A Sort of Homecoming

Posted on Sun Dec 8th, 2019 @ 7:01pm by Civilian Sapphire DeVaine & Alliance Oksanna Petrovich

Mission: Opening Shop
Location: Deck 4: Docking Ring
Timeline: 11:00am

Oksanna Petrovich snapped the cross brace into place on her fold up customs booth. Her uniform was neatly pressed and her field service cap lay just to the left of center on her tightly pulled back hair. The last bit of the booth set up, she fired up the cortex terminal to the customs interface to the Alliance Immigration Office on Osiris. Breathing in Oksanna prepared herself for another onslaught of arrivals. Her lips split into a broad well practiced smile. Her radiant blue eyes shown with a warmth that genuinely flowed up from inside her.

A mist of condensation billowed out as the hatch to berth 6 popped out. Moments later shadows of passengers and crew began to issue forth from the freighter. It was go time. Oksanna gave the new arrivals a bright smile, waving in greeting. "Huānyíng. Greenleaf Skyplex welcomes you. Please have IDent cards and transit papers ready for inspection." her chearful voice resonated from the speakers in the booth. The men and women began to queue up in front of the booth as Oksanna directed them with wide open arm movements. "That's right, I'll get you on your way as quickly as possible. There is lots to enjoy and explore here at Greenleaf Skyplex, and I want you to have as much time to experience as possible. So please be patient and I will get to everyone. Thank you!"

Oksanna called the first in line up to the booth and began the process of processing the new arrivals.

Maybe this was why other performers had managers, or hired people to handle certain things for them. Like travel plans. Getting onto the ‘Plex was ridiculous. Was it always like this? Had it been like this before? Sapphire had never paid much attention to the comings and goings when she had been running all over the station eager to find her way off. Which she had, and yet here she was coming back.

How utterly glorious.

And drawing attention. Not that she minded. The tiny rugrat peeked out from behind his mother’s legs, small green eyes rounding in shock and awe as they settled onto her hair. The color was her signature look, the streaks of colors creating a rainbow effect. But it was the tiny tot’s older sibling that seemed to be impressed, as his gaze wandered over her appearance. Sapphire looked like she was ready to step out on stage, much like she always did. What you saw was what you got.

Rainbow hair piled haphazardly atop her head to tumbled down in it’s wayward way, and dark, ebony eyes were highlighted with khol and makeup. And her outfit? Clearly she was ready to perform at a moments notice with the hot pink and leopard print strapless minidress and thigh high boots to match. She did love to make an entrance.

Sapphire gave the teenage boy a gently finger wiggling wave, accentuated with a flirty wink. The lovely boy flushed a deep crimson before quickly turning away. She herself stifled a laugh before shifting out to see what was holding up the line. She, after all, had places to be.

Oksanna noticed some sort of exchange going on in her line. She saw the young man quickly turn around and slide away from.... a dayglo strumpet of some type. Great, more companions in training for the Deck 5. Poor girls.

Oksanna went back to the Jaiyjin man who's IDent card started flashing on her monitor. "Sir, may I inquire as to the nature of your visit to the Skyplex." The rather gruff looking man scowled for a moment before responding. "We're pickin' up supplies. Me an my ship." Several men directly behind him in line grunted an affirmative. Oksanna looked at the man squarely as her fingers feathered across the monitor. "Duration of your visit?" she asked. "Long enough to get our supplies." he responded. She queued the trace to his IDent Card. The signal fired off to immigration control in the Core. a response would follow in a minute or so. "What kind of supplies are you looking for?" Oksanna asked helpfully, stalling for time, "There are a variety of shops on level 2 that can get you almost anything you would ever need. Visitors frequently get lost with all the shops, I can give you directions. " The bearded man shook his head, drawing a little closer to the young woman running the booth. "I'm sure we can find what we are after Missy. If you just clear us and let us pass. Oksanna gave a slight smirk as she too pulled herself closer to the man. "I would love to do that sir, but it seems your IDent card has been flagged by the alliance. If you and your crew would be so kind as to follow our security officers, they are going to have some follow up questions for you." Two clearly armed guards drew in closer. The bearded man gave an anoyed look at the two. "Right that way sir." Oksanna said with a smile, indicating to the officers the group that she was moving into secondary. Taking a breath, Oksanna greeted the next in Line. "Welcome to Greenleaf Skyplex if I could see your IDent Cards please."

