The World Assembly Strangers' Bar

[Sierra Lyricalia]

Harrison Raiken edges into the bar, uncertainly. Alcohol wasn't exactly his cup of tea - tea was. He stands rigidly still in the doorway, surveying the area. To him (at least at the moment) it appears a gross mess. Raiken shakes his head, and begins to back out, unsure why he even came. An unwieldy force is slammed into his back, leaving him sprawled on the floor. "HELLO, MY FRIENDS!" shouts his boisterous cousin, Jon. Of course, Jon knew nobody there, and nobody knew him. That's what happens when you drink all the vodka before even getting to the bar. Raiken, embarrassed, now had to stay. The eyes were on him and Jon. He clears his throat.

"Hello, I'm looking for Ambassador Hugh Janus, and was told that I-"

He was interrupted by the roar of laughter from Jon, although it didn't matter. Raiken had trailed off anyways, realizing how horribly he'd been tricked. To be embarrassed in front of so many diplomats and figures of notoriety... Well, maybe he needed a drink. It had been a while after all...

Leo smirks slightly, then composes himself. Wonder what would happen if... he thinks to himself. Making a decision, he stands up from his barstool a few seats away from where Bell and the old-timer/newcomer are reminiscing, and takes a few steps toward the poor flailing fellow on the floor by the door - pointedly ignoring the loudmouth who'd knocked the man over.

"Speaking!" he says loudly, raising his glass toward the man. "Join me for a drink? The barkeep has a rather solid mezcal selection; this one's quite satisfactory. Though," Leo continues, "my name really is Jænus, like 'ran this,' rather than Jaynus. No biggie, however. So what'll it be?"

[Ainocra]

Alcon chuckles. "Bell you look like you've seen a ghost, then again maybe you have seeing as how they didn't offer me any trouble." Sipping his scotch he mutters "Perhaps I am a ghost."
Setting the glass down he looks Bell up and down. "How have you been?"

Bell shakes the good ambassador's hand vigorously "It is so good to see you, my friend! I have been well enough. I remain the bastion of debauchery in this old place when Senator Sulla isn't taking the stage. Who has been appearing more regularly of late! I am afraid most of the old guard has moved on to bigger, better things. The lucky bastards."

"Debauchery? Here?" Alcon smirks knowingly "Say is isn't so." Concealing a snicker Alcon watches the supposed Ambassador Janus raise his glass. "I wonder if the lad in the door actually expected an answer?"

[Untecna]

Harrison Raiken edges into the bar, uncertainly. Alcohol wasn't exactly his cup of tea - tea was. He stands rigidly still in the doorway, surveying the area. To him (at least at the moment) it appears a gross mess. Raiken shakes his head, and begins to back out, unsure why he even came. An unwieldy force is slammed into his back, leaving him sprawled on the floor. "HELLO, MY FRIENDS!" shouts his boisterous cousin, Jon. Of course, Jon knew nobody there, and nobody knew him. That's what happens when you drink all the vodka before even getting to the bar. Raiken, embarrassed, now had to stay. The eyes were on him and Jon. He clears his throat.

"Hello, I'm looking for Ambassador Hugh Janus, and was told that I-"

He was interrupted by the roar of laughter from Jon, although it didn't matter. Raiken had trailed off anyways, realizing how horribly he'd been tricked. To be embarrassed in front of so many diplomats and figures of notoriety... Well, maybe he needed a drink. It had been a while after all...

"Congratulations, stranger, you seem to have made some form of joke." Ambassador Iliana does not seem particularly amused by whatever Jon is laughing at, since Raiken would not have done anything to joke. "I'd be willing to help though", she says as she sips on her morning coffee, which at this point is several hours old. "Perhaps you could introduce yourself though?"

[American Pere Housh]

CCD Imperial Senator Isabella Stuart-Jones walks into the bar wear an old leather bombers jacket with APH's flag on her right upper sleeve and the CCD flag on her left upper sleeve. She glances around looking at all the patron inside the bar before shrugging her shoulders and heading to the bar, "I'll have one Heineken please." The bartender handed her a cold beer and she payed him. Izzy pops open the bottle and takes a sip. She left Abigail and August with her wife Jane. She looking at a man laughing for no reason with a raised eyebrow and a woman who appeared to be unamused, "Is there a reason why he is laughing?" Isabella asked the woman.

