Soliel was munching on an apple as the Whitebeard crew walked along the cobblestone path, eyeing various shops. There were still a lot of people shopping, though not nearly as many as during the day. It was late, but there were familes with kids walking about, older people, and the few groups of insane-shoppers, the kind who would more than likely deck someone over some trinket or article of clothing.
Fossa had purchsed another two cases of cigars, which now totalled five, Blenheim was flipping through a thick cookbook and murmuring to himself. Haruta and Izo were talking about the clothes they'd purchased, and what they'd bought for Soliel. Whitebeard and Brew were discussing the growth of weapon trafficking and Vista was examining the new saber he'd found. It was high-grade steel, and he'd managed to haggle it for a decent price.
As Soliel bit into her apple with a juicy crunch, she turned her head a small sliver of movement and she watched as a giant lizard ducked under a table in front of a fruit stand; it was a dull goldish brown and (Soliel squealed) a blue tongue. She turned around and walked towards the creature, eyes wide. Dimly she heard people call her and she turned to see her father and the others coming towards her.
"Bug!" she screamed, pointing to the table. "Blue! BLUE!"
Vista leaned on his haunches and looked at where Soliel was pointing. "It's not a bug, it's a lizard."
Soliel cocked her head. "Lizard?"
"Yeah, it's a big lizard too."
Soliel ran over to Whitebeard and giggled, "DADDYDADDYDADDY!" she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the table. "Vis'a lizard, Vis'a lizard!"
"Yes, I see, Vista lizard." when he got to the table he picked the thing up with one hand and watched as the thing darted away, Soliel screaming and running off after it. Izo and Namur followed the girl while the rest of the crew sat down to rest.
"You know," Izo huffed as he jogged after the curly-haired tot, "She's really quick for such a little thing."
Soliel ran as fast as her tiny legs would allow, but the lizard was slightly faster than she was, darting this way and that and the frustrated two-year-old howled with rage as the lizard ducked under some bushes and vanished from sight.
...
Violet eyes watched as the large man walked after the infant, who toddled away after a lizard. The man was scary, taller than a house, and about as wide. The little girl was heading in his direction, and the boy dipped farther back into the bushes where no one would see him. The lizard was gone and the baby pointed at the bushes, screaming.
"Want!" she ran over to her father and tugged at Whitebeard's pants, silently pleading for him to follow. The man obliged, and when they got close to the bush, he leaned down, searching where the little girl pointed. "Inside." she said. Whitebeard looked around, and making sure no one else was looking, he gently tore the bush from the Earth, unvieling the blue-tongued skink, and the small boy from earlier.
He chuckled, "Well, well, it's the thief."
The blond child glared up at the man. "I'm not a thief!" Soliel ignored both of them and tore after the lizard again, squealing with joy as it ran towards the plaza. Haruta and Namur followed after the girl so she wouldn't get lost again, while Vista and Izo kept an eye on the small child that Whitebeard was antagonizing.
"What's he doing?"
Vista shrugged, watching the spectacle with amusement. "I'm not sure, but my money is on the little one." Whitebeard was talking to the kid, and the boy was getting frustrated, which Whitebeard found to be funny, because he kept picking on the blond, teasing him, making fun of him for stealing.
"You can go to jail for stealing, you know." The boy glared up at him, eyes blazing with defiance.
"How else will I eat?" he asked. Whitebeard studied the boy. His clothes were tattered, but not too filthy, and his skin was covered in scratches and bruises. His hair was matted on one side with dried blood and dirt, and Whitebeard fekt a twinge of pity for the child. He lifted the boy up by the back of his shirt and brought him to eye level.
"How old are you, kid? What's your name?"
"Why should I tell you?"
By now, Soliel had returned and stood by her father's side, and was staring at the boy. He twisted in Whitebeard's grip, kicking out at the man. While the older man laughed at the pitiful attempts, Soliel lunged forward, grabbed the kid's leg, and clamped her sharp, tiny teeth against his skin. Whitebeard dropped the blond child and grabbed Soliel with one hand, hauling her back.
"Soliel, what did I tell you teeth are for?"
Soliel looked away with a sly smile and a messy attempt of rolling her eyes. She giggled and held her arms out to the man but he held her at arms length. She whined, thrashing in his hold and he set her down, where she latched onto his leg. "Eat." she mumbled into his pants.
"Right. Teeth are for eating, not biting." he looked at the other child with a smirk. "That was your fault though, son. You provoked her."
"I didn't do anything to her!"
"Not intentionally, but by attacking me, you made her mad, so she attacked you." he stared long and hard at the other child, taking in his shabby form. "I'm going to ask you again, boy, what's your name and how old are you?"
There was a few seconds' silence, and then, very quietly, he responded, "Marco. I'm five."
