Ah, the irony

So, I write this science fiction story which deliberately plays with the whole opening scene in a space bar cliché, working the trope into the story with knowing dramatic irony, for good and believable plot reasons which are fully resolved by the end of the tale.

I am quite pleased with it. I submit it to a certain well-known market.

The editor rejects it because the opening scene is a cliché.

Sigh. Not sure if they simply didn't bother to read the full story or whether they just out-ironied my irony...