The Criminal AU Meme

[cerebel]

THE CRIMINAL AU MEME

Warning: This meme will contain violent content and possible triggers.



HOW TO PLAY:
1) Post a comment below, detailing your character and canon. For best results, DO NOT LEAVE THIS COMMENT BLANK; pick a role, or an AU, or write up a little on what you'd like to explore with your character.
2) Tag around and make magic happen.
3) If you get stuck, use RNG to select from the options below.

THE ROLE.
1) Criminal. (The one who committed the act.)
2) Law enforcement. (Cop, FBI, prison guard.)
3) Witness. (What did you see?)
4) Victim. (Probably not applicable in the case of murder. … Probably.)
5) Lawyer, judge, or paralegal. (Participant in the legal system.)
6) Private security. (Unaffiliated, but with an interest in keeping your client safe. Or in getting your target caught.)
7) Other. (Let your imagination go wild.)

THE CRIME.
1) ROBBERY. The crime of stealing via force or threat or fear.
You need the money. You're desperate. You have the gun, the convenience store is right there, and everything will be better once you've finished the job.

Or maybe you've been hired. Provide a little intimidation, and someone else will take care of all your problems.

Or it's a thrill. Rolling across the country, robbing banks as you go. A Bonnie & Clyde crime spree, and it can only end one way.

2) BURGLARY. Illegal entry into a building for the purposes of committing theft.
Non-violence, for you; you're just going to break in, take this one thing. Maybe a television, to sell for the cash. Maybe some jewelry, a computer.

Or maybe you're a master thief, dangling from a wire into a museum. Sliding through the air ducts of a skyscraper in search of a particular little item.

3) GRAND THEFT AUTO. The criminal act of stealing a motor vehicle.
You know your cars. And you can steal one in under 60 seconds. Better hope you don't get tripped up with one of those newfangled security systems.

4) MURDER. The act of killing another.
He had to die. He had to, and the guilt of knowing where you buried the body, of knowing that the police are coming after you -- it's starting to wear down your sanity.

5) SERIAL MURDER. A crime involving the killing of three or more people over a period of more than a month.
You have a drive to kill. Again, and again. Nothing satisfies it, nothing stops it. Maybe you hate yourself. Maybe you hate the human scum who only exist to go under your knife.

Or maybe you're a professional hit man. You've killed dozens, you know how it goes. It's just business.

6) CONSPIRACY. An agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future.
Mafia, Yakuza, crime families who keep their operations quiet under pain of death, dishonor, betrayal of the family. You're part of one of these operations, whether as a patriarch or a peon.

7) FRAUD. Intentional deception made for personal gain.
Blackmail. Cover-ups. Insider trading -- the marks of corporate crime. Perhaps you're a CEO who thinks they can do whatever they want. Perhaps your business is on the rocks and you just need a little time to make your golden parachute before you ditch it.

Or maybe you meant to destroy it. Maybe you're a professional con man, and you're stepping away from your latest conquest with plenty of cash in hand.

8) KIDNAPPING. The false imprisonment of another person against their will.
Do you do it for the ransom? For the money? For revenge?

Or is it a hostage situation, with dozens of prisoners, for some sort of political gain?

9) TERRORISM. The systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion.
For a religion, for a philosophy. But -- are you a terrorist, or are you a freedom fighter? It might just be a matter of point of view.

10) WILD CARD. For any crime not mentioned above.

Comments

[lasiurus]

"Oh." He's trying not to focus too much on that hand, wonder where it's going. "Well, you'd be surprised what I'd do for a tax write-off."

[newboyontheblock]

John titters, half-hiding his smile behind his hand. He curls his other hand lightly over Bruce's other wrist, leaning in to press a warm kiss to Bruce's cheek before he pulls away and stands again.

"Regardless, it's definitely appreciated."

He gives Wayne another smile and turns back to the crowd, subtly pocketing the cufflinks he had slipped.

[lasiurus]

In a place like this, no one needs the money so badly that Bruce is willing to overlook the crime. He's glad he hadn't worn his father's cufflinks after all, but he's up and shadowing the thief in seconds.

[newboyontheblock]

He doesn't notice, thrilled with the small victory as he settles back at his client's side. "Sorry I took so long," he apologizes with a vapid grin, trying to avoid rolling his eyes at the possessive hand that settles around his waist.

[lasiurus]

"Excuse me," a soft voice says just behind Blake's ear. Bruce is addressing the 'date', though. "I need a word about a charity drive..."

And his hand rests squarely between John's shoulder blades.

