Public Little Band. Big Gig.

[Leddie Gred]

The Dream of the Rim. This was definitely different for the group. Usually it was a bar, or one of the Mando shadow ports, or some cantina somewhere. This!? This was luxury. Leddie stopped at the sign in front of the stage area. The Hanger Queens. Never thought she'd be somewhere like this as anything other than a body guard or something. She soon heard a whistle, recognizing it as coming from Yarle.

"Ready to give them a show Leddie?" The Zabrak put her hands in her trench coat pockets, nodding.

"Yeah. Just.... Taking it all in, you know?" The Zygerrian just smiled and nodded, holding a human's hand who was in his usual bomber jacket, Jari, and followed by another Mandalorian and a Besalisk, Galos and Marsk. Galos would quickly sign about getting things set up, which lead to a nod from the Leddie. "Right right. We need to get everything ready. Come on. We have... about an hour." Everyone quickly got to work. Getting the stage ready, doing some practicing, and going over the songs they'd be doing. This should be fun at least. Soon enough though it'd be time to perform. And that meant people. Well, hopefully they'd enjoy something that a lot of folks would think were less fancy than this place.

 

[Oshin Jantu]

Spoiler: Music

​

Tumble dice with rough-and-tumble guys. Play the cards right. Pay the hard price. They lost. They were chumps. They were crumbs. Done and dusted. They busted. Soz. The woman won. At pazaak and sabaac and then some. Did she cheat? That remained to be seen. Life and death might ask the same question. Nonetheless, she counted her own losses. That was the purpose of balance.

The ship she was on was equipped with all manner of adventure, but gambling was this woman’s fancy, and so the casino was her endeavor and where she spent her efforts getting better at beating rich kings and queens.

Sipping champagne, dressed the same way as her prey, flashing fangs in a grin at some queen who didn’t like to lose. Tough shit. That slag stood up from her seat at blackjack as the other woman, Oshin, finished her drink. Winking at the host, she rose and walked away with her winnings.

Oshin might be an assassin but she also just so happened to be a killer when it came to games, and gambling was quite the same as making bets on life and death.

The Dream of the Rim. It was an aptly named cruise ship. This luxury liner was, however, a bit different. Her solar sails, giant golden banners, only served to enhance her lavish manner. She was like a treasure chest in the vast expanse, sticking out like a naked wench in the ocean, begging to be taken.

Yet, she wasn’t defenseless. Oshin had learned that too. The Dream was equipped with offense and defense systems amid her gravball and wallball courts. The ship floated along as the woman walked on, both coasting, though Oshin took notes of guard posts, close and far.

For now, whatever her business was all about on this cruise ship, she’s just a dreamer in The Dream, a passenger searching for adventure, passing a theater on one side. On the other was a sign to a concert: The Hanger Queens. Indeed…

Adjusting the strap of her black purse, Oshin stood at the entrance, almost bumping into a man just ahead. “Sorry,” he said with a frown. Then he looked her up and down.

“After you.” She spread her lips, his brown eyes into hers, and her irises were like ice. He looked away. Easy prey. Maybe one day she would meet a man who could hold her gaze, instead of simply being meat on her plate.

Leddie Gred

 

[Leddie Gred]

Leddie smiled as she prepped her bes'bev looking out at everyone who came in. This would be fun. The starting song was a lot more vocal, but she could handle the background vocals easily. She smiled a bit as she'd hit the vocal ques before reaching the parts with instruments. She'd hit the notes on her flute, and stomp her foot to the bass as Yarle and Jari led the singing. She smiled and kept going though. This was fun to her at least, that was for sure. She'd notice a few of the people out in the crowd, seeming to take mental notes of them. Hopefully folks were enjoying the music.

Oshin Jantu

 

[Anisael]

Anisael's back rested against the bar, eyes focused on the stage as the technicians began their checks, and the performers took to the stage.

This would be her first time attending a show by this particular group, but she heard good things and was excited to see them perform live. Pre-recorded tracks only told half the story.

On the stage, she could watch the band out their soul into it. She could see how they involved the crowd, something she was well known for, but there was always room to learn. Always opportunities to meet new colourful souls.

