Casey grunted and tested his restraints again: more just to move a bit and for something to do than out of any real expectation for the handcuffs holding him to suddenly, magically release. He’d been in worse places, in worse pain, but that didn’t make him any less bored now. The cheap-ass folding chair was also making his legs go numb if he didn’t keep trying to move. Even worse was the makeshift muzzle that had been forced onto his face was digging in enough to hurt. Though that wasn’t the worst:
The worst was that his nose was itching so badly now that he was helpless.
The skunk looked up at his two guards and snorted. The police had learned the hard way when the first cop guarding him had been told to go fuck herself, and then had proceeded to give quite a show with her own nightstick, and then when that had been pried away from her she’d used her hands even as she’d been dragged away. He had no idea what had happened to her, but some of the gossip suggested she was still at it. He’d had his arms bound behind his back at this point since the cops thought the hand movements he’d done had anything to do with his magic. They’d also brought in a camera to record anything he did to see if they could figure out how his ability worked.
When the social worker came in he immediately ordered her to unlock him. Her eyes had glazed over as she started to undo the handcuffs, and she’d gotten one off before the guards had tackled both of them. A review of the camera had made it clear that his ability was verbal: that’s when the muzzle went on and was pulled tight, and just in case a new rule of no women around him in case that was how the magic worked.
The embarrassing thing was that they were right: turns out magic was sexist? That was the best way Casey could describe things for now. He’d only had his power for a few months and hadn’t exactly had the time or freedom to explore it.
So now the malnourished skunk sat on the chair, grumbling as his hip bones kept digging through his thin ass and into the metal chair. Yeah he’d been more miserable and in more pain before. It didn’t mean he wasn’t miserable now. It just helped give him the strength to endure it now. So he sat there: sore, hungry, thirsty, miserable and with an itchy nose. All while two guards and a camera watched him.
Casey didn’t know how long it had been before the door finally opened and revealed the “special” caseworker the police had sent for after he’d revealed his powers on the first cop. The new face was a large, shaggy wolf. Only instead of the prime, powerful predator what Casey saw was a tired, old dog with greying fur. One who didn’t care that his shirt was stained or that his necktie hung loose.
And yet, there was still a bit of light in those tired eyes that examined Casey carefully before turning to the two police guarding the boy like he might explode at any moment.
“Alright you two, get out. This is a private conversation.”
“But sir, he-”
“Has shown he has a special power? A way with words perhaps? I believe that’s about the time you sent for me right? I’m the specialist, this is my special case. Out.”
“Are you sure? He might-”
“Break every bone in his own fragile little arm if he strikes me? He’s a kid, a malnourished and starving kid at that. If you’re so worried about your overtime pay you can stand outside and make sure he doesn’t steal the door off of its frame.”
The pair of guards looked at each other, Casey, the new wolf, then back at each other before shrugging and exiting the room.
The wolf sighed and shook his head before walking across the room to Casey and dropping down to one knee. He put a hand on the skunk’s chin to gently but firmly guide Casey’s face around to get a better look. “Mmm, so you’re our little troublemaker? Let’s get a better look at you boy. Definitely beaten and abused, and considering the shithead who’s mansion we pulled you out of, you’ve seen and been through a few things.” He said as he undid the muzzle, letting Casey move his jaw for the first time in over an hour. A moment later the cuffs came off as well.
The wolf seemed completely unphased by any threat Casey could have posed as he walked to the other side of the table and sat down…and bumped the camera as he did.
“Stupid thing…” The wolf muttered as he reached over to prevent the camera from falling over. When he had it upright again Casey noticed that the camera wasn’t looking straight at him anymore. “Anyways, for the record, I’m Detective Pete Irelund. You can call me Pete for short. Or asshat, jerkwad, shithead, or anything else if you want: I’ve heard them all and I’ll hear them again.”
“For now though I just want to get a quick baseline.” Pete explained as he brought out a notebook. “What’s your name? Age?”
Pete spent the next few minutes asking boring questions, just stuff that would be on the paperwork. Casey got a strange feeling about it, almost like it was a show. Pete continued until the skunk coughed, at which point Pete frowned. “Shit, how long have you been like that? Did they give you anything to eat, kid? Anything to drink?” He thought for a second and sighed. “No, of course they wouldn’t, they’d be too afraid you’d say something.” He added with dripping sarcasm.
