How many licks does it take to get to the bottom of this mess

[gentlesaint]

Who: Rhys and Ai and also a brief mention of Eli
What: RHYS CONFRONTS AI ON HER LOLLIPOP SALES
Where: Some hall I guess.
When: December 9th
Warnings: Probably just talking about drugs.

Rhys rounded a fateful corner just then. He noticed two purple-haired students of very different heights finishing up some kind of exchange up ahead. It didn't really stand out to him (besides oh hey it's Ai hello Ai) until he noticed the lollipops. Putting two and two together, it looked as though Ai was... oh no. Ai was selling the lollipops to the other student.

This looked bad. But why would Ai...

After Eli had gone, Rhys walked up to the pikmin girl in hurried strides. There was clearly something the matter because it showed on his face. "Ai," started Rhys as he slowed down. "Those lollipops you were giving out... You weren't selling them, were you?"

Comments

[iaiai]

Clearly there was nothing suspicious or shady about the exchange Ai had made with the taller girl. Clearly!

Ai had started off in another direction after she parted ways with Eli, but slowed down when she heard hurried steps behind her. As Rhys called her name, Ai stopped and turned to face him with a smile. She waved, then raised her eyebrows and listened intently as Rhys questioned her.

"Mm! I was, yes!" Ai replied, nodding cheerfully. "Do you want one!?"

[gentlesaint]

It was just as he feared. Rhys looked at her solemnly, a face he seldom wore unless the going was serious.

"No thank you. But there's something I want to ask you about them, if you don't mind. Where are you getting them from?"

[iaiai]

It was hard for the little Pikmin to read Rhys' expression. He didn't seem to pleased with her answer... Perhaps he was just confused. Either way, Ai's smile seemed to fade somewhat.

Without any hesitation, Ai answered, "From Seth Richardson! He needs me to sell them so that I can pay for my swimming lessons!"

[gentlesaint]

The name didn't strike a bell, but he stamped it to his memory as firmly as he could possibly manage. Like they could be overheard in this empty hallway, Rhys glanced furtively about before choosing to kneel down so he was closer to her level. "I have a bad feeling about this, and I don't mean to scare you, but... Whoever Seth is, he might be a... a bad guy."

[iaiai]

With that, Ai's smile was completely replaced with a rather distraught frown. She was becoming something of a little trouble magnet at this point! For a young Pikmin who made an earnest effort at avoiding danger, she seemed to cross paths with it all too often.

"Why do you think that!? Did he do something awful...?" she asked, sounding a little bit frantic.

[sicklypriest]

"There's something you need to know. These lollipops... They're making people sick. And I know you wouldn't ever want to make people sick, so it couldn't have been your idea. Whoever gave them to you for you to sell is probably up to no good."

It hurt to tell her this, since he understood the feeling that came with being told that someone you knew and liked couldn't be trusted anymore. He knew it very very well. In Ai's eyes, he could see a distress that had been his before.

I'M SORRY... OTL

[iaiai]

Similarly, it hurt to hear such a thing! Ai had been selling quite a lot of lollipops. Her repeat customers always seemed so eager to buy from her again! But they were making people sick. But... that wasn't necessarily Seth's fault, was it?

"I don't want to make anyone sick," she affirmed, nodding. "But I don't think Seth would do that on purpose. He's very nice to me. He gives me swimming lessons for selling the lollipops! I think, maybe, this was a mistake. He didn't mean for anyone to get sick... I'll bet."

IT'S OK

[sicklypriest]

"Well... It's only a suspicion. I don't know for sure what Seth's up to, but it's a possibility." He hoped Seth didn't know he was doing anything wrong either, for the sake of Ai's feelings. And yet, it would be nice to get some leads going... Maybe if he could find this Seth, he could ask about the pops?

"Whatever the case may be, I hate to say it, but... You must stop selling these lollipops." He put a hand on her shoulder, features still stolen by worry. "I don't want you involved with something like this."

[iaiai]

"I will!" Ai agreed, nodding furiously. "I don't want anyone to get sick. I'm going to stop right away, even if it means I can't have my swimming lessons."

It was getting to be too cold for swimming lessons, anyway, Ai reassured herself.

"Thank you for telling me, Rhys," she added, placing her smaller hand over Rhys' and nodding again, much more solemnly.

[gentlesaint]

Rhys's face stretched into a smile that was an odd marriage between warm and rueful. "I'm glad... Thank you for being so understanding."

With another thought, he added, "And... if it troubles you with money, I could help you pay for your swimming lessons." He let out a bit of silly laughter and returned his hand only to let it retreat to the back of his neck. "I'd try teaching you myself, but, well... I'd need to take swimming lessons first if I were to do that, you see."

[iaiai]

Ai echoed Rhys' laughter, finally letting a content smile return to her face.

"That's alright! I think it's better for me to earn them myself, but thank you very much for offering to help!"

[gentlesaint]

"Oh, I understand! It doesn't feel right when someone is giving you money without anything in exchange. Hmm. The least I can do is find you some work to do so that you can pay for your swimming lessons through hard work. What do you think? Would you be willing to do that?"

[iaiai]

"Mmhm!" Ai replied, sounding a little more excited. She clasped her hands together and shook her head. "I'd like that very much!"