Fashion Police [Sakume, Alti]

"Victorian clothes, huh? Weird."

Cadenza had been listening. She really had been. She'd even made a point to nod throughout the story--but there was this guy who was going on and on laughing and half-choking to death on popcorn and it couldn't be more distracting. The movie sure as hell wasn't that amusing. And they were the only ones chattering, so he had to have been listening in... anything could be hilarious or really, really dirty with a bit of distance and selective hearing, she knew. The woman didn't even want to begin to imagine what might've gone through his head. It was bound to be something way more rated-R than this PG-13 trash.

Ah, men... can't live with 'em, but damn, you definitely can't live without them. Sometimes I don't know whether to slap them or just laugh along.

When he passed, she took note of his fedora and blazer and shook her head at what she felt was a sorely amateur disguise. A fedora screamed "mafia!" and just begged people to give you a closer look-over to see if you really were one. Something more like a fake mole and some removable chin implants, and maybe a wig if you were smart about it, and not only would they want to keep their distance, but they wouldn't have a clue what you actually looked like later. Oh well. Let the big arsehole get caught. He walked kinda familiar, now that she thought about it...

"Pretty much," Jessi responded, chuckling a little, "like he was stuck there." She did her best to ignore the laughter going on. But this guy was laughing so much he seemed to be choking on it. Cadenza was trying her best to listen also, but she seemed to be distracted by the man as well. She frowned a little at this, they were just starting to talk and listen to each other, but they just had to be interrupted.

She watched as Cadenza look as the man passing by. Jessi saw his clothes too; she'd take note of them for now. It was a tiny, childish thing; "Ooh, just when it was going well, too...!" She wanted to ask Cadenza if she knew the man, but that was a silly question itself--just something that she thought might salvage the conversation. It was probably just a random stranger who found something about them to laugh at. She eventually decided against asking and instead, when Cadenza gave her attention again, she said "Let's ditch the movie." She smiled, "And go shopping, I'd love to dress up!"


Rain found himself holding all of Kate's bags as well as a few of his own. He really did wonder how she got all the things inside--he peeked inside. Rain had taken up a few things while Kate was doing her own shopping, but he didn't know she'd rack up this much from one store, for a little girl, too. He remembered that Cadenza gave him a wad of cash for them both; he didn't know that Kate had her own cash, too.

"Kate...?" She looked up at him as he knelt down in front of her, a small smile on his face. He didn't want to frighten her but he had to ask, something felt very wrong. "How did you get all this, Princess...? These are really expensive, you know?" he chuckled, "did mommy give you the money?"

Ruin waited on a bench outside the theater, fedora gone and in its place a simple tan cap. He had decided against the fedora. It sort of gave off this sense of "look at me I'm a tough guy" and he really didn't want that. Or, Marcus didn't, anyway. Maybe he should have gone with the wig. Fake mole, perhaps? But wigs were hot. And Ruin wasn't that into his job. He honestly could care less if they knew he was following... he leaned back, talking as if he had cottonballs in his mouth with an equally bad Italian accent. "Buuut what da boss sez... goez..." He could wait for them here. He really couldn't stand any more of the jabbering the ladies were doing, even though he understood they were trying to get to know one another better... however better that may be... he yawned. Aaaand there they go. Out the movie as if running from a stinkbomb, probably half-intentional, too. He folded the newspaper he had been reading and tossed it in the nearby trash can. Time for some more following. He was quite good at following. He'd been doing it for a job for a while before Marcus, so he usually retained an anonymous factor about him... he was used to an anonymous factor.

Oh, clothes? Does it have to be clothes? He groaned and followed the ladies into the store. At least it's not Victoria's Secret. Probably couldn't get away with sneaking in there unless I mentally prepared myself.

Kate was perfectly fine with the question until the very end. Something had triggered a small, but very voracious defense mechanism in her mind. Mommy. Not Your Mommy. Just Mommy. She decided to clarify this. "No, MY Mommy didn't give me the money, Mr. Rain," she responded, feeling a little bit on edge. "I got them all by myself," she said somewhat proudly. "I can shop by myself, you know. I got stuff for everybody, not just myself." She couldn't help but feel she had done something wrong. Maybe it was the store. "Let's go to another store!" She skipped away.

