[center][img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/uxjkwjqkrn00cph/Siena%20Banner.jpg?raw=1[/img][/center]

[hider=Relaxation Station][center]
[h1]Relaxation Station[/h1]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/jzzw4on.jpg[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/EqVwCQa.png[/img]

[h2][color 33ec06]Marcus[/color] | [color ff57ff]Siena[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[color=silver]𝔽: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   ℍ𝕪𝕒𝕥𝕥 ℝ𝕖𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 ℍ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕝: 𝕊𝕡𝕒   / /  ~𝟙𝟚𝟘𝟘[/color]
[sub]Collab with...[@Chasers115][/sub][/center]
Having started her day early, Siena had quickly found herself becoming familiar with the layout of the hotel. Though still receiving various looks of hatred and disdain, the brunette certainly couldn't deny that she was starting to get used to it. Not exactly something she wanted to count as an accomplishment, but given the state of things...

...well, that aside, she had someone she wanted to find. 

[i]'[color=ff57ff]Well we went shopping yesterday, so he's probably in the hotel somewhere...[/color]'[/i] Actually, she'd assumed that Marcus would have been swamped with people, pictures...seething hatred. His interview had been aired over and over again, and...and she [i]knew[/i] what that would inevitably mean. Time Scar, as the media had started to call him, was the new face of those that wished for more for the subnaturals, and to some extent, the new face of her unit. She didn't know if she felt comfortable with that, and was even less comfortable with whatever fleeting seconds of footage of her own face.

...which was why she had to find Marcus now! ...wherever he was.

"[color=ff57ff]How hard can it be to find someone that everyone's either avoiding or crowding...?[/color]" Releasing a soft sigh, Siena continued her search. "[color=ff57ff]I thought it'd be easier than this...[/color]"

Marcus, meanwhile, was in the computer lounge. With the revelations of how much internet fame the one interview had actually garnered him, he wanted to try and figure out exactly how much pull he'd had, and how popular he actally was.

After about an hour of looking through messageboards and watching some of the videos that hadn't been removed from YouTube, he still wasn't completely sure on either of those points.

Public opinion seemed to be...divided, to say the least. He'd seen a few reports heralding him as 'The Face Subs Need', and one badly photoshopped picture of the segment that made him into a literal devil, complete with horns and everything.

That, combined with the constant glares he seemed to be getting from everybody around him, and he was starting to get discouraged. Right now, he was logging off the computer and ready to go hide in the penthouse, away from all the judgemental looks.

Another room without her target. For the first time since her arrival in the hotel, Siena felt that the establishment was too big to be practical, frustration starting to catch up to her, making her steps just a little heavier, her patience for the distasteful stares growing thinner by the moment. Maybe Marcus was in his own room, hiding out from the masses. [i]She[/i] certainly wanted to do something similar. If she'd still had her phone, a text might have sufficed, but the brunette had noted multiple times to herself that she most certainly did [i]not[/i] have a mobile device to message her roommate.

...wait, didn't she have an easier way to get in contact with him?

Quickly making her way back to an emptier area of the hotel, Siena made sure that she was at least largely alone before making use of what she [i]did[/i] have. "[color=ff57ff]Transmit. Um...Marcus? Any chance I could talk to you somewhere? Over.[/color]"

Marcus, standing in the dead-quiet computer lounge, let out a small involuntary noise when his ankle started loudly talking to him. Looking down to the small bracelet, and then around to the [i]everybody[/i] that was currently looking at him, Marcus turned a bright shade of red, giving a apologetic smile and small wave before quickly stepping onto the elevator.

"[color 33ec06]Transmit. I'm heading back up to the Penthouse now, actually. Meet you there?[/color]"

There was a long moment of silence where Marcus hummed along to the elevator music, before a thought shocked him into action.

"[color 33ec06]Oh! Uh. Over.[/color]"

Thankful to hear a response, Siena gave a sm--

...was that music? And...humming? Giving a faint smile, the brunette waited for her roommate to end the transmission, a faint twinge of affection trying to surface. Not necessary, she told herself. "[color=ff57ff]Transmit. Alright, see you there, over.[/color]"

With that in mind, the brunette made her way toward the Penthouse, her composure regained from the reprieve in the search. At the least, nobody was bold enough to make a move...but she certainly wished that she wasn't so accustomed to the stares. 
[hr]
It didn't much longer for Siena to reach her destination, but the brunette found that she was just a bit slower than Marcus in their return. Huh, how exactly had she missed him? Giving a wave to the boy, she made her approach. 

"[color=ff57ff]Sorry to make you wait when I called for you.[/color]" A pause. "[color=ff57ff]Er...and sorry for using the cuffs. I don't really have a phone on me.[/color]"

Marcus waved his hand nonchalantly, cracking a slight smile. "[color 33ec06]No worries, I was just surrounded by people in a quiet room. Not really a huge deal![/color]" 

He didn't give Siena enough time to apologize for, or even process that statement before moving on, cocking a confused eyebrow at her.

"[color 33ec06]What'd you need, anyway?[/color]"

Oh, at least he was--wait, [i]what[/i]? Siena blinked in surprise, but didn't have a chance to fully make sense of the first statement before Marcus brought up the real topic. Taking a moment to regain herself, Siena released a breath, her smile fading slightly, the mask thinning for a moment before she brightened herself again. 

"[color=ff57ff]Actually, I figured with all the media attention, you'd be feeling a little stressed out.[/color]" Because that was what media attention [i]did[/i] to most people. Not allowing herself to miss a beat, the brunette continued. "[color=ff57ff]And if our peers are any indication, er...nobody knows the real attractions of a hotel like this. I was going to make use of the spa, and thought you might appreciate a little bit of relaxation.[/color]"

"[color 33ec06]Spa?[/color]" Marcus asked, if only to confirm her plan. That's right; the little thingy in the penthouse had mentioned something about a Spa on one of the floors. And he certainly could have used a little bit of relaxation - lord knew he needed it. Plus, Siena seemed like the only one of them who actually knew how these things worked, and would keep him from making a fool of himself.

