Cobb's Event Catch All | Open

[heypartner]

WHO: Cobb Vanth & All
WHERE: Various locations across Coruscant.
WHAT: Adventures across the planet
WHEN: Event
WARNINGS: Cussing. Angst. Possible violence. Will update as necessary.



This was not how Cobb imagined his first time off Tatooine. Then again, with his history, maybe he should have expected his first trip in space and to a Core world would be against his will. These Agrii fellas needed to learn to ask for permission. He would've said yes if they had asked. Instead, there was a little bubble of resentment brewing towards their alien captors.

But that anger could wait. A lot of people here had no idea how to navigate any planet in the galaxy much less one like Coruscant. Stars, even Cobb was a little out of his element but at least he could read the writing and understand how things worked in general. The first thing he focused on was getting everyone else settled and comfortable to go around by themselves. It was a lot of explaining how credit worked and offering to help if anyone needed it.

It took a few days before Cobb disappeared on his own one morning. The credits provided by the Agrii and the few he had on him when he got taken were burning a hole in his pocket. He went to the market and found himself some pieces of durasteel armor and a padded armor suit to wear underneath. It was, without a doubt, the nicest thing Cobb had ever owned, gleaming a brass-gold color against the black padded suit and soft green cloak he also bought to hide the scars that peeked out from the suit.

Damn if he didn't feel guilty for the two-thousand credits he handed over to buy it.

He just couldn't help but think of all the necessary things he could buy for home or this group of people at that cost. Two thousand credits would never got that far on Tatooine where everything was so damn expensive but it could've done something good. But after putting it all on he looked like he belonged on a Core world instead of an outsider in ragged clothes. Clothes he kept because they were still good enough for home and no one wasted anything on Tatooine. The armor though... wearing it he felt... like someone important and wasn't that a heavy thing?

Not only did the armor protect him and help him blend in, now he could get into better bars and taverns where they played high stakes sabacc. Cobb had learned his numbers playing the card game and was damn good at it. Good enough to win games against rich fools who tossed credits around like they could be dug up from the sand. That real vindictive part of himself really enjoyed it.

And everything he won now went to what they'd need to survive and anyone else who needed a few spare credits.

After all, he could always win more.

Comments

For Ezra

[heypartner]

Cobb didn't know the kid well but when Ezra asked him to go with him shopping he had agreed. Folks from the Outer Rims had to stick together, though apparently Ezra was one of the Jedi. Maybe he thought Cobb needed the security.

"Anythin' in particular you're lookin' for?" he asked as they walked through a mid-level market. After a few days he had a better understanding of the city's flow and how to get between the levels without a speeder or jet pack.

He was most comfortable in those mid-levels where his normal red clothes didn't stand out. Cobb still wasn't wearing the durasteel armor all the time, not fully comfortable with it. He wished for the old beskar more than once.

"Or are we just wandering for now?" Which was fine with Cobb. Without a job there's a lot of down time to fill and he wasn't filling it with trips to the Jedi temple to meditate which seemed to take up a lot of people's time.

[deal_me_in]

There was a bit of commotion by the entrance of the bar that Cobb has stopped at, and it wasn't long before a familiar voice could be heard above the stern rebukes. The Exo was threatening to make a scene whether he meant to or not, obviously not primed on the 'finer' points of this galaxy's culture.

At the gambling table Cobb sat at, a three-eyed Gran snorted, muttering something about crazy droids as he adjusted the cards in his hand and added a credit chip to the pile.

[heypartner]

Yeah, the problem with that droid was Cobb knew him. He glanced over his shoulder just to confirm it was Cayde trying to get in. It was. He'd recognize those spotchka blue eyes anywhere.

Luckily for his friend, Cobb had a losing hand. "Fold," he said when it came to his turn. "And I'll be steppin' out."

He took his winnings, not much but more than he'd lost, with a nod to everyone at the table then left the table. Cayde seemed to be arguing with the bouncer for the club. "Pardon me," he said, making sure to draw himself up to his full height and look important. The new armor helped with the illusion. "I'm familiar with this droid. I'll take responsibility for him."

The bouncer still didn't look pleased. Cayde made an impression but he stepped back to allow Cayde in.

[deal_me_in]

Cayde had to double-take at the man before recognizing him for who he was, a grin crossing his metal features. "Nice cape," he couldn't he help but comment. It seemed obligatory, a Hunter thing. And then what Cobb informed the bouncer sank in, making the Exo scowl a little, but he sauntered past the bouncer. He liked making impressions, and wasn't going to complain about getting the upperhand here, even if it did take some help.

