Log Date:
	4/3/97

Log Cast:
	Gabrielle, Shenner, Jessalyn, Lando, Luke, Winter, Skeezix, Tand,
Kian, Ragnar, Pac

Log Intro:
	Disheartened by her last encounter with Paul Nighman, in which he
told her that he doesn't want to 'hurt' her by trying to have any kind of
relationship with her, Shenner has returned to the NR's guest barracks on
Calamari. Seeing her distraught, both Jessalyn and Skeezix have tried to
console the girl, but despite their efforts, Shenner has awakened the
next day in a kind of numb stupor. Instinctively, Shenner seeks out
comfort from her guitar, as she is found in the barracks by one of the
officers....

----------
Gabrielle looks at you for a moment.

Gabrielle
You see before you a young human female, standing around 5'9". Alluring 
  emerald eyes sparkle from beneath a river of molten copper tresses that flow 
  well past her waist. Her toned athletic form is well presented in close 
  fitting khaki pants and a military cut tunic (the uniform of an NR officer) 
  hugging her form with flattering ease. The pants are tucked into knee high 
  brown leather boots. Cinched around her slender waist is a thick brown 
  leather belt. Over the left front side of her tunic lie her rank pips 
  designating her a 2nd Leiuteant. On either side of her collar is a small 
  insignia that represents Squad1 and her position as XO. On the right front 
  is a small brass nameplate with recessed letters displaying the name Veran. 
  Her manner is calm and reserved though she moves about with precision and 
  the lithe of a jungle cat. Her green eyes sparkle with life, the small 
  flecks of gold near the center of the iris, seemingly adding to their 
  vibrance. Around her neck she wears an intricately carved gold dragon 
  pendant, clutching between it's claws a gold band ring. A smile graces her 
  full red lips, complimented by the soft rose hue on her cheeks.

Shenner sits on the floor by one of the bunks, a big guitar in her lap; she's 
  playing the thing softly, filling the room with plaintive ripples of notes. 
  Her head is bowed over the instrument, and to all indications, this is a 
  very depressed kid.

Gabrielle strides into the room, a moderate sized shopping bag in hand, 
  absently she tugs at her tunic with her free hand as she looks about the 
  room. Her eyes fall lightly on the young woman on the floor. A slight raise 
  of the eyebrow indicate her intriguement, as she steps forward to the bunk 
  she had claimed the night before.

The noise of someone entering the barracks doesn't make the youngster look up. 
  Shenner keeps playing, something in her stance and motions of hand oddly 
  mechanical, though the music she's producing is anything but.

Gabrielle listens quietly to the music, as she settles the bag on top of the 
  neatly made up cot. She draws a mint green shirt from it, reaching up to 
  unbutton her tunic. She smiles faintly as the music floats gently in the 
  room. Quickly she slips off the tunic, pulling on the silken shirt with ease 
  and fastening it, the translucent fabric of the shirt allowing her white 
  sleevels tee to show from beneath. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she looks 
  back at Shenner finally daring to break the musical interlude with a 
  question "Your music always so melancholy?"

"Uh uh," the kid mumbles, not looking up. She doesn't stop playing, either.

Gabrielle nods slowly "Just felt inspired then?" She offers a warm smile, to 
  the bowed head.

Shenner murmurs dolefully, "Somethin' like that, yeah." More strumming, though 
  her pace falters a little.

The smile slowly fades into seriousness, a hint of concern taking root in her 
  gaze. Gabrielle leans forward on her knees, studying the young woman 
  "Something wrong?"

Shenner's hands still into silence. Her head lifts a little, giving you a 
  glimpse of mournful eyes in a thin white face, and the kid starts to shake 
  her head... then changes her mind to nod weakly.

Gabrielle furrows her brow, her eyes warm with concern "Anything I can do to 
  help?" She offers genuinely, folding her tunic aside and onto the cot.

The kid with the guitar considers this gravely, then simply shakes her head.

Gabrielle leans back, stitting upright, a sigh escaping her lips "You sure? 
  I'm not that bad a listener and I'm great at troubleshooting." She smiles 
  faintly and briefly, her face lightening slightly "I'm Gabrielle Veran."

"Shenner," mumbles the guitarist. "I'm sure... thanks...."

Gabrielle presses her lips into a thin line, "Alright..." She studies the girl 
  for a few moments longer before she stands, brushing at the lint on the lap 
  of her slacks. "Well I'm glad to meet you in anycase, Shenner."

Once more in a strangely mechanical kind of motion, the kid nods absently, and 
  starts playing the guitar in her lap again. Noticeably more expressive than 
  the youngster's face and voice, the instrument reflects a despondent kind of 
  mood even as Shenner's fingers -- perhaps tired, for her motions on the 
  strings look stiff, and her fingertips are reddened -- falter on some of the 
  notes.

Gabrielle sighs reflectively as she continues to loook at Shenner. After a 
  long interlude she turns tucking the bag and it's contents into a small 
  chest at the foot of the pallet, laying the tunic carefully on top. She 
  walks toward the door, the music wafting behind her and she turns giving on 
  last look at the mourful girl on the floor before she strides through the 
  door.
Gabrielle has left.

----------
Interlude:

	Somehow, Shenner managed to remain alone for the next several hours;
it did not occur to her to wonder why the barracks seemed unusually quiet,
and that part of her that might normally have wondered about it was simply
grateful that she had been left alone. She didn't _want_ anybody to be
with her, anybody who might make her think about... well, people she didn't
want to think about. It struck her as a much better idea to simply spend
time with her guitar.
	Lots of time....

----------
She has not bothered to keep track of time; the only sign of hours' passage 
  has been a slowly increasing pain in her hands, as Shenner plays her 
  guitar... as she has been practically all day. She remains parked on the 
  floor of the barracks, plucking out faltering notes, and scowling vaguely as 
  her fingers put out a protest for a break.

The door whooshes open, and Jessalyn steps through it. She pauses just inside, 
  her gaze flicking across the room, and coming to rest on Shenner as she 
  picks up the sounds of the guitar notes. Frowning slightly, she takes long 
  strides to stand in front of her, boots clicking on the hard surface of the 
  floor. "Heya..." she says to her softly, looking concerned.

