Whiskey in the jAAR - Part Deux-twa

[Chac1]

The ancient one came bustling into the bAAR. The small magic square in his pocket (a cell phone) had been buzzing with alerts while he was away. He still carried the two large tomes he had borrowed and he also clutched the scroll with his list of unread Stellaris AARs.

"Apologies that I have missed the New Year's toasts, the champagne, and the speeches by @TheExecuter . I'm reading his new comedic Soviet AAR and it is definitely worth the time," Chac1 announced. "But there is no reason to start the new year with regrets. So I have returned to at least toast the few who remain here, with special thanks to @DensleyBlair for reviving the spirit on New Year's Eve."

He put his belongings down near the fire, claiming one of the comfy leather wingback chairs. Then he was off to the bar to pour himself a glass of his favorite mezcal. He carried the glass over to the jukebox.

"I said I might play this one to start the new year," he added.

"Imagine" by John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band with the Flux Fiddlers

"Also, a toast to you @coz1 for your return to the CK2 sub-forum," Chac1 noted as he returned to the seat he had claimed by the fire.

He raised his glass to @coz1 and then brought it to his lips to take a gulp of the mezcal. He closed his eyes momentarily savoring the taste. Then he sat down, opened one of the tomes and began reading. After a bit he looked up, again addressing the few left in the bAAR.

"It seems the more I read, the more I am behind, however that is possible," he muttered. "But I have learned so much is possible in this magical place. So I have faith I will eventually catch up, and maybe even have some time for writing in the year that lays ahead of us."

 

[DensleyBlair]

DB’s ears prick up:

– Ooh, I’d missed @coz1 ’s new CK2 adventure. Thanks for the recommendation, @Chac1! And while I’m at it, here’s my pick for the jukebox. It’s a late night up mixing for me here in Blighty, so I’ve gone for something suitably themed…

 

[jak7139]

Jak is roused from his spot somewhere in the backrooms by the sounds of the jukebox. He nods, agreeing with @DensleyBlair. "Thanks, @Chac1, for that AAR recommendation. Very fun." He finds a spot to sit down and listens to DB's selection of music.

 

[Chac1]

Magically, a small sheaf of paper appeared above the ancient one and floated down until it rested on the page he was reading in one of the tomes he borrowed from the Inkwell.

The interruption startled him, knocking him out of his reading reverie.

"Oh, there's news," Chac1 muttered.

As the Signalman ( @Macavity116 ) had not been in the bAAR since early in the holiday party celebrations, the ancient one knew he had a duty. He set his tome aside and took the magic sheaf of paper with him as he stood up, gathered his robes with one hand and headed up to the bulletin board near the entrance and the main barroom. He promptly posted the announcement there.

ACA Voting Open Now​

For all those who are interested in casting their ballots for the quarterly AARland Choice Awards (the ACAs), @Nikolai has officially opened the voting here for AARs eligible in Quarter 4. Deadline is Sunday, Feb. 9 at 20:00 CET.

Also, don't forget:

YAYA Voting Remains Open​

@coz1 continues hosting the Yearly AARland Year-end AwAARds (the YAYAs). Ballots, instructions and rules have been available for sometime with the deadline being Saturday, Feb. 8.

With that duty finished, the ancient one returned to his comfy leather chair near the fire and settled back into reading the thick tome.

"All the better to be prepared to cast informed ballots in these important AARland events," he noted aloud, mostly to himself, but for the few others who remained in the relaxing atmosphere of the bAAR.

 

[Wraith11B]

The deputy-soldier-student pops in, albeit only for a brief moment, perusing the conversations. "Don't mind me," he says, "I've just got to pick up something for the house we're staying at for vacation here in Morocco!" He stops by the jukebox and finds the appropriate song. "We didn't really rock it, per se, but it was a great adventure to hike around the foothills of the Atlas mountains before enjoying lunch at a casbah."

