Across the Tracks, Right?

[tamaracorine]

Quin's father nodded, putting the papers to the side and looking at Jamie curiously. He approached her and pulled the envelope from her bag, tearing it open and reading the contents of the message. It was a detailed plan to get those non-magicals who had been trapped on this side of the fence back home. Jamie didn't know that, however. Quin's father raised an eyebrow and laughed, "How ironic. You come here with plans to rescue the captives, and end up captive yourself."


Jamie opened her mouth to speak and he put a finger to his lips, shushing her again. "Prisoners don't speak. You'll do well to remember this." he looked at his son with a smile, "Good work, Quin. I'm proud of you. Can you take her down to the holding cell in the basement, clean up her arms and find out what skills of use she has so we can put her to work as soon as possible? Also, organise for her hair to be changed... bright red doesn't suit a servant. Something more demure, please."


"Screw you." Jamie mumbled.

 

[Sero]

He could only nod before he paused, thinking carefully about a few things. "Hey, father, since I found her....do you think I could watch her?" Quin asked, crossing his arms. "It would be good training I guess." He knew he sounded a bit insensitive however he wanted to keep her personality to himself.


Since boredom wasn't as easy to starve off recently. "I'll take care of everything else first, of course. I wouldn't want to be jumping ahead." He did want to jump ahead. However he kept his thoughts to himself, knowing it would benefit him much better in the long run. Especially if he wanted to be a leader.


She was probably hating him right now. Oh well.

 

[tamaracorine]

His father nodded, "Consider her your responsibility, son. But if she escapes, that's also your responsibility." he sounded stern as he sat back down and picked up the paperwork. "She seems feisty, so be sure to keep a close eye on her. Also, remember your gagging spell. If she keeps mouthing off like she just did, please use it. I wont have her insulting myself or any of my family."


Jamie grimaced as the mention of a gagging spell, twisting her wrists around underneath the cuffs that held her hands tightly. She kept her eyes on the ground, looking frustrated but being careful to not speak, her teeth digging slightly into her bottom lip as she forced herself into silence.


"Oh, also, you may want to take her gun from her. In case she gets stupid ideas." his father glanced up at Quin. "Have fun, Quin."

 

[Sero]

Quin nodded. "Alright. Og course Father I'll keep all those in mind!" He smiled politely before moving out of the room and releasing a breath when the door shut behind them. "Gagging spells are so much effort." He mumbled, leaning over and taking the gun from her. He knew it was there, but he didn't think she would use it. He had been basically right.


"So anyway, Ill get you some clothes, help you dye your hair and we'll work something out. Cool? Cool. Let's go Jamie." I smiled and started leading her down the stairs. He wouldn't be bored now. Oh, but he'd have to heal her first. Had almost forgotten. Poor Jamie was probably in some pain.


"So basically...don't make my father mad and you'll be a-okay."

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie didn't try to stop him from taking the gun, following him silently out of the room. She didn't like his father one bit. The annoyance she felt towards Quin paled in comparison to her feelings towards his father.


She followed him down the stairs, grimacing as he mentioned dying her hair. "Great." She mumbled. "So I basically don't speak, and let you change my hair and clothes, and turn me into a meek servant, and he doesn't get angry at me... Then we're all happy. Except, you know, me." She raised an eyebrow.


Her arms were throbbing from the wounds, but she did her best to hide the pain.

 

[Sero]

"Actually, don't stay quiet." Quin said, frowning. "That's boring. Just not around my father." He wasn't really keen on making her meek. "I'll be flexible, I mean, I don't want you to be unhappy. I'll provide anything you need and more. If....you let me in on a favor. Ah, but no running. You're my responsibility."


He led her down the stairs and sat her down, looking around for some water with a rag. He could clean her up himself. "Is black okay for hair? Pr what?" He asked as he came back to clean off the wound and heal it like he probably should have earlier. He was pretty happy with his position but it'd defeat the purpose if she became lame.


"Oh yeah, about that favor I mentioned, tell me what you think."

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie laughed quietly at his comment about her being quiet being boring. She nodded a little, sitting down where she was told to and looking down at her arms. "If it has to change colour, then black will do." she told him quietly, watching as he found items to clean her arms with. She seemed to be relaxing a little.


Her mind was racing with possible ways out of the situation, and she had convinced herself that the best way to get out was to earn Quin's trust, and then, of course, betray it at the first possible moment when she knew she could get away. She looked at him suddenly as he reminded her about the favour. "I can't tell you what I think about a favour, until you tell me what the favour is." she told him with a shrug. "Can you do me a favour and take the cuffs off? Chain my leg to the chair, for all I care... I'd just like use of my hands back, please."

 

[Sero]

Quin thought carefully about it before pulling up his sleeves and snapping his fingers a few times. It was like his magic trigger, it just made it easier to start. He went quiet a bit before hovering his hands over the wound then pressing it. Hoping to get her healed quickly. "There, is it better?" He asked patting her arm before turning over to mess with some dyes. He could do this.


