Double Trouble [D2EE]

[Manny Donos]

Manny was not wearing a sparkly vest.

The problem is, the night before, he'd already worn his most sparkly vest. Where did you go from there? So instead, he actually wore a very nice grey suit. If he'd left it at that, he might have actually looked rather dashing. But he just had to wear a hat, which, while also nice, was made less so by his repeated attempts to adjust it to different rakish angles. He did so now, giving it a definite tilt to the right.

The hovercar had dropped them off not far from the entrance to Corellian Run. Manny looked at the woman on his left, then at the woman on his right. Wow, two hot girls! He paused a moment, forehead creasing noticeably as he considered. Was this some sort of three person date? Or were they a crew now? Or both? Really, any or all of the above sounded awesome to Manny. Whether it was going out with two hotties who didn't have boyfriends already (oh dip, I better ask), or a fun night out with his crew, Manny was all in either way.

Manny narrowed his eyes, studying the entrance just ahead, as well as the valet/doorman in front of it. "Okay. You ladies ready?" Manny asked, grinning confidently.

[Sholua Tempes]

Sholua had chosen a little red dress for tonight, and she had the sparkles that Manny did not! It covered a good deal more than the clothes of the night before while managing to promise a whole lot more. It also did not leave any place for a weapon of any kind, which would get her good mark with the casino security crew.

"Well, Cutey, I could say I'm always ready. The question of the moment is . . . are you ready?"

[Manny Donos]

"Totally!" Manny grinned. "I'm also always ready."

There was a beat. "Ready for what?" He'd sorta lost track between when he said it and she said it...

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Dhel had opted for the long, silky violet gown she'd used many a time on stage. Besides, it made the tail a bit more discreet while still clinging closely enough that there was obviously nothing like a blaster under there.

"Mmm-hmm. I was pretty much born ready, m'dears." Her boots had a bit of heel, so the diminutive Bothan was almost eye-level to Manny's shoulder, one arm wrapped and resting on his, with a miniscule, decorative bag dangling like a bracelet from the other wrist. No weapons in there either, just extra eyeliner, lip color, and a few emergency credits. Her eyes sparkled with the evening's excitement. Be nice to actually look around the place.

[Manny Donos]

"Okay then," Manny grinned. "Let's go!" He paused a moment, reaching up to push his hat to a different angle, tilting it to the left instead. He offered each lady one of his arms to complete the illusion, and then led the way up to the entrance.

"Hello there, good sir!" Manny said, adopting a bit of a Cor world accent; it actually wasn't that bad, so long as you weren't from an actual Core world. "My name is Guy Creditbag. These are my two associates, Ruby Sparkle and Violet Silken...feather." He cleared his throat. "Please direct us to your finest dining tables, where I might order your finest wings. After all, it's only money! Ho ho ho!" He gave a deep belly chuckle at that, inasmuch as the quite skinny young man could.

[Sholua Tempes]

Sholua had to stomp on the instinct to grimace at Manny's over the top act. Hopefully that was exactly what this place wanted. As she gone in through the worker's entrance the one time she'd been here before, she had no idea what the procedures were here. Except they needed money.

So she played her part, hanging on to Manny's arm and looking as pretty and vacant as she could.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Dhel added a giggle, as she leaned against Manny's arm before giving the bouncer a very obviously appraising slow up and down look and surreptitious wink. Only her years on stage kept her face from planting firmly in her palm at the wings comment.

[Manny Donos]

The bouncer gave the three of them a bland look. It went on several moments, and then: "Of course, sir." His tone was as bland as his look. Stepping to the side, he held open the door. "The restaurant is the door to the right. When you are done with your meal, I recommend visiting our gambling hall, straight on down the hallway. Good luck to you, sir."

"Ho ho ho..." Manny laughed again as they stepped inside.

Fancy was right. The entrance practically glittered, brighter even than Manny's really shiny vest. Only more tasteful, and hinting at more enticing things within than eggs. A careful eye might note how the line and light of the place serves to draw visitors in, lead them into its depth. Faint music could be heard, as well as the sounds of conversation and the distinct sounds of gambling, spinning wheels and the clattering of chips.

A few steps in, and Manny shot the ladies a grin, one after the other. "Okay, we're in! See, no problem." He looked around, eyes wide. "Wow... this is the sort of place that the heroes steal from in heist movies. I always wanted to try, but Kamda doesn't really have anything like this." He sighed. "And Vex didn't like most of my ideas, anyway."

[Sholua Tempes]

"Oh if you're going for a heist the only thing you'll get from trying this place is an invitation to the Imperial Penal System."

She gripped his arm a little tighter and leant in to whisper.

"Don't try it here, if the Imperials don't get you one of the real, and very violent Crime Lords will."

She returned to her previous position.

"Well shall we try this restaurant then?"

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Dhel nods with that assessment as they sweep by, tongue running across teeth almost tasting the wealth on display here. It's unsettling. The restaurant door is almost hard to find...a little set back, a little easy to miss and you'd walk right into the casino before settling your hunger at all.

