The World Assembly Strangers' Bar

[Lowell Leber]

"Eduard, who is this man with his droid, and what nation does he represent?"

"Ughh.. I don't know. He's um, Mr Newman of .. Jonz -- he's nobody." Eduard said, until his eye caught Newman's eyeline, Eduard gulped and corrected himself, "I mean.. he's someone, sure, just not someone who is relevant to getting under your skir-- *stares at his old Nun* I mean, relevant to this friendly chat. Yes, that."

" Eduard, you seem to have quite a number of friends in this bar...surely they jest about wanting to kill you?..."

[Tsim Sha Tsui]

Samuel leads the TST delegation into the bar with a big smile on his face. "Bartender, a round of drinks for everyone on the TST tab, please. And a bottle of Black with a pitcher of iced green tea for my colleagues and I."

His chief secretary, Alastair, starts pouring the drinks while Samuel rises to make a toast. "To being done with that wretched abortion debate, at least for the moment."

"Hear hear", replies Alistair, "although I would knock on wood... just to be safe."

[The Palentine]

"Ughh.. I don't know. He's um, Mr Newman of .. Jonz -- he's nobody." Eduard said, until his eye caught Newman's eyeline, Eduard gulped and corrected himself, "I mean.. he's someone, sure, just not someone who is relevant to getting under your skir-- *stares at his old Nun* I mean, relevant to this friendly chat. Yes, that."

" Eduard, you seem to have quite a number of friends in this bar...surely they jest about wanting to kill you?..."

"Why do you think he spends a lot of time here, old bean? Neville and Dicey have the ACME Weapon Transmographier thingy in use. Those who wish to harm Mr. Heir can't bring in a weapon to do so.", said the good but unwholesome senator as he took another puff from his Fine Yeldan(TM) Cigar.

[Lowell Leber]

"That makes since Senator, but calling me an old bean does not since my name is Natalie, hence I am a beanette.

[The Palentine]

"That makes since Senator, but calling me an old bean does not since my name is Natalie, hence I am a beanette.

"My apologies, ma'am."

[Unibot II]

" Eduard, you seem to have quite a number of friends in this bar...surely they jest about wanting to kill you?..."

"Why do you think he spends a lot of time here, old bean? Neville and Dicey have the ACME Weapon Transmographier thingy in use. Those who wish to harm Mr. Heir can't bring in a weapon to do so.", said the good but unwholesome senator as he took another puff from his Fine Yeldan(TM) Cigar.

Eduard scratched his head, "You know, that's makes sense. Hadn't thought of that -- I just always stayed here because this was where the booze was."

[Lowell Leber]

Natalie, some what bored with all the hate directed towards Eduard, turned to the bartender.
"Hey barkeep, does this establishment carry Yuengling? It is one of the finer lager beers that I have ever had and I would be a regular at this joint if you carried it." With that, Natalie turned back towards Eduard, taking in the image of the drunkard diplomat. "Eduard, what were we talking about...?"

[Unibot II]

Natalie, some what bored with all the hate directed towards Eduard, turned to the bartender.
"Hey barkeep, does this establishment carry Yuengling? It is one of the finer lager beers that I have ever had and I would be a regular at this joint if you carried it." With that, Natalie turned back towards Eduard, taking in the image of the drunkard diplomat. "Eduard, what were we talking about...?"

Eduard finishes off his third scotch and stares back at Natalie, "We were talking about something? Oh yes, I remember.. we're were talking about whether it is better to be feared or loved as a leader? Personally, I think love is a much more useful asset in a leader's arsenal, using a disingenuous positive force to manipulate people is much more effective as an emotive subliminal stimuli than just fear.. very influential."

[Lowell Leber]

Natalie, some what bored with all the hate directed towards Eduard, turned to the bartender.
"Hey barkeep, does this establishment carry Yuengling? It is one of the finer lager beers that I have ever had and I would be a regular at this joint if you carried it." With that, Natalie turned back towards Eduard, taking in the image of the drunkard diplomat. "Eduard, what were we talking about...?"

