As the sunlight slowly wained, Joseph and Lena made it to the new Barracks. It seemed pretty small, like a miniature apartment building. It was close to the main police station, but was still quite unassuming. There was a parked car, a silver-colored van with several stickers referencing various sports teams and television shows. The van belonging to Roy, who has owned the van for longer than Michael and Joseph have been in the force.
"So, who's van is this?" Lena asked?
Joseph replies, "It's Roy. Hopefully they've already finished moving in with their stuff, I'd hate to get in the way.
They walked up to the door, with Joseph unlocking it, and entered the building. Within, was the living room. There were two areas within the living room, an upper area in the entrance, which led to rooms and had a kitchen in it, and down a few steps, a lower area with a few couches and a TV. Sitting on one of the couches, was Roy, watching some kind of sitcom, and on another, Michael, who was laying down on the couch, sleeping like a child.
Roy turned back, and said, "You're finally here. Me and Michael finished packin' up into our rooms, and we left your stuff in the room next to Michael's."
He turned to Lena, "You can choose a room."
Joseph says, "I forgot!" before handing Lena a key.
Lena replies, "Thanks."
But, she was staring at Michael, who was still out cold on the couch. She'd say, "Is that really him? With the way you talked... I expected a bit more."
Joseph muttered, "As if you'd be in any better shape after getting shot by a giant mech."
Lena says, ignoring that, "Anyways, I'm gonna go set up in my room. Knock if you need anything."
Lena started to walk away, and chose the room next to Roy's room as her room. She opened the door, and it was quite the modest living arrangements. There was a bed, with some sheets and a pillow, and a desk. There was also a door to a personal bathroom and shower. She started to unpack her belongings from her suitcase. She hadn't brought much, but it was everything she had. A stack of clothes, toiletries, a few books and guides, and a photo of her, with a few other people in it. She thought about what that man back at the station told her.
He had said, "Don't get caught up in the city. Remember who your enemy is."
She thought, that while vague, that statement was concernedly accurate. After all, at least in her conversation with that Joseph guy, she had been too lax. The only reason she's here after all, is because of the monetary need for her plans. To depose a king, was not a cheap task. Even... thinking of him as a king brought rage to her mind. She couldn't tell those others about this, their knowing of her position and relation could not only jeopardize her plans, but their lives. The last thing she wanted to do was to continue this chain of disaster. She shook her head, as this line of thinking would bring her nothing but frustration, so she got out a book from her suitcase. She decided to look at a book regarding magic history, a newer book, nonetheless still reputable, as her thinking was that you can never have enough knowledge.
The book read, "Telekinesis Magic is one of the most difficult forms of magic to master, and can present itself naturally at young ages, however, there is no evidence to prove that genetics affect the appearance, and may pertain to how the user is brought up. It has been known to cause mental instability and insanity in it's practitioners. In the last 50 years, the only major user of it in the world has been Violetta Torres, however, she has not been seen in ten years, not long after the end of the Leonese-Iridian war. Scholars in the field have speculated if she had fell to the magic's side effects, but there has been no proven evidence, especially with the unknown location of any family, due to the commonality of the Torres family name."
She pondered the reading, thinking about how someone could go so far to risk insanity. She continued reading, for long hours.
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Lena stumbled out of her room, into the living room. She looked at the clock, it being 10:00, and her not having eaten in a while. In the living room, Michael and Roy were sitting at a table, with Roy saying some kind of story, and Michael listening intently. Joseph was in the kitchen area, and had a apron on. He was preparing four plates, each with a salad, with chicken on top, along with a assortment of dressings and toppings.
Michael says, as Lena walks in, "Ah, good timing. We were just about to start eating."
Joseph says, while pointing at the table Michael and Roy were sitting at, "No thanks to the radio show going on back there."
Roy says, "You know, if you wanted us to help, we would."
Joseph replies, "Last time you both helped, we caused what could best be described as a ecological disaster. I'd much rather complain than be on the hook for that again.
Lena moved over to take a seat at the table, with Joseph quickly serving the food that he had prepared. She took her fork, and tasted the salad. It was surprisingly good, more than she thought.
Lena says, "I didn't know you were a good chef, Joseph!"
Joseph says, smugly, "Well, people say that I only use a gun because it, too, smokes meat."
Lena grimaces, saying, "One, ew, two, I'm 99% sure no one says that."
Joseph replies, "You wouldn't know them, they go to a different precinct"
Lena turns to Michael, asking, "I know you use magic, but what kind do you use?"
Michael says, "Fire magic. I've practiced way too hard at it not to use it. What about you?"
Lena says, "I do a bit here and there, but mostly thunder and ice magic."
Roy says, "So, you primarily use two types? Heard it's difficult."
Lena says, "Sure is. You think the wrong thought, that ice cube becomes a storm."
Joseph thinks out loud, "Ice, and water, would be pretty useful for cooking..."
Lena replies to Joseph, saying, "I am not your personal fountain!"
Michael would chuckle to himself. Clearly, she'd fit in just fine.
As they continued to joke and tell stories, and eventually finish eating, deep into the night, each of them would go off to bed, leaving only Michael and Lena.
Lena would yawn, saying, "I think I'm gonna hit the sack, I'm tired."
As she walked off, she'd notice Michael still sitting down."
Michael noticed her pausing, and would say, "Don't worry about me, I'm a bit more of a night owl."
Lena replies, "Night owl or not, it's 1 am, and you just woke up from a injury. You're gonna ruin your skin if you stay up like that."
Michael says, "Why are you concerned about my skin?"
Lena says, "Because I'm not a ass, and because the usual suspect isn't in the room."
Lena tossed Michael a comic book that had been sitting on the table, one that Joseph had left.
Lena says, "Read it, get your mind off things. It'll help you get to bed. Besides, I'm sure the owner won't care."
Michael nodded, not wanting to argue, as Lena went off to her room to sleep. As he started to read the book, he started to understand what she was talking about, and began to doze of himself.
Sleep is important, especially when you'll have a mission tomorrow.