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.
Jana Razeki
16 Dec 2024, 12:03am
"Evac ..."

I let the word hang in the air for a moment, lightly swirling the water in its glass in contemplative manner, before answering, keeping the tone a bit lower to not drag others into the conversation.

"No. Not really. I've just been wasting my time there defending that station from the Thargoids for the transports before it completely gives out. I figure it is better than just sitting around being bored when I don't take part in that awful mess swarming the Titan."

I downed another portion of the water.

"I can't say I really remember who I did and didn't see at that other Titan. No offense. I was just helping to push them back, but don't attack Titans themselves. I just wait until the moment they, well, stop shooting and you can get the captives out without nearly the same effort."

As if on cue, a handheld display device, smaller than a full-on datapad and more like one of those ancient devices of the twenty-first century called "phones" in size - those old things only really found in museums nowadays - vibrated, drawing my attention to it. I quickly checked, but it was just an unimportant notifier. That last Titan wasn't going anywhere quickly yet.

Shrugging, I slipped it back into the pocket it came from - another benefit of having upsized thighs and hips, the accordingly sized pants offered more spacious pockets to stuff full of things - and looked up again.

"Nothing important. Funny you should say your name is Alex. I know a friend like that, but, well ..."

I went silent, gazing off as my mind dwelled on memories of the initial Titan arrival. If that damned idiot was still alive and in Colonia, she could have sent me a message about it already instead of being left guessing for two years.

"Anyway. I guess, since you remember me from somewhere, you know my name already." I lowered my voice a bit more, as if not wanting this to be heard by too many others. "And don't mind that my body's looking a bit, uh, big. Personal thing."

It wasn't really necessary to point to either my chest or the lower half, both of which were quite a bit larger than they should've naturally been for my type of build and the fat content in it.
Rawnu
16 Dec 2024, 10:00am
“Your body? Didn’t notice,” Rawnu replied quickly, a disarming smile easing the weight of the moment. There’s a personal story behind that remark that’s beyond aesthetics, they gathered. Memories of joining Neon Frontier came to their mind: chrome and steel, augmentations made for battle and convenience—some chosen, others... not. Better not linger, they thought. If now’s the time, she’ll share it.

“Hardly anyone calls me Alex these days—only…” They hesitated, then allowed a faint grin. “The last one was my mom, and usually because I was in trouble.” That wasn’t entirely untrue (the trouble part), but Jana’s silence after mentioning her own Alex made it clear enough: some things didn’t need dwelling on. There’s a time for everything.

The Titan came back to mind. “So you’re steering clear of the bloodfest?” The words were out before they could catch them, and Rawnu winced slightly. “Sorry if that came out odd—it’s just…”, the taste of ammonia and fire returned, as vivid as it had been when Cocijo’s third heart was shattered.

With a deep breath Rawnu lengthened their slender and athletic frame, leaned towards the counter, their voice dropping. “I’m not sure anymore what we’re doing—the war, I mean. It’s like…” They exhaled, their gaze falling to some empty glasses at the other end of the counter. “But we don’t have to talk about it. I know how tiresome it gets.”

The noise of the bar continued unabated, filling the space between them. Rawnu swirled the last of their drink, waiting to see if the silence would hold or if she’d take it somewhere else.

Last edit: 16 Dec 2024, 10:10am
Jana Razeki
16 Dec 2024, 11:16am
I shrugged, seeing the relative lack of caring.

"I just like some weird things. Like, well, you can see."

My left arm - as the right held my water - gestured at the lower half, where the hips matched the outer width of the shoulders, and thighs went slightly beyond.

"Wouldn't have it if I didn't like it, but not everyone reacts like that. Catches a lot of looks. Some people stare, but... who can blame them?"

It - and the larger 'chest' - certainly caught views. Which just increased my appreciation of what I had now. I decided to circle back around to the topic of the Titan as well, if only toget back to a less weird subject.

"Anyway, yeah. I'm not getting stuck up in that madness even if some idiots try to get everyone committed to their war with some fancy what's-it rewards. Don't care, I won't forgo myself for a shiny toy. I mean, really. There's so many damn people that are almost... frenzied, at the opportunity to shoot Thargoids. Not the kind I really want to be associated with. A lot of them seem to forget what things actually look like in that system."

I paused briefly, looking in the direction of the docking bay.

