Lost In Shopping (Open to All)

[Simon Ward]

Staring at construction crews Simon Cross nodded with approval as they were giving his shop a makeover. Soon his plans would have been done. "Keep up the good work guys and gals! Beers and burgers on me at the end of the week!" Simon said trying to encourage their work. The beers and burgers were for morale. Stepping away from the former gunshop Simon walked out into the shopping center. People were busy moving about. Going from shop to shop the people were centered on their shopping needs.

Dressed in a black cloth coat that had red lining on the inside, a vest and pants that matched the exterior of the coat, a white button up shirt and slacks, and shined boots that were mostly hidden by pants. A silver ring gleamed on his left ring finger and a million dollar smile on his face. His dark colored eyes watched the crowds. What to do though? He couldn't have set up shop in the mall for his street performances. Kiosk people would have been mighty upset. (The best spot to set up shop for performances in the mall would have been the center of the isles when people were coming and going.)

So now he was stuck unsure where to go, what to go or even who to talk to. He wasn't one to go into shopping centers. Yet here Simon was in the shopping center near Honeymead looking partially like a deer caught in headlights. "What to do? What to do?" he said softly to himself.

[Qwynlyn Zeta (DELETED 753)]

Crowds. Qwyn hated crowds, but she loved crowds. She hated their empty, lost eyes as they walked around looking for the next useless thing to buy. She hated their inattentive bustle, bumping into and squeezing past each other like ants. But she loved their inattentive bustle. She loved the way their eyes stared past everything as they ant-ed about without a care in the world, without a purposed thought in their heads. Well, she loved their money. They carried so much of it, just brimming in their pockets and wallets. If their heads weren't in the clouds, then their faces were glued to their phones - Qwyn loved their phones, too. Malls. She hated the people, but damn it all if it didn't feel like Christmas every day.

Time was not on her side. Qwyn had what you might call "side effects" on people. They tend to become restless when she's around, and eventually they'd start going at each other's throats. While it didn't do much for prolonged stealth, it sometimes served as a very welcome distraction while she made her escapes. It also meant she had to work fast and constantly be on the move as to avoid inciting an ever-growing possibility of a full-on riot.

So there she was, a girl dressed in old, worn out clothes, gliding through their twisting, writhing masses, her hands dipping into pockets and purses with nearly surgical precision. On more than one occasion Qwyn snatched cameras and phones right out of people's hands before vanishing into a sea of bodies. Despite her shabby and recognizable appearance, she had great skill in simply vanishing from sight within seconds. Unrest began to rumble - first murmurs, then confusion, and finally a shout: "HEY! Someone stole my wallet!" Qwyn nearly grinned. Next came the pitter-patter of hands clapping against clothing, followed by the oh-so-familiar "zrrrrp" of zippers being pulled open. It was like music.

"Where's my phone?!"
"My money's gone!"
"What happened to my camera?"

The murmurs became a dull roar as confused faces turned and twisted into expressions of sadness and anger. "Hey! You! Give me back my wallet!" a man in the distance shouted. Qwyn grinned this time, hiding a mouthful of fangs behind her hand; that was her cue to leave. As her eyes darted toward the nearest exit, a gleam of silver caught her eye. A ring. A beautiful, shiny ring on the hand of a man standing near a construction crew. But she had to leave, right? Yes, it would be pertinent to make her escape before the torches come out. But what's another 30 seconds? Qwyn rubbed her hands together. They itched terribly as she decided then to make a move toward her last mark of the night. As she closed in on him, the sound of glass shattering pulled her up into a rigid stance.

"Don't turn around," She whispered to herself. "Don't. Turn. Around."

[Simon Ward]

The wake of shoplifters was always the same no matter where someone went. People cried out with hurt feelings and panicked looks came over their faces. Confusion turned to anger as people demanded justice. Simon Cross ignored this and was so focused on the sights it barely registered to him. He wasn't the one liberating the money so his alibi wasn't a lie. Typically if money or shiny things went missing, and he was in the area...well, if you knew him it was easy to say his sticky fingers were involved.

