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.
19 Jul 2021, 12:37pm
Veronica chuckles at Ridge's comment, then has another big gulp of her beer, almost finishing the glass. She stands and waves to the bartender.

"Can we 'ave the same again 'ere, please?"

The bartender nods. Before sitting down, Veronica turns to look at the image in the booth behind her.

"'Sostia Adumambwe'," she reads out, "'as Katie Minola in The Shrew, 'er only 'olovid'."

Veronica retakes her seat as the bartender brings the next round of drinks.
19 Jul 2021, 12:47pm
Michael settles in, taking a long sip of his brew.

"And what about you, Miss Vayle? What roles have you played?"
19 Jul 2021, 1:39pm
As she finishes her first beer, Veronica holds Ridge's gaze over the rim of her glass.

"Well, now," she says, exchanging the empty glass for the newly arrived full one. "Took you long enough to get round to askin', didn't it? I was beginnin' to think you 'adn't noticed the wig an' the false name an' the faked accent. Not to mention the clown suit."

She takes a measured swallow from her second beer.
19 Jul 2021, 2:01pm
Ridge shrugged.

"After waking up with a wicked hangover and a couple years' worth of selective memory loss, I guess it all sort of blended in. But I'm serious."

He leans forward, his eyes meeting hers, a roguish smile lifting his lips.

"What kind of woman did I just entrust myself to?"


Last edit: 19 Jul 2021, 4:58pm
19 Jul 2021, 3:34pm
Veronica leans forward in return, so that her face is barely inches away from Ridge's
She stares into his eyes for several seconds, a faint smile flickering on her lips.

"A clever one," she replies at last, her voice a mere whisper, "who's used to keepin 'er business to 'erself."

She leans back in her seat, then shrugs.

"All right. I trick people into givin' me money. Nothin' big, nothin' major. A few 'undred 'ere, a couple of grand there, nothin' major. It's really more of an 'obby. I do it because it gives me pleasure. The disguises are all part of the fun. The wigs, the names, the accents. The clown suits."

Veronica takes a sip of her beer.

"You remember the black outfit I was wearin' in the cafe? I'd worn that the day before, runnin' a quick scam in a bar. I was Rippleah Palmerham, the recently bereaved widow of a miner with a claim to sell. The mark didn't bite, but you can't expect to win 'em all. I nearly 'ad 'er, though, but the silly cow offered me a job instead. All she wanted me to do was sit in the bar an' keep my eyes open for someone she was lookin' for. Simple surveillance, an' borin' as 'ell. I turned it down, of course. Waste of my time. Instead I left the bar an' went down to the docks... which, as we've worked out, is where you an' I met."

Veronica wrinkles her nose at Ridge, then gulps down another mouthful of beer.
19 Jul 2021, 3:54pm
Slowly, Michael nods.

"Well, that... helps everything else about the whole day make sense. But here's the thing: grifters don't cop to their grift unless there's something in it for them."

He takes another sip.

"Now, don't get me wrong. It's been a hell of a day and I appreciate everything you've done. It's obvious that you and I got mixed up together... somehow. But... having said all that... I still don't really know you, Miss Veronica Vayle. At least, not any more."

A hard smile lifts his lips.

"So what is it that you want?"


Last edit: 19 Jul 2021, 4:03pm
19 Jul 2021, 4:19pm
A dark, angry frown suddenly appears on Veronica's face. She lets out a short, humourless laugh.

"Isn't it bloody obvious? I want to fill in the gap in my memory. I want to know what I did, an' where I went. I want to know why some bugger felt it necessary to fuck about with my memory. I want the same as you do, Ridge. You an' me are in the same bleedin' boat, an' I want to know who it was who took us for a ride an' then made us forget all about it. That, Mister Michael Ridge, is what I want!"

Veronica downs the rest of her beer in one go.

"An' that's what's in it for me."
19 Jul 2021, 4:26pm
Michael looks down at his beer, swirling it in its glass, taking another long sip.

"Yeah," he says. "Me too. But a man like me meets a woman like you and just... can't... help but to wonder if I was your latest grift. Or if we bit off more than we can chew. Or what the hell we were doing with the Inquisition."

