04. [video] Fortune

[mech_and_mutt]

[When the video begins, Red's already slumped back into the pilot's seat of his airship, his weary posture and tired limbs looking like they'd already long-since given out on him. He's breathless and panting- and not even in a particularly dog-like way- while sweat somehow manages to run off of his fur. Or is that just water? It'd explain why he was in his blitzball outfit. And all those bruises.

And yet, somehow, his face is the biggest, toothiest smile most people would ever have seen from him.]

..I... did it.

[He pauses, reaching beside him to grab a hold of a metallic water bottle with an oddly familiar logo on it, and ravenously gulps from it a few times between heaving breaths before using the rest to douse himself.

A few seconds of a more familiar canine head-shaking, water-flinging dryoff later- and a quiet ugh from the offscreen moogle- he catches his breath enough to continue.]

Starting lineup. Dragons. Cloud City.

[...and then, as if he suddenly remembered he was actually broadcasting this--]

Uh-- I'm Red. I play Blitzball. For the Cloud City Dragons. It's a great sport. Come watch me sometime. ...cause I just got promoted!!

[He manages a fistbump for a few seconds before his fist quivers, and with a weak groan his arm soon goes limp. Yup. That muscle was probably pulled.]

...So yeah. Tryin' to think of how I should celebrate. Any ideas?

...Y'know, after I get some rest.

Comments

[defenestraighttomyheart]

[A pause. Richard Conway scrambles to the monitor screen, frantically messing with the controls. He curses quietly to himself, cursing an inconvenient water droplet that prevented the camera from picking up him drinking from his damn bottle.]

Red, you look so faint. You should take another drink of water. And then we should go out to a bar.

Although, given that your contract is now a matter of public record, I think you're buying from now on.

[mech_and_mutt]

Nah. 'ppreciate it, but they're not gonna serve me there.

[Still, Richard had a point. The bottle's raised, and- with all the imprecision of a sore, cramping arm- he poured a brief flow of water into his open mouth before slumping back again.]

Is Star Mogs okay? Just don't tell me you wanna drink Kombucha. More for me, 'po.

[defenestraighttomyheart]

[He seemed very visibly down a little (definitely not because he squirted the water from the bottle), but perks up after confirming they'd go to Star Mogs.]

Uh, sure that'll work just fine, let's just-

[He didn't even pause before going into a tangent.]

wait hold on why can't you go to a bar

[mech_and_mutt]

I, uh.

I'm not old enough.

[defenestraighttomyheart]

[Richard widens his eyes slowly as that revelation creeps up on him and then leans back in his seat and gives Red that particular kind of look of spaced-out introspective horror that can only be associated with someone being forced to take a good, long, hard look at their life choices leading up to that point and finding them wanting.]

Oh. Okay.

See you at the Star Mogs.

I need to go call Corrin now.

[mech_and_mutt]

Wait wait waaait, not yet! At least give me few minutes to relax and catch my breath! [Honestly, the thought of another upside-down flat white ri--

LATTE. The thought of another latte right now wasn't making his aches any lighter.]

Corrin? She givin' you a lift?

[defenestraighttomyheart]

Oh just, uh.

Call me when you want to go.

I have to go to Finn's thing anyway.

And no, when you have the ability to cross the length of a blitzball field by jumping, you kind of are your own ride.

Anyway, bye.

[Richard calls up Corrin before the video was even up. He seemed distressed and said something about three months before cutting the video feed.]

[einspine]

[3... 2... 1...

Aaaaand that would be a googly-eyed skeleton giving a roaring applause! Beware, Red. Beware...]

OH MY GOD!!! CONGRATS ON YOUR SPECTACULAR SUCCESS! CLEARLY, THIS MARKS A DAY THAT WILL GO DOWN IN VAIKUNTHAN HISTORY!!!

AS FOR CELEBRATION, I, FOR ONE, RECOMMEND A GRAND FEAST OF SPAGHETTI!

[mech_and_mutt]

A big meal does sound pretty good right now...

[That enthusiasm was fine by Red. This kinda thing was worth getting excited about. He flashes a quick thumbs-up to the camera feed.]

Thanks, Pap. Wonder how many other offworlders made it this far. [...Other than Tidus, anyway. Never DID get that proper face-off against him...] I don't miss bein' mistaken for some kinda new mascot.

[einspine]

WELL, I'D SAY MADHURI AND THE OTHERS AT THE LADY HAVE MADE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES IN THE ART OF SHOW BIZ! OTHERWISE... I'M ACTUALLY NOT SURE.

[He sets a hand on his hip, contemplating.]

BUT YES. I IMAGINE THAT'S A WELCOME RELIEF. DOGS ARE MORE THAN JUST CUTE AND FLUFFY. WHY, THE CANINES I'M FAMILIAR WITH ARE NOBLE SOLDIERS!

[mech_and_mutt]

Mentioning her is almost cheating! She's always puttin' herself front and center like that.

[And, apparently, she was trying to get him to follow suit lately. No thanks. Red may love applause but he has his limits.]

Maybe where you come from, but I'm startin' to learn that humans see us a little differently.