With a sigh the wolf got up and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. It was still thin enough that Casey could still hear some of what was being said outside.
“Kid’s fucking starving, you fuckwits. Dehydrated too!” Pete’s voice growled back. “I don’t fucking care! He’s still a kid! YES I KNOW WHAT HE DID! Tell me you wouldn’t have if you were his age and could do so? Doing stupid shit like that is part of being a kid, doesn’t mean he deserves to be starved!”
A couple minutes later Pete returned with a couple of water bottles and a box of donuts. “There, see, he’s still here and none of your brains are melting out of your ears! Not that you have brains for him to melt!” The wolf snarled before he sat back down at the table, bumping the camera again.
“Alright, I’m going to give you a couple minutes to eat and drink and then I’ve got some harder questions to ask you, and I’m going to want you to at least try to answer them. Fair trade? Honestly I’d want to give you something more balanced and maybe a few multi-vitamins, but fried carbs are what the cops had so fried carbs are what you get.” Pete sighed as he opened up the box to reveal it was half empty.
It was still food and water, and Pete’s estimation of Casey’s needs had been right on the money. The skunk was hesitant at first but the moment he took the first bite of a donut he couldn’t stop until he’d scarfed down three more and washed it down with a bottle of water. For the first time in days Casey felt at least halfway full.
He also had managed to give himself a case of the hiccups.
“Alright, sounds like a good chance to take a break and answer a few questions before you choke yourself.” Pete said with a snicker. “Now then, I’ll admit you’re not what I expected for the great Crime Lord. You don’t look much like an Underworld Prince.”
“Because I’m not and I never was. My father made it clear I was at best an accident, at worst unwanted, and always the punching bag.” Casey replied. “He didn’t care one bit as long as his friends didn’t kill me. He laughed when I lost my tail!”
“Huh, and how did you lose that? Do you want to talk about that?” Pete asked, his voice suddenly a lot quieter.
Casey just shook his head and looked away for a bit, old trauma making him clam up. At least for three more hiccups. With a sigh (and another hiccup) he managed to force it out in a whisper.
“One of his favorites at the time thought I had lifted it to spray him. My father thought it was the funniest thing ever when the asshole chopped it off. The only part that pissed him off was that he had to pay so much to find a very specific surgeon to fix it: they needed a woman to do the work for whatever reason. Probably related to my magic. I don’t know: he never told me shit. All I know was that he was laughing about that night until the end, and telling me how much money I owed to repay him for hiring such a specific surgeon on such a short notice.”
“Kids don’t owe their parents money, I mean unless they do something stupid in their teens like wreck a car. Part of being a parent is that your job is to care for the kid.” Pete snarled and sighed. “Was it Arnell? Because if so we can add assault to a minor to his charges.”
“No. Guy who did it fucked up something so bad that a couple years later my father turned him literally inside out…”
“Ah, Smitters. Had no idea we had managed to bug his phone. Well he’s beyond us now, good riddance to some trash.” Pete shrugged.
“So, that being said, what exactly were you doing among Arnell’s…stash? I looked at the pictures of where the cops were keeping you and got the feeling he saw you as more of a slave or a tool than a person. Not that he saw many people as people.”
“...He wanted me for what Father called my people skills…”
“People skills? Now that’s certainly something.” Pete smirked and shook his head while pulling out a notepad and jotting something down. “Louie Arnelle was never what anyone would call a ‘people person’ but I never thought he was so pathetic he needed a child’s help.” Pete snorted as he turned the notepad around to show what he’d written.
'I need you to trust me'
Casey had long practice keeping his face clear of his thoughts: making his curiosity and interest, or lack thereof, was a good way to earn a beating from his father. Behind his mask the skunk was realizing that the repeated bumps of the camera had likely been a show to give Pete room to maneuver like this without the camera picking up.
“Is there anything you can tell me about what that asshole was doing? Either Arnelle or your father.” Pete continued as he scribbled another note to show to Casey.
'I need to get you out of here. Attack me when I adjust the camera.'
Casey’s face was a case study in “bored skunk.” as he took another bite of donut and a swig of water. His thoughts, however, were racing around in suspicious circles.
He didn’t know this wolf, he didn’t know who this wolf worked for: the cops said Pete was some sort of specialist but what did cops know? He did know his father had dozens, likely hundreds of fixers, and Casey knew he had plenty that his “trusted” minions had never known about.
