"[b]Not the best time to be out on the street, young man.[/b]" [i]The voice came from a tall, broad-shouldered fellow, who approached with a plastic bag in either hand, both of which were full of various groceries. The rain came down hard on his leather jacket, the noise of the watery impacts proceeding his comment and pervading the silence following. With the sound of settling glass, the man put one of the bags to the rain-soaked bricks of the streets. Reaching into his leather coat, he pulled out a one-handed umbrella, extending it to Miles.[/i] "[b]I had planned to use it, but I ended up grabbing more groceries than I'd anticipated. Here, you look like you'll need it.[/b]" [i]The air around him was kind of cloudy, as though he emitted a very slight amount of steam.[/i] "[b]So, what has happened today to result in such a situation as this, young man?[/b]"