They were having breakfast and drinking their morning kawah in the mess hall when Asa's communicator rang with an incoming call.

"Ms. Javedani, my name is Dario Kanaan." The man had a pleasant baritone, with a barely noticeable Algolan accent. "You left a message last night about your ship needing servicing. We have an opening in a couple of hours, our maintenance docks are in the Net. I will send you the exact time and the coordinates in a message. The fee for your ship will be 800 birr, plus fuel costs, if you require refueling. And please extend my best regards to Mr. Naser."

No sooner had she finished the conversation than the communicator chimed again with another call. "Ms. Javedani, this is Mr. Shammas, from "The Old Horizon". Asa furrowed her brow, trying to remember whether she had actually given the old man her contact number. "I was... ah... thinking about the young lady that visited my store yesterday... well... that came out a bit wrong... anyway, while we talked, I was admiring her earrings... and today I woke up with the realization that those were probably designer earrings". He paused for a moment, letting the information sink in. "I thought it might help you in your search... I can send you a rough sketch, if you think it might be of use..."

Adhan, meanwhile, decided to give the young hoodlum's communicator another try. He booted up his computer and reconnected the device, planning to go through the messages once again. Much to his disappointment he found that the previous owner had finally had the presence of mind to wipe the comm's external network storage. Adhan made sure to save the data that he did manage to glean, which was now stored in his computer's cache, but it was highly probable that the demise of the young man's communicator had become public knowledge.

Yet the Icons worked in mysterious ways. As Adhan mulled over his option, a marketing gadget's pop-up appeared on the comm's simulated screen. "Go wild at the Wild Juice! Every first day of the novena, buy two cocktails and get the third one free! Wild girls! Wild prices! Wild fun!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:29, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

"Thank you, Mr. Kanaan, we will be there at the allotted time. Please refuel our ship as well."

Asa's voice had a hint of relief as she disconnected the call. The thought of the Star finally getting the maintenance it desperately needed put her at ease. She turned to Kira, who was savoring her third cup of the aromatic kawah, a steaming cup of which was in front of Asa as well. The smell of the hot beverage filled the air, a comforting scent that eased their tensions.

"Kira, Can you take the Star to the Net and get that seen to? And perhaps the rest of us can continue our search."

Kira nodded in agreement. "Sure thing, Captain. Be sure to give the old beggar my regards if you come across him."

Asa took the second call. "That would be most helpful, Mr. Shammas! Just scan the sketch and send it directly to my comm. My data djinn might be able to run a search on it."

She smiled as she looked at her friends. "Today is another day. Let's give this a second try!"

Adhan stared at his comm screen for a moment, scratching the stubble of his beard, before slowly starting to grin. "Attention all crew! I am going to say a sentence that has never been said before: Thank the Merchant for advertising!" He read the advertisement for the Wild Juice aloud, with perhaps more enthusiasm than the ad copy really deserved. "That must be where they meet up!"

Ten minutes later, a message popped up on Asa's communicator. True to his word, Baltazar sent her a sketch drawn in pencil. It was a nicely done rendition of the earring in question, complete with an ear for scale.

The earring had the shape of an inverted triangle, each side measuring roughly three to four inches. Its top side pierced the earlobe, while delicate chains ran from the corners into its center, converging on what looked like a precious stone suspended between them in a thin wire frame. An arrow running to the triangle had the word "gold" scribbled next to it, while another pointed to the stone with the word "emerald?"

"That's...one big earring," Adhan said, musing over the sketch. "I'll get some searches running to see if I can learn anything about it."

"Well done, Adhan!" beamed Asa. "The Icons smile on us. Can you find out where the place is and see if you can find floor plans, maps, pictures, video feeds or some such?"

"And as for the earring, perhaps some reverse image searches, gossip columns, designer websites, anything that might give us a lead."

"Hey, and what about that picture you found?" interjected Kira. "Had a blast with Zazu and the bro. That one. Wasn't there a girl in that photo. Maybe she was wearing earrings?"

It took Adhan half an hour, a finely tuned image recognition app and a fervent prayer to the Messenger to find what he was looking for. The earrings were indeed part of a latest limited designer collection sold by a jeweler named Hasan bin-Soleimani. It took Adhan another minute to find the location of the merchant's jewelry shop, which was situated in the Core, a two-minute walk from the Dome of the Icons. The young man whistled inwardly as he quickly scanned the shop's prices. Clearly, affordability was not one of the shop's selling points.

Together with Kira they took a quick look at the picture Adhan had found on the network the previous night, but their examination didn't come to fruition. Given that the collection was rather new, and the photo was dated a couple of cycles back, there was no possible overlap between the two.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:32, Tue 07 Mar 2023.

"Good stuff," smiled Kira as she saw the search result. "Now hack that guy's customer database. Should be a breeze for a scholar such as yourself!"

Adhan turned to Kira. "You say 'scholar,' but it sounds like you mean 'criminal,'" he said, smiling to take any possible sting out of the words. "But I'll see what I can do."

"If it helps, consider it an order," grinned Asa.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:22, Thu 09 Mar 2023.