Clothes shopping. Cadenza had only agreed to it for the sake of getting out of that movie, even though she hadn't really bought anything for herself from the mall in ages. Her regular spots were the designer boutiques by the Royal Library on Verano Avenue (you could get great price cuts if you knew the right people), or Macy's or some other department store for the basics. Over half of what you paid for in the mall, she knew, was for the location. Just about the only place she still came here for herself for was Victoria's Secret, and she wasn't into having someone else with her while she picked out her undergarments. People got too nosey about your sizes.

The gypsy sighed inwardly and found herself a nice spot by the dressing room entrance to lean against the wall and wait as Jessi tried on clothes. Dresses, blouses, jeans, the girl was going for everything. Cadenza absent-mindedly watched her scurry back and forth while she popped an earbud in and turned on her iPod; one ear open to the world, one lost in the music. Her arms crossed in their natural, comfortable pose and she let her weight shift back as she glanced around to the beats of Lady Gaga, her foot tapping along, hips gently swaying.

She's one crazy ♥♥♥♥♥, but she can sure write a good rhythm.

After a few minutes, the song switched from "Poker Face" to "Paparazzi", and Cadenza began to feel the song was kind of fitting--there were always rumors and stuff like that like following her around anywhere she went in this country, and she was used to stares, but this time, she felt like there was someone actively following her and Jessi. She'd first noticed the shadow behind them on the way to the movies, and then in the theater, but she hadn't thought much of it then. Any poor soul could have just been going to the same horrible flick. But now she could sense that same shade having tailed them to this store, loitering around, watching. The guy with the fedora, she thought. Cadenza could see him. You didn't survive long in her line of work without being able to pick out even someone doing a good job of blending in when you needed to. Only now it seemed he'd decided not to be completely hopeless and lost the fedora. There was no changing some things about yourself, though... and Cadenza had been tailed far too many times not to pick up on any give-away, magical or not. It was him. And he looked kind of familiar, too..

The whole situation was already starting to get on her nerves. She decided to just nip things in the bud here and now, and hope to hell things wouldn't backfire somehow with someone like Marcus. While the man's back was turned (man, wasn't this sucker a big one? Towering over her even when she was in stilettos), she strode up with a slight scowl on her face and grabbed his shoulder, voice sharp as she said, "You forget your binoculars at home, creep?"

Jessica was trying on clothes, yes, having a slight bit of fun using her powers on odd ones she'd never try on. Like that blue sundress with sunflowers on it. It was nice, but it wasn't her style. She looked at Cadenza and smiled, but it quickly flipped when she saw that the woman was disinterested. Jessica hung her head, her fingers moving lazily now through the racks of clothes. She looked at them, but she wasn't paying attention anymore, she didn't see. She had honestly hoped that this would be better, that they could talk more.

She sighed, maybe Cadenza didn't like her. Maybe she should say something... or just stop trying. Jessi sighed again, her hand dropping from the clothes. Her fingers brushed against the dress she was wearing and--wait... she didn't come here in a dress. She looked down and her eyes were filled with an ocean of blue with a few sunflowers spread out on it.

My illusion's still on? Off, then. She watched, in surprise, as the dress remained on. Her jeans and shirt didn't come back; showing off her milky white legs and shoulders, It.. It's not coming off...! She tugged at it, looking around. Sure enough, the original sundress was still on its rack, so did her illusion stay on like this? In a panic, she looked around for someone to help, for Cadenza. Instead, she was gone. Jessi hadn't seen when she had left.

She spotted her going right up to someone and she tried to make her way there. But she froze in her tracks; behind them she saw a familiar looking man stroll past. It gave her a familiar, eerie feeling. When she got there, the other man was gone and Cadenza was just beginning to talk to this man, or rather, get his attention with a scowl on her face, calling him 'creep' and asking him if he 'forgot his binoculars'. Jessi remembered what she was wearing and blushed, trying to stretch the sundress to cover more of her legs.


MY Mommy...? Rain replayed the response in his head. She seemed to be affected when he just said "mommy". She had turned and skipped off toward another store and Rain followed, carrying the bags. "Katey..!" he called after her as she went into the store. He entered right after and found her browsing the things.

"Katey..." He knelt down beside her, "come on, show me what you bought for your mommy. I'd like to buy things for her, too. Maybe you can teach me how to shop?" He smiled at her. The bags felt heavy, even while on the ground, like there was some extra weight in them, and he really wondered if there was something wrong with all this. There's no way that Kate would be given all this money to shop on her own, right? Even if she did have good taste in clothes. Rain chuckled.