"Hi Jess," Shenner mumbles, still trying to pluck unsteady notes out of the 
  guitar strings.

Jessalyn crouches in front of her, and tries to smile reassurance. "Sounds 
  like you need to take a little break," she says soothingly.

Lando arrives from the corridor.
Lando has arrived.

Luke has arrived.

Shenner looks up, but only a little, though this can let Jessalyn see that the 
  kid's face is lined with exhaustion and strain. "I gotta get this song 
  right," she mutters absently.

Jessalyn sighs as she looks down at her friend, and touches her shoulder. "I 
  think you need a break, anyway." She walks back across the room to her own 
  bunk and starts rummaging through her bag, frowning.

"Maybe later," mutters the kid listlessly. The guitar puts out an uneven 
  chord, with the seventh coming out flat and the fifth sharp, and Shenner 
  frowns tiredly. Her hand flexes once, stiffly, before she tries the chord 
  again.

Lando walks into the barracks at a slower pace than usual. His cape simply 
  flaps lightly against the back of his legs. He is carrying a large box under 
  one arm and smaller one in his hands. He looks around the room briefly and 
  spots Jessalyn. A luminous smile envelopes his face and his hurries towards 
  her, looking extremely proud of himself. He taps the boxes lightly and then 
  turns them over towards her, "Hey Jess."
"Just my way of saying thank you for going shopping with me the other day." 
  Lando adds with a wry grin

Jessalyn continues rummaging through her bag as Lando approaches her, turning 
  paler. "Oh, dear... what the hell am I going to..." She looks at him 
  suddenly, seeing the boxes, and shakes her head. "You didn't?"

Lando chuckles softly to himself and nods, "I did indeed."

Shenner, parked on the floor, doesn't show any sign of acknowledging 
  Calrissian's arrival. She continues to falter through the chord she's trying 
  to play, makes it, and then staggerstrums onward through a barely audible 
  wisp of melody.

Winter has arrived.
Winter enters, a long slow stride to her step, prepared for the evening.
Winter says, "Good evening everyone..."
Winter looks to Lando, "Good evening General Calrissian."

Winter's arrival has no more impact upon Shenner than Lando's did; the kid 
  remains hunched over her guitar, there on the floor, trying to play notes 
  and chords with the same sort of effort one might expect from someone trying 
  to haul a boulder up a hill.

Winter says, "Shenner, did the dress fit properly?"
Winter looks at you for a moment.

Lando steps a step away from Jessalyn and holds up both hands, "Look Jess, 
  those are your's and I'm not taking them back. Besides the store has a no 
  refund policy anyway." He turns toward Winter smiling brilliantly, "Evening 
  Winter. You look spectacular, I must say."

Jessalyn stares at the boxes in awe, starts to stammer something, gives up, 
  and simply blurts, "Thanks, Lando!" She kisses his cheek quickly and darts 
  down to the bathing rooms.

Winter smiles a bit at the running Jessalyn, "Well, I take it you saw to her 
  in one of your less scoundrelous moments."

Shenner's head turns slightly towards Winter as the woman speaks her name. The 
  kid, however, doesn't quite look up at her, and Shen's face crinkles in 
  distracted puzzlement. "What dress?" She keeps plucking out uneven notes, 
  barely noticeable under the conversation in the room.

Winter motions to the package on Shenner's bunk, "The one I had sent for the 
  ball."

After some time, Jessalyn emerges shyly from the smaller room at the far end 
  of barracks. She rubs a hand over her bare arm, looking nervous and 
  uncomfortable. "Uhm. I kind of wish you'd picked a different dress. I'm not 
  sure I want Luke to see me in this thing."

Winter looks over at Jessalyn a moment, "You look very beautiful Jessalyn, I 
  am sure Luke will be simply floored." She offers a bit of a smile of 
  encouragement to the obviously nervous woman.
Winter returns to Shenner, "You are coming are you not? I am sure it would be 
  a shame to miss you at the event."

Winter's clarification manages to seize enough of Shenner's attention that the 
  girl's hands falter to a stop on the guitar, and green eyes lift to blink 
  glassily at the older female. Then at the package on the bunk. Then at 
  Winter. Finally, intelligently, the girl mumbles, "Ball?"

Lando watches Jessalyn emerge from the bathing rooms and smiles warmly, "Jess 
  you look stunning, why wouldn't you want Luke to see you in that?"

Winter steps towards Shenner, "Yes, the Diplomatic ball."

Jessalyn swallows hard, and shrugs. "You think?" she whispers as she looks 
  down at herself. "I just feel silly. Like this thing might fall off me if I 
  shrug wrong." She smiles sheepishly as she reaches up to adjust the clips 
  holding up her hair.

Winter walks to Shenner's bunk and lifts the package, handing it to Shenner...

Lando laughs lightly and winks to Jessalyn, "Then all us males at the party 
  will get an unexpected, yet very pleasant surprise won't we?"

Shenner's hands remain halted, stiffly poised against her guitar strings. She 
  blinks at Winter again, clearly failing to grasp the concept being relayed. 
  "What... would I go to that for?" she mumbles.

Winter
A windswept, short mane of snowy white hair frames the delicate face of this 
  woman standing before you. Winter looks back to you with strikingly 
  brilliant emerald green eyes, her gaze cold, betraying no emotion in the 
  least. Her skin is the color of pale moonlight on a cold winters night, her 
  lips have a soft rose colour to them. Her frame, tall and lithe moves with a 
  refined poise and grace as she steps, giving the illusion of almost gliding 
  as she walks. Winter notices your glance and responds with only a nod, 
  silent and emotionless. Winter is wearing a tailored velvet dress, of a deep 
  raven black color. The dress fits almost skintight along her lithe frame, 
  the back dipping seductively low revealing her silky smooth shoulders and 
  soft back. The fabric glides along her body, dropping to the barest hint of 
  a train at the floor. Her short snow-white hair has been set back, close to 
  the head, adding to the sleekness of her look. Her normally pale lips bear 
  the trace of a soft red colour as do her cheeks and nails. Around her neck 
  is a black choker, that has the symbol of the New Republic set upon the 
  front, completing the look for the evening.

