Elite roleplay: The galactic bar

INGABA (Inara Galactic Bar)

Welcome to the swankiest bar and most popular bar on station. Located in the Pilot's market and due to its close proximity to the docks is heavily frequented by pilots and all manner of crew, tourists, and layover passengers. Dark, smokey and trimmed in neon lights and bits of tinsel, InGaBa plays only the best music straight from Radio Sidewinder and local DJ star, Janten Groove.

There are various tabled and seated cubby holes that patrons can hold private conversations as well the main bar top where all assortments of drinks and bar food can be ordered up. On the back of the bar on various shelves, from all over the galaxy, the fines and rarest ales preside. next to the impressive collection are several screens that can usually be seen playing adverts or the CQC championships.

It is the most prominent choice for meeting up with other pilots to discuss business discreetly, whatever they may be...

Notice booking the InGaBa for private functions require a deposit of 250,000 CR to cover potential damages.

InGaBa drinks menu:
  • Cubeo Gold - Mid Whiskey
  • Achenar Blue - Upscale Whiskey
  • Kamadhenu Red - Red wine
  • Old Sol - Scotch
  • Barnard's Choice - Gin
  • Crown Jewel - Cocktail
  • Pegasi moon - Pirate Surprise!
  • Supernova - Cocktail
  • Barron's Head - Beer
  • Lavian Brandy
  • Alioth Sparkling - Sparkling Wine
  • Jaques' Quinentian Still - Gifted by a mysterious benefactor, two of these rare devices now distill single shots of whiskey from whatever is on hand for the patrons of Ingaba.


General Roleplay Etiquette:

1. Control only the actions of your own character(s). (AKA: God Mode)
This doesn't matter how small the action is, even if it is as simple as scratching their nose or a direct reaction to something else that just happened. This applies to everything from casual conversation to full blown fight scenes. If you'd like someone to do something specific, PM that person, however keep in mind they are completely within their rights to say no. Especially if said action is inappropriate to their character and/or circumstance.

2. Don't brute force your way into another persons RP.
Approaching with a conversation starter is fine, or indeed some other small action. However charging in, guns blazing and disrupting the flow of another person/pair/groups conversation/arc is about as rude as doing so in real life. If something is going on that you'd like to participate in, be subtle about it. Put out a gentle hook for someone to take, but again, be aware that said hook may not be taken. If you fear it was simply unnoticed, PM the person or people it concerns. Or even leave a message in the OOC forums.

3. Good grammar and spelling is preferred.
We're not asking you to be perfect, but please at least demonstrate willingness. no1 iz gna tak u srsly usng txt spk. There's a wide variety of people here, many who speak English as a second, or even third language. There are even some with varying degrees of dyslexia and/or likely other issues that affect spelling/grammar. We accept them all here. However, people who aren't accepted, are those unwilling to accept polite correction. Remember that even a small thing like the placement of a comma, or the wrong use of there/their/they're can completely change the definition of an entire sentence.

4. Accept constructive criticism gracefully and politely.
If someone spots an issue with your writings, they may wish to help you improve that writing. They may do this through PM or even publicly air their thoughts on the OOC forum. If they have taken the time to be polite and explain what is wrong with your writing, the best way to behave is to respond in kind, using the same manner they have approached you with. It means they have taken an active interest in what you have written and wish to see more. Basically, you have a fan!

5. Don't take the actions or opinions of things done IN RP, to be directly relevant to the writers thoughts or opinions.
Basically, if some ones character calls your character a jackass, it doesn't mean the writer thinks you are a jackass. It's a ROLE they are PLAYING. Watch a movie. The argument between the characters isn't an argument between the actors involved. The same applies here.

6. It's not a popularity contest.
Your RP might be bustling with participants. You have 3 people off station in a fire fight, while another 2 are infiltrating the darkest areas of the station, meanwhile a group of 4 others are tracking your movements in an effort to stop you. Good for you, I'm sure it will be a thrilling read! But you know what? Sometimes the absolute BEST work, comes from two RP characters having a simple heart to heart. Both are valid, both are great, but NEITHER is categorically better than the other. Period.