"[color 33ec06]You know what?[/color]" he said, after giving himelf a second to mull it over. "[color 33ec06]That actually [i]does[/i] sound nice! Sure, Siena - I'll let you treat me to a Spa day![/color]" his grin widened a little bit as he spoke, giving Siena the universal gesture of 'lead the way'.

Taking the cue to lead, Siena started the trek to the spa, making sure to remain at a leisurely pace despite her desire to relax. Cautiously, the brunette glanced at her roommate. "[color=ff57ff]Normally, the staff will ask you a few questions to see what kinds of treatments are convenient, but...I don't think we can really rely on that happening here.[/color]" Turning slightly and continuing her movement in a backward trajectory, the grey-eyed mage glanced over Marcus briefly. She could think of a few things, but... "[color=ff57ff]But in that case, I can make a few recommendations.[/color]"

They could probably even use the same treatments at their age, but she didn't let that slip. 

"[color=ff57ff]Maybe we can get rhassoul treatment...[/color]"

"[color 33ec06]Siena. I'm going to be completely honest here, but I have no idea what you just said.[/color]" he walked along beside her, listening intently as she spoke, trying to wrap his brain around the words she was spouting off. Was there a form he'd have to fill out to get the best spa treatment for him personally? What the hell was rhassoul? It sounded like a cream for toe fungus or something.

"[color 33ec06]How about you just lead the way, and I'll put my utmost faith in you, and just agree to whatever you said. Rhasshole...got it. That thing.[/color]"

Putting his faith in her? There was something between anxiety and pride that lit like a match in the pit of her stomach--it wasn't exactly her forte to be relied on, after all...but when it came to things like spa treatments, surely she couldn't go terribly wrong? Just...all she had to do was keep it simple, right? 

"[color=ff57ff]Well, alright, I'll try not to make it [i]too[/i] girly for you,[/color]" Siena claimed with a grin as the spa came into sight. "[color=ff57ff]Ready to take the plunge?[/color]"

Marcus took a deep breath. Something about the way she said that, coupled with the nagging knowlege that there were very few people in this building that liked them, and he was about to trust his relaxation to them, made him more nervous than he should have been.

"[color 33ec06]Ready as I'll ever be, I guess.[/color]" he said, confidence starting to leak out of his words like air out of a balloon.

"[color=ff57ff]Don't worry, I'll pick out treatments we can do on our own.[/color]" Or at least as close to that as possible. Stepping into the spa, Siena glanced over the available treatments, immediately nixing the ones that required any touching as soon as she saw the looks that were being thrown onto the duo. Right, nobody was going to want to touch a mon...a subnatural. She hid the shadow of pain that flashed across her face with a smile as she picked out treatments. Something relaxing, but still good in some capacity for the body...

Maybe this entire spa idea wasn't the greatest.

"[color=ff57ff]Excuse me, ma'am,[/color]" Siena started with the receptionist. What she received was an icy stare of disdain, the severity of which she was certain was meant to drive her off. Undeterred, the girl continued, the same careful smile on her face. "[color=ff57ff]We'd like the Botanical Serenity package, please.[/color]"

"[color=f7976a]Oh,[/color]" started the unenthused and derisive tone of the woman across the counter, her pristine (and fake, Siena noted) nails only leaving their position to lightly tap at the table. Unnaturally green eyes trailed over the Arbiter's face, lingering on the mark before an inaudible snort of derision--[i]did this woman really think she could hide that from a Santana?[/i]--marked the next words. "[color=f7976a]So sorry, miss, but we're fully booked.[/color]"

[i]'[color=ff57ff]Bullshit.[/color]'[/i] A sudden thought that tore through the rest like an armor piercing round. The spa wasn't that crowded, especially not when people were more interested in getting lunch while it was still hot. 

She continued smiling. Once more.

"[color=ff57ff]I would appreciate it if you could check the schedule before answering.[/color]"

A cold stare coupled with a sickly sweet smile. 

"[color=f7976a]Is this your first time at a spa, miss?[/color]"

If it wasn't unsightly to do so, Siena would have sighed in exasperation. Instead, she sent a sidelong glance to Marcus, her expression one of quiet apology for the first failed approach. 

Marcus crossed his arms and gave the receptionist a cold glare, having long ago come to the same conclusion that Siena had. He caught her eyes as she looked apologetically at him, and shrugged it away. It's not like it was [i]her[/i] fault that people were being difficult.

Still, Siena looked like she was handling it well, there was really no reason for him to interject anything. At least, not yet.

It seemed being completely civil wasn't getting them anywhere, and though Siena was far from eager to put years of training under Maya to the test, a petty, spiteful part of her wanted to see the receptionist squirm. 

So she put on an entirely different mask--or...was it really even a mask?

"[color=ff57ff]Not at all, ma'am.[/color]" Rigid and cold, far removed from the tone she usually took. Siena knew that the sudden change was exactly what brought the woman to sit up just a bit straighter, a little unsettled. Grey eyes settled, unflinching onto the green ones before her. "[color=ff57ff]I certainly know that this establishment could hardly afford to gain a reputation for poor service.[/color]"

"[color=f7976a]Excuse m--[/color]" No.

"[color=ff57ff]Allow me to make myself clear. A few well placed words, a few suggestions...the higher circles of society dislike anything that might [i]tarnish[/i] their reputation. Something as insignificant as a rumor can have them withdraw their support in droves.[/color]" A cold smile that felt terrifyingly [i]good[/i] to wear. "[color=ff57ff]The workings of higher circles are familiar to me, as are the members. Most are completely unaware that I am a subnatural. Can you really risk losing the most lavish spenders for a petty grudge against two students?[/color]"

She could practically see the fury rolling off the woman in waves of steam, and Siena felt almost proud about it. 

"[color=ff57ff]Now, do you have openings for a Botanical Serenity package, or not?[/color]"

"[color=f7976a]...yes, ma'am. Please, right this way.[/color]"

Marcus's mouth was nearly agape. This was a side of Siena he'd never imagined could exist, and it was absolutely, 100%, the...

[i]Coolest thing he'd ever seen.[/i]

Something about the seemingly meekest member of their Suite group standing up and putting this woman on the ropes thrilled him. Seeing Siena let loose like that, it was almost a spectacle to watch. Like a fireworks display going off all at once; he was vaguely aware that there was something wrong here, but he was too entranced by the show to worry about it.