Ruin turned, a calm look on his face. She'd spotted him? He must have really been rusty. Oh well, not as if it really mattered. "Creep, that's cute. Your mother teach you that? No, I don't need binoculars, although your mother didn't give you choice insult skills she did give you some nice assets. I could spot you in a crowd a mile away, Miss Madrigal." The name seemed somewhat difficult to spell correctly, but easy to roll of his tongue. Kind of like Madi gras. Maybe that's why he liked it. Or the fact that it was paired to a pretty good-looking chick. Or a combination of both. Probably both. "Please don't bother to lecture me on the finer points of spying or not spying on you. I've no choice if I aim to complete my goal, that and Marcus, as I'm sure you're aware, gives option for little rebuttal. I'll try to stay out of your way... Nice dress choice for the girl, but I don't think it's her style."

"Don't you know how?" Kate responded, not really looking at him, more interested in a coloring book of various disney princesses. "It's easy. You just find something you want and buy it. The things I bought Mommy are in... here." She pointed at one bag on his arm. "And here." She moved her hand to the other side. "And here, and here, and here." She smiled a little at him. "I want to buy things for my Mommy." Then she turned back to the coloring book. "She likes whatever I pick usually. I think you should get her whatever you think she'd like." Kate didn't know what to suggest. She was beginning to feel a little homesick for her Mommy, which wasn't surprising since she still had separation anxiety.

"Yes? I knew it... yes, sir, they were in here a few minutes ago. Yes, a little girl and a man. Tall and black hair, skinny and pale, with gold contacts." The employee continued to describe the couple. "The little girl? She had a pink dress on, bunny hair clips, brown hair, a little short, blue eyes, a little skinny, too. Maybe five, six years old? Yes, sir. She used the credit card. No, sir, I didn't see the man object. And he was watching? Yes, I'm positive." She hung up the phone.

So it had been the same guy she'd met before, on the first day she and Louis had adopted Kate. And he was none more pleasant than he'd been then--Cadenza could already feel her dislike for him surging up inside her, like a gnawing at her gut, a clenching of her hands into fists. He rattled off a snappy answer he'd probably had prepared in case she found him, and she didn't care much for it, but when he'd glanced behind her at Jessi, that managed to finally throw her off-beat.

"I'll try to stay out of your way... Nice dress choice for the girl, but I don't think it's her style."

Cadenza turned at once at the comment, and blinked, an eyebrow arching a bit at the sight of Jessi standing there bashful in the sundress. Not her style for sure, she thought, the girl couldn't look more embarrassed if she'd stumbled out in a bustier and thigh-highs. It wasn't that revealing. But to her, it must have been too much. Without a moment's hesitation, the woman slipped off her jacket and covered Jessi up with it.

"Got a little over-excited with the trying-on, huh...? This one might not be right for ya... looks more like something you'd spot me in," she gave a small comforting smile and patted the girl on the back. "Maybe we've had enough shopping. What do you say to going to find Kate and Rain...?"

Jessi hugged the jacket around her, smiling when Cadenza smiled. Restored a little flame of hope inside her, it did. "Maybe we should," she responded, nodding. She wasn't use to wearing dresses of this sort; skirts and stuff were fine, but this one was different. It was something she'd wear on the beach, with friends, with a big hat that had a sunflower on it. Like the one that appeared on her head right as soon as she thought about it. Cadenza had to take a step back to avoid getting hit by it as soon as it appeared, a giant sunflower attached to a blue ribbon on it, totally matching the dress.

Jessi knew her powers were going haywire by now, and call she could do was utter a soft, embarrassed "I'm sorry," while looking down, "I don't know what's happening with my powers..."

Rain looked at each bag she pointed at. Interested; he wanted to know what she'd buy for her mom. It was sweet, and she seemed to be an excellent shopper--he had glanced into the bags and seen some of the brands. They'd definitely impress Cadenza, but they shocked him a bit. These things were expensive, and according to Kate, she was just picking up these things... free? That's what it sounded like.

"Katey... when we're done, let's go get some ice cream, and we could show each other what we bought," He smiled sincerely.