Jessalyn
The face of this young human woman is lit by a dazzling smile made nonetheless 
  more enchanting for the nervousness it so imperfectly hides. Shining dark 
  red hair is swept back from her face and held up with gold clips, though 
  curling tendrils escape to trail along her forehead and the nape of her 
  neck. Her eyes are deepset and green, the color of sunlight through new 
  leaves, set into a face with wide cheekbones and smooth, pale skin not as 
  fragile as most redheads'. 
 What seem to be hundreds of tiny, square-cut emeralds glisten from her 
  upswept hair, around her throat, in thin bracelets around each wrist, and in 
  two long ropes that pass around her slender waist before falling all the way 
  to the hem of her gown in rivulets of green fire. The dress is two shades 
  darker than the stones, made of some impossible fabric that slides along her 
  like water from somewhere scandalously far below her necklace. The skirt is 
  just tight enough over hips and thighs to be shocking, is slit off-center 
  and shows off every centimeter of long leg with each step.

Winter gives Lando a quick look and then looks back to Shenner, "Because you 
  have helped us so and if you shared the trials, so should you share the 
  rewards."

Lando
A grin as smooth as his voice graces his dark face more often than not, though 
  the eyes may or may not laugh so smoothly. A slight mostache settles above 
  it, his expression altogether strong and self-assured. His black hair is 
  short and well kept.
He is dressed in somewhat somber colors of grey and black; black trousers with 
  grey side stripes and boots, and a light grey tunic with black simple trim. 
  Over this is settled a black cape lined in light grey, which swirls about 
  his knees.Around his waist is an elegant looking belt and attatched to the 
  belt at his right side is a blaster harness, which straps to his leg. The 
  butt of a very ornate looking blaster sticks out of the holster into view.

Winter sets the package next to her, "You should hurry if we are not going to 
  be too fashionably late."

Jessalyn blushes at Lando's comment, and sits down to wring her hands in her 
  lap. "W-when is he getting here, anyway?" she mumbles, eyeing the door.

Shenner opens her mouth, closes it, and finally fixes on Winter with quite the 
  heartsick expression on her young face. "I can't.... I can't....!" She 
  sounds stunned, and more than a little frightened, and her voice is ragged.

The doors whisks open and Luke steps inside. A self-conscious squint and then 
  a grin as he notices everyone. "We're gonna be late." he says.

Lando flashes a self-satisfied grin and turns to look at the main entrance, 
  "Knowing Luke he probably stopped along the way to save the galaxy."

Winter opens the package and presents you the dress, "Of course you can."

Luke
A young, athletic man. Slightly built by human standards, yet his form seems 
  laden with agility and a quiet peace. His usual tousled mop of sandy blonde 
  hair is now neatly combed for the occasion, with a slight part on the left 
  side. Light blue eyes sparkle out from a well tanned face. He is dressed 
  entirely in striking black fabric, cut well to fit him. His collar, trimmed 
  in gold tubing, is flipped up to stand in a horizontal line across his jaw, 
  with the same gold trim elaborating the width of his shoulders and the seam 
  of his arms. His pants are tucked into knee high boots, showing more polish 
  and gleam than they are used to. A shining black belt encircles the waist. 
  From it, hangs a Lightsaber. Under the saber belt is a ceremonial sash of 
  glimmering gold. Draped over his shoulders rather than worn, is a rich black 
  half-cloak constructed from thick woolen fabric, caught at the collarbone by 
  the wings of the New Republic set in raised patterns on golden disks. His 
  demeanor is quiet and purposeful. His eyes, it seem, do most of his talking 
  for him. A minute squint here, an infinitesimal raise of his sandy brows 
  there. He is lithe and fluid in his movements.. like a wisp of smoke or 
  leaves rustling in a gentle breeze. His demeanor speaks of power without 
  arrogance; strength without egotism. He exudes intense calm.

Winter looks over and greets Luke with nod, "Commander.."

Luke allows himself to glance over at Jessa. He blinks and manages, "Wow. You 
  look great Jess." he then turns a squint on Lando, amusingly accusatorily in 
  nature.

Jessalyn glances up at Luke nervously and stands up from the bunk, her eyes 
  widening somewhat. "Thanks," she mumbles, and follows his gaze to Lando.

Shenner stares at the garment in Winter's hands, plainly not registering it in 
  the slightest. "I...." She remains uncomfortably hunched there on the floor, 
  and her hands, still tightly curled, haven't budged off the guitar strings. 
  Abruptly, panickedly, she starts shaking her head back and forth.

Lando smiles warmly at Luke and the gazes back to Jessalyn, "Hey buddy. What 
  do you think of Jessa's dress here?"

Winter takes one of Shenner's hands and helps her up, "Come now, you neednt be 
  nervous."

Luke smiles and answers Lando, "It's great Lando." he then gives him a look 
  that says -you?-, while reaching for Jess's hand.

Shenner's hand comes off the guitar strings, and perhaps Winter might notice a 
  suspicious slight dampness on one of the girl's fingers. The hand in 
  question is still tightly and stiffly curled, as if every muscle in it is 
  drawn up hard.

Winter's voice usually even and firm, softens a bit at the girl's fear of this 
  evening, "Trust me, I will make sure it is alright.."

Jessalyn's smile suddenly brightens her face and she takes Luke's hand, 
  unabashedly admiring this new view of him. She gives it a squeeze, and takes 
  a deep, tremulous breath. "Shouldn't we go?"

Winter says, "I could leave the dress here, and let you decide at your own 
  time to join us Shenner."

Shenner frowns vaguely at her hand, the one Winter's taken. "I gotta get this 
  song right," she mumbles mechanically.

Lando lets out a smile that looks like he has the market on arrogance 
  cornered. He grins wrly at Luke, "That buddy, I picked it out myself." Walks 
  up to Winter and stops a few steps away from her, admiring her full form, 
  "You should dress this way more often." He says extending his arm towards 
  her.

Luke nods to Jess, half whispering, "Yeah let's go."

