"He's gonna smell you coming from a mile away, he will."

"Why don't we get a purse?"

"Well [i]you[/i] do it then, why don't you?"

"[i]You[/i] do it, standing there with your big mouth. See how someone likes you walking around with their money."

"It's a sight better than walking up to Hokey's cart, is all I'm saying!"

"We're not stealing anyone's purse!" Jingfei piped up finally, looking at the ring of boys that were her friends, family and coworkers all in one. Big, shaggy haired Dom, wiry Lever, Scrap, Rat- his name spoke volumes- and Feather. They were all huddled together in one of the particularly awful alleys, planning- or at least trying to plan their next 'shopping trip'. Dom was leaning against the wall, moody as usual with his arms folded. Lever and Rat sat on an empty crate, and Jingfei, Scrap and Feather were all jostling for space on the mouldy mattress that was pushed to the far end of the alley. They all looked at her, eyebrows raised and waiting for her say on the matter. Jingfei's brow furrowed, her eyes focused on a rat that ran across the alley. "We'll do Hokey. Me and Scrap'll get a couple of pears or somethin', an' pickpocketing is a right stupid idea, Lever." She said finally, shooting the green eyed boy a look. "Not like anyone this side of the wall has anything worth swiping, anyway." 

Residents of the lowest ring of Ba Sing Se, everyone in that circle was living on the barest minimum with only a few lucky ones in their district like Hokey the vendor living anything close to a comfortable life. Jingfei recalled seeing members of the Republic police force traipsing through their decrepit part of town a few days ago. They'd been so well fed she'd thought they were unhealthy, unused as she was to seeing anyone without jutting collarbones.

"Well, go do it then," Dom said dismissively.

"We're going, jeez, not like you ever get any of the food," Scrap grumbled, rising from the mattress and dusting himself off with cloth bound hands. It was true. Dom, slow as he was, was possibly one of the worst they could choose to steal food. He was big and lumbering, attracting attention wherever he went. But he was also strong and intimidating for a half-starved teen, and sometimes the group found that useful. The only worse person was Feather, who was unnaturally clumsy [i]and[/i] slow. Jingfei got to her feet as well, straightening her tunic. The pair of them left the group without any fanfare and stepped out into the bright streets of their distric, blending in seamlessly with the other ragged people who were out and about. Hokey's stall was a few blocks away, one that they'd successfully used a few times. It was rare enough that he hadn't done much to protect his goods, and they only tried him when they were desperate.

The burly vendor's produce wasn't particularly good, but it was cheap and relatively plentiful, which meant he usually had good business. 

"You got a coin on ya?" Scrap muttered to Jingfei as they approached.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I've got that and King Wu's crown on my head, don't I?" She said sarcastically. "Alright, you run through the line and push that lady over. Should knock over a few of [i]something[/i]." She directed. Scrap nodded and took off, and Jingfei picked up her speed a little bit. Her little idea had worked. The thin woman at the front of the queue had taken a tumble onto Hokey's cart, sending vegetables careening left and right. Scrap had stayed behind, apologizing profusely and keeping Hokey's fury directed on him, and Jingfei quickly scooped up what she could into the pockets of her tunic before disappearing back into the bustling crowd.

[hr]

"Maybe we could try the soup kitchen?" Lever suggested, wiping peach juice off his lips with a look of satisfaction.

"Soup kitchen?" Came Jingfei's reply through a mouthful of an apple, accompanied by a raised eyebrow. "Wossat?"

"They give you free food," he shrugged.

"Are you sure you're not talking about heaven?" Rat said, and Jingfei burst into gasping laughter.

"Well, s'no place like that around." Dom said dismissively.

"We could look for it." Jingfei suggested. "Free food can't be a half bad idea."