He walked beside her, leaning over to whisper discreetly.

"[color 33ec06]Jesus, Siena. I didn't know you had that in you! Remind me not to get on your bad side![/color]"

Waiting for the woman to go ahead of them, Siena slowly released the breath that had made her puff slightly, only to find Marcus whispering to her, seeming...surprisingly okay with her sudden attitude. 

She wasn't entirely certain how to respond. 

"[color=ff57ff]I...uh...[/color]" For a moment, she was genuinely speechless before she regained her wits. "[color=ff57ff]I learned from the best.[/color]" The statement lacked in conviction, ending more like a question than anything else. Giving a nervous laugh, the brunette smiled. "[color=ff57ff]Though nobody usually [i]approves[/i] of me behaving like that.[/color]"
[hr]
Fortunately for Marcus, Siena was reasonable enough to avoid any treatments with excessive amounts of contact between the subnaturals and their significantly less magical counterparts. [i]Un[/i]fortunately for Marcus, she'd also chosen one that included something very similar to a mudbath, if a little less extravagant due to the size of the facility they were in. Needless to say, most of the service members were less than eager to serve the subnatural duo, especially so with Siena's previous "outburst". 

How quickly they balked when the girl gave them a knowing smile every time a mistake was made. 

By the time that she and Marcus had changed for their next, and possibly final, treatment, Siena was unsurprisingly not relaxing as much as she expected. Pretending to have eagle eyes and a personality that could freeze a penguin wasn't difficult, but it was more taxing than she let on. Tyiing the less expensive of the bathing suits she'd purchased the day before into place, the brunette stepped out to wait for her companion. The mudbath, though messier than she would have suggested for someone's first time at a spa, was one of the more relaxing treatments aside from the sauna. The mud itself was a thick and viscous, but still had a sand-like quality rather than being a heavy syrup texture, and better yet, it was paler than most mud baths. A faint, floral aroma wafted from the baths--one that she had no doubt was to relax rather than reinvigorate, but that was exactly what she'd hoped for, wasn't it? 

Stretching herself faintly, Siena waited for her roommate and whoever drew the short (or perhaps it was the long) straw and would be forced to help the mud cover the subnaturals. 

Marcus meanwhile, had managed to snag what appeared to be a complementary pair of bathing shorts from one of the dressing rooms. At least, he [i]assumed[/i] it was complementary. It had the same emblem on it that everything else seemed to have around the hotel, so hopefully he hadn't just accidentally stolen somebody's swimwear.

Leaving his clothes somewhere where he was reletively certain nobody would steal and/or vandalize them, he met his companion where she waited beside...a steaming pit of mud?

"[color 33ec06]Hey Siena...[/color]" Marcus he asked hesitantly, staring deep into the brown depths of the pool. "[color 33ec06]Just checking; this is a pit of mud, correct? An actual thing, and not some 'haha look at the trick I pulled on the subs' prank?[/color]"

While Siena wasn't certain what she was expecting, she couldn't help but let her eyes linger slightly when Marcus arrived. Nothing that was terribly surprising, her mind todl her. Actually, he had fewer lasting scars than she'd expected, given what little she knew of the boy. 

...she really didn't know anything about her roommate, did she? The realization struck Siena like a hard backhand across the face, even as she gave him a smile in response to his question. Laughing faintly at his hesitation. 

"[color=ff57ff]Don't worry, this is proper mud. Can't you smell the aromatherapy?[/color]" Siena stepped past Marcus, kneeling beside the tub of mud and drawing some between her fingers. It was heated almost perfectly at the surface, and her body already tensed faintly in anticipation for the imminent heat she would experience when she sank into it. "[color=ff57ff]It's good for relaxation...and this type can probably open up your pores, then tighten them.[/color]" The mud fell through her spread fingers, spattering back into its place. 

"[color=ff57ff]We dont have to stay in it long if you don't like it, but it's really relaxing.[/color]"

"[color 33ec06]Proper mud.[/color]" Marcus muttered to himself, forcing his body to not roll his eyes. He looked down at Siena as she 'tested' the mud, picking some of it up and allowing it to fall back into place. However, any silly remark he may have had was slightly overshadowed by what his eyes fell on next.

"[color 33ec06]Is that a tattoo!?[/color]" he said, unable to catch the thought before it left his mouth.

Between the ink on her back, and the sassy, take-charge attitude she'd displayed earlier, Marcus was only just now beginning to realize how little he actually knew about her - and how deep the enigma ran.

A faint, sweet smell continued to waft through the air as Siena felt her back straighten a little before she turned to glance back at Marcus. Had he never seen th--no. Of course he hadn't. It wasn't as though they had been galavanting through pool parties, and...she supposed even during training exercises, she'd elected to wear jackets or clothing that had covered her back. Of course he wouldn't have seen.

She never really stuck around late enough in the morning for the chance to arise either, had she?

"[color=ff57ff]Oh, um...yeah,[/color]" Siena replied with a faint smile. It wasn't finished yet, barely more than the front half of the wolves, a sun that was missing part of its fire, the one that chased the moon only outlines as opposed to the filled in sectors of the one that chased the sun. Scratching the back of her head, Siena gave a sheepish smile. "[color=ff57ff]I wanted Freki and Geri, but I guess instead I have twin Fenrirs.[/color]" 

[i]Nobody cares.[/i]

"[color=ff57ff]I guess I don't have to ask you not to tell my parents though.[/color]"

Marcus's mind completely blanked as Siena started naming things off that he had no idea what they were. Was Fenrirs the wolf? And who the hell was Freki and Geri? They sounded like names for bad muppets.

Still, Marcus smiled and nodded as if he knew what she was talking about; if they were important enough for her to get them permananently tattooed to her body, she probably wouldn't appreciate him voicing the muppet thought out loud.