Time passed and the line grew steadily smaller. She cleared the mother with her two children. "Enjoy your stay!" she said. Taking a breath, she looked up at the brightly colored hair of Sapphire. Something was odd. She seemed familiar. She gave a broad smile and looked the woman over. "Welcome to Greenleaf Skyplex. Could I see your IDent.... Ha Yoon?! Good gracious its been years! Welcome home!" she said in a way that would make you think she was going to hop across the customs desk and give you a hug.

Coming back to the Skyplex had never been on Sapphire’s agenda. Not even for a job. But circumstances that she didn’t want to dredge up, meant that such was exactly what she was doing. The only saving grace was that she was coming back as she wanted to, not as the young girl that had left. Her life was her own now, and there was no one that was going to take that from her.

Expect this line was moving terribly slow. Slow enough to start to grate on her nerves. Sapphire wasn’t normally a patient person. And when it came to instant gratification it was even worse.

Her Ident card was ready long before the worker asked for it, her ebony gaze not landing on the other woman until she heard a name Sapphire hadn’t heard in years. Inwardly she cringed, a practiced smile settling on to her mouth as she took the customs worker in. She knew this person. Olive? No… That wasn’t her name. “Oksanna!” Sapphire snapped her finger as the name popped into her mind. She gestured down to the Ident card, “It’s Sapphire, now.”

Oksanna took the offered IDent Card and slid it into her reader. Ha Yoon's data filled the screen. Sure enough, she was now legally Sapphire Devaine. Her immigration history read like a book, scrolling for several screens. "Sapphire, It looks like you have been a round the Verse twice, if not more. What are you up to these days?" Oksanna asked curious to know her friends story these last number of years, as well as filling in the immigration data requested. "Do your Parent's know you are back?! I can drop them a note to let them know you landed safely."

Oksanna had always been sweet enough, time had not seemed to have changed that tiny fact. Sapphire had always thought the Russian was sometimes a bit too sweet, but then...considering who her family was that just might as well be a good thing. Twirling a strand of her rainbow hair around a finger, dark eyes peered down as they regarded the other woman. “It’s been a blast, traveling.” She paused briefly for a gentle effect, “Coming back to work, haven’t you heard?” Surely it had been broadcast or something? How else was she supposed to perform to a decent audience?

“No, no need. They’ll find out eventually.”

Oksanna handed Sapphire her IDent card back with a smile. "I didn't hear anything, although I certainly wouldn't have been looking for a Sapphire DeVaine. Are you working a show? I'd love to hear you sing. You used to be so good. We should meet up for Drinks later. Scarlett will be so tickled that you are back. Let me know if you need anything as you are getting settled back in." she said in a flurry of warm welcoming words.

“Hmmmm.” The low sound rumbled from Sapphire as she both accepted her Ident card pack and quickly rolled Oksanna’s words around in her head. Truth of things was with the sultry singer was that she was smart. The whole appearance thing was that, appearance. She’d spent most of her life with her overbearing parents, never letting her be herself, that she was thoroughly embracing being Sapphire.

She was rather disappointed in hearing that there just might be the possibility of no advertisement for her new show at the Golden Palace Casino. Tucking her Ident card away, Sapphire flashed a quick, friendly smile, “Yes, that is a most grand idea!” Drink would be highly amusing. “Where do I find Scarlett?” She might not want to visit her parents, but her friend was another story.

"Its a date!" Oksanna chimed back. "Scarlett is all over the place these days, but you can check in with Moira at her office and she can likely get you in touch with her. Its so great to have you back Ya....Sapphire. Let me know where your show is at I would love to see it."

"Aren't you the sweetest! Can you be a dear and let them know to deliver my bags to the Golden Palace? That's where I'm staying and performing. Let me know when you plan to come by, love, I'll get you in for free!"

With that she flashed a quick wink, wiggled her fingers and proceeded into the Skyplex.