Riu felt his leg being untangled and braced himself for the woman's wrath. He saw her stooping to collect the coins he'd let sprawl about--no doubt cultivating her rage as she did so. Any second now... Any second now...<br/><br/>...?<br/><br/>She wasn't yelling. She wasn't hitting him either. What was-- The boy felt a hand grasp his shoulder, and his whole body tensed up. ...But there was still nothing? Dumbfounded, the boy pulled himself into a sitting position and examined her. He saw the coins she was holding out, but couldn't move.<br/><br/>"Are those... for me?" he said quietly.<span style="font-style: italic">Why? I didn't do anything to earn them. ...It's pity, right?</span>He stared longingly at the shiny things that could keep him alive. He wanted to take them, but something stopped him. The lady offering the coins to him seemed much brighter than the coins did.<br/><br/>He shook his head and grasped the skirt of her dress in a pleading fashion. "I don't want them," he said. "I want to earn it! Do you know someplace that will let me work? I've been trying all morning, but nobody would take me. Please--I'll work hard! I can read and write, I can do math, I can even do physical work if that's what you need!" Damn his young body; he was crying again.<br/><br/>Slowly, head down, he released her robes. "I want to work," he said. "I have to be able to take care of myself."