"I'm a big boy, I can be responsible," he said to Cobb, falling back into his usual carefree demeanor. "So, hope I wasn't interrupting anything important."

[heypartner]

"Thanks." Cobb blushed just a little and pretended to not notice. He was still adjusting to just how many people noticed him when he wore the new armor and cape. Even the beskar didn't get him stared at like this.

"Just losing a hand of sabacc." He led Cayde to a table and signaled a waitress, a pretty blue tw'ilk with elegantly long lekku. "Bottle of spotchka, two glasses."

She looked a little confused because droids didn't drink but nodded and went to get his order. "You're gonna have a hard time in this galaxy which I think you're starting to figure out. No one thinks you're a human in a metal body. No droid here is that advanced."

[deal_me_in]

"What's sabacc?" the Exo asked, curiosity clearly perked. He'd heard some keywords there that suggest gambling, and he was all about gambling. With a grin at the waitress, he settled easily into one of the seats, resting an arm over the edge of the table.

Ooh, spotchka! He remembered the man mentioning it before, so he looked forward to experiencing the stuff in person. His brow however furrowed as Cobb started to give him a rundown of what to expect in this place, and Cayde rolled his optics as he sighed. "Well, advanced models aside, what's that supposed to mean? I need someone with flesh and blood to walk me around by the hand or something?"

[heypartner]

“A card game.” Cobb leaned back in his chair and pointed out the tables in the back where folks were gathered up playing the game and very obviously gambling with credits. “That’s how I’ve been making money while we’re here.”

Yeah, the Agrii kept providing money but Cobb felt better about winning it. Conversation at the table also kept him updated on what was happening around the galaxy right now. Not much. Things were really quiet and peaceful in the Old Republic.

“Generally? Yeah.” Cobb paused while the waitress returned with a bottle of faintly glowing blue alcohol and two glasses. She even offered ice but Cobb said no. He was used to semi-warm spotchka. He poured for them both. “Droids can run simple errands but most people don’t trust them without a human around to keep an eye on them. Independence is a real tricky thing. If we get you a helmet you might be able to pass as a human in armor with prosthetics.”

Spotchka is a slightly salty taste with a little burn, sort of like vodka. Cobb sipped his because this was the good stuff.

[deal_me_in]

"Do tell!" Cayde said eagerly on the subject of sabacc, scooting forward in his seat like an eager child awaiting a good story. He was all about making more money, generous as the Agrii have been in providing. That was not to say he wasn't appreciative they were being funded.

Giving the waitress a wink, he scooped up his glass once it was filled, taking a moment to enjoy looking at the glowing beverage. He glanced around, making sure to catch at least a few people's eyes before raising the glass in mock toast and tipping it back for what amounted to a sip.

"Well that's no fun," he snorted as he set the glass down. "-this by the way? Not bad. I doubt anyone would be willing to take me on in a drinking game though. A helmet isn't a bad thought, the only objection I have is hiding my beautiful face."

[heypartner]

Cobb didn't have a deck with him or else he'd show Cayde. If the waitress swung around again he'd see if he could grab one from here. "Pretty simple game on the surface. You wanna win the pot with a hand worth twenty-three points. You got higher, you're out. If no one makes twenty-three the closest without going over wins the pot. Has seventy-six cards, each with a specific value."

If Cayde was real curious Cobb could list them all and their values. It was all in his had and even if he went mad in the desert back home he thought he'd hold on to sabacc cards.

"See, I thought the horn would be the problem." He gestured at the very prominent horn in the center of Cayde's forehead. "But there might be somethin' in the market. I got all this and saw plenty of helmets."

[ezra_of_lothal]

It was, partly, Ezra trying to stick to a buddy system a little. Cobb struck him one of the group at large likely to wander off on his own, but maybe he'd put up with Ezra's company for a while.

"Well, I could probably use a new jacket, at the least," he says. He's tried to wash the blaster burn from the fire fight on Thrawn's flagship out of it, but it's seen better days.

"And even when I had a lightsaber, I'd carry a blaster sometimes. Then there's thinking about things we could generally use back on Agra. So a bit of both on the list versus wandering?"

[heypartner]

Cobb takes a look at Ezra's jacket. Sure, it's got a few burns on it but looks like a pretty good jacket to him. "Let's start with the jacket then. I gotta get one too. Didn't expect worlds with a single sun to be that cold."

