Nicholas Truman's Story

Scarlet waited patiently as Sylvester did all his magic tricks and moved aside even before he signaled her and Nick to do so. As she always did before the empowering, she listened cautiously almost studying every words muttered as he gifted each and everyone in the room. As predicted some were baffled and startled while others were scared out of their wits. She smiled in amusement at the scene, this was always her favorite part of her job after all. She saw Nick glancing at some girls, as always, and rolled her eyes at the flirting fool.

Obviously she did not say anything when Sylvester signaled her to reveal her own... gift, 'they'll find out sooner or later...' was all she could think of.

Finally she heard some recruits ask questions, 'that's a new one...' she thought sarcastically. Grey asked about why she had been chosen while Harper asked about the elevator, Scar let out a laugh at that one but nobody seemed to hear it as they were all still focused on Sylvester. She couldn't help but to grin as Jasper dissed her too, "Obviously, simply bitch, you’re just as fucked up as the rest of the broken toys here," but it wasn't until he tried leaving that her mood was truly ruined. Immediately Scarlet followed the guy outside Sylvester's office and quickly blocked the guy who was about her height, with the help of her high-heels of course. She almost let out a growl in annoyance, from the beginning they had not gotten off the right foot with his "Eat shit and die" and her "Fuck you".

"Look asshole or broken toy whichever suits your delicate needs." she said almost throwing knives, "I could give less of a shit about your tantrums and your oh so dramatics, in fact they are quite enjoyable, keeps things interesting anyways. But, you are going nowhere, not now that you have been given your power" she paused for a second but not long enough to let him to interrupt her. "You just said so yourself, everyone you just saw in there and myself included are indeed fucked up in ways that not even you could imagine" she paused for a moment finally letting go of her tight grip on his shoulder. "But this is your last chance and that's all you've got left".

The redhead moved back giving her back to Jasper returning to Sylvester's office.

"It's not that easy," Noah was a bit surprised at her snapping at him and he wasn't really trying to put it the wrong way. He really did love Rosalina but, somehow he managed to fall out of love with her just because, of a little anxiety -that was probably an side effect from the drugs he was abusing. It made him twitch a little, not out of anger but, from past issues he didn't want to fix. "You know I loved you more than anything! I would have done anything for you, but you repaid me by leaving without reason-" He didn't say anything. How could he? He thought he deserved this. After he left her like that.

But, even if he thought of this now, he's going to forget and deny it in the end. Noah was always, Noah. He would be with anyone he pleased to be with and he'd do what he want, when he had wanted and he didn't care who hated it. That was him, the typically bad boy, the bad influence, the heart breaker; it was pretty funny because, he had no control over his life. His life was the video game and somewhere inside him was the controller.

"I still love you, and I probably always will. No matter how hard it is I have to learn to live with that." Looking down at her as she laid her head on his knee, he wanted to say sorry but, for some reason he couldn't bring himself to say it. It shocked him to hear that she still loved him and it kind of made him want to smile. But, he didn't. He truthfully had no idea what he had felt about her after all these years -since he was literally blinded by drugs and many other things that he'd been hooked on even before he met Rosalina. This love thing was really confusing to him, he knew how it felt but, he didn't know what it was.

"You have to live with hurting me though," Biting his lip, now that she said that, he is already living with hurting her, it got to him. He didn't like when other people were hurt, and he was one of those people who had hurt a lot of people just by dragging them down into his shitty life and leaving them there when he didn't think it was too late to leave. Running his hands through his hair,"I loved you more than anyone could ever love you and you left." He knew she loved him but, he didn't know she would be hurting -from him leaving- this much, even until now, and he hated seeing her like this. He didn't like seeing her cry, he tried his best to comfort her and rub her back gently. "I-"

"Good, okay folks it's time to go meet your new boss! Scar you can lead the boys first, I'll stay behind the girls to make sure they're protected." Looking over at the guy that walked in, he guessed he was the one that worked at this place. He then turned his head towards Rosalina and smiled as she grinned. "You're the only person I know here making us automatic best friends," He raised one of his eyebrows in confusion,"this time you just can't get up and leave me either, Noah." His eyes widened slightly as she kissed his cheek. He wondered how she had changed her mood so quickly. He had a feeling that it was his fault but, he didn't know why.

