lady smiled and nodded, taking a sip from the porcelain cup that had been set at her elbow. The creamy, decadent caf elicited a sigh of the utmost pleasure from her as she set the delicate cup back down.
"Its nothing, my dear...but I do have a concern. You spent far less than I had anticipated...did you not find an adequate selection to your liking?" Her voice was soft, but no less heavy with the power at her beck and call. Kass had no wish to frighten the girl, after all. Maize spoke so highly of her that the Mistress wished to know her better.
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Posts: 52
(8/16/07 2:19 pm) Reply
Re: Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)"Well... no, that's not it."
This was probably the last conversation Shakti could have predicted she'd have with Kassandra. Why didn't she spend enough? Truly bizarre. Of course Shakti hadn't been afraid of draining their resources by buying too much by way of clothing, but she didn't even know these people! It would have been awkward if she'd bought thousands of credits worth of clothing and displeased them with her wastefulness.
"I mean..." she drained the last of her stimcaf. "I didn't want to go out and spend piles of someone else's money when it was already pretty generous of you to front me the cash at all."
Kass wasn't entirely off-track, though. It was more than fair also that Shakti hadn't been interested in some of the same wardrobe choices Kassandra was accustomed to making. It was all well and good for the woman across the table to show off wide expanses of skin and flawless curves, but that wasn't for Shakti. Tall and rail-thin with skin that wasn't worth showing off, Shakti usually settled for whatever was comfortable and affordable.
"Though I won't lie. A lot of the options there... showed a little more skin than I'm used to." Shakti shrugged. "Not so much my thing." Change of subject! Shakti gestured to Kassandra's drink. "What'd you get? Smells fantastic."
Re: Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)
With a soft nod, Kassandra let the matter drop for the moment. She'd bring it up again soon enough, but perhaps after a spot of lunch. Smiling she held out her cup for Shakti to see. "Its a warm mocha and caf blend, with little chocolate pieces mixed in too...complete sugar rush...and a hold-over from my days as an Apprentice on Korriban. I almost never slept...was too busy stalking Maize when he wasn't paying attention."
The Mistress grinned and winked, taking a slow sip from her cup and sighing happily. "Why don't we have a bite to eat, and you can tell me about yourself. My husband, for all that he speaks highly of you, hasn't given me much personal detail." Her voice was light, though no less laced with power as it always was. Kass had no desire to drag the information out of the girl - she preferred for her to offer it on her own.
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Posts: 54
(8/18/07 2:34 pm) Reply
Re: Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)
So it turned out that Shakti was not the first person to stalk Maize with the intent of getting to know him better, but her intentions probably couldn't have been more different from Kassandra's. Shakti had just wanted to find a decent teacher who seemed like he had his head on straight. The idea of pursuing more with a man old enough to be her father--though Shakti had had a devil of a time trying to find out how old he actually was--felt profoundly creepy.
She tried not to seem surprised that Maize had been speaking well of her to his wife. She expected that they'd discuss her, since the two were obviously close and in Maize's position Shakti might have done the same. It was still a pleasant surprise to find that he'd been impressed enough with Shakti to praise her behind her back.
I told him I'd be a good student, Shakti thought. It was good to know she hadn't let him down. "I don't know how much detail he can give. We haven't talked much about..." she made vague circular motions with the fingers of one hand. "I don't know. About things. So I'm not totally sure how much he really knows. I mean, even if he looked me up he'd probably just find out I've done copy-editing in the recent past. Crazy exciting." She laughed. "I'm one of those wild girls, y'know. Give me a red pen and I'll do things with semi-colons you've never imagined."
Re: Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)
Kassandra was careful to set her cup down before she laughed, saving her precious caf concoction. Light and mirthful, her laughter rang out amidst the other noises of the bustling cafe, threading through them without drawing much notice. "Oh my...he neglected to mention that you have such a delightful sense of humor!"
The Sith Mistress smiled, picking her up her caf from the table once more. After a sip, she sighed happily and nodded.
"What do you say we do a little more shopping today, Shakti? I'm in the mood to spend more of my husband's money, and I have no problem spoiling you as I spoil myself in the process. Besides, you need more clothes, my dear...a girl in your position needs an actualy wardrobe instead of only a few select pieces."
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Posts: 68
(8/29/07 5:43 pm) Reply
Re: Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)"I..." Shakti shrugged. "Well, sure."A girl in my position? What the hell is my position?"I guess I don't have a good sense of the... appropriate size of my wardrobe, or... or something."
It was a welcome surprise that Kassandra hadn't called Shakti here to yell at her for clogging the 'fresher drain, eating all their food, or--Maker forbid--taking Maize's time away from her. While there was none of the usual smarmy creepiness that Shakti sometimes got from older men she worked with from time to time, that wouldn't necessarily stop his wife from getting the wrong idea.
"I don't really know any of the places around here. I found a couple of good thrift stores, but something tells me you don't do much rummaging through the second-hand bins," Shakti quipped. "So, I guess if you lead the way and you're getting the bill... I'm game if you are."
((OOC: Feel free to transport us at the speed of plot wherever crazy places Kass shops. Neither Shakti nor I have any idea where to go...))
Edited by: Darth Shakti at: 8/30/07 2:30 pm
Re: Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)//I heard that...// Kassandra quipped in response, enough of Shakti's thoughts clear through the Force for the Mistress to pick up with a touch of effort.
Her smile was light and easy, as she placed a credit chip on the server's tray as he passed. "Shall we? The limo is waiting...I hate taking a driver along, but decorum dictates the governor's wife does not get pulled over for speeding." Standing, Kass smoothed out her dress and picked up her purse, tucking it under her arm as they wound their way out to the waiting vehicle.
As the limo pulled away from the café, the Sith Mistress turned a critical eye to the young woman sitting opposite her. "Driver - take us to the Ressar District. Jotél Boutique. He's expecting us." A delicate gesture of her manicured fingers and the privacy screen rose to secure the driver's prying 'ears'.
"Shakti, is there something you aren't telling me? While I assure you, I will pry if you don't tell me, I'd rather hear it from you. What are you trying to hide under all of that...clothing? You look fit and healthy to me, honey." Kass breathed softly, hands clasped over her knee as her voice warmed gently.
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Posts: 69
(8/30/07 2:47 pm) Reply
Re: Friends with Money (Closed. Kassandra and Shakti.)
Shakti was too startled at Kass's question to note her familiar tone. Honey. Who ever called her that? No, much more pressing in her thoughts was the fact that she'd been caught."Um. I am. I'm fine. I just don't..." There might have been a way to express this that wasn't awkward, and Shakti took a moment to search for it. This didn't need to be a big deal, or an excuse for Shakti to revisit a lot of old bitterness and resentment. Kass had asked a simple question, and a simple answer might suffice.
"I just... don't have really nice skin," Shakti offered. "I mean, like you do. I can't get away with a lot of the cute little things at the places where you shop. That and, I mean..." Shakti looked down at herself and spread her hands helplessly. "I'm all skinny elbows and knees like a grasshopper. Not really any curves to speak of. Not much point in letting it all hang out if there's not much there," she finished with a chuckle. Maybe if Kass thought it was something more shallow and less painful, that'd halt the inquiry. Plenty of women Shakti's age had issues with their bodies, and it was so common that it was barely worth discussing. Best to leave it there and not go any further unless it came up.
"But I do kind of have to ask you something." She shifted in her seat to face Kass more fully. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that you're willing to pay for all kinds of things for me, but... why?" Then came the real question. "What exactly did I do, or would I have to do, to warrant this?"
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