Inara RP Etiquette:

1. Respect the setting and rules of the universe.
Inara is an Elite: Dangerous 3rd Party Tool. The RP Forums are set in the Elite: Dangerous universe. Elite: Dangerous has rules, as any fictional universe does from Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, or Game of Thrones to Star Trek. If you intend to RP within the Elite: Dangerous universe you are bound by the history and rules of that universe. Simply put, this RP forum is bound by the same rules as the game, so if it can't be done in the game, it is not permitted here. This applies to things from a 50Ly Jump Range on a normal, unmodified Sidewinder, to the destruction of entire stations.

2. Respect the characters created by others.
We have a wide variety of characters already here. It's expected that some will be similar, just as it's expected that two characters will be vastly different. Opinions of each persons character will naturally be varied, but all are valid provided they follow the rules of the universe. You are allowed to interact with, or avoid interaction with, any character in the RP forums. But you have no right to belittle others for their creation. You are not an authority figure on writing, nor are you directly affected by another persons imagination. You might not like it, but you MUST respect it.

3. Be caught up on current events before joining in.
You need basic things like character descriptions in order to interact with them. You also need to know what's going on in the surrounding areas. This is simply because the people you are hoping to RP with, might be gearing up to something that you might not want to be part of. Or simply that the most recent post, out of context, could leave a different impression on the goings on than if you gather that context. We don't expect you to read every single post from the beginning of the forums, just enough to get that basic understanding.

4. Either subscribe to, or frequently check, the Roleplay: Q&A and OOC forum.
People may be discussing something relevant to you there, or even discussing you directly. Perhaps someone asked what the general consensus on the existence or non-existence of a certain object. Or we're just chatting about random gibberish. Either way, be aware of it and use it. If you're unsure about something, such as how guns would look and or behave, or even the music selection, use the OOC forum to ask. We don't have all of the answers, but the collective knowledge and logic usually allows us to overcome an issue and come to a decision on what should be allowed. Frontier Developments, and even David Braben himself, don't have the answers to every possible question that can be asked.

5. Large Scale events exploding out of nowhere are a complete no go.
We get it. Everyone wants their character to be noticed and for people to be tripping over themselves to interact with them. In some audiences, an introduction involving you blasting in for landing in a fiery wreckage of a ship, before cart wheeling out and sword fighting 35 Ninjas before whisking off with the local celebrity for a glorious night of passion, is in fact, cool. This is not one of those audiences. It is generally considered better to build your character up slowly over time. Eventually, you might even have a legitimate excuse to fight those Ninjas. Maybe even with other RP participants by your side.

6. Perfect characters are boring.
The point of a character arc, is that it is in fact, an arc shape. One who is morally unquestionable, fully kitted out and an infinite fountain of knowledge, cannot go through an arc. Give your character flaws. Be it a tendency towards befriending the wrong people, or a bad knee that frequently gives out at inopportune moments. It gives readers something to latch onto and empathise with. You can give your character exceptional capabilities at something, but it requires balance. She's a damn good pilot with no equal, but can't drive an SRV for peanuts. It can lead to some very interesting moments between characters, be it heartfelt or comedic.


Other Notes:
It should be noted that there can be exceptions to these points. For example, good grammar when a character is speaking is actually rare. Few people in real life actually speak with perfect eloquence after all. Or previously arranged actions during a fight scene, such as someone stumbling back after a punch. What's key to remember is context.

All in all, remember this is purely for fun. We have some seriously talented writers here, and others whose writing history starts and ends at high school. But many are willing to help out in whatever way they can. All it takes is that you ask nicely.

Also keep in mind that many people who RP here, also have logbook stories related to the character, or characters, they portray. If it looks like there's an "in joke" going on that you're unsure of, it's probably in those.

In fact, some users have even gone to the trouble of creating "alts" to RP with. If you read back far enough, it's usually pretty clear who has and hasn't, and which ones are the "alts". It's therefore not unheard of to see the apparent seizing of control of other characters. If you do spot one, point it out in the OOC section. If intervention is needed, it will be sorted quickly and (hopefully) politely.

Most, if not all RP participants here have Logbook stories pertaining to their character(s). These are for the reading pleasure of anyone who wishes to do so. While it can be useful to read them in order to gain a bit of backstory on a character you wish to interact with, it should not be assumed that your character shares that knowledge. Within the E:D Universe, these Logbooks either don't exist, or are private diaries kept by the characters. Either way, without explicit statements to say otherwise from the writer, your interactions should reflect that your character is in the dark about any information you, the writer/reader, have gained from reading the stories.
17 Jul 2023, 8:29pm
Vasil VasilescuOne of the contacts in flight control says that the ship's flight plan has it leaving for Ross 112, taking on passengers at the Allied Solace rescue ship, and then going to Cemiess. For a passenger ship hauling around slaves and refugees, it sports some fairly heavy beam and plasma weaponry, but maybe that is just a typical Imperial flashing around more money than they know what to do with.