Winter stands and walks towards Lando, "I would not count on it General, I can 
  only handle letting you make such remarks once a blue moon." She smiles 
  softly.
She takes the extended hand and walks with him.

Lando lets out a smile that looks like he has the market on arrogance 
  cornered. He turns to face Luke, "Thanks buddy, I picked it out myself." 
  Walks up to Winter and stops a few steps away from her, admiring her full 
  form, "You should dress this way more often." He says extending his arm 
  towards her.

Winter stands and walks towards Lando, "I would not count on it General, I can 
  only handle letting you make such remarks once a blue moon." She smiles 
  softly.

Shenner, as Winter lays the dress down, hunkers down over the guitar again.

Skeezix walks into the barracks and glances around...

Winter says, "Well, shall we?"

----------
Interlude:

	Shenner barely noticed as all five of the NR personnel left the room.
One corner of her mind registered a measure of astonishment that she'd
completely forgotten about the ball -- after all, General Calhoun _had_
told her about it -- but the rest of her thoughts remained relieved that
Winter had not forced her to accompany them. She couldn't stand the thought
of going out in public, where she'd have to deal with people... who might
ask her about Paul. The thought of trying to wear that fancy dress Winter
had obtained for her sent cold chills down her spine. And the thought that
perhaps if she set foot outside the room she'd run into Paul himself sent
colder ones after the first chills....
	And at last, some time later....

----------
Tand rests on his cot in fresh clothes, his hair is still wet from a recent 
  shower. With a bored expression he looks over a datapad.

Tand's arrival, like that of the ballgoers and their departure earlier, 
  appears to have had very little impact upon the kid currently huddled on the 
  floor over her guitar, in front of her bunk. Shenner is plucking out with 
  painful slowness some kind of series of notes that _might_ be a melody if 
  she were producing them with anything resembling her normal tempo and pitch, 
  but right now, all they are are a string of disassociated tones.

After finally giving up on concentration he slowly pans up and watches 
  Shenner. "Shen, you've been playing that all day? Doesn't it hurt after 
  awhile?"

The youngster with the guitar considers this without looking up, or stopping 
  her occasional plucking at the strings. Finally she replies absently, "Yeah."

Tand glances down at his pad and deactivates it. As he slides off the cot to 
  stand he says, "What is wrong with you lately?" He approaches, although at a 
  slow pace.

Neither Shenner's stiff, uncomfortable stance over the guitar or her listless 
  voice change much, as she answers, "I'm fine...."

Tand of course does not buy that as he kneels down a few feet away. He 
  attempts to get a better look at your hands specifically, "I'll see it when 
  I believe it."

Shenner does not look at you as you kneel down; she appears to have fastened 
  her gaze on a spot a meter or so before her on the floor. Her hands, as she 
  plucks almost at random on the guitar strings, move with stiff and tiny 
  motions, and the right one is shaking ever so slightly.

Tand stands and approaches to within a foot or two, "Shenner, let me see your 
  hands." For once, if imaginable, his tone is somewhat authoritive.

The girl awkwardly places her fingers and strums a chord; it comes out 
  jangled. "I have to get this chord right," she mumbles.

"Shenner, the chord can wait. Let me see your hands." he says once again, his 
  tone remaining commanding.

Tand
Tand Starpath is a human male who stands at nearly six foot in height. He is 
  of average physique, perhaps somewhat scrawny for his height. His hair has 
  been recently cut, it lay parted up the middle. A few wisps of hair fall 
  over his emerald eyes, which sparkle with a youthful gleam. Tanned skin 
  shown evidence of life under a sun, either by work or pleasure. He appears 
  to be in his early twenties of life.
        Dressed in a casual dark ensemble of clothes, he wears a pair of well 
  worn black boots which accompany old and dusty midnight blue slacks. A black 
  long sleeve shirt is worn, tucked neatly into his pants. A multipocketed 
  dark grey vest is also worn, itself appearing old and well used. A black 
  belt surrounds his waist and snakes down his right leg to wrap around the 
  inner thigh. Held on the belt is a holster for a blaster style weapon.
        He wears two pieces of visible jewlery. One is a trinket which he 
  wears around his neck; a small eye with blue rays extending all around it is 
  held by a black chain. Piercing his right ear is a small golden hoop earring.

Tand looks at you for a moment.

Mechanically, Shenner lifts her hands off the guitar and holds them more or 
  less out in front of her. Her attention shifts off that apparently 
  fascinating spot on the floor to her own fingers, and she asks dully, "Why?"

Tand examines her hands, his own gently reaching out to turn them up, 
  "Because, nobody can play all day without some nasty blisters. Your going to 
  hurt yourself in the long run Shen, that's not a good thing."

"Oh," replies the kid, without much change in her inflection. Her fingers are 
  still somewhat stiffly curled, and as her hands are turned over, it can be 
  seen that, in fact, her fingertips are not only blistered... they're 
  bleeding, too.

Tand's eyes widen at the sight, "Shen! What are you doing? You gotta stop 
  playing, let me help you."

Shenner repeats tinily, "I gotta get that chord right."

Tand nods, "I know, and you will. In time, but not now. What's important is 
  that you let your hands heal up or you'll never get it right." He glances 
  around until his eyes spot a first aid medkit hung on the far wall near the 
  exit.

Shenner mumbles, "My hands?"

With a slight pause he gives Shenner a long look of confusion. "Uhh, yeah. 
  Your hands, can't you see the blisters? Your bleeding."

The girl blinks a few times, staring vaguely at her mangled fingers. "My... 
  hands hurt," she mutters, her voice hoarse.

Tand nods quickly, "Yes, I bet. Let's get some treatment for them, ok?"

Shenner's only response is another vague sort of nod. Her eyes slowly grow 
  damper.

Tand's eyes watch you with a sorrowful look. He slowly reaches for your 
  guitar, "I'll put this on your bed. I promise nothing will happen to it."

That makes her move a little, makes her brow furrow, but she only emits the 
  tiniest of protesting noises as you grasp the instrument.

Tand lets out a sigh as he imagines that guitar being surrounded by a nest of 
  vicious womprats. He pulls it free and then stands, walking around you to 
  place it on the bunk.

