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.
24 Jun 2024, 2:44pm
The text conversation with the bar manager was quite successful. All she had to do now was wait for him to approve the ad she had put together. It went so well, Willow had plenty of time to finish her meal as they text. While she waited, she drank her drink with a straw, letting her knees rock her waist side to side on the bar stool.

On one pass to the left, Willow noticed a woman being nonchalant about posing by the bar. Being caught rocking like a kid on the bar stool made Willow feel a bit self-conscious, but she did her best not to let her self get into her own head about it. Instead, Willow thought about the logistics of making a box for someone her shape. Distracting herself with work was one of the many tools she'd developed to ease herself out of an internal loop.

This time, the bar manager helped her out as well. Instead of texting her back with the ok, he'd just added Willows ad to the rotation. Looking up, she saw her own holographic hands taking the case off a dirty old multi tool, removing and inserting a new motor, then finishing the repair by wiping the case clean with a shockingly white cloth for a workshop.

It had taken hours and hours of filming and editing for twenty seconds of video, but the graphics that said Taking Care of the Tools that Take Care of You, looked pretty great. The name and location of her shop faded in and stayed on screen just long enough to read before the next ad blinked on.

"Well like, alright" said Willow letting some happy dance into her shoulders.
24 Jun 2024, 3:51pm
I had just ordered a simple, light beer - both in its look and alcoholic content - when I saw the advertisement pop up on a screen, and the woman with the black hair seemed to be quite content about it. I turned in her direction and, rather, leaned on the counter with the left elbow now.

"Looks good.", I remarked, finding a compliment to be in order. "That your work?"

I pointed at the screen as the ad screen switched over to the next one... which, of course, turned out to be one of those nonsensical Azimuth ones. And I heard a bit of grumbling from other visitors when it did, forcing me to suppress a grin.

"I mean, the one that just showed, not the Azimuth nonsense. So, you're an engineer?"

I decided to not say more for now, didn't seem like the most social type and I didn't feel like overwhelming her. I had a feeling my figure, especially now that I faced the woman more directly, had a... bit of potential, to make people uneasy, as much as I liked it. Nevermind the personality associated to it, which made it ten times worse. In a good way, for me.
24 Jun 2024, 8:51pm
"Oh er, yeah. Like those were my hands too. Though I guess the color, or like, the lack of color gave that away, right?"

Shifting a bit, Willow tried to look casual, but it was hard to be relaxed when she knew she was only acting relaxed.
Feeling like she'd left a bit too much silence, she looked for something else to say.

"So, I leased a place, like only for a couple of months, you know? To see if it works out. Just trying the roots thing for a bit. Finding out if it fits, I guess"
24 Jun 2024, 9:10pm
"I thought it was your hands. Didn't really think it needed saying, though."

I shrugged, at least with the free arm that was hanging down to my right.

"So, you're not local to... I guess, the area? I've lived here for a few years, but don't think I remember seeing you around. Well, lived in a nearby system. Didn't visit this station until a few months ago."

I glanced down.

"And, uh, that part is just a few days old. If you'll believe I wasn't born like this... yeah. Anyway. Terrible joke. Do you just fix tools, or ships too? I should really have someone look at mine a bit more deeply, with all the things it's been shot at by, something's probably gotten knocked loose in there."

I paused.

"Don't... mind that second half. Was supposed to be a thought."
24 Jun 2024, 9:49pm
"Oh right, like yeah. I deal with body mods. Um, like I don't mean I make them, but I deal with, um.."

Shaking her head as a physical representation of shaking off the knots she was tying her self in, Willow dropped the thread she was on, and changed the topic.

"So yeah, I fix like anything and every thing. I fitted a lot of the photon nets on the solar panels for this station when I was part of the work crews, you know?"

Talking regular work was easy, and triggered less questions than her other job.

"But you really should take your ship to the dock guys, you know? They get shit on all the time, but like, they deal with everything pilots throw at them. I mean, I'd like to do bigger jobs, but you need a crew and a bay for refits. Like, once its fixed, I can tune it up. Like, I mean really tune it up you know? But the dock guys are great and the place to start, ok?"


Last edit: 24 Jun 2024, 10:03pm
24 Jun 2024, 10:20pm
"I understand, don't worry. You fix the small stuff, not whole ships. I guess I know who to come to if a plasma cutter needs fixing."

I winked at her, hoping the gesture wouldn't be taken the wrong way.

"Was just thinking out loud, really. Your shop idea only brought back to mind that I should let it sit in a dock for a while and really get those deep repairs done. I can do without bolts coming loose when there's angry Thargoids after me... if you get what I mean."

