catchall claude

[skyagain]

Comments

[shaft]

[ cloud... they simply will talk about it ]

Which was?

[skyagain]

... A friend went undercover on her own to some asshole's mansion as a potential "bride" for him so she could find out some important intel. The asshole's more dangerous than she knew, though, so we... followed. But the only way inside was if you were an approved potential bride for him.

[ this doesn't sound less stupid when he says it out loud. ]

[shaft]

[ wait ]

So the dance was to... help you become an approved bride?

[skyagain]

... That's how Andrea wanted me to prove myself. [ he sounds SO tired ] It was also helping us get inside for purposes that were pretty obviously not what he's supposed to hand these out for, so. He wanted proof he'd get his endorsement's worth, I guess.

[ by dancing. ]

[shaft]

[ He nods slowly. ]

So you proved yourself... But not as a bride.

[skyagain]

Let's stop talking about this.

[ cloud, acutely aware he was actually chosen as the bride, ]

[shaft]

I'm impressed at how open your world is.

[ a positive spin? ]

[skyagain]

Yeah I wouldn't call any of that typical.

[ the idea of there being a positive spin to girls being sold as sex slaves is hilarious ]

[shaft]

... I assume that you were able to recover your friend, since you don't seem very touchy about the subject.

[skyagain]

She's fine. [ short. ] If I'd had a choice I would've killed the bastard then and there, but shit didn't line up.

[shaft]

[ Oh, there he's being touchy. ]

That's unfortunate. It is kind of difficult to kill a person without a court of law getting involved.

[skyagain]

[ there's a long pause ]

Maybe where you're from.

[shaft]

[ help ]

... You don't have laws?

[skyagain]

They don't really matter when the people who make 'em are the ones employing guys like the Don. He gets to control the underworld, Shinra doesn't have to get their hands dirty.

[ he shrugs ]

There's a mayor, but he hasn't got any power. And no one really cares what happens to the slums anyway.

[shaft]

[ he sighs ]

I can't say it's unusual for power to corrupt. It's disappointing to hear though, that the people have no governing body to rely on when there's nothing else supporting them.

Are you a mercenary then?

[skyagain]

They're mostly supporting themselves. [ in the slums. until plates are dropped on them. he says nothing and moves on ] But yeah. I'm a mercenary.

[ a dancing one ]

[shaft]

Your friend too? The one who seemed to be having a good time at your expense.

[skyagain]

... Local florist, actually.

[ the tired but fond tone ]