The World Assembly Strangers' Bar

[Araraukar]

AHUME: (arches an eyebrow) Indeed. So, the president was there. Or I should say, ex-president, she stepped down a couple weeks ago. It was good to see her and Arya together again, and not fighting over... things.

"So, if her mom was there to sit with her, why are you two - especially you - looking like you hadn't caught any sleep while you were gone? Not that I think A- I mean Kay was the only one you wanted to see," Janis added with an impish grin.

[The Puddle Jumping Wads of Wrapper]

"So, if her mom was there to sit with her, why are you two - especially you - looking like you hadn't caught any sleep while you were gone? Not that I think A- I mean Kay was the only one you wanted to see," Janis added with an impish grin.

AHUME: Yes, well, you can imagine the party that went on soon afterward. Elle is, after all, the first of a new generation, the first child of Tollana Gamma. Imagine, after years of watching 99.999% of their population being eradicated.... Anyhow, what a banquet. Kay's connection with the PPU has resulted in incredibly bountiful harvests. We have a few extra tomatoes back in the office, if you're willing. As for the lack of sleep.... (A deep sigh. He quietly lifts the coffee mug to his lips, looks down at it, and puts it down.) He doesn't want to see me anymore.

[Araraukar]

(A deep sigh. He quietly lifts the coffee mug to his lips, looks down at it, and puts it down.) He doesn't want to see me anymore.

Janis's grin vanished. "Is it because your spouses didn't want him added? Or because you live - literally- in very different worlds now?"

[The Puddle Jumping Wads of Wrapper]

(A deep sigh. He quietly lifts the coffee mug to his lips, looks down at it, and puts it down.) He doesn't want to see me anymore.

Janis's grin vanished. "Is it because your spouses didn't want him added? Or because you live - literally- in very different worlds now?"

AHUME: The latter, of course. Adding him to our marriage would be largely ceremonial anyway. The rejection bothered me more than it bothered him. But, he's got so much going on, trying to get his people organized, trying to make a better life, trying to make the shift from a society dominated by science and engineering to one dominated by foraging and foliage. I've become a distraction to him, Janis. So... (deep sigh) ...that's that. (The bartender drops off three cans of Red Taurus.) Thank you. (He opens one and takes a few gulps.) Hmmm. Marginally better than the coffee.

[Wallenburg]

ARI: (He winks at Gerald and smiles.) Well then. Smoking "at" her, you say? Sounds like we need to do a quick experiment.

(Ari grabs the lighted cigar from Ogenbond, puffs it a few times, and blows smoke rings in Ogenbond's face. He then watches closely and waits for a physical reaction.)

Ogenbond screws up his nose and shivers. "Oh, that's...that's unwanted. Ambassador, I know you are just playing around, but I'd rather not be your biology experiment."

He reaches up to his nose, which has already begun to harden. "Okay, calm down, big guy. Don't make a fool out of yourself."

[The Puddle Jumping Wads of Wrapper]

ARI: (He winks at Gerald and smiles.) Well then. Smoking "at" her, you say? Sounds like we need to do a quick experiment.

(Ari grabs the lighted cigar from Ogenbond, puffs it a few times, and blows smoke rings in Ogenbond's face. He then watches closely and waits for a physical reaction.)

Ogenbond screws up his nose and shivers. "Oh, that's...that's unwanted. Ambassador, I know you are just playing around, but I'd rather not be your biology experiment."

He reaches up to his nose, which has already begun to harden. "Okay, calm down, big guy. Don't make a fool out of yourself."

ARI: (bursting out laughing, then holds up his hands) Sorry, I'm sorry, Mikael, I promise, I'll never do that again, I swear. Here, you've been a very good sport. Neville! Whatever the Wallenburgians want, is on me tonight. So, that must be embarrassing for young Wallenburgian men walking down the street when a pretty lady walks by, yes?