It didn't take Adhan long to hack into the jeweler's public network node, which was constructed using a boilerplate template and lacked adequate protective measures. It took even less time to come to the conclusion that the node did not possess any database functionality. If the merchant kept any records at all, it certainly wasn't online.

"Sure," Adhan growled at his tablet as he dropped it (not too hard) on the table. "Why would you use a computer when you can just write things down on PAPER?!?"

After a moment, he sighed and looked up. "Well, it looks like someone will have to ask him in person, because he doesn't record anything online."

Kira finished her cup of kawah and stood up from the table. "Alright, I'll take the Star to the maintenance docks, get her ready for service and refuelling and then we can go pay a visit to Mr. bin-Soleimani. But first," she glanced at Asa, "we'll need to look the part. I'm thinking we break out the good clothes and doll ourselves up a bit."

Asa raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You really think that'll make a difference?"

Kira grinned mischievously. "Trust me, Captain. The right dress and a little charm can work wonders, especially when you come from a high-up family like mine."

Aisha rolled her eyes. "Great, just what we need, more of your aristocratic antics."

Kira laughed. "Hey, a little elegance never hurt anyone. Besides, it's all part of the job, isn't it?"

Asa nodded in agreement. "Alright then, let's get to it. And Kira, be careful out there."

Kira gave a mock salute. "Aye, aye, Captain. See you all in a bit." She turned on her heel and headed out of the mess hall, already planning her outfit in her head.

"Aisha, do you want to go shopping for clothes with me?" said Asa. "We can get that sorted while Kira drops off the Star. Farah and Adhan, see if you can think of a plan to lure Zazu to the Juice?"

She grinned. "Unless you want to come with us shopping?"

A small smile began on Aisha's face, rapidly growing to maturity.

"Shopping? For work? May the Merchant smile upon us!"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 10:29, Tue 14 Mar 2023.

The Net, a twisted maze of metal and light, extended into the abyss of space. Once the skeleton of the Zenith, it was now a bustling hub of commerce and trade. Countless vessels, from behemoth freighters to nimble shuttles, weaved through the beams like threads in a tapestry, their silhouettes flickering against the starry backdrop.

As Kira piloted the Nameless Star through the labyrinthine pathways of the Net, she was awed by the sights around her. It was a place of unbridled motion, where ports, service stations, and docks fought for space amidst the ceaseless flurry of activity.

The Consortium freighters, bearing their emblematic logos, waited stoically as their cargo was sorted and redistributed onto smaller ships. The free trader vessels, their hulls scoured by countless journeys, glittered like diamonds amidst the chaos.

This was the beating heart of the Conglomerate, where fortunes were made and lost, where the dreams and aspirations of countless individuals came to fruition or perished under the weight of reality. And yet, despite the pandemonium, there was a sense of cohesion and purpose that held it all together.

Kira expertly guided the Nameless Star through the bustling Net, dodging other ships with ease as she headed towards the designated maintenance dock. The ship hummed softly as it glided towards the massive, metallic structure, surrounded by other vessels of all shapes and sizes undergoing various repairs and upgrades.

As Kira brought the ship to a gentle stop, a team of technicians and engineers approached, ready to begin their work. Kira stepped out of the ship, handing over the necessary paperwork and specifications to the head technician, a burly man with a friendly smile.

"Thanks for bringing her in, Captain. We'll take good care of her," he assured Kira as he and his team set to work. Kira nodded, satisfied that her ship was in good hands, and headed back towards the shuttle that would take her to Coriolis Station. She was dressed in her finest garments, befitting her Din Eusidia lineage, and she was determined to make a strong impression on the jeweler and procure the information they needed.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Mon 13 Mar 2023.

"Indeed," grinned Asa. "What to do you think? Fermahat & Sons first - or Yisimi's Fabrics?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 10:29, Tue 14 Mar 2023.

Kira's shuttle docked at the Neoptra an hour into the day watch. As she went through the busy spaceport, she messaged Asa, and they grabbed a quick lunch with the rest the crew at a food court near the Spice Plaza. As they ate, Asa, Kira and Aisha discussed their upcoming shopping spree, while Adhan and Farah debated as to what to do in the meantime.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:45, Tue 14 Mar 2023.

Kira turned to Asa with a hopeful expression. "Hey, do you think we could squeeze in a quick spa day before we meet with the jeweler? My skin feels like it's been suffocating in the Star."

Asa chuckled. "As much as I'd love to, we don't have time for that, Kira. We've got a job to do."

Kira pouted. "Come on, just a quick facial and massage. We're already here and it won't take long."

Asa shook her head. "Sorry, Kira. We need to focus on finding that statue. No distractions."

Kira sighed. "Okay, fine. But I'm making a mental note to come back here after the job is done."

Asa grinned. "I'll hold you to that. Now let's go get blinged up."

After they finished their lunch, Asa suggested they start with Fermahat & Sons, the famous haberdashery she had mentioned earlier. They made their way to the shop, and as they entered, the air was thick with the scent of exotic spices and incense.

