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The charade was up. Quinn's entire affair with Cain had been exposed to not only the Rookwood family, but the Followers and most pure-blooded families. Cain had been exiled from the area and, well, she was lucky to be alive. Quinn had been packing her bags when she'd received a visit from Evan Rosier, himself. She'd been planning on disappearing with what was left in her trust fund. However, he'd caught her before she'd had the chance to get away. Evan had made her an offer and she either had the choice of taking him up on his offer or facing death at the hands of the merciless Rookwood family. So, Quinn had taken Evan's opportunity. She'd chosen life. If she was going to be completely honest, the idea of dying didn't seem appealing to her at all. Especially considering the slow, painful fashion in which her husband's family would, inevitably, make her suffer. Sure, Quinn wasn't fond of remaining a part of the Followers. Sure, she didn't find the idea of someone baby-sitting her appealing. Yet, she didn't exactly have too many choices left at this point.

<br><br>Cain had gone to Evan. He'd exposed everything. He'd naively believed that his honesty would be rewarded. He'd thought that in coming forward, he and Quinn would be able to run off into the sunset. The moment Quinn had learned what her step-brother had done, she'd panicked. She'd known that her life, as she knew it, was over. There would be no turning back. Forget the fact that death was upon her. If she was permitted the chance to live, her trust fund would be taken from her. She would be shunned by many she'd considered to be her friends. The Followers would look down upon her. She'd be the target of public ridicule and humiliation. She hadn't even wanted to anticipate how Tristan would take the news. Naturally, things had gotten pretty damn ugly between them towards the end. Considering the embarrassment she'd brought him (forgetting that he, too, had been unfaithful), he'd insisted on a rushed divorce.

<br><Br>While Quinn had been granted life, she'd been robbed of wealth, status, friends, and family. She'd been sentenced to a lifetime serving the Followers. She'd been banned from leaving the area. While she'd been able to keep her job at Miss Mayside's, Quinn had been forced to leave Tristan's manor almost immediately. She'd stayed with Seraphina for a few days, but had eventually sought out her own place. Now, she was living in Wildwood Acres amongst the lower class. She'd never lived in such a dump in her entire life. There were literally four rooms in her entire apartment. Most of her things had been put in storage, as the tiny closet provided to her didn't even hold half of her clothes. Then, she'd found out that the whole cooking thing wasn't as easy as she'd once thought. She didn't know how to cook, clean, or do laundry. Household spells and charms had never been her forte. She was completely lost. She'd once had hired help to assist her in all of these endeavors. Her only responsibility as Tristan's wife had been to stand still, look pretty, and satisfy him in the bedroom. She'd never had to master the whole 'housewife' thing. Her own mother was the least domestic person alive. Without a trust fund, Quinn was not able to bring along a single maid from Tristan's house. She was officially on her own. And, she was hating every second of it.

<br><br>Quinn hated being alone. However, she'd prefer being alone to being baby-sat by one of Evan's lunatic Followers. She had no idea what this probation would entail. She wasn't even aware of who had been assigned to her. Quinn had to say, she was intimidated. She was worried Evan would change his mind. She was worried that when she opened the door, she'd be facing a hit man, rather than someone to oversee her probation. Quinn was on-edge, irritated, and poor. Needless to say, the three were not a good combination for her. Opening up a fresh pack of cigarettes, Quinn sat down at her kitchen and simply waited, allowing the nicotine to help relieve some of her nerves. She only hoped this wouldn't be the last living memory she'd have. She really didn't want to die in this shit hole of an apartment.
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It wasn't easy being the right hand man for the closest thing to the devil. But, 'easy' wasn't a typically used word in Cassius Rosier's vocabulary, right along with 'simple', and 'nice'. And that fact was something Cash always took pride in--the ability to do not only whatever was asked of him, but to do it in the most efficient and effective manner possible, no matter how difficult the task may prove to be; and because of that, he'd done a lot of challenging assignments at the command on Evan Rosier--the man who is not only his dark lord, but his overbearing and determined little cousin. A little cousin he had always believed in and was almost sure he knew what he was doing. He'd spent nights staked out outside of places, with barely any food, because his cousin had told him too. He'd killed people he hadn't known why he was killing. He'd done just about everything, because in the end it had always turned out like Evan said it would. This time, he wasn't so sure Evan had any idea, whatsoever, of how to control the situation. For various reasons. One, Cash had worked way too hard for Evan to be demoted from right-hand man to babysitter, which he now was. Two, Evan was clearly too personally involved to make a level headed decision. Three, Cash didn't even think Quinn Travers should be alive at all. Or at the very least, her punishment should be a hell of a lot worse than probation.

