"Why do I say, or why do you not desire those things?" Zahrah responded. "I say that because you do not desire those things, and you do so because those are human concerns of humans, and not jinn concerns of service. You are assigning goodness and badness, rightness and wrongness. You are discomforted by certain words that accurately describe our relationship and roles."

She put a finger to her lips in thought, and added, "You have spent more time thinking about consideration for me than for your desires. Would a philosopher say that makes you more human, or less so?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Thu 30 June 2022.

Smartly, she says, "Worry is a constant human condition....  And I understand you are not good or bad and your wish is to but serve."

Zahrah smiled at that, and used it to segue to her familiar topic, "Then tell me your wish, so I may serve and relieve your worries, Mistress."

She smiles, "I have not been thinking about that for a while.  I'm not really interested in money or castles or stuff.  I like to learn.  Hmmm...what have others asked for?  Exactly what did they ask for?  I don't think I've ever asked you that question before.  I bet there were some wild requests."

Shaking her head, she said, "It is not as wild as you guess, Mistress. Humans tend to think very similarly, and their wishes reflect that. If asked, many imagine they will wish for something altruistic, but only when the discussion is theoretical. When the opportunity is theirs, the wishes are almost always for their benefit or at most for that of their family. Discounting the requests for wishes I do not have the power to grant and for accidental utterances, the three most common wishes are for sex, money, and sex atop a large pile of money. Beyond that, wishes for power or for revenge against an enemy are also very common."

She cocked an eyebrow and asked, "Have you an enemy you wish destroyed Mistress? Or if you prefer knowledge, then I can bring you an expert teacher, or a tome on whatever subject you wish to learn."

The mention on sex on top of a pile of money makes Stephanie laugh.  "Well that is not me."

"I do have what I think my wish will be, but I'm thinking on how to make it...word it correctly.  I know you are waiting."

“You are free to take as much time as you desire,” Zahrah acknowledged, even if she did not like that fact. “You are also free to discuss it with me. Perhaps I can be of assistance,” she offered, although the offer was self-serving. After all, doing so helped her in two ways. For one, it would allow her to grant that second wish. For another, while she liked Stephanie, her mistress was still secondary here. Helping craft the wish herself certainly made it easier to twist it into what Zahrah would like to see, irrespective of the intent.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:35, Wed 06 July 2022.

"Ahhh...I would have thought there would be a rule against that type of help.  I mean...all the stories of wishes gone wrong because of a foolish person and all...."

"How many of those stories had the master ask the djinn for help?" she responded, genuinely curious. Clearly, even if they did not believe in general, they still told jinn stories. Mindstrike had referenced a version she had not heard before, and now Stephanie was suggesting there were many stories. Perhaps there was more belief than Stephanie had thought- Mindstrike had not seemed particularly flummoxed by the reality, after all.

"I am here to serve you, and gain nothing nor lose anything whether your wish is a good or bad one. So assisting you in this is no different in assisting you with your daily drudge work." Not true, but as long as one only considered the material aspects, it was not false.

Stephanie starts to ramble things off.
"Well...There are the tales in the Arabian Nights...various movies, many of them horror...the stuff in roll playing games, but I doubt those would interest you.  I guess making deals with any of the Oni of Japanese legend is similar. "

During this time, the window between you and the driver has been up (FYI).

"Perhaps someday I will see them," Zahrah replied. "But for now, your desires are what matter, Mistress. So if you have a wish in mind, you may ask for help."

Up or down, it did not matter much to Zahrah. It was up to her mistress as to when she would or would not be circumspect.

Stephanie nods here head and seems to sink into thought.  "I can get you a book, if you wish."

***

When you get to the museum, Stephanie moves down into the archives quickly and doesn't say much.  Once down into 'her area', "I've been thinking on the subject of who and who not to trust.  And I think I have somebody I can trust and ask questions about the security staff.  And...I think you may be able to get me a little information as well.  You up for a little infiltration tonight?"

"That would be kind, Mistress. But if you wish, I can get the book for you," she 'offered'.

At the museum, she replied, "I am at your pleasure, Mistress. What task is it you would have this one perform for you?"

"Tonight, you'll get me into the security office.  I know where the hallway camera is and it should be nothing for you to obscure its view, once you've unlocked the door from the inside.  I slide in and you join me there.  I'll find the files that must be there on employees as we still have paper process for keys an such, and then you obscure the camera again and we leave."  She is thinking things through as she talks to you and then smiles.

"As you wish, Mistress." Normally, she might have left it at that, but seeing Stephanie was thinking things through, Zahrah dared to suggest, "It can be done as you say. But if your desire is not to be seen or noticed, I could blink you straight in and out, or bring everything in the room to you, here or at your dwelling."

Whichever decision Stephanie chose, she would be happy to accommodate.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:53, Fri 22 July 2022.

Stephanie looks at you and laughs.  "That would make things much easier.  That would be good.  Anything you or I need to do to prepare?"

"Nothing of importance, Mistress. I will simply need to know where the security office is, then ensure it is empty before blinking you there from wherever you choose to wait, or before bringing the room to you."

While she had done explorations if the museum, they had been primarily based around seeing the exhibits, or helping Stephanie with her work cataloguing, rather than dealing with the other functions. Her mind was sharp though- a simple map or reminder of its location if she had passed by it would be enough to get her to where she needed to be, if not directly, then close enough that she could make the rest of the trip as a tiny, nearly unnoticeable wisp of smoke.

Stephanie opens here laptop, she makes a few clicks and calls up a map.  Out loud, but a little to herself, "The office is here.  Should we walk by...trace our steps from here this afternoon?  It should be empty by 6 pm.  It is a private office.  Maybe we should walk by a little after 6 pm to see that the office is empty and then teleport in?  From the lady's room down the hall...I think that would work."

"As you wish, Mistress. But again, if someone is about, and you prefer not to be seen at all, you may simply wait more comfortably in your office or at home. I can send you from either if it is empty."

However Stephanie elected to proceed, that would be what Zahrah would do when the time came.
In either case she would investigate the office herself as a tiny wisp of smoke first before blinking Stephanie inside if it was empty, or reporting to her what/who was inside if it was not.

Stephanie finally settles on doing a 'walk by' in the afternoon to make sure everything she knows and found is right.  The office is down a back hall, in an area that the public cannot go.  The bathrooms (men's and women's) are at the end of the hall.

"This will work.  Tonight, at 6.  I think this will work."

The remainder of the day is boring for you.  But Stephanie is in her element; the minutia of detailing items and reading of history energizes her.  When 6 o'clock hits, she nods her head at you.  "Go.  I'll be here."

The tasks are boring, but Zahrah does not actually become bored... at least, not in the same sense that humans do. Beings that may spend decades trapped in a bottle, lamp, or ring do not experience that state the same way. Still, she could think of more interesting things to do, and was glad when the time arrived.

As noted, she would relax into her true form of fireless smoke, and shrink herself down to a tiny wisp before blinking herself into the room.

She would investigate the office as a tiny wisp of smoke.

If the office was empty, Zahrah would return to then blink Stephanie and herself back inside of it, since Stephanie suggested her preference was to go herself, rather than have the contents of the room brought to her.

If the office was not empty, she took note of what/who was inside of it, then blinked back and reported to Stephanie what she saw.

[OOC]
Please give a role.

(ooc)*L* Not so good. It is a 5.
(Depending on what the roll was for, she might use her ultra luck to reroll.)

[OOC]
Perception...your call.

(ooc)
It can stand as is. Perhaps her Int will be enough even so.