Scenario:J.J. - The Beat Of The Thug-Life
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The Beat Of The Thug-Life
J.J.'s wallet is stolen by a boy. Katalina tries to reprimand the boy, but J.J. pretends that he gave his wallet to the boy and lets him go free. Soon after, the boy is caught stealing the wallet of a ruffian, prompting J.J. to rush in and save him.
(Captain) and company stop into a nearby town for food and supplies.
The atmosphere in town seems strange. The party stays alert as they walk through the main street.
Hoodlum 1: ...
Hoodlum 2: ...
Vyrn: Hey, this place is kinda shady. Do you get the feeling we're being watched?
Lyria: Umm... Did we do something wrong?
Boy: Huh? Oh, sorry. I'm kind of in a hurry.
Katalina: Sigh... Hold it right there, young man.
Boy: What do you want? I said I was sorry! I have to be somewhere! Let me go!
Katalina: Look, if you want me to let you go, first you have to return what you stole from J.J..
Boy: What!
Boy: Say what? I-I don't know what you're talkin' about, lady.
Katalina: Young man, sometimes you've got to have the guts to admit when you've done something wrong.
Boy: Ugh!
Boy: Fine! I'll give it back if you want it that bad! Here!
The boy sticks his right hand into his inside pocket. But as he does, another hand suddenly moves to stop him.
J.J.: Yo! Yo! Hey, c'mon!
J.J.: No, boy. Don't be confused! We're all rich here. That's my gift to you!
J.J.: Don't need a reason, you can just take it! You don't want it? Then just leave it!
J.J.: Yo, boy! Check it out! You did good and went out and about!
Boy: Uh... (I don't get it. Does this mean I can leave?)
Boy: Well... You heard him, lady. I think I'll be going now!
Katalina: What was that just now, J.J.? What were you thinking?
J.J.: ...
Katalina: If you just let him go like that, it's not going to do him any good. You know that, don't you?
J.J.: ...
Katalina: Humph. Now you let the boy get away with it, he might try to steal an even bigger walle—
???: Aaah!
(Captain) and company hear a familiar scream and run over to help.
It seems that Katalina's fears have come true.
The boy seems to have been caught red-handed. They watch as he is grabbed by the arm and lifted into the air.
Ruffian: Hehe... You got some nerve, kid! You think you can steal my wallet?
Ruffian: You knew you'd get your arm cut off if you got caught, right?
Boy: Sniff, sniff... You're hurting me! Somebody help! Please!
Katalina: I knew this would happen. Even after seeing this, J.J., are you glad you let him take the wallet?
J.J.: ...
J.J. does not answer. He simply looks up at the sky in sorrow.
J.J.: Aww man...
With a sigh, J.J. runs over and enters the fray.
The Beat Of The Thug-Life: Scene 2
(Captain) and company save the boy, who then steals their wallets. Following the sound of the bell on J.J.'s wallet, they find the boy and discover that he has been working with the ruffian.
(Captain) and company rescue the boy from before when he is caught stealing a ruffian's wallet.
But the boy doesn't regret his actions, and he doesn't thank the crew for saving him. They suspect something may be on his mind.
Boy: ...
Vyrn: Hey! We just saved you and you're not even gonna thank us?
Boy: ...
Lyria: Umm... (Captain) and the crew save me all the time, but I make sure to say thank you every time.
Boy: ...
Katalina: Lyria, unfortunately, I think we should give up here. I don't think there's anything we can say to him.
Katalina: However, he must be punished for stealing. It may sound cruel, but we'll have to take him to the guards.
Vyrn: Hey! Where'd he go? And where are our wallets?
Katalina: What the—! We were barely done talking!
J.J.: Yeah, I know.
Katalina: You know? What do you know? This is all your fault, J.J.! If you hadn't—
J.J.: Yo! Yo! Don't speak! Wait, Katalina, just stop!
J.J.: Do you know who I am? I'm the hip-hop star, J.J.! Yeah!
J.J.: My wallet's singing, telling me where it's jingling. Everywhere, all the time ringing!
Katalina: Huh? What are you talking about?
J.J.: My wallet's got a bell. Wherever it goes, I can tell. I learned that trick from a pickpocket well! Yeah!
Vyrn: What? A bell? I don't hear anything.
J.J.: Don't question me, man, I'm a first rate musician. My sense of hearing is better than any technician!
Katalina: Wait, did you give him your wallet on purpose, J.J.?
J.J.: To that boy, we gotta hurry. Toward the sound of the bell, we'd better scurry! Let's head out!