"Hell, I don't have much sympathy for the Feds, but everything in that system is just wrecked. It won't just be 'fine' because the Titan is gone, whatever that will end up doing. If the Thargoids even leave when it's gone."

I sighed.

"Whatever. Not enough people care to think and just see angry aliens trying to destroy things. Not what getting angry back at them will cause. I think I'd know, after that bastard got a Titan to sit on my home for a year and a half."

I gestured at the surroundings, indicating this pocket of space was pretty much it. I would, of course, provide further details on which system if inquired about it.
Rawnu
16 Dec 2024, 1:00pm
Rawnu let Jana's words hang in the air for a moment, letting the faint hum of the bar fill the silence before they spoke again. “You’re right, though. Some people do stare—some are just better at hiding it. I guess you’ve got a way of catching attention, whether you mean to or not.” And with your confidence, you probably mean to, Rawnu thought to themselves, a feeling of more than curiosity emanating from the back of their neck. Letting their head tilt slightly to one side, eyes narrowing in a small smile , “And for the record, weird is good. I'm an expert on weird and the Galaxy is big enough for a bit more weirdness.”

Rawnu's fingers traced the rim of their glass as Jana glanced toward the docking bay. Her tone shifted when she spoke about her homeworld, her frustration palpable but layered with something heavier. Loss, maybe? Or just exhaustion.

“You know,” Rawnu started carefully, their voice a little quieter now, “when I heard about the Titan above Earth, I couldn’t help thinking how close we’ve come to losing… everything. This is not abstract for me, I've still got...", Rawnu paused for a moment, "...community down there. Can you believe it, I was actually born there. To see it like this and imagine what could..." Rawnu shook their head ever so slightly, letting the thought trail off before it could spiral.

Then, after a moment: “You mentioned your home, though. That a Titan sat on it for over a year… I can’t imagine what that was like. What it did to the people, the planet itself.” I met her gaze, my expression open but measured. “I’m sorry if it’s something you’d rather not talk about, but… if you feel like sharing, I’d like to hear about it. If not, I get it too.”

Rawnu leaned back a bit, giving her the space to steer the conversation however she wanted. “For what it’s worth,” Rawnu added, after a beat, “I’ve got my share of thoughts about the war too—things I’m not even sure I’ve got the words for yet. But you seem like the kind of person who doesn’t just go with the flow, and that’s something I respect.” I wonder what you would make of my visions, if you'd think I was just going crazy.
Jana Razeki
16 Dec 2024, 2:51pm
I placed the left hand on the hip now.

"Maybe I do want the attention. Or just like it. There's a thing to be said about being happy with your body... even if it is something most people would see as ridiculous and impractical. But I like being weird."

Adding a light wink to that, I continued.

"And about my home... really, I was born way off on the other side. Empire space. You can guess I wasn't a huge fan of them, and they'd probably try to ridicule me into the ground for having a disproportionate shape. As if I'd care. Pff."

"Never been too ordinary or conforming, really. Anyway. I moved here some years ago, can't exactly remember when - few years ago. The system's probably one jump in most ships... nothing too remarkable, really. They're still terraforming the one planet that could be habitable so it's not some pressure cooker where you have to be in hab domes to survive. Damn Thargoids set everything back by a bit but I think they'll soon be done picking up the pieces and fixing everything. Oh, and it's one of those ocean worlds. I got my home on a station, was lucky that those corrosive whatevers didn't eat through the hull enough to get to it."

I shrugged, not having much more to say on that for now. The rest was a little too personal.

"Yeah, anyhow. I wouldn't have cared much for the war if not for the fact I had a Titan around here as 'company' for longer than anyone would like. All because some moron had to try getting an unreasonable vengeance because he lost an eye to them running shitty experiments. If they'd stay out of our stuff, I wouldn't bother them, simple as. But, apparently it's too hard for people to think and have Thargoid in their brains at the same time, since everyone is so eager to attack the Titan but not ask why it suddenly decided to move in."

Something told me we would find out the hard way, sooner rather than later. And that even then people would still just begin raging at the Thargoids instead of looking at the actual causes of the war, and how to stop it. Or at least prevent if rom getting worse than it already was.
Rawnu
16 Dec 2024, 6:30pm
That's a confident one, Rawnu thought with some admiration. Before replying too quick and saying something inappropriate, they let Jana's words settle for a while. “You’ve got a point about being happy with yourself. Takes guts to hold onto that in a galaxy full of people trying to tell you who to be. I can't say anything about the Empire as I haven't lived there, just worked for some, mainly the Free Marlinists. But weird or not, I’d say you’ve done alright breaking out of that.”

