Those nerf-herding Frog-Dogs

Baron Deathmark's shouts of outrage over the Frog-Dog player kicking the ball - a taboo in Huttball, as Hutts don't have feet - blared over the speakers in the alcove off the main floor of the cantina. Vette giggled in delight. "Some people find him annoying, but I think Baron Deathmark's hilarious. He really knows how to play it up for the crowd. Games wouldn't be as fun to watch without him," she said.

"You know, one time he actually put a bounty out on a guy for kicking the Huttball repeatedly? It was one of my first contracts after the Great Hunt," The Outlander said.

That got Vette's attention. "Really? He had a guy killed over that? And you did it for him?" Her amber eyes were large as she looked at him.

The Outlander laughed. "No, ironically it wasn't a ****-mark. He wanted him brought in, and once he had him, Baron Deathmark broke both his feet. Said he wanted him to have to think twice the next time he was going to kick something. He's... really obsessed with that. But, easy money, and I got to meet a celebrity. Plus free tickets to a match."

Vette laughed out loud, almost knocking over her drink with her elbow. "That's great!"

Before long the game was over, the Rotworms winning 6-4 over the Frog-Dogs. The Outlander refilled their drinks from the pitcher while Vette munched on a fried pickle.

"So, how do you like working with Gault?" he asked.

"Well, there's no one in the galaxy who knows how to set up a score like him. I'm learning a lot, and while I was a pretty good thief, he steals ten times as much, without the mark realizing anything's missing for weeks, even months. So that's good. And building a network of contacts, that's invaluable." She didn't look as enthusiastic as she sounded, though.

"But...?"

"But he also thinks he's a ladies man, and I kind of get creeped out when he tries to be charming. I mean, he's almost old enough to be my grandfather."

The Outlander raised an eyebrow. "Really? So how old does that make me?" he asked. He didn't really consider Gault to be that much older than he was...

Vette looked him over pretty thoroughly. "Well, older brother, I guess. Though I can call you 'Daddy' if you like," she said with a wicked grin.

The Outlander had been sipping his beer and that caused him to do a spit-take, spraying beer-foam across the bar at the tending droid, who stopped wiping a glass and stared at him with its single optic sensor. "Uh, sorry."

Vette put her hand on his thigh. "I mean, you are trying to pick me up, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah, but I was going to take it slow."

She smiled. "Oh, that's sweet of you. I mean, we can take it slow if you like, but honestly I was kind of hoping this date was going to wind up back in your quarters..."

"I'd like that, too. But... why?"

Vette seemed surprised. "Because I like you. Because you saved my life when Vaylin's forces had me pinned down. Because you made the hard choices and saved the galaxy. And because I've heard you've got a big dick. So, you know, easy choice."