Ask Eriadu Big Iron

[Darth Stolas]

MUSIC
​

"To the town of Niima Outpost flew a stranger one fine day,
Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to say,
No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip,
For the stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip."


Sitting on a walkway bench in what was well known as Zaa Fenn territory. He had a seven-stringed hallikset cradled in his hands, fingers gently strumming across strings tuned for a more classic sound. He sang a song, a tale of the legendary Preef Callo. It told of a notorious outlaw that hid out in a country town, a Devaronian gunslinger known for his temper and willingness to kill any he pleased for any reason at all. It told of Preef's arrival in the town, seeking the outlaw out, hearing of his exploits and his viciousness. It told of the people of the town knowing the legendary, handsome Preef Callo was sure to meet his death at hands of the outlaw.

Then they drew, and Preef, of course, drew fastest. Morgan sang with feeling, as if he was there and saw it himself, had been personally saved by the leader of the Zaa Fenn from a vicious outlaw.

"There was 40 feet between them when they stopped to make their play,
And the swiftness of Preef Callo is still talked about today,
Jakku Red had not cleared leather 'fore a bolt had fairly ripped,
And Preef Callo's aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip."

Ever since Sullust and briefly spotting Preef Callo at a party on Eriadu, Morgan had been wondering about him. The security recording the Rodian gunslinger were truly impressive, nearly nailing that technicolour Jedi with a hipfire shot from nearly 40 meters. Hitting a target that wasn't moving wasn't that impressive, but that first shot? And the grenade? Poetry. He'd gone into that fight the least armed, taking the Force into account, and he'd only fired a few shots. But each one had an impact almost as much as each bolt of lightning and cracking of the ground. He was a famous the galaxy over, a hero to the poor youth of the outer rim worlds, a man to look up to. One day he was just another guy with a gun, and another day he'd become the best pistolier anyone knew of.

So naturally, Morgan wanted to meet him in person. Preferably not while someone was headbutting members of his gang nearby. 'Course it's not like he could just walk up to his penthouse, even if he was probably able to find it one way or another. It'd only work if he was either invited, or Preef came to Morgan himelf. So he hatched a plan. A busker, a skilled one, singing about Preef Callo in his own territory within a reasonable distance of his penthouse? Surely that would draw some, hopefully positive, attention. Especially with the crowd that had gathered, cheering for the Zaa Fenn hero with the big iron on his hip.

"It was over in a moment and the folks had gathered round,
There before them lay the body of the outlaw on the ground,
Oh, he might have went on living but he made one fatal slip,
When he tried to match Preef Callo with the big iron on his hip."

@Eccles

 

[Preef Callo]

The holographic image of Morgan singing his tribute was projected on Preef's communicator as the rodian chilled in his quarters at the Zaa Fenn penthouse. He liked it and not just because it reminded him of a simpler time.

Few years ago Preef Callo was a nobody that could easily travel to his ranch on Takodana and enjoy the outdoors. He loved to herd his bantha, have a nap in the grass and breathe in the fresh air of a sparsely populated world. These days he couldn't take a single step outside of the Zaa Fenn penthouse or people called his name. Autograph here, concealed threat there and a bounty hunter's gaze on him always. It was the price that came with finally being recognized as the fastest draw in the Outer Rim. No one even tried to challenge him for the title anymore.

Back to the performance of this young human. Preef couldn't remember ever winning a duel against a Jakku Red or remember Niima Outpost. Had he ever been there? Had he ever met this Jakku Red? He just wasn't sure, but he liked the song so he decided to get out of his lazy chair, strap on his gunbelt and go down to streetlevel.

A few minutes later and Preef Callo appeared in person, flanked by two gunslinging scoundrels of the Zaa Fenn Crime Family. The crowd parted to give him free way to approach the singer and enjoy the song from closeby. Heh. Even better in person.


@Mr. Teatime

 

[Darth Stolas]

He'd actually shown up. Privately Morgan hadn't expected Preef Callo to actually emerge from his penthouse himself, but he certainly wasn't complaining about it. He'd also brought two guards. Morgan might've lost a little respect for him if he hadn't. Callo was an infamous gunslinger with extraordinary skill and reputation, but he was also on more than one wanted list. No matter how good he was, he only had two hands. With a pair of guards he instead had six.

The song ended less than a minute after Preef and his entourage arrived, a few final chords ringing through the air from his instrument. Most of the crowd had been distracted by the subject of song himself showing up to listen, but as the song ended some of those same people seemed to believe such a development deserve a few extra credits and coins dropped into a flat-topped hat sat on the ground. A pair of bright gold eyes turned up from the instrument and over to the gunslinging Rodian, a cheery but fanged grin lighting up his face.

"I didn't think you'd show up in person, Mr. Callo. I'm a big fan of your work," he said after a moment, glancing down at his blaster and over at the other two with him before settling back on the Rodian's face. His head tilted a little.

"How do you feel about noodles?"

@Eccles