Hoth: Blood and Ice

Jan frowns slightly with distaste and steps a delicate path between all the...wonderful goat and tauntaun by-products. She was trying her best to just ignore the smell entirely.

Still, it was considerably harder to plant listening devices in the goatery, and harder still to get anything out of them that wasn't the sound of vigorous chewing. That and unless someone was as stealthy as Jan (which she doubted) then blending in with a herd of brightly coloured goats was practically impossible.

Of course, with the blizzard sweeping in, the animals had formed a tight circle, which Jan had forced her way into the middle of. Warmer and...even more pungent.

All of these factors, and the fact that the founder of the goatery seemed to be on the level (even if it was a level about 3 feet below Jan) meant it made for the perfect place to meet up with a certain prince and talk crime.

Aurilie didn't like the idea of talking about this, considering she'd like to keep loops closed wherever possible. It wasn't her loyalty to her employer, far from it, but perhaps it was better to get an idea instead of stumbling later. She frowned at the smell of the wildlife here but she wasn't unfamiliar with it, at least. This was the same woman who adopted an entire nerf petting zoon, who have grown up to be far-less adorable adult nerfs later on. Their pelts were shaven in the warmer months as clothing material, at least there was an industry behind it.

That didn't help her from letting out a small sigh and making a mental note to spend some time outdoors. The rest of the day, if she could manage it. "Director Melmoar, good evening," she greeted her formally.

"Prince Alde."
Jan does her best to lean smugly up against a goat...it was not easy, particularly when it bleated and simply shifted out of the way.
"Thank you for coming, I thought this was somewhere we might be able to talk freely. We won't even need to silence any witnesses."
She gently pats the head of another goat who displays staggering disinterest.

"I was just curious about you, actually. I find myself idly wondering if I misjudged you."

Aurilie mostly kept her hands to herself around here, having had her fill enough of furry livestock at the nerf farm to be using any of the creatures as props in the slightest. The less of them that she had on her, the better. She nodded at the idea. "I'd rather not resort to that."

She let out a sigh, recalling that they happen to stumble onto the same meeting with Miss Calculation and now they were partners in crime apparently. "I take it that you're talking about what we're doing right now as a side job around here? The path that brought me there was likely not the same as yours. Sure, we might have spoken to the same people, my continued presence there was for entirely different reasons."

"Ohhhhh, is that so?"
Jan arches an eyebrow and brushes some colourful fur off her insulated armour, flashing up a little sign of a goat with a line through it. This only seemed to encourage the creatures more.

"So, you have no interest in the money? That's quite unusual in a thief you know. A thrill seeker then?"

Aurilie raised a judgemental brow at her on that note and she crossed her arms together. Her expression easily asked the question: Really now? "I'm surprised those are even questions, Director. No, I have no interest in the money at all. If that makes me an atypical thief, all the better. In fact, I'm surprised you have need of the money at all. Also, this is not about thrills at all. Riss, as you know, is involved in this and she needs some help keeping her out of trouble. Admittedly, seeing the White Maws lose is also a great bonus too."

She frowned further on this. "However, I don't want to say I have a funny feeling about this but something is off about this."

Jan looks at Aurilie for a few moment before she starts to laugh, a little sharper and louder than her usual chuckle, worryingly it's so loud several of the goats start bleating in fear at the sound of a predator.

"Surprised I need the money? Oh Prince Alde, that is marvellous. Forgive me, but only someone born into money can ever imagine having no need of any further cash. We're talking of billions after all, it's a rather sizable sum. I'm not looking to use it to pay down my mortgage. Oh no, it's for a good cause."

She wipes away some quickly freezing tears of mirth and tosses them out into the snow.
"But you're just here to help out Riss...who is doing it for the money? Or the thrill? That is at the very least aiding and abetting thrill-seeking."
She wags a finger.

"Funny feeling? That's just your common sense talking. You are of course aware Miss Calculation will probably try to kill us come the job's conclusion?"

