It is all over the news. No matter where you live, no matter what government you have, no matter what alien civilization you belong to, or faction you are in, there are some consistent things:

A Neplusultran blue cat by the name of Tom Catz killed Emperor Dominus and is now being given command of the Strife Alliance flag ship "The Niven". To fill the power void, a half-blissian by the name of Angel Bard has seized control of Haylor (or "Base 3") and consequently, has taken over Planet Tharia.

Your character, whoever it is, can be from anywhere, but they will start at a space station in a neutral area of space. It's up to the players to figure out what their character is doing here.

The game begins in the year 6100. New Years is being celebrated even as news is going on about the death of Emperor Dominus.

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Some info on the Characters above:

Tom Catz - An unknown till now unless you want your character to have run into him during his explorer years (which has been the past 4 years)

Emperor Dominus - A barrakian who has been in charge of Planet Tharia and Haylor (Base 3) for the past two decades. He was considered militaristic like most barrakians and rumors had spread he was on the verge of a discovery that would give him the edge needed to conquest the star cluster. Whatever it was, he is now too dead to use it.

Angel Bard - Only semi-famous for being half-blissian as those are rare. But unless you're the kind to pay attention to things like that, most wouldn't really know she existed. Since blissians are known for being the carebears of the galaxy, most view half-blissians in a similar light and would find Angel taking over Haylor/Tharia as odd.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:53, Tue 15 Mar 2022.

Esther had a great idea!  What if ice cream trucks were space ships?!  And what if they didn't just serve ice cream, but other goodies as well!?  So she chased her dream.  Hers may be the galaxy's only full-spectrum mobile dessert parlor.  Carrot cake, pumpkin pie, ice cream of all sorts of flavors, and so on!

Much as she loves her job, everyone needs a break.  So that's what she's up to.  Taking a break.  Just aimlessly wandering the shopping district of the station with her robot to see what may catch her fancy.

"Ooh that jacket looks so cute!"



OOC Notes to self:

Esther the bunny.  Is she a relative of Angel?  Like maybe Angel's Dad's cousin's daughter?

Winter: Night dreamer set free from service?  Or still bound to Vel?
This message was last edited by the player at 07:54, Tue 08 Mar 2022.

Reid was in what some might describe as a bit of a... sour patch. The delivery was made on record time, and by no means is that a bad thing. However, what wasn't exactly a good record for him was that on the return to his small delivery ship... it wasn't there. Luckily, there aren't many trips he makes without his two favorite 'friends', Binary and Smiley! While he's helped with robots and made drones of various varieties for delivery purposes, these two were constants that he almost never went anywhere without. So to clear his mind, he'd go on a roam around the station, Smiley following shortly behind, and Binary floating a short bit overhead.

In this roam, he found himself in the shopping district, which, was not a bad place to be. Even if he didn't buy anything, window shopping was always a fun pastime!

A deer in the shopping district is sipping at the milkshake he got over at Dairy Dee's as he eyes some Circuit Cycles on display at the Q.V. (Quality Vehicle) store. He doesn't yet notice the rat boy, but Esther turns his head. Most folks have never seen a half-human half-blissian, so she is generally excused as some alien race. But the deer smiles, knowing what he's looking at. He walks over to Esther.

Standing at 4'6", he's not as tall as Esther's 5'5". He looks up at her and says, "Pardon, ma'am. Don't suppose you were... wanting that cute jacket?"

Meanwhile, Reid is approached by some thug-looking human. "Well hey there, kid. Where's your parents, eh?"

A grenu nearby perks his ears and looks over at the human. Although he is far enough from Reid that Reid won't hear it, the grenu growls, baring his teeth. He begins heading over to the thug. However, the grenu was close enough for Esther to hear him growl...

Esther's waitress robot gets a cartoonish cat face when she notices Smiley.  ( Not this body, but this face fer sher: https://itk-assets.nyc3.cdn.di...04-at-5.26.44-PM.jpg )  "Oh my!  Look at that wonderful robot, boss!"