 

[Chac1]

The ancient one was startled from his reading. (Or was it snoozing?)

He smiled. If you are going to be shook out of your reading reverie, nothing like a great song to do the trick. He stifled a bit of jealousy. He wished he had the power to teleport back and forth between the bAAR and Morocco, especially during this cold time of year in Detroit. But then he remembered @Wraith11B and his wife were newlyweds. "They need time alone for their adventures," he muttered to himself. "What would they do if some old codger just appeared by magic in their room and started hiking along with them during their holiday?"

He shook his head. "This is certainly a magical, amazing and sometimes crazy place," he muttered.

He took a sip of mezcal. He looked around the place with a few stragglers late on a Friday night. The giant magic screens showed the final two professional hockey and basketball games still ongoing in North America. The bar was a mellow hangout. But that seemed to be the way the writAARs of AARland preferred the place to be.

He closed the heavy tome he was reading. He regarded the long scroll of Stellaris stories he was far behind on. He sighed. Then he stood up, gathered his robes about himself, and strode to the jukebox.

"This is the natural sequel. Have fun on holiday, Wraith," he said as he punched his selection into the machine.

"Should I Stay or Should I Go?" by The Clash

The ancient one returned to his seat near the fireplace, thinking to himself and enjoying the music. He wasn't sure if he would resume reading just yet, at least not while these songs had his attention.

 

[DensleyBlair]

– If we’re having a Joe Strummer moment (and I heartily approve of the notion that we should) then I can’t let it pass without offering my own favourite.

DB stops himself and pauses for a moment.

– Or at least, the Clash song that happens to be my favourite right now.

Once the final guitars have played out, and sensing no one else rushing up to follow his selection, DB chances his arm and queues up another classic on the jukebox.

– Oh, and seeing as it was the great man’s anniversary yesterday… I hope you’ll all indulge me one more song from another legend:

(I know you’ll approve, @coz1 )

 

[Lord Durham]

As LD listens to the ongoing playlist of music, he sets down his tablet and reaches for his drink. The Sons of Ragnar Lodbrok... is finally, definitely, once-and-for-all, end of the line, without a doubt, complete, he tells himself. Honest. Raising his glass, he silently thanks those who took the time to read and comment, mainly the veterans who know him, with a couple of exceptions. However, he expresses regret that some of the newer forumites, who made guest appearances in the AAR, will never know how they were immortalized. Maybe one day they'll read it and find out. Taking a sip of scotch, he ponders the future. Maybe a new AAR. Maybe not.

 

[DensleyBlair]

DB returns LD’s toast and, thoughts and congratulations already having been shared elsewhere, satisfies himself with a warm accompanying nod in the other man’s direction. Little worth retreading old ground, DB decides, when the jukebox still requires his attention. He’s woken up today with the strangest of tunes stuck in his head – though in the circumstances of what he’s just finished reading, it hardly seems out of place…

 

[coz1]

coz1 nods with appreciation to Denss, "Of course I approve! Bowie is never not good."

He relishes the end of the Palmer tune with happiness and then plugs another nickle into the jukebox, "How about this one to follow?"

"It happens to feature one of my favorite guitarists Adrian Belew and mayhap a fair message to our erstwhile leader, LD. Wherever the story goes, good sir, we shall follow. We are glad you are back, Bruce. All day and every day."

 

[DensleyBlair]

- Excellent choice, @coz1! One of my favourite live Bowie cuts, and my favourite version of that song.

 

[Lord Durham]

"It happens to feature one of my favorite guitarists Adrian Belew and mayhap a fair message to our erstwhile leader, LD. Wherever the story goes, good sir, we shall follow. We are glad you are back, Bruce. All day and every day."

