"Hey...Dr. Phillips...do you finish the inventory review?  I want to make sure everything on the CPD's list is what we are missing here.  It seems like a good time to find mistakes too."

"Stop calling me that...you know what the director said."

"He needs to lighten up a bit.  He and I know you will defend your thesis without issue.  It is not even necessary, but some people like to show how big their PhDs are."  She giggles.

"I'm still nervous."  He comes over with a pad and starts scrolling.  "I've found matches for everything but this...'desk eagle'.  Seriously...who puts in a description like that.  Grrr  Anyway...I cannot find it.  I think it is the gold eagle desk thing that would go with a pen holder.  Black base, gold eagle, 'iron cross' above the eagle...I think it had the name 'Dienstleiter Brikner'.  The notes say he was Service Leader for a platoon stationed in Norway on the coast of the North Sea.  I cannot find it here and I don't have it in their inventory."

"Did you check any of the study rooms or if maybe it is behind something...or maybe it got shifted into another collection?"

As he is walking away, "Yeah...I'm still looking.  I didn't see it behind anything.  I'm going to check out the rooms and to see if it wound up in one of those right position, wrong shelf misplacements.  Nobody ever knows who did those it seems...."

"Hey...what is this bottle on the table for?"

Yelling as he walks out the door, "That was a misplacement.  I think Persian.  IT SHOULD GO TO DOCTOR BLOW-POP."

"STOP CALLING HIM THAT OR YOU WILL GET IN TROUBLE."  She picks up the bottle.  It is beautiful.  It is iridescent as it catches the light from different angles.  It should be in the antique glass collection.  The ridges and stopper are smooth...almost sexy.  She holds the bottle for a minute and sees little flecks of light in the bottle...another glass art affect....  Staring...mesmerized...she touches the stopper and gently twists to get the flecks move.  There almost seems to be a swirling affect.  The safety tape hold the stopper offers no resistance as she turns it a little more.  It is simply too old.  POP  The stopper pulling free is not what she wanted, but the noise was so much louder than expected.  There is the sound of hissing steam and a large about of smoke issues from the bottle.  Than there...standing in front of the doctor, is a woman.

"holy fuck"

Zahrah could see and hear the woman when she grasped her bottle, could feel her touch. A sense of anticipation built within her, as always. Would this be the time? Others had likewise held her, but it had come to naught. Would this be different?

But while there was anticipation, there was neither hope not despair. There was no need for it. Things happen or they do not, and the djinn do not feel time or boredom the way that those made of earth do. She could do nothing to affect this either way. إِنْ شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ. How long had it been already?

She felt the woman's fingers, and suppressed a gasp. This was not transport. The hands continued, and Zahrah looked up with a wry smile, and mouthed the word 'الحريه' as she was drawn inexorably from her bottle

--
A cloud of blue indigo smoke poured forth from the bottle. Those nearby would detect the scent of honey and frankincense, should their minds remain focused enough to utilize their senses. She solidified in front of the surprised woman, her long hair wafted around her like smoke, curling and moving of their own volition, or as if in an unfelt wind.

Zahrah dropped to her hands and knees in submission before the women who held her bottle, who thus also held her service and her self. And she spoke, for the first time in how long? "أمنيتك هي أمري ، سيدتي."

Stephanie stood mesmerized, eyes big, and then took two steps back, which put her against a shelf that rattled a little as her back hit it.  "What?  Who are you?"  A little panic can be heard in her voice.

Zahrah replied, still prostrate on the ground, "أنا عبدك. ليس لديك إلا أن تأمرني ، سيدتي ، وأنا سأكون من تشاء."

She raised her head and began to rise, explaining, "لقد حررتني. هذا يعني أنني حر في إرضائك." As she talked, she moved forward, trapping the doctor between herself and the rattling shelf. Provided the women did not push her aside and run, Zarah cupped her face in her hands. "وسأقوم بإرضائك كثيرا ..."

Here eyes wide and seeming a little scared, in a small voice, she says "I...do...not...understand...you.  Where...did...you...come...from?  Oh god, what am I saying??"  She shakes her head.

"I don't understand Arabic?"  She is now gripping the counter.

While there was no antipathy between her humanity, or even between her and her master- provided they were a fair person of good heart- Zahrah still found it amusing that the one who had control was the one worried now. She was djinn, not ifrit, so unjustified cruelty and terror for its own sake was not something she sought to cause, but she felt that the fear being shown demonstrated a level of respect for her, what she was and what she could accomplish. And as a trickster, part of her enjoyed seeing her mistress intimidated in this manner.

Opposed to that feeling was her innate need to serve. That was her existence, servitude, and it was specifically to this woman now. So another part of her wanted to comfort Stephanie and calm her fears.

The two feelings warred, until the invocation of `god' was made.

Zahrah released her, and took a step back looking at her bottle. "نعم ، الله يسود علينا جميعاً. وثبَّتني عبده سليمان في هذا الإناء ، وحُكم عليَّ أن أكون خادماً للذي يحررني. أنت آخر من يفعل ذلك. لذلك أنا عبدك." If Stephanie had a sharp ear, she might have caught 'Allah' and 'Sulaiman' in her words.

Zahrah looked back at Stephanie, pointed at the woman, then at her bottle, then the stopper. She next pantomimed holding a bottle while pulling off the top, then pointed to herself and then at Stephanie once more, before prostrating herself once more to emphasize her next point. "مهما كانت رغباتك ، سأحققه. مهما كانت إرادتك ، فسوف أعمل. مهما كانت هوايتك ، سأفعل. سأكون كما تريدني أن أكون. سوف أرضيك بكل الطرق. ليس لديك إلا أن تأمرني يا سيدتي." Again, a trained ear might recognize she repeated certain words or phrases several times.