Ruin took notice of the sudden appearance of the sunflower, logged it away in his mind. Powers going haywire, hm? He knew about that, how it felt, anyway. "If you're looking for the girl and the man, they're heading for ice cream. Coldstone, I think. That's where I'd go. The ice cream there is fabulous." His tone had shifted a little to one that could almost be sincerely called friendly, or the closest you could get without literally being a friend. Ice cream... oh God I love that stuff... It was the ice cream that made him change his tune. Any flavor, anything mixed in. "Just trying to help you out a little...take it or leave it." He shoved both hands in his pockets and walked away from them, blending into the crowd at a distance, yet still watching them. Ruin didn't much care for spying on Cadenza or her little friend, but he had no choice. Not now.

Kate licked her ice cream cone and chewed a gummy bear amidst the birthday cake ice cream, freely explaining amidst bites to Rain what she had bought, for whom, and why. She talked fast normally but the addition of sugar only made her talk faster. "So this is for Papa because he likes big hats and I thought he might want another big hat because it's brown like his favorite color and it's big and tall. I kinda wanna call him and surprise him with it, can I please?" she asked, looking sincerely happy. "Oh and this is for him, too!" She held out a large, flaky, warm pastry filled with a sweet custard cream. "I bought it from that one lady's stand, and some for mommy and some for my real Daddy too... if he comes... unless Papa eats them first," she giggled.

"Yeah... I know the feeling," Cadenza said, and for once, her tone was softer, and sincere, "Don't be ashamed about it..."

Powers going haywire, yeah, that sounded just about how the woman had gotten to be how she was now, she thought. Gaining too many spells, not being able to stop things from spinning out of control when she had been confronted for it by the old Shadow... the **** hit the fan, then. She'd have been a goner without some help. It had all started out so simply and so small and had gotten out of hand... a big part of her sympathized with Jessi for whatever was happening with hers now. Hopefully it'd turn out better than her problem.

"If you're looking for the girl and the man," their follower interjected then, "they're heading for ice cream. Coldstone, I think. That's where I'd go. The ice cream there is fabulous."

Cadenza muttered a small thanks, and nodded in acknowledgment. Ice cream... that had been where they'd agreed to meet. So they should be waiting. She was feeling anxious to hear how Kate and Rain's outing had went. Oh gods, please let them have had a much better time than we did... honestly, most of what went wrong here was mainly my fault, anyway. They should be fine...

With those thoughts in mind, she led the way towards the ice cream shop with Jessi close behind.

Rain smiled widely at Kate. She was so energetic from the ice cream and she talked swiftly while eating it. He listened closely, and he could keep up easily with what she was saying, but most times he didn't want to interrupt her at all. It felt that she was on a roll; it was so cute to him, it almost made him blush. "Mhm! Mhm!" He smiled and nodded quickly to her questions; she bought so much things for other people, like the hat for Louis, the shoes for Cadenza and so much more. It made him feel so... proud.

"You're a great shopper," he said, chuckling, "I'm very proud of you Kate. I'm sure your mommy, papa and daddy will be, too!"

Even some pastries for her real dad, too! She was so sweet, Rain sighed. He'll... or he would love taking care of her, while he stood next to Cadenza. Ah... Cadenza. Rain's heart skipped a beat when he taught about her. He loved her so much, he sighed and smiled when he thought about her. He felt so much lighter, so carefree around her. She'd strike some things in him that no one else could reach. She was warm, and warmer still when she smiled at him... and to top it all off... she was a loving mother, too. Rain loved her and everything about her. That'll never fade. Never. He still remembered what she had told him, when he was sad about him being immortal next to her humanity; "Let's be like the sun, or the streak of a comet across the night sky, burning bright, something that'll always remain." The brightest spot in the darkness of life... yes, this was it. And it was only just beginning.

Oh! "Katey, your mommy and Jessi are coming!" He said with a smile, looking at her and then at them. Jessi was dressed oddly--Cadenza's jacket draped over her while she wore a sundress and a hat. He arched an eyebrow. It wasn't her style at all. But it looked alright; perhaps if she wore it more often, she'd come to like it. One day they'd all go to the beach; they'd have fun there, wouldn't they?

The thought of seeing Cadenza in swimwear made his cheeks red. He looked at her now. She was so beautiful. Deep, gorgeous blue eyes to get lost in. Long, flowing black hair, soft to touch. Her skin complexion a warm tan, beautiful and smoothe... Any man would drop for her beauty. Rain included. She had scars from battles past, but that made no difference to him. He'd kiss them all as he held her close to his heart. And he was glad... so glad she loved him back; it was a miracle something that seemed too good to be true. He couldn't keep his eyes off her as they approached; he'd never deny that he was 'completely taken up', in fact, he'd boast about it. And then... that special question. Perhaps it would come soon. He smiled softly, lovingly at her.