LD gives a big nod to Al. "Thank you, sir. And to think it began innocently enough on Facebook when you invited me to read The War of the Roses." Glass in hand, LD pointed with his index finger at the jukebox. "You can't go wrong with Bowie. Or Belew, for that matter. This tour was just before Belew joined Talking Heads and then went on to King Crimson. I managed to catch KC live in Toronto back around 1984. Lately he's been touring with a supergroup called BEAT, with Steve Vai on guitar, the great Tony Levin on bass and the just as great Danny Carey on drums. And I happen to know someone around here who's seen them. Lucky bugger."

Easing back into the Comfy Chair™, LD turns serious. "Playing music all day is well and good, but I think we've lost what the bAAR is all about. So, I suggest we make sure to recommend at least an AAR or two whether there's a musical selection or not. I've been just as guilty. Lately I've been enjoying Crittark Saga - Agot AAR of a Vale Clansman by @Ran Miller and The Leading Spirits: the State of Moravia in the Age of Revolutions by @Revan86. Don't you just love these short titles . And finally, for a musical selection, I want to deviate and play a tune from my new, favourite group: The Warning. Three sisters from Mexico who know how to rock. The song is Dust to Dust."

 

[DensleyBlair]

– You know, I’ve been doing an abysmal job of keeping up with @Revan86’s Moravian series, but everything I have read of it has been first class. When I’m a little less busy with work in a month’s time or so I’ll have to be sure to power through and read the latest instalment. Thanks for the push, @Lord Durham.

 

[Ran Miller]

I want to deviate and play a tune from my new, favourite group: The Warning. Three sisters from Mexico who know how to rock. The song is Dust to Dust."

I gave them a shot, and they are just down my ally! Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[filcat]

You take another draw, the last one it is you decide on, you smoke it out, your sigh hides behind the mixture of the breath and the smoke, then you look at the ice-sky descending upon the quiet-earth.

You toss it into the bin next to the door, now containing innumerable cigarette butts. Your break outside lasted a lot reaching beyond the definition of brief, time to go inside, it is getting cold, your words are dancing over the limits of patience, to your enjoyment.

You enter the bAAR.

The air of infinity is still oscillating with what remains of the melodies from the recent days. Only noticeable some notes from the Franz Ferdinand, fine one, already used this some time ago; hums from Elton, nice; a soundtrack, Greenwood, not bad; The Clash and Bowie blend in, almost soothing; Palmer lingers around, yeah why not; The Warning still resonates, cool. Really cool.

The rest; you are not interested.

The words hover around as you approach your table back at the dark corner, after you hang your hat, your coat, your scarf on the rack. Fortunately the fireplace is still warm.

Jak wonders if the Christmas music turned them off?

"Yes. Cheers mate."

"Do they each count for a half a person?"

"?"

You sit on the chair by your table while looking at Chac with questions in your mind, then murmur to yourself, anyway. You check the mess of papers on the table, the list you are about to start and continue until exhausting all words , and... you yawn.

You check the air of infinity for words from even far in the past, hmmm, forgot about this one.

"Yeah, this I forgot about, did not prompt much enthusiasm in the past: Perhaps it is time for another video meet-up".

Then you pull the coffee pouches from your backpacks lying around, and hold them up. You pause abruptly. It seems that what you have done since entering the bAAR, you did before, in the past. Weird.

"Anyway. Anyone wants coffee?"


Yes. Weird.

 

[Chac1]

The ancient one had been reading happily for days, sipping mezcal, smiling, and bouncing to great music. What a life.

What made him happiest though was the bAAR was really percolating now. No holiday party or new year to celebrate but real life had come back into the bAAR with the new year.

He had almost popped back into the conversation several times but the reading had always pulled him back. Now, he felt compelled after the reappearance of @filcat . Once filcat was back that was a clear indication the bAAR was indeed doing good business.

You take another draw, the last one it is you decide on, you smoke it out, your sigh hides behind the mixture of the breath and the smoke, then you look at the ice-sky descending upon the quiet-earth.

You toss it into the bin next to the door, now containing innumerable cigarette butts. Your break outside lasted a lot reaching beyond the definition of brief, time to go inside, it is getting cold, your words are dancing over the limits of patience, to your enjoyment.

