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Merrick and Echo were shopping. It was a time of complete boredom for the child. He was definately not a merchant at heart, so the constant bargaining was painful to his ears. While Echo spoke with a silk tailor, the boy snuck away.

Now, everything had begun to be a game. Hide from Echo, be seen by the least number of people, and get in-an-out. He went into ta candy store, and walked away with some sweet popping candy. It literally sizzled in his mouth!

Next was a toy shop, and he had a small trinket in his pocket now.

A scent tickled his nose, and the boy went in that direction. He opened the door quietly, silently... so well that the bell above the door didn't even twinkle. Pleased with himself, Merrick hid behind a containment of.... he checked inside... oils! Scent oils... but they needed more. There were holders and candles as well. The boy reached in stealthily and pulled one out. Unstoppering the cork, he took a whiff... and it took all his effort not to sneeze. Quickly, he recovered the cap. The smell was strong, but it made him feel giddy. He had to have it!

Merrick stuck it into his sleeve.... and started to back away.

Oh no! Merrick jumped back, knocking over holders, the glass shattering on the ground. With the loud pop of the gum, he turned on his heel and bolted out the door.

His feet were a blur, and in no time, the boy was gone.

The door opened once again, and a very angry, and steaming Echo walked in. Merrick's shirt was twisted in her grasp as he was drug along, squeaking whenever his foot hit the wrong.

It hasn't taken long for Echo to realize Merrick was gone, and had searched for the boy. He had on him candy and a trinket.... and he smelled of something new, something familiar.... it had to be only one place that he had been -and undoubtebly stolen something there as well. On the way to the Scent shop, Echo had taken him to the candy and toy store. She had to pay for the candy, but the trinket was returned... and Merrick was made to be immensely embarrased in the process. He had to learn.

"Olivia?" Echo called out. She had remembered the woman's name from before - memory was one of her strong suits. The woman looked around, saw the glass shards and sent a very menacing scowl down in Merrick's direction.

The boy just looked down at his feet. So much for a fun day 'shopping'.

Great, he had time to squirm now.... Merrick tried to get out of Echo's grasp, but the woman was hardened from her time at sea, and no amount of wiggling child was going to get away from.

He wouldn't undignify himself by whimpering, but he was getting rather close, for those tough fingers were digging in to his skin. Merrick was debating if he should give up the vial he had taken.... after a moment he resolved not to do so. It didn't matter what Echo threw at him, he would not return it!

His mind made up, Merrick stopped struggling. He left his arm limp, as little resistance as possible to Echo. The boy stood up straight and look ahead. He would meet whatever was going to happen head-on.

Echo noticed the change and looked down at Merrick, "I'm not bailing you out of this one, Merrick."

The boy didn't know what that meant, but he nodded without bothering to look up at his caretaker.

The woman was torn between pride in how 'brave' Merrick was being... and doing her best to wipe that expression from his face. He needed to understand that stealing - and breaking things like he managed to do here - was not right.

Echo looked up at the woman's sound and smiled softly. It was an apologetic smile, and rather small to show her distate - yet determination in righteousness - for the situation. "Hello again. I am afraid my so- child," she had almost said son - where had that come from? - "stole something, and broke other things in the process."

The woman glared at the boy as he stared straight ahead, glassy-eyed.

"He's come back," Echo looked up and met Olivia's gaze, "to pay off his debt."

Merrick started and then turned a confused -and slightly horrified- look at his caretaker. He did not understand what that all meant, but it sounded bad.

Echo looked down at Merrick, but by that time he had already recovered and was looking ahead again. He wasn't going to say anything. She was just about to say that she did not know what kind of incense he had taken when the voice came from the back again. Her mouth didn't shut, though, for she couldn't believe that someone had just mentioned their panties -and lace ones! - to anyone else.

Merrick however broke out of his tough demeanor and snorted. He gave a stricken look at Echo, "But I thought you said I couldn't have lace undies! Why does he?" The boy looked to Olivia as well, as if he thought it wasn't fair that she let her 'child' have what he was told he couldn't.

Echo coughed, "Because -- hey! Don't change the subject!"

Echo nodded, the terms were fair and she was relieved that nothing more serious would come about from the sitatuion. And it was just like Merrick to grab one of the spendiest of the bunch... of course, he was going to be working the payment off, and it wasn't coming from her personal coffers - for once. "Would you like him to start tomorrow? Or in a little while."

Merrick was ready to protest... in fact, he would! "Now wait a minute, you cannot!!!! You're leaving for weeks soon, and I was supposed to go with you! You promised I could go with, and you never break your word."

The woman glared down at the boy, "I said you could come if you behaved, and stealing - which is breaking the law, I might add - is not being-haved. You will stay here while I am gone and work off the damages you made as well as the item you stole. Is that understood?"

Merrick looked into her eyes, but found no quarter. Finally, he dropped his eyes in submission, "Yes, ma'am."

Echo nodded, not particularly glad to have to chide him, and in public, but he couldn't get away with this. She looked up again, and then to where Ment was hiding in back, and then to Olivia. "I'm afraid I cannot do anything about hair," if it was chewing gum, she was pretty sure the 'damage' was either hacked ends or a sticky mess.