3. Model Citizens
The ride down the mountain was bumpy and steep, but at last, Kjelle was on her way to the city. Or, at least, its outskirts. The Earth girl at the wheel, Pim, shot the High Cosmos courier the occasional look, still trying to suss her out. Kjelle hoped she held up admirably under the scrutiny, not flinching anymore at every bump in the road and every time their vehicle swerved a little. Pim was a competent driver. If only her car didn't seem to be held together by bits of rust and hope.
"You'll have to forgive the old girl," Pim said with a laugh. "One day I'll get a new one, but that's not really in my budget right now."
"Oh." Kjelle blinked. "This car's fine. I mean... erm, how old is it, anyway?" She had no idea what constituted an old or new model among the Earth vehicles, but this one didn't seem like new craftsmanship.
"Old enough. Don't worry -- we're still making good time. We'll get to the city outskirts before too long. I live there, so I can drop you off wherever's convenient. I know some of the bus routes well enough, if that's best to get you where you need. Just tell me where you're hoping to get to."
Kjelle bit her lip. She could tell Pim how fast she needed to get to America. She could mention how she'd already wasted hours just figuring out where on Earth she was, not to mention all the walking. But, for one, Pim would have questions if she started to speak that urgently. And, for another thing, Kjelle was dead tired. The short dream-time she'd had on the bench by the roadside had hardly counted as sleep. And an immediate trip to an Earth airport, with all its noise and chaos? No; she wouldn't manage that without a real, proper rest.
"You mentioned you had a room. A bed." Kjelle tried not to fidget in her seat. "Would you be okay if I got some rest there first? It won't be for long. I'd be gone first thing in the morning. But if you have someplace to sleep, that would be wonderful right now."
She almost felt pathetic, asking this poor Earth girl for such help -- but it was better than showing her hand too soon, or risking blundering her way through a local airport without any sleep first. Besides, Pim had already offered, hadn't she?
"Of course." Pim's voice rang with sympathy. "You look like you could use some. Food, too, probably. I've got some instant ramen at home, if you like that kind of thing. Nothing gourmet, but I hope that's not a deal-breaker."
"Food." Kjelle felt her mouth watering and her stomach grumbling. "Ah. Yes, please."
"Not a vegetarian? Or... anything else I should know about? Any allergies?" Pim kept her eyes on the road, but she looked thoughtful for a moment. "Or any, erm, religious restrictions on what you're allowed to eat? Sorry, can't help the questions. I just know some people can be weirdly particular. Don't want to offend."
The messenger almost wondered if it might count as a religious restriction that she, a proud denizen of the Higher Cosmos, ordinarily wouldn't dare to consume anything from the Lower Realms. But then, she'd never heard any stories about Earth food harming anyone. She couldn't imagine it would be nearly as delicious and nourishing as what she had back home -- but the way she felt right now? She might have eaten an entire trough of slop and gone back for seconds.
"I'll have anything," she told Pim earnestly. "Thank you for all your generosity, Pim."
"Just trying to help a girl who looks like she needs it," the driver replied. "Got family who taught me that from a young age. It was their thing. I'm not one of those people who goes around acting like I can change the world on my own. But if I can help someone out, no matter how big or small? Hey, that's a little good in the world. A little good that might do some more. You know?"
The idea struck Kjelle as so innocently, naively optimistic that it almost made her cringe. But she couldn't say it was wrong, either. "I've... never really thought about it that way. But you're right."
"Got to keep up good karma," the Thai girl went on. "You know what that is, don't you?"
Kjelle didn't. "Is that food?"
A laugh and an amused glance followed. "I forget -- you said you came from somewhere else. Might be you just don't have that where you're from. I guess the easiest explanation is 'good deeds come back around.' And then, some say, the opposite's true, too. But I try not to let that keep me up at night." She shrugged.
"Ah." The messenger nodded slowly. She'd never heard of 'karma' before, but it felt familiar, anyway. It reminded her of things she'd learned early on in the Academy of Magic, before even her first portal-jumping lessons -- how every being in every realm had an aura that affected all others. How those with good auras often saw good come their way, while those of ill nature were rewarded accordingly. Maybe it wasn't so different.
"How about you? Do you believe in any kind of magic?"
The sudden question made Kjelle start. Had Pim somehow picked up on the truth about her? She hadn't made any obvious slips -- or so she thought. She looked back at the Thai girl, frowning curiously, but Pim just smiled at the road ahead.
"It's alright if you don't. I suppose not everyone's superstitious."
"Oh." Kjelle hoped the breath she let out didn't sound too much like a sigh of relief. "I mean, I do, though. Magic. I think it has to be out there. But, erm, who are we to know? Right?"
"Maybe so. Anyway, we're almost down the mountain. Get ready -- the city traffic is insane. If you think we're going slow now..."
After a little more driving -- and, fortunately, not much of the maddening traffic Pim had warned her about -- they pulled up in front of a block of apartments. Kjelle, though still wary, stepped out of the car, relieved to stretch her legs after a long and uncomfortable ride. The building before them wasn't small, but it was proof that 'big' did not always equal 'luxury.' Fading, cracked paint, dirty windows, and a general atmosphere of shabbiness made it clear the place needed some serious work. Or maybe that was just Kjelle's unaccustomed perspective.
Pim saw her staring, her nose scrunched up. "I get it. Never promised a five-star place, though."
"Sorry," said Kjelle immediately. "I wasn't -- it's..."
"No need." The Thai girl waved dismissively as she walked towards the apartment entrance. "You wouldn't be the first one to tell me I've got a shitty place to live." Kjelle followed behind her, an awkward silence settling in as they made their way in. "At least I get to live in the big city without paying out my ass every month," Pim went on, unlocking a door and gesturing for her visitor to step in. "This is it."
The cramped little apartment wasn't bad on the inside -- certainly not compared to her other experiences with Earth so far. It reminded Kjelle a little of the Academy dorms where she'd lived while studying the magic arts. A tiny kitchen, humble seating area, rumpled bed, and bathroom. Pim kept it a good bit cleaner than whoever was responsible for the outside. Even the scent in the air was almost pleasant; almost relaxing.
"Want some tea?" Pim asked, moving to the kitchen.
"Tea? No!" Kjelle turned, then grimaced. "I mean... no, thank you. I'm alright. But I would like that offer of food, if it still stands."
