The War Profiteer

- The War Profiteer

*His tone was somewhat spacey, despite the circumstances.*

*He bent down to her to help with the sand.*

“I’m all grown up, I know where I am.!”

“What made a grown up girl like you come here… face down?”

She paused, spotting what was in his arms, and froze.

“Is this pretty? Do you know what it is?”

She sat up slightly.

*He had an idea that she was a clue. She knew something. But it was important to sound casual about it.*

The girl’s body went stiff with dread

“Ten dollars. I thought that for a price like that, the man didn’t deserve it. Or it was cursed. Anyways. Have you seen a- You ok, Miss?”

She wanted to run away. But she couldn’t. She needed her pelt. Oh no… he was looking for the owner of it— he probably wanted her to go to his house and she would have to become a wife— maybe even a mother…

*He leaned it forward to let her touch it.*

“…yes..”

“It’s yours to have. I know you need it. Must have been so lonely and confusing being on land.”

She holds it tight, looking up at Kilroy, pupils a bit wider and more seal-like

*It still didn’t answer much about who she was, who was waiting for her out there.*

“…why—… why didn’t you use it to take me away.?”

“I don’t derive pleasure from taking freedom away from others. I prefer people to stay of their own volition.”

“…That’s good…”

“Thanks. I’d hope so. You’re someone I think deserves to be kept safe from some dangerous people out there.”

*He bit his lip to not ruin the moment, just smiling giddily. This felt like a worthwhile moment. He was glad he didn’t give away the coat.*

*He said, even though it was a little silly.*

…this man was a decent petter.

*He sort of got a baby-talk voice.*

*He could stop the pets even to investigate more.*

*He couldn’t help find that cute too, but he tried to restraint himself, knowing that it was a person not a pet… But she was so cute! Focus…*

Another small smack, this time more like a less threatening scratch

“Better?”

*He found it best to watch over her so nobody bothered her. Besides, that meant more pets! Maybe he couldn’t pet the pelt anymore, but the real deal was the next best thing, if not better!*

*The tide seemed to be ebbing.*

She smacked the ground a bit, then rolled on her side slapping her body with her flippers

“How can I help, dear? Do you need help getting home? Or a… place to go? I… Well, I know a seal.”

“You know a seal? Another selkie?”

“Oh goodness- Uh… no. Not a selkie. Just a Harbor Seal… He’s really nice though. His name’s Plissken.”

She points at the water

“You’d get along great. He loves to sit on docks and sunbathe. Do you… not know what a name is?”

“Nope!! I don’t know lots of things, though. But I do know other things! Like my favorite fishies and plastic is bad!”

“Oh! It’s medium, and blue kinda and gray, with stripes on its back and sometimes spots on its tummy, like me! It’s the tastiest fish ever!”

“A… Mackerel Tuna, then.”

“Oh!! Okay! Then I’m Miss! That’s what you called me!!”

“So Miss, would you like to meet Plissken? I’d help you off this beach, get the sand out of your hair.”

She stands up

“How… far on land have you ever been?”

“There was a big black strip! And then something came really fast and almost hit me… I ran back to the beach after that…”

*Poor girl really was all alone…*

“They put me in one of those boxes one time! And they held me still so they could cut the plastic on my flipper! Then they let me out of the box! I bit them, though…”

“I’m glad those nice people helped you. This is… kind of like that. It’s big enough for people to sit in. They call it a car. I push buttons and sticks to make it move really fast and get us where we need to go.”

*He got them close to the entrance to the beach, where there was a small wooden ramp to the parking lot.*

*He was much more slow to climb it.*

She ran back to him, then up again. Repeating it several times over as he moved up the ramp, too

“Oh, I’m sure you’re like a bullet! Thank you for waiting, Miss.”

*He unlocked the door and offered her the passenger seat. Hm… was she old enough to not have a car seat?*

“Oooooohhhh…”

“Welcome to a car!”

“Hello, car!!!”

“Ok, go!”

