abrightfuture | testing testing

... What?

[At first he'd just ignored it - probably wasn't directed at him - and then when he'd noticed what it was, he'd been flabbergasted enough (and a little annoyed) that he'd just turned away and stared in the direction he should be because---]

I'm actually working.

[Scowling down at the automaton (must be) from below the rim of his helmet, Cloud huffed. He was just trying to do his (very boring, currently, nothing happened in the main square this close to Sector 0 and the entrance to the Tower) job and he couldn't even see someone who might be controlling the apparent stuffed toy.

He also felt weird addressing it and glanced around, but there weren't that many people around here after the lunch rush was over and he was left alone with the awkwardness of feeling stupid talking to an automaton that probably only had a few lined recorded.]

Ha! Doesn't look like there's a lot of work to be doin' in the present, eh?

[ The little thing seems unfazed, waving a gloved hand dismissively at the sparsely populated square before taking a look around and cupping its mouth with a stage whisper. ] I won't go tellin' if you don't. Just walkin' around's gotta be so boring, have a little fun why don't ya?

He shouldn't snort, and this still seems like something he should ignore because it might be a trap of some sort, but he snorts anyway, and there might be a tiny grin pulling at the corner of his mouth.]

Technically I think patrolling is supposed to be boring... And I'm supposed to stand right here. [He throws another look around the square, however, considering actually taking a walk around it. What if someone's using this thing as a distraction? It doesn't... seem like it, but, well.]

Also... fortunes? Really?

[Is he just incredulous or judging? Even Cloud's not sure.]

Really! I'm a fortune telling machine, you know! [ It gives an enthusiastic nod, tail flicking back and forth behind it as if quite proud of that fact. ]

And I'll tell you what, even just standing here I can see you've got one heck of a future ahead o' ya, boy.

Yeah? [Eyebrow arching and why is he even indulging this thing, anyway? But, even as he keeps throwing glances around just to make sure he doesn't miss something in case this is a distraction, if it isn't... it works okay as something to focus on that's not staring at the fountain or people hurrying past.] Like what?

[He knows whatever it's going to say is going to be cryptic and generally applicable to a lot of people... that's how these things work, he knows that. Doesn't keep him from asking, head cocked. Maybe it's just that this little robot (seems to have) has personality.]

[ It lets out a thoughtful noise. (State of the art vocal synthesizer on this thing if it's not just a guy with a mic somewhere.) ]

Weeeell, guess I could give you one free for our hard workin' Shinra boys. Let's try it!

[ Hands on its head like a concentrating stage magician, its ears flick and tail rhythmically sways almost like there's some sort of song playing Cloud isn't privy to. The boots even begin tapping, once, twice, thrice, before the cat's brought back to attention with a jump. ] A-ha!

You've got a lot of travel ahead of you, my boy! Sailin' the skies, definitely seein' a lot of the sky, to distant lands. Not alone, either! Anybody you wouldn't mind seein' the world with?

[Rolling his eyes, Cloud still doesn't turn away (not that he could really escape it, currently, since if he started walking away it could just follow), just waits. Not expecting anything amazing or anything, but admittedly curious in spite of himself.

And whether or not the wait and the little song and dance (... so to speak) the cat goes through is just for show or not, he still startles a little when it jumps and exclaims.]

Um... [It's as general as you could expect, saying basically nothing. Though the focus on the sky is a little... odd, he admits, and throws a reflexive look upwards towards Midgar's green-tinted and mostly-clouded sky. SOLDIER... which is a huge assumption, but he can't help himself.] I... guess?

[He hadn't expected the question, his brain supplying first Zack - obvious, if this is about SOLDIER, they have to travel a lot after all, and even besides that, he certainly wouldn't mind seeing the world with Zack. Tifa... if she ever ends up leaving Nibelheim, which it didn't sound like she was planning to do, when they talked that evening (if she'd even be interested in doing so with him, which... he has doubts). His mother, honestly. She'd probably like it, but her leaving seems as improbable as Tifa doing so.]

If you're even the least bit right, I guess it's nice to know I wouldn't do that alone.

[He shakes his head, shifting his rifle better into place and suppresses a snort. It doesn't mean anything, he knows that. It's probably someone's idea of a silly gimmick, but... okay, kinda fun anyway.]

[ One might think the stuffed cat face doesn't have much room for expression, but somehow there's a slant to its mouth as if it knows the prediction was right on the money. Either there's something afoot or the cat is indeed that sure of itself. ]

I haven't been wrong yet! You'll find me and let me know when your fortune comes true, won't ya?

[ Another jump, face somehow switching from dubious know-it-all to genuine excitement.]