"OK...OK....  ahh...think.  She came out of the bottle.  No...no...that can't be right.  OK...think."  She looks around for the cameras that were everywhere.  Right, right.  Doors and windows back here.  Storage is like a vault.  OK...so nobody is watching this like some crazy caught on camera thing.  She closes her eyes for a second and slows her breathing down.  Talk to the half naked woman...settle...

"OK...linguistics class...nodding.  OK...OK...I am Stephanie.  Do you understand me?"  She points to herself and nods when she says 'Stephanie'.

Zara nods in return, and says, "أنا أفهمك تمامًا يا سيدتي." She points at the doctor, and repeats "Stephanie. سيدتي.", before pointing at herself and saying "Zahrah. عبدك.."

"ونعم ، خرجت من الزجاجة ، سيدتي.". She does not yet rise from the floor.

"Zahrah...OK...that is a start.  And you seem to understand me...OK.  We can keep working on this...One question...yes or no questions only...OK...Zahrah, do you need help?"

Zahrah nodded her head as Stephanie stated that Zahrah seemed to understand her, perhaps giving her more reassurance that was the case. However, when asked if she needed help, she moved her chin back and made a clicking noise with her tongue. She followed up the gesture with another statement, "أنا هنا لمساعدتك يا سيدتي ، كيفما شئت." The gesture was a common Arabic one that answered the question, although Stephanie might not understand the meaning of it any more than she understood the language.

"OK...I think that was a no?  OK...next question...did you come from the bottle?"

Another nod, and another uncomprehended explanation follows. "قنانيتي هي جزء من نفسي يا سيدتي ، وأنا ملتزم بها ، لكني لا أنتمي إليها إنه سجني وراحتي."

With a surprised, wide eyed look, "Like a Jeannie?"

Zahrah smiled. It had taken time, but the woman had gotten there. She rose from the ground, and let the solid flesh of the lower half of her body drift away, to be replaced by her blue indigo smoke. She drifted back towards Stephanie and nodded, her smoke with it's heady scent encircling her new mistress. "لكن ليس فقط مثل الجني ؛ أنا جني. وأنا جنيك الآن يا سيدتي. ما هو امرك؟"

The word `genie' was close enough in sound to one or two of the words Zahrah spoke in response. Between that, her nodding, her half-smoke form, and the rest of her overall appearance, Zahrah was confident Stephanie would interpret her response as confirmation.

She covers her mouth with both hands, "Holy shit."  She starts to wave her hands in front of her face, "Whata I do?  Whata I do?  OK...OK...you are speaking modern Arabic?  I released you and now I'm your master?"

Zahrah visibly recoiled at the profanity, and chided, "لا تجدف ، أو قد تجد نفسك محاصرًا في زجاجة خاصة بك." That would not be the case, as the woman was not a djinni, but it was still good advice.

She screwed her face up in a look of consideration. "العربية الحديثة؟ هل تغير العالم كثيرا؟ منذ متى وأنا غائب؟?" She shrugged and then smiled. "لكن لا يهم. مهما قلت ، سأفهم. نعم ، أنت سيدتي. ومهما أمرت به ، إذا كان في حدود سلطتي ، سأفعله."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

Stopping for a second, "So...yes?" she asks while shaking her head.

With a slight giggle, Zahrah nodded affirmatively. "نعم سيدتي."

Suddenly Stephanie hits her self, "I'm so stupid."  She pulls out here phone, takes a step or two to test for bars, and starts typing.  She turns the phone to Jinniyah, and has Google translate open.  <هل تستطيع قراءة هذا؟>

Seeing her pull out the small slab, and have the writing appear on it, Zahrah's eyes grow wide. She drops prone once more, and blurts out, "الرحمة يا سيدتي! رحمة!" And switching to English, "This lowly one did not know you were a sorceress. Forgive my game, mistress."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:17, Sat 10 Apr 2021.

"You speak English?"  Her face and body have taken on a perturbed 'look'.

"I speak and understand every language, Mistress, since I must know what my master wishes of me. But I did not hide the fact that I understood you, and I told you no lies. Had you asked if I could speak your language, I would have told you yes. True, I had hoped to trick you into using a wish for me to speak in your language, but you proved to be too clever for such a gambit," Zahrah replied in a tone intended to placate. "Please grant your forgiveness for such a ruse."

"A wish?  You're still going with this Jeanie thing?  This is a joke.  OK...go in your bottle then."

Zahrah looks up and says in a chagrined voice, "Not ~a~ wish, Mistress, but three wishes. If it is in my power to grant, it is yours. But you must clearly state 'I wish...' in your request if it is to be so."

She looks over at her bottle. "Therefore, there is no obligation to grant this desire as spoken, but as a show of respect and atonement for my ruse, this one obeys."

Once more flesh dissolved into colored smoke, smoke that swirled towards and then into her bottle.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:21, Wed 14 Apr 2021.

She shakes her arms, <Brown>"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.  OK...OK...I believe you.  I believe you.  Super heroes...but a Jeanie!  OK...OK...you can come back now."</Brown

Exiting her bottle, Zahrah reformed. She stood, head down, arms slightly out to her sides and palms forward. "At your command, Mistress. I am ready to serve you in all ways. Have you determined what your wishes shall be? Know though, I am but a young bottle djinni, and of the fireless smoke, rather than the smokeless fire, so my powers are less than that of many of my kin. But they are at your service."