"How do I look though," He looked at her for a moment,"You look good." He smiled, remembering how important impressions were to her. "I can't make a bad first impression. You know how I am with impressions! Are my eyes red or puffy? Do I look pretty?" Chuckling at Rosalina,"No your eyes are fine and yes you do." Still the same girl he first met, it still was confusing how quick she altered her mood and he didn't want to bother her anymore by asking questions. "By the way you look perfect, very presentable!" Smiling, at the compliment, he still remembered every one of her words from a few minutes ago. He needed a smoke he need relief he needed something. "I think this is where we separate." Maybe he could get rid of this stress after he meets this Benefactor. Letting her help him up, he smiled and then he nodded. "I'll see you in a second!" He followed the nice looking redhead to a nice looking office, still hating the fact that the damn elevator was broken.

“Welcome. My name is Sylvester Cromwell but I am usually addressed as The Benefactor. Although some of you may know that from reading the letter. Before we begin, I should let you know that should you desire to return to your rooms, the room number is placed in the back of the letter. If you by chance did not read your letter in your room or did not bring it with you and don’t remember your room, I will give it to you before we give you a tour of the places you will be working in the town.” Damn, well he didn't read the part about bringing the damn letter, and he didn't really need a number he just needed to remember where he was at and go backwards. Noah did have a band to take care of so, he didn't want to stay here for long. He didn't think this would help him, he actually thought this was a waste of time. Wait, no. I take that back. How much time did he have to waste?

Looking down and then up at the male walking towards him,”Noah, you've abused drugs and even conjured your own, sometimes bringing others with you to your downfall. Now you will be a potions maker which is like a drug dealer only your potions are made through your gift of magic medicine. You will brew potions that will solve problems that the customer will have. Materials and the guide book will be provided by the Benefactor. However, the medicines are still drugs, which mean they have to be taken at certain dosages and in a limited amount of time. Make sure you take some funds with Rosalina.” Well, damn. Just put his business out there for the world to know. This was an easy job for him actually but, potions? Also, what type of problems would he be helping people with? He was a hard worker but, when it came to people and communication, he just wasn't good at it. Some of them might have nasty attitudes and he wasn't going to deal with that shit, and some of them might talk too damn much. Hell. This was better than going to some therapist, telling him some lies and giving him medication that he was probably going to sell.

Well, he guessed it made sense, it still freaked him the hell out but, he tried his best to keep that to himself. He wasn't going anywhere, he's been trying to get clean but, the more he tried the worse he got. So if it took kidnapping to get him to stay clean, the so be it. "Medicine man, sounds pretty interesting." Looking over at Rosalina, he smiled at the playful nudge. "I need a stress reliever." He mumbled, saying that to no one in particular.

The Benefactor didn’t have to wait long for others to respond to the mysterious happening of the office and himself. Grey had asked, "Why was I chosen?" and the Benefactor would have thought it was obvious at this point yet he opened his mouth to respond. Before he could, the Benefactor stopped as he heard laughter coming from another Harper who had only one question to ask, “Why does the elevator not work?” The Benefactor took a moment to smirk at the question, anticipating that it would come out sooner or later but not with the enthusiasm Harper had. Still he did have to explain and he would’ve if Jasper wasn’t so quick to answer Grey. “Apparently, you weren’t paying attention when this guy was giving an overview of everyone’s life story,” as he gestured to the Benefactor on cue. Obviously, simple bitch, you’re just as fucked up as the rest of the broken toys here.” Afterwards he turned to the Benefactor. “I have a real question, Mr. B,” sounding irritated. The Benefactor held back his smile to the nickname, hiding the fact that he kind of liked it because he knew now was not the time. “Can I just get the hell out of here?” Jasper asked before shaking his head ,waving his hand, and walking towards the door. ”You know, what? You don’t even have to answer that. I’m going to just go.” And with that Jasper walked out of the office, the first one to leave after the empowering. The Benefactor didn’t need to signal Scarlet as she walked out of the office after Jasper. After a while, she came back in without him, unsuccessful perhaps.

In a few moments, Daniel spoke up agreeing with Harper the “former hooker.” “I don’t know, it just seems like a lot of walking,” while Rosalina and Noah had a conversation amongst themselves. Makoto seemed to be the only one who enjoyed this at this point. The Benefactor wasn’t surprised when another one, Alton, also announced that he would get out of here. “Listen, I’m just going to go back to my flat, the atmosphere in there right now is pitiful and I don’t want to deal with it. So if you don’t mind, I’m going to try to come to terms with the fact that pain isn’t available to me anymore.” The Benefactor watched Alton leave and thought, ”My, I wonder if I should’ve really done that, or rather if he should’ve given him that ability considering his…special kinship towards it. But what’s done is done and he cannot take it back.”

If the Benefactor had thought that Makoto was the one who enjoyed this he couldn’t have been more wrong when Grey had started a whole conversation to him about thanking him for saving her schooling for psychology, offering her coffee skills, introducing herself, a “broken” closet, and a bottle of wine that didn’t make her drunk. The Benefactor had taken her hand and shook it gently giving her a warm reassuring smile while she spoke, but couldn’t help raise his eyebrow and give a concerned look when she mentioned the bottle of wine.

