The lack of financial relief dependent beings confront on a day-to-day basis is one of the progressive issues to this day. Miku is dependent on the natural resources around him. He needs it to strive. And he is tempted to accept the dubious offer.
The half mascot clasped him with no signs of holding back. The children around them can no longer contain their horrified faces, leaving Miku with no choice but to follow her in a secluded place behind McDonald's. At least, secluded from the childhood of little kids that are already far more damaged by the lies adults have made up to create revenue.
A man, probably around his twenties, approached them. His chest rose and fell with rapid pants. He shouted something between the lines that they're in a rather scarce situation. Miku can't literally catch up on the matter. He talks rapidly. To the fullest potential, the man could ever gather.
"Shut up, Margo. I'm working on it so scram," Margo only eyed her with abhorrence, and soon after that, he left. The woman called Bea, he presumed, extends her middle finger towards the retreating form of Margo.
"I've been waiting for an opportunity to say that. Really epic." Bea smiled contently to herself, oblivious to the fact that the person beside her can't perceive how she was satisfied with a blasphemous feat.
"The drive-thru is not open yet. So nothing to worry about vehicles trampling over you."
"Uhm...That's good to know."
"But nevertheless, practice precautions. Chances are low, but never zero."
"Am I supposed to tremble in fear?"
"Yes."
The back of McDonald's was all chaos. Different Mascots on panic and staff hurrying to and fro, props and costumes lay on the asphalt uncared, and Miku caught up in a mess. His hostess told him to stay put as she went to a group of staff and spoke to them in the utmost secret. Minutes or so, she came back with a grin plastered in her profile.
"So here's the deal," the half-maiden and half-bird motioned at him to have a sit on one of the mono-block chairs. Miku instantly declined her. He would rather stand than to get stained by a suspicious-looking smudge on the worn-out seat.
"Okay, suit yourself." She bent on a crooked table and began to fish around on the belongings on top of it.
Gods forbid, what is she wearing?
Miku cannot understand her upper clothing. A very slim strap is the only support for the grey fabric embracing her, exposing her shoulders to perverse fantasies.
Look at her hair instead. Miku ordered to himself. Distract your self before you succumb to sin!
Her long sleek brown locks were pulled back in a tight bundle with a girly rubber-band, or whatever women may call it. It is set seductively on her nape. Nips of hair were left making it harder not to look, inviting eyes to behold its subliminal beauty, his pair of eyes, particularly.
He was drawn back to his senses when he heard her began to speak. "You'll get 500 pesos if you replaced him as a mascot. My half already included."
Miku snorted. Half disappointed at the sudden disturbance. "And here I thought I would get worth far more than that."
With her warm, charming face, the woman met his. Her flawless peculiarities contorted in irritation as she raised her chin. "Don't be so demanding. We're running out of time, and you don't even know the dance routine at all!"
"It's still not fair. I'm supposed to be at the back of a counter right now." Miku began as he recounted all his redundant experience at Sophie. "Persuading middle-aged women to buy cosmetics from our catalog, cleaning the stock room, and babysitting my employer's 2 eight-year-olds and a sixteen-year-old depressed teen. All girls, mind you." Bea only replied with a blow of her cheeks.
"Fine, good sire. How about this. We'll cover the entire street, of course, the entire space in front of your pink shop and McDonald's only for the Flash Mob entertainment whatnot." Jolting upright, his shoulder seems to tense. He never mentioned to the unbeknownst stranger that he works at a pink shop. A silent raucous clucking cry was let out by her's truly, to blend with his absence of speech. "Ordinarily, girls can distinguish a good-looking guy in a 50-meter radius." Miku only looked at her, rejecting her illogical reasons. "I still don't understand why you know that I work at Sophie. It could be any counter."
"Never mind that small detail. What I want to say is, people, will either move back in front of and across Mcdonald's. That way, some of the female audiences will notice the shop. Rendering them defenseless with all those accessories and cosmetics."
"But that would only happen if you met some strict conditions of dispersing the members in the right position." Bea clapped her jaundiced-looking wings in amusement. "Well said."
"I'm still not up for this. I am really needed back at my employer's shop. But who is Paulo's mascot, anyway?"
"I'll take care of that part. And as for the mascot, you're about to find it out."
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He never planned to become a clown, the main lead of the show. He is too young to yearn for a permanent cessation of life, much less ask for such misfortune to befell upon him. He only wanted to come early for work, and lead a peaceful life that he chose himself. Not his siblings nor his parents. But there he is. Letting to paint his face white, forcing him to wear a wig, and dictating him of what to do. She may have those strikingly pretty eyes, but that doesn't mean she could do whatever she may deem beneficial to herself.
He was beside Grimace, an enormous bundle of purple cotton. They're currently waiting for the music to start, which is their cue to get out and dance in the avenue, and to embarrass himself as he destroys their hard work.
