They were popular . Traverse Town . Closed
In his opinion, slamming the door so loudly that it echoed through the halls of the inn even as late at "night" as it was, was a rather founded action. After all, the downright odd, aggravating, and just plain draining last few days that he had sleep hadn’t been a priority. Now it was. A nice nap--That sounded wonderful. He brushed a gloved hand through his hair habitually, surveying the hotel room in the process; Small room, one bed, a stand. Quaint. Within the same few feet from the Hotel room door he practically flopped on the only bed.
From being so downright tired [a common occurrence these days] he didn't even let go of his weapon, but lazily dropped it off the edge of the bed without much concern and care to the loud thud it made. Silence filled the room, a most welcome noise. This time, he could sleep without the constant mandatory intervals of caution or without ..rocks.
"Oh Cloud-pin," a voice said, tapping him gently on the head with his wand. "Wake up, sleepy head!" It was amusing how quickly the spiked man could doze of when in a place he considered uninteresting. This, however, was heaven for one such as himself. Fai D. Flowright, master fashionista and shopper extraordinaire, had been given the task to beautify the bishounen into a "beau"shounen. It could be done, right?
"Come on now, we've got lots of work to do!" he said cheerily as Cloud groaned and rubbed his eyes. "Now that we're friends, I've decided to make you my new project!"
From being asleep, it didn’t occur to Cloud to wonder -why- there was someone else lingering around in his room. No, the dumb cloud [..no pun intended] of sleep still lingering ask questions didn’t compute mentally. Cloud grumbled again, sitting up on his elbows to have a good look at the overly-cheery man. Project? “You.. really don’t have to do that.”
Fai smiled his trademark smile, a thread of excite laced in among the self-loving arrogance of his tone. "I know," he said softly. "That's what makes me so nice!" From some unknown location came the soft beginnings of music. But it wasn't just from another room. No, the invisible music was backing Fai, who slowly crooned out his lyrics:
"Whenever I see someone, less fortunate than I, and let's face it," he said, his tone coming down, the arrogance raising as he continued. "....who isn't less fortunate than I? My tender heart, tends to start to bleeeeeeeeeed." With his next words, he picked up the pace, a fierceness coming into his voice. "And when someone needs a makeover I simply HAVE to take over I know --" with that, he came down to a loud whisper. "I knowww..." and once more, brought his voice to operatic form. "Exactly...what they neeeeeedd..."
"And even in YOUR case..." his eyes ran up and down Cloud, as if he was a poor, helpless fashion victim. "Though it's the TOUGHEST case I've yet to face......DON'T WORRY. I'm DETERMINED to succeed......follow myyyyy lead....and YES. INDEED."
"You."
"Will."
"Be."
The expression on Cloud’s face slowly turned from one of sleep-induced dumbness, to that of disbelief. An overall ‘are you for real’ look. What was he talking about? Then, upon the word Make-over, that very same expression turned to ‘Oh Shit’-ness. Make over. Flowright giving him an up-and-down look didn’t convince him otherwise. Slowly, he started to lean back and try to creep his way off the bed. This guy’s nuts. Cloud hopped off the bed to the edge, crouched down, and peeked over at the crazed man slightly. As if his hair wasn’t a giveaway enough to where he was.
"POPULAR!" Fai sang, his tone cheery as usual. "You're gonna be popular! I'll teach you the proper ploys, when you TALK-TO-BOYS!" He made sure to emphasize that part. You know. For kicks. "Little ways to flirt and flounce--" a squeal emitted from him, and he bounded around the room, grabbing Cloud by the collar of his shirt, and dragging him away from his hiding position. "I'll show you what shoes to wear," he said, and suddenly, pairs of shoes were surround them. Every which direction, glittering, gleaming, silver, black, white, red, all of them! "How to fix your hair!" as the spun, the shoes vanished, and Cloud was now sitting in a chair, facing a mirror, as Fai played with the large spike of blonde hair that belonged to the soldier. "Everything that really counts to be popular!"
