Special thanks to Nutella's Biggest Fan for the awesome review! By their suggestion, I decided to put in more description in this chapter as well as the ones following it. Thanks for the suggestion! :3
Part Two of Bet of the Ages; START!
"Poyo...I didn't think that a mouse would be that good at Metroid..." Kirby moped as they went down the sidewalk, holding a cardboard sign they were to use to advertise.
Daroach turned somewhat haltingly. He was on a bet. And there was no way he was going to lose because of this boy's distractions. He began to walk backwards, holding the cardboard sign under one arm.
"Moustafa," he began somewhat primly, glaring at him beneath his silken hat as he thought of his soulma – mouse...yeah, mouse. "Is a mouse of many talents."
Kirby was unconvinced that it was just mere talent. He looked at his hands, "But, she doesn't even have opposable thumbs! Does she?"
Daroach rolled his eyes as the youth continued to piffle on about the obscurity of the mouse's talent. He stopped, surveying their territory with a stark eye.
The destination that they quickly agreed on was one of the busiest intersections in town; by the number of cars as well as pedestrians, whom routinely took their strolls down the street. Despite being a bustling street that seemed unlike one in a big city, the residents enjoyed it for the number of shops that were lined up as well as the lush greenery that was on all four of the quadrants, separated only by the roads themselves.
The trees themselves attracted people in the warm weather, inviting them to relax in the safety and coolness that their branches offered – which was a lucky advantage that their corner held. Altogether, it made it a prime spot for vendors and aspiring business owners for making cash.
The thief grinned, pleased with the number of people meandering about. Just by eyeballing it, he could tell that they were going to get loads of advertising in no time at all. And more advertising meant more possible tenants. And at least five tenants would mean that he would win the bet. And winning the bet would mean -
"Daroach? We're here..."
The thief on a mission shot him a look, "Mate, I realize that," he hissed. "Now, let's...start..." As his words trailed off unfinished, his scarlet eyes had perchance fallen upon the opposing corner from them...
There was some eye twitching and soul screaming before Daroach face palmed. "Ah, crap..."
Kirby rose a brow, "Huh? What is it...?" He followed Daroach's look of despair, soon understanding. "...that's not good."
Across the intersection was a Girl Scout stand decorated with cute little flowers, selling a superfluous amount of cookies, being sold by cute little girls in cute little uniforms. Giving out cute little smiles and saying cutely that it was all for a special camping trip they were really hoping to go to.
Daroach began to sulk.
At the moment, a crowd of at least eight people were gathered, literally throwing their money away for the ridiculously good cookies while others kept on coming from down the street.
Kirby himself began to float over, smelling the aroma of the cookies. Daroach irately pulled him back, "No! That's what they want you to do, mate!" he gave a shifty glance to them. "It's all part of their plan..."
"But...but..." Kirby whined, unable to just forget the cookies.
Grabbing the youth so he was facing him a few inches off the ground, he began to shake him back and forth, apparently possessed by some latent trauma. He pointed at them with a shaky finger.
"They're trying to lure you over to their side!" he yelled. "Don't go to the dark side, mate!"
"But – they – have – cookies!" Kirby wailed in between shakes.
The thief snarled, shaking him possibly faster, "That...doesn't...matter! I am not going to lose this bet because of you!"
This went on for a few seconds before Daroach began feeling the stares of nearby passersby, most of which from last chapter and unconvinced that the top hat wearing youth was indeed sane. He finally released Kirby, letting him drop on the ground...which was where he stuck for a while, his eyes mere swirls.
The thief, however, wasn't interested in wasting a minute of time.
"Alright. Get up, mate! This is the battle plan!" he bent down, whispering quickly in Kirby's ear. Luckily, the youth had just managed to shake the stars from his head to comprehend what he was saying as he nodded quickly. It slowed however as Daroach went on. It finally stopped as his brows began to knit. Daroach finally finished and stood back up, waiting for Kirby to do the same.
Standing up much slower than the thief, Kirby cast a few looks around, "...are you sure Daroach? That seems kinda...I dunno...poyo," he scratched the back of his head, searching for the right word, "...unnecessary?"
