Every Little Helps [Cassiel/Dale]

Dale didn't often go out in public if he didn't have to. The sheer amount of people that tended to be about had him constantly on edge for theft, assault, or just generally being messed with, and with so many people it just made it that much harder to tell who it'd be.
It was absolutely terrifying, and frankly he was just glad Chip was with him to help him cope.
Still, he had reason to be here. He'd found not even moldy bread in the trash earlier, and since he didn't really have any money to work with right now, that was out of the question either.
So, this was the last chance he had before it got to the stuff that got more tricky. As much as he hated being around so many people, it meant it was far more likely things would get dropped or get lost, and that was especially likely here. A stray apple there, a tiny sum of money here. Little things that most people didn't care about, but to him were a potential lifeline.

The sound of a rolling coin met his ears, and without hesitation Dale took off, carving a path through the crowds to snatch it up before anyone else could. He practically had to dive for it, but after barely rolling past someone he had his prize in hand.
It drew attention, oh yes. It always did when he did something like this, and it made him no less comfortable.
But he knew nothing usually happened. It was a small consolation, but a much needed one for his sanity.
Stashing the coin away, he rose, looking around warily for the next thing he needed to respond to.

Someone was approaching. And one of the worst things about being caught out in the crowds in this situation was that it meant there was a lot less he could do...at least, a lot less things that wouldn't get the chasing people's attention. He'd learned all too well by now that their attention was bad.
Someone else might have found the comparatively small stature of the boy approaching him reassuring, but Dale knew better. Small did not mean they weren't dangerous. Especially since they didn't seem to be a normal person. The lines of black and white that ran across his face might as well have been blaring warning lights to his suspicious eye. They were a junc-son, and those always seemed to be able to do all sorts of new things. He definitely had to be careful.

Dale backs off a little as Cassiel approaches, doing his best to maintain a distance that would let him either run, or get a solid kick off on the approaching boy if he needed to. Even if it didn't land, it would hopefully get him some space.
His wary disposition only worsens as it's made clear the boy was looking for information about him. "What is it?"
Suspicion and paranoia were the orders of the day, here. He'd been caught out too many times, and it wasn't happening again.

Dale looks at Cassiel, puzzled. Reading his fortune...? How...how did you read that? Was it written somewhere? Was it one of those things he'd sometimes seen on walls? How...how did that...? From what he understood of what fortune was, he didn't think it was a thing you could just read...or even something you could know much about anyway. Maybe it was one of those junc-son things? What this one did?
Also, what did he mean by 'legit', anyway? And what was a Pendragon...maybe it was just what they called themselves? Sounded like that.

Dale still remains wary, but his voice betrays his curiosity about the current situation. "How does that work...?"

Dale's curiosity died down quickly as Cassiel delivered their explanation. Regardless of his intentions, Dale only heard one thing as he processed what had been said: Danger.
It had been a long, long time since he'd let himself be led to a private location by someone else, let alone most public ones. When that happened, he got attacked. And funnily enough, he was distinctly not fond of being attacked by people.
Even assuming that nobody else would be waiting for him if this person brought him there, he didn't know what the person before him was capable of. It was not worth the risk.

His eyes narrow slightly as his voice takes a more hostile turn. "And why can't you do that here? Why do you need a private place?"

This still felt wrong on an instinctual level. Dale gave Cassiel a guarded look, carefully considering things.
For all he had his reservations, though, the boy's suggestion served to ease his paranoia somewhat. He'd seen the location a few times, and people seemed to go in and out of there a decent amount. While it still wasn't completely safe, chances were better that the place filled just by people waiting to beat him up with this boy. If they sat outside, it would limit what could be done without police attention, and even inside the sizeable glass windows would let people on the street see in, as well as make for an easy escape path.

...plus, he might get food. He knew people got it from these places, and he could really do with some of that. It would be easier than doing what he usually did.

Dale nods, slowly. "Fine. Near...near a 'window'."

Apprehensive but hopeful, he follows Cassiel. "...Dale. I'm Dale."
As a little part of his mind worked away at referencing this with the different setups he'd been caught in before, Dale listened to the Pendragon babble away. He didn't understand most of it, naturally. Who or what the elites were, for example. What a drone was too, or what he meant by 'family'...he seemed to be making a big deal about that last one.
Rather than trying to inquire about the things that kept rushing by, he focused on what he was able to get from it all, continuing to keep a wary eye on his surroundings all the while. His head whips around for a moment as someone trips over nearby, before slowly turning back to set Cassiel as the central point of his vision again.
"Don't really get much clothes. Too much money. Mostly wear what I can get from people." And wasn't that true? He was lucky the shoes he'd taken from the last person fit properly.

Something seems to move underneath Dale's shirt, and he quickly covers it up under his suit jacket, muttering and making hushing noises into his collar. It's over quickly, but there still seems to be a small, indistinct shape underneath there.

That- that wasn't what he-
What was going on? What were they doing? That wasn't his name.
Was this a junc-son thing? Why were they doing this?
"That's..." He shook his head. Not worth it. Just a junc-son thing. Not worth it!

And they just kept going on about clothes. He seemed to like them? A lot. Clothes were important, but he wasn't nearly so enthusiastic about them. He just didn't have enough money for there to be any point caring. He did, it sounded like, but there were things that wouldn't let him wear not-white things? Wait, no, people. Mentioned one of those two things before, sounded like a person. But still...he'd heard the words before. From a lot of people, even. Who were they? Why did everyone know them? "'Mom'? 'Dad'?"

He shakes his head as he's asked about going to see clothes, incredibly confused. Aside from the fact that he had no idea other than 'clothes place' as to what he was talking about, and that he was barely willing to go with him right now as it is, he just didn't see the point. "Why do that? I can't buy them. I already have these, and I don't need to get rid of them yet. So why?"
Even if for once, most his clothes were relatively new, if you looked you could see his tie was very well worn, as were his shoes.

Things go quiet briefly as attention turns onto Dale, the human-looking bot actually flinching as he's asked what he does. "Not a lot. I get things. I eat. I sleep." His tone is defensive for what little he says.

"Parents...?" This was getting more and more confusing. He...he was going to stop here. This wasn't making sense right now, and it wasn't going to soon.

Dale simply shook his head. "Why would I need more than one...? This works fine. I'd need money for more anyway...a way to carry them too..." It really didn't make sense for him. "It'd just cause problems, get in the way. This is better."
He paused. There was a word there he didn't recognise. "Expression?"

What did he get...? There wasn't much he needed to get. "Money. Food. Clothes, when I need new ones." The way he talked, he didn't see anything else to it. "Sometimes I can't find what I need, but I manage."
Favourite...food? "What...what do you mean, by that?" He felt like he should know this one, but it was just out of reach. "And...I don't think I've had...'grape soda'?" This...this was all weird. Even with what he learned recently..."Food is food...isn't it? You need it. It just matters if you have what you need."