#numen brock

[sullustangin]

Fluffy February Day 15: Reward

Fandom: SWTOR

Time:  Between Balmorra and Hoth, Smuggler Chapter 2

Pairing:  Darmas Pollaran/Smuggler

Words: 1200

~~

High risk, high reward was the very business of smuggling.  

Depending on how one approached life, that could apply to a lot of things.

…it had never been all bad with Darmas Pollaran.  

Eva didn’t think he had expected to see her again after she got her ship back.  He’d sent a polite letter when he heard the news.

That’s the way one-night stands were supposed to go.  

Sometime in between errands for Risha, Eva found time to lightskip over to Coruscant and sign up for the pazaak tournament.  She was already good   That was the first time Eva Corolastor had crashed Darmas’s table and beat him at pazaak.  How dare she.

He’d seemed honestly surprised when she hung around after the final call, as if she was waiting for him – which she was.  “I don’t quite understand, Captain.”

“I think you do.”

He was still gasping for breath, awestruck, as she said goodbye, walking out his apartment door.

It was an exit that was worthy of a holofilm.

“Don’t let Corso see you” was Risha’s only comment, not evening looking up from her magazine as Eva snuck into her own ship at an obscene hour.

The girls did watch out for each other; Risha always waited for her captain in slink in.

And Darmas watched out for them, after their first visit to Port Nowhere went really, really wrong, between Rogun and the Voidwolf both manifesting.  

Akaavi had joined the little cadre after Balmorra, where she was suitably impressed with Eva’s audacity and equally appalled by her breaking of a contract.  

“Empire lost them, like the Pub wanted,” Eva had reminded her.  “I just happened to have a better offer on tap.”  

Then Darmas had called a few minutes ago, looking surprisingly professional.  “Captain.  Senator Dodonna asked me to call you for a progress report.  She seems to have trouble getting through to you.”

Eva wore an obnoxious grin but said nothing.

“The Republic is hearing plenty about a missing Imperial munitions shipment, but nothing has turned up at Palliser Station.”  

“And it won’t.  It should be arriving at Port Nowhere any moment now.”  Eva crossed her arms.  “If Dodonna asks, I’ll tell her you dared me to steal it.”

Darmas laughed, briefly, all too pleased with her.  “A woman after my heart.”  He shuffled a datapad, probably firing a message off to Dodonna.  “Well, if the Nebula protypes somehow turn up here, you don’t have to worry about them finding good…and rich … new homes.”

“I even have a few very interested parties right here on Balmorra,” Eva told him.  “Try a guy named Numen Brock.  He’d offer up a lot to save his planet – at least more than the Republic would.”

Darmas nodded.  “Duly noted.  We’ll be in touch.  Now, Dodonna wants you to go to Hoth next.  Some frozen ice chunk off on the Outer Rim.  I don’t know the full situation – something about a pirate superweapon of all things.  She’s waiting on some intel before we act on it, so take the R&R in good health, Captain.”

“Aye, aye.”  Eva waved him off as he cut the comm.

“So, six months of … this?” Risha asked casually as she watched Eva walk toward the cockpit.  

“…I think I’m tired of ‘this,’” Eva said.

A few minutes after she disappeared down the hallway, the engines of Virtue’s Thief roared to life and Akaavi nearly tumbled to the floor at the sharp jolt.

“She has an idea in her head.  You will get used to it.”  Bowdaar finally stuck his head out of the galley.  “Caf?”

~~

Port Nowhere radar had picked up on the Nebula prototypes, arriving as Eva had promised.  It was far more than a moment, but it was still timely.  Darmas went out to the skywalk that overlooked the main hangar bays that would carefully receive the munitions.  He wanted to see this himself.

As they were towed in, one by one, a small fortune in credits each, Darmas thought about her.  Eva Corolastor was bolder than any operative he’d dealt with previously.  And she was good.  She didn’t get caught.  Darmas had monitored her signals from Balmorra, and she’d even masked her signal to make it appear that she had sent it off to Palliser, not here.  

Darmas was happy she’d thrown her lot in with him; he might have to kill her otherwise.  Eva was dangerous.

