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[Catherine takes a drag on her cigarette and blows the smoke upward.] I don't have a potato on hand, but I can point you in the direction of a supermarket.

Ooh... but I don't have any coins, miss, mrs lady. Ma'am. [ No idea how to politely address a lady so he's throwing it all in. ]

[That's definitely not the local Gotham accent. She's more inclined to be helpful, when it's someone new who doesn't know the city. This place will chew you up and spit you out even if you're careful.]

[Catherine smiles in a friendly way.] You can call me Cat, sir. And... I suppose I need to do some shopping of my own. If you want to come along, I could buy you a potato.

[And if he decides to be a creep, Catherine is pretty sure she can handle him.]

[ Despite looking and acting pretty strange, it could easily be read as creepy, he's completely harmless. The Swede's like a child and he's definitely all kinds of lost here, without his crewmates, and he's probably pretty hungry if he's feeling brave enough to ask for a potato. He's never been on his own before, he always just trails after his crewmates and he's probably starving because no one's checking if he's eating like this. ]

R... really? You will pay for my potato? [ He starts to follow her around, all smiles. Like several others on the crew he has bad social skills but he at least knows how to smile and say thank you. ]

[To Cat, "creep" means "someone who will grab my ass" (and other related actions). She doesn't usually judge on how people look. But a woman in the big city has to be careful.]

Sure. It's my turn to buy groceries for me and my roommates this week. A couple extra potatoes won't strain the budget.

[She leads the way to the supermarket, which is in a shopping center about a block away from where they started. It's a pretty large building, but the parking lot is honestly too small for the amount of customers it serves. And Gotham drivers are very impatient.]

The way you talk... doesn't sound like you're from around here. Where do you come from, if you don't mind my asking?

Oh... nooo? But potatoes are very expensive, miss lady Cat. [ The Swede wouldn't ever think of doing something like that. He's so shy he can't even look anywhere but at his feet when he has to introduce himself. ]

[ He fidgets, shuffling after her. ] I am Swedish... that is why everyone calls me the Swede, because I come from Sweden. [ The smile returns. He's so happy he's going to have a potato-filled belly soon! ]

Edited 2022-07-26 19:43 (UTC)

Man, now I wish I had a potato.

Would you like to share my potato, that I do not have?

Yeah, I would like to share your theoretical potato which you do not have, but you keep it. I need to find a place that sells them around here.

Don't worry about it. I remember what it's like to go hungry, and I wouldn't want that to happen to you.

[She glances over at him.] Do you want me to call you "the Swede"? Or is there another name you like better?

[Cat leads the way into the supermarket, walking through the sliding doors and picking up a basket. She looks to make sure that the Swede is still following her.]

[It's a pretty standard 1980s era American supermarket -- the sort of thing Cat's expecting to see, but probably pretty strange to the eyes of someone not used to it. All fluorescent lighting and polished linoleum floors, shelves and shelves of boxed items...]

Thank youu. [ He's much more grateful than he can show, if he really wanted to express his happiness he'd have to sing but he knows he'll get in trouble if he starts singing around these fancy people. Instead, he thinks about the name thing. ]

Ooh! I would like to have a name. Can you please give me a name please? [ He's still following, though getting very distracted by all the things he couldn't have come up with in a million years. ]

What is... everything?

Oh... maybe there is a potato farm! [ Then, he realizes what is talking to him. Time to 'hide'. ]

Please don't eat me Mr. Demon... pleaseee.

Yeah, maybe. I am sure a farmer would have some for sale. I have-

[He was going going to say “some money” but he gets interrupted by the poor stranger losing it. Well, that hasn’t happened for awhile.]

What? No. I’m not some cannibal. I’m not even a demon, I am just a guy who has trouble breathing.

[And was burned alive…..and has magically enhanced bursts of super speed but the reason for the respirator was damaged lungs and that seemed to be the main cause of distress.]

[Being asked to give a grown man a name is a little odd, but Cat rationalizes it -- he must not want to give his real name, for whatever reason. She doesn't want to just call him "The Swede" either.] Hmm... my dad's name is Pete. How do you feel about being called "Peter"?

[She turns around at his question, and sees that he's looking pretty overwhelmed.] You're not from the city, are you? We don't have any places to grow our own food, so we get it all packaged up and shipped from other places. But the produce section should have things you recognize.

