Oh, more or less. All the small trinkets laid out in the north end, and the larger, uncovered antiques in the south, yes?
[The difference between easy but very tedious labor that could easily take over an hour just to pack everything into boxes, and physically strenuous but much faster labor that could be done in under an hour.]
[He brings a hand to chin, looking down at Rhys as if sizing him up.]
Well! For a strapping young man like yourself, perhaps starting on the south side would be best? And whoever finishes first can simply come help the other finish up.
[...which totally sounds like he's guaranteeing that he won't have to lift anything heavy, huh.]
[ ...Well at least he called him "strapping." That's a compliment right? But Rhys totally sees what he's doing here and lifts a skeptical, suspicious brow. ]
Orrr could work both rooms together and help one another lift the heavy stuff.
[ YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW WEAK THIS MAN IS MEPHISTO like it's embarrassing beyond all reason. ]
Hmm... if you're so certain you need the help, then we can do it your way. But I still believe we could get the job done in half the time if we were to split up.
[ Rhys assumes Mephisto means...helping him with the crates? Or providing direction as his senior at this shop. It sounds weird to his ears but he's trying to rationalize here okay. He lifts a brow and looks appropriately skeptical as he trails along after the man. ]
[I mean, what kind of person would assume he's talking about when he was a dog?? He'd probably find it weirder if that was were his mind jumped to now when his name hadn't tipped him off earlier.]
[The north end of the shop is mostly tables with fine jewelry, cutlery, china, and other knickknacks set out on display. The finer things needs to be carefully wrapped and stored in the boxes before being moved, making it a pretty annoying task for just one person. But with two of them-- no, with Mephisto, this should be a simple job.]
Now then, where shall we start... ah, I know!
[And he snaps his fingers--]
[And the boxes, which were nicely stored under neath the tables, suddenly begin to float out from under them, finding a nice spot to settle on the ground as they open up on their own.]
[ No really, holy shit Mephisto just Merlin'd the shit out of those wares. Rhys could not stare harder, mouth agape in bewilderment as he watches as cabinets open and fill themselves with supplies, items sort and divvy without being touched, and the whole room just...comes together.
When Rhys turns to Mephisto it is with awe as he blurts out: ]
Oh, I'm glad you noticed! And here I thought it would have been obvious beforehand!
[You know, since he was a dog before -- still going to act like he's not keeping that a secret, even though it's clear Rhys doesn't realize it yet.]
Ah, but do keep this between us, yes? This is only a temporary job for me, after all. I'd hate to be conscripted into a glorified assembly line for my abilities were word to get out what I'm capable of.
[ no he doesn't, he's just excited to see magic and he's certain this guy must be some sort of wizard-elf now which is just....the coolest. Maybe this is like that one book series--the weird old man trains the lone nerd and he becomes the world's Hero and the archmage he was Destined To Be.
...Or it's just some guy who does magic working at a merchant's shop. Either way. ]
[Yeah, that's right, he's a super cool elf magician. Clearly right up Rhys' alley.]
[But what might be more impressive is that he doesn't even look as though he's paying attention -- and yet everything is sorted and wrapped properly, packed into boxes and set into stacks to be carted to the back. He is paying attention of course, but he's pretty good at not showing it. Gotta look as cool as possible ok ok.]
But even this is only a fraction of what I'm capable of! Why, you've already seen one of my other abilities first hand, yes?
[ Nope, Rhys is totally lost there. But it does prompt him to turn and look around the room as if there's something he missed here. Nothing looks any more magical than the room setting itself up though, and Rhys turns back to Mephisto with a confused expression. ]
[ Yeaaahhh that grin Mephisto's wearing there isn't exactly comforting. Rhys is regretting having him for help a little now as he leans back. ]
My...dinner? What are you talking about, I didn't share it with anyone.
[ STILL HASN'T MADE THE CONNECTION HERE. Rhys is just stuck on the fact that he's incredibly certain he's never met this man before now and maybe that was a good thing ]
Ah, of course! I suppose you wouldn't recognize me now, would you?
[Is this a good time to point out that the scarf around his neck, which he'll go ahead and draw attention to with a hand, is identical to the pink polka-dot bow the dog had around its neck?]
[ Give him time to keep trying to wrap his head around this one Mephisto. His cute dog is actually a middle-aged elf wizard )'8 He knew it was too good to be true. ]
[Is the food really the thing he wants to focus on, seeing as he also let him pet him, scratch behind his ear, talk in a goo-goo voice, rub his belly... at least he never licked his hand or his face or anything?? There'd be no coming back from that, probably.]
Because I thought you were a dog, yeah! But you're all...middle-aged! And elfish! If--if you are an elf, I don't. Actually know. I guess it doesn't technically matter?
[ it's not a race thing it's a you took his dinner you dick thing ]
[ Wait he's laughing, why is this guy laughing did he get that wrong?? Why does it feel like he just said something incredibly stupid without realizing it ]
[He secretly hopes he's given poor Rhys a complex about dogs that will follow him for as long as he lives, forever left to wonder how many of them are secretly weird old men in disguise.]
But regardless of what form it may take, I only have one body. [--at a time.]
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Oh, more or less. All the small trinkets laid out in the north end, and the larger, uncovered antiques in the south, yes?
[The difference between easy but very tedious labor that could easily take over an hour just to pack everything into boxes, and physically strenuous but much faster labor that could be done in under an hour.]
[He brings a hand to chin, looking down at Rhys as if sizing him up.]
Well! For a strapping young man like yourself, perhaps starting on the south side would be best? And whoever finishes first can simply come help the other finish up.