She sits down, mesmerized.  She starts to talk quickly, "I have so many questions.  How did you end up in there?  Why stay?  You say I'm your 'mistress', but what does that mean?  I don't know that I like the idea...you're another human being.  Are you saying you don't have a lot of 'power'?  Why do you need to give me three wishes?  How do you eat?"  Then she takes a breath.

Listening attentively, Zahrah waits until Stephanie has completed her list of questions before answering. but while she waited to respond verbally, some facial expressions came through giving hints on how she might answer.

To start with, she replied, in an almost offended tone. "We have similarities. We are male and female, we live, we love, we laugh. But we are not human beings. I am djinn. The simoom has more in common with me than your kind does. Even this form," she indicated herself, "is for your benefit. It is worn because it is one your kind has oft-found pleasing, and it is my role to please you. If it does not, then you may choose another for me."

"As for how this one came to be in the bottle, it is related in the Surah Ṣād of the holy Qur'an. King Solomon requested a kingdom such that no other would come after. And the One Most High gave Solomon command of the wind, and of the djinns including every kind of builder and diver, and also others bound in fetters. And that command gave him also the power to bind. Not all my kind were, but many have been. Some, the strongest, to lamps. Some to bottles, such as this one,” she gestured at herself again, “to this one, ” she said, gesturing at the bottle this time. “And the weakest to be held close in rings. The great King was also a prolific writer, and many of his prayers and wisdom were written down. Later magicians and sorcerers like yourself have found those writings, and also used them to bind and control my kind."

"We stay because Solomon has commanded it, and no Earthly power may contravene that command. Many djinn continued to work in his mines even after he ascended to Paradise, following his last Earthly order. More, it is said to the bottle I am bound, but it is also my bond. We are one. From within or from afar, I see all that my bottle can perceive. Speak to it, and I hear, no matter how distant I may be. Rub, and I feel your hands on my body. It is not just a totem; it is a part of me. Should it be lost, it would be like you losing your heart or your head. Our bond should never be severed," she said wistfully, sounding at times almost like a child referring to her mother, or a lover to her beloved.

"Nor is eating necessary. Does the desert wind eat, save to nibble away at the rocks and the hills? This form is capable of enjoying the finest, or the most mean, of food and drink. It is a pleasurable activity and experience, but magic is all that is needed to sustain me. No more than that is ever needed, but this one would be grateful for the pleasure if it is your will."

"You are called Mistress because you are that and more to me now. By freeing me, you have taken on the authority of Solomon, and your will and your wishes are my only desire. That should not make you uncomfortable. If one professes to be Christian, and Saint Peter the Apostle gives him a command, should they not be pleased to obey? If one claims to be a follower of Islam, and the prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, gives an order, would not one be blessed to tend to that order? If one is a child of the Tribes of Israel, and noble Moses himself appears with a directive, should they not happily and diligently follow that directive? So too is it with me. I will serve the master of my bottle with great joy," she said, a hint of longing entering her voice. "Even the Messiah of the Holy Bible expresses the importance of being a good servant. `Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve'," she recited.

"As for why the wishes are three, it is because Solomon commanded it so for me. This is not uniform. For some, it is one. Others three. Some even have indefinite servitude. There are tales that some of the stronger ones, some of the ifrit, do not have to grant any at all, but those of my kind are but rumor to me. Why any of this is so has not been revealed. Perhaps Solomon put a limit to prevent us from becoming too close. Or perhaps he wished our master to not become lazy. Or perhaps he foresaw an evil master and wanted to limit their power, or an evil djinn and wanted to limit their mischief." She shrugged. "All that is certain is that for me, and for you, it is three that you have been granted. This one can perform and serve in other ways should she choose to do so, but Heaven demands that you be granted three wishes, as long as you remain my master.

"There are restrictions, of course. No djinn can ever tell the future. The rest is dependent on our level of power. Let us say that you desire a castle and a fine wardrobe. A lamp djinn can create items out of nothing. They would summon the castle and clothing out of nothing. A ring djinn is the most limited. They must build the castle stone by stone, just as a normal man would, and weave the clothes themselves, with all the time that would take to accomplish. As a bottle djinn, we are between both extremes, depending on age and practice. Most of us prefer to find what you wish for and bring it to you, or to send away what you do not like. But any of us may be clever on how to accomplish the task. This one has not yet learned to form material out of immaterial. So perhaps the solution is to find you a suitable dwelling and closet and expel the ones living there now. Or perhaps arrange for you to join their household in some capacity, and fill the wardrobe ourselves. Or perhaps acquire enough valuables to trade for the building and finery. Or yes, perhaps build the castle and weave the clothes ourselves. That the wish be granted is your concern. How it is granted is my concern.”


(ooc)
Zahrah does not give this as a soliloquy; if Stephanie has anything to say or ask at any point, she stops and addresses that before continuing.

And I hope the long post does not make your eyes glaze over!

"Wow."  She just seems stunned.

"This is a lot to take in.  So...we are bound.  After I make three wishes, we are unbound, but you may stay with me if it suites you?  At that time, or at any time, what happens if somebody else gets the bottle?"

With a pained expression, as if she was about to reveal something she would rather not, Zahrah nodded. "Your perception and understanding is keen, Mistress. After the three are complete, we are no longer bound, but what happens after remains to be seen."

