Soot jumped slightly as her name was called. As much as she did regularly sneak around at night, she wasn’t an expert rogue and often panicked about getting caught. Plus, even if she considered herself great at observing fine details, she wasn’t really that passively perceptive.
 
She was familiar with a lot of the Rats, if anything she saw them more than Bowlyn. As far as Soot understood, the gang knew where she lived and Bowlyn regularly used them to run errands for her: dropping off notes to apologise for now showing up to a date; delivering gifts to Soot; or even showing up to warn the Painter of danger. 

But, Bowlyn showing up at the start of a night was more unique, especially to offer a warning like this. She could read on the Thief’s face that she was clearly nervous: uncharacteristically so. Soot rested a hand on Bowlyn's shoulder and gave a passive smile.

“Well… Just let me know where you all plan to be ‘busy with work’ and I’ll keep away!” She said, rubbing Bowlyn's shoulder, “Just because you are intent on causing a ruckus doesn't mean it needs to interfere with my work.”  Seeing Bowlyn really did improve her mood, and the Thief-Queen’s confident demeanour was contagious. “Besides” Soot said, her face still passive, but the corner of her mouth curled into a smirk. “Only one of us is a [i]wanted[/i] criminal.” she gave the thief a soft punch on the arm.

However… for all her talk, Soot knew that she’d end up following right after Bowlyn and her Rats. She would take a different route of course, to avoid bumping into the gang too early but... There was precedent! the painter told herself, ‘the more commotion nearby, the more likely the guards are too busy chasing Bowlyn to bother with me’ and everyone hiding inside from the fire wheels meant no random pedestrians would catch her. It wasn’t totally honest, but it was a reason!