Forced Withdrawals [Nox's Building]

[Tatyana]

Snow was beginning to fall, but it was still light. Tatyana, Madison, and Mackenzie were on their way to Nox's building in the Red Light District.  They were all bundled up.  The world seemed to be moving faster today. People were rushed, trying to get home or something.  An ambulance rushed past as they walked.  Tatyana held the girls' hands and kept them close. The twins had worked their way into her heart since they had "stole" her ring. 

It had taken some convincing, but Mackenzie had eventually decided to go to the building. It had been Madison's idea to come here so they could spar properly. Tatyana had needed some convincing too.  It wasn't quite the day for her meeting with Nox, and if she could think of another way to break her block, she would have. Ever since finding out that Nox had been the cause of the twins' orphan status, she found herself disliking him more. 

Tatyana lived in the tunnels with the girls, taking a alcove for herself.  She wasn't aware of how much the girls knew of her drug addiction.  She tried to keep it from them, taking her meds when they weren't looking.  Tatyana was certain they had seen her high multiple times though.  They were smart kids and probably knew what was going on, but anytime they asked she just said she wasn't feeling well. It was an apt enough description. Today she had taken her pill, but it was wearing down. She spent time with the girl's when he wasn't high, and probably was sober more than she had been before.

The trio arrived at the building.  Tatyana kicked the snow off her shoes as they entered the building. She didn't like Nox, but didn't really want to make a mess or get on his bad side even if she was sure he, Hayden, and Ashton disliked her as much as she disliked him. "You two okay? Still warm?" she asked them, with a smile, wishing she could use her magic to help get them there a little better. They all wore hats and gloves given to them by Zeke's church, so it hadn't been too bad. "We can head downstairs and get warm before we play." she suggested.

[Legione Sumus]

Madison & Mackenzie

It was cold out. They took stuff from the lost and found in addition to what Nox had provided them. As much as Kenzie hated to admit it, he was good to them even if he wasn't beating down their door to get him to live with him. He certainly wanted it, but he had only mentioned it the one time.

When they arrived at the building Tatyana said they could go down stairs, that's all that Kenzie ever let Maddi do anyway. "That's the only place we go anyways." She didn't mention Kenzie's desire to not go up stairs and eat with the family or be anymore apart of it than they already where. They had a locker like everyone else and that's where they kept their laptops so they could go to school. It wasn't like going to school before with mom and dad. They didn't have to leave the comfort of the basement, and they didn't even have to do it at all if they didn't want to. Butit was there and if they came to the house they were expected to do some school work. It was part of how they 'paid' for their free food. Kenzie didn't want to be given anything so Nox made her work for it. Though Maddi knew it was all just a trick to get them to do school work and eat at the same time, but it satisfied Kenzie and Nox too for the most part.

Kenzie didn't hesitate when she was down stairs to stuff her coat in her locker and take out her laptop. They could take them with them, but they'd be stolen in a heart beat -- and even though Kenzie hated Nox she loved all the gifts he'd given them and the only thing she had to do was go to school and learn to fight. The only two requirements. The other kids, they had chores and a lot of rules to follow. They had to follow the rules too, but it didn't feel like they were that bad. Not as bas as Ara, Gen or Sera complained about them anyway. But they were rich brats anyway. They didn't have to work a day in their short little lives.

Maddi stuff her stuff in her locker and looked at Tatyana. "The last one is empty. I think a few others are too but I know that one is. I sometimes stash a granola bar in the top corner." Just in case she got hungry.

[Tatyana]

Tatyana followed the girls downstairs. The girls stuffed their coats in lockers and Kenzie got out a laptop. Did Nox provide those for them? Why? Well it was the least he could do for murdering their parents. Tatyana kept her anger at bay. She didn’t like to show Madison and McKenzie her anger towards Nox.

Madison told her a locker was empty, but Tatyana didn’t take her coat off yet. It was a small thing, but having her stuff in a locker felt like she was claiming something. Like now she would belong here. She never would. She was pretty sure they all hated her, but still she had access to this gym for now. At least until Nox tried to kill her. He had said that was what their lesson would entail.

