New Location, New Hire

Posted on Thu Nov 12th, 2026 @ 7:26pm by Captain Oscar "Oz/Ozzy" Silk {SS Bonafide} & Billi {SS Bonafide}

Mission: Thanksgiving Dangers
Location: M-69
Timeline: Current

ON:

Upon finding the Catspaw lounge, Captain Ozzy Silk entered the establishment and had a look around while staying by the entrance. One could, from the door, go right or left around two crescent shaped sunken floor areas for dining, with pillow or chair seating, depending on one's preference. Right down the middle between the two crescent area was another walkway that took a patron between the dining realm and straight forward to the nightclub portion with the small drinking tables with stools and the buddy-bar style seating for larger parties. A modest-sized dance floor which was directly in front of a moderately-sized performance stage. There were even instruments on display, and able to be used by whomever wished to perform an open mic session. According to the brochure app on his PADD, there was a sonic dampening field that could be activated between the dining area and the club area, to keep all the nightclub noise from bothering the diners with its cacophony. The field could also be made opaque so as to not allow the diners to be bothered by the visual goings-on within the confines of the nightclub and the hedonism that may occur. The last thing a family with younger children needed to see while dining were scantily clad bodies and less than savory activities due to drinking and carousing. Oz found that to be rather thoughtful of the owners.

But, not wanting to sit in a sub-floor section, Ozzy looked towards the bar, seeing that a few people were eating their meals there. Perfect, he thought. Moving with his usual swagger, Silk found a seat, glad the stool was high-backed to lean back into, and got himself comfortable. The servers and staff were all some type of feline species, one he was not overly familiar with. However, their mode of dress was very Earthlike, and more specific to a certain nation there; Japan. That had him liking the ambience that much more seeing as how Japanese society was all about mutual respect and honor. He would wait to see if leaving a tip was as faux pas to these cat people as it was in Japan. A cat girl came up to him on the serving side of the bar, handing him a PADD with a menu. "Good evening, Sir. Let us know what you're in the mood for and we'll have it prepared for you."

Taking the PADD, Oz gave a nod and a pleasant grin. "Thank you." His eyes began to peruse the menu, digging into his memory for what it was he had eaten when in Japan on Earth. He had yet to find any of their cuisine he did not like. After a few minutes he had decided and ordered a few items for his meal. The woman smiled and nodded, telling him his choices were good, and that the chef would have them done up in no time. Chef?, he thought. "Well, okay, then. This place just raised a few points in his estimation for a hang-out. If this region proved to be profitable then, at the very least, he had a place to go for fine dining made by hand. As Silk sat and went into his own thoughts even as his eyes glanced around casually at the things behind the bar, he noted that the early dinner crowd was starting to come in.

Having finally left all ties to Starfleet behind her, the Orion known as Billi walked into what used to be Club Bliss. She had been told that it had changed hands yet again, and was now known as the Catspaw, with an Asian cuisine ambience. One could order anything the chef could make, but Asian cuisine, with Japan at the forefront, was the mainstay. Seeing as how she had entered even as some early diners were doing the same, Billi cave a casual quick-step towards the bar, placing her hand on the seat cushion for the last barstool available. She had got her hand down on the seat before the other fellow was able to lay claim. He had yet to even touch the stool in any way. "Sorry," said Bill. "I claim this seat." The man gave a pleasant nod and turned to look for another seat somewhere else while Billi got her own derriere firmly ensconced in her seat. A side-eye glance to her left showed a man who was staring off into space, apparently deep in thought or stoned out of his gourd. It was hard to say which at this point. To her right was some semi-obese Human male, who stank of engine coolant and had a greasy mop of hair on his head. Just ewww!

Billi was handed a menu and began to look it over when the dishes for the man to her left arrived. Sushi, Congee, and a bowl of soup. It smelled heavenly, and looked to be more than one man could handle. The plates were full, this place giving great portions for folks to take home if they wished. "I see you get your money's worth, at least." Billi said to the man on her left.

