âHey, there you are. Where have you been?â Angeal inquired as she walked into the departmentâs lounge.
âOh, I was just getting fresh air but thenââshe paused in her track upon noticing the chaos behind him, glancing at none other than the Daily Banter of Genesis and Sephiroth episode, âwhat happened?â
Angeal just sighed and shook his head. She understood what it meant and laughed at the premise, âI assume itâs about the coffee?â
âYou know itâs about the coffee.â
She didnât say anything else as her smile widened, turning to watch the scene unfold as she tucked her hands behind her back. Angeal caught a glimpse of a jingling chain, taking a peek of what sheâs holding. âWhat do you have over there?â he asked, pointing at her.
âOh this?â she brought her hands forward again, displaying a small item sheâs holding onto, âitâs a keychain! I crossed path with some ladies on the street. They were selling so many merchandises, they were so cute that I couldnât resist.â
âMerchandise of what?â
She chuckled, eyes twinkled playfully before answering: âyou.â as she motioned over the present 1st Class SOLDIERS right in front of her.
She brought it closer to his face, jingling the keychain, which consisted of three small plushies that take form of the people heâs familiar withâas one of which, was himselfâin a smaller and rounder form. He observed the item, expression serious before mirth taking over with how ridiculous(ly)(indeed cute) the little plush dolls are. But itâs not Angeal Hewley if his mind doesnât immediately shift to financial responsibility as he turned to ask her, âhow much were these?â
âWellâŠâ the sheepish laugh and scratch to her nape said it all before the words were even out. Seeing the look on her seniorâs face, she quickly deflected, âbut itâs a good deal! You see, these plushies actually came from different merchants; obviously each from your respective fanclubs. I was hesitant as to which one I should choose first, so they opted to combine their products into one and put it on a sale price. Isnât it nice?â
âWhatâs nice?â a deeper voice of the person within the topic was heard as he suddenly materialized behind her, bending down slightly to her level in curiosity.
âKeychain of you!â she chirped, turning around and pushing the keychain and jingling it again to show him a better look of it.
It was then Sephiroth and Genesisâ turn to inspect their tiny replicas hanging by the keychain. Sephiroth looked confused, but otherwise unfazed, seemingly all too familiar with his own commercializationâon normal occasions, heâd be irritated seeing his own self within the spotlight. Itâs objectifying, itâs uncomfortable. He almost thought the same until he realized that, knowing how she is, itâs just an innocent sentiment thatâs not worth to be mad aboutââvery endearingâ was his thought, but what came out of his mouth was simply a curt hum. Was he satisfied? Was he annoyed? Nobody knew. As for Genesis, he took a really good look on his own replica, then his eyes darted between the other two plushies, then to his own again, and thenâ
âJust a moment, why is my plush smaller and shorter in size?â he questioned, brows furrowed and lips puckered in what seemed to be a small pout.
They all turned to take a closer look at the plushies; Mini Genesis was indeed shorter compared to his mini friends. The realization made Angeal barked out a laugh which only irked Genesis even more, and even more when the tiniest faintest laugh came out of the silver-haired SOLDIER.
âI am wounded.â Genesis exclaimed dramatically, sparking another laugh out of the two men. âIf you both wonât quit it, I swearââ
âI mean, you canât blame them. Itâs pretty accurate to our real counterparts,â Angeal nudged him teasingly, gaining a hum of approval from Sephiroth. âVery accurate.â he added with a tone so flat that could be mistaken as monotonous, but theyâve built enough rapport to know the humorous laugh heâs having.