Tatyana sat next to McKenzie and patted the spot next to her as an invite for Madison to sit next to her. Tatyana never pushed them to do anything they didn’t want to do - at least not hard - but she always tried to make them feel welcome. The only thing she really hid from them was her addiction, but they had never really seemed to notice that. Tatyana felt like these girls thought no one cared about them. She tried to show them that she did. They were kindred spirits.

”What are you doing?” she asked McKenzie, showing interest in what she was up to.

[Legione Sumus]

Madison & Mackenzie

Kenzie didn't look up as she logged into the laptop and her lessons. "Paying my dues." She said but didn't elaborate.

Maddi sat down next to them with a smile. "Kenzie likes to do her school work before she does anything fun. That way she doesn't owe Nox anything." Maddi leaned closer and whispered. [color#ace]"Kenzie thinks school work is currency. If she does it she can play games, eat food and stuff."[/color] Maddi giggled. "The other kids have to do chores, we don't. We are just doing what kids have to do. Mommy and Daddy would make us go to school too. Least here we can do it quickly and then have fun the rest of the day."

Kenzie usually told Maddi to be quiet now, but it was Tatyana, she liked her. "We have math and spelling and boring history to work through." Maddi pointed to her screen. "We have to do all these lessons till we get the star. Then we can play. Or we can play and do it later."

[Tatyana]

Tatyana smiled as Madison took the seat next to her. Both girls were working on their laptops, and Madison explained what they were doing. Madison was definitely the talker of the twins. McKenzie was quieter. At first, her words had mostly been to tell Madison to be quiet, not out of annoyance, but protection. McKenzie struggled with trust more than Madison did it seemed. Lately, McKenzie had been talking more to Tatyana though. She still spoke mostly in riddles, but she was talking. Tatyana thought the girls liked her.

The two were doing schoolwork. A “payment” for Nox’s gifts. It made sense. Transactions made sense. Though she believed Nox was in their debt. He had taken everything from them. They shouldn’t have to pay for these things, but Tatyana didn’t tell the girls that. She just looked on as McKenzie began her work and would occasionally change and look at Madison’s offering help if needed.

”I agree,” she said. ”Better to get the work out of the way before you play.”

She gave Madison a side hug and squeezed. She then gave Mckenzie’s shoulder a light squeeze, letting her know she was also paying attention to her. McKenzie didn’t like the hugs so much, but Tatyana liked to let her know she was there and cared. Tatyana could have stood up and started to stretch, but she was content to wait for the girls to finish their work, so she sat with them, continuing to offer help if they asked.

[Hayden]

Nox stormed out. Hayden was almost tempted to follow him -- make sure he didn't do anything stupid. But if he wanted to him around he'd have stayed. Hayden wasn't Nox's only friend.

Lily was down for a nap. Liam was studying in his room. Everyone else was at Kallisti. "I should go home." Hayden said to himself but instead he sat down on the couch and waited for Nox to come home. They still had to talk it out but Nox needed a minute or three to cool down before he did something he regretted. Hayden understood that. He knew his limits and unfortunately Nox was feeling more now than before his power had been taken.

Hayden flipped through the movies -- he'd find something to kill the time till Nox came home or the kids got back and decided it was time to play.

[Legione Sumus]

Madison & Mackenzie

Tatyana helped with their work which was nice. Usually they had to as Sterling or one of the older kids for help but it was nice not having to wait. They finished their work with plenty of time to play. Kenzie was the alst one done. She had an issue with doubting herself as well as understanding -- it took a little longer. But no one got mad at her for taking longer and Maddi waited until Kenzie closed her laptop and tucked it back in her locker.

"We can spar now." She smiled and took off her shoes at put them on the floor of the locker. It wasn't cold down here like it should be, the whole house was warm and it was a joy to walk around with just socks on, though she took those off too cause it could be slippery sometimes. And it wasn't as safe.

Kenzie stepped into the middle of Nox dojo set up and started warming up.