"Oh, if you think I can learn." Ingrid says. I wonder what father would think about it. "Safer is better, I suppose."

Ingrid smiles at the newcomer. "Nice to meet you"

Teddy stands by silently listening to the back and forth banter. This is the first time Teddy has been in the shop in thirty plus years. He was here once with his father when he was very young. He remembered very little except that he thought it was bigger, but he had only been about eight or nine.

     Master Cassimir turns languidly at the sound of a woman's voice, but as he actually looks upon Ingrid for the first time, his eyes light up with delight.  Taking a step closer to Ingrid, Master Cassimir takes up her hand and bows over it (though coming close, he does not, actually, kiss the back of her hand).

     "The pleasure is mine, Mistress." Cassimir replies smoothly, as he rises from bending over Ingrid's hand, "And it is a great honor to welcome such a vision of feminine gentility  to my humble workshop.  Simply name it, and we of Zariid Excursionista Outfitters shall make your merest wish a reality."

     Still gently holding Ingrid's hand in his own right hand, and smiling, Master Cassimir looks aside, towards Varca--and Master Cassimir's left hand snaps out as swift as a striking viper to give Varca a back-handed slap against the hazard suit's breast.

     "Manners, Boy!" Master Cassimir hisses lowly at Varca, through his smile.

     "Ugh!  Oh, yes...apologies, Master Cassimir." Varca responds, quickly,

     "Mistress Ingrid...Goostoffsdaughter...Sigar," Varca struggles with the correct pronunciation of Ingrid's middle name, but gets the accent on her first and last names almost perfect, "Please allow me to make known to you Master of Crafts Cassimir Zariid, Baronet GheleenWood." Varca gestures from Ingrid to Cassimir--then reverses the gesture,

     "Master Cassimir Zariid, Baronet GheleenWood, please allow me to introduce you to Mistress Ingrid Sigar, Frie-Dame of the Sword Worlds Confederation."

     "May the Blessings of The Dragon be upon you both at this meeting."

Ingrid smiles shyly at Cassimir. “Your hospitality is most welcome.”
“I thank you for your kind welcome, Master Cassimir.” Ingrid says. She curtsies when she is introduced. “I pray the spirits of Emperors past shine on us.” She's impressed by Varca's manners.
"I shouldn't need any modifications to my suit. Except the color scheme."

In reply to Ingrid Gustavdottir Sigar (msg # 114):

     "About the suit..." Varca says, moving to stand beside both Ingrid and Master Cassimir.

     Off to the side, Daoud--again--rolls his eyes toward the ceiling...

     "Master Cassimir, Ingrid, here, as well as these others, are partners with me in a...salvaging...initiative...that is why we need all these Type-Threes--but Ingrid, just a moment ago, reminded me that she does not possess a personal vacc-suit.  And--speaking just for myself, Master Cassimir--since Ingrid cannot be expected to wear one of your truly magnificent--but, admittedly, utilitarian--Type-Threes except for work..."

     Varca pointedly glances over at the hologram showing the two different space suits.

     "Surely, Master, it would be criminal for Mistress Ingrid to have to wear a Type-Three in a social venue..."

     "You would know, Varca--you're a Criminal!" Daoud laughs.

     "Lies!  Those charges were dropped!...after the video evidence disappeared." Varca growls, "Stay out of this, Daoud!"

     Master Cassimir leans a little closer to Ingrid, "Not to worry, Mistress Ingrid, I have three other sons--who are less undisciplined than these two idiots--I assure you.  Should you be looking for a potential marital alliance, perhaps my son Assan--he's nine, but very mature."

     "Now, about this suit you wish speak with me about, Mistress...?"

Teddy looks about the shop at the various suits and wonders if it will be very long, there were a LOT to do and most were custom.

In reply to Varca Lexand (msg # 115):

“Oh, I’m sure Assan is a fine boy but I don’t think I could get married while I’m between planets” Ingrid smiles gently. “Yes, I should very much like to purchase a private suit. You know how Sword Worlder women are about style. If I can’t look good while travelling, it’s hardly worth it. Now, we are buying the heavier suits… could we get a bit of a discount on this suit? I mean, it’s just a bonus on the real purchase” Ingrid says, looking just like she did when she was trying to convince her father to get her something when she was young.

