[Mercy Merchant]

@Marco, Arc, Ambrose  Ginny is drinking from the beer can when Marco describes Sebastian and snorts so hard that she sprays some beer.  "Oh, God, I am so sorry about that.  No, they have to be different people.  My cousin is hardly a dangerous man.  If he were he might have had a better place to live.  This boat is waaaaaaay better than his piece of drek.  I am actually surprised that it is still afloat.  The Sebastian I know is about 5'6" and quite heavy.  The last I saw him, he was in restraints, dressed in his skivvies and dancing about to stay warm while the KE thugs were ripping his boat apart.  It would be quite funny if the rest of my clothes and anything I do not have in my purse were not still on the boat or in KE hands." 

She pauses then adds, "You know, the man you describe as Sebastian sounds just like John.  Yeah, I would say that you have him to a tee.  But he told me that his name is John.  Well, that is certainly not the first time a man has lied to a girl.  Still, it is a strange coincidence that he was using the name Sebastian to you."

[gilga]

Marco thinks "So there is a Sebastian her cousin, that has her delivering drugs and guns. Bad person that was arrested very recently. In the same Marina (?!) she meets the most dangerous person I know. Lets call Shilla/Sam/Sebastian/Jhon -  Mr. X... I already suspect that X is a government agent. He did not just happen to be so close to a drug dealing criminal... he was tracking him fishing for evidence... X got her cousin arrested..."

Marco laugh "That would indeed be funny He then flirtatiously ask “I must admit, that normally I would try to separate a pretty woman from her clothes... not unite one with them." He laughs softly and then adds "Perhaps you can be my exception, Ginny” Marco looks at her with his most empathetic look, and say "if someone took all my wonderful clothes it will feel terrible... some people will never understand"  Marco wondered if Phoenix could understand how she must have felt. Phoenix resented Marco just for leaving a single coat behind. He said that a coat can even be a home. Ginny has just lost all her cloths, and her actual home, she must feel terrible.   

He say ”Care to if I take a second look on that boat to see if we can still salvage some of your stuff? I can be very discreet, just show me where the boat is.” Marco figures that the things Ginny describe really do not make her such a big bust. There are so many mules, the KE can't just go after all of them.  Her cousin seems to me a much bigger criminal worthy of their time. Perhaps the KE left and already got everything they wanted. If Ginny shows him where the boat is, Marco can scan it as a bird to see if the boat is still being watched or carefully monitored.

[Mercy Merchant]

@Marco, Arc, Ambrose   Ginny blushes when Marco mentions separating a girl from her clothes, but does not turn away.  "Well, I have never been one for nice things, but I would like to at least have more than one set to live in.  Do you really have some pull with the KE and can get on the boat?  That would be great."  She stands and moves to the railing, where she points at a boat three slips down and on the other side of the walkway.  "See there?  Three boats down.  There is some yellow evidence tape across the back and I think one of the KE thugs is still on board, although I cannot see him just now.  He was on the deck a bit ago, right, Arc?"  She will describe some of her things to you.  By what she says, nothing is more than label knock offs of some of the things you might have for knock-around.

[gilga]

Marco tells Ginny
"Ginny, I need to know - do you want me to take you shopping and get some high quality clothes for you. I'll pay don't worry. Or do you have something over there that is worth risking an unpleasant encounter with the KE. It is fine either way"

[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc was about to respond to Ginny's comments when the waving Marco was pointed out to her, interrupting her focus as she raised an eyebrow.  Hands crossed under her chest, she tilted her head a bit and gave a smirk, muttering to the girl about her comments on interest.  "Careful with that...he's a bit of a lush with that sorta thing"  Returning the embrace of the young keeb, Arc took a step back and remained pretty quiet.  The timing on such was appropriate too, as that moment in time saw fit to send her a couple important comm messages....

