Teddy pulls out his credit stick, he'd do the sparkles. "I'll take the Sparkles for my lady." he says with a smile, "I'm Captain Theodore McFarlane, captain of the Vultan, Viridian is my pilot."

"See captain, never 'urts to ask." Rayjay chuckled before introducing himself. "It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Stella, I am Rayjaynul Brown, gunner aboard t'e Vultan, and occasional body guard to our dear captain 'ere." He said with a bit of a flourish and bow before indicating Theodore with a small wave of his arm. "It is quite t'e shame we 'ave 'eard so little about you, I t'ink Viridian is afraid t'e rest of t'e crew might take a liking to you." He said with another deep hearty chuckle as he once more stood next to his captain, a little curious as to what kind of jewel these Sparkles entailed.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:23, Wed 29 Sept 2021.

Teddy smiles at RayJay's remark, no, it never hurts to ask. He definitely liked his crew. They got along well and did their jobs well. And Ingrid. He had to please Ingrid!

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 18):

"So Viridian. You going to ask Stella out to catch up the years over dinner? The Sparkles are beautiful, almost like diamonds, how expensive are diamonds out here? I think Ingrid will be pleased. Sorry to prattle."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Wed 29 Sept 2021.

"You don't listen too well, do you, Captain?" Viridian chided him. "You don't ask out your kid sister!"

"Besides, we just caught up."

"We've been hearing stories about this Admiral Wotsisnaim. Just wondering if we should be trying to make contact with him... grease a few wheels maybe."

"Does he really run the whole planet?"

"Hehehehe, touche! I didn't hear it that way. I heard what she said about loving you is all I heard. Touche. Darokyn is the Admiral's name. Is he running the show Stella? I knew him a long time ago."

It's been a good 15 years since I saw the Admiral. He really the one in charge, or is he just a big fish in the pond Stella?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:07, Thu 30 Sept 2021.

"Don't know the Admiral personally," Stella replies. "Dad and I don't move in those lofty circles. And the Admiral's never visited our humble little shop... that I know of, anyway."

"I suppose it depends on what you're planning to do here. If you want to become part of the pirate community, then, yeah, I'd say make contact with him."

"As to whether he runs things... that's a bit harder to put a finger on. He's certainly a major player in the pirate hierarchy. He does influence things, but if he did something really stupid, the other pirates would turn on him in an instant. Pirates aren't particularly loyal to anyone but themselves. That just goes with the territory."

"At least, that's what I've heard. As it filters down to this level, it could get twisted around a lot, but it sounds like it's all solid."

"If you want to make contact with him, I'd say there are two ways. I could try passing you up the ladder. I could probably get you a meeting with Nif, and then she could pass you on to Old Dobber if you impress her enough. Old Dobber is kind of the custodian of the pirate hangout-slash-headquarters, assuming that such a thing actually exists. You'd have to have an even better reason for him to introduce you to Darokyn."

"The other way would be to keep asking about Darokyn at other shops, bars, hotels... do it enough, and Darokyn may come looking for you... to see who you are and why you are asking about him."

"Anyway, that's my two credits worth of info."

"Thank you, wise advice. Need anything else Viridian? RayJay? Questions. I don't know everything. Pass it up that we're asking about the Admiral I guess, we'll see which leaves fall from the tree. Thank you for the Sparkles too Stella, they're nice. "
This message was last edited by the player at 12:30, Sun 03 Oct 2021.

When they go outside, Teddy asks Viridian, "Where to next Viridian?"

Viridian considered the two options Stella had given them for a minutes, even trying to think of another way. Unfortunately, the ones he thought of were rather extreme.

"Thanks, Stella! It's been nice seeing you again. Maybe we can get together again before I leave. Love to see Brock again."

Once they were outside and walking down the street again, he spoke up again.

"I'm still not sure what we're trying to do here," he asked Teddy. "Are we actually trying to make contact with Darokyn? Or are we just trying to find out information on him?"

"If it's the former, we could just tell one of the Widows that we'd like to talk to him. I don't really know if that would get passed on to him or not."

"While the semi-direct approach of going up the ladder would be quicker, it might not be successful. And we'd be dancing in the dark, so to speak."

"I think asking around is more likely to get us what we want. If he's as good as everyone seems to think he is, then he'll figure out that we aren't incompetent but that we were carefully working an angle to get him to come to us. As newcomers, that makes more sense anyway than trying to get a direct meeting. Despite Varca's ideas, we don't have anything to offer to make it worth while for him to grant us an interview. Oh, sure, we've got a ship, but he's got more than enough. Without knowing what his game is, we can't very well give him something that'll help him win."

"Let's head for one of the bars. I doubt if Darokyn hangs out at any of them, except maybe the one at his hotel. And we'd never get into that one while he was there."

"Maybe start circling that area, get a bit closer with each inquiry."

"I saw Martigan's Belt was still open. We can start there. Remember, the lower class don't out in Upper City all that often. Generally, the ones that do are trying to climb out of Downside."