“Grey, it is a pleasure for you to offer coffee. I’d like to take up the offer sometime if it’s no trouble, and perhaps the others would like some too. I will ask the maids to gather a list from each of you about your clothing preferences. Though, about the wine…I’m sorry to say that I didn’t put that there…” The Benefactor grew jealous for the moment. ”Of all the things I don’t give them, why did it have to be wine!” he thought. The Benefactor could feel his taste buds craving for the drink that Grey had taken up and he couldn’t help but tighten his grip, forgetting that Grey was holding onto his hands. “Ahh sorry about that miss. But I can’t inform you much on the wine.”

He was about to suggest that Novia would help the maids gather deals on the clothing but then she excused herself, in a much intelligent and sarcastic tone, “Well, as much as I'd love to stay and join you all in being harassed and degraded by Nero of the 21st Century, I think I can manage to find something more stimulating to help me grasp onto what's going on. Thanks for the stuff, by the way. Love the kitchen design. But I really want my Audi back.”

More people walked out of the office after Novia, leaving Grey, Harper, Rosalina, Noah, Daniel, Makoto, and Jang to be in the room. Aradia and Zeus left the area without a word. Fiona said a goodbye to Harper saying, “As much as it is seeing people explode and hearing all this cursing, I think I'm going to go look around this place. But, it was very nice speaking to you, Harper. I hope to see you around.” With the leave of her best friend Aradia, Hailey excused herself, "I...I...Never mind. Excuse me, I need to... I gotta... I need to collect.. collect.. collect my thoughts."
The Benefactor observed all of this, and took note of who left and who still remained. It didn’t surprise him much that some people stayed behind while others had left. This happened many times over and after experience he knew that plans don’t always go as smoothly, so he had to think of an alternative. He smiled towards Grey who was still nearby him and then addressed the crowd of young adults.

“Now, I see that we won’t be able to go have a tour around the town, which is still fine. You’re free to go and look around this weekend as your jobs don’t start until Monday. However, I see that we need to get together as a group, so I’m going to plan a little something for us to do this evening. For now, I want you to get closer to each other, especially trying to find those who have just ran off. There are no more secrets in this place anymore since we have to get close to each other. It is important that a business runs as a unit that so happens to have many components.” The Benefactor smiled, remembering that logic from his father who he had looked up to all those years ago as a child. Now it was his turn to shine, his moment of leadership. “In fact, this may also be an excellent opportunity to try out your powers if you wish, as long as the other person is willing of course. Again Daniel, I warn you on not making anyone…endowed with another person inside of them…unless they wish it upon themselves.”

Before the new recruits headed out the Benefactor quickly said, “And the reason why the elevator doesn’t work is because my father was unfortunate enough to receive this building without one and as it expended the workers couldn’t install one. I apologize for this, but in a sense it is a good way to be healthy and exercise. You never know when emergency could strike and that extra training would help.” After the new recruits filed out, The Benefactor motioned to Nick and Scar to have a meeting to themselves.

“Nicholas, Scarlet, watch over these interactions. We need to make sure they do not get unnecessarily injured in any way,” the Benefactor whispered with a serious tone. Slowly his serious expression turned into a smile and he cheerfully smiled and he continued, “Especially since they’re supposed to have a good time!”

Nick nodded and politely said, “Yes, sir,” then grabbed Scarlet’s hand and escorted her out. Making sure that nobody was around, Nick asked, “So, Scar, how do you think of the new recruits? I’m definitely enjoying the chicks around here, though the guys ain’t so bad. They’re such lucky bastards though. The Benefactor’s throwing them a party again even though they act like such brats!” He gazed at Scarlet as she spoke, observing her beautifully defined body and the flaring sea of vermillion that flowed down with it. Her luscious lips seemed to move with the words she spoke and he didn’t care what she was saying so long as he could look intensely at his partner. Ignoring anything she was saying he then asked, “Hey, why don’t you tell me your power?” He eyed Scarlet suspiciously, circling around her as he spoke. “I mean, it’s been a long time since I joined and you’ve always just kept to yourself about it. We’re partners so shouldn’t we be looking out for each other?” Nick then put his arms around Scarlet and looked at her earnestly, this time showing genuine interest and concern for her. “C’mon, Scar. You know I worry about you sometimes. Why don’t you promise you’ll show me your power? It doesn’t have to be now since I know sometimes there has to be those opportune moments. But can you promise me you’ll show it to me?” Nick held on to Scarlet and stared into her eyes, awaiting an answer.