(D5, LA) Examining the Merchandise

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Deep breaths. Pretend it's stage fright and put on your show face.

Dhel was certainly dressed for a show. None of the fabrics were at all expensive, but the long dress of deep purple was elegant, and hid a lot of fur despite the long slit up the side. The silvered chains dangling from her ear and throat are understated, and her low-heeled sandals are mostly invisible under the dress...but add a few extra inches of height that offers some subliminal confidence.

She had never thought she would ever step foot in here except as a decoration on someone's arm. Instead...she glances over to the taller woman as they approach the fancy doors. "Thanks for coming. I know you and your folks seem pretty busy around town. And this place is just...daunting."

She was surprised that she'd come to enjoy chatting a bit between sets since Raven'd become kind of a regular, and also completely immune to her more overt charms. It was disconcerting, but Dhel had tried not to think too hard about it.

[Raven Cadera]

Of those who had met Raven Cadera on Bellionas, almost none would think that the woman walking protectively beside Dhel was actually the same heavily-armored Raven Cadera.

First of all, her head wasn't covered in cloth or a helmet. Though she did sport some rather sleek shades (courtesy of Manny) that added to that whole image of a professional bodyguard, which also did cover her eye-area. Secondly, the armor and cloak had been switched out for a sleek suit that fit her snuggly, considering that she had increased a bit in muscle mass since coming into possession of the ensemble.

"Daunting is the right word for it," she agreed, a touch nervous herself. The black hair, appropriately suitable to her name, was slicked back slightly. Having gotten into this getup away from the other Mandalorians, Raven kind of felt like this is what it must be like to do something that was frowned upon. Like how girls would go out in skirts too short for their parents' comfort.

"And hey, thank you for letting me come along. This isn't exactly my type of gig, as you surely know." She half-stifled a nervous chuckle. "But, well, it's the best place, or so everyone say around town."

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"Yeah, it's just known for having the most amazing stuff. At least by reputation. I came in once before with this guy I was with. He wanted to show off." Dhel smirks. "And if he'd stuck to guns, sure would have, because I haven't got a clue except which end to point at someone. But then they brought out like knives, and these crazy fancy knuckledusters with like...gems on it. And he tries that out all backwards." She brushes her long hair back, lifting her chin just a bit to remind herself not to slouch.

"And I had to look all impressed at him shadowboxing like that to 'test the balance'. I still think he'd probably done what I am now...only just scraped together enough credits for them to let him in the door."

[Raven Cadera]

The story seemed to at least put her at ease as she snorted an amused laugh. "Yeah... don't worry about that with me at least. I think I can handle pretty much any weapon here better than most guys you've known."

Who the kriff would test the balance on gem-studded brass-knuckles?

"You know, Manny would probably spot you the money on what you needed it," Raven gave Dhel a thoughtful glance at that, "but... I suppose I'm glad that things are working out there. He's a bit too trusting and kind-hearted, the nice fool he is."

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Dhel shakes her head with a small smile. "Nah, he's already letting me stay, and there's pretty much all the eggs you can eat in there. It's not fun anymore if I get greedy." At least that had always ended kind of badly in the past. Keep it light and offer reasonable value for what she got out of the deal, and everyone was happier. "Has he always been that..." Dhel searches for the right words..."Like, I imagine him being sad for like five whole minutes when the Manka Cats lose a game or something, and then it just slides off."

"But yeah, you seemed likely to know your way around all the dangerous stuff. Anything you're hoping to see in here?"

[Meiyokashi]

Even the waiting area outside of the establishment was elegant. Couches with red velvet cushions and gold trim were in a few strategic locations surrounded by beautiful decorations. A few statues of some rare stone that were only seen in the richer establishments. For some it was elegant and beautiful, to others it was gaudy nearly beyond belief. As the two woman chatted there was the sound of the door opening and Sinclair giving a fairwell to two of his guests.

Out from the room an imposing Zabrak walked with a large weapon case at his side, a grey but impeccable suit. At his side there was a woman who rarely looked like she wanted to be anywhere with short cut black hair. Of the two Raven would recognize the woman, as it was Mallory, Vex's bodyguard.

[Raven Cadera]

"As long as I've known him," Raven said with an amused tone, not quite having the word to describe Manny either but still knowing exactly what Dhel meant. "But I'm in fact looking for something that's not weaponry. Kind of hoping to find something nicer, actually... maybe something to bring back home, after all this is over. Something useful, but nice, if that makes sense?"

Being in bodyguard-mode, she did notice the exit of the two customers. Zabrak, weapon-case... more or less what she expected to see in a place like this. Recognising the other one though that was a surprise, and for a moment she felt glad that Mallory had never seen her without her helmet on. Going without helmet is just as much disguise as going with it on. But what was she doing here with this Zabrak...?

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"Yeah, hunting some fancy myself. Saw a show a long while back where the performers...big name touring types...had Cascaders. Never worry about a bad night putting bags under your eyes, or a poor hair job when you get on stage again. They're magic." And she'd probably eventually get it stolen if she ever mentioned owning something that pricey.

She falls quiet as the previous shoppers leave. Unwritten rules of waiting rooms as everyone pauses to avoid being overheard...and see if they're about to be called in. The Zabrak looks suuuuper serious. Dhel smiles anyway. The 'oh aren't you interesting' smile was just a much better option than letting any of her nerves show.

[Raven Cadera]

"Cascader?" Raven sounded intrigued, partially turning her attention back to Dhel as she was keeping an eye on the two people leaving. "That sounds pretty impressive... wonder if it works on armor too?"

