The World Assembly Strangers' Bar

[Tinfect]

Were anyone watching the Bar's entrance, they may have noticed the entrance of the familiar-to-some Diplomatic Overseer of the Imperium of Tinfect, his heavy coat closed for once, having finally gotten around to having the fasteners repaired. He looked haggard now, a far sight from the flat, dignified expression he had worn during his tenure as the Imperial Representative.

He made his way to a table, and wiped off the mysterious coating of dust that seemed endemic to halls of the World Assembly. A wandering member of the Bar's staff eventually asked if he wanted anything, "Yes, something from Balder, the year is irrele- No, actually, the first years; before the Terraforming."

OOC: I believe I mentioned he'd check in on occasion? Figured it was time. On an unrelated note, it's been so long since I've properly sat down and written Markhov that I've lost his voice; don't hear it in my head when he speaks anymore.

[Imperial Polk County]

Rupert's ears prick up at this. "One moment." he says, walking over to the as-yet-unidentified creature. "Are you seriously suggesting defiling a woman while she sleeps? Mechanical or not, I hardly think that's good manners!" He scolded.

Drane frowns. "Good manners, eh? Was it good manners when she called my wife a bitch?" He sighs, and waves a hand in the air. "Never mind, you people do what you want, I need some fresh air." He exits the bar without looking back.

[WA Kitty Kops]

Rupert's ears prick up at this. "One moment." he says, walking over to the as-yet-unidentified creature. "Are you seriously suggesting defiling a woman while she sleeps? Mechanical or not, I hardly think that's good manners!" He scolded.

Drane frowns. "Good manners, eh? Was it good manners when she called my wife a bitch?" He sighs, and waves a hand in the air. "Never mind, you people do what you want, I need some fresh air." He exits the bar without looking back.

The Chief Inshpekshuuner stopped pretending to be a furry hood ornament, now that the deployment of fangs, claws and hissing was apparently no longer a necessary threat to keep Rumbly Car from being messed with, stood up and stretched thoroughly, looking around to see if there was anyone present that he could get some cream out of.

Were anyone watching the Bar's entrance, they may have noticed the entrance of the familiar-to-some Diplomatic Overseer of the Imperium of Tinfect, his heavy coat closed for once, having finally gotten around to having the fasteners repaired. He looked haggard now, a far sight from the flat, dignified expression he had worn during his tenure as the Imperial Representative.

He made his way to a table, and wiped off the mysterious coating of dust that seemed endemic to halls of the World Assembly. A wandering member of the Bar's staff eventually asked if he wanted anything, "Yes, something from Balder, the year is irrele- No, actually, the first years; before the Terraforming."

The Chief jumped up onto his table, stretching his whiskers forward while sniffing, to make sure this was indeed Alexander Markhov.

"You looks like you needs a good purr," he then said, sitting and curling up his tail by his side. "What's happened? You looks like you's lost a fight with a bigger cat over who gets the sunny sleeping spot." He thought a bit and added, "Or with a bigger human."

OOC: On an unrelated note, it's been so long since I've properly sat down and written Markhov that I've lost his voice; don't hear it in my head when he speaks anymore.

OOC: Re-read the old Bar posts, it'll come back to you. I've always imagined his voice to have a warm timbre, deep but not quite Barry White deep.

[Shwe Tu Colony]

Ka'tyu Za'v, in his usual green attire & purple skin, entered the bar, his cigarette in hand & a purple sphere rapidly absorbing the resultant smoke, preventing it from reaching anyone else. Suddenly, he crashed to the floor — as weaponry was prohibited in the bar, his usual Renaissance-era rifle had become an anvil. "Eh? By Urgash's Will, wha'...?" he began before simply sighing & shoving the anvil outside, causing it to turn back into the rifle. Grabbing it back in, it became an anvil again, & Ka'tyu thus decided that he'd be better off shoving it outside, letting it become his rifle, & shoving it into a portal.

