Log Date: 11/25/98 Log Cast: Co'Libri, Shenner, Chantinelle, Ariani (NPC), Troy, Divk, Jairen, Morganna, Emma (NPC), Dracolysk, Aerilaya, Loren (NPC), Aidon, Rekkie (NPC), Dak, Karm (NPC), Tethra (NPC), Aa'leet (NPC), Defcon, CJaye, Hunter Log Intro: Shenner's life might have settled down to some extent -- it hasn't included any encounters with Jedi either of the Light or Dark persuasions lately, for example -- but this doesn't mean it hasn't thrown her a few curveballs still. An old friend, Trace Dimitrik, has wound up proving to her that Paul Nighman is not the only man in the galaxy who can rouse her attraction, a discovery that has troubled Shenner deeply even though she's quite happy that she got to see Trace again. And Aidon Semmes has managed to shock her not only by asking her for a recording of her music, but also making several sharp guesses about her history, forcing her to realize that in a strange sort of way she's beginning to think of the former soldier as a friend despite herself. The young musician doesn't know, however, that approval of her music is about to get her some notice from another unexpected quarter... and that Aidon's going to be drawn planetside to hear her music live.... ---------- You enter the Sandbar. The Sandbar A large circular room creates the main part of Caspar's infamous SandBar. Dark wood paneled walls adorned with all sorts of paraphanalia set the relaxed athmosphere of the bar. Photographs and holovids are pinned randomly around, seemingly with no order at all. Posters from years past hang proudly, displaying obscure bits of Plaxton's recent history. Several windows made from a deep blue glass allow light in from outside, while still keeping the appearance of the bar rather dark. Along one curved wall a marble bar stands proudly, where Ariani busies herself making drinks and cleaning occational spots of the bar. There is an abundant amount of seating in here. You notice quite a few booths and tables, as well as a loft which protrudes out over the bar. A popular local band plays smooth jazz in the background. ----For help with tables, type "PLACE HELP" ----For help with drinks, type "BAR HELP" -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Chantinelle => Ariani => Emma -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- leads to Fountain Square - Plaxton City. Co'Libri sits down at the bar. Co'Libri looks at you for a moment. Ducking in from the square, Shenner pauses to survey the morning-peaceful bar, pushing strands of rain-dampened hair out of her green eyes. The place is quiet as a bar ever is in the morning hours, and the young musician blows out a breath after a moment, checking for Ariani's presence in her usual domain behind the bar. Co'Libri Average build boyish features owning a pleasant lookin man. On his mid twenties, athletic build ans flowning long dark hair that flows like waves to his shoulders, someone might consider him quite handsome. Dressed almost always in white pirate fashioned shirt and black vest with designer cut dark trousers he stands out of crowd quite easily. Something bulging back of his vest.. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => DY-255 Heavy Blaster Pistol Chantinelle stands just on the bar, sipping bored on a transparent fluid checking the door from time to time as waiting for somebody. As Shenner steps in she smiles and nods friendly to the younger woman, trying to get her attention, without being annoying. Ariani is, indeed, on hand behind the bar, though before Shenner can catch her attention, she spies Chantinelle first. The redheaded girl stops a moment, then inclines her head calmly in reply as she moves to claim herself a stool and wait for Ariani to finish her check of the inventory of ales on one of the myriad shelves on the side wall. Co'Libriglances around the bar and smiles to women. Co'Libri gives Ariani some Standard Galactic Credits. Ariani works with grace as she makes a dragonflower and serves it to Co'Libri. Co'Libri takes a sip from his dragonflower. Troy enters the Sandbar. Troy has arrived. Troy strools into the bar, Looking a little worse for wear. With a scorch mark from a blaster on his left shoulder, and a limp. He still retains his cocky grin, and a cigar in his mouth. Chantinelle stands besde Shener, trying to get her in a discussion. Co'Libri glances troy Shen has claimed her stool at the bar, but as Chantinelle has approached her, the girl's turned to survey the older woman, her eyebrows arching. "What?" she asks, a bit discomfited and fighting down the urge to shove a hand through her damp hair and tame it into something resembling order. "Do you want something?" Troy seeing his Favorite Musician and Favorite Imp he strools up to the Ladies "Good day Fair Ladies, how fair you both this Day." he says in a bright mood. Shenner's green gaze flicks around Chantinelle to take in the arrival of Troy McTavish, to whom she grins a bit, lopsidedly. "Hiya," she tells him. Behind the bar, Ariani takes note of the three who have come in, and settles herself to calmly await anyone who needs her attention. Chantinelle keeps her polite smile on the younger woman, "Yes indeed I want something." she starts but gets interrupted by Troy, she flashes him a smile and grins, "Am no fair nor am I a lady!" and nods in a greeting to him. Troy excuses him self to go wash up from a days work on his ship...returning he responds to Chanti with a smile and then turns to SHenner "So when do i get my next lesson..." he gives her a smile. _Oh, just great,_ Shenner thinks uneasily, though she doesn't let that discomfort get into her voice. Keeping her expression neutral, conscious that Ariani's very likely keeping an eye on her though the bartender has discreetly withdrawn to the other end of the bar, the redheaded girl gruffly considers Chantinelle and asks, "So, well, what's on your mind?" To Troy, she adds, "Depends on what else you think you need to know, pal." Chantinelle doesn't notice or doesn't show that she notice Shenners behavior toward her and simply waits until the woman finshed with Troy before she asks her favor, "Well I might to have a job for me. Avy Errr.. M'Lady Laarken meant to ask you directly and here I am." Troy steps back abit, it is now obvious he is interupting a serioius conversation...or the beggining of one. So he steps over to where Ariani is, and orders a coffee, he also says sorry for wrecking the bar a little last night. Troy sits down at the bar. Ariani merely tells Troy in firm tones not to do it again; apparently, she likes him well enough, for the scolding's delivered amiably enough. Shenner, in the meantime, peers at Chantinelle; the girl's eyebrows draw together, as she can't imagine what business might exist that would have caused her employer to point this woman to her. "What're you talkin' about?" she asks bemusedly. Chantinelle smiles and continues in her soft voice "Well I was commanded to plan a small party on Caspar and for each party you need some food stuff and entertainment! Well Avy is the boss here and got her agreement to cater it, even with the band of the Sand Bar, but I would like to have you as a singer too!" Shenner can be seen to blink. "What?" is her only reply, and a rather blank reply at that. Troy walks up to Shenner hearing the News and pats her all the back "Hey we get ta see yeah all dressed up and stuff..." smiles a little, knowning that would not be the highlight of the event for