     "Yes, I suppose Assan is a question we can leave for another day." Master Cassimir chuckles, "But it would be magnificent to add your genetic background to our family line."

     *sigh* "Ah, well.  It is also true that one must wear the best, to look the best, and if you cannot look good when you are doing what you are doing, then why bother, at all.  Very well, Mistress Ingrid, as you are a friend of Varca Lexand, and Varca is a dear friend of my family...and given that he has just made a large purchase from this establishment, I believe we can see our way to offering you one of our Type-Two General Purpose Space Suits--and at something of I discount.  We only do this for our special customers, you understand..."

     Master Cassimir gives a tight little smile, "And it is only because yours is such a classical beauty, that I am confident we have something immediately available for you.  So, shall we say...fifteen thousand, Imperial?  That would be for one of our best Type-Two GP suits, including our full electronics suite."

     "Would this price be acceptable to you, Mistress?" Master Cassimir asks, then cocks his head a little to the right and gives a wide smile, "It is truly the best I can offer--unless you would be willing to accept becoming my Third Wife..?  Then I could add in an Employee Discount..."

---

     "...And you'd steal an air-bottle from a dying Vespexer!" Daoud snarls quietly.

     "Of course I would, you moron!  Any Vespexer would!" Varca quietly snaps back, "Now stop screwing around and tell me how long before we get the suits."

     Daoud frowns an looks to the side.

     "Eight Standard Days.  At least." Daoud says in an almost-whisper.

     "What?!  That long?  Why?"

     "It's why we took your offer so quickly, Varca." Daoud says, "We're almost completely out of molecular circuitry bundles.  We've got Rachando bringing some in from the Imperium, but they won't arrive for another two weeks, Standard.  Your twelve tons showing up tomorrow is a life saver."

     "So, with my materials, why can't you finish my order sooner?"

     "Because we have to meet a Star Guard order before yours, idiot."

     "Well, then...what if...wait...okay, what about just the five suits you have measurements for?  How fast could you get us just those suits?"

     Daoud thinks for a moment, "It would clean us out of molycircs, but, since we'll be getting your payment of them in twenty hours or so...fifteen hours.  No sooner."

     "That's perfect, we can't be ready any sooner than that, anyway.  So do it.  Get these five ready ASAP, then get us the others as fast as you can."

     "Right.  You'll have those five suits in the morning." Daoud says.

Some 40 minutes after Varca's transmitted signal, it was picked up by the Harrier's communication sensors.

While the gist of the message was clear enough--move closer, the terminology was a bit confusing. Drinax had no moon, so it didn't have any Lagrangian points in relation to itself. It only had one in relation to the sun. If he moved the ship there, it was bound to be detected by the orbital sensors around Drinax, if not by the planet's starguard ships.

They had time. And, to conserve fuel, he'd accelerate and then coast most of the way.

"Hey, Aaron. Varca wants to know what kind of supplies we need," Viridian asked his companion, correctly interpreting the coded message.

"Tell him to bring fuel. Although... we could coast to the closest gas giant with barely enough fuel to skim it. Wouldn't have any defensive ability."

He sends back Aaron's reply, adding his own code.

"And call mom at Compound Heads."

He hoped Varca would correctly interpret 'mom' as meaning 'mothership' and 'Compound Heads' as the number of occupants of the Compound equating to how many minutes ahead of their arrival he should call the ship. Otherwise, they might not be able to find them.

Teddy listens to the back and forth between Varca and Daoud, satisfied that they would get their suits in the morning. Now, to get everything else lined up they might need.

He texted Zhouth that his Vacc-suit would be ready in the morning, not calling because he didn't wish to interrupt his meeting with the scholars in the tower.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:05, Sat 30 Nov 2019.

Ingrid blushes prettily at the compliments to her genetics and her beauty. "You are most kind, Master Cassimir. I can see why Mister Lexand speaks so highly of you." she says gratefully. Her expression falters a bit when he mentions the price; reasonable, but rather a lot when she didn't now when she would be able to get more money. But she smiles all the same. "Yes, I think I can get a suit like that. Can't pay too much for fashion." she says warmly. "And it's a kind offer, sir, but I'm sure I can't compare to your wives."

Teddy and Zhouth made their way to the Bazaar to look for booze and cigars for the trip. If anyone on Drinax had what Teddy was looking for, it was Rachando. Cuban cigars for himself, Napoleon Brandy for himself and friends possibly, and a barrel of Rum for the crew. After all, they were going to be pirates!

