The group of tourists collect their assorted purchases and head out of the store, following the route around the edge of the dome.  There are a few people about, and more as they get further from the entrance.  The nature of the businesses changes too, with more grocery and general stores starting to appear.

Finally there is a post office ahead, and next door to it, a smaller place, labelled Barclay's Curio and Antique.

The interior is even dimmer than their last port of call, and almost claustrophobic, with rows of shelves filled with all manner of objects.  Just to the left of the door is a counter, where a young man is smiling so broadly that his face looks about ready to split in half.  "Good afternoon.  What can I do for you good people today?"


Jago crosses to the port building.  Having debated the situation, he decides to walk, rather than getting the 'raft out again.  It's only one hundred metres, two hundred tops.  By the time he gets there, he's starting to get chilly and a little short of breath, but nothing he can't handle.

He takes the elevator to the third floor, and asks directions to Department 21.

Seeing the young man smiling at her, Yas smiles right back and, after a quick look around, says, "Quite a shop you got here!  So, show me something local!  Not something for tourists, I want something genuine to Arkadia!"

"Oh, the name's Yasmine Crow, but you can call me Yas!"

Tylen politely holds open the door, then follows the Ladies in. Being at the rear of the party he has a good look round the shelves seeking items of interest. What he is looking for is something small but interesting to display in his cabin. Either an ornament or a picture, preferably original.

Saskia looks disinterested at first.  Until her eyes suddenly light on something that grabs her attention.  She darts forward and pushes Yas aside to reach her target.

"This is just what I need to help me keep the engines in line!"  She holds her prize up for the others to see; a large, yellow ceramic coffee mug, bearing the single word "BOSS" in big black letters.

"Yeah.  This'll show that frelling fusion core who's in charge of Engineering.  Jago too." she adds, smiling.

"How much is this please?"



_{OOC: Sorry Yas.  :-)}

After a moment of catching his breath, Jago, Jago determines that he really must start doing those press ups he keeps promising, and knocks loudly on the door of section twenty one.

Tylen peruses the shelves of mass produced tat. This is not at all what he expected.

Shui wanders through the shelves, occasionally pausing to prod something experimentally with one finger.  One of her eyebrows rose when she entered the store, and has only dipped down once or twice.  It seems pinned on a higher level, except when she faces the shopkeeper.

And, of course, when Saskia makes her find.  A smile of genuine pleasure lights her face.  Even in this place...once person's junk, another's treasure.  And treasure indeed, from the expression on the engineer's visage.  "Well found, Ms. Blake.  Certainly that will make the point," she encourages.  The doctor turns her eyes on Tylen.  "Well, Mr. Orgesh," she says more quietly, "we will find no rare objects or arts and crafts here.  A shame, though perhaps this...dusty tomb of moments will stir your creative spirit?"  She glances around the shop, and suddenly it takes on a new look to her.  The facade of junky shelves fades away, and for a moment Shui sees this as a world of tiny memories.

A corkscrew that might have seen a thousand celebrations...a mirror into which a face has stared, perhaps changing through the years then finally never returning...a miniature stopsign that no doubt guarded a room from parental intrusion....

"Mr. DeSant - have you found anything yet?"  With her new vision, Shui sweeps the displays.  "Something that might satisfy your collection?"

There.

It is a small lamp, almost in miniature.  The lamp itself is of dark metal, with highlights of brass (mostly rubbed away by years of handling).  It is made to look like a tiny oil lamp, with a china globe surrounding the clear glass inner sheath (which has a bulb for light, not a wick).  The globe is painted with a small design of flowers and dark wheat - earth tones, mostly.  A cheap lamp, of the sort one might find in a bargain store.

Shui takes the small lamp in her hand.  "I have."