shenner "Mabey some big producer will take in the afair..." Atleast Troy seems happy for Shenner. Chantinelle blinks and frowns a little bit surprised at Shenner, thinking before that the woman would be happy about this. She shrugs and looks at Troy, who come closer, "It's not the reason to see her dressed up, but simply to listen to her music!" she tries to defend her idea. Shenner blinks again, between Chantinelle and Troy both, before turning back to the former. "Wait a minute," she blurts, "let me get this straight... you... want _me_... to come sing at some party you're giving? A... _formal_... party?" Chantinelle shakes her head, "No no. No way _I_ am giving a party here. It will be some by the Bureau itself. I would never bring up enough money to pay for such an event." she smiles and throws a warning glance at Troy, "And you keep quiet about this!!" she adds seriously. As Chantinelle clarifies who is responsible for the event under discussion, Shenner visibly gulps; no doubt about it, something about this idea's struck off a nervous, jangled chord in her. Her voice turns gruffer as she asks, "You, uh... say Miz Laarken's goin' to this thing? And the band?" Chantinelle nods, "Well yes. I do have her okay for the food and the band, but she told me to ask you yourself and I think its only fair since you have some kind of your own agreement with Ms. Laarken." The girl turns slightly away, pointing her gaze off across the bartop at the shelves that face her. A mug of tea has appeared before her, courtesy of Ariani -- the woman's good, having snuck the tea to the musician without her looking -- and Shen grabs hold of it with a surge of silent gratitude that it gives her something to do with her hands. "I'll... talk with Miz Laarken about it," she finally hedges. Chantinelle oohs and shows her displeasurement about this answer open by letting her shoulders drop, but she continues in a still friendly way, "Well there is of course no way I can urge you to do something, but I can tell you it would be a highlight of the night!" she smiles and sips on her drink, placing it nearly untouched back on the bar table, "Well I have to go for now.. but you are always free to get in contact with me over the embassy if you have a decision. But I can clear you your mind about one thing.. it wont be a imperial party in this way that only imps will be there. No, the primary reason of the party is to show our thank to the Casparian peolpe and so mostly Casparians are inveted of course. There wont come any HC imp over for this, I can promise you." Perhaps it's Shenner's attempt to be polite that she does actually look back at Chantinelle as the woman proffers her assurances, but truth be told, Shenner doesn't look polite -- she looks about as nervous as if a rabid bantha were about to charge her. "Uh... yeah," she croaks by way of reply, unable to think of anything cleverer to say, unable to manage anything resembling a smile. Chantinelle hmms and nods simply, not knowing wha she shall add to this, she looks over to Ariani, "Please would you like to set this one up on my bill for the embassy as well? " she turns back at Shenner, "Well I _still_ hope to be able to introduce there you to the waiting autditorium." she nods politely and heads to the exit, with a smile for Troy on her lips. Ariani nods, much better able to be polite than Shenner, though half her attention is lingering on the apparently thunderstruck girl. "Certainly," she replies amiably. _Oh, kaaaaaaaark,_ Shenner thinks dully, not succeeding in more than another round-eyed glance at Chantinelle as the woman turns to take her leave. She's now clinging to that tea cup rather hard. Chantinelle walks out of the Sandbar and the door closes automatically. Chantinelle has left. Divk enters the Sandbar. Divk has arrived. Once Chantinelle has departed, Shenner lets out a low strangled groan and slumps forward, till her brow thunks lightly against the bar. "Oh, kaaaaaark," she mumbles. Divk enters the bar after a good workout and nearly jogs to the bar for breakfast. As per usual, Ariani is on the job, turning to attend to the newest arrival in the bar as soon as she has a free moment. She casts a gently amused glance at Shenner, though, and as she passes the young redhead, she murmurs to her, "Hey, kiddo, buck up, it ain't exactly like you've been asked to stand in front of a firing squad, you know?" Troy laughs a little at Shenners Discomfort and agrees with Ariani "Yeah..it could be worse..you could win the lottery." Divk sees Shenner and smiles in her direction as he drips raindrops across the floor behind him. taking a seat at the bar, near the far end, he looks to the waitress. A roll of bills appears in his hand and he strips one from it and drops it to the bar, returning the wad to his pocket. Apparently, the humor is lost on the russet-haired guitar player. "Naah, I just been asked to go to a _formal_ party, is all," she moans, still not lifting her head off the bartop. "Maybe it's lost on that lady, but I ain't exactly the formal party type, ya know?" Troy laughs a little "bahhh....its only one night..." smiles comforting. Divk looks toward Troy and nods to him, turning as the waitress holds up an empty cup as if to signal a question to Divk, he nods to her and she proceeds to pour him a large mug of caf. After making sure that Divk has been properly attended, Ariani wanders back down towards Shenner, and surveys her with a kindly regard. "Y'know, you could just tell her no, kiddo." "But if Miz Laarken's goin', and Rekkie and everybody else..." Shenner moans again, concluding, "Oh, kaaaaaark..." Troy laughs and comments and says, "Well, Well Looks like you do have a fews soft spots." and returns the nod to the man down the bar.", in Corellian. Shenner looks up warily at Troy. "What's that supposed to mean?" she practically wails. Divk sips the hot liquid. Troy smiles and says sympthiticaly and says, "Well yea always seem, like a rock solid girl.." shruggs "its good to have a soft spot..even if'n it is only formal wear."", in Corellian. "Shen, if it's a question of you not having any appropriate clothes--" Ariani begins. And Shenner abruptly flushes crimson, grabbing for the tea again. "I got... a dress," she croaks. And after a beat she appends, "Two." Troy laughing again at the young lady and says, "Well then what is the problem..."", in Corellian. Divk pulls a datapad and busies himself. From the way Ariani's eyebrows climb towards her hairline, you'd think Shenner had just proclaimed herself a long-lost Jedi Master, the heir to a planetary monarchy, and had spraypainted herself neon yellow and started tapdancing atop the bar. But as Shenner has merely admitted to possessing not one but _two_ dresses, the bartender's only reaction is to interestedly await the girl's reply to Troy's question. _What's the problem? Oh, merely that a street rat like me has absolutely no business being in any kind of polite, formal shindig where they wear nice clothes and drink champagne and dance and where there's gonna be frekkin' -Imperials-,_ Shenner thinks wildly. But what she _says_, all too conscious of the staff of the Sandbar's general political neutrality, is a raspy, "I just ain't... used to parties, okay?" And she gulps down tea as if her life depended on it. Troy nods, to noting there's something Shenner is holding back. "Well lass its about time yeah started..heck, its all part of being in the entertaining