2020-04-03 - Computers For Cats

No matter what city someone goes to, and no matter the size of the area, there's always an issue of overpopulation among the local felines. Gray Harbor, being as cozy and quaint a town as it is, likely still falls victim to the concerns of feral cats who starve to death due to heavy population, disease, and other elements. The small town, knowing well about The Hub and its business ventures, also knows that the business owner is a serious cat person. It's of no surprise that since his work has been going well, the time has come for him to host a charity even that would be close to his heart.

Some people manage to come in to partake of the goods on sale. Rumor has it that even the computers have been discounted to increase sales with all profits going to the local cat charity. Extra employees have been hired to keep things going and they wear cat ears and a black shirt with the text "I am a cat" on it. They seem to be ready to take donations and help customers with computers and they also seem to be of a good disposition. <https://www.shopyourtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/911-3x6-420x346.jpg>

What's likely most remarkable is Mr. Snuggles, the mascot. He wears his cute little tuxedo that has no lint or even any cat hair. You have to love a hairless cat. Rubbing against his 'father' he purrs and looks at everyone with wide eyes.

Kim comes into to the small shop. She really doesn't need any more computer equipment, but this is one of the many causes she supports. In her normal day clothes once inside she goes to browse. Not wanting to get in the way of the busy employees just yet. Looking over to Mr Snuggles "Aww. Kawaii." she says quietly.

Stefhan looks down at his neatly dressed 'son' and makes sure he doesn't do damage to himself or anyone else for that matter. Assuming that Kim may need assistance, she gets approached by a few 'cat ladies' but they don't seem all that pushy. It doesn't take all that long until someone else catches their interest. Mr. Snuggles finds the little Asian girl interesting though and he slides on over to try to offer her a head butt and a purrrrrr. When Stefhan notices her, he waves a little and tells the woman, "Glad you could make it."

Lyric comes in wearing her usual. A pleated skirt with leggings beneath, combat style boots and a hoodie. Beneath the unzipped hoodie is a black shirt with white words that say: In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this. Closing the door behind her, she takes a look around, the electronics are sort of beyond her but this was for a good cause, so here she is! All money'd up and prepared to spend it.

Kim does assure the extra help that she is fine. Going back to her business up until the hairless kitty head bumps her. "You are a cute one aren't you. Neko." she does reach down to give him pets and affection. With her free hand she waves at Stefhan in his approach. "I wouldn't have missed it. It's great that you are doing a charity event for the cats. Ah I don't really need anything, but do you take direct donations? If not I suppose I could always use a few spare parts for my big girl." she does notice Lyric come in "I really like your skirt and boots." she calls out. Giving her a friendly wave as well.

And of course, there's a fair haired woman who comes in and easily puts a monkeywrench in things. Stefhan shouldn't act all out of sorts, right? He's likely seen Lyric around but the woman in a hoodie might not be able to cover up all of her luscious locks. Stefhan looks like he's about to loose it all of a sudden and GASP Mr. Snuggles is even ignored. What's wrong with the guy? He must be sick, right? Yes yes folks, it's always important to get your flu shot!

And it looks like he's about to pass out, right then and there. Fortunately the staff has been notified of his 'weakness' even though lately he's seemed to have it all under control lately. One of them even starts going through the crowd screaming, "BA movement we have a BA movement." To which Kim and Lyric might hear someone whispering, "Blonde alert."

Yes, the employees have been trained ahead of time in case of such an emergency and someone goes to try to steady Stefhan while the other starts shouting, "Emergency! Find the DJ!"

Lyric glances down at her skirt and beams a smile at Kim. "Thank you!" Sort of bouncing over towards her to stand. A friendly face is always welcome. Then things happen and she looks curiously towards one of the ones saying BA movement. A look goes to Kim then back to the one with the whispered blonde alert thing. "Is something wrong?" The shouting and all sort of confuses her then the staff that yells out for the DJ gets a bright smile too. "I'm a DJ!" Because she is!

Now this is just awkward. One moment just talking to Stefhan and then he's just looks like about to pass out "Ah are you alright?" she really doesn't know what to do about this. The employees seem to know what to do so she steps back. Gently pushing Mr Snuggles back with her, so he doesn't get stepped on or hurt if the business does pass out. Not able to make out what this BA thing is. Maybe it's time for his pills or something.