Rain's gush of love at the thought of Cadenza had no time to continue its spurts within his mind, for it was interrupted by the squeal of Kate running to greet Cadenza, ice cream tightly in hand. "Mommy! Mommy, I hoped you would come where we were! Mmmm!" She threw herself against her legs, hugging her tightly until she was scooped up like the small, comfortable package she was. "Oh I got you lots of clothes, Mommy, and Jimmy Chews and Armanis and lots of other things! I also got something for Papa, can he come, Mommy? I know he'd like what I got him and I reeeally want to see his expression!" she looked on with glee. "Pleeease? Just for a few minutes?"

Kate finished biting into her ice cream cone, unaware that she was being watched by more than one person.

"Ten-four, I see the man and the girl. Do I have permission to make a citizen's arrest, over?"

"Whoah, whoah slow down, sweetie..."

Brand names were being dropped like hot irons, and Cadenza found herself trying to dig back into her cluttered memories of the morning and mentally accounting for exactly how much cash had been in that wad of zecca bills she'd handed off to Rain. She knew she could be kind of liberal about money--go without for too long, and you learn just how little you can really live off of without savings--but she didn't remember doling out enough for Jimmy Choos or Armani (plural, too, Armanis, she'd said!) and all this other stuff Kate mentioned. Something seemed off. And Rain seemed to have no idea, or at least didn't show he did.

"I also got something for Papa, can he come, Mommy? I know he'd like what I got him and I reeeally want to see his expression!" Man, Kate looked so excited. "Pleeease? Just for a few minutes?"

"...Possibly, but... first sweetie... can Mommy ask how you bought all these nice things? I'm pretty sure I didn't give you two that much spending money... they were all red bills, right? Shouldn't have been enough for all that..." She hated to put her daughter on the spot, but the question had to be asked. Her hand rubbed the girl's back comfortingly, her look questioning but as gentle as she could be as she waited for the answer.

Just let it be that Rain had some extra cash...

"You gave me spending money?" Kate hadn't even known about the wad of bills for her pleasure. She paused at being asked about what she bought. "Well they were free!" the little girl exclaimed happily. "Just like the churros. At first I thought it was just a churro free card but then I found out I can get anything I want for free! Plus, it has bunnies on it!" She dug into her little pink purse and removed the scratched, slightly beat-up Mastercard. "See? It says 'Mas...Mastercard' and it means I can get anything I want for free!" she exclaimed gleefully. "So Mr. Rain and I have been going to lots of different stores and using it all day."

"Greg, you have permission from the county to make a citizen's arrest, over."

The man remained in the nearby Starbucks, keeping a close eye on the company. "Roger that, we have the mall security already alerted. Do I take the man into private sector and do I have backup in case he gets rowdy? It looks like there's a woman involved too, and she looks unsurprised. Do I take her into custody as well?"

"That's a negative, Greg. Take the first party involvement alone, no going ape on them. What is the woman's description?"

The man nodded, his brown hair waving up and down. "Thanks, Loo. I've got a 10-10 for certain, possibly need 10-13. Description of woman, short, black hair, dark blue eyes, tan skin. Race appears to be slightly Hispanic or Latina. Do you copy? Do we have a warrant?"

Static.

"10-5, Loo. Do we have a warrant?"

"Citizen you've described appears to be a confirmed 10-18."

"Alright, I'm about to make my run, I'll keep in touch." He rested a hand on his gun from his hip, the safety still on, of course. First arrest, first action he'd seen on the force. This was it. It was time to make his father proud.

A Mastercard...? That's what she was using? When Cadenza had approached with Jessica, he wanted to ask if Cadenza had given her that money--he never thought she'd have a Mastercard, and he didn't think Cadenza would give Kate something like that, at all. It even fit her all too well, the design of the card. She was buying all of these things with that card and she thought she was getting it all free. It was alright... she didn't know what she was doing.

"Katey," he smiled again, looking at the card, "It's cute looking. I like it! Where'd you get it...?"

Jessica leaned over to look at the card with interest as well. She had unknowingly put a hand on her hat and had it there, just to keep it from tipping to one side and sliding off. This thing could've acted like an umbrella to them all, she thought. Maybe she'd keep it, just for that--shading the sun and all. However, out of the corner of her shaded vision, she saw an officer striding up toward this little group, hand placed on his gun. She bumped Rain and Cadenza slightly to get their attention just before the man began to speak.