She gestured at her bottle again. "Despite it being a part of me, I have no power to move my bottle. Neither strength nor magic will allow me budge it even one 'iisbae, any more than you could move a mountain. But because it is a part of me, it may react to my unconscious thoughts. If there is no binding contract, then it may choose to stay or go. If you prove to be a kind mistress, and remain so, it may sense my happiness and allow me remain with you, and then this one is free to serve you until a new master must be served. Should you be cruel in your treatment, then it may sense my unhappiness and choose to go elsewhere, and this one would go with it, because she cannot stray more than a barid from herself. Where it might appear, and who might find it then, is unknown, since no djinn can see the future." She said that final part of that sentence in a tone that suggested reverence or possibly fear.

"But then or now, if someone else owns my bottle, then the authority of Solomon no longer rests with your noble self, but with my new master. It matters not if your wishes are completed or unfulfilled. My loyalty and devotion will be with who has that authority over me, for there is a new binding, and the previous one is dissipated, not to return."

She again turned to half-smoke, and curled around Stephanie, sweet fragrances surrounding her. "Some masters choose to make their wishes quickly, fearful if they hesitate, they might lose their opportunity to do so later. Some masters choose to wait until they craft the perfect wish or in an attempt to first sway my emotions, hoping this one will stay after the contract is fulfilled. Some masters choose not to wish at all, content to have this one as their slave without relying on a wish. Some wish from need, some wish from greed, some from fear, some from ignorance, some from guile. What kind of mistress shall you be, I wonder?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:27, Sat 17 Apr 2021.

She waves her hand in the air as if clear the air.  "Don't do that.  We're right here together and that smell could draw attention.  I don't know what to do, but I'm worried with you here.  There was the robbery...there are a few people that I wouldn't trust with a flea circus let alone real power.  OK...OK...I need to figure out where you came from and how I should hide you."

She starts to pace a little and then stops with a shock.  "What if they were after you but didn't find you as you were here and not in the area where you should have been?  And I need to stop saying you...what do you want me to call you???"  She stops and looks you directly in the eyes.

Zahrah was slightly offended her mistress did not care for the scent, but solidified again. "What matter is it where I come from?" she asked. "I am here with you now. That is all that matters."

She watched Stephanie pace and met her eyes when they came to her. "You may call me whatever pleases you, Mistress. Most masters use either Jinniyah or slave. But my name is Zahrah, should you wish to honor me with it."

She showed no concern over the robbery talk. Stephanie was her master now, but all masters are impermanent. Any concerns on if it ended sooner rather than later, or any concern over what wishes another might make- it mattered little to one who could measure time in centuries as opposed to days.

She looks at you and seems to have a hurt look pass through her face, "Nobody should call you a slave.  That is one of the items I'm worried about.  The theft from these rooms seems to have a link to Nazi.  You know what those are?"

After a moment, she seems to say to herself, "I don't think you are safe here."

Zahrah looked at Stephanie quizzically, because what she had said made no sense. She understood the words, but not always the context behind them. Further, her values were not of the modern day, but shaped centuries ago, and there had been a seismic change on the subject of slavery, at least in parts of the world. But also, Zahrah was not human. She was a bound jinn. Her mind, her feelings, her beliefs, her values- there were many that overlapped or were similar to that of humanity, but there were just as many that would be completely alien.

"But I am a slave Mistress, to you, to my bottle, to the binding. Nor will I ever be anything else. Why should I not be addressed so?"

When she was asked about Nazis, she gave a slight shrug of her shoulders indicating she had little care or concern. "A short-lived minor empire, lasting little longer than Artaxerxes III's conquest of Egypt. Is that correct?"

Realizing she is talking to something beyond her, Stephanie nods here head and sighs.  "I understand...I think.  But we won't use the word 'slave'.  And I'm Stephanie, not 'mistress'.  That could call attention that we don't want."

She stops for a minute, and thinks.  "I understand you have seen more than I ever will.  But the Nazis were more than a minor empire.  They wanted to homogenize the world.  Maybe you've seen that before, but we live only 100 years, and Nazis were some of the worst in our recent history.  And it seems like there is something here of theirs that was wanted.  By whom, we don't know yet.  But I know there are the rumors they collected some 'magic' and occult items to gain more power.  I'm worried they were looking for you as well as other things here.  You won't be safe here."

"This is so beyond me.  OK...you can't move your bottle, but can you obscure your bottle from view?  Oh...can your bottle break?"  She starts to look around and chewing her lip a little.

"As you command," Zahrah responds when Stephanie informs her of the naming convention.

She listened to Stephanie talk about the Nazis, but it still did not concern her, either from being unconcerned due to her nonhuman nature and the impermanence of time, or simply unaware of the scope of the danger they might possess, especially with the greater technology of the day which has made the world a much smaller place. "I am certain your magic is up to the task, Sayyidatī, especially if you command me to help you protect what is yours."

When the talk turned towards her bottle, she shook her head. "It is not in accordance with the will of above that this one tries to hide from her duty. You may use means magic or mundane, but it is not for me to tempt fate. As for it's durability," she tapped the side, "It is not stone or steel, but it is as durable as a home can wish to be. It will not shatter or even crack if dropped, but a determined effort with strong weaponry could do so."

She looked at Stephanie, and continued, "More, it is a part of me, so as long as I exist, so shall it. Should it become damaged or shattered, it will heal completely, as if the damage never was, just as I would. But my magic, myself, is at a low ebb and unpredictable until it completes its healing."

