Elite roleplay: Citi Gateway

CITI GATEWAY

The Orbis station is a center of activity. Within the station a myriad of places can be found.
  • The Warrens: Where the poor plebs of the station live. It's is a breeding ground for the most unscrupulous. Keep an eye on your wallet when traversing the corridors of these areas.
  • Habitation Complex: For those workers and pilots that can afford it, this area provides closer to 1G gravity for more earth like living.
  • Commerce Divison: and Administration Where the larger corporations make their home. Station administration can be found here.
  • Industrial Complex: Where industry manufactures their various goods.
  • Entertainment: District Bars, theaters and night clubs, tattoo parlors and other establishments can be found vying for a commanders credits in exchange for a bit of fun.
  • Station Security: A high tech brig used to house law breakers until they can be tried, and or deported off station.
  • Medical Ward: Where commanders can get patched up, enhanced, or fix existing cybernetics.

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.
04 May 2017, 12:11am
Phisto stood and followed Isaiah.  Crushing his cup into a ball, he leaned back on his right foot and tossed it into the bin.  Throwing his hands up in the air in mock victory he spun on his heel in a circle.  Looking around, he cracked a grin.  "Yeah, they wouldn't know a good time if it hit them in the face."

He stepped ahead of Isaiah and moved to the exit.  Swinging the door open he lept onto the walkway outside.  Spinning around, his suit jacket flying up in the air, he smartly stopped to face Isaiah.  He lifted his arms in the air pointing to the right and the left.  "If you're going wander you need to practice."  Phisto grinned wide and dipped his forehead, narrowing his eyes playfully.

"Choose."


Last edit: 04 May 2017, 4:04am
05 May 2017, 4:59am
"Left," Isaiah said, tilting his head in the direction he'd indicated. "Not quite ready to go to the docks. Take a stroll along the observation deck instead."

The two walked along the thoroughfare, through the bustling crowds and vendors. The air was rich with the scents of civilization - food, rare fragrances, all manner of other smells that Isaiah couldn't quite place. The station was alive.

"I'm gonna miss this," he said - more to himself than to Phisto. "Society. The comfort it brings. Superficial in the end, but comfort nonetheless."
05 May 2017, 1:16pm
"The observation deck?" Phisto said. "Great idea."  He matched pace with Isaiah and followed his lead.  Walking along, Phisto curiously listened to his friend's musings.  He nodded in response and said nothing.  He felt it best to keep quiet.

Superficial comfort?  It can be pretty damn nice at times.  In the final toiling though authenticity goes much further.

He reached out and patted Isaiah on the shoulder.


Last edit: 05 May 2017, 4:00pm
05 May 2017, 10:25pm
He flinched at the hand on his shoulder, his head quickly shooting to the side - but stopping short of giving Phisto a look.

Were it anyone else, they'd lose that hand.

The observation deck wasn't crowded, but it wasn't empty either. Kids shuffled about with parents, pointing to distant stars or to the water world below. Isaiah looked on as what appeared to be a group of students huddled around, looking down at the ships entering and exiting the docking bay. 

The telltale whoosh-bang-pew-pew-pew! of another child making the sounds of battle echoed from another corner of the deck. His eyes found the source - a young girl playing with a Cobra, no doubt fighting pirates or mercenaries in her imagination. Behind the little girl, a grizzled old man sat, his eyes tired but sharp. Grandfather?

Isaiah's gaze met his. The man smirked slightly, then gave a nod of his head as if to say yup, this is my granddaughter, and I feel no shame at telling her stories of my own exploits.

"Do you have kids, Phisto?" Isaiah asked.
05 May 2017, 11:05pm
As Isaiah's shoulder dropped and his head snapped, Phisto popped his hand up off his shoulder and non-nonchalantly brought it down to his side.  Not bothering to catch Isaiah's face, Phisto concluded any possible incoming expression was likely unpleasant.  Bit touchy, it seems.  As Isaiah turned his attention to the observation deck and the sounds of the crowd ahead, Phisto tilted his head at him and chuckled too softly for anyone to hear.  Don't not say that out-loud.