And his mind still hung on that thought as the opposite end of the skywalk opened.  A ship had docked there, quickly; he hadn’t been warned that his private viewing of the Nebulas would be interrupted.  Cross words almost slipped out, telling the person to move along –

Stars, she was dangerous. He couldn’t predict her.

Eva was here.

Her first return visit to the Dealer’s Den had left him reeling.  She had dictated the terms of engagement, right to the point she left him behind, still trying to reassemble his brain cells.

He hadn’t let that happen again.  He knew how to reassert control over the situation – or at least hold his own. That was part of the plan.

Not everything was.

This wasn’t.

“Captain.”

“Darmas.”

They regarded each other: he in the middle of the skywalk, lights illuminating him; she in the shadows, the airlock shut behind her, dark eyes gleaming.  

She spoke first.  “Got a question.”

He gave her a slow nod, watching her the entire time.

“Is it just Port Nowhere that’s a safe harbor?”

Of course, she would. She was bold and brave.  When she wasn’t playing the role of the smuggler captain, Eva could out-burn a field of stars; in everything she did, she took no half measures, no stale approaches.

Darmas’s mother had raised him well, probably better than he deserved.  “This… may not end well.  For either of us.  The business. The age.”

Well, Eva deserved at least that, so perhaps his mother’s pains hadn’t been in vain after all.

Her smart tongue replied, “High risk, high reward – isn’t that what you said to me?”

“I don’t recall.  It certainly sounds like me.”  

She stepped into the light, ironically, in order to reach him.  

Darmas felt as if he was burning alive.  Maybe it was a preview of hellfire.  Maybe it was because she was intense.  Or maybe because he was like a moth.  Or worse yet –

Hungry mouths found each other, and he had a hand in her hair as he managed to roughly push her up against the skywalk’s transparisteel wall… so he could see the Nebulas come in and have her at the same time.  

There was nothing else like her in the galaxy.  He was sure of it.  

Suddenly, she twisted him around so he hit the transparisteel.  She was so pleased with herself as she said, “I want to see them, too.”

Darmas gave her a feral grin as he used his strength to shove her right side into the viewport, a soft thump as her jacket made contact.  “Fair enough?” he asked as he rolled to his left.

“For now.”

~~

@fluffyfebruary @ayresis @starlightcleric @ermingarden @bluephoenix1347

@commanderlurker - behold, our favorite bastard.

[teeseven-fanclub]

continued the slow playthrough of smuggler story again today on Ticcer II and a couple of observations:

one way Ticcer and Risha bond is through their screwed up childhoods, which although very different, did involve them practically raising themselves for a good chunk

Numen Brock, who Ticcer has a fling with on Balmorra, is probably one of the first people that really gives Ticcer something to believe in - it's people sticking up for themselves and their planet against the Empire, and people who also don't fully believe in the Republic as well. I think that does serve to soften Ticcer's edges a bit, though self preservation and his desire for credits will still ultimately take priority

[queen-scribbles]

I got all my lovely arts from @chaosandwonder last night! Ft three troopers, two consulars, and one Balmorran rebel 😁

(I grinned so big at getting this, and then even more at the surprise Endrali art! Thank you so much!)

[shabre-legacy]

[dealersdencantina]

Is there an NPC in the game you'd ever long-term ship jólene with?

Besides Rogun the Butcher? XD The obvious answer would be Darmas if he hadn’t betrayed her. But the other one would be Numen Brock.

He’s gots some guts, which she likes, and he knows how to fence goods to make some cash, so that’s ALSO good. He sticks to his guns and his words, which she absolutely RESPECTS, but he also...speaks to that deep seated yearning for connection that she sorely wants. Unlike Corso, Numen FEELS like he could be home. And he even seems like he might be convinced to leave and go with her once the fighting is done on Balmorra.

But, unfortunately, her quests got in her way and her dodging Rogun’s bounty hunters kept her from going back. And then other stuff happens which makes her more jaded and eventually leads her to Rogun.\

BUT, to answer your question properly (because i miss read it a bit and had a thought spew XD), in an AU, YES. She is shipped hard with Numen Brock and he helps rebuild that trust in her and she gets less and less ruthless and they handle Rogun together and go on to be amazing freeelance smugglers.

EDIT: Lol, I read that question right the first time. :V I'ma doof!