With that whole scene behind him, Ka'tyu strode up to the bar, placing his cigarette's smoking end inside the purple sphere to stop it from emitting any smoke. "Now then," he said in his usual somewhat gruff voice to the bartender, "Think I could get a, uh..." He paused for a moment & rapidly perused the menu of drinks. "'ow's about a Schyuler's Passion Cocktail to start me off. I'm 'aving a cravin' fer somethin' a tad spicy today. As for a plate o' somethin'... I'll go with a slice of roasted venison, eh?"

Upon closer inspection, anyone would clearly see that Ka'tyu was not even a World Assembly delegate, nor was the nation he was from part of the organization. Why he was there was a point of confusion, since it seems rather inefficient to have someone in the World Assembly despite it having no impact on their lives. Perhaps he was just bored.

[Tinfect]

The Chief jumped up onto his table, stretching his whiskers forward while sniffing, to make sure this was indeed Alexander Markhov.

"You looks like you needs a good purr," he then said, sitting and curling up his tail by his side. "What's happened? You looks like you's lost a fight with a bigger cat over who gets the sunny sleeping spot." He thought a bit and added, "Or with a bigger human."

"Ah, I had wondered if you were still here." said Markhov. "Yes, we have certainly lost something; ships, a battle." he sighed, "A war perhaps. Security, of course; in any case, I have found my position to be somewhat unnecessary at the moment." He reached into a coat pocket and produced a small can of fish, "In any case, I would presume you would have more interest in this?"

[WA Kitty Kops]

"Ah, I had wondered if you were still here." said Markhov. "Yes, we have certainly lost something; ships, a battle." he sighed, "A war perhaps. Security, of course; in any case, I have found my position to be somewhat unnecessary at the moment." He reached into a coat pocket and produced a small can of fish, "In any case, I would presume you would have more interest in this?"

The cat's eyes immediately fixated on the can of fish and he licked his lips, leaning forward and lifting one frontpaw slightly as if about to take a step, but remaining seated on the spot for now.

"Fish is always good," he said eagerly. "But why's you people having a war anyway? I thought you was happy inside a fence. Oh, and the friendly plant's gonna be happy you's back, it likes you."

[Whovian Tardisia]

Pink had caught Markhov's entrance out of the corner of his eye, and subconsciously began to listen in.

...lost something; ships, a battle... ...war perhaps. Security, of course...

"Shit." He thought. A Whovian vessel had been near Tinfect, and they hadn't received communications from it for quite some time. He took a seat next to him.

"Overseer Markhov. It's been a while. I couldn't help but overhear. You mentioned a security issue, yes?"

[Kalata]

"Curious." noted a holographic display of Velnax. She seemed puzzled, a security incident? There was no way that difficulties emerged from communications over what the Confederation would have deemed ... marginal distances. She glided over the self-projecting hologram and pounced, stealing a small can of fish biscuits.

[Tinfect]

The cat's eyes immediately fixated on the can of fish and he licked his lips, leaning forward and lifting one frontpaw slightly as if about to take a step, but remaining seated on the spot for now.

"Fish is always good," he said eagerly. "But why's you people having a war anyway? I thought you was happy inside a fence. Oh, and the friendly plant's gonna be happy you's back, it likes you."

Markhov was slightly taken aback by the remark about the plant hivemind, "I suspect so; it... has been some time since we last spoke. In any case, before we begin;" Markhov placed the can on the table and moved to retrieve another object from his coat, but was interrupted;

Pink had caught Markhov's entrance out of the corner of his eye, and subconsciously began to listen in.
"Shit." He thought. A Whovian vessel had been near Tinfect, and they hadn't received communications from it for quite some time. He took a seat next to him.

"Overseer Markhov. It's been a while. I couldn't help but overhear. You mentioned a security issue, yes?"

"Ah, yes, as I was about to explain to the Cat... whose name escapes me-" Markhov turns to face Ambassador Pink, "Ah, but, while you appear to know me, I believe I was only aware of your apparent predecessor?"


OOC/Edit: Removed bit referencing Kalata.

[Kalata]

Velnax extends two of her claws and makes a circular motion. The can lid detaches and hovers for a second, before dropping to the ground after a short flick of her paw. 'I am a cat', she responds, beginning to eat.

[Wallenburg]

Velnax extends two of her claws and makes a circular motion. The can lid detaches and hovers for a second, before dropping to the ground after a short flick of her paw. 'I am a cat', she responds, beginning to eat.