Stepping up to the deck, Phisto grinned wide as he took in the view.  Ignoring the commotion around him, his chest filled with wonder at the rich, blue world hanging among the countless stars.  He shook his head and looked down at his feet.  Bringing his hand up to his scalp and scratching down to the base of his neck, he looked back up at the stars.  Eyes lost in thought, he smiled again.

"...have kids, Phisto?"

Phisto turned to the source of the question, a bit of annoyance prickling his demeanor.  Quickly realizing it was Isaiah speaking to him he suppressed the feeling.  Shaking his head, he looked at the child playing with the toy Cobra.  "Nope, afraid not.  You?"
05 May 2017, 11:26pm
"Not for a lack of trying," Isaiah said with a halfhearted smirk, lowering his head. He flexed his hands, watching as the knuckles tightened under the skin until they went white.

"My wife and I, we were... well, trying. Or at least that was the impression I got. Right up until the war happened, as it turned out." He relaxed his curled fists, looking back up and out through the viewport into the stars beyond. "Things are never so good as they are right before they fall apart," he said quietly. "In hindsight, it's a good thing I didn't have a kid. I'd be a terrible father, what with being what I am."
05 May 2017, 11:42pm
"I never knew my father or mother. Got no real example to look back on. Sure, everyone says new parents don't know what they doing anyway so what's it matter?" Phisto put his hands behind his back and continued to stare out the observation window. "But I got the same concern you do. Being what I am, just wouldn't be fair to the child or their mother."

Phisto shook his head and laughed. "Hell, I'd have to find a woman willing to put up with my bullshit, first off. I'm fun, easy going, but as more than a few have so kindly pointed out I'm not exactly take home to mom material." He turned from the planet and stars above and looked at Isaiah. "What was her name? Your wife, I mean?"
05 May 2017, 11:55pm
"Natalia," he said, barely above a whisper. Quickly clearing his throat, he repeated the name a little louder, drawing in a deep breath. "I knew her by a different name, mind. She was..."

He stopped himself, being transported back to a time only a few short years ago. 

Are you aware that your wife is an Imperial Intelligence deep-cover agent?

No! Of course not! What are you talking about?!

"She made me question a lot about myself. About what I thought was real and true." His mood had darkened, a shadow crossing his features. That wound still ached, despite his best efforts to conceal it and treat the pain. 

"I killed her, you know," he said matter-of-factly. "Maybe I never mentioned that part in our conversations." A knot formed in his throat, and he swallowed hard, tears threatening to burst from the corners of his eyes. "She did something that,at the time, I could never forgive her for. She played a part in what happened to home. My father, my brother, her. They were the ones, no matter what the Galnet feeds say."

He let out a long, shaking sigh. 

"It wasn't until after it all ended, after I had time to sit and think and reflect and put the pieces together that I realized something. She didn't want that - for me, for herself, for both of us. Somewhere along the line she wasn't simply following orders or doing her job, whatever it was. There were things she did in the days leading up to the outbreak of the war that made me realize how much she actually cared."

His mouth felt dry, and he licked his lips, stopping himself.

"Sorry. Not like me to spill my thoughts out quite like this."
06 May 2017, 12:11am
"It's ok," Phisto said.  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to dredge up anything painful."  He shook his head slowly and looked up at the observation deck.

You idiot, Phisto.  He always spoke of her like it was part of his past.  What kind of story were you expecting?

Turning back to Isaiah, "I appreciate you sharing that with me, all the same.  It's a good thing to do."  Phisto waited several moments, not wanting to press too hard or too quickly.  Part of the story stood out to him.  "What did you mean, "actually cared?"  About herself, her cause?  Or am I missing something?"
06 May 2017, 12:16am
"About me."

He let the words hang for a moment, biting back on the wave of emotion that washed over him.