biz...." shruggs "even if your more used ta partying down with us light harted folk down in the pubs.." shruggs "shezze at least you got invited..." he gruffs. "Yeah, like she'da looked twice at me if I couldn't string two notes together and make 'em sound good?" mumbles Shenner, rubbing the back of her hand across her eyes, struggling to look less daunted. Ariani puts in mildly, refilling Shenner's tea mug, "Don't sell yourself short, Shen. Ms. Laarken looked at you after all, and didn't you say Princess Organa-Solo even liked your songs? Seems to me like you have a habit of attracting attention in high places." Troy smiles and adds to Ariani comment "aye...and If i was to offer you a free ship, but it had like know cargo room, and was slower then a political debat..yeah would still take it..right." he sips at his coffee. Shenner turns a startled stare on Troy, looking rather as if the man had started spouting an unintelligible language at her. "'Scuse me?" she asks blankly. Troy shruggs "what i mean ta say is this...its an offere...take it run with it..don't be worried about it." Shenner snorts, first at Troy and then at Ariani, and then starts gulping down the second helping of tea. "I told her I'd talk with Miz Laarken about it," she mutters roughly; apparently, for her, that's all there is to say about the matter. Troy shruggs "I think Miz larken, has already given her approval..." sips at his coffee "The ball is in your court.." "Yeah, well," mutters Shen, gulping down the tea and shoving the mug unseeingly to Ariani, "my ball says to talk to Miz Laarken. If y'all'll 'scuse me..." Shaken, uneasy, the girl takes her leave with what composure she can muster... which isn't much. [But even when she's ill at ease, Shenner can't stay away from the Sandbar for long -- she does, after all, work there, and this day's no exception to that rule. Later on in the day, she makes her way back to the bar, not quite over her nervousness about Chantinelle's invitation...] You walk into Fountain Square. Fountain Square - Plaxton City The huge buildings in the background threaten to take over this small patch of green that is the center of Plaxton City. A stone fountain -still in place from another time- sits in the center of the square. It depicts a young woman looking into the sky. water flares around her and bursts into a star pattern ten feet above her head. The inscription at the base of the fountain is written in the aging language of a more romantic time. 'Farewell, for all journeyers that leave this place shall always return to call it home.' Wandering the square throughout the day are Caspar Marines; some off-duty and enjoying their downtime while on-duty commandos in full armor and uniform keep watch over the area. Despite the commandos' aggresive appearance, they are viewed with admiration and respect from most of the citizens, some of them even joking and talking with families. The afternoon sky above is full of clouds with light rain coming down. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Morganna => Divk => SWOOP: Ubrikkian Phantom-Q -- Mach 5 => Jairen => IGNews Terminal - Caspar => Mail Terminal: Caspar -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- ndbar leads to The Sandbar. outh leads to South Mergansar Ave. - Plaxton City. ast leads to East Blake St. - Plaxton City. orth leads to North Mergansar Ave. - Plaxton City. est leads to West Blake St. - Plaxton City. Jairen heads towards the Sandbar at an unhurried pace, taking no real notice of many things around him. This is not to say he's not alert, but nothing happening is overly concerning to him. Looking about as accustomed to the inevitable rain as a native resident of Plaxton City, Shen Veery makes her way into the square sans umbrella. Still, her step's a swift one as it carries her towards the refuge of the Sandbar. You enter the Sandbar. The Sandbar -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Ariani => Emma -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- leads to Fountain Square - Plaxton City. Jairen enters the Sandbar. Jairen has arrived. Jairen steps into the bar from the rain, but seems to be less wet than one normally would be. Glancing a couple directions from the door, he heads towards the bar with his noiseless, measured, and graceful steps. "They're not in yet, Shen," Ariani points out even as Shenner peers stageward and finds the domain of Rekkie Sheldon and her fellow musicians unoccupied. Shenner blows out a nervous breath and turns to the bar, leaning against it and asking the older woman, "You, uh, ain't seen Miz Laarken yet this afternoon, have ya?" Ariani, then, turns to check on the latest incoming customer, saying amiably, "Can I get you something?" Jairen smiles slightly as he nods to the tender, his oddly accented voice simply replying, "A chilled wine, if you please, m'lady." Morganna enters the Sandbar. Morganna has arrived. Her green gaze flicks towards the door and the new arrival, and Shenner straightens a bit in startlement at the sight of the swordsman. The girl blinks a time or two, knocked off whatever urgent topic she must have been discussing with Ariani, as the older woman nods and turns to fetch a suitable vintage. As she does, Ariani tells the musician, "Not yet, kiddo, but keep your shirt on, I'm sure you've got plenty of time to talk about the whole thing with her." "I hope," mutters Shenner uneasily. "I mean, if she's got the band signed up to go do it, I might as well, but what the nine _hells_ are we gonna play...?" She trails off, and flicks a halfhearted smile in the direction of Jairen. Jairen nods back to the young woman with a small smile. "And how fair you, young one?" Just another person in a black cloak enters the Bar. Now, Caspar seems to have an infestation of these.. Ozzle amongst others, and most are not very nice people. There is a oft blue glow coming from beneath the hood, but that could be from /anything, as the cape is draped over the being's face in such a way that it's difficult to see what's underneath it except up close. The lone figure chooses a table near the bar ad drums its gloved fingers on the tabletop. "Fine," chirps the redheaded musician in a slightly strained tone. Shenneret Veery, it seems, is not particularly good at dissembling. "Shenner," observes Ariani blandly as she presents Jairen with his wine, "is concerned about an engagement at which she's been asked to perform." Divk enters the Sandbar. Divk has arrived. The tables are Emma's domain, and Emma ventures over to check on the figure that's claimed that table near the bar, summoning her best perky smile. Jairen ahs undersandingly, taking the wine and handing the 'tender the appropriate compensation. "I see. And what engagement might this be that the young one is comissioned that has her in such a state?" Takes a sip. Divk has remained dry standing beneath the eaves of the Sandbar and meerly drags a foot across the doorjam, ridding himself of a little mud collected on his boot, as he steps into the bar, a bit behind the darkly encased woman. He looks around as he stands a moment. The cloaked figure raises its head as Emma nears, a cool feminine voice can be hears from beneath the cape. Those who met Morganna /before/ her assassination attempt would not recognise the voice, "I'll have an Athaniss bloowd wine, please." Although the hood drips water onto the table, the being does not yet reveal her face... although the glowing eye