"I must protest," protests Ogenbond. He stands up, ignoring a still incensed Trevanyika and walking to confront the ambassador. "That food belongs to the Chief Inshpekshuuner himself. I demand that you return it to him immediately. Behavior like this is unbecoming of a World Assembly representative."

[Kalata]

'This concept of yours, property, seems to me, some kind of theft, a means to steal from society its own creations. And even if anthropologically, property seems a worthwhile concept to you, I see no reason to resort to something as barbaric as ownership.'

Velnax turns makes a circular motion with one of her claws and conjures a new can of fish into being. 'If you really insist, take that. Empty cans are worthless anyway.'

[Araraukar]

OOC: How does a holograph eat in the first place?

[Tinfect]

'This concept of yours, property, seems to me, some kind of theft, a means to steal from society its own creations. And even if anthropologically, property seems a worthwhile concept to you, I see no reason to resort to something as barbaric as ownership.'

Velnax turns makes a circular motion with one of her claws and conjures a new can of fish into being. 'If you really insist, take that. Empty cans are worthless anyway.'

OOC:
Yeah, okay, I was going to roll with your character stealing the Can, but you're just sort of pointlessly being an asshole here, In-Character or otherwise. I was also going to give you the benefit of the doubt and not explain to you that you shouldn't assume you can act on other characters, because you didn't bother with an introduction and thus I assumed you'd been here before at some point; I don't always follow the bar closely and sometimes I miss things. In any case; bit of basic RP etiquette, don't assume you can act on other characters like that in the future, it doesn't reflect well on you.

Ara, Tardisia, Let's just ignore this person moving forward.

[Allied Sapients]

((OOC: THAT WRONG ACCOUNT POST DIDN'T HAPPEN))

The alien started at the sudden commotion, the upper layers of their mane shifting to the side to reveal just a flash of blue and green before they composed themselves. After taking a moment to lick and fluff their mane back in order, they asked, "Isn't this supposed to be a place of diplomacy, not food theft?"

[Whovian Tardisia]

"Overseer Markhov. It's been a while. I couldn't help but overhear. You mentioned a security issue, yes?"

"Ah, yes, as I was about to explain to the Cat... whose name escapes me-" Markhov turns to face Ambassador Pink, "Ah, but, while you appear to know me, I believe I was only aware of your apparent predecessor?"

In his haste, Ambassador Pink had forgotten that his new appearance was still somewhat unknown. "Ah, of course. Regeneration. Handy biological feature; in cases where I am about to die, my body does an emergency reset of sorts, healing itself." He explained.
"The process has the side effect of changing my appearance, so while I appear to be a new person, I am still the Ambassador Pink you knew before. Please, go on."

[Tinfect]

In his haste, Ambassador Pink had forgotten that his new appearance was still somewhat unknown. "Ah, of course. Regeneration. Handy biological feature; in cases where I am about to die, my body does an emergency reset of sorts, healing itself." He explained.
"The process has the side effect of changing my appearance, so while I appear to be a new person, I am still the Ambassador Pink you knew before. Please, go on."

"Regeneration." Said Markhov flatly, "Of course, I apologize. I certainly hope your... near death, has not been of difficulty to you. In any case;" he manages to retrieve the Can Opener from his coat, "You are aware of a certain, unfortunate period in Imperial history? I have made no secret of our destruction of an alien civilization some time ago. Suffice it to say that a substantial population of them appears to have survived. They have of course, rallied the civilizations along the Border to their cause, and have now acquired an Imperial vessel; I trust you have gathered enough from the drafting halls to understand why this is concerning?"

[WA Kitty Kops]

"Regeneration." Said Markhov flatly, "Of course, I apologize. I certainly hope your... near death, has not been of difficulty to you. In any case;" he manages to retrieve the Can Opener from his coat, "You are aware of a certain, unfortunate period in Imperial history? I have made no secret of our destruction of an alien civilization some time ago. Suffice it to say that a substantial population of them appears to have survived. They have of course, rallied the civilizations along the Border to their cause, and have now acquired an Imperial vessel; I trust you have gathered enough from the drafting halls to understand why this is concerning?"