Shenner's hands drop somewhat heavily into her lap. She straightens just a 
  bit, stiffly, but her head remains bowed as she frowns down at her fingers.

Tand quickly make his way and grabs the medkit off the wall. When he reaches 
  your cot he places it down and rummages through it, examining its contents. 
  He glances back at your hands.

<SKILL> Tand rolls a 20 for his MEDICAL skill. A Good roll!

Shenner's hands remain where they've fallen into her lap, and Shenner remains 
  gazing plaintively down at them.

Tand finds a few useful items: a small roll of soft bandage, prep pads, and 
  skin creme. He moves back to your side, once again kneeling down. "Ok, hold 
  out your hands.. this shouldn't take too long. Trust me."
Tand rips open a few prep pads and cleans the blood off your hands, 
  sterilizing them. With a slight scowl he examines the medical creme, 
  never using or seeing its type before.

Mutely, Shenner obeys, her head lifting slightly as Tand's ministrations take 
  over the place her guitar had previously occupied in her attention.

Concentrating, he murmurs to reassure himself, "Just like fixing a wiring 
  conduit." He squirts some of the creme into his own hands and then gently, 
  slowly applies them to your blisters and cuts. It provides a cooling, 
  soothing feeling to your minor but painful wounds.

Shenner might be seen to swallow a little, as if the tending of her battered 
  hands -- and the sudden reduction of pain there -- drives it home what 
  exactly she did to them. A frown tugs at one end of her mouth.

Tand looks briefly glances up. "Don't worry, they'll be fine in a day or two." 
  he whispers, then unravels a three foot section of bandage to bind your 
  wounds with. "Almost done."

Shenner considers this, too, with solemn-eyed gravity. At last, she mumbles, 
  "Thanks."

Tand smiles, "No worries. You'll be fine, but I think these aren't the only 
  wounds you hold, are they Shen?" He wraps each hand with a section of the 
  bandage, finally completing the medical work.

The kid swallows, and her eyes turn damp again. "I, uh... I guess I..." She 
  trails off hoarsely, and finally just finishes, "Yeah..."

Skeezix arrives from the corridor.
Skeezix has arrived.

Tand's knees grow tired, so he opts to sit on the floor next to you. "What's 
  wrong Shen? Can I help somehow?"

Skeezix walks slowly into the barracks and, without a word or greeting at all, 
  approaches his cot.

Shenner stares down plaintively at her newly bandaged hands, and says lowly to 
  Tand, "Thanks... I just... gotta get over it, see?"

Tand sits on the cold floor next to Shenner, whose hands have been recently 
  bandaged. "Ok, I know what you mean." he offers a slight smile. "If you want 
  to talk or just hang out sometime give me a buzz, I'm pretty useless around 
  here anyway."

Skeezix plops down into his cot and folds his hands before him, looking down 
  at them quietly, expressionless. To the overly perceptive, one might miss 
  the usual glint that had always come from his left hand - the ring missing.

From the strained and taut set of her features, it's pretty doubtful that 
  Shenner is very perceptive at the moment, unfortunately. She looks more or 
  less in Tand's direction, though, and tells him in a small voice, "Hangin' 
  out'd be okay..."

Tand's senses are mainly focused on Shenner. Distracted only by a brief glance 
  towards Skeezix. "Yeah, ok. Just do me a favor and don't unwrap your 
  bandages? I'll check on them tommorrow, or you can just hit the hospital."

"I don't wanna go to no hospital," mutters the girl.

As the others begin to speak about bandages, hospitals and other medical 
  topics, Skeezix's emotionless face is beaten, cracked into a slow frown.

"Well heck, neither would I. I'll just check on em for ya." he once again 
  smiles, trying to reassure Shen. "Everything will turn out good, I bet."

Shenner murmurs roughly, "I'll... deal with it... thanks." Her voice gains a 
  little bit more tone to it, a bit more cognizance, and her damp gaze slowly 
  starts hardening as she studies her bandaged palms. "Thanks... dunno where 
  my head's been today..."

Tand says quietly, "Don't worry about it. Emotions are tough to handle 
  sometimes, its happened to me too." He glances down at the bandaged hands, 
  "Just be true to yourself Shen. That's a motto I always stuck too."

"Yeah, well... gotta figure out who 'myself' is," the girl says, sounding 
  vaguely more normal. Vaguely. There's still a rough, edged ache underneath 
  her words.

Skeezix finally breaks out of his trance and lies back upon his cot, folding 
  his hands over his stomach as he watches the cieling and listens to the 
  conversation, quietly.

Tand nods, "You will.. if you don't know already." He plays around with the 
  excess bandage left in his hands, "I'm still trying to figure out stuff 
  myself."

Shenner smirks, starts to shove a hand through her short hair, then remembers 
  the hand's bandaged. She looks up and around the room, only just now 
  registering that General Calhoun has come in, and the kid shakes her head 
  briefly, as if to clear it.
Shenner then frowns, moves stiffly to get to her feet, and scowls as her 
  muscles start reporting in that they are NOT amused at having been hunched 
  over a guitar for eight hours. "I want a cider," she mutters petulantly.

Tand groans and forces himself to stand up and put away the rest of the 
  medical supplies. He glances back at Skeezix curiously.

Skeezix has apparently fallen into another strange trance as he eyes the 
  cieling, still as a womprat on the ice plains of Hoth.

"Tand... hey, Tand," Shenner says gruffly. "Wanna cider? I'll buy... owe yah, 
  I guess..."

With a -snap- he shuts the medkit. "Uhh, yeah sure. What kind of cider is it?" 
  he asks, curiously.

"The kind that gets me bombed, preferably," Shenner replies, settling her 
  bandaged hands into her pockets. "C'mon..."
Shenner, with that, moves as quickly as her stiff muscles will allow her out 
  the door.

Tand shrugs and murmurs, "I could use a good drink." he glances at 
  Skeezix again as he passes, worriedly but follows Shen.

[Tand and Shenner hit the streets....]

Tand arrives from somewhere.
Tand has arrived.

Shenner, once she hits the streets, picks up some speed, as if her body 
  appreciates the exercise after having been cooped up all day. The kid 
  doesn't say much as she strides, simply lays in a course southward and 
  follows it.

