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.
10 Aug 2024, 2:58pm
"Pfff... Of course I want the details," I chuckled ironically with quite an indicative smirk on my face. "I'd say, I came here for the details, since you insisted on telling them personally, and I did it as quickly as I could. Considering all the... stuff I should be busy with."

"Please, sit on one of the chairs. You may be denied your service or forced to leave the Bar if you refuse to follow the regulations," a standard, bland factory-setting voice of an android waiter sounded nearby. It seemed like the Bar still ran understaffed after the system had been liberated, and had to use these. Employing a stupid enough student or a dropout could've been cheaper than maintaining an android, not to mention replacing one in case of a breakdown.

"See?", I nodded towards the android. "Even that brainless bucket wants us to leave. What a model service. So... where? Ships, maybe? Yours, I guess. I bet you have more of those security bits, if you're concerned."

"...You may try," I added, turning my head to the android.
10 Aug 2024, 3:20pm
"Some people -" I began saying to the robot, leaving a deliberately distinct pause in. "- can't sit on chairs. But I guess your dumb programming doesn't make you see that. Or that personal space is valued."

I sighed, and stood up.

"Come on. Just, my ship. As long as you manage to get in."

I poured the rest of a glass of water down my throat, and then just walked out, feeling tempted to 'accidentally' bump into the stupid robot on the way. Didn't have food, in the end, and was not in the mood for it anyway. Not only because of having eaten just a few hours before already, but also this ridiculous, shitty situation that had no business being.
10 Aug 2024, 3:53pm
I waited for Kasumi to down the remainder of her water and stood up from the floor as well, staring the android right in its plastic eyes with camera lenses for pupils. The android stared at me in return, perhaps encountering some issues with the programming.

"Boo," I added quietly as I got back on my feet.

While I followed Kasumi to the exit, the bartender's voice reached my ears.

"Ma'am... Ms. Muir? Is that you? I saw you on the news recently," he gestured towards the screen which was now showing another shitshower of generic commercials. "What happened there?"

"Yeah, that's me," I nodded as I walked past the bar counter. "Another bunch of idiots. As if the Titans aren't enough of a pain in the arse. We packed them into a transport and sent them to the authorities to sort that shit out. Sorry, have to go."

Kasumi's holo-disguise wasn't actually improving her walking abilities, and, with the hologram being active, her stride looked like that of a person with their pockets filled with lead. So, compared to me, she was a relatively slow walker and it wasn't difficult for me to catch up.

"Yep. Sorry, the bar guy wanted to exchange a few words. I guess I should download that news stuff later, who knows what kind of crap they wrapped my speech into... So, lead the way."



Last edit: 10 Aug 2024, 4:33pm
14 Nov 2024, 1:10pm
I enter the crowed and noisy bar, a bit taken aback by all the activity and the contrast with the quieter docks. 4 years of retirement on a backyard planet populated more by goats and cows than humans really made me forget how busy space can be.

Out of the corner of my cybernetic eyes, I spot an empty stool at the counter. In the short distance between me and my seat, I take in the sights for a few moments and notice the waiters and bartenders robots with their battered paintwork, suggesting the hustle and bustle that regularly goes on here. As I seat and order a beer, I take out a little holo screen and begin to mindlessly scroll through latest Galnet news until one retain my attention. "Deadly Explosion on the Golden Jackal Space Station in the Summerland System". A short whistle escapes my lips. What a mess. Not that I'm feeling sorry for any of those cops and bourgeois but damn, this is brutal. A part of me wonders how many people did it take to fuck up to the point of blowing a part of such a station...

But I soon brush the question aside and begin to check for interesting work opportunities in the sector while slowly drinking my beer.
18 Nov 2024, 6:06pm
Jacob entered in the bar looking around. Then he went to the bartender asking anything good to drink. While the bartender prepares it, he just looks around standing on his feet.
18 Nov 2024, 6:32pm
Rawnu stumbled more than walked into the bar. The usual smoothness to their stride was gone, replaced by something jagged and strained. No one really noticed; it wasn’t that kind of bar, at least not at this hour.