Esther is taken aback by sudden strange question from deer man.  Must be a salesman.  "Oh!  I..."  She puts on an apologetic bashful smile, "Just admiring, really.  Can I interest you in a doughnut hole?"

Her eyes glance in the direction Cherry indicated and gasps at the apparent confrontation about to unfold.  "Oh dear..."

She realizes her gaff in front of the deer.  "Sorry.  Worried.  About... that."

Ester points at the thug in a timid way.  Cherry approaches the confrontation waving around a sweet smelling basket full of goodies.  "Free samples!"

Smiley's roll came to a halt as Reid's walking slowed to a stop in response to the thug-like human. Reid looked up at the approaching human, raising a brow. Stranger danger was a thing, but he was hesitant to act harshly just because someone looked a little 'thuggish'. It could be a question of legitimate concern. As he was about to respond to the man and answer the question, some of the rat boy's favorite words were stated. 'Free Samples!'

He'd give a polite wave to the man, turning on a dime towards the source of the words. "Gotta answer that in a sec! Sorry, sir!"

In a jiff, the rat boy was fast approaching, a stride in his step as he looked up at the robot. There was a wide-toothed grin to the kid, realizing what the source was, and given the smell, what the free samples could be!

While Binary floated behind Reid, Smiley stayed behind, the monitor acting as their face showing an older-style image with a happy-go-lucky smiling emote, the bigger robot extending out an arm and hand. "Pleased to meet you! Your inquiry may have to wait, but socializing does not!"

[OOC: Mono-text is Smiley talking. Italic Serif is Binary beeping. ] (Normal text is Reid talking o'course.)

Anthony turns his attention to the thug and rat boy. Then the free samples. "I suppose the doughnut hole you mentioned is part of the free samples...? And what's to worry?"

The thug looks at Smiley. "At least someone here has manners... though I think I have my answer. He is a runaway and doesn't want to admit it, so he's using the free samples to buy time so he can think up a lie. Name's Charley, by the way."

Miso slows down his trot, glancing at the free samples. Food. The universal attention-grabber. He still keeps an eye on the thug, but decides to trot over to the free samples. "Whatchya got?" he asks Cherry.

Cherry is so happy!  The basket unfolds in her hands like a fancy toolbox ( https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws...918-1c105152f03c.jpg ) to display loads of different samples.  Each are bite sized, like the dougnut holes.  Of which there's a couple popular flavors.  There's also a tiny cheese danish, a miniature apple pie, little cinamon rolls, cupcakes, fudge, and on and on.  The bottom has a layer of those freezable bags you can put into coolers and on top of said layer is various tiny ice cream cups.

"One per customer so others can enjoy too, please.  But take as many coupons to pass around as you like!"

Esther is relieved angry dog and thug didn't fight.  "Oh.  N-nothing to worry about, it seems.  Yes!  They are part of the free samples."

Reid nodded at the notion of one per customer, but did the polite thing before just thieving away with a treat. "Hiii!" He'd wave, given a handshake would be difficult while the bot was holding the basket. "Can't take a snack without an introduction first. Whiiich. Hi... again. Pleased to meet!" The grin did not disappear.

"Brep beep ba ba bee. Skoo brep bee. Bep ska beep. Pap bee brrt?" The floating drone seemed to give out a series of spaced-out beeps, though it's tone was 'cheery' at the least, the glowing eyes from its face screen 'blinking'.

"Pleased to meet you Charley. Manners do make for a good start on the right foot. And as to your guess, I am afraid to inform you, you are incorrect! It was a good guess!" Smiley seemed to look closely at the thuggish man. "There is no reason to be concerned though. He is in safe hands and sensors!"

There was a slight twitch from Reid's ear, but his focus kept to the robot with snacks... Smiley was good at answering questions! Usually...

Anthony says, "I should have known..." he looks longingly at the free samples, but without taking his eye off Esther. "Er... my name's Anthony."