<p>As mentioned, he'd never doubted Evan's decisions before now. He'd done everything asked of him, and he'd always been ready for whatever assignment given to him. But, this time things were different. Because of reason two, which lead to reason three and then resulted in reason one. Of course, this wasn't the first decision Evan had made that he'd had personal involvement in. He was personally involved in just about every situation, somehow in someway. But in this one, he was involved in a much more serious way. Because Evan had dated Quinn--and clearly he still had some kind of feelings for her, be they only nostalgic sentimental ones. Because if any other person had been faced under trial for the kind of betrayal to and embarrassment of the followers as what Quinn Travers did (unless they were someone vital to the follower operations, like Giana Mulcibur), they wouldn't have been given a chance to 'make up' for it. To show their loyalty. That was all bullshit, in Cash's opinion. You prove your loyalty by doing what is right for whomever it is your being loyal to. When you stop being loyal, that's it--you didn't get a second chance. Second chances change nothing, Cash knew this first hand.

<p>Yet, Evan was giving her a second chance. And nothing Cash had said had changed that. He'd tried. That was for sure. And the only thing attempting to get Evan to change his mind had gotten him was a stern look a babysitting job. He supposed he was lucky Evan had listened to his complaints at all, but that was one of the few perks of being Evan's second in command. Changing the mind of Evan wasn't one of those perks, and neither was getting out of an assignment once it was place. So, despite his displeasure with the situation, he found himself standing outside Quinn Travers' flat, a soon to be permanent frown etched into his face. Did he want to be here? No--he hated the assignment (not to mention Wildwood Arces was a terribly run-down piece of shit that was probably scuffing his expensive boots). But, he had to be here and so he was. The only thing that made it remotely okay was the simple fact that he was here to watch her prove her loyalty. And he was giving her one mistake, and that was it. He wouldn't be giving chances or strikes. She had better watch herself, because he was ready and willing to show her what happened when you turned your back on not only the followers, but your family. She had once chance, and then that was going to be that.

<p>It brightened him greatly to remember how easily Quinn had always made mistakes, and how quickly he was going to be out of all of this. Raising his fist--and then pausing to consider just how dirty the wood of her door possibly was--he rapped his knuckle in a knock and then waited for his new ward to open her door.
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<center><b>word count:</b> 786 words | <b>posted for:</b> quinn travers | <b>music:</b> dream on, aerosmith |
<b>notes:</b> hope it's okay. remember i'm not a fantastic evil person! | <b>credit:</b> goes to sol runs this town for the template, sammy for the graphic! </center>
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Evan could have sent anyone and that's what Quinn was dreading. While she doubted Giana Mulciber had the time or interest in visiting her, she knew that if the woman were to oversee her probation, it's likely Quinn would be receiving a werewolf bite or a freshly dug grave courtesy of Purus' Headmistress. Any member of the Rookwood family - Ava, Desdemona, Ellyanna, or Chrysler - would have likely tried to do her in. She'd been praying to whatever higher power there was that no member of the Rookwood family would be crossing the threshold today. She knew that if such was the case, they wouldn't care that Evan had made her a deal. They'd wipe her out and find some way to explain it to their Dark Lord at a later date. Thus, Quinn was smoking like a chimney and hoping - no, praying - that whoever was sent knew how to follow strict orders and wouldn't decide her fate for themselves. She felt like a coward. Hell, she knew she was a coward. But, the mere thought of death terrified her. She'd been attempting to avoid a situation such as this from the very moment she'd felt even a slight attraction to her completely out-of-bounds step-brother. She realized now that she should have just kept it in her pants. She wouldn't be in this situation, Cain wouldn't be exiled, and she wouldn't be looking over her shoulder at every turn she made.

