landonis balthazar calrissian

ANTHONY MACKIE  //  have you met LANDO CALRISSIAN yet? HE/THEY is now THIRTY-EIGHT years old DEMIMAN HUMAN, originally from SOCORRO but typically reside on THE LADY LUCK.  after everything he’s gone through, he shows loyalty to THE REBELLION.  they are best known for being a BUSINESSMAN & ENTREPRENEUR, & i hear he’s grown pretty SUAVE yet also HEDONISTIC at times; i hope they survive the galactic war. (APRIL)

“jade,” she said, firmly shaking his hand. it probably wasn’t wise to use her real name, but. she didn’t entirely care, at this point. she would make do. “mara jade.” she just wanted to get this done with quickly. “listen, i think some of the local thugs have the bright idea to try to steal the comm repair supplies.”

         obi-wan had been trying to find the right words, not because he doubted lando would understand where he was coming from, but even if he was to ask for a personal favor he still had a duty to the order, whether he stood there as council member kenobi, o simply as obi-wan, what he said could be taken out of context, ❝the jedi order has always had a strong relationship with the republic❞ obi-wan paused, bitting his lip in an attempt to make the next words sound less dire, ❝and sometimes that relationship did not turn out the way it was expected…❞ that was the most diplomatic way he found to say it, ❝it’s no secret that the order is trying not to relay too much on the republic, and when it was just about slowly rebuilding we could get by, but now…❞

         ❝i am not asking you to become our sole sponsor, i mean some members have their personal assets, and we’ve had some donations as well, but unfortunately we are short on transportation, and this new threat well it requires us to be ready to move into battle at a moments notice❞ they were far too few, spread too thin, but if there was one less worry then it could give them a fighting chance, ❝so i guess what i’m asking if there are any ships, small vessels, whatever crafts you can spare, i know you still have your businesses to run, but anything you can lend us would be of help.❞ 

that little piece of the past was no surprise –– lando remembered when he had been young the way that people had talked about the jedi, and the drastic shift that had occurred after the end of the clone wars. his investment had not been deep enough to make the words on either side really sink in, not until he’d met luke. now, well, there was no denying the unique mysticism that came with it all. “of course,” he murmured along as obi-wan spoke, a gentle nudge for him to continue beyond the surface-level politeness that came with his specific word choices. he had to admit, he was pleasantly surprised by the ask for help, especially given the downfall of so many things that had happened in the past.

   “A certain way is a funny way of saying relying on massive campaign donations, and allowing anyone who pays them the highest price to dictate their actual concerns.” Vantir chuckled a little, leaning back in his seat, “You know when I used to trade my services for money, I was far more expensive then some politicians make themselves. Its good to know I would have been a far more expensive buy to sellout whatever planet I would have represented.” 

Simply bringing their drink to their lips, as Lando mentioned being happy to set something up to help the New Republic. “Right now, what my higher ups wouldn’t miss if I negotiated with you, four months supply of bacta, usually priced at about 56 million credits, for you though, I can get it knocked down to say, 26 million, now I imagine if that’s too much you can find someone to get you the money. Also I have 5 older Arquitens-class light cruisers, newer ones would sell for a total of 20 million credits, but due to their age, I can talk to our Kuat member, and probably get them sold to you for 10 million.” A sly grin on his face, followed by a wink, “And just cause we’re friends, I’ll throw in a 10 hour credit for my personal services.” 

lando could certainly appreciate the bluntness in which vantir approached it, a breath drawing in through his nose before offering a small nod of his head in agreement. “well, perhaps it’s naive of me, but it’d be nice to see some change about that.” he wasn’t a naive man, and knew it would not just go away. things were never that simple or straightforward. corruption would always exist. still, the galaxy needed to move past getting caught up in the same destructive cycles that had torn apart the last republic.

In truth, Cassian had only known about Lando what had once been told. They had been around through the same time, even despite this rift business but Cassian had been so set on their own mission and their own agenda and making things right. When the plan to steal the death star plans had been presented to him and from Jyn? There was no way they were able to say no to such a thing. “Where shall we start?” Cassian begins, another sip of the liquid as it burns down their throat, a welcome distraction from everything else going on in their mind and the galaxy around them. “That so? Glad to know that we made an impact. As long as it saved lives, that was one of the goals. No one deserves the continued suffer at the hands of the Empire.”

@vantircessin

❛   of   course   not.   ❜   what   could   she   say   ?   she   liked   to   feel   flattered   on   occasion   and   lando   was   so   WARM   with   his   words.   the   easy   affection   was   comfortable.   she   sipped   her   drink   as   he   spoke,   nodding   along.   ❛   i   wouldn’t   expect   anything   less.   do   you   still   visit   often   ?   ❜   she   was   moving   between   chandrila,   onderon,   and   coruscant   so   frequently   for   work   these   days   that   she   did   not   get   to   visit   the   galaxy’s   finer   hideaways   as   much   as   she   had   hoped.

mara wasn’t running. she wasn’t a person who ran, even with the mess with — skywalker & solo & the hell that was sure to follow it. she was still in new republic territory, wasn’t she ? & force knew it was harder to hide here than the outskirts of the galaxy she had learned to call home. riosa wasn’t the bright center of the galaxy, but it sure was close enough to catch a hint of the shine of it.

she hadn’t settled in much, but she knew enough to pinpoint the local trouble, to see who they were coming for. & she had no reason to care about this guy, but — “you’ve been bringing supplies to repair the comms, yeah ? “ she approached, hands carefully still at her side.

lando hadn’t heard her approach, which was mildly alarming –– he considered himself to be the kind of person who really did stay aware of his surroundings at all times, but there was also no denying that he was incredibly exhausted from the last few weeks of working nonstop. he’d wanted a business empire. he had one. but it was certainly proving to be just as much work as they could have imagined it to be.

The more she looked around at things the more Sabe was frustrated about what happened, lack of comms, growing unrest.  She really wanted, no, needed to get back home and help figure all of these things out.    Things were taking too long for her liking.  After a few moments she could feel someone watching her and she stood up straighter but then saw the man there and relaxed just a little bit.

It didn’t take long for her to realise that he had mistaken her for Padme, but it was something that she had just gotten used to over the years.  For a lesser person it might be disheartening to see people not happy to see her per se.    “Do I now?  I thought I had given up the helpless look many years ago,” she said slightly bemused.  “But no you’re right, the comms being out isn’t helping tht at all.  What about you?”

.

well, whoever this oddly similar appearing woman was, she certainly seemed to have a good attitude despite the chaos that was going on around them, and lando certainly respected that. there weren’t enough people in the galaxy who could do that, as far as he was concerned. the smile on his expression deepened just a hair, taking a relaxed stance as his hands moved to rest on his hips, giving a slight ripple to the deep purple cape that he had on.

   Vantir smiled, shrugging. “I always raise the point, being a smooth talker is after all, all part of the job as an Ambassador, and you know the best way to get to a politician,” Grinning, and winking at Lando, in jest “Or someone with an opinion of themself far too big? It’s fluffing their ego.” Vantir had always considered themself a people person, good at making them feel relaxed, and comfortable around them. It was a skill required in almost all of their professions, except when they worked with the fathier, though they were just naturally superior to people. 

Leaning back in his seat, they brought a drink to their lips as Lando spoke, humming a little once the glass was set back down. “Oh no, not them, lets just say, I can get them these things cheaper if I sell them to you, rather than directly to them. Lets call it the, Rebel Sympathies I still harbor somewhat. Right now the CSA is cracking down on prices for galactic governments, raising them where they can. These objects won’t be missed if I sell them to you at a lesser rate, and then you see they just so happen to end up in the New Republic’s hands.” 

.

honestly, it was rather rare and refreshing to meet someone who actually managed to match the same kind of blossoming, even overwhelming confidence that lando had carried with him for his entire life. it was the kind of charismatic energy that brought a wide smile to his lips. “well, politicians have set themselves up a certain way,” they said with an easy chuckle. not the hardest group to take advantage of, unfortunately. hopefully that was something that would change with the new republic. he had faith in leia. hopefully the others would follow suit.

he had a point, but she shrugged anyways. “you never know.” but she let that thread of conversation die mercifully quickly. her expression darkened slightly, lips pressing into a thin line. she didn’t want to think that — that breaking down was an option. she couldn’t let herself think that it was. because if she started, she probably wouldn’t be able to stop, & too many people needed her right now. han, republic intelligence, the galaxy as a whole with the hell that was heading towards them … her comm was ringing almost nonstop. “it’s not that simple. i have — work to do.” she sighed, a hand coming back to cradle her forehead momentarily. “i have to compartmentalize.” & stars, could she forgive herself for that ? her husband under surgery, & she was taking calls from senators. the next unlucky bastard might get an earful about that.

❛   charmer,   ❜   she   teases,   but   it   is   undeniably   fond.   lando   is   growing   on   her   more   quickly   than   she   would   like   to   admit.   there   is   something   SPECIAL   about   him   –   even   if   she   cannot   yet   say   exactly   what.   ❛   to   the   two   of   us,   ❜   she   echoes,   lightly   clinking   her   glass   against   his.   it   is   unfortunately   hard   not   to   immediately   fall   back   on   WORK   for   conversation.   she   catches   herself   before   she   can   begin.   ❛   is   cloud   city   still   as   beautiful   as   i   remember   it   ?   ❜   she   has   not   been   there   in   far   too   long.

         ❝oh i absolutely skipped that one❞ jyn said shaking her head, it had been close to the liberation of coruscant, when jyn had yet again lead another squadron to their death, but this was meant to be a celebration of life, she had mourned them, and she would honor them, ❝so you’ve always been a people person then?❞ jyn asked trying to keep the rhythm, ❝does it come natural to you or is it something you had to learn as a business man?❞ she added with a teasing smile, ❝i think purple might truly be my color❞ she said with a laugh, ❝it honestly feels like something out of a holodrama…❞