Lt. JG D'Cyra Varati - A sea voyage is fun
D'Cyra Varati
((Betazoid Bob’s Used Yacht Emporium, Merchant District, Amity Outpost))
Varati: ::to Bob:: You repair the damage immediately and refund me 25 percent of the rental price. Then I'll refrain from reporting the matter to the Chamber of Commerce. And on our next trip – you know, anything can happen out there – just come along! So we can be sure that everything is above board. As a bartender – naked, of course! Or shall we walk over to the terminal together and see if the other yacht has any defects too? Yes, of course, dressed as you are now... ::giggles::
Saavei: ::to D'Cyra, deadpan:: You wish for Bob to accompany us naked on your yacht?
Bobded: Oh 25% is a little steep. And the suggestion of me being your bartender? You would have to do much better than that.
Olivia: Alternatively, if they really needed a bartender service, they could always ask for myself.
Varati: Okay, we're not monsters... 20 percent. ::to Olivia:: Thank you very much, that won't be necessary at the moment.
Saavei: Repairs and a partial refund sound acceptable. Your maintenance on the Monochrome Majesty was negligent.
Bobded: Do you have proof of this? After all, all I’m seeing is all talk and of course, we have no idea if the damage you’re claiming isn’t from…. Oh…. user error.
Varati: We have the log files from the ship's own sensors and the flight recorder. oO and some copies with verified checksums Oo
Olivia: If you will allow us to follow protocol…
Saavei: I remain unconvinced we need a bartender, however, it is D'Cyra's vessel. ::to D'Cyra:: Please allow him to wear clothing, if you decide to do so.
Bobded: Unfortunately, I believe that this is where our negotiations must end.
Olivia turned to face Bob, with a confused gaze.
Of course, D’Cyra didn't want a naked bartender on the yacht. Just a negotiating point she could easily retract.
Varati: Yes, maybe you should put some clothes on, then we can continue talking…
Bobded: There is an ancient Ferengi proverb that I’d like to share with you - “you break it, you bought it.”
Saavei: I have heard a similar Earth proverb, used to... :: a pause:: ... I see you mean this as a turn-of-phrase.
Varati: The retailer is liable for any existing defects... you're lending it out, you're liable. And if you're unaware of the defects, then hold the manufacturer responsible and don't pass the cost on to your customers. But that just leads us in a circular argument…
Bobded: You’ve threatened and harassed me which I’m sure is very becoming of a Fleeter, you’ve gone after my partner and I’m afraid that your time here has come to a close. You can explain yourselves to security.
Saavei: An interpretive way to describe our interaction.
Did he just want to throw them out?! That was unbelievable! He rented out defective yachts for exorbitant prices and then tried to evade responsibility when he was held accountable.
Varati: Wait… What?!
But before D’Cyra could reply, Lt. Moore stormed into the store with two of his colleagues. Bob or Olivia had apparently secretly triggered an alarm... For a moment, she was completely perplexed that Bob would try to get rid of his problems like this. This was supposed to be a shrewd businessman? Instead of simply going ahead with the deal to avoid any fuss about his shady business practices, he was now needlessly shooting himself in the foot: no business, no income.
Moore: ::Loud:: What is going on here?
Olivia looked at Bob again.
Bob immediately waved Kaito over. Saavei watched in astonishment at what was happening. But Kaito had already drawn his phaser... what had he expected to happen here?
Bobded: Officer, can you escort these two out? They’ve threatened me and my partner. I’d like them banned from my shop.
Saavei: ::looking back to Bob, deadpan:: Had you requested we leave prior to this moment, we would have complied.
Varati: How do you treat your customers? Good customers are as rare as latinum. Treasure them. Rule Nr. 57.
((OOC from Kaito's writer: Going to split this in two. First Kaito is going to talk with Bob, and then with them. We might need to back sim, and I would imagine Varati and Saavei’s convo before Kaito comes out is out of earshot, so just add Kaito in when you feel like it on your next sim.))