>>Arc, I need ta drop off a my bike. I popped some hopscotch drek with it on a job an now it be bent in a few more places ya heard. But, I need it by tonight, an I'll pay double fer tha job. The mods ya made ta it so's I can work are gonna be needed fer this ojb, so's no way I kin jus' borrow another one. You fix it up fer me an the peeps I be hanging with see what I kin really do an I'm tellin' ya they'll be by ta have their bikes modded fer some tricks too.<<

@ Arc  You get a comm from Rabbit, >>We watch. They be shippin' drek today metalgrl. Getting it loaded now. Hurrying to much for mule ta be coming late.<<

Two jobs, two lives, both alike in urgent drek all.  Frag me  Arc barely registered that Marco was spilling the beans, and in a less sleep deprived state, she may have shut him up, but instead she leaned on the railing.  This girl was no friend of the cops, and that meant she wasn't going to spill anything on them.  But still, a little context may have been needed.  Standing up straight, the short human girl cleared her throat.

"Maybe y'all need a reference, eh?  Remember all that buzztalk about that Smiley-face Killer drek on the trid news?  Ever wonder how that drek got stopped?"  The girl lifted her cybernetic arm up, tapping her skull briefly.  "Ya lookin' at part of it.  Yo boy John or whatever had a part too.  Now we looking into something else, some hero fraggin' drek, and yo' boy likely in trouble.  If ya'll want out I wont blame ya.  But here.."  Flipping open her comm, she sent over a brief message to the girl's link.  "My code.  I run a garage and fix-it place in the Barrens, girly.  You need anything fixed up, you let me know, aight?"

Turning to Marco, she gave a nod.  "I got some drek to take care of.  Yo girl told me you met someone this morning.  Tell me how that went in a comm? Ah..."  At that moment, a message from Marco popped up wtih a number on it.  Wiz  "You got it...wiz.  Anyhow, I'll leave you birdies to it.  Ginny, it's been real"  With a wave, Arc ducked down into the boat for a beat, hands moving quickly as she pulled out a datachip, loading a copy of the video files and her notes about them onto it and leaving it for Ambrose to find before retreating outside and away from the boat.  Her synthleather jacket warded off the chill well as she strode briskly to her car, hopping in and making her replies.

<<@Reply{Arc}: Be there in 30.  Bring the bike and payment, and send me a trid photo of it right now.  If time be of the essence, I wanna know what I'm fixin' before i get there, wiz?  Meet ya there>>

<<@Rabbit{Metalgrrl}: Shipping today, huh?  If it's just product, that's fine.  I'm interested in the setup.  If they moving that, I need to know where.  Meet 2nite?>>

<<@Blake{Arc}:  Hoi.  You don't know me, I get that.  But you know Marco and Yelena, who I be working with.  Heard you might wanna meet up.  I got a garage local I run, discrete.Meet up tonight, say around 19-20:00?>>

Satisfied, Arc took the car and drove away from the Harbor, making her way back to the Barrens, the growling in her stomach the only interruption she had, as now that she was settled, she was reminded that she basically had no food in her system.  A quick stop at a Stuffer Shack fixed that, a few snacks sating her as her automotive client sent over the trid specs of his bike.  Dayum...looks like he tore through out of control through a steelcrete hallway.  three spots of bent frame, and that fuel tank's gonna rattle too...suspension will need recoiling too.  Not impossible.  As she arrived, the go-ganger, a lanky troll by the name of Slim (how appropriate) was already waiting, his dinged up Scorpion leaning up against the garage wall.  Opening up, the human noticed how Yelena's bike wasn't there.  Must be out.  Oh right, Z...  Looking up at the trog, she gave a nod and had him bring the bike in.  "Ya got lucky there, Slim.  Been booked up for the past week or so solid.  And before that I was in the hospital losin' the arm.  First open day in a while, omae.  C'mon, I found your issues, I'ma get to work."

And work she did.  Slipping into her coveralls, shield mask going over her face, Arc got to work on the bike.  The frame was physically difficult, but technically simple....remove the delicate components, heat each of the bent joints, and apply force to on side while bracing the other, not unlike hammering out a sword in a forge.  The rattling involved a reseating of the tank, a few arc-welds locking it into place.  As for the suspension, a resealing of the hydraulics took some heat and effort before and after, the meat of the fix involving a big wrench and a lot of elbow grease.  By the end of it, several hours had passed, and Arc was leaning against the back wall, surveying her handiwork, covering in muck and sweat, panting heavily.  "Hoi...bike's good, tell me what you think.."

[spoiler]Automotive Mechanic (Push the Limit): 13d6h5 8[/spoiler]

[Mercy Merchant]

@Marco, Arc, Ambrose     Ginny turns to Marco and you can see that she is blushing again.  You can almost see her carefully consider what you have just said.  "I have nothing over there I need.  I just do not want to be known as the girl who never changes her clothes.  But why would you buy me clothes, nice or plain?  And what would I have to do for it?"

[gilga]

Marco tells Ginny "Because you are new in town and need my help. I was completely lost when when I arrived to Seattle two years ago. I couldn't stand on my own legs without receiving a lot of help. Other than that, you are a brilliant person you just have to find your place to shine. You will be quite successful when you do... don't forget me."   He smiles at her and say "I might even do more than buying you some clothes. You need a new place to crush - you shouldn't hang here so close to your uncle's boat.  I'll find you a safe place to stay until you sort your things."

[Mercy Merchant]

@ Marco  Ginny looks the handsome Keeb up and down then seems to come to a decision.  "Alright.  Sold.  Not like I have many options here right now, anyway.  You have to understand that I will pay you back, but it might take a while as I have no job and it seems that my skills are not in great demand."  She glances over at the boat.  "No.  I don't expect that I should.  That fragging cousin of mine might just rat on me and have the KE knee-breakers on me.  Thank you for the offer."

[gilga]

Marco tells Ginny, "Alright, wait for me here and I'll be back in a sec. " Marco gets down and pick up two samples of Phoenix wondrous drug and stashes them in his Jacket.  He touch base with Arc and Ambrose as he softly tells them "Phoenix we have a lot to catch up, I missed quite a few messages please fill me in.

Arc, this Blake guy seems like a good person. He seems to know quite a bit. I think he came from the same place as our mystery man... I'll now go to get Ginny comfortably settled, so that Phoniex get his privacy back... I can see how having a young woman with only one set of clothes can be a bit distracting" He winks at Phoenix.

He gets off the Yacht and offers Ginny his hand just as his taxi picked them up. “I’ll get you wonderful clothes... better than the ones you lost.”
During the ride Marco asks her "So you said you wen't to university? how was it? what did you study... tell me all about it." He  is genuinely very interested.

[Mercy Merchant]

@ Marco   After you leave the boat Ginny will walk at your side but makes sure that you are between her and the other boat as you go by.  There is a strip of yellow tape stretching across the transom of the Piglet, which would be an apt name as from what you can see the boat was a dump before the KE came and it is even worse now.  You see ripped up cushions scattered about and gear mixed with trash is piled everywhere.  Ginny sneaks a look past you and says, "Hmmm.  Not much different from normal.  Frag."  She ducks back to your side as you see a man in the distinctive uniform of the KE come up from below decks.  He comes to the deck railing and looks over, waving to you as you pass by. 

The two of you walk to the end of the walkway and to your taxi.  You can assist Ginny in and climb in after her before giving directions to the driver.  Once on the way, she looks to you.  "School?  Well, I guess it is fair to say that university is the only place I really felt alive.  I took a double major in chemistry and biology and a minor in computers.  I guess I am a true science geek.  Anyway, my life there was books and labs, so not too much to tell.  No social life and no boyfriends.  No real friends at all.  I had a couple of cutie lab partners, but they were more into using the classes to get laid than in learning the magic of science.  And they were not into me in the first place."  She shrugs.  "I know I am just a plain Jane so it does not bother me."  At this she turns to the window and looks out at the city as it passes by.

[Ravensoracle]

<<<@Arc      Give me the location of the garage and I'll be happy to meet with you.

[gilga]

Marco tells Ginny "No you are no plain, you just market yourself like that... I will show you what you can be."
When Marco takes Ginny shopping, she discovers that Marco is quite a talented shopper even for women clothing. After all, Marco has some experience buying this kind of clothing but he does not explain how or why. He knows that most people will think that he is some sort of freak because he sometimes likes to hang around in female shape, but for Marco after experiencing with bird shape, dog shape and even dolphin shape - being a woman is not such a radical transformation. He takes Ginny to many shops and the result is nothing less than a complete makeover. Marco buys Ginny clothes from the latest fashion, these are a little more lively, a little more sexy than the a-sexual stuff Ginny would normally wear.

They buy everything from casual dresses to sexy langerie. Marco makes sure that Ginny can be properly dressed for any social situation he can imagine her getting into int he next couple of weeks. Ginny quickly discovers that Marco is quite knowledgeable about fashion and that his bargaining skills makes the entire experience easier to finance.   Marco seem to have endless patience for her, and constantly encourages her to dress in a more fashionable manner. Marco makes an effort to boost Ginny’s self image. To make her feel attractive rather than plain. He encourages her to dress in a bit more sexual manner so that she'll enjoy some male attention.
It does seem to work, when Marco dresses Ginny she is not so plain anymore. She is a handsome young lady.  The way Marco sees the world -  everyone can feel attractive with the right encouragement, positive feedback and emotional support. 

“I think I’ll take you to my home,  I have a spare room I am not using”. He say, as the two are finished shopping and are carrying a large amount of shopping bags. I had so much fun, we should totally do that again once we have more money

[Mercy Merchant]

@ Marco   In the beginning Ginny seems quite nervous about the entire experience.  She remains quiet and very self-conscious for the first hour then seems to open up a bit, actually.  She models the clothes to get your approval on the correct style and what looks good on her.  By the time you get to the lingerie store she is used to it and even models some of that for you, although it is easy to see that she is blushing at some of it.  She has a decent figure although her bust is a bit on the small side but her legs and butt are quite attractive.  She does not appear to have any excess body fat and is in very good condition for an academic.  At some point in the trip she asks to go into a sporting goods shop and selects some running gear and shoes, explaining, "Just about the only thing I do outside of study is run.  I found out that it lets my mind focus on the problems I have encountered.  I am afraid that I am getting way out of shape up here as there are so many places I am afraid to run in.  I found a park I can use, but all of my running clothes, like everything else, is still on that boat." 

As you predicted, she does begin to think more of herself and this helps her self esteem.  You can almost see the transformation happen before your eyes.  The face is still plain, except for the eyes and slightly upturned nose, but the overall presentation improves greatly, actually making her seem more attractive.  At some point you hear her stomach growling and she gives an embarrassed laugh.  "Sorry about that.  I guess I have not eaten in a bit."

While eating, she seems comfortable enough to sit next to instead of across from you.  She stays away from any alcohol, saying that it gives her a headache.  After letting you order for her, she asks, "So, I would not expect a man to be so knowledgeable on women's style and fashion.  I just have to ask what you do for a living?  You do not have to say, but I am sure it is interesting.

[gilga]

Marco is a bit nervous where Ginny mention the job issue, this is the part that many people find difficult to accept.  “Well you can say that my services are always in demand, in any known human society. I am offering a magical escort service. I entertain rich people.  I become whomever they desire. I can even be a woman, tough it is always a bit odd. I have the ability to change my shape to almost anything and a burning desire to discover new methods to see the world.” Marco seems completely relaxed but he is just a little tense right now, a lot of people would consider him some sort of freak. Then again, Ginny could just background check him, Marco is a very visible person. To break the awkward silence he tells Ginny "You'd like my neighborhood, you can run wherever you like the streets are safe."

[Mercy Merchant]

@ Marco   Ginny's hand freezes in the motion of bringing food to her mouth.  She carefully puts the fork down at her plate and stares at Marco.  There is complete silence for a minute as she compiles the information she has just been given.  Her scientific brain completes all the necessary connections, and she nods.  "So.  You fragging sling mojo?  Well, I.........I.......I guess........."  She goes quiet again, then squares her shoulders.  "OK.  At least you do not seem the baby-eating type and can walk in the sunlight.  You are actually quite nice.  Maybe the stereotype is not right.  Wait, did you say that you can change your shape?  How does that feel?  I mean, when you are a woman, are you really a woman with all........well, with all the right parts?  And as an escort, does that mean you make love to both men and women?"