Nova squinted at the lock in consternation while Riad and Fog blinked at him attentively. Trying to get into a storeroom to play a prank had seemed like a good idea - until Nova had been confronted by the fact that lockpicking was not at all like they showed in the holovids.

And, of course, someone had to stumble across him while he was embarrassing himself.

"What are you doing?"

Nova jumped, then glanced up to see a blue belemoid tilting their head at him.

"Er-"

"Playing a PRANK!" Fog announced in delight, looking very proud.

The blue belemoid blinked.

"Some prank," a voice from the roof above said, "considering you can't even pick a lock."

Nova jumped again, and even the blue belemoid looked startled, craning their neck to look at the small, mildly rumpled looking brown belemoid peering over the edge of the roof above.

"...how long have you been there?" Nova asked, while Fog wiggled around to meet the new person and Riad peered upwards with a frown.

"...Lockpicking?" Muttered the blue belemoid, sounding confused but also intrigued.

"Long enough to see you have no idea what you're doing," the brown belemoid snorted, slithering down off the roof to land with a… jingle?

A small, shiny stone rolled out of her pouch, and Fog tried to snatch it - only to be warded off by the newcomer's claws as she snatched it back. "Not yours," she scolded Fog, who gave her their best puppydog eyes. "Still not yours."

Nova cleared his throat. "....and you have an idea of what to do?"

The brown belemoid regarded him with a sharp, shiny eye. "What's it worth to you?"

Meanwhile, the blue belemoid bent her head to ask Riad, dubiously, "What sort of prank?"

"Oh, swapping someone's supplies for some glitter," Riad held up a container of it. "Harmless and fun. Want to join in?"

The blue belemoid grinned widely. "Do I?"

"Then you should probably help Nova convince them to show us how to get in… otherwise no prank. I'm Riad by the way."

"Whisp," Whisp nodded, then joined in the negotiations with Nova and the brown belemoid. Nova was attempting to haggle credits, which the brown belemoid seemed to find lacking, and Whisp noted her pouch full of shiny odds and ends…

"How about this?" Whisp offered, pulling out a few baubles she'd gotten and had forgotten about until now. They glittered and glinted in the light, sparkling alluringly.

The brown belemoid's eyes lit up with greed. "Hmm… I am helping you break in, though…."

Riad and Fog riffled around in their bags, and pulled out some more glass beads and shiny odds and ends while Nova looked on in relief.

The brown belemoid grinned, snagging the offerings from the youngsters. "That's more like it. Call me Hamster. Now, your technique was all wrong…" she began to explain as she snatched the baubles from Whisp and pulled out some lockpicks.

Before bending down to watch intently, Nova glanced around at the alley to make sure nobody else would sneak up on them. The city of Naveh was an odd one to his mountain-born sensibilities, occupying a crater in the shifting desert sands. The buildings around had flat tops, rather than the peaked roofs he was used to, given they didn't get any snow that could threaten the structures. Still, he had to wonder about the sand… But, the strange 'teeth' that surrounded the walls were perhaps a comfort. Similar to the strange glowing bones of Rekes, it was a touchstone that made Nova feel… not quite 'at home,' but at least familiar.

He turned his attention back to the belemoid - Hamster - along with Whisp, content that nobody was sneaking up on them. The two watched intently as Hamster illustrated how to use the lockpicks to feel the tumblers within the lock, nudge them just so…

And with a click, the door creaked inwards.

Fog let out what could only be described as a demented laugh and squiggled inside, long body easily fitting through the gap in the not-yet open door. Riad scrambled after, smaller body wiggling in, and then Nova pushed the door open to admit himself and Whisp.

"Thank you," he started, looking around, but Hamster was already gone.

"Well," Wisp said, blinking around for the absent belemoid, "that was interesting."