He’d also played the “Trick the kid into fighting me so I have an excuse to kick his ass” game more than once.
Back outside of his skull Casey was answering a few questions about Arnelle’s actions. It wasn’t even hard, the dumbass had seemed to enjoy bragging to Casey about his so-called “Successes”. Something about trying to show up his old man with his success at petty crime.
The dumbass had even crowed about leaving calling cards to mock the police. Even Casey knew that was fifteen kinds of stupid.
Pete waits for him to answer, before he moves to unblock the camera. “Oh right..” He says as he seems to 'remember' the camera. “I sometimes forget that thing’s there...” he says, seemingly to himself.
Casey feel's he's fucked if he plays along or not with the note, so he goes for a middle of the road choice, throwing the half finished bottle of water into the wolf's face before trying to bolt around the table to the other side, figuring running is his best choice.
Pete narrows his eyes as the plastic bottle bonks harmless off his face, not what he was going for; but fine; it'll do. Pete lunges at Casey as he tries to dart around the table and tackles him to the ground. It was rougher and hurt more than he wanted it to, he realized when the skunk yelped as he was tackled. Still he had to play it up regardless. "Had to try and play it smart?" He says with a mock annoyed growl. He pins Casey to the ground and cuffs his arms behind his back. "Don't fight me on this." He whispers, thankfully the tackle had knocked any fight the skunk might have had out of him, the one blessing of the act. "Despite what I say to the others, you're not staying here or in a cell... unless you try to fight me and the others get involved; then it's outta my hands. Got it?" He says and lifts the boy up, making it look rougher than it actually was.
"You want outta here so bad, fine. We got some nice cells for you to rot away in." He says loudly for the camera, as he pushes you towards the door. Keeping your arms held in one of his large paws as the other opens the door. "Outta the way you mooks, little punk needs some time to think things through in a nice solitary cell." "What about the gag?" "I'll gag him once we get in the cell, not like his fancy talk can do anything to me."
The Detective was making a show of being rough and forceful for the other officers, he had something of a reputation to maintain; though he was being as gentle as possible with Casey. Knowing the station like the back of his paw made it rather easy, he knew where all the cameras and all the blind spots were by heart, thanks to being one of the oldest officers in the precinct. This made it easy to escort the skunk out the back entrance past the cell block.
Casey wasn't expecting to be led to a back door though, and half wonders if the cop is corrupt and he's about to be handed off to another one of his dad's old 'buddies'.
Pete takes Casey over to a car, an older sports car that is at least as old as the skunk is; and looks like it's seen better days. Surely if he was on the take, he could afford something nicer than this. He places Casey in the passenger seat, straps him in, and to add just a bit of insult to injury, also activates the child locks. He gets in on the other side and looks at the boy. "Sorry about that.” He says gruffly “If you had tried to actually throw a damn punch at me like I'd advised, then I could've countered and not hurt you. But no, you just had to try and be smart, play the odds...” He huffs with a shake of his head. “So I had to tackle you, it's harder to control how that lands." He says and shakes his head again as he extinguishes the cigarette.
Casey says, "I don't know you... for all I know, you're just taking me to one of my old man's other... friends... to hand me over. Can you blame me for trying to think outside the casket?"
"No, not really. That's why I'm only annoyed and not angry." He says as he starts the car and proceeds to drive out of the station. "If you'd stayed there, that's exactly what woulda happened to you. I've been after your old man, for pretty much my entire career. I know that department has plenty of scumbags working in it." He says with a casual shrug. "I can't deny that I've done my share of less than legal acts myself; sometimes you gotta do what's wrong to do what's right." He says with a faint sigh.
Casey takes a few deep breaths, then grunts, sinking into the car seat as best he can, still cuffed behind his back, "Yeah... well... in my experience, nobody really does what's right... just what's right for them."
"Oh, right. Forgot about the damn cuffs." He says, and when he's able to he pulls over to the side of the road in a safe spot. He leans over and undoes them as a sign of good faith. "There." He states before getting back on the road. "Right is what you make of it. There is no clear definition." He says with another shrug. "For me, right is about morality and justice; but even those are just concepts."
Casey rubs his wrists, then shrugs, "However you wanna justify it... so... now what? Taking me to some orphanage somewhere? Foster care? A shallow grave? The loony bin?"