I paused momentarily, thinking on whether to add anything to a potentially sensitive subject.

"Just to be in the clear about it, not one of those guys. I only defend our systems, once they're out of there, I haven't got an issue."

I sighed.

"Yeah, anyway. Don't feel like bringing Thargoids into this. They don't make a great conversation subject, and everyone around here's probably heard enough of them for a life time. So, if you don't mind me asking, what brought you here? Just looking for a job doing repair work?"

I was genuinely curious, though mindful of saying or asking too much at once, given how the other woman didn't seem to be quite as... comfortable, in a social situation.

"Oh, and I guess, you'd want my name before the questions. I'm Jana."
25 Jun 2024, 11:53am
"Kay, so I'm Willow. Hi. And I've like, always been a grease monkey. It's a family thing you know? So I came here a while back for a like, feet on the ground job? A nine to five kind of thing. I was one of the hundreds and hundreds of Joes that helped put this station back together"

The soda can with its straw was a nice distraction while Willow tried to figure out why a shop had seemed like a good idea. It was just one of those things. She could do it, so she did. That's about how winding the past was to that conclusion.

"I guess the shop was just one of those ideas I have when I can't sleep. Like, I think I'll learn to play guitar, and like, you download the blueprint, but never get around to buying the strings and other parts you need to get started right? So, with the shop, it looks like I followed through for once"
25 Jun 2024, 12:20pm
"Yeah, know all about that. God knows how often I haven't found sleep at night in the last ten years. And I'm not religious."

Definitely a bit of a joke, but it also held a serious undertone... mostly thanks to the reason of why that inability to sleep occurred. Or it was the primary one, anyway.

"It is a bit annoying how I can't stop my brain from turning sometimes. You know? You want to sleep, but there's always that one nagging thought that refuses to leave your head. Haven't made a job or hobby out of one, though, so I guess you're a step ahead."

I paused, thinking about what else to say. Following on the 'What I did in my past' line seemed to be the best option.

"Well, I guess, I did work some jobs here and there. Mostly things you don't really need qualifications for, in the system where I live, after I moved there, what... six, seven years ago? It's not far from here, most ships can probably do it in one jump. Was only stuff to keep me busy until I could get something of my own. Which turned out to be... a ship license and that tin can they call the Sidewinder. More like a flying death trap."

I shrugged, then my brain very quickly diverted onto another line of thinking.

"Pf. Thargoids only got booted out of there a couple months back, too. Think they're still trying to pick up the pieces and get everything back to how it was, but sure feels like there's a lot less people around now, compared to... well... before."

My beer arrived, and I used that as an excuse to sip on it, and interrupt my mouth before it spewed out too much at once.

"Sorry if I talk too much. I just... get a bit carried away, sometimes."

'Or more than sometimes', I added in my thoughts, gazing off into nowhere for a second.
26 Jun 2024, 1:50pm
"Hey like, you don't go to a social place and not expect to socialize, right? Least that what they say" said Willow remembering what the voice on the self-help downloads had said.

"Talking is just a part of that, right?"

At least in her shop she had a shield fitted on the counter, so there was almost a wall between her and other people. That'd make dealing with them so much easier.

"Anyway, I've like, had my dinner, and thank you for charging my social battery. So, I'm gonna head out and get ready for the grand opening tomorrow."

Hopping off her stool, Willow grabbed her can and tried not to overthink the end. Say bye to someone could feel as hard to deal with as saying hi.

"Um, not that there's like, a party or anything. I'll just unlock the door and turn the holo to open, I guess. .. OK, bye"
26 Jun 2024, 4:16pm
"Uh, okay. Bye."

I looked after Willow as she walked out, wondering if I'd scared her off or she really was just that 'antisocial'. Was hard for me to relate or figure out as someone right in the middle of the spectrum. Even Kasumi didn't seem to be that "bad", but then, I'd largely only met her in private one-on-ones or while being complete idiots in a VR sphere.

Could have said something more still, while she was within hearing distance, but decided not to. As first meetings went, this one hadn't been bad, if brief. I'd be spending a bit more time locally anyway, maybe even around port, anyway, as I was just taking some distance to Thargoid matters for a few weeks. Do something other than dulling my mind on the constant killing that occurred in the war, which saw my ships gathering dust or undergoing proper deep maintenance during that time. So there was at least some chance I'd run into her again.

Maybe I'd also go and poke around that shop of hers, if I found anything that I thought or felt needed a touchup. Not that I really had many tools or weapons to look at in the first place... not to mention it'd be rather weird walking through the station and in there with a gun.

