A Grand Entrance [D8|EE]

[Tenzing]

The thing about a stakeout was you never knew how long you might be waiting. That was why it helped to be friends with everyone. If you played your hand right, others would do the staking for you...

So here he was, keeping it casual, just strolling into Bizt's place. Tonight was going to be interesting. But would it be foot chase through the backstreets interesting, or kriff me what a life interesting? You never really knew...

[Meiyokashi]

At the bar ahead of him there were at least three heads down as they rested on it. Elsewhere smoke filled the air and not a person in the joint was without a glass. Though his attention was directed toward the long bar which had only a couple seats unfilled, the rest filled with groups that spoke and mingled while some were just pairs and a token few, save for those sleeping on it, were alone.

Bizt himself was standing with one of the patrons, a human with mid-length hair that seemed to match the color but in the lighting was hard to tell. With the sound of Tens entering Bizst gave him a quick smile and returned to the conversation.

[Tenzing]

In for a credit...

Tens approached the bar to order a beer and get a closer look at Bitz's conversation partner. Seemed right. Hair was maybe a bit longer. Guy was vertical at least, so not passed out drunk (although he took a quick look at the heads on the bar just in case).

[Meiyokashi]

Everyone else didn't match the description, not as well as the first guy did. However, as he came around enough to get a good look at the one in question he could see the beard like was worn in the picture just a bit more unkempt and a little longer. Surprisingly, despite his destitute appearance with dirt spots on his cheek and somewhat tattered clothing the man held himself with a presence.

This was definitely Grand.

[Tenzing]

Tenzing nodded to Bizt and offered a friendly smile. "Hey Bizt, good to see ya." He looked at Grand, close enough to see the dirt. Was it an act, was he undercover, or had he just fallen that far?

"Don't think we've met pal. I'm Tenzing, buy you a drink?" Might as well let Good Cop take the first shift.

[Meiyokashi]

""My friend," he says, laying his hand down on the counter beside him. An empty stooll to his side for him to take, "If only I could make you understand how much that offer breaks my heart," he gives a brief but mournful smile. "Come, let us drink- have you ever suffered a broken heart?"

[Tenzing]

Did having more than half of your brothers flip out and start shooting your friends count? Tens wasn't sure that was the right context. So he took the offered place and ordered Grand a beer.

"No, just disappointment. Judging by your tone, you've got an epic tale of woe to tell." He offered a companionable smile. "I'm listening pal."

[Meiyokashi]

"Oh, the grandest of all!" he says with a smile, Bizst getting them both drinks and taking off as Grand settles into his seat and tale. "You see," he gives a wave over his appearance, "you might not be able to tell by the look of me but I was, until very recently mind you, a very powerful man. Now? Now I am here with the lovely people to be found among.." he glances around, seeming to forget where he was exactly. After all, did it matter to a man so far removed from his former life where he fell to?

[Tenzing]

"Bizt's bar, Bellionas." He gave an encouraging smile and raised his bottle. "It's a friendly place, everyone here has a story." Tens had heard most of them at one time or another, and could guess at a lot of the ones he hadn't.

"Something tells me your story is going to be a new one for me though. Powerful huh?" Taking a swig of the beer he gestured for Grand to go on.

[Meiyokashi]

"I ran an arena. Lorded over the underworld. Pirate captains even obeyed my word," he said with a grin, rolling his shoulders. Grabbing his glass and looking back over the bar, musing in the thought, "And all of it was taken from me in an instant.. it is a strange dance we play, but she's always at least one step ahead of me. How her mind works.. it's beautifully insidious. My dearest Vanya," he smiles, and drinks.

[Tenzing]

Oh...for kriff's sake. Tenzing figured he could see where this was going.

He offered his own glass to clink against Grand's. "Well, it won't make you feel any better, but I know what it's like to have everything change." He clicked his fingers. "In an instant." With a sigh he took a swig.

"Sounds like a hell of a woman, this Vanya. Can you describe her to me, or is that too sore?"

[Meiyokashi]

"Never.. every slight she strikes against me is one to remind me she remembers. After all," he smiles, looking to Tenzing. "You are here, are you not? The woman has taken all material wealth and power, stripped it from me- and yet here you are," he lays his hands down on the table, leaning back a little on his stool- luckily it had a backing.

"Vanya and I share.. a mindset. This galaxy is harsh and will crush you given the chance, so you must crush it under heel first by whatever means you can. How she does this so excellently is only a testament to what she has endured. Perhaps you will meet this powerful woman someday and learn just as I have how cunning and dangerous she truly is," he looks to him with a smile and then offers his hand with palm up.

"Am I wrong? Or do you have something for me?"

[Tenzing]

"No. You are not wrong pal. And that just makes me even more interested." He offered a genuine smile before reaching into his jacket and pulling out the datavault and his datapad.

Another sip of beer and he connected them up. "She said you'd know the pass code. But that you might not realise it at first." Tens raised an eyebrow. "Fits the profile you just gave me."

He slid the datapad to Grand.

[Meiyokashi]

Taking both in his hand he connects the two on the bar before them, a smile on his expression. When it boots he starts entering one password before it fails, which draws a curious expression from him. Leaning back from it he takes a look at the datapad and vault for a moment. Looking to Tenzing, "Who sent you?" he asks with a raised brow.

[Tenzing]

"Saph." Who clearly knew him rather well given the response. "Of Sapphire Lounge fame."

He watched Grand carefully, curious to see if there would be any sign of surprise. This was certainly proving interesting.

[Meiyokashi]

There was, it was brief but Tenzing had spent enough time with folk just learning something surprising to see the little flash in his eyes. Yet it didn't last long as that glaze of recognition took over, with a nod he almost thoughtlessly entered the correct passcode. Reading the information that displays on the screen.

"Interesting.." he smiles as he looks to Tenzing, disconnecting the vault from the device and placing it over his heart, "Oh my friend, how the drama of my life continues ever to get more and more complicated. Should you beat me to her, do send Saph my regards?" he says with a brief smile. Taking the datavault and placing it into his glass- the device sputtering and fritzing until it released a little cloud of what would've been black smoke that rose through the drink and colored it darkly.

[Tenzing]

Oh the drama. It was like one of those holodramas the kids liked these days. Tenzing grinned, liking the guy despite himself.

"To complications." He raised his beer. "Seems like things are looking up for you then pal. Or at least looking different. Sometimes that's enough." He paused. "There's a big party at Saph's tonight. Maybe I'll see you there? Either way, I'll pass her your regards, no problem."

[Meiyokashi]

Seeing the raise in toast he went to grab his but- noting on the condition it was in after dropping the vault into it he only smiled. Looking to Tenzing with a broad grin, a man looking forward to the future, "Thank you. I'm afraid I'll have to share the toast with you should we see one another at the party, hmm? I'm woefully underprepared as it is.." he chuckles, and offers a shake of his hand instead.

[Tenzing]

Tenzing took the offered hand and shook it with a pleasant, not overly firm, grip. "Well, you lost your beer, but you're welcome to use the refresher at my place if you like. And I can lend you some creds if you want a new wardrobe for the party." He shrugged. Saph would probably get a kick out of it.

[Meiyokashi]

"What was your name again?" he asks, a smile as he regards Tenzing.