Posted by Civilian Joseph Karlson (Police Commissioner) in Afternoon Conversations - Residential District Joe’s Barbershop - Open Thread

Posted by Civilian Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie (Clan McKenzie Chief) in Afternoon Conversations - Residential District Joe’s Barbershop - Open Thread

Posted by Civilian Joseph Karlson (Police Commissioner) in Afternoon Conversations - Residential District Joe’s Barbershop - Open Thread
There is an area between the residential and commercial districts of Oed City that the locals often refer to as The Karlson District or Johann’s Ward named after Johann Karlsson the older brother of the Colonies Police Commissioner. It is so called because many of the businesses and residential buildings are owned by either the Hekla Corporation, a company owned by Johann, or the employees of the company. Anything from entertainment like pubs, bars, restaurants or nightclubs, apartment buildings, a luxury hotel, and even a Protection Agency were a part of this district within a district. The property that wasn’t within that district owned by the company was their Import/Export offices in the industrial sector and a representative office in the spaceport. The Import/Export business was only opened recently, prompted by the Duroc family opening an embassy in hopes of scoring transport contracts with the Klingon Great House.

The Police Commissioner of the Oed City Police Force sat in a leather barber chair outside Joe’s Barbershop. Generally, he avoided this area as he didn’t like to be seen favoring his brother’s business but he’d known Joe and his wife Margaret for decades. He came there every Friday afternoon to sit in the sun and get a proper shave with a proper razor. It was also known as an unofficial way to speak with the Commissioner although most did not take this chance as if he considered them to be wasting his time they would not get another chance. The outdoors barber chair was like a true open-door office policy. Today he’d been speaking to a reporter before arriving so as Joe lathered Joseph’s face and neck “One last question Commissioner” The young Bolian reporter spoke in a fast-clipped tone, nervous that he’d accepted the request “You’ve been pushing for additional Police reforms when your collegues on other similar worlds having been pushing back from the same, why is that?” She asked.

Joseph put a large hand on Joe’s, interrupting the barber “When I first came here over a decade ago things were a mess, the force needed to be better prepared against violent and armed criminal organizations and multiple dangerous hostile enteties. Since then cooperation between Starfleet Security and the police has improved mostly because of the guidance of former Security Chief Preston Longstreet and then Lieutenant Governor Parker Xavier and their successors have continued this air of cooperation. With the formation of the CCDA and CIA we have an even better grasp on security and protection for the colony, an overly armed and reactionary police force is no longer necessary. The police are not an armed militia even though they are led by a former military general. Protection and service are our purpose. We remain vigilant about external threats but people don’t need armed police roaming their streets for no reason” The reporter nodded and put the small recording device in his pocket “Thank you for the opportunity, sir. I’ll let you be” She stood up and hurried away, Joseph waved to his friend to continue lathering the cream

Joe Bishop the owner of Joe’s Barbershop laughed as he continued “You don’t often give planned interviews outside your office old man, what gives?” He asked his rural south Maine accent still strong “She has guts, absolutely terrified of me because she’s been writing some very critical pieces on me since arriving here last year. She’s been pestering me about an interview for weeks ever since I scolded those Ferengi sleazeballs playing at journalism last month” Joseph answered as his old friend finished “She’ll be one of the stronger voices of young Oedians, good critical thinking and a talent for investigative journalism. She’ll be good a rooting out corruption in my blindspots” He continued “Besides, Neema told me to stop being stubborn” The two shared a laugh.

Joseph looked up at the sky, there were no longer artificial clouds dotting the landscape with the dome gone. His own enhanced eyesight could occasionally see the shield flicker as micro debris hit it. He’d started feeling old again for the first time since he passed his fiftieth birthday. It was nearly twenty years since he’d been put through the forced genetic alterations that had slowed down his aging and improved nearly every aspect of his physiology and having passed his 70th birthday he was starting to feel like he had reached his late forties again even though he was still as physically fit as ever. He unfocused his eyes, forcing his sight to return to what it should be, and leaned back in the chair.

Commissioner Karlson

A shadow fell across the Commissioner for a moment and then a large human man with dark hair and a full but somewhat unkempt beard stood next to him. At first glance, the man appeared overweight and soft; but the trained eye would see the rippling of muscles under the mass of the man. He looked at Joe and said “I was told that this is the best place for someone to get their beard tamed. Think I might squeeze in after your done? I have a meeting with the Governor and don’t wanna walk in looking like I was marooned on a desert island for the past year.” and he chuckled and smiled a genuinely warm smile. His voice had a very slight accent; as if he had been exposed to an accent in his surroundings and was just starting to pick it up.

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie, Clan McKenzie Chief

The barber had finished putting on the cream and had pulled out a leather strap and rested the blade of a single-edged razer on it as he looked at the large man. He was of a similar height as the Commissioner although with Joseph in a seated position and covered in a white apron one could only surmise that he was a large man. Joe Bishop was in his late fifties and had the air of a former soldier despite some extra weight on his waist. He smiled at McKenzie “Of course, have a seat, son” He indicated the chair the reporter had vacated some time ago and started stropping the razor carefully.

McKenzir took a seat and leaned back, looking out at the traffic and people moving along. He seems to relax a bit and a small smile played across his lips.

Joseph had been examining the stranger as he spoke with Joe. Mentally he looked through the Governor’s schedule to try to place the man “Michael McKenzie I presume” His own voice had a fairly neutral Earth tone with only hints of his Icelandic accent remaining.

Commissioner Karlson

The man’s head turned and he smiled. “Yeah, that’s me. But it’s Mike, not Michael.” and he held a hand out to the other seated man. “And you are?” he asked.

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie