"Yes, I can hear them. And if you just give me the flour, I won't even kick you out."

They have a quiet, not-nearly-hushed-enough debate.

Just give it back, not worth it, says everyone except the guy who actually did the stealing.

That guy makes a run for it.

She is in front of him. Smiling.

He tries to shove Tabby out of the way.

The bag of flour goes flying in the ensuing collision.

"You just had to be dumb, didn't you?"

"Lemme go can't do this!"

"I'm willing to be lenient. A day or two of community service at the hub? I'll even escort you home afterwards."

"Unless you go put food in my dog's belly for me I'll just keep trying to run away, punker!"

"Why'd you even think this would work? There's like, nearly eight vampires here. And a werewolf! And her nose is better than ours."

"I don't care!" There's definitely some crying in between the rage. "Cooper's... A good dog. Let me go!"

"We have dogs at the distro, you know."

"But none of them are Cooper!"

"I was trying to suggest you could move in and take your dog. Then you wouldn't have to try and steal from the super-people."

"......I don't think he'll wanna leave the house. He still waits by the door for Dad to come home."

She seems sympathetic. "I could help him. I'm good with animals."

He's more scared than angry. Though still smells defiant. "Even though I stole from under your nose? That's what life's like for people outside your center now, you know..."

"Because if people can't be nice occasionally nothing will get done, and I might as well just turn everyone I like into vampires and leave the rest of you to the wolves!"

She looks over at Yvonne. "No offence!" 

"Rawr! But seriously... Bring your dog to the shelter, do your part of the work. If you don't keep doing screwy things, it'll be a much safer place than trying to hole up in your house. We're farming."

The thief has a thoughtful silence.

"Also, miniscule but not non-existent chance of of immortality and superpowers. Very small, like a speck."

He snorts sarcastically at that. "Unless you can give that to Cooper, not interested."

"I think you'd outlive your dog either way, but your choice. Well, not really, we probably weren't going to offer it anyway, but you get my point."

"I'll just go give the flour back, and a Survival Corp chit for what I spilled, and think about it..."

"Just flash the Tabby symbol if you need me!"

"...The Tabby symbol?"

'Torches on strategically selected buildings. Or you could give me your address."