  Some hours after the visit to the tower...

  Scented combustibles weren't his thing, but Zhouth was familiar with an assortment of potent potables - research work didn't allow for much on-the-job use, but conferences, presentations, and other not-quite high society affairs were another matter.

  Rum wasn't usually a mainstay of those events, granted...

  If he happened to find an autobar and a better assortment to offer through it than the small and decidedly monochrome assortment that he'd brought from Asim - and they weren't set to a vastly inflated price - so much the better!

Some hours later after meeting back up with Zhouth at the shuttle.


Confronting one of the attendants at Rachandos, "We're looking for certain imports from Sol, Cuban cigars and Napoleon Brandy. Can you help or do I need Rachando? If anyone has them, he does. We're also looking for a barrel of Rum if at all possible, potable and palatable."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:44, Sun 01 Dec 2019.

  "And someone around here must have basic mechanicals, right?" Zhouth chimed in. "Office fabricators, galley autobars, wind-up Aslan toy soldiers, that kind of thing?"

Teddy's eyebrows went up with Zhouth's request and he grinned ear to ear. "Can we get a replicator? Or a 3D Printer to make spare parts for a starship?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:42, Sun 01 Dec 2019.

"We have a small selection of fine cigars from several planets, but I have never heard of Cuban cigars," the attendant replies to Theodore. "The same applies for this Napoleon brandy. I've heard of a dozen people named Napoleon but I am not aware that any of them made brandy."

"We have Nubac and Peluvian cigars, and Ultrama Cigarnos. For brandies, we have Saurian, Xanthe, and Zarathustran."

"As for a barrel of rum... well, yes, a barrel is available but it would be very expensive, since, if I sold it to you, it would take several weeks before we could replace it."

"Nothing is imported from Sol. Assuming anything is still made in that system, it'd take six months or more to get here. Why, the cost for a glass of brandy would cost almost as much as a small starship!"

"As for the kind of equipment you are looking for, Mister Zhouth, we have a few salvaged older models. The problem is getting material for them. We can only make some substandard product here on Drinax. And it's all synthetic."

  "I don't need them to look pretty as long as they work!" Zhouth replied. "If you've got bits and pieces to refurbish with, though, I'll take those too."

"I'll take 6 boxes of your best Numac cigars, I heard they're comparable, and 2 cases of Saurian Brandy and the barrel of rum. How much?"

The attendants eyes go wide at Teddy's request.

"Yes, sir! That'll be 400Cr a box for the Nubac cigars, so 2,400Cr total. The Saurian brandy is 100Cr a bottle, so two cases of 12 bottle each... that's another 2,400Cr."

"As I said, the rum is expensive as well. There will be many people on the Floating Palace that will be upset if they can't get their rum for a month! 1,600Cr for the barrel of Captain Grogan 100-proof spiced rum. I'd make slightly more than that if I sold it by the glass, of course, but since you are turning out to be such a good customer, it's not a stretch to accommodate you."

"Now, Mister Zhouth... it's 2,000Cr for the fabricator because it only works with plastic, though it does handle thermoplastic. The 3D printer... I have 2... are 600Cr each. Again, it only handles plastic normally, but it works reasonably well with cermetals. Extra plastic refills I have, but we haven't seen cerametal here on the Palace in... well, 200 years!"

"I'll throw in the six plastic refills for free!"

  "Works for me! I'll take all of them. The walls will be covered in sticker-notes in no time!"

  It was overkill for the relatively mundane uses he had in mind, but with the models being salvaged, there was a higher than normal likelihood that one of them would end up becoming spare parts for the others. Or, in a worst case scenario, turned into impromptu spare parts for other components on the ship - salvaged was the word for that too.

"Here you go, 6,400 Cr. Lets get this back to the shuttle."

  Once the transaction was complete, Zhouth loaded the office pieces onto a suitable conveyance and hauled them back toward the starport for packing into the shuttle. They'd have their uses, one way or another!

"At least we have the essentials Zhouth!" Teddy says with a grin. You can make your stickers and we can celebrate."

After purchasing her suit, Ingrid went shopping for foodstuffs for the journey. She enjoyed this process; she was proud of her ability to cook, and anyways it remind her of simpler times.