The can of fish and the can opener held the Chief Inspekshuuner's full attention, but he wasn't as silly a cat as many people thought; even though he knew nothing about the details of space battles and faster than light drives, he could make educated guesses based on context.

"They cans get past your fence an' steal your creams and tunas and best sleeping spots?"

[Tinfect]

The can of fish and the can opener held the Chief Inspekshuuner's full attention, but he wasn't as silly a cat as many people thought; even though he knew nothing about the details of space battles and faster than light drives, he could make educated guesses based on context.

"They cans get past your fence an' steal your creams and tunas and best sleeping spots?"

"Well..." Markhov gestured aimlessly for several seconds, and failed to come up with any useful words, "I- Yes, I suppose. That is... sufficiently accurate, yes." He began to open the Can, "More accurately, I suppose, the Barrier could very easily become compromised should the technology become sufficiently understood, or, they could simply produce more; which may itself be a more concerning prospect." Markov slid the now open Can across the table to the Cat.

[Potted Plants United]

"They cans get past your fence an' steal your creams and tunas and best sleeping spots?"

"Well..." Markhov gestured aimlessly for several seconds, and failed to come up with any useful words, "I- Yes, I suppose. That is... sufficiently accurate, yes." He began to open the Can, "More accurately, I suppose, the Barrier could very easily become compromised should the technology become sufficiently understood, or, they could simply produce more; which may itself be a more concerning prospect." Markov slid the now open Can across the table to the Cat.

Once Chief Inshpekshuuner started to eat, a smartphone attached to a small copter drone flew in through the open window and settled on the table next to him. The halfgrown black cat barely turned an ear in that direction, but he did hunch over the can of fish a bit more, as if ready to defend it from unwanted intruders.

The smartphone turned on on its own, as soon as the copter drone's blades stopped spinning. The screen displayed an incoming call, and a background image of a patch of green jungle.

"Overseer Markhov, it's so good to see you back here at the World Assembly!" the voice spoke in Marrov. It sounded very familiar. "The hivemind of Potted Plants United here, in case you couldn't guess. Also, my apologies for not sending a speaker plant to the Bar to properly meet with you, but I have a reduced number of them here in the Headquarters currently."

[Whovian Tardisia]

"You are aware of a certain, unfortunate period in Imperial history? I have made no secret of our destruction of an alien civilization some time ago. Suffice it to say that a substantial population of them appears to have survived. They have of course, rallied the civilizations along the Border to their cause, and have now acquired an Imperial vessel; I trust you have gathered enough from the drafting halls to understand why this is concerning?"

Ambassador Pink gave a brief nod. He had taken an interest in the Imperium's history after the Atlas had lost contact, out of concern. The situation resonated with him somewhat.

"They cans get past your fence an' steal your creams and tunas and best sleeping spots?"

"Well..." Markhov gestured aimlessly for several seconds, and failed to come up with any useful words, "I- Yes, I suppose. That is... sufficiently accurate, yes." He began to open the Can, "More accurately, I suppose, the Barrier could very easily become compromised should the technology become sufficiently understood, or, they could simply produce more; which may itself be a more concerning prospect." Markov slid the now open Can across the table to the Cat.

Pink lifted a finger at the cat's remark, but lowered it as he realized that it embodied the basic concept fairly well. At mention of the Barrier, he decided to inquire further.
"It wouldn't be the first time though... would it?" He posed.

open window

[Tinfect]

Ambassador Pink gave a brief nod. He had taken an interest in the Imperium's history after the Atlas had lost contact, out of concern. The situation resonated with him somewhat.
Pink lifted a finger at the cat's remark, but lowered it as he realized that it embodied the basic concept fairly well. At mention of the Barrier, he decided to inquire further.
"It wouldn't be the first time though... would it?" He posed.

"It would, certainly." Markhov said with a nod of his own, "An Imperial vessel has not been captured in functional capacity in centuries, a credit to the Military; though they would have likely been unable to prevent this occurrence in any circumstance. Despite the best efforts of Intelligence, one can only account so far for sheer incompetence."

OOC:
as I apparently managed to edit the apology out of the other post as well, I'll put it here... I am sorry I just sort of abandoned that, it wasn't intentional.

