The Wallet: Fanfiction“EEEEEEEEE!!!!” exclaimed Stimpy as he pressed his face against the glass window. His eyes bulged with delight as he stared at what lay behind the transparent barrier. “Steempy, what’s up with you? We’re going home remember?” inquired Ren Höek as he ambled over to Stimpy’s side. He waved his hand in front of Stimpy in an attempt to capture his attention. “Looooooooooooookkkkkkk!!!!” the cat chirped, pointing his finger to the object he had his eyes on. Ren’s eyes followed the finger’s direction before landing on a plush brown mouse that stood proudly amongst the crowd around it. “That mouse? But Steempy, you already have dozens of catnip mice,” Ren said as he turned away from the toy store. “But, Ren! Don’t you see? I must have it! It’s so fluffy and cute and other adjatives!” Stimpy replied before resuming his gawking. “Awhhhh no, not this time!”snapped Ren, his face reddening.”You have plenty of mice at home. This one ain’t so special. ‘Sides, it’s 30 fucking dollars! Who in their right mind would pay that much for a toy? It doesn’t even talk or light up or anything!” “Please, Ren! I’ve never wanted anything as much as this! Please please pretty please with coconut shreddings and bacon strips and gumdrops on top?!” pleaded Stimpy as he kneeled to meet Ren’s gaze. “The answer is no, you twit! We’re already having problems paying bills and buying food! We don’t need to spend any money on some stupid rodent!” Ren retorted as he pointed at the rags both of them were wearing. “But…But…” blubbered Stimpy in total disbelief. I do everything for Ren. Why can’t he get me a lil toy? “Let’s go, ya big blithering bag of sand,” groaned Ren as he grabbed hold of Stimpy’s left arm. Stimpy struggled against Ren’s grip, but it was no use. Ren could be surprisingly strong despite his short stature. He just didn’t like to show it often. Probably so Stimpy couldn’t nag him to do more chores around the house. They arrived home shortly after. Stimpy’s left arm was raw and sore from Ren squeezing it so tightly during their walk. He whimpered in pain, but Ren didn’t respond. Typical. Ren guided him to the living room sofa, which was frayed and torn in many places. Stimpy was made to sit in Ren’s lap, which was made even more awkward due to their size differences. Ren wrapped his arms around Stimpy’s midsection, anchoring him to the spot as he rocked back and forth. “Ren?” Stimpy shyly asked, his eyelashes fluttering. “Yes, my simpleton?” replied Ren, tightening his hold on the cat on his lap. “I still really want that toy…” Stimpy confessed, immediately flinching afterwards. “And I still really want more money, but that’s not how the world works. You see, us poor people are purposefully kept in this state so that we don’t get rich. No being rich, no being happy. It’s simple science, Stimpson,” Ren answered while patting Stimpy on the back. “Yeah, well. The world should change,” grumbled Stimpy, crossing his arms like a spoiled toddler. “If only, Stimpy. If only. Now, go get ready for bed and bring some snacks over from the cabinets. We’re eating junk food for dinner tonight,” ordered Ren, reaching to gently grasp Stimpy’s face. “Okay, Renny…” whispered Stimpy before he stood and retrieving a large bag of chips from the pantry. The Manx cat then traveled towards the bedroom, chips in hand. He sat on top of the downy blankets beneath him, the soft material putting his mind more at ease. If only there was one way I could get that toy, Stimpy thought to himself. The 5 cents I get every weekend from Ren would never be enough to buy the mousey… Unless… Stimpy’s eyes snaked over to the dresser. On top of it laid Ren’s wallet, which was crusty and old with age. He approached it, the floorboards creaking with every step he took. Do I dare? Stimpy went over his choices. To take or not to take, that was the question. If he took it, he would have his new toy. Sure, Ren would be mad, but he’d still have it. Ren usually never broke things that cost money. He had his limits. But if he didn’t take the wallet… well, he didn’t even want to think about that. Right then and there, the feline snagged the wallet from its resting place. He tucked it into his fur, which enveloped the wallet like a thick blanket. Suddenly, he heard the telltale sound of Ren’s footsteps outside the door. Trembling, the cat pulled the covers over himself and squeezed