The ancient one was taken aback by filcat's endurance. He chose not to leave Detroit but to exist outside the bAAR for a month (a month!) waiting until the music invited him back into the place. That was certainly a notable protest, he thought somewhat to himself.

"You have to admire how he hews to his inner code," Chac noted.

"?"

You sit on the chair by your table while looking at Chac with questions in your mind, then murmur to yourself, anyway.

"Well, please let me explain, filcat. I was just trying to get a count of how many people were attending the party," Chac began. "With you and StrategyGameEnthusiast popping in and out... well... it was confusing... I was... well confused... What can I say?"

The ancient one looked around nervously. Took another sip of mezcal and then continued.

"Look, you probably count for more than one person when you are present. There was no harm intended," Chac still searched for a way to make it right. "I don't even remember why I was counting. To get a catering count? One never knows why I do what I do in this spot. I hope you will put it down to an old man's advancing confusion."

"Yeah, this I forgot about, did not prompt much enthusiasm in the past: Perhaps it is time for another video meet-up".

The ancient one agreed. He thought he recalled the last one, early in '24. Or was he misremembering? Did he miss the last one?

"Maybe too much mezcal. Messes with what few pieces of brain matter that still work," he admitted.

But he did remember attending such a magical meet up. Good to meet the real writers behind the handles and stories, he thought.

"I do remember one that I think @coz1 hosted or maybe it was @Macavity116 ," he recalled. "Either way, @DensleyBlair was there too."

"Anyway. Anyone wants coffee?"

"Filcat, you may not recall, but the bAAR has its own, coffee maker. You've even used it before. Multiple times," Chac said.

Then he wasn't sure why his memory was so clear about this and not so much about when the last magical video meet-up had happened.

"Magical electronic assistance, no doubt," he muttered to himself. "What would we be without it?"

"Playing music all day is well and good, but I think we've lost what the bAAR is all about. So, I suggest we make sure to recommend at least an AAR or two whether there's a musical selection or not. I've been just as guilty.

"Good to understand the original intentions of the first proprietor and the current proprietor," Chac responded. "The old management wasn't clear about purposes and of course I arrived after they had departed.

"I had thought the bAAR was like any good corner spot, for conversation about anything, or at least writing (even though there's the SolAARium for that too), the arts, sports, and of course AARs and AARland. Whatever comes to mind. I'll have to stay more focused in the future," he vowed.

Lately I've been enjoying Crittark Saga - Agot AAR of a Vale Clansman by @Ran Miller and The Leading Spirits: the State of Moravia in the Age of Revolutions by @Revan86.

"Those are on my list too and will certainly get some votes from me in the YAYAs and ACAs," Chac agreed.

"Believe it or not, I've actually started writing my notes for the 2025 YAYAs. Yes, I said it. I am. With my memory I have to depend on the notes," he admitted. He patted the two tomes by him and held up the scroll of Stellaris titles. "Still working on the reading project," he added.

"But here are two that are likely going to be on ballots this year and next," he continued. "I'm sure many of you know of The Sword of Virtanen by @Cora Giantkiller . But have you read Secrets of Kni’thokon by @crisrko , yet?

"There's also three that won't be eligible for the YAYAs until next year but have a good start so far: 1) God’s Handmade Wonders, God’s Hand Made Me by @Jojonium (a recent award winner for WritAAR of the Week); Guns, Lawyers and Money by @BenKerryAltis ; and Blood of the Trojans by @AlemãoÉSopa (Daybreak). Daybreak also recently won a WoW awAARd," Chac continued.

"Finally, good to see @Ran Miller in here," Chac concluded. "He's been around the forums for some years. Always good to see new faces in the bAAR though."

Lately he's been touring with a supergroup called BEAT, with Steve Vai on guitar, the great Tony Levin on bass and the just as great Danny Carey on drums. And I happen to know someone around here who's seen them. Lucky bugger."