The shop was filled with colorful fabrics, intricate embroidery, and delicate beading. Kira's eyes sparkled as she ran her hands over the luxurious fabrics, while Aisha seemed a bit overwhelmed by the choices. Asa led them to a rack of dark, richly embroidered coats, pointing out a few that would look good on both Kira and Aisha.

They also picked out some traditional dresses with flowing skirts and intricate embroidery for Kira, while Asa found a beautiful kameez with detailed embroidery at the collar and sleeves that she couldn't resist.

After Fermahat & Sons, they made their way to Yisimi's fabrics, where they picked out some accessories to complete their outfits. They each got a beautiful dupatta to wrap around their heads, with delicate beading and embroidery. They finished their shopping at the Pasha's Flying Palace, where Kira couldn't resist buying a beautiful scarf with a delicate floral pattern. Asa chose a small but intricately designed hairpin that she had admired in the store's display case.

OOC: Shopping montage! :)  Aisha is welcome to add in her reactions and outfits :)

Adhan watched the shopping team leave, then shook his head. "Just 'come up with a plan to lure Zazu to the Juice,' huh? How would we even start? They've already deactivated the kid's comm, so we can't spoof a message that way. Maybe we just call him and say we have something he'd be interested in? Or go in the place as a customer and look for him? I don't know...do you have any ideas, Farah?"

Farah sipped her cardamom coffee, appreciating the smell and taste. She took a moment to consider the question, as well as the joy of life's little moments.
"I wonder how young girls find themselves working in such a place"
She had been quiet much of the morning. She dreaded the idea of going to a club. Especially a club known for booze, partying, and girls.
She tugged at her tagelmust wrapped about her chin.
"The girls would know things, but how to persuade them?"
Another sip and set down the cup, bringing back up the head wrapping with her free hand.
"I say we go slow, observing how the establishment works, its exits and entryways and whatever security it might have. Perhaps I play the part of a concerned acolyte wanting the draw the girls to a better life. Perhaps sympathy and a willing ear will draw forth secrets we could use."
She stared for a moment.
"I'm not usually this sentimental, but maybe it could work". She gave a hushed laugh.

"Well, a lot of those girls - from what I've heard, anyway," Adhan added hastily - "tend to work at places like that because they're desperate and don't have a lot of other options. A friendly face - especially a friendly female face - might go a long way." He mused over his own coffee. "I should probably give you space; I'll be there, looking and listening around in case there's any trouble, but you probably need to take the lead on this one. If you're willing, that is. If not, I won't think any less of you."

A small smile beneath the cloth.
"My expertise lies in more than threatening to rearrange frightened men's faces. I will do it. I just need to look the part of a conservative religious."
Farah motioned towards her own robes covering much of her person.
"I'm already mostly there, a bit more iconography on me and we'll be set".
 She looked towards Adhan while finishing the last of her coffee.
"You'd be good as a patron. Tell me, can you hold your booze while keeping your eyes and ears open?"

"I thought patrons were expected to have money?" Adhan smiled wryly. "But I can fake it. And I've spent plenty of time looking like I'm drinking more than I actually am - I won't leave you hanging."

"Perhaps one of us should go in first and buy a trinket?" suggested Asa as the group approached the shop of Hasan bin-Soleimani. "Scope the place out, see how business is conducted and how they register purchases."

"I can do that," offered Kira. "Let me have a look."  She straightened her new scarf and strode into the story with the natural confidence of someone who had grown up in comfort and luxury.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:37, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

"Shall we go then?" offered Farah.
She stood, pretending not to look around at the other patrons. Pretending not be aware and ready for the slightest hint of action. Much of her hoped that their escapade would go off without a hitch. Much of her prayed to the Dancer that they would play their part as well as good actor in a drama. Her friend's safety mattered to her highly, and yet a small part hoped to knock a few drunken heads together.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:36, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

Adhan took a seat at the bar, trying to find a spot where he could keep one eye on Farah amid the noise and chaos of the club. He tried to look relaxed and interested in the other girls at the bar, but he always paid the most attention to the ones that Farah was talking to.

According to the information posted on the network, the Wild Juice was located not too far away from the Stairdom. Farah and Adhan took the Tube to the Spring Plaza and then walked along the neighborhood's many twisted pathways and alleys towards the inner bend of the Ring. The Stairdom, a haven for artists and poets residing on the station, was a towering complex of living modules painted in bright colors with splashes of white here and there, in the fashion of the whitewashed sanctuaries on Amedo. A tangled network of stairs and ladders ran between the sloping roofs, porches, balconies and ledges, making it easy to get lost.

After taking a couple of wrong turns the pair finally reached their destination. A neon sign featuring a cocktail glass and an otherwise unclad high-heeled girl flickered above the entrance. From the outside the place looked like a regular run-of-the-mill strip bar. Despite it being the middle of the day watch, there were a couple of men in their mid-twenties standing outside, smoking and chatting. As Farah and Adhan stopped in front of the place, the two patrons glanced at them with some interest, then continued with their conversation.