And humid. Back in that ruined city Cobb had experienced weather that just wasn't possible on Tatooine. Dew! Fog! Wind that didn't throw sand in his face! It was also cold. He didn't like the cold.

He hooks a thumb on his belt while they walked. "You wanna get a blaster while we're here? Or are you all workin' on lightsabers in that temple?"

Which was a real intimidating building. Cobb had no desire to get close. Ezra looked plenty old enough for his own blaster too. Might as well get one while they had the chance.

[deal_me_in]

Seventy-six cards with specific values. That was a lot of homework, but Cayde was already committed the moment he'd asked what Sabacc was. "Sounds kind of like an Earth game I know. I needa show you how to play when we get back." He paused, casting almost a longing look towards the gambling tables. "Would they let me play?"

The horn, the horn. The Exo grinned, gesturing towards his metal features the way one showed off priceless jewelry. "My beautiful horn is part of my beautiful face," he said. "But yeah, I did consider that. I figure that with the faces I've seen on some people around here, it might not be that big of a problem."

[heypartner]

"No, droids brains are too good and too hard to read. People don't let them play." But Cayde wasn't a droid. He was something else entirely. None of that would matter to anyone sitting at those tables. "Bet you'd be real good too once you got it down."

Cobb figured if anyone could make him a better sabacc player it'd be Cayde. Or maybe one of the Jedi with their strange powers. Could he teach Mando's kid? That could be fun.

"We can buy a deck and I'll teach ya. Bet a few people from around here know how to play." It could make for a good time when they got back to the ruins. "The problem isn't the horn. It's..."

All of Cayde.

"If we can hide the face, though, you could stand a chance."

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra has certainly worn clothing far more ratty, but the credits aren't going to be much use when they leave, so he might as well spend them. He wishes he knew if his most recent growth spurt had been his last or not.

"Well, I hope to come away with at least a crystal for a saber," Ezra admits. "I've scrounged pretty unconventional parts to build from there before. I'm sure Master Kenobi vouching that he's supervising training will help. Because he can't really fake mastery. Not to a bunch of other Masters looking at him through the Force." He can't really explain it better than that; it's just one of those thing he intuitively knows.

"Whether there might be other requirements, we'll see. Traditionally, getting a crystal is a quest. You go where they're found naturally and go through a spiritual test."

[deal_me_in]

The Exo couldn't help but preen a little at that observation. "I do know my way around a gambling hall," he said with a crooked smile. Little good that'd do him if they wouldn't even let him have a crack at a game.

He didn't look particularly amused to be implied as a major problem. And here he thought he'd finally be able to have some fun somewhere!

"Right, so we go do some shopping then, get a crash course in how they game around here, and then maybe have some fun?"

[heypartner]

Oh, even if Ezra explained it better Cobb wouldn't truly get it. The Force was just beyond his understanding. A hard life on Tatooine just made him too literal for all that Jedi business. Deeper meanings to the universe just didn't sit right with him.

But, he listened to the young man talk about his Jedi business. Cobb wasn't going to tune him out just because he didn't understand.

"Well, we're supposed to figure out why so many of us come from one place. Maybe a good old fashioned spiritual quest would solve that." Though, it isn't like any of them could go home. Cobb didn't quite understand not being able to get off planet.

[heypartner]

Yeah, he got the sense Cayde was good at bullshit which is really all a gambler needed. He chuckled into his drink. It was hard not to like the man even though Cobb wasn't so fond of droids himself.

"Oh, I think we can find some fun. It's a little too bright in here. Might have to go to the lower levels for a game with you," Cobb said as he poured himself another drink. "Low lights, a little touch of armor to disguise you, we can definitely get you into a game."

It'd be more dangerous than playing in the more respectable bars Cobb's been cleaning out but they could handle themselves. "Gotta get a deck to show you the cards."

[deal_me_in]

That sounded fine with Cayde. "The underground's where most of the excitement is just about anywhere," he said as he picked up his glass again, tossing back the rest of its contents. Then he nudged the empty glass towards Cobb for a refill.

"Well, I'm in. You find us a deck and we can get things rolling."

[on_repeat]

"It may not be exactly what we are used to, but go out and enjoy yourself Echo."

