A pub in North City! (Invite only)

To come to terms with Kalabas Strongbone's, Heir Apparent to the Duchy of Strongbone, almost supernatural tolerance and affinity to alcohol, one must first understand that, during the first years of his life, all he ever ate and drank came from an omnicidal planet-wide plant hivemind. It just so happened that, while toxic to those of the long extinct Nekkpillow Federation, the hivemind's sap and fruit would give your average saiyan a pleasant buzz. Alas, Kalabas was not your average saiyan, he was a perpetually shitfaced oozaru.

All of that changed when Papa Strongbone returned his son back into the fold.

Farmed and brewed despite the hostile weather and saibaquitos, Imperial Era Vegetan liquors are notorious for two things: tasting like twice gargled battery acid and having a concentration so ridiculously high that using them as rubbing alcohol was not only socially acceptable back in the day, but encouraged during times of war. To this day, Kalabas remembers fondly the times he had gotten away with drinking some of his father's best stuff and blaming it on the saibaman prizefighter, whose only saibapunishment was saibatending to the saibafields. Far from being perfect crimes, however, the only things Kalabas got from those misadventures were unpleasant aftertastes, morning headaches, and the undying hatred of Mean Bean.

Then came the World Trade Fleet, with its death lasers and mutants and artificially flavoured red wine.

Robbed of his home and planet, the dour and tragic Vegeta, Kalabas cried - and still cries - his tears. So strong was his despair that, for the first months after the tragedy, the saiyan roamed the entirety of Earth, drinking a bit of everything everywhere and sleeping wherever and whenever. That was a very dark time, of which the saiyan remembers little and would rather forget what he does.

Now that months had passed since the incident that had reduced his castle into a giant lump of coal, Kalabas had returned to his normal coy self, not in the least because his job as a caravan guard gave him some semblance of a goal. He still drank from time to time, but only in celebration of a job well done or because an establishment looked promising.

Ol’ Bison, with its adorably anti-utilitarian architecture and copious sets of horns, caught Kalabas’ eye and didn't let go. Leaving the suitcase and the nuclear codes therein in his scooter's trunk, the saiyan made his up to the pub and watched as an almost literal half-woman writhed on the hardwood floor before the ugliest saiyan he had ever seen.

Were these the desert inbreds he had been warned about?

Date didn't find himself waiting too long for a familiar face to arrive... Although, this first one, he had a foggy memory. His power level was substantially noticeable. When Date looked over to the person, he saw a man that looked weathered, but had a fairly young look about him. Green armor adorned the man's exterior, clearly of the Saiyan Kingdom's design, with a complimentary pair of spandex to go with it. He was practically shirtless underneath the armor.

He gave Date a disturbed look as another familiar person arrived, one that he recognized: Kohlra! She asked if this was the place, before quipping about this pedestrian that came running out and heaving her last meal and drink all over the ground as his girlfriend. Date scoffed, looking down to the person with a grin, "You think this gal's my g-"

Date's grin faded away, quickly recognizing the half-machine, all warrior spewing her insides on the ground: May A. Alborn, aka the Cyclops!

"- Actually, in a way, yes! This is a girlfriend of mine," Date quipped, the smile returning as he knelt down to May's level, his voice energetic as he teased, "This is my friend, the Cyclops... Also known as May A. Alborn! Been a long time since I last saw ya, May."

He looked up to Kholra, saying to her, "A few years ago, May and I met while I was doing some training over in the Gizard Wastelands. We'll tell you all about it inside... Oi, big gal. You up to sobering up a bit and catching up? Th'bill'll be on me... Unless you're dropping out before we can!"

@may

I'm thinking, for the sake of keeping things moving, we give each person up to two days to post before we skip and knock them out of rotation until they return. Agreed?

The unsightly duo was soon joined by a woman Kalabas thought to be quite beautiful. Were it not for his strategically wild bangs of hair and the dirt on his face, the flaring rubor plastered on the saiyan’s cheeks would be quite obvious.

He felt himself blushing, so he averted his gaze to Date, the man that gave off a strange mien of familiarity. For some reason, Kalabas was reminded of sand and volleyball whenever his eyes met the other’s. Soon noticing that the creeper was practically scrutinizing every inch of his exposed duchal skin, Kalabas decided to answer in kind.