This guy was way -way- too cheery. After getting dragged by the collar, forced to face the death-glare of who-the-hell-knew-how-many pairs of nothing but shoes, and then plopped in a chair, Cloud was pretty much in a daze of ‘what the hell’. As soon as Flowright started toying with his hair, he slapped the hand away, and reared around to glare at him for a moment. Idiot! And dashed out of the chair for the door. LIKE HELL he was letting that guy put ribbons or something in his hair, “Come on and open you stupid door.” He hissed-alas the doorknob wouldn’t turn.
Oh no, oh no oh no, that wouldn't do! He couldn't leave, the song was just beginning! Fai flicked his hand and the ribbons he had been preparing to place in Cloud's hair shot from his hands and grew in length, until they reached the spiked one. They wrapped around him, and with a tug, the wizard brought the man back to the scene. He flung him back into the chair, before continuing his song. "You're gonna be popular! You'll hang with the right cohorts, you'll be good at sports -" at thi moment, a basketball dropped from the ceiling, landing squarely on Cloud's head. Of course, the large spike protruding from his hair only popped the thing, before it vanished completely. "Know the slang you've got to know!" At this point, Fai shot his free hand (the one that wasn't holding Cloud down in his chair) out, and a ruler suddenly appeared in it, slapping against a chalkboard which hadn't been there before. A large word had been scribbled on it: "DIZZLE." With this, he chuckled, and spun Cloud's chair around, following suit and spinning himself, tossing the long ruler aside. "So let's start, 'cause you've got an AWFULLY long way to gooo!"
The doorknob slipped away from him, all Cloud could do was stare at it with an ever growing frown-no, it couldn’t just be that easy to escape this guy could it? Again before he could object he was in that chair, ribbon abound. The soldier poked at it in disgust-only a second before his attention was forced on the ball, the sports, and everything else prim popper and posh that Flowright was attempting to educate him about. Cloud’s blue eyes focused perhaps a little too intently on the chalkboard leaning into it; Trying silently sound out the letters to sound out the word that was written in chalk on the board, forming his lips to try and get the letters to it. [This resulted in him being tossed out of the chair because it was turned so quickly]. Trying to stand up after that was a bad idea since a few staggering steps followed. Alas this time it wasn’t to escape, exactly: With a shrug, a sigh, and an ‘oh screw it’ expression, Cloud took one of those pink ribbons that just happened to appear, took a lock of Flowrights hair, and tied it rather brilliantly in it.
..What the.....
Finally, Cloud was getting into it! Smiling and giving him the thumbs up, he twirled away to continue his song and dance. "Don't be offended by my frank analysis - think of it as personality dalasis. Now that I've chosen to become a PAL a SISTER and ADVISOR, there's NOBODY wiser! Not when it comes to Popular!" He strode over to Cloud now, gently placing his hands on the soldier's shoulders. "Fai knows about Popular! And with an assist from me to be who you'll be....instead of dreary who you were!" He stopped for a minute, surveying the rather...fashion...victim...ish...Cloud. "...well, are. There's NOTHING that can stop you from becoming Popular!" And he stopped again, mentally cursing the fact that he didn't rhyme. "Er. LAHR."
Sister? Advisor? What? Feminine pronouns made Cloud give a more odd look to the already-rather-admittedly-feminine mage. It only darkened at the snide little insult of being dreary; he was fine. Just fine as far as clothes were concerned not to fla--No WAY was he getting into that train of thought of clothes. Immediately he plastered on the most intimidating face he could and glared for being manipulated to even start to think about his clothing. Suddenly he held up his hand--within his fingers was a tube of red lipstick. The soldier flipped the top off and grinned in a expression that could only be described as poisonous. He proceeded in drawing a frownie face on Fai’s face in bright red.
.....