might give Emma a hint as to who her customer is. Ariani chuckles softly, glancing up and down the bar and checking on further incoming customers. As she excuses herself to attend to them, Shenner mutters to Jairen, "It's _formal_. And, uh, Imperial." Jairen chuckles slightly at Shenner's mutterings. "And you fear your performance will not be it's best?" Dracolysk walks in from the street and pauses in the doorway to wipe some of the water from his clothes. He then smiles pleasantly around the Sandbar and meanders his way slowly towards the bar, noticing that the bar staff are for the most part occupied, he places his Attache case on the ground by a stool and seats himself. Dracolysk looks at you for a moment. "Certainly," pipes Emma to the figure in the cloak, and she might possibly have a clue about who the woman is -- though perhaps that slight start of hers could be attributed to simple nervous reaction to the mysterious figure. She scurries off to fetch the requested blood wine, with alacrity. And at the bar, in the meantime, Shen shoves a hand through her russet hair, before turning where she stands leaning against the bartop to consider Jairen and his chilled wine. "Yeah, I'd be about as worried if I had to sing naked in the middle of a pack of rabid vronskrs," she tells him uncomfortably. Divk sees the mysterious woman as she cooly orders a drink from the waitress and she sits without revealing her face. Divk hears the door open behind him and steps off to the side as he chooses a table across from the dark woman, his gaze angles her way briefly as he sits and looks at the man who entered behind him. The cloaked figure grins as the server scurries off. She makes a mental note to wear the cloak more often, it must make her seem a little more imposing. Slowly, the woman removes the gloves, reveling a pair of weathered and scarred hands. Jairen chuckles again, taking another sip of his wine. It is obvious he finds /something/ amusing about this conversation. "And how did you come across this commission?" As Emma comes back with the cloaked one's blood wine and Ariani works her way along the beings at the bar, Shenner sighs and answers Jairen, "Imperial ambassador type got Miz Laarken to sign on the band and our staff for music and food, but they asked _me_, too, and... gah." She slumps onto a stool, and works on pretending she isn't looking panic-stricken. Nervous? Who? Her? Morganna takes the bloodwine with a node of her head and she slides some credits across the table to Emma, payment for the drink with a hefty tip, "Thank you." comes the chilled tone. Now the Morgs-in-disguse peers at the tables nearby, noting the man that was watching her outside, but not thinking its anything other than coincidence that he is here. Jairen smiles again, finishing off his wine. Placing a hand on the young woman's shoulder, he says in a soft voice, "You will do fine..." Placing the glass on the table, he turns and heads towards the exit. Divk nods briefly at the man as he moves out of his vision. The waitress scrambles away and returns with the womans drink as she starts to lower the shield of anonimity she carries about her, Divk watches her from his periphial vision as he focuses on ordering, "Corellian Ale...", his smile quick but short. Dracolysk retrieves an antique silver, basket weave cheroot case from within his jacket and flips the lid open to reveal a row of thin, black cheroots. Selecting one from amongst them he takes it out and flips the lid closed before returning the case into his jacket. Hugo then lights the cheroot with a battered durasteel lighter and inhales deeply, a thin stream of aromatic blue smoke wafts from the tip of the cheroot as he holds it over a convinently placed ashtray and then exhales with a contented sigh. His eyes seem to glaze over for a second before he glances about for one of the bar-staff and orders, "A half carafe of '67 Piknar, thanks." "No problem," pipes Emma, _almost_ convincingly perkily, before she hastens off to attend her next customer -- Divk. And Shen, in the meantime, can be heard to snort. "Yeah right," she mutters, "they want me to wear _formal_ clothes..." She palpably shudders, but still manages to give a bit of a smile to Jairen before he slips off. And Shenner mutters, mostly to herself, "How the kark am I s'posed to play decent guitar in a _dress_?" The mutter's heard, nevertheless, and it elicits a throaty chuckle out of Ariani as the woman gives the young musician a cider to bolster her up. Shen flicks _her_ a halfhearted smile, too, and seizes upon the drink, resigning herself to waiting for the band to arrive, and looking rather uncomfortable about _that_ prospect, too. Jairen passes the cloaked woman as he glides back towards the door, nodding to her again as he did as he passed her coming in. "Good eve, m'lady Ambassador." he says in a normal, flat tone. It's obvious he's just trying to be polite... or at least, that's the impression. Divk looks relaxed as he pulls a roll from his pocket and strips a bill from the syntherband around it, returning the wad to his pocket, he drops the bill to the table as Emma spies him and does her swift dispactch of duty. One of the scarred hands flicks a fingernail against the glass, causing a musical 'ting!' to eminate around the tables close to her. She ponders the wine for a moment and lowers her hood. She doesn't look at Jairen, but Morganna says lowly, and in a voice that is far smooth to be her own, "You're quite perceptive. Good evening, Mr Jairen. I see you still have that lovely sword, still won't part with it?" The vibroblade at Morganna's side is ornate, but a truly functional weapon. It is certainly not a display blade like most diplomats wear, and it has more than likely tasted blood. Aerilaya enters the Sandbar. Aerilaya has arrived. Aerilaya walks out of the Sandbar and the door closes automatically. Aerilaya has left. It'd just be Shenner's luck that the next member of the band to arrive on the scene would be Loren. The young Corellian drummer bursts into the bar as if he'd just been fired out of a blaster rifle, and he rakes an edgy blue gaze around the bar until he spies Shen on her stool. Immediately, he strides to her side, undeterred by the girl seeing him coming and sitting up in evident wariness. The moment he's in range, Loren pinions her with the best intense, smoldering stare he can muster -- which is fairly intense, given that he's Corellian -- and he informs her in tragic tones, "I'm heartbroken, you know." Jairen stops a few steps away and bows slightly to the ambassador, his hands never leaving his hilt. "Thank you, m'lady. Yes, my blade still is with me, and shall remain so until my death if I have any say in such matters. You weapon seems to be lovely enough for its purpose, however." Bows again. "I would stay and chat, but I have things I must do." Turns around again without a dismissal and walks back out into the evening. Aerilaya enters the Sandbar. Aerilaya has arrived. Jairen walks out of the Sandbar and the door closes automatically. Jairen has left. There's something about Morganna's smile that suggests that she would go so far as to kill the man for the weapon, it's onew of those twisted and efil little curves of the mouth that doesn't quite reveal teeth and actually sends a sparkle to her organic eye. The vacationing ambassador runs a hand through her reddish brown hair and sips her wine with contemplation. Dracolysk