[Cat reaches out, a little cautiously, and pats the Swede on the shoulder in a comforting gesture.]

But... there is already a Pete... [ But he's not here right now. And there's no Peter. Could he really be called Peter? Wouldn't that make Pete angry? But he'd sure love to be called Peter. Strange as it is, he genuinely doesn't have a name. ] Is my name Peter now? But I am not your father and I am not Pete. Yes... I am Peter. [ The joy and confusion are already rampant but he sure is a little overwhelmed by his surroundings so maybe the confusion cancels out the fear he originally felt. ]

...... ...oh... will there be potatoes? [ He can't resist any longer and happily grabs a colorful can of soda. Shake, shake. ]

But this has water in it. Ooh. I may have this, please?

I know you're not my father, [Cat says with a smile,] but "Peter" is the first name I thought of, because of him.

[She definitely know that what he has in his hand isn't water, but... warning him about it won't be as impactful as letting whatever happens happen.] There will be potatoes. But that's not water, that's soda.

Ooh... not water. Soda? [ He'll put it back and smile shyly at her. ] I like... I like to be Peter.

[ Though he's very confused and lost, maybe it's not so bad now he gets to follow miss Cat around, she'll know what to do now his crew and Captain aren't around anymore.

He does very badly by himself so he definitely lucked out by running into someone so kind, who doesn't judge him by his grubby appearance, strange mannerisms and funny teeth too much. ]

[Cat will carefully push that shaken soda can to the back of the display, before walking away toward the produce aisle.] I'm glad. I feel better calling people by proper names, Peter. I spent a long time being "hey, girl" to most folks, and it was awful.

[She gives him a friendly pat on the arm and after passing a few aisles they come to the section where fresh vegetables are displayed.] Go ahead and pick out what you want, okay?

[Cat lived on the streets for a while, so she doesn't judge on things like grubby appearance, strange mannerisms, or funny teeth. She knows that life can be rough when you're not what other people consider "normal".]

Y... yes... I would like a potato please. [ He instantly locates the potato, picking one up and holding it out to her. Of course he's very hungry but he's too shy to ask for anything else. Being called Peter does seem to make him feel a little bit more confident, after all, if he has a real name he's much more like a real person! ]

Miss Cat, you are soo nice to me. I will never misbehave again, I will share everything and I won't do anything bad, ever again. [ This inspired him lots, not that he's.. really all that bad, by pirate standards or not, but- ]

[Cat accepts the potato and puts it in her shopping basket. She's already planning to purchase a few other things for Peter, so he doesn't have to ask. If she knew about his thoughts of not being quite like a 'real person', she'd be sad for him. He brings out her protective instincts.]

[She chuckles at his promise.] I think everyone misbehaves a little, Peter.

This grocery store has a bakery in it, too. If you're hungry now, I could buy you some bread to eat while we shop. [So it may be a tactic stolen from a friend of hers who has small children, "distract with food", but Cat figures it's a good idea for someone who couldn't buy his own food either.]

Y... yes... everyone? But not you, r...right Miss Cat? [ He can't imagine someone so nice to him would ever misbehave. She even gave him a real name. What can be more nicer than that? ]

Ooh... I love bread! Please! [ The Swede can't believe his luck, bread is a pretty fancy food for him and they usually just get hard tack, which isn't half as tasty. He follows her around, eyes tearing up a little bit... just because just getting food is a little overwhelming for him. Because he misses a few teeth, he can't eat hard bread but soft bread will be perfect. ]

Well... back when I was "hey, girl" I could be pretty bad. But I learned to be better.

[Cat smiles at his excitement. She remembers being that excited over good food, after going hungry for a while. And it makes her happy to 'pay it forward' and help someone else.] Of course!

[She leads the way to the bakery counter and asks the salesclerk what kind of bread is available. A few options are presented -- white bread roll, wheat bread roll, kaiser roll.] Here, Peter. Pick whatever you want.