[Wallenburg]

ARI: (bursting out laughing, then holds up his hands) Sorry, I'm sorry, Mikael, I promise, I'll never do that again, I swear. Here, you've been a very good sport. Neville! Whatever the Wallenburgians want, is on me tonight. So, that must be embarrassing for young Wallenburgian men walking down the street when a pretty lady walks by, yes?

Ogenbond clears the air out of his nose and shrugs. "Well, it could be. Centuries ago, it wasn't a problem. Everyone who could afford it wore veils or something else to cover the nose. Nowadays, men have to...what's the phrase, Gerald?"

"'Keep it in their pants', sir?"

"Yes, that exactly. Although in our case, it has absolutely nothing to do with pants. In any case, most Wallenburgians are raised better than to become sexually aroused at the mere sight of a handsome young woman."

Mikael notices Gerald grinning at him. "What?" asks Mikael.

"Tell me again how you met Jennifer."

Ogenbond begins to speak, then stops. "Um...that doesn't count. She barely had anything on, anyway. And she thought I was cute. Hey, stop laughing at me!"

[Herby]

An AI that drives! Just like me, I'm an AI! Ehhhhhh in theory anyway.

"Quite amazing what one can do with such technology. Also, You would'nt mind being called an Ancila would you? The empress considers it the correct term for a fully sentient AI."

Ehhhhhh I prefer Herby, thank....

Rila sees the cat and goes to pick it up to hold it.

The Chief Inshpekshuuner shied away, hissed slightly and retreated to a spot on Herby's roof that was well away from her reach. If one was to listen very closely they would've heard it grumbling something about unwanted cuddling under its breath.

Oh. Ehhh. You ehhhh you prolly shouldn't try to pick this one up. Hey Chief, need a bowl of cream or somethin'? I got credit to spare here.

Anyone else for a cheap, low-quality cigar?....Herby, do.... erm, never mind. Oh, by the way, it's a girl. Obviously.

Oh ha ha ha. I have you know that I can wait wait wait WHAT? It's a girl? Congrats you old dog, you're a quasi-step-granddaddy! Heh heh. Come on, man, screw the cigars -- ehhhhh sorry, Ogennose, not literally -- baby pictures, dude, baby pictures!

ARI: Ah ah ah, cigars first, then pictures. (He takes another puff.) Okay, enough of that shit, those things are vile. (He pulls out a tablet and slowly scrolls through pictures, just long enough for an "oooh" or an "aaah", then stops at one of baby, mother and grandmother.) Mmm. Yes. Spitting images of each other, don't you think? She has her mother's eyes, and her grandmother's wrinkles.

Ooooooh. Ahhhhhhh. Ohhhhhhhh. Heh heh, ain't she the cutest li'l thing.

[Araraukar]

(Ari grabs the lighted cigar from Ogenbond, puffs it a few times, and blows smoke rings in Ogenbond's face. He then watches closely and waits for a physical reaction.)

Ogenbond screws up his nose and shivers. "Oh, that's...that's unwanted. Ambassador, I know you are just playing around, but I'd rather not be your biology experiment."

He reaches up to his nose, which has already begun to harden. "Okay, calm down, big guy. Don't make a fool out of yourself."

**I think I found a new toy,** Janis thought to herself, but then focused back on her friend.

AHUME: The latter, of course. Adding him to our marriage would be largely ceremonial anyway. The rejection bothered me more than it bothered him. But, he's got so much going on, trying to get his people organized, trying to make a better life, trying to make the shift from a society dominated by science and engineering to one dominated by foraging and foliage. I've become a distraction to him, Janis. So... (deep sigh) ...that's that. (The bartender drops off three cans of Red Taurus.) Thank you. (He opens one and takes a few gulps.) Hmmm. Marginally better than the coffee.

