ι'ℓℓ ¢αяяу уσυя ωσяℓ∂ ⚔ [ mi ]

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Shouldering a bag that was nearly as big as he was, Luka Sarcoski peered around at the New York City skyscrapers as he exited the airport. He probably could have come through portal, but he wanted to experience the mundane way of flying there. It was interesting, to say the least. It left the young Russian Shadowhunter feeling a bit queasy and unsteady on his feet- but he was finally here!

Granted, he shouldn't have left Russia without even letting his older brother know, but Alexsander was otherwise preoccupied at the moment. Luka rarely saw him at all, between all the traveling to Germany that Alex did and him running the country. If he was being blatantly honest, Luka had no reason to stay in Moscow. His parents were dead, his brother didn't have time for him. Luka couldn't go back to Idris, so he chose a new place to relocate. New York's Institute was well-known, and it seemed to him the best place to call "home". Though it would never be home.

Luka ran a hand through his brown hair and fiddled with the piercings below his bottom lip. New York was huge, but in a different sense than Russia. It was all urban, with many funny smells and tall buildings. Moscow had more trees and open spaces. The young boy sighed and headed down the packed sidewalk, occasionally being bumped by mundanes.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Jessi stepped out of the rundown-looking church and took in a deep breath of fresh late-autumn air. She loved this time of year, and all of winter. Mostly because she could wear boots and scarves and warm jackets. In fact, she was wearing all three right then: a pair of brown boots accented with tan fur, a blue scarf over her black shirt, and a long navy blue coat over the entire ensemble.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Luka was disillusioned so that mundanes weren't able to see him as he wandered down the New York streets. The Institute would be disguised, though he'd be able to tell at first glance. The young Russian sighed gently.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Without a rune to hide her from mundane eyes, a few people stared at her. She had, after all, just came out of an abandoned church that looked like it was about to collapse. She gave them a glare that told them to find their own business.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Luka murmured to himself in Russian, his steps a little trudging. New York City was confusing. There were so many streets and alleys that he knew he'd be lost for sure. He couldn't exactly stop and ask for directions either. It was all up to him.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Jessi's eyes slid across the street and landed on a boy who looked to be close to her age... but she'd always been bad about judging ages. He could be twenty-five for all she knew. With the eyesight enhancing rune, which he almost always wore, she was just table to make out the voyance rune on the back of his hand.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Luka glanced at the time and sighed. It was getting later, around evening, and he always knew that the worst people- and things- came out at night.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Wow... that last post had a lot of typos in it... haha)

Jessi strode over to him, a smile appearing on her face. "Hi, are you waiting for someone?" she asked.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Luka blinked, taking a step back, away from her, "Oh, uh, nyet...I'm looking for a place."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Jessi cocked her head to the side, still smiling. "Maybe I can help."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

He was shocked she could even see him and blinked, "Well, uh, I'm looking an institute...of sorts."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Jessi laughed, unable to keep up the charade any longer. "Relax, kid," she said. "You're in the right place. I'm Jessi Wildhart." She stuck out a hand.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

He shook her hand hesitantly, but didn't look too worried, "Luka Sarcoski."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"What brings you to the New York institute, Luka?" Jessi asked.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"To train," Luka replied, "I transferred from the Moscow Institute."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Wonderful," Jessi said. "I always said a cute boy would show up from Moscow one day." She paused to wink at him and then said, "Want to come inside?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Oh, da, please, I would," Luka said quickly, managing a small smile.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Jessi waved her hand and walked back toward the institute, the seemingly run-down church.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Luka followed her, his bright blue eyes examining the church. He knew enough about the world to know there was more than meets the eye.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Once inside, Jessi walked to the lift and pressed the button to bring them up to the real institute.