Madlaina Elizabeth. Lovely name. If she didn't have a last name, then that was fine. Garrett didn't really have much of a frame of reference as far as names went anyway. What was normal anymore? He was happy to hear she was legal. Of course, he was happy about that because she din't need a guardian. Who was he kidding? He was happy to hear she was legal. He tried to imagine strings attached to his eyeballs, pulled taut on her face. Maybe the neck area, but no lower. But seriously? If the Mansion chose to only accept foreign girls who were all more appealing than the next, he would stamp approval on that every day.

Now she was trying to explain her mutation. He listened to her explanation closely, listening for clues. Touching and old time. Go be in the old time. The past. Touch something and go in the past. What was that called? He recalled reading about something like that when he had worked for Tarin and Lee in the medium shop. Many hours would sometimes pass without customers while the two went to get coffee or lunch or breakfast or go home or...Anyway, it was pretty dull, so reading about various mental abilities always passed the time. Oh yes. " Psychometry? You can touch objects and read the memories attached? Interesting. Some gifted humans have a vague talent at that, but it is more on an intuition. " he coughed softly and chuckled, looking at Alex and shrugging. " Sorry, Madlaina. I sometimes get carried away. I think it is called SY KOM UH TREE. I know what it is. " he made some notes under the mutation in case the next person to look at the file didn't have the same foreknowledge he had. " Okay. Next. Who should we contact in case of an emergency? Alexandra? Also, do you have any allergies or special dietary needs? " he looked to The beauty behind the beauty for help. " Mind helping me with that one? It's not something I want to leave to chance should she be allergic or need some kind of medicine."

Alexandra nodded at Garrett. “Sure.” Her head turned to the side and looked at Maddy before speaking again. This time, she addressed the younger girl in Romanian. “Maddy, this is important so we’ll leave your English practice to the side for the moment.” She paused for a moment. She was fairly certain that Maddy understood if not all, most of what Garrett has been saying. But, to make things easier, she repeated Garrett’s questions. “Do you have any allergies? Any diseases we should know about? Do you need any kind of medicine or follow a special diet? Also, do you want them to contact me in case of emergency or do you prefer someone else?” Alexandra shifted her position slightly as her expression turned softer.

“We want to be able to help you in case something goes wrong. The more accurate the information you provide is, the more we can help. And, as you might suspect, this information will be confidential. No one but the staff of this school will have access to it.” Basically, she was telling Maddy not to hide anything that might have been relevant. Alexandra found that quite amusing. It wasn’t like her file was the epitome of accurate. Actually, it was far from it. Anyway. That wasn’t Maddy’s case. “I want you to answer in Romanian. I’ll translate it for Garrett.”

When the male listened to her words, and took the time to try and understand them rather than make her try to explain again, Madlaina was a bit surprised. Most people heard what she said, she wasn’t ignored, but not many people listened to her-even back in Romania or with her family. After all, she was a teenager and a girl, adults assumed that meant she either didn’t know what she was talking about or had little of importance to say.

Softly repeating the word he said, which was apparently the name of her power, Madlaina worked to remember it. ”Sykom-tree, touch object-read memories…” Sykom-tree, touch object-read memories… Touch object-read memories… His next stream of words made some sense, but Maddy didn’t catch all of it because he had started talking while she was mentally reciting in English what her power was in case she had to tell someone else.

Emergencies and Miss Alex… something about needs, but Maddy couldn’t make sense of what he wanted to know. Given enough time she probably would have decoded the words, but then he was speaking to Miss Alex, asking her to help. When she translated Madlaina knew why she needed help. Allergies, diseases, and special diets hadn’t been a big focus of her English practice.

Responding in Romanian to Miss Alex’s question, she glanced at Mr Garrett to include him since he had asked it originally even though he couldn’t understand. “No, nothing I know of. I have hardly ever been sick except for a cold or flu now and then. Oh, and when I was…” Madlaina paused, wondering how much she should say and glancing at the young man again. She didn’t want anyone to know she was homeless or had lived in a sewer even if only for a short time. It was one thing if they thought it to themselves, but to have people know that about her… Her voice dropped to a low level, but it wasn’t quite a whisper. “When I was in the sewer I scraped my leg, it got infected… I was really sick for a while, but the others stole some medicine and stuff and I got better pretty quickly… Can you… Do you have to tell him about that?”

Looking at Garrett to make her point, so maybe Alex wouldn’t have to tell him about that, she spoke in English. “I not get sick and not need other food.” It was a good thing too, if she had any special food needs she might not have made it the few months she was eating out of dumpsters.

