Chapter 10: Year 300, Days 7 and 8

[BackworldTraveller]

Hebden and Nālani head out of the door, and start along the terrace to the left - The clothing store becomes visible, just past the head of the stairs they are aiming for, when they get about halfway along, but it is then cut-off again by the angle and the ceiling.

Pranit follows a few moments later, heading along the right hand terrace, luging his bag and trying to keep his equipment concealed.

Finally, Noor and Thaco exit the hydroponics section and are about 10m away as a small drone appears over the balcony, opposite the door that they just left...hanging there in open space about 2m from the balustrade waiting for the door to open.

[ateno]

Pranit follws the plan, head on a swivel.

[BackworldTraveller]

Thaco
There's a drone appeared, watching the hydroponics exit. Don't look backwards Noor!

[BackworldTraveller]

Pranit follows the plan, head on a swivel.

Could I have an appropriate roll for your main (non-walking) task. Stealth? Deception? Recon?

I'll assume that Pranit is more-skilled than some and can both walk and chew-gum!

[ateno]

Deception: [2d6+1]=11+1=12

[BackworldTraveller]

Deception: [2d6+1]=11+1=12

Pranit is the first to the stairs. Hebden and Nālani have headed on past them into a small clothing outlet specialising in shoes and costume for stage and parties, balloons and the like. Somehow, Thaco and Noor have lost sight of Pranit in the remarkably sparse crowd but are just about to head down to the main plaza. Thaco is periodically looking back at the exit and notes a large person in a non-descript grey ship-suit wearing eye-glasses and carrying what looks like a weapon (fairly promptly holstered) burst through. They may have been running. They move to the balcony and look across the concourse.

In the shop, the sound of out-of-time drumming feet accompanied by music suggests that there is some form of dance class for beginners going on the floor above.

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor

"Got it, thanks." She resists the urge to look back, or even around, and decides to go to the costume shop. "Someone is looking for us. We need to change clothes."

Noor goes in and looks for options. Maybe a peasant top, or a black body suit.

[BackworldTraveller]

Behind the counter is a jolly man who comes out to meet Hebden and Nālani.

Welcome to the Wardrobe! Are you looking for a one-off party costume or are you heading to our Gym and Studio?...

...a costume: Well we have almost any style or genre. Take a look and call me.

The arrival of two other customers a few moments later (Noor and Thaco) sees him move on to greet these with a similar spiel...

Welcome to the Wardrobe! Are you looking for a one-off party costume or are you heading to our Gym and Studio?

and when clothes are mentioned

If I can leave you to look for a moment as I'm just dealing with another customer.

and he returns to see how Hebden and Nālani are doing.

Do you have a specific theme or are you looking for inspiration? I haven't seen you here before. Are you new to the town?

[The Bindoner]

Behind the counter is a jolly man who comes out to meet Hebden and Nālani.

Welcome to the Wardrobe! Are you looking for a one-off party costume or are you heading to our Gym and Studio?...

...a costume: Well we have almost any style or genre. Take a look and call me.

The arrival of two other customers a few moments later (Noor and Thaco) sees him move on to greet these with a similar spiel...

Welcome to the Wardrobe! Are you looking for a one-off party costume or are you heading to our Gym and Studio?

and when clothes are mentioned

If I can leave you to look for a moment as I'm just dealing with another customer.

Nālani smiles at Hebden: A costume shop. This was a good choice, Hebden. Stand out to disappear. I am tempted to become a clown, but it would be hard to run in the shoes.

...and he returns to see how Hebden and Nālani are doing.

Do you have a specific theme or are you looking for inspiration? I haven't seen you here before. Are you new to the town?

New to town? No, not really. Friends are having a “do”, and apparently somebody forgot to tell me the details, so I am horribly over-dressed.

I must say, I am somewhat at a loss as to what is “the thing”. Tell me, what has been popular here over the last day or so?

Whatever else, I will need a hooded cloak, for the reveal. Also, a bag for what I am wearing.

Do you have balloons?

Perhaps a wig...

[BackworldTraveller]

For you two, perhaps something from the Okami tradition...
She indicates Hebden
Perhaps a shite. You friend may be amused by a Drunken Spirit mask
and indicating Nālani
Perhaps Kitsune. Or as you wish to have a cape - perhaps a wolf-mask and red cape and go for another old earth tale?

[ateno]

Pranit will get to a inconspicious spot and wait, watching and following the plan.

[BackworldTraveller]

Pranit will get to a inconspicious spot and wait, watching and following the plan.

From his position near the stairs, he can observe the door where the team arrived. A group of people exit from the door, and mill about - occasionally peering into the concourse.

The drone that was watching the door turns, and starts to sweep the terraces - the group move along too, clearly communicating with somewhere via their comms units. There are 5 people, one dressed in a south-pole security uniform, the others in ship-suits.

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor

Noor looks around for the bodysuit she's looking for. Something different, but not too outrageous.

[BackworldTraveller]

Noor
Noor looks around for the bodysuit she's looking for. Something different, but not too outrageous.

Noor manages to find a dancers all-in-one stretch black cat-suit that is definitely the kind of thing she's after. She omits the tail-belt. Thaco has found a wide brimmed hat like some outback rancher.

[BackworldTraveller]

Noor
Noor looks around for the bodysuit she's looking for. Something different, but not too outrageous.

Noor manages to find a dancers all-in-one stretch black cat-suit that is definitely the kind of thing she's after. She omits the tail-belt. Thaco has found a wide brimmed hat like some outback rancher.

Just checking - how do you guys intend to pay for your goods?

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor still has a bit of cash, so that's her plan.

Noor

Noor moves to pay for her and Thaco. "This works quite nicely, I think." She motions to Hedben and Nālani. "Ring them up as well, I'm feeling generous and I suspect we're going to the same party. Nothing too much, mind. She changes and stuffs her current outfit in a shopping bag.

Noor nods to Thaco and waves to Nālani. "Hope to see you there!" Then she starts to move for the exit and to the stairs.

[BackworldTraveller]

If Pranit didn't know that no one had gone into the costume store other than his friends, the pair that exited - A woman in a cat-suit and shades; a man in a long coat and hat - wouldn't have registered as Noor and Thaco. From his position by a stall, he can see the stairs from the left hand balconies, but that from the right is obscured - as are the people on the balconies themselves as they advance towards those stairs. Thus the two search parties are currently out of sight. What he can see is the drone, now swooping towards the stairs. By the entrance that was used only a few moments ago, there now seem to be a new group of arrivals - Uniformed, although which service is hard to distinguish.

Noor and Thaco are halfway across the concourse at the head of the exit stairs when the doors from the left hand staircase open and two grey-clad people exit, partly blocked by a family who were passing. Behind him, he hears the doors from the other stairs bang open.

Nālani and Hebden watch Noor and Thaco depart from just inside the costume store doorway. Hebden whispers to himself Any time now dear!

[BackworldTraveller]

And the lights go out

[BackworldTraveller]

...

[BackworldTraveller]

...The Space goes eerily quiet as the occupants of the space hold their breath for a moment.

The space isn't completely black, but visibility is very restricted. Phones and those shops with battery based emergency power back up provide an ambient light but the crowd block much of this as they move, slowly but too fast for the conditions, towards the lighted areas. Voices are raised as someone trips and their friend/partner tries to fend off the mass of people. Children call for their parents; parents for their children.