Ozzy, arranging his dishes where he wanted them before digging in, picked up a sushi roll to bite into when the woman next to him voiced her sentiment. She was gorgeous, a prime example of her Orion bloodline. Not that he had ever seen an ugly female Orion, but some did look far better than most and this woman was obviously one of them. Orion men, on the other hand, could be quite ugly with how they liked to add metallic pieces to their heads and faces as some kind of show of how tough they were. Silk always found that amusing. Like Tattoos for Humans. Assuming someone is a badass merely due to the amount of ink they had in their skin was always folly. He had met plenty of tattood idiots in his day who were also cowards. "True," he said with a grin before he leaned into taking the first bite off of his sushi. Oz rolled his eyes in bliss, chewing slowly to make sure he got all the flavors mixed well in his mouth before swallowing. "Mmm-mmm...delish," Silk said to the woman still doing tasks behind the bar. "Give the chef and kitchen my compliments, please."

Billi watched this man play it up even though a goodly portion of his performance seemed to be legit. He was truly enamored with the food and how it tasted and she was sure that the gal behind the bar could tell he was being overly polite about it. But, still, he meant it. That in itself got a big smile from the server girl. "You know what, bring me the same assortment of dishes as he has. Looks too good so I'll try what he's having." The server gave a curtsy and a bow from the neck and then input the order. Billi looked to her left, seeing this man had already devoured the first sushi roll. "Don't forget to breathe between bites. My CPR is a bit rusty." She giggled.

Wiping his hands and face with a cloth napkin, Oz turned his gaze on his talkative neighbor, adding a grin and quiet chuckle. "Been a while since I've had a meal prepared so well. I can cook but nothing like this." He then extended his right hand. "Ozzy Silk. Owner-operator, and Captain, of the SS Bonafide."

Grasping the hand and shaking it firmly, she responded in kind. "Billi, Ex-Starfleet and unemployed. Just stopped in to see an old friend."

"A pleasure, Billi," Oz replied. "Here," he said as he slid the sushi plate to a more neutral position between their spots on the bartop. "Eat up. With another order coming, I think we can kill this off together."

"Gladly," said Billi, gathering a smaller side plate and taking two of the rolls onto it. She, however took up the chopsticks and began to use them properly. She did pretty much the same thing he had done on her first bite. A kaleidoscope of flavors all mingling together almost perfectly as she chewed.

Silk took up the hot tea pot, pouring a cup for himself and for Billi. He took hers up and then set it near to her plate on her side of the bartop. After a few sips to wash down any flotsam still in his mouth, Oz began to use his own chopsticks to casually eat anything further of his meal. Better to chat this way than to try and talk around food in one's mouth.

Manfred Mann, the ever-present front man to the Catspaw, came out of his office in the back, glancing up at the CCTV-style Security screens. He went to walk on by like he did every day, but stopped in his tracks even as his gaze returned to the screen. "I'll be damned," he said to himself, a grin forming as he took up a hand towel and hung it over one shoulder as he headed out front to get behind the bar. Upon coming out, the two faces he was interested in still looking at each other as they chatted, Manny went and stood before them behind the bar, swiping out glasses and the moisture within them before hanging them up. "I never thought to see two faces I know so well having supper together." Both faces stopped talking to each other and looked his way, with both grinning up at him. "Ozzy, it's been what...seven years, give or take. And, you, Billi, what's it been? Little over a year since last we spoke?"

Extending his right hand towards Manny, Ozzy gave a nod as they shook. "You told me this area was ripe for business, Manny. So, here I am."

Billi waited until they had finished shaking, then gave one to Manny as well. "What can I say. I like this place-this region-so I'm looking to make a profit. Just have to find the right angle and the right job. No more Starfleet, no more Federation service in an official capacity. Free and clear, as they say."