[And down to the city square....]

Tand arrives from North Coral Avenue.
Tand has arrived.

Kian enters the square, just arriving from the busy market district.
Kian has arrived.

Shenner motions to Tand, as the two of them stride into view, "This way, 
  pal... this way."

You head east toward the Market District.
Calamari Coral City -- Market District
An overwhelming crowd, a varied sea of faces, bustles about in the city's busy 
  market district. From every direction vendors call out to you in an attempt 
  to lure you to their booths typically made from smoothed sea rock fitted 
  with a canvas covering which shields the produce from the warm rays of the 
  sun. These booths overflow with exotic and colorful fruits, vegetables and 
  plenty of other foodstuffs that by just looking at them makes your mouth 
  water. Small shops line the streets, the gleaming windows showcases for 
  displaying fabrics, tools, jewelry, fresh meats, fish, crustaceans and other 
  provisions fished daily from the rich blue-green seas of Calamari. Those 
  around you attend to their business, moving from stand to stand, bargaining 
  and occasionally bartering with the vendors. A large sign to the south that 
  reads 'Briny Deep Tap House' catches your interest as the door to the 
  establishment opens revealing a poorly lit tunnel from which emerges a happy 
  faced Mon Calamari. To the west the street meets with the city's central 
  square from where there is a constant movement of people arriving and 
  leaving the market district.
                  -=-=-=-=-=<<Visible exits>>=-=-=-=-=-
 Transport Bay <East> leads to Calamari Coral City -- Transport Bay.
 Briny Deep Tap House <South> leads to Briny Deep Tap House.
 Coral City Square <West> leads to Calamari Coral City - Coral City Square.

Tand arrives from Coral City Square.
Tand has arrived.
Tand looks up at the Tavern's sign, lips moving as he recites the name to 
  himself.

Shenner, without missing a stride, aims straight for the Briny Deep Tap House. 
  Her face might be seen to tighten a trifle as she enters it, but whatever 
  thought crosses her mind is apparently unworthy of voicing as she zooms 
  right through the door.

You decide to leave the busy market place and open the doors to the tap house 
  and descend down a short passageway.
Briny Deep Tap House
The crisp scent of brine and sonorous roar of laughter and conversations greet 
  you upon entering this lively tavern. Immediately you realize that it is 
  submerged underwater, the walls made of a translucent material allowing you 
  to peer into the rich blue ocean, the waves forming silhouettes cast across 
  the marble white tables, chairs and varied faces of its many customers. 
  Occasionally, the dimly lit tap house is illuminated by bright lights as a 
  cargo of ore mined from the depths of the ocean by the Quarren is taken up 
  to the surface. It is here where freighter crews, merchants or the average 
  citizen can enjoy fine drink and entertainment as supplied by a jizz-wailing 
  band, their music mingling with the clinking of glasses and endless chatter. 
  It is the Briny Deep's boast that it can prepare any drink as sure as the 
  rivers flow to the sea, a motto that Grekmar, the tavern's overworked and 
  sad-eyed Mon Calamari bartender, takes pleasure in informing to all those 
  who enter.
                  -=-=-=-=-=<<Visible exits>>=-=-=-=-=-
 Out <O> leads to Calamari Coral City -- Market District.

Tand enters the tavern, the sounds of the busy market district muted as the 
  door closes behind him.
Tand has arrived.

"Pick a table, pal," Shenner says, her voice still sounding rough and edged, 
  but by now, she's speaking at a more normal voice. She sweeps the place with 
  a gaze that's turned glitteringly hard.

Tand's eyes widen as he stops to regard the underwater spectacle, "Neat." He 
  scratches his head as he scans the room, "There." He points to a table in 
  the far corner.

Readily, Shenner aims for that table, demanding brusquely as she does so, "By 
  the way, you ain't Corellian, are yah?"

Tand almost takes offense at that, "Heck no!" He shoves his hands into his 
  pockets as he follows, "Elroodian, and proud of it."

"Good," Shenner growls huskily, folding herself into a chair on one side of 
  the table you've chosen. She immediately punches in an order at the 
  automated menu at the table for a hard cider and adds, "You ring up whatever 
  you want."

Tand looks at you strangely, "Why'd you ask if I was Corellian?" He purses his 
  lips as he looks over the menu, "Hmm, ooh.. Starshine Suprise. I'll take 
  that." His fingers punch in the order.

As her cider arrives, Shenner scoops it up and slugs down a large draught of 
  it before telling you morosely, "Every single bit of trouble in my life has 
  been caused by Corellians, see..."

Tand quirks an eyebrow. nodding slightly in recognition. His eyes widen as he 
  finally recieves his drink; A bright yellowish liquid in a thin-tall glass.
Tand lifts his glass up in a salute to you, "Thanks for the drink." He eyes it 
  warily then dares a gulp, causing him to wince at the magnitude of alcohol. 
  He coughs, "Wow, made it nice and strong."

Shenner grins crookedly. "Yeah? Maybe I'll try one of those next." She nurses 
  the cider again, hard, then adds, "So. Elroodian, huh? Never heard of it..."

Tand scowls as he's heard that a hundred times over, "You ain't the first to 
  mention it. Elrood is another sector on the Rim. That's where I'm from, 
  originally." He takes another sip of his drink, taking pains to hide the 
  near overbearing strength of the drink. "So.. where you from?"

"Belsavis," replies the redhead, swigging down more cider. "Marvelous, 
  charming, cold-as-hells Belsavis." And she toasts it, sardonically.

Tand shakes his head as the name doesn't ring a bell, "Nah, never heard of it. 
  This Galaxy is to damn big I think." With that he takes a breath and then 
  downs the rest of the drink. His cheeks flush with color as his head tilts 
  down to stare at the table, he simply comments, "Youch."

"You ain't missin' much with Belsavis, let me tell yah." Shen polishes off the 
  cider, looking pretty unfazed, then squints at you. "Good stuff, huh?"

Tand's eyes burn, "Yeah." He lets out a long breath, "Real good, its a double 
  of a drink called the 'Tatooine Sunburn'." He reaches for a napkin and wipes 
  the sweat forming, "Wow, that Calamari sure can burn for someone who likes 
  water."

