putting this up as a stand-alone to weather criticism
You’re My Only Pally by Mistral
“Nobody ever comes in here just to relax anymore, Quark. Don’t they take any time to blow off steam?” Vic slowly turned the glass sitting in front of him in circle. “I mean, even during the war they managed to break away for an evening to just dance and relax.” They were sitting in Vic’s Rat Pack-era casino nightclub having drinks.
“Vic, I know what you mean. Business has been off since the armistice was signed.” Quark sighed. “ I still get customers, don’t get me wrong, but they’re all strangers. With O’Brien teaching on Earth Bashir never drops by anymore, unless its to have a quick drink with Ezri before they head off to their apartment. I mean, she’s cooking dinner for him most nights these days so he doesn’t even eat here anymore. And Odo’s God knows where off with the Founders, Sisko is dead(at least I think so although no one seems to want to use the word), Worf took that transfer back to the Fleet and Rom’s off fooling around with the fundamental structure of Ferengi society as the Grand Nagus. Nog is about to become Second Officer on the Reed somewhere out in the Beta Quadrant and Jake is attending that writing school in New Zealand back on Earth. Kira’s still around but I only see her when that crazy Andorian woman she assigned to take over security trumps up some fallacious charge against me.” Vic covered his mouth to hide the smirk this pronouncement caused to appear on his face. “Like I said, I still have customers but I don’t KNOW any of them, not really. Morn still comes in but I can only listen to him babble for so long before I start wanting to shove tribbles in my ears.”
“Do you still have some of those lying around?” Vic asked.
Quark took on an evasive look. “Of course not! Hungry little buggers would eat up all of my stocks in an instant! You know how bad they breed! Took us six weeks to clear the Promenade after that , ah, infestation we had.” Vic smiled knowingly and nodded, taking a drink from his glass.
“Y’know, Quark, its been worse for me, “ Vic said. “If you didn’t drop by every Thursday night I wouldn’t see anybody. I don’t know if you realize this, pally, but there’s nobody really left who even knows I’m here. They’ve all split for greener pastures.” He stared down into his drink with a wistful look. “I mean, sure, I do my sets every night for the people,” he waved his drink to take in the holographic customers scattered around the room,” but I never get to sing for anyone from out there,” he nodded vaguely towards the Arch that led to Quark’s, “ and frankly, I miss it. It was the cat’s meow, baby.”
Quark considered this for a moment. “Vic, I never realized. Now that I think of it, no one comes in asking to use your holosuite anymore. Which is a darn shame because it costs me to keep it running.” He held up his hand to forestall any protest. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I enjoy our little Thursday get-togethers.”
Vic suddenly looked thoughtful and stared off into space. Shaking himself, he said, “Quark, I may have a way to fix both of our problems.”
Quark perked up a bit. “How so, Vic?”
“Look,” Vic said, “ I want people to come in here from out there, and you said business is down, right pally?”
“Well, with no more soldiers coming through Deep Space 9 my year over year numbers…”
“Right,” said Vic, cutting him off, “And what will bring in more people?” Quark looked puzzled at his friend’s question. “A new attraction!” Vic exclaimed.
“A new attraction? What are you talking about?” Quark asked.
“Why, me, of course!” Vic replied. “Look, Quark, you have this holosuite running all of the time anyway, right?” At Quark’s nod Vic continued, “And what does the outside of the Arch look like?”
Confused, Quark answered, “A pair of doors leading to a holosuite, why?”
“There’s your problem!” Vic responded. “What you need to do is put a couple of tall, skinny potted plants on either side of the doorway and put a big neon sign over the doors that says, ‘Vic’s Place’ or something like that. Then when people ask you, you tell them its some kind of hoity-toity exclusive club-within-a-club and you charge them a cover to get in. If people think something is exclusive they’ll want in, pally!”
Quark began to get excited, “Yeah, and I could put one of my bartenders in here to serve real drinks at your bar and charge for that too!”
Vic smiled. “Now you’re using the old gray matter!”
“Ferengi brains are kinda blue, actually.” Quark said.
“Whatever,” Vic replied, “But if you wanna put one of your guys behind my bar he’s gonna have to wear a tux to fit the atmosphere around here.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Quark said, “We Ferengi are snappy dressers.”
Vic looked down at Quark’s bright orange doublet and blue hose. “ Of course you are!” he exclaimed.
“I’ll do it!” Quark said, barely able to contain himself.
They stood up and Vic threw an arm over his shoulder.
“Pally, I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Quark looked puzzled. “We’re already friends, Vic.”
Vic sighed, “Nevermind. Let’s get this show on the road! The joint’s gonna be jumpin once again!”