[Untecna]

CCD Imperial Senator Isabella Stuart-Jones walks into the bar wear an old leather bombers jacket with APH's flag on her right upper sleeve and the CCD flag on her left upper sleeve. She glances around looking at all the patron inside the bar before shrugging her shoulders and heading to the bar, "I'll have one Heineken please." The bartender handed her a cold beer and she payed him. Izzy pops open the bottle and takes a sip. She left Abigail and August with her wife Jane. She looking at a man laughing for no reason with a raised eyebrow and a woman who appeared to be unamused, "Is there a reason why he is laughing?" Isabella asked the woman.

"Seems to be some case of a trick maybe? The man laughing must be drunk anyways, he appears as such. Hey, bartender, can I get a coffee? Really need it now, I've been cramming on a proposal."

[Untecna]

Bell shakes the good ambassador's hand vigorously "It is so good to see you, my friend! I have been well enough. I remain the bastion of debauchery in this old place when Senator Sulla isn't taking the stage. Who has been appearing more regularly of late! I am afraid most of the old guard has moved on to bigger, better things. The lucky bastards."

"Debauchery? Here?" Alcon smirks knowingly "Say is isn't so." Concealing a snicker Alcon watches the supposed Ambassador Janus raise his glass. "I wonder if the lad in the door actually expected an answer?"

"Surely not, Ambassador, but I gave him one!" Cassi takes a drink of her coffee.

[Ainocra]

The old Marshal chuckles and raises his glass

[The Palentine]

It had been a bit, but Philo Simeon once again entered the bar. He walked over to his piano with his music folio tucked under his arm. He placed the folio on a table next to the piano then reached for the feather duster on top of the piano. He dusted off the keys, seat, tip jar, and busts of Beethovan and Scott Joplin. Then after placing the duster back on top of the piano, he sat down. He paused a moment to adjust his bowler, and fetch a fresh cigar from his vest pocket. After firing it up and taking a satisfying puff from the fine Yeldan(tm) Cigar, he flexed his fingers and as a warm up played a few bars of the Pineapple Rag before playing the intro to an old American Standard. In a moment he began to sing in a passable baritone voice...

"Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Oh! Lydia, the tattooed lady
She has eyes that folks adore so
And a torso even more so
Lydia, oh! Lydia, that "Encyclopedia"
Oh! Lydia, the Queen of tattoo
On her back is the Battle of Waterloo
Beside it the Wreck of the Hesperus too
And proudly above the waves
The Red, White and Blue
You can learn a lot from Lydia

She can give you a view of the world
In tattoo if you step up and tell her where
For a dime you can see Kankakee or Paree
Or Washington crossing the Delaware

Oh! Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Oh! Lydia, the tattooed lady
When her muscles start relaxin'
Up the hill comes Andrew Jackson
Lydia, oh! Lydia, that "Encyclopedia"
Oh! Lydia, the champ of them all

For two bits she will do a Mazurka in Jazz
With a view of Niag'ra that no artist has
And on a clear day you can see Alcatraz
You can learn a lot from Lydia.
La la la La la la La la la La la la

Come along and see Buff'lo Bill with his lasso
Just a little classic by Mendel Picasso
Here is Captain Spaulding exploring the Amazon
And Godiva, but with her pajamas on
La la la La la la La la la La la la

Here is Grover Whalen unveilin' the Trylon
Over on the west coast we have Treasure Islan'
Here's Nijinsky a doin' the Rhumba
Here's her Social Security numba
La la la La la la La la la La la la

Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Oh! Lydia, the champ of them all
She once swept an Admiral clear off his feet
The ships on her hips made his heart skip a beat
And now the old boy's in command of the fleet
For he went and married Lydia!
I said Lydia
La La!"

[Tinhampton]

Alexander Smith, Tinhamptonian Delegate-Ambassador to the World Assembly: Eh, lads, I don't know what does my very able deputy have to do with alla this nonsense... actually, no, that sounds nothing like what I remember her. Another Proper Miner's, please, will you?

[Ainocra]

It had been a bit, but Philo Simeon once again entered the bar. He walked over to his piano with his music folio tucked under his arm. He placed the folio on a table next to the piano then reached for the feather duster on top of the piano. He dusted off the keys, seat, tip jar, and busts of Beethovan and Scott Joplin. Then after placing the duster back on top of the piano, he sat down. He paused a moment to adjust his bowler, and fetch a fresh cigar from his vest pocket. After firing it up and taking a satisfying puff from the fine Yeldan(tm) Cigar, he flexed his fingers and as a warm up played a few bars of the Pineapple Rag before playing the intro to an old American Standard. In a moment he began to sing in a passable baritone voice...

"Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Oh! Lydia, the tattooed lady
She has eyes that folks adore so
And a torso even more so
Lydia, oh! Lydia, that "Encyclopedia"
Oh! Lydia, the Queen of tattoo
On her back is the Battle of Waterloo
Beside it the Wreck of the Hesperus too
And proudly above the waves
The Red, White and Blue
You can learn a lot from Lydia

She can give you a view of the world
In tattoo if you step up and tell her where
For a dime you can see Kankakee or Paree
Or Washington crossing the Delaware

Oh! Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Oh! Lydia, the tattooed lady
When her muscles start relaxin'
Up the hill comes Andrew Jackson
Lydia, oh! Lydia, that "Encyclopedia"
Oh! Lydia, the champ of them all

For two bits she will do a Mazurka in Jazz
With a view of Niag'ra that no artist has
And on a clear day you can see Alcatraz
You can learn a lot from Lydia.
La la la La la la La la la La la la

Come along and see Buff'lo Bill with his lasso
Just a little classic by Mendel Picasso
Here is Captain Spaulding exploring the Amazon
And Godiva, but with her pajamas on
La la la La la la La la la La la la

Here is Grover Whalen unveilin' the Trylon
Over on the west coast we have Treasure Islan'
Here's Nijinsky a doin' the Rhumba
Here's her Social Security numba
La la la La la la La la la La la la

Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Oh! Lydia, the champ of them all
She once swept an Admiral clear off his feet
The ships on her hips made his heart skip a beat
And now the old boy's in command of the fleet
For he went and married Lydia!
I said Lydia
La La!"

Alcon chuckles at that last verse. "It would appear I should beware of women named Lydia." While dropping a few Ainocran Galcreds in the tip jar he asks. "Good song, Your next drink is on me. Know anything newer?"

[The Palentine]

Philo gave a sidelong glance to the ambassador and answered,
"How about some Fats Domino?"
And without waiting for an answer, Philo began playing a blues tempo song...

"Blue Monday how I hate Blue Monday
Got to work like a slave all day
Here come Tuesday, oh hard Tuesday
I'm so tired got no time to play

Here come Wednesday, I'm beat to my socks
My gal calls, got to tell her that I'm out
'Cause Thursday is a hard workin' day
And Friday I get my pay

Saturday mornin', oh Saturday mornin'
All my tiredness has gone away
Got my money and my honey
And I'm out on the stand to play

Sunday mornin' my head is bad
But it's worth it for the time that I've had
But I've got to get my rest
'Cause Monday is a mess

Saturday mornin', oh Saturday mornin'
All my tiredness has gone away
Got my money and my honey
And I'm out on the stand to play

Sunday mornin' my head is bad
But it's worth it for the time that I've had
But I've got to get my rest
Cause Monday is a mess"

[Wallenburg]

Ogenbond rubs at his eye, wiping away strain from hours of reviewing compliance recommendations and proposal summaries. "I cannot pretend that nihilistic acceptance of labor exploitation under capitalism makes for good lyrics. Got anything better, my friend? Maybe the guy goes and puts his boss through the lathe? Thus, 'Monday is a mess'? Hah!"

[The Palentine]

Ogenbond rubs at his eye, wiping away strain from hours of reviewing compliance recommendations and proposal summaries. "I cannot pretend that nihilistic acceptance of labor exploitation under capitalism makes for good lyrics. Got anything better, my friend? Maybe the guy goes and puts his boss through the lathe? Thus, 'Monday is a mess'? Hah!"

Philo thought to himself, " Yeesh! This is a tough crowd tonight." However he gave a smile and with a twinkle in his eye started playing a rollicking song...

"I eat antipasta twice
Just because she is so nice
Angelina
Angelina
The waitress at the pizzeria

I eat zoop-ing minestrone
Just to be with her alone
Angelina
Angelina
The waitress at the pizzeria

Ti vol-glio be-ne
Angelina I adore you
E vol-glio be-ne
Angelina I live for you

E un pas-sio-ne
You have set my heart on fire

But Angelina
Never listens to my song

I eat antipasta twice
Just because she is so nice
Angelina
Angelina
Waitress at the pizzeria

If she´ll be a my My Car-ra mi-a
Then I´ll join in matrimony
With a girl who serves spumoni
And Angelina will be mine"

[Untecna]

It seems Untecna has another new WA ambassador, this one now a proper citizen of the Empire and not one made by the rebels on Artemis. Ambassador Awack'ir Vensinu (Uh-whack-ear Ven-sin-oo) walks into the bar, right as Philo begins playing the rickrolling song. He looks around the bar, shuffles his papers, mostly consisting of the legislation proposed by the Former Ambassador Cassi Iliana, and orders some vodka. He takes it and sits down at a table, seemingly silent.