"I'm sorry," Janis said, feeling slightly out of her debth. Then a memory suddenly made her chuckle. "You know, the last time I told a younger man "he doesn't know what a gem he's passing up on", it was to my son when his first university boyfriend had broken his heart. But I'm telling you the same thing, even with understanding all the reasons. You're worth the world, Ahume, and if he doesn't see it, that's his problem. Now," she went on in her best Stern Mother Voice^TM, "what do you think you're doing, poisoning yourself with that stuff?" She took the other two cans of the bewerage and handed them back to the bartender. "Neville," she said, "a measure of Araraukarian cinnamon liqueur stirred into two measures of your best vodka - and it's not for me, I know that PPU will let me put it on their tab."

From her satchel Janis carefully pulled a small metal flask, and then put on latex gloves before uncorking it. She was careful not to inhale above the open flask, and when the drink arrived, she detached a wooden spoon from the side of the flask, measured 2 spoonfuls of the oily liquid into the glass and stirred it, then cleaned the spoon, re-corked the flask and returned both them and the gloves into her satchel, before pushing the drink along the bar counter in front of Ahume.

"There. Guaranteed to keep you awake for the rest of the day, make you sleep solidly the following night and - if you're among the lucky ones - will let you wake up with your sleep debt erased. Just best to make sure you don't wander outside the Bar with it."

[WA Kitty Kops]

Oh. Ehhh. You ehhhh you prolly shouldn't try to pick this one up. Hey Chief, need a bowl of cream or somethin'? I got credit to spare here.

"Cream would be nice indeed," the cat said quietly amidst his purring. "And I knows I lost the bet. Silly humans having single babies."

[Imperium Anglorum]

**I think I found a new toy,** Janis thought to herself, but then focused back on her friend.

Parsons throws a self-made knitted cat toy past Janis.

[The Puddle Jumping Wads of Wrapper]

"Neville," she said, "a measure of Araraukarian cinnamon liqueur stirred into two measures of your best vodka - and it's not for me, I know that PPU will let me put it on their tab."

From her satchel Janis carefully pulled a small metal flask, and then put on latex gloves before uncorking it. She was careful not to inhale above the open flask, and when the drink arrived, she detached a wooden spoon from the side of the flask, measured 2 spoonfuls of the oily liquid into the glass and stirred it, then cleaned the spoon, re-corked the flask and returned both them and the gloves into her satchel, before pushing the drink along the bar counter in front of Ahume.

"There. Guaranteed to keep you awake for the rest of the day, make you sleep solidly the following night and - if you're among the lucky ones - will let you wake up with your sleep debt erased. Just best to make sure you don't wander outside the Bar with it."

AHUME: (arches an eyebrow, shrugs and takes a swig) Mmm. Yes. That's much worse than the coffee, thank you.

Ooooooh. Ahhhhhhh. Ohhhhhhhh. Heh heh, ain't she the cutest li'l thing.

ARI: Yes, and you should see how the Tollans fawn over her. The next generation, the firstborn of Tollana Gamma. Like she's a princess or something.

[Araraukar]

AHUME: (arches an eyebrow, shrugs and takes a swig) Mmm. Yes. That's much worse than the coffee, thank you.

"Normally I wouldn't give that stuff to anyone but an Araraukarian with the right genetic makeup," Janis explained cheerily, "but I figured that it can't poison you as long as you drink it within the effect area of the weapons nullifiers."

Parsons throws a self-made knitted cat toy past Janis.

OOC: Pfft at copying my TGs, mister kitty-hisser, and also I actually make those toys.

[The Puddle Jumping Wads of Wrapper]

AHUME: (arches an eyebrow, shrugs and takes a swig) Mmm. Yes. That's much worse than the coffee, thank you.

"Normally I wouldn't give that stuff to anyone but an Araraukarian with the right genetic makeup," Janis explained cheerily, "but I figured that it can't poison you as long as you drink it within the effect area of the weapons nullifiers."

