Taking the lift back down to the ground floor, the three of you head out of the hotel. Viridian leads you a few blocks away to Green Street. That's what the sign says, though you don't seen anything green on the street, not even anything that's been painted green.

Although you don't pass any of the Widows, you always see one down the side streets, though you can't say if it's the same one.

About halfway down the block you come to Brock's, or so the sign says... a half-broken unlit neon sign. There isn't even a sign in the windows that say if it's open or closed.

"Well, Brock's doesn't look like much Viridian, think they're still opened?" he says as he looks at the door waiting for Viridian or RayJay to open it if it opened.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:38, Sat 18 Sept 2021.

While the others had been focused on their destination, this Brock's place, Rayjay couldn't help but notice the unnerving habit of the local Widows to always be visible down some side street or another, and given their uniform, it gave them a supernatural stalker feel which just increased the creep factor. "No idea Captain, but t'ose Widows get creepier by t'e street I swear."

"Pose no threat and you don't even notice them RayJay."

"Well Viridian? What do you think?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:54, Sun 19 Sept 2021.

"Even if it's not open," Viridian explained as he tried the door handle, "Brock would open for us because we're clearly buyers, not sellers."

"This may be the only place in Known Space where you can buy stolen goods legally."

As expected, the door was unlocked and Viridian led the way into the store. The sales counter was immediately to the left of the door just like it had been the last time he was here. The face behind the counter wasn't Brock, though.

Walking into the shop, it looks like any other pawn shop if you've ever been in one. There are items on shelves, on counters, and hanging on the wall. The sales counter is just to the left of the door, and a woman is standing behind the counter.

The glass counter displays an assortment of jewelry and handgun weapons. Bigger weapons are hanging on the wall behind her.

"Viridian? I haven't seen you in, what? 10 years? No, more than that," she says. "What brings you back to Theev? And what can I do for you? Looking for some weaponry? No, that's not it--you know better than to start trouble around here."

"Why am I getting the impression that I'm not going to like this? Just because I had a crush on you when I was 7 doesn't mean I'm going to give you a discount now! Hell, you broke my heart! I may just charge you double! Or more!"

"Maybe, still creepy as can be." Rayjay argued light heartedly, doing his best to put the faceless station security out of his mind, for now.

Once inside the pawnshop however, Rayjay started to browse, doing his best to avoid the potential argument brewing between the proprietress and one of the crew, let alone between old contacts and potential ex-lovers. For the most part Rayjay was looking over the jewelry, being amply armed already.

Teddy 'shops' around the store, looking at the merchandise. He wished he had more money. They needed to sell some stuff or capture a prize or two and sell their cargos. Something personal and nice for Ingrid would be good.

Stella was a looker, Viridian could do a lot worse, she had her head on her shoulders too, taking over Brock's at such a young age.

Jewelry, guns, art, everything imaginable!

"Stella?" Viridian answers in surprise. "The last time I saw you, you were 7 years old! You've changed a lot! I would never have recognized you!"

"I hope nothing's happened to Brock?"

"I'd never expect you to give me a bargain. Your dad never did!"

"What we really want is information. Possibly a contact. I'm sure you already know we're new here. I've been gone for so long I doubt if anyone remembers me. I didn't quite move in those circles anyway. Not the 'entrepreneurs'."

Teddy follows RayJay and lets Viridian catch up with Stella, who knows. They might have another crew mate, but he doubted that very much! She was too slick for that to happen! "See anything you are interested in RayJay? She has a little bit of everything."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:05, Tue 21 Sept 2021.

"Indeed she does, gear wise I t'ink I am more t'an content, t'ough it is always nice to admire the pretty little t'ings in life, be t'ey jewels or damsels." Rayjay said with a chuckle, before asking a question of his own. "Find anyt'ing your own damsel might enjoy Captain?"

In reply to Rayjaynul Brown (msg # 11):

"She might like a necklace or a pin. Not sure I could afford it though. If you have to ask, you don't have enough."

"I wonder if she has a nice string of pearls or a diamond pendant." he says to RayJay. Maybe Stella would over hear them.

Theodore steps closer to Stella and Viridian to listen, she knew they came in together. He wondered how the others were doing.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:43, Sat 25 Sept 2021.

"No, Pop's okay," Stella replied. "He did have a health scare about a year ago, though. That's when he decided to retire. He still checks in on me, but he's gotten it down to about once a week."

"Other than checking up on me, he spends his time playing in a proto-jazz band. He had a few instruments in the shop here, and started dabbling with them. He's gotten pretty good on the bass and the rotuma."

"He also plays racquet ball now. It was either that or pool. Pool just wasn't that active. He kind of wanted to play golf, but you know how ridiculous that is around here."

"He's also started taking dance lessons... to impress his new girlfriend. I know! Hard to imagine, isn't it? Someone actually likes crotchety old Brock!"

"Not sure what you are into these days, Viridian, but you don't seem like the nasty stuff is your style. Never was back in the day."

"Would anybody remember you from the old days? Hmmmm. Maybe Clegg--he's still around. Owns the Black Dahlia restaurant three blocks over. Then there's Janko... only now he's Mister Jankovich. He's a bigwig in the Kallos Shipyard now, though deals mostly with shipping rather than the ships themselves. He's got an office in the Plankard building."

"You look respectable enough that he'd probably see you. I can always call his secretary, Ambrose Rifkin, and put in a good word. We dated for awhile two years ago. Parted as friends."

She then turns to Teddy.

"Sorry, no pearls today. Or ever, really. No place to grow them on this dustball. Got a string of mearls, though. Not as impressive, but still look nice. Only 50 credits. If you can squeeze out a bit more, there's a double string of sparkles for 200 credits."