"Sir," he said, eyes on Rain, mostly, but darted to the rest once in a while, keeping alert, "I'm going to have to ask you to step to the side, kneel and put your hands behind your head."

Rain looked at the officer, then looked from side to side to see if he was really addressing him and not someone else. "...Excuse me?"

"Sir, I'm not going to tell you again. Please kneel and put your hands behind your head. You're under arrest for credit card fraud. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. I'm going to read you your rights, alright? Just cooperate with me."

Credit card fraud... Rain glanced back at Kate for a moment, then back at the officer. He felt a pang of guilt inside him. He was supposed to be watching her; it was his fault, really, but no one else should take the blame... at all. Kate didn't know what she was doing; Rain was the one who was supposed to.

"Sir, I'm not going to tell you again. Please kneel and put your hands behind your head. You're under arrest for credit card fraud. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. I'm going to read you your rights, alright? Just cooperate with me."

Man, Cadenza had always hated cops. More than almost anything. And here was yet another reason. The damned pricks were so by-the-book and never gave you a chance to explain yourself or try to clear your name. She hadn't even gotten a chance to straighten out everything that Kate had told her in her mind yet...

"Hold on a second," Cadenza broke in while the officer was reciting the last of the Miranda rights, stepping between the two men. The copper seemed real keen on this job, very eager to set things right and see the law carried out. But the gypsy wasn't about to have it this way. Not if she could do anything about it.

"Look, Officer What's-your-name, this man might have been with my daughter, but... that's just it. She's my daughter--and so I'm," she pointed to herself for emphasis, "responsible for her. For whatever. Even if the shopkeepers were idiots for letting a six-year old who didn't know any better use a credit card. I allowed her to go out with my boyfriend here, and if something happened while they were out, well then... I should've been there. My legal responsibility. You guys understand that kind of stuff. So book me. I know the cops have been trying to get me hauled in for something, and..."

She paused and looked across at Rain, and at Kate, shrinking back behind her and Jessi now. She looked at the girl's worried little eyes and knew that she was doing what she had to. As much as Cadenza hated it, and wished she knew how this credit card thing had started--she had to take the fall here. Louis could watch over Kate in the meantime... gods, was she going to miss her if they stuck her in jail for long. Never wanted to go back to that dump...

"...well, now you've got me. Arrest me, not Rain."

The woman held out her bandaged hands, offering them freely to be cuffed.

"Wait...!" Rain interrupted. He wanted to defend her, it wasn't her fault at all, even if she put it like that; how she sent Kate with Rain. The thing was that she was with Rain, and he was supposed to be looking over her to make sure that everything was okay. Cadenza was determined, too... she'd stick her neck out for them both without thinking on it much. That was how she was.. she wanted to be responsible. The Grim Angel gently took the little girl into his arms and kissed her cheek, whispering "It's alright, Katey, don't you worry." He had to support them all.

Rain rested a hand on Cadenza's shoulder now, his lips gently touching her cheek. "Latina," he whispered, "I'm sorry... I'll make it up to you." With a small smile, and a gentle whisper of "I love you, meu carina," he added, "...I know you won't stay in there for long, Latina, if they do take you away."

But before he could say anything more, he saw that young vampire, complete with large hat (with sunflower!) and blue, decorated sundress, stood between the officer and Cadenza. Jessica had a determined look in her eyes. They were unwavering, narrowed, glaring directly at the officer. Even if Cadenza seemed hardened, and was willing to go, Jessi didn't like this at all. Not like this--you don't handcuff and try to pull away a mother in front of her child and on top of that...

"... I just don't want you to go..."

"I-I want Papa!" Kate half-sobbed as the police officer somewhat regrettably took Cadenza aside to read her the rights in place of Rain as he snapped the handcuffs on her. He mostly ignored Jessi. I never knew it felt like that, but... I have no choice, I have to do what's right for the law. And they broke the law. They can defend themselves in a court of law.

"I want Papa now!" she wailed, rubbing her teary eyes on a sleeve. "Don't take Mommy away!" She wriggled wildly in Rain's arms. "Stop!"

Marcus watched from the starbucks booth, sipping his grande white hot chocolate with a serene sense of interest. "Will the little girl's wish be granted? I say let it happen. Let's add a bit to the chaos." He smiled. Blink.

