The Rose of Naboo

[Henry Chinko]

[member="Aurelia Rennan"]

When you're a writer with a dwindling stream of income and no more capacity to write, you start looking for inspiration wherever you can find it.

And you can always bet you'll pay for it.

This was exactly the intention Henry Chinko had set when he arrived on Coruscant, immediately heading for the bar district. Hank had made a habit of hopping around planets when he got bored. He had apartments on both Nar Shaadda and Coruscant--the planet on which he had grown up.

Hank's love of liquor aside, running to the bars and nightclubs it was an easy choice on this planet. Being that it was the capital of the One Sith empire, the place was crawling with menacing characters in dark robes. Being of no political inclination, Hank had no problem with the One Sith per se, but he had enough knowledge of space magic and a good nose for danger. He wasn't going to get caught between a crimson lightsaber and a hard place.

As he tossed away the butt of a too-soon-finished cigarette, he approached a stretch of respectable-looking evening establishments. He smiled, picking one out and pushing open the door. It was a nice enough place, with low lights and a lovely hostess. Hank grinned mischievously at her as she sat him at a booth in a dark corner.

​"Bring me a Corellian Whiskey when you get the chance?" Hank asked, cooly, lighting another cigarette.

If there was one thing he needed after a long trip in other than a cigarette, it was a drink.

 

[Aurelia Rennan]

[member="Henry Chinko"]

"You look wonderful Miss Aurelia"

Words uttered from Aurelia's hair stylist. A wonderful compliment that most would smile at, Aurelia just rolled her eyes at it. Aurelia had been sat backstage in her dressing room for about half an hour getting fussed over by various different stylists.
The usual routine commenced for Aurelia when she was subjected to this nightly event. Aurelia would question everything from why she worked there to even if she still wanted to dance. But it's what Aurelia was trained for, and you might as well do something you are good at right?

Finally her hair and makeup was done. With a loud sigh she rose from her seat already in this evenings gown and barged past her stylists. Her stylists were not fond of her but work was work and they had bills to pay.

Aurelia had made her way to the side of the stage and took a deep breath. It was time for her to fake, it was time for her to put on a happy face and make it seem like this was what she was destined for.

"Please give a warm welcome to Aurelia, The Rose of Naboo" a man announced.

With one last sigh Aurelia made her way onto the stage barely even noticing the applause and took center stage.

 

[Henry Chinko]

Hank leaned back, slowly metamorphosing into a cloud of smoke. His drink had come--boy, had he needed it--and the aging man had begun scribbling on a napkin. Problem was, he hadn't seen anyone particularly interesting in this bar yet, and he wasn't nearly drunk enough to function normally. Had he been concentrating on anything legitimate, he would have scowled as the music picked up in volume and an announcer began booming throughout the bar's speakers. A stage in the center of the bar began to glow with light as the announcer welcomed "The Rose of Naboo" to the stage.

She was a very pretty girl. It occurred to Hank that she seemed very young for a place like this. He flicked the ashes of his cigarette into a tray and applauded with the rest of the crowd. He rubbed his eyes as he watched the young woman take the stage. She wore a gown and elaborately planned hair and makeup. The writer smiled.

For Hank, the more something was fake, the better it got.

He took a long draw from his glass and settled in for the Rose's routine, seeming to melt into the dark of his corner booth.

[member="Aurelia Rennan"]

 

[Aurelia Rennan]

[member="Henry Chinko"]

With a fake smile and a vacant look in her eyes, Aurelia stared into the crowd as the lights in the bar dimmed and a spotlight beamed down on her. Her purple eyes twitched ever so slightly as the adjusted to the intense light that beamed down onto her. The crowd fell silent and the live band began to play a soft beautiful instrumental song. Aurelia's moves were subtle at first, small flowing movements with her hands as her hips swayed gently and she moved slowly around the stage. Aurelia soon took center stage and stood still staring into the audience smiling.

Things now livened up. The music suddenly changed from soft and soothing to loud and exciting. Still fully instrumental the band furiously played as Aurelia's dance changed it's tone. She began to dance energetically with long fast flowing movements, instead of walking slowly she was dancing fastly around the stage which caused the audience to clap in sync. Although Aurelia did dance well, her gown added a lot more to the spectacle. Her movements cause the sparkling gown to seem is if it flowed around her like water.

After 10 minutes the music stopped and the lights slowly came back signalling the show had ended. Aurelia bowed to the audience and quickly made her exit. As she left the bar's host thanked everyone and announced that the dancers from tonight will be spending the night in the bar had anyone wanted to meet them.

 

[Henry Chinko]

[member="Aurelia Rennan"]

Dammit if you're not one of the most cultured men in the galaxy, Mr. Chinko.

In his more-than-forty years, Hank had seen just about every form of dancing there was to see in a bar after the sun went down. It ranged from high art to incomprehensible to downright improper. The Rose of Naboo was intriguing in her grace; somehow, doing very little, she communicated so much spirit. The subtlety of her movement was astounding. She clearly had been well trained in her art.

​Not quite a lapdance from a Hapan, but it was something.

As he watched the young woman come out into the bar and walk amongst the patrons, Hank took a long inhale of his deathstick and rolled up the sleeves of his untucked shirt.

Where did they go​

the dancers?​

The joyous people,​

bodies that respond​

to space and will.​

​

If they're all in bars​

either we are wrong​

or we need more ​

drunks and revelers.​

​

It was a silly little thought, but bar napkins had been made for those.