Rawnu paused, their gaze drifting to the counter and the screens above it. “Interesting, though, hearing about your system. Sounds like it’s been through hell and back with that Titan hanging around. Can’t imagine what that was like—just waiting, knowing it’s out there. I think about what it’d mean for Earth if Cocijo goes down... ", they stop for a moment, waiting for the visions to wash over them again. "All I see is fire and ash and destruction. And we did this ourselves because what? I know you mean Salvation, but it's really all of us. No one forced us to continue the madness. Most of us happily join the club for yet another great weapon from our favorite genocidal...", Rawnu stopped and calmed their voice. Better not draw too much attention, not here, they thought.

Circling back to what was nagging at the back of their mind, Rawnu continued in a low voice. “It’s hard not to wonder, though. Why do Titans pick certain places? I mean I get Sol and Earth, and also ShinDez before. But in general. It’s most likely not random—not when you look at it closely. But we’re too busy shooting to ask the right questions.” And the people they took, but that was a thought Rawnu didn't want to speak out loud, not yet.

They let the words hang, studying Jana's expression. “You’re right, though. People don’t think. They react. It’s easier to rage at what’s in front of you than figure out why it’s there in the first place. I’m not innocent in that regard, at least not since ShinDez, but lately…” Careful now! “Lately, I’ve been wondering if the war we’re fighting is the one we need to fight. Or if it’s just a reflection of everything we’re doing wrong.”

Rawnu leaned back, tensing their lower abs slightly. “Anyway, I’ve rambled enough. You’ve got this way of making me think out loud—welcome to my brand of weird.” With a faint, almost wry smile, Rawnu glanced towards Jana, then around the room.
Jana Razeki
16 Dec 2024, 7:14pm
"Could have been worse for it.", I replied, cautiously. "The Titans did only go to those ammonia worlds the Titans like, so what actually happened is a giant Thargoid fleet swarmed it when it landed. I was away on some delivery run when it happened, or I might not be talking to you right now."

That was still not the nicest thing to think of, so I downed the rest of the water and placed the glass back on the counter, motioning for another before I looked back, and continued, quite aware this would have shown the side profile of my chest curvature rather well. Of course, it was not something I minded...

"But, well, still here to terrorize the world with weirdness and stupidity. I admit, for someone that likes to be an idiot as much as I do, sometimes those higher brain functions still kick in properly. And, really, the Thargoids aren't stupid. But most people... they seem to be blinded by it because everyone keeps calling them mindless pests or, whatever. Or because they're too angry to see they're just making it worse for themselves and everybody else."

"I don't know. I might be overthinking it. Probably wouldn't make for a good soldier by asking questions like I do. Luckily, never been military and got no plans to... would be harder to get them accepting me with this body, anyway."

I shrugged.

"I can't say if there is any way to solve this war to keep the Thargoids off our backs and us off theirs, but you don't get anywhere if you don't try, and just hope swinging a hammer hard enough makes the problem go away. Which, well, you can guess it's been established it really doesn't, at this point."

That was a point which didn't really need further elaboration. The data thingy in my pocket buzzed again, which I could still feel despite a thick, less sensitive layer of material around that area. I lifted a hand and looked, frowning when I read the contents of the notification. Unlike the loss of a Titan heart, this one seemed rather unusual.

"Huh. That is... weird.", I began to think out loud. "Apparently, the Thargoids are no longer attacking anywhere in Sol. Almost like they're... retreating? But the Titan's not out yet."

I looked up again, pocketing the device.

"Didn't you say you had some people in Sol? It might not be my place to suggest it, but maybe they should consider getting out of there."

None of the other Titans had seen their fleets effectively pull out of a system before the Titan in it was destroyed. And that alone was setting off some warning signs in my head. While it was certainly possible that was a move to consolidate all forces around that remaining Titan, I somehow doubted it to actually be the case.
Rawnu
16 Dec 2024, 10:03pm
Her warning lingered, pressing against the edges of Rawnu’s thoughts. Cocijo wasn’t just some distant threat—it loomed above Earth, a cold, indifferent shadow against the sky. Rawnu shifted their almost empty glass between their slender fingers, focusing on the way the dim lights refracted through the water.