They say Triton hums when no one’s listening.

Their gaze locked onto the bartender, a familiar face in the haze of their thoughts. “Juice. Double. Neat.” The bartender’s brow twitched, barely perceptible. Leestian Evil Juice wasn’t the Commander’s usual fare, not even close, but she poured it without question. This wasn’t the place to ask. The drink came and went in a single motion, and another followed. The Commander’s shoulders eased, slightly, but their eyes—those eyes didn’t soften.

The gate and the key, the sound of...

The past few hours rushed over Rawnu like beam lasers finding their target. A quick glance across the room. No one noticed, no one paid attention. And yet. That feeling of a thousand eyes keeping track, gimballed to their mind. Their mind and...

Sirens. Sirens in the deep...
28 Nov 2024, 3:13am
An odd outlier transmission had been circling across various networks in the Bubble over the last few days, periodically appearing on and overwriting what station monitors and holo-panels displayed in various different forms of a text piece, with its core message remaining the same. Occasionally, it found itself being sent as an inbox message to passing pilots in a system, too.

Now, one of the wall-mounted screens in the bar briefly flickered and glitched, as if it were malfunctioning, before replacing yet another of many Python MKII commercials with an odd black screen, on which a simple message appeared in bold, red letters.

THARGOID RETALIATION IMMINENT.

For a second, the screen flickered again like an old TV refreshing its picture, with a second line of text appearing underneath the first.

BE READY.

After lingering for another few seconds, the message disappeared from the monitor, which resumed its original functionality without the bartender noticing, and began playing another advertisement for the more recently released Type 8 Transporter, accompanied by a happy tune. Perhaps, this transmission, which acted to serve as a warning, had also affected other information display systems elsewhere on the station, and thus could be seen there too.

OOC note - this little thing has nothing to do with the ongoing roleplay between me and Haraldsen, just wanted to drop this in as a light touch here, in light of Frontier seeming to plan to make the Thargoids around/with their last remaining Titan in the Bubble go berserk this Thursday. So they hinted at on their stream this Wednesday, at least.
28 Nov 2024, 6:34pm
I was wondering from the opposite end of the counter how much paranoid (or a massive of a bounty on their head) someone would need to look around as much as the agitated person sitting a few seats away from me with their juice, when the screens around us flickered. I grab my holoscreen, trying to check the communications, only to discover the same sinister message, giving me bad cold sweats.

"What's that bordel..."

As the screens go back to normal, I notice a notification from the Galnet News app. I try to take a sip from my beer but almost choke on it and has a violent cough as the title "Cocijo, the last Thargoid Titan remaining in activity, advances toward the Sol system" displays on my screen.
14 Dec 2024, 6:41pm
"Three down, five to go!" Marika cheered, raising her glass. Apollo and Kain laughed, clinking their drinks together. "Three down, five to go!" she repeated, louder this time, her grin aimed at Rawnu, who blinked, startled out of their thoughts. "Hm?" – "You're already dreaming about the next heart, aren’t you?" Marika teased. "Come on, be here. Be now. Celebrate!" Rawnu forced a smile and raised their glass, downing it in one smooth motion. But their mind lingered elsewhere.

Voices. Reflections. Someone standing next to me. No, not a person, not a human, something else. A memory, a dream. Something more.


The question lingered in Rawnu’s mind: How did this happen? Or perhaps more importantly: Why did this happen? Their hyperspace condition hadn’t flared in weeks, maybe months. And it wasn’t even hyperspace this time. Unless, of course, you counted Triton. Rawnu shuddered involuntarily, pushing the thought away. Triton. That might not have even been real. But today was different. This had been real—after the bombing run, after the third heart of Cocijo had been shattered.