“That’s it. Good job, Miss.”

She looked around, then giggled a bit

“Here we go. This is called driving.”

“Y-Yes, unfortunately. Some people are not v-very nice and don’t stop.”

*He glances away from the road at her to smile. The car bounced a little, getting from the parking lot to the main road.*

“Eep!”

“You doing alright? Should be a smooth ride after that little bump. You ever seen a bridge?”

*The car slowed to a stop as they waited in the line to get onto the bridge.*

*Soon, they were moving again, onto the bridge.*

- The War Profiteer

*He slid down to the floor, criss-crossed and rocking happily, to admire the toy. He pet its hair.*

“I lovvvve you!”

*He spoke with a childishly blunt voice, giving the toy a kiss. He didn’t try to avoid the eyes like he usually would on the real man.*

“Now I can take care of you. You’re not sick as a plushie…”

*He played with the plushie’s hand.*

“I’m supposed to be protecting you… like you always help me. I’m too fucking lazy. I don’t work to m-make the gardens, or the n-nursery. All I do is sleep and c-cry. I’m useless to you.”

“I c-can’t let you d-die because of me.”

- The War Profiteer

*He slid down to the floor, criss-crossed and rocking happily, to admire the toy. He pet its hair.*

“I lovvvve you!”

*He spoke with a childishly blunt voice, giving the toy a kiss. He didn’t try to avoid the eyes like he usually would on the real man.*

“Now I can take care of you. You’re not sick as a plushie…”

*He played with the plushie’s hand.*

“I’m supposed to be protecting you… like you always help me. I’m too fucking lazy. I don’t work to m-make the gardens, or the n-nursery. All I do is sleep and c-cry. I’m useless to you.”

- The War Profiteer

*His tone was somewhat spacey, despite the circumstances.*

*He bent down to her to help with the sand.*

“I’m all grown up, I know where I am.!”

“What made a grown up girl like you come here… face down?”

She paused, spotting what was in his arms, and froze.

“Is this pretty? Do you know what it is?”

She sat up slightly.

*He had an idea that she was a clue. She knew something. But it was important to sound casual about it.*

The girl’s body went stiff with dread

“Ten dollars. I thought that for a price like that, the man didn’t deserve it. Or it was cursed. Anyways. Have you seen a- You ok, Miss?”

She wanted to run away. But she couldn’t. She needed her pelt. Oh no… he was looking for the owner of it— he probably wanted her to go to his house and she would have to become a wife— maybe even a mother…

*He leaned it forward to let her touch it.*

“…yes..”

“It’s yours to have. I know you need it. Must have been so lonely and confusing being on land.”

She holds it tight, looking up at Kilroy, pupils a bit wider and more seal-like

*It still didn’t answer much about who she was, who was waiting for her out there.*

“…why—… why didn’t you use it to take me away.?”

“I don’t derive pleasure from taking freedom away from others. I prefer people to stay of their own volition.”

“…That’s good…”

“Thanks. I’d hope so. You’re someone I think deserves to be kept safe from some dangerous people out there.”

*He bit his lip to not ruin the moment, just smiling giddily. This felt like a worthwhile moment. He was glad he didn’t give away the coat.*

*He said, even though it was a little silly.*

…this man was a decent petter.

*He sort of got a baby-talk voice.*

*He could stop the pets even to investigate more.*

*He couldn’t help find that cute too, but he tried to restraint himself, knowing that it was a person not a pet… But she was so cute! Focus…*

Another small smack, this time more like a less threatening scratch

“Better?”

*He found it best to watch over her so nobody bothered her. Besides, that meant more pets! Maybe he couldn’t pet the pelt anymore, but the real deal was the next best thing, if not better!*

*The tide seemed to be ebbing.*

She smacked the ground a bit, then rolled on her side slapping her body with her flippers

“How can I help, dear? Do you need help getting home? Or a… place to go? I… Well, I know a seal.”

“You know a seal? Another selkie?”

