is it a toktik or is it a business ad? @chocobo

[mesospheric]

[ It begins with… a blink. Some guy with gravity-defying blond hair looks around, as if surveying the area for passer-by before he engages in what must surely be an embarrassing affair, like the filming of a TokTik. ]

This isn’t necessary, but—

Do you… need things done?

[ He sort of starts off strong before trailing off in classic Embarrassed Delinquent-esque reluctance. His eyes, locked ahead. His expression, stony. ]

For a fee, certain troublesome tasks can be done for you to satisfying completion. This includes but is not limited to: monster slaying, bodyguard duty, and… errands.

The fee will fluctuate depending on what a hassle I find it to be.

[ Another blink. Another look around. Something surely comes next, right? Damn. Is Cloud his own PR department? ]

… I look forward to working with you.

[ And just like that, the feed ends. ]

MERC WORK
contact Cloud Strife for more info

Comments

Private

[mace_pray_love]

i just paid for the games he played to win us both prizes. and it wasn’t cheating because i needed the prize for the shrine, not for myself.

i was trying to keep it under wraps because cloud is too nice. if the other outsiders find out how easy he is to push around, he’s never going to get any paying work.

so if you’re hiring him to stalk your dad or whatever, you’ve gotta give him some money for it!

private onwards;

[shadowban]

i was going to pay him fairly, you don't have to threaten me about it. i'm asking him to do something dangerous for my sake. that deserves proper compensation.

...his name truly is cloud?

[mace_pray_love]

that wasn't a threat. it was me telling you what to do.

yes, i think so. why? it's a pretty name.

[shadowban]

it is, i just thought it was a codename or alias.

[ megumi you can't say shit your name is megumi. ]

don't tell me what to do. i was going to do it anyway.

[mace_pray_love]

I guess it could be short for something. 'cloudward'? 'cloudthew'? 'cloudbert'? nah, none of those sound right.

and if we're both in agreement about paying him, why's it matter if i said so?

[shadowban]

i don't like it when people tell me what to do. it makes me not want to do it.

cloudus? cloudine? maybe he's named something a little more arcane.

[mace_pray_love]

ok then, how about this. you better not pay cloud anything, and that's an order!!

i've got it- 'cloudulfus'.

[shadowban]

don't tell me what to do, i'll pay him whatever i want.

[ see, this is working! ]

clauderon.

[mace_pray_love]

DON'T THINK I DIDN'T SEE YOU TRYING TO WHEEDLE OUT A DISCOUNT JUST NOW!

i think we've been approaching this the wrong way. maybe it's 'stormcloud'.

[shadowban]

it wasn't wheedling, it was threatening.

[ don't make him explain himself, the logic is twisting and turning. ]

...he does seem to have a cold, stormy outlook. like a rain cloud.

[mace_pray_love]

sounds like we solved it!

so how's this- pay storm cloud fairly, or else you're gonna have to deal with me, and that's a threat.

[And if it hasn't been established, she can be A Hassle when she wants to be. She's decided Cloud is simultaneously really cool and also needs a protector from bullies. Sorry, Stormcloudbert.]

[shadowban]

i'll pay storm-san fairly, don't worry.

how strong are you, though?

[ don't look too deeply into that question, he's just a normal curious child! ]

[mace_pray_love]

stronger than i look.

but the real thing to consider is, i'm your healer. it's never smart to get on your healer's bad side!

[Says Jessica, who is ethically bound to heal anyone who requires it of her, unless they specifically ask her not to. She will be there to help Megumi no matter what if he gets injured; the threat is actually that she'll be a grump about it the whole time.]

[shadowban]

mm, getting on your healer's bad side is great way to get killed in a fight. i agree.

[ how to weaponise this... time to plan. ]

can you lift a truck?

[mace_pray_love]

[Umm, which one is a truck again? She has to search it on the web.]

probably not? they look heavy.

why, can you? if you can do it, i bet i can too!

[shadowban]

i could now, i'm pretty sure. but i can cheat on it if i wanted so it's not too heavy for me.

what's the most you can lift?

[mace_pray_love]

i've never, like, measured before. i guess there are those weight things in the rec room i could go try out to see.

[She's no super-hero level, but she does routinely wield a heavy metal mace with the same ease that her mage friends use a thin rod or wand.]

[shadowban]

we could test them out. i think they have measuring tools for kinetic force and stuff.

arcade fighting games can work, too. have you been to one?

[mace_pray_love]

an arcade? no, we don't have anything like that on my world, and i haven't tried one here yet.

[shadowban]

we could go sometime. i'm good at most of the cabinet games, but there are sports and crane games too. some games let you win prizes.

[mace_pray_love]

sounds fun! i'll give it a try

[She will excel at Whack-a-Mole if nothing else.]

🎀 closing us out!

[shadowban]

alright. i'll message you some time when we're not so busy, jessica-san. make sure to win something when we go.