<br><br>As she heard a knock at the door, Quinn shuddered. She didn't even want to think about who it could be. She didn't want to think about the fact that these could be her last moments alive. While Cain had seemed to have good intentions, he just hadn't realized what he was getting himself into. Coming forward with the truth wouldn't earn him any brownie points amongst the Followers. They were merciless. They didn't give a shit if he loved her. They didn't care if Quinn wanted to be with him. All they cared about was maintaining purist ideals. And, betrothals had been a part of such from the days of Salazar Slytherin. They'd broken the rules and, now, they were going to pay dearly for it. The humiliation they'd brought to not only their families, but themselves was going to bite them in the ass now. Putting her cigarette out on the lousy wooden table she'd inherited from the previous tenant, Quinn gathered as much courage as she could possibly muster and made her way towards the door. Upon opening it, her breath caught in her throat at the mere sight of Cassius.

<br><br>Of course she knew the man. Cassius was one of Evan's most trusted confidants. When she'd been dating Evan, Cash had been an ever-present figure in his life. She doubted there was anyone Evan trusted more. Perhaps, once upon a time, Larissa had held that spot in Evan's heart. However, Cash hadn't left. He hadn't gone anywhere. And, thus, Cash still held Evan's trust. He had always stood by Evan in his pursuits and there was nothing Cash wouldn't do to support his cousin or the cause. Quinn was completely shocked to see Cash at the door. She hadn't deemed this situation important enough for Evan's most trusted Follower to be put on the job. And, judging by the look on Cash's face, he felt the same way. She could tell instantly that he didn't want to be here and that he, like the rest of the wizarding world, was not a huge fan of what she'd done. However, luckily enough for her, Cash was always one to take orders. Due to the fact that he was one of Evan's most loyal Followers, Quinn felt slightly safer, knowing he wouldn't be one to disobey Evan's instructions. "Come on in," Quinn said quietly, her eyes focused on the ground. "I didn't expect Evan to send you. But, I suppose I'm glad he did. Although, by the looks of things, you're not entirely happy to be here. And, I don't blame you. I wouldn't want to be here, either." She felt useless. Did she make him coffee? Did she invite him to sit down? Quinn wasn't sure what the protocol was on her new arrangement with Cash, but she did know that she felt a bit ashamed of what she'd done the moment his eyes had cast over her.
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Cash had always been lucky enough to have full control over his emotions. No matter what he felt, at any given time, it never showed unless he wanted it too. He had the ability to shape, change, and separate out emotions. Especially in work situations--he rarely let work get personal. To him, this was work. It wasn't his job, but as he believed that not bringing emotions into the tasks he completed for Evan made them easier to do, and got them done more effectively. This task, he believed, was especially important to approach with his emotions in check. Not only was he dealing with something Evan was personally involved with, but he was dealing with something that he felt strongly against--and, he realized, he was also dealing with someone's life or death.

<p> As Evan was personally involved, he needed to make sure he made the right decision because if something went wrong, his cousin would want an explanation. Cash knew that if Evan saw any emotional subjectivity behind the choices he made in this situation, it wouldn't go over well. He wouldn't be pleased to hear Cash was sentencing Quinn to death because he'd been a little pissed that day. And the fact that he could, simply, give reasons and possibly have Quinn's second chance be over was another reason he needed to keep his emotions out of this. Despite that he felt she didn't deserve this 'chance' at all, it was all she had left, and he knew that. So, he'd be careful. He'd judge her as if he didn't know her at all, and he'd simply check her loyalty like he was supposed to. He wouldn't at all think about this from an emotional standpoint, and it would be simple. He was Cash Rosier, after all--practically the king of ice. Well, it would almost be simple...there was one other reason Cash wasn't looking forward to this assignment, and that was because he would be more attached to the situation than normal (which still wasn't saying much, given his usually amount of attachment to his tasks).

