Lost

Chapter 17

She runs up to them, "I've talked to the Pizza's Blue Lace Agate and the Fryman's. We're all set to get the snacks. I've paid in advance for Steven's favorite of each."

"Thanks Connie, I'll pay you back later." Greg smiles.

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They take Steven along the boardwalk to his favorite food joints. The three of them enjoy some pizza with all the toppings. While they enjoy their meal Kofi and Bixbite take a few moments to sit with them, and talk to and pet Steven. They wish Kiki and Jenny were around, they were close with Steven, but Jenny is out getting supplies to make her "Jackets for phones" and Kiki is out doing deliveries. At Spacetries Blue Lace feeds him his favorite flavor cupcake and pets him. She's being gentle, for her, which means squishing and mushing his face around as she pets him. That's what makes her so good at kneading dough, and he seems to really enjoy the, somewhat rough, affection. Leaving Spacetries they head to Fryman's for one more snack. Peedee meets them outside with a small paper tray full of Steven's favorite Fry Bits. He happily munches away as he gets more attention. Connie is startled as loud yelling can be heard coming from the fry shop. She peeks in the window and sees Ronaldo, phone in hand arguing with his dad. Something about wanting a picture of Steven for his blog. Worried the noise may have set him off, Connie glances at Steven, catching Peedee's eyes. So that's why Peedee met them outside. Steven doesn't seem to notice or care as he happily finishes his fry bits, so she smiles gratefully at Peedee and gives him a thumbs up. Pleased with himself Peedee goes back to work after giving Steven one last hug.

They meet Amethyst at the arcade to trade off shifts. It's her turn to show Steven some of his favorite games, and afterwards she plans to take him around Funland. Connie and Greg only make it a few yards away when they hear more yelling. They turn to see Mr Smiley chasing the two out of the arcade.

"Don't even think about stepping foot in here again until you've paid for the damages from last time!"

Amethyst can be heard cackling as she and Steven run off. Greg sighs and pulls out his checkbook to pay for whatever mischief Amethyst and Steven got up to.

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He runs out of the arcade after Amethyst. The big smiling man chased after them a little ways, yelling. He must be mad that he won that game so hard it broke last time he was here. Oh well, he's not bothered. Something in him says this has happened before and it'll be okay in the end. He happily runs alongside Amethyst, picking up the pace when he notices they're headed right for Funland. He loved watching people have fun last time, he knows he'll love it again. They pause once they pass the entrance, Amethyst clearly thinking about what to do first.

She snaps her fingers, "Oh I know just the game to start with!"

He follows as she leads him to a stall with a table full of bottles and decorated with various sized green beings with big heads and eyes. They remind him of Peridot. As Amethyst starts throwing rings at the bottles a sound catches his attention. He turns, trying to find the source. It's quiet, but high pitched and raises and lowers in volume at irregular intervals. Distracted from Amethyst's game he begins to slowly follow the noise. His ears twitch as he turns his head, trying to pinpoint the direction to go. The sound is slightly louder to his right, further into Funland. As he walks, turning on occasion, the sound becomes clearer. It's a high pitched wailing intermittently interrupted but a small gasping sound. Turning one more corner, well out of the eyesight of Amethyst by this point, he finally sees the source of the sound. A tiny human girl.

She's sitting on one of the benches scattered around the area, curled up in a ball and crying. As he walks up to her he notices she has a small scrape on her knee.