Sam gives Jack a look, then a sly smile crosses her face "Sure Jack". Tagging along with Sly and Val, she puts her arm through his onthe other side to Vals "Room for another?" She asks, then adds "You know, we could have some fun getting a PSi hat for Jack. I mean assuming we can find hats like that. But he has expressed no preference for the style of hat, so we have a lot of leeway with what we choose for him, you know...?"

"Hehehehehehe, one of those face masks with a nose and glasses even!"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:02, Wed 08 Sept 2021.

They go in the high end shops that Sam wants to check out right after Sly looks for Val's Elvis painting. If all else fails, he checks on having one reproduced for her, though an original would be preferred, the likelihood of finding one were slim to none.

After the search in the high end shop for Psi shields, they'll go to high end clothiers and tailors for form fitting clothes.

Sharik's taste in clothing was actually fairly conservative, just extremely fashionable - at least in certain circles of the Nouveau Riche of the sector that she is in.  Her dataglove was constantly updating her while on planet with the latest data dumps.  But Sharik isn't exactly a clothes hound; she simply knew all of the current trends.

Her main purchase was a cocktail dress in basic black ("Always in fashion."), with a high neck line that accentuated her lithe figure and with tasteful, cutouts in the front and back.  To accompany it, she got a fine tailored groat suede, large lapeled, bolero-style jacket, also in black which is tailored to cut around her smallish curves.  She accented with platinum hoop jewelry with some creamy jade which matched the flecks in her eyes as well as a broad black belt with platinum rings and ankle high black boots with just a touch of heel.  Everything seemed to match very well (somehow) with Sharik's personal electronics array as well as the new electronic purchases from the day before.

Shar proved more than willing to buy Indy whatever caught the young lady's fancy as they moved from saloon to bespoke tailor to jeweler and beyond.

For Indy, she also grabbed an elegant black and white striped A-line cocktail dress as well as a shimmering blue satin and silk tailored cheongsam-style dress with a gold dragon wrapping its way around the dress.  The cosmopolitan socialite obtained a complimentary cheongsam in green with a pattern of silver kirins dancing all over it for herself.  And not surprisingly, the black leather bolero jacket that she'd purchased at the earlier saloon could be worn with the green dress quite easily; both being tailored and quite complimentary as it turned out.

Sharik also made it a point of visiting more than one jewelry store during the afternoon.  At the last one - which did seem to be the most high quality, even if their selection seemed more limited, she bought two rings were designed to be cunningly intertwined.  One is in gold with small sapphires mounted on it while the other is in platinum with small emeralds.  The former she gives to Indy, while keeping the latter for herself.  Any other jewelry - especially earrings or necklaces - that compliment any of the ensembles the two have purchased are tested and considered.  Everything purchased matched well with Indy's eyes and complexion; Sharik had had plenty of experience buying things it seemed.  And all of the crew knew that she took her recreation extremely seriously.

The shopping took all day.  With catering (lunch, tea, snacks of all kinds) brought in wherever they happened to be, of course.  Nothing got in the way of the tailoring and clothes testing.  And one could hardly shop without sustenance...

"Do we need Psi shields for ourselves do you think Sam? Or is Jack just being paranoid? TAMI is psionic I think, but I'm not sure." as he asks he hugs Val a little closer, letting her know he was there for her.

Indy pays for Sharik's purchases during the day, because she could hardly have all the purchases paid for by the lovely lady.

In the afternoon, as they were eating some of their snacks, Indy raises a question.

"So, what are your ambitions in life?"

She is genuinely interested. Indy doesn't have any long-term plans at the moment. Considering her past setbacks and a near-death experience, she has learned not to look too far ahead, because anything could happen without warning in space.

In reply to Sylvester Jinx (msg # 55):

Sam shrugged "Depends, have you got any guilty secrets to hide from TAMI" she paused and then smiled "I'm sure we all have, the question is is she interested in us? Probably not, unless we're Psionic so I think Jacks just protecting himself on this. WHich is fair enough."

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 57):

     Vonon--heading away from the landing dock, himself--was still walking behind the small group, when he overheard Samantha's comments about TAMI,
(Vargr Hearing, don't ya know...)