[coleowenscole-moved]

au where my smuggler and numen wind up together

[hightail-it]

[blairextraordinaire]

There's this exchange at the end of the Smuggler's route on Balmorra, when the Smugg is talking to Numen Brock about the Empire retaliating after they stole the missiles.

Smuggler: The Empire's not going to come through and kill every man taller than a vibroblade, are they?

Numen: Umm, they already did that. Lucky for us, we grow them short and feisty.

This is such a great gallows humor zinger. The Balmorran rebels pretty much have nothing to lose at this point, so fuck it. So we get this wild divide with Numen and Ian Sarkus on one side and Zenith and Chemish Or on the other.

I think that's neat.

[darknessfactor]

Seriously though, I’m having way too much fun with this class story - why have I never played through it before?

[violasarecool]

there’s nothing quite like the smuggler storyline’s blasé humour

[glitchy-npc]

We’re allowed to kiss one handsome yellow twi’lek, but not the other *cough* Zenith *cough*, come on.

[alexsrandomramblings]

Smug smug flirting at Numen Brock without a care about the constant disapproval coming from Corso.

[queen-scribbles]

idk, guys, I think Deira may be finding an excuse to come back to Balmorra first chance she gets. 👀👀

[fer8girl]

WIP Wednesday...

Still pushing forward on the Wedding AU for Nya and Dixie that started with ‘Measuring Up’(still one of my fave stories :D). I’m also fulfilling a promise to a friend @bbb35 who happens to think Numen Brock and Elara Dorne would make a cute couple ;D

“You always this busy?”

Dixie's smile widened genuinely as one of her new regulars came out of his room and she trotted to him. “Numen! Was wonderin' if you'd gotten lost in there.” Leaning back, she folded her arms, looking over the handsome Twi'lek with a critical eye. He started to tense up as she tapped her foot, until a satisfied grin burst from her. “I love it when I'm right!” she exclaimed and he started laughing.

“That you are.” He stepped over to the large mirror and began admiring himself. “When you suggested I expand my wardrobe to attract a classier clientele, I’ll admit I had my doubts.”

“And now?”

He laughed again as she straightened his tie and flattened his lapels. “A wise investment that's already paid off.”

“Miss!”

The loud call across the shop was an unwelcome reminder that she had other clients, and Numen patted her shoulder, “Looks like duty calls.”

“Ma'am, I'll be happy to help.”

Nya's voice rang out and Dixie breathed a sigh of relief as the auburn-maned Cathar sauntered over. “Ooh, watch Nya work her magic,” she whispered to Numen.

“These pants look too tight,” the woman complained, then huffed. “Does that other girl even know what she's doing?”

“I can assure you that she does, but let me take a look.”

Dixie giggled to herself, noting that Nya was using her 'management voice', a rich and placating tone that soothed most of their problematic customers.

She reached around the gentleman's midsection and released the stays that loosened the waistband. The effect was instantaneous and the gentleman let out a quiet sigh that confirmed he'd been sucking in his stomach while Nya fine-tuned his waistband. “Is that better Sir?”

“Much, but....” He paused and leaned towards Nya. “I think I liked the other ones your girl recommended.”

“You know, I think I agree with you Sir.” Nya spoke softly to him, then bent down and gently tugged at the fabric at his legs. “See here, where it’s pulling?” Her voice was louder to insure the woman overheard. “Could be a problem. Extra wear on the seams shortens the life of the garment.”

Gently patting the gentleman on the shoulder she beamed up at him. “That first pair, it felt more comfortable?”  When he bobbed his head she nodded sagely, “Then it’s settled. That’s the pair for you.” When Nya turned back to the woman Dixie noticed her smile was tighter, showing a flash of fang. “Unless you’d prefer him try them on again, Ma'am, just to confirm.”

“No, no, that first pair should be fine.”

“Good!” Nya patted the gentleman again, directing him to his room. “We’ll get those hung up and have them waiting for you at the counter.”

“Would you like me to handle that?” A pert blonde woman appeared at the Nya’s side almost immediately.

Dixie heard a murmur of interest from Numen and turned back to him with a knowing smile. “Elara, our new hiree,” she explained as she smoothed his coat and watched Nya dole out instructions. “She was working for a competitor but hated their version of ‘customer service’.”

