Distancing yourself... Tses actually had a hard time understanding that. Being a mutant had been a gift, sure, but her life hadn't changed much before or after her powers emerged. She was still a thief, still looked down upon, still fighting to survive. Being a mutant was just a tool to her, one she used to get by. She nodded though, pretending to undetsand, and took a drink of water.

The other question was easier to answer.

"Been stealing my whole life." Tses answered with a shrug. "Picking pockets sort of came naturally. You learned how to watch for the right people, watched where money was kept, noted people who counted change and who didn't. I had a few mentors, but it's sort of something you just pick up through practice." The smell of food drifted through the restaurant and she felt even hungrier in anticipation.

Oh, so it wasn’t just sleight of hand; you had to be able to read people too. That probably had something to do with all of Firecracker’s total failures on that front.

A waitress came to take their orders. Soon, they had their drinks and obligatory egg roll appetizers, with the main course on the way. All paid for by that random loser Tses casually stole from earlier.

“You know,” Firecracker said with her mouth full of egg roll, “I think I could probably play coffee golf with you, if we had something for me to drop into the coffee cups.” She chuckled. “I’m sure the people at the Mansion would love to hear that I’m practicing more with my new powers.”