Slowly he turned and spotted someone eyeing his wedding ring. Anger flashed through him. Then his attention turned to the upset crowd. Time ticked by slowly for him. His hands latched out toward the thief and he pulled her close, "I SAW HIM! I SAW HIM!! HE TOOK MY BABY'S GOLD BRACELET!!" Simon pointed in a direction that was sure to send mall security and others toward that direction. "GET THAT THIEVING F***-WIT!! MISTER MARION IS GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE'S HEAD FOR THIS INSULT!!" Simon screamed. A shop owner dropping the name of the mall's owner meant security was going to work double time tonight. A problem had spread to someone putting money into the place. If a mall lost a business then that was money they weren't getting. So, in the spirit of profit all mall security personal started to move at a double-time pace.

As people went by Simon whispered in a cold voice to Qwynlyn, "You even touch my ring I will put your head through the nearest shop window, understood?" Honor among thieves only went so far. When people cleared he reached into his back pocket and slipped the woman three hundred dollars, all in $100 bills. "You were going to take it anyway...or try to," Simon whispered his voice became softer. His eyes went to his wedding ring to make sure it was there. So far, so good, it was there.

His brown eyes looked at the thief, "Usually people try to avoid getting caught. You're good though. Sloppy though," Simon just kept his gaze level on the woman. The fanged teeth went unnoticed. Smiling softly at her he extended his hand, "Simon."

[Qwynlyn Zeta (DELETED 753)]

Panic? Is it time to panic yet? Qwyn's entire body went rigid as she suddenly found herself caught, not by an officer this time, but someone like herself. Curses. She tried to avoid stealing from her own kind; it was simple enough to take from the cattle, but from other wolves? That's an entirely different game, and one she wasn't prepared to play. She made a strangled sound in an attempt to list off as many excuses as she could think of...which was none. So what now? She thought of escape, but that would mean a physical altercation - not exactly her strong suit. She could draw her gun and...the man shouted something entirely different from a call for the authorities.

"You even touch my ring I will put your head through the nearest shop window, understood?"

As much as Qwyn liked his tone, she nodded mutely, though her eyes still tracked the ring like it had her under its spelled. In many ways it did. There was hardly a thing she could not pilfer, nailed down or not, especially when she put her mind to it. However, with enough effort, she convinced herself that this particular ring was not worth her time. At least not yet. "Having such a strong attachment to a little trinket like that could get you in trouble some day," she said, her lips twisting into a rather mischievous grin, which disappeared the moment he put three hundred dollars into her pocket.

"I do not take charity!" she stated firmly. "I take what I want or I work for it!" Despite her obvious protest, Qwyn did not make any attempt to return the money to him.

"Usually people try to avoid getting caught. You're good though. Sloppy though."

"A growing mob makes a girl nervous," she replied as she cautiously took his hand. "Qwyn. And I will pay you back for your money someday, Simon. Somehow."

How long before her unfortunate affliction of chaos has an effect on him, she wondered. Unrest followed her everywhere she went, after all. Animals are the first to turn on her, then humans, and after that, vampires. Ultimately it depended on the strength of their sense of self.

[Simon Ward]

"If you don't accept charity then why aren't you returning it?" Simon asked with a raised brow. He watched the with some amusement. "And for the money don't worry about it. You do what you must to survive, right?"

Looking around he noticed the mob was still moving. His gaze went back to Qwyn, "Come on. Let's get you some place where the heat's less," Simon gestured for her to follow him. Walking into his shop which was mostly wood, plastic covering, and white carpets. Pastel colors stained the blanket. "Remodeling, don't mind the colors."

He moved to the back office area of the shop which was a desk, computer, a bunch of papers and manilla folders rested on the desk. "No one will find you here. If you want to go some place with less heat we can slip outside," he offered then set out a folding chair for her to sit opposite of his desk. "Things are being remodeled here."