[American Pere Housh]

Isabella plugged her phone into a nearby speaker which started playing Gasoline by Halsey,

Are you insane like me?
Been in pain like me?
Bought a hundred dollar bottle of champagne like me?
Just to pour that motherfucker down the drain like me?
Would you use your water bill to dry the stain like me?

Are you high enough without the Mary Jane like me?
Do you tear yourself apart to entertain like me?
Do the people whisper 'bout you on the train like me?
Saying that you shouldn't waste your pretty face like me?

And all the people say
You can't wake up, this is not a dream
You're part of a machine, you are not a human being
With your face all made up, living on a screen
Low on self-esteem, so you run on gasoline

I think there's a flaw in my code
(Oh, ooh-oh, ooh-oh, oh)
These voices won't leave me alone
Well, my heart is gold and my hands are cold

Are you deranged like me?
Are you strange like me?
Lighting matches just to swallow up the flame like me?
Do you call yourself a fucking hurricane like me?
Pointing fingers 'cause you'll never take the blame like me?

And all the people say
You can't wake up, this is not a dream
You're part of a machine, you are not a human being
With your face all made up, living on a screen
Low on self-esteem, so you run on gasoline

I think there's a flaw in my code
(Oh, ooh-oh, ooh-oh, oh)
These voices won't leave me alone
Well, my heart is gold and my hands are cold

[Wallenburg]

Ogenbond enters the bar with papers about to burst from between either of his arms. He nods his head to Neville, then seats himself next to Vensinu. "Neville, let my office know that I'm here. They need to send an aide down periodically to take this crap back to the Compliance Commission."

He takes his beer as soon as it arrives. One eye tracks Vensinu and assesses the foreigner's own papers.

[Untecna]

Ogenbond enters the bar with papers about to burst from between either of his arms. He nods his head to Neville, then seats himself next to Vensinu. "Neville, let my office know that I'm here. They need to send an aide down periodically to take this crap back to the Compliance Commission."

He takes his beer as soon as it arrives. One eye tracks Vensinu and assesses the foreigner's own papers.

Awack'ir seems rather uncomfortable with someone just plopping themselves next to him, and seemingly staring over his shoulder. He appears as an Irean'vi, a type of lizard humanoid, originating from within the Untecnan Empire.

"ex-cuse me sir..." he says to Ogenbond.

[Groot]

Ogenbond enters the bar with papers about to burst from between either of his arms. He nods his head to Neville, then seats himself next to Vensinu. "Neville, let my office know that I'm here. They need to send an aide down periodically to take this crap back to the Compliance Commission."

Groot notices a sheet of paper not far from where Ogenbond sits. He gets up from his stool, walks over, picks it up, and holds it up in front of Ogenbond. "I am Groot," he asks.

[Wallenburg]

Groot notices a sheet of paper not far from where Ogenbond sits. He gets up from his stool, walks over, picks it up, and holds it up in front of Ogenbond. "I am Groot," he asks.

Ogenbond takes the paper. "Mmm. Thank you, but this isn't my bill. Oh look, it has human genitalia drawn on the back. I don't recognize the name of the customer, though."

Awack'ir seems rather uncomfortable with someone just plopping themselves next to him, and seemingly staring over his shoulder. He appears as an Irean'vi, a type of lizard humanoid, originating from within the Untecnan Empire.

"ex-cuse me sir..." he says to Ogenbond.

"Uh--ah! My apologies. My name is Mikael Ogenbond, I represent the Wallenburgian Republics here. I have not seen you on the campus before. Is your home nation a recently admitted member?"

[Untecna]

Groot notices a sheet of paper not far from where Ogenbond sits. He gets up from his stool, walks over, picks it up, and holds it up in front of Ogenbond. "I am Groot," he asks.

Ogenbond takes the paper. "Mmm. Thank you, but this isn't my bill. Oh look, it has human genitalia drawn on the back. I don't recognize the name of the customer, though."

Awack'ir seems rather uncomfortable with someone just plopping themselves next to him, and seemingly staring over his shoulder. He appears as an Irean'vi, a type of lizard humanoid, originating from within the Untecnan Empire.

"ex-cuse me sir..." he says to Ogenbond.

"Uh--ah! My apologies. My name is Mikael Ogenbond, I represent the Wallenburgian Republics here. I have not seen you on the campus before. Is your home nation a recently admitted member?"