"[color 33ec06]Hey, your secret is safe with me![/color]" Marcus said, pretending to lock his lips. "[color 33ec06]But where'd you get the thing? I thought you said you didn't get out much?[/color]"

"[color=ff57ff]I had it done at home,[/color]" Siena admitted with a faint shrug. It had been exactly why she'd also been able to cover up her Arbiter mark with enough skill and effort when she left the house--Maya had made certain that whenever Siena had a backless dress for whatever event she had to be at. "[color=ff57ff]One of my caretakers knew an old fashioned method of tattooing skin. We started working on it a few years ago.[/color]"

They were good memories to an extent. The first few sessions had been cut short when her pain tolerance was still too low for a long session, though that was nothing compared to the reaction when Maya had found out. A small smile crossed Siena's face at the memory. "[color=ff57ff]I doubt I'll ever get a chance to finish it, but I guess it's fine as it is now.[/color]"

"[color 33ec06]Old fashioned-?[/color]" Marcus said in disbelief. Not only did she know the inner working of a spa, and have a tattoo, but she got that tattoo in an [i]old fashioned[/i] way? By hand?

"[color 33ec06]Jesus, Siena! That's pretty...[/color]" he paused for a moment, trying to find a word that wouldn't make him sound like a dumb highschooler (depsite being a dumb highschooler).

"[color 33ec06]...that's pretty hardcore![/color]"

Hardcore? She thought about the first several sessions where she'd whined about the pain until Gerwulf had stopped jabbing her with the needle to insert the ink beneath her skin and was unable to hide the faint grimace that appeared at the memory. "[color=ff57ff]Noooooot really...[/color]"

Putting the thoughts aside, Siena gave a wicked grin. 

"[color=ff57ff]At least, not as hardcore as you will be once I bury you alive in mud.[/color]" Which was [i]essentially[/i] what she was going to do to her roommate. In some form. The girl made a motion for the pool. "[color=ff57ff]I promise, I [i]won't[/i] teleport you into it.[/color]"

"[color 33ec06]It certainly wouldn't be the worst thing you've ever teleported me into![/color]" Marcus said, returning her wicked grin and crossing his arms very sassily.

"[color 33ec06]Besides, ladies first.[/color]" he added, guesturing towards the cesspit.

"[color=ff57ff]Hmm, sorry, the ladies first rule only applies if you're the host.[/color]" Which should have been enough warning for what she intended do to next. She moved into position with one hand on her hip, the other making some unimportant gesture. "[color=ff57ff]Besides, I'm the one that knows how to do this, so...[/color]"

Without much further warning, she began to push the boy toward the mud. 

"[color=ff57ff]In you go...![/color]"

"[color 33ec06]Alright, alright, no need to shove![/color]" Marcus said, sliding slightly across the polished floor due to Siena's pushing. He stood before the small pit, moving to get in, before stopping suddenly and looking back to Siena.

"[color 33ec06]So...do I just dive in, or...?[/color]" he said, clearly stalling.

"[color=ff57ff]Well...[/color]" A wicked grin. The mud had been soft, her roommate was clearly not [i]quite[/i] ready to leap into the mud himself. If that was the case... "[color=ff57ff]Here, let me help you out.[/color]"

She put her hands onto his shoulders, then promptly pushed the boy into the mud. 

There was a look of surprise and betrayal on Marcus's face as he toppled in, one of the last looks he shot to Siena before the soft mud swallowed him up, and he disappeared beneath the surface of the pool.

There were a few moments where nothing happened, where it looked like Marcus wouldn't be coming back up, before something extended beyond the brown top layer. One mud-covered middle finger, rising triumphantly, before the upper half of Marcus also rose, dripping brown, sputtering slightly.

"[color 33ec06]Pfffth. Peh. Yep. Looks like mud. Tastes like mud. It's mud.[/color]" he said, his eyes still shut tightly as he tried to wipe the mud out of them.

There was a strange level of satisfaction at watching Marcus sink into the muddy depths. Siena waited with a triumphant smile on her face for the boy to surface.

...he was going to, right?

No sooner had the uncertainty try to grip the brunette than did Siena witness her roommate signal his return to the surface with a vulgar gesture. It was probably to his benefit that he was wiping the mud from his eyes as Siena stifled a laugh into little more than a few breaths between the gaps of the slender fingers she clamped over her mouth. One moment to regain herself, two.

"[color=ff57ff]Sorry, Marcus. I figured you wouldn't get in without some help.[/color]" She wasn't all that sorry. Quickly moving to sink herself into the semi-liquid earth, Siena waded toward the boy. "[color=ff57ff]Hold on, you'll rub it into your eyes like that. Here, I'll get it.[/color]"

"[color 33ec06]Oh, I'm in alright...[/color]" Marcus said, allowing Siena to rub the dirt out of his eyes. After a moment, everything was clear, and he blinked a few times to make sure that he hadn't gone blind after his little plunge.

"[color 33ec06]Thanks Siena, I can always count on a friend like you.[/color]" he said sarcastically, whipping his hand into a finger gun, mostly for the express purpose of splattering some excess mud across her face.

"[color=ff57ff]Awww, we're fr--hey![/color]" 

The mudbath ended up being relaxing in a different manner than Siena had intended. Between the horseplay and the sweet scent from the mud, the brunette found herself eventually coated in the substance before she settled down enough to properly bathe in it. Unsurprisingly, they were left alone for the majority of the treatment--something that Siena assumed was for the better either way. Just a moment to try and release the tension and the stress of being less than human.

...it was really too bad that she couldn't fully appreciate it.[/hider]

[hider=Brent x Siena gitfucktscaly][center]
[h1]Co-Dependency[/h1]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/jw3F1O9.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/EqVwCQa.png[/img]

[h2][color=B0C4DE]Brent[/color] | [color=ff57ff]Siena[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[color=silver]𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟘𝕥𝕙 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /    𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   ℂ𝕒𝕡𝕚𝕥𝕠𝕝 ℍ𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝔹𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕤𝕥 ℂ𝕙𝕦𝕣𝕔𝕙   / /   ~𝟘𝟠𝟘𝟘[/color]

[sub]Collab with...[@ERode][/sub][/center]
The two of them really were early risers, huh? Even after that [i]interesting[/i] night out with the boys of USARILN, Brent had still managed to wake up at 5AM to go through his morning ritual. He hadn't expected to meet anyone else there, really, considering how the girls had their own thing, but lo and behold, Siena had arrived to the gym after all.

They both must have been missing something in their heads. Not a single night where they got a half-decent amount of sleep, and yet, they were still operating the same as always.