Manny gave her a tilted head look. "As you can see, Billi. We're full up on staff in here or I would hire you on the spot. I'll keep an ear open."

Hearing what was being said, Silk merely continued his meal in a casual manner, seeing if there was more to the Orion than he had heard so far. If she seemed the right sort then he would invite her to be his partner on Bonafide. She did have connections already simply due to her being Orion. The Orion Syndicate was a hard nut to crack unless you had someone in good with them. An advocate, of sorts. Billi was Orion, not just an advocate, and he was sure she had all the right connections.

"Thanks, Manny." Said Billi. "I'll read the notices at the airlocks for the docked ships. Most transports are always looking for hard working hands who can also pilot the vessel when needed."

"You're familiar with flight controls, then?" Silk asked this while sipping tea. "Any other skills a private operator should know about when considering employment?"

Billi put her gaze on Ozzy, trying to see if he was playing with her emotions or actually looking to hire her. Deciding he looked serious enough with the query, she answered. "I'm good in a fight, both small arms and hand-to-hand. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty so long as there is a way to clean up after. Loyalty comes with the gig, so if you're a shitty boss I'll be loyal to the pay. If you're more than just a shitty boss my loyalty can go higher if there is mutual respect."

Silk looked to Manny, still drying glasses as he gave a shrug and a nod that spoke volumes even with how slight the gesture was made. The well-known body language among those who lived life by their boot straps. Seeing Manny give his version of approval for Billi, Silk turned his eyes back towards her. "I'll take you on as my partner and first mate, Billi. A test run. If either of us feels it's not a good fit, we part ways with no hard feelings. Sound reasonable?"

Giving a smile, Billi gave a few quick, casual nods to what he had proposed. "I can deal with that. Hot damn. The new floor plan doesn't take away from this place's ability to furnish what people need. Who's the new owner, Manny? I split, Taavis died, and Ainkara up and disappeared."

Manny finished polishing glasses, draping his towel over a shoulder as usual. "Yui Kudo is now the owner of Catspaw. As you can see," he chinned around the room, noting all the Catfolk who were the servers and other staff for the place. "I manage, she makes all the decisions beyond management. Like with the other previous owners, Yui allows me carte blanche for club decisions. We're a good team, and with her mother now missing, Yui needs me to keep things grounded."

"Ro Kudo is missing?" That caught Billi by surprise. Ro Kudo had always been very apparent on M-69. Her presence normally larger than life. She had heard about the Captain stepping away to semi-retirement, but not much else. "As in truly missing, or just missing on purpose?"

"On purpose," said Manny. "She went to the Quazi Concordium, the homeworld of Quaza, to live among those calling themselves Mejiloreans. The Mejilore islands, an archipelago, where she is staying away from galactic politics and mayhem."

"Lucky her," replied Billi. "I mean, that would be nice. All except the part about doing nothing but meditating all day. I would go bonkers after a week of too much quiet."

Silk offered his perspective. "I don't know, maybe she's had enough of petty squabbles and bickering over bread crumbs. I heard all about the Meji Order in my travels and I can't say I fault her for wanting to lay low and be still for a bit. We all need serenity at times."

Billi smiled. "True. But, too much of a good thing can be bad." Even as she spoke, Manny and the server kitten took up the crockery from the meal they had finished. The tea pot was taken, and the two cups that were now empty.

"Drinks?" Asked Manny.

Silk ordered a double bourbon, neat. Billi went with Klingon bloodwine. Both were gathered and set before them before Manny moved on to see to his other patrons. "After some thought, and not seeing any other prospects as of yet, I'll take a chance, Billi. Like I said, a trial run to see if we're compatible as work mates."

"Sweet," said Billi, lightly clanking their glasses together. "When is the grand tour?"

"As soon as I finish my drink," said Silk, giving a grin and wagging his eyebrows once. "Priorities." He gave a salute with his glass and then took a sip, with his new Orion ship mate returning the gesture.

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