"Passengers? Fuck no! I've had enough Imp kidnapping for a lifetime. Ok, forget that. Get on with the recruitment drive and bring me my coat. Out"

With the com on stand by, Vodan pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Damn it, I miss the days when every fucker was mining LTDs and Opals" he said to himself feeling a little too old for the pirate life.
17 Jul 2023, 10:42pm
Entering the bar after a decent meal I notice Vodan still sitting around.

'Those pricks scanning every single ship in an 8km radius around this station yours?'

'Say how exactly did you get Creamy's clothes? You kill the kid?'

Thinking for a moment about what I had heard and the last conversation we had I pull out my data pad and look up a trading caravan I had been tracking for a few weeks.

'Here send your men after this group. Nice fat load of Type 9, 4 of em stuffed to the gills with voids and LTD. 2 security ships a couple of pythons but nothing fancy. They should be dropping into Inara today.'

I walk past Vodan grab a bottle of wine and a glass from the bar and pick a spot near the door. I pull out a pack of mint chocolate cigarettes and light one. enjoying the sweet flavor and pour a glass of wine. I take a sip and lean my head back against the wall.
20 Jul 2023, 7:59pm
Scrolling through my data pad looking at some random combat footage a message pops up on my screen.




Mrs Marquez, or should we say Mrs Duval we would like to hire someone of your expertise to assist in this manor. Please note that this is a discreet matter and as such if you are caught we will deny any and all involvement. Happy hunting.

'Hmmm? What's this? I must be going crazy half a bil for a target. Alive. Thargoid modifications? What the fuck? Also how the hell do they know my true identity?'

I think to myself quietly. I save the wanted poster and continue scrolling. If I were to try anything I would need to be undeniably certain it was her.

I look around the bar not noticing anyone matching the description nor anyone acting shady. I pay my taband depart the bar for my ship.


Last edit: 20 Jul 2023, 8:32pm
28 Jul 2023, 10:15pm
Driven awake from feeling restless, but no longer in a state of despairing sorrow, I'd decided to head over to the Gateway, and see if anything was going on in its bar to keep me distracted, or just be in a place that I didn't associate to what was going on in my life right now, too much.

Much to my dismay, there was little going on, but truthfully, I didn't particularly care or bother to look for anyone that I knew, or simply recognized. I really just wanted to go into a corner and sulk off how I was feeling, as a shadowy figure in the background, not recognized by any of the bar goers.

"Hey! I recognize you.", one of the bartenders called out, pulling me out of my brooding. "Kasumi, isn't it? Where's Silvia? You two've been going along a bit lately, and the boss is getting concerned about her absence. As were we."

I raised my gaze from the floor momentarily, and simply provided an annoyed, and more importantly, telling, look in return from under my hood, not willing to address the subject of her abduction directly. Then I lowered it again, keeping my eyes mostly on the floor, just enough to avoid bumping into anyone, while still avoiding eye contact, until I reached the dark corner at the edge of the room, and simply sat there, keeping an eye out for any of Diaz's goons potentially lurking.

I was more concerned about them catching me off-guard here than on my ship, given that I'd chosen to move around in my Federal Corvette, which would certainly outlast almost any attacker until they were either defeated, or I jumped out of the system to evade them. Currently, however, no one seemed to be paying any attention to me, bar another strange, yet familiar-looking hooded figure.
29 Jul 2023, 12:41am
“Mr. Vasilescu,” exclaimed one of the bartenders, placing a cocktail napkin in front of Vasil sat at the bar. “Bourbon, straight?”

“Of course," said Vasil drumming the bar with his hands. “Make it a double.”

The bartender grabbed a bottle of the best bourbon at the bar and started pouring the drink. “Oh? Celebrating that fancy flight suit you have on?”

Vasil looked down at the custom fit black flight suit trimmed in just enough gold to be tastefully stylish but not gaudy or ostentatious. “This old thing,” asked Vasil, a playfulness in his voice. “No, I just grabbed it from the wardrobe of never-worn spares. You can't be seen wearing a suit more than once, you know.”

The bartender chuckled and set the bourbon in front of Vasil. “Appearances must be kept up, is that it?”