Aurilied closed her eyes and let out an exhausted sigh on the matter. "I suppose I haven't confronted her directly about it. To be honest, I didn't think that this would go on for so long, especially prior to showing up for the meeting. Maybe it would be an errand or procuring something. Or, shooting someone. Spending several weeks preparing for a heist is something else entirely and it is a bit of a test on my patience when it comes to seeing a resolution in this."

She opened her eyes once more. "Yes, I am aiding and abetting thrill-seeking. It's not the first time and I do meet that sort in my safaris all the time. Often, they bite off more than I can chew."

Her head nodded on that. "The first concern was if this was going to be a false job to get us killed. However, now it's gone on for so long that it really does give their ploy some real legitimacy at least. With that much on the line, we are very much in their way once we get the money. I doubt quitting is so easy, as I'm sure they would have easily killed anyone who walked away that night too."

"Who's to say if that wasn't one of the jobs she had us doing this past month, who's to say?"
Jan mimes tracking a goat through the snow with a rifle and then dealing with it permanently. The young kid just munches some feed and stares back at her.

"It's good experience for you, I think. Lets you understand all the time and effort that goes into a big score like this, it's the little things that get you, after all."
Cocking her head.
"So, what did she have you doing? If you don't mind sharing, this is a non-judgemental space, most of these goats are criminals."

"This isn't something I expect to be doing often," she gave a shake of her head on that note, crime was such distasteful business after all. "But I suppose it is interesting to see how they operate from within. There isn't a lot of honour among pirates, which isn't very surprising in the slightest. They're accommodating and receptive for now but I imagine that will quickly change once greed sets in and they show off their true colours."

There was a moment where she regarded the other woman, wondering if there were some true colours that she didn't see in her.

"Do you mean our mutual employer? She's been putting my skills to good use, doing my share of surveillance and head counting. It seems a bit redundant, considering they are their own inside person."

"I prefer 'business partner', you start thinking of her as your boss and she's already got the mental advantage."
Jan gestures to one blue goat standing ontop of a pink goat.
"Can't have that now."

She nods with interest.
"She's had you doing surveillance? Interesting. Maybe it's redundant, but I can't imagine she decided to cut you a billion credits for a make work program. Could be she doesn't know as much as she lets on, or maybe it's just a miscalculation on her part."
Hooking a thumb at herself.

"She's had me driving all over the planet troubleshooting, she really is a busy woman. Makes it more fun trying to piece it together"

Aurilie narrowed her eyes on the goat and frowned. It was a rather crass comparison but she supposed that it got the point across. "Sure, business partner. I suppose I've never really been employed before myself anyway. That title seems infinitely more apt."

She gave a big shrug at that. "Or maybe this is all a continued test. I would imagine that's the case. There's no way she would only gather a few interested parties, some who had little idea what this was, to begin with, mind you. She might want to know who are the wrong people or evaluate us for potential leaks. If that, or we're only a small part of a greater plan. Has she really given you or any of us much to piece together, really?"

"That really depends on whether we wish to apply ourselves to what we know."
Jan starts ticking off facts on her fingers.

"We know our partner prefers to remain anonymous. This means that there is a reason their identity has to remain hidden. So then, who are they? It's possible they're quite high up in the organisation, but that leads us to our second point worth considering."

Another finger goes up.
"They claim that not only do these pirates possess a considerable and very liquid fortune, but that they want it stolen. If they are high ranking why would they steal from the organisation they in part lead and whose wealth they have contributed to? Is it simple greed, a power play...or a sign that it's merely a trap. After all, it would be an excellent ploy to lure in any potential traitorous pirates."

And another.
"Yet, she is prepared to enlist outsiders, several in fact, reasonably important ones too. If she was just looking for cheap muscle then presumably that could be found more easily. Is it a security concern? We are after all less likely to leak. Or a question of needing specialist skills?"
She raises an eyebrow at Aurilie.
"Perhaps the former is more likely. But it's interesting, is it not."

And a final point.
"The timing is what I find is most curious, either Miss Calculation is so unconceivably lucky that they could just retire to play roulette, or they knew this whole disaster with the two expeditions was coming. Perhaps they even knew of the attack. That is particularly interesting, don't you think?"