She does straighten up at Lyric's approach. Offering a warm as a smile as he can given what is happening "Your welcome. You wear them well." well since they are saying find the DJ and the blonde woman saying she is one. Maybe that's what he needs "Maybe you can help him out then. I honestly have no idea what is wrong."

"Get him some air get him some air!" One of them shouts, "Need to go from red to orange, red to orange." Yup, forethought might be a good thing as one of the 'cat ladies' goes off to get a tank of oxygen. "We've been briefed about this Ma'am." Another one tells them, "Thought things were going to get really exciting after the cop and the Korean left."

At that notion Stefhan gives the employee that metioned 'cop and Korean' a bit of a glare but he sits down to get himself comfortable. "Get the stage ready and if she wants to play with Mo Show, let her."

He's the boss after all so that's not a surprise. What is a surprise is that there's actually a stage appearing almost out of nowhere. Hey, anything is possible if it's bankrolled and the transformation begins. Counters are pulled to the side and a two foot platform is seen where a sound system, turn table, all sorts of lights, you name it, begin to be obvious. The main light even dims a bit and an African American man walks out in front of everyone. He's wearing a black cap, baggy shirt, gold chain, and he's got, you guessed it, an orange tabby cat on his shoulder.

"Whatzsup whatzup Gray Harbor!" He shouts, "We're here to have a party and show some love for the kitties. That's right!" Using his own style he begins to get all too jazzed about her performance and he shouts where EVERYONE can hear, "First of all let's show some love for Atli Addington for her $300 donation! That's right!" He then looks at Lyric and asks, "Home girl, can you give me a beat?"

That's Lyric's clue for her to take the stage if she wants.

Ainslie hasn't disappeared either. When her boss 'goes down' she's there to help make sure he gets proper 'oxygen.' She does notice Kim though and asks, "You got his son? I've never seen him /this/ bad before."

Oh no, Lyric doesn't want to take the stage, but she watches the DJ with avid interest! Respect from one to another. She wasn't here for that, so she says, "No thank you," to whoever will listen, then responds to Kim again, with a smile. "Thanks, I like your hair. It's really pretty."

Not once does she assume the reaction was to her. Or her hair. But she does look in concern again as the staff hovers around the guy she'd met at the Firehouse.

Kim merely shrugs hearing about cop and Korean. There are more than a few of both in the town after all. The transformation is surprising and she thought she had money to throw around. This sort of thing had to cost a bit. A DJ on stage with a orange cat, well the whole spectacle is not the oddest she seen in GH. It's up there though. To the question "Yes I have the neko. I'm sure Stefhan will get better." right stay positive in the middle of all of this. "He'll be fine. The kitty that is." she does scoop Mr Snuggles up to give him pets. Perhaps helping to keep the cat calm.

Lyric speaks up again and offers some normal in this. She returns the smile "Wow. Thank so much. It's a pain to keep up, but I really love it. So it's worth the effort." she'll still listen to the new DJ. "So where do you DJ at?" she asks the other woman.

Lyric knows a cop and a Korean, but she doesn't know if those were the particular two, so she adds nothing in that respect. "I bet it is, it's cute." A smile offered again to Kim. "I work as a DJ at the Platinum Cabaret. You should come sometime, it's fun there." The DJ on stage does keep taking her attention and she says to Kim, "He's really good. Are you gonna buy a computer or anything?"

The oxygen tank is a little alarming when she notices it. "Are you sure he's okay? It looks like something happened." The music captures her though and she dances in place a little. Music is life!

"Really? I'm been there once and it was rather fun. Zoiya was very nice and wow, I guess since your a DJ there you probably know Mee then. She's a friend of mine that does DJ work at the Cabaret as well." Kim says excitedly. "Oh wait. Yeah I think I've seen you before at Winterfest. Playing in the band?" she thinks that is correct, it was awhile ago. She then nods to Lyric "He is good. Wasn't quite expecting this, but it's interesting. A computer, no my rig is all set up. I was just going to do a direction donation. How about you, looking for any equipment?"

Kim isn't really sure either. She's not seen Stefhan like this before "Panic attack maybe?" she offers. Listening offhandedly to the music, but not dancing herself.

"I miss Zoiya, she was so fun and so sweet." Lyric tells her before she brightens. "I do! I know Park, we're in the same band! Augmented Reality!" Then she does recall seeing her at the Winterfest, even briefly. "Park, Ico, Scott, Itzhak and me. We need to practice more now that Winter is over."