He rolls diplomacy. It comes up 7. Not TERRIBLE, but not good either. "And... I couldn't possibly take a free sample when you turned down my own offer. This is clearly your business and I'll not... impose."

Charley seems unamused by Smiley's answer. "Safe hands? Alright. Who?"

Miso keeps glancing in Charley's direction, but noms one of the miniature pies. Apple flavor specifically. He asks, "These samples are from... Esther's Goodies?" as he reads the side label of said sample box.

"Brep beep ba ba bee back atcha, cutie-pie!" Cherry answers, "And yes.  Esther's Goodies is a full service dessert boutique.  We've got a huge menu of desserts, and if you don't see what you're craving, just ask!  She's always on the hunt for a new culinary challenge!"

Esther's confused.  Both by vague guardianship of the boy and by Anthony's reason for turning down her offer.  "I'm sorry.  Did I upset you?  I don't understand.  Enjoying the love I put into my desserts isn't an imposition at all.  Oh!  I'm Esther.  Nice to meet you, Anthony."

Binary seemed to bounce (or moreso float) up and down excitedly at the returned 'Hello', the drone quite literally doing a little mid-air roll to express the enthusement.

Smiley's hands did a quick and quite literal spin. "These hands present! If there are any safety concerns, do know I am a fully-functional Ratte-Model 44a, and have been designed to alleviate risk for heavy lifting, heavy moving, and in the rare unforeseen circumstance of unkindness, I am equipped with knowledge on Deescelation!"

Reid ended up taking the tiny cheese danish, giving a thankful nod of the head before... what occurred could be a magic trick. There was a danish. Now there is just a rat with slightly puffed out cheeks. The danish just.... disappeared.

After finishing said pastry, Reid would speak again. "Thank you ma'am! One of the best samples I've had! Compliments to erm... wouldn't be a chef.... it'd be the baker! Compliments to the baker! Which if correct, is probably named Esther? 'cause Esther's goodies! Yep! Compliments to the baker, and compliments to the friendly dessert offerer-rer-rer!"

Anthony head-scratches, trying to think of how to salvage the conversation. He shakes her hand and says, "Nice t'meetchya Esther. I... guess I failed to convey my intent. I wanted to buy something for you. So I assumed when you said the jacket was cute, I thought you wanted it." he looks down.

Charley says, "Alright then, Smiley... who are his legal guardians?"

A little spurgeon hops up, grabs a doughnut hole, and lands back on the ground. Standing only two feet tall, spurgeons are short even to children of all but the shortest of races (Gigantic compared to fairies. No, I'm not letting that one go). The li'l critter grins up at Cherry. In an appropriately dinky voice, she says, "Hi! Thanks for the sample!" and noms on the doughnut hole that may as well be the size of a baseball to her.

Miso looks over to Reid and quietly says, "Psst... hey kid... that big guy over there? Don't trust 'im. I was sure he was going to persuade you to go aside with him. But I know the guy. He's bad news. So stay in the open, OK kid?"

Cherry giggles at Binary's aerobatics.  And gives a big digital smile to the cute ratboy's magic trick.  "Amazing!  And I'm so happy you like!  Esther is right behind me.  Hear that, Esther!  The magician likes it!

"And you're welcome, miss!"

She turns the samples toward Charlie next to indicate he can have one too.

Esther smiles broadly that the boy liked the sample and waves.  She turns an apologetic look to Anthony and answers softly, "I wasn't expecting you to be familiar with that part of Blissian culture.  Thank you for your thoughtfulness!  There is something you can give me that would be worth much more to me than a cute jacket.  You can give me your honest opinion of the sample you try.  Even if you don't like it.  It would mean a lot to me."

