Not everybody, [Sniper said, shaking his head.] Sometimes people don't pay attention to where the elevator's going until they're already there, and by that time it's too late. It's happened to a few people I know, actually.

[He blanched at that.] But I wish they would.

[When the elevator doors slid open, Sniper stepped out warily, the massive space greeting them taking him by surprise. He looked a bit forlorn as he stared around only to see an expanse on both sides of them.

How the hell were they supposed to find a kid in this mess?]

Yeah, [Sniper replied with a nod of his head. He felt his natural pessimism rise with a whisper of you're never going to find her but instead of dwelling on it, pointed to the right.]

Let's just start this way, then. Sometimes the mannequins can be helpful, so we can ask if they've seen a little girl and... oh wait, I know. Wait a second.

[Sniper dug through his cluttered back before triumphantly producing a rather worn sketchbook. He flipped his way through it until he found his sketch of Thalassa holding a fishing pole, newborn shoes muddy and cheeks rosy.]

We can show people this, [he said.] It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing.

[Sniper made a small sound of surprise, but quickly regained his composure even though he had coloured just slightly.]

O-of course! [He declared, waving one finger in the air.] I'm Sniper, the Great Artist. So that means that if she's here, we'll definitely find her. Come on, let's go!

[And with that, he trucked off to the right, keen eyes darting to and fro as he took in the the fascinating merchandise at the same time as he was searching for Thalassa.]

I dunno, [Sniper replied, busying himself with flapping the drawing at anybody who would stop.] I usually don't. Once it was this huge place that gave you robes and the paintings all talked. And another time, it was a huge park.

[He paused to absently stroke the soft fabric of various pieces of strange clothing hanging at a booth.] Sometimes people say it even shows you your home.

[Sniper knew very well what his home was like, but he hadn't seen it in the Wilderness, but on the fourth floor. This wasn't something he was keen on telling Daitou, not when he just met the other boy. Yet the very word 'home' evoked that salty air, those warm planks, the feeling of being gently rocked somewhere far away.

He probably shouldn't tell anybody other than Chivalry he was a pirate, he figured. Somebody out there would probably want to hang him.]

Not many people here have seen their homes here, [he said, picking up a cowboy hat from one of the stalls and placing it on his head. It looked ridiculous.] And... well, I'm pretty sure that this place isn't like anybody's home.