“Exactly.” Vasil took a swallow of the bourbon. “In truth, I have a bit of business here and it’s best to not look like an unshaven Type 9 space jockey.”

“So, did you fly in on the Long Road or the Onoarea this time?”

“Neither. This is important business for my sister so I’m here with the Alpina.”

The bartender looked quizzically at Vasil. “I don't remember you mentioning that ship before.”

“Imperial Cutter,” said Vasil. “Part of the ERS fleet. Still has that new ship smell.”

“Oh, both fancy and shmancy.” The bartender glanced at some more patrons sitting at the bar, then back to Vasil. “I need to go take care of them, but If you need anything, Mr Vasilescu, just give me a shout.” 
29 Jul 2023, 1:21am
*cautiously observes the new arrival with a certain curiosity to determine if he's worth the interest, while staying put*
29 Jul 2023, 2:02am
After taking care of other customers, the bartender returns to Vasil. “Fancy flight suit. All of those ERS messages on the vids about taking people to Emerald… I’m guessing that cutter is not loaded out for hauling.”

“Eh, it is outfitted to handle  250 tons. Mostly, though, it is intended for moving and impressing people.” Vasil slid the empty glass across the bar and with a nod to it, indicated he’d like another bourbon. “Though, not necessarily in that order.”

“Oh… impressing all those highbrow Imperials?”

“My sister, Octavia, prides herself in making good impressions, and I have to admit she is one of the best at doing so. I ensure the ERS has enough money to both make those impressions and meet its obligations to those we serve.” Vasil accepted the drink from the bartender and took a swallow. “It is all very, very Imperial. Speaking of my sister…” he motioned to one of the vids.  "There she is."
29 Jul 2023, 2:39am
‘Why do I have to listen to some Imperials disguising their search for political merit behind a charitable cause? And why is this playing on a station as far from Imperial territory as it gets?’

That thought coincided more or less with the older-looking man motioning to a video about that subject, playing on one of the screens in the bar. I attempted to blur out the audio, about as interested in listening to it as I was the hive’s voices in my head.

Ironically, they were what allowed me to ignore it for the roughly two minutes that it ran, and also determine that the Thargoids were up to no good again, with something brewing that they were preparing to release in the very near future - not that I could disclose such openly without coming off as suspicious.

Instead, I simply remained the silent observer in the bar, at the very least until someone decided to approach for a chat, or simply asking what I was doing. Anything’d be more welcome than the thoughts about Silvia in my head.
29 Jul 2023, 3:10am
“I’ve seen a few others like that,” said the bartender. “Mostly recruiting pilots for transport contracts.”

“Contracted pilots are a large part of the operation. We’ve contracted with all sorts of pilots and companies to bring citizens to Emerald. Those pilots can then bring material or manpower to help repair damaged stations. That way their cargo holds aren’t empty. After all, empty holds don’t make money.”

The bartender washed a few glasses in the sink. “I understand the one looking for pilots, but not that message since this is not imperial space.”

Vasil motioned around the bar. “Federation and Alliance citizens are not only in Fed and Alliance space. The same is true for Imperials. If Imperial citizens need to be evacuated, our pilots will be there to bring them safely to Emerald.”
29 Jul 2023, 3:45am
I contemplated walking over and dropping a subtle hint that the evac pilots might have their hands full soon enough - more than they already would have, at least - then go back to my spot, but decided against it, and remained content to listen in.

Saying that kind of thing openly would attract too much attention, even for something as simple as that, and I definitely wanted to avoid it. Especially now, where it would effectively seal Silvia’s fate if Azimuth caught me, and I wanted my real identity to stay hidden for as long as I could keep it.

Part of me was also growing somewhat attached to the alter ego, and alias, of Kasumi, irrespective of the need for it, as it allowed me to express myself a little more freely, without as much negative attention attached. I wasn’t yet sure whether I planned to drop it when it was all over, but the thought of keeping it certainly didn’t bother me much.
29 Jul 2023, 4:58am
The bartender finished washing the glasses and went to check on other patrons, topping off drinks and taking food orders. One of the other people sitting at the bar, a young, dark-haired man in a white and green maverick suit eyed Vasil.

“What about folks that aint Imps,” the young man asked Vasil. “You just leave them behind?”

Vasil turned to the man and answered plainly. “The short answer is yes.”