The place was quite dark and it took them some time to adjust to the low light after the brightness of Coriolis' artificial sky outside. There was a bouncer at the entrance, a broad-shouldered man in a tight black t-shirt highlighting his muscular frame. 'No weapons of any kind allowed inside,' he said, then motioned to a row of lockers along one of the walls. 'If you have anything on you, stow it there.'

Done with their shopping and boasting exquisite-looking attires, Asa, Kira and Aisha took a hovertaxi to the Core, feeling it to be beneath their new looks to travel by the Tube. They landed on the Icon Plaza and spent several moments admiring the glittering dome before going down Pearl Lane towards their destination.

Hasan bin-Soleimani's jewelry store, located on the ground floor of a residential highrise, was the complete opposite of Baltazar's antiques shop. Through a large window the trio could see a very minimalistic interior with delicate gold frames and glass shelves sparsely populated with intricate jewelry. The place almost literally screamed expensive. As they examined the pieces showcased in the window, Asa pointed out their quarry - the triangular earrings that Baltazar had depicted in his sketch. According to the gold-plated plaque next to the showpiece, the earrings were called Geometry of the Senses. As befitted such a place, there were no price tags on display, but Kira had every reason to believe that the price would be far above an average person's pay grade.

Leaving Asa and Aisha outside for the moment, the red-headed pilot headed inside, with a gentle bell sound announcing her arrival as she opened the door. Kira couldn't help noticing the pleasant flowery scent once she entered the shop. The place wasn't large by any means, yet the sparsity of the furniture and the strategically placed mirrors made it look a lot more spacious than Baltazar's dusty and claustrophobic shop. The only thing besides the delicate shelves was a counter at the back of the store and another door leading deeper into the building.

Excluding herself, there were three people inside. The owner of the store, a tall thin man wearing an impeccable dark gray suit, was finishing up with a customer, a well-dressed woman in her early fifties. The third person was a young man in his mid twenties wearing a black and white suit and tie combination, standing quietly near the back door. Kira immediately pegged him to be the store's security guard.

"I appreciate your business, Mrs. Ahantem, as always," the owner said, handing the customer a small bag. "Please give Mr. Ahantem my regards! A good day to you!"

As the woman turned around and headed for the exit, she gave Kira a slight nod, as if recognizing another person of excellent taste. Almost subconsciously, Kira checked the woman's ears. No, no Geometries of any kind there.

"Welcome to Hasan bin-Soleimani's," the owner exclaimed, his hands clasped together in front of him, as the previous customer left the store. "How may I be of service?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:23, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

[Before we get to the club:]

"I think we don't necessarily want to look like we're together," Adhan said to Farah as they navigated the streets off the Spring Plaza. "Maybe I should head in first, then you come in a minute or two later?" [He's willing to be convinced otherwise, so to expedite the process, if Farah has a strong opinion, assume we do it her way. :)]

[Once inside:]

Adhan nodded and secured his stun gun in a locker. Not the kind of thing I can easily conceal, he thought, and if there's some kind of trouble in here, this little popgun isn't going to help.

"Thank you," Kira replied, maintaining her confident demeanor. "I'm looking for something exquisite and unique. I will take a look around."

"Of course!" beamed Hasan bin-Soleimani, gracefully stepping back towards the counter.

Kira's eyes glided across the tastefully minimalist interior, taking in the immaculate arrangement of delicate gold frames and glass shelves that showcased the jeweler's artistry. Each piece seemed to sparkle with an inner light, beckoning her to come closer, to become a part of the magic that the shop exuded. The air was perfumed with a subtle, flowery fragrance that seemed to caress her senses, welcoming her into an oasis of opulence and refinement.

As she gracefully meandered through the store, Kira's keen gaze surreptitiously scanned the surroundings for any security measures. She noticed the young man dressed in a sharp black and white suit stood near the back door, his vigilant eyes betraying his role as a security guard.

Her attention then turned to finding a trinket, something small yet elegant that would allow her to observe the transaction process. Kira allowed her fingers to lightly graze the glass shelves, their cool surfaces reflecting the myriad of colors from the glittering jewelry on display.  The store seemed to hum with an almost tangible energy, as if the very essence of luxury and sophistication was woven into its foundation.

At last, her eyes fell upon a delicate silver ring, its band intricately twisted to form an enchanting pattern, adorned with a single, tiny sapphire that seemed to capture the essence of a star-filled night. It was the perfect trinket to serve her purpose – a beautiful, yet modest piece that wouldn't draw too much attention.

Catching Hasan's eye, Kira gestured towards the ring with a slight smile. "Your collection is stunning," Kira complimented. "Tell me about this piece."

[Before the club]
"Yes, of course. I doubt we should interact with each other at all until we're back outside. We should keep in proximity, though, just in case" Replied Farah. Another quick prayer to the Dancer under her breath, then the two split their paths to appear as two separate parties to the club.