“Oh goodness- Uh… no. Not a selkie. Just a Harbor Seal… He’s really nice though. His name’s Plissken.”

She points at the water

“You’d get along great. He loves to sit on docks and sunbathe. Do you… not know what a name is?”

“Nope!! I don’t know lots of things, though. But I do know other things! Like my favorite fishies and plastic is bad!”

“Oh! It’s medium, and blue kinda and gray, with stripes on its back and sometimes spots on its tummy, like me! It’s the tastiest fish ever!”

“A… Mackerel Tuna, then.”

“Oh!! Okay! Then I’m Miss! That’s what you called me!!”

“So Miss, would you like to meet Plissken? I’d help you off this beach, get the sand out of your hair.”

She stands up

“How… far on land have you ever been?”

“There was a big black strip! And then something came really fast and almost hit me… I ran back to the beach after that…”

*Poor girl really was all alone…*

“They put me in one of those boxes one time! And they held me still so they could cut the plastic on my flipper! Then they let me out of the box! I bit them, though…”

“I’m glad those nice people helped you. This is… kind of like that. It’s big enough for people to sit in. They call it a car. I push buttons and sticks to make it move really fast and get us where we need to go.”

*He got them close to the entrance to the beach, where there was a small wooden ramp to the parking lot.*

*He was much more slow to climb it.*

She ran back to him, then up again. Repeating it several times over as he moved up the ramp, too

“Oh, I’m sure you’re like a bullet! Thank you for waiting, Miss.”

*He unlocked the door and offered her the passenger seat. Hm… was she old enough to not have a car seat?*

“Oooooohhhh…”

“Welcome to a car!”

“Hello, car!!!”

“Ok, go!”

“That’s it. Good job, Miss.”

She looked around, then giggled a bit

“Here we go. This is called driving.”

“Y-Yes, unfortunately. Some people are not v-very nice and don’t stop.”

*He glances away from the road at her to smile. The car bounced a little, getting from the parking lot to the main road.*

“Eep!”

“You doing alright? Should be a smooth ride after that little bump. You ever seen a bridge?”

*The car slowed to a stop as they waited in the line to get onto the bridge.*

*Soon, they were moving again, onto the bridge.*

- The War Profiteer

*He slid down to the floor, criss-crossed and rocking happily, to admire the toy. He pet its hair.*

“I lovvvve you!”

*He spoke with a childishly blunt voice, giving the toy a kiss. He didn’t try to avoid the eyes like he usually would on the real man.*

“Now I can take care of you. You’re not sick as a plushie…”

*He played with the plushie’s hand.*

- The War Profiteer

*His tone was somewhat spacey, despite the circumstances.*

*He bent down to her to help with the sand.*

“I’m all grown up, I know where I am.!”

“What made a grown up girl like you come here… face down?”

She paused, spotting what was in his arms, and froze.

“Is this pretty? Do you know what it is?”

She sat up slightly.

*He had an idea that she was a clue. She knew something. But it was important to sound casual about it.*

The girl’s body went stiff with dread

“Ten dollars. I thought that for a price like that, the man didn’t deserve it. Or it was cursed. Anyways. Have you seen a- You ok, Miss?”

She wanted to run away. But she couldn’t. She needed her pelt. Oh no… he was looking for the owner of it— he probably wanted her to go to his house and she would have to become a wife— maybe even a mother…

*He leaned it forward to let her touch it.*

“…yes..”

“It’s yours to have. I know you need it. Must have been so lonely and confusing being on land.”

She holds it tight, looking up at Kilroy, pupils a bit wider and more seal-like

*It still didn’t answer much about who she was, who was waiting for her out there.*

“…why—… why didn’t you use it to take me away.?”

“I don’t derive pleasure from taking freedom away from others. I prefer people to stay of their own volition.”

“…That’s good…”

“Thanks. I’d hope so. You’re someone I think deserves to be kept safe from some dangerous people out there.”