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"For the prices I've heard? You'd think so." Dhel replies quietly, voice carrying pretty much as far as needed as she examines a statue of a barely dressed Twi'lek dancer carved of some iron-rich stone whose reds and deep browns swirled in such a way that they only added to the feeling of movement from the statue. Not that Dhel was nearly that analytic. She was mostly just kind of in awe at how you could carve solid stone to look like soft flesh.

"It's so lifelike. Can't even imagine the time this takes." Dhel reaches out, fingers hovering just over one outflung stone arm.

[Meiyokashi]

As the two passed by the pair they barely even afforded the other women a glance. Eyes forward at all time they were both individuals of discipline. Though, as he turned, the Zabrak too might have seemed familiar to her as well. Though the last time she might have seen him he was dragging Mallory off in the middle of the firefight in Vex's club.

Regardless, the door was open and from just around the entrance they could see Sinclair waiting patiently for his next customer.

[Raven Cadera]

Now that was a weird sense of deja vu.

Shaking her head, the appriciation of the sculpture was a bit lost on Raven as she was assessing their surroundings. Would this be an ambush like the time that Zabrak grabbed Mallory?

Not seeing one now, she saw Sinclar waiting instead. "... I think they are ready for you, Dhel,"

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

As the other pair leave. Dhel looks up at Raven. "Yeah, that's our cue, then." Showtime! Chin up, shoulders down, take the stage, girl.

She tries not to let the sense of descending into a cave bother her, lets the weight of it sit on her shoulders instead of where-ever it was that fear lives. Her eyes flick over the goods as she approaches their proprietor.

[Meiyokashi]

"Dhelih Dotaivi, what a pleasure it is to see you again," Sinclair says with his crisp accent, granting her a bowed head. Looking then to Raven with a smile that matches his demeanor, "And once more with a guest. Charmed," he says, but before proceeding forward pulls up a simple device with an interface. This device, as Dhel would have seen it used before, is meant for a customer to enter their information so a basic credit check could be performed.

"A matter of formality, of course," he says, and dips his head leaving it lowered.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Dhel is honestly a bit surprised to be remembered, though she supposes there are not that many Bothans around town, really. She offers what she hopes is a cool smile. "Of course." Basic information shouldn't be a problem, right?

As she enters it, she gestures toward Raven with a simple, "my bodyguard." They hadn't discussed if Raven wanted her name tossed around, after all. And that's how rich people were right? 'my cook, my driver, my this and that...'

[Raven Cadera]

Despite not being in armored, Raven easily fell into the relaxed but attentive stance of a bodyguard, nodding to Sinclair as Dhel made the satisfactory introduction of her being the bodyguard.

They didn't need to know anything else, after all.

[Meiyokashi]

Reading from the machine Sinclair smiled, looking up to Dhelih with that smile that was pleasant- polite. Like a butler of refinement attending to her needs, "You've seen quite a rise then, Ms. Dotaivi. It is my pleasure that you would interest yourself in my shop once again," he says, giving a little wave with a glover hand to offer her entrance.

Once both women walked inside Sinclair would close the door so that the business interaction was appropriately private. In this place it was beautiful and elegantly decorated but what mattered most for one was that this room alone could be considered a Mandalorian's wet dream. Weapons of refined quality and care were laid out in every direction the eyes might take. Blades that were sharp, blasters that were elegant, and all other devices that were both enigmatic and wondrous.

"Would you like to browse or was there something you were hoping to find, Ms. Dotaivi?" Sinclair said, approaching to Dhel's side.

[Raven Cadera]

Oh my Manda...

Raven took a moment to tip the shades down to better appriciate the quality of what was on display. This wasn't just some hoity-toity store (it absolutely was), but it was a real deal hoity-toity store. That some of the weapons looked sleek and elegant wasn't her interest, but rather it was the brand and quality. Kriff me, is that a Model-1 "Nova Viper" pistol? Jesus Toboga...

For the moment, the Bodyguard was in her own world.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Dhel keeps her own polite smile in place, inwardly bristling a bit at the peek into her life and finances. "A bit of both, possibly." Because goodness some of those blades looked like they'd just be beautiful to hold, even if she never wanted to use one.

Everything both begged to be held and warned you off from touching them, which was the strangest vibe to get from a room full of inanimate objects. She glances at Raven. Ok, not everyone probably felt that 'hands off' vibe actually. She'd have to see if she wanted to look at anything before they left.

"First the hoping to find part though." That made sense, since she'd have a good deal less to spend after that, if they had it. "My livelihood is on the stage, and there's some harder to find tech that I'm hoping you'll have. I'm not too picky on model if you have Cascaders in stock." That probably didn't sound particularly sophisticated in this place, but honestly, they just wanted her to spend enough money that she couldn't get back in the door anyway.

[Meiyokashi]

"Ahh.. an excellent choice for you," he says, a pleasing smile. He says, giving a subtle indication for her to follow him as he walks over toward the counter to the back left. Walking around it he reaches down and opens the glass case, pulling out neck-stands which have beautifully ornate jewelry upon them. Three neck stands lay on the table, one that has a large blue gemstone heart at the center which sparkles in the most intoxicating of ways, another which has a large purple gemstone with an engraving deep within that looks as if water was rushing over a fall, and the third a simple but still ornate piece of jewelry with white gemstones.

Directing her attention to these quality pieces Sinclair walks over toward the side of the counter where there is some space between it and the wall, "A BPEA-1 Cascader, produced by Farbreini MicroElectronics Ltd. The Cascader is designed to give those who live within the public eye an extra level of control over their appearance, well sought after by dignitaries, commanders, and performers of repute across the galaxy. Attending a social event with one of these is sure to drag the eye of any and all to the beauty of its bearer. EME's are built into a variety of different ornamentation but- I do find that for your particular interests Ms. Dotaivi it is these before you that will be most agreeable," he says with that continued, pleasant demeanor.