Shenner grins fiercely. "Well, hells, gimme one of those!" She punches in the 
  order for it, and waits for the drink with obvious anticipation. "Whaddya 
  you want next, pal?"

Tand licks his lips and then hesitates, "I dunno Shen.. I never really have 
  more then one, I'm afraid of two."

The girl smiles, understandingly enough, as her own Surprise shows up. With 
  the same vigor with which she'd downed the cider, she takes her first gulp 
  of the drink, and it immediately makes her eyes water over.

Tand watches you cautiously, "Don't you think ya oughta slow down just a 
  little bit?" He takes a breath to clear his mind, since it spins so 
  pleasantly.

Shenner blinks rapidly several times, her face turning quite red, then she 
  swallows down a lungful of air, and says expansively, "Hot _damn_."

Tand lets out a momentary chuckle, "You ever been on Tatooine? I lived there 
  for a few years you know.." he points an unsteady finger toward the 
  bartender, "He's good, much better then that stinky guy in the Cantina."

Shenner, by way of answer to that, slugs down another _large_ mouthful of the 
  Surprise. "Spent a year on Tatooine," she mutters at you.

Tand raises his finger, "Well, the Tatooine Sunburn is meant for those natives 
  of that dustball.. they give all the spacers the Suprise, which is double.. 
  expects em to get knocked out for easy prey. Ever hear of that trick? Its 
  rough, I hated it when they did that to people."
Tand closes his eyes for a few moments as he temporarily loses self balance 
  and begins to lean. He quickly pushes off the table, steadying himself, 
  "Damn, its been awhile."

Shenner squints at you again. "Yeah." And she suddenly slurrily chuckles. "I 
  kept hidin' from the spacers. 'Specially the Corellians!" Her eyes turn 
  fierce again, febrilely bright.

Tand gives you a strange look for a second, but then chuckles, "Cocky bastards 
  are they.. two of em stranded Tacra and I on Palahni not to long ago, 
  friggin smuggler jerks."

Shenner blinks at you. Twice. "You too, huh?" She slugs down more of the 
  Surprise, then grimaces. "Corellians. Smugglers. Dammit, why's he gotta be 
  so karkin' nice....!"

Tand tilts his head, "Huh?" His hands quickly cover his mouth as he lets out a 
  large yawn.

Shenner gestures vaguely off with one hand. "That damned Corellian. You know. 
  _Him_. The one who came with us off Palanhi!"

Tand's brain, now somewhat fried has to take a moment to remember, "That 
  damned Corellian.." he recites as the thought finally strikes him, "Oh... 
  Paul?"

Down goes the rest of Shenner's Surprise. Her face gets rather glowingly pink, 
  and her eyes, glassy, blink several times. "Yeah. Him!" She bobs her head 
  across the table at you.

Tand chuckles and points at you, "Your face is lighting up like a damned star 
  goin nova."

"I could go for that," Shenner replies, sounding suspiciously giddy. "What'd 
  you say this drink's called?"

Tand idly plays around with the stirrer in his empty drink glass. "Starshine 
  Suprise," he replies.

Ragnar enters the tavern, the sounds of the busy market district muted as the 
  door closes behind him.
Ragnar has arrived.

Shenner declares, "I wanna 'nuther one," and punches the order into the bar's 
  automenu, after leaning over to squint at the thing to make sure she's 
  hitting the right button.

Ragnar
     No-one has ever really wondered if he is good looking or not; it seems 
  irrelevant. His tall slender figure has an air of distinction, too authentic 
  to be modern, and he moves as though he has a cape floating behind him in 
  the wind. One could say that he seems to posess the vitality of a healthy 
  animal, but they would be wrong. He has the vitality of a healthy man, a 
  thing so rare that few can readily identify it. He has the power of 
  certainty.
     No-one described his appearance as Latin, yet the word applies to him, 
  not in its present, but original sense, not pertaining to Spain, but the 
  ancient Rome. His body seems to be an exercise in the consistency of style, 
  a style made of gauntness, of tight of flesh, of long legs and swift 
  movements. His features have the fine precision of sculpture. His hair is 
  black and straight, swept back. The suntan of his skin intensifies the 
  startling color of his eyes: they are a pure, clear blue. His face is open, 
  its rapid changes of expression reflecting whatever he feels, as if he has 
  nothing to hide. The blue eyes are still, and changeless, not giving away a 
  hint of what he thinks.
     He wears a simple outfit, consisteing of browns and whites. His pants are 
  loose, and a rich chocolate brown. Over his chest, he wears a bright white 
  shirt, expertly tailored to fit his trim physique. His boots are tall, up to 
  his shins, polished expertly, without a scuff mark.

Ragnar pushes the doors open quietly, peering inside with squinted eyes and a 
  stolid face. He enters, silent, and looks about, standing near the doorway 
  for a moment.

Among the patrons visible in the bar at this hour are a redheaded youngster of 
  indeterminate -- at least from a distance -- gender, and a green-eyed young 
  man off at one of the side tables; if the expressions on the faces of the 
  two are any indication, they're well on their way to getting plastered.

Tand advises, "Now Shen.." he pauses and changes his mind, "Get me one more 
  too?"

Ragnar pushes a stray hair back behind his ear, and moves towards the bar, 
  pocketing a hand. The other rises, signalling to the barkeep for a drink, 
  with the aid of his voice, "Ale." Curt and efficient.

Shenner grins at Tand, beamingly, and summons another drink for her companion. 
  "You got it.... fellow Corellian strand-ee... strandy? Strand-ee..." She 
  snickers. And in a few more minutes, two fresh Starshine Surprises arrive on 
  the scene.

Ragnar is seved his Ale in a talle, frosty glass. he takes a brief sip of it, 
  grimacing slightly, perhaps at the taste. He looks about, blue eyes vaguely 
  bored.

Tand holds up two finger, "Thrice.. err twice I might add." He reaches for the 
  glass but nearly knocks it over, just barely saving it with the other hand, 
  He takes a breath, "Phew.. almost ruined that star."

