I think I'm turning American- Err, wait.
(One week later.)
"So, think you crammed enough US-Pop Culture into you so you can fool everyone?" Tony teased.
Ryoga smiled. "Actually, I think I did. What, you wanna test that?"
"I dunno. Real world's tougher than I am, I'm 'spousta to teach you. Teachers must ignore a student's follies, after all."
"Yeah, right! Try me, I can fool anyone! Your mom didn't even believe I wasn't American, and I spoke much worse then!"
"You think a week-long crash course works? You can hardly read English!"
"Hah! I can read it pretty damn well now, I'm jus' bad at spelling!"
"Half the Americans I know- and that includes me- can't spell. There's things that give you away, Ryo."
"Like what?"
"For one thing, you still write with that paintbrush."
"I just don't like pens! Any other American'd fall for it!"
"Bet you twenty bucks!"
"You're on! .Wait, all I got is Yen."
"I've already won."
* * *
After Ryoga changed his money, they hit the mall. First, they both threw the amount promised on the seat of the Dodge. Both of them smirked knowingly at each other.
As they went in, the metal alarm went off. "What do you have to declare?" the burly security guard asked.
"Sorry, 9-1-1 problems. Gotta check all your stuff as you go in." To demonstrate, Tony pulled out a pocket knife and a set of keys. "These guys get all your metal. Those guys'll take your backpack and triple-check it, then keep it so you can't shoplift."
Ryoga nodded. "I don't have metal. Do you need weapons, though?"
The guard grinned. "As if you have any weapons that aren't metal."
Ryoga grinned back, taking off his belt. "Here, and here," he added, handing over a large stack of bandanas.
"Hey, kid, how did you put all of these on at once?"
"Just got skill, I guess," Ryoga teased as he walked past.
"Kid, come back here! Show me how you can consider this a weapon!" The guard held up one of the bandanas. "At least the belt makes a little sense, but-"
Ryoga calmly took it from him. "Watch and learn," he whispered as he threw it at one of the metal support posts.
It cut cleanly enough that the beams didn't fall, just split evenly and slid apart slightly. Tony blinked. Ryoga never mentioned anything like this.
"Well, I'll just go declare my pack, but you can have it. I have plenty, y'know."
And the guard just stood there as he put his bag down on the counter.
The lady behind the counter opened it immediately. "What's in here?"
"Food, water, a tent, a change of clothes, a lamp, some batteries. Camping stuff."
"Uh-huh. Like I believe that."
"No, really. I live out of that tent."
"Sure. And these cans? Water? I think not! 'Mizu' sounds like some new foreign beer!"
"Actually, it's just water." He opened up a can and handed it to her. "See?"
"And these, I suppose you have some smart ass excuse.?"
"Cup o' Noodles. Miso and Pork flavors. Help yourself. And yes, that's a tent. And those are clothes, and a shaving kit, and a flashlight, and-"
"Aerosol cans, glass and metal, spikes, razors."
"It's tent poles and a shaving kit! Don't get paranoid! You can even keep the sack until I come out, if you're so concerned." She didn't get a chance to protest as he walked away.
Ryoga pulled Tony over as they walked passed. "Are all you Americans so paranoid?"
"Just mall rent-a-cops. Check it out, they got That'sa Burger now!"
Ryoga turned to go, but Tony ran off in the other direction. 'Fooled him! He'd never make it with out me, so that forty bucks is mine!'
(One week later.)
"So, think you crammed enough US-Pop Culture into you so you can fool everyone?" Tony teased.
Ryoga smiled. "Actually, I think I did. What, you wanna test that?"
"I dunno. Real world's tougher than I am, I'm 'spousta to teach you. Teachers must ignore a student's follies, after all."
"Yeah, right! Try me, I can fool anyone! Your mom didn't even believe I wasn't American, and I spoke much worse then!"
"You think a week-long crash course works? You can hardly read English!"
"Hah! I can read it pretty damn well now, I'm jus' bad at spelling!"
"Half the Americans I know- and that includes me- can't spell. There's things that give you away, Ryo."
"Like what?"
"For one thing, you still write with that paintbrush."
"I just don't like pens! Any other American'd fall for it!"
"Bet you twenty bucks!"
"You're on! .Wait, all I got is Yen."
"I've already won."
* * *
After Ryoga changed his money, they hit the mall. First, they both threw the amount promised on the seat of the Dodge. Both of them smirked knowingly at each other.
As they went in, the metal alarm went off. "What do you have to declare?" the burly security guard asked.
"Sorry, 9-1-1 problems. Gotta check all your stuff as you go in." To demonstrate, Tony pulled out a pocket knife and a set of keys. "These guys get all your metal. Those guys'll take your backpack and triple-check it, then keep it so you can't shoplift."
Ryoga nodded. "I don't have metal. Do you need weapons, though?"
The guard grinned. "As if you have any weapons that aren't metal."
Ryoga grinned back, taking off his belt. "Here, and here," he added, handing over a large stack of bandanas.
"Hey, kid, how did you put all of these on at once?"
"Just got skill, I guess," Ryoga teased as he walked past.
"Kid, come back here! Show me how you can consider this a weapon!" The guard held up one of the bandanas. "At least the belt makes a little sense, but-"
Ryoga calmly took it from him. "Watch and learn," he whispered as he threw it at one of the metal support posts.
It cut cleanly enough that the beams didn't fall, just split evenly and slid apart slightly. Tony blinked. Ryoga never mentioned anything like this.
"Well, I'll just go declare my pack, but you can have it. I have plenty, y'know."
And the guard just stood there as he put his bag down on the counter.
The lady behind the counter opened it immediately. "What's in here?"
"Food, water, a tent, a change of clothes, a lamp, some batteries. Camping stuff."
"Uh-huh. Like I believe that."
"No, really. I live out of that tent."
"Sure. And these cans? Water? I think not! 'Mizu' sounds like some new foreign beer!"
"Actually, it's just water." He opened up a can and handed it to her. "See?"
"And these, I suppose you have some smart ass excuse.?"
"Cup o' Noodles. Miso and Pork flavors. Help yourself. And yes, that's a tent. And those are clothes, and a shaving kit, and a flashlight, and-"
"Aerosol cans, glass and metal, spikes, razors."
"It's tent poles and a shaving kit! Don't get paranoid! You can even keep the sack until I come out, if you're so concerned." She didn't get a chance to protest as he walked away.
Ryoga pulled Tony over as they walked passed. "Are all you Americans so paranoid?"
"Just mall rent-a-cops. Check it out, they got That'sa Burger now!"
Ryoga turned to go, but Tony ran off in the other direction. 'Fooled him! He'd never make it with out me, so that forty bucks is mine!'