As the elevator dinged, Brent stepped out to the lobby, uncharacteristically well dressed. Dark, slim trousers hid the cuff around his ankle. A crisp, white shirt beneath a dark blue jacket that accentuated the broadness of his shoulders. A blue tie with white stripes. And, the strangest of all, his unruly, curlier hair had been combed back, gelled against the dome of his skull. Not a single strand remained curling against his face, but still, the mark of an arbiter remained, a permanent stain. Maybe he should have worn glasses too, but that bit of deception would be a little too much.

Leaning against a column, Brent's eyes turned from one individual to another, waiting for Siena to arrive.

[i]'[color=ff57ff]I guess this is where 'Sunday Best' comes from...?[/color]'[/i] Siena thought to herself as she checked her clothing once more. It had taken a little longer for her hair to dry enough to be put into the braided half-up style that fell into the "easy and quick to do on her own" spectrum of formal hairstyles, the ribbon that usually held her hair tied neatly onto the strap of a small purse that carried little more than a phone (with little purpose beyond being a portable reader without a SIM card) and her card carrier. Her outfit was, as she was certain Maya would have put it, painfully modest. No prints, no sparkling adornments to catch the eye, and no heels. The blouse she chose was a elegant in its simplicity, an off-white color that was easier on the eye, and her skirt, a dusty and pale pink, chosen for its long, flowing nature. Enough so that she could cover the cuff on her ankle.

She'd considered, briefly, covering the mark on her face as well, but...was it wrong to try and pretend that she wasn't a subnatural? A monster in a supposed house of God...it felt wrong to even attempt hiding it, even if it might have made things easier.

Part of her still doubted her decision to leave the white smear in plain sight even as the elevator made its final stop, and it threatened to overwhelm her even as she stepped out into the lobby, scanning for her companion-to-be for the visit. Finding her roommate, she gave a brief motion of acknowledgement as she approached. 

"[color=ff57ff]Sorry for the wait.[/color]" For a moment, the girl considered asking if she should have covered her mark...but then her eyes trailed briefly over Brent's own. Perhaps she'd made the right choice...?

[color=B0C4DE]"Hey, 'ena,"[/color] Brent nodded, a half smile emerging, [color=B0C4DE]"Don't worry about it. Wasn't waiting long."[/color]

Thank god men's fashion was nice and easy. If he was Brenda instead of Brent, the arbiter figured that he'd always feeling like a fat slug beside Siena, who managed to pull off the 'simple but stylish' that basically every other millionaire walking around must aspire towards. Must feel bad, getting out-styled by a subnatural. Storing that petty sense of satisfaction somewhere else, the arbiter scratched his mark. He already had a location in mind, and really, it would be pretty bad if they were to show up late to the sermon, but...

[color=B0C4DE]"Feeling nervous?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]A little bit,[/color]" Siena admit while acutely aware of her own mark. She'd never been to anything like a church before, and she doubted that anyone was going to look at her as a welcome addition now that she wasn't even counted as a human. The dark, petty side of her sneered at the thought. It was certainly easier to be unaccepting of someone if they didn't count as human anymore, wasn't it? Pushing the thought away with a nervous smile--[i]she couldn't fake them with Brent anymore, could she? She'd let one slip, one genuine one that she knew she couldn't imitate perfectly anymore[/i]--the brunette straightened her blouse to give herself something to do with her hands. "[color=ff57ff]But I'll be fine. I've got you to follow.[/color]"

It was a lot of trust she was putting into someone who only continued to fail, but...

[color=B0C4DE]"Yeah, leave it to me."[/color]

...he would at least do his best. The road to hell was paved with good intentions, wasn't it? Not what he particularly wanted to acknowledge at the moment, but, alas...he should have brought his baton or canister of pepper spray or something. Churches were either forgiving of DC's children or were the first to pick up pitchforks in their presence. And considering how this was Washington...

[color=B0C4DE][i]Second thoughts already?[/i][/color]

He grit his teeth, clenched his fists, tensed his shoulders, and then released it all.

[color=B0C4DE]"Well then,"[/color] Brent said, that irrelevant smile on his face, [color=B0C4DE]"Let's go."[/color]
[hr]
Located only twenty minutes away from the glistening stories of the Hyatt Regency, Capitol Hill Baptist Church was a red brick building that lacked the extravagance of older Catholic churches in the area, not even a bell in sight. Austere and humble, it nevertheless had a history of its own, reflected in its cast iron sign and a parking lot too small for the amount of people going there on a Sunday morning. Faith had gone up after the Slumber, even as human decency had decreased, people praying for safety while simultaneously attempting to take it by force.

Crossing down the street, Brent let out a small breath at the sight of people dressed so...casually. Had they gone overboard? Would they have been better off dressed up in street-casual clothing? He had read that the place was 'conservative', after all, but seeing this...

[color=B0C4DE]"May be overdressed,"[/color] he muttered, before saying, [color=B0C4DE]"Welp, guess we just have to plunge in, eh?"[/color]

The building didn't quite fit what most people imagined a church to be, though it was perfectly in line with what Siena expected. Maya once told her about a church--the woman had never specified which one, only that it was where she and Gerwulf had been made acquaintances. The picture that Siena's caretaker had painted with her words had perpetually given the image of modest little rundown buildings. The Capital Hill Baptist Church was a step up from that image. 

[i]That was a lot of people.[/i]

"[color=ff57ff]Y-yeah, looks like it,[/color]" Siena felt her nerves rising. Being overdressed was, at the least, easily explained. Deep faith, usual attire...those might be hard to pass off with the marks so blatantly marking their faces. An impending date might have been the most believable excuse if anyone asked. Taking a carefully measured breath, she moved while going over what she'd managed to scrounge together since deciding to attend with Brent. She wouldn't be able to follow completely, but hopefully with what research she'd manage to glean from the convenience of the web would manage to guide her through things. 

But that was assuming that the church wouldn't decide that it didn't want the likes of the subnatural duo in its hallowed space. The smile faltered at the thought. 