his eyes shut. “Awwwww, sleeping like a lamb,” Ren cooed as he walked over to the bed. Before Stimpy knew it, he was enveloped in Ren’s embrace. Ren’s fur felt even more sweltering than ever, and Stimpy cringed as the Chihuahua’s hot breath lingered on his face. “I love you, Stimp. Tomorrow awaits us both. Until then, sleep tight,” Ren whispered while simultaneously stroking Stimpy’s soft fur. He planted a wet kiss on Stimpy’s cheek before he closed his eyes, strengthening his hold on his lover. Stimpy felt sick to his stomach, and not just from the putrid smell of the dog hugging him. The guilt clawed at his chest like a ferocious beast, ready to devour him whole. Just to be safe, he gently tapped Ren’s forehead. No response. It’s now or never. Stimpy wriggled himself out of Ren’s arms, sweat pouring down his trembling body. He tiptoed out of the room, careful not to press his feet to deep on the floorboards beneath. Before he knew it, he was at the front door. He looked behind him, fearing that Ren was somehow watching him. Seeing no one there, he grabbed hold of the brass doorknob and stepped outside. The gentle breeze whispered to him, beckoning him to wander further from his residence. He chose to listen to this conscience. He took this time to look around the almost-empty streets. He had never before noticed how… bleak it looked. Rubbish overran every corner, its presence creating a foul odor that was impossible to mask. A thick blanket of smoke smothered the sky, a result from the constant output of factories and machinery nearby. Stimpy couldn’t help but cough as the smoke entered his nostrils without his consent. Just then, he found it. The toy store shone like a beacon, its bright colors sticking out amongst the gray and black that the town had to offer. Stimpy’s mouth drooled with excitement, a child-like grin etched upon his face. He ran into the store hurriedly, not wanting to waste any time. Thankfully for him, the plush mouse was still available, its soft fur awaiting his touch. Stimpy rushed to the counter, where his gaze fell upon a balding old man. “Dahhhhh, I’d like to take this liddle mouse to frolick with and play with until I can no longer roam!” Stimpy said, the mouse held up to his chest. “Okay, that’d be… let’s see now… 30 dollars,” grumbled the old man, his eyelids heavy with exhaustion. “Ooh! Gimme one sec!” Stimpy chirped. He reached down into his fur and retrieved the wallet burrowed inside. He pulled out a handful of dollar bills from inside the wallet and then placed them on the countertop. “They’re all yours, now, Take care of em,” said the man, a small smile on his face as he watched Stimpy raise the mouse high above his head with glee. “Bye, sir!” Stimpy beamed before exiting the store with his loot. As he made his way to the house with the mouse in hand, he couldn’t help but feel a tad wary about how Ren would react to the whole thing. But that was later and this was now. “STEEMPY!!!!” Stimpy snapped back to reality in a flash, his eyes wide in horror. There was Ren, his teeth barred and his hands clenched into fists. He stood out in the front yard, looking as if he would maul Stimpy right then and there. “What in the ever loving FUCK are you doing out of bed?! It’s way past curfew!” snapped Ren, pointing to his handheld watch. “I was… just uh… nothing,” Stimpy mumbled, taking care to hide his new toy behind his back. “You… wait a goddamn minute. What do you have behind your back?” Ren interrogated, stomping closer to Stimpy’s shivering frame. “It’s nothing! Really! I just feel like putting my hands behind my back, haha,” Stimpy whined. Ren pulled Stimpy towards him, forcing his hands into his own. “Why do you have that mouse?! You little THIEF!!! You think you could just run off to that kiddie store and steal it! Not on my watch, bucko!” Ren yelled. “Um, I didn’t actually steal it, Ren. I… uh… bought it…” Stimpy confessed, his face reddened with shame. “YOU WHAT?! WITH MY MONEY?!” screeched Ren, his blood boiling with indescribable rage. “Yeah… I’m so sorry, Ren! Honest!” Stimpy began to sob, fresh tears dripping down from his eyes. “Oh you’ll be more than sorry once I’m done with you! Lemme show you what happens to kitties who don’t play by the rules,” Ren snarled, ripping the toy mouse from Stimpy’s arms. “Ren, what are you doing?” Stimpy dared to ask, his teeth chattering together