Daroach rose a finger, "They're Girl Scouts, we have to give it our all from the forefront, mate, or we won't have a chance!"
Kirby was still unconvinced, "...but, I really don't want to...it's your idea, why don't you?"
The thief did a double-take. His face seemed to redden in embarrassment, matching his hat, "N-no...I'll just stand here and hold a sign while you..." he made a small hand gesture, implying the rest of their plan.
Kirby was less than enthused before he suddenly got a sly look, "No, you should do it. After all, you look better suited to do it, with the top hat and all. Me, I'm only wearing a plain shirt and jeans. And, as you and Meta Knight say, I'm just a kid, I shouldn't be so exposed like - "
"I'm not dancing, mate!"
"You want to win that bet, don't you?" The youth didn't wait for a response, taking the beat of silence as an answer. "Then dance!"
Bending down, Kirby flipped on the switch to the boom box that Daroach had brought. Yes, brought.
Of course, that wasn't according to the group of teenagers who were having a party near Kirby's house...
As the music began pounding through the device, Daroach fidgeted. It was that song...the song that no one could hear and do nothing. Ironically, it was the same song that Meta Knight had been air-guitaring to before.
Seeing Daroach as still as a statue, he groaned, "Fine...but, we'll both dance!" Kirby shrugged in response, seeing that the stubborn thief wouldn't take no for an answer. Said thief smirked, "Now let's get started! Those Girl Scouts already have at least twenty costumers over there!"
"You said it cough Sonny! Let's get this party cough started!"
They both turned to see an old man dancing very...Daroach covered Kirby's eyes, as well as his own.
At least the old man was being enthusiastic...
Like a godsend, his wife soon walked up, pulling the man away from the two furiously. She hissed at him as they walked away, "Dear! You can't just do that randomly in public! You nearly scared those children half to death!"
The husband looked at her incredulously, "What!? Didn't you see me? I was getting in a groove!"
After the two were a good three blocks away, Daroach put down his hands, "Let's...forget that ever happened, eh, mate?"
Kirby quickly nodded his agreement.
Knowing that the two of them could most certainly dance better than the old man, they both began dancing, taking turns as to who held one of the signs up for all to see.
Daroach began dancing first, adding in a light air guitar to the song, as well as some acrobatic moves he improvised in. In moments, he already had a crowd, most of which coming from across the corner, beckoned by the cool shade that blanketed most of their corner. Finally, a girl wearing a long summer dress and light brown hair pulled up into a pony tail walked up to Kirby, winking to Daroach on the way over. He quickly looked away.
Kirby smiled brightly, quickly taking out a clipboard for signatures, phone numbers, and the like for potential tenants to the mansion.
"Can I write my name down? I've been looking for a cheap place to stay for a while!"
Kirby eagerly gave her the clipboard and pencil while Daroach inwardly cheered.
One down! Only four to go!
"Miss?"
Only centimeters from the clipboard, the girl suddenly stopped as she turned down to see one of the taller Girl Scouts, wearing a small pullover, that came right above her pleated skirt. The 'tenant' nearly squealed at the cute outfit, tossing the clipboard and pen at the sight.
"Would you like to buy some cookies? We have chocolate and peanut butter and toffee and..."
Daroach's soul could be heard screaming in the background.
"Oh, sure! Aww! You're so cute!"
The Girl Scout's brown eyes suddenly flicked over to Daroach, who was still dancing in hopes of getting another tenant. The corners of her mouth pulled upward into a smirk until she abruptly turned, leading the summer dress clad girl to the opposing corner. However, Daroach managed to get a quick glance of her expression.
'Hook, line, and sinker', the smirk appeared to say. Then, in contrast, the girl donned a bright smile accompanied with a small giggle, "Hee, hee, thank you miss!"
Officially ticked off, Daroach picked up his sign, (and momentarily enjoying the thought of chucking it at the girl), yelled over to Kirby that it was his turn to dance. His cute dancing quickly got the attention of many girls. Daroach soon stuck his fingers in his ears, nearly deafened from the 'squees'.
