002 - video

[hotshit]

So all this talk of war that's goin' on has got me thinkin' -- if I'm expected to fight for anybody I expect to be paid in full beforehand. It seems only fair, since my services never come free for anyone else. Wouldn't you guys agree?

Anyway, in the mean time, I might as well get myself a steady job in case business gets slow until then! Who's hiring? -- And come to think of it, while I'm talkin' to this thing...

[The camera suddenly zooms out enough so that the grey bear cub beside him is shown, balancing a chunk of meat on its muzzle. Claire sweeps his hand up into the air, making a gesture with an open hand, which seems to be the signal of approval for the bear to toss the meat up into the air and catch it in its mouth.]

There's quite a few kids at this place, right? Would any of you guys like to help me raise a bear? I'm workin' on making my own income at this place, so you're not gonna get paid anything, but I imagine some of you wouldn't want to pass up the chance to play with a lovable guy like this!

[He reaches over to the cub with both his hands, ruffling the fur on its neck roughly in a playful manner. The cub draws out a deep whine at this. He has no idea that the cub is actually female.]

Comments

[Video]

[uglyinside]

[ A bear. Okay.

Johan closes the book in his hands slowly, sitting comfortably on the bed and lets out a relaxed breath, as if one needs to be in a meditative state to talk to somebody like Claire. Their personal encounter was a bit... tense, so he's going to try and be as affable as possible. ]

The free Housing isn't enough?

[Video]

[hotshit]

[Ooh, Johan. You got balls for seeking Claire out after that weird encounter. Claire is fairly impressed.]

Not when I didn't agree to a contract in the first place. I might as well offer my services while I'm here, but the way I see it, the free housing pays for the spontaneity in itself. Otherwise, all it is is bribery, and that's now how I do business.

video;

[blessedthy]

[And here he thought this man was at least passably smart.]

Unless someone suddenly finds their fortune here, there won't be that much...work until something is done. [a slight frown] Where did you find that bear?

video;

[hotshit]

Wherever there's people, there's bound to be money, even if there's not much. If you're good at what you do, you get that fortune first, that's all there is to it.

[Claire sits back on a bail of hay, absently wrestling with the bear's jaws with one hand.]

Oh, Kaji? I found 'im not too long ago, when that dragon swooped in. His mom was dead, so I figured I'd give him a hand.

[Video]

[corks]

That's a very cute bear you have there.

[Jacob smiles, giving a nod.]

I've never encountered one like that before, though I did run into a few polar bears back home which were much bigger than that.

[Video]

[hotshit]

[Hey, he was hoping to hear that line from a hot lady!] Oh, I'm not too sure whether I should say thanks or not, since the compliment is mostly for him! But thanks, anyway.

As for the colour of his fur, I'd say it's supposed to be black, but like most things here, he's grey.

Can't say I ever seen a polar bear anywhere other than the zoo. Sounds to me like you had a run-in with ones in the wild, though! Bears don't get too big when they're held in captivity.

[Audio]

[occulthymns]

[Bears aren't exactly dogs (the best animal everrrr), but Euri is still impressed.]

That's adorable! How long did it take you to teach him that trick?

[Audio]

[hotshit]

[Claire answers her whilst horsing around with the bear; Kaji is charging at Claire continuously, who in turn simply gives a rough push at her, knocking her down each time. He seems to be doing this absently since his attention is on the video recorder in front of him.]

Aah, lets see. It didn't take too long; in fact, anybody could teach this kind of trick in a matter of days. As for me, it took a couple of hours.

I've been thinkin' of what kind of trick I should teach him next. I'm starting off with basics, since you can't teach a dog to roll before gettin' it to lay down.

video

[apostatises]

[Well, that's a bit presumptuous. Lucifer feels like if these gods weren't so clearly desperate for help, this guy would have been smitten for even considering being paid at all, much less to begin with.]

[But, hey, he can sympathize.]

I do agree. [Coolly,] But don't you think it's a little presumptuous to ask that of gods? Why should they pay you?

video

[hotshit]

Presumptuous? Not at all! After all, they brought me here to give 'em a hand. Why shouldn't they pay me?

video

[langleysoryu]

Kaji~!

video

[hotshit]

Hey, what about me! [He almost looks offended! He gives Kaji a pat on the head.]

[Video]

[dreamsonwings]

Aww, your friend's adorable.

[Acrobat, meet acrobat.]

[Video]

[hotshit]

You think so? [He raises his hand up above the bear, who stands in an attempt to reach it!] I gotta admit, he's much cuter than the last bear I tamed back in my circus days! He's a docile little mouse in comparison.

[ video ]

[myjunes]

[ did someone say kids? Nanako is at least staring at it in amazement. ]

W-wow..! Is that a real bear? How did you get one in here..?

[ video ]

[hotshit]

[Claire picks up the bear, raising her over his head, her paws thrashiing in the air as she complains.]

Yup! A real, live and kickin' one! Do you wanna see? [He ignores her question for now.]

[whatagoodgirl]

A - A bear?! [Frozen in terror.] That'll - that'll grow, you know! It'll get dangerous! Bears shouldn't be kept as pets!

[hotshit]

Hey, I didn't say anythin' about keepin' him as a pet! I plan on releasing him back into the wild as soon as he's old enough. He's still just a baby, y'know!

Come on, there's nothin' to be afraid of. At this point, the poor guy couldn't hurt a fly. That's why I gotta teach it how! [The bear is rolling around on the ground in the background.]

[Video]

[snugglesjugs]

I've never seen an animal like that before.

[It would be relatively hard to find a bear in the desert.]

I wouldn't mind helping, mister.

[Video]

[hotshit]

Finally, a taker! You won't regret the decision, kid. Bears are the best kind of animals!

Video

[unenlightened]

A bear?

Video

[hotshit]

That's right! Would you like to see?

[ video ]

[unify]

[ Is... that... really safe... ]

--ah? I don't know if children are really the right... people to be raising... real live bears...

[ video ]

[hotshit]

[h-hummina hummina.]

Oh... you really think so? He's still just a cub, after all, so I figured he wouldn't be a danger to anybody just yet!

[Video]

[mistakenidentity]

[He can't help but stare at the bear cub, holding his own bear close to him.]

Is..payment really necessary?

[Video]

[hotshit]

[Is it a teddy bear?]

Well, that's what I figure anyway! If the rest of you are willin' to serve these guys free of charge, that's your business.