^^ the bridges ^^

--- Anza ---

I hummed softly. "No, I can't say we have... are you a new department or something?"

He hummed. "Not necessarily, close to twelve years old... ah well, come this way, please." His eyes dulled and then turned black, and I hummed, following cautiously.

Gregor and the others followed, and we entered a large office building, that really shouldn't have been inside that little broom closet.

"Welcome to our headquarters. Intake is just over here." He smiled and sat at a desk, waving at the seats in front of his desk.

I sat in one, with Tina in my lap, then Tara sat in the other. Gregor and Indra stood behind us, looking around curiously.

"Ahem... alright, yes. The process is the same as any immigration... we'll just need to ask you a few questions, and then we'll give you an ID. You'll need to adhere to the Laws of the state of New York, of course, and the laws of the MSPA." He straightened a pen on his desk slowly.

I raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? I don't remember giving you any authority over me."

Indra sighed before he responded. "Don't be difficult, sis. You knew very well we'd have to adhere to certain laws, what's a few more? And besides, if we don't like them, it's not like they can do anything about it." He grinned mischievously.

Gregor nodded slowly. "Exactly."

I sighed. "Fine. What are the basics of these laws? Before I sign anything." I asked the man in front of us.

He leaned back in his seat. "Hmm... well, the basics, huh? No harm to humans, or your fellow magical species', beyond self defense... and of course the human public can't know about us at all. That's the basics." He nodded easily, and spun his pen on his knuckles easily.

I scoffed. "You made it sound like you'd have a collar around our throats! That's simple, common courtesy in a foreign city. I'd like a copy of your laws to study over while we wait?"

He nodded and reached in his desk, pulling out a thin book, and setting it on the edge closest to me. It's cover read 'A Brief Addendum of the MSPA's Policies under the Federal Law of America'.

I picked it up, and nodded. "Interesting... policies, not Laws?" I smirked.

He cleared his throat. "Technically, we have no power over government, and therefore no ability to make laws... well, laws. But the Magical Community follows our policies, because we provide them with resources they wouldn't otherwise be able to find, legally."

I smiled. "I see. And so we are, under no circumstances, actually required to follow your policies? Only 'strongly encouraged'?" I asked.

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Technically."

"Nothing technical about it, sir. If they are not laws, and you are not government affiliated, then you may not punish, reward, or police anyone." I smiled kindly.

He blinked slowly. "You don't seem to understand the situation, miss...?"

"Names have power, sir. Notice I did not use yours? A courtesy. Never tell Magical beings your real name." I said quietly.

He sighed. "Oh great. Traditionalists. Listen, Miss, we have a good thing going, here in America. Magical Folks get the stuff they need, from Vampires to Fae, from blood to herbs, all without hurting anyone, and all without breaking any laws. We make life much easier, and safer for everyone, in this City. Now while it's true that we technically don't have the legal ability to force you to follow our policies, you would find it difficult to do any sort of business without our seal of approval on your file."

I blinked slowly, but it was Gregor who responded, his deep voice vibrating the oak desk. "Was that a threat, little Fae?" He asked in a normal tone... for most funerals.

The man sighed. "Not entirely. The content was there, though. This city would totally blacklist you from all Magical Sites, from Troll Markets to Magical schools, if you didn't agree to our terms."

Tina hopped out of my lap, stomped around the desk, and then hauled off and slammed her foot into his shin so hard we all heard the 'Crack' of his shin breaking.

He grunted in pain, his eyes blazing orange, and then gazed at her slowly. "That was very rude, little one." He said in a warning tone, as his shin healed visibly.

She gripped his collar, and forcefully pulled him down to her level, then whispered in his ear. "I don't like bullies." She released him, stuck out her tongue, and then hopped back into my lap, crossing her arms.

I giggled and kissed her hair. "So cute... but no more of that, yeah? You remember the rules?"

She frowned, and turned her nose away.

He sighed, and leaned his elbows against the desk. "Fine, I see that we've gotten off on the wrong... foot." He grinned at his little pun. "Let's start over, hmm? I am a scribe here, in the main branch of the MSPA, and I want, very simply, for you to agree to follow our policies whilst inside our city. That's all. Read over the policies, if you like, it's nothing sinister." He gestured at the book carelessly.

I opened it, and began skimming over the pages. There were only thirty, which was something rather rare, but they mostly detailed services the agency could provide, and locations of those services. A list of offenses that required blacklisting was the last of it, and mostly included murder and other unpardonable crimes.

I hummed, snapping the book closed, and handing it to Gregor. "Interesting... now, there was something in there about obligations?"

He nodded. "As you know, the Agency provides services. In return, we sometimes ask favors of magical peoples, to make our jobs easier. A give and take relationship. And a small tithe is appreciated, but not required, as you read."

I nodded. "Alright. And this Magical school for them?" I pet Tina's hair slowly.

"Ahh, St. Ann's. Used to be a church, and it's now a performing arts studio. Under it is something like a Troll Market, but a school instead of a bazaar. Right between the two bridges, the Brooklynn and the Manhattan." He smiled warmly, then blinked. "I think I actually have some brochures..." he rifled through his desk swiftly, and then set a thick parchment brochure on the end of the desk.