Over on the other side, the Girl Scouts corner wasn't nearly as shaded, as it was set in plain sights of the warming sun, but it did have the obvious advantages to make up for it: the cookies and the plethora of cuteness.
They had set up shop only painful feet from the first store that lined the shopping district of the intersection, acting as a road block; much to the irritation and dismay of the owners.
The troop were having an average day. But that wasn't what they wanted. They wanted to have bustling business, lines upon lines of customers! Maybe even sell out!
Sell out!
The phrase was legendary among the troops.
The Girl Scout that had managed to lure the teenage girl away from Daroach and Kirby took her seat behind the booth. The leader of their group, a girl with cropped red hair, accentuating the green in her uniform began to then name off the flavors, the others, (or appeared to be lackeys), displaying them concurrently.
After all the flavors were heard, the teenage girl squealed for the umpteenth time, having a cuteness overdose in only five minutes, "They all sound so good! Can have a box of each?"
A silent snicker was passed among the Girl Scouts.
Well, almost all...
The one that had brought the costumer over in the first place took this chance to slip away, going around the bushes and trees that lay in the grassland part of the corner, off of the sidewalk. She waved casually to a youth sitting in the soft grass. He turned to her.
"Well? How are they doing?"
She scoffed, "Not even one, I made sure of that...Anywho, why am I even doing this? I have to wear this stupid sweater just to make me look younger! Not that I don't already stand out already because of my height..." she complained. After the youth made no indication that he was listening, nor that he cared, she began rubbing her throat, "My throat hurts too...you try making your voice at least an octave higher for that long!"
"I'll pass."
The girl huffed, "I'll reiterate again: why am I even doing this?"
"Because, there is no way I'm losing this bet, Adeleine."
She rolled her brown eyes, "...men..."
"What was that?"
"Oh, nothing..."
He suddenly pushed her out of the bushes, "Hurry! You're back on!"
She reluctantly returned to the Girl Scout booth to find with a raised brow that they had somehow gotten the same teenage girl to buy at least three boxes of each.
"They're devil children, I swear..." she muttered.
Over on Team Daroach's side, self-proclaimed leader Daroach was venting to Kirby.
"This isn't working, we've only gotten one in the past hour – and she was stolen away by that demon...just before she could sign!" he rubbed his chin. "We need to up the anti..."
Kirby suddenly felt very afraid.
As the theoretical light bulb flashed on, Daroach snapped his fingers, "That's it!"
"W-what...?"
As before, Daroach began to whisper in Kirby's ear. And, as before the quick nods got slower and slower. The expression this time was more horrific, however.
"What!? Daroach! You just don't stea - "
Daroach clapped a hand over his mouth, "Shh! The demons have ears..." he looked across the street. Creepily enough, all the Girl Scouts appeared to be looking in their exact direction while simultaneously selling boxes upon boxes of cookies.
"Poyo...Daroach," he sighed.
"Well, here I go, mate! Wish me luck! Heh, not that I'll need it..." Daroach leaped through the traffic (yes, leaped), surprisingly getting across the large intersection in no time.
Quickly, almost to the point one only saw a red blur, Daroach jumped into the tree behind the Girl Scout's stand. There was a gasp below the tree, as well as a rustle of bushes. Also, if one had been listening for it, a mumble sounding only like, 'Stupid Daroach' could be heard. Daroach, however, was not concerned with this as he peered with hawk like eyes at the cookie booth.
He grinned devilishly.
After watching for only a minute, he already had found a pattern: the leader of the group would describe the different flavors while the rest displayed boxes of the cookies that were empty. When an order was requested, one of the group members would go into the shade near the cooler where the cookies were to be kept lest they melt in the Summer heat. The Girl Scout would carry the required boxes to the others.
This was his chance.
The leader was obviously the only brains of the group, thus being the only one that even had a chance of spotting him when he made his move.
Perched on a branch, it wasn't long before the time had come. He rubbed his hands together.
The heist had come.
Happy Halloween everyone! :D