*He bit his lip to not ruin the moment, just smiling giddily. This felt like a worthwhile moment. He was glad he didn’t give away the coat.*

*He said, even though it was a little silly.*

…this man was a decent petter.

*He sort of got a baby-talk voice.*

*He could stop the pets even to investigate more.*

*He couldn’t help find that cute too, but he tried to restraint himself, knowing that it was a person not a pet… But she was so cute! Focus…*

Another small smack, this time more like a less threatening scratch

“Better?”

*He found it best to watch over her so nobody bothered her. Besides, that meant more pets! Maybe he couldn’t pet the pelt anymore, but the real deal was the next best thing, if not better!*

*The tide seemed to be ebbing.*

She smacked the ground a bit, then rolled on her side slapping her body with her flippers

“How can I help, dear? Do you need help getting home? Or a… place to go? I… Well, I know a seal.”

“You know a seal? Another selkie?”

“Oh goodness- Uh… no. Not a selkie. Just a Harbor Seal… He’s really nice though. His name’s Plissken.”

She points at the water

“You’d get along great. He loves to sit on docks and sunbathe. Do you… not know what a name is?”

“Nope!! I don’t know lots of things, though. But I do know other things! Like my favorite fishies and plastic is bad!”

“Oh! It’s medium, and blue kinda and gray, with stripes on its back and sometimes spots on its tummy, like me! It’s the tastiest fish ever!”

“A… Mackerel Tuna, then.”

“Oh!! Okay! Then I’m Miss! That’s what you called me!!”

“So Miss, would you like to meet Plissken? I’d help you off this beach, get the sand out of your hair.”

She stands up

“How… far on land have you ever been?”

“There was a big black strip! And then something came really fast and almost hit me… I ran back to the beach after that…”

*Poor girl really was all alone…*

“They put me in one of those boxes one time! And they held me still so they could cut the plastic on my flipper! Then they let me out of the box! I bit them, though…”

“I’m glad those nice people helped you. This is… kind of like that. It’s big enough for people to sit in. They call it a car. I push buttons and sticks to make it move really fast and get us where we need to go.”

*He got them close to the entrance to the beach, where there was a small wooden ramp to the parking lot.*

*He was much more slow to climb it.*

She ran back to him, then up again. Repeating it several times over as he moved up the ramp, too

“Oh, I’m sure you’re like a bullet! Thank you for waiting, Miss.”

*He unlocked the door and offered her the passenger seat. Hm… was she old enough to not have a car seat?*

“Oooooohhhh…”

“Welcome to a car!”

“Hello, car!!!”

“Ok, go!”

“That’s it. Good job, Miss.”

She looked around, then giggled a bit

“Here we go. This is called driving.”

“Y-Yes, unfortunately. Some people are not v-very nice and don’t stop.”

*He glances away from the road at her to smile. The car bounced a little, getting from the parking lot to the main road.*

“Eep!”

“You doing alright? Should be a smooth ride after that little bump. You ever seen a bridge?”

*The car slowed to a stop as they waited in the line to get onto the bridge.*

- The War Profiteer

“I’m sorry. I messed up. Didn’t I?”

Hugs him

“I’m so sorry, dear. It’s ok. I’m here for you.”

*He pecked a kiss on his cheek.*

- The War Profiteer

*His tone was somewhat spacey, despite the circumstances.*

*He bent down to her to help with the sand.*

“I’m all grown up, I know where I am.!”

“What made a grown up girl like you come here… face down?”

She paused, spotting what was in his arms, and froze.

“Is this pretty? Do you know what it is?”

She sat up slightly.

*He had an idea that she was a clue. She knew something. But it was important to sound casual about it.*

The girl’s body went stiff with dread

“Ten dollars. I thought that for a price like that, the man didn’t deserve it. Or it was cursed. Anyways. Have you seen a- You ok, Miss?”

She wanted to run away. But she couldn’t. She needed her pelt. Oh no… he was looking for the owner of it— he probably wanted her to go to his house and she would have to become a wife— maybe even a mother…

*He leaned it forward to let her touch it.*

“…yes..”