I opened it, and whistled gently. "And it's a private school? Only Magical beings go there?"

He nodded. "Indeed. From Witches to werewolves, and their classes on Magic are rather excellent, from my memory. The tuition is included in your Tithe, should you choose to pay one. If you do not, then it's around $2,000 a semester."

I raised an eyebrow. "And the tithe?"

"Just 10% of your end pay, after federal taxes and such. It's a clear choice." He chuckled.

I smiled. "Indeed... so, Gregor? Are we going to agree to their policies?"

He growled softly, and then gazed down at the man at the desk. "I think we will, for now." He set his papers on the desk, followed by ours.

Mr. Finn nodded and tapped each of them, then his desk. Our basic information appeared on the surface in gold writing, then flowed off and onto the floor, before racing up a far wall, with a map of the city on it. Our names turned into golden dots, and then huddled amongst several hundred others, at our current location.

I hummed. "Interesting... a violation of basic human rights, but interesting."

He chuckled. "And that's why it's voluntary. Now, you're all set, members of the Magical community, now let's help you enter the human community..." he hummed and tapped our papers again, then slid his hands over a keyboard, opening a laptop screen quickly.

I watched as he swiftly created new papers, which stated we were pre-approved immigrants from Svalbard, making us technically Norwegian, which I hadn't known. "I thought Russia owned Svalbard?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No, Norway, though only as a technicality. They mostly keep to themselves." He responded quietly, his eyes scanning the screen for mistakes.

He blinked at our names, and raised a thick eyebrow. "Are you sure your names were spelled correctly?"

I glanced at the screen, and nodded. " yes. That's us. The Atkinson's... there's our father, Wroth Nælosonkë Atkinson, then us five,
Gregora Nælokipsë Atkinson (Gregor),
Anza Nælorakmë Atkinson (Anza),
Tara Næloyoksë Atkinson (Tara),
Indra Nælohinsë Atkinson (Indra),
Valentina Nælorëna Atkinson (Valentine), all correct."

He hummed. "You all have... odd middle names?"

I nodded. "It's tradition. Father's brothers also have very odd middle names."

He nodded. "Alright, well you're all set, I'll get you your full papers... you'll only need your ID, after all this, but the rest is necessary to keep." His printer started working, printing thick card-stock with our information on it.

He was swift and industrious with it as he folded, stamped, and bound them together, making an entirely new passport for each of us in just a few moments. Then he placed blasting cards in the pockets of the leather covers, and put them in front of us.

"And there you have it. Simple. All you do is take them to the intake professionals, and they'll have you registered as citizens. Any questions?" He looked between us.

I sighed. "So, after all this, we still have to go through the human immigration hoops?"

He chuckled. "Nothing I can do about that, I'm afraid. But considerably less hoops than before you talked to me, that's for sure."

I took our papers, and handed them to Gregor. "Alright, then. Good day to you, sir. I apologize for being so very difficult. It's in my nature." I chuckled.

He shook his head. "I've dealt with worse. You should've met Lugh when he moved here from Whales. He was such an ass." He laughed.

I raised an eyebrow. "Insulting one of the most powerful Fae in creation... either you're very stupid, or secure in your position, and just arrogantly stupid."

He blinked slowly. "It was a joke, Miss Atkinson."

"Hmph. 'Wise men do not jest upon the subject of life and death, for they know these subjects to have no scrap of hilarity for them to exploit.' Herodotus, I believe." I waved over my shoulder, and we exited the broom closet.

The lines hadn't moved, which either meant no time had passed, or the stories about how horrible this place were were true.

I looked at a clock on the wall, and hummed. "Only two minutes... odd. I like that type of magic, but I don't think it's very healthy. The mind should not be older than the body before it's time."

Gregor nodded, agreeing, and lead the way into a much shorter line of only two people, above which a dark purple sign spelled- 'Русские иммигранты'.

I hummed. "Aren't we supposed to go to the Norway line?"

"I don't speak Norse." He responded simply, and stepped up to the counter as the people in front of us walked away.

The woman in the window smiled and spoke in Russian. "Hello, how may I help you, sir?"

He froze, and I chuckled, stepping around him. "I apologize for him, he is very shy around women. We have just received our papers, and we were told to have you register us as US Immigrant Citizens?"

She nodded. "This I can do. Your papers, then?"

I set all five sets into the little bowl, and she pulled them out, typing them up into her computer. "It says here Norway, but it also says your main language is Russian, so I can handle this..." she murmured.

"Yes, sorry, we do not speak Norse. We are from the southeast of Svalbard, the Russian mining villages." I explained.

She smiled endearingly. "Ahhh, yes. I've been to the lake there, beautiful mountains and streams." She finished her work, and waited for it to load for a few minutes, checking the status of several other pending things while we waited.

"They are beautiful, yes." I chuckled at the thought of the mountains I'd visited. "Though Vesuvius is superior, I think."

She raised an eyebrow. "You've been to Italy?"