     "Well..." Vonon pipes-up from a few steps behind, "I hadn't actually thought about it, in those terms, but you may be correct, Sam."

     "When I've talked with Tammy about her...other method of communication...I can't make heads or tails of the answers she gives me.  Too much technical jargon.  But I kinda get the impression that while she knows what it is that's she's doing, I don't think she knows how or why!  I asked her, once, if she could show me diagrams of the device that let's her...do what she does...and she said she had no files pertaining to that specific device."

     "But, like you just said, Sam--while she is capable of doing...that...at any time, to anybody, I think she only actively seeks that kind of communication with others who can respond the same way.  Whether that's a programmed behavioural protocol, or something self-determined, I'm not sure."

     "I'll have to remember to ask her, next time we talk."

===== SHARIK AND INDY AT BARSTOW'S ALLEY (More Upscale Shopping) =====

Sharik chuckled lightly when Indy asked her about her own ambitions.  She popped a grape into her mouth as she thought.  The auburn-haired socialite contemplated for a pregnant moment with a rather wistful smile touching her lips as she chewed.  Then she noted simply, "Ambitions are tricky, little things.  My ambition?  To engage in a grand venture that is really a grand adventure.  Hopefully with some good friends,"  And with that, she took Indy's hand and gave it a squeeze, letting the touch linger even as she disengaged.  And as her smile widened, the lithe dilettante added playfully, "... and have a lot of fun doing it..."

She took a sip of her mimosa even as she waved off a set of earrings that were being presented to them.  Leaning over to whisper in Indy's ear, "Those were too gaudy. Besides, the cut of the stones was ... unclean at best."  As Shar mulled over some mother of pearl and cloisonné brooches, she idly asked Indy, "Why do ask?  What type of ambitions do you have Ms. Kumar?"   That more mischievous bent to her expression returned, as she prompted her companion playfully - though still without making eye contact, "I know that you have been apprenticing with Sir Walter."  Then she turned to give Indy a sidelong glance, "Looking to supplant Sir Zeller?  Or are you going to start a rival corporation?"

Her demeanor turned more serious, "The Longshot is a real opportunity,  Her crew is admittedly a bit eclectic - a bit of an acquired taste,  and more than a little bit of a weirdness magnet.  But that is what makes Life™ worth living."  Her tone made it obvious that she'd cast her lot with that lot, and her demeanor softened, turning lighter again.

"I wonder what type of grav vehicles are around here." she mused casually, even though she knew that tech level wasn't quite up to snuff to produce really solid high-speed gravitics.  As an ex-grav cycle circuit racer, Sharik was a bit of an aficionado - some might say a snob - about such things.  But, that didn't mean that she ever minded window shopping; and repressive (or was that repressed) planets, like Invermory, sometimes created the most exotic items.

"Join us Captain, we're off shopping! Spending some of the windfall on ourselves! We even have two lovely ladies to keep us company! Imitation Chocolate chip cookies later too if you want them!"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:45, Mon 13 Sept 2021.

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 59):

Indy thinks for a second.

"Don't know what I want to do at the moment. Very much in a transition period and taking it as it comes. Being a Captain in my own right sounds fun though."

When the topic turned to grav vehicles, she looks curious.

"I wonder what you're planning to do with them?"

In reply to Sylvester Jinx (msg # 60):

     "Actually, I prefer Carob over Imitation chocolate." Vonon responds with his fanged smile, "Sometimes cheap imitation stuff can still have a little caffeine or theobromine in it.  Vargr stomachs don't react well to either one."

     "I appreciate the invitation to join all of you, Sylvester, but I have to go over to the Port Authority to clear up some paperwork." Vonon says that last word as if it tasted bad in his mouth,

     "Apparently, when we sold those Iltharan artifacts at the auction, we technically Imported them onto the planet, and they became subject to Import Taxes.  Also, because the authorities consider everything we offered for sale at the auction to have been imported, now the items that didn't sell are subject to Export Fees before we can load them back onto the ship!"

     "All of that should have been handled already, but somebody over at Port Authority is being obstinate!  I'm on my way to go bite a chunk out of some Bureaucrat's ass...!"

