/insert jail quote HERE

[followedbylemmings]

The Jail Cell Meme

You are now trapped in a jail cell. You may or may not know why or how you got inside of it; having been teleported into one due to the fickle whims of a resident deity is just as acceptable as getting arrested. (Maybe because of this?) You also might be innocent. If you're innocent and confused then it really sucks to be you.

You have company. Their circumstances might be the same or different from your own. But you're stuck together for a while.

What do you guys do?

Comments

[permit]

[ even though mullets can be fashionable, he supposes.

there is but a moment's worth of deliberation -- too long of a moment, perhaps, because one of the goons barks out another rough, hands where we can see them! -- before the smile twists unkindly on reishi's face and he lifts his hands in a perfect show of capitulation.

the doors open, and he doesn't wait for a signal to step inside. ]

[redbeans]

[could be worse. he could've gone with that skrillex hairdo.

it's bright inside. seri has to squint as she steps in after him (the slight shove that lands on her back comes from one of the goons who evidently thought that she needed encouragement of some sort and overstepped a little). but of course, disorientation— that's one of the classic tactics in intimidation, isn't it?]

Well.

[but these aren't— rich criminals. or rather, this isn't the correct place to be expecting oversized posh plush couches with men in pinstripe suits going "AGH?!". of course, sometimes, they are.

and sometimes, it's just a group of men (or in this case, two) in nice neat business outfits seated on hard stools inside a sparsely decorated room. it's a little stark after all those doors but perhaps it's being— redecorated. maybe.

one of the men smiles.]

Please, have a seat..

[it's not an invitation, of course. their escorts will be seeing to it very soon if there's no compliance.]

[permit]

[ the inside of the room is certainly blinding. the large lights set up in the back remind him of some of the interrogation rooms they have back at headquarters; they stretch their shadows across the floor in much the same way, after all. the men seated before them are quite small in the center of such an empty space, but with the lighting and their silhouettes reaching out for him like the dark arms of a behemoth...

... well, he isn't threatened in the least. but he has to hand it to their hosts for setting the mood like this. ]

Much appreciated.

[ there's another sparing glance to secure awashima's presence behind him, but it's hidden beneath the glare of his glasses.

and then he's walking, waiting briefly at the side of one of the rickety chairs they've placed before them for awashima to sit down first. it's hard to see the men's faces with their backs lit like this, but -- he figures it won't make much of a difference, soon. ]

My apologies if our boys gave you a rough time.

[ two men, one in a red tie, the other in green. it's the green tie that speaks this time, hands gesticulating with his rather cheery tone. ]

We don't often get guests, you see! And we've never had to accommodate police before. You'll forgive us for our rusty mannerisms, you understand.

[ his face can't be seen, but his head turns towards awashima and the smile can be heard in his voice. ]

So to what do we owe the privilege?

[redbeans]

[Your involvement in the robbery cases at the port, involving two supposed dangerous Strains—

—would've been her reply if the situation had been any different. a normal robbery case would've been an issue handled by the local police force but the involvement of Strains, a three-man injury from the last heist and escalation from the police force came in, scepter 4 had to act.

...this, however is no time for truths, twisted or not— especially in their unarmed state. still, the pressure is on her (and in more than one way, as the literal shove comes down hard on her shoulder to Sit Down right then).]

Come now, surely one of you should be able to talk! You were all so chatty outside.

[...what to say, what to say. what is her authority to speak on this, captain?]

[permit]

[ there's a key difference here, between the way the henchmen shuffle a certain, constant distance away from him, and the way they crowd his lieutenant with impatient, nervous energy. he's noticed it from the start and accounted for it, after all. it doesn't come as much of a surprise that they're all just a bunch of brutes.

still, when one of them finally forces awashima into her seat, he doesn't move to stop the action from occurring; but the way he turns his attention to the young man, eyes flashing momentarily with the blink-and-miss crack in his veneer, the look on the unfortunate goon's face shifts from that of someone who fancies himself in complete control of the situation to a man standing second in line along death row.

by the time he sits down, however, his expression has smoothed back into something impeccable, untouchable. ]

We were hoping to ask the same of you.

[ he sits straight-backed, palms laid flat on his lap. and although his body language might not convey the same, there's no question that the way he speaks is somewhat patronizing, tinged as it is with a faint sense of amusement. if he knows how to properly pet a surly attitude, then his tone does not suggest anything of the sort. charisma though he might have --

charm, at the moment, he most certainly does not. ]

Approximately 48 hours ago, your group conducted a raid on the cargo ship, Akane. We were called upon the scene due to the circumstances surrounding your petty theft.

[ that is to say, awashima, you have as much authority to speak as you might need. ]

It appears you're utilizing some... unique pieces of heavy artillery.

[ their expressions remain to be seen -- but the thick silence is telling enough.

- at least, until one of them laughs. ]

. . . Ah, you're serious, I take it. 'Else you wouldn't have risked your life just to make such a poor joke. [ the man in the green tie shifts, crouching over and leaning with his face propped on the backs of his knuckles. with the new position, the light hits his face just so, his left eye glowing a faint purple in the studio lighting. ] Alright. We've no problem humoring a bunch of soon-to-be dead policefolk.