Once Chief Inshpekshuuner started to eat, a smartphone attached to a small copter drone flew in through the open window and settled on the table next to him. The halfgrown black cat barely turned an ear in that direction, but he did hunch over the can of fish a bit more, as if ready to defend it from unwanted intruders.
The smartphone turned on on its own, as soon as the copter drone's blades stopped spinning. The screen displayed an incoming call, and a background image of a patch of green jungle.
"Overseer Markhov, it's so good to see you back here at the World Assembly!" the voice spoke in Marrov. It sounded very familiar. "The hivemind of Potted Plants United here, in case you couldn't guess. Also, my apologies for not sending a speaker plant to the Bar to properly meet with you, but I have a reduced number of them here in the Headquarters currently."

Markhov watched the Drone fly in, and, when it landed, was briefly tempted to set it back in the air. Very briefly. "Ah; the Hivemind, I was informed you would intend to speak with me. I presume you have some method of relaying information from the Cat?"

[Potted Plants United]

Markhov watched the Drone fly in, and, when it landed, was briefly tempted to set it back in the air. Very briefly. "Ah; the Hivemind, I was informed you would intend to speak with me. I presume you have some method of relaying information from the Cat?"

"Not the Chief Inshpekshuuner, no, but I have another friend in the Bar with very sensitive hearing and a way of passing me information behind the scenes, so to say. She finds perching on one of the ceiling beams more comfortable than being on the floor."

There was a brief pause in the hivemind's words, as though it was referencing said information.

"Ah, so the Imperium is not quite as genocidal as you have believed, with some survivors coming back for revenge? And if they can indeed get past the Barrier, then I think the note that my friend tacked on about you ending "up to your ears in crap" might not be too far from the mark. But aside from that, I was wondering if you could perhaps help me to decipher something of a mystery; why would certain people who I'm quite sure have never had any dealings with the Imperium be asking me for a character reference of one of your countrymen? I'll display the name on the smartphone screen for you."

The screen read, using Marrov alphabet: Illaren Errent.

OOC note: If you don't have cybernetic eyes or brain connected to a universal translator, or actually know how to read Marrov, you won't be able to read the name.

[Tinfect]

"Not the Chief Inshpekshuuner, no, but I have another friend in the Bar with very sensitive hearing and a way of passing me information behind the scenes, so to say. She finds perching on one of the ceiling beams more comfortable than being on the floor." There was a brief pause in the hivemind's words, as though it was referencing said information.

Markhov looked up, and scanned the Bar's ceiling for anything out of the ordinary, briefly catching a somewhat familiar shape in a darker area. "Ah. Well."

"Ah, so the Imperium is not quite as genocidal as you have believed, with some survivors coming back for revenge? And if they can indeed get past the Barrier, then I think the note that my friend tacked on about you ending "up to your ears in crap" might not be too far from the mark. But aside from that, I was wondering if you could perhaps help me to decipher something of a mystery; why would certain people who I'm quite sure have never had any dealings with the Imperium be asking me for a character reference of one of your countrymen? I'll display the name on the smartphone screen for you."

The screen read, using Marrov alphabet: Illaren Errent.

Markhov considered questioning what, exactly, a smart-phone is, or how a rudimentary communications device could have Intelligence in the first place, no matter how vaguely defined. Such questions were immediately abolished, however, when the name appeared on the screen. He recognized it, almost, and its mention seemed quite important for some reason. "Yes, though I find your friend's analogy quite..." He remembered where he last heard the Name, "Un... fortunate. Er, perhaps whoever these... 'certain people' are, merely aware of him during his accidental deployment?"

[Potted Plants United]

He recognized it, almost, and its mention seemed quite important for some reason. "Yes, though I find your friend's analogy quite..." He remembered where he last heard the Name, "Un... fortunate. Er, perhaps whoever these... 'certain people' are, merely aware of him during his accidental deployment?"

"I highly doubt that there's any chance of that, and you also know what I suspect of him. Could you perhaps send an official inquiry to your home nation, to ask about whether they know why some strange foreign entities - much stranger than myself - might be asking about him by name?"