#beginings

8th Rune of the 3rd AtetModern Letter: D Rune Cards by Chaotic Shiny Productions Also known asThe Germanic name: Daaz (Dagaz)The Norse name: DagrThe Anglo Saxon name: DaegThe Icslandic name: DagurThe Norwegian name: Dagr Icelandic Rune PoemTranslationN/AN/ANorwegian Rune PoemTranslationN/AN/AAnglo Saxon Rune PoemTranslationDæg byþ drihtnes sond, deore mannum,mære metodes leoht, myrgþ and…

I stretched my arms up, my spine making a delightful popping noise as I sighed. I had spent nearly a week in this new place, Ambrose. It was a small dead town, in the middle of nowhere, some state called Louisana. I had been in this state before, I kept to the lower half of the country, the heat was pleasant. The sun beat down on the town, a stale smell lingering in the air except for the smell of death, it was strongest by the museum, and I had yet to approach it.

There wasn't much to do here in Ambrose, not that I minded. I liked the fact there weren't many people. I had learned very early in life that people and myself did not mix, no matter my efforts. I vainly kept trying though, a stubborn streak ran a mile long in me, at least that what I had been told, a long time ago.

I glanced at the clock on the wall, it apparently was the cap to a beer bottle, the item making my lips curve up as I tucked a strand of my hair away, noting the time before I entered the main area of the shop, my Boss was bent over inside the engine bay, a string of muttered grunts and cusses.

"Excuse me?" I asked as I waited near the door.

He banged his head on the hood, swearing as he glared at me. His blue eyes were sharp, angry, and cautious. He lifted his cap, wiping the sweat off of his brow.

"My apologies, I am informing you of my dismissal." I kept my gaze steady as he let out a breath.

He eyed the watch on his wrist before he nodded. "Go on then."

I turned on my heel, leaving the shop, stepping out into the humid heat.

~~~

We had come to an agreement when I first arrived. A flyer on a bus stop along a dirt road had gotten my attention, I had never heard of the town before, but it wasn't too far from where I was at the moment. It was simply a day's walk after I tore the flyer down before I showed up in the town, his blue eyes looking me over.

I would work for him and in turn, I would have a place to stay. He wasn't happy at first, arguing that he needed to know what form of payment I wanted.

"Stones." I adjusted the small backpack on my shoulder, the few items I had gathered in my life weighed down the bag as it bit into my shoulder. My hair stuck to the nape of my neck, but I felt alive, my eyes studying the human in front of me as he sized me up, I knew the lack of sweat on my unnaturally pale skin under a southern sun raised suspicion.

"Stones? You're going to do all the work I ask of you for some stones?" He laughed, but I couldn't understand his amusement.

"Yes. There are things more valuable than your human paper money." I said honestly, my eyes meeting his before I darted my gaze away.

"Human, huh? You one of those goth chicks?" He smirked, before he spat off to the side.

"No," I took a breath, "I accept payments of a deeper nature. Stones that catch your eye, bones you find, trinkets. Things that speak to you."

"And for that, all I have to do is house and feed ya?" His voice betrayed his look of disinterest.

I nodded, my fingers twitching at the bargain brewing as I wiped them on my torn jeans. "Yes. A dark place, to be left alone, to rest. And a meal a day, human food. For that I will work for you, whatever you need."

"Hot damn. You know I worried 'bout that advertisement bringin' on kooks, but you're alright, kid." He shrugged a shoulder, as I stepped forward, pulling my hand away from my pants as I held it out to him.

"Do you agree to the terms?" I asked him, a hot wind blowing around us.

His hand stuck out, a grin on his face. I reached for it, my hand slipping into his, a shiver going down my spine.

A new contract.

~~~

He had taken me to his home, I had politely offered to house somewhere else but he waved a hand, grumbling about some man in the walls. He had lead me to a cupboard under the stairs. He pulled on the chain the bare bulb flickering.

I eyed it, the few boxes inside. I nodded as he started moving the boxes out. "Think there's a twin mattress we could put in here. Get ya some blankets. You sure that's all ya need?"

"Yes, thank you for your hospitality." I said as I stepped into the small room. It needed some things, but it felt safe.

"This good enough? You said small and dark." He spared me a glance, I knew he had questions, but he was smart enough to not ask them, yet.

I nodded again before I reached up, unscrewing the bulb, plunging the room into darkness. A smile he couldn't see appeared over my face.

———

C. A. Singh • April

Our design in the universe of Minecraft

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Kaidan Alenko/Female Shepard Series: Part 1 of Counting the days Summary: