[Bazaar to Diginet]Taking stock of the situation...

[Dr. Ashleigh Connors]

    Like a curtain, the fabric of space time is pushed aside, and Dr. Ashleigh Connors, now of Octagon, steps out.  Right behind him, steps a causal, yet impeccably dressed woman of average height.  Her complexion is mediterranean in nature, and her hair is dark.  The proportions are nice, lithe, and athletic, without being blatant.  She wears clear lens glasses that might make others seem mousy, but she knows how to wear them to her advantage instead.  In her hands is a larger, tablet sized version of Ashleigh's CODEC device.

   "You know Sibs, that whole mess of space-time folding makes an assload more sense these days.  Make a sticky note to reccomend a joint thanking, and simultaneous punch out of Tybalt Capulet to the Nexus.  I'm certain we'll get enough support from both sides of the argument to pass the measure.", Ashleigh comments looking back at the woman and the space time curtain.

  The woman scrawls something on her pad, and the raises an eyebrow.  "Yes, Dr. Connors.", is her simple reply.  There are hints of patronizing placation in her tone, but not enough to be considered insubordinate.  More like  a very long term professional relationship, between a cynical genius and his assistant.

  "Well then let's get down to buisness shall we?", Ashleigh says grinning.  He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a glove of thin stretch fabric.  Slipping it on he begins looking around, occasionaly making gestures at certain places.  Everytime he gestures, CODEC makes one of its customary beeps, and the woman begins scrawling notes on her pad.  "Sibyll, mark each on of these points for branding.  Some holoproject, some physical implementations.  Nothing bold, keep the taste factors."
   Ashleigh then turns his attention towards the areas where the bulletin boards stand.  Towards these, he raises an eyebrow.  "So archaic.  Paper and pencil notes.  Hmmm...we need upgrades.  Sibyll, transmit note to R& D: 'Need true genercized frame of reference BBS.  Physical implementation required.  Tech interface desired.  Matter to data transformation.  Psi interface if possible.  Add ink interface only as last optional goal.  Overall goal something to allow all FoR's to feel comfortable, and cut down in archaic hand cramping input methods, for those not interested in backwater methods.  Oooh...tell them to access the Comrade's interframe research notes, from the Uni-circuit project...provided he'll provide them.'  For now though Sibs, I need a networked holosuspension brought in here stat.  We need to put the word about the change out on the street.  No such thing as bad publicity."

   "Message transmitted.  R&D say it'll take awhile, but they'll get blue sky schematics back to you by the end of the next week.", Sibyll replies.  "Anything else?"

   "Yeah, McCullin wanted us to look into the shitstorm over at the Diginet.  And frankly, I could use a nice chai.  Let's go.  This is your first time out and interacting with the larger Multiverse.  Should be a cakewalk, but feel free to hide behind me if you think its necessary.", he adds with a slight jibing barb.

   Sibyll stops in her tracks and shoots Ashleigh a drop dead look, over the rim of her glasses.  It then mutates into a grin, as she strides confidently in front of Ashleigh, towards the Diginet.  Passing in front of him, she reaches up to let her hair down.  The dark tresses fall down to about her mid back.  Their is a strange quality to the wavy hair, as it has a shimmering flux, that makes it appear as there were faint energy currents travelling along each strand.  She shakes it out, and shoots Ashleigh a smiling look of "What are you waiting for?  Come hither.".  Ashleigh then, grinning, obediently falls into step.

   The pair enter the Diginet and look around.  Ashleigh turns to Sibyll and inquires.  "Listed employees?"

   Without looking at her pad, Sibyll replies.  "Main contact is Ms. Spencer J. Michigan, of House Delphi.  Known associate of Soviet Esper Yuri.  HR has cleared her."

   "That was more than enough.", Connors replies.  "Go order me a chai and a few biscotti, please Sib?  And get yourself something for once."

   "With pleasure, Doctor."  Sibyll then walks upto the counter and waits, as Ashleigh grabs a table for two.  Connors begins rearranging the condiments on the table, as if he was experimenting to see the various configurations possible, and see if there was one that was better than the others.

[J. Spencer Michigan]

Spencer pops out of the kitchen with a plate full of fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies. She smiles at Sibyll as she sets down the plate. There is a small tooth pick with a little sign that says, 'Free Cookie with Any Purchase'.

"Hi," The Delphi says warmly. "What can I get ya?"

[Dr. Ashleigh Connors]

"A large vanilla chai.  A plate of biscotti, almond and lemon flavors if they're handy, but most anything will do.  Something in a very large, very cold fruit juice.  Preferrably cranberry."    Sibyll then eyes the plate of cookies, "Oh are those Crafty Brand cookies, or your own recipe?", she inquires.

[J. Spencer Michigan]

"They're the Crafty recipe, but I baked 'em. I added more chocolate though. No nuts either." Spencer smiles, turns and starts making the chai. "Please, help yourself. Take one for yourself and Dr. Connors."

"I actually have some biscotti coming out of the oven, lemon, almond and chocolate, in about five minutes, if you guys don't mind waiting for them."

"Haven't seen you around, I'm Spencer."

[Dr. Ashleigh Connors]

   "Fresh is always best.  And please forgive me for not introducing myself.  I am Sibyll Alexandra, Dr. Connors's executive assitant.  It is my first time out of the office in...well, in forever.  Signor Capulet's meddling seems to have granted me an amount of physical existence outside the dimensional boundaries of Isla di Monte Cristo.  We thought we'd use the company's Bazaar redesign project, as an excuse to test out the limitations of my travel abilities.  So far, so good."

   Sibyll lifts a cookie off the plate, and takes a healthy bite of it.  Her face lights up with a broad and appreciative smile.  "They're excellent Spe...Ms. Michigan."  Sibyll stumbles over the name slightly, as if her delight almost made her break the buisness casual demeanor.  There is a more human side she's not letting out.

[J. Spencer Michigan]

The Delphi chuckles. "Please, call me Spencer. Formalities are for elders and royalty. And it's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard Connors talking to you on the phone frequently."

"Redesign project?" Her eyebrows arch slightly. "The Nexus doing a facelift on the Bazaar or something? I've heard rumblings about something happening with the Bazaar, but it's just been chatter mostly."

Her eyes drift out the front window and catches Hyran open a portal and steps through. She shrugs and turns her attention back to her customer.

[Dr. Ashleigh Connors]

   Sibyll looks back to her employer when Spencer questions.  He is engrossed with some data feed on CODEC, and without looking up he makes a twirling motion in the air, indicating permission to proceed.

   "Sort of.  Paladin Industries has negotiated with the various merchant associations of the Bazaar and Casino to assume responsibilties for improving, and managing the properties contained within.  Basically we've worked things out with the shop owners to be their representative at the various gatherings.  Negotiate on their behalf, make sales and purchase from the crafting avatar community, and attempt to found and expand a service and resource based economy.  Yes, big concepts, but when you want big concepts handled you go to the big buisness to handle it.
   First step though was looking to update some of the outmoded concepts in the Bazaar's design.  Like the bulletin boards.  It is incredibly useful, but it is slightly basic, and not very dynamic in the information it can offer.  Also it caters only to handwritten messages.  What if an avatar has not devices with which to write?  Or their reference frames do not even understand the concept of writing or reading.  So we have the gang in R&D working on a new design for the board.  Something a little more media presentation capable, and generically mode accessible."