Across the Tracks, Right?

[Sero]

"We have coffee. Father probably won't allow beer. Beer has a weird taste, I like wine more..." Quin explained, waving his hand from the bed before burying his face in the pillow. "Cell phones sound so cool, I bet they don't use any mana." He continued. Making a peace sign with this hand. "And if you try to kill me, you'll probably be executed or something sad..."


Dropping the peace sign he moved onto his back. "Think about what you want to wear from ow on too. So we can get shopping done and you some more....blendyinish clothes." Quin smirked in his pillow and let out a boyish giggle. It sounded so stupid. He sounded so stupid.

 

[tamaracorine]

"They are cool. You can take a look at mine if you can find it. Not that you need my permission." she frowned, putting her hands behind her head. "What... am I...?" she asked curiously, closing her eyes. "If I was in a cell, I'd think I was a prisoner. But I'm in your bedroom. And that's weird. And I don't know what to think or do and it's all very confusing." she admitted.


She was getting more and more tired, shifting so she could glance to the side at the mark on her wrist. "And why is it a rose? I don't understand."

 

[Sero]

"I'll think about that one when I trust you more." Quin replied, his voice muffled in the pillow before he turned over and took a deep breath. "Why would I put you in a cell, I mean. Did you know that when you have no punishment to escape in jail, less people try to escape? Because there's nothing to fight. I like that..."


As to her next question, Quin thought hard about it for a few moments. "I specialize in earth magic, so it's a rose. It's a blue rose, that can symbolize being rare or unique. Something like that. The blue will show up tomorrow I hope." Quin stated. "Oh, more specifically, I'm best at growing roses. That too. Kinda cliched huh."

 

[tamaracorine]

"Right, so you give people a purpose and a job so that they don't have time to think about escaping, because they have other things to focus on?" she seemed a little impressed by that, looking up at Quin from the floor. "That's somewhat brilliant. Though, having me as your personal storyteller seems like a poor usage. If I had someone at my mercy, I'd have them rubbing my feet constantly." she paused, gulping. "Uh, please don't make me do that." she added quickly.


As he explained the rose, she nodded. "So this is your personal mark? Does that mean I... uh..." she frowned again, trying to find the words. "Does that mean I'm... sort of your... property... for the moment?"

 

[Sero]

Quin was a bit confused, his attempts of sleeping combated by her questions. Well, he took the responsibility so he might as well keep it. "You can help with other jobs too if you get bored, or like...laundry or something. I dunno, what can you do besides deliveries?" He asked, moving over to the edge of the bed a bit. "I might as for a back massage one day now, just a a heads up."


Flipping himself over of his hair fell off his forehead he stared at her a few long minutes. "If you want to put it that way you can, but I'd put it as personal helper. However, my father might say property."

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie met his gaze, the hostility in her eyes mostly gone. She looked tired instead, and resigned, but there was still a spark there - something that hinted at rebellion, but she was clearly trying to control it. "I can do lots of things, but I'd rather not tell you just yet." she laid on her side and used her arm as a pillow. "Go to sleep. I'm not going anywhere." she assured him.


She stretched out in the sun by the window, closing her eyes and making a small yawning sound as she gave into her tiredness and fell into a light sleep. He had been right about the jumpsuit being comfortable to sleep in.

 

[Sero]

Quin waited till she seemed to be resting, before staring at her a long moment. After a bit he sighed and plopped his face in the pillow. He'd make his father proud by taming a girl like this. He also was able to learn about the other side from her. Which would help him if he was going to take over the whole city.


However, now it was time to sleep. He was an early riser so he wasn't really worried about her waking up before him, or really getting anywhere far. He closed his eyes, lapsing into a sweet dream. A dream about bitter coffee, cell phones and all the unknown on the other side of the wall. Innocently imagining that it would all be his one day.

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie slept fairly peacefully, ending up on her stomach with her head on her hands and her hair hanging over her head messily. She wasn't comfortable on the floor, but she supposed it was better than sleeping in a cell. She dreamed of roses, and prison cells, and foot rubs. It was all very confusing for her. She sighed as she awoke the next morning, her body stiff and sore from the awkward sleeping position.


A knock on the door at seven o'clock in the morning jolted her from her half asleep daydreams into actual wakening. Quin's father opened the door without waiting for an invitation, glancing at her on the floor and raising an eyebrow curiously before looking at his son. "I see you haven't lost her yet." he glanced at Jamie's wrist and gave a satisfied smile. "Ah, and you've marked her. Though, you know my preference is to mark their necks. Much more prominent there. The wrist can be covered much easier than the neck. And son, she needs to remember that she is no more than property."

 

[Sero]

Quin sighed and very slowly sat up to receive his father. He had slept in a bit. "I'm not good enough at marking to go all the way around the neck yet father, I'll keep it in mind next time, perhaps I'll try a more prominent place. However, I appreciate you believing that I could better at my level." He was trying not to fall out of bed, if he had tried to make a mark around her next he would have been dead.