Anisael eyes grew brighter by the moment, her hype building into a beat of its own.

 

[Oshin Jantu]

Spoiler: Music IC

​

Truth be told, and though the statement was so cliche, so old, music became Oshin’s escape.
In the concert, there she is, there she was, beyond the entrance, exit, standing before a stage.
Whether there’s a chair, a balcony, a woman stands on the floor, giving her ears and her gaze.
Dressed in a dress, gold and white, with black bits on the lines, as though she was just a maze.

If I had another penny. The singer sings, the speaker speaks; queen of The Hanger Queens.
I would make the piper play. The lyrics ensue amid that Mandalorian flute, bes’bav so clean.
Cut sharp to the tip, similar to a quill stylus, a weapon and instrument, and most impressive.
The assassin was no Mandalorian but she could appreciate the harmony of death and music.

Byker Hill and Walker Shore… Drums. Then nothing. Soundless. Just voices of man, woman.
When first I went down to the dirt… Strums. Guitar. Instruments play the part. Like weapons.
A lone figure watches, listens, standing in the midst and mist of a sea of others, in an ocean.
Her name is Oshin; hit with a shovel, danced with a jig, like so many others, so many women.

Collier lads for evermore… Coal miners, asteroid miners, ice breakers, from system to system.
“They drink bumble made from gin,” a woman mumbles. Slowly swaying, dancing, with a grin.
She had no cowl to disguise her, no pitshirt to hide her, just an elegant dress for this assassin.
Nonetheless, she listened, hidden, amid other men and women, of which to music were given.

From shore to shore, Oshin lamented.
Life to death, ever more, she gave in.
With her own lyrics, Oshin insisted.
Strum, drum, voice, lost in an ocean.

Leddie Gred Anisael

 

[Leddie Gred]

Spoiler: Music

The band all seemed to enjoy the set, it was simple. A good pace setter at the start of the show. Leddie knew what was next. A little song Jari liked a lot when he first came to the Fleet all those years ago. Leddie gave her bes'bev a little twirl, and gave a nod to Yarle, then looked to Marske and Galos. These seemed ready, with Galos giving a quick sign for "Good". The Jari would then speak up to the crowd.

"Thank you for coming out tonight folks. I'm Jari, this lovely Zygerrian is Yarle, the Mando on the bes'bev is Leddie. The quiet one on the bass is Galos, and our four armed friend on the box drum is Marske. Hope you enjoyed the intro, now for one a little close to this young spacer's heart." He'd give the hallikset in his hands a few taps to get the beat down before strumming, with everyone quickly picking up as the time came. Leddie of course enjoyed this one too, and she went into a bit more of a little dance as the music picked up,

Anisael Oshin Jantu

 

[Oshin Jantu]

Spoiler: Music IC

​

Oshin Jantu. This assassin wasn’t known, kept her cards close, heart closed, was nameless.
She preferred it that way. Even more so in this crowd, the audience, where she felt weightless.
Whether she was on this ship for business or pleasure, or both, here she was able to escape.
Forgetting everything, even if for only a moment, Oshin was alone, floating, without her name.

Strange, perhaps, feeling far apart, folks standing so close. Though, she focused on the stage.
The band was introduced to the audience, the vocals and instruments, and all here to entertain.
While The Hanger Queens were enjoying themselves as much as those here to be entertained.
Oshin had her eye on the bes’bav. Mandalorian instrument. Then again, the beskad also plays.

She blinked her thoughts away. Thinking of instruments made to maim and slay was just a habit.
Nope. Not here. Not now. Oshin looked around. Just enjoy yourself, O. Lose yourself in the music.
Leddie was too, happily dancing away onstage. Oshin smiled, stroking her only bare shoulder.
The golden garment of her dress covered the other, and there was more to her that it covered.

The woman glanced around again, breaking the moment to gaze at those smiling faces.
I see you…but you don’t see me. Death was a mystery in this sea of life, yet death was alive.
She had eyes like frozen oceans, her blood as cold as it was hot, silent heart that ever races.
She breathed in, eased out, removed her vision from the crowd, eyes onstage. In good time.

Leddie Gred Anisael