Though it was full, as Brent and Siena approached the doors, regulars began to take notice, parents pulling children closer. The greeters at the door handed them neither brochures nor offered handshakes, while a younger man gave them an incredulous look, questioning why they were even there. All around, murmurs sounded, some glad that they weren't x-marked, others fearful regardless. 'The spawn of DC'. 'Murderous subnaturals'. People who made their wealth from war, and dared show off their ill-gotten gains in the form of their attire within the house of God. The atmosphere was stifling, passive-aggressive, isolationist.

But Brent didn't care for that. He wasn't here to go back to the the 'community', and as they made their way through a gallery of judging eyes, the arbiter offered his hand to Siena, giving a comforting squeeze if she accepted.

Even as they took one of the wooden pews in the center, the cool, hard surface forcing them to sit more or less upright, no one else sat on the same one as them. Or in front of them. Or behind them. It was that invisible bubble once more, regulars not wanting to get close to monsters even when religion told them to Jesus had accepted all. At the very least, there were still a few minutes before the pastor walked in and the service began in earnest. A few more minutes to become accustomed to this atmosphere.

[color=B0C4DE]"So-"[/color] Brent stopped himself mid-apology. [color=B0C4DE]"It's not like this everywhere,"[/color] he opted to say instead, [color=B0C4DE]"Feeling alright though?"[/color]

She'd taken the offered hand without thinking, a sense of comfort in the contact as they walked. 

[i]Remind you of something?[/i]

It wasn't the same. The whispers hadn't been reaffirming everything she doubted about herself when she'd do the same thing with Gerwulf's hand. It wasn't the same. Her caretaker's hand had been significantly larger than her own, rough patches of skin that scratched lightly against her palm, her fingertips. It wasn't the same. She wasn't being insistently pulled through the crowd and away from the toxic words with another presence close behind her, laughing off those that approached, brushing off anyone that dared to get too close. 

But it was still the same sense of comfort.

Though she wasn't surprised at the reaction of the people around her, Siena couldn't help but feel a dry sense of exasperation over it. So much for acceptance...not that she could really blame anyone. While her peers might not be monsters, while [i]Brent[/i] probably wasn't a monster, she couldn't say the same for herself. Even with the space between themselves and the rest of the people attending, Siena couldn't entirely ignore the whispers. Couldn't stop remembering the same tones being exchanged behind hands, into ears, [i]just loudly enough so she could hear[/i].

Her fists curled into the fabric of her skirt, teeth lightly digging into the flesh in her mouth for a moment longer. 

"[color=ff57ff]I think so. I...wasn't really sure what to expect.[/color]" She didn't really like hearing the whispers. Someone else saying it was...[i]harder[/i] to deal with than listening to her own thoughts. Maybe because when it was out loud, it was harder to deny. She didn't know. "[color=ff57ff]What about you?[/color]"

Like this, it was hard to imagine that regulars were still supposed to be 'people' he protected. Like this, it was hard to swallow the fact that he probably could have gotten along with them less than a month ago. Like this, he wasn't wholly certain if he would have gone with or against this rotten atmosphere if he had been one of them.

But he knew that the Brent from two weeks ago would not have just sat there and done nothing. Against common sense, that Brent would have stood up, turned to those bastards, and probably done something that would have gotten himself shot later on. Would have picked a fight against the world and failed to force back this tidal wave of whispered hostility.

Was this weakness? Or was this maturation?

[color=B0C4DE]"First time for me,"[/color] Brent said, focusing on Siena rather than the cesspool around them. [color=B0C4DE]"I'm more accustomed to a quieter service."[/color]

[i]A perfectly silent one.[/i]

[color=B0C4DE]"But if it becomes too much, just tell me and we'll leave, alright?"[/color]

He could offer this much, at least.

Up at the stage, the middle-aged pastor walked up, opened a beautifully bound Bible, and blanched at the sight of two subnaturals amongst the congregation.

"[color=ff57ff]It must be more jarring for you than it is for me...[/color]" At least Siena was ready to accept and assume the worst situations when she was going into public. With unstable expectations, it was hard to be disappointed and harder still to be surprised, but for Brent... Sympathy ran through her, a pang of guilt, a sting of pain. She unclenched her fingers from her skirt, the wrinkles that formed less distracting than usual. Instead of smoothing out the fabric as usual, she glanced at her companion, nodding faintly at his offer.

A moment as the pastor walked to his position, the Bible in his hands less telling than the expression on his face when his gaze passed over their general direction. She lowered her gaze on instinct, her hand subtly reaching past the folds of her skirt towards the boy beside her, seeking the earlier comfort.

[i]What are you doing?[/i]

She didn't know, but she knew that she wanted...something. Comfort in the wake of a harsh reminder of reality, perhaps. She simply didn't know.

[color=B0C4DE]"I..."[/color] He must have seen this coming, must have known that logically, it was going to be like this. But, still... [color=B0C4DE]"...don't know about that."[/color]

His own eyes met the pastor's unflinchingly, until the man looked away, finding more interest in his pages than his congregation. In the corner of his sight, Brent saw that Siena's gaze was directed downwards, and a part of him crumbled, just a little bit. It must have been uncomfortable, huh? What was with him and bringing people into these horrible situations? He had thought that Emma would have liked to learn first hand what happened to the dead in USARILN, but instead, he forced her down a reality she wasn't ready for. He had thought that there was a chance for all the male classmates to get along last night, but instead, he put Ernie on the spot by inviting Sander over. He had thought it'd be fine for Siena to tag along for this, but...

Soft fingers grazed his knuckles, and, without thinking, he reciprocated, the warmth of two sinners' blood shared in that moment.

...wasn't he just taking advantage of her vulnerability?

The thought disgusted him, disgusted him more than the part of himself that would rather inflict pain than save lives, horrified him more than the part of himself that couldn't feel enough to cry about the lives that had slipped out of his fingers, [i]hurt[/i] him more than the part of himself that wanted to die, every single day.

No more deserving than Chris.

[color=000000]Just another predator.[/color]

And so...

[i]The pastor's sermon began.[/i]

...he let go.
[hr]
The man preached a message of hope and faith, that it was only through stalwart belief that the Almighty God would deliver them from the devil's beasts. That through obeying the commandments and through helping others avoid the pitfalls of sin, one could gain divine protection from the monsters that stalked the earth. That even if they were to fall, the strong of faith would find themselves in a paradise free of pain and loss, where they would be joined with their loved ones in splendorous palaces surrounded by magnificent gardens.