Why don't you try throwing us a few questions? Maybe we'll answer.

[ ... but instead of getting right to business, munakata sits silent, smiling, regarding his lieutenant out of his peripheral.

well? he opened the floor for you, awashima-kun. ]

[redbeans]

[a pause, as she takes in the current shift of situation (the captain is a terrifying man, she realises, not for the first time), lets her glance flick to the upper right as she thinks and— sets her expression grim.]

Our records show that two individuals joined your ranks last month. One [illegal Chinese national, has been residing in Shizume City since she was seven years old] Ling Yik and one [wanted for two felonies committed circa a year ago] Masuzu Ueda. Is this true?

[her shoulder throbs; she ignores. on the other side, there is a moment of stunned silence— and a laugh.]

You came all the way to ask us about out recruitment policies? Fancy that! They were right about the police going to shit lately.

[the one in the red tie— shifts easily on his seat, tapping out a tuneless melody on his knuckles.]

Weird question to start on. Why don't you start by telling us how that relates to your little case here instead? It might get us talking.

[permit]

We are merely following protocol, you understand. [ he intones, somehow terribly casual for the stuffy language with which he speaks. and yet it's not all that unusual coming from someone so normally rigid -- it's still the same surface calm, the same careful deliberation that suffuses his every action and reaction.

it just so happens to trail after an inflection that sounds uncannily dismissive, antagonizing all the same. ]

Our sources have confirmed that the aforementioned two members of your party were at the forefront of the incident I'd mentioned previously.

We would like you to transfer their custody over to the two of us.

[ there's another pause, another laugh from one of the two men, but he continues without a hitch, folding his fingers carefully over the crossing of his legs. ]

Very few allowances would legitimize the use of pyrotechnic equipment against noncombatants as it is, and yet -- it would appear you've chosen a far more problematic means with which to carry about your business.

Incarceration, then, would likely be the least of your worries.

[ he smiles, and the men -- smile back. but the uncertainty is palpable now, choking and thick in the stagnant air of the room. when the man in the green tie attempts, almost cheerfully- ]

Should we take that as a threat-?

[ - he smoothly counters with a: ] Awashima-kun.

If you would be so kind as to outline their rights, we can proceed.

[redbeans]

[seri plays the game of bluff regularly, of course, but there's usually a trump card she has as backup -- the law, the autonomy of scepter 4 (or in dire cases, the support of the blue king himself) -- never an empty hand. that being said, regular criminal code...]

Under Article 34, you have the right to remain silent. You may be detained up to 48 hours. You may choose to hire a lawyer at your own expense once at the station.

["...but finding a lawyer willing to defend you against the recruitment and gross abuse of persons retaining abilities caused by a unique phenomenon will be substantially difficult".

but, no reason to add personal sentiment.]

Now, h--

[seri is never interrupted; she only interrupts. sharply, simply, back ramrod straight.]

Scepter 4 will take charge of your two members.

[permit]

[ what follows then, is a long, terribly poignant stretch of silence.

the group of henchmen looming over them shift and stir, and the sound of their shoes scuffling along the floor takes on an unreasonably eerie quality in the still quiet of the room. the two suited men to the front of them sit somewhat more uncomfortably now in their chairs, glancing about to the sides and behind, unusually clumsy and on edge for a pair of criminal overlords. it's clear even with the lighting still obscuring their faces that the men are looking for something, as if they're all expecting an ambush, a smoke trick, a stream of officers to burst in through the concrete walls to follow the resilient authority in seri awashima's tone.

but there is nothing else to take notice of -- nothing else but the unquestionable steadiness in this woman's voice, and the level, smooth, polite smile perpetually set on the face of the man beside her.

at first, it appears as though they've taken note of the glaring point -- scepter 4 is involved here.

...

but instead, the two men laugh. ]

You've got a lotta cheek for a pretty thing. [ the man in the green tie offers with a crooked grin, tone no longer checked and carrying the slightest warning-edge. he rises to a stand, turning on his heel to walk past the glaring lights still stationed behind him, bending down to pick something up off the floor.

the contrast lends a better view of his face -- michael wilder, a foreigner wanted in more than several different counties nearby for a laundry list of offenses -- and of what he's holding in his hands.

their sabers. ]

See, we know how to behave, but all of your tongue's starting to make me think you don't deserve it. What do they call it? [ he balances the lighter saber along the back of his hand, throwing it into the air and catching it. ] All bark and no bite?

[ wilder motions with a flick of his hand -- there's a bit of a lull (hesitation, really) but there is eventually movement, a procession of clicks, and a circle of guns pointed at the two officers of scepter 4.

two of which hover dangerously close to brushing the ears on both of their heads. ]

But don't get me wrong. Of course we've heard of you. Scepter 4, right? They call you the Blues. Supposedly police, but no structure-

[ here, munakata's smile shifts just slightly, but he's quiet, immovably calm even as mr. wilder continues on with his suddenly brash away of speaking. ]

Also we hear you're herding all the supernaturals recently. It does make sense why you're suddenly after us, but should you really be trying to go after something so big?

For a clan gone kingless for so long, your new one's definitely ambitious. Looks like he sent us a couple of you newbies, too.