Sandy couldn’t have cowered any more; Maple had backed her into a corner. It was right at this time, though, that one of the spectators hopped in from behind to save Sandy from more of a talking-to.
“C’mon Maple, can’t you see you’re buggin’ her somethin fierce? Let it alone already...”
Maple whirled around and came face-to-face with a scarfed Sneasel, whom she recognized as one of the helpers around the shop and forest. “Yeah? Who’re you to tell me what for, huh? You don’t know nothing at all you... you stupid scarface! Just shut up and leave me alone!”
Rhodes cocked his head to the side and regarded Maple with the indifference of a wiser older brother who’s been through more in weeks than most go through in their whole lives. He didn’t really have it in him to get upset over immature jabs or petty fights; he just wanted to break up their little scuffle before Maple went too far and made Sandy too upset. Even though he was pretty certain he wasn’t as old as his fellow Merchant, he felt a bit like he was looking out for a younger sibling in that moment. He supposed he was doing just that.
“You’re makin her get real upset. I’m gonna have to kick you out of here if you don’t let it alone. I’ve never had ta kick anyone outta here before, but I learned enough from PK to know we don’t let fights happen in here, Maple. Got it? Cut it out.”
“You’re not my brother!” she screamed. “You can’t tell ME what to do!” She turned back toward Sandy with a huff and a stomp and started to tug on her furry mane. “Sandy! You and me are gonna go talk outside. Let’s go--”
Maple was cut off in one fell scoop from Rhodes; she suddenly found herself kicking and punching at the air, lifted up nearly over his head. “Put me DOWN!” she yelled. “You’re not my brother, you can’t make me do anything! He’s gone! Put me down you ugly buttface!”
Rhodes sighed, feeling a bit embarrassed at having to pacify a kid not much younger than he in the presence of a handful of Pokemon trying to go about their shopping in peace. Maple wouldn’t let up her thrashing and screaming the whole way to the entrance. For a brief moment, Rhodes was scared she would spray him in the hut and that he wouldn’t ever be able to get the smell out of his scarf (or the surroundings, something that PK would kill him for, he thought), but Maple didn’t resort to that, thank the gods. Sandy did, however, take the brief reprieve from Maple that Rhodes had granted her as an opportunity to flee up the stairs. This was all Rhodes wanted to accomplish, really.
Poor Maple is missing her brother so badly that she's taking it out on Rhodes. I feel bad for her. It's got to suck to have you're "boyfriend" and brother leave without notice like that when you have no other family around... and at that age she must feel completely abandoned.