Just One More Piece(SG)

Kali followed Leon closely as they entered the city. Unlike their last trip shopping together in the capital, this wasn't her first time here- being the closest city to the lab, she'd come here to buy food and the like a few times already now- nor was the market district nearly so large or grand. As such, she wasn't necessarily worried about getting lost if they got separated, but she did want to stay near him just for the sake of doing so, and she'd rather avoid the reprimand that was certain if he had to come searching for her.

Her attention shifted often, then, between watching him, watching the town, and just admiring the city's unique scenery. The streets seemed a little crowded compared to other visits, but overall it was a really nice day. She was more than aware the heat would be miserable to some and uncomfortable to most, but Kali basked in it. Even southernmost Era had nothing on southern Orre, and it wasn't even summer; it was fall. So then, while Kali wouldn't really want to stand around in this for hours on end either, for just a casual outing she couldn't help but laugh a bit whenever she overheard someone complaining.

Suddenly, Leon spoke, and his tone quickly snagged her attention. Moving closer still, Kali nodded. "Er, yeah, of course." Wondering why the sudden concern, Kali looked around and found nothing out of the ordinary: just random people selling random goods. ...Hm. Actually, where were they headed, exactly? She didn't see a mechanical-type shop anywhere in immediate sight, and while that didn't mean there wasn't one, she suddenly realized a standard vendor may not have whatever they needed. This, in turn, led to memories of one source in particular she'd met, and-... "Arceus.." she groaned. "We're not going to see the Hatter, are we?"

Kali swallowed. No Hatter in the lab was definitely good; hell, in her opinion it'd be worth picking up their part here if this were the double-priced option just to make sure he had no reason to come around their workplace/home. She could just see his damned Rotom rampaging around undoing their work or destroying her beloved living room, and that Golbat.. She shuddered even now; the damn thing had given her nightmares for a week, and that face still made cameo appearances.

At the same time, though, the idea of what 'friends' the Hatter would keep... ...Well, maybe she'd be lucky. The way he'd used the word, 'friends' could easily refer to even people like Leon. ... No, no.. Actually, considering how he acted around most people, that wasn't likely to be much better at all, was it.. "Great..." Instinctively, as she became more wary, she took another step back toward him, and realized her hands had begun to reach for him. For half a second, she stopped- faltered, rather, no longer than it was- before realizing she may as well use the excuse. With a half-hearted half-smile, then, she grabbed hold of his arm loosely, continuing to scan the area then for anyone who looked particularly... out of place, she supposed.

Kali watched the crowd carefully, but no faces had meant anything to her or stood out at all until the man whose face they couldn't see. She hadn't expected even he would be their contact, really; she just knew she felt like shrinking away when she'd seen him walking their direction. When the man passed, Kali was surprised and of course a touch excited to see the package, but found herself shuddering a second anyway. "All these Erans are part-giant, I swear," she laughed sarcastically. Of course, given his involvement in Cipher, she'd always just assumed Leon was native to Orre, and gave it no thought now, either. "I miss walking down the street and meeting someone's eyes occasionally. Heh."

Kali found herself pulled along for a step before quickening her pace to match his, though she stay more behind than beside him now to allow them a little easier time breaking through the crowd. No real thought to it, she released his arm with one hand and let the other trail down to his, just as a little further means of easing their navigation.

Wh-..what? No, something wasn't right at all. Kali wasn't sure if they were running after or away from someone or something, but she knew she'd never seen Leon nearly this tense. He barely let himself do 'uncomfortable' most of the time, but this? She might have misjudged, projecting the fact it was scaring her onto him, but this seemed almost like fear. Kali herself grew anxious as she wondered what on earth could make him of all people react like this.

..Waitwaitwaitwhat? Kali couldn't have been more lost if she'd been left behind, though she certainly would have been had she lost her grip, having kept up solely by the aid of being dragged along as he ran. When they'd stopped, she instantly doubled over panting until she'd caught back some of her breath. Now, a few lines into their exchange, she moved closer and again took hold of Leon's arm, staying behind him as if 'hiding' though she was obviously clearly visible for fear of the man who could make Leon react like this.