Moore: You two — ::He motioned to Saavei and D’Cyra.:: Out now.
Olivia wrapped her arms around her torso.
Kaito seemed quite agitated. As an experienced security officer, shouldn't he have realized that there was no real danger? Two Starfleet officers he knew in a shop with a naked owner and a bewildered employee.
And now the two other security officers also approached the group. Saavei remained cool and showed no visible reaction. D’Cyra herself would have loved to explode on the spot, but thought better of it: Cluros. – Bob had set off a smokescreen and probably hoped that she would make a scene in the presence of the security officers.
Saavei: Aye sir.
Saavei nodded to Kaito and calmly headed towards the door. There, she paused briefly. What was going on? Out of the corner of her eye, D’Cyra could see that more officers in gold uniforms had taken up positions in front of the store. What was that all about? Why would an alarm immediately trigger the deployment of a high-ranking security officer and half a dozen other officers?
Varati: ::excited but formal:: Okay, okay… We're leaving already. ::raises her hands defensively:: oO But the story isn't over yet! Oo
Moore: Now! Go outside and wait with the officers. You are not to leave the scene of the crime.
Saavei: Aye sir.
“Scene of crime”?! That was a joke, right? The crime had likely taken place inside, or rather, much earlier, elsewhere. The idea that a verbal exchange in the form of a business conversation should be considered a crime scene seemed a bit far-fetched... but alright, there was no reason to escalate the situation further and give Kaito and his officers any pretext that Bob might be right.
Outside the door, they obediently joined the other security officers and let things cool down a bit.
Varati: ::to Saavei:: What happens here?! I think I'm in the wrong movie?
Kaito waited for them to leave, then he also motioned for two of his officers to join him inside the Emporium.
((OOC: following conversation takes place outside the earshot of D’Cyra and Saavei))
Moore: Now that that’s over, do you mind telling me, Mr. Bobded, what they did that warranted the use of the silent alarm — one that I know you would not push unless it was truly necessary?
Olivia: Bob, they were just being tricky! Not dangerous.
Bobded: Response
Moore: Mhmm… go on. I need all the details. These are serious allegations you’re leveling against two Starfleet officers. Not saying I don’t believe you, but I also believe you would not press your alarm unless you truly felt threatened.
Bobded: Response
Moore: If you don’t mind — ::He looked over at his security officers.:: I will need the security recordings. Their actions, if true, are unbecoming of Starfleet officers.
Bobded: Response
Moore: Response
Olivia: Lieutenant.
Moore/Bobded: Response
Olivia: May I be interviewed alone?
Moore/Bobded: Response
((Room to backsim in here as needed))
((A few minutes later, outside Bob’s shop, Grand Mezzanine))
The security guards outside would have mostly kept watch, leaving the two mostly to their own devices, but would also not have allowed D’Cyra or Saavei to leave.
Saavei: ::to D'Cyra:: Perhaps doing business of any kind with Bob is unwise.
Saavei walked slowly towards the shop; from outside, they could see Kaito still arguing with Bob. D’Cyra followed reluctantly because she didn't want to go back inside.
Varati: Yes, that was kind of a stupid idea. But I explained to you elsewhere why I did it.
((OOC: The JP will follow soon.))
And I thought he'd go along with it... maybe haggle a bit and we'd reach a compromise, like all good businesspeople do. Nobody needs negative PR.
D’Cyra shrugged helplessly.
After a few minutes, Kaito came marching out and straight up to them.
Moore: Attention!
Saavei remained impassively neutral, even though Kaito's tone sounded quite stern. D’Cyra had never seen him behave like this before. She'd accidentally misused the replicator in his office and replicated dozens of Wing Slugs; she'd smuggled him out of the embassy on Idrustrix and brought him to the beach...
Moore: Now! Do you two mind explaining to me what happened, and why I have a report that you threatened and seemingly tried to blackmail a civilian merchant?!
