Ey nods.

"Didn't think you'd want me to steal your baby and leave you behind." 

True, a baby on its own would probably be easier to explain, but easier still would be walking away. Darya's never been a fan of easy.

"...I'll go get her."

She goes and comes back with a baby.

...there is presumably a reason the baby has shaved hair. She's not Darya's baby, so ey doesn't say anything about it. 

"Ready to go now, or is there anything else you need?" 

Other than 'a plan', but they can figure that out as they go.

"I don't know where we're going or what we'll be able to get there but if you aren't in a hurry I can pack."

"I work for a merchant caravan from my world; we can stay with them until they leave, then go back with them to Corth," ey explains. 

"Seems a shame, but you might need to dye your hair black or brown at some point. I can get dye." 

"- okay," she says, and not "super illegal for me to be around stuff you're selling".

Right, Darya. This is illegal, you're helping someone break the law in a country where you don't even know the laws, better be careful.

Just to check: "Is there any reason we shouldn't walk back the way I came? Will anyone see your baby and know it's illegal?" 

"I don't have a valid work reason to be out of neighborhood."

That...is a problem. 

"How will they know? You wouldn't take your baby to work, maybe...I could carry her?" 

"Yeah. Am I packing or not -"

Ey shrugs, and settles against a wall to wait. 

"If they won't come looking for your baby in that time, go ahead." 

"Next payment's due in the morning I have at least that long."

"By then we'll have you hidden in my caravan with black hair. Good luck to them," Darya snorts. 

Is she not going yet?

"Want I should hold the baby while you pack?" 

She shakes her head and disappears into the neighborhood.

She's back twenty minutes later with a backpack and a purple sweater tied over her head.

...Darya's not sure that's a good way to avoid attention, but maybe everyone will be looking at the alien and not at the girl wearing something on her head that was clearly not designed to be worn on her head.

"I have a scarf if that would be better?" ey offers. It has the advantage that it was designed to be worn as a turban.

"What color is it?"

"Blue. I think I have a black one as well..."

Ey digs around in various pockets and comes up with a compact wad of black fabric that unrolls into a turban.

"Probably better if we want to disguise you as an alien, yes?"

"I don't think my eyebrows pass for black."

"Who'll be looking at your eyebrows?" ey scoffs.

"Up to you. Blue scarf, black scarf, or purple...thing." 

"Purple thing. It's lavender and my scarf got ripped on a zipper in the laundry."

"Whatever."

She knows what she's doing. Hopefully.

"Ready? Don't follow too close," ey warns. "I get lots of attention." 

She nods and trails behind a bit.

Right then. Time to face the crowds again.

Somehow it's easier the second time, maybe because ey's doing something worthwhile rather than just wandering aimlessly. Ey doesn't walk as fast as before and makes less effort to stay inconspicuous, trying to draw all the attention so mother and baby can go unnoticed. 

People take pictures and yell HI ALIEN.

What a surprise. "Hi, aliens!" 

Darya poses for pictures, keeping an eye on the angles so none of them will show the girl wearing a purple thing on her head. It turns the whole thing into a game, rather than an annoyance.