Alpha raises his eyebrow. He's eager, Howard, though whether he's eager to prove his usefulness or just for something to do before he faints from fear, Alpha's not sure. Either way, Alpha's got nothing else to pass the time, so he looks over the crowd.

"Now? Because I could always use a spare communication device," he says, and it's a genuine desire as much as a request. At the moment, the problem of Ballard is even a higher priority than getting home, if the man is going to keep distracting him like this. "Can you pick a pocket? Burgle a home, a public building?"

Can he steal with people around, when not in the Arena with only a few dozen others around to worry about? If not, it's possible the time to teach him the basics would be worth having Howard as his handy fall guy.