Garrett watched Madlaina's eyes brighten as she found a name for her gift. He smiled at her, nodding as she repeated it. he imagined she was repeating it over and over. he could almost see her lips moving slightly under her breath. It was adorable, as was she. Alexandra was accomodating as ever concerning the translation, though he doubted she wanted to stick around forver. That would be fine, as he suspected that the two of them would be just fine alone. He watched her pose the same questions to Madlaina, wondering if she added anything.

Honestly, though, Garrett's attention was focused more on the girl closer to his own age. She seemed to falter momentarily, her eyes looking at Garrett and then seeming to look off into her mind as she accessed something. Was it a secret? Until Garrett could learn some Romanian, it would have to remain one. “I not get sick and not need other food.” Smiling, he nodded in agreement. " Fair enough. I think that covers the basics." he stood and handed the file to Alexandra. " I'm sure you will see Sam before I do."

Turning his attention to Madlaina, he looked down at her and smiled. " Would you like to see more of the Mansion? You can put that map to use." Of course, there would also be less chaperoned visitation, which Garrett preferred. He imagined that there would be some more looks flashed between the women and some more ROmanian spouted, but all he was concerned with was Madlaina's response.

When Mr Garrett stood up, Maddy was confused about whether or not she was also supposed to do so. But she caught up, she was getting a little bit faster with understanding him. Nothing measurable from the outside, but she felt like she was able to translate him faster than before, and she didn’t care if it was a trick of her mind. When he handed his papers to Miss Alex, it became clear that they were going their separate ways and Miss Alex had successfully delivered her into safe hands.

In Madlaina’s pique of independence, that she might later regret when neck deep in unfamiliar territory, she wasn’t upset about this. Miss Alex had other things to do, more people like Maddy to help, and Maddy couldn’t fault her for that. She just wished she had been smarter and learned English earlier or faster.

Looking to Alex for something that felt like permission, Maddy found herself feeling like the other young woman was an older sister or cousin, she stood with the strap of her bag in hand. “I be okay, Miss Alex.” Then switching to Romanian, she added, “I know you have other things to do and you don’t really want to be here all day… I can go with Mr Garrett and I’ll be okay. I know your number and you’ll be right across the hall.”

Pulling the map back out of her bag, she put the strap over her shoulder, and looked at Mr Garrett. “We go where?”

"I be okay, Miss Alex."

Well, it was settled. Garrett waited patiently for Madlaina to say her apparent goodbyes to Alexandra before slinging her bag over her shoulder and looking up at him with her beautiful violet eyes, a touch of gray in them. They were really something special. He realized he might be staring, so heanswered with the obvious answer. " Well, why don't we go see your room first so you can put your bag down? Would you like me to carry it?"

Either way, the two proceeded up the stairs toward the rooms. Recalling the room that she and Alexandra had selected, garrett fished around in his pocket for the keys. Pulling a ring with several on it, he tried each one until he found the right key. After unlocking the door, he opened it and turned the light on, waiting for her to enter first. Once she did, he followed her, leaving it open behind him. he worked the key off of the ring as she looked around.

Room? Madlaina nodded. Going to see her room would be a good idea for a few reasons. Putting her bag down was one of them, but knowing how to get there from the front room they were in now, as well as having her room be a ‘base’ for where everything else was in relation would help with learning her way around.

When he offered to carry her bag, Maddy was able to keep from flinching. No so much that she was scared of him, but that she wasn’t sure about handing over all her things to him. Biting the corner of her lip, her hands fluttered over the strap of the bag, debating letting him carry it for her. In the end her semi-paranoid instincts won out and she kept it, but offered him a small smile in apology. There was too much in the bag that she didn’t want to disappear, even though she didn’t think he would steal from her, she still couldn’t part with it. It was all she had. “No, is okay..”

Following him, carefully focusing on her surroundings and comparing them to the map in her hand, she was able to orient it and herself. Finding that they had arrived at the room, she waited as he opened the door, and when he let her go ahead of him, she did so cautiously. With an air of uncertainty, she poked her head through the door first, looking around the sparse space. There wasn’t much to it; a twin bed, dresser with mirror, two basic windows with drapes, and what must be a closet.

Taking a few more steps inside, her head swiveling to look around herself, she resembled a puppy or kitten in the way she examined the area she was presented with. Look around, take a few steps in, look around, take a few steps… After a moment or two she ended up in the center of the room. She was going to have this to herself? Though it wasn’t huge, Madlaina hadn’t ever had a room to herself, and it felt very large.