Greg stared, then tried to say something, then stumbled back a little. The woman he was handcuffing had suddenly been replaced by an older, scruffy rural man nearly taller than Greg himself, small puffs of smoke coming from a pipe in his mouth, until it fell to the ground with a clatter. Either that or Greg was hallucinating, the work of filing in that cubicle at the station had finally got to him. He'd cracked. "Wh...wha..." He stumbled for words as he noticed Cadenza completely free next to Kate. "What... how..."

Kate threw herself against Louis now, crying freely, startled and unhappy by this sudden change. "Papa!" she sobbed, snuggling him tightly. Surely he would have snuggled back if it were possible, but his wrists were chained and he looked a little too bewildered to know exactly how to respond at this moment's notice, much like the police officer.

"Greg. Greg come in. Greg, do you read me, over? Have you taken the suspect into custody? Greg, do you copy?" The radio fizzed in the background.

When it'd finally dawned on Louis where he was and the state he was in (the poor man had been a bit on the sleepy side, in fact, this was his pre-afternoon nap pipe), he began to wonder what strange things the tobacconist had slipped into his stash. One moment he'd been sitting under a tree in his Dome room, after a rather filling and hearty meal, content and in good spirits, and now, well... he wasn't sure why but someone must have been very miffed at him for something, because he was handcuffed. And his little girl was crying.

The part that bothered the minstrel the most about all this was by far the sweet girl's tears. Each little one made his heart sink faster. "Honey..." he looked down at her big blue eyes, gone pinkish from crying, and felt he just had to say something to comfort her, as bewildered as he still was, "Oh Kate honey... what's going on...? Why has this officer got me chained up and gotten you so sad, my little pumpkin...?" The tall man tried straining against the cuffs to pet her hair, but it proved too difficult with his hands bound behind his back.

Cadenza was soon there at Kate's side, slipping a supportive arm around her but not pulling her from her father's side as she gently snuggled her daughter. She drew a handkerchief from a pocket in her dress, and dabbed at the tears running down the girl's cheeks, knowing, as muddled as this whole mess had become, that this was one thing she could still do to help.

"I, ah..." she stumbled for the right words, gave up, and decided to just wing it, "I have no idea how Fritz got here," she told the equally confused police officer, "but... you should take the cuffs off of him. He hasn't done anything but somehow stumble in at the wrong time..."

Had that been Marcus' doing, she wondered? Ruin was still around, so it was possible that so was his Master. Gods only knew right now...

Greg nodded, feeling a headache come on, fumbling for his radio. "I... Ah... Yes, I copy... no, suspect not in custody... no, no backup needed... stay on... might need you later... yes, over and out... thank you..." He shook his head and unlocked Louis' cuffs. "Alright, I've had enough of this. You! Over here, now!" he snapped, glaring at Cadenza, trying to sound intimidating to make up for his confusion. "I'm placing you under arrest for this credit card fraud!" He snapped the handcuffs on Cadenza and began to lead her despite Kate's protests towards the back doors. He was going to get this job done before they began to question his professionalism.

"Wait!" Suddenly, from down the mall walk, a panting woman waved the officer down. She wore a simple frock of cream and brown color, and an apron covering her dress (which was slightly stained in itself) with several blotches of batter and flour, a small dab of it on her cheek as well. Her apron read simply, "Celia's", stitched in brown threading. "Please!" Her blonde hair hung limply to her upper back, a few inches past her shoulders, soft eyes sparkling in urgency. She leaned on her knees to catch her breath.

"What now?" The officer groaned, getting tired of these interruptions.

"Please, that little girl has done nothing wrong, nor has her family!" the woman managed to say between pants. "I have proof!"

"Proof?" The officer looked skeptical.

"Yes! See, she stopped at my store, to buy some of my baked goods! And she used a credit card... I thought.. it was suspicious, so I called the mall security and asked to check up on it..."

"I-I remember..." Kate sniffed, wiping at her eyes. "You took it away for a few minutes..."

"Yes, and they've just returned my call to tell me it wasn't reported stolen, in fact it's been reported lost! So this little girl did nothing wrong! Nor her family! Please, it's not worth being arrested over..." The woman's eyes pleaded with Greg. Obviously this matter, despite not being a part of this family, meant a lot to her.

The officer seemed to consider this for a moment. He paused, took out his radio, and took Cadenza aside, murmuring something into it.