The thought of Sol, quiet and empty of Thargoid ships, felt wrong. Like a deep breath before something worse. Rawnu couldn’t shake the image—fire in the skies, the ground splitting open, the same cold weight they’d felt in the back of their mind after that bombing run on Cocijo.

“I’ll reach out to my people,” Rawnu said quietly, breaking the silence. “I doubt they’ll leave—Earth isn’t just home for them, it’s a symbol. The community’s been there for generations, ever since the Solarpunk Association tried to rebuild something after the last great war. Gardens on rooftops, solar spires rising from the ruins… idealists with soil under their nails.” A faint smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “They’re stubborn, but you’d have to be to remain solidly communitarian on Earth under Federation rule.” Communist, the elders would’ve shouted, Rawnu thought to themselves.

“Thing is, I don’t know where to take them. They’d hate the place I live, the fleet carrier of my squadron. Also, I doubt if there’s anywhere left to run. The Thargoids… they don’t strike randomly. Cocijo’s above Earth for a reason, and it might not be the one we think it is.” Rawnus voice dipped low again, almost as though they didn’t want the room to hear. “Do you think peace is even an option? Or is this just the next step in their plan? If they have a plan…”

Rawnu looked back at Jana then, letting their focus settle on her for a moment longer than they meant to. Quite the profile. But it was more than the looks, it was the way she carried herself, deliberate but relaxed, like she knew exactly how she fit into the space around her.

Rawnu leaned back slightly, the faintest ghost of a smile lingering as they glanced down at their glass again, now completely empty. “Maybe I’m just overthinking it. It wouldn’t be the first time. But someone’s got to ask these questions, right? Otherwise, we’re all just flying blind, swinging at shadows and calling it progress.” They exhaled softly, a sound more thoughtful than resigned, before looking back at her. “I get the sense you don’t settle for easy answers either, though. So… what do you think? Is there a way out of this mess that doesn’t end in ashes?”
Jana Razeki
17 Dec 2024, 2:04am
"Honestly, I don't know."

I shrugged, being rather clueless about that particular idea.

"I mean, I'm not one who's going to be building any bridges with the Thargoids. As long as they leave me, I'd leave them. Simple as. Other people are better for trying to make peace with them, if it's even possible. Which... well, all I can say is, if so, then it's going to be a lot of work. Even if the Thargoids don't mean what they do badly, which is probably hard for us to understand, we have been proving to them a lot that they get their way more easily with violence."

The bartender placed my glass back near me, and I grabbed it, taking a sip before continuing.

"There probably is a purpose to whatever they went to Earth for. It's just not something we can figure out too easy. If we can at all. But I can tell you that it's not going to be found out if we just blindly swing back at the Thargoids, when it was that blind swinging which led them there to begin with."

I scoffed at my own words.

"Pf. Listen to me, words of wisdom from the big-breasted, curvy idiot. Maybe I'm not totally lost on that thinking business... anyway, I know a thing or two about not abandoning your home. So if they want to stay there, it's their choice, and you can only hope to find them in one piece again later. I'd probably have stuck around mine, here, longer than I should have if I wasn't away, even if I'd be totally lost against Thargoids two years ago. But, well, you said it. If I chose easy, I wouldn't be here. Or wouldn't have gotten used to a body that's too thick for how I'm actually built."
Rawnu
17 Dec 2024, 1:22pm
Rawnu sat quietly for a moment, letting Jana’s words settle. She wasn’t wrong—about the Thargoids, the blind swinging, or how little we understand. And now Cocijo… Cocijo was dying. Humanity had done what they always do: smash something they don’t understand and shout glory to mankind. “It’s strange,” Rawnu said finally, their voice low but clear. “We’re so quick to claim victory when something burns. Cocijo’s in meltdown, and tomorrow it’s gone. But Earth? How much of it will survive when the debris settles? How much of it will still feel like home?” The exhale came out painful the image clawing at the edges of Rawnu's mind—ash hanging in the sky, green rooftops buried under dust.