[einspine]

YOU CALL IT CHEATING! I CALL IT THE RESULTS OF HER HARD WORK AND AMAZING SKILLSET! FOR SHE IS VERY AMAZING.

[But there's... a bit of bias on his part. Especially with the doofy sorta smile he has when talking about her.

Though that smile wavers at the mention of humans.]

WELL. JUST BE ASSERTIVE, I SUPPOSE? MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU AREN'T SOMEBODY'S PET? I'VE. TRIED TO DO THAT WITH THE WHOLE SKELETON BUSINESS, AT ANY RATE. MINUS THE PET THING.

[mech_and_mutt]

Yeah, but you're used to seein' people like me. At least Blitzball fans are startin' to learn the difference.

[But he actually cracks a grin at that. Madhuri deserves a little adulation, and Papyrus deserves a little... whatever that is he's feeling.]

She's somethin', alright. You're startin' to sound like you run her fan club.

[video]

[singerofspells]

Congratulations. Perhaps you should celebrate by resting?

[video]

[mech_and_mutt]

Pfsh. Sittin' still for too long doesn't suit me.

[He reaches for the bottle again, only to have his arm jerk uncomfortably. He catches himself wincing.]

...But I might make an exception. Just this once. Since it's a special occasion.

[Beat.]

Y'know any good places that deliver?

Re: [video]

[singerofspells]

Depends on how you feel about seafood. And if you live in Ka'Pandol.

[video]

[mech_and_mutt]

A few thousand feet straight up from Ka'pandol. But I could probably have Mocha park the thing if they could bring it to the surface.

Re: [video]

[singerofspells]

Zushi Sushi has about the freshest selection in my opinion, then. I know most other species like fancier offerings than I normally order, but the quality is good.

[video]

[mech_and_mutt]

Sushi? That stuff's really fancy, right?

It is a special occasion, 'po.

Ah, sure, I'll give it a try. Only ever heard of the stuff before. What do you usually get?

[video]

[mythmaker]

My, my. I see Wendy made it to you just in time, then.

[She giggles to herself. He looks so exhausted; she can't help but admit this is really cute. It's so Red.]

Whenever my office has a big event, we always have catering and drinks after. [She pauses.] W-well, I'm the only one who drinks sometimes, but...why don't you throw a party?

[video]

[mech_and_mutt]

[Azusa's calling?! His vitality seems to return almost immediately and he sits upright... but nonetheless remembers his current condition with a wince, albeit one that can hardly temper his smile.]

Yeah. Dunno how you heard, but it's the best surprise I could'a come home to. You're the best, y'know that?

[He'd have to get her some especially nice for the Starlight Celebration.]

A party? That might be fun once I'm back on my feet. ...But, uh, the Asmodeus is a little on the small side--

[To drive the point home, in the background, Mocha can be seen hanging a set of boxer shorts alongside several spare scarves on a clothesline stretched across the airship's main hallway.]

--so I'd have to think of someplace to hold it.

[mythmaker]

My, my. You're sweet to say so, but Wendy is the one with all the connections...she's the one who found out and told me.

[She needs to be honest and up front about that. Really, it's nothing special...]

The Asmodeus? Ah, that's your...

[She blinks.]

...is Mocha doing your laundry?

[That's lewd.]

[mech_and_mutt]

Yeah, but you still-- Uh?

[Well, yes, Mocha did offer when he came home exhausted, but how did she know...? Red lifted himself on tired muscles to crane his head around for a glimpse where Azusa was seemingly looking past him. Okay, sure; there she was, doing laundry, hanging up his--

oh, furballs. He quickly slaps the camera aside; there's a lovely view of the clouds out the cockpit window, at least. And, hey, there are those cookies she made for him! Looks like he'd already eaten a few.]

MOCHA

what, 'po?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING

your laundry, 'po--

I'M ON CAMERA RIGHT NOW

i know.

YOU'RE SHOWIN' ALL OF VAIKUNTHA WHAT COLORS I WEAR!

yeah, everyone knows you're on the dra--

MOCHA TAKE IT DOWN! THAT! TAKE IT DOWN!!

(...)

oh.

...please?

sorry, 'po!! I didn't know you were talking to--

THAT DOESN'T MATTER PLEASE JUST TAKE IT DOWN

[A few seconds later the camera is tipped back. Red looks even more exhausted than he did before.]

...Where were we?

[mythmaker]

My, my.

[There he goes. It looks like he's been eating her cookies, too. That's always a nice feeling. Elevator music plays in her head as she listens to the commotion that follows. She hums to herself, pleasantly waiting. Poor Mocha. Maybe she should have sent Mocha a gift basket, too? Hopefully, no one else is being treated to this private laundry showing, poor Red seems so embarrassed.

She picks the conversation up again when Red returns, still smiling.]

I was going to say that I don't think I've ever seen the inside of the Asmodeus before, but now it seems I've seen that and more.

[Ufufu.]

[mech_and_mutt]

h-ha ha, yeah, it's a bit of a mess sometimes

[He was almost wishing for the sweet liberation of Bahamut's loving embrace.]

I guess I'm too used to livin' here with just me and my sister. We never had too many guests.