“So she defected,” he joked and Dixie giggled.

“In a manner of speaking. They had her doing orders via comm so she knows her stuff, just getting used to being more hands on with clients.”

“Hands on, huh?”

Numen looked the blonde over again and Dixie gave him a playful jab in the ribs. “Play nice Brock, don’t want you chasing off my co-workers. We get enough smarmy comments from clients without the likes of ‘Sir Loin’ hanging about.”

“I’m always nice,” he said with a pout, but Dixie wasn’t falling for his wheedling.

“Go change, I’ll fill out your order.”

With one last charming smile Numan winked at her, “There you go, telling me to get undressed again.”

“Perk of the job,” she countered as she sashayed up to the sales desk.

Once she got to the front terminals she peeked over Elara’s arm, admiring the well-manicured fingers that sped over the keys. In fact everything about the blonde seemed spit-shined, not a hair out of place or stray thread on her crisp suit. Dixie shrank back, tugging self-consciously at her ruffled blouse and would’ve retreated if she hadn’t heard a small annoyed “Oh!”

“Problems?” she asked gently and Elara turned to her looking vexed.

“Does this terminal always freeze up? I’ve tried everything I can think of…”

“Here.” Dixie smothered a giggle as she leaned over and bopped the machine. The locked-up cursor started blinking again and Elara’s eyes rounded with surprise as Dixie shrugged.

“I got a way with electronics,” she said and Elara smiled at her.

“So I see. I may need you to show me your technique.”

“Probably not a good idea.” Nya’s humor-filled voice purred behind them. “Dixie usually threatens to shove a hydro-spanner up their serial port.

“My stars!” Elara’s eyes widened further while Dixie nodded in confirmation.

“Too bad I can only intimidate things smaller than me.”

“And that's a pretty short list,” chortled Nya.

[dealersdencantina]

Jólene for World Building Wednesday, please?

Oooh thanks for this one! Been nice building her up a bit!

B A S I C S

full name: Jólene Acheron

gender: Female

sexuality: Bi, but she tends to favor dudes *shrugs* (had a slight crush on Risha for a bit. in teh past, she was very enamoured with Mry’da)

pronouns: She/Her

O T H E R S

family: Her parents. But she never visits them. There’s very bad blood between them.

birthplace: Dantooine

job: Smuggler/Crime Lord

phobias: Autophobia and Pistanthrophobia (they contradict each other and thus are mild phobias, but she learns later on to relax a bit on both), slight Entomophobia (alderaan and balmorra squicked her)

guilty pleasures: Fruity Cocktails, has a collection of Purple Prosey Smut Fiction (both that she reads and writes in her down time), Baking (learned from her mother and grandmother)

M O R A L S

morality alignment?: 70% Chaotic Neutral/ 30% Neutral Evil

sins - lust/greed/gluttony/sloth/pride/envy/wrath

virtues - chastity/charity/diligence/humility/kindness/patience/justice

T H I S - O R - T H A T

introvert/extrovert: Extrovert

organized/disorganized: Organized

close minded/open-minded: Open-Minded

calm/anxious: Anxious

disagreeable/agreeable: Both. It really depends on the situation here.

cautious/reckless: Reckless

patient/impatient: Impatient

outspoken/reserved: Outspoken

leader/follower: Leader (she’s a crime boss!! can’t order people around otherwise :P)

empathetic/unemphatic: Unempathetic (for most. her crew, sans one person, she’s more empathetic for. see: Akaavi)

optimistic/pessimistic: Both (opt: her crime lord rise. pess: her own outlook on relationships and trust)

traditional/modern: Modern, baby!!

hard-working/lazy: Hard-Working (she took one thing from her farm life family)

R E L A T I O N S H I P S

otp: Past: Jó/Darmas, Present: Jó/Rogun, AU: Jó/Skavak

ot3: AU!Jó/Risha/Numen (i really liked numen :C)

brotp: Jó/Risha, Jó/Guss

notp: Jó/Corso

[roguescarlett]

played through smuggler story on my Eleena--got to Balmorra and met with the twi'lek called Numen Brock. Though upon looking at him, my brain instantly go 'this dude is Zenith's identical twin!' because they looked alike each other. 😂