Eduard finishes off his third scotch and stares back at Natalie, "We were talking about something? Oh yes, I remember.. we're were talking about whether it is better to be feared or loved as a leader? Personally, I think love is a much more useful asset in a leader's arsenal, using a disingenuous positive force to manipulate people is much more effective as an emotive subliminal stimuli than just fear.. very influential."

"Loved, yes I would agree but one must be respected as well to be an influential leader. It takes more than just bread and circuses to keep the loyalty of a population. Loved for what you do and respected for how you do it would be my recipe for leadership. Your thoughts Eduard?" With that Natalie finished her manhatten and opened up a Yuengling.

[Unibot II]

"Loved, yes I would agree but one must be respected as well to be an influential leader. It takes more than just bread and circuses to keep the loyalty of a population. Loved for what you do and respected for how you do it would be my recipe for leadership. Your thoughts Eduard?" With that Natalie finished her manhatten and opened up a Yuengling.

Eduard sipped his fourth scotch and smirked, "Nah, you just need to make sure people disrespect themselves, if you destroy the individual and turn him into a little grey skeleton, anyone and their mother could look like a competent leader in juxtaposition."

[Lowell Leber]

Eduard sipped his fourth scotch and smirked, "Nah, you just need to make sure people disrespect themselves, if you destroy the individual and turn him into a little grey skeleton, anyone and their mother could look like a competent leader in juxtaposition."

"And here I thought with your talk of being loved that you were a softy and I was going to have to finish my beer and leave..."Natalie smiled..."Would you care to share some stories of how you put this theory into practice?"

[Unibot II]

Eduard sipped his fourth scotch and smirked, "Nah, you just need to make sure people disrespect themselves, if you destroy the individual and turn him into a little grey skeleton, anyone and their mother could look like a competent leader in juxtaposition."

"And here I thought with your talk of being loved that you were a softy and I was going to have to finish my beer and leave..."Natalie smiled..."Would you care to share some stories of how you put this theory into practice?"

Eduard smiled, "Well, if you must know, Natas-- Natalie. I've been for sometime running a corporatocracy. One of the many things that my management and I use to create a sense of inferiority in our human resour-- I mean, citizens, is to have them wear tacky blue pajamas with "My name is 'insert name here'" written on the front. The names will vary between Mary, John, Matthew, Jane, Micheal and Jack. We do not allow our employees to incorporate anything into their appearance that may reek of individuality, including tattoos, make-up, neat hair-dos, colorful glasses.. and such ilk. Our management however, deserve respect because they're the only thing you can give it to.. you couldn't give it to any of the peons, not even you.. once we've crushed you. Difficult cases are sent to human resources for relocation, martyrs are never created.. merely we circulate the trouble-makers and show them as bad employees. We only have 'bad employee of the month' awards, in which our employees curse and shout at a photo of the bad employee. It's all really a cheery place."

[Lowell Leber]

"Well that is just awful...but humorous and I would guess quite effective. Do you play this angle in your personal relationships as well?"

[The Wolf Guardians]

It'd been a long time, yet again. Well, he knew it'd been a long time as far as everyone around was concerned, but it hadn't been that long for him, really. Still, his last visit had been short, and now that all of that was over, he thought he might hang around again, now that he was in the same frame of spacetime reference... er... neighborhood, again.

He slowly walked in, hands in his pockets, looking around at the place. In no hurry, he walked about aimlessly for a bit, observing. Eventually, he ended up at the bar for a warm drink, and then at a small, empty table. Taking a seat and leaning back, he withdrew an apparently-blank newspaper that just shimmered covertly into existence in his jacket and unfolded it as it populated itself with current events in the World Assembly. Briefly, before it had chosen a lead story, the smallish headline reminded him of his promotion: "No New Messages or Orders. Welcome back, Ambassador-at-Large."

He grinned his fanged grin.

[Unibot II]

"Well that is just awful...but humorous and I would guess quite effective. Do you play this angle in your personal relationships as well?"

Eduard was staring at Natalie's chest, ".. I.. um...", snapping out of his daydream, "..um, no. I don't believe I do."