Shivering despite her jacket, Maddy moved to the closet and peeked inside before sliding the door sideways. Empty, but more space than she was used to. Before she did anything more, she looked back at the older male. “I stay here? Put things here?” She slid the strap off her shoulder but didn’t set the bag on the floor, instead held it hovering, waiting to make sure this was her room before putting it down.

Garrett stood back and let Madlaina explore the room. Load on the adorable. Pile it to the ceiling. She seemed to look around the room as if there was something waiting for her. It was almost like...an animal. Sniffing the new territory out. It made Garrett wonder what her life had been like. he knew that most countries overseas could be hard, even cruel. His memories of the residents of the Colony brought him that grim nostalgia. People generally didn't go to Antarctica on purpose unless the previous home really sucked. She took her time inspecting everything. Garrett stayed out of her space, letting her feel like she was home. That might take a while with this one.

He watched Madlaina slide the bag off of her shoulder, but there it hovered. He recognized the actions, though he couldn't tell exactly from where. Time travel tended to do that to the mind.“I stay here? Put things here?” Garrett smiled at her and nodded. " Yes, Madlaina. This is your room now. I have a key for you so you can lock it. Only the office has a key in case of emergency. You can do whatever you want with the room. OK?" He pondered the key for a moment before handing it to her. He wondered if what the book said was true.

Garrett put his finger up at her as if asking her to wait a moment. " I want to try something I read about." He walked over to the small bathroom and opened the door, turning the cold water on. Looking around , as if he couldn't find something, he eventually did by pulling a loose string from his shirt, unraveling it until it was several inches long. Tying one end around the key firmly, he tied the other end around the faucet so the key hung beneath it. Turning the cold water on, the key swung beneath the running water. He looked back at Madlaina. " When I read about psychometry, I read that this might clear the memories off the object. I don't know if it is true, but I wanted you to make your own memories here." He smiled and looked back at the key.

When he said that it was her room, she dropped the bag the last few inches to the floor, leaning it against the wall so it wouldn’t fall over. Sliding the closet door shut, Maddy followed him to a door she hadn’t investigated yet. She had thought it would be another closet, but it turned out to be a bathroom, all her own. Peering over his shoulder, Madlaina couldn’t quite tell what he was trying to do until the key hung in the sink.

Then she was confused. Madlaina appreciated the thought but it seemed silly to her that washing an object would help get rid of the memories. She had washed things before and it never had helped. And even if it did work she couldn’t go around washing everything she touched; she needed to work on her self so that she could control it. But it was nice of him to try and if it worked, then great. She shrugged. “Thanks you, Mr Garrett.”

For a moment they stood in the bathroom, the sound of the water running, Madlaina unsure if she was supposed to take the key or if there was something else he wanted to do to it. Hesitating, she shifted on her feet, mentally making a list of things she wanted to do to the room. Then, uncomfortable with the situation, she took a step back, wondering if she should go back into the room.

As he bent over, looking at the key, Garrett saw himself in the mirror. He looked ridiculous. Yes, it was a nice gesture, but now he looked like some kind of nut bar staring at a piece of metal, as if it might glow. Looking at her in the reflection, she wore a face of uncertainty and annoyance. Not the way to impress a girl. He sighed slightly and turned the water off, pulling the string free and handing it to her. " Sorry, Madlaina. I do silly things sometimes. Just call me Garrett, please. Mister sounds like I am old."

Maybe he was. He was at least 10 years older in his mind than a 21 year old was supposed to be. How was that again? He was coming off as a kook to this lovely girl and it had been his idea to be alone with her? What for? She could barely understand his language, much less any of the feelings pulling him this way and that. He stepped out of the room and waited in the hallway. " When you are ready, we can go look at the rest of the Mansion." He'd settle for friendly tour guide for now. Less ego. He tried to work a smile on it, but it didn't feel like cooperating.

Even with Madlaina’s limited social skills, she knew that something awkward had happened in the bathroom. But she wasn’t sure what or how to fix it. She tried to think of what someone else would do, with limited success. When he held out the key to her, she took it, and tried not to act weird. She settled for telling the truth. “Is nice M… Garrett. Need try for know if works?” She corrected herself before she finished; she had gotten so used to playing at being younger that it felt more natural than being herself sometimes. Fingering the key regretfully, she knew that it hadn’t worked as he had intended. But it seemed to have helped some, not erasing the memories but turning down the urgency of them. And she would have the memory of him tying the key to the faucet if nothing else.

