The Cat Business Office, Monday

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

Muta has taken his ill-tempered leave yesterday after sleeping through the attack of the snow monsters, so the Baron was alone in mournfully surveying his destroyed storefront. A clonetrooper's shovel had cracked the balcony and scraped away some of the trim, and something later in the day had broken one of his wee windows. With a sigh, the Baron entered and began clearing glass and debris from said broken window before taping a plastic bag over to keep some of the cold out. Immediate concerns dealt with, he went about tidying the office up. While some of the damage was storm-caused - maybe he should have someone look at the roof - it was mostly Muta-caused.

As usual.

Comments

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred leans down and knocks on the Baron's door, his eyes twinkling with merriment.

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

The Baron answered the door, incongruously wearing a frilly pink apron, with his sleeves rolled up and holding a broom. "Ah, good afternoon, Alfred."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"Good afternoon, Baron," Alfred said. "I was wondering if I could borrow you away from your cleaning to listen to a proposition of mine."

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

"Of course, Alfred," the Baron replied, tucking the broom and apron away with Ghibli-like speed. "Will you come in?"

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"I will, thank you," Alfred said, already on his hands and knees.

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

The Baron quickly checked to make sure that he had, in fact, cleaned up all the broken glass. He was fairly sure, but decided it would be the gentlemanly thing to do to warn him anyways. "Please be careful. As you can see, one of my windows was broken and I may have missed a spot of glass." He turned away. "Tea? I can put the kettle on."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"If it's not too much trouble," Alfred said, taking a seat on the carpet, after doing a quick (but very unobtrusive) sweep to make sure there wasn't any glass he might have sat on.

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

"Not too much trouble at all." The Baron puttered around his small pantry and soon enough the kettle is whistling merrily. "I would offer you something to eat, but I haven't had a chance to go shopping since Muta left."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred laughed. "That's quite alright. I recently had lunch anyway. Though I hear that a new general store has opened. I'm afraid I haven't had a chance to see it myself."

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

"I was planning on going out later," the Baron replied. "Jeff, the God of Biscuits makes excellent scones. And I meant to contact the contractor for repair work on the house." He paused in the pouring of the tea. "I wonder if he does roofs and windows . . ."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"Most likely," Alfred said. "He gave me the impression that he did a little of everything. And as a fireman, I'm sure he's had a lot of experience with wrecked houses."

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

The Baron poured two wee cups of tea, adding what he remembered Alfred had taken last time because the mun can't at the moment and handed one to Alfred. "Perhaps on my outing I should buy some human-sized cups," he murmured, taking a sip. "Now I believe you had a proposition for me?"

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"I did," Alfred said, gratefully taking the tea. "Thank you. Yes. I was sitting in my restaurant and thinking about the town's troubles. They lost their mayor, their police force. Suffered a week of lawlessness and looting. A blizzard, a power outage, and an attack of killer mutant snowmen." He sipped at the tea. "It could be said that the town has had a bad run of luck."

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

"You have a flair for understandment, my friend," the Baron replied non-commitantly, taking another sip.

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred smirked. "I think that the town needs cheering up. Something to give them hope and to make them feel good about living here again."

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

"Why do I have the feeling I'm about to be voluntold volunteered for some sort of public spectacle," the Baron said resignedly, taking a sip.

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred smiled. "I would never make you do anything you didn't want to do," Alfred said. "But I was thinking more along the lines of "party" or "festival"" He took a sip of his tea. "Did you see yesterday's date?"

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

"Ah. A party or festival would not be so bad." He took a sip, his wee feline brow furrowing. "January 29th, yes, what of it?"

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"Chinese New Year," Alfred said. "It is, I am afraid to tell you, the year of the Dog. Still," he said, sipping at his tea. "I think any reason for celebration should not be passed up."

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

The Baron's ears flicked back momentarily at the mention of the Year of the Dog, but moved right along. "An admirable idea, my friend, and an event that I would surely attend, but what still eludes me is the need for my help."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred smiled. "I can orgainze a simple grand opening for my restaurant easily enough. But for something large and public, I will need some assistance. And your orginizational skills are admirable. I'm looking to try and garner support from as many as I can. The Perk. Jeff, God of Biscuts. Etcetera. I was hoping to hold it this weekend and I would need all the help I can get to put such an undertaking on in time."

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

The Baron inclined his head while the mun wept. "I would be pleased to canvass support from local business. Perhaps the Chinese restaurant in town would be willing to provide some delicacies, if what I remember of the holiday is correct. Will you be holding the celebration in your restaurant, or some larger venue?"

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred smiled. While his mun is very sorry and willing to handwave your involvement if you don't have the time. "I would like to hold it in a larger venue, an outside one, if possible. My restaurant staff will be among the caterers, either way." He sipped at his tea. "Any thoughts, my friend?"

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

"If the weather were nicer and Americans weren't such wimps about the cold, I would suggest the Park, but it is impossible to predict the weather around here, I have observed." He frowned. "The hotel in town - The Arms? - would surely have the facilities. I could investigate such a possibility."

[[Nah, I'll help. It'll give me something to do besides my Latin homework.]]

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred nodded. "Ideally the Park would be the best, but as you say, the weather is somewhat unpredictable and people might still be wary about being out in the snow. The Arms might be our best option."

[[OOC: Thanks. I have no idea why I'm even thinking of doing such a thing. I'm chalking it up to personal insanity. Which reminds me, I need to make sure it's okay with various mods and admins.]]

[gikkingen.livejournal.com]

"I shall begin my efforts tomorrow," the Baron said with a slight bow of his head. "Ching Tai, the Perk, and Jeff, the God of Biscuits . . ." He frowned. "There are several new business who may also wish to help. A music store of some sort is opening this Tuesday, perhaps they would be interested in some free publicity. 'All and Sundries', as well. For decorations and such."

[[Let me know what the mods say and I'll jump on it. This'll be fun!]]