Curtain Call at the Lantern

A lad in a red hood stepped in front of you before you were halfway to the lamp. Another slid up behind Jonah and lifted the phone clean out of his hand. It was a beautiful phone. The lads' eyes tracked it like starving men watching a plate go past.

"Nice," said Red Hood. "What's it say about you, then, mate?"

Jonah opened his mouth to answer honestly and thought better of it. You watched Kez, on the wall, not moving. He didn't have to. The crew were his hands.

This was an interaction, not an interrogation. Respect and status were being traded in front of you like currency, and you had one move before the exchange rate settled.