"Yes, I have to admit to being that person," Chac replied. "No doubt too much mezcal and too many heavy power chords have churned my gray matter over too many years. But BEAT was a great treat. Some call them the American version of King Crimson. Saw them on my travels in the fall when I was often away from this special place."

He walked over to the jukebox and announced: "As they have no official videos, I cannot vouch for the sound or visual quality of this next one. It is one of the better ones I could find in that magic place called YouTube."

"Red" covered by BEAT, live in Toronto

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

Mr. SGE finally gets his teleporting magic working again...

"I'm back! It only took what, two weeks for the new teleporter charger to come..."

He teleports away again.

 

[Chac1]

The ancient one looked up from one of the tomes he was reading. The appearance and sudden disappearance of Mr. SGE had broken his concentration.

Mr. SGE finally gets his teleporting magic working again...

"I'm back! It only took what, two weeks for the new teleporter charger to come..."

He teleports away again.

"I'm certainly glad to see him, but there he goes again. This is a fine example of what was happening during the holiday party. People popping in and out. And not in the normal way either. Magic happening, I say. First they appear, and then poof..." Chac noted in a slightly exasperated tone.

"This is what happened with @filcat too. Wish I had known he was out in the alley. I would have taken him a flask or a warm drink," Chac continued. "You see what I mean now filcat? All this popping in and out, well it can addle an older person's brain. I'm sure there's some modern study about some such."

He stuck his nose back into the thick book momentarily.

Then he suddenly continued: "I hope you know filcat, this is what happened during the party besides all that holiday music. My brain was addled by all this popping in and out. So, is Mr. SGE still here or elsewhere? Do any elements of his being stay, like some electronic echo? How many dimensions can he exist in simultaneously in this magic place? And what does all this do to a catering order when you want to have enough holiday cookies and snacks on hand? It's just disturbing. Disturbing, I say. Such disturbing matters is what forced me into discussions of people and fractions. Not my best moment, but all do to the conditions that you have just witnessed here for yourself."

Quiet settled over the bAAR as a few exchanged looks.

"Is filcat even here anymore? It is so dim in this part of the bAAR, I can't even tell," Chac sighed.

Then he added: "Time for someone else to spin a song on the jukebox, I think."

 

[TheExecuter]

TheExecuter enters the bar, removing his gloves and ordering up a whiskey.

"Damn cold day, but a very fine one, for I celebrated yesterday evening a significant milestone in the implementation of my pre-meditated orchestration of Hearts of Iron 2 game lore."

Seeing the befuddled expressions on the rest of the patron's visages, he continued: "I am felicitous, since, during the course of the penultimate solar sojourn, I reached six figures of words in my resumption of the interrupted categorization of the relationships begun during part one of my missive so long ago."

Seeing the continued puzzlement, he continues: "Barkeep, a round of drinks for everyone here. My treat!"

He then turns to the jukebox and queues up a song...

 

[Chac1]

As a second tumbler of mezcal magically appeared besides the ancient one, he put one of his heavy tomes aside.

"I am so honored to be in the bAAR as @TheExecuter makes another return," Chac responded. He paused, raised his glass and then took a long draw of the fiery liquid. After a satisfying sigh, he began again.

"Thanks too for the drink and the Bublé. I knew the song, of course, but had never seen this video," he offered. "I know that feeling of hitting a particular writing goal. Actually, happened for me this week. Goals and breakthroughs are always good.

"I can see you are talking about The Last Mission," he continued. "I have that one book-marked right here." The ancient one patted the second large tome by his side.

"I am quite enjoying Insanely Stronk! right now," he added. "The writing is excellent. Love the dark comedy you've got going with that one. A bit behind but I am running hard to catch up. Cheers to you."

This time he took a gulp of the mezcal and smiled at The Executor, before resuming his place in his leather wingback near the fire and the bookshelves.