"Ice! We need more ice!" A quick look to the left and right confirmed that both his bartenders were positively swamped. Hekimi fluttered a little higher. Customers were three deep at the bar. If he wanted ice, he'd have to get it himself.
The back room offered a slight respite from the noise. This was, quite possibly, the busiest the Crystal Lounge had been since opening. For the past week, he'd had his gang spreading the word, putting up posters and chatting up anyone and everyone. Alliance, Cizerack, Jedi, everyone had been informed of tonight's open mic amateur night. A crate full of ice in tow, he went back out to face the chaos. Beyond the bar, the floor was filled with extra tables, brought out of storage. Those tables, in turn, were filled with paying customers, many of whom weren't regulars.
Dee was working as the mistress of ceremonies, and doing a damn good job of it, though the Kaminoan insisted in taking the opportunity to sing loudly (and slightly off-key) between acts. Thankfully, the patrons had consumed just the right amount of alcohol to make her still charming. He'd have to put a stop to it as the night went on though. The drunks would eventually reach the tipping point and start to get ornery and he didn't want to have to throw anyone out.
But for now, spirits were high. The assembled crowd were presently cheering for Dyerman and Calek, a pair of Alliance dockhands who were putting on quite the acrobatics exhibition. The former was on his back, legs in the air while the latter was balanced on one leg, standing on the bottom of his partner's feet. The crowd hushed as Calek withdrew a wicked-looking blade. Hekmi recognized it as one of Ronald's. The precariously perched dockhand lifted the blade carefully and placed the hilt to his nose. For three long seconds, the blade remained vertical before he snatched it and performed a backflip.
The cheering was so loud Hekimi was certain they could hear it in orbit. After filling the ice bins, he left for the floor, eager to see who was next to take the stage.
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