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.