THE MOMENT
"Really?" J.J. laughed at the thought. She was relaxing with a friend, sipping a beer and resting her boots on his coffee table. She'd recently completed a job and it was a payday worth celebrating for both of them. After their business was concluded, Ozone offered her a beer, and 10 minutes later, they were chatting and laughing like the old friends they were. As close as they'd become, and as long as they'd known each other, the friendship was almost guaranteed. But, first and foremost they were both business minded, and most of the time that was how they operated. "You wanted to be the best cashier?"
It was rare Ozone invited her to relax for a bit after a job; infrequent enough that there was likely more to it. J.J. readily agreed, and he pulled out the beers as she made herself comfortable.
"Well, I was a kid," Ozone chuckled with a nod. "Back then, I couldn't understand why everyone was giving me a hard time about not aiming higher. I didn't know anything about what really went on. All I saw was my parents giving them money and being able to walk out of the store with whatever the cashier allowed them to buy, and I thought to myself; 'that's power right there'," he said. "I wanted that kind of power, and I set my sights on being the best cashier ever." They shared a laugh and took a drink.
"And look at you now," J.J. added with a smile. "Running a mercenary group with questionable clientele. Didn't quite make it as a cashier, huh?" she was being playful, and Ozone knew that. But, he shook his head.
"Oh, I don't know about that," he said. He held the beer in one hand, but he used his free hand to gesture at the small shop around them. Not only did Ozone run one of the most elite mercenary groups around, he also had his own storefront business that sold magical knickknacks, enchanted souvenirs, and deadly weapons.
"The way I see it is I'm living my dream every day," he nodded. "I may not be working for anyone, but that's a positive. Otherwise, I've got the 'cashier' position covered. I sell all kinds of items in exchange for money. And, not only that -," they were interrupted by a jingling bell from the front of the shop.
"Is this where I can hire a Tempest Enforcer!?" A masculine yell came through the palm-thatched door.
"BE RIGHT WITH YOU!" Ozone yelled back as he stood and nodded at J.J.
"Speaking of which, business calls," he chuckled. "Thanks for shootin' the breeze for a bit."
"Wait, what were you going to say?" she asked as she stood too.
"Oh, right," he said. "I was saying I feel like my dream did come true. Not only do I get to sell the items like a cashier...," he tilted his head toward the front of his shop where the unknown client was waiting, then winked. "I'm so good at it, people come from all over just to buy something from me."