Pygmy Blue

“As a mascot.”

He sighed, squatting down to meet her eye to eye.

“Anglerfish are edible, but you won’t glow like they do.– But besides that…” For a moment, Jotaro wanted to bring up what she’d said… although he didn’t. The truth was he knew why she felt that way. Frankly, Josuke was their more for her than he was.

Silently, he walked towards the cashier– paying for Jolyne meal before walking back towards her.

“Let;s take you back to Josuke’s.”

“I don’t know what that means. Ronald is real. He’s on the commercials.”

At least he was teaching her about fish. She liked those parts of his lectures. But it ended all too soon, unfortunately.

“He doesn’t exist. He’s made up to keep kids from knowing that McDonald’s is owned by a group of anglerfish who fatten those same kids up in hopes of eating them.”

Jotaro took a brief pause. Higashikata?

“…. Do you want to marry your Uncle Josuke again?”

“Ronald does too exist...I’ll eat the anglerfish. I’ll bite off their little dangly glowy part. Then I’ll glow in the dark.”

Jolyne huffed, irritated that he hadn’t read her mind.

“… You’re not old enough to sleep here. Kids who can’t pay their bill get sent to the dark room downstairs. They lock them up and feed them lettuce.”

Stuffing both hands into his pockets, he slowly began to stride over to the counter.

“...”

She followed behind him, scarfing down the rest of her food.

Of course she owed them money. He hadn’t left her with a dime– he figured at Josuke’s home she wouldn’t really need money.

However, he wasn’t going to let her off the hook so easily.

“I don’t have any. You’re going to have to pay them back by working here for a long time.”

“...Do I have to sleep here? ...It’s okay if I do. Okaaaay. Byeeee dad. I’m gonna tell the lady I don’t have any money!”

But she sure as hell wasn’t giving up her Pikachu toy.

There she is. After leaving work he immediately headed to Josuke’s– where there was no sign of Jolyne. It took him a while, but after asking around her whereabouts– he found her. And at a fast food restaurant.

“Jolyne.”

She had a mouthful of french fries, but she also had her Pikachu toy. After swallowing her food, she peered over at him.

“No!! I’m good always so Santa will give me things!”

“……. Could you give Josuke the phone?” Just to be sure. After all, Jolyne always managed to get herself into trouble.

“I--....can’t! Josuke is busy! He’s poopin’! Call back later! Bye-bye!”

     “You aren’t listening huh.”

      Kids, they always did get on his nerves–how was it he always attracted them. “Your daddy won’t help you if you keep messing with the wrong guy. You’re lucky I’m a nice person. All men are scum and you need to be wary about the type you go talking to. I could be a kidnapper that likes to steal little girls with weird hair styles.”

“Why do I have to listen to you? You’re-- You’re stinky. I decided.”

       “Oi, oi is that how you show respect to your elders? Someone–anyone come grab your child before she disgraces her family!”

“Smash!”

Joylne began to leap up and down, trying to reach his hair. It was clear that she wouldn’t reach it that way. But she didn’t seem to understand that.

            “Yes, I heard that, don’t yell so loud. I don’t know what’s making you say these things but you’ll do me a favor if you stopped with this nonsense. Kids are getting harder to understand nowadays…”

“It’s alright, kid. Just don’t do it again, alright? That could’ve hurt.” Josuke, despite his appearance on the outside, couldn’t get over the small childs antics. She was a pretty cute kid, her parents must love her a lot.  At least, he assumed that much.

“No, I don’t. I don’t know if they did, either. I don’t have any memories of myself, you see. I don’t know my real identity, so I’ve been given a temporary one.”  He gave the child a smile. “Well, there’s no need for that. I’ve already been adopted into a family that’s looking after me until I find out who I am, so it’s alright. Besides, I don’t really know if I’d want a little tyke like you for a sister…” He shot a playful grin to the little girl and ruffled her hair, chuckling 

“...Why? ...Could I have reached your brain? ...One time, my great-grandpa said if you pick your nose, you could mess up and hit your brain.” With that thought in her mind, she cringed. And began to focus on his other features. “Your teeth! I like your teeth! Can you squirt water from them?!” Jolyne was sure she liked this person. He smiled a lot. Which she figured made him good automatically.

He was silent for a moment when she went to touch his face, wondering if she noticed his unusual eyes and would attempt to touch them- Only to jerk his head away in surprise when tiny fingers shot out and into his nose, covering his face with his hand

“Hey! Don’t go putting your fingers where they don’t belong! For one thing, it’s rude, and it’s also pretty gross…” Josuke scolded with an accusatory finger, but then again, she was just a child, she didn’t know any better.

“I might have some American blood running through my veins, but I’m not entirely, one hundred percent certain. I like to think I do though, but I don’t really know that much about myself.”

“...But it makes your nose look all funny. I just wanted to see it look funny.”

Being scolded by a stranger didn’t mean much to Jolyne. Now, if it was Jotaro or Josuke-- Oh, she’d be a whining mess by now. He must’ve just not understood how funny his nose looked before.

Yamcha looks cool. And– well… Kinda? I mean, most girls no but some girls are terrifying.. But yeah, you can be the cat if ya want.

– Ah but you can only be the cat if– Wait? I’m still Piccolo! Hold up! 

[He rushed towards her, scooping her up in his arms before making it towards the basement door.]

– Shit! Safe! Okay, you can carry some of the boxes. But not the one with the tree.

I only want to be a cat if I can be-- ...The tiger from Aladdin! Otherwise, I’m Gohan!

[Yay. Scooped up in his arms again. It was a good day.]

Piccolo is pretty cool. I’m more of a Yamcha fan though– if we’re talkin’ about Dragon Ball in general. I can see why you think Jotaro’s like Vegeta though. They’re both…… intimidatin’. And…. angry-lookin’.

I never met your mom but I’ll take your word for it.

[Once she began running around, Josuke knew it was his cue to follow.]

– H-Hey! Hold up Gohan! First we gotta get the boxes from basement!

Yamcha is pretty. But he’s scared of girls! Are you scared of girls, Uncle?! ...If you’re Yamcha, am I the cat instead?

[She was screeching now, trying to run to the basement door.]