thespeckrp

[thespeckrp]

“Maybe one of the sandwiches in the plastic bags?” Speck asked, quite content indeed to focus on the food and the food alone.  “Gotta get something that’ll still be okay to eat after a day or so.”  He paused for a moment, then turned his eyes from the menu to the turian.  “Um... I’m Speck, by the way.  Th-thanks for doing this...”

Tavi frowned at that.  “…Focus on the food for now kid.  But don’t keep throwin’ out the offers, it’s not safe.  And you don’t wanna get caught by whoever this is, y’know?”

He ordered everything Speck listed off to him, coming up to twenty.  “Go five more dollars kid, I got the money and you need something for the next few days too.”

[thespeckrp]

The tadpole’s frown deepened.  “I know people that wanna help, but I’m... not sure it’s a good idea to let ‘em.  They’d probably just kill the guys, and that would probably just make things worse.  If they stopped sending updates, somebody worse might come.”  He shuddered a little.  “Or even worse, he might stop sending mercs and come in person.  That would be bad.  We got too many batarians on the Citadel already, we don’t need him coming all the way from Omega to be here too...”  And there he was, thinking of awful things again when he could be thinking about eating.  “I want some nuggets too.  And maybe a pie thing!”

“…I know what you mean.”  He sighed.  “Last thing I’ll say but I really got into some shit where I didn’t let anyone in cause I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.  It turned out pretty fucking messy, it would have been better if I just… let ‘em help me.”  He smiled faintly.  “Might be better for you too.  But alright.  Cheeseburger, I can do that.  Only like eight creds with the fries, you want anything else?”

[thespeckrp]

Speck frowned slightly, still quite intent on the menu.  "Well, yeah, but I don't wanna get anybody else hurt or anything... 'cause, see, they gotta bring me back mostly undamaged, but everybody else's expendable to them and stuff.  If 'mostly undamaged' means it's okay for them to shoot at me, I don't wanna know what 'expendable' means."  He rubbed a scar on his shoulder unconsciously, forcing his mind back to the more important issue - food.  "I think I wanna cheeseburger."

"…Worth money?  Seriously?"  Some kid worth money.  Tavi wasn’t sure what a little kid could do to be worth money but maybe it was better not to ask.  ”Y’know, that’s why it’d be easier to have someone keeping an eye on you.  If you’re really worried.”

[thespeckrp]

Oh.  Okay.  That's good I guess.  At least you didn't get caught or nothing, 'cause getting C-Sec into stuff is never good.  *smiles up at her* But I'm okay.  Honest.  Just twisted my ankle a little.  It'll heal up okay.

U-um, hey, Jesi? Do you still live in the same place...?

Speck! I’ve been worried about you, holy shit! Yes, I do, and yes you may come over. I’m gunna start making cookies and shit right now, love.

[thespeckrp]

Okay.  *limps slightly over to the car and clambers into the passenger seat*  You sure got here fast.  Were you not doing other stuff?

U-um, hey, Jesi? Do you still live in the same place...?

Speck! I’ve been worried about you, holy shit! Yes, I do, and yes you may come over. I’m gunna start making cookies and shit right now, love.

[thespeckrp]

"Doesn't have to be more than two or three if they're real persistent," Speck replied, turning his eyes to stare up at the menu as though he were completely unbothered by the subject of conversation.  "'Parently I'm worth enough money for 'em to keep coming back.  But I'm getting real good at avoiding 'em."

"Oh c’mon.  You’re like what, a little kid?"  He approached the stall, waving to the menu board so that the salarian could pick what he’d like.  "How many people are going to come after a little kid?"

[thespeckrp]

*sits on the edge of a planter, datapad in his lap as he waits*

Just don't take too super long, I dunno how good I really got rid of them.

U-um, hey, Jesi? Do you still live in the same place...?

Speck! I’ve been worried about you, holy shit! Yes, I do, and yes you may come over. I’m gunna start making cookies and shit right now, love.

[thespeckrp]

Yeah, okay, I can do that.  There's some benches around, an' I shook all my tails before I messaged you, so... it should be okay to stop here.  I'll just wait for you.

U-um, hey, Jesi? Do you still live in the same place...?

Speck! I’ve been worried about you, holy shit! Yes, I do, and yes you may come over. I’m gunna start making cookies and shit right now, love.

[thespeckrp]

"I dunno.  Sometimes it's kinda better not having just one place you can get found at."  Speck wiggled one leg, digging his toes into the ground as he continued to stare at it.  "'Cause then, well, you get found there.  I already got people looking for me, I don't wanna make it even easier for 'em..."  He giggled nervously.  "Only reason I'm still running is 'cause I'm smarter than them.  Plus I can fit in the ducts."

"…I ain’t gonna drag you off to get put somewhere but take it from me, it’s easier when you don’t gotta hide.  Because you got a place."  He thought back to Meylan taking in a scared teen when he didn’t have to do it.  When it would be easier to walk away.

