Taming
While walking through the plaza, I spotted Tanya peeking into a general store.
...(Glance)
......(Gaze)
.........(Stare)
Mm? This smell...
Captain, when did you get here?
How'd you know it was me?
Your smell.
You smell like freshly pressed olive oil. Just like the first day we met.
What are you doing out on a day off? Are you here to see them too?
Them?
Mm. The ones behind the glass.
Plushies. They're super soft when you hug them. So cute.
Hm? You want us to go in and see?
I can't. Stores are for people with money. I don't have any.
Where did all your money go?
Frying pot, frying tongs, frying beef and frying pork...
Frying chicken, frying fish... frying flour, frying oil...
...All for fried food, huh.
Captain? Why are you opening the door?
You want to go in? But I don't have money...
I can just look for free?
...
It's soft... warm...
And so fluffy...
It feels like lying on a cloud... I'm so happy...
But is this really okay? Even without paying? Isn't money required?
I don't have to worry...?
...Mm.
Okay.
If you say so, Captain, I trust you.
So fluffy...
I'm satisfied. Let's go back, Captain.
...Don't I want one?
I do. But I don't have money.
I'll come see them again sometime. Looking is free, right?
...Which one did I want?
The bunny, the fox... and that one. Why?
I picked the ones Tanya pointed to and took them to the register.
You're giving them to me...? All of them? Really?
You sure? Are you rich, Captain?
Not short on... money?
Wow... Captain, you're a real grown-up!
A real grown-up?
Mm. Marcille said people who aren't short on money are real grown-ups.
...Hahah!
These ones. They look like Petra and Marcille.
The bunny is Marcille. The fox is Petra.
And this one's the Captain.
Why the meerkat...?
Mmm... mmmm... mmmmmmmm...!
Well, it feels like you.
...So I really wanted it.
Tanya set the plushies down on the floor and threw her arms around me.
Thank you, Captain. Really, thank you.
I-it's nothing! Really, don't mention it...
C-could you scoot back a bit...? You're kind of—
*Crack*
...O-ow?
I really... really wanted them...!
*Crack* *Crack*
...Tanya? Hold on a second!
That sound should not be coming from my spine...!
Thank you... Thank you so much, Captain...!
I'll be super well-behaved from now on!
*Craaaaaaaaaaack*
Aaaaaaaaugh!!
Thanks to those plushies, Tanya and I grew closer...
But for a while after, my back flared up painfully every time I stood or lay down.