["Hey, asshole!" the teenage boy snarls, stepping towards the officer with his shoulders squared. "I was talking to you!"
As the man's attention is pulled away from Dr. Sohrab and back to shutting down the would-be tough kid, Andrei ghosts past behind his oversized helper and into the rapidly thinning crowds on the other side of the cordon. For a moment, he considers continuing to walk, getting himself well away-- but Dr. Sohrab hadn't had to help him.
Cursing his conscience for the thousandth time, he slips into the mouth of an alley, hunkering down into a crouch. There aren't many panhandlers up here, but there are always a few risking the increased police harassment for the more generous handouts. Andrei's outfit is old and worn enough that, when he pulls his coat close to hide the clean shirt, the masquerade is believable.
More importantly, the cops are busy with bigger fish, and he can make sure from here that Dr. Sohrab has gotten past their cordon without too much trouble.]
no subject
As the man's attention is pulled away from Dr. Sohrab and back to shutting down the would-be tough kid, Andrei ghosts past behind his oversized helper and into the rapidly thinning crowds on the other side of the cordon. For a moment, he considers continuing to walk, getting himself well away-- but Dr. Sohrab hadn't had to help him.
Cursing his conscience for the thousandth time, he slips into the mouth of an alley, hunkering down into a crouch. There aren't many panhandlers up here, but there are always a few risking the increased police harassment for the more generous handouts. Andrei's outfit is old and worn enough that, when he pulls his coat close to hide the clean shirt, the masquerade is believable.
More importantly, the cops are busy with bigger fish, and he can make sure from here that Dr. Sohrab has gotten past their cordon without too much trouble.]