flashes a half-grin as one of the bar staff arrives with his half-carafe of wine and places it, along with a glass, onto the bar before him. Several credit chits bounce across the bar as the wine is paid for and Hugo pours himself a glass. He takes afew sips from the wine, at first timidly, and then a pleasant smile appears on his face. He turns on his stool and glances about at the Sandbars patrons, a glass of wine in one hand and a thin black cheroot n the other. Dracolysk sits down at the bar. Perhaps Shenner's an old hand at parrying intense Corellian gazes, for she pins Loren right back with a sharp gaze of her own, and drawls, "You'll get over it." "Ahh, Shen," protests the drummer, putting on the sort of melting, guileless expression you'd expect small children and hungry young puppies to use, "you think I can help it? I try _so_ hard, and don't make a dent in those shields of yours, and then a total _stranger_ comes in and you leave holding his hand? What's a guy to do?" Divk accepts the drink from the chatty Emma as shes greets him and skillfully makes change for his bill and absently tips her. His glance falls upon the man talking with the woman, as her face turns to talk with the man, Divk looks at her and takes in her features. He seems unaffected by the surprising result of his gaze as he hears the man address her by her rank of 'Ambassador', he turns back to his drink as he listens to the woman speaking. The most stark feature on Morganna's face is a trio of scars that cut their way from her brow to her chin on the left side of her face. They frame the glowing orb of an eye and give her a most imposing appearance. There are a few scars that start at her chin and end abruptly near her neck. The woman peruses the patrons of the bar with more than a hint of arrogance. Her gaze rests on the young singer, Shenner, but she looks away, as though tired of playing with that girl. She sips her wine, savouring the liquid that is as thick and warm as blood. Aidon enters the Sandbar. Aidon has arrived. Loren doesn't diminish the force of that blue gaze of his in the slightest, and, in fact, adds to it an enormous lopsided smile. "I'm not a stranger either," he points out as he leans against the bar right by Shen's stool. "If I keep not being a stranger, does this mean I'll get to hold your hand?" Aidon steps in and looks around for a moment. He returns to the table he used last time he was here. He sits in the same seat he sat in before. And looks around for the same server. Dracolysk places the thin black cheroot in his mouth and inhales the aromatic smoke, the tip of the cheroot glowing feircly for a few seconds. He then places the cheroot against an ash tray and exhales, the gun-metal blue smoke wafting towards the ceiling gently. Hugo then glances down at his glass of wine and lifts it to his lips, drains it and then pours himself a new glass from the carafe by his elbow. Shenner invokes her standard strategy #1 in response to brilliant Corellian smiles -- to wit, she lifts a slender fist and displays it to Loren, knuckles outward, and gives him a narrow little smile of her own. "Hold this," she barks gruffly at him. "Okay, fireball, that's enough," pipes up the voice of Rekkie Sheldon, as the singer sweeps into the bar and spots Loren and Shenner by the bar. The blonde-haired woman promptly grabs the young drummer by his shoulder, making him yelp, and starts hauling him off towards the storeroom. "We've got to set up, and I'd really rather Shen didn't knock your teeth out _before_ a set, okay?" She adds cheerfully to the girl, "Evenin', Shen." Morganna raises her eyebrows and chuckles as she watches Shenner. Looks like someone else is having some fun tonight. The ambasador has thoughts of blood flicker through her mind, and it's a damn good thing noone else can see them. She takes a sip of her wine and places a datapad on te table, frowning and pressing a button, "Where shall I go next?" she mutters softly to herself, "Ah yes.. Ozzle.." Divk cannot but help himself, as he sits the half emptied glass to the tabletop his eyes fall upon the woman from the square. His gaze lingers at upon her hideously scarred and disfigured left side as the peering orb glows with some unknown incandescence...almost imperceptivly he sees the right side of her face and feels as if two women enjoy the same lithe body. The overlong glance lingers on her reddish-brown hair and departs to come back to the drink in his hand. Shenner manages to hide her grateful glance from Loren, grinning crookedly to Rekkie as the band's leader drags the Corellian away. Saved, at least for now! The girl blows out a breath once Loren is out of range, and gulps down another swallow or three of her cider. Dak enters the Sandbar. Dak has arrived. Dak enters the bar somberly, taking at seat at the bar and ordering a water. Dracolysk's eyes thin into a squint as he hears the name of Ozzle carried barely across the bar and looks about slowly. Failing to locate the source of the name he frowns before taking a sip from his wine and picking up his cheroot. Aerilaya sits at the bar not drinking anythign just looking at her datapad. Rekkie and Loren reach the storeroom, or perhaps more appropriately, Rekkie _drags_ Loren to the storeroom, setting the young man to assembling his drumset while she herself fetches her guitar. Shenner, in the meantime, drains the rest of that cider of hers and hands the mug off to Ariani, rising off her stool and considering if she wants to risk going near the drummer again quite yet. The scarred woman appears to be lost to her thoughts for a moment, she doens't notice Divk's lingering gaze, which is probably a good thing for the man. There's nothing she despises more than people staring at her, she frowns and presses a small button on the pad,, a holographic display of Tatooine, no larger than a fist, floats above the table for a moment. Her quieter persoality has taken over for the time being. Her blood lusting one has become sated by the taste of the wine. With that thought, the ambassador takes another sip. Ariani works with grace as she makes a blackmoon and serves it to Aerilaya. Dak smiles at Aerilaya briefly, looking around the bar and wondering what eyes are following his actions. Aidon orders from the same server as before, even though it's not that server's table tonight. And he orders the same meal. Different drink, though. After ordering, he leans back in his seat and comes as close to relaxing as he ever does. Aerilaya looks around feeling eyes on her back. She sees Dak and smiles at him motioning for him too come over. Dracolysk places the cheroot into his mouth and closes his eyes for a moment, relaxing his body and letting his mind drift as the combination of alcohol and fyz start to take effect. "Ozzle....I wonder..." he muses quietly, letting the words trail off. A thin stream of smoke trails up from the cheroot as it remains in his mouth. Divk leans back, appearantly content to have finished his obviously prolonged analysis of the mysterious woman ambassador, and turns his attention to the rest of the bar. He nearly finishes the drink and realizes the man he was looking at has already left. He twirls the remaining drink rapidly in the bottom of the glass and builds a foamy mixture which he rapidly drinks. Shenner blows out a soft sigh, and then squares her shoulders, resolving to get on with it -- she _does_ have to sing tonight, after all. Emma