Hmph! "You wish!" Fai said, and the frownie face magically shifted from sad to happy. And once more, he burst out into song. "Laaaa laaaaaaaa laaaa laaaaa, we're gonna make you POP. U. LAR!" He giggled, and porceeded by bounding around the room. "When I see depressing creatures with unprepossessing features, I remind them on their own we have. To. Think. Of! Celebrated heads of state - " for some reason, a large thought bubble protruded from Cloud now, and the image of a building appeared. An arrow pointing to it stated "MIDGAR." the thought bubble zoomed in, revealing a man sitting at a desk. His blonde hair was slicked, and he was smiling goofishly. Another arrow pointing to him said "RUFUS." Fai continued his song - "Celebrated heads of state or especially great communicators! Did they have brains or knowledge? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH," he sang, flicking his hand. "They were popular, please. It's all about Popular! It's not about aptitude - " the thought bubble vanished as Fai prodded it, then he brought his hand pointing to Cloud's head. "It's the way you're viewed! So it's very shrewed to beeeee -- very very popular....like....meeee," on the last of, he sighed wistfully and fell back onto the bed, twirling his hair in his finger.
More importantly Cloud didn’t like the predatory look the mage gave him with he lounged on the bed, giggling and looking amused as he twirled his hair. Suddenly, Flowright pulled a rainbow colored box from under the bed-all of which consisted of a broken knife and a paper crab-by the look of it whatever he was looking for wasn’t in the box. That was all tossed aside as he made a snack fairy wand appear with a simple poof of pink smoke! As soon as his eyes set on the wand his heart sank, Oh.. Great..
"And now," Fai said, his voice cheery. "I will transform you simple cloth into a marvelous ballgown." He brought his wand up, and suddenly the music cued again. A jingle, a swish, and silence. He tapped his wand on Cloud's shoulder gently, and sang - "Ballgown!" ......Nothing. Frowning slightly, he tried again. Bringing the wand up once more, the music started, the sparkling jingling, until it ceased, and he tapped Cloud again, only a bit harder. "BALLGOWN!" he shouted. ....Nothing. He brought the wand up to his face, and looked at it with utmost annoyance. "Is this thing on....?"
With a most gruesome face, Cloud eyed the mage, “Ballgown?” Why did it always have to be ballgowns with this guy? In annoyance he reached out to snatch the wand with one sure swipe, “Give me that.” Big mistake. As soon as he touched the end of the want in one big pink poof, his clothes changed! Coughing and waving to clear the smoke, wand still in hand, he whirled to the mirror to see just what had happened. “HUH?” Teetering on the point of nervous laughter he trailed down the mirror-a simple pink dress, a big pink bow in his hair, and brown boots. He. Was. Dressed. Like. Breaking the stare he sharply looked at the wand and tapped his head with the end of it. POOF. Another look in the mirror-Black and white frills with a bonnet and some pull up sto-Annoyed he tapped himself AGAIN on the head. Poof. A ballgown. Oh, hell.
"Ohhhh, Cloud-pin!" Fai said. "Look at you.....you're beautiful!" He smiled and blinked at Cloud, only to have a death glare returned towards him. ".....I have to go," was Cloud's response, and he darted out of the room. Fai 'hmphed,' watching him go. And the reprise of music began, the soft violins in the background complimenting his vocals. "And though you protest....your disinteressstt.....I know clandestinely........" he smirked, and the music picked up. "You're GONNA GRIN AND BEAR IT, YOUR NEWFOUND POPULARITY. OH! Laaaaa laaaaaa, laaaaa laaaaa, you'll be popular!" Of course, he had to add, as the grand finale -
"Just not quite as popular as meeeee --"
Shame the dream ended right there.
Cloud's eyes shot open, suddenly awake in that silent secluded room in which he had first come into. Quickly, he sat up and looked around the room; no Flowright, all the pillows on the bed were askew in different directions leaving the bed in a mess of sheets and blankets. Other than that a quiet and serene room. ....Uh..huh. That's what he deserved for talking to people as such. Cloud rolled over, snatched his sword from it's place on the floor, and practically trotted out of the hotel room, Slamming the door afterward. This would never be repeated.