"Drink it fast," Shenner advises, "and that way you can't spill it!" The 
  redhead proceeds to start downing her own Surprise, which slowly but 
  steadily adds to the flush in her cheeks. She does not appear to mind in the 
  slightest.

Ragnar looks at you for a moment.
Ragnar scratches a thte back of his neck, taking another sip, not savoring the 
  flavor for too long. Not his taste, it seems, is this thich, frothy ale.

Despite the hard packed buzz already affecting Tand, he takes a moment to 
  think about the safety of that piece of advice Shenner offers. He stares the 
  neon glowing drink warily, "That's awfully.." he pauses and watches Shenner 
  down it. With a 'if she can I can..' thought running through his head he 
  lifts the glance and proceeds to down the drink.
Tand slams the empty glass down triumphantly, a symbolic act of victory over 
  the harsh drink. His eyes slowly turn bloodshot as he erupts into one harsh 
  cough, he leans over the table as if gasping for air.

Ragnar glances over at the liver-flexing contest that's proceeding a few feet 
  from him. He observes, content to be quiet.

Shenner lets out a whoop, and clanks her glass against Tand's; he's actually 
  beaten her in downing the second Surprise, and she grins in vehement 
  approval. "I'll be damned!"

Ragnar slips up onto a barstool, slipping his drink in front of his, then 
  taking a reflexive drink. His fingers tap against the glass as he sets it 
  down again, thumb driving a line through the condensation around it.

Tand grins, "I'll buy tommorrow." he simply states. "If Tacra could see me now 
  she'd think I jumped into the pit of Carkoon."

Shenner bursts into husky laughter, unsteadily but inexorably choking down the 
  rest of her drink. Once this is successfully accomplished, and her head is 
  thrumming loudly between her ears, she peers blearily at Tand. "Whassa pit 
  of Carkoon?"

Ragnar peers over, eyes settled on Tand, as though interested in hearing his 
  response. Of course, this is all done furtively, without being rude or 
  obvious.

Tand of course can barely keep his vision focused on Shenner. "Uhm, its a big 
  nasty ding in the Dune Sea.." He spreads his hands out wide, real wide that 
  he almost falls over, "This real big mouth.. eats people. I taught you liv'd 
  on Tat for awhile too?"

Ragnar looks away, back to his drink. He shakes his head a little, slight 
  smile playing on his lips. Well, damn that. hes amused.

Pac enters the tavern, the sounds of the busy market district muted as the 
  door closes behind him.
Pac has arrived.
Pac looks at you for a moment.

Shenner shakes her head at Tand, or at least starts to. The motion appears to 
  have taken on a life of its own, and it takes her a bit before her head gets 
  the signal to stop shaking -- 'cause it's making her dizzy. "Jes' in Mos 
  Eisley," she slurs. "Jes' in Mos Eisley. Hated it. Dried my flute out. Too 
  karkin' hot!"

Pac walks up the small passageway and leaves the tavern.
Pac has left.

Tand nods quickly, "I know I know.. too hot." Speaking of hot, he reaches down 
  and grabs another napkin to wipe his sweat dripping forehead, "Damn, this 
  here drink reminds of Mos Isly."

Shenner sets her glass down, and the motion is strangely slow, as though the 
  kid is moving through water. "Wow... now I feel like a nova went off in my 
  head," she mumbles, and she sounds approving of the idea.

Ragnar walks up the small passageway and leaves the tavern.
Ragnar has left.

Tand leans back, his head resting against the cushiony booth paddin, "Why'd 
  you have to remind me?" His eyes wander over towards the door, "How in the 
  hell we sup'osed to get back?"

Shenner squints blearily at her companion. "You inna hurry?"

Tand shake his head, "Nah, I don wanna sleep in dat crapspot tonit.. I dink 
  I'll sleep in Coral park, nice there."

Shenner grins broadly and lopsidedly at you. "You're gettin' all 
  blurryworded," she observes, swaying a little where she sits.

Tand smirks and points a finger at you, however he misjudges and nearly pokes 
  you, "Whops.. 'ey, you ain't doin so good yerself. I told you tis suff is 
  strong as a nova."

"I," the girl retorts grandly, "'mdoin' great. I'm drunk... an' I wanna be 
  drunk... I have accom... accompli... made tonight's goal!"
Shenner considers this, and adds, "I wanna be drunker." She leans over and 
  peers at the automenu muzzily.

Tand raises a finger again, "No Shen! Yur nuts!" He loses his balance almost 
  completely and falls into the wall, "Uhh, your spinnin fast."

"Ain't got nothin' betterda do," Shenner slurs back. A third drink is summoned 
  -- not a Surprise, as Shenner misses that button on the automenu. What 
  eventually shows up is something fruity-looking, with a fresh snippet of 
  fruit wedged over the rim of the glass, and Shenner begins to gulp it down 
  the moment it's in her hands, every so often pressing the cold glass against 
  her overheated face.

Tand just lay there slumped against the wall like a space slug, watching you 
  with dreary eyes, "Yer insane."

Shenner cackles huskily. She keeps swaying slightly where she sits but somehow 
  manages to keep her balance; eventually her rate of alcohol consumption 
  begins to slow, though. And she holds on to her glass as though she were a 
  small child sipping a mug of hot cocoa -- an image aided by the awkwardness 
  of her bandaged hands -- and stares across the top of it into the air. Her 
  expression holds a mix of emotions, as she tells you, "Insane... about 
  right, yeah... must be it... tearin' my hands up like that..."

Tand shrugs lazily, "Jus leav em be till I look at em." he states, eyes slowly 
  drifting closed.

----------
Postlude:

	At last, with a hefty amount of alcohol in her system, Shenner had
the pain in her hands dulled down to a low mumble... and she could safely
not-think about what had happened between her and a certain Corellian without
remaining on the edge of tears. Still, though, it plagued her as she and
Tand continued to drink; Paul _had_ been exceedingly nice about the whole
thing, it occurred to her. Which had to mean that her feeling so awful
had to be her own fault....
	Yes, that was it.
	As she and Tand got progressively more intoxicated, Shenner realized
what she had to do. The more she thought about it, the better an idea it
seemed....

[End log.]