“I've messaged my people,” they continued softly, fingers gently massaging the curve of their neck as if in thought. “Might have a solution for them. I used to run with a… team from the Alliance. Got contacts to call, favors to pull. It’ll be hard for them to leave, even temporarily. They’re stubborn, determined—clinging to their ways as if to put two fingers up at the Federation. Sharp edges, soft roots, refusing to fade.” Well, that's me, isn't it, Rawnu thought to themselves.

“Talking about bodies and shapes,” Rawnu continued, almost absent-mindedly, “this body of mine—it’s always been in-between. Sharp edges, soft curves. Not one or the other.” A small breath escaped their chest, somewhere between self-aware and amused. “The galaxy likes its clean categories. I’ve always liked not fitting into them. And maybe that’s why I can’t help but admire someone who doesn’t fit neatly into the galaxy’s little boxes.” Their gaze flickered to Jana—deliberate, but not lingering. Rawnu tilted their head slightly, a faint, feline smile playing at the corner of their lips. “You carry yourself like you don’t owe the galaxy any answers. I applaud that.”

For a moment, the silence between them lingered, the hum of the bar filling the space. Rawnu watched new glass being filled by the bartender as they caught the dim light, the ripples fading as their liquid stilled. “You’re not wrong about the thinking business, either,” Rawnu added, quieter now. “People like us—we ask the questions no one wants to, even when the answers don’t feel good. But maybe that’s what it takes. Balancing the thinking with the weirdness. Questioning everything while still holding on to the things that matter.”

They looked back up at Jana, their expression softening. “To the weird ones—the sharp, the soft, the big and the small, the ones who make the galaxy worth surviving.” Guess we know tomorrow. Rawnu lifted one of the newly poured glasses slightly in Jana's direction, the gesture small but sincere. Soon it would be time to go. The thought stung a bit.
Jana Razeki
17 Dec 2024, 2:06pm
"Leaving temporarily and returning later is better than never leaving."

I thought about adding 'If you know what I mean', but decided to leave it there.

"And of course humans are stupid enough to set off a giant bomb above their planet. That's what this effectively is. Or will be, anyway. Pff."

It should've been somewhat obvious I didn't hold humans in high regard for that.

"That's what we always do. Act first, worry about the consequences later. Or just never worry or care about them. No long-term thinking. If the Thargoids didn't think they had something to get by putting the Titan where it is, they wouldn't have kept and left it there, even while leaving the system everywhere else. Of course, everyone just began to proclaim victory and say it's them losing and abandoning all but the Titan because they're running out of ships."

"And that's kind of what I did for this body. I mean, in regards to just acting first and dealing with the rest later. Or, maybe it rather was, just not caring because I knew I'd love it."

Something of a smile adorned my face as I leaned right slightly to emphasize one side of the hip curve.

"You could say, I'm big and soft now."

Certainly, with my chosen means of surgery, which aimed to make it feel as 'natural' as possible even if it was not actually my body's normal size. I had to suppress some idiotic laughter from escaping my mouth at that ridiculous statement, however.
Rawnu
17 Dec 2024, 9:51pm
Rawnu let out a low, amused hum, their eyes narrowing with a faint, teasing glint. “Big and soft, huh?” they murmured, their voice curling around the words like a playful challenge. “Well, I guess we’re opposites then.” They shifted in their seat, deliberately stretching back to lean against the bar, elbows resting wide on the counter as if framing themselves without effort. The dim light caught their slender form—trim and angular in some places, with faint, softer and feminine lines in others. “I don’t have much in the way of ‘big,’ but I make up for it in style,” they added with a small, feline smile. And personal baggage, but they didn't say that out loud.

The teasing edge faded slowly, giving way to something quieter as Rawnu sat up again, their fingers curling loosely around the glass in front of them. The lighthearted moment lingered just long enough to remind them how strange it was—how normal this feels—to be here, talking like this, when something massive loomed just beyond the station walls. “You know,” Rawnu began softly, their voice dipping low, “we’re sitting here, drinking water, while a Titan’s hours are running out. Cocijo’s going to blow, and it won’t be long before every soul on Earth is either cheering or staring up at the sky falling, wondering what the hell happens next.” They exhaled slowly, a faint tension settling into their frame. “We’re good at that, aren’t we? Winning battles and losing the future, one step at a time.”