You’re My Only Pally by Mistral
“Nobody ever comes in here just to relax anymore, Quark. Don’t they take any time to blow off steam?” Vic slowly turned the glass sitting in front of him in circle. “I mean, even during the war they managed to break away for an evening to just dance and relax.” They were sitting in Vic’s Rat Pack-era casino nightclub having drinks.
“Vic, I know what you mean. Business has been off since the armistice was signed.” Quark sighed. “ I still get customers, don’t get me wrong, but they’re all strangers. With O’Brien teaching on Earth Bashir never drops by anymore, unless its to have a quick drink with Ezri before they head off to their apartment. I mean, she’s cooking dinner for him most nights these days so he doesn’t even eat here anymore. And Odo’s God knows where off with the Founders, Sisko is dead(at least I think so although no one seems to want to use the word), Worf took that transfer back to the Fleet and Rom’s off fooling around with the fundamental structure of Ferengi society as the Grand Nagus. Nog is about to become Second Officer on the Reed somewhere out in the Beta Quadrant and Jake is attending that writing school in New Zealand back on Earth. Kira’s still around but I only see her when that crazy Andorian woman she assigned to take over security trumps up some fallacious charge against me.” Vic covered his mouth to hide the smirk this pronouncement caused to appear on his face. “Like I said, I still have customers but I don’t KNOW any of them, not really. Morn still comes in but I can only listen to him babble for so long before I start wanting to shove tribbles in my ears.”
“Do you still have some of those lying around?” Vic asked.
Quark took on an evasive look. “Of course not! Hungry little buggers would eat up all of my stocks in an instant! You know how bad they breed! Took us six weeks to clear the Promenade after that , ah, infestation we had.” Vic smiled knowingly and nodded, taking a drink from his glass.
“Y’know, Quark, its been worse for me, “ Vic said. “If you didn’t drop by every Thursday night I wouldn’t see anybody. I don’t know if you realize this, pally, but there’s nobody really left who even knows I’m here. They’ve all split for greener pastures.” He stared down into his drink with a wistful look. “I mean, sure, I do my sets every night for the people,” he waved his drink to take in the holographic customers scattered around the room,” but I never get to sing for anyone from out there,” he nodded vaguely towards the Arch that led to Quark’s, “ and frankly, I miss it. It was the cat’s meow, baby.”
Quark considered this for a moment. “Vic, I never realized. Now that I think of it, no one comes in asking to use your holosuite anymore. Which is a darn shame because it costs me to keep it running.” He held up his hand to forestall any protest. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I enjoy our little Thursday get-togethers.”
Vic suddenly looked thoughtful and stared off into space. Shaking himself, he said, “Quark, I may have a way to fix both of our problems.”
Quark perked up a bit. “How so, Vic?”
“Look,” Vic said, “ I want people to come in here from out there, and you said business is down, right pally?”
“Well, with no more soldiers coming through Deep Space 9 my year over year numbers…”
“Right,” said Vic, cutting him off, “And what will bring in more people?” Quark looked puzzled at his friend’s question. “A new attraction!” Vic exclaimed.
“A new attraction? What are you talking about?” Quark asked.
“Why, me, of course!” Vic replied. “Look, Quark, you have this holosuite running all of the time anyway, right?” At Quark’s nod Vic continued, “And what does the outside of the Arch look like?”
Confused, Quark answered, “A pair of doors leading to a holosuite, why?”
“There’s your problem!” Vic responded. “What you need to do is put a couple of tall, skinny potted plants on either side of the doorway and put a big neon sign over the doors that says, ‘Vic’s Place’ or something like that. Then when people ask you, you tell them its some kind of hoity-toity exclusive club-within-a-club and you charge them a cover to get in. If people think something is exclusive they’ll want in, pally!”
Quark began to get excited, “Yeah, and I could put one of my bartenders in here to serve real drinks at your bar and charge for that too!”
Vic smiled. “Now you’re using the old gray matter!”
“Ferengi brains are kinda blue, actually.” Quark said.
“Whatever,” Vic replied, “But if you wanna put one of your guys behind my bar he’s gonna have to wear a tux to fit the atmosphere around here.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Quark said, “We Ferengi are snappy dressers.”
Vic looked down at Quark’s bright orange doublet and blue hose. “ Of course you are!” he exclaimed.
“I’ll do it!” Quark said, barely able to contain himself.
They stood up and Vic threw an arm over his shoulder.
“Pally, I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Quark looked puzzled. “We’re already friends, Vic.”
Vic sighed, “Nevermind. Let’s get this show on the road! The joint’s gonna be jumpin once again!”