[Popular--Fai Version
Popular--Normal Version]
From being so downright tired [a common occurrence these days] he didn't even let go of his weapon, but lazily dropped it off the edge of the bed without much concern and care to the loud thud it made. Silence filled the room, a most welcome noise. This time, he could sleep without the constant mandatory intervals of caution or without ..rocks.
"Oh Cloud-pin," a voice said, tapping him gently on the head with his wand. "Wake up, sleepy head!" It was amusing how quickly the spiked man could doze of when in a place he considered uninteresting. This, however, was heaven for one such as himself. Fai D. Flowright, master fashionista and shopper extraordinaire, had been given the task to beautify the bishounen into a "beau"shounen. It could be done, right?
"Come on now, we've got lots of work to do!" he said cheerily as Cloud groaned and rubbed his eyes. "Now that we're friends, I've decided to make you my new project!"
From being asleep, it didn’t occur to Cloud to wonder -why- there was someone else lingering around in his room. No, the dumb cloud [..no pun intended] of sleep still lingering ask questions didn’t compute mentally. Cloud grumbled again, sitting up on his elbows to have a good look at the overly-cheery man. Project? “You.. really don’t have to do that.”
Fai smiled his trademark smile, a thread of excite laced in among the self-loving arrogance of his tone. "I know," he said softly. "That's what makes me so nice!" From some unknown location came the soft beginnings of music. But it wasn't just from another room. No, the invisible music was backing Fai, who slowly crooned out his lyrics:
"Whenever I see someone, less fortunate than I, and let's face it," he said, his tone coming down, the arrogance raising as he continued. "....who isn't less fortunate than I? My tender heart, tends to start to bleeeeeeeeeed." With his next words, he picked up the pace, a fierceness coming into his voice. "And when someone needs a makeover I simply HAVE to take over I know --" with that, he came down to a loud whisper. "I knowww..." and once more, brought his voice to operatic form. "Exactly...what they neeeeeedd..."
"And even in YOUR case..." his eyes ran up and down Cloud, as if he was a poor, helpless fashion victim. "Though it's the TOUGHEST case I've yet to face......DON'T WORRY. I'm DETERMINED to succeed......follow myyyyy lead....and YES. INDEED."
"You."
"Will."
"Be."
The expression on Cloud’s face slowly turned from one of sleep-induced dumbness, to that of disbelief. An overall ‘are you for real’ look. What was he talking about? Then, upon the word Make-over, that very same expression turned to ‘Oh Shit’-ness. Make over. Flowright giving him an up-and-down look didn’t convince him otherwise. Slowly, he started to lean back and try to creep his way off the bed. This guy’s nuts. Cloud hopped off the bed to the edge, crouched down, and peeked over at the crazed man slightly. As if his hair wasn’t a giveaway enough to where he was.
"POPULAR!" Fai sang, his tone cheery as usual. "You're gonna be popular! I'll teach you the proper ploys, when you TALK-TO-BOYS!" He made sure to emphasize that part. You know. For kicks. "Little ways to flirt and flounce--" a squeal emitted from him, and he bounded around the room, grabbing Cloud by the collar of his shirt, and dragging him away from his hiding position. "I'll show you what shoes to wear," he said, and suddenly, pairs of shoes were surround them. Every which direction, glittering, gleaming, silver, black, white, red, all of them! "How to fix your hair!" as the spun, the shoes vanished, and Cloud was now sitting in a chair, facing a mirror, as Fai played with the large spike of blonde hair that belonged to the soldier. "Everything that really counts to be popular!"