"It’ll be good.  Promise."

[thespeckrp]

Okay.  I... guess I'll just wait here then.  You can probably track this signal to find me, right?

U-um, hey, Jesi? Do you still live in the same place...?

Speck! I’ve been worried about you, holy shit! Yes, I do, and yes you may come over. I’m gunna start making cookies and shit right now, love.

[thespeckrp]

Um, it should probably be okay.  I think most of the paths to your place are pretty bright and crowded, so I'm probably not gonna get jumped on the way there...

U-um, hey, Jesi? Do you still live in the same place...?

Speck! I’ve been worried about you, holy shit! Yes, I do, and yes you may come over. I’m gunna start making cookies and shit right now, love.

[thespeckrp]

The tadpole smiled in return.  "Th-that would be great.  Thanks a whole bunch.  Most of the time people aren't this nice..."  Then he broke eye contact, staring instead down at his all but worn through shoes.  "But... I dunno if getting C-Sec involved is a really good idea.  I-I mean, if things get messy it's easier to hide if it's just me... and I know the ducts pretty well now."

"Well, they don’t got cake but they got a lotta other things.  Meal things.  Tell you what, can spend up to like twenty five and take some extra, kay?"  He smiled faintly.  "…And I can get C-Sec to get you somewhere safe if you wanna…"  At least certain people in C-Sec.

[thespeckrp]

Good, 'cause I fell getting out of a duct today and hurt my leg a little bit and now I got people looking at me like easy prey.  I just wanna go inside...

U-um, hey, Jesi? Do you still live in the same place...?

Speck! I’ve been worried about you, holy shit! Yes, I do, and yes you may come over. I’m gunna start making cookies and shit right now, love.

[thespeckrp]

"Just about anything is good..." Speck mumbled.  He shifted slightly, hugging his toy, suddenly finding himself a bit shy.  "I want cake, 'cept it's not good to just eat cake so I shouldn't eat cake.  People say it's not good if you just eat cake an' nothing else.  Even if it's good cake.  So maybe something that isn't cake."

"Course I’m sure!  Ain’t gonna leave a kid to starve… You’re gonna get food.  Don’t worry."  He stood up, showing his credit chit to prove he had intentions of using it.  "So what do you wanna eat?  Or you not picky?  Know a lotta kids ain’t the pickiest about this."

[thespeckrp]

The tiny salarian did his best not to let all his relief show on his face, but he couldn't hide all of it.  Good.  This hadn't been a waste of time after all.  "R-really?" he asked, a hopeful smile coming onto his lips, praying this wasn't all a joke and he wasn't about to be crushed and hungry.  "Thanks a bunch.  I-I mean, y'know, if you're sure..."  He didn't want to embarrass himself if this was all some sort of cruel joke.

Tavi sighed and finally sat up, grabbing up his fries again.  ”Tell you what kid.  Can take you over to that stall, y’know, the one that serves levo?  They’ve probably got some stuff you can eat, can get whatever you want.  I ain’t gonna leave a kid to starve or something.”

He wasn’t a kid person, but he knew damn well he needed to protect one on the street where he could.

[thespeckrp]

Speck nodded.  "Y-yeah.  Nobody threw anything edible out I could find yesterday.  And nobody's giving jobs, either."  His face was a bit green - he hated begging more than anything, but he couldn't be a thief every day, and he hadn't found an odd job to do in weeks.  Normally he'd earn what few credits he could and spend them to eat, but what little he'd saved up he'd spent repairing his stun gun - it wasn't cheap, but he couldn't survive on the streets without it.

Tavi rolled onto his side, chewing still.  Enough that he could fully face the kid without having to actually go through the effort of sitting up.  ”Got a few… you lookin’ for food kid?”

He set the fries aside - he’d offer some to him but they were actually dextro for once and he knew better than to risk giving that to some kid who’s tolerance he didn’t know.

[thespeckrp]

The turian caught Speck's eye, and for a moment the tadpole wondered if it would be worth trying to pick his pockets.  But he didn't look like he had much in the way of credits, really, and it wasn't worth the potential backlash - or C-Sec troubles - of stealing someone's credit chit and finding it was almost empty.  But maybe if he asked nicely, as embarrassing as it was, he might get something.  He hadn't eaten since the day before yesterday, so it had to be worth a shot.

So he hopped off the planter and approached the bench, hugging Poof tightly as he stared at the turian.  "Um... 'scuse me," he mumbled.  "You got any spare credits?"

Tavi found himself a bench to flop on, a bag of fries in his hand.  He laid down, popping one into his mouth and chewing slowly.  He likely shouldn’t have been taking up the entire bench, but he was tired and hungry and he’d get up when that situation actually changed.  

He laid his head to one side to watch the crowd and his mandibles twitched when he spotted the kid.  No parents around.