"Those are all very good points. Thank you, Director Melmore," Aurilie looked a bit pensive after those points as a few things turned in her head. If the tinfoil hats were going to be donned for this thought exercise, then she was going to want a tinfoil crown.

She dodged an incoming goat that was strolling by before making her point. "You don't suppose that Miss Calculation could very well be the Queen, right? It seems a bit elaborate for a trap to get us directly, especially when there have been so many opportunities to spring it on these solo errands. Maybe she sensed that things won't get well for this particular kingdom of hers, or even in the long run, and she's looking to cash out with all of her fortunes intact. Despite being the head of the organization, it's not like her lackeys would appreciate the assets suddenly liquidating from under them, especially after all of their hard work. Greed too, of course. She will be dethroned by someone eventually. This is the reason she hired from without rather than within."

"...You Alderaanians are going to have to be more specific, when you say 'Queen' my thoughts jump to your current royal family."
Jan smirks and then hurriedly shuffle sideways to avoid a goat relieving itself.

"But the thought had crossed my mind, if she makes off with a few billion credits and all her enemies wind up dead...well, that's a good result. Isn't it?"
Pensively.
"Hmmm, might file that idea away for later, we'll see how this one works out."
Nodding.
"Well, if she is the Queen we definitely kill her after all of this, don't you agree?"

"I admit, she's not real royalty and doesn't deserve the respect of that title." She shook her head at that. "I suppose it's what she's known as around here. A Queen of Scum might...still be a Queen to some."

Aurilie frowned at that note. "While I might be a part of this criminal enterprise, I am still part of the Republic. We don't just execute someone just because we ought to. I'd prefer apprehending her but I doubt it could be so easy either way. She is likely to have at least several contingencies to kill us first before we can act on that. Maybe, she'll offer us a bigger cut for each one who coincidentally dies during the heist."

"Very true, very true....although I suppose she isn't just queen because she happened to be the daughter of the previous monarch. So, perhaps she has more right to rule?"

Jan regards the tight circle of shivering goats, who appeared to have no queen.
"Maybe you can try to arrest her and if she resists you can act in self-defence? Could be a simple solution."
She glances back to see Aurilie's reaction.

"Likely a dastardly throne built with lies, fear and bodies," she shook her head with disgust. It was likely quite close to the Empire, she suspected but not something she would say out loud to most people. "Someone who is extremely cunning and dangerous to be in that position, although she seemed distracted by entertainment when I met her. I suspect if Miss Calculation isn't our opponent, she will be, one way or another."

Aurilie looked at Jan with a neutral expression, her resting royal face was something she wore in the entirety of this conversation. "I hope you're not implying manipulation of the proceedings, there will be no convenience accidents or loose fingers on my part, Director Melmoar. However, make no mistake, I will do everything in my power to ensure Riss and I return home. I will provide no quarter if we're in danger."

This includes losing the money if I must. Our lives over the prize. Another thing she would not say out loud. This woman had some need for it and she didn't know how much value she put on human lives.

"Perhaps she should have gone with 'Miss Terry', hmmm? There's still time to change the moniker I suppose."
Jan looks rather amused at the nature of the dastardly throne but decides not to push it.

"Oh, I wasn't implying anything. I'm sure you would do what was right under any circumstances. Countess Lanar is very fortunate indeed to have such a protector watching over her. Although...well, if you really wanted to guarantee you both return home safely you'd probably go sit in a bunker until travel off the planet is secured."

Smirking.
"Have you even considered what you would put your share towards? And please, do not say you'd donate it to charity, the goats might simply explode from such a display of wholesomeness."

"If there will be a next time. I suspect she would be either dead, arrested, or retired at the end of this, seeing as these are the suspected outcomes here. As for the Countess and I, we go a while back. I suppose I know her tendency to find herself in her share of troubles and it's only high time that I shoulder some of the burdens. I'm not going to sit idly by this time while she plunges headlong into danger. It's one way to accumulate one-sided anxiety." She gave a shake of her head at that.

She frowned when she excluded the part about charity. "Unfortunately, I have almost everything I would ever want in life. Yes, I do come from an affluent background with a great inheritance. I am also blessed with good friends and a lovely wife. I suppose charity is the only thing I could think of, either to my people or my friends. Riss might be owed a new ship, at least. Maybe I'll be selfish and splurge on a new rifle."

