Vin woke in an empty bed. Frowning she pushed herself on her arm and blinked spots away from her eyes. The bed was a mess and had the covers strewn around partly from the two of them covering their heads under the sheets to burn their metals away. Across the room Elend was frowning as he read. Beside him was a sheet of paper with the steel alphabet and the symbols of this world scribbled alongside them. After a few minutes Elend put down the book and wrote something down in. The language used here wasn't to different, the sentence structure seemed similar and the letters weren't to far off of the steel alphabet but it was still slow to read anything. Though finding out that the allomantic metals didn't have their own symbols in this language was annoying.
Vin had pushed to write the paper showing how the symbols related in metal but the aluminum foil they had used was to flimsy so they stuck to paper for now. They'd have to find some other material that was cheap.
"Morning dear. When did you get up?" She asked grabbing her discarded tunic from off the ground and slipping it on. Walking over to the table Elend was seated at she gave him a kiss on his bearded cheek which he returned and sat down across from him grabbing one of the apples they had stolen from the market store.
"Not to long, last night I didn't get to a great stopping place on this book and it was killing me on what happened. Even if its ancient history to this world." Elend said gesturing to his book as he lounged in the chair.. Something on a Rome or Rumi republic. Vin nodded biting into the fruit used to Elend's reading habits. She would get on him about eating at the table but she suspected he had already eaten. Besides reading the local language was important.
"Any plans for the day?" Vin asked taking another bit and peaking at the sheet.
"Well from one of the books we found on laws in this country we need cards identifying ourselves for higher level jobs. I'm not sure how we could get those without going to the government and I'm not sure they'd believe that we're from another world." Elend said putting down his pen and closing the book. Was that one for pleasure or just political history and theory? Knowing Elend it was likely both. Vin understood the purpose and need to read works like those but for the life of her couldn't fake the enthusiasm to read them. If it was important she'd learn or rely on Elend.
Vin drummed her free hand on the table. "There has to be a way to get some illegally. I'll look into finding someone who can make us some." She said finishing her apple and throwing into the wastebin. "Speaking of illegal I was thinking of finding more muggers like we found our first night and stealing their cash."
"I'd rather not have to go the illegal route but it may be something we have to do. We do need more cash... Try to not kill anyone. Oh I did find something useful. As it turns out religious institutions don't pay taxes." He said smiling.
Vin paused for a second before laughing. "Elend, I don't think we could avoid taxes by saying we're a church. There a many other easier ways." She said. Though she had never really paid taxes as a thief or an empress she was used to the concept of giving some of her income to someone higher up. Reen had been the first to teach her how to skim off the top and keep a small second stash.
"Why not? You are the heir of the Survivor and were a god. Even though it was for political reasons I am a member of the Church of the Survivor." He said and Vin realized his grin was a smirk.
"Let's leave that to plan b." She said knowing he was kidding. Would that count though? Regardless they wouldn't be paying taxes unless they were legal citizens.
"Fair enough. I'll look into ways for us to get decent jobs or ways to apply for a political position." He said getting up to shower. That had been a shock along with the air conditioner. To be able to control the temperature of a room or have clean water be common enough for the motel they had to have it. As well as the water being hot.
"I'll go and get us some money so we don't have to steal everything. Oh and I'm going to teach you to lockpick." Vin said. In all honesty the skill wasn't all that useful as either of them could knock a door of its hinges but if they wanted to get in somewhere without smashing a window it was a useful skill."
"Lord Ruler forbid I just smash the lock." Elend retorted. "Who knows what would happen if I just Pull on the hinges or jump through a window."
"Lord Ruler this is hard." Elend muttered fiddling with the padlock Vin had given him at lunch. How did Vin do this? He understood the theory of it but in practice it was much harder. The lock wasn't even that hard! Well he was fairly certain it wasn't. Vin has unlocked it in less than a minute but she had a lifetime of experience and Elend was fairly certain she had been showing off. Putting it and the tools Vin had loaned him away for the moment he smoothed out his suit. The white military uniform stood out but it was better than the poor undershirt and shorts he had. Besides he had left the cloak back at the motel as those sadly seemed out of fashion here. Still it looked proper and he struck an image even if it appeared a tad odd.