The dark-haired man seemed stunned, not expecting such an admission. Before he could say anything, Vasil continued. “Most people only care about short answers. It is like they look at a tree, see what is above the ground, and never consider what lies below is far more extensive.”

“Hmph, fancy talk,” the man snorted. “it don’t hide the fact you leave folks who aint imps. Typical imp assholery if you ask me.”

“Yes, we are assholes for looking out for our own. That’s the leaves of the tree, what people see.” Vasil shrugged and took a swallow of bourbon. “I wont bore you with the details of the roots and all of the other parts of the tree that are unseen, but I will say that our transports never have empty berths. Yes, we give Imperial Citizens preference, but we do not deny anyone an empty seat. However, the ERS only pays for citizens and only citizens are invited to Emerald.”

The young man snorted again. “Sure, bud, whatever you say.”

Vasil drained his bourbon and set it on the bar. “Believe what you want, friend. The fact is we pay premium for verified Imperial citizens. There are just as many pilots who look past political affiliations in pursuit of credits as there are those who help for altruistic reasons. Either way, we are helping Imperial citizens and that is what counts.”
29 Jul 2023, 3:07pm
A sudden pang of hunger invaded my mind, and stomach, reminding me of my poor physical state, and how I had barely eaten for a few days, now. I’d have to rectify that for when I wanted to go after Silvia.

So I moved over to the vending machine, not bothered to wait for anything to be prepared in-person, or talk to anyone to order it, and took my favorite thing out of it - what I assumed was supposed to be fish sticks with rice.

Initially considering to just sit at the bar, I ended up settling on a free table further into the room instead, not wanting the bother of a bartender thinking I wanted something along, or for the two individuals there to think I wanted to join in on the talks. That was the last thing I currently wanted.

I began to poke around in the food, still not feeling too motivated about it. Or anything, for that matter.
29 Jul 2023, 6:08pm
'Find my damned Challenger and get it back on this station!'

.......

'I don't give a rats ass! Ranger was not supposed to leave Citi Gateway under any circumstances!'

......

'I swear to all things living, if you don't find that ship and get it back on station IMMEDIATELY I will personally remove you from the federation transportation roster..... PERMANENTLY!'

I end the call and make my way back to the bar after having just found my thargoid killer missing from its hangar. I notice Vasil sitting at the bar with a bourbon glass in front of him and a strange hooded female in the back corner eating what I would describe as baby vomit in comparison to true cuisine.

I take my seat near the doorway and pull out a platinum zippo lighter with a Duval family crest engraved on it and a decent teardrop cut Tanzanite jewel on the opposite face. From one of the pouches on my waist I pull out a pack of mint chocolate cigarettes and place them on the table. I head behind the bar and grab a very expensive bottle of red wine and a wine glass. I return to the table, pour a glass of wine, take out one of the cigarettes and light it.

I lean back against the wall and exhale the smoke, watching it get pulled out the doorway.
29 Jul 2023, 7:22pm
I turned my fork in the food, half-eaten, in lustless manner, really not feeling like eating any further. I stood up and left it there after a few more minutes, not even bothered to clean up behind myself due to the mood I was in, and returned to the dark corner I'd been in previously. I barely noticed the other woman that had come over into the bar, hardly caring for her presence either, particularly since she also appeared to be in something of a mood.

My gaze remained lowered to the ground, still feeling downbeat by the situation, tired and exhausted. Much to my annoyance, what little sleep I'd gotten was not enough for my brain to recover, only for the implant to start functioning normally again, further worsening the state I was in.
29 Jul 2023, 9:47pm
One of the bartenders came over to me after a while, prompting me to look up again. I recognized them as the one who asked about Silvia earlier.

“So, what’s up with you and Silvia?”, they asked me. “Something’s got to have gone down between you two if you’re here, but she’s not.”

I rolled my eyes, then looked up and answered in an annoyed tone.

“If I wanted to talk about it, I would have. And I don’t care if her boss wants her here to work just because the position isn’t covered by that guy who has a troubled past with pirates. That’s all I’m going to say.”

I looked back down to my wrist computer, using it to look up whichever news I potentially missed while being gone, not suspecting the exchange to draw much attention. The staff member quickly returned to their previous task, removing the food box I’d left behind from the table.

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ROLEPLAY ONLY! Respect the universe settings!
If you are new here, please try to at least partially involve in the ongoing stories and conversations instead of establishing a completely different "arc". You can always turn it to a different story later.