===== SHARIK AND INDY AT BARSTOW'S ALLEY (More Upscale Shopping) =====

Sharik simply shrugged and looked bemused when asked about what to do with a grav cycle.  "Well," the auburn-haired astrogator noted rather coyly, "I only intend to test drive them."  She got a touch more serious, "I'd have to been a pretty special machine for me to purchase.  I don't expect Invermory to have the ... requisite features required ..." which was her delicate way of saying they were unlikely to have all of the technological bells and whistles she expected, miniaturized inertial dampers of sufficient power to be one, to have in a high-quality machine, "... to be entire suitable.  No matter how much detailing the machine has."  But if a prototype knocked her socks off ... well, those were the types of surprises that Shar lived for.

"But," she noted with a playful smile, "it never hurts to look.  Besides, if the power plant resonates with the chassis just right..."  Another shrug and she let topic linger there in silence.  Sharik picked up a few seconds later as if nothing had happened in that reverie, "Besides, I wouldn't mind tinkering, if we have the space.  And we have the time..."  Another shrug, "Of course, any vehicle would have to be touring model with space for two and luggage; there really is no better way to travel and see the sites."  Her voice got a touch wistful and she seemed to be speaking from extensive experience.

Indy was well aware that Sharik had an artistic side as well.  She owned a pair of static gloves that allowed etching at the molecular level due to the precision fields generated by them.  Coupled with her magnifying PRIS goggles, she'd started a few exotic etching projects: the casings of a fair number of her personal electronics and such bore intricate, molecular level designs on their surfaces.

Sam says to V "Don't bite too hard, you might catch something." and carries on with Sly and Val

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 64):

"Get your rabies shot V!" Sly says as V walks away, big grin on his face!

"Remind me to buy a gross of Carob for V Val. Got to keep the Cpt. happy. Where shall we go ladies? After the Psi shield for Jack."

They go to upscale clothiers and such, Sylvester wants his new silk suits tailored, the ladies might want custom or tailored clothes too. He might shop for a weapon or two as well, get them shipped to the ship so they don't violate the law level. After all of this, he would use TAMI to shop online for high end gear for himself if he decided he needed something like some armor. He would have his suits be self cleaning cloth armor as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:34, Wed 15 Sept 2021.

(And made of Gel-cloth)

That too!

Indy thought about this for a second.

"I must admit that I've never actually been on a grav cycle before. Kind of scared of falling off one..."

Then she smiled, wanting to appear brave for Sharik.

"But I am certain that will not occur with you in control. Definitely not."

Sam will be looking for some work wear/armour type clothes with built in armour as well, but also will look at some more informal wear, and some party/cocktail type dresses

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 70):

Sly and Val will clothes shop with Sam, taking her advice on style and fit. Sam was hip.

When Sly and Val go shopping for a black velvet Elvis, they visit several of the big box stores, and though they all sell reproduction wall art, none of sell the item in question. Finally, after stopping in at an art store, they are directed to the Magnus Art Gallery.

As it turns out, Magnus, the gallery's director, explains, they are called Black Velvet Elvis paintings not because of who is depicted in the painting but because they were first painted three hundred or so years ago by someone named Ellerandria Visconti who signed her name on the paintings in short form as ElVis. They became a huge success at the time, and now they undergo a resurgence in popularity every so often.

You're in the middle of such a market right now. While he doesn't have any originals, he does have three BVEs by other more contemporary artists. One is a holographic ballerina that appears to move as you walk past the painting; the artist is Sharona Kantro. One is a 5 dogs playing poker by Star Mirandor. The third is a picture of Count Cromwell as Quentin Rayse from his last holovid; the artist is Dori Ambler.

They are all priced at 5,000Cr. Magnus expects they'll double in value within a year.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 72):

OOC:  Oh!  Oh!  Oh!  We must get that one of Count Cromwell!  We'll hang it on the Bridge, with black crepe draped over the frame--just like the Navy does, when an Emperor dies!!
     (Vonon is a Big Fan of the Count's work....)

"What do you think Val? Count Cromwell, 5 Vargr playing poker, or the Ballerina?" he asks her opinion, he liked Cromwell and the Ballerina, he couldn't figure why someone would paint 5 funny looking Vargr playing cards.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:19, Sat 18 Sept 2021.

"What do you think about them Sam?" He continues to wait on Val's opinion.