Yep, that sure was an ugly, ugly man. Although… not repulsive. There was this confidence in the way he carried himself, a hint of power that Kalabas could respect - and perhaps envy, if the stranger’s wasn't so markedly of pauper birth. The noble honhonhon’d internally.

Then, it was half-toaster’s turn to look at him funny. Upon being called a gorilla, Kalabas’ forehead wrinkled as his eyebrows rose high and mighty. Those were some very well-cared eyebrows. He smiled too, taking in a short breath that could have turned into a laugh if it weren't for a number of factors, of which Date’s ambiguously hostile presence was chief among them.

Kalabas removed his weighted headband, storing it in the compartment on the inside of his armour. Instead of crimson red, his face was now a light pink, noticeable in spite of his swarthy skin. ”Good day… A gorilla, am I? You flatter me with your most kind words, 'tis very good to no longer be confused with a monkey. But do allow me this one compliment that is as true as my love for Vegeta, never before have I ever seen so mighty looking prosthetics!”

He spoke with effortless poshness that somehow didn't sound as artificial as it should, probably because he was taught to speak that way and not like a filthy PEASANT, “Although, I'm afraid that I have never met this fine… gent. Much less come to blows with him.”

The trio, but mostly Kolhra, interested Kalabas a fair bit. Plus, he had nothing to do but drink, so why not strike up conversation with this merry lot of quite likely insane strangers?

“May I join you in your revelry? I am Kalabas Strongbone, heir apparent to the Duchy of Strongbone, or should I say its ashes? Haha...ha…”

Kohlra found it humorous to call May Date's mate! Even May, despite her clear threat, found it funny enough. It roused May to her feet, Date laughing at this and patting her on the shoulder. Kohlra then spoke how May should move along so that she and Date could get drinks... And apparently Date's gravity belt!

"Oi! If you want one of those belts, I'll hook you up with my supplier so that they can measure your trunk and match it to ya," Date stated, a verbal jab sent her way, "It's not like I carry that thing around, in the first place. That type of stuff you keep safely locked up and-"

Before Date could continue the logistics, May splurged out how Date, Kohlra, and this strangely familiar guy were stupidly strong, referring to the other guy at the door as a gorilla when inquiring about Date's training methods. the guy looked like he ought to have been handing out tails on a platter on Vegeta's streets from fights he'd been in, but when he spoke, not just Kohlra, but Date was lost for words! He pondered, 'Is... Is this guy flirting with May or is he insulting her? This guy sounds like he should belong in an old school theater act from the far West!'

The speaking pattern was awfully familiar too. However, Kohlra's angry tone was something Date was familiar with. The familiarity flopped to the back of his mind as he stated aloud, "Alright, alright! Let's go inside. You can join us, Kal, but keep in mind that you're not in the halls of Vegeta's cathedrals..."

'Wait, do they even have Cathedrals,' Date could help but briefly think about in his head, 'I'll have to ask Vocado or that Namekian guy when I get the chance. It's been so long since I last went to Getes."

Date made his way inside the pub and restaurant, a cacophony of scents assaulting his knows on various levels of pleasurable and outrageous! The interior of the place consisted of a wooden venere, much like how the Hunter's Harborage did back over at East City, but unlike there, it had an open ring for people to step into for all sorts of contact sports! There wasn't any music playing, but the sound inside was deafening near the arena, people spouting curses and trying to tell the fighters inside what to do as the two Mix Martial Artists grappled one another. The Mercenary spotted the bar area and aimed to direct both Kohlra and Kalabas there by pointing it out while aiming to help May get back inside!

Once more discombobulating those outside the gentry with mere words, it was with a mirthless toothy and sharp grin that Kalabas listened to Kohlra’s remarks. Oh, to be once more with one of the lower castes of his folk, as brutish and backwards as she was spirited! She would pay dearly for mocking him, of course, like so many had before.

Before dealing with the bumbling matron, Kalabas decided to grace May with a few more seconds of his radiant presence. ”lf saiyans are the utmost warriors, humans stand beside us as dreamers and creators without par. I find it humbling, really; it takes a strong will, a will of full steel, even, to carry on fighting when so much of you is no more. You are an example to follow, I believe.”

