Provence is still a developing system at the edge of the Kingdom. The lack of lanes emphasizes distances between the few stellar objects filling the vastness of space around the central star. Systems such as this tend to be the boundary of lawful control and unlawful influence, the inability of the short hand of the Gallic Royal Police to reach out and extend it's grip everywhere makes this the perfect place for platforms where the sides of law can meet in relative, albeit locally enforced peace. And Monte Carlo Station happens to be one of these hubs.
Monte Carlo is a great example of a "wretched hive of scum and villainy", while the GRP tries to maintain, if not even full control, then at least moderate influence in certain sections, a gradient of lawlessness can still be experienced throughout the entirety of the station: there are areas of fully legal business and public life where lawful order is easily maintained; there are the dark corners of the station where police is usually welcomed with blaster fire and from where very few of law enforcement officers return alive; and then there is the neutral ground, bars, casinos, restaurants, pubs, privately owned businesses which either bought or earned their autonomy from both the authorities and outlaws, and which display the most colorful, and yet the most calm crowd. La Gemme d'Istres is one of these places.
La Gemme d'Istres Restaurant and Pub is more like a pub than a restaurant, although tables, chairs and other furniture are more set up for moderate or larger groups of dining people, the broad array of available drinks and not so broad array of common food still makes the place lean more toward being a pub. Code of conduct is relatively stricter, resulting in less frequent and severe bar fights than in other pubs of the station. The pleasant sight of Istres only adds to the peacefulness of the place.
La Gemme d'Istres Restaurant and Pub
Monte Carlo Station, Provence
11:30 SMT
23 Septembre, 824 AS / 740 AGS
Light crowd of people willing to have a cheap lunch filled La Gemme, about half or third of the mass usually frequenting the place at the evenings. Everything necessary was prepared for the meeting. The bartender was instructed as well, nice guy in his middle ages, tends to do small favors for a few extra credits, like directing people towards tables when they arrive. There wasn't much to do at this point, but to wait for the woman to arrive.