"Rome, yes... and Athens, Greece. My family is very well traveled... but I'll always prefer the human form over any mountain or stream." I smiled and rested a curvy hip against the counter, raising my thigh until I sat partially on it.

She smiled, a blush starting on her ears. "That so?"

"Would I lie to you, dear?" I smirked.

Her computer chimed, making her jump, and blush wickedly as she typed in response, then stamped our passports quickly. She slid them into the slot, along with a slip of paper.

I picked them up, and handed them to Gregor, looking at the number on the paper. "What's this?" I asked, curious.

"M-my phone number, you know, in case you need help settling in, or have any questions... I'm free around 6:00 every night?" She smiled hopefully.

I made the connection, and smirked. "Indeed... you'll be hearing from me soon, dear." I blew her a kiss, and then dragged the still-frozen Gregor away from the desk.

He got ahold of himself, and sighed. "I will need to get over that..." he grumbled.

"Indeed." I nodded.

Tara giggled and nudged me. "So you got her attention, huh?"

I grinned. "I get everyone's attention. Now let's go see our new home, hmm? And your school isn't far from our place, I think... according to the map I looked at, it's in the same neighborhood, between the two bridges."

Tina leapt onto Gregor's shoulders, and hugged his throat gently. "It's okay, Gregor. Everyone's afraid of something. Like spiders. Spiders are scary."

He nodded slowly. "Indeed, they are rather unsettling."

We exited the building, and started down towards the sailboat. Gabriel was reading a swimsuit catalogue, and swiftly put it away when we stepped up the gangplank.

I chuckled. "Well, that's all the proof we need, Gabriel, you really are a sailor!" I teased a bit.

He grinned, and shrugged carelessly. "Always have been! To Brooklyn, then?"

Gregor nodded. "To Brooklyn. Between the Bridges."

Gabriel nodded and snapped his fingers. His sails dropped, then the rope lifted off the dock, untying us. We were suddenly sailing directly along the current, and towards the massive bridges.

Tina gasped softly, and traced the webs with her fingers, then smiled and laid her chin on Gregor's head.

I smiled at her, and then watched the bases for doors. As we passed under the Brooklyn Bridge, a small stone door opened, and a tall man ducked out of it, dusting chalk off his suit. He then calmly walked away, not paying us any mind.

"And that's the entrance of the eastern Troll Market. Easy to find. They're not really hiding that hard, here. New Yorkers are pretty used to weird stuff. Green skin? No biggie. Crazy colored hair? Ha! It's an art form in this city, looking like a Fae." Gabriel snorted derisively.

I smiled. "Good to know... so this is Brooklyn?" I pointed at the high rises and white-bricked buildings, none less than two stories that I could see.

"Ahh, yes. The city of a million lights. Here we are." He pulled up to a dock, and pointed at a large, squat building, six stories high. "That's the apartment building. Let's get going. I can't park here for more than an hour or they'll take my boating license." He sighed.

I grabbed my duffle, setting it and Indra's Chest of stones on my shoulder, huffing at the weight. "I know it's full of rocks, but this is very heavy, Indra. I expect payment in full form of a shoulder massage later."

He smiled and grabbed his bags. "Got it, sis."

Gregor grabbed most of the rest of the luggage, and Tara grabbed her and Tina's bags. Gabriel nodded and stepped off the boat, waving for us to follow him.

The building was only a few hundred feet back from the water, but the amount of people even between us and the water confused me quickly. "How many people are there here?" I hissed.

Gabriel glanced at me, then laughed raucously. "Oh dear... a few million, in Brooklyn alone. This is just the Monday crowd, and it's just after Dawn. You wouldn't believe the number of people here, obviously. Don't worry about it, though. There's a ridiculous amount of anonymity amongst these masses." He continued, unconcerned.

I grumbled, and skirted around the people he just shoved his way through rudely. We reached the building, which looked like an old warehouse, and he knocked on the door loudly.

It swung open slowly, and he nodded. "We can go in. Come on."

We entered behind him, and set our things down at his gesture, and then followed him through the large room, filled with exercise equipment.

"This bottom floor is a Gym. People who don't live here pay a fee, and they can work out here." He explained.

I hummed and nodded, and we continued on into the back room.

A tall Asian woman stood in front of a desk, yelling swiftly in heavily accented English to the smaller woman behind the desk, who was trying to get a word in edgewise.

I cleared my throat, and they both looked at me. "Hullo." I grinned.

Gabriel chuckled. "Mary, is your Pa in?"

She shook her head. "He's in Cairo until next week. Some trouble with the Egyptian Vampires."

Gabriel groaned. "I've got your new residents, here? Are you allowed to make those arrangements?"

She nodded. "The two Lofts, yeah? No one ever wants them, cause they're so cold. I've got no problem with them rocking them over..."

"Great. Alright, Gregor, I consider my debt to you at least halfway paid? Yeah?" He asked Gregor.

He nodded. "Sure. Half. See you, Gabriel."

The small woman looked at us, and smiled. "Alright, then let's get you settled in, shall we?"