She spoke again while following him out into the hall and pulling a chain from around her neck, her cameo hanging from it. “Memory is there… not so loud as others, so is good.” Most of the time new objects buffeted Maddy with memories, like a dam that wanted to break free and let go of all its water, many objects ‘wanted’ to let go of all their memories when Maddy touched them. Maybe it was the ritual he had done, maybe it was the natural physics of her power, but the memories in the key were muffled. Odd since it was cold in her hand and usually cold amplified her sensitivity. Something for her to investigate.

Hooking the key on the chain, temporarily until she found a better way of keeping it, she latched the necklace back around her neck. It was a simple chain, long and somewhat large looking on her as if it wasn’t hers, and the cameo that hung from it was blue and faded, depicting a young woman from her family several generations back. Leaving it hanging on the outside of her shirt rather than tucking it back, at least until the key warmed up some, she fiddled with the lock on the inside handle and then closed the door.

Putting a smile on her face, she turned to him again, trying to be normal. Nodding that she was ready she held her map. “Okay?”

He watched her fingering the key. She didn't have to suffer for his lack of social skills. Garrett felt bad immediately as she tried to smooth things over in her own way. He wanted to apologize, but he couldn't do much of that at the moment, with the language barrier."Memory is there… not so loud as others, so is good." Regardless of whether this was a true thing or not, it was true that she wanted to move on from the awkward moment, as did he. He noticed the lovely antique necklace and cameo that she pulled out, watching her attach the key to it. " Good. I'm glad to hear it. That's a beautiful necklace. did it come from your family?" It looked like some kind of heirloom. the only heirloom he had from his family were scars from IV's.

She was ready to go. Garrett tried to straighten himself out immediately and return to being the guide, not the guy trying to make subtle passes at the new girl. He looked down at her and smiled. " Okay. This is the adult hall that we are in now.His finger pointed at the map in her hand, concentrating near their current location. At the end of the hall, you can see two more halls. These are for the younger kids. Boys that way, girls that way.We can continue now and we'll visit the Infirmary. Where people go when sick or hurt." He didn't know if he needed to be so blunt about explaining. Her grasp seemed to be basic, at least.

Arriving at the door, he peeked in at all was quiet. Of course all was quiet. Garrett wasn't in there. Turning as if to address the tour, the guide continued. " We have a healer here at the Mansion named DocProf. He can heal almost anything by just touching a person. I work here also, assisting him and letting him sleep once in a while. If you ever feel sick or get hurt, this is the place to go, OK?" He hoped she never did, but in the world of mutation, it was basically inevitable. Before continuing, it was best to ask questions, for her sake. Also, regardless of the previous hiccup, he still wanted to be close to her. Her violet appearance reminded him of a flower. She definitely was one. " Any questions?"

Looking down at the cameo, realizing what he was asking, Madlaina wasn’t sure how to respond. It had been passed down in her family, but they weren’t her family anymore. How to explain how she got it was more complicated. It was easier to sort of agree. “It come from old family. Not family now.”

Rubbing a finger over the face of the piece, she followed him while speaking. “Is two story, good story, how got in family. Is picture of… great-mother?” She meant ‘grandmother’, but it was close enough that she kept going. “Mine greatmother’s greatmother… some story say was bride gift, some say was… uggmm… Pay to get back?”

The two stories were very similar with the difference being how the cameo and the great-great-grandmother got into the family. One said that she married into Madlaina’s family and her parents gave the cameo as the dowery, the father being a jeweler but not very rich. The other said that she was kidnapped to blackmail a rich father, and that after the ransom was paid, the cameo, it was too late and the girl had in love with her kidnapper.

Following their progress on the map, she was able to figure out what the words on the page said. The labels told her exactly what he was telling her but Madlaina wasn’t as good at reading English as she was at speaking it, which in itself wasn’t great. She often would sound out a word before she knew what it was, because hearing it was more familiar than reading it.

Linking the word infirmary with the others that she had linked today, hospital and clinic and doctor, she followed him, peering inside. He worked there with a doctor man and that should mean… “This Miss Alex work too?” Assuming this Doc Prof couldn’t heal a mutation, Maddy didn’t anticipate needing to be here often. She stood near the door frame, reluctant to enter. It smelled weird and everything looked very clean and breakable. She had smelled worse but this was an unnatural smell, and she didn’t want to get in trouble her first day because she knocked something over.

