The nondescript abandoned parking lot around the corner and two blocks from the Rebyk wasn't the only place that street racers would gather, and it wasn't even the most frequent, but racing in the Middle City usually drew out a few more "investors" with more money to burn than races in the Lower City. It could also draw more official attention, which the racing community didn't much care for, but few of the racers or their hangers-on would skip an opportunity to gather just because they might get a little hassle for it.

Korvin was among the early arrivals, anxious to see everyone again after what seemed like a very long absence. Well, most everyone.

As the lot filled with people and bikes, some coming and going as specific heats or challenges launched, the typically abandoned space looked very much like a carnival, with a level of noise and excitement that could easily draw in random passers-by, though this seemed like a quiet night in the Middle City, without too many folks out strolling after the hot day.

Tyllia was heading back to the motel when she came across the scene. It was loud and not particularly her scene, but curiosity drove her forward anyway. Streetracers; hotshots burning money on toys and chasing the adrenaline rush. Whatever opinion she might have of them, she couldn't deny that these get-to-togethers tended to attract the kind of crowd that represented *opportunity*.

Her hooded robe was meant to make it so she didn't stand out in a crowd; but here, it probably had the exact opposite effect. She was almost certainly dressed far too plain for the kind of people mingling out in this parking lot. Though she wasn't quite so shabbily dressed, maybe some of them thought she was some lost little lamb from the lower city, gawking at the people from up above.

Korvin noticed the woman trying to seem like she was part of this crowd, mostly just because he was looking for someone to arrive. Tyllia obviously wasn't her, but that didn't stop the curious young man from calling out to her from a reasonable distance.

"Hey, you look like you're looking for someone," he says half-truthfully. "I'm Korvin. I'm sure I can help," he says with a welcoming smile.

"Is that so?" she asked when approached; in a manner suggesting she didn't seem the sort to easily fall for whatever charms usually worked for him. "And what makes you say that?"

Qar rode in, stopped the engine and lit a cig while still straddling his Dart. Someone had told him this is where racers gathered sometimes. And guess what, there were some people there.

Tyllia Demici wrote: ↑

Sat May 08, 2021 9:11 pm

"Is that so?" she asked when approached; in a manner suggesting she didn't seem the sort to easily fall for whatever charms usually worked for him. "And what makes you say that?"

"Korvin Hikarrin," he says with a smile, as though that would mean something to her. When it obviously doesn't, he frowns, though his face suggests it's in puzzlement. "Hmm. So you're not really part of this crowd then. That's alright. I can still help you find who you're looking for. I am part of this crowd," he said, looking smug.

A sense of self-importance like that was hardly unknown to her; though it rarely sat well. Especially the smug variety. Especially on people who had done nothing to prove to her they were entitled to be smug about anything.

Thing was, the name *was* vaguely familiar to her. Though not for any reasons he might hope, nor for any reasons others might know it.

"This might be hard to understand, no offense, but your family owning a recycling plant on a backwater outer-rim planet doesn't exactly make you a big deal. Neither does being a local wannabe swoopracer."

She looked around, as if trying to identify if he ever had a bike present.

"Besides, what makes you think I'm looking for someone?"

Tyllia Demici wrote: ↑

Sat May 08, 2021 11:34 pm

"This might be hard to understand, no offense, but your family owning a recycling plant on a backwater outer-rim planet doesn't exactly make you a big deal. Neither does being a local wannabe swoopracer."

She looked around, as if trying to identify if he ever had a bike present.

"Besides, what makes you think I'm looking for someone?"

Korvin laughs and with heavy sarcasm replies, "Oh, yeah, why would I take offense at that?" He shakes his head then chuckles again. "Look, lady, people around here know I'm a serious racer, so I can be helpful if you want. My family's money doesn't come here. Ruby over there," he says, pointing to a well maintained though hardly fancy speeder bike where he'd been standing when she arrived, "is 100 percent my bike. My money, my wins," he says intensely.

After a pause, he relaxes a little and smiles again. "So, you just here to watch some races? Trying to make some money?" Korvin hooks his thumbs on his hip pockets and awaits her answer.

Soleene strolled up to the lot, eyeing the various vehicles that were were lined up like it was either a show or they had somewhere fancy to be. She never expected a street racing scene, especially in a place that was under Imperial control. Maybe they didn't know, although she would wager that they had some idea before betting on any racers here. Still, it was an impressive scene with all of the vehicles and the sound of engines revving up to go. She placed hands on her hips and merely gave an impressed nod.

Soleene Stryss wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 1:09 am

Soleene strolled up to the lot, eyeing the various vehicles that were were lined up like it was either a show or they had somewhere fancy to be. She never expected a street racing scene, especially in a place that was under Imperial control. Maybe they didn't know, although she would wager that they had some idea before betting on any racers here. Still, it was an impressive scene with all of the vehicles and the sound of engines revving up to go. She placed hands on her hips and merely gave an impressed nod.

A Mandalorian here, of all places, but Qar believed it that she might have just come for the same reason he did, and had her bike parked among the others. He rode up slowly on his AvA. He'd have offered a cig as a part of the greeting but, you know, helmets. "Swooping or just watching?"

Soleene gave a few small nods when Qar approached near her. At first, she didn't think that he approached her specifically. "Oh me? I just strolled in here, actually. It's a nice scene and I'm just here to scope it out. So, yeah, watching."

"Cool. Are you into this kind of stuff in general though?" He gestured toward various bikes. "I'm new to this particular scene as well. Don't think hefty rewards are involved but the joy of the ride is a reason enough."

