I don't think you're supposed to be here, Nox.

Every once in a while I get a question posed, it’s a good question, a question that makes ya think twice about what you are actually doing in life. It’s the kind of question that makes you sit down and scratch your head for a while, trying to come up with an answer that wouldn’t make the conversation entirely too awkward to seal the proverbial deal.

The question would be, ‘What do you do?’

What do I do? When I am just sitting in the corner of the bar, drinking some vile substance that burns right through the throat, girl comes up, all nice and pretty and she asks me that. What the hell do I answer?

‘Oh yeah… I kill people for a living.’

Doesn’t really sound all that nice, no? Wet-work was a favorite second, but the last time I used that one… well, they thought I peed on people for a living, I have no clue where that one came from honestly.

Anyway.

If I ever do get to second-base that night, the pillow-talk usually begins and ends with… ‘how do you do it?’ They don’t mean the technical or theoretical aspects of the job, that ain’t what’s on their mind. What they are actually asking is… how can you pull a trigger and still be the same afterwards?

Well.

When I am sitting at the pool of Azure, cigar in my left hand, good drink in my right? Pretty ladies swimming and chirping their pretty tunes? That’s how I still moderately the same, by taking a vacation every once in a while, enjoy the basic things in life and get in touch with my more… sensitive side.

Ain’t here to get laid, just want to finish this drink and maybe hit the tables, haven’t had a good card game in forever.

Anden Teigert Darrell Irani

Business before pleasure, business before pleasure... hell. No pleasure. Nope. Ain't goin' to happen. Not today, were the thoughts that went through the smuggler's mind. Already, his arrival on the planet of Nos Astra was beginning to wear at him. In his much younger days, he'd gladly arrive on the planet, find a brothel or any desperate Asari woman, and fail miserably at having his way with them. Ah, the good ol' days.

Now, however, his life focused much more on business than gallivanting around the galaxy in search of desperate women. Although he'd never be as successful as other smugglers, he was quite happy with making his living. To him, making a load of money paled in comparison to actually enjoying his job. Of course, a part of him wanted to be filthy rich before he'd die.

Being filthy rich was one of the primary reasons he'd arrived on Nos Astra. Brothels. Whores. Anyone that wanted smuggling off of the planet. It wasn't really often that it happened, but the whores would certainly be willing to pay a lot to get away. Most of them, however, would try to cheapen their off-world smuggling with sexual favors or other miscellaneous acts. After all, even whores had skills.

When Noxu arrived at the hotel, he glanced around. His first reaction was to obviously take in the scenery of the Asari, because ... Asari. He couldn't help it. The women were blue and that just happened to be his favorite color. It also gave him the chance to see any women that looked depressed or eager to be away from their current location; that would be the excuse he'd give to Ryori later. Unfortunately, from the front entrance, he found nearly nothing. Ah well, bide your time. There'll be someone, sure, he reassured himself. Of course, being a smuggler, Noxu knew the hotel was of ill repute; in fact, that was part of the reason he liked it. So, his location was perfect for his scouting of potential jobs.

Wandering on up to a random table toward the back middle of the room, he took a seat at one of the tables close to, but not exactly right next to, a man in his swim trunks. Noxu would certainly look out of place; not being dressed for a resort or anything relaxing. His normal outfit consisted of simple, grey baggy pants, a loose-fitting lighter shirt, and his favorite long coat that hung down to his ankles. Beneath the coat were his two heavy pistols which he nearly always carried with himself wherever he went. Not at all because he was paranoid.

Part of the reasoning of his uncaring dress for the hotel was the fact that it'd draw attention. A desperate woman wanting to 'relieve' the man of stress would, without a doubt, approach him and mistake him for someone that needed that "pleasure instead of business" bit that one or two of the Asari would offer.

However, the longer he remained on the side and looking out across Nos Astra, the more he was enthralled by the beauty of his surroundings. "Damn, that's bright," he said without thinking. As he sat and waited for any of the Asari to approach him, he snickered at the conversation he heard nearby. Someone hasn't been to a whorehouse before, he thought. "Cards?" he blatantly interrupted the man and the Asari's conversation. "Who the hell plays cards here?" Shaking his head, he laughed lightly.