gives her an odd look as she goes, apparently having witnessed the exchange with Loren, and the waitress makes a scolding 'hmph' noise at the young redhead. Shenner, by way of reply, just grimaces at her and heads back towards the storeroom for one of _her_ instruments. The scarred ambassador pokes at the planet hologram and a soft chime is heard, it sooms into a miniature version of the dune sea, red dots pinpointing some geographical locatios. With a satisfied nod, the ambassador silences the holopad's chiming and presses a button, causing the hologram itself to fade away. The only illumination on the woman's table is from the dim lighting and her irridescent blue glow. She leans back and relaxes, taking a long sip of the blood wine. Donald enters the Sandbar. Donald has arrived. The technician in oddly formal clothing follows Shenner with his eyes, but does nothing to draw attention to himself. Then Aidon receives his drink and looks up at the server with a smile of thanks. He folds his hands around it and focuses on the table. Dak chuckles and gives a friendly nod to Aerilaya, while commenting to Ariani, "Yes, I tell you that there is nothing more ugly than what I saw the other night. A fire fight, I hear." Aerilaya loosk at dak and smiles softly as she looks back at het datapad. It doesn't take too long before Karm, Tethra, and Aa'leet arrive at the bar, too; the two horn players shake off cloaks dampened by the rain, and Aa'leet lowers a hood to reveal her white head-tails wrapped about in gauzy veils. Soon, all six musicians gather on stage to start warming up, and it might be noted that the blue-eyed drummer shoots Shenner one more melting, profoundly guileless glance before Rekkie baps him over the head with one of his own drumsticks. Divk holds the empty glass and sits, and suddenly wonders where the young Quarren, that nearly got whacked in here last night, could be. The scarred Ambassador's gaze shifts slowly to the stage. A frown crosses her lips as she takes note of the amassing musicians and she downs the remaining bloodwine. With a sweep of her hand, she scoops up the datapad, and then slides her hands into the leather glives. With one fineal gesture, she pulls the hood up over her face, becoming just another person in a cloak again. Her predatory gait returns, causing the ambassador to slink towards the door. Aerilaya gives Ariani some Standard Galactic Credits. Ariani works with grace as she makes a blackmoon and serves it to Aerilaya. Morganna walks out of the Sandbar and the door closes automatically. Morganna has left. Dak finally thinks to ask Aerilaya, "What ya workin on there, doc?" Up on the stage, the band goes through its sound checks, as Aa'leet powers on her keyboards and Rekkie flicks on the amplifier circuit on her guitar. Karm and Tethra check the tuning on one another's horns, and tonight, it seems, Shenner's instrument of choice is the dark-wooded, shining-stringed harp she's recently acquired. Pointedly avoiding the hopeful azure gaze of the drummer, Shen meticulously tunes her namdhi, watching Rekkie for direction, until at last the six musicians are ready to play. Aerilaya looks back up at Dak not looking too happy, "Nothing really." she sayas as a tear rolls down her cheek, "Actually nothing, just looking at some pics of my family." Defcon enters the Sandbar. Defcon has arrived. Divk looks into the empty glass, releases it and stands to leave. The water slipping below the door remind him of the impending weather as he leaves. Dak ahhs, then thinks to put in, "I got a sis, El Tracer, so I know how said it is to have a family," he chuckles. Divk walks out of the Sandbar and the door closes automatically. Divk has left. Defcon enters the bar removing his wet coat, he turns and heads towards the bar. Aerilaya looks at Dak and frowns showing him a datapad with the headlines on it "FAMILY KILLED AT HOME BY A JEDI KNIGHT" The mood that Rekkie and her compatriots begin to build tonight is a restrained one, as one by one the instruments begin to sound into life. First there's Loren's snare drum, laying down a slow and quiet pulse; then the horns sliding in on a minor third, and Aa'leet's keyboards picking up a flowing rhythm line after that. Finally, Rekkie comes in on a melody line with her guitar, and over the top of it all, Shenner scatters notes from her harp as Rekkie begins to sing. The language is a guttural one, oddly juxtaposed with the flowing, multilayered music, but somehow, it works. His powers of observation do extend far enough that Aidon can pick up the glances among the musicians on the sage. At the same time, it's hardto say what his own reaction is. Perhaps it's amusement. Perhaps it's bitterness. Perhaps it's irony. Whatever it is, it shows only as a quirked eyebrow and a momentarily twisted lip. Dak blinks at the headline and whispers, "HOw?" Nino 'The Rat' Pasquali comes in from the street and quickly makes his way towards Hugo Dracolysk. Hugo removes the thin black cheroot from his mouth and places it on an ashtray located beside his nearly empty Carafe of wine and wine glass. "NINO!" He says with a smile, "Your out of the hospital? Its good to see you up and about." Nino blushes slightly and smiles, "Good to be up and about." he says and takes a seat at the bar beside Hugo. Hugo pushes across the carafe of wine and says, "Help yourself pal, I gotta get going." and with that he picks up his cheroot, his attache case and makes his way out of the SandBar. Dracolysk walks away from the bar. Dracolysk walks out of the Sandbar and the door closes automatically. Dracolysk has left. Aerilaya looks at Dak, "It is a long story. When I was 12 my parents had sent me too my grandparents befor everyoen else had gone. And a black Jedi Knight entered my home and looking for me supposedly. They couldn;t find me so they killed my family instead." Dak frowns. "I'm sorry, that is awful." Rekkie's voice, not quite of the same growling timbre Shen frequently achieves, is still pleasantly low and seems well-suited to the lyrics she's rumbling out over the instrumentals. On the choruses, Aa'leet and Shenner both come in to back her up, their voices hitting minor thirds and fifths along with her own, and Shenner plays with the sort of determined expression that suggests she's firing at incoming enemy ships rather than playing that delicate harp in her hands. Aerilaya looks at Dak, "I can't do anythign abotu it." she says wipping away her tears triing to act as if nothing was ever wrong. At last, the band segues into its next number, and this time, it's Aa'leet that sings the lead vocals, her sweet soprano voice ringing out with a purity not unlike that of Shenner's harp. The Twi'lek female sings in her own language, and the rest of the musicians sing out muted answers in Basic, setting up a call-and-response that climbs progressively up the scale under the quickening beat. The third song is a duet, sung by Karm and Tethra, their deep voices blending in a surprisingly euphonic harmony for all that they sound as if they are a pair of mountains come to life in song. The fourth's is Loren's -- a love song, unsurprisingly, coming from a Corellian, and he shoots Shenner a pointed, meaningful glance on every chorus or so. Shenner still just as pointedly ignores him, for all that she sings steady backup for the drummer, just as unflinchingly and expertly as she does everyone else in the group. Aidon listens quietly, his vague