He led them down the street and around the corner to where Martigan's was on the opposite corner.

"To tell you the honest to gods truth, I have no plan and no idea what we're doing. I just run the ship and leave the details to you, Varca, and  Zhouth." he shrugs his shoulders, "I'm not a pirate or a Privateer."

"No captain, and t'at was a very informative two credits t'ey were." Rayjay remarked, though he didn't much care for the idea of the three of them continuing to ask around until the Admiral showed up, or more likely than not a representative of the Admiral who may or may not have orders to shoot the individual asking questions.

Whether they went outside before asking Miss Stella to put in a good word however would depend on whether or not they wanted to even try the ladder plan, but given Viridian's suggestion Rayjay was sure someone was going to get shot before the end of the day. Hopefully it wouldn't be them. "Well t'e two are not mutually exclusive right? We could 'ave Miss Stella put in t'e good word, t'en continue our questioning in t'e 'opes t'e Admiral doesn't assume we're 'ostile and send someone to silence us wit'out a second question." Rayjay said voicing his opinion on the potential dangers of the more direct way.

"Miss Stella is putting in the good word because I asked her to, What will happen I don't know. Martigan's Belt Viridian? Lead the way. We can get a drink at least."

Martigan's Belt is a typical bar, catering to local business men, though it's more the low end workers. It's a bit incongruous that the bar seems to have a nightly musical group that performs there. Turns out it's more of a pub that a bar, although a sports bar might have been an equivalent.

Bars don't normally serve food, other than beer nuts, while a sports bar or pub is more about the food and drinks are a side order.

At this time of day, there are only a few people in there and the band--Sixty Sense--doesn't play until the evening.

If there's a theme to the decor, it isn't obvious what it is.

The bar is L-shaped at the back with booths along both street sides and a few tables between booths and bar.

"Ah, good to 'ear." Rayjay corrected, having clearly missed the bit where the Captain asked Miss Stella to put in the good word for them. All the same the plan for poking around till the Admiral came looking, or more likely sent thugs to come looking on his behalf didn't seem all that great, but did seem to be the quickest means to get an audience with him.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:46, Mon 11 Oct 2021.

In reply to Rayjaynul Brown (msg # 31):

"Something to eat or drink? Bartender's know a lot, or are we done asking for information."

"If you can afford either, then I'd recommend both," Viridian answers. "It's always a good idea to get non-ship food. Makes you appreciate what you do get."

He looked at the menu on the wall behind the bar.

"Either pick something you know what it is or else something you don't care what it is. I'll have the chili and rice and a Loaded Smoothie." He had no idea what either of those things were made from... and didn't really want to know. At least the smoothie would have sufficient alcohol in it to make the food palatable... even if it wasn't.

"Unless we're ready to leave, you never stop asking questions... even if you don't like the answers you get. It's the only way you survive on Theev."

"I don't suppose the Admiral has ever stopped in here, has he?" he directs to the bartender.

In reply to Viridian Starfire (msg # 33):

Teddy orders chili and a cold beer. He puts his credits on the bar.

"Well we 'aven't met t'is Admiral of your's yet, so I don't suspect we are quite done asking around eit'er. And a meal is rarely ever a bad idea." Rayjay states before ordering something else other than chili, lest it give the three of them food poisoning or worse. "My good barman, I'd like a salad wit' a glass of wine, if you will." He said as he removed his helmet revealing that typical shit eating grin.

In reply to Rayjaynul Brown (msg # 35):

Teddy eats his chili and listens to everyone talk, waiting for something useful.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 36):

"Suggestions? Viridian? RayJay? Shall we move on? Or go back to the Vultan?"

"You mean besides enjoying our fine meals? Not off t'e top of my 'ead, no. 'aven't t'e foggiest idea where to continue our search, but I suspect t'is sort of t'ing usually isn't done in just one day." Rayjay said with a shrug. "So per'aps a little patience is in order, if only to give our gears time to start turning?" He said enjoying his own meal, or at least trying to.

"You're starting to sound like a five-year old, Teddy!" Viridian replies. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? We don't want to just make inquiries at bars but at restaurants and maybe some upscale businesses. I can't see the Admiral shopping at discount stores."

"If we ask outright, we're liable to send the wrong message to the Admiral. Our inquiries need to be... subtle. Like... we go into a jewelry shop and let it drop that Darokin recommended it. Or a clothing store... we say something like 'the Admiral would look good in this'."

When they're done eating, he'll lead them out into the streets again and start walking up and down some of them, stopping at a shop that catches anyone's eye.

"Hehehehehe, in some ways, I guess I am a five year old, sounds like a good plan. Just drop a line here and there and it will get back to him eventually."

"Lets try some upscale places next, where we can mention him once or twice and quickly move on. Unless you want another cold one. I could handle a beer as well."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:29, Tue 19 Oct 2021.