[ He thinks she must've always been nice! Giving him some fresh bread like that. White bread was impossible to come by, he- he never had it... but it looks so tasty, he can't help but point at it. ] ...this one pleaseee... [ He feels guilty, as though he is getting spoiled without having to do any work for it but this is his only chance to have a nice full belly. ]

A... are you my Captain now, Miss Cat? [ He'd like to vote Miss Cat for Captain! ]

[Cat purchases the white bread roll. The clerk places it in a paper bag, and Cat passes the bag to Peter.] There you go. That should tide you over til we get home and I can cook your potato.

[She thinks over that question while consulting her shopping list, and hums thoughtfully.] I don't know, Peter. What does a Captain do?

[ He instantly takes out the bread roll and starts to messily eat it. No table manners and then the missing teeth don't help but he's very very happy. ] Mmmm!!

Ooh... it's sooo good! Tastes like cake. I think Peter likes... likes white bread.

[ Yes, white bread is Peter's thing. He thinks hard. The Captain? ] The Captain tells everyone what to do... and... he has a ship... [ Though he sailed under a few Captains, it's hard to explain what else he actually does. ]

Can I come home as well? [ He knows Miss Cat's isn't going to want a smelly pirate on her nice things b-but... but he can stand in the kitchen until the potato is done. ]

Edited 2022-08-04 15:34 (UTC)

[Cat gets a paper towel from the clerk, and she'll pass it over for Peter to wipe his mouth with when he's done eating.] I don't have a ship, though. So I don't think I can be a captain.

You can come home with me if you like. I guess you don't have anywhere else to go? We've got a pull-out couch, and you can sleep there.

[ P... Peter, it's still so new to have a name, wipes his mouth and thinks about that. No ship? Oh... but... but she does have a house and a couch... a couch, for him? He blushes. ] Oooh, I can just go on the floor! I... I don't need a fancy couch, someone else is going to need- need that... [ Of course he's scared to meet the other people she lives with. He's very shy. ]

I... I hope they don't tease me...

[Well, it's an apartment that she shares with two other people, but the point stands.] If you're more comfortable on the floor, then you can sleep there. But there probably won't be anyone else to use the couch tonight.

Dina might run her mouth, but she's harmless. And Theo is a nice guy. It'll be fine.

[Cat finishes up the shopping, and guides Peter to wait for her on the other side of the checkout stands. After paying for the rest of the purchases, Cat walks over with both arms full of the two large paper sacks with her groceries.]

[ Peter instantly tries to take a bag from her to help her hold it, but really he's protective of his potato. W... what else is all in there? He follows her around, hugging the bag. ] I.. I hope they are my friends as well. [ He's always happy to be included and sweet but there's no helping the bad impression he'll always make at first... at- at least he's not scary looking like a lot of pirates but he does look a little creepy and comes off more insane than he actually is. He's just a dummy, he's not all that crazy. ]

[Congratulations, Peter. You have indeed picked the bag with your potato in it. You're probably able to see it if you peek into the bag.]

I'm sure they will be. And if they're mean to you, I'll kick them in the shins.

[She's joking about that. Maybe. All bets are off if someone makes him cry.]

Oh... I found the potato! It's a great one... isn't it? [ He's so happy but knpws better than to take it out and lose it. Peter shuffles after her, giving her a shy, toothy smile. Meeting new people is always scary but at least he has a name now. ]

T.. they are probably going to tease me... [ He's warning her because he's never not been teased by his fellow pirates. He always gets talked into being the target for all sorts of dangerous games and he gets tripped a lot too... and when they got marooned he was almost eaten so his fear is a little bit justified. ]

Edited 2022-08-07 17:59 (UTC)

You did choose a very good potato, [Cat says agreeably.]

[She's not sure how else to address Peter's worries about being teased by her roommates. Really, the only thing for it is to introduce them and hope it goes well. Instead, to take up time on the walk back to her apartment, Cat says,] Sweden is pretty far away from here. Have you been to other places?

Oh... yes.... I have been all around The Spanish Main... t... the Caribbeans. It is much warmer than Sweden, Miss Cat. [ Peter will try to be brave about it. After all, every ship he sailed on also had new people to meet. He kept on shuffling after her, clearly feeling much safer now he had someone to follow again. The place he's actually from probably explains how very tan he is! When he left Sweden he was pale. ]

That sounds lovely. I've only ever lived in Gotham... well, and Port Norris, when I was small. But Port Norris is just across the river, so I've never gone far. Certainly not to the Caribbean!