He holds up a warning finger. "But if you think you're the only one at this table who's ever copped to a low-level grift just to pull off a greater one, you're mistaken. I want to trust you, Vayle. But maybe I made that mistake once already."
19 Jul 2021, 5:11pm
"I see," says Veronica softly, nodding. "I see."

She leans forward, blinking slowly and smiling gently at Ridge. She reaches forward and delicately takes hold of the man's finger, then raises it to her lips and kisses it, looking Ridge in the eye all the while.

"The next time you wag this finger at me like that," she says in a soft but intense whisper, "I will break it. But for now, you can take your finger and shove it up your arse. It'll be nice company for yer brain."

Veronica then abruptly jumps to her feet, an expression of outrage now on her face.

"What did you just call me?" she yells at Ridge. The room falls silent as the patrons turn to see what's going on. "How dare you speak to me like that! I've never been so insulted in all my life! The wedding is off! Goodbye!"

Veronica stalks away from the booth. "He's payin' for the drinks!" she calls to the bartender, then leaves the bar.
19 Jul 2021, 6:32pm
The whole room is staring at Ridge, who feels preternaturally at peace with how things played out. He reclines in his seat, tasking a long sip, watching the woman leave. People return to their drinks.

Hell, maybe I'm the one who deep-sixxed my memories.

Ridge finishes his beer.
19 Jul 2021, 7:29pm
Veronica walks away from Citi Pritti. Her first dozen or so steps are brisk, but then they slow until, a few metres further on, she stops altogether.

She turns and looks back towards the Citi Pritti bar doors, and waits...

"Bugger," she says after a few minutes. She turns away again, her head bowed, then wanders off to find another bar.
19 Jul 2021, 9:23pm
(A short while later)

Michael Ridge emerges from the bar, alone amid the Entertainment District crowds. He looks around, half-wondering if he'll catch sight of Veronica. He does not. The man takes a deep breath

So what if she helped you? Lies. Disguises. Grifts. Dodged a bullet no matter what your history was.

He shakes his head, walking away, now only a face in the crowd.

Even if that dress did fit pretty damn well...


Last edit: 21 Jul 2021, 2:01am
20 Jul 2021, 2:30pm
(Several hours later...)

An insistent beeping rouses Veronica Vayle from a deep slumber. She is aboard the Smelly Egg, lying in her underwear on her bunk. Her Remlok flightsuit and jacket lie in crumpled heaps on the deck.

The beeping from Veronica's dataslate continues. Still flat on her back, Veronica reaches for the device and gives it a tap, holding it above her head in order to read the display. It is an incoming call, voice only. The voice is male, and familiar.

"Ronni? It's me."

"Toby?" Veronica sits upright in shock.

"Listen, Ronni. I broke out of the nick. I'm here, on Citi Gateway. I'm right outside your ship. I need help. Come down, quick."

"Yeah, of course. I'll get dressed an'--"

"No! There isn't time. Just come as you are. It'll be okay. It's not like I haven't seen it all before. Please, Ronni."

"All right."

Veronica dashes out of her stateroom and along the corridor to the exit hatch. She cautiously descends the ladder to the deck of the hangar. There is no sign of Toby Lurrowswick, Veronica's old boss - and lover - from her days in the London police.

"Toby?" Veronica calls out. "Toby, where are you?"

"Over here," comes the reply from the shadows. "Near the lifts."

Veronica jogs across the hangar to the lifts, one of which is invitingly open.

"Take the lift, Ronni," says Toby's voice from the dataslate in Veronica's hand. "I'm waiting for you. Hurry."

Veronica steps into the lift. The doors close and the lift ascends. Seconds later Veronica finds herself standing on the upper deck. She takes a few steps, looking for Toby. She hears his voice from her dataslate once again, speaking in urgent, desperate tones.

"Ronni, we can't talk here. Go to the Entertainment District."

"Toby, I'm in my bloody underwear! I can't--"

"You can! Head for the Entertainment District, Ronni. Watch out for me there. You'll be all right. You know you can trust me."