smile never fading. His food disappears into him somehwere along the way. Once, when a faint rumble comes from outside, his smile broadens. Or maybe it mutates into a grimace of pain. Whatever it is, it's soom gone again. The fifth song... that's Shenner's. And since tonight the band's theme seems to be a round robin of music, sung in a hodgepodge of languages, she doesn't break the trend. Her language of choice is not readily identifiable, something with a lilting accent to it; nor is it readily obvious whether she actually speaks the language or has memorized the words by rote. Whichever is the case, the girl sings as though she understands the subject of her song, something of the shields behind her eyes coming down, letting through a kind of shine as she lays down the song. It's neither overly slow nor overly swift, and although it starts off it a minor key, lamenting and anguished, it gradually modulates to major and picks up power. This brings Aidon's attention back to the band. he focuses on them with intensity, though perhaps not on all of the members equally. His drink goes untouched for the length of the song. Rekkie takes the lead back for the sixth song, picking up the tempo and the volume... and both of them stay boosted up as the musicians begin to close out the set. Shenner sings again before it's done, as the band yields to shouted enthusiastic requests for "Elf Glade" -- and with a small crooked smile, the redheaded young singer takes her compatriots into that wild, fey melody, summoning forth strongly accented peals of song from the shimmering strings of her namdhi. Aidon continues his interest throughout the rest of the set. The ice in his drink has mostly disappeared, and the server has given up trying to interest him in a new one. Steele and maille and gilded crossbow Feather of the ancient windbird Wide as wonder, tall as starlight... Lords of earth and lords of fire, life the love that they desire Lords of earth and lords of fire, life the love... that they desiiiiiire...! The final chorus of "Elf Glade" blazes out into the bar, and with that, in the midst of bursts of applause, Rekkie, Shenner, and the rest of the music-makers on the stage take their bows. Loren stands from behind his drumset, theatrically beaming at a pair of squealing young misses in shimmersilks at a nearby table, and winking lasciviously at Shen in the meantime; Shenner, grimly stoic, continues to ignore him even as the band disperses off the stage to take their breaks. Perhaps sympathetic to the redheaded guitar player, Tethra prevents the drummer from going after Shen as she steps down off the stage. The applause catches Aidon by surprise. After a moment, he joins in. His applause is the stolid noise of a man who doesn't cheer, but who does appreciate the music. As the applause starts to fade, he stops as well and sits back in his chair. His eyes go to his melted drink, and he looks around for the server. The server, like the two girls near the stage, seems to be occupied with gazing dewily at Loren -- but at least in Emma's case, the girl gets interrupted when Ariani pokes her to get her going on her job again. With a little 'hmph' at her sister, Emma scurries off to Aidon's table when she spies him glancing around, but in passing calls pertly to Shenner, "Loren's playing well tonight, don't you think?" "Hmph," retorts Shenner gruffly, aiming herself straight for the bar. Dak notes Shenner's approach. Loren, in the meantime, looks rather irritated at Tethra's intervention, but something the big dark-skinned man says to him must dissuade him, for the young man seems to change strategies. He saunters over to those two shimmersilk-clad lovelies by the stage, and both of them giggle raptuorously at his approach. Rekkie and Aa'leet and Karm, in the meantime, trail after Shenner, but claim themselves their 'usual' table and wait for a break in Emma's attention to get themselves some of their own refreshments. "Are you ready for another drink, sir?" Emma inquires in perkily polite tones of Aidon, once she reaches him. Aidon grins up at Emma. "Please," he says quietly. it's unusual for him to have a second, but perhaps it's a special occasion. Whatever the reason, it's another of those white lightning things with no flavor that he always drinks. Perhaps Emma is pleased to encounter manners in a bar; perhaps she just likes Aidon's grin. Regardless, she smiles sunnily at him, both when she takes his order and when she comes back with his drink. As she goes, though, she keeps shooting starry-eyed glances in the direction of the drummer. Shenner, in the meantime, gets Ariani to pour up several drinks which she then carries over to Rekkie and Aa'leet and Karm. The silver-haired man with round glasses seems somehat amused with the sunny grin, and not at all surprised at the general aura surrounding the drummer. That, too, makes his lips twitch, though he doesn't actually laugh at the young man. He takes a sip of his drink and then turns his attention to people-watching. Conversation at the female bandmembers' table seems upbeat, mostly driven by Rekkie and Karm while Aa'leet watches them both knowingly. Shenner drops off their drinks, but, apparently restless, doesn't stay with them. The girl instead weaves her way back towards the stage, where Tethra is still lingering, adlibbing quiet runs of melody on his horn. His eyes flick back and forth, not watching anyone in particular, but attempting to take in everything. If he manages to catch more than some people, he still doesn't see everything. He misses the knowing look, and doesn't understand the argument the people at the table next to his persist in having. Perhaps he thinks he understands the harpist's return to the stage. Probably he's wrong. Shenner might play with the band, yet somehow the redheaded girl isn't quite one of their number -- or at least, she doesn't quite keep to the same schedule they do when they're playing the Sandbar. She joins Tethra up there on the stage, producing one of her flutes this time rather than taking up the namdhi-harp again. This is Shenner's silver flute, and she and the big horn player soon settle into improvising melody back and forth, her flute's star-pure tones offset by the brandy-warm, mellow voice of the horn. His look at the stage suggests that Aidon still thinks he understands the harpist's need to play. But he's not a musician, so how could he hope to? Still, he sits back in his chair, entirely content to listen in silence. Surrounded as he is by quiet conversations, it seems that they keep the bar from closing in around him. Playing only with Tethra, Shenner looks rather less as if she's in the midst of waging war, more relaxed, more at peace; it's enough that the edge doesn't quite come back to her expression when the rest of the band eventually returns to the stage, fortified by (in some cases) drink and a few grabbed bites to eat or (in Loren's case) several flirtatious giggles and meaningful glances from the lasses in the silks. Once the six musicians get into place again, it's Shenner who takes the center of the stage, and it's Shenner who takes the lead as the second set of the evening starts off with, of all things, a love song... sung in Corellian. The irony isn't lost on the drummer, and he grins ear to ear, never mind that Shenner doesn't once glance his way. Instead, namdhi in her hands, the redhead might well be addressing some unseen figure in the