With a head tilt, she looks over at Stefhan and offers him a smile when he seems to be getting better. "I don't know anything about computers, just music. So I will probably just give money or buy some speakers for my phone or something like that." Watching the DJ now, she grins. "Cute kitten. If I get around too many at once though, they make me sneeze."

Kim nods to Ainsile's answer. It seems reasonable enough after all. "Course." she pulls her check book out of her pants "What organization do I make it out to?" most of it already written out.

"Yeah I haven't seen her around." she says a tiny bit of regret. She did really like her. "Oh right Mee's band. Well not her's, but she's in Augmented Reality. That's really cool. I guess I didn't even offer my name. I'm Kim Nakamura." she offers with another smile. Nodding to the rest of the band members names. She's heard a few. "So you guys lived together as a band right? That must be pretty neat, if a little crowded."

Now a tempting offer. She was just talking to Grace a few days ago about getting a cat. There is one in need of a home and purring. Maybe the tabby will also help Winston get some exercise. "Over here. I one I'm holding is cute, but I don't think I can take him home with me."

"Yeah she's a DJ too, and we all live together. Except Itzhak, he's got his own things going on. It's not too bad, we all have bunk beds at least. And there's an extra room. Park and I may move into it or something. We practice in the garage." With the introduction given, she gives her own. "I'm Lyric Bates. Lived here alla my life."

Lyric does adore the kitty and gives affection when she is able to, petting. A cat or a few is fine. Nothing like at the shelter though! "Awww, what will you name him? Or her?" She doesn't look to see what the gender is! She does look over to make sure that the host is fine.

Kim nods to Ainsile "Course. I'm happy to help in whatever way I can."

"I see. Thought everyone lived there. But having his own thing is nice. Wait you don't all have different rooms? Wow, I don't think I could manage that. Yeah when you and Mee have the time probably best to at least not have to share one room with two other people." she comments "Must make practice pretty easy. As long as schedules line up and all." another smlie offered to Lyric "Very nice to meet you Lyric. I'm fairly new to town to myself. Seems to be quite a few people who lived here for a long time. I admit I see a appeal to Grey Harbor."

She will have to put Mr Snuggles down to accept the tabby. Which she does cuddle with and pet some. "I think they said him. All the adoption papers will show though. Name though, I'll to talk to my girlfriend and we can come a suitable name." she does spare a look to Stefhan as well. He looked better a short while ago.

Lyric has to applaud for that one, that donation. All thoughts of cats names and girlfriends and phone speakers fleeing as she cheers for Kim. "You really love cats!" That was a lot of money in Lyrics world. "You're a hero, Kim." A grin offered over to her. She does look around a little and one of the sales people helps her find what she was looking for earlier, after overhearing when she'd mentioned it. Speakers that would work for her phone but were technically for a computer. Seems to suit Lyric. "I gotta go soon."

Kim really didn't think they'd announce her donation. A red spreads on her cheeks and a little wave given. Of course the gray cat still is getting cuddles and has a new home tonight.

"Ah well I do like to support worthy causes and cats are certainly worth it. Lots get abandoned and if money helps." it isn't a tiny amount for her, but she does like to help. "Gee thanks Lyric. I don't think so. Just doing what I can." she offers blushing even more at being called a hero. Looking around and Stefhan looks fine. She has a new member of the family to introduce. "I should as well. It was really good meeting you Lyric." she offers a wave to her. Looking to Stefhan "Thanks for hosting this. I'm sure a lot of cats will be helped by what people buy and give." offering him a wave as well, before heading to the door.

Stefhan finds Mr. Snuggles and when he does, he picks him up and holds the cat in his arms, "Thank you for coming. I'm sure that Mo Show will take things from here. I think I'll let those who want to say behind party a bit, with Ainslie supervisoring of course." There's a bit of a chuckle there but he knows she's a serious worker. To Lyric though he bows his head, "Thank you, for coming."

"It was nice meeting you Kim. I'm glad you got a new kid there." Lyric beams at the kitty and Kim before looking at Stefhan when he comes over. "I'm glad I got to." She'd paid for the things, but she reaches into her pocket and brings out a hundred dollar bill. "That's for the cats." Offering it over before smiling, "I gotta go now, thanks for the fun for the cats."