"Foster care would prolly be the best term for it, yes." Pete states, as he seems to drive away from the city and into the country, towards a large house or maybe a small manor.
Casey grunts, "Great..." not really paying much attention to where he is being taken, just kinda slumping in the seat.
Pete pulls up in the front drive, near the door, and exits the car. He walks over to Casey’s side, and opens the door for him. "Come on. This old bat is one of the few people in this city I completely trust with my life. You'll actually be safe here." He says as he leads him up to the path to the door. The grounds are large and very well kept, with plenty of flowers, hedges, statues and even a fountain. It certainly showed off a sense of wealth.
Casey moves a bit awkwardly without the counterbalance from his tail. He looks up at the house and frowns, "What is this place?" crossing his arms in a defensive self hug, as he's used to mansions being associated with criminal wealth, like his dad's old penthouse suite.
"This is Nightfang Manor. The owner has had a few run-ins with your old man. Even his 'people skills' didn't get him far with her." He says and knocks on the door, "And no, before you ask; She's not interested in any kind of vengeance.”
"That she can remember..." he mutters, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He hadn't heard of any woman immune to his dad's charms... but it wasn't like his dad kept him apprised of the business. He follows the cop towards the manor, asking, "Won't people notice that you broke me out?"
Pete sighs with a faint chuckle "Kid, you wouldn't be the first that went missing from that cesspit, you likely won’t be the last either. It won't be too hard to make up some bullshit on what happened to ya." He says, shaking his head.
After a moment the door opens, and in front of you stands a tall, bat woman; despite Pete's comments of 'old bat' she looks younger than the detective did. Tall, with soft brown fur, and blonde hair. Dressed in a simple but elegant dress, she was as eye-catching as she ever was in her youth. "Ah, Hello Mr. Irelund. I didn't realize you had a new partner." She says with a playful smirk.
Pete chuckles and shakes his head. "Miss Nightfang, humorous as always..." He says with a faint sigh. "This is the kid I told you about, Casey Randle apparently."
The bat lady nods softly. "Yes, there is a bit of resemblance." She muses and steps away from the door. "Please, do come in." She says leading the pair into the lavish looking manor.
Casey blinks, then frowns as he follows them in, whispering to the detective, "I thought you said she was OLD..."
"Looks can be deceiving kid." Pete replies with a shrug.
Casey gives another grunt at that, frowning a little, but staying otherwise quiet as he follows the two. Still not really sure what is going on; He's been told that this isn't revenge, but... that really doesn't tell him what it is.
"Really now, still using that nickname for me?" She replies, as her ears seem to perk a bit at the whispering. “I think you’re just jealous that I've aged more gracefully than you have, Peter.”
Pete chuckles and grins faintly. "With all I got to deal with, I gotta find amusement where I can, Selene."
Selene leads the pair to the den, and she takes a seat in a large chair. A fireplace is lit, and on the mantle is a large picture of her, and a dashing skunk. In fact there are several pictures of him; some with Selene, some with a pair of young girls, occasionally there are pictures of a female skunk that looks nearly identical to him, maybe a twin sister.
There was something about the room, as Casey shifts and fidgets in place under the looks from the two adults, still having no real clue what is going on. Maybe it was a sense of paranoia and survival instincts; but one could almost get the feeling they were being watched in a room like this; and not just from the stern gaze of the Bat lady or the tired look for the wolf cop. He gives a few glances around the room, but... it isn't like there's anything he can use around himself to defend himself should things go south... what with the detective still there. So mostly he just looks nervous and awkward, trying unsuccessfully to hide it behind a frown.
“Now then." Selene says as she looks to Casey with her piercing purple eyes, and threads her fingers together under her bust. "I want you to tell me about yourself, Casey; the truth." She states, her voice taking on a somewhat melodic quality as she speaks, the words seeming to ring in his ears as feeling more compelled to answer her. "What we discuss here tonight will likely decide your very future."
Casey sits there quietly for a moment, then gives a soft grunt and says, "I don't have a future... I can either figure out how to be like my dad... or be abused by people who want to be like my dad."
Selene closes her eyes for a moment, and rubs her brow. "Oh Nyx..." She mutters to herself. She stands from the chair and walks over to the boy. "That's the problem with young people nowadays, too binary in their thinking." She says and grasps his chin. "Take a good look around you, Young Casey; because your future is about to change." She says with a hint of mirth.