"She worked hard at her job - the one I'd always known her to have. Creative consultant at a huge advertising firm. Always on the go, so we never really got as much time together as we--I liked. But in the month or so before the war, she made a point of doing things that I should've not dismissed so quickly."

He turned to Phisto, making a slight gesture with his head. "Walk with me. I'll try my best to explain just what kind of woman she was, if you'll listen."
06 May 2017, 12:35am
"Yeah, of course." Phisto returned Isaiah's head nod. "Lead the way."

As they stepped forward Phisto felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up and a lump rise in his throat. Isaiah was laying out his soul to him and Phisto couldn't quite place why it made him so nervous. Travelling from one end of the bubble to the other Phisto met all kinds of people. He had his share of friends, enemies, and lovers, just like anyone else in the universe. Phisto wracked his brain. What was it about this one that dug at him so? He thought back before his space travels. Maybe there was a clue somewhere back from his home...

Speed. Water. A crash.

Desperate to hide himself, he slowed slightly off Isaiah's pace. He quickly wiped away the moisture growing under his eyes.

Nat. He reminds me of Nat.
06 May 2017, 12:49am
Isaiah's steps slowed, and he turned on his heel to face Phisto. He caught the tail end of his hands moving under his eyes - sadness? 

He'd only confided the story to people he felt worthy of hearing it - although he'd once tried to make a point with it to Lilith some months earlier, back during her troubles. There was always a price to be paid. He'd been consumed by the need for vengeance, and in the process he'd ignored the obvious signs of regret and concern in his wife's actions. He convinced himself she wanted him to die, that she'd never cared for him, when the opposite had been true all along.

"You okay there?" Isaiah managed a slight grin, inclining his head towards Phisto, eyebrows lifted in concern. 
06 May 2017, 12:53am
Shit.  SHIT.

Phisto sniffed and rubbed his face again. "Yeah, just... got something caught."  He breathed in deeply, opening his eyes wide to make a show of it.  Warmth built in his cheeks, his embarrassment rising, but the lump in the throat was gone and the hair on his neck had calmed.  "Go on, I'm good now."
06 May 2017, 1:12am
"Caught. Right." Isaiah shrugged his shoulders, the grin still present on his features. "Didn't take you for a sentimental type, Phisto. Learn something new every day, huh?"

Waiting for Phisto to collect himself, he continued on a pace or two ahead. 

"She was clever, my wife. She liked to play practical jokes from time to time, used to catch me on the patio at home and drop ice down my shirt just to watch me panic and flail," he said, smiling to himself. "Then she'd use it as an excuse to get my shirt off and..." he added, chuckling. "You get the idea."

He tucked his hands into his jacket pockets, continuing to reflect on the life he shared with Natalia.

"She knew me. She had this way of working her way into my heart and soul. She was the only person who ever saw me at my weakest and never judged. And her voice, so soft and quiet. Kind eyes, the sort that I couldn't tear my own away from when she was watching me."

Even though he'd spent time with Caitlin, he still yearned for Natalia, still sought her touch and her warmth. That was what hurt him the most - knowing he and he alone had removed such a wonderful being from existence.

"If they exist, Natalia was the closest thing to an angel - in my eyes, at least." He inhaled shakily, pursing his lips together. "And my greatest sin, the one I can't wash my hands of - even if I wanted to - is knowing that I took her life. She has haunted me ever since."
06 May 2017, 2:08am
Sentimental type?  Yeah, something like that.

Having regained his composure Phisto was relieved Isaiah stayed a couple steps ahead.  Inside his emotions were a wreck and he couldn't guarantee they wouldn't bubble back to the surface.  Flexing his right hand into a fist and releasing it, he exhaled and picked up his pace.  Side by side with Isaiah now, Phisto shoved his feelings down one more time and focused intently on Isaiah.  As he listened, Phisto felt a familiar buzz in his head.  "Why did you kill her?  I  mean, you said she played a part, but what exactly?"

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ROLEPLAY ONLY! Respect the universe settings!
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