[newboyontheblock]

"Wayne!" Both John and his date are startled by the sudden appearance of their host, and John can't help the tension that rackets up his spine. "Of course, of course," John's client blusters immediately, though, new to money and far too easily impressed and intimidated by the presence of Bruce Wayne himself. "Just bring him back in one piece, hm?" and with one last squeeze of John's ass, he's handed off like a cow that's been sold.

He hides the grimace and turns to face Wayne with a cocked hip and a smile. "Mr. Wayne, back so soon?"

[lasiurus]

Bruce gives one of those debonair smirks that implies John might not be back anytime soon. They're alone enough that Bruce can act casual, and be the tiniest bit threatening.

"Yeah, I noticed you walked away with something that belongs to me."

[newboyontheblock]

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," John deflects, not letting his smile slip. They may have a small pocket of privacy, but they're still on the edges dance-floor, fully visible to the crowd. It'd be terrible form for him, a little piece of eye-candy, to knee their gracious host in the groin and take off.

[lasiurus]

"Why don't we take this to the coat room?" Bruce suggests, still smiling, too. There are appearances to keep up, and Bruce Wayne can't exactly engage in an altercation in public.

[newboyontheblock]

John ducks his head, demure. "I'm not sure that'd be proper, Mr. Wayne."

And he also really does not want to be alone with Bruce Wayne right now, not after he stole his cufflinks.

[lasiurus]

"Oh I think you'll want to. See those security guards? They know I suspect you." As if it's mere suspicion, and not knowledge that brought Bruce over here.

[newboyontheblock]

It's knowledge, though, John's aware of that much. He wasn't subtle, really, and he doesn't know what he'd expected. He offers a tiny smile, looking up through his lashes; he's been told the expression knocks a good five to ten years off his age. "C'mon, Mr. Wayne, consider it charity. Towards a good cause!"

Because what John would get selling them would go to a good cause. Not that he has any intention of letting Bruce Wayne know that.

[lasiurus]

"I do my own donations. With cash, not fashion accessories. Hand them over, or this is going to get messy." He murmurs, viewing John through the sharp lens of 'criminal' so as to avoid being sweet-talked.

[newboyontheblock]

John pouts, exaggerated and false, but slides the cufflinks into Bruce's pocket with a brief touch to his hip. "There," he sulks, but the glint in his eyes is pure amusement. "I do hope you'll make it up to me somehow."

[lasiurus]

"Depends on what that 'good cause' you talked about was." He retorts, and now he's watching close to be sure John doesn't take anything else.

[newboyontheblock]

"The care and feeding of a poor, down-on-his-luck guy?" He follows it up with a wink and a sultry smirk. Let Bruce Wayne think he's talking about himself, let him think he's nothing more than a gold-digging guy looking for a sugar daddy.

As much as he wants to scream at Wayne, look around you and look at this waste and do you even know where your money is going, John doesn't want anyone to look at him with pity. Bruce Wayne, billionaire orphan, the hero of his childhood and, if he was entirely honest, still someone he looks up to. John wishes he could be as disillusioned with the man as he had learned to be with every other well-meaning rich man in Gotham.

[lasiurus]

"Pretty sure I set up charities for that. These wouldn't feed you for long." Actually, they probably would, but Bruce is clearly of the 'teach a man to fish' school of thought.

[newboyontheblock]

This time, he doesn't quite manage to smooth out the edge in his voice as he replies, waspish and with a flat smile, "The charities only do so much without immediate direction. Tax write-offs are a big thing, after all." He turns to go.

"Perhaps it's time to step out of the office, Mr. Wayne, and start paying attention to the details. Some of those details might need your help."

[lasiurus]

Bruce can't help but move forward to stop him. And this time, most of his playboy veneer is gone.

"Who are you?"

[newboyontheblock]

"Just a guy, Mr. Wayne, looking for a wealthy, good-looking sponsor." He flashes Wayne a smile, "You can call me John." The smile widens, teasing, "John Doe."

[lasiurus]

Hah. "I prefer John Smith, myself. If you're looking for a real sponsorship, why don't you call this number in the morning, and tell me who you're really here for?"

[newboyontheblock]

John looks at the card he's given, a confused frown creasing his brow. "What's this?"

[lasiurus]

"It's my number. Tell me who you're stealing for, I'll see if I can't help those charities in a bigger way." If the charities are even real, his tone implies. He doubts it.

[newboyontheblock]

"I don't trust you," John says, flat. "I don't trust that you won't just shut them down and out because you're pissed off at me."

[lasiurus]

"Who said I was mad? I got my cufflinks back. Besides, if I did that you could run to the press. Billionaire shuts down charity? I won't stake my reputation on a grudge."