Aurilie Alde wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:35 pm

Yes, I do come from an affluent background with a great inheritance. I am also blessed with good friends and a lovely wife. I suppose charity is the only thing I could think of, either to my people or my friends. Riss might be owed a new ship, at least. Maybe I'll be selfish and splurge on a new rifle."

Jan covers her mouth and laughs, but a little more softly this time, the goats don't know what to make of it.
"Well, that rather makes me feel inferior. A note about being naturally talented and good looking and you'd be describing the perfect Republic citizen. I assure you, I shall be truly devastated to find you spent your share on a new ship for another wealthy aristocrat. At the very least spend it on the rifle, I can live with that. I got a new one that Devaronian fellow when he stopped by. Wonderful thing."

Placing a hand over her heart as she looks at Aurilie.
"And you'll be pleased to hear it's not even an illegal disintegrator rifle."

There was a goat that meandered over to Aurilie and started sniffing her. Having good experience of what nerfs were capable of, she gave a few dismissive waves of her hand to dissuade the goat from thinking that any of her clothes could be mistaken as food.

"My sincere apologies, Director Melmoar. I suppose I was speaking based solely on fact, it wasn't my intention to brag or make you feel inferior. Or make myself superior even. I was just making a point about why charity seems only natural in my position," she said simply on the matter, never her intent to do otherwise from her words. The bit about being talented and good-looking would be also true, members of royalty were supposed to be the model of a Republic citizen. "I was told that you also had children?"

"Yes..." she begrudgingly said regarding letting the rifle slip from her grasp. That was the day she was too busy trying to escape the market with Rhia before she got the idea of owning a goat. And now, they were surrounded by goats...No matter, she had several other rifles at home anyway.

"That's good to hear. I'm pleased that you've considered changing your methods. It's not entirely about preference but practicality too. It'll serve you well when you go hunting and don't disintegrate the game."

"I see you take the 'no disintegrations' approach. Definitely makes more sense for trophy hunting."
Jan briefly imagines hanging a coloured goat head on her wall...no, it would clash with the everything.

There's a rapid fire blink-blink at the mention of children.
"Oh no, no children yet. I am considering adopting but Lucinia prefers to think it over. Which is eminently sensible for such a big commitment. And we're looking for a very particular child, we have high standards."
Pause.
"I hear your children are doing....well?"

"Of course. It's also good for increasing the chances of taking prisoners. Mercy is in itself a killing blow when it comes to eliminating your enemies, or so they say in the Alde diplomacy of old." She said on the matter, not meaning mercy-killing in the slightest.

"My apologies," she frowned to herself at the mistake, feeling a touch embarrassed. "I suppose I had a conversation with Rhia and I had gotten the impression that you had children. Nothing of her fault, I just misunderstood. Surely, she spoke of your quest in finding a child. I imagine that you and your partner will know best but children are surprisingly malleable. They may seem one thing but will mature into someone else."

Her gaze went to the younger goats that seem to be following their mother for milk. She imagined that the family wouldn't be a part of anyone's meal anytime soon. "My children are doing well, they are still growing admittedly. We miss them, which is saying the least. I'm sure they all miss us too, for different reasons. I'm sure Ashley misses me the most, while Carlotta and Susette likely find themselves at a loss without structure in their lives. I'd like to think that while they might be a handful, only sometimes, they will become fine and upstanding citizens of the Republic when they reach adulthood. I have patience and great confidence in them."

Jan shrugs. "Honestly, you seem like good parents. And you have money and security, the kids will turn out fine. Maybe a little stuffy and focused on doing right, but there are worse qualities to have."
She considers the mother goat, the mother goat considers her, the kids consider the mother goat.

"Have you considered how the inheritance will work? Well there be only on Prince Alde, or several? It seems a difficult choice to make."
Briefly pausing, before adding on the matter of malleability.

"Well, force-sensitive is one of the requirements. But we'd never raise them as a jedi or a sith, no, they'd be one of the good ones."