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.