<p>This attachment stemmed from a past relationship. The past relationship. The one that everyone has. The one that practically shaped every relationship a person would have from that point on. For Cash, it was his first and last real relationship. He'd like to pretend it was nothing serious, but it was. No doubt about it. He'd loved, and then he'd lost. He'd got committed, and they'd had separate values. She was a blood-traitor. She'd pushed away someone she was betrothed to. A lot like Quinn, don't you think? Maybe the similarities were small, but for Quinn, they were enough. He was one to believe in the 'little things' meaning more than the big things. In many situations, it was the details that mattered. It was the details that convicted and convinced. It was these details that showed Cash a similarity between Quinn and his ex, that made his blood practically boil when he thought about what she'd done. And it was these details he was going to be ignoring to not make a decision on whether she should live or die based on something she said that simply annoyed him. No matter how much that would please him.

<p>There was also the fact that Evan ordered him to keep an impartial mind, and therefore he had to.

<p>He didn't bother trying to smile in greeting when she opened the door, as most may have. She wouldn't expect a smile, and probably knew he believed she didn't deserve one. So, why bother? He nodded in response as she invited him in, grimacing as he entered her apartment. It wasn't nearly as bad as he'd expected, other than the current stench of cigarette smoke in the air. And by not bad, he meant that it seems she moved in, and wasn't much for home renovation and design. "Glad?" he asked, his eyebrow raised. "Why would you be glad to see me?" He moved towards the coach, and considered taking a seat, but then thought better of it. These pants had cost to much to risk getting dirty. "Shall we get down to it, then?" he asked, meeting her gaze. "As you know, Evan has asked me to...monitor your actions. He wants to make sure you're no longer...well, doing anything as to cause the Followers more shame than you already have." He may have promised to be impartial and do this right, but he never promised to be nice while doing so. "Basically, the days will be pretty routine: you'll be going to work, and I'll be checking in on you there. When you're finished, you'll either come back here or come to Purus until I am finished. If you need to run errands, you'll wait until I'm available to do so. A tracking charm will be placed on you to ensure you actually do this. If you have to leave while at work or if there is an emergency, I'll need you to report to me instantly. Consider me your own personal diary. Other than that, as much as I would find immense pleasure in watching you sit around smoking cigarettes and wallowing self-loath day-after-day, I decided it would be more time-worthy for you to go on other assignments with me," he paused, and mentally checked that he'd given her a basic run-over of the rules (which were basically that she could do nothing without checking in with him first), before adding, "Any question?"

<p>Formal. To the point. It was a wonder how anyone ever thought he had a stick up his ass, he thought with a mental, sarcastic, laugh.

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<center><b>word count:</b> 948 words | <b>posted for:</b> quinn travers | <b>music:</b> this love, ellie goulding |
<b>notes:</b> hope it's okay. remember i'm not a fantastic evil person! | <b>credit:</b> goes to sol runs this town for the template, sammy for the graphic! </center>
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Quinn knew the words hadn't come out the way they should have. She shouldn't have expressed how glad she was to see him. She needed to keep it together. This was supposed to be punishment. She wasn't supposed to be glad of anything. She was supposed to prove her loyalty to the Followers' and be done with it. Feelings were of no importance. She wasn't supposed to open up to the man in front of her. She realized that Cash was not here of his own accord. He wasn't just checking in on her. They weren't friends. Not anymore, at least. Maybe once upon a time, but now, she could see the disgust in his eyes. There was no semblance of recognition in his gaze, no sense of nostalgia. To him, she was nothing more than a stain that he was going to have to attempt to wash away. She knew he hadn't volunteered for this assignment. However, despite the fact that she knew she needed to repress her feelings, she was glad Cash had been the one Evan had sent. She knew that in the eyes of many of the Followers, she was filth. Scum, even. However, Cash had known her before all of this had happened. And, more importantly, Quinn had known him. She knew there was nothing he wouldn't do for Evan. And, if watching over Quinn was what Evan wanted, he would hold up his end of the bargain.