The thing about his marks was that they circles all the way around something. His dog had a mark around his ear. So he wouldn't get lost. Shaking the sleepiness out of his voice, he got out of bed and smile slightly. "I also plan to embroider her clothes with it, so don't worry father she won't forget." Around the cuffs and beast would do.

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie was silent on the floor, keeping her head down and her eyes directed towards Quin's father's feet rather than up at anything. She was tired. She had a headache already that made her want to beg for coffee. She stifled a yawn and closed her eyes again, moving so she was in the sunshine again.


"Good work, son." his father smiled, clearly proud. "I wholeheartedly approve of having her sleep on the floor of your room. I made my first one do that, you know. It helps to keep them near in case you have any whims, and sleeping on the floor is a firm reminder of their place in our world." 
(I'm really good at playing psychopathic side characters.)

 

[Sero]

Quin nodded smiling slightly. He liked it when he was praised, though sometimes he thought his father was crazy he didn't mind. "Of course Father, I'm glad you approve of my choices." He was still planning on getting her some sort of bed though. Maybe after a while, then he'd tell his father that it was a reward, positive reinforcement to keep her loyal.


He felt light he was being a little flighty about it but he decided not to think too hard about it at the minute. "Well now Father, Ill have to be getting ready for a day out. I hope that you'll excuse me." He glanced over to Jamie before debating. He'd get ready and get her coffee when they left.

 

[tamaracorine]

His father nodded, "Enjoy your day, son. You're welcome to join your mother and I for dinner this evening if you would like. We can discuss the furthering of your marking skills, perhaps." he smiled and turned, leaving the room and closing the door.


Jamie waited until his father was gone, mumbling under her breath, "Jerk." she opened her eyes and looked up at Quin. "Not you. Him. But you as well, if you like. Why do you want him to approve of you so much? Or do you genuinely believe that because I'm not magical, I'm an inferior kind of human?" she closed her eyes again. "My head hurts."

 

[Sero]

Quin frowned at Jamie, thinking it over before looking at his feet. "Ah, well, to be approved of is...never mind." He smiled before moving away from her. "I don't really think you're below us. Maybe you're below us in magic, but you aren't in machinery right? If I think like that, then I can agree with my father and not fight him."


Family was important after all. He moved away and to the bathroom again, taking maybe twenty minutes to get ready before walking out, clean and refreshed. "Let's get you coffee and clothes then alright?"

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie stays on the ground as Quin goes into the bathroom, reaching up to steal the pillow from his bed and put it under her head. She looks at him as he walks out of the bathroom, her eyes brightening at the mention of coffee. "Sounds good to me." she smiled, standing up and tossing his pillow back onto the bed. She stretched, cracking her back and looking at him.


"Hey, uh, thanks for not putting the mark around my neck. I appreciate that." she pushed her hair to the side so that the shaved half was showing, then sighed and adjusted it so that some of it fell over the shaved side, making it look somewhat normal. "Are you seriously going to give me coffee? Because, I think I could kiss you if you do."

 

[Sero]

Quin wasn't sure how to respond to that at all. "It would be my first kiss from a girl." He said suddenly and teasingly, smiling awkwardly. There was that one imd where his friend got drunk, cornered him in a magic field and kissed him. That was a very awkward adventure and the real reason he moved away from alcohol.


He adjusted his shirt my tugging on it. Keeping it casual before motioning for Jamie to follow him. "Let's go and get coffee, I'll get a breakfast there, then we'll take care of clothes and I get to dinner. I want another story later too alright? For the coffee..."

 

[tamaracorine]

"Got it." Jamie managed a small smile. She followed him out of the room, and then out of the house, looking uncomfortable as she felt people on the streets looking at her. She wanted to distance herself from Quin, but she knew that to do so would only be more problematic, so she trailed close beside him, keeping her eyes down. "I don't think I've ever felt more humiliated." she admitted quietly, showing a very real sign of emotion as she looked up at him.


She wasn't sure if Quin was her friend or not. She didn't think that would be a distinction she could actually make anytime soon, but she couldn't help but speak honestly. Perhaps it was the lack of coffee in her that lowered her filter between her brain and her mouth.

 

[Sero]

Quin paused, frowning slightly before glancing around. Grabbing her would only make her more upset. It would drag eyes even closer. In truth, he could feel heat under his color and he felt like he was sweating a bit from nervousness. He didn't say anything but only awkwardly half smiled at her.


Walking into the coffee shop was the best. "Black or sweet?" He asked her quietly, motioning for her to sit while he ordered. That a was the best he could do after all.

 

[tamaracorine]

"Black, please." she told him, taking a seat in a corner, away from prying eyes. She sat quietly. Normally, she would flick through her phone while waiting for coffee, but she was left to sit and think. It was strange, but it felt sort of freeing to be away from her phone. The irony of feeling free whilst being anything but free was not lost on her. She looked up when Quin approached, shifting slightly.


