Despite her allegiance with The Strays, Noa managed to wrangle herself a few cash-in-hand jobs in the week to at least have some cover for her criminal escapades in the form of a semi-legitimate income, especially if anything happened to the gang. On this occasion, she had managed to convince Errol to accompany her to the laborious job of painting some rooms for an elderly lady after Noa managed to convince her of their non-existent expertise in decorating.

At least these were the kinds of jobs where there was certainty that she wouldn’t feel guilty, even if it was under the pretence of a certain amount of deceit. 

After finishing the job and accepting the cash, though not without the end of her sleeve becoming casualty to the paint, she exchanged goodbyes with the lady and headed back out into the street. It was one of the wealthier areas of town, near the university, so the lady was more than generous in her offerings, hence the reason Noa had chosen her particular advertisement. 

Putting the cash in her pocket, she patted Errol on the back. [color=7bcdc8]“I’ll buy you a hot dog as thanks.”[/color] She told him with a sly smile, as though she wasn’t going to split the cash. Of course, she would, but teasing Errol was priceless. She was thankful for his company though, no matter how much he may or may not have been gently pressured. No one else was exactly keen on spending time with her but it suited her well because she enjoyed his company and not just for the sake of having someone around.

The side street joined back up with the main road which was as lively with traffic and blaring car horns as ever. Only, the traffic hadn’t moved for several minutes and soon angry voices began to enter the fray, seemingly that of both drivers and indistinct voices over megaphones in the direction they were headed. People in New York were certifiably insane. Even when she moved to the US seven years ago she lived in a sleepy Minnesotan town, a world away from New York.

Before the voices were discernible to the average person, Noa fell silent as she focused on the sound, barely able to make out the content of the voices but once she did her expression shifted to one of discomfort.[color=7bcdc8] “It’s an anti-mutant protest.” [/color]She informed Errol. Her jovial attitude disappeared. She had never fully accepted herself as a mutant and it was even harder to do so when other people denied your right to exist, but she couldn't avoid it forever.

Clearly uneasy, she slowed her pace. [color=7bcdc8]"Let's go another way."[/color] She suggested, though it would require a major detour and the chance of them catching public transport now was non-existent. Still, it seemed better than the alternative of listening to the vitriol of ignorant people.