Crime and Punishment [Rayne]

[Sidra Cotton]

Detention.

She'd been warned. By teachers. By Doc N. By... well anyone in authority at Hammel, but the work just hadn't been turned in on time. Yes, she was doing a good job; yes, her work was thought provoking, but it needed to be turned in On Time. a concept that seemed to escape the surly goth. Being sent to the counselor hadn't seemed to help, so the next obvious step had been detention.

With double the work.

Sidra grumbled as she slouched in the desk chair the books open, but ignored infront of her. The skelleton pen she'd picked up in one of the in-town shops, before her weekend outings had been revoked as well (a far more enticing reason to do her homework on time) was tapped against the side of the desk rapping out her irritation in staccato. She was getting her work done just not in the time frame they wanted. Sure, sure, Doc N had been very clear about that, but she'd been too busy sulking and deflecting.

Having been given the opportunity to talk about the things that were bugging her and declining, Si brooded. Why would she talk about it? Sure he was freakishly like her dad in so many ways, but he wasn't her dad. Her da, whom she missed. Her da who'd been there for her. Her da who'd been torn apart by the divorce. She'd had to leave him durring the worst time of his life, and that killed her. But to talk about it? Out loud? To admit that she was hurting.

HA!

That was a joke.

She, Sidra Odette Cotton, was a goth[/i] not an emo kid. NEVER would she allow anyone the opportunity to think she was weak. or emotional. Vampires were not emotional. They were cold, killers, top of the food chain!

As she was sitting brooding over her delima and debating on actually getting to work or not (weekends in town!) anoter joined her. Glancing over, Si studied the girl who came through the door. Arching an eyebrow in a bored, yet impreious manner, Sidra watched all judgement as the other girl settled herself.

Maybe, just maybe, the dreaded D would be entertaining after all.



Outfit can be viewed Here

[Rayne Braxton]

She knew in the end she would have some sort of punishment, she just didn't think they would resort to this. Detention. In Ray's mind, one of the worst places to spend a perfectly good afternoon. But, with her weekends restricted to staying on school grounds, it's not like she had anywhere else to be. So she had ditched her dorm to see a concert in the town on a school night? She would have been back a few hours after curfew. They were playing at one of Ray's favorite coffee shops, so she had expected them to be decent. But she was wrong, they were just some wannabes that had brought up alot of attention because bands don't come here very often, not in places you can get into without an ID. She had been practicing on her power lately, being able to pause time a little easier then normal. So, she tested it out to see if she could get to the town, and she could. Only to have Hammel staff find her in twenty minutes later. So much for that. Plus, Ray was behind on her assignments..again. So Hammel thought that since she was new and didn't know all of the rules, they decided to place her in detention for a few days. It may seem like to others she was getting off the hook, but Rayne didn't feel that way. That place was hell. The terrible D room.

It was a Saturday, and Rayne had woken up late due to staying up all night (as usual), and quickly found some clothes she suited appropriate to wear. She walked out of her dorm room in her favorite comfortable cargo pants, a cropped graphic T-shirt with a wolf design, a big black sweatshirt (for using as a pillow if she got bored enough),the pendant her parents had given her, a dream catcher necklace, some silver bangles bracelets, and her old worn out black converse. She didn't have time to fuss with her hair (not that it mattered much anyway), so she just parted it to the side and let it run wild. Holding onto her black backpack she had sewed and ironed on pictures of bands and qoutes she liked, she strolled through the door to her new hell for the next few hours. Once inside, she saw that she wouldn't be rotting in here alone. The other girl was eyeing Ray, looking her over. Ray didn't mind, because she was doing the same. The girl had a cool sense of style, she put much more effort into her outfits then Rayne ever did. Rayne walked over and sat down in the seat across from the red-head's and started pulling out her text books. Not that she was going to actually use them, but have them out so it sort of looks like it.

Then she took out what she was really going to do for the next few hours, temporary tattoos. Not as good as the real deal, but good enough to pass time. When she still had been allowed to go out of the school, she had gone to one of the little tourist shops and bought tons of different styles of temporary tattoos. There were gothic ones, ones with intricate designs, ones that an artist would have loved to paint on your skin. She looked back over at the girl again, trying to see which tattoo would fit with her outfit. She finally decided on one, a black spider hanging down on a strand of it's web. She handed it to the girl.

"This one would look awesome on you" Rayne said, "Maybe right underneath your eye."

She then realized she hadn't introduced herself, so she turned to face the girl again and said

"My name's Rayne, although most people call me Ray." And as she searched through the tattoos again, finding a cool tat for her belly button she looked over at the girl again and smirked.

"Gotta have something to do for a couple of hours, and this is way more interesting then homework."

Yes, it was slightly immature but hey, a girl's gotta do what she can to keep herself preoccupied.


[[Wearing this!]]