"Hah, me?" she gestured to herself with some amusement in her tone. "I can say I'm not much of a gear head. I'll be able to drive one of these around the block and park it just fine but I'm not much of a race. Actually, I'm just here hoping to catch a show. Some of the races can be pretty amusing, even if eventually some enforcement is involved. I don't know if everyone in these things is as well-meaning as you are..."

"Soleene, by the way," she gestured to herself with a thumb. "And what do they call you around here?"

"Between the need for anonymity and cultivating personal brand I'd probably go with the latter, so around here it'd be like around elsewhere." He chuckled. "Qar. Well met, Soleene." He offered his hand for a typical greeting.

"Things about watching races is that it works on a track but less so during a street run. The most you can do is to wait by the finish line." He gestured casually at the helmet. "Unless you have some ultra-tech in that vizor and can see over distances and across buildings."

He puffed the smoke away from her. "That, or a jetpack, though that'd draw way more attention than you'd probably need. The thing with enforcement is that no-one gets into racing if they're too afraid of getting chased by those folks. It's part of the thrill, really, the environment playing against you. You've just got to be faster than them."

He tilted his head slightly. "But you look the sort that could beat the crap out of a copper trying to make you pull over, and that's a solution too."

Soleene shook the offered hand firmly. "Yeah, well met, Qar. Are you local around here too?"

"Well, yeah, I guess you don't get to see the whole race unless you can lay down some credits for a camera droid. Not everything is about the race itself," she shrugged. "Sometimes these things you get a bit of a show in watching people get ready and lay certain things on the line like credits, vehicles...sometimes even relationships. Kind of strange that some people just like being accessories to these things."

She chuckled and gave a small shrug. "Hah! I bet I can if it came to that. But what passes as a copper around here anyway? Or did the Imperials take over that stuff too?"

"Aah, camera droids, drones and the like. Suppose it's one way. Though like you said, some get-ready moments can be satisfying. I like it when there's a bit of ceremony to that. Spirit. Guess what keeps the non-racers in it."

He then let out a small laugh. "Actually, I am green around here." It sounded like his favourite joke whenever he was asked whether he was local. "So ask me again after a race or two, I bet they'll have been rushing to make acquaintance with me by then, so I'll know their type by how easy or hard they take nope! for an answer."

Korvin Hikarrin wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 12:52 am

Korvin laughs and with heavy sarcasm replies, "Oh, yeah, why would I take offense at that?" He shakes his head then chuckles again. "Look, lady, people around here know I'm a serious racer, so I can be helpful if you want. My family's money doesn't come here. Ruby over there," he says, pointing to a well maintained though hardly fancy speeder bike where he'd been standing when she arrived, "is 100 percent my bike. My money, my wins," he says intensely.

After a pause, he relaxes a little and smiles again. "So, you just here to watch some races? Trying to make some money?" Korvin hooks his thumbs on his hip pockets and awaits her answer.

"That so huh." She looked past him toward the bike he'd indicated. "That even a real swoopbike? Looks a little slow."

She then glanced at whatever people were near them, seeing how they'd react to the conversation; as that would tell her just how close to the mark she was. Not that this was really the sort of conversation that required her to employ any such talents, but it was more or less reflexive for her by this point.

"Money's always welcome of course, but gambling's only smart when you're friends with the dealers. And... hmm... cartel know you people are making money with these races?"

Tyllia Demici wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 10:04 am

"That so huh." She looked past him toward the bike he'd indicated. "That even a real swoopbike? Looks a little slow."
...
"Money's always welcome of course, but gambling's only smart when you're friends with the dealers. And... hmm... cartel know you people are making money with these races?"

Korvin gives her a frosty stare. "You know, you ask a lot of questions for someone who doesn't even have a name in this conversation yet." He lets that comment settle a moment, then: "I tell you what. You come for a ride on Ruby, my 'not a real bike' here, and we'll see if some fresh air and excitement makes you a little less lecture-y." The Pantoran smiles again, but it looks like his teeth are gritted behind that smile.

Qar Offee wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 6:58 am

"Aah, camera droids, drones and the like. Suppose it's one way. Though like you said, some get-ready moments can be satisfying. I like it when there's a bit of ceremony to that. Spirit. Guess what keeps the non-racers in it."

He then let out a small laugh. "Actually, I am green around here." It sounded like his favourite joke whenever he was asked whether he was local. "So ask me again after a race or two, I bet they'll have been rushing to make acquaintance with me by then, so I'll know their type by how easy or hard they take nope! for an answer."

"Spirit. Intensity. Excitement. It's one of those feelings that transcend working on a rod or being behind the wheel. Kind of a universal language. Admittedly, far safer too," she said with a glance around the scene. "I don't know how dangerous things around here without the fun police. I wonder if these things ever go through buildings, outside of the city, to the edge of a cliff. That sort of stuff. They say that adrenaline is kind of a drug to some people, after a bit of it you keep upping your dosage and some people follow in other people's lead. Sure lot of posturing that ends up to be pretty dangerous really fast."

"Heh," she said with a small laugh and bob of her head regarding the joke. Some species get the easy jokes it seemed. "They might be, scoping out the competition and all that, especially if you win it. Do you know much about your opponents, then?"

It wasn't like she hadn't heard that line; or something similar to it; before. It hadn't worked then, and it was liable to work now.

But then again, she could probably stand to make connections with the rich-kids-in-their-rebel-phase crowd. Well, scratch that... semi-rich kids. There was rich, after all, and then there was *rich*.

"Why not," she said with a shrug, "But just so you know, giving me a ride doesn't lead to me giving you one later. And the name's Tyllia."