A trip with Yamato

[childofrebellion]

"No, I'm not talking to anyone unless they have a performer with them and the cantina is closed." The door slammed behind the angry Shistavanen and Cassian winced from where he watching across the street.

His asset couldn't meet him if the cantina wasn't open as they worked in there. He needed some way to convince the owner and started to walk around the block, opening a door that turned into Milliways.

Comments

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Any particular pattern to the changes?"

[childofrebellion]

"Not as much as I'd like. The materials being moved are used for a lot of kinds of construction."

Before he gets too much farther in what he's saying, he stops as Romolu comes over, "Time for your show.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato's almost annoyed at Romolu coming over. Logistics of supplies falls pretty squarely into his wheelhouse as his team's strategist, after all.

But he's here to do a job for Cassian, not pick over the finer points of cargo shipments, so he gives Romolu a quick nod and stands.

[childofrebellion]

Romulu has a microphone set up and gestures to Yamato. Then he stands up on stage says. "We've got someone new for you tonight; Yamato. If he's good, you might hear him again."

Then he gestures to Yamato. While this is going on, a cautious older human man came and sat beside Cassian.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

It occurs to Yamato that he probably should've asked how many songs Romolu wanted from him, but it doesn't matter: He has plenty of songs at his disposal.

He starts singing, relying on the low rumble of his voice and his own stage presence to drag people's attention onto him. He's pretty good at working a crowd, and as he sings he quickly identifies a few people in the front row who seem like they're easily excitable, and flashes them some quick, flirty (well, flirty for him, which is halfway between 'dazzling' and 'disturbingly lupine') grins between notes.

He keeps Cassian and the older man in his peripheral vision in case anything goes wrong, but he avoids looking directly at them.

[childofrebellion]

He gets flirting back in return especially from a Pandoran who smiles at him. Cassian nods to the man who only briefly glances at him before passing a datachip.

As he takes the chip, Cassian hides it by moving a plate of food over and says. "Try these, they're delicious and you look like you've had a long shift."

The man takes a drink of Cassian's ale and coughs before grabbing a fried piece of meat. "Singer's good. Can't meet you anymore. They're bringing in more eyes."

Cassian takes his drink back to hide his nod. "There are always eyes but not enough answers. Thank you."

Again the man eats while not really seeing Yamato singing.

Romolu considers a set about eight songs, enough for everyone to finish their drinks and snacks and want more. As the time nears the end, he gives Yamato a wave and applause.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

As he finishes his set, Yamato gives the crowd a quick grin before heading off stage, lingering near the bar.

He doesn't approach Cassian yet. That seems like it'd be better left for when his contact has left.

[childofrebellion]

At the Bar, the Twi'lek tender catches his eye.

"Your drinks are on the house tonight. What do you want?"

The man with Cassian takes another drink before standing up and patting Cassian on the shoulder. "Now we're even. Keep out of trouble."

"I will. Good to see you." Cassian smiles and waves as the man walks first to the bathroom and then out a side door.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Ah, just some more tea will be fine," Yamato says, tilting his head a little. Now that he's off stage, he slips back into his natural gruffness fairly quickly.

He waits for his tea, then wanders over to Cassian, sliding into the booth opposite him.

"I see your guy showed up."

[childofrebellion]

When Yamato comes over, Cassian nods and offers the last of the food.

"Things change. You were great up there." And at least this is one informant that chose what happened to them without the Empire or the Rebellion deciding.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Not a productive meeting, then?"

He rubs the back of his neck, turning a little pink.

"Thanks. Not that it matters, important thing is that you were able to meet your contact."

[childofrebellion]

"We'll see." He shifts his hand so Yamato can see the datachip that he quickly hides in his jacket. "You'll probably have to do two or three more sets. If you want to leave. We can always think something up."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I can manage two or three more," Yamato says, sipping his tea. "Throat might end up a bit sore, but nothing I can't deal with."

[childofrebellion]

"Good, since it looks like you're bringing in a crowd."

Though there's an edge to the people entering as if they're moving away more than to.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato glances at the people entering, then back at Cassian.

"... I'm pretty sure I'm not the one bringing them in," he murmurs. "Might be time to start thinking about leaving."

[childofrebellion]

Romolu wanders over to their table, he's been checking in on everyone and when he's close enough says. "Someone left the Imps a message at the factory. They don't like it. One more song and then there's a back door behind the stage. You, wait to the side."

There's a nod to Cassian who shifts to get up when Yamato does and disappear into the shadows around the stage.

"We won't cause you anymore trouble." Cassian keeps his voice quiet, he'd hoped Romolu might be an ally

"Get through this first before you make me any promises, pilot. I keep my patrons safe." And at the moment, they're his patrons, that might change later.

By the time, Romolu's finished talking with them, a patrol led by an officer in grey enters.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato considers doing a shorter song as his last one, but that might be suspicious in and of itself.

He keeps an eye on the patrol as he heads up onto the stage, settling in to sing a slow, melancholic song. He keeps his posture relaxed and his voice even, but he doesn't let the patrol out of his sight.

[childofrebellion]

Romolu meets the officer who makes sure that her voice penetrates through Yamato's singing. "There's been a robbery at the factory. We're talking to everyone, have your IDs ready."

From his vantage point, Cassian looks for those who are the most nervous and if he can meet their eyes tips his head to the stage and the door behind.

Yamato's audience is divided, partly listening to him and watching the patrol.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

It doesn't show on his face or in how he stands, but as soon as IDs are mentioned, and the possibility that they'll find that he doesn't have one enters his mind, Yamato starts figuring out what he'll do if he has to fight.

It's easy enough to pick out the most vulnerable member of the patrol, and map out the cantina in his head to figure out where the improvised weapons are, how to cause the most chaos, what the routes to the exit are. This is what he does, after all, even if he'd rather avoid a fight.

When his song comes to an end, he gives the audience a quick smile and heads towards the back of the stage, quiet and relaxed.

[childofrebellion]

A few people start drifting towards the back of the cantina. Cassian intersects with Yamato as he comes off the stage as the officer with two stormtroopers start questioning patrons.

A Iakaru growls at the officer and lashes out with a claw saying. "Don't have to tell you anything."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"What do you want us to do?" Yamato murmurs to Cassian, turning half away from the Imperials so that they can't see him talking. "We could probably slip out of here without anyone noticing."

[childofrebellion]

"That would be safest." He says as the officer orders one of her men to stun the Iakaru who charges the 'trooper.

The blaster fires and the officer says. "One warning, IDs and any trouble and we'll haul you all in."

Cassian clenches his fist and moves towards the back door. A few other patrons have gone out before them and an older woman is holding the door.

"Don't wait too long. Not a time to be a hero." She says and as they get closer, its possible to see that she was in the shop across the way.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

A part of Yamato is screaming to move and fight, but it's not difficult to see that that will cause more trouble for the other patrons than it'd fix.

He gives Cassian a quick nod and moves towards the door with him, instead, keeping his head down.

[childofrebellion]

Cassian stays behind Yamato as they slip into the alley behind the cantina. Not long after they come out, the woman shuts the door and glances at them before turning to the right and then down another street.

Cassian then goes the other way, still skirting the edge of the cantina, he wants more intel about that officer but he needs to keep Yamato safe too.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato's eyes follow the woman briefly, before he moves after Cassian.

"Raiding everything nearby because of one message left at a factory," he says, tilting his head. "It's a pretty nasty intimidation tactic."

He pauses, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"But, you've got a face for one of the officers in charge now. And a pretty solid metric for her behaviour," he adds. "There's plenty of uses for both those things."