Eduard waved at the new arrival to the bar, "Welcome back!"

[The Palentine]

It'd been a long time, yet again. Well, he knew it'd been a long time as far as everyone around was concerned, but it hadn't been that long for him, really. Still, his last visit had been short, and now that all of that was over, he thought he might hang around again, now that he was in the same frame of spacetime reference... er... neighborhood, again.

He slowly walked in, hands in his pockets, looking around at the place. In no hurry, he walked about aimlessly for a bit, observing. Eventually, he ended up at the bar for a warm drink, and then at a small, empty table. Taking a seat and leaning back, he withdrew an apparently-blank newspaper that just shimmered covertly into existence in his jacket and unfolded it as it populated itself with current events in the World Assembly. Briefly, before it had chosen a lead story, the smallish headline reminded him of his promotion: "No New Messages or Orders. Welcome back, Ambassador-at-Large."

He grinned his fanged grin.

The good but unwholesome senator smiled as he saw the newcomer arrive. Glacing over at Neville's assistant Jimmy he said,
"Send a Wild Turkey on the rocks over to that Wolfy looking chap and put it on my tab."
Then he turned to Wolfgang and said,
"Welcome back old boy. Long time no see. Dicey will be glad you dropped by, I'm sure."

[The Wolf Guardians]

"Welcome back old boy. Long time no see. Dicey will be glad you dropped by, I'm sure."

Wolfgang looked up from his newspaper and grinned. "Indeed! Good to see you!"

[Karmicaria]

Izzy paused outside the door, her arms crossed over her chest. A small smiled formed as a flood of memories came back to her. Slowly, she opened the door and walked in. It was the same loud place, filled with the same loud, obnoxious people she remembered, and missed. She found herself an empty table and sat down, searching for anyone she recognized, or would recognize her...

[Omigodtheykilledkenny]

The bar's recent reacquisitions may not have noticed -- as well they shouldn't, for despite her voluptuous attire, for security reasons she tried to keep a low profile -- but the commander was taking note of their sudden appearance from her secure position at the far end of the counter. She waited for the most advantageous moment to announce her presence to the young wolfish diplomat.

"Wolfgang!" she heralded to the entire bar. "What an immense surprise to see you back with us again! This calls for a 21-lapdance salute! Girls, show this young man how excited you are!"

Immediately seven of the commander's most loyal (and busty) troops set upon the wolf-man, as loud music began to blare from the sound system, and all of them proceeded taking turns giving him a lapdance. Obviously as it was a 21-lapdance salute, they would each have three turns with the Wolf Guardians representative.

"Sorry, Wolfgang," Cdr. Chiang whispered in his ear, "but we do have only the human girls. Hopefully you can have as much fun with them as you would with...whatever it is your people are into."

Just then, the Karmicarian president quietly slipped in and took a table, not far from the Kennyite/Wolf-Guardian incident. Presently Chiang strode past the dancing girls to greet her.

"Your Excellency," she said pleasantly, extending her hand. "Commander Jenny Chiang -- we met at the burlesque house, remember?" She took a seat next to Izzy. "Would you fancy sharing a drink while we watch wolf-boy make a fool of himself in front of the lovely ladies? Their dances have been known to bring down empires...but don't worry; they're on their best behavior tonight," she imparted with a mischievous wink.

"By the way, is there any chance of performing at the burlesque again? My girls so enjoyed their last visit, and they're looking forward to doing it again!"

[The Wolf Guardians]

Wolfgang laughed uproariously, enjoying the spontaneity and comedy of the moment, tossing his newspaper away to disintegrate with a raucous cartoon crash and making a good show, at least, of enjoying himself. Taking a sip of his bourbon, he jovially called out over the music, "Would anyone else like in on this? There seems to be plenty to go round!"

[Karmicaria]

Izzy smiled at the woman, as she watched the spectacle that was going on around them. "Of course. It would be great to get that place up and running again, don't you think? As for the drink, I wouldn't mind one bit. Whatever you're having is just fine, and maybe you can fill me in on what's been going on in my absence?"