<br><br>"I guess glad wasn't the best word to use," Quinn insisted, putting out her cigarette, as she caught onto his obvious displeasure at the smell. "I'm just grateful he didn't send along one of the Rookwoods. It's likely I would be leaving this apartment in a casket were that the case." Quinn knew she was lucky enough to even have this apartment. The afternoon she'd discovered that Cain had come forward to reveal their secret, she had been sure that she'd be executed before nightfall. Luckily, she wasn't just a nobody to Evan. There had been some history there. And, fortunately, he wasn't ready to see her dead. Thus, despite her indifference to the war, she remained committed to his cause. She'd never cared much for politics, but in marrying Tristan, she'd been forced into the war. She'd had to be inducted into the Followers. Yet, now that she was separated, she was technically free to leave the cause behind. However, Evan had provided her with a second chance. He had offered her protection in the form of his talented and loyal cousin, Cash. She was grateful. She never had imagined she'd feel debted to Evan Rosier. Yet, here she was.

<br><br>As Cash listed off a list of rules for her to adhere to during this probation period, Quinn simply nodded her head. She didn't fancy the idea of being baby-sat 24/7. Yet, better to be treated as a child than to be dead, she figured. She wasn't keen on the idea of being torn limb from limb by one of Tristan's relatives. Thus, she was going to cooperate. She had no other choice. If she was going to survive this scandal, she was going to have to keep her head down and her mouth shut. "No. I've got the idea," she insisted flatly, wrapping her mind around the concept that she was going to be treated, essentially, as a prisoner to the cause. She knew her loyalty was in question. She was going to have to live up to a different, more demanding set of expectations now. She was no longer going to be able to fade into the background. That much was clear from Cash's speech. "I do have one question, actually," she added as an afterthought. One thing he'd said struck her funny. "What kind of assignments will we be going on?" Quinn had never really been sent out onto the field. She wasn't much of a dueler. She'd spent her days at Hogwarts snogging boys and shopping. She spent her adult life teaching ballet and smoking fancy French cigarettes. She'd never really been asked to properly represent the cause. Quinn knew she had to comply with all of the demands Evan had for her. She simply was scared of what those demands would consist of.
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The longer he stood in her apartment, the more he felt like a layer of grim was forming on in skin. Maybe it was the overwhelming smell of her cigarettes, even if she did put it out, or the lack of a good cleaning, but something was definitely finding residence on his skin. He rubbed his fingers against his thumbs, glancing briefly at them to see if the grime peeled off. It didn't. Must be his imagination.
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Cash felt a moments remorse for the way he was, and would be, treating Quinn. Back when she had been dating Evan, they'd spent a good amount of time together. He'd always been close to his cousin, and as the relationship had grown between Evan and Quinn, he'd known that he should get to know her better, he learned various things she liked and disliked, learned a small amount of her habits. A small, but significant friendship had formed between them--more an understanding and acceptance, than anything--but it had been enough for him care about her in a way that left him concerned for her wellbeing as much as he would any other friends. He'd seen her a couple times since she and Evan had broken up, and they'd had quick friendly conversations. Yet, now everything was different. This betrayal of hers, made everything so much different. It made him question everything about her. How much had she lied about her loyalty to the followers? What did she actually think of them? Were they taking a huge risk by allowing her to live? Weren't they taking a bigger risk by putting her under his wing? He knew all the inside secrets of the follower trade. If she wasn't all in with the cause, if she didn't fully care about what they were trying to do, then this was a big risk.
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Evan had explained that this was more of a reason for him to be the one watching her. He wanted to give Quinn a real taste of what being a follower was like. Actually let her experience the cause. And then if she decided it still wasn't the cause for her, and attempted to once again betray who she claimed to be, to betray the people that she was sworn to be loyal to, then he would be there. Evan's right hand man, to show her what happened to those that betrayed them.