[Once Inside]
She tried to look shy. Farah had on a demur attitude underneath her tagelmust and kameez. She hadn't really changed for the occasion as she thought her clothes plain enough already. She never spoke to the bouncer, only nodding when he asked her to stow any weapons she might have. The idea of a priestess on a holy mission having weapons was absurd. The idea of a priestess coming into the Juice on a holy mission was absurd. The idea of her pretending to be a priestess was absurd. She hoped to draw the right attention with that absurdity. Farah sat herself at an empty table, avoiding eye contact with men, planning a holier-than-thou speech should any approach, and awaited a waitress. Empathize with them and their plight and slowly draw out secrets, but did she have the skills to do that?

Before approaching the Wild Juice, Adhan and Farah agreed to split up. Adhan went first, and Farah followed at a leisurely pace a couple of minutes later.

As Adhan approached the place, he saw a couple of the regulars hanging out near the entrance, cigarettes in hand. The two men gave him a cursory look, but did not show any particular interest in him. Once inside, he stowed his stun gun into a locker at the behest of the bouncer. The broad-shouldered man patted him down brusquely, then nodded for him to proceed.

Given the time of day, the place was almost empty. As Adhan made his way through the sparsely illuminated large main room, he noted that there were a couple of passages branching out into smaller rooms. There was a moderately-sized stage in the middle, with several poles for the dancers, but it was currently unoccupied. A bar stretched along the wall opposite of the entrance. Soft music played from ceiling-mounted speakers at a low volume, but otherwise the place looked almost deserted. Adhan could only see a couple of patrons sitting at one of the tables, chatting quietly. He sat down at one of the empty tables in plain view, so that Farah would have no trouble locating him.

* * *

Farah, meanwhile, emerged from the alleyway and approached the strip joint, trying to project as demur an attitude as possible. The gazes of the two men smoking near the entrance lingered on her longer than she felt comfortable with, but they didn't give her any trouble. When the bouncer gave her the weapons speech, she simply nodded without saying a word, and he motioned for her to go inside without even giving her a proper inspection. As she entered the main room, she immediately saw Adhan sitting at one of the tables. He looked up at her, but did not give any sign of recognition.

She sat down at a table next to Adhan's and looked around. There was a man standing behind the bar, but she wasn't particularly interested in him at the moment. Half a minute later a waitress emerged from one of the passages, and after exchanging a couple of words with the barman, headed in their direction. Adhan was first in her path, so she approached his table, giving Farah a chance to examine her from a distance. She was a young girl, probably not yet twenty, with a bored expression on her face. "Hey," Farah could hear her say, as she addressed her crewmate, "can I get you anythin'?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:41, Fri 31 Mar 2023.

The store's owner approached Kira as soon as she glanced in his direction. There was a certain grace to the way the man moved, and he seemed to be perfectly congruent with his surroundings. "Thank you," he said with a slight bow of the head, as the girl complimented the collection, "you are very kind to say so. And, might I say, you have very good taste." He gestured with his hand at the ring on display. "This ring is from last cycle's Stellaria collection. Originally the collection had matching earrings and a necklace, but, unfortunately, those are not available anymore. However, it looks excellent on its own. The ring itself is sterling silver, with a delicate pattern that represents the heavens. The sapphire at the center represents Rigel, the jewel of the Dabaran circle. Tell me, are you looking to buy something for yourself, or as a gift, Ms..." he trailed off, seeing whether Kira would introduce herself.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:17, Fri 31 Mar 2023.

"Arrak, thanks," Adhan said to the waitress, with the slight, polite smile of a customer who wasn't here for conversation.

Kira flashed a charming smile, gracefully accepting the compliment. "Thank you, Sayyidi," she replied. "My name is Cerise Din Eusidia. Your Stellaria collection is truly captivating. I am, in fact, looking for a little something for myself. A trinket, if you will, to remind me of the beauty that can be found in the Third Horizon."

She paused, her eyes sparkling with genuine interest. "You mentioned that the matching earrings and necklace are no longer available. It's a shame, as I'm sure they would have made a stunning set. However, I find the ring quite alluring on its own. May I know the investment for this piece?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Fri 31 Mar 2023.

"One arrak, coming up," the girl said, punching in the order into her tablet, then walked over to Farah's table. "And for you?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:39, Sat 01 Apr 2023.

"Din Eusidia?" the man's eyes lit up with recognition. "It is quite an honor to welcome you to my humble store, my lady!" The man inclined his head again, this time a little lower. "Hasan bin-Soleimani, at your service, and a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The owner turned his attention back to the ring. "The piece here is priced at 790 birr. But if you're looking for a matching set, I can show you something from a more recent collection. I think rose gold would look lovely with the color of your hair."

As she talked to the owner, Kira surreptitiously scanned the surroundings for security measures. The entry door, it seemed, had both a key-operated and an electronic lock. She couldn't see any obvious cameras or motion detectors, but given the immaculate design of the place, they could've been masterfully hidden from view. The security guard had a handgun in a holster, but she couldn't quite make out whether the weapon was of the lethal or non-lethal variety.

Kira nodded with appreciation at Hasan's suggestion. "Thank you, Hasan. Your attention to detail is impressive. However, I must admit that my heart is still drawn to that lovely sapphire ring. It holds a certain charm that resonates with me. So, I will invest in the ring."