“It’s yours to have. I know you need it. Must have been so lonely and confusing being on land.”

She holds it tight, looking up at Kilroy, pupils a bit wider and more seal-like

*It still didn’t answer much about who she was, who was waiting for her out there.*

“…why—… why didn’t you use it to take me away.?”

“I don’t derive pleasure from taking freedom away from others. I prefer people to stay of their own volition.”

“…That’s good…”

“Thanks. I’d hope so. You’re someone I think deserves to be kept safe from some dangerous people out there.”

*He bit his lip to not ruin the moment, just smiling giddily. This felt like a worthwhile moment. He was glad he didn’t give away the coat.*

*He said, even though it was a little silly.*

…this man was a decent petter.

*He sort of got a baby-talk voice.*

*He could stop the pets even to investigate more.*

*He couldn’t help find that cute too, but he tried to restraint himself, knowing that it was a person not a pet… But she was so cute! Focus…*

Another small smack, this time more like a less threatening scratch

“Better?”

*He found it best to watch over her so nobody bothered her. Besides, that meant more pets! Maybe he couldn’t pet the pelt anymore, but the real deal was the next best thing, if not better!*

*The tide seemed to be ebbing.*

She smacked the ground a bit, then rolled on her side slapping her body with her flippers

“How can I help, dear? Do you need help getting home? Or a… place to go? I… Well, I know a seal.”

“You know a seal? Another selkie?”

“Oh goodness- Uh… no. Not a selkie. Just a Harbor Seal… He’s really nice though. His name’s Plissken.”

She points at the water

“You’d get along great. He loves to sit on docks and sunbathe. Do you… not know what a name is?”

“Nope!! I don’t know lots of things, though. But I do know other things! Like my favorite fishies and plastic is bad!”

“Oh! It’s medium, and blue kinda and gray, with stripes on its back and sometimes spots on its tummy, like me! It’s the tastiest fish ever!”

“A… Mackerel Tuna, then.”

“Oh!! Okay! Then I’m Miss! That’s what you called me!!”

“So Miss, would you like to meet Plissken? I’d help you off this beach, get the sand out of your hair.”

She stands up

“How… far on land have you ever been?”

“There was a big black strip! And then something came really fast and almost hit me… I ran back to the beach after that…”

*Poor girl really was all alone…*

“They put me in one of those boxes one time! And they held me still so they could cut the plastic on my flipper! Then they let me out of the box! I bit them, though…”

“I’m glad those nice people helped you. This is… kind of like that. It’s big enough for people to sit in. They call it a car. I push buttons and sticks to make it move really fast and get us where we need to go.”

*He got them close to the entrance to the beach, where there was a small wooden ramp to the parking lot.*

*He was much more slow to climb it.*

She ran back to him, then up again. Repeating it several times over as he moved up the ramp, too

“Oh, I’m sure you’re like a bullet! Thank you for waiting, Miss.”

*He unlocked the door and offered her the passenger seat. Hm… was she old enough to not have a car seat?*

“Oooooohhhh…”

“Welcome to a car!”

“Hello, car!!!”

“Ok, go!”

“That’s it. Good job, Miss.”

She looked around, then giggled a bit

“Here we go. This is called driving.”

“Y-Yes, unfortunately. Some people are not v-very nice and don’t stop.”

*He glances away from the road at her to smile. The car bounced a little, getting from the parking lot to the main road.*

“Eep!”

“You doing alright? Should be a smooth ride after that little bump. You ever seen a bridge?”

- The War Profiteer

*He slid down to the floor, criss-crossed and rocking happily, to admire the toy. He pet its hair.*

“I lovvvve you!”

*He spoke with a childishly blunt voice, giving the toy a kiss. He didn’t try to avoid the eyes like he usually would on the real man.*

“Now I can take care of you. You’re not sick as a plushie…”

- The War Profiteer