With one speech out of the way, it was time for the next one, meant to further annoy an already hostile crowd. The saiyan patted May’s back before furtively approaching Kohlra, pushing through musclebound luchadores, serene martial gurus, and soda sloshing boxers.

Kalabas’ faults number the thousands, his virtues pale in comparison, and while the delight he took from goading others was judged by said others as petty and superficial, he saw it as an endless source of entertainment through which he could right some wrongs and restore balance to the universe, but once every blue moon, most times he just wanted some comeuppance.

With vigour and eloquence, Kalabas exacted revenge on the totally unrad mom while the quartet presumably made its way to the bar area without being shot at.

It is time.

"Now, I shall answer your questions, for it is better live wise than die ignorant.”

Rumour 'round the Academy was that, late at night, Kalabas would snore entire conversations with himself, debating and arguing for hours about absolutely nothing. It was a trick he could also do while awake.

”Try as I might, I recall no great falls or dives or plunges from my runtling years. I was an adventurous child, and lucky enough to have mastered flight with naught but instinct! Hardly impressive as it may sound, one must take into consideration that I was quite literally stranded in the middle of the great cosmos… But I digress; no, if I were to hazard a guess, I would say that never was I dropped on my head or had my skull bashed against a wall... To my knowledge, heh.”

He had had some fun, but now it was time to simmer down. His tone shifted, to a more serious yet impish diction.

“I loathe how it pains you, but the way I, as you put it, SPEAK, is how I learnt it. To SPEAK in clearer, crisper, more mundane terms would hardly come naturally to me. It would be like lying, you see? A disrespect to myself, and more importantly, the good people I converse with. So pray, forgive the jests of this greatly wronged noble, he wishes naught but to be among his kind once more…”

Showing wisdom beyond his years, the captain let go of the hag, and asked the barkeep if he would kindly serve him and his merry trio of stooges a round of D’Art Hillery und Lee punch.

Date got over to the counter and waved down the bartender there, a older woman that was old enough to be even Kohlra's mother. She came over and asked Date what he'd like, to which he replied, "I'd to open a tab and get a few beers for the start. Something light, with May over there having some indigestion. Maybe a-"

Kohlra shouted over to Date, demanding he come back with her drink already! Only about a minute went by and already she was peeved? What the hell was this Kal guy talking about to make her explode that fast?! He looked back to the bartender and stated, "Make that a couple of thick tasting stouts. Whatever to help the shouting one cool down a bit."

"Ya might wanna go with something light with her. I don't want any fights breaking out in the drinking area. Fights go in the ring there."

"That... Might be a good plan. A stout for me, then, a two light beers, and a Long Island, in that case."

"You got it. Let me get your card, and I'll bring the drinks to you."

Date handed over a see through card that made the bartender raise an eyebrow. She was clearly wondering if Date just gave her a piece of hard plastic, to which the saiyan reassured her by saying, "Charge these drinks first. The card's authentic."

She tilted her head while verbally agreeing and brought out a device that had a card reader and digital registry on it. The order was put in and then the card scanned, with a green check mark of approval coming up! She stuck her lower lip out and said, "Okay, your drinks are coming up! I'll run the tab from here."

"Much obliged."

Date then walked back over to the group. He first approached May, whose face looked as though it was... Blushing? Was she blushing at what the guy said before?! Date asked, "Well now, this is interesting. I don't think I've seen you blush outside of being drunk. You liked that compliment Kal gave you?"

He looked over to Kohlra, and as he did, one of several waiters and waitresses came over and put their drinks down at the table they were next to. Date smiled, and stated, "Alright, so the two brighter beers are for you gals, while I get this dark one and Kal gets the Long Island Iced Tea there."

Date moved the two light drinks to Kohlra and May before handing the Long Island to Kalabas and taking his stout, which he then held up for celebration. Whether they lightly clanged their glasses together or not, Date would bring his to his lips and sip before a gasp and question to Kohlra and Kal, "So, I can hear Kohlra shouting over everyone. What're you up to, Kal?"

@may

Yo, sorry about the delay guys! Lets keep this thread going.