And honestly, Echo was trying to make the most of it. After a few days of aimless wandering, he finally fell back into focus. When he wasn't trying to stock up on supplies he and the others might need back on Agra 10, he settled into one of many bar scenes within the lower levels – not too far down just yet, but it was a start.

Among the crowd that's gathered there, he stands at one of the taller tables surrounding the central counter of the establishment, glancing down at the glass he's only started to drink. None of the voices overlapping each other in conversation are anywhere close to what he's used to hearing – different languages, different pitches, different from the clones and what they usually talk about – but it makes for a quick review in being aware of one's surroundings.

Which easily comes into play when certain groups of patrons become louder than the din already permeating the space.

[heypartner]

The mid-levels had some good sabacc games. They weren't as high stakes as what Cobb had been playing but they were usually more relaxed and more his style of people. He didn't wear his fancy new armor, just his travel worn clothes and drank slightly more salty spotchka. It was almost home but still too cold.

He didn't mean to start trouble but well, it was his lucky night. An Idiot's Array. Cobb had only gotten the hand once before playing with some old timers in Mos Pelgo. He'd bought everyone in the cantina a drink for that and the townsfolk had cheered him on.

Here... it got his wrist grabbed by a Zabrakian and an accusation of cheating. Cobb asked politely at first for his wrist to be let go so that he could collect his winnings and well... he wasn't getting out of this one without a fight it seemd.

Son of a bantha.

He grabbed the Zabrakian by the back of the neck and slammed his forehead down onto the table, scattering cards and credits. Cobb kicked his chair back and stood up at his full height which he knew was imposing. "Last chance, fellas, before we start dancing. You sure you want to do this?"

A guy tackled him from the side and Cobb figured... yeah, they wanted to do this.

[heypartner]

"People know how to have fun when they've got very little else." Cobb leaned back further in his chair and caught the eye of the waitress. She sauntered over and he turned on the polite charm, all smiles and warm voice.

"Darlin', could we get a sabacc deck? Just to keep my hands busy while I'm talkin' with my friend here. Drinkin' without the cards just ain't the same." He grinned but the waitress didn't seem terribly impressed by him.

Ah, well, she still went off and came back with the cards. Cobb tipped her for putting up with him. He offered Cayde the cards to look through first. "Best to just look first."

[ezra_of_lothal]

"You...may be onto something there, Mr. Vanth," Ezra says, thoughtfully.

"As for your other question about blasters - I like having something with a stun setting. When I was on my own on Lothal, I had an energy sling shot."

[deal_me_in]

The Exo gave him a knowing nod. More to gain, less to lose too. He watched as Cobb spoke to the waitress again, hiding a snicker behind his hand. As she went off, he helped himself to more of the spotchka.

"Ooh, these look fun," he said as he accepted the cards and began rifling through the well-worn deck. He started dividing them up by like-symbols as he saw them, figuring it might make things easier for Cobb to explain.

[heypartner]

“You got your four basic suits. Sabers. Flasks. Coins. Staves.” Cobb tapped a finger against each suit. “You got your basic numbers in those suits. Those have the value on them. Then you’ve got your ranked cards. Commander is twelve. Mistress is thirteen. Master is fourteen. Ace is fifteen. Some versions of sabacc it can be one as well. Just make sure you know what style you’re playin’ and you’ll be fine.”

Cayde started to lay out the face cards, two sets of eight. He tapped a finger against the first one Cayde laid out. “The Star. Negative seventeen. All the face cards have negative values. Real important to remember that when you’re building a hand.”

He went through the rest of the face cards. The Evil One, negative fifteen. Moderation, negative fourteen. Demise, negative thirteen. Balance, negative eleven. Endurance, negative eight. Queen of Air and Darkness, negative two. Idiot, zero.

“Best to memorize the values first before you learn how to play. Adding things up in your head can get tricky fast if you don’t have the values down.” Cobb had learned numbers with the cards before he learned how to play the game.

[heypartner]

Cobb chuckled. “Vanth is fine. Don’t need the fancy title.”

It was very respectful of Ezra but Cobb wasn’t one to stand on manners. They were in this mess together. They could drop the formalities. It wasn’t like he was a Jedi master or anything.

“Could get yourself a stun staff if they don’t let you have a lightsaber. Those things have a nasty bite.” Cobb had a lot of personal experience with various stun sticks. Not something he would mention to Ezra. “Shouldn’t be too hard to find some sort of stun weapon.”

He’d rather a real blaster or even a slug thrower but he wasn’t a gentle soul.