The Brass Quarter

[Trillian]

Irritation rippled through him at her caution. Just another do-gooder telling him what he could and couldn't do because he looked young. Ben was fast losing interest in the conversation - especially when she gave him the names of the Wardens he'd spoken to but had pointedly not given him the names of those he'd spotted but hadn't caught up with. Maybe it was a subtle way to let him know he'd been noticed that he'd talked with them? She was better at cautionary words than Jake was - he was a brute and she was finesse. In Ben's opinion, he just had to be more careful around her.

He would definitely look up that saltigue thing.

"I honestly can't tell the difference between Jake's people and the crims that operate here," he said, looking across the street at the four leather-clad thugs loitering on the front steps of some run-down building. He'd been walking on this side of the street to avoid them - not because he was worried he couldn't handle them (as his vampiric strength made them pushovers) but because a fight with them would reveal that he wasn't 'ordinary' and there was no way in hell he'd take a beating from those goons.

He wondered if she would think him a snob because of what he'd said. So be it. Even when he'd been dirt poor he hadn't been proud of it, wielding his financial instability like it made him tougher or better somehow. He remembered his room-mates friends, going out on payday and blowing all their money on a boozy night out, or spending all their money on weed and then crying poor at the end of the week. Fucking losers.

The Brass Quarter was probably divided into thirds like that. A third of the nasty, criminal element that needed to be booted into prisons or just made to 'disappear'. A third of people hard done by and trying to scrape a living while providing for their families on multiple jobs (and these were the ones he wanted to help), and the last third would be a bunch of losers that were only here because they were too apathetic to pull themselves out of the gutter. People like his dad. People like his brother.

His unkind thoughts were reflected in his expression as he stared at Maria, waiting for her diplomatic answer or lecture. Whether he liked her or not didn't matter. She'd already chosen her side. Only Sam was allowed to straddle the distance between Jake's camp and Ben's... because it wasn't her fault who her sire was.

[Idrial]

Maria had taken note of the annoyance that bubbled across Ben's face, reminding her of Sam in that moment and her own bitter attitude when being cautioned about anything. The scary part, however, was Sam didn't mind getting hurt if things accidentally went south. Maria took no offence to the emotions displayed by Ben, she continued to display a peaceful attitude towards the young vampire despite the negative observation Ben expressed.

"It looks that way doesn't it?" Maria indicated in a calm and mellow attitude. Maria did not think Ben as a snob, she thought he was narrow-minded and a bit rigid with his observations. Examining Bens' gaze flicker across the street, staring at four individuals that were nothing more than tough-looking teddy bears.

"People would not think I come from a third world country in the manner I dress either." Maria held a polite smile while she continued to speak, scanning the young vampire's expression. "It lets the community know we are here to help first and foremost. To get know us and them, no matter how we dress. I find the uniforms can summon a certain type of hesitation to come forward or a complete unwillingness to approach us at all."

"People are medicine for people Mr.Samson," having the words of her mentor pour out of her mouth. It had been a long time since she had to use a proverb in a situation.

Maria found out years ago Americans valued their privacy and solitude. A huge cultural shock that brought a certain sadness and loneliness Maria could not shake for years. In the Senegalese culture, they valued the importance placed on community, relationships and simply being together. Sitting, shooting the shit, and joking with each other is their cure-all's. Maria felt that is what the Brazilian Quarter needed and after long talks with Jake he had agreed to let Maria help clean up the Quarters and bring forth a bright future for the people.

[Trillian]

"Some people might be medicine but others are toxic," Ben replied, his voice low. He dropped his gaze, unable to hold her stare. He was of the impression that on a general basis, Ben could be medicine... but personally, if anyone invested in him emotionally, he was toxic. Could a person be both? He thought so. Jake was medicine to Kerr but toxic to Ben.

He wanted to change the subject, so he brought it back to her original statement, using the medicine thing as a segue.

"So who are you here to check up on? Someone who needs your medicine?" He forced his tone to be friendly and he thought he did a pretty good job of it. He even looked back into her eyes.

[Idrial]

A large cloud of darkness fell over Ben when he mentioned people could also be toxic, verifying what Maria felt through their handshake held true, "Samantha does not believe you are toxic Mr. Samson." Leaving the conversation with a small positive note, whatever Sam seen in Ben was for her to know.

"On several people yes," correcting Ben while giving him a firm nod. "The first one is a Duskborn who is dealing with a slum landlord tonight. My assistance was requested," leaving out the particular details of the case.

[Trillian]

"I wasn't talking about me," Ben said defensively, not liking Maria's assumption. Rude. He frowned at her, wondering how to get out of this insulting conversation when she provided him with information about the people she'd come to see.

Duskborn. Yet another term he didn't know. Saltigue. Duskborn. He was going to be Googling a few things later tonight. He wasn't going to ask her what it meant. He didn't want her to think he was ignorant.

"What kind of assistance did you give?" he asked.

[Idrial]

Yes... that's why Kerr visited the White Rabbit, leaving Jake in tears and in a terrible mood for several nights on end. Jake couldn't even have a movie night with Sam, a toxic mess stood in front of Maria, and until he addressed those issues a bigger storm was to develop. Ben could frown all he wanted but Maria made a good guess Ben had no idea what Saltigue meant and very few did. If Ben didnt and Maria could not tell, he would find out from... what did Sam call it? Googling? She ask Sam later. This was all hidden under an experienced smile.

"Many do not know their rights and more often than not their taken advantage of," she said politely. Careful of what information to give Ben.

"I am due soon to give assistance. If the landlord has not kept to his legal obligations to that person they will be moved tonight," she would not that person in that ghastly situation and Ben didn't need to know more about the circumstances.

[Trillian]

"Oh, I see. You're cleaning up the Quarter one person at a time," he said, his voice and expression lacking emotion though he really wanted to smirk. "Ambitious."

She was the same as Jake as far as he was concerned. She had the same kind of attitude of staring at the minutiae. It seemed that was the kind of person his sort attracted. The ones that 'changed the world by helping a person in need every day'. Dear Lord.

"I won't keep you from providing assistance then," he said, uninterested in dealing with her any further.

Funny - before getting to know Jake he'd got the impression that he'd been a mighty warrior, defending the city against feral attack, driving back the horde and saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Maybe he'd even been that, once. Maybe he should've stuck to being a warrior. He certainly had no idea how to be a politician.

Should've chosen a different field to retire in, Jake. Maybe the modelling life will be better for you than it was for me.

[Idrial]

Maria read between the lines of Ben's empty statement that came rolling out of his mug, his remark and limited perception caused far more damage than Ben would acknowledge. One person at a time? If ten men are digging, and ten men are filling in the hole, there will be plenty of dust but no hole. When numerous people are working and several people are destroying it, nothing is going to get done.

A shame Ben did not understand. It was clear that he did not want to be bothered any longer, the Ben that Sam spoke highly of was absent tonight and Maria wondered what the reason could be. Guilty by association with Jake? Who knew and Maria would not keep him to find out.

"Have a pleasant evening Mr.Samson. I appreciate your input tonight," replying with a thick tone of sincerity and giving Ben a proper farewell nod. Continuing on to address her responsibilities for the night and Jake was not going to like to hear she ran into Ben.