Brooks says farewell to the rest of the people working who had been talking to Kay before leaving the cafe. He struts up to Kai and, waiting a moment for them to be wondering what he's about to say, he tells her that he found some nice people and someone who had given him free coffee.
Kai chuckles and rolls her eyes, "Yeah right. While you've been enjoying yourself, I've noticed someone using magic: it was either the kid or his guardian. We can still go and catch up with them before they get into any other crowded space to reduce the attention we get. Wouldn't want your date or whatever to think you're evil."
"I can talk to people and not ask them out on a date," Brooks says with an air of feigned offense. Even then, he frowns and realizes that he did want to maintain a good impression."And I'm not evil."


Cameron sighs, gathering zir emotions and stuffing them in a box so ze won't act irrationally in any range of emotions. Ze takes Ariel's hand and leads him away.

Mysli watches them leave, staring coldly. Tanja is staring at her coffee, refusing to even look at him at this point out of sheer embarrassment.

Cam is hardly paying attention to anything around zir, more focused on making sure ze doesnt accidentally crush Ariels hand in zir frustrated, annoyed, and otherwise upset state. Normally, ze wouldnt mind the childs strange methods of amusing himself and others but this one could have cost - could still cost them! - their cover, their limited freedoms, and perhaps even their lives. Ze refuses to speak to or slow down for the child who had gotten zir into this mess. Yes, Cam knows its hardly fair to blame the child for showing off, but ze is allowed to wish he was a bit more grown up and could use a few more critical thinking skills.
Magic knows he only has less than a brain cell to work on, Cam thinks to zirself as ze heads back to home. Forget giving the child a breakfast from some take out place; the kid could learn to make something himself from the limited resources back at their base.
Ariels decrease in speed almost causes Cam to drag him a few meters before slowing down to his speed. What? Cams voice, at least, was calm and controlled.
I think someones following us. Ariel murmurs, tugging on zir hand and glancing behind them.
OK. Then lets talk this through before you act on it. Why do you think someone is following us? Cam crouches down to Ariels level after ze had gotten them out of the main road to allow others to pass without difficulty.
Because these two people are going the exact same route we have since the cafe.
Do they look hostile to you? They could be going home as well. Cam says evenly, not wanting to give the child a reason to panic. The mention that people have been following them since the cafe did not escape zir notice however. Ze carefully scans the area for any danger. A few wandering ghosts give zir a start but they know the dead havent touched zir yet and couldnt do zir any harm.. At least ze hopes.
The two people coming down the lane that were not deathly pale or covered in blood or guts seemed relatively chill citizens.. Until one started loading a pistol-looking weapon with an almost bored expression as he continued his conversation with the blonde next to him.
Oh, snap. Ariel, I think youre right. Cam immediately begins thinking of every possible scenario and outcome while instinctively freezing in place.

(I have come back from the dead... momentarily.)

Somebody to their right catches their eye. It's a strange person, and something about them gives the two a bad vibe. Not really dangerous bad, more along the lines of sensing future awkwardness, but it's still not a good feeling to get about somebody.

(Not quite sure which group has spotted the person, so I'm going to do two possible outcomes.. Pick your poison (or do both if you find a way to link them together).)

Assuming the person is getting Cameron's and Ariel's attention, the following happens:
spaceCam gets to zir feet and observes the person for a few moments; then he grabs Ariel's hand and heads over to them. A not dangerous vibe is a good sign in zir opinion; it would get awkward anyway seeing as ze was going to them to hopefully dissuade the people from following them. "Hello." Ze is slightly regretting going to this new person; they didn't ask for the two of them to come over, but ze supposes there is safety in numbers. "Would you mind helping us? It seems someone with a weapon has been following us for a while and we're hoping joining with someone else will deter them."

Assuming the person is noticed by the two from the force, the following happens:
spaceThe blonde nudges her companion and nods towards the person that had caught her attention. "Recognize them?" She's pretty sure she knows the person and wouldn't mind their company as long as they wouldn't stop the two from getting their catch.
spaceHer partner tilts his head as he peeks at the newcomer. "Perhaps. You're better at social-y things than I am." His accent proves his familiarity with the area while hers is a strange one, curbed by living nearby for a while.

(I didn't think about the other two noticing but it'd make sense that Cam & Ariel are just closer while the two Force people are further)


The person gazes at Cam calmly. They walk a strange line between looking female and looking androgynous, but they're very pretty either way. Their face is symmetrical, marked with very slight natural makeup that accents their eyes and lips. Their eyes are a stunning green, looking like the vibrance of the color might be from contacts and not natural. Their thin raven hair circularly frames their face and runs down to their collarbone, with a little red rose beret pushing back some strands that would otherwise get in their eyes. "Mind? Why would I mind? Why should I look askance at two peculiar unfamiliars requesting assistance?"

Cameron gets momentarily distracted by the stranger's pretty way of expressing themself through how they dress. Ze turns zir focus to what they're saying and takes what they're saying at face value. "Well, you could be bothered because we're barging rather rudely into your life. You don't know how it could turn out." Cam looks them over for a moment, searching for the telltale band of The Force before deciding whether or not to put more trust in them. "I probably shouldn't be giving you reasons to mind us since that is to our disadvantage," ze nods to Ariel and zirself when referring to 'our'. "However, we don't want to impose our situation on you." Cameron is ready to leave at the first hint that the new person does not want Ariel and zir around.
Ariel keeps quiet and fiddles with the edge of his shirt, watching the other two (the ones following them) get closer.

"I am not certain why you would request my abetment. I presume merely because I am pretty." They shrug casually. "I am not sure if I can assist, but I suppose I could try."

Cam doesn't say anything else, not daring to point out that they were the only one ze had noticed. Ze simply nod zir thanks. The stranger supposing they would try to help the two of them was much appreciated. Ze isn't sure how they will, but they hope they do.
Ariel tugs on Cameron's sleeve insistently once he notices just how close the other people were. The Force duo were looking the trio over while keeping their distance as they assessed the situation.

"So, what is it you need my assistance for?" They lean back and their eyes narrow, but in a casual, relaxed sort of way- it's very reminiscent of a cat.