Across from him a man was filling out a sheet of paper. Another was glancing at him with an odd look. Elend burned copper and brass to hide himself and to soothe any concerns the man had. He needed to conserve metals but if this paid off both Vin and he would have enough supplies for a long period of time.
At the edge of a room a small window showed the bay the city was named after. Elend had been waiting for maybe fifteen minutes for the interview. His plan was primarily to get some form of identification. Applying as a refugee had been originally part of the plan but he had no proof that Scadrial existed other than his memories and Vin's. He was instead hoping to be able to convince the authorities that he and Vin were refugees or required asylum. He had toyed with the idea of revealing the pair had powers but the thought didn't appeal to him. Beating a criminal black and blue would get rid of said criminal but it didn't resolve the underlying conditions that lead a person to crime. He could do more good as a politician than punching criminals.
"Mr. Venture?" A dark skinned woman called out from the now open door at the end of the room. Rising Elend smiled and walked toward her maintaining his posture. He offered his hand and shook hers.
"I'm Mrs. Lee. I'm here to go over your file. If you would just follow me." She said holding a tired smile. Elend Soothed away some of her tiredness and followed behind as she went through the door into a poorly lit hallway.
"We noticed some irregularities in your file that we were hoping you could help us explain." She said stopping in front of door and opening it. "In here please."
"Of course. I'd be happy to help. Is it anything serious?" He asked walking into the room, a small office. Sitting down at a uneven chair Elend glanced at the bookshelf in the corner. It took a moment as he tried to translate the symbols but as far as he could tell those titles had nothing to do with each other. Was the shelf just for appearances? Why would someone buy books they were uninterested in?
She sat across from him and pulled out a thin folder with the papers he had submitted earlier that day. He hadn't expected to be called in this early. He was used to a fast bureaucracy but had expected at the lasted a day or two.
"Were by chance did you get your c-outfit?" She asked.
"A gift from a friend and former tutor." Elend replied.
"Your use of improper spelling aside I was hoping you could clarify where you are from? By your accent it's what England? France?" She asked and Elend blinked not sure what either of those accents sounded like.
"Born in England but I was raised in France for a significant time." He said smoothly. He wasn't sure it was a good thing on how he was able to lie so easily now. Vin would be proud at least.
"I see. And what was the name of the town you grew up in?" Rusts. Trying to remember the names of the locations he had seen mentioned in the books he had read so far he stumbled for a moment.
"Westport. It's a town in the county of Wiltshire. In England." Elend said recalling the birthplace of a political theorist he had been reading about. The woman nodded and scribbled something down.
"And you listed political figure for occupation. What position did you occupy? Are there any records?" She asked and Elend felt a bead of sweat. Taking a deep breath and trying to Soothe any doubts of hers as well as Riot her sense of helping others and compassion and trust. He felt a small amount of shame using his powers like this but it wasn't like could could actually force her into something. It was closer to delivering a good speech. He couldn't force something that wasn't there and his touch was hardly as subtle as Breeze's or Vin's.
"It's complicated," He began which earned a frown from her. "I was a politician in the local area but was voted out after my rivals used some dirty tactics. Me and my wife would have stayed but our home was broken into by an assassin. My wife fought him off but we fled as we feared for our lives. Some close friends helped us get out of the country. And now that we're here we want to start over as legal citizens." He said smiling. It wasn't a total lie. A massive compression on what had happened and heavily bending the truth but not a total lie. Probably.
"I see. Do you have any I.D? Which office was it?" She asked not looking up from her papers.
Elend made a show of checking his pockets and groaned. "Damnation I left it back at our room. Would it be possible for me to come back in say a day or two with it?" He asked.
"That will be fine sir. Does," She paused checking a calender. "This Friday work?" Three days. That would be plenty of time to get a fake I.D to collaborate his story.
"It does! Thank you so much for helping me here. This means a lot." He said standing and offering his hand. She took it and Elend left with a skip in his step.