audience. This song, though whether Aidon understands it is anyone's guess, catches and holds his attention. He glances to the side once, perhaps trying to follow the young redhead's eyes. Then he just leans forward and listens. If Shenner is looking at anyone in particular, it can't be gleaned as she calls up her lyrics and sends them forth for her listeners' consideration. One thing's discernible, though, and that's the fleeting hint of wistfulness somewhere in her face as she sings of love pledged... and love lost. Suddenly, Aidon sits back and frowns. He glances around. Perhaps he's onderng if anyone was watching him. He folds his big hands around the drink glass, hiding it entirely. There he sits, for a long, motionless moment. Shenner keeps control of the set, too, as the night progresses. Whether swift or slow, major key or minor, each song the young woman produces has at its heart her husky voice and the ethereal notes of her harp. More than once she takes all five of her compatriots' voices into song with her, sending exquisite six-part harmony out for their audience's consumption, harmony made no less fine for its being carried by driving tempos and the volume of drum and guitar and horn and keyboard. Shenner blasts through 'Kessel Run', sings of swoop racing -- much to the delight of a crowd in the corner who frequent the local speedway -- and starship flying, and proves that for all the delicate shape of the instrument in her hands, she can strike ringing chords on its strings to hold her own against the powered instruments of her comrades. As time goes on, Aidon's grip on the glass loosens. Finally, he picks it up and downs its contents. He sets it aside, folds his arms on the table, and keeps listening. At least to the regulars who come in every night, it seems to be no surprise when at last the band launches into the slow, flowing opening chords of a piece they've come to identify as one of Shenner's signature compositions. Silence begins to fall around the stage, as the underlying rhythm line melds in with the song of the namdhi-harp, and over the top of it the girl begins with the low-pitched opening words of 'Tomorrow We Leave for Mandalore'. The retired weapons tech was already silent. But maybe his shoulders drop a little and he looks a little more relaxed than he was. Their pitch is flawless, the tempo exact, the five backup voices providing an unwavering foundation for Shenner's voice to climb to the top of its range for the verses. On the bridge, her harp's notes fall in a musical rain. And when the song draws to its conclusion, all six massed voices scale upwards in pitch and volume, until on the final line everyone else cuts out to leave Shenner alone to sing the final line, to carry the song to its close. All Shenner says by way of gratitude to those who applaud her is a simple 'thank you', but her eyes are full as she delivers it, and her bow a deep one before she takes her leave of the stage, yielding it back to Rekkie and the others for the third and final set of the evening. Alone, Shenner carries her instruments to be safely tucked away in her carrysack, and alone, the girl weaves her way through the bar towards the exit. Occasionally, she smiles lopsidedly at well-wishers, but as she heads for the door, she remains alone. Aidon stands up and shadows Shenner towards the door. His step is quiet, though he makes no attempt to hide his approach. Perhaps the girl doesn't spot the gentleman following her; Ariani does, and the bartender glances curiously at the greying man as he trails after the girl, but Ariani makes no move to intercept him or alert Shen. In short order the young guitar player vanishes outside into the night, her carrysack with the harp and flute within slung off her shoulder. You leave The Sandbar, entering the fresh air of Fountain Square. Fountain Square - Plaxton City -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Hunter => SWOOP: Ubrikkian Phantom-Q -- Mach 5 => IGNews Terminal - Caspar => Mail Terminal: Caspar -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- ndbar leads to The Sandbar. outh leads to South Mergansar Ave. - Plaxton City. ast leads to East Blake St. - Plaxton City. orth leads to North Mergansar Ave. - Plaxton City. est leads to West Blake St. - Plaxton City. Aidon leaves the SandBar. Aidon has arrived. Aidon ducks out of the Sandbar. He makes a move as if to catch up with Shenner, and then suddenly slows down. A frown crosses his face. She's not moving very quickly as she leaves the Sandbar, is Shenner, at least not when she surveys the square and finds it at peace. Her expression contemplative, she sets off towards the intersection with North Mergansar. Aidon pulls on the jacket he had over one arm, quickens his step, and thrusts his hands into his pocket. Aidon comes up alongside Shenner and walks in silence for a moment. He glances over at her. Footsteps behind her; Shenner slows, and glances over her shoulder, brows raised in curiosity. Shenner, finding Aidon falling into step beside her, doesn't stop, though she does keep her pace steady. "It's you," she remarks unnecessarily. The man grins at the statement. "I assume you mean I'm me, rather than it was me that made the show so enjoyable." Aidon doesn't seem to mind. "I've always enjoyed being me." This brings a lopsided but honest grin to Shenner's own face. "You were listenin', huh?" She keeps heading towards Mergansar, but more of her attention has diverted to the man who's walking beside her now. A hand passes through Aidon's short hair, and he nods. "Yes," he says shortly. "I still like it. More in person than on recording." Shen glances off towards the approaching corner, but still keeps that smile more or less in place. "Well... thanks," she says gruffly, not unkindly. Aidon isn't going to turn that corner, but he walks Shenner to it, anyway. "Hope you don't mind me coming to listen," he says. "You'd never said I couldn't." He shrugs and thrusts his hands deeper in his pockets. "And I was on-planet on an errand." CJaye enters the square from the south. CJaye has arrived. Pausing when the corner is reached, Shenner turns to consider the tall straight-framed technician, and proffers him a somewhat gentler albeit still lopsided smile. "It's a public bar, pal," she points out. "It's okay." CJaye leaves the square to the north. CJaye has left. Aidon snorts. "Nothing ever phases you," he says. He holds out a hand to her, as if to shake it. Shenner blows out a breath, and abruptly laughs out loud. "You shoulda been in the Sandbar this morning," she says dryly. But she does reach to take the offered hand. CJaye enters the square from the north. CJaye has arrived. CJaye leaves the square to the north. CJaye has left. Hunter leaves the square to the north. Hunter has left. Hunter enters the square from the north. Hunter has arrived. CJaye enters the square from the north. CJaye has arrived. The retired soldier smiles at Shenner's laugh. "I'm sorry I missed it. I hope there weren't too many injuries." He raises Shenner's hand to his lips and kisses it. Then he squeezes it gently, lets go, and says, "Good night, songbird. I'll see you soon." He turns and walks off towards the shuttles. Thinking that her hand was going to be shaken, Shenner blinks... but her hand gets kissed, anyway. "Uh... 'night," she says, taken aback. She watches the former soldier bemusedly, before at last turning to point herself for home. [End log.]