[Sidra Cotton]

Sidra had to admit that her first impression of the other girl, Rayne, changed drastically at the proffering of the temporary tattoo. The spider was just perfect and the suggested placement was exactly where she would have put it herself. Arching eyebrows at the other, Si accepted the small item and leaned back in as much of a slouch as her corset would allow. Easier in an underbust, and with much practice, she was able to pull off a ‘corset slouch’. It would have, perhaps, been even easier if she compromised quality for easy and used plastic boning instead of spiral and flat steel, but then she’d have an inferior product and that simply would not do.

“Sidra,” the goth offered her own name up in exchange, “Si.” Even as she spoke the other girl was smirking and making an admission of needing something to do. Something, anything, besides the school work. How right she was, too. A grudging respect found it’s way into Sidra’s mind and she felt her lips pull back into a returned smile. Fangs and all.

“True enough.”

Reaching down beside the desk she hoisted up the water bottle she’d brought with her. Black, of course, and pulled a fabric swatch out of her bag. It had been a sample she’d gotten in the mail a few days ago and just hadn’t been impressed with so it’d been turned into a rag of all use. Folding the bit of cloth she placed it over the opening to the water bottle, adjusted the spider where she wanted it, and soaked the paper backing until she was sure the spider was dangling beneath the corner of her right eye.

Wetting the cloth again, she passed it to Rayne, “Gotta put it on some how. Where’d you pick those up anyway?” The major places she went in town, when she went, were for coffee, music, and sewing supplies. It was a tiny po-dunk town in the north. Farms were the major source of income for Vermonters and thus Sidra was bored. Woefully bored most of the time. Sure there was a club, but even with a fake ID she’d never pass for old enough to get in.

Ageists.

But it mattered little, she had a successful business at her age, and it was only going to get better. The only catch was, she didn’t have a business license and didn’t file taxes. Why should she? It wasn’t like the government was doing much for her. And she had better things to do with the money from her corset sales than pass it over to a government that didn’t know how to handle money. Clearly.

“So?” Throwing all pretense of working to the side, Sidra turned in the chair to face Rayne head on, “How’s it look?” She was pretty sure she’d gotten the spider on straight, and the other girl was quirky enough not to be a pop-tart. Besides, she was bored and willing to let the conversation go where it would. Final Judgement could come later if it came to that. So far, Ray was doing pretty good on Sidra’s scale of acceptance. Better than most.

[Rayne Braxton]

So, her name was Sidra huh? Cool. Rayne found this girl to be very interesting, her company much better then spending these many hours with just textbooks. When the girl showed her fanged smile to Ray, she couldn't help but like this goth girl more. "A pleasure to meet you Si," she smiled back, "Welcome to one of my personal hells, detention." Although she had only been attending Hammel for the last few weeks, she had already made a reputation for herself. Standing up to authority figures, breaking curfew, ditching her classes, etc.

Ray looked at the girl with amusement in her eyes and asked: "So, what are you in for?" She decided they might as well share stories since they are both stuck in this prison.

As she was sorting the tattoos, she picked up the one she had decided on. It was for her belly button, with a slightly intricate design. The design was of a pheonix, spreading it's fiery wings to encircle her belly button. She turned to see Si putting the spider tat where she had suggested. Guess great minds think alike. After the goth had put on the temporary tattoo with intense precision, she handed Rayne her black cloth. Ray accepted it, and nodded in agreement.

"Guess it was fate for us to meet," she joked "You with your water bottle and cloth, and I with the cool tattoos." When Sidra asked her where she bought these she smirked. "Ah, well. I guess I could share some of my trade secrets with you. There's this cool little tourist shop in the downtown area, called Gotta Have That or something. It's an odd shop, filled with all sorts of things most tourists wouldn't leave Pilot Ridge with. But that's why I love it. Maybe when we're both not in detention, we could go there sometime." Ray would also have to show her ReWear ReCycle, the used clothing shop. She believed that this girl would love to see it.

Rayne put the temporary tattoo exactly where she wanted it, and pressed down with the wet cloth. She left the cloth there firmly until she was sure that the phoenix would be showing off it's wings on her stomach.

"This isn't as cool as getting an actual tattoo," Ray said, lifting her mess of hair away from her neck and tilting her stance so Si could see her real tribal moon crescent tattoo, "But it is much easier and pain-free."

After showing off one of her many adventures she had while on the road with her aunt, she shifted so she could look directly at Si's face. Rayne had been right, it looked great right underneath her eye. "Yeah, you got it perfect. How does mine look?" Ray had to admit it, detention today wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.

[Sidra Cotton]

“I guess it was,” she grinned back, tapping the corner of the spider to make sure it was down right. Even with Ray’s promise that it looked just fine, Si wanted to double check. Difficult without a mirror or a camera. “Apparently it doesn’t matter if you turn the assignments in. They have to be in at a certain time and some such bullshit. Genius cannot be forced,” the Goth’s chin tilted up into a rather stubborn angle. It was an excuse she’d used WITH the teachers here, but they didn’t buy. Honestly, she didn’t blame them too much it really was a croc of shit.