rapidly. Ren didn’t answer. Instead, he brought the mouse closer and closer to his face. Then, without warning, he ripped his teeth into the mouse’s fur. He pulled with all his might, his face straining with the effort. “REN!!! STOP!!!!” Stimpy screamed. Ren paid no attention as he continued tearing the mouse to shreds. Pieces of fluff and fur fell onto the pavement, a gross reminder of how far Ren was taking this. “There! All gone!” Ren announced, a smug grin implanted on his wrinkled face. “No! How could you? I… I…” Stimpy wailed. He kneeled down to touch what remained of the mouse. “Must… put it… back together…” “Oh, no you don’t! Inside with you! You will pay for this, you ungrateful swine!” yelled Ren as he hoisted Stimpy over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “No. No. My… my mousey…” whispered Stimpy before the front door slammed shut, closing off his view of the outside world.The Right ReasonsFinnick’s tail swished against the deck as she put her front paws up on the side. Reaching for the edge of her line, she pulled it back up in her teeth, using a paw to guide it. The deck she threw her fish-filled net onto was bathed in sunlight. Squinting, she gazed up at the sails of the Razor Wind. Different ship; same job. Finnick was a white otter with black and grey markings, and, just a few short months ago, she was employed by the Slimy Oyster, a grimy fishing ship with a beaten down crew. They worked long hours and made very little. Finn had been sorting through the day’s catch when they arrived. There was a deafening boom, and the ship devolved to chaos. There were coworkers running to and fro, and pirates herding them into corners with swords and shouts. Finnick was knocked to the ground by one of her crew mates and looked up just in time to see one collapse as though he’d died instantly. In a desperate bid to get away from the fighting, Finnick had darted across the gang plank and into the only quiet place around - the empty other ship. There, she hid amongst their crates and sat frozen in fear for hours, When the boxes were eventually moved aside and she was discovered, they were nowhere near her original ship anymore. Just like that, whether she wanted it or not, the Razor Wind was her new home. The crew kept her in the brig for a short while before they eventually let her do odd jobs here and there. Swabbing the deck, cleaning the bunks. But, once they’d discovered she could fish, it became her full time job. Turned out, the Razor Wind had been raiding a fishing ship for a reason - none of her crew knew how to fish, at least not well enough to feed themselves. Finnick wouldn’t have said she <i>loved</i> her new job. It, so far, had mostly been fishing, which she was <i>good</i> at, but wasn’t precisely <i>fulfilled</i> by. She could tell her new crew mates didn’t think she was cut out for pirate life. And, to their credit, Finn didn’t exactly think she was cut out for it either. She wasn’t cut throat enough for plundering. She wasn’t confident enough for swindling. She was clumsy and panicked in the face of danger. Yet, something seemed to be keeping her on the Razor Wind all the same… There was a tap on Finnick’s shoulder and she turned to find Talisminn, their fearless captain, standing behind her. Finnick felt her fur stand on end. <i>“C-Captain!”</i> Aliss hadn’t been what Finnick had been expecting for captain of a cutthroat pirate ship. She was a little shark-wolf — with a velvety pink coat, gorgeous blue eyes, and thick, dark lashes. She had large, pointy ears that sat forward on her head, hooding her expressions, and a messy waterfall of bangs. She had a rough blue shark tail that swished behind her as she walked. “I want you to accompany Shen and Shrimpi in town today,” Aliss began, cooly, “if you’re going to be a part of my crew, then you need to learn how to offload our plunder.” <i>“Aye!