Fire. All around me. But it's not hot, it's quite cold actually. And that smell, so strong and irritating and... alien.


Pushing the memories back as one pushes away a nightmare, Rawnu waved to the bartender. "Another round for us," they called, forcing a grin. "This one’s on me." A loud cheer erupted from the group. "Finally!" Apollo shouted, slapping the table. "And here I thought you were having one of your moments again." He punctuated the comment with a playful punch to Rawnu’s shoulder. "What moments? You mean like when you mixed up laterals and horizontals?" Rawnu shot back, their voice light, but their mind heavy. "Hey, that was one time..." Apollo started, his protest drowned out by Marika’s laughter. For now, Rawnu let themselves laugh along. Reflection could wait. But at the edges of their mind, the memories pressed on.

Screams. Everything is burning. Not in the cockpit, not around me. But down there. Below the thermonuclear sun that was the last Titan. Earth is burning.


Last edit: 15 Dec 2024, 1:53pm
14 Dec 2024, 11:41pm
I stopped by the entrance of the bar, 'surveying' the situation... seemed as if nothing much had changed since my last visit... had to be at least six months ago, now. Other than a particular group who appeared to be sharing drinks, no newcomers, or none that I could tell. The place had also been a bit more quiet with the removal of the Titan and the opportunist scum trying to terrorize and squeeze as much of the local population as possible out going with it, as proper security was restored afterward. Nothing to complain about...

Of course, a few heads turned toward me. As was almost custom at this point, with my rather unusual body and its shape*, which was not concealed too well despite the baggy cargo pants with their red and black, offset checkered pattern, and outright highlighted on the upper half with a snug jacket. Walking in proper, I moved over to the bar and set to thinking if I wanted anything... also taking up a posture leaning on the counter which spoke of confident enjoyment of this shape.

And maybe it was also intended to be a little provocative.

*Look at bio for guidance.
15 Dec 2024, 10:25am
Rawnu swirled the remaining liquid in their glass, the ice long since melted, leaving a watered-down taste they barely noticed. Their gaze wandered over the quiet bar, catching brief snippets of conversation and faint laughter from Marika and Apollo across the room. Today wasn’t for joining in—not after everything that happened yesterday.

When the subtle shift in the room’s energy registered, Rawnu looked up, their attention drawn toward the entrance. Someone had just walked in, commanding a flicker of attention from the patrons nearby. Their eyes caught a flash of red-and-black checkered cargo pants paired with a jacket that seemed to challenge the dim lighting to dull its presence. They couldn’t quite suppress a small, knowing smile when they realized who it was. Six months, was it? Maybe more.

Jana leaned against the bar with that signature confidence that seemed to make the air around her a little sharper, a little louder. Rawnu stayed quiet for a moment, taking another small sip from their glass, before turning slightly on their stool to face her direction. They raised their drink slightly in an understated gesture—half a toast, half a greeting—and let their smile linger just long enough to suggest distant familiarity without presumption.

"Well, look who’s back", Rawnu thought. "Good timing—or bad, depending on her intent. I’d ask what brings her here, but somehow, she doesn’t seem like the type who needs a reason."


Last edit: 15 Dec 2024, 1:52pm
15 Dec 2024, 2:35pm
I remained oblivious to the gesture, not noticing it by being distracted at the bar... while my own backside and thighs were probably drawing an attention of their own, especially with the posture I held further highlighting it, but that was just what I liked to do. Much to the dismay of some people.

Had I noticed the gesture, maybe I would've paid some more attention, but the first glance across the room had told me little. And what was keeping me distracted was another of many live broadcasts following the status of the Titan assault, because obviously everything was looking that way as usual. It always happened when one came under attack, only this time it stood out for taking place in Sol... thankfully, this one's volume was low.

