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"It's not so bad, really," Rory chuckled. "They donnae really understand us, an' what most people donnae understand, they make up fae it by hatin' it. It ain't us didikai they really hate, though, it tha' we're so different an' they cannae comprehend us, an' so they despise us." He smiled, fishing out a pretty necklace from his pocket--one he'd seen Lee admire in the shop. "Besides, them callin' me names an' all tha', it donnae make me feel too bad when I do things like this t' them." He wasn't worried in the least at being caught since, thanks to his strange fingers, shoplifting was almost too easy for him and they were well hidden in the soda machine's alcove. "Just donnae gae t' wearin' it till we're home, yeah?"

Rory kissed her back, trying not to make either of them drop their sodas while pulling her closer. After a moment he pulled back, grinning. "I take tha' you sorta approve, yeah?" He tucked the necklace away back in his pocket, shrugging. "You seem pretty surprised, though. Where did you think all them stories o' us bein' thieves came from, eh? W' all know how, an' we all do it fae some reason or other. I personally enjoy keepin' me skills sharp stickin' t' th' stuffy outsiders who look down their damn nose at me."

"Well, you'll learn how because it's handy t' know, but no one in th' clan will e'er expect you t' actually do it," Rory said. "Now you know why w' donnae bother wi' locks on our doors. What be th' point when you live wi' thieves, but tha's where th' respect w' all hae fae each other comes in." He gave her another quick kiss, mouth tasting sweet from his creme soda. "An' now you've learned two very important things about our people."

"There's really not tha' much t' know about us," Rory said, shrugging. "W' not exactly luggin' around rules set in stone, but w' hae guidelines an' they work fae us." He tossed his empty soda bottle in the trash. "I'll also say tha' you donnae see didikai leavin' t' join outsider society as much as th' outsiders run t' us wantin' t' be in th' clan."

Leaning back against the machine again, he looked at her. "That's fae two reasons, each pretty equally reasonable an' important. The first is tha' a didikai clan no matter how big or small is an extended family. On some base level, w're all related t' each other through blood or marriage. Our traditions put family in th' highest regards, so it takes a very big thing t' make a didikoy leave their family. Outsiders seem t' be a little more alright wi' it than us, though."

"As fae th' second, well, tha' can be better illustrated wi' a demonstration," the boy said, watching the throng of people moving about, hand searching his pocket. "Tell you what, Lee. Gae see if'n you can get me some spare change so I can show you what I wanted to. I seem to hae left me coins back at Farstep."

Rory got the coins from her. "That's great." He put them in his pocket, handing her drink back to her. "Let me give it a try." He moved out into the crowd and it wasn't very long before he was running back, a few angry-looking men right behind him. Grabbing Lee's hand as he ran past her, he led her off through the crowds, finally ditching the men as he pull the girl into an alley between two shops.

Panting softly, he looked up at her, grinning a bit. "I ne'er e'en got a word out wi' th' first person I asked afore they were all after me." He moved to peer out, checking to see that the men weren't going to bother them, then leaned back against the wall. "Sorry t' hae scared you like tha'. You get it now, though, yeah? Th' clans will take outsiders in, w'll accept them. It doesnae work th' other way 'round. Sure, there been a few t' leave us an' want t' join th' outsiders. Them that weren't driven off or killed, they ain't treated right. It's th' way w' speak tha' gives us away or sometimes th' way w' move or what w' wear."

He looked up at the sky overhead awhile before looking back at her, having caught his breath. "You can always gae back t' your old life, Lee. Some may treat your different because you lived wi' us or loved me, but on th' whole, you'd be accepted back as if you ne'er left. I would ne'er be accepted here. E'en if I married you an' your parents took us in t' live in their fancy home an' made a reet gentleman o' me, I'd ne'er be more'n a pikey. Tha's why w' donnae leave. Wi'out our clan an' family, w've nowhere t' gae an' no one t' care fae us. A didikoy can leave if they want, but why gi' up everythin' t' be hated and despised wi' no safe haven?"

Rory leaned over, taking her hand gently, voice soft and quiet. "Oi, lass, donnae be sad, yeah? I know it's a hard truth t' know, but it's somethin' that I cannae keep from you if'n you want t' really be a part o' Farstep an' th' Grady clan. I use t' think w' were th' same when I wis a boy, us an' them. Then all tha' happened at th' market an' I knew tha' if there were people willin' t' beat a child t' death, then they'd ne'er accept any part o' his people."

He slipped down the wall into an easy crouch and looked up at her. "So, now your blinders hae been a bit lifted. I'm sorry I had t' do tha', but you hae t' gae into this decision wi' your eyes open. Wouldnae be fair t' you otherwise."

"Come sit awhile wi' me, lass, an' catch your breath," Rory said, holding a hand up to invite her to come use his leg and knee as seat. "We'll gae back when your ready. Could maybe gae back t' my place an' fix up a nice lunch fae a picnic, take Kettle out t' th' fields, an' just spend some time together."

"Sometimes," the boy answered honestly, looking down. "But can you blame me in it?" He looked out at the crowd passing by the mouth of the alley, not sure what else to tell her. Giving a soft sigh, he looked back at her. "I donnae hate them all th' time. W' need them t' keep th' carnival runnin' wi' their money, sure as they need us fae their entertainment. I used t' not really think o' them much when I wis little. I guess tha' day at th' market kinda stole some o' me innocence on things. Maybe it's not so much th' people I hate, but how they view us an' how they treat us."