Though she was still nervous, her stomach wasn’t tied in knots of anxiety anymore, which although good, was also empty. It twisted and Maddy realized she was hungry. Then it growled embarrassingly. Flushing a bright pink, her gaze immediately dropped to the floor and stayed there

Who knew that just being nice could get a boy so far? Garrett would have to try to remember how to just be simple again. Life gave him every reason to forget. He listened with interest as she tried to explain the history of what was truly an heirloom. What a precious thing to have, her mutation notwithstanding. Two stories, two varying opinions, both containing what seemed to be a rich history. Garrett felt a little jealous . History was a real treasure. " It sounds like a beautiful story. You are lucky to have history." His smile became more genuine the longer he remained in her presence.

“This Miss Alex work too?” Blink. " Yes, Alexandra works here as well, though I don't see her much. Which is why I was joking with her earlier about it. I spend lots of time in here." He thought of where to go next, but her stomach help him decide, as if it had an opinion as well. She flushed with pink, her gaze dropping to the floor in embarrassment. Without thinking, Garrett reached out and gently placed his fingers beneath her chin, lifting her gaze. Her face was alight with neural activity. He removed them, the map beginning to fade, yet still sparkling as it faded. " Don't feel bad. I'm sure you had a long trip. We can go downstairs to the kitchen." His hand reached down and pulled the map from her fingers, pointing it out and handing it back to her.

The two walked down the hall and mounted the stairs once more, descending into the room where they previously had been with Alexandra. They passed through the living room, where Garrett pointed out the television and couch, though he admittedly sped through that room, preferring to get her something to eat. When they arrived in the kitchen, he moved his arm in a flourish. " The kitchen. Anytime you want to eat, you can come down here and make something. The food is free and you can have whatever you like. If there is something special you like, let me know and I'll make sure we get it for you. Have a seat." He pointed to one of the stools at the island.

There was only one thing in the world that required heat that Garrett could make with any sort of quality and consistency: Pancakes. That's why he often went out to eat or ate on the run. Fires were bad.A skillet was on the eye as it heated up. Eggs, pancake mix, oil, water and milk were expertly added and mixed as he continued. " I can only make one thing. Pancakes. But they are yummy and they will fill you up." He decided to avoid questions and just do what he was doing, giving her an opportunity to just talk to him. No more new resident and tour guide. Just Madlaina and Garrett.

Madlaina was surprised that he considered her history lucky, and if she excluded her closest relatives, then she would agree. Her gypsy heritage had an abundance of tradition, myth, and culture that was all their own, separate from their country. Maddy had even more, thanks to her powers she had the histories of many people and things, and it often felt like too much. So instead of speaking she shrugged. Her most recent history was not so lucky and she wasn’t sure she wanted to say anything else about it.

Maddy was surprised to hear that he had been joking about Miss Alex’s job, and couldn’t figure out what in the conversation had indicated that. She must have missed more than she thought. But it made sense that Alex hadn’t been here much, what with being in Romania for a few months at least. She couldn’t imagine spending lots of time in the doctor office, but that was probably because she hadn’t spent time in similar places and wasn’t used to it.

While staring at the floor, she was startled to find him touching her. There was a sensation of what almost felt like a tingle, but not quite, and then her own power kicked in and a new murmuring memory joined the fray. This one seemed to be of a man speaking loudly, perhaps teaching something… He pulled away before she did, something she was grateful for, but if she had been capable of it her ears would have been pulled back in confusion and uncertainty.

Following his lead to the kitchen, past where she had started the tour, she wasn’t that interested in the tv or couch. Entering the kitchen she took a moment to look around. Large windows, doors that led out onto a patio like place, and lots of big kitchen appliances. But that made sense because with all the people that must live here, there would need to be a lot of food.

For a moment she contemplated going head first into the refrigerator, instead of sitting at the counter like he suggested. But Madlaina realized that she would end up in the way, and the promise of pancakes was more tempting than anything she could dig up and scarf down out of the fridge. So she got up on the stool, looking gangly and awkward as she got on the high surface, sat and crossed her arms on the counter before plopping her head down on top and watching him cook with wide eyes following his every move.

After a moment watching him, she spoke. “Only pancakes?” Madlaina, before being forced to leave her family, had been a fair cook. She and all her siblings had done time in the kitchen helping to cook meals for the large family, occasionally all of them on holidays when the whole family was there. And Madlaina was hungry so if all he could make were pancakes…. “You make lot?”

Still staring at the food he was making she spoke absent mindedly, forgetting that he would have no idea what she was talking about. “I cook okay. Not bad. Cook zama and tocanita in big pots. Muschi poiana is good good, I make all time. Saramura is no good so I not make it.”