Reid looked over towards Miso at the comment in regards to the suspicious and thuggish man. "Wait, ya know him? Why's he bad news? Oh! And hi! Who're you sir?" Reid whispered, giving a glance towards Smiley. There was a momentary quiet from the ratboy, an ear perking up at the mention of the creator of said treats being very well present, and once they waved, he'd return a very cheerful wave. "HI MA'AM!" He'd greet with, but didn't continue further upon noticing the conversing with the deer, so as to not intrude too heavily, attention going back towards Cherry and Miso.

Smiley tapped a metallic finger to the bottom of the screen that showed their digital face. "That would be a difficult inquiry to answer! The current conundrum of where they are is an issue indeed! Though I have no doubt our capacity to find them is suitable to the task, so you need not worry sir!"

Binary seemed to turn its 'eyes' towards the man a short bit after Miso's statement, it however did not make any beeps at this time.

[OOC Note: It is known that 'who' was asked in this case. :3]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:41, Fri 18 Mar 2022.

Charlie is getting increasingly annoyed with Smiley, but the invitation to try a free sample means he now has ALL the excuse to go talk directly to the kid. He heads over to try a sample, widens his eyes and says, "Holy guacamole! This tastes just like auntie's pumpkin pie!"

Anthony glances at Esther. "You certainly don't lack for persistence or forcefulness, do you? Alright. I'll try one." he goes to the treats and tries a honey confection. "Hmm... really sweet. Love it."

Charlie then looks down at Reid. "Hey kid, your robot needs fixing. I think its broke. I've asked like three times where your parents are, and it can't seem to answer. So I'll try you: Where's your parents? Or do I have to go ask security to ask you for me?"

Miso says, "Don't listen to him, kid. He's bluffing. And even if he isn't, security here will do right by you. Which he doesn't want."

Charlie says, "Do I know you?"

Miso says, "No, but I know you. Listen, if you care so much about this kid, go do like you said. This nice half-blissian lady here with the treats will wait here with the kid."

Charlie narrows his eyes and says, "Fine. I'll go get 'em..." and walks off.

Miso mutters, "To answer your earlier question, my name's Miso. Wait here, kid... the nice lady will care for you... out in the open. But I don't wanna lose this guy."

He then takes off following Charlie from a distance.

Bipip looks confused and slightly scared by the confrontation and hops back a few feet before watching. She squeaks, and looks at each of the people present, to see reactions, but then gets concerned after Miso takes off. "But I heard him say the other one was trouble... If that's true, won't the grenu get hurt?"

Esther giggles from the cute boy's super eager greeting and approaches with Anthony.  When he and Charlie try samples she watches with so much anticipation she forgets to breathe.  Their reactions make her giggle some more.

"So glad you think so!  I tried several recipes before settling on those.  Thank you so much!"

She doesn't really understand the weird exchange with Smiley, but guesses that the doggy must be mistaking this nice man for someone else.  So Esther gives a naive shrug to Bipip's question.

"I could always just call security and have them come to us," Cherry offers.

Which she does.  But keeps it internal so as to not interrupt conversations.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:15, Sat 19 Mar 2022.

Reid looked at all the people present brought by either snacks, or the ruckus of a strange question. He'd frown at Miso's departure, especially with the concern brought up by Bipip. He'd look towards Smiley on that notion. After a quick nod to the bigger robot looking over, Smiley began to roll after the pair! Socialization wasn't finished after all!

He'd give a small wave to the small crowd that's gathered. "So uuhm. Why're we calling security?" He'd tilt his head towards Cherry.

Binary gave a short series of beeps at the departure of the thug, the tone seeming to be vaguely offended. "Ska-brrt-pip-beep."

Reid looked towards Esther, realizing they were now in CONVERSING DISTANCE! "Hi again! Aaand... thank you for the sample! I'd compare it to someone's cooking I know... but everyone cooks unique! So instead! On a scale of 'bleh' to 'great', it's squeaky! Which... erm... one step above great!"

[OOC note for edit: Binary speaks in beeps. For differentiating words, each beep being a letter, there'll be -'s between letters forming a word, and spaces between words as normal.]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:34, Sat 19 Mar 2022.