After addressing her as 'sayyidati', "Just Stephanie is fine.  That will call less attention to things if we are overheard."

***

Looking around, "Then we'll keep you in here for now, until I know I can get you out of here safely.  That will give me time to double check the database."  She takes your bottle and puts it behind two items on a shelf and repositions the items to help with the cover.

She then turns around, "This day has been so weird.  And the weirdness isn't going away any time soon.  <sigh>  Maybe you could help me with one thing.  Can you look around this room, in all the nooks and crannies, for a golden eagle desk ornament?"  She shows you a picture that is on the paperwork she has on the inventory of the storage area.

"As you desire..." Zahrah winced, "Stephanie." She said the name as if lightning was about to strike her. he had never before called her master by name, and was not sure of she liked it or not. Perhaps it would sound more natural in time.

Fortunately, Stephanie then asked for a task to be done. It was not a wish, but it was a service for her mistress, and that was a huge relief after the name exertion. Unfortunately, she reflexively said, "I am at your bidding, Mistress." Centuries of habit were not easily tossed aside.

She made an extremely thorough search, literally willing to search every square foot of the room, and in every alcove, behind books and shelves, and in cabinets, until either she was complete with this task, or Stephanie could wait no longer.

No matter which came first, she gave the same reply, "Such a thing has not been found. If you strongly desire one, you have options, Mis... Stephanie."

"No...it is an antique from the collection.  It is odd that it is missing and not on the list of items from the police.  Thank you for helping.  Maybe it is in a study room or something.", she says as she stops looking as well.

"OK...we need to set a few safety rule.  Your bottle is safe, but we need to make sure nobody finds you until we can work a few things out.  If somebody other than me comes in the room or is just in the room, hide yourself way.  I assume you can turn invisible and not smell like cinnamon.  We'll figure something out better, but until I know it is safe, I don't want you found.  Sound good, Zahrah?"  She smiles when should talks about the cinnamon.

"Do you wish for me to search the study room for you if you like, Miss Stephanie?" Zahrah offered when Stephanie suggested that might be the location of the errant ornament, in case that might make her happy.

As for the secrecy, she responded, "I do not turn invisible. I am as all smoke, obscuring to vision, but can itself be seen. And the scent... does honey and frankincense not please you?" She had a slight pout, taking it as a bit of an insult. "Perhaps opopanax and myrhh would be more intoxicating?"

"But if you wish me not to be seen, I can either return to my bottle, or," she shrunk down to but a few inches tall, "hide behind something well below their vision."

If she tried, she could make her form a less noticeable white or grey fog rather than her normal blue indigo, and remove the perfumes, but that was not something she cared to do, unless her mistress demanded it of her.

She jumps a little, "No!  Don't search the rooms.  We don't know who is in them.  Again, I'm worried about you being found.  As to the hiding, the bottle may be best.  We can leave the topper off, correct?  And the smells are nice, but I don't know how to explain smells in a room that is supposed to be 'clean or cleaner'."  She uses air quotes when talking about the 'clean room'.

"Yes, my bottle can be left unsealed," she confirmed. "I would prefer it be so, since it is also my place of rest and healing." That seemed to be the best option to stay hidden, it seemed, and Zahrah was fine with it. With her awareness, she would be able to see when the room had become empty again and safe to return.

Still, she was not wholly clear on why Stephanie would want her to remain a secret. Most magicians would flout their power, and control of a genie was power indeed. Perhaps it was because she was a woman and felt her sorcery must remain hidden? There was much to learn. Perhaps this was a time to do so. "If you do not want the rooms searched, or cleaned any further, have you any desire of me now?"

She seems to consider something, but seems to dismiss the idea, "Not yet.  I think we'll be best served by making sure you are protected and I'll figure out how to keep you safe.  Please understand, you are something I've never even thought of before and what comes next is still a question mark for me.  I know we are not the same, but you look like a woman and can be confusing.  Don't change...don't do that <shiver>...I will adjust.  Can you dress like me?  That could help."

[OOC}
Lab coat...brownish hair up...glasses...jeans....

"I am a woman. I am just not a ~human~ woman," she replied. "But if you wish to keep your power and this one your secret, it shall be done." She shifted, forming into a mirror-perfect duplicate of Stephanie, before giving a cheeky smile, and shifting back to herself, although keeping her clothing and hairstyle a match for that of her mistress. "Does this please you?"

Stephanie snaps, "I know you are not a 'human' woman, but that is all I have to go on and this day is getting long and complicated.  Damn it."  She takes a few breaths and slows down, "That looks good.  You'll be a graduate student in Asian Cultures assigned to me, if asked.  And sorry."

Zahrah, as befits her nature, was as mercurial as air. At times she could take a dispassionate view of her master venting their anger on her, simply considering it their right to do so. Other times, she could take even small slights most personally, and seek to ruin or confound them in the most disproportionate of ways. Other times, she might simply use these instances as a justification to play tricks.

Fortunately, she had been in her bottle for some time, and was still giddy with both freedom and the opportunity to serve, so she remained undisturbed when Stephanie snapped at her. She did not understand exactly why Stephanie had done so, since she did not comprehend jinn were mostly considered myth here and now. But she did know that the ways of sorcerers were subtle and they were quick to anger, so thought this was one of those moments, to be quickly forgotten.

