As far back as she could remember (which wasn't very far), she couldn't recall anything that had ever been as energetic as this place. The noise, the excitement: this place was built to garner delight, it seemed.
Hero's eyes scanned the streets of the busy market ecstatically, mouth gaping open with the corners raised. Everywhere she glanced, there was a shop, a creature, an object that demanded attention. There was so much to look at! Her eyes couldn't pick a subject of interest quick enough before the next appeared to barter for her attention. On her right was a large display that read "Eye for an eye: today only!", and on her left, what seemed to be a small shop filled with what appeared to be watches, though instead of telling time forwards, they seemed to tell it backwards.
I wonder if time goes backwards here. She rubbed the sock creature currently in her free arm, who also scanned the environment enthusiastically.
After a few moments, her pace slowed enough in her curious excitement that the cane her palm was clinging to was pulled taut, causing the person on the other end (who currently held the makeshift link in place) to glance back, stopping to assess the current situation.
"Ah. I see you've been entranced by all the novelties." RGB, tugged at the cane twice, waking Hero up from her imagination induced stupor.
"En transd!" The little sock on her shoulder repeated ecstatically, bead eyes glistening from the light of a nearby tent.
Hero giggled softly and nodded eagerly, unable to withhold her bubbling excitement.
"Looking is perfectly fine, but do not touch anything." He pulled his other hand from his pocket and waved his gloved index finger in front of her to emphasize his point. "Items here are often highly breakable, especially in their unfinished state."
"Dun touch! Hy lee brake-ble!" The sock echoed.
Hero nodded in understanding, following him as he continued walking, being sure to follow his instructions after a few minutes when the urge to touch something suddenly came and went.
RGB didn't have to glance back to know that the girl hadn't yet touched anything. He could tell by the way the cane was still being held taut. However, when a loud CRASH! erupted from behind him and the cane was almost immediately relieved of its prior weight, he quickly turned on his heel, exasperated and somewhat panicked as he assessed the situation.
There sat Assok innocently, surrounded by broken mirror with a stupidly goofy grin as Hero stood over top of him, trying to act as though nothing had occurred as she swiped him up into her arms, shards of glass scattered around her feet and on top of the green sock as she frantically dusted them off his little head.
"I-it wasn't my fault, RGB!" She stammered, stepping over the glass and towards him. "Assok saw his reflection and jumped on the mirror! I tried to catch him, but it was too late!"
RGB's antenna twitched as he inhaled deeply through his vents, rubbing his hands together. He then lowered his joined palms and exhaled, the action causing his shoulders to sag as he glared at the ceiling, refusing to make eye contact lest he lose what meager shards of composure he still had left. After a few moments of silence, he lowered his head and twisted his cane between his hands.
"Hero, I understand that it can sometimes be… Difficult to keep your hands to yourself," he raised his head to glare into her eyes. "But for the love of all that is pleasant…" His arm jutted out, palm open as he directed the invisible line of perspective towards the sock in her arms.
"CONTROL YOUR SOCK."
"CO TROL ERSOK!" Assok hopped up and yelled back, face scrunching in disapproval of being shouted at.
RGB flung his arms into the air while Hero held back a snort.
"Unbelievable! Absolutely splendid! As if one child wasn't difficult enough to manage, now I have another who's on a mission to touch everything he sees! In an open market! Filled to the brim with breakable oddities! Capital!"
RGB crossed his arms and huffed, leaning against a wooden plank holding up an adjacent stand. After a few moments of silently fuming, he lowered his head and sighed in defeat, shoulders rising and falling with the action.
"Tell you what." He straightened his boater hat. "If you promise not to touch anything else, I will let you buy one thing in the market."
"Yaa-"
"However, it must be something obtained along the way to Cell's Emporium; nothing after that, and it must be something the two of you can share." He pointed between the two of them. "Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"Cleer!" Assok nodded, joined by Hero, who grinned widely.
RGB nodded once, grinning, and lifting the cane up for the girl to grasp, then once she had grabbed it, he straightened himself up, adjusted his bowtie, and continued walking forward.
Hero glanced around, lifting her finger to her chin, eyes narrowed as she scanned nearby shops for an item of interest. Her mind drifted back to the watches she'd seen earlier. However, when she thought about asking RGB for one, she recalled that they were behind them, and continued her search.
After a few moments, she felt a tap on her shoulder, acknowledging Assok, who pointed to her opposite side at a pastel-colored booth. She glanced up and saw a sign hoisted on top that read "Neat 'n Sweet Hugs 'n Kisses" in bold pink. Her eyes lit up almost immediately in realization.
"I say Hero, we're almost ther- Wh- what is it?" RGB called back as he felt the cane tug in the opposite direction. Hero pointed to the stand as he turned, scratching his head.
"Ah, I see you've found the item of your fancy." He followed her towards the booth, glancing over the delectable treats.
A cotton candy-colored man appeared behind the table, a jolly smile lining his features as he welcomed them.
"A pleasure to have you visit my humble booth!" His voice was thick with an accent, yet soft like cotton.
"Such a scrumptious little girl!" He noticed Hero and cooed, patting the little girl on the head, who giggled in response. "What can I get for the lovely little lady? A hug, perhaps?"
Hero scanned the items on the table. There were dozens of cookies lined from end-to-end, each frosted with varying colors and topped with sprinkles, bearing either a distinct "X" or an "O" shape.
"That one!" She pointed to a green "O" shaped cookie with yellow sprinkles after a few moments of careful consideration, to which the man obliged by wrapping it carefully in a napkin and handing it to her. She thanked him enthusiastically and lifted the cookie to show RGB, to which he grinned and nodded.
"Anything for you, my good man? Perhaps a kiss for the missus?"
RGB internally cringed, stammering as he clenched his hands in his pockets. Incapable of blushing, perhaps, but not incapable of feeling the heat rise to his bowtie.
"Er, I- uh, well…" His thoughts suddenly caught up to him as he recalled Madra's very words from earlier.
Really, RGB, you're so unromantic. You never bring me any presents these days.
RGB frowned, thinking a little more seriously about the man's question.
"I d-don't suppose it would hurt…" He shrugged, glancing down at Hero, then jerking his head back up in embarrassment when all he received was a sly grin. He peeked over the different flavors, then pointed at a soft blue-colored one with lavender frosting, communicating silently with the man that that was the one, to which the man obliged by wrapping it up and handing it to him.
"Now, payment-wise, I-"
"On the house, my good man." The man chuckled. "It isn't every day I see a young lady as charming as this one," he winked at Hero. "Nor a young man as hopelessly romantic as yourself."
Hero snorted at the implication while breaking the cookie and sharing it with Assok.
RGB fidgeted with the cookie held in his hand in embarrassment, ultimately shoving it in his inner coat pocket and thanking the man with a tip of his hat before he ultimately pushed the girl from behind and quickly drew the three of them away, afraid that if he stayed any longer, he'd end up revealing something he wasn't ready to.
The man in the booth merely waved as they left, chuckling at the ragtag trio, and returning to his business.