"I just steal things I want."

You are so going to die.

"That generally works for you?"

"Well, I have magic powers."

"Everyone here has magic powers. You are going to die."

"I've been about to die my whole life. I might as well have some fun. --I didn't ask to be here."

"Well, you evidently didn't get in by the entrance exam. Were you in Chicago for some reason?"

What's a Chicago.

"Yes."

"How did you manage that, being illiterate and not speaking any English?" he asks, but he sounds more morbidly curious than suspicious. 

"I lived in the Chinatown," Xue Yang says. He's pretty sure people immigrate to Chinatowns. 

(Della also peeks at the schedule.)

"Well, you may have my condolences for how doomed you are, much good they are likely to do you."

"Don't worry, I'll have fun while I'm here."

He's already had more chocolate in the past 24 hours than in any day of his life he remembers.

Kanimir gives him a steady look and says to Lily, in English: "You also have my condolences."

"They are sincerely appreciated."

"I don't think we've introduced ourselves, I'm Kanimir Kozlov. --Atlanta," he adds belatedly, fiddling uncomfortably with his power-sharer. 

"Isabel Lillian Amber, but I go by Lily. Canada." Her bracelets are obviously enough not power-sharers to mark her out anyway. "Affinity is bracelets, and I'll gladly sell you one for blasting, shielding, or endurance if you're interested."

"--Potentially yes. What are you looking to trade?"

"Anything enchanted for healing or protection would be excellent. I'd also take mana or unfilled gems or wire or thread, and if you have something you're looking to get rid of I could almost certainly offer you something for it, I have luxuries, school supplies and superglue too."

"I can get you gems and wire for a bracelet of endurance."

"I'll want at least a dozen good quality gems and two spools of wire."

Glower glower glower no one is going to murder his chocolate supply.

"What size of gems?"

"Small ones are acceptable." She shows her black wire and ruby storage bracelet, all twelve of its inset jewels glittering red. "They don't need to be large to serve as beads."

"I can do that."

"Do you need time to get that together?"