[...which totally sounds like he's guaranteeing that he won't have to lift anything heavy, huh.]
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Orrr could work both rooms together and help one another lift the heavy stuff.
[ YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW WEAK THIS MAN IS MEPHISTO like it's embarrassing beyond all reason. ]
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Why-- I'd even wager today's pay on it!
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[ ...wait no he just insulted himself didn't he. WHATEVER ]
Let me tell you, carrying stuff? Not my strong suit. I will definitely lose that bet.
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Ohh? Am I?
Or are you perhaps underestimating me?
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What, you have a trick knee or slipped disk you're not sharing? Because I suck at physical labour like...a lot.
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And yet you're here working in a place like this? Surely you must not be giving yourself enough credit!
[Either way, he can tell he's not getting anywhere with this, and starts walking towards the north end -- motioning for him to follow.]
But I suppose if you're going to insist we work together... then I'll just have to show you my little secret.
I suppose it's the least I can do after what you've done for me, after all!
[H e h]
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[ Rhys assumes Mephisto means...helping him with the crates? Or providing direction as his senior at this shop. It sounds weird to his ears but he's trying to rationalize here okay. He lifts a brow and looks appropriately skeptical as he trails along after the man. ]
Trust me. It'll go faster this way.
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[The north end of the shop is mostly tables with fine jewelry, cutlery, china, and other knickknacks set out on display. The finer things needs to be carefully wrapped and stored in the boxes before being moved, making it a pretty annoying task for just one person. But with two of them-- no, with Mephisto, this should be a simple job.]
Now then, where shall we start... ah, I know!
[And he snaps his fingers--]
[And the boxes, which were nicely stored under neath the tables, suddenly begin to float out from under them, finding a nice spot to settle on the ground as they open up on their own.]
[...this is totally normal, right?]
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[ No really, holy shit Mephisto just Merlin'd the shit out of those wares. Rhys could not stare harder, mouth agape in bewilderment as he watches as cabinets open and fill themselves with supplies, items sort and divvy without being touched, and the whole room just...comes together.
When Rhys turns to Mephisto it is with awe as he blurts out: ]
You...you use magic.
[ ACE DETECTIVE. ]
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[You know, since he was a dog before -- still going to act like he's not keeping that a secret, even though it's clear Rhys doesn't realize it yet.]
Ah, but do keep this between us, yes? This is only a temporary job for me, after all. I'd hate to be conscripted into a glorified assembly line for my abilities were word to get out what I'm capable of.
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[ no he doesn't, he's just excited to see magic and he's certain this guy must be some sort of wizard-elf now which is just....the coolest. Maybe this is like that one book series--the weird old man trains the lone nerd and he becomes the world's Hero and the archmage he was Destined To Be.
...Or it's just some guy who does magic working at a merchant's shop. Either way. ]
How did you--how do you do that?
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[Yeah, that's right, he's a super cool elf magician. Clearly right up Rhys' alley.]
[But what might be more impressive is that he doesn't even look as though he's paying attention -- and yet everything is sorted and wrapped properly, packed into boxes and set into stacks to be carted to the back. He is paying attention of course, but he's pretty good at not showing it. Gotta look as cool as possible ok ok.]
But even this is only a fraction of what I'm capable of! Why, you've already seen one of my other abilities first hand, yes?
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[ Nope, Rhys is totally lost there. But it does prompt him to turn and look around the room as if there's something he missed here. Nothing looks any more magical than the room setting itself up though, and Rhys turns back to Mephisto with a confused expression. ]
Is it here, or...what did I, did I miss it?
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[He's enjoying this way too much, look at that fuckin' grin. He looks about two seconds away from cracking up.]
My, how cold! And after you were so kind to share your dinner with me!
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My...dinner? What are you talking about, I didn't share it with anyone.
[ STILL HASN'T MADE THE CONNECTION HERE. Rhys is just stuck on the fact that he's incredibly certain he's never met this man before now and maybe that was a good thing ]
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[Is this a good time to point out that the scarf around his neck, which he'll go ahead and draw attention to with a hand, is identical to the pink polka-dot bow the dog had around its neck?]
After all, I was so much smaller and cuter then.
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[ Wait, Rhys recognizes those polka dots. Rhys knows them, that little dog from before had a kerchief like that, the one he....fed..............
Rhys's jaw drops. ]
You're the dog?!
[ HE BELLYRUBBED A WIZARD WHILE USING A GOO-GOO VOICE?? ]
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[He sure did. You'd think the wizard in question would be embarrassed about it, but he didn't even seen to care.]
Really, I need to thank you! This is the first job I've managed to find since arriving in this county, and I was quite famished!
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[ Give him time to keep trying to wrap his head around this one Mephisto. His cute dog is actually a middle-aged elf wizard )'8 He knew it was too good to be true. ]
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[Is the food really the thing he wants to focus on, seeing as he also let him pet him, scratch behind his ear, talk in a goo-goo voice, rub his belly... at least he never licked his hand or his face or anything?? There'd be no coming back from that, probably.]
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[ it's not a race thing it's a you took his dinner you dick thing ]
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[An... elf.]
[...]
[This is the first time in his 10,000-odd years of life that he's been mistaken for an elf?? Help, it's too funny, he can't not laugh--]
Ah, but you're right, it doesn't really matter! After all, who's to say this is my true form either?
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......Is that your real body?
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[He secretly hopes he's given poor Rhys a complex about dogs that will follow him for as long as he lives, forever left to wonder how many of them are secretly weird old men in disguise.]
But regardless of what form it may take, I only have one body. [--at a time.]
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