Saavei: Several safety concerns regarding the operational condition of a vessel he rented to D'Cyra, the Monochrome Majesty, were brought to his attention. I made several necessary field repairs due to neglected systems; manual steering, inertial dampeners, and propulsion primarily. We sought equitable compensation for the situation and mentioned possible business, and legal, repercussions of knowingly allowing others to use faulty vessels. I offered to assist in this process. In turn, he offered to look over his own neglected vessel for an additional fee.
Varati: Yes, I rented the yacht, and let's not even talk about the exorbitant price… During the flights to Idrustrix and Uwe II, serious defects in the ship's systems repeatedly surfaced; even the replicator wasn't working properly. And now there's damage to the warp drive, which he himself admitted!
I wanted compensation for that. He rents out yachts that are clearly not airworthy... we are trained and experienced Starfleet officers who can handle such things in an emergency – but inexperienced tourists and diplomats? Anything could have happened! Then you and your crew would have had to be dispatched to rescue us or others!
Moore: Response
Saavei: Neither of us threatened the merchant. As the propulsion repairs almost required an exterior spacewalk, the query was posed to Bob if he knew what the outside of an airlock looked like. In deep space, with no sense of 'up' or 'down', it can be unpleasant and disorienting. No other inference was made, implied, or intended.
Saavei was able to explain things wonderfully calmly, while D'Cyra always needed a few seconds to calm her pulse and impulsiveness.
Varati: Yes, what if the emergency safety systems were to fail as well? Airlocks that don't close properly could have unforeseen consequences... Of course, I pointed out to him that if the damage isn't repaired immediately, I'll have to report him to aviation safety, or rather to you, the safety authorities. How can anyone see that as blackmail, simply asking someone to fulfil their duty of care? That's bordering on slander and defamation...
Moore: Response
Saavei: Yes, he seemed amenable to bargaining. I am unsure why he chose to do so while undressed but I am unfamiliar with the nuances of Betazoid customs.
Varati: Exactly! I mean, this is a yacht charter business, not a nighttime adult entertainment venue! While we're open to all things liberal, you can't just behave like that towards women! What kind of impression does that give of Amity to visitors and other species? At least a bathrobe would have been appropriate.
Moore: Response
Saavei: Yes, an offer was made to resolve the situation without involving civil or legal authorities.
But Kaito kept asking questions... this wasn't an interrogation! And if it was, she certainly didn't want to conduct it out here in front of all sorts of people.
Varati: Anyone who acts so brazenly towards us and tries to stifle any criticism of their business methods must expect some pushback. What goes around comes around! He presents himself naked to his customers: Please! Then he should also fulfil his business obligations naked!
Moore: Response
Saavei: Extrapolating to our current situation, Bob took offense and summoned security rather than asking us to leave. Then you arrived, sir.
That move would almost certainly backfire and be bad publicity for his business. Remember the enormous sums car manufacturers had to pay in the past when defects they were responsible for were discovered in their vehicles? And that was hundreds of years ago.
Varati: We could have settled the matter peacefully without much fuss... but when they immediately call for the cavalry, what are we supposed to do?
Moore: Response
Saavei: Are there any other aspects of this encounter which I can clarify, sir?
Varati: If I came across as cheeky, fine, my mistake. But only because safety-related defects were brazenly concealed from me from the very beginning.
Moore: Response
Yes, without credible evidence, it's all been just hot air so far.
Varati: Can I prove it? Of course! I have all the logs from the ship's sensors since I chartered the yacht, as well as the flight recorders; naturally, they are signed with checksums from the ship's systems themselves.
Saavei/Moore: Response
D’Cyra didn't want to discuss it further in public. The whole thing had completely spiralled out of control, that much was clear.
Rule No. 203: New customers are like razor-toothed gree-worms. They can be succulent, but sometimes they bite back.
Varati: And if he says I damaged the yacht and therefore have to buy it: fine, I already paid an exorbitant price for the lease, far more than is customary. Let him keep his Latinum, and the yacht is mine.
Saavei/Moore: Response
Bob/Olivia: Response (?)
Tag/TBC
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