"You guys will be following my lead, right?" Miku suddenly asked. Wanting for the silence to break, as it is building up the tension in the air, making him nervous. And afraid that he might really mess things up for them. "Well, duh." Grimace replied. "You're the primary mascot. But don't worry, you don't need to really dance that much. Just entertain the kids." That didn't help him. And the reticence continued regardless.
A minute of waiting for the opening remarks to conclude, their signal finally played.
People yelling in delight with their phone recording greeted them. Miku has never danced as the center of attraction in front of a large masses before. The mascots slap their hands all the way to the make-shift stage, a large space generated by the audience, as they took their designated position. Miku did the same but remained in his place behind Hamburglar. He felt someone push his back, so he inched forward in response as he realized that there's no escaping it.
They started to prompt in unfamiliar steps, and he followed unknowingly. His red and yellow jumpsuit became more pinching at each stiff and arduous movement he made. Across him, he saw Bea on her Birdie outfit. But even with her huge costume, she was able to sync flawlessly to the mirths of the mob. Faultlessly sync to the beating of his heart as she steps in time with the music.
She swayed with ease, her body in tune with the upbeat melody. And as the song proceeded, Miku felt relax as he watched her. He can't help but close the span between them and taste the warmth of her fluffy costume in his chest. Bea's eyes widened in shock. She looked up and met his elaborate eyes.
"Hey!" Bea shouted in a muffled voice. "What are you doing?" Miku only lifted his shoulder in a half shrug. His gesture was unexpected, but she puffed out her chest and was able to adjust to the unforeseen change. He then looks through her hollow googly eyes as their feet started to move in sync. Smooth sweat glide down their skin inside their heavy attire. But Miku didn't mind. He let her direct him to their freakish dance floor. And as he leaned closer, the warmth between them grew rapidly by the second.
They can't feel each other's breath, but they can feel a genuine spark as their bodies nearly brush. Bea knew that her costume made her taller than her original height. But despite that undeniable fact, the Ronald McDonald in front of Bea still towers over her. The crowd applauded for more.
With every second passing, Bea became conscious that her partner was no amateur as he claims him to be. She made him took the lead, and he responded with an amused grin.
He was soft but not subtle; light to his feet and open to his intentions, inviting Bea to follow along as he whirled her around. And though they were quite slow, it unusually matches the pacing of the music they were dancing to. She felt secure in his grasp, his guidance easy to comply with. There was no shared conversation. Just them, eyeing each other keenly as if they knew the other considerably longer.
Bea felt released from the strain around her. She let him lift it all away as they relish the moment. Speeding up and moving leisurely to match each other's pace. Nothing felt forced; They were just floating in their newly formed common ground. Shifting from one foot to the other. Under the sweltering weather, they were one with the song and with each other. "You don't dance that bad, sire. I thought it would be worse." Miku let out a half mirthless laugh. "I'll take that as a compliment, milady."
They continued like that until they had to depart from the feeling of warmth as the music ceased. The audiences' praise filled the air and their eardrums. Miku can't help but smile at her. Bea acknowledged it right after she saw a glint of his tender eloquence from the holes of her costume. Miku may not see her beam a simper back, but he knows that she enjoyed that brief instant of harmony and tranquility. They enjoyed it.
Time seems to pick up a much quicker ticking. The next thing he knew, the opening has come to an end, it's already four-thirty in the afternoon, and he was back in his drenched white polo, sitting alone in a table for two. He jerked his head in the direction of the female restroom. And to his dismay, Bea hasn't come out yet. It has been twelve minutes and thirty-seven seconds ever since.
After another minute of waiting, the door finally opened to reveal Bea on her casual wear. It was the same grey top earlier. The only difference is that a chain with a stickman pendant is dangling on her neck, and a pair of faded blue jeans cover her lower body. Aphrodite can't even compare to her beauty.
A thunderclap was overheard outside.
"Stop ogling at me, weirdo." Miku tensed, flinching at her remark. Bea tried not to let out a giggle but failed nonetheless. She took the seat opposite to Miku's. "What took you so long?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry. Here's your commission." She slid an envelope to him at the table. Miku took it and buried it in his pocket. "Now that I've thought about it, I still do not know your name."
"Mico."
"Doesn't sound right to me. Like it's not your real one."
"Bea doesn't sound right either,"
"Well, it is a nickname, after all. The name's Beatrice."
"It doesn't suit you even more."
She hooked her toes around the chair legs, squeezing her cheeks in exasperation. "Damn! My name is Behati! I hate it, okay? So I would really appreciate it if you call me Bea instead."
"It means 'blessed' in African...She brings joy. 'She who brings happiness.' Why would you dislike it?"
What came out of him made her flush a bright tint of red. "I...I didn't know that till now," she tucked a tuft of hair behind her ear. It has been so long. Miku decided that he needs to go and has stood up from his seat. "You're leaving. Well, I hope to meet you again!"
"Likewise. Farewell then, Behati."
"Don't even try to avoid me. Happiness is like a wave. It'll find a way to come back to you. My name literally translates to happiness, you said it yourself."
"I never planned to."