This guy was way -way- too cheery. After getting dragged by the collar, forced to face the death-glare of who-the-hell-knew-how-many pairs of nothing but shoes, and then plopped in a chair, Cloud was pretty much in a daze of ‘what the hell’. As soon as Flowright started toying with his hair, he slapped the hand away, and reared around to glare at him for a moment. Idiot! And dashed out of the chair for the door. LIKE HELL he was letting that guy put ribbons or something in his hair, “Come on and open you stupid door.” He hissed-alas the doorknob wouldn’t turn.
Oh no, oh no oh no, that wouldn't do! He couldn't leave, the song was just beginning! Fai flicked his hand and the ribbons he had been preparing to place in Cloud's hair shot from his hands and grew in length, until they reached the spiked one. They wrapped around him, and with a tug, the wizard brought the man back to the scene. He flung him back into the chair, before continuing his song. "You're gonna be popular! You'll hang with the right cohorts, you'll be good at sports -" at thi moment, a basketball dropped from the ceiling, landing squarely on Cloud's head. Of course, the large spike protruding from his hair only popped the thing, before it vanished completely. "Know the slang you've got to know!" At this point, Fai shot his free hand (the one that wasn't holding Cloud down in his chair) out, and a ruler suddenly appeared in it, slapping against a chalkboard which hadn't been there before. A large word had been scribbled on it: "DIZZLE." With this, he chuckled, and spun Cloud's chair around, following suit and spinning himself, tossing the long ruler aside. "So let's start, 'cause you've got an AWFULLY long way to gooo!"
The doorknob slipped away from him, all Cloud could do was stare at it with an ever growing frown-no, it couldn’t just be that easy to escape this guy could it? Again before he could object he was in that chair, ribbon abound. The soldier poked at it in disgust-only a second before his attention was forced on the ball, the sports, and everything else prim popper and posh that Flowright was attempting to educate him about. Cloud’s blue eyes focused perhaps a little too intently on the chalkboard leaning into it; Trying silently sound out the letters to sound out the word that was written in chalk on the board, forming his lips to try and get the letters to it. [This resulted in him being tossed out of the chair because it was turned so quickly]. Trying to stand up after that was a bad idea since a few staggering steps followed. Alas this time it wasn’t to escape, exactly: With a shrug, a sigh, and an ‘oh screw it’ expression, Cloud took one of those pink ribbons that just happened to appear, took a lock of Flowrights hair, and tied it rather brilliantly in it.
..What the.....
Finally, Cloud was getting into it! Smiling and giving him the thumbs up, he twirled away to continue his song and dance. "Don't be offended by my frank analysis - think of it as personality dalasis. Now that I've chosen to become a PAL a SISTER and ADVISOR, there's NOBODY wiser! Not when it comes to Popular!" He strode over to Cloud now, gently placing his hands on the soldier's shoulders. "Fai knows about Popular! And with an assist from me to be who you'll be....instead of dreary who you were!" He stopped for a minute, surveying the rather...fashion...victim...ish...Cloud. "...well, are. There's NOTHING that can stop you from becoming Popular!" And he stopped again, mentally cursing the fact that he didn't rhyme. "Er. LAHR."
Sister? Advisor? What? Feminine pronouns made Cloud give a more odd look to the already-rather-admittedly-feminine mage. It only darkened at the snide little insult of being dreary; he was fine. Just fine as far as clothes were concerned not to fla--No WAY was he getting into that train of thought of clothes. Immediately he plastered on the most intimidating face he could and glared for being manipulated to even start to think about his clothing. Suddenly he held up his hand--within his fingers was a tube of red lipstick. The soldier flipped the top off and grinned in a expression that could only be described as poisonous. He proceeded in drawing a frownie face on Fai’s face in bright red.
.....
