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

[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."

[newboyontheblock]

He bites his lip, thinking, but the possibility that Wayne might actually help out wins over his reluctance.

"St. Swithin's Home for Boys. Not really a charity, but close enough."

[lasiurus]

He purses his lips, thinking, wondering how far he can trust John now. But then he nods.

"I'll be there in the morning."

[newboyontheblock]

He smiles, bright and delighted and utterly false and leans in to press a kiss to Wayne's cheek. "How very kind of you, Mr. Wayne! The boys will be so excited."

[lasiurus]

He resists the urge to pat John down. "Yeah. Why don't you get out of here before your hands run away with you again?"

[newboyontheblock]

"Of course," he bobs his head in a short little bow before he turns to go. "Have a good night, Mr. Wayne."

[lasiurus]

He meant what he said: he's there at the boys' home the next day, with a check book.

[newboyontheblock]

John had been in the back, playing basketball with the boys when the commotion arises. He frowns, sent the kids off to find out what's going on as he tosses the ball back into the storage shed.

He wanders out afterwards, curious, and stops short when he sees the man stepping out of Father Riley's office. "Shit," he bites out before he can help it, and ducks back around the corner. He never would've guessed that Bruce Wayne would actually follow through.

And of course, he's sweaty and dirty, dressed in an old t-shirt and a ratty pair of jeans. Not exactly the elegantly dressed John Doe he had been the night before.

[lasiurus]

Bruce, of course, wants to see the real reason he's here. He lets the boys show him around, he lets them take him around back and he shoots some hoops with them. And then, finally, he asks about John.

[newboyontheblock]

The kids tell him everything, of course, much to John's dismay. Who, Blake? He grew up here one of the older boys say, he plays with us and teaches us stuff one of the younger boys say, he's one of us, you know? they all agree on with rapidly bobbing heads.

John curses under his breath. Those were all the things he didn't need Bruce Wayne knowing.

"Right, break it up," he snaps, walking around the corner. He avoids looking at Wayne. "Don't you guys have homework? Get to it!" He ignores the groaning and gives the kids a stern look, though it's ruined by him laughing as one of the kids pouts adorably (and he knew what he was doing). John ruffles his hair. "Seriously guys, go," and he watches them run off towards the house with a last wave for Wayne.

[lasiurus]

Bruce waits until the boys are gone before he turns a cat-with-a-canary smile on to John.

"You look surprised to see me."

[newboyontheblock]

"I'm not surprised," he snaps, scowl getting ever darker with each passing moment. "I just didn't think you'd actually show. I didn't think you remembered anything from last night, actually. Isn't that how you do it?" John shoves his hands into his pockets. "Drink all night and sleep all day?"

[lasiurus]

"Yeah well...I'll take a nap after I'm done here, don't worry." He retorts, completely at ease with that lazy, shallow reputation. He's worked hard for it, after all.

"So what does this place need most? Besides more Robin Hood types to play basketball with."

[newboyontheblock]

John shrugs, looking over the area. "People who care." His shoulders slump. "But Gotham's a little short on that. Seriously, Wayne," and he glances over, "Why are you here?"