AHUME: Mmm hmm. Taking lessons from Ambassador Bell I see. (He takes another swig, winces at first, but then smiles.) Mmm. Why, yes, I feel poisoned, I mean, more awake, already. So, what's in the flask? (He sniffs the drink.) Wait, let me guess. A potent but lethal plant extract? Or a secretion from some exotic creature's orifice? (He sniffs it again and takes another taste.)

[Araraukar]

AHUME: Mmm hmm. Taking lessons from Ambassador Bell I see. (He takes another swig, winces at first, but then smiles.) Mmm. Why, yes, I feel poisoned, I mean, more awake, already. So, what's in the flask? (He sniffs the drink.) Wait, let me guess. A potent but lethal plant extract? Or a secretion from some exotic creature's orifice? (He sniffs it again and takes another taste.)

"Plant extract," Janis said with a grin, "but only potentially lethal. It's an old folks remedy back home. These days illegal, of course, but the law fortunately states that possessing it is illegal within the borders of Araraukar, so I'm safe as long as I don't take it home with me. The PPU hivemind cooked up some for me, after I brought them samples of the plants that are used for the brew."

[Imperium Anglorum]

Parsons throws a self-made knitted cat toy past Janis.

OOC: Pfft at copying my TGs, mister kitty-hisser, and also I actually make those toys.

OOC: HISS! Heheheheheh. You figure out whether that tag makes sense or not!

[Sierra Lyricalia]

"So let me get this straight. Your dear friend and protege has a child - literally grows a new person inside of her, forcibly extracts it, and shows it to you, beaming until her face hurts - and mind you, this is someone we all know and came to respect quite highly, whatever her... transgressions..." Steph clears her throat quickly, trying not to get bogged down in an argument about radical pacifism. She continues, "...and for all that: you remembered to bring us cigars - but not pictures?!?"

ARI: Ah ah ah, cigars first, then pictures. (He takes another puff.) Okay, enough of that shit, those things are vile. (He pulls out a tablet and slowly scrolls through pictures, just long enough for an "oooh" or an "aaah", then stops at one of baby, mother and grandmother.) Mmm. Yes. Spitting images of each other, don't you think? She has her mother's eyes, and her grandmother's wrinkles.

"Dawww, lookit the little thing. She's even flipping you the bird!" Steph grins as she puffs some more. "If I have something delivered to your office, you can make it find its way there, yeh? Gotta make a good choice. Whaddaya think - Baby's First Ballistically Accurate Mobile? Or Sabo-Tabby the Agitprop Kitty?"

[The Puddle Jumping Wads of Wrapper]

"Dawww, lookit the little thing. She's even flipping you the bird!" Steph grins as she puffs some more. "If I have something delivered to your office, you can make it find its way there, yeh? Gotta make a good choice. Whaddaya think - Baby's First Ballistically Accurate Mobile? Or Sabo-Tabby the Agitprop Kitty?"

ARI: Ballistically Acc... I'd go with the latter.

"Plant extract," Janis said with a grin, "but only potentially lethal. It's an old folks remedy back home. These days illegal, of course, but the law fortunately states that possessing it is illegal within the borders of Araraukar, so I'm safe as long as I don't take it home with me. The PPU hivemind cooked up some for me, after I brought them samples of the plants that are used for the brew."

AHUME: Well then. Down the hatch. (He empties it into his mouth.) Urgh. Thank you, my friend. I suppose I'll give it a little time before I risk leaving the... ummm... hang on.

(He runs in the direction of the bathrooms.)

[Araraukar]

AHUME: Well then. Down the hatch. (He empties it into his mouth.) Urgh. Thank you, my friend. I suppose I'll give it a little time before I risk leaving the... ummm... hang on.

(He runs in the direction of the bathrooms.)

Janis raised an eyebrow and then turned to Neville. "Show me one of the cans of the Red Taurus, I want to check the ingredients label. Maybe there's some combination effect I didn't think of." She received one can and started to absent-mindedly read the label. **And if there is, I want to know which ingredient causes it, so the effect can be reproduced intentionally,** she thought.