Hmph! "You wish!" Fai said, and the frownie face magically shifted from sad to happy. And once more, he burst out into song. "Laaaa laaaaaaaa laaaa laaaaa, we're gonna make you POP. U. LAR!" He giggled, and porceeded by bounding around the room. "When I see depressing creatures with unprepossessing features, I remind them on their own we have. To. Think. Of! Celebrated heads of state - " for some reason, a large thought bubble protruded from Cloud now, and the image of a building appeared. An arrow pointing to it stated "MIDGAR." the thought bubble zoomed in, revealing a man sitting at a desk. His blonde hair was slicked, and he was smiling goofishly. Another arrow pointing to him said "RUFUS." Fai continued his song - "Celebrated heads of state or especially great communicators! Did they have brains or knowledge? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH," he sang, flicking his hand. "They were popular, please. It's all about Popular! It's not about aptitude - " the thought bubble vanished as Fai prodded it, then he brought his hand pointing to Cloud's head. "It's the way you're viewed! So it's very shrewed to beeeee -- very very popular....like....meeee," on the last of, he sighed wistfully and fell back onto the bed, twirling his hair in his finger.
More importantly Cloud didn’t like the predatory look the mage gave him with he lounged on the bed, giggling and looking amused as he twirled his hair. Suddenly, Flowright pulled a rainbow colored box from under the bed-all of which consisted of a broken knife and a paper crab-by the look of it whatever he was looking for wasn’t in the box. That was all tossed aside as he made a snack fairy wand appear with a simple poof of pink smoke! As soon as his eyes set on the wand his heart sank, Oh.. Great..
"And now," Fai said, his voice cheery. "I will transform you simple cloth into a marvelous ballgown." He brought his wand up, and suddenly the music cued again. A jingle, a swish, and silence. He tapped his wand on Cloud's shoulder gently, and sang - "Ballgown!" ......Nothing. Frowning slightly, he tried again. Bringing the wand up once more, the music started, the sparkling jingling, until it ceased, and he tapped Cloud again, only a bit harder. "BALLGOWN!" he shouted. ....Nothing. He brought the wand up to his face, and looked at it with utmost annoyance. "Is this thing on....?"
With a most gruesome face, Cloud eyed the mage, “Ballgown?” Why did it always have to be ballgowns with this guy? In annoyance he reached out to snatch the wand with one sure swipe, “Give me that.” Big mistake. As soon as he touched the end of the want in one big pink poof, his clothes changed! Coughing and waving to clear the smoke, wand still in hand, he whirled to the mirror to see just what had happened. “HUH?” Teetering on the point of nervous laughter he trailed down the mirror-a simple pink dress, a big pink bow in his hair, and brown boots. He. Was. Dressed. Like. Breaking the stare he sharply looked at the wand and tapped his head with the end of it. POOF. Another look in the mirror-Black and white frills with a bonnet and some pull up sto-Annoyed he tapped himself AGAIN on the head. Poof. A ballgown. Oh, hell.
"Ohhhh, Cloud-pin!" Fai said. "Look at you.....you're beautiful!" He smiled and blinked at Cloud, only to have a death glare returned towards him. ".....I have to go," was Cloud's response, and he darted out of the room. Fai 'hmphed,' watching him go. And the reprise of music began, the soft violins in the background complimenting his vocals. "And though you protest....your disinteressstt.....I know clandestinely........" he smirked, and the music picked up. "You're GONNA GRIN AND BEAR IT, YOUR NEWFOUND POPULARITY. OH! Laaaaa laaaaaa, laaaaa laaaaa, you'll be popular!" Of course, he had to add, as the grand finale -
"Just not quite as popular as meeeee --"
Shame the dream ended right there.
Cloud's eyes shot open, suddenly awake in that silent secluded room in which he had first come into. Quickly, he sat up and looked around the room; no Flowright, all the pillows on the bed were askew in different directions leaving the bed in a mess of sheets and blankets. Other than that a quiet and serene room. ....Uh..huh. That's what he deserved for talking to people as such. Cloud rolled over, snatched his sword from it's place on the floor, and practically trotted out of the hotel room, Slamming the door afterward. This would never be repeated.
[Popular--Fai Version
Popular--Normal Version]