... probably best to leave things to random chance, and just not walk in there right the next day. Last thing I wanted to do was provide the impression of stalking her like some creep. And I had a drink which demanded my attention, even if it looked a lot less interesting now - so I took it off the bar and to one of the seating spots with a table.

No plans to get drunk, though. That wasn't much fun alone, nor a particularly great idea. Least I'd actually run into someone worth paying attention to, today.
30 Jun 2024, 11:37am
Feels like a lifetime me since I first walked in here to meet money-making contacts as a rookie pilot. Now, older and greyer, I realise that it was.

I needed a drink and company. In that order, and looked around. The clientel changed, different faces, different accents, but all still drinking, doing deals, selling their wares and, some, themselves. Seems to be more women than there used to be. Plenty to catch my attention.

I ordered a beef and looked at the news screens. Thargoid wars that I steered well away from. Imps and Feds, still at loggerheads. Pirates, trade deals, engineers, new ship models same old technology underneath. Body enhancement, that was not new, people had been trying to improve on the basic design since forever, but now, well, some went too far.


Last edit: 30 Jun 2024, 11:53am
02 Jul 2024, 5:25pm
Though a few lingering signs of post-Thargoid recovery remained--bulk raw material orders for the sysnthesizers sitting in warehouses, and two ships undergoing caustic damage repair--the station had returned to a semblance of normalcy. Unlike before, the clipper Onoarea did not draw any attention or snide comments about its pristine Imperial Pearl paint when Vasil eased it down, light as a feather, on its assigned landing pad.

Just about everything on the station had changed. From layout to colors, to personnel. The Galactic, not so much. Aside from new faces working the bar and the floor, it remained much as it had always been; a gathering place for all manner of spacers. Whether rock crackers, traders, mercenaries, tourists, or any number of others passing through the station, many eventually found their way here.

So, too, had Vasil. Dressed in a custom fit black flight suit with tasteful gold trim, Vasil took a seat at a table. He ordered a bourbon and relaxed, looking as equally ready to negotiate a billion credit contract as he was to run a blockade, and do either with the utmost Imperial class.


Last edit: 02 Jul 2024, 5:32pm
03 Jul 2024, 7:46pm
I hadn't picked a great moment to drop by this bar. No sight of the woman I'd met here last time, and about the only individual that stood out was someone who looked so Imperial, I could smell it by the entrance already. Figuratively. Also seemed more ready for business than anything else.

Not that there ever seemed to be a distinction for their types. Another reason I disliked them after getting out of that culture - even what was supposed to be a laid-back social context carried so many unnecessary behavioral rules with it that it basically just felt like business, anyway.

Their nonsensical culture would probably, also, not take kindly to what I'd done with my body's shape. Or my idea of civilian clothing as I wore it now, since theirs was either dresses or needlessly tight and blinding white colors, with maybe a little bit of blue to be found.

I gave them a wide berth as I went in and found a corner to drop on to a seat, much as that was possible in the low gravity offered by station rotation. Individuals like that, whether I was correct in that assumption or not, often showed up to 'do something', which usually involved some kind of business deal or other. And I wanted to be as far from that in an enclosed space as I could be. Maybe I'd be able to ignore it if I got myself drunk, but that wasn't currently in my plans.

Would probably decide on that later, but still ordered myself something for now, anyway. Or maybe two.
03 Jul 2024, 8:06pm
Vasil waited patiently, occasionally chatting with the server stopping by to check on him and glancing towards patrons coming in and out. While waiting, his attention bounced between the several vid screens, finding nothing of immediate interest until a commercial came on the largest screen behind the bar.

Something seemed familiar about the hands on the screen. It took him until the end when the shop’s location and tag line appeared to realize why. Willow’s Parts and Repairs. Taking Care of the Tools that Take Care of You.

So, the little whisp of a girl was staking out a shop on the station. He’d have to stop by and say hello, and of course bring Wilow a few of those atrocious prefab vending machine meals she was addicted to.
03 Jul 2024, 8:47pm
"Oh, right. Willow. That was her name.", I muttered to myself, barely audible, also having noticed the ad screen. "Probably should've remembered."

I gazed at the glass in my hand, absent-mindedly, and noticed it was half empty already. At that rate, I'd be going through half a dozen in less than an hour... maybe today was just one of those days where it was right, though. Not that an Imperial being present and reminding me of my rather unpleasant past with them, really helped.

And I wasn't needed much anywhere, so other than the consequences the next day, not much harm in it. Would be better with someone else around, though.

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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.