More importantly, her mistress seemed pleased with her appearance now. She smiled in response to the approval, and nodded when told what her 'cover identity' was to be, although doubted such a cover would fool anyone, since there was no formal education for women she was aware of- even the Dar al-Hanan school had been opened while she was still sealed in her bottle. But her mistress declared it to be, so she would comply, however absurd the request.

When Stephanie apologized, she furrowed her brows and said, "For what, miss.. Stephanie?" The sharp tone from earlier had already been forgotten.

"I didn't mean to snap.  I know we are different, but what I see is familiar in many ways.  I'll try to 'explain' and not get frustrated.  I should ask if there is anything you want to know?  You've seen so much...but this could all be so different in a blink for you."

Yelling, starting from the other room and then getting closer, "I still can't find that eagle. I know this is going to be hassle.  I'll leave a note on the shelf...oh..hello."  Mr. Phillips walks in from the work room area.

"Oh," Zahrah replied simply, unconcerned over an apology being given, but pleased it was made. She also appreciated the offer to provide information if she wanted to know something. That was a far cry from some previous masters who never wanted her to stray far from her bottle or their side.

She did have a question or two, but it seemed that now was not the time. Their conversation had caused them to miss the approach of this new person. As it was too late to retreat to her bottle, she replied, "Hello. I will be going now." And with that, she would leave the room unless Stephanie requested otherwise. Leaving was the best thing to do, she thought, since her mistress had said she wanted her to be as unobtrusive as possible. Stephanie could explain things, since she was the one who gave that directive.

Once out of the room and out of sight of observers, she would teleport out of the building to see what this city was like. If Stephanie needed her, she already knew how to summon her once more. And even away, she could still see them and listen to their conversation due to her connection to her bottle.

"Sorry, that was Zahrah.  She is grade student in Asian Cultures.  Seems like it is the time of year we'll start to see them again."  She gives a little laugh that seems awkward.

"Yeah...but usually not that exotic.  You remember that guy from two years ago that couldn't talk about anything but the history of trains.  Yikes.  Glad for small favors.  And was she smelling of something...like cinnamon?"

"Aahhh..I had not noticed.  OK...so you didn't find it, we'll need to make note in the database and let Roger know."

"Great...I guess we have to follow procedure. ..."

The conversation goes on for a while as they talk procedure, who needs to know what and when, and a double check of the inventory and CPD report one more time.

[OOC]
Stephanie neither says anything or touches your bottle.  Give me an idea of what you are doing?

While she could hear them, she really was not listening to the conversation, other than a keen ear for if she heard her name again, or the words `I wish'.

It was not just that the conversation on procedure and inventory was dull, which she thought it was, but more because she was outside seeing modern Chicago, and was stunned, staring, open-mouthed at the view. She could not take in the full scope of the city from where she was, but from what she could see of the size of the buildings, it must have at least as many people as Bagdad itself!

The architectural styles were bizarre- it seemed some of the tallest structures were of glass and they stretched up to kiss the sky. There was no true ground- it had all been covered in stone.

Conveyances were everywhere, with not a camel or other beast of burden to pull them along, and yet they moved, but slowly, mostly because there were so many of them. She was vaguely aware of what they were, but the sight was still a shock.

And nearly everybody had the sorcerers tool that Stephanie had had. Quite a few also spoke their spells into them.

On their own, each discovery would have been astonishing. Together it was almost overwhelming. "أيها السيد العظيم ، أين أتيت بي؟" she asked, knees feeling weak.

She took a moment to compose herself, and she thought it best that since she was here, it would be best to see what she could. The women were not covered, despite being out of doors, so she assumed her current outfit, matching that of her mistress would be adequate. It was not too far from styles she saw.

So, she started to walk away from the museum, intent on people-watching. She would read everything she could- there was so much writing everywhere! And she listening to as many conversations as possible- whether it was between individuals, or between sorcerers and their boxes or even the crazy ones who spoke out loud to nobody at all- yet spoke as if they were having conversations nonetheless.

[OOC]
Facing north, you would see the buildings that make up 'down town'.  The Willis (Sears) Tower being the tallest of all and made of all glass.  To the east is Lake Shore Drive and then the lake itself.  The buildings around the museum are maybe ten stories at max (been a while since I was in that exact area, but that is what I remember).  Moving north or south takes you into a nice green space.

Give me an idea on where you are (roof? side?).

[IC]
In the immediate area, you see a few people on the greens in front of the museum and do see a few people in white jackets.  The 'road' to your right is full of 'cars' moving in both directions.  It is a non-ending stream.

She was on the ground outside the front of museum, to get a close look at the new things all about, although she stayed out of traffic. Walking down to the street area, she circled a flashy parked car, looking it over, wondering what all the buttons and knobs and things inside did before moving on.

She did not initiate conversation with people as she walked by them, but she did look them over, which might be unnerving or insulting to some, or mistaken for interest of another sort by others. She would stop for conversation if someone spoke to her, but otherwise she was walking towards one of the people in white jackets. Were they sheiks? Guards? Police? Untouchables? It was hard to say, so she tried to walk closer to one to see what decorations they might have. It might help tell their level of importance, or perhaps there would be words on them to read that might bring understanding.

(ooc)
Zahrah is still in the immediate area right now, but will, if all goes well, probably walk towards Willis Tower if there are no obstacles. The most powerful people must live there.

[IC]
As you approach a group of two, with one person wearing the white lab coat, you see it does not match their clothes (which is just pants you see currently).  The coat does have the MSI symbol on the left front breast pocket.  Both people have ID cards hanging from lanyards around their necks.