“What brought you in here, to your personal hell.” What an awesome way to describe detention. Especially if one was in it again and again and again. There was a bit of the goth in Rayne, clearly. She’d chosen the best tattoo possible for herself, and for Si. Yup, the day was getting better and better all the time.

Filing away the information about the shop for later use, Sidra nodded thoughtfully to herself. Apparently there was more to Pilot’s Ridge than she originally thought. She hadn’t really LOOKED in most of the shops other than to find the music store and stalk it for new releases from E Nomine, Rammstein, etc. They were, unfortunately, woefully lacking in any of the bands she liked. And it would be easier to order off line and pay the shipping than wait for the American releases. Stupid country.

“Oh NICE ink!” And she meant it. “I’ve got plans for one, but gotta finish working the details out and then find an artist I trust. I’ve got the ink they use to put tattoos on celebs for movie roles and stuff, but you’re right. It’s not the same. “

“So….” leading questions were always tricky but damn if Si wasn’t going to ask anyway, “How about you and I break free of this place and head off into town? What are they going to do? Put house arrest bracelets on us?”

[Rayne Braxton]

"If you wanted a mirror you could have just asked." Rayne pulled out a small compact and handed it to Si. "I have a bag of wonders, kind of like Mary Poppin's. Except it's much cooler." She told her with a smile. Rayne never really cleaned out her backpack, so who knows all of the things that could be in there. Rayne understood where Si was coming from completely. Homework was a horrible monstrosity that falls upon all preying students at any school, and Rayne wished it didn't. Class work and tests were bad enough, but having to do work at home? That was unnecessary and unusual punishment. "I know, right? Just because I turn it in late you are going to lower my grade, that's stupid. A grade is a way to label us. Then we fall into categories of trouble students or fast learners. To me, the whole education system is BS."

When Si asked what had brought her here, she leaned back in her chair and sighed dramatically. "I just wanted to have a good time by going to a concert at a local coffee shop. I kinda stopped time for a half hour so I could get there." She shrugged." Like I told my teachers, it was practice. So I was out past curfew? Rules are meant to be broken. I'm not a follower to anyone." Rayne looked over and smirked. "Next time I'm out to have fun, I'll be sure to cover my tracks better." There was always going to be a place she would not be permitted to go, a rule that went against what she believed in, somehow never getting to do what she wants because she's not old enough. Well, it never stopped Rayne before she came to Hammel, and it won't stop her now.

She smiled at Si's response to her ink. Glad she could show off to someone without them giving her a lecture. "Thanks," she replied, checking her temporary tattoo again to be sure it was still the way she had it. "Oh, you should show me your tattoo design! I know a couple of tattoo artists here and there that are safe and amazing at what they do. I could probably help you out." When you travel in an RV with your aunt all across the country, you get to know a couple of people. And learn a thing or two about who does crappy tattoos and who takes pride in their work. "I have never used the celebrity ink before, but I would love to try it." Rayne could already imagine some designs on her wrists or arm she would like to try with that.

"I like the way you think Si." Ray was already in motion to leave, packing her backpack with all of it's crap again. "I think you and I are going to do great things together." She laughed and was standing up, pulling Si from her chair, her eyes filled with amusement. "There is some great places in town that I would love to show you." Rayne couldn't wait to get out of this hell hole, and head into town for some real fun.

[Sidra Cotton]

The chaos star and bat necklaces swayed against the pentagram of Sidra's tank just above the begining lines of her pinstripe underbust as Rayne pulled her to her feet. As they made their way out of the detention room and quickly down the hall, Si grinned. Oh yes, the day was shaping up to be far better than she'd anticipated. Rayne had managed to slip in, worm her way into conversation with a bribe of a temp tatt, and rather quickly become a friend.

Or at the very minimum someone Sidra could tolerate and was finding that she rather enjoyed the company of. For the moment. Rayne wasn't as goth as she would like, but there was potential there and she certainly had her own flare.

"Perfect. You'll have to come up to the room sometime and we'll get you experianced with the celeb ink in no time. It's like henna in it's application but lasts longer."

The hike into town would be long, and cold as winter was creeping up on them. Her boots, heels that they were, had a nice warm lining that she'd added to them after finding them at a second hand costume shop. One of the best finds she'd ever made and still her trophy "kill". She'd made the walk in them before, no doubts, but at her own leizure and taking the main roads. No telling which route Rayne would want to take, but Si was willing to allow her to lead. This time.

"So," the goth lead in keeping pace with Rayne, the heels of her boots clicking the tiltes of the school halls with sharp precision, "You stop time. What else can you do with it?" Because that was a useful skill to have all around. Even if only for a few seconds. Someone fires a gun at you? Stop time, step around behind dude, restart time, tap him on the shoulder. Now that would be too funny.

The fleeting thought that they might be caught swam through Si's mind, but she ignored it. So what if they were? Seriously, what was the worst the school was going to do? It was pretty clear they HAD to be trained in their powers so they couldn't send them away. Besides, if that Vincent dude got away with half the stupid bull he pulled, they could run out for a day in town. Without permission.

"Which shop first?"