Public No Light on the Horizon

[Zandra Tanaka]

Another busy night. Behind the ragged bar, Zandra wiped her brow with the back of her hand, taking one entire moment to herself for the first time that day. She glanced at the chrono hanging above a row of mismatched glasses. One hour until closing time and the cantina was finally starting to quiet down. Stretching, hands over her head, she heard her spine pop. Just another sign of age catching up to her. Before she knew it, she'd need a cane and say things like 'Back in my day'.

As the bell above the door chimed, Zandra put on another fresh smile and waved to her regulars as they made their way out,

"Come back soon!" she called, "I'll be waitin'!"

A drunk Cathar waved back with a silly grin, then he was gone once more out into the filthy streets of Nar Shaddaa. In the end, they all did. Left. Some would stay in her humble inn for a night, sometimnes more if they needed to lay low, but they never stuck for long. That was simply life. People came, and they would have their stories and drink her booze and tell her their troubles. And sometimes, she could pass out a bit of wisdom, change a mind, change a life if it was a very good day. Lady Luck hadthe strangest way of bringing people to her.

It soothed her troubled soul, to be the constant in so many lives. A shoulder to cry on, a glass of whiskey after a heartbreak, a warm meal. She had seen everything from Princes to Jedi in her life and nothing surprised her anymore.

She picked up a glass and absently started to wipe it down, as she let her mind wander. No. Nothing surprised her. Not anymore. And nothing hurt her. How could it now?

Her eyes drifted to a small holo she kept behind the bar and she smiled. Her best days were behind her, but so was her heartache. The man in the holo stared back at her with kind eyes and an easy smile while a tiny white haired child sat on his shoulders bundled in fur. At his side a small boy held a rifle, smiling shyly. And grinning at his side, a beautiful woman with bright white hair and a sparkle in her eye. She went by Tal'verda back in those days.

Zandra set the glass down that she had been cleaning and picked up the holo absent mindedly. She looked from face to face, from smile to smile. And when she came to hers, she stopped, sighing. Time was a wicked thing, but life was funny like that. One day you're a pirate, making a name in the Galaxy. Next thing you know, you're in love with a Mando with two kids.

Then you lose it all, she reminded herself, and end up out here.

She set the holo back down and waved at the next couple to head to the exit.

"Come back soon!" she called once more, "I'll be waitin'."

 

[Junko Ike]

Bars around the galaxy always had a certain appeal.. meet the lacals and learn much more then if you just talk with the people who oversee... These were the places that could have their fingers on the pulse of the planet and as she entered in the more basic jacket and sarrashi. Junko presented little in the ways of her normal extravagance... instead going for low and down to earth as it were but she could still be approachable with her field kit on her hip and her thigh pack. it would be easy enough before she took a seat and looked around in a cursory fashion.. her eyes flicking back and forth quickly but not lingering on anyone.

 

[Zandra Tanaka]

"What'll it be?"

Zandra had a laugh ever present in her voice. Slightly rough from too much yelling and cigarettes, but pleasant none the less.
Her lips wore a smile like a warm fireplace as she wiped down the counters of the now nearly empty bar. She glanced at the chrono once more before adding,

"I ain't rushing ya, but bar closes in 50 minutes. Or are you lookin' for a room? I got a single size bed still available for 50 credits a night?"

 

[Junko Ike]

Zandra Tanaka

Junko looked at her and with a drink it was fine... a bed for the night well that wasn't usually offered and closing.. she rarely saw something like that happening. It seemed everything else stayed open all the time... hmmm she could head back to her ship or.. no she had wanted to try out civilian life and have a little excitement with it. "I shall take a bed then." A bow of her head with the drink as she was looking towards Zadra and retrieved several large credits chits to pay or it and in case a second days worth to be safe. She didn't know how long she might be down here and her brother or bodyguards could stand to get a little grey hair. "Thank you for the hospitality."

 

[Taji Nelson]

Taji entered the bar. While he wasn't going to drink Alcohol he knew he needed something to take his mind off of his migraine he had. The Corpos were one of the causes of the migraine he possessed. There were many across the galaxy he would love to shoot with Shocker Rounds or other non lethal ammunition because of how they treated the people under their protection. "What's your best non alcoholic drink?" asked the exhausted human as he entered. He had been working all day on an invention of his own, and it wasn't even done yet. The armor wasn't even fully designed yet, nor did he have the parts he wanted for it. Gathering the metals was going to be a pain for him to cope with.

 

[Zandra Tanaka]

Zandra scooped up the credits, counted them out and pulled a key and from somewhere deep in her jacket pocket.

"Room 14, up the stairs, second to the left," she said, setting the card on the bar top, "oh. 'Scuse me. Got another customer."

She turned her attention to where one of her human waitresses was getting ready to take his order.

"Scarla, your shift is over," she gently reminded the woman, "you can go home ya know."

The other woman turned to the owner with a grateful smile and began removing her apron.

"Thanks, Z," she sighed, "this gentleman would like to know about our nonalcoholic options."

Zandra turned her full attention back to their new guest.

"Can i grab ya a blue milk shake?"

 

[Taji Nelson]

"Sure, a Blue Milk Shake sounds good." Since he wasn't going to deal with the problems alcohol could cause him, it sounded good. Alcohol could cause addiction and headaches for him. He looked at her for a moment. "Two of them in fact, with the day I've had." said Taji, as he looked at her. "Yeah," He said as he looked at her for a moment. "I'm going to need both today." He sighed as his stomach complained. Really he needed food before he could even think of what he'd have to do next. "If I pay more, would you stay open later?" He asked.

Taji knew he had some money he could spend but he didn't want to spend it all. Zandra Tanaka

 

[Zandra Tanaka]

This one was an odd one, that was for sure. Still, who was Zandra to say no to the offer of more credits? Tired as she was, she didn't keep the bills paid by standing around and looking pretty.

"Sure, kid," she laughed, "just fer you."

Upon taking his order, she turned and went to make the blue milkshake herself. When she returned after a few moments. She sat one on the table in front of him with a small click of glass.

"Finish this one and I'll bring the other out," she explained, "can't have it meltin'"

 

[Taji Nelson]

Taji then slid enough credits to buy the place down twice over on the table. "Tell me. Would you like a better paying job than this?" asked Taji as he looked at her. "I'm looking for a lab assistant. It might not be the most glamorous job," admitted Taji. "But I've got a lot of inventions I need to be tested so I could use someone to test them." said Taji as he looked at the individual. She seemed nice. Once he had finished the Blue Milkshake, he sighed. "Basically I'm going to be working on a lot of inventions, but due to a recent invention failure, I don't trust myself to test my own inventions."

Taji looked at her. "So what do you think? Will you trade up to being my lab assistant?"

 

[Zandra Tanaka]

Zandra raised a thin white eyebrow, then burst into laughter.

"Lab assistant?" She chucked, "me? Kid, look around. Only thing I can be trusted with is gettin' these good folks nice and drunk."

 

[Mark Cross]

"Now now, you're worth way more than that Z!"

Mark approached the bar and lowered his empty whiskey glass onto the bar as he was due to head out for the night. He was back in his more familiar role of running a kitchen at a "rival" cantina not too far away, but since he spent all of his work time here, he chose to drink elsewhere in his off-hours. Zandra was always great for a conversation, when she wasn't rushed off her feet of course.

"Catch you tomorrow."