"I owe you a story." she remembered, chewing her bottom lip as she thought. "I went to a school near the house I grew up in. It was this dodgy old school with chairs and desks covered in chewing gum, and books that fell apart if you put them in your bag too roughly. The rooms were always, always cold, even in summer, and the teachers hated it there. Most of them, I'm convinced, never actually showered before coming to work, because they smelled like a weird mix of cigarettes and cheap deodorant." she paused, thinking about what to say next. "Anyway, we had a spelling bee once. Basically, you had to spell words when it was your turn and if you got it wrong, you were out. If you got it right, you waited for your next turn. I made it to when there was only three people left." she laughed to herself at the memory, "So, uh, the word I was given to spell was 'failure' and wouldn't you know it, I spelled failure wrong, and had to go sit down and hang my head in shame." she grinned at Quin as her coffee arrived, picking it up and sipping it. "Here ends the story..."

 

[Sero]

Quin sat down, listening carefully as always to her next story as he slid the coffee over to her, sitting across from her and starting at her to show he was interested. Even he schools sounded very different, which again made him curios us as usual. How could he not being hearing about it. He couldn't imagine a teacher smelling like cigarettes when they came to school, but he tried to imagine it anyway. Rough books, that would fall out of your hands if you rubbed the covers, since they crumbled. The smell of an old building.


He couldn't help but laugh at the spelling bee part. He had contests like those when he was younger but you'd have to try and spell out the word with magic. It was really hard, and you lost if you ran out of mana, or if you spelled the word wrong. "My school was't like that at all, it was clean, proper, and everyone would have to behave or they got kicked out for messing with magic. I almost got kicked out once, when my friends were wondering wether we could summon the devil. You can't by the way, just doesn't work."

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie held her coffee with both hands once it arrived, her hands wrapping around the mug and drawing it to her lips, carefully sipping the steaming hot liquid and smiling genuinely, her eyes lighting up a little. "Thank you." she told him, her eyes meeting his again as she lowered the mug to the table.


"So, what are the limits of your magic?" she asked him curiously. "Uh... feel free to tell me to shut up, if I'm completely out of line asking... but I'm curious..." she took another sip of her coffee. "I know you can make freakishly strong vines from thin air, and make marks appear on my skin, and change my hair colour somehow... what else are you capable of?"

 

[Sero]

Quin frowned and shook his head lightly. "I don't mind you asking, but I think you're mistaken about something. Magic isn't really as powerful as some might think. There are lots of limitations and such." He stated, smiling awkwardly. "Most of our lives we're learning how to control our mana, because it's really dangerous not to learn how to make it work. You could die, you know, like when you guys do maintenance on your machines, I bet people get crushed occasionally."


He smiled slightly before tipping his head to the side, letting it crack. "Everyone specializes in one or two type of magic. Mine is earth magic, and fortifying. Which is why the vine was so strong. There are also lots to neutral spells, like the gagging one, or spells that require ingredients. Like your hair."

 

[tamaracorine]

Jamie nodded thoughtfully, sipping the coffee again as she considered his words. She seemed to sit up a little more, the more coffee she consumed. "And... how does it work...? I mean... you... you changed how my skin looks... and gagging feels like..." she scratched her head. "It feels like I've got virtually no control over my body."


She took a long drink of her coffee and sighed quietly, "I mean, I know I don't... really... have any control. But you know what I'm asking, right?"

 

[Sero]

He didn't use the gagging spell did he? He didn't think so. His father might have. He wasn't sure. "For your hair, I used coal dust and swapped the color. That's kind of what that spell was. It works more like a transfer, like when you transfer a photo to fabric." He tired to explained, shaking his head lightly. "As for loss of control....I think that's more of a panic thing. Like, you aren't sure what to do so you panic, which mades you feel confused. It sort of just happens with people not used to magic."


Quin wasn't sure what she was really saying despite her saying he did. "Well, don't think too hard about it for now, since using too much magic in the day leaves most people exhausted. When a person is more tires one of two things will happen..." He wasn't sure if he was answering her question. "Their magic will be weaker, or uncontrollable. Or something...I'm not really sure what you want to know."

 

[tamaracorine]

"It's a rational response, isn't it? To panic when you don't have control?" Jamie asked, leaning her back against the wall and sitting sideways on the booth seat as she continued to sip her coffee. "I don't know what your side of the fence is taught about mine. And I'd tell you what mine is taught about your side, but uh, that's a question I'll answer at another point... because I can't give you all of the stories at once, can I?" she shot him a small smile.


She was grateful that she still had one bit of control over her life, even if it was only over telling stories in exchange for small kindnesses. Coffee was a comfort she was grateful to have. "So you can run out of magic?" she asked. "What about the spells you've already cast? Do they stop working if you use too much?"

 

[Sero]

"I guess that would be a natural response." Quin responded, smirking slightly. "You made me panic when you didn't trip over my branch." He recalled. "Then you did something better, hahahaha. However let's see....we've learned that your side is full of proficient workers, but that you lack order and class or something like that. I don't really pay attention. I thought you were kind of like wild cats.....are you kind of are. You specifically." He was going to tease her if she was set on teasing him.


The next part of the question troubled Quin in a way. "About that one." He said, looking at her from the table. "I'm not sure. There some some spells that permanently take your mana. Most of them you can recover from, you know, sleep and stuff. Think of it like stamina. But yes. Other spells that are already in place may stop working if you run out."