New Avalon

[yamikuronue]

A figure in a hooded cloak moves toward them; it's a small figure, less than half a foot over five feet tall, and the hood of its dark-blue cloak is pulled up to shade its face. It seems to be moving rapidly, and it wears a canvas messenger-bag on the outside of the cloak, blue as well. As it passes the couple, it bumps into Rob's side...

[Hammer Sister]

Rob turns and grabs the stranger's arm firmly.

"I'd return the wallet if I were you."

[yamikuronue]

The hood falls back, revealing the face of the person underneath. It's... a young girl? A teenager, with dark, greasy hair, and a nasty scar down the left side of her face. Sure enough, her hand is in her bag; furthermore, her eyes are wide and frightened, as though she's been caught doing something wrong.

"Let go of me!" she snarls, attempting to wrench free.

[Hammer Sister]

She's just a kid, probably down on her luck.

"Return my wallet, and I'll let you on your way, no questions asked," Rob asks calm and firm; he glances round quickly to see if there are any law enforcers close by; he spots a couple that look like they may have overheard the teenager's panicked snarl. "And I'll make sure those cops don't follow you too."

[yamikuronue]

The girl's eyes narrow in suspician. "I don't have your wallet, idiot, now let me go." So saying, she lets the wallet slip from her hand so if he looks, he'll hopefully think he dropped it, and not be able to make a case against her.

[Hammer Sister]

I'm not stupid; I saw the drop. But you're not worth the trouble.

Rob lets go of the youth's arm; he stoops to reclaim his wallet as the girl flees.

"Apologies, Erika, but you can never be too careful; busy place like this is a haven for pickpocketers."

[yamikuronue]

Erika's expression is dark indeed. "You should have turned her in."

The youth melts back into the crowd, though a keen eye would see her not go far, instead lingering near a stall just down the path.

[CalamityJade]

And a keen eye HAS seen her. The youth probably didn't even notice her standing nearby. It was hard to tell who the person was, as they were wearing a scarf over her face and hair was wearing a cloak of muted colors and signs. She gave a bit of a low chuckle. "That was quite well done, young one." The voice was definitely female.

[Hammer Sister]

"Maybe, but she's just a kid," Rob explains to Erika. "A criminal record isn't exactly an advantage in this city, especially for someone so young."

[yamikuronue]

The youth tenses, her hand going to her bag, just in case. "...thanks."

Erika scowls. "Then maybe she shouldn't become a thief. Life's hard enough for the Waiting without having to worry about pickpockets lifting your life savings, after all."

[CalamityJade]

The woman's face was completely covered outside of her eyes. The light blue eyes seem to smile at her. "Don't worry now, young one. Far be it for me to punish you. I'm sure your fate has been difficult enough as it is." She turned her attention to the crowd. "And I'm sure it was their fate to collide with yours. Hard to tell when the city is choking with the stuff."

[Hammer Sister]

OK, I've definitely hit a nerve here...

"True, but not everyone in this city manages to make it," Rob reminds Erika. "I'm sure you've heard the stories."

[yamikuronue]

Erika sighs, tucking some of her short hair behind her ear. "Sorry. It's been a long week, I guess."

The youth scowls. Great, was this some kind of mystic grifter? "Whatever."

[CalamityJade]

"How many traveling mystics worth their salt would come here? Even you can't leave, with everything that's happened." The woman continues to lean against one of the stalls. "None of them can, from the Lost and Abandoned to the Council itself. Only ones that can leave are those bringing their homes with them."

[yamikuronue]

The youth closes her fingers on the hilt of her knife in her bag, just in case. "You psychic?"