Little Sailor Boy Blue

“Pacifica Northwest seems nice. That woman who stole from the store has a story; I’m sure of it. And I’d like to talk to Lady Eboshi about the military, possibly... I need some guy friends.”

“Anxious and intelligent. Carefree, simple people can’t take care of anyone. You’ll be carefree but everyone else would be anxiously suffering. You have to help, even if it hurts.”

This little twerp- Her lips tightened into a stern line, nostrils flaring as the shop owner turned.  She turned to the owner, face stoic and unreadable.  “This little boy is trying to frame me,” she said coldly.  The owner glanced between the two of them, not really wanting to deal with this.  But he still asked Meg to empty her pockets.  She rolled her eyes and complied, pretending to take everything out but leaving the little ring in the corner of her pockets.  “There, are we done harassing me because a little boy cried wolf?”

“Frame her?” Sosuke said, astounded. “I have no reason to frame her, sir.” It was true, but the store owner didn’t seem to indicate that he was choosing a side. When she emptied her pockets of everything but the ring, Sosuke shook her head. “I’m not a little boy. And I know what I saw!” However, the owner said none of this was worth his time and simply walked away. Sosuke turned his attention back to the thief. “I know what I saw, miss,” he assured again.

Dominic examined his thumb closely. “Interesting piece. Haven’t seen one of these in a while.” He hmm’d as he instinctively reached out for Sosuke’s hand, turning it over to get a better look at the cybernetic. “I might have something, but it’s back at my shop. I don’t carry the small stuff when I set up a booth, you know? It depends on what you’re looking for, but if you’re interested, I can set up an appointment for you tomorrow. I can even install for a little extra.” He smiled with a wink. 

“I don’t know...” The man seemed nice enough and was being very accommodating but Sosuke really shouldn’t be spending his money on his little thumb. That wouldn’t be very responsible, and his mom would have his head. Still...there was no harm in looking right? “Maybe I’ll just take a look. I cannot guarantee you I will buy it, though.” Sosuke didn’t want to waste the man’s time thinking he was ready for a sale.

“He’s my dad. I love him and respect him. Do I wish he were here more? Sure. I mean, but maybe that’s part of being a responsible adult. You can’t always be with the people you love so you can take care of them.”

“I don’t want to be a sailor...necessarily... I like the water a lot, but right now I’m just trying to figure out if I still want to go the military route. Maybe there will be an ocean on the new planet, then I could go sailing! Open air and open sea...maybe.”

“Ham sandwiches. I eat really big snacks.”

“Strawberry.”

“I’m not a snitch! The law is the law. It’s not my fault you break it.”

“Miss Noriko, I already told you. I’m just...too busy for a girlfriend right now.”

"Adorable? No, no, I’m not going for adorable. I’m going for strong and dependable...adorable?”

Meg continued to stare coldly at the boy.  “I didn’t take anything,” she said, pretending that she hadn’t just pocketed something.  It was just a small trinket, a small reminder of the First Ring, a family ring that she had pawned off ages ago.  She moved closer to the boy, almost as if to pass him.  “Are you going to tell on me, little boy?” she threatened, her voice low so that only he could hear.

“What, but I just-” Sosuke could've sworn he’d just seen the woman sneak someothing into her bag. Had he seen wrong? But she looked so devious. “There’s nothing to tell if you didn’t take anything...” Then it clicked in Sosuke’s mind. She was lying! “Excuse me, sir!” He turned to the shop owner. “This woman put something in her bag! She’s stealing!”

“Is what allowed?” Meg asked with a point-blank stare directly at the boy, her face expressionless and she pocketed the trinket off the store shelf and into her bag.  Her eyes were cold and hardened, daring the boy to rat her out.

Sosuke faltered slightly. This lady was scary...but Sosuke wasn't a punk! He wasn’t a punk...right? “Taking that souvenir,” he said. It oud enough for her to hear but not loud enough to alert the staff. He placed down his fork and knife. “You shouldn’t take that,” he said as he stood up, though he had no actual plan of confrontation.