And I'd been there, but not to attack the Titan, or even because I cared for the Federation... at all, but due to sheer boredom while awaiting the inevitable meltdown phase where pods with captives onboard could be rescued mostly freely. And so I'd found myself defending the battered Mars High for whatever evacuation transports were still trying to run through the gauntlet of the Titan's forces, more than anyone's political or corporate interests, or because it was "humanity's home". None of those were things I could even remotely care about.

I also hadn't come to hear from more of that madness. The bartender, noticing my annoyed glancing at that monitor, mumbled something about 'tired of this war and the constant media buzzing around it' in agreement, and switched the channels until it settled on one that wasn't constantly blabbering about new ship advertisements or technological advancements to be made from Titan wrecks. I nodded in agreement, and settled on ordering a simple, still water... for now.
15 Dec 2024, 5:50pm
Rawnu chuckled softly to themselves, taking another sip of their drink. It seemed Jana hadn’t noticed their subtle gesture earlier. Not that they minded—Jana always moved at her own pace, her own rhythm.

Their gaze shifted to the same monitor she’d been glaring at, the broadcast showing the latest updates on the Titan. The low hum of statistics, casualty reports, and endless commentary had filled every corner of the station lately. It was suffocating. Rawnu’s stomach turned slightly as they watched the usual political, military, and corporate talking points scroll by: victories, ship ads, the promise of “advancements” to be gleaned from Cocijo’s wreckage. All so tidy, so detached from the chaos out there. The bartender suddenly switching the channel was probably the best decision anyone had made all day.

They moved in their seat, glancing at the counter where Jana’s drink sat. Still water. Simple, but maybe that’s all anyone could stomach these days. Rawnu felt the weight of their own reflections pressing in, unspoken words itching to escape but finding no suitable audience. They weren’t sure if someone would care much for talk of principles or pleas for restraint, and besides, tonight wasn’t the time to unload that weight onto anyone else. Not yet.

Rawnu flagged the bartender with a small wave, their voice low and calm. “Just a refill, but this time water,” they said, gesturing toward their empty glass. “And thanks for switching the channel. It’s nice to forget the war for a second, even if it’s still there when you close your eyes.”

They leaned back slightly, letting the sounds of the bar wash over them. Their gaze wandered back to the muted screen, the questions from earlier still gnawing at the edges of their mind. What are we willing to destroy? What will be left of us when this is over?

They didn’t say it aloud, but the thought lingered long after the bartender placed the glass of water in front of them. The liquid caught the dim light, rippling slightly in the glass. It was almost mesmerizing—a fleeting distraction from a galaxy that felt like it was unravelling thread by thread. "Let's go to the hangar", Rawnu thought to themselves, emptying the glass and collecting their belongings.
15 Dec 2024, 7:46pm
I happened to turn around with my - partially empty - water in hand and leaning my back against the counter with a relaxed pose, to see one of those newcomers leaving after some brief glancing my way, with the kind of look that signified interest. Figuring there wouldn't be much of another opportunity to ask, I decided to call out lightly,in as unintrusive a way as I could manage.

"Hey, wait a sec." I briefly paused. "You don't look familiar. New around here?"

It certainly wasn't a face I recognized, despite a couple years around the local cluster of systems.
15 Dec 2024, 11:05pm
Her voice stopped Rawnu in their tracks. So she did notice me, they thought with a light smile. Rawnu turned their head over their should, just a few steps away from the door. Jana Razeki was looking at them, half-full glas of water in hand, leaning against the counter in a relaxed manner. Here goes nothing.

”Familiar might be the operative word. New? Not so much. Name’s Alex Raw’nuruodo, callsign Rawnu. We haven’t met in person but I think we might’ve flown together around Raijin.“ And through some of my old Alliance intelligence contacts I know of that rescue mission, they thought to themselves. There was a brief silence and Rawnu wondered if mentioning a Titan was the best conversation starter, given the situation around Earth that was just on the news – and probably on everyone’s mind anyway.

"You here flying evac missions from Mars High?"

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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.