-”</i> Finnick inhaled so quickly, she choked on her own spit. She shakily saluted as she lowered her head to cough. <i>“Aye-aye, Captain-”</i> She choked out. Aliss gestured with her nose towards the back of the ship. “They’re in the storage room gathering supplies. Why don’t you join them? Shrimpi will tell you the rest.” Finnick nodded weakly and padded off in the direction of the ship’s storage, her head hung low in embarrassment. By the time the Razor Wind had docked, the market was bustling. Children ran underfoot, vendors shouted - competing for the crowd’s attention - and carts hustled back and forth. “We like to come when the market is busiest!” Shrimpi continued to explain, looking back over her shoulder at Finn. She was a little pink shrimp cat with a long whiskers and a chitin tail. “It’s easiest to slip in and out unnoticed.” Finnick nodded nervously. “What are the Captain and her first mate up to…?” “Oh! Those two are usually off doing more important stuff. But, that’s okay! <i>We’re</i> doing the fun job!” Shrimpi said. Finnick glanced at Shen, Shrimpi’s fiancé. He was the ship’s navigator and very quiet. At least… he didn’t speak much to Finnick. His fur was blonde, yet he had bright blue jellyfish-like skin on his chest, ears, and fish tail. She caught his eye and he looked back at her with what Finnick could only interpret as polite disdain. Shrimpi stopped near the edge of the market and Shen threw down a crate, which both held their wares and they’d also use as a table. “For the next two hours, you, my friend, are Finnick - saleswoman extraordinaire!” Turned out, the “Saleswoman extraordinaire” was extraordinarily <i>bad</i> at offloading the plunder. Finnick didn’t know what to say or how to get people’s attention. “E-excuse me, sir?” The man kept walking. If he heard her, he gave no indication. “Ma’am, can I interest you in some of our wares…?” Finnick asked another passerby, holding up a metal contraption. The woman frowned. “What on Earth is that?” Finnick looked down at the metal in her paws. She actually had no idea. “Uhm! I!- Well?” Shrimpi bounded between them. <i>“This</i> little baby is one our high ticket items! You have a good eye, my friend!” She took the contraption from Finnick’s paws. “It’s a great multipurpose item from far foreign lands. It can help with gardening, cooking, cleaning - you name it!” Finn backed away from her mess, stumbling right back into Shen. He gave her a look. “…What??” Finnick asked. “I didn’t know what it was.” Shen flicked his ears back in annoyance. “Neither does she.” He hissed, his voice low. “You’re selling them a performance, Finnick - not a product.” Finnick watched Shrimpi regale a gathering crowd with all the amazing things that strange hunk of metal could do, her whole body seeming to tell the story. Shen shook his head. “Just get some more supplies from the crate, would you?” Padding over, she found a strange man inspecting the crate. Finn cleared her throat. “Can I interest you in some of our wares, sir?” “Perhaps…” He said. “A lot of these items aren’t from here. Do you and your friends travel much?” Finnick nodded. “Yessir. We just docked today. We won’t be in town long.” “I see…” Aliss and Flapjack had already returned by the time Finnick climbed back onto the boat. She was exhausted and felt hapless. Then, Aliss smiled at her and she stood up straighter. “How was her first day?” Aliss asked once they’d set sail. “Oh!” Shrimpi began, “it was!- Well…” Flapjack, the ship’s first mate, leaned around Aliss to look at the crate Shen dragged in. “Doesn’t look like you sold much.” “We were too busy saving Finnick’s sales to make much of our own.” Shen explained curtly. Finnick opened her mouth, looking for the words to defend herself. Then, the Razor Wind shook, knocking them all to the ground. “Pirates!” A familiar voice called, “You are under arrest by royal decree! Prepare to be boarded! Do not try to resist!” Finnick looked over the edge of the Razor Wind to find another ship fast approaching, and the strange man from the market on its bow. Their gangplank landed on the deck and members of the royal armada flooded onto the ship. Finnick turned to run, and saw Shrimpi bounding between attackers, causing them to hit each other as they tried to capture her. Shen slapped fighters with his tail, and the little stingers in his skin caused them to collapse. Flapjack fought off several attackers with a sword, with even his seagull, Mimi, pulling at the raiders fur and pecking their heads. A large man with a sword rushed towards Finnick and she bolted, weaving around barrels and fighters and crates. Then, her ankle tangled in her net, causing her to thump to the ground so hard she thought she may have cracked teeth. Finnick braced herself for the slash of steel, closing her eyes tight. And then… nothing. There was the sound of blades clashing and Finnick tentatively looked up. Aliss stood over her, holding a sword handle in her teeth and valiantly fighting off Finnick’s assailant. She stood close enough that Finnick could smell the salt in her fur and feel her heavy breathing. There was a steely determination in her eyes. Before Finnick knew it, the other crew was retreating back to their ship, the pirates herding them back in that direction. After they were gone, Flapjack, Shen, and Shrimpi celebrated with congratulations and shouts. Finn stood shakily. “We did it..!” She shouted half-heartedly. The three stopped cheering, giving Finnick a cold look. After a moment, they all turned away from her. Shrimpi gave a very weak smile and opened her mouth, clearly trying to say something - anything, really. But, after a moment she closed it again, shaking her head and walking off. Finnick pinned her ears back. She couldn’t take it. She clearly wasn’t meant to be a pirate anymore than she was meant for any of her other meaningless jobs and she was tired of feeling like a moron. They could take her back to shore or execute her or whatever it was they did with former crew mates. She was done. Finnick turned to go find the Captain, only to thump right into a velvety-furred chest. She stumbled back and Captain Aliss watched her quietly. “…Are you alright?" “C-captain!?-” “You snagged your leg pretty bad on that rope. Let me see it.” Taking Finn’s hind leg carefully in her paws, Aliss inspected her sore ankle. Finnick wondered if the Captain could feel the heat radiating off her fur. “It might be sore tomorrow.” They made eye contact; Finnick’s heart skipped several beats. “Are you okay?” “I-I’m fine.” It didn’t hurt anymore. …Had it ever? Finnick wasn’t entirely sure. “I’m sorry, Captain! For all the plunder I didn’t sell a-and you having to save me!” She looked away shamefully. “All of it…” Aliss shook her head. “We haven’t taught you any self-defense, or what to do in a raid, so this is really on us.” She gave Finn a slightly teasing look. “Especially considering how you ended up on the Razor Wind in the first place. We knew how you reacted to conflict.” Finn flicked her ears back and looked away in embarrassment. Aliss’ teasing smile faded. “Are you sure you want to be here? This isn’t for everyone.” Finnick watched Aliss quietly, trying to find the words. How did one tell a pirate you quit? How did one look into those blue eyes and <i>ever</i> tell her no? Eventually, Finn just nodded. “It’s not for everyone, but it is for me, Captain.” That something keeping her on the Razor Wind nodded. “Very well…” Finnick’s tail swished against the deck as she put her front paws up on the side. Reaching for the edge of her line, she pulled it back up in her teeth, using a paw to guide it. The deck she threw her fish-filled net onto was bathed in moonlight. Sighing, she gazed up at the moon. Fulfilling or not, it seemed fishing was the only thing Finnick was truly good at. Flapjack drifted up beside her just as she cast out again. “Lovely night,” he said. He put his front paws on the side of the ship, looking out over the dark waves. “Uhm… Yeah, I guess so.” Finnick mumbled. She couldn’t look at him. Whatever he had to say about the mess she’d made today, she just hoped it’d be quick. “You know, Finnick? I’ve known Aliss a long, <i>long</i> time. We grew up together, actually. Being a pirate was her first love. In some ways, I think it’s her <i>only</i> love.” Flapjack gave her a look and then sighed. “Have you ever done something you loved so much, you thought it was your calling?” Finnick had had countless jobs. She had hated all of them. “…I don’t really think I have a calling, sir.” Flapjack shook his head. “Ah, everyone is meant for <i>something.</i> Being a pirate requires dedication. We give up a lot to ride these waves and seek our adventures. It’s… not for everyone.” Flapjack put all four paws back on the deck, turning to look at her fully. “It’s a great sacrifice and you should make sure you’re making it for the right reasons.” He looked in the direction of the captain’s quarters before turning his attention back to Finnick. “Do you understand me?” Mimi swooped down, landing on his back. Finnick nodded. Flapjack turned away from her. “Think about it, okay?” He walked off, leaving Finn to her fishing, the only light on the deck coming from the window on the Captain’s Quarters’ door.trophy