As Hasan processed the transaction, Kira remained poised and engaged in polite conversation, while still discreetly monitoring every detail of the transaction process and the security measures in place. She was determined to gather as much information as possible without raising any suspicion.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Sat 01 Apr 2023.

Farah looked up at the waitress while pretending not to know what to do with her hands. She was a skilled professional, but she recalled a shyer youth many years ago and brought that part of herself up to the surface.
"Just, uhm, water please"
She waited till the waitress had turned around before adding,
"Do you, uh, what's it like working here?"
She pitched her voice a bit higher than her norm. She wanted to sound unsure and out of her element. A facade of innocence to bring down barriers.

"Water?" the girl's voice betrayed her amusement. "Sure". She turned around only to be stopped by Farah's next question. Turning back to face the woman, she shrugged. "It's okay, I guess. Why d'you ask? Are you looking for a job?"

"Of course, it's an excellent choice," the owner conceded, removing the ring from the display. "Right this way!" He motioned for Kira to follow him to the counter at the back of the store. Opening a drawer, he took out a small box covered with dark purple velvet, with the gold letters H and S tastefully emblazoned on it in an ornamental script. As he fiddled around with the packaging, Kira had a chance to examine the counter more closely. Suddenly the nature of Hasan bin-Soleimani's bookkeeping became quite clear, as there was a large leather-bound tome lying open on the counter, customer names and transactions written in it in a calligraphic hand. Kira glanced around and saw the writing implements. By the Icons, the man had a real writing kit, with an inkpot and a real quill! Kira almost whistled out loud - the man certainly had class!

"That will be 790 birr," Hasan said, done with the wrapping. Given what she had just seen, Kira was glad that the man had a payment terminal, and not a good old abacus complete with payment in coinage. As she reached for her transactor, she bore witness to her own name gracing the milky-white page of the accounting tome, accompanied by the item sold, the price and the date of purchase.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:26, Mon 03 Apr 2023.

Kira smiled warmly at Hasan, appreciating the elegant presentation and the old-fashioned charm of his establishment. She swiped her transactor, completing the payment with ease.

"Thank you, Hasan. Your store is truly a gem, and your dedication to craftsmanship and tradition is admirable. It's a rarity to find such attention to detail these days," she praised.

Hasan smiled at her words. "Thank you, Lady Cerise. It is always a pleasure to serve customers who appreciate the finer aspects of our work. Please don't hesitate to visit again should you desire any more unique and exquisite pieces."

With a gracious nod and a final smile, Kira bid Hasan farewell and exited the store. She spotted her friends, Asa and Aisha, waiting discreetly nearby.

Asa raised an eyebrow at Kira. "Well, habibi, how did it go?"

Kira's eyes sparkled with mischief. "The store is as we thought – a treasure trove of information. I managed to get a good look at the security measures in place, as well as how Hasan keeps his records. He uses a large, leather-bound ledger and records transactions by hand. As for security, there's a double-locked entry door, key-operated and electronic. I noticed a security guard near the back door, dressed in a suit and armed with a handgun, but I couldn't determine if it's lethal or non-lethal. As for cameras or motion detectors, I didn't see any obvious ones, but they could be well-hidden, given the store's immaculate design. We'll need to be cautious."

Asa listened intently, taking in the information. "That's excellent work, Kira. So, we'll proceed with the plan then. Aisha and I will go in after an hour or so, and one of us will distract Hasan while the other takes a peek at that ledger. Hopefully, we can find out who purchased the Geometry of the Senses earrings."

Kira nodded, fiddling with the wrapped ring. "I have no doubt you'll pull it off. Hasan seems to be quite taken by nobility, so I'm sure he'll be more than eager to assist you both. Just be careful not to arouse any suspicion."

Asa gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we've got this. Aisha, do you want to try to sneak a peek at the ledger while I distract Mr. Hasan?"

As the owner of the store processed her payment, Kira tried to decipher the previous entries in the ledger. It was a difficult task, given that the book was upside down, and Hasan's handwriting, while quite a pleasure to look at, was harder to read than printed characters. She quickly gave up on trying to read the names, and focused instead on the column listing the items sold. It took her a couple of moments to scan the half a dozen entries on the page, but when she was done, she was quite certain that Geometry of the Senses wasn't listed on it.

"I just had a thought," interjected Kira. "Now that we know the name of the earrings, it probably couldn't hurt to have Adhan doublecheck that information and see if he can get a hit on a name that way. Might be better to do that before we try sneaking a peek at the ledger. I tried but it's difficult to read upside down."

Asa tapped her fingers on the table. "A sensible suggestion. Let me see what our dear friends are up to."

She turned on her comm and sent a text to Adhan; We found out the name of the earrings. Geometry of the Senses. Would that help in a data search?

Farah made eye contact with the waitress.
"I guess I'm not so much looking for a job so much as ... just looking to know how things are I guess"
Farah felt foolish all of a sudden. This was perhaps one of the most inane things she's ever done, but she had to follow through.
"My whole life I've been told that these places are sinkholes of sin that prey on people like you, I just want to know if that's true"
She softened her voice towards the end. She needed to sound sincere. She needed to find a way of creating an ongoing conversation that could lead to useful info.