Barefoot, Veronica makes her way to the Entertainment District, watching for the first glimpse of Toby. But the mall is crowded with people, making progress slow.

"Go to the nightclub, Ronni," urges Toby's voice from the dataslate. "I'll explain everything once we're inside."

The queue for the nightclub is enormous. Dozens and dozens of people stand in a line which snakes along the mall for hundreds of metres. They are all wearing Maverick suits.

Joining the end of the queue, Veronica finds herself outside the Citi Pritti bar. Through the window she can discern the figures of Kenji Tanaka and Carter Stanningley, sitting in a booth under an image of Rebekka Thorne.

Veronica feels the tap of a finger on her shoulder. She turns to find Sosti Adumambwe, proffering a feather earring.

"You dropped this, Veronica," says the holovid star.

Veronica takes the earring and fixes it to her left ear. She checks her own reflection in the window of the Citi Pritti. Her black halterneck corset top, emblazoned with crimson skulls, is a snug fit. The black-and-white tartan skirt flaps in the breeze against her thighs. Her ripped red fishnet tights and block-heeled black ankle boots accentuate her legs.

Her head is completely shaven, except for the thick plait of green hair which grows from the very top. Her makeup is garishly elaborate, with deep purple eyeshadow, pink-blushed cheeks and bright blue lips. She has no eyebrows, and her eyes are golden coloured.

Around her waist is a steel belt, welded in place. Firmly attached to the belt is a short length of chunky silver chain. At the other end of the chain is Michael Ridge, his attire and makeup identical to Veronica's, the ends of their plaits woven into one.

"Ronni."

Veronica and Ridge turn as one to find Toby Lurrowswick standing behind them in the queue. He is wearing orange prison fatigues and a fedora.

"Stop pissin' in the wind, Ronni," he says, holding up a warning finger to her.

"You is old," intones Veronica in reply. She turns to Michael and smiles serenely. They lean toward one another, puckering up. Then, just as their blue-painted lips are about to touch...

Veronica wakes up with a start, breathing heavily.

She is aboard the Smelly Egg, lying in her underwear on her bunk. Her Remlok flightsuit and jacket lie in crumpled heaps on the deck.

Her dataslate is beeping...
20 Jul 2021, 6:32pm
The door to the room slides shut behind Michael, it's surroundings now seemingly drab and dull. A half-drank bottle of something strong is held loosely in his hand, barely set down without spilling. He collapses upon the bunk, pulling off his boots with more effort than usual, and looking around himself. He could almost see Veronica standing before him, making some smartassed quip or another. He glances to his side, almost seeing her laying back and resting. The man shakes his head.

Stupid.

He turns to pick up his dataslate, accessing Citi's local datanet. Focusing is difficult, but a brief perusal of the jobs available either assumes that one had their own ship, or that one was bonded with the Pilots Federation.

Michael has and is not either of those things.

Stupid.

He closes out his dataslate and tosses it aside. He'll have to go to the crew commons in person, chatting up ship captains, explaining his situation, putting out his own solicitations and essentially begging for work in a professional manner.

Stupid.

Michael Paxton Ridge is a captain without a ship, with more questions than answers, and for whom returning to his home planet simply isn't an option. The closest thing he has to a friend is an admitted grifter whose relationship with everyday truth was casual at best. And worse, he doesn't even know why his ship was missing. Ridge leans forward, rubbing his eyes and exhaling a long, ragged sigh.

Stupid.

Michael reaches out for the bottle...


Last edit: 21 Jul 2021, 2:02am
20 Jul 2021, 9:31pm
Veronica, wearing a pair of grey cargo pants, boots, and a black vest top under her blue-trimmed pilot jacket, deboards the Smelly Egg and crosses the hangar. She takes the lift up to the terminal building, and from there makes her way to the Starlight Estates hab-block complex.

Soon she is standing outside the temporary residence of Michael Ridge. She presses the buzzer by the door.

No answer.

She presses the buzzer again, for longer this time. Again there is no answer. Forgoing a third attempt with the buzzer, Veronica hammers on the door with her fist as hard as she can.

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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.