#leeshajoy

Poo swallows his sigh behind his neutral line of a mouth. The life of a prince is only so charmed. As if his coincidental destiny of being one of the Chosen Children wasn’t enough, being born into royalty means a life of politics whether he wants it or not.

And right now, that means listening to the inane ramblings of Mayor Pirkle.

“…and here is our famous traffic blockade!” Mayor Pirkle announces, holding his arms out to the bright yellow roadblocks. “We’re well on our way to a world record here! It’s Onett’s pride and joy!”

Poo cups his chin in his hand. “So you’re proud of it being difficult to travel on your roads? Isn’t that the opposite of what roads are for?”

Mayor Pirkle jovially elbows Poo in the arm. “You’re a naive one, aren’t you? That or they sure do things different over in Dalaam! But we’re alike deep down, y’know? Born to be politicians. Onett sure must think of me that way or I wouldn’t have won reelection, right?” He reaches beneath his jacket and slides his thumbs under his suspenders. “Yessir, this is good for the city. I can feel it in my bones.”

Poo glances over at a nearby rustling, spying a snake out of the corner of his eye. As much restraint as he’s learned from his training, he IS still a young man, and certain courses of action look appealing because they ARE the right-

No. No, that’s not what his mimic move is for. No matter how much he wants to in this moment, he will not turn into a snake. It never helps, not really. Even if he got away from Pirkle, he might be seen as easy pickings to the town roughs and have to prove them wrong. Neither he nor Dalaam need that sort of international scandal.

“I can’t argue against a man who knows his city,” Poo decides to answer. “But the excitement of the traffic blockades is too much for me. Do you think we can see Onett’s Giant Step? I have heard it’s a marvelous sight.”

“Oh, what? That’s too much strain on me, young man. Too much strain. But why don’t you go see Ness for that? He knows it like the back of his hand.”

Poo smiles at the mention of his young friend and former traveling companion. He’s about to thank Pirkle when the mayor lets out a sort of wheeze.

“Geez, I didn’t think you’d ever smile! Serious Crowned Prince Poo cracks a smile for Mayor Pirkle! Now that’d be a great headline!”

“If you’d like to tell the papers that, sure. Shall I take my leave now?” Poo asks.

“Go right ahead! Lemme know what you think of Giant Step! And tell Ness his old buddy Mayor Pirkle says hi!”

Poo tips his head just enough to be considered a bow and in a whirl of stars he’s gone.