Going back to the earlier conversation he smiled slightly. "Stories. I want you to pay me in stories. I want to know about your side of the wall." He was going to take over it one day, he knew it. So he wanted to know. What were the people like? "I'll take off the cuffs if you agree."

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie let out a sigh of relief when he healed her arms, nodding. "Yeah, better." she told him, a small smile finding its way to her face as she looked down at them. She shifted back in the seat, watching him look at the dye. She loved her red hair. It was the thing that set her apart. She was about to lose it. She couldn't let him see how much it bothered her, and so she forced her face to stay neutral... but her constantly shifting body made it obvious she wasn't happy.


"Deal." she agreed. "I'll tell you one story in exchange for the cuffs coming off. I'm not going to give you endless stories in exchange for that one thing, though... You want more stories, you'll give me more.."

 

[Sero]

"Just can't let you go love." He replied, leaning over and very carefully separating her hair. He used black dust usually, than transferred the color. She'd have to wash her hair after. Magic was convenient but tiring. He'd have to nap later. She could share his room right? Maybe not....then he could work something else out.


Quin applied the balk dust onto sections of her hair, snapping his fingers again to set off his trigger before brushing his hands through the strands. It was almost like printing an image on paper. "I'll get you some shampoo and a change of clothes, and wait for you after you shower."

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie sat still as he worked, not happy with what was happening, but aware that arguing wasn't going to help her situation. "What sort of stories do you want from me? I mean... there's a lot of mundane things I could tell you. Do you want those, or do you want the boring every day ones?" she turned her head to look up at him. "And the cuffs... off... please. I'll tell you whatever you want."


She seemed to relax the more he touched her hair - she couldn't help it. It was nice to have someone play with her hair. She didn't want to admit it, though, but her posture relaxed enough that it was obvious.

 

[Sero]

He paused, finishing her hair before moving back to examine his work. It was a shiny black now. "When you take a shower the red will wash out, since this color is replacing your old one. It stays longer. Also, I just want to know what your side of the wall is like. See?" He asked, snapping his fingers again and letting the cuffs soften and drop, before withering away into dust.


"Alright, the showers are there. I'll get you a jumpsuit for now until I can buy you some tomorrow." Quin muttered, picking up the water and putting it on a dresser. "I'll take you with me, but you'll have to be marked, is wrist okay?"

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie rubbed her wrists and clenched her fists, then unclenched them, getting used to having use of her hands again. "Thanks." she said quietly, reluctant to say it, but feeling obliged for the sake of politeness. She stood up, stretching. Her back cracked loudly and she sighed. "What's wrong with these clothes? Jumpsuits are..." she shrugged. "I was going to say jumpsuits are for prisoners. But, well. You get how pointless that objection is, right?"


At the mention of being marked, she looks confused. "What do you mean... marked? I... I don't understand."

 

[Sero]

"Oh." Quin looked at her for a minute and frowned. "They aren't striped or orange. They're black and comfortable to sleep in. So I was thinking they worked better as pajamas for tonight." He hadn't really thought of the prisoner thing. Well, it was just normal for him to see people wearing them.


"The mark is like...a branding that disappears after your service is done. It let's people know who you work for and not to mess with you. So...like..a...collar?" That was a horrible way to put it. He was pretty disappointed in himself for not being more creative with it.

 

[tamaracorine]

"A collar?" she asked, picking up the jumpsuit and looking at him curiously. "Oh, well, if it's like a collar, then sign me up. I've always wanted to wear a collar." she raised an eyebrow, a smirk finding its way onto her lips as she looked at him. It was something all her friends were used to - sarcasm and smirks.


She walked into the room where the shower was, then turned to look at Quin. "Uh, please don't take me seriously about the collar... Wrist is fine... Don't put me in a collar. I'm already humiliated enough..."

 

[Sero]

Quin wasn't sure if she was joking a lot. Then, figuring she was he cracked a light smile. "Ah, no collars are heavy and cause stress on workers. So that's a little unthinkable. Give me your wrist then." He was so tired, who know getting a servant ready took soooo much tiiiiime! He had suddenly more respect for the people that got them prettied up.


He took her hand and frowned, this would actually require effort. He sighed closing his eyes. "It may sting a bit. I think." He mumbled, snapping his fingers again, but multiple times. One snap, one dot on the skin, another snap, another dark green dot. Like getting a tattoo and feeling the needle. He cringed each time he applied a dot.


Yes, sleep would be very good.

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie gave him her wrist, flinching as the dots appeared on her. She looked down at the mark, "I'm not going to thank you for that one. It hurt. I'm going to shower now..." she walked into the shower and closed the door, turning the water on and washing her hair as she was told to. She got out after about fifteen minutes and reluctantly put the jumpsuit on, looking at her reflection in the mirror.