Vin jumped down onto the mugger and slammed her fist into his face. Leaping up she turned to his accomplice and kicked him in the throat. The second man flew back landing against the metal trash container. As both laid groaning Vin reflected that it was astounding easy to be mugged. Picking their pockets for their money she smiled and left the alley with enough cash for a few more nights at the motel. Leaving the alley she stopped before grabbing the groaning thug she had punched.
"I want a new identifcation card. Where do I go?" She asked.
"Fuck you." He said trying to spit had he only to be slammed into the wall. Vin drew her dagger and placed it beneath his eye
"Try again."
"Chris Morris on 8th street. You can find him at the dogfights near there or at the Eagle's Nest bar." He groaned out as Vin pulled her dagger away.
"Thank you." Vin said before headbutting him. He dropped to the ground unconsious and Vin was fairly certain he wasn't going to mention what happened. People tended to lose the respect of a person who claim they lost a fight to a woman who was barely over five feet high and didn't weigh 90 pounds soaking wet.
Vin left the alley and considered if she had enough time to be mugged again. Walking down the street she reveled in the light of a yellow sun. A simple thing not worth mentioning in this world but a thing of myth to her's.
Passing a street vendor Vin stopped to make herself look like a tourist and easy pickings when she felt a shaky pulse. All bronze pulses where different depending on the source but as far as Vin could tell none of the pulses she had felt so far had any similarities in tone or pitch. Above her a white figure flew passed and Vin mildly wondered if it was a requirement of this world for those with powers to be dressed ridiculous. The girl above wore of all things a tiara and a white costume and a gold cape. Subtlety truly was unknown here wasn't it? The girl set herself down on a rooftop and seemed to be waiting for someone. A small crowd gathered below and aimed their metal and glass rectangles at her. Vin peaked at one of the rectangles and saw it seemed to take portraits.
A minute later a boy in armor joined her and they began to walk/fly together and Vin wondered how easy it be to fling someone in that much metal around. Walking away from the dwindling crowd Vin found a small alley and Pulled herself onto the roof. Watching the pair disappear she moved in the opposite direction toward the motel. If she found another mugging opportunity she'd take it but she'd rather grab groceries and prepare for her meeting later in the night.
Jumping down she went to the market store she had robbed the night before and grabbed one of the fabric bags to carry her groceries. Grabbing a bottle of wine and cereal she went to grab easily prepared meals. She and Elend had next to no talent in cooking but if it was done already she was certain they could manage.
As she wandered the store for food she stopped in front of a small metal container holding papers. From the painting on front and the words it seemed to be this world's version of a crier. Personally she preferred to have the news spoken aloud on a street corner but some local quirks had to be expected.
Grabbing one she put it in her bag and went to pay for it. The cashier eyed her suspiously and Vin instinctively started to Soothe him.
"Do you have an I.D.?" He asked sounding bored. Why would she need that for food?
"For what?"
"For the alcohol. You've got to be twenty one or older to buy alcohol." He said and at that moment Vin felt fairly confident in saying this world was terrible. That had to be a joke. Why on Scadrial would there be an age limit on liquor? Rusts, Elend had been drinking since he could talk and Vin had drunk plenty of booze as a child and teen. It was usually safer than the ashy water and easier to get than rain water.
"This isn't a big deal right? It's been a long day and I'm just trying to grab dinner." She said putting a fake smile on. The man shook his head and took the bottle off the moving counter and behind by his feet.
"Come back with an I.D. and you can buy it kid. Otherwise it stays here." He said. Vin scowled and paid for the rest of her food. Leaving she walked down the street and felt her mood lift as she saw a pair of bald thugs right outside an alley. Smiling she walked toward them to get mugged and to rob them blind.
Not much action this chapter just trying to show the two trying to settle into their new lives. but the next one will be over Vin and Taylor's meeting and Vin and Elend hitting a Empire dogfight for a way to get a fake I.D. in order to get green cards. I'm going to put up a poll on Spacebattles for choosing Elend's Cape name as I'm pretty settled on Vin's being Mistborn though I did consider Preservation, Sliver, or the Survivor's heir. An suggestions for his name are welcome. All thoughts and criticism are welcome! Hope you enjoy!