"Assignments that real supporters of the cause go on," he snapped, his moment of remorse gone and his disdain for the situation having settled back in. He wasn't going to offer her a full account of what he did for the cause--she'd learn soon enough. He glanced down at his watch. "Speaking of which, I have to be somewhere in an hour. According to your work schedule--which your manager just happened to want to give me--your off tonight. Which means you get to join me." He forced a smile (barely, it was more of a smirk). "I'd bring a book. It's going to be a long night." Evan wanted to start her off light. He didn't want to throw her into one of Cash's usual missions (torture, killing, thievery) right away. So, for now, they were on a mission of information. Which involved a lot of stake-outs and slow nights.

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<center><b>word count:</b> 555 words | <b>posted for:</b> quinn travers | <b>music:</b> nearly witches, panic!atd |
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This was not a world that Cash or Quinn were used to. She was living in a dumpy apartment and being forced to take care of herself for the first time ever. There were no maids, no cooks, no personal assistants to sort out her affairs. The spoiled little rich girl was getting a taste of what it really meant to be an adult. She had engaged in very adult behavior and was reaping the consequences of her actions. Even when she had lived with Tristan, neither one of them had known how to properly take care of themselves without a full staff on board. Quinn had never learned any household spells, thus the pile of dirty dishes in the sink, the old clothes scattered upon the floor, and the layer of dust lining her apartment. She knew she couldn't live like this forever, but right now, she was more concerned about whether she was going to live at all. From what Cash was telling her, Evan had decided to spare her life. However, she wouldn't be able to scrape by as being a rather inactive member of the Followers. She was going to have to step up and prove her allegiance. There was no backing out now. Sure, she'd only joined the cause to appease Tristan and his family. Yet, at this point, the Followers were the only hope she had of survival. Cash was here to ensure that she did not attempt to make a run for it and, also, to provide her with the training and skills needed to become a true member of Evan's army.

<br><br>As Cash explained what they would be doing with an evidence tone of disgust lacing his words, Quinn took a deep breath. This was her life now. She had made a mistake and now she was to pay for it. In exchange for her life was her service to Evan's cause. She needed to demonstrate that she was as committed to the fight more than ever before. And, therein was the problem. Quinn had never had to fight for anything before. However, considering she was now living paycheck-by-paycheck and needed to invest in a household spells book, she needed to start getting used to it. This was survival mode and she couldn't throw in the towel - not after the opportunity she had been granted. She knew that if she had been anyone else, she probably would have been executed immediately (most likely at the hands of some of Tristan's crazy relatives). However, Evan clearly did not want to see her dead ... at least not yet. She needed to prove to him that his decision had been the right one and that in sparing her life, he hadn't made a huge mistake. She would do what was asked of her. She would try to be the absolute best Follower she could be.

<br><br>Taking in the apartment, Quinn felt herself grow immensely embarrassed. She knew that Cash was judging her. She knew that he was disgusted by her decisions and disgusted by this lifestyle. She could tell he was counting down the seconds until he was able to leave this place, which she knew he considered to be a dump. Sure, cleaning and decorating hadn't exactly been on her to-do list that morning, as she had awaited her sentencing, but she'd have to try harder in the future. She no longer had choices and freedom. This was her life now and she needed to make the best of it. She was going to try harder - she was going to do more to be the type of Follower that Cash expected her to be. "Whatever you want me to do, boss, I'll do it," Quinn insisted, providing him with a nickname which she knew would probably annoy the hell out of him, but would most likely stick. Grabbing her wand and emptying the ashtray into the garbage, Quinn looked up at him with a determined look on her face. Hey, it was a small step in the right direction, but she was working on it. Not only was she going to be a fierce fighter, but she was going to work on becoming more independent and self-sufficient. Baby steps, of course, but at least she was diving in headfirst. Optimism was the only friend she had right now and she was determined not to leave it behind.
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