Hauling Arse (D0 - The Niche Appeal)

[Arsele Girard]

As her ship crawled through hyperspace, Arsele lay in her cot with her datapad and com, laying there in her undies; She'd made the best of her ship's space, but these long trips were still cramped and boring~

[Zanebry Varliss]

Floating through space could be boring, even when on a ship as full as the Starcross. Leaning back in the chair in his quarters, he placed his glass of whiskey on the nearby table and called up a familiar face.

[Arsele Girard]

Without much though, Arsele reached up and clicked on the speaker on her commlink with her free hand.

Mmm, this is Arsele of the Niche Appeal. How can I help you?"

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Evenin' beautiful."

Came the playful reply of a familiar voice, on the other side of the line. There was a small pause before he continued, and Arsele could likely hear the distinct clink of ice on glass.

"I was just curious when, you might be back in Nar Shaddaa? My fingers are getting a bit itchy, and I was wondering if you might want to get together to preform sometime soon."

[Arsele Girard]

"Zanebry, darling; Fancy hearing from you. How has the Vertical City been treating you without me?"

She set her datapad down and scooted back against her pillow as she sat up.

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Without you there I admit to things being a bit dull. Like the place as lost a bit of its shine."

There was a smile evident in his tone as he continued.

"I was hoping that would change by the time I returned."

[Arsele Girard]

"Returned? Showing more women your ship's liquor stash over some romantic view or on business with that ragtag crew again?"

Her tone was not mocking or accusatory, not even curious. Just business as usual.

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Now, now. I only take the special ones out to see those romantic views, and the last one of those I met turned me down flat when I offered to take her out to dinner."

There was another pausing as he took another drink of his Whiskey.

"I'll get you to accept someday though, perseverance is one of my talents. It's the ragtag crew I'm out with this time though. They needed me for their last job and I couldn't pass up the credits."

[Arsele Girard]

"Better than my little trip; Down credits from when I left. My account is crying out for me to get back to work. I suppose it's fortuitous that one of the better piano players in the lower city is coming back when he is, hm?"

[Zanebry Varliss]

"That's rough."

Similar things happened to him more than once though, it was one of the dangers of the outer rim.

"It does seem Lady Luck has turned her smile back in your direction. Did you have a time or venue you had in mind?"

[Arsele Girard]

"Hm... well, I have something lined up at the Viper for a few days this week. Could always take an extra shift or two off the dance floor to sing if you're offering."

She hated their on-call band; They were very much not professional. Not to her standards at least.

[Zanebry Varliss]

The Viper? He almost groaned, that Mandoloran dive was far from his favorite bar. He still might go by to watch her dance though.

"You know that offer is open whenever you're in town Arsele. I'm hard pressed to find any singer worth playing for, especially now that pop music is all the rage."

"But if you are wanting to hear it again..."

[Arsele Girard]

There was a sigh over the comm,

"I'll see what I can do Zane, but you know how rough it is trying to work your way up; You work up the scratch for docking fees, rent, and such, and you're never left with enough to bribe your way into an audition somewhere nice, let alone pay for all the other things that takes. Though I ~do~ have some plans I suppose, thanks to the influx of off-worlders and some contacts..."

[Zanebry Varliss]

"I know, it's the same for all of us after all."

He took a few moments to refill his glass.

"It's good to know you have some plans though, I might do a bit of the usual see if I can earn some money in the casino's or off some of the Huttball games. There are a lot of off-wordlers coming in though, I imagine I'll be able to make some money off them."

One way or another at least.

"Do you think you'll need any help with those plans though?"

[Arsele Girard]

"Funny you should mention Huttball... because part of that planning I was talking about was an offer I got to join a Huttball team. I think it might end up being a good influx of credits if I play this right..."

[Zanebry Varliss]

Zanebry had never really played much Huttball, it was terribly dirty after all. still he had to respect those that did.

"I'll know which team to bet on then. Though I didn't know you had a interest in playing huttball."

"If you don't mind me asking though, is money really that bad? If is it I can maybe think of a few things that can help you out."

[Arsele Girard]

"Bad..."

She couldn't well tell Zane about her mistake, not that she felt bad about it.

"I mean, I guess so; Down to about 300 in my account after my trip here. So yeah."

[Zanebry Varliss]

He wouldn't pry either, it wasn't his style, 300 credits was pretty bad though.

"Well, I don't know if you would be interested, but I could always use a lady by my side at one of the Casino's. Someone pretty with a good sense of style, to draws eyes as it were. Give me a bit more of a edge over my opponents."

"If not that, I'd always be willing to try and work a bounty with you. If you're interested."

[Arsele Girard]

Her eyes rolled a little, even if he couldn't see that,

"Maybe on the former... as long as it's not my money we're gambling. You know how I feel about that. I mean, I guess it's no more risky than Huttball or bounty hunting, but at least in those cases cheating is actually encouraged, you know?"

[Zanebry Varliss]

"It would be my money, and my risk, you would just be getting a cut."

"As for cheating it is encouraged, at least as much as it is in Huttball. The only difference is if you get caught you get kicked out instead of getting your legs broke."

[Arsele Girard]

A chuckle over the comm,

"It's a good thing I don't cheat, hm?"

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Quite."

He'd certainly hate to see her lovely legs broken after all.

"So, should I come calling in the next day or so then? To discuss things in more detail? These comms are so impersonal after all."

[Arsele Girard]

"Oh I don't know darling; They can be so nice too. After all, I can be here without any makeup or even clothes."

There was a teasing aspect to her voice.

[Zanebry Varliss]

He couldn't help but chuckle at her response.

"No one said clothes and make-up had to be involved in our meeting."

He teased right back. Too bold? Perhaps, but the banter was what he liked most about Arsele.

"You are right though, comms do have a certain charm to them, and they are good for the imagination."

[Arsele Girard]

"Mmm... seriously though, we should meet planetside, yes. When do you land?"