Their gaze flickered back to Jana, steady now but quieter—less teasing, more open. “It makes me wonder, though… how many of these moments we get.” Rawnu glanced briefly toward the bar’s entrance, as if Cocijo’s shadow was pressing closer with every minute. “We’re here now. Tomorrow? You’ll probably be halfway across the sector, and I’ll be chasing ghosts in the black again.”

They tilted their head slightly, lips curling into something halfway between a smile and a sigh. “So let me say this while I can: it’s been good talking to someone who gets it. Who sees through all the noise. And who's both big and soft.” Their tone lifted just enough at the end, a playful flicker to chase away the heaviness of the moment.
Jana Razeki
17 Dec 2024, 11:21pm
I made a throwaway hand gesture.

"Bah. I'll be hanging around here some more once the Titan is gone, with it being by my home and all. I have plans to follow again now that I might get some time to. Or maybe I'll look at them anyway because I wasted two years of life on this war. So we probably will meet again eventually."

Downing the rest of my water quickly, I put it back on the counter again, also straightening out rather than leaning on it. Which, mostly, was with my backside when I did since it provided quite some buffer below the waist.

"And speaking of the Titan, I guess we should probably both get going. I plan to get as many people as I can off that thing before it goes. Might not care for the Feds much, but the civvies don't need to be dragged into this. And you... do whatever you're going to do, I guess. I doubt they'd care much who rescues them even if it's someone who made her hips and breasts be a bit too big for her body. So... let's both leave a more positive mark on this, yeah?"

'Rawnu' was definitely an acquired taste for a name, and while I had that on my mind now too, I chose not to mention it. Could come over wrong on a first meeting like this, and it wasn't exactly as if I minded. Before I paid up and wandered off, though, I waited out a response.

One less rational reason I also had for being by that Titan was to witness it going down, because this would be a moment remembered for a long time, just as the first one going would, even if I'd passed on being there. Time would tell if history kept it in the books as a positive or negative one, but somehow I doubted it would be the former.

Last edit: 17 Dec 2024, 11:34pm
Rawnu
18 Dec 2024, 7:30am
Rawnu tilted their head slightly, a small, thoughtful smile tugging at the corner of their lips. “Two years in a war no one asked for,” they murmured, voice soft but edged with understanding. “Sounds like you’ve got more than enough reason to make the most of what comes after.”

They sat up straighter, fingers curling lightly around the empty glass. For a moment, they studied Jana—her confidence, her sense of purpose, the way her words seemed to carry both weight and momentum. “And you’re right. Civilians didn’t sign up for this mess. They deserve better than to be another casualty in someone else’s victory speech.” Rawnu pushed the glass forward across the bar as if signaling the end of their time here.

“But me?” They straightened fully now, stretching out their frame as they stood, the dim station light playing across the angular lines of their form. “I think I’ll get out there too. See the Titan off, maybe help a few souls escape while there’s still time. That kind of moment… you can’t look away. Even when you want to.” Rawnu’s gaze flicked toward the bar entrance, where the endless void waited, pressing closer with every tick of the clock.

Turning back to Jana, their expression softened, a mix of quiet admiration and something harder to name. “You say we’ll meet again, and I hope you’re right. The galaxy’s big, but it’s got a way of pulling the right people back into their orbit.” They paused for just a beat, lips curling faintly. “Even ones with hips and ambitions that fit astonishingly well.” The teasing edge was light, almost warm, before Rawnu let it fade. “Safe flying out there, Jana. Make that mark of yours count.”

With that, Rawnu turned toward the exit, moving with the measured confidence of someone who still wasn’t sure what awaited them but had made peace with the unknown. For a fleeting second, they glanced back over their shoulder, a final flicker of acknowledgment catching in their gaze before they stepped into the dark beyond the bar.
Jana Razeki
18 Dec 2024, 9:22am
"Well, I guess it's just me then.", I murmured, briefly looking after Rawnu before turning back to the bar.

"I'll be paying up now. Heading out as well."

"Of course." The bartender nodded in response. "Though, if you are heading back out to that blasted Titan, do come back from that in one piece. I think we get more customers when you're around."

I shook my head in annoyed amusement, more of the latter than the former. "Pff. People really do never change."

Pulling out the data device again, I used it to pay up, then walked out, not missing that a few gazes were directed at a certain, lower portion of the body as I was doing so. There wasn't really any need to add any extra sway, it happened by itself with this size.

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