Adhan glanced down in the direction of his comm, glancing at Kira's message, but he was mostly watching the room - not just the woman Farah was talking to, but anyone who might be taking an unusual interest in their conversation.

The girl stared at Farah with an incredulous expression. "Like, are you serious, lady?" She shook her head in disbelief, a smirk forming on her lips. She studied the older woman's face for any sign that it was some sort of practical joke, but Farah met her gaze with what she hoped was a mixture of sincerity and softness. "Oh, the girls will just flip when I tell them! Well, of course it's a sinkhole of sin, it's a strip club! But the work here is decent enough. I mean, the guys do get handsy from time to time, but can you really blame them?" The girl paused, her eyes running over Farah's attire. "Who are you, exactly?"

Adhan, meanwhile, watched the room, on the lookout for any unwanted attention. The pair of patrons sitting at a table closer to the bar seemed to mind their own business, while the barman had his eyes glued to his communicator, oblivious to his surroundings.

Farah put on an embarrassed smile. "Someone who's just figuring themselves out, I guess." She had passed the first hurdle, that was a start. The ice was broken and now she dived into frigid waters.

She toyed with her hands. "I just feel like I've been missing a lot of life and it's not like I'm getting any younger. Do you have wine? I don't know drinks and I want to drink something."

She needed to switch the conversation over to her and her life as it connected to the bar and its patrons, one in particular. Once she had her wine, she would say, "People I know, well knew, talked trash about places like this and the girls that work here. But you seem pretty alright. All that talk of sin, criminal scum, and underground whatever is all junk isn't it. This is just a normal place!" She hoped the waitress might guide her words to their intended goal in this small bit of reverse psychology.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:46, Sun 30 Apr 2023.

"Sure thing, wine it is," the girl nodded. "After all, we live only once!"

Several minutes later she returned with a tray bearing a lowball glass with arrak and a glass of red for Farah. She first served Adhan with a surreptitious wink, then came to Farah's table and placed the wine in front of the woman. "There you go! If this is your first time, go slow!"

Farah nodded. "People I know, well knew, talked trash about places like this and the girls that work here," she said, "but you seem pretty alright. All that talk of sin, criminal scum, and underground whatever is all junk, isn't it. This is just a normal place!"

The girl shrugged. "I've seen worse places. And it helps me pay the bills. Not that I would want to work here for the rest of my life!" She glanced in the direction of the entrance. "Excuse me, here come some of the regulars. Enjoy the wine!"

Both Farah and Adhan followed the girl's gaze and saw three men at the establishment's entrance. They both recognized the hapless spy from the day before. The boy was wearing the same dark ill-fitting kurta and had the same mop of unbrushed hair. Adhan squinted, trying to make out the other two in the dim light, but he was having a hard time ascertaining whether one of them had any resemblance to the Zazu in the dated image he had found online. One seemed to be too broad-shouldered to be their quarry, but the other one...

The trio, together with the waitress, headed straight for the bar, laughing about something. As they passed Farah's and Adhan's tables, the boy casually scanned the room. His eyes lingered on Farah for a split second, but she couldn't quite understand whether there was recognition in the young hoodlum's eyes. Adhan, on the other hand, he ignored completely.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:32, Tue 02 May 2023.

Once he recognized yesterday's observer, Adhan dropped his eyes to his tabula as though checking his messages, just in case the kid wound up being more perceptive than he looked. While his eyes were lowered, his ears were pricked up, trying to figure out exactly what the trio were discussing.

Casually, he tapped out a text to the rest of the crew. "This is the right place. Our spy is here, maybe Zazu too. We're just observing so far."

Farah accepted the drink with a smile and pretended to wince with her first sip. She had consumed many glasses in her time but channeled her remembrance of the first to keep her cover of innocence.
When the boy and his companions entered, Farah made sure to give the boy nothing but a casual glance. She assessed both with brevity and pulled up the communicator to see Adhan's message. She had her eyes on the device and her ears on the trio. With two people, one of them has got to hear something useful. She muddled in her mind when she would ask the waitress about them, knowing full well she couldn't go up to the trio herself without the serious threat of being recognized. She didn't know whether her entirely different demeanor prevented recognition already.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:23, Thu 04 May 2023.

They heard snatches of conversation as the trio went to the bar, and it wasn't anything particularly enlightening, just regular chatter, interspersed with bits of laughter here and there. Farah continued to watch the group from the corner of her eye, trying to pick up anything of interest, but the conversation suddenly died down to a whisper. Yes, there's the head bob from their chance acquaintance in her direction. The other two not too discreet about it, turning their heads to look at her over their shoulders. A quiet back and forth, the broad-shouldered one reaching for his communicator.

Adhan rattled off a quick, simple follow-up message to the crew. "Trouble".

The elegant shoppers witnessed quite a spectacle as a red-headed young woman in a elegant dress gave a wolf-whistle to hail a passing hovertaxi. She swiftly herded her two equally well-dressed friends into the vehicle before jumping in herself and shouting instructions to the driver. The hovertaxi took off at high speed, sending pedestrians scurrying in all directions.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Thu 04 May 2023.

