Vin, the heir of the Survivor and Empress of the Final Empire, looked at the small black box. Tilting her head she turned it and looked at the cord connecting it to the dull tan wall. Beside her the Emperor of the Final Empire looked at a small pamphlet with a frown as the light of their motel room flickered. Of all the challenges they had faced this was not the most difficult or life threatening but was instead a task in insanity it seemed.

"So... do you have any idea how to work this?" She asked shaking the box to see if anything happened. Looking into the glass-like side she could see a plate. How was this supposed to open? The painted symbols beside the glass of the box made sounds which had startled both when she had pushed on but otherwise the thing did nothing. The green lights at the top right seemed to have told the time but now just read 89:99 after Vin had hit those said buttons. Pulling on the glass side nothing happened. Burning pewter lightly she winced as she pulled the side off completely.

Elend put the paper down. "I have no idea. Does Electricity mean anything to you?" He asked. "We could just make sandwiches again." He said and Vin forced herself not to wince. Elend had many skills but cooking was not one. Poisoning might be though if last night's dinner had signified anything. Putting the box down on the cabinet Vin went over to where they had pushed the two beds of the apartment together.

"Nothing. Maybe its this world's magic or the name of someone famous?" Vin asked pushing a pile of political books Elend had taken to learn more about this place off her side of the bed. People seemed to call magic users here 'capes' who dressed in faux-armor or extremely bright clothing which made Vin wonder how they hadn't been assassinated by rival gangs or the local government.

"Hmm. Well I guess sandwiches again." Elend said frowning. What few ingredients they had were not meant for sandwiches. That wasn't mentioning that neither had any skill cooking at all.

The two looked at each other and then at the nearly gone loaf of bread.

"Restaurant?"

"Restaurant."

Vin bit into the meal the two had stolen from the market center. They had intended to go to a restaurant for food but the late hour had them all closed. And the money they had was rather limited. Picking a lock and grabbing enough food for a few nights was much easier despite Elend's protests. The meal wasn't exactly complicated just ham and cheese wrapped with lettuce but it was filling. Vin took another bite. Lord Ruler they needed to figure out how to cook. A background in thieving didn't lend much to the culinary arts and Elend had never stepped foot in a kitchen in his life.

"We can't keep robbing stores for food, we need to find a way to make legitimate money." Elend said eating his wrap alongside her. The table in the motel room was small but had enough room for them to place their food and still have room for the book Elend was reading. Something Vin had closed once they had sat down. The two spoke in near whispers as they both burned tin mostly from habit.

"Or we could just do crime."

"Hmm, maybe I could get a job on political history? Or theory since I don't really know the history. Do you think they'd accept 'experienced tyrant?' Elend said not hearing Vin.

"Crime is very profitable. A few cons, the odd shakedown, a heist or two and we'd be set for a decent amount of time." Vin said knowing Elend was in his own world as he talked. "Do you think Assassin is a position I could apply for?" Vin joked. Was that a job she could apply for? This world was strange. Gangs operated openly and seemed to not fear being swatted down by the government, if anything a member dying was unusual. But she'd need more time to investigate the gangs to know for sure.

"Maybe I could find a teacher on how to use the things here." He said pointing vaguely the the black glass screen by the microwave. "Or I could run for office. Whatever it is someone can run for here." He said which Vin nodded at. Politics came easily for Elend and in a world where he didn't have to deal with the apocalypse and petty tyrants Vin was certain he would do well.

"Again and I can't stress this enough. Crime pays. But a con to get you in office could work." Vin said already thinking over the details on who to set against each other and who'd she'd to remove to ensure an easy election. All out war on the streets and scandals from any competition would be easy enough.

"I don't want to be elected because I kill everyone else." Elend said frowning, finally hearing her. "If I run for a position I want it to be fair."

"Elend I don't care where in the Cosmere we are, politics are politics and if these are any fairer than the Final Empire's I'll speak eastern slang for a month." She said finishing her wrap and going to the closet where they had stashed their vials and her mistcloak.

"I'd still like to try to run fairly. This place is just... a nation founded on the ideals of every person having a say in government? It's more than I ever thought would be possible on Scadrial." Elend said finishing his own meal and placing away the other groceries they had gotten.

With tin Vin heard every movement of the room, from the bugs in the bathroom, to the hum of the refrigerator thing. The flickering light nearly had her head throbbing but pewter helped ignore that. So it came as no shock when the bugs in the bathroom suddenly scurried out and moved to hide themselves behind the bed before going for the door.

In a single motion Vin drew her glass dagger from its sheath on her cloak and threw it at the bug. With a satisfying thunk the blade landed and cut one of the bugs into two as it planted itself into the carpeted floor. Drawing the second blade she threw over the mistcloak and pulled up the hood.

Elend reacted as soon as she threw the dagger and had lunged and grabbed his dueling cane from its resting position on the nightstand and smashed the second bug. The third, a small cockroach, skittered under the door unconcerned about the death of its fellows.

"What do you think?" He asked grabbing her dagger and tossing it to her as they both began to burn bronze and copper. Distantly a regal and sounding drumbeat could be heard. The beat seemed to be of a larger chorus which was... unique to say the least.

"Spy? One of the magic users followed us from the market?" Vin asked catching the dagger and grabbing a set of vials. Only one set left for the both of them after these. Lord Ruler, how were they supposed to get alloys without raising attention? They couldn't steal the rusting material, it raise to much attention if someone stole metal alloys repeatedly. That would be a sure sign they had powers, how else could the gangs and government authorities do such things without metals?

"We've only got one more set for both of us. I don't think we can both go for whoever is out there and keep a supply." Vin said closing the curtain and putting the vials on her belt. Alcohol was another thing they needed to get but that could wait until they had alloys.

"I'll hold back and watch the room. Don't stay out to long and good hunting. I'll wait for you." Elend said before swallowing a vial on his belt. Taking the offered vials from Vin he replaced his empty vials and lifted up the bed closest to the wall.

Underneath a giant slab of iron gleamed. More club like than sword the thing was easily taller than Vin. Lifting the sword with ease Elend offered the blade to Vin. The blade he had wielded at the pits. Where he had- not now. Focus on the present. Steadying her breath she closed her eyes and then opened them composed.

Smiling she took the blade and slung it on her shoulder. "It will be taken care of before your watch hits two." She said and opened the door. Dropping one of the copper coins they had gotten that seemed to be used commonly here, she stepped out onto the walkway of the second floor of the motel. Burning steel she leapt and ascended into the sky to track down the source of the bugs.

AN: First chapter all criticism and thoughts are more than welcome! This was a plot bunny I had in my head for a while and I'd like to thank Slavok for the help in ideas and how to present the chapter