It was so naive. It preyed so much on fear. Its foundations were built solely on meaningless ideals.

But Brent could still admire that, even as the pastor's eyes never met his again. That fervor was beautiful, and the reverence in the final prayer, as the congregation showed gratitude for all that was granted upon them even in a world so fraught with danger...it was something he could never earnestly feel.

Not when he was such a horrible individual.

So instead, as worshipful words went over wooden pews, Brent whispered another prayer. One for Savannah Churchill, who never got to grow up. Who never got to play her Cremona violin. Who never got saved. His mouth twisted into a grimace as he spat those words out, hands violently clasped as he dug into open wounds. It hurt. But it didn't hurt as much as it should have. And that was worse.

A final, earnest wish was made, inaudible.

And then, with a long sigh, his hands loosened and his eyes opened once more.

[color=B0C4DE]"Amen."[/color]

[i]"[color=ff57ff]I've never seen either of you go to church before.[/color]"[/i]

[i]"[color=f7976a]God helps those who help themselves.[/color]"[/i]

[i]"[color=f7976a]You mean the less offensive way of saying you don't believe in him. Guess we finally agree on something.[/color]"[/i]

The sermon dregged up thoughts and memories that Siena didn't really want to remember so clearly. It was getting harder to put aside the thoughts of her past in the past few weeks, especially when she kept [i]yearning[/i] for things that anchored her to it. Quietly, Siena had listened to the pastor's words...and something about her felt envious. She'd never been able to experience faith as it was with her caretaker's nonchalance. Harder still when her power crept in, only allowing the most extreme versions of belief to overwhelm her when she took the risk. 

But it wasn't the sermon that set nails into her heart. It was the barely audible whisper beside her. The one that she couldn't completely make out, but between a few syllables that couldn't be hushed by lowering the voice, with a few words caught when the pastor was not as overpowering, Siena could piece together what it was about. She kept her gaze lowered, clasped her hands together in her lap and closed her eyes as though in prayer herself. 

[i]And it hurt.[/i]

Savannah's lifeless gaze. Padma's body, torn to shreds. For a moment, Siena was grateful that Brent's attention was shifted elsewhere as her breath tried to stop. People she barely knew. Not real friends, just comrades--at least, that was what she'd told herself over and over again. It hadn't hurt the way she wanted it to, and that had frightened her more than any clockwork behemoths or subnatural threats. She'd thought that she'd torn too much of the fragile heart away until she was left with the hollow echo of the emotions she'd thought to dampen in the heat of the moment. 

[i]But this hurt.[/i]

[i]"[color=f7976a]Yer a little too innocent to see if from our view, kid. I hope you never do.[/color]"[/i]

"[color=ff57ff]...amen.[/color]"

As the service ended, the crowds of regulars found themselves in a dilemma. If they left fast, they could avoid the subnaturals, but if the subnaturals also left fast, they would have to cross paths with those little monsters once again. It was a stupid, petty thing that didn't matter much at all though, as the pastor was quickest to leave the room through his own little exit, while Brent got up and...

His hand lifted slightly, about to make an offer, when that ugliness, that greed, resurfaced.

...and cracked a smile towards his friend.

[color=B0C4DE]"Guess we better get going, 'ena. Got pretty stuffy in here, eh?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Well, that's one way of putting it.[/color]" Pushing herself to her feet, the girl brushed out the wrinkles in her skirt to little avail. Wrinkles from where her fingers had dug in the hardest were still visible despite the ineffectual smoothing she tried. Giving up with a faint sigh, Siena turned her attention back to Brent, the fake smile trying its hardest to creep up. 

[i]But it wouldn't work on someone that had seent the real thing, would it...?[/i]

Everything faltered. Without the mask, she didn't know what to do. How to keep it firmly planted when someone knew that it wasn't real. It was hard being genuine, much harder than it should have been. Siena relinquished the false smile and offered the brittle one that threatened to crumble like the shambles of the version of herself that she'd crafted so carefully. The real way she felt, really. Brittle, fragile little brat. "[color=ff57ff]Though it was liberating in some sense.[/color]"  Her attention went back to where the pastor had been only moments before. The readings hadn't been so useful, but...well, it was best not to admit that she'd heard, she supposed. "[color=ff57ff]All things considered...it could have gone worse.[/color]"

[color=B0C4DE]"Liberating?"[/color] Brent asked, searching for an explanation, [color=B0C4DE]"That's...another way of putting it."[/color]

[i]'[color=ff57ff]Try not to lie about it.[/color]'[/i] This was easy stuff. Things that didn't hit too close to home. Or her past. Or of the things she didn't like to remember, or the things that she wasn't certain she [i]was[/i] remembering. Siena paused to gather her words and thoughts. 

"[color=ff57ff]I spent my entire life being told that trying to experience faith was a pointless endeavor, and I believed them because I didn't really have much choice.[/color]" Maybe they were right in their own sense, hell, Siena wasn't certain if she disagreed with them even then, but that wasn't the point. "[color=ff57ff]But I came here because [i]I[/i] wanted to. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a little liberated.[/color]" ...among other things, but...baby steps.

[color=B0C4DE]"Stretching out your wings, huh?"[/color] Brent managed a smile, before the two of them began walking out from the corridor filled with judging eyes, out to a street bathing in the morning light. [color=B0C4DE]"Think you're freer, now that you're a cuffed subnatural? Compared to where you were before."[/color]

He considered it a little more.

[color=B0C4DE]"Did you enjoy this freedom? Or was it the rebellion that was pleasant?"[/color]

Freer...? Siena considered it for a moment. Physically and probably mentally, she [i]was[/i] freer in the most literal sense of the word. It was still taking some effort to get accustomed to the fact that she was out and about, that she was allowed to do as much. Giving some thought to Brent's inquiry, Siena wasn't certain she could come to an answer. There hadn't been an absolute form of rebellion before. Learning from Gerwulf, learning from Maya, doing what either of their terribly opposing mindsets suggested...none of that had been entirely close to a rebellion.