[OOC]
The main steps are not used since they changed the traffic flow, but they are great.  They lead out into the green space with some 200 yards to the first road.

Some pics for reference of the front steps...

Since the white coat is similar enough to what she is wearing, duplicating what Stephanie had been wearing, there really is no need to approach any further. Zahrah already knows what it is- obviously ritual clothing of the temple she just left.

So instead she will go to the green space and enjoy the feel of the sun and the wind. It had been far too long since she felt either. Perhaps take her shoes off and feel the grass between her feet as well.

After about 30 minutes, she will start walking towards the Willis Tower, wanting to see it more closely.

[OOC]
You see it, but Willis Tower is 9 miles away (approximately).  Walking there is possible, but....

[OOC: I didn't realize MSI was so far from where the fight with Diablo and Ghost was. That was a serious running fight with emphasis on running.]

(ooc)
That should not be a concern- the actual distance between the two is 6.68 miles, so it is well within her allowable radius.
(The standard AP radius is 8 miles, but the AP upper range is 15 miles 800 feet, so she is fine no matter which you choose to use.)

Since she is going as directly towards it as she can, she would mostly be using the lakefront trail, the right most path your map is showing along the water, which is 7.9 miles, since it looks like the most direct path she could walk. That would take a bit over two and a half hours walking, which is certainly doable- her Body is not superhuman, but equals some of the best athletes on earth, so she would not have any problem walking that far or long. And with her extended lifespan, she does not think of that time as anything more than a blip.

No doubt it would actually take much longer for her to get there though, since she is not using a mapping program, but going as straight as she can, which would require some detours and backtracking. And she is not in a rush either, she is free again, and looking and reading things as she goes, taking what she needs to take in. If she has to take six or seven  hours, that is also fine. Stephanie did not give her any commands, so for what she does now she has all the time she needs until called for. Seeing the world of today is a very valuable use of that time, which is another reason to walk, rather than blink herself there. She can see the people, the way they move, how they dress, how they sound, etc.

[OOC: Just over a 3 hour walk according to MapQuest. https://www.mapquest.com/direc...routeType=pedestrian]

(ooc)
It comes in as 2 hours and 36 minutes on Google maps. I wonder what the discrepancy is from?

https://www.google.com/maps/di...114!2d41.8788731!3e2

In any case, it does not particularly matter. As noted, she is in no hurry, and is not planning on using any magic to speed the trip. The journey is much more of the point than the destination. The Tower is simply a very recognizable point to walk towards.

I suspect that it was actually the distance, not the time, that prompted the initial concern though, but that should have been adequately answered.

This message was last edited by the player at 06:27, Fri 07 May 2021.

[OOC: Google Maps will probably be more accurate between the two from my experience, but I still use MapQuest first when I'm on PC out of habit.]

(ooc)
It could be. I use google maps for most uses, but if there are problems at times, mapquest is my second choice. I do not care for apple maps.

[OOC: No one cares for Apple Maps. I'm not sure Apple cares for Apple Maps.]

[OOC]
1)  The move from MSI to Waverly Island was police following a car (and Diablo in flight), but they did not engage.  All the details on how they slipped out of MIS were not shared.  Intercepter-X didn't get on the scene until they were at Waverly Island.  That is where the 'stalemate' occurred.
2)  I have not problem with 'going on a walkabout'.  Just let me know for sure which way and how?  'Straight as the crow flies' is possible (and maybe the one she would follow logically) to as she is navigating by sight.  It would mean more neighborhoods.  There is a path along Lake Shore...far side by lake.
3)  As to Google, Apple, MapQuest and their different estimates; they all have different base assumptions.  How fast is the average speed of a car in a city environment?  What is the average walking speed of a person?  They will have different 'road knowledge' as there are a few companies that can provided that and I doubt they all use the same one.  We've run into this with park permit providers.  They all have tools to help you with design (how big a parking spot should be to maximize your lot, recommended speed limits, etc.).

Let me know the path of the walk and we'll see what happens.

(ooc)
I did mention the path she was taking, but it probably was lost in the other discussions.

Since she is going as directly towards it as she can, she would mostly be using the lakefront trail, since that seems to be the straightest line to follow.

The lakefront also makes it simpler since it is a clear feature to follow.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:10, Mon 10 May 2021.

As you wander, you find a concrete trail that some others are following.  I curves this way and that way, but takes you under the two road ways used exclusively for cars and you find yourself on the shore of a body of water.  A directional sign says Lake Michigan Trail and points an arrow north labeled 'Downtown'.  An arrow pointing south say '57th Street Beach'.

People are going in both directions; running (not in fear...just running), riding (what you remember is a bicycle...but of a new design), there are parents with children and even a few people fishing along a rock wall off the water.  You even pickup the smell of cooking meat.  The mix of cultures is new to you, not in the presence but in the quantity of each.  It is greater than you remember ever seeing.

You turn north and head to the larger buildings can be seen clearly above the trees.  There are so many and they come in so many colors and shapes.  There is no the domes you are used to see on large buildings and most do not seem to be made of stone.

[OOC]
You can travel north along the Lake Shore from here to downtown.  As you walk, you start to see how people are crossing the roads and where it is safe (there are some bridges, but not everywhere).

It was strange to see so many people running for no apparent reason. She could not see why they would be doing so.
They were not running from anything, and people went in different directions, so they were not going towards something either.
The only commonality was they had vaguely similar types of clothing, in style if not appearance or culture. Perhaps it was a religious devotion?