[Omigodtheykilledkenny]

The commander nodded compliantly and motioned toward Jimmy. "Two Jamesons on ice," she called out with uncharacteristic sweetness before turning back to her companion. She glanced over at the gaggle of Kennyite commandos continuing to entertain their new friend, just to make sure Wolfgang was enjoying himself. The joyous howl of laughter seemed to indicate he was.

"Fill you in? Well, fortunately, Karmicaria's absence from the world stage was mostly uneventful. Unless you're into abortion or male genital mutilation, that is, you didn't miss much." She dealt Izzy a sardonic wink. "We also celebrated an unexpected victory at Security Council -- you know, that awful WA spinoff? -- they finally voted to remove that unsightly badge from our regional profile. Then we were awarded with a rare double feature by the Secretariat; perhaps you heard about that? And also--"

They were interrupted by a muscle-bound maniac who had appeared in the midst of the usual chaos, wearing only an open trenchcoat, a suicide vest and a sadistic smile. "I am the servant of the Lord God!" he announced fanatically to the crowd. "Everyone turn over your wallets and keys, and all major credit cards, and I promise you His Justice will be merciful!"

Chiang turned back to the Karmicarian woman as though nothing had happened. "And Susa hasn't stopped threatening to blow people up since he lost Adrienne," she added. "I think deep down, he secretly misses her!"

As it happened the suicidal martyr's eyes lighted on Isabella. "Eternal Paradise can wait five minutes!" he said with satisfaction as he swooped down to claim the seat right next to her. "Hey there, Izzy," he smiled hormonally as he draped an audacious arm over her shoulder. "Come back for more, eh? What say you and me ditch the hag" -- he gestured at the commander -- "and find a more private place to chat?"

[Imperial Yamea]

Duchess Sarah followed closely by the Imperial delegation for Imperial Yamea strolled in, taking in quickly the interesting cotorsions which were taking place to one side and the .... engaging discussion that was being had by a madman in a Jacket. She leads her party to an empty group of seats and states, sit i will go and order, You are going to have so much fun while you are here.

Approaching the bar she calls out to the barman "3 Jugs of your finest ale barkeep". then turning while her drinks were comming "I wonder what would happen if the WA burnt down..... well i would get to go home at least."

[Unibot II]

Approaching the bar she calls out to the barman "3 Jugs of your finest ale barkeep". then turning while her drinks were comming "I wonder what would happen if the WA burnt down..... well i would get to go home at least."

Eduard looked out the window, "It's not burnt down? What th-- I see, this must have been an elaborate prank pulled by my staff to keep me out of the office. Dahm then, they had me convinced for a few days there that the World Assembly Headquarters was being evacuated for ongoing fires. I had thought one of the dahm witches had casted one of those infernal inextinguishable-firestorm-charms, Ardento Incendium, I believe is the incantation. I had a witch-doctoress light my genitals on fire with it once when she found me trespassing on her land, sticking of gin and relieving myself on a tree. She didn't seem to like that very much. If I remember correctly, it had to do with something about the tree being a mute and thus not being able to protest the urination. "

[Imperial Yamea]

Approaching the bar she calls out to the barman "3 Jugs of your finest ale barkeep". then turning while her drinks were comming "I wonder what would happen if the WA burnt down..... well i would get to go home at least."

Eduard looked out the window, "It's not burnt down? What th-- I see, this must have been an elaborate prank pulled by my staff to keep me out of the office. Dahm then, they had me convinced for a few days there that the World Assembly Headquarters was being evacuated for ongoing fires. I had thought one of the dahm witches had casted one of those infernal inextinguishable-firestorm-charms, Ardento Incendium, I believe is the incantation. I had a witch-doctoress light my genitals on fire with it once when she found me trespassing on her land, sticking of gin and relieving myself on a tree. She didn't seem to like that very much. If I remember correctly, it had to do with something about the tree being a mute and thus not being able to protest the urination. "

"Oh....wasn't i suppose to say. Oh well, i cant say i am supprise considering the number of people who appear to want to kill you in the near/distant future." Turning Sarah strolled back to her seat followed by a floating tray of jugs and cups.