Convenience stores were yet another gem of this vacation that he'd set off on. It wasn't that Artie had never been in one — he had, it was just a rare thing that he ever got to go to one alone, and without people giving him a look. Usually, he was accompanied by his school friends, or the family butler, or someone who could direct him properly without him getting wrapped up in chatting to someone on the side. Plus, back in Circhester, there had hardly been a reason to get them, since most packages were sent directly to the palace, and anything that wasn't... well, mother was sure to find someone who would.

[break][break] There were only two things that one could not get - or rather, Artie didn't really like asking for. The first, of course, was smokes and the second was a Monster energy drink. The latter, he'd never tried. The former... well, he wasn't supposed to have tried. 

[break][break] Artie was just ringing up his purchases, accompanied by no one other than Rue who sat on his neck peacefully, when there was a flash of movement as someone left the line. The blond smiled blithely at the cashier as she placed his things in a baggie, and then glanced behind him. Huh. That face looked familiar. 

[break][break] Without paying, the boy stepped off the line and found himself walking over to Lulu Flint , attempting to grab her elbow. "Hey — do I know —" When he got a close look, however, he beamed. 

[break][break] "Sha-sha! What are you doing here?"

[break][break]

+

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To be honest, it was sheer luck at all that Artie remembered her. Frankly, he rarely spent much time in his own head thinking of anyone other than himself, so names usually were lost on him. Especially when those names were attached to relatively unimportant people - you couldn't really blame him for forgetting.

[break][break] That being said, it wasn't like he could forget Lulu Flint . They were cousins! And while he may not have remembered a certain, other blond if he saw them, he and Sha-sha had been close enough in age that they'd been subjected to the same torture of private school together. Or probably more accurate, Sha-sha had been subjected to the torture of having the Circhester prince attend the same school that she did, once upon a time.

[break][break] She avoided his question, which was unsurprising, so he did the same. He lifted the plastic bag with his purchased goods up in the air for her to see. "Oh, you know, just shopping - wait." He gave a small, horrified gasp. Did she just say hair dye? Artie stepped forward, grabbing her arms. "Did you just say hair dye?"

[break][break]

+

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She swatted at him, and he let her go. He had no wish to be assaulted, especially not by her. Sha-sha was smaller, but she could probably have beat him up if she wanted to.

[break][break] He gave a loud, dramatic sigh. "But Sha-sha," he whined. "Why hair-dye? Out of a box?" He was aghast.

[break][break] "How could you do this? To me? Our family?"

[break][break] Artie acted like she'd stolen his Rookidee and roasted it alive. Though, honestly, given his mentality towards store-bought hair dyes... she might as well have.

[break][break]

+

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Completely ignorant to the personal plights of Lulu Flint , the Circhester heir merely stared back at her, his eyes a perfect, crystal-clear cerulean blue.

[break][break] To be perfectly honest, Artie didn't know much about her. They had grow up together, sure, but they had always been in relatively separate circles. When she all but disappeared from his life - their lives in Circhester - it could even be said that Artie barely noticed her disappearance.

[break][break] Rather than respond to his claims, however, she headed for the door. Artie blinked, and then followed her, walking cheerfully next to her with a bit of a hop in her step. "That sounds great!" Though, he paused. "I can help with that." In his other hand, he lifted the plastic baggie, which contained the items he had purchased before. "Though - " He paused. "You're not gonna pay for that right?" He pressed, pointing to the box of hair-dye in her grip.

[break][break] "C'mon, sha-sha, " he whined. "Let me treat you! I know a really good salon." He pressed. "It'll be free." Well, for her anyway.

[break][break]

+

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She could be so stubborn sometimes.

[break][break] Artie sighed, unable to do anything as she walked to the register - which was fortunately clear now - and she made her purchase. The Circhester prince didn't even have time to intervene and help her with the purchase! Though, perhaps, that was likely the way Lulu Flint had wanted it.

[break][break] Humming under his breath, the boy followed his cousin outside of the store just in time to see her lighting a cigarettes. Puffs of smoke were released into the cold city air, and he stepped beside her, reaching into his own plastic bag. He lit his own, and settled beside her. It was one of the few moments that Artie would be quiet -- unfortunately, it didn't last for long.

[break][break] "You're missing out, you know," he chirped. "I offered something nice and you turned me down." He glanced at her, blue eyes shimmering beneath the half-light of the convenience store.

+

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I’m not a salon kind of person.”

[break][break] Artie rolled his eyes. "That's only 'cause you've never been to one." He paused. Well, maybe she had. He wasn't totally sure. "Plus, I can always get you into a private one." His eyes twinkled. "I know a guy."

[break][break] Even though they were outside of Galar, the family's influence surely extended well beyond the means of the region. Especially when it came to the likes of appearance, which Artie was fortunately fluent in.

[break][break] He took another drag, and then blinked when she mentioned his responsibilities. Someone else might have scowled at the reminder of all the responsibilities he was avoiding. However, when Artie turned to her, his smile was blithe. "Could say the same to you too, you know." Even though she may not have had quite the same leverage he did, they were family for a reason. He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know — you know me, nothing can keep me down. I needed a vacation, I needed — " He gestured, and then let his arms fall flat at his side. He let out a laugh. "You're not gonna tell on me, are you?"

+ Lulu Flint

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"Well, then you must not have been to a good one," he rebutted, pouting, but then letting out a laugh as he puffed smoke into the air. "Have it your way," he said finally, relenting. He couldn't force her to do anything she didn't want to do — he'd learned that the hard way, back when they'd been kids. "But if you ever change your mind..." He let his voice hang in the air, just like that, though he doubted she would ever take the bite.

[break][break] With it finished, Artie threw the cigarette to the ground and crushed it beneath his shoe. It was a bit ironic, his fancy italian shoes crushing a cigarette that he'd bought out of a convenience store of all things. How would mother have looked at him then?

[break][break] "Can't argue with you," he said, glancing at her. Sha-sha had never really fit in — not like him, who had always shined with all the attention. They were different, but at least for that, he could agree. Their family sucked, never let him do what he wanted, so he'd had to go.

[break][break] He grinned at her, and then tried to swing his arms around her in a loving hug. "That's why I like you best, sha-sha," he said, in a bit of a sing-song, as if he hadn't forgotten her entire existence until mere moments ago.

+ Lulu Flint

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