"Eh, no..." he replies. "We've been a member state for some time, just... for some reason it was registered under a rebel state. I represent the real state, the Empire of Untecna. I am Awack'ir Vensinu."

[American Pere Housh]

Assistant Secretary of State for International Affairs Morgana Tsuchigama, a 7 tailed kitsune, enter the bar and scans the room and sees Senator Isabella Stuart-Jones sitting at the bar drinking a beer. She walks over to the bar, "Hey Izzy, what brings you here and where is your daughters?"

Izzy looked up and saw Morgana, "Hey Mor, well I'm taking a little break right now and the girls are with my wife and their mother. You can find some really interesting creatures in this bar. Like that lizard humanoid over there from Untecna." Izzy over at the Untecnan WA ambassador.

[Groot]

Groot notices a sheet of paper not far from where Ogenbond sits. He gets up from his stool, walks over, picks it up, and holds it up in front of Ogenbond. "I am Groot," he asks.

Ogenbond takes the paper. "Mmm. Thank you, but this isn't my bill. Oh look, it has human genitalia drawn on the back. I don't recognize the name of the customer, though."

Groot tilts his head a bit, and looks at the paper. He scratches his head, and then wonders how many times Ogenbond has seen human genitalia, because Groot has never seen such body parts equipped with a propulsion system. Groot's curiosity, however, has its limits, while his hunger does not, so he shrugs and places the paper in his mouth.

[Untecna]

Assistant Secretary of State for International Affairs Morgana Tsuchigama, a 7 tailed kitsune, enter the bar and scans the room and sees Senator Isabella Stuart-Jones sitting at the bar drinking a beer. She walks over to the bar, "Hey Izzy, what brings you here and where is your daughters?"

Izzy looked up and saw Morgana, "Hey Mor, well I'm taking a little break right now and the girls are with my wife and their mother. You can find some really interesting creatures in this bar. Like that lizard humanoid over there from Untecna." Izzy over at the Untecnan WA ambassador.

"I heard that!" he exclaims from across the room. "I'd prefer to be called an 'Irean'vi', thank you very much! Calling me a humanoid is essentially referring to me as a 'xeno', and we Untecnans find that rather insulting!"

[Wallenburg]

Assistant Secretary of State for International Affairs Morgana Tsuchigama, a 7 tailed kitsune, enter the bar and scans the room and sees Senator Isabella Stuart-Jones sitting at the bar drinking a beer. She walks over to the bar, "Hey Izzy, what brings you here and where is your daughters?"

Izzy looked up and saw Morgana, "Hey Mor, well I'm taking a little break right now and the girls are with my wife and their mother. You can find some really interesting creatures in this bar. Like that lizard humanoid over there from Untecna." Izzy over at the Untecnan WA ambassador.

"I heard that!" he exclaims from across the room. "I'd prefer to be called an 'Irean'vi', thank you very much! Calling me a humanoid is essentially referring to me as a 'xeno', and we Untecnans find that rather insulting!"

"'Humanoid' seems apt, doesn't it? Your form fits the description, as does mine. Mmm, perhaps the idea does not translate well across languages."

Ogenbond messes around with the universal translator around his neck, switching it to push-to-translate. "N̅ane gezir: berudargard om eŋkulish, verboze."

The translator chimes, then reads out its response in English. "Humanoid: a bipedal tetrapod exhibiting bilateral symmetry, usually possessing intelligence by virtue of a large braincase."

"I couldn't guess how that comes across in your empire, but that's not really a term laced with malice. What does 'Irean'vi' mean?"

[Untecna]

"I heard that!" he exclaims from across the room. "I'd prefer to be called an 'Irean'vi', thank you very much! Calling me a humanoid is essentially referring to me as a 'xeno', and we Untecnans find that rather insulting!"

"'Humanoid' seems apt, doesn't it? Your form fits the description, as does mine. Mmm, perhaps the idea does not translate well across languages."

Ogenbond messes around with the universal translator around his neck, switching it to push-to-translate. "N̅ane gezir: berudargard om eŋkulish, verboze."

The translator chimes, then reads out its response in English. "Humanoid: a bipedal tetrapod exhibiting bilateral symmetry, usually possessing intelligence by virtue of a large braincase."

"I couldn't guess how that comes across in your empire, but that's not really a term laced with malice. What does 'Irean'vi' mean?"

"Well, first, let me point out that my species has been around much longer in its modern form than humans, so we take it as an insult when someone says 'humanoid'. We also were developed far before them. The Irean'vi are my species; we are bipedal sapient creatures, following that definition quite well, looking like scaly creatures. Some say we appear like lizards."