I wanna hear all about wherever you visit! And whoever it's with, although to be honest you're strikin' me as the gentlemanly type who doesn't kiss and tell, hehe.

[How a stuffed cat robot does this he doesn't know, but in the end it doesn't really matter, does it? Arching an eyebrow under the edge of his helmet, Cloud snorts - but doesn't get the chance to say anything before the cat continues and then Cloud's ducking his head, burying his chin in his uniform scarf and hoping the blush he knows must be there isn't too obvious.]

I--- why would kissing be involved? [He manages to swallow the first instinctive reaction which would've been a flustered squawk. Instead it's a mutter muffled by the scarf, but still audible.] And how, am I supposed to find you, whenever this happens?

[Ridiculous. Like the fortune, which doesn't really say anything, and he should go back to doing his job properly. But he doesn't turn away from the stuffed cat yet.]

[ It brings a hand up to cover its mouth, playing at being coy. No wonder the whole show is so compelling, if there was anything other than pure logic and the telltale tinniness of its voice the thing might as well actually be a stuffed animal come to life. ] Oho, sounds like I guessed right~

But, h'mmm...tell you what, I'll go findin' you instead! All you've gotta do is call for me. But you've gotta keep m'name a secret. Can you do that for me?

Ugh. [Grimacing and hunching up a little further, Cloud frowns at the ground, watching the stuffed automaton out of the corner of his vision. And then looks up, staring. Even going so far as to tilts his helmet back a little, even if that's completely unnecessary since the extra lenses are meant to be where they are and add visual acuity.]

... What? [This is ridiculous. Someone's probably laughing at him right now, and for a moment Cloud considers just... turning away. Frown deepening, he looks around the square, but... there's still no one in view that seems to be particularly questionable. Of course, if this thing is controlled they might not need to be in view.] ... What does it matter, keeping your name a secret?

[And how the hell he's supposed to be able to call for this thing, he doesn't get. This is stupid, and he really should just do his job, but he's... curious. Despite the distinct feeling that surely someone's laughing at him. That's usually how these things go, after all.]

[ Arms fold and its boots start tapping again, this time more in a 'tsk tsk' fashion than to any beat. ] Shinra take all your sense o' magic and wonder or what?

If I'm gonna trust you with it, I need you trustin' me enough to do that much. But no, guess it's too much, doin' a teeny tiny favor for a lil' one kind enough to give ya a free peek into your excitin' future.

[ Its ears flatten as its head lowers, completing the 'woe is me' look. ] Guess I'll jus' have to be content with visions, eh? No stories o' the outside from someone who been there, only dank an' dreary Midgar...

[Another beat of incredulous staring. Biting his lip and looking away, Cloud snorts, letting the helmet thump back where it's supposed to be. Wavers somewhere between suspicious annoyance and actual laughter for a little longer, then turns back, head cocked.]

Fine, okay. [This might be stupid, but he's... starting to hope that, if nothing else, someone's at least not laughing at him. This thing is kinda cute.] I promise I won't tell anyone your name.

[Why it matters, he's still not sure, but... fine, he'll play along. He's already done that enough now, so why not a little more?]

... Maybe you can go yourself, sometime, too.

[Or rather, whoever owns this thing taking it, if they travel. And if they own a robot that seems to have some rudimentary AI, he doesn't see why they wouldn't.]

[ Just like that, it bounces back up as if it was a child promised the entire candy store. Is this part of the act, or does it really mean that much...? ] You mean it? Oh, you're a downright peach, you are!

C'mere, c'mere! [ Big gloved hands wave Cloud closer, and whether or not he actually complies and leans down he'll be getting another conspiratorial stage whisper. ]

Goin' anywhere m'self is a liiiil' difficult, but let's be leavin' that for now. M'name's Cait Sith. Y'made a friend today, my boy.

[He smiles a little against his own better judgement at the reaction, because some part of him is still sure this is an act and he's being stupid. It's... kinda cute anyway. And he does lean down, a little anyway.]

Okay, Cait. [Shaking his head and straightening up again, Cloud peers down at it.] I'm Cloud. And um, thanks for the fortune..?

[He still feels ridiculous, but so far he hasn't actually (no matter what it feels like must be going on behind the scenes) been made fun of...]

Hey, deliver on those stories and I'll give y'even more for free! Maybe compatibility for who you'll be seein' the world with, eh Cloud?

[ All of the sudden, the cat starts, as if a mild shock was just sent through him. He takes a few looks around at the square, thankfully still as underpopulated as before, and he's already turned to leave when he gives a wave. ]

Oh, good timin'. If we're all tidied up here, then, I'll be leavin' you to your fate. Be good!

[ Faster than one might expect a cat with hands and boots to move, he's off. ]

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