"[color=ff57ff]Both, probably. I enjoy new things, and both are still new to me.[/color]" A pause as she turned the thought over in her head. "[color=ff57ff]I'm not sure that makes much sense now that I've said it out loud.[/color]"

Enjoy new things? Even if those new things were things like Wisford? Like the deaths of those you knew? Like having to face down a variety of monstrosities? Like being pierced by the powers of an enemy you weren't even aware of twenty minutes ago? No, he shouldn't go down that rabbit hole. Shouldn't...but still would.

[color=B0C4DE]"Makes enough sense to me,"[/color] Brent said matter-of-factly, [color=B0C4DE]"You enjoy new things, and because both freedom and rebellion are new, you liked both aspects of it."[/color]

Sophia had been fine, even when she wasn't, and he was enough of a bitch to let that rest.

[color=B0C4DE]"That does...remind me though."[/color] They were crossing the street now, his eyes given an excuse to wander away from Siena's own gaze as he dropped a single statement. [color=B0C4DE]"Never had the chance to ask, 'ena. Have you been...alright, recently?"[/color]

Ah...a question that should have stopped her in her tracks. Uncertainty began to weave its way into her thoughts. She didn't know the answer to that particular question. Sure, the one that she [i]wanted[/i] to give was "yes" because...because it was the only way she knew how to respond when faced with her own issues. Smile. Keep smiling and maybe nobody would notice everything that was wrong. It was tempting to try it, to see if Brent would still believe in the fake smiles and her partial truths. 

...but wasn't the reason she'd felt the need to go with him because she knew she [i]wasn't[/i] fine to begin with?

"[color=ff57ff]...that's a hard question.[/color]" Because she wasn't fine. Because despite the situation, she didn't [i]feel[/i] anything the way she was supposed to, and her nightmares were starting to become more frequent and less effective. Because...because she felt fine enough to laugh and smile and push the problems away because [i]she didn't know how to deal with them.[/i] Because she lacked the names she used to take until there was barely enough left of her to rationalize anything but legitimate, physical pain. Because she thought it was [i]fine[/i] to tear out her own heart and replace it with a void until she felt brave enough to let herself come back. [i]Because she was a coward.[/i] "[color=ff57ff]I've tried not to give myself enough time to think about it, so I don't really know.[/color]" A weak smile here, another partial truth. "[color=ff57ff]I'd rather try and fix someone else's problems, I guess.[/color]"

Shit, was what he thought.

"Shit," was what he said.

Ah, shit, that was too true, wasn't it? And, in spite of himself, Brent chortled, half-amazed at how similar that statement was to his everything. It was so funny that it hurt, and he wanted to slam his head into a wall for those thoughts. It was so agonizingly [i]hilarious[/i] that his vision blurred, a hand wiping it away before anything could spill, could drop. God, this [i]sucked[/i].

"Geez," he shook his head, "I can understand that so well, it..."

His voice caught in his throat, and he coughed, trying to get those words out.

But nothing came out. What did he feel anyways? Why couldn't he vocalize this? Why didn't he understand?

"[color=ff57ff]I know.[/color]" Another flicker of a genuine smile. Of course she knew, and while it was counterproductive, she knew it was [i]easier[/i] to know that someone else understood enough to keep the words quiet for even a moment longer. She took a breath. "[color=ff57ff]Well, at least...I know what you mean.[/color]" Her gaze lowered to the floor for a moment. "[color=ff57ff]It's not the easiest thing to put into words. Or acknowledge. Or want to accept.[/color]" 

But she didn't have a choice, did she? Empathy, sympathy, years of perceiving emotions. All that effort, and it was useless in controlling her own. 

"[color=ff57ff]And I'd like to say it gets easier, but I doubt I'm selling that to either of us right now.[/color]"

His own smile twisted, a pale imitation of the one he had used for everything. It was strange, wasn't it, that his bonds seemed to all come from the most inexplicable parts of himself. [color=B0C4DE]"Yeah, got that right,"[/color] Brent said, scratching the back of his neck. Twelve years spent burning away all his weakness, slowly reinforcing his 'self', and still, it wasn't enough.

The arbiter didn't believe that bullshit about turning a weakness into a strength.

But for the time being...

[color=B0C4DE]"Well, seeing how we're both awful at helping ourselves, I wouldn't mind trying out co-dependency, 'ena."[/color]

...that weakness could become comfort, at least.

[color=B0C4DE]"If you'll have someone who only places second in classes, of course."[/color]

[i]Remind you of something?[/i]

"[color=ff57ff]Well...that does sound like the logical answer.[/color]" Siena gave a faint smile despite the not-so-small voice that demanded that she take the words back. Her problems, not his, right? [i]Her problems[/i]. But the voice was lost each time it tried to repeat the mantra. This was good for both of them. 

[i]So you're okay with this?[/i]

"[color=ff57ff]If you're fine with me, then I think we're set.[/color]" A pause and a sheepish smile. "[color=ff57ff]But you know, first...I can think of at least three people that would appreciate some aspirin when they wake up.[/color]"

[color=B0C4DE]"Gonna join me on my hospital visits then?"[/color] He grinned as well, a strand of hair finally breaking free and hanging down his face.

[color=ff57ff]"Of course, I th--oh...![/color]" Instinctively, Siena reached to push the unruly hair at least somewhat back into place. A familiar action, though more difficult than she'd expected. Something like a warm smile crossed her face. "[color=ff57ff]There we go...[/color]" Drawing her hand back, the brunette felt oddly satisfied with the handiwork. 

"[color=ff57ff]Shall we, then?[/color]"

Instinct told him to jerk back, but something else told him to stay still, as her hand swept that strand back once more, warm fingertips brushing against his forehead.

[color=B0C4DE]"Thanks,"[/color] he said. It was weirdly appropriate then, for him to offer his arm, even though Brent abstained from her hand. [color=B0C4DE]"I suppose we shall."[/color]

If it were a few days earlier, or perhaps even a few hours earlier, the scene might have played out differently. The thought didn't go unnoticed as Siena took Brent's arm. [i]Familiar?[/i] She didn't try to silence the voice that mocked her without end that time. Though she usually forced herself to overpower it with brute force or a volume of other thoughts and observations, somehow, she didn't feel the need. Perhaps at that moment, it was a distant worry.

...it wasn't a bad feeling.[/hider]