[Heart Exclusive Content] Lore: The Ninth Staff (Patreon)

The first design sketch for the workers of the all-cat staffed Hotel Casino: The Ninth!
Even though I keep debating whether my characters will wear pants or not on a regular basis, the butlers of The Ninth always match their suits with them, regardless!

The Ninth might be surrounded with shady rumors and a sketchy reputation, but one step into this luminously luxuriant land and you'll find yourself charmed by the cozy, nightclub-esque yet really mellow atmosphere, as well as the fetching waiters and waitresses ready to serve your every whim. Though the staff may be all cats, all species are allowed patronage! As well as a generous line of credit, which you should probably not accept...

Though The Ninth's website may have a careers page, you won't find openings there all too easily, if at all. In truth, each and every one of the staff members in this hotel is a member of The Clowder, with the boss himself being the proud owner of the place.
As a result, the cats pouring your drinks and bringing your sushi happen to all be thoroughly trained in how to use their knives and claws, as well as other maneuvers they might need to protect themselves, or ambush a certain target.
This isn't to say every staff member has also been a gang runt or has ever mugged someone. In truth, a good amount of the staff are the cats the Clowder recruits who are not too keen on the dangers of street life, and are thus provided a much more comfortable setting from which to operate, as well as get paid rather handsomely. It's been a step up for many a house cat, as well as a life saver for many a stray.

There is a 1-2 month training period for any cat that would like to become a butler or maid of the hotel casino. During this training, they learn etiquette, bartending skills, self-defense and knifeplay, and a rather comprehensive list of the casino's dealings and how to best ensure that everything remains working smoothly. Those slots machines aren't gonna rig themselves, after all.

Though it's far subtler, the uniform for the staff also includes a Clowder Bell, and each member is also equipped with an ear pod to communicate across the entire building, using different channels. Should a maid or butler be equipped with a bell around their tails as well, that signifies patrons that they are open to be company in tables or private rooms.

It's best you don't consider threatening or assaulting any of the staff members no matter your privacy though, as the hotel policies quite aptly safeguard the cats from any responsibility or blame that might come from a patron's sustained injuries should they press their luck too much.

Although both male and female cats don the butler costume regularly, the maid position is most usually kept for females. There's been some situations where the manager or even the boss himself thinks an exception is warranted, though...