Led by J.J., (Captain) and company hurry onward. They soon find themselves in front of a tavern.
Katalina: Humph... What a surprise. J.J. was right. You were all in on this!
Boy: It's you! And you brought everyone with you? How did you—
Ruffian: Damnit, kid! They must've followed you here!
J.J.: No, no! No one likes this chore! Working like this can be a bore! Got nothing but bad boys in store!
J.J.: In the end, they'll use you to wipe the floor. You'll be broke and have nothing to show it all for.
J.J.: They'll leave you with nothin', boy!
They'll leave you with nothin', boy!
They'll leave you with nothin', boy!
J.J.: Boy, you're cool! But you're also a fool! It's time to turn these bad guys to ash and sweep them into the trash!
Ruffian: What the hell are you on about? Time to shut you up!
The Beat Of The Thug-Life: Scene 3
The boy flees with the ruffians' wallets. (Captain) and company catch up with him and find out that he was trying to use the money to bring his parents back from the grave. J.J. tells the boy that he has to let them go.
Katalina: Phew... Looks like it's over. Now that boy can be free.
Katalina: Now then, young man. I hope you've learned your lesso—
Hey, where did he go?
Hey, where did he go?
Vyrn: Hey! The ruffians' wallets with all the money are gone!
Lyria: I can't believe it...
Katalina: Gah... So, now what, J.J.? You still think you can trust that boy?
J.J.: ...
???: Whatcha doin' there, man?
Boy: Eep!
Alarmed, the boy drops the shovel he was carrying. His face goes completely pale, but he refuses to look up.
J.J.: You can keep diggin'.
Boy: ...
J.J.: Don't worry. I'm not here to take the money back.
J.J.: You're just a kid, but you're so fixated on cash. And I wanna know why.
The boy starts digging again. J.J. continues to stare at him.
J.J.: Yo! Yo! Hey, c'mon boy!
J.J.: Something adults always used to say, Mom and Dad up in heaven will come down to play!
J.J.: Just a fable, but so cool to all! Soul recall! Time to play!
Boy: Ahh!
J.J.: Something adults always used to say, dig a grave late at night and start to make way. Drop some gold in for a year and let it decay.
J.J.: Pray some. Pray some more. Sing Hallelujah. But boy, you still gotta keep dropping that moolah.
J.J.: Yo! Check it out! Yeah! All right, boy? Thank you!
Boy: No way... How did you know?
Katalina: I see... So, you were after their money from the beginning?
Boy: Yeah.
Vyrn: Uh-huh... So you took advantage of us when you heard we were tough.
Boy: I'm sorry... I just... couldn't help it...
Katalina: Sigh... J.J. was right again.
Boy: But... it really is true.
Katalina: What? What is?
Boy: Hehe! It's just like they said! If I bury the gold here, they'll come back! My mom and dad will come back!
J.J.: Hey yo! You can't bring people back from the dead! No, no, goodbye!
J.J.: Reuniting with Mom and Pops! It might sound happy, but you gotta stop!
J.J.: Pops said to fight, yeah boy! Momma said to fight to find your joy!
J.J.: Don't let nobody trick you, boy! Getting rid of tricksters is what I enjoy!
Monster: Grraaagh!
The Beat Of The Thug-Life: Scene 4
It works out that the boy will go the orphanage, and (Captain) and company return to their airship. J.J. says that the way the boy was manipulated by the lies of adults reminded him of himself. Saving the boy felt like he was saving himself as a youth, and he vows there and then to his friends that he will have a happier future.
Lyria: I heard the orphanage will take that boy in. I'm so happy for him!
J.J.: ...
Katalina: Haha. I was wrong about you, J.J.. After everything that's happened, you've really earned my respect.
J.J.: Aww, it was nothin'. Just luck, that's all.
Vyrn: Haha. You don't need to be modest! Just take the compliment!
J.J.: I'm tellin' ya, man. I'm the same as that boy.
Katalina: Hmm? The same as that boy? What do you mean?
J.J.: Just a fool that got tricked by a bad crowd.
J.J. turns away from the crew. It is then that they begin to sense the scars he bears.
J.J.: He buried that dirty money in the ground, wishing for something that will never come back.
J.J.: You know, it's hard to be a kid when the world turns its back on you.
J.J.: And that's why someone has to give them hope!
And with that, J.J. gives a wry smile.
No one knows what happened to J.J. in his past.
But (Captain) and company quietly nod and make a vow.
They vow that no matter what happens, they will help J.J. have a happy future.
It seems that after hearing his story, the crew begins to understand what J.J. has been singing about this whole time.