OOC: She can be a real troll sometimes. She wouldn't intentionally troll people she likes, like Ahume or Bell, but others might be wise not to accept any strange drinks from her.

[Herby]

Oh. Ehhh. You ehhhh you prolly shouldn't try to pick this one up. Hey Chief, need a bowl of cream or somethin'? I got credit to spare here.

"Cream would be nice indeed," the cat said quietly amidst his purring. "And I knows I lost the bet. Silly humans having single babies."

You got it. But ehhhhh ooooooh oooooh she's bein' distracted by the obscene sounds of spewage, now's your chance, go sing!

[Whovian Tardisia]

Pink having once again fallen asleep, is awoken by the smell of cigarette smoke. Coughing, he looks upwards, and notices a sign he's never seen before. *I didn't know we had a dining room.* he thinks, as he follows the arrow, hoping to escape the slightly offending smoke. K-9 chooses this moment to realize there is a cat on Herby's roof. He growls at it, tail antenna dead still and stuck out straight.

[Separatist Peoples]

"Dawww, lookit the little thing. She's even flipping you the bird!" Steph grins as she puffs some more. "If I have something delivered to your office, you can make it find its way there, yeh? Gotta make a good choice. Whaddaya think - Baby's First Ballistically Accurate Mobile? Or Sabo-Tabby the Agitprop Kitty?"

Bell just stares at Steph. "I don't know if this counts as treason, but can I defect to your country? Those children's toys sound way better than anything Fischer-Prince or Harsbro is making."

[Taigawa]

"Quite amazing what one can do with such technology. Also, You would'nt mind being called an Ancila would you? The empress considers it the correct term for a fully sentient AI."

Ehhhhhh I prefer Herby, thank....

The Chief Inshpekshuuner shied away, hissed slightly and retreated to a spot on Herby's roof that was well away from her reach. If one was to listen very closely they would've heard it grumbling something about unwanted cuddling under its breath.

Oh. Ehhh. You ehhhh you prolly shouldn't try to pick this one up. Hey Chief, need a bowl of cream or somethin'? I got credit to spare here.

Anyone else for a cheap, low-quality cigar?....Herby, do.... erm, never mind. Oh, by the way, it's a girl. Obviously.

Oh ha ha ha. I have you know that I can wait wait wait WHAT? It's a girl? Congrats you old dog, you're a quasi-step-granddaddy! Heh heh. Come on, man, screw the cigars -- ehhhhh sorry, Ogennose, not literally -- baby pictures, dude, baby pictures!

ARI: Ah ah ah, cigars first, then pictures. (He takes another puff.) Okay, enough of that shit, those things are vile. (He pulls out a tablet and slowly scrolls through pictures, just long enough for an "oooh" or an "aaah", then stops at one of baby, mother and grandmother.) Mmm. Yes. Spitting images of each other, don't you think? She has her mother's eyes, and her grandmother's wrinkles.

Ooooooh. Ahhhhhhh. Ohhhhhhhh. Heh heh, ain't she the cutest li'l thing.

It's not a name like you and I know. It is a Foreunner designation for a fully sentient AI."

[Araraukar]

Bell just stares at Steph. "I don't know if this counts as treason, but can I defect to your country? Those children's toys sound way better than anything Fischer-Prince or Harsbro is making."

"Maybe you should start dropping hints of which one you want, when your birthday is coming up?"

[Separatist Peoples]

Bell just stares at Steph. "I don't know if this counts as treason, but can I defect to your country? Those children's toys sound way better than anything Fischer-Prince or Harsbro is making."

"Maybe you should start dropping hints of which one you want, when your birthday is coming up?"

"Oh, that's easy. I want one of those rocket pistols like Steph has. I'm a fan of a good ol' fashioned .40 service sidearm, but who can say no to something called a rocket pistol? It has rocket and pistol together in the name."