Casey flinches a bit as his chin is grabbed, looking up at the bat, opening his mouth to retort, only to have his stomach grumble and protest in hunger before he can, which causes his ears to flat back as he blushes and closes his mouth, looking away again. All he's had is a donut in... who knows how long.
Selene nods and pulls away from him. "I do believe there is some food in the kitchen that you might be able to eat." She looks over to the Detective. “Excuse us for a moment, please.”
Casey swallows and nods slowly, trying not to look like he's salivating, but it's clear that he perks up at the sound of food.
“Sure thing, Selene.” The wolf says as he stands back and lets the bat take control. She was better at this kinda stuff anyways as Selene takes the boy's hand and pulls him along, gently, and she heads into the Kitchen.
Casey stumbles a bit, surprised as he is led to the kitchen, but managing to follow without falling, "Sorry... I've only had a donut today..."
Selene nods softly. "Take a seat at the table." She states simply and walks over to the fridge and starts to look through it. After a moment's consideration, she takes out several items, and makes a hoagie. She takes the plated sandwich over to him, along with a glass of juice.
Casey takes a seat where instructed, watching as the hoagie is constructed, actually licking his lips when it's put in front of him. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, he doesn't wait to be told to eat, grabbing it and taking a big bite from it.
Selene takes a seat, and mostly remains silent, letting the boy eat. Casey eats like someone who hasn't eaten much in a week, though as scrawny as he is... that might be true. He cleans the plate, and drinks the whole glass of juice.
"Feeling better now?" She asks, watching the poor thing eat what was likely the closest thing to a good meal in Nyx knows how long.
Casey nods his head, "A bit... yeah."
Selene nods softly. "Good. So here is what is going to happen. Starting now, your life as you know it is over. Detective Irelund brought you here to me, because he knows I'm one of the few people in this city that managed to stand against your father as his little Jedi mind tricks don't work on me, and I have tricks of my own." She says with a smile.
"From here on out, you live here. And until a few things can be arranged; you will effectively be under house arrest. A day or two, then once I am done you will have greater freedom then you have dreamed of."
Casey flinches at that first thing that the bat says, his ears falling as he clearly takes it the wrong way, swallowing hard. Then he blinks when you get to the part about him living there, starting to look confused, "Uh... oh..." he sits there for a moment, trying to process all that, then he says, "Look, if... if you are hoping to have me do for you what my dad did to people... I can't. I mean... I can... just... I'm not good at it, I can't control it, or do it on demand... I'm not going to be any use to you."
Selene looks to you, narrowing her eyes softly, and speaks; once again in that melodic tone. "Five jumping jacks, now." She states. Casey blinks as he stumbles out of the chair, knocking it over in the process as he steps back and starts to do the jumping jacks. Selene smiles as she watches you. "Does it look like I need your power?"
Casey stands there, shivering a little, "Uh... no..."
Selene nods softly. "Good. So now you understand, Casey Randal has no value to me."
Casey frowns a little and hugs himself, "Then why?"
Selene pauses and takes a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as she speaks. "Because I am old and I am kind. It's amazing how few people understand; I have lived multiple lives... and as such I have had much pain and misery and loneliness, more than most will ever see... and all it's done in the end... is make me kind. I will not stand around and not help a crying child."
Casey doesn't know what to say... he just stands there for a bit, then says, "Oh..." leaving it at that, not wanting to say anything that might sour the moment.
Selene nods softly and then smiles. "I had had an entire thing planned out, you see..." She muses and walks over to Casey. "I was gonna be the stern mystery woman, I was going to interrogate you, find out who you truly are, make you wonder what my game was while dropping hints." She states "And then you sank all that with one response." She says and gently pokes him in the chest with a finger.
Casey flinches a bit at the poke. "Sorry... dad always used to say I was good at wrecking everything..."
Selene frowns and pokes him harder. "No." She states firmly. "That is not what I said." She says and once more cups your chin and raises you to look her in the eyes. "With one response, you told me everything I needed to know and more. I told you that our discussion would decide your future; and you my darling; have sealed your fate." She says with a soft grin.
Casey swallows and tries to nod, in the bat's grip, "Kay... you make that sound really ominous though..."
Selene grins and nods. "As it should. Because as of tonight; Casey Randal is dead." She says dramatically, one could almost swear to hear the sound of thunder in the distance... Casey swallows hard and gives another flinch at hearing that…