The bicycles were interesting. She had never ridden one, but was not certain she wanted to. It seemed... unseemly. And inefficient.

The smell of the meat was tantalizing, but she did have to eat. She could, she just did not have to do so.

To avoid trouble, she stayed on paths were people mainly travelled, and crossed when they crossed.
She was a quick study, and easily picked up the meaning of the colors and those crossing norms, even if the words walk and don't walk had not been shown.

The throngs of different cultures did not perturb her. She had seen Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia,
Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene,
visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs all together at once, so this was not that dissimilar in effect.
Differing ethnicities she considered of little consequence. They might divide or unify themselves themselves by it,
but to her they were all just humans. She categorized them her own way, unrelated to race or ethnicity.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Wed 12 May 2021.

You must walk for 20 or 30 minutes and see all sorts of new things.  When you get to one of the beaches, you see new things everywhere.  Food stands, which are not new, but the foods were different.  "TACOS"  "Pizza by the Slice"  "Maxwell Street Polish"  There is a man selling colored floating things with a sign that says "balloons".  A woman selling "boat tours".  There is a woman and child with a sign that says "homeless...please help."  That isn't new either.

Then you feel your bottle being touched.  "Zahrah, where did you go?"

Like with the meat, the scent of the food was attractive, in its newness, and she would go close to the stalls to take it in.

The balloons were not completely new to her- Hot air balloons had been in existence since the 1700s, and they came to Persia in 1877.
But to see them so small without a visible fire for lift- that was new. She was also aware of balloons made from the parts of animals-
that had been going on for hundreds of years longer. But those did not float in the same manner.
She vaguely wondering if jinn held them aloft, but dismissed the thought- unlike a bottle, lamp, or ring,
a balloon would not be strong enough to serve as a djinni totem. They were cute though, and it was enjoyable to see them float on the wind.

The poor and beggars were not new sights, true, but it was most unusual to see a woman in this role. Men and children, certainly. But a woman?
Had she no male relatives to take her into their household? She tried to puzzle this out when she felt hands upon herself and her mistress' call.

With blink, she was gone from the beach, back at the museum, with her bottle.
"Here I am. I am always here if you call, miss... Stephanie. Have you a desire to be fulfilled?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:47, Thu 13 May 2021.

She jumps at first, but seems to chide herself silently.  "Thanks.  I didn't expect you so quickly.  Xander just left and of course there is now more work to do.  Where did you go?"

Zahrah nodded. "If there is work to be done, this one is at your service. As for where I went, since you did not request I confine myself
to my bottle or the building, I walked by the river and saw part of your magnificent city. How much of it belongs to you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:47, Thu 13 May 2021.

"I had not even thought you would want to see the city.  I've been worried about others and things.  We'll need to fix that.  As to how much do I own, I think you will be thoroughly disappointed to see my apartment.  <hehehe> I do have something we need to do.  I've come to the conclusion the safest place for you is not here.  I'm not sure if you were moved on purpose or misplaced, but with what happened and the activity to come here, whether it is more inventory searches or more security measures, you should not be found.  Can your bottle shrink for a short period of time?"

"Oh, very much I would like to see your markets, your squares, your temples, mosques, palaces, and towers. It has been decades, at the least. While I do not become bored while confined, no matter the length of time, it is not as exciting as going to see what the world has become. And it makes me a better servant to know your world."

When Stephanie laughed about her accommodations, Zahrah interjected, "Your home will be no disappointment to me, mistress. But if it is a disappointment to you, you have but to wish for more."

When talk turned to moving, she said thoughtfully, "I can give you no help on how I was brought to this place specifically. My bottle was boxed, limiting what could be seen. And there was little to hear that sounded like it would lead to freedom and service to a new master, so did not strive to follow and remember conversations."

She shook her head, "As for shrinking my bottle, no. While it is a part of me, it is also my prison empowered by Solomon's pact with the one who rules all. I have no ability to affect it, physical or magical, in any direct way."

When you talk about seeing what Chicago has to offer, she smiles.  When you talk about changing her apartment, she just sighs.

"The apartment will have to stay as it is.  But seeing Chicago is something that we can do.  OK...if you cannot shrink the bottle, I think I still have a plan.  I'll have to get a different purse or a backpack.  We'll get you out of here tomorrow, after work.  I'll need to run to get a few things.  Will you be OK for the night?"  She glances at her watch.

"I will be fine," Zahrah assured her. "Just as the wind cannot blow forever, so must this one rest, so you may have little concern there will be much activity here. Simply leave the stopper off my bottle, as it is, and I can enter when necessary and exit at your call." She ceased maintaining her solid state, her smoke drifting towards, and then into, her concealed bottle.

She did not intend to stay there the entire night, but there was no reason to tell Stephanie this. Her mistress would undoubtedly feel more reassured if she thought her djinn was planning on remaining there until tomorrow.

But instead, she planned to rest, then a few hours after Stephanie had departed, exit her bottle once more. Had Stephanie specifically told her not to, she might have stayed to clean and organize things here. But with a directive against doing that given, she would pursue other activities. Clothing herself in similar fashions to what she had seen on her walk today, rather than the lab coat ensemble she had duplicated before, she would teleport once more outside the museum to resume her explorations, this time seeing the night life of the city. After all, the smile Stephanie had given her earlier implied her mistress would be pleased with Zahrah doing so.

[OOC]
Cut to new thread.