Her hand remains on Manny's arm. That felt safer the last time she was here too. "Yeah, I don't recommend heists here, they're not playing around at all with that kind of thing. Last time, someone got dragged out for just...I don't know, they said he was doing something with his comm, he said he was just texting messages, and then the whole noise was out the door."

"Who's Vex?"

[Sholua Tempes]

A slight look of alarm from Sholua.

"Not a name to say too loudly."

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"oh...well, ahh..vexiing is like annoying, so can I just say the Annoyance, and you'll know who I mean?" Dhel smoothes her dress before giving the restaurant door a small shove.

[Manny Donos]

Manny's expression turned serious; yes, it was possible. He gave Shoula a slow nod, his eyes curious. "Yeah, we can talk about it later, huh?" With the door pushed open, he lead the way into the restaurant.

The music was louder in the restaurant, not quite pulse-pounding, but definitely a little bit upbeat, and the decor matched the conspicuous wealth of the main hallway, all shiny and gold. The trio was scarcely through the doorway when a waiter swooped upon them, leading them to a comfortable round booth. Menus were laid out, and the waiter temporarily unswooped, stepping back a few meters, clearly ready to swoop again at the slightest gesture.

Manny was all too happy to take the middle seat, if allowed. "Wow, this place is so fancy!" He picked up a menu, frowned at it a moment, then paled, just a little. "Really fancy..."

[Sholua Tempes]

"Really fancy."

She was impressed by the swooping, she easily noticed that the waiter gave the semblance of serving them while actually steering them away from valuables and easily knocked over items. Then she picked up the menu.

"Oh wow."

[Manny Donos]

"Right?" Manny flashed her something between a grin and a grimace; a little bit of each. "And it's not just the prices. I only know what about half of these words even mean."

Flipping the menu over, his eyebrows went up in pleasant surprise. "Oh hey, but drinks are cheaper than I thought. I know what I'm doing tonight!" He tilted his head, frowning thoughtfully. "I hope this is one of those places where when you get your drink, it was a really long straw in a cool shape, you know?" He made a spiral in the air with his finger.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Dhel too notices the steering. Non-human faces at less conspicuous tables was expected...ah well. And seating Manny in the middle only made sense. The chairs are ridiculously cushy...and not made for short people with tails. But that's pretty standard.

Opening the menu, she purses her lips, humming absently along with the music as she debates whether she thinks Manny's actually got pockets deep enough for this to be ok. "These deserts sound like a whole meal all by themselves," and super rich. She slips one boot off under the table with a quiet thunk and curls that foot up under her opposite knee...way more comfortable if her feet aren't going to find the floor. "hmmm...cake and wine for dinner...?"

Manny's straw description is ridiculous, but actually just about right to break the tension of fitting in where she obviously doesn't and wrestling with the moral dilemma of just how much meal was appropriate repayment for that egg tip. She laughs quietly. "Seems like the kind of place they'd do that if you ask, and just laugh about it where you *can't* hear."

[Sholua Tempes]

"Strong drinks and cheap. Well I would say that helps with having people make poor decisions on the gambling tables."

She puzzled at the menu.

"I think this is Alderaanian . . or maybe Chandrilan, and just what is a Sluissi Pied Warblerunner?"

[Manny Donos]

Manny laughed. "Cake and wine was my dream birthday when I was a kid. Or... cake and juice, but that's basically the same, right?" He sighed. "I got kinda tired of it when I was twenty-two or so, but I bet the cake and wine they have here is wayyyyyyyyyy better." He grinned again. "And better straws, too, I don't care if they laugh."

He flipped his menu over again. "You know, as a magician, I always like having a drunk audience. And I don't know what a Chandrilan or a whatever Warblerunner is. Ooh, but this is fried, that might be good..." He squinted at the menu, as though closer scrutiny might make the dishes more comprehendable.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"You can fry anything, and that makes it pretty good..." Dhel agrees. "Could be fancy shoe leather and you fry it with a nice dipping sauce and it's probably edible."

Peering at the menu, she murmurs "Is the Warblerunner one of the drinks or a main dish...sounds kind of like a bird? Maybe...wings?"

The very attentive waiter doesn't want them taking up the expensive tables too long and swoops in to see if they are at least ready with their drink orders, gently setting a bowl in the center of the table that steams gently beneath a cloth cover.

Dhel freezes for a moment before straightening slightly to claim the Chandrilan starfruit fizz. It was the fizz that decided her, honestly.

[Manny Donos]

"Wings? You think?" Manny's head bobbed. "Okay, I know what I'm getting."

And then the waiter arrived. "Get me something iced, and a bright color. But not blue. And make sure it has a really exciting stray." Manny made the spiral with his finger again.

The waiter stared at him. Manny stared back, smiling earnestly.

"Very good, sir." The waiter finally said, before looking at Sholua.