Farah was partly annoyed she'd been recognized. More than annoyed, their chance for intel was slipping. Still, another part of her was glad that trouble might be brewing. She didn't mind a bar room brawl. She lifted up her wine glass to feel for its weight and possible fragility in case things got dicey and then motioned for the waitress.

"Those men over there look like their watching me. They're giving me the creeps to be honest. Do you know them?" She asked with a look of feigned concern.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:29, Mon 08 May 2023.

The waitress stood near the bar, obviously privy to the trio's hush-hush conversation. When she saw Farah beckon to her, she looked at the newcomers. A couple of words were exchanged quietly, then the waitress headed in her direction.

Farah took an appraising look at her wine glass. It was a rather delicate thing, not very good for throwing or using as an added weight for a punch. Smashed against a hard surface, however, it would easily become an improvised knife.

"Those men over there look like they're watching me", she said, when the waitress finally reached her table. "They're giving me the creeps, to be honest. Do you know them?" she asked with a look of feigned concern.

The girl looked troubled. "I, uh..." she paused, weighing her next words. "Look, lady, I would leave, if I were you. They believe they know you, and not in a good way. I don't know what your deal is, but they could be trouble."

Out of the corner of her eye Farah saw the trio discuss something, then push off the bar and head in her direction in a slow, deliberate manner, the broad-shouldered man leading the way. Farah quickly calculated the distance - it was about fifteen yards from the bar to her table, with Adhan's table situated in between.

Farah calculated possible scenarios in her head. She didn't know what her odds were with a trio of combatants, but the kid didn't seem like her counted for much. She also had some surprise backup. She simultaneously thanked and cursed the Dancer that this little quest for info was ending in a fight. She sent a quick message to Adhan.
"I can take the big one in front if you want to take the one in back, I doubt the kid will do much"
Then she sipped her glass while pondering if she could use it to quickly blind the guy in a shower of glass before beating him into submission.

Adhan looked at his comm screen and blinked in panic - fighting was not his area of expertise, especially with his stun gun locked outside. What he could do, however, was distract.

"Hey!" he shouted, leaping up as if he'd only just noticed the trio approaching Farah's table. He pointed at the kid in the back accusingly, yelling, "You ripped me off! You said there was good evidence on this!" With his other hand, he brandished the remains of the kid's thoroughly hacked comm. "The Guard won't give me crap for this!"

Gambler, give us an opening... he prayed silently.

Farah appraised the approaching trio with a trained eye. The guy in front would be the most trouble, but his relaxed gait and posture revealed that he wasn't really expecting a fight. The two others didn't seem to be brawler types, although it was always hard to be certain, given the variety of fighting styles across the Horizon. Still, she could tell that the younger hoodlum did not look too comfortable about the whole situation.

Suddenly, as the trio passed Adhan's table, he leaped to his feet and pointed accusingly at the kid in the back, brandishing the remains of the boy's comm in his other hand. "You ripped me off!" he yelled. "You said there was good evidence on this!" The procession stopped in confusion and turned to face Adhan, as he finished his diatribe. "The Guard won't give me crap for this!"

The man in the middle looked at Adhan, then at his teenage cohort. "The fuck's he talking about, Naz? That your comm?" The young hoodlum, quite surprised at the turn of events, looked back and forth between Farah and Adhan, then pointed at the woman. "She the one took in from me, man, I swear! She said she break my hand if I don't give it to her!" He looked back at Adhan. "Maybe they together, these two!"

Suddenly Adhan found himself under rather intense scrutiny. The man in the middle, obviously the leader of the trio, walked up to Adhan's table. He looked to be in his late twenties, wearing dark clothes, quite well-dressed in comparison to his two companions. Given the close distance, Adhan could make out three tear-shaped tattoos forming a triangle under the man's left eye.

The man stood on the other side of the table, examining him appraisingly for several moments, no emotions evident on his face. "I don't like you," he finally said. "You and your lady friend over there. Your interest in the family business is becoming... a bit of an issue. And now here you are, on Izza territory." He glanced in Farah's direction for a second, then returned his gaze to Adhan's face. "I don't think things are looking good for you, akhi."

"Well, screw it", thought Farah, "at least I can have a proper bar room brawl."

None of them looked to be expecting a fight and she had been acting coy all evening. They wouldn't expect her to walk over to the biggest man and knock his lights out. As she crossed the distance between herself and the front man, she came to the realization that she wasn't as good at planning recon missions as she thought. But that didn't matter. She had always been good at punching things.

Even if none of them were believing a word out of Adhan's mouth, she hoped he was distracting enough to allow her a good solid blow to the back of the head with her fist before they had realized she'd gotten up.

Her last plan didn't work, but the simplicity of this next one might: Knock em' down, question them, leave.

For his part, Adhan straightened up and raised his hands into what he hoped was a convincing fighting stance, trying to keep the men's attention on him as Farah moved into position.

"Not looking good for me?" he mocked, with a confidence he didn't feel. "You have no idea what you're up against."