So, what was going on? Who was this man- this Nathan Atra? Why was it so offensive to have bumped into him in the middle of a crowd, especially with Leon being the one who'd chased him down? Was there some reason he shouldn't have been in this part of Era at all- perhaps just Era at all? And... what did that last bit mean? There was a slight emphasis to Leon's name, though it could have been intended to either emphasize stating it in full as Leon had done or.. mockingly, it seemed.. ...Wait.

Kali's eyes grew a bit wider as gears started to turn; given the nature of Leon's 'name'.. If the mismatching and his odd introduction when they'd met hadn't been enough to make her skeptic, she certainly had never expected 'Alias' to be anything but that. But did this mean... Was this man confirming that it was in fact a pseudonym in full? And.... was he saying he knew his real name?! ...Most importantly.. was this a bluff? For all these questions, the only one Kali ended up asking was a vague, "...Leon?"

Kali went stiff and cold, her grip tightening, though Yue certainly didn't seem to notice. What... the... HELL..? Okay.. Nathan knew Leon. She got that. Implied, his real name. Interesting! From the sound of it, how he lost his eye. Also interesting. Apparently there was only one other unknown person who knew one or both of these things. Cool.

But what. the. fucking. hell how did he know anything about HER!? How much more did he know about her? Her first instinct was to bark out 'who are you!' but... He was Nathan Atra, a former Count.. Right.. And wait, on that note, had he said he'd caught sight of them? But hadn't they-... Hm. It turned out he could still get creepier. ...At this point, Kali sighed as another thought came to her, unnerving in nature yet somehow a bit calming in this situation. Does Leon know anyone who isn't creepy and/or evil?

Forcing herself to relax a bit, she spoke to Nathan directly now, tone and expression harsh, though she was still mostly hiding.. "What does it matter?" Whether this referred to the end alone or the entire topic of Yue's past was left vague. "Besides, anyone would get pissed at that obnoxious tone. Why don't you stop playing games and just tell us what you want?"

Kali wasn't sure what to make of this guy. He didn't seem like he was going to harm them, at least immediately or directly, but there was still just.. something about him.. To call himself a friend, Leon certainly didn't seem thrilled to see him, but neither did he protest the advance. Of course, Kali realized at this point she was a bit of an obstacle if he had wanted to run. She moved more to Leon's side, then, hoping the gesture might look minimally amiable as well as ease their escape later if it came to that. One hand moved to clutch the strap of her backpack, while the other continued to hold onto his arm only loosely for now. "You know.. When normal people want information they just ask questions.." she said caustically.

Once they'd passed through the gate and Leon at last allowed them a moment's rest, Kali released her hold on him and collapsed against the wall, panting heavily, legs threatening to give out on her. She wasn't in bad shape, really- just all the sprinting. Still, she was glad to be away... and at the same time, a bit disappointed, she found. She wanted to know what he had to say.

"Leon.." she panted. "Who was that... creep?" And why did he terrify you like that? At this point, part of her had to wonder what had actually scared him (or if both, scared him more): whatever Nathan had been about to say, or the thought of Kali hearing it.

Kali sighed, not that it was very noticeable with her breath still heavy anyway. Taking a good guess as to what Leon was looking for, she reached back in the ball pocket of her bag and grabbed Kjaer's from the top, but did not release her yet in case he had other thoughts. She watched him a moment, lines deepening on his face she'd never noticed were even there before. Worse than the effect of the look itself was she didn't even know just what had done this to him.

Finally taking a step toward him, she said sincerely, "I hope you know you could tell me anything..." While they were here.. She wanted to.. and he could use- needed- something else on his mind.. Kali gathered as much courage as she could. "Whatever's ever happened.. it doesn't change..." But all her courage still failed. "You're the best friend I have," she finished instead. Well, that was true too, anyway.