As she exited the shower, she looked at Quin, clearly unhappy with how she looked. "My hair is boring, and I'm wearing a jumpsuit, and I've got a mark on me that seems to indicate that I'm someone else's property. I'm not going to run away. But, just so you know, I want to punch something."

 

[Sero]

Quin blinked, he looked up at her before leaning back on his chair messily. "Mm-hm...I'm tired too thank you." He was ready to nap right here, he would too. He couldn't quite move like he wanted to since his mana was low. Everyone relied on mana. Even the people on the other side. They just might call it stamina.


"I can get you something for you hair...or something...?" Quin yawned and tipped back further on the chair before yelping as it went out from underneath him. He groaned and didn't move. Yeah, we would just sleep here then. That seemed cool. He didn't open his eyes as he opened his mouth again. "Does the mark look like a rose vine yet? I'm so tired of throwing mana at you." He had been taking breaks, and had started snapping again while she was in the shower. Had to get stuff done.


He was ready to drop...wait, he already did.

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie raised an eyebrow, laughing quietly. She stepped closer to Quin and reached down, offering him her hand and pulling him and the chair upright again. She looked down at her wrist, nodding. "Yeah. It looks like a rose vine." she showed him her wrist. "I'm assuming you've got a bed. We should get you to it." she looked tired as well, worn out from too many emotions raging through her.


"Maybe I'll even tell you a bed time story." she grinned at him, obviously teasing.

 

[Sero]

"Will you?" He asked letting her pull him up. Brushing himself off lightly. "I'll uh, set up a makeshift bed, since the other rooms are full...and I need to finish you're thing. Mark. Yeah." He wasn't as snarky when he was sleepy. He was again. disappointed in himself. However he couldn't tease while sleep deprived.


He motioned for her to follow him as they moved out of the room and up the stairs. He paused outside his door before opening it. The room was big enough, he could maybe have them divide it with a magic wall. Then there wouldn't be an issue. "Choose a sleeping spot, blankets in the closet. Don't use my clothes."

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie looked at him, clearly confused. "So... wait... You... want me to... sleep in your room...?" she ran a hand through her hair. "Why do I feel like I'm about to become your pet human?" she asked. "Maybe I should be wearing a collar. Seems fitting." she found a corner of the room, near a window where some sun was shining in. "I'll sleep there... looks warm..."


She didn't like this situation one bit. Maybe, she thought, she could climb out the window and make a run for it when he was asleep. He'd run out of magic eventually, right?

 

[Sero]

He thought about it and frowned. "You can get your own room tomorrow. I'm too tired to enjoy this side of you." He stated ignorantly. "The whole house in enforced by magic by the way. If you want run, try the front door. I don't know how outside will treat you though." Quin took off his shirt and frowned, before rethinking moving to the restroom. Changing and coming back


"So, where's my bedtime story?" Quin asked innocently, falling back on his bed. "I want a story before I take my mana nap." Now he was maybe being a brat. He smiled slightly.

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie sat down on the floor by the window, looking up at him and laughing. "You want a story?" she sighed, closing her eyes briefly. "Alright." she thought about it. "I'll tell you about today - you know, apart from the stuff you already know." she paused and thought more.


"I live in an apartment in the middle of the city. Only three rooms - bedroom, bathroom, kitchen. I got out of bed, made myself a pot of coffee and drank half of it. Yes, that's a lot of coffee, but... I don't function well without caffeine. Please, remember that. If you want to be kind to me, give me coffee. I walked to work. I work for a courier business. Mostly, I spend time delivering packages to businesses - nothing too exciting. But maybe once a month I get sent to this side of the fence. My boss is a bit of a jerk. He's also my ex-boyfriend, so really it's probably my own fault that he's a jerk, hey?" she laughed dryly. "If I didn't end up here, I'd have gone home and drank a beer, and sent text messages to a friend about every stupid person I met during the day." she suddenly remembered that her phone had been in the pocket of her pants. "Uh, I'm not getting my phone back, am I?"

 

[Sero]

Quin listened patiently and sighed when she was done. "Coffee, isn't that bitter? Gross." He stated, rolling over to stare at her. "Plus drinking is bad for you...well, bad for your liver. I've only had a sip of alcohol here and there. However I get horrible headaches and my magic goes out of wack. It sucks. My friend got stuck in a tree. ....what's texting?"


He asked the last part hesitantly. They didn't have a lot of the technology the other side had. They used magic messages and stuff. "I mean, you won't get your phone, but what's texting do." He probably sounded a bit under privileged. "Dad says that technology messes with a persons mana flow, and that's why you guys can't use magic."

 

[tamaracorine]

"Uh, it's where you use your phone... and you type messages and they send to someone else..." she explained, frowning. She hadn't realised that he wouldn't understand that. "And yeah, coffee is bitter, but it's in a good way. And... wait..." she frowned more and lay flat on her back. "So, I don't get a phone... and from your reaction, it seems like coffee and beer are also out of the question?" she asked.


"If I try to kill you sometime, it's only because caffeine withdrawls hurt and they do bad things to my temper."