catchall ✧ this is our story.

[regression]

WHO: Yoo Joonghyuk and you! Friends. Not-friends.
WHAT: Catchall forever
WHERE: Netherworld general
WHEN: The present, the future
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary.

Look at me. I am woven together by story, held firm by myth. Look at me. I will tell you of the men that ate me bloody. I will tell you of how ferociously I bit my way out of their stomachs.

— Venetta Octavia, The Alchemy of Smallness —

Comments

JAIL — grimmjow, dimitri, felix

[regression]

[ It looks like after the open house and events unrelated, some people got arrested and shoved into the gallows with the letter "F" branded onto their bare skin. Joonghyuk, of course, struggled the whole time and made as much as a scene as possible to escape, but the Hierarchy came prepared after knowing what the new wave of Restless can do. Why couldn't any of them been lowkey last month? It's possible to be normal, to have conducted themselves as upstanding citizens, so why can't they be normal?

Dressed in tattered rags, subdued in every way possible, their ankles are shackled and they're left in this derelict cell. Distant screams echo through the corridor while groans sound through wood and metal panes to remind them this is what they deserve.

Joonghyuk is quiet, glaring past the bars at the guards who leisurely entertain their own conversation about the weather and sickness going around. The aura emanating is ANGER because this is A MISTAKE and he must talk to the manager. ]

[boarwitness]

[nearby, one of the rag piles groans and sits up. good morning, it's felix.

he scowls at joonghyuk immediately, reflexively. but as soon as he speaks, it's clear the frown isn't for him.]

So they got you, too.

[puck blood brothers........]

[regression]

I struggled as much as I could, but they were prepared.

[ With numbers, with weapons, with abilities, whatever it took to pin him down and possibly a number of the rest from the house party. Quickly, he grabs at the chains cuffed to his ankles, attempting to break them to no avail.

His eyebrows furrow, glaring... Stupid barrier. ]

Did they tell you why you're in here?

[boarwitness]

I did the same. They knocked me out for my efforts, but the branding woke me up. Then they knocked me out again.

[luckily, he has a hard head. still, a line of dried blood trails down the side of his face, smudged with grime.

he watches joonghyuk attempt the chains, and purses his lips. no easy out this time.]

No. And judging from your question, they didn't tell you, either. [he huffs, and stares at their bonds.] I'm going to cut down every person responsible for this.

[regression]

[ Felix needs a harder head because apparently Joonghyuk just stayed conscious during all of that. Which is better is up to the beholder. His lips press into a firm line as he finds a place in the cell to settle so they can Formulate something. ]

Too busy unjustly arresting me and others. [ Obviously. ] You'll need your blade first.

[ Unfortunately, the sword boys are without their swords. They seem to have stripped Joonghyuk of everything and left him with the loincloth. Is that necessary? Why? ]

[boarwitness]

We can assume everyone in this wretched place is in the same boat, then. Some leadership system.

[he doesn't need it rudely pointed out that he's minus sword though, thanks??? sir that's his comfort weapon

leaning over to joonghyuk, he narrows his eyes as his voice drops.]

If we make enough noise, someone will come. Then all we have to do is lure them into our cell on some pretence. Killing each other should work.

[not for real, obviously?]

[regression]

The Hierarchy is incompetent.

[ But Joonghyuk doesn't sound surprised as much as he is inconvenienced. The guards are talking amongst each other, basically ignoring them despite how they're devising a plan in front of their noses.

Hm. He isn't against this idea, however. ]

We have to be loud.

[ Which he doesn't like, but whatever. ]

[boarwitness]

Obviously. Even you should be able to yell if you need to.

[he watches the guards for a minute, waiting until they're seriously deep in conversation before continuing.]

Make up a problem, start a fight verbally, and I'll attack you. Then we grapple each other until they come into the cell—and we swap to killing whatever guard is closest.

[the pretend issue is clearly up to joonghyuk, but the physical bar will be set by felix.]

Ready when you are.

[regression]

[ DID I JUST NEVER SEND MY TAG A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO..... HELP

The guards really don't care about the two of them, just preferring to entertain each other with gallows gossip. Joonghyuk is astounded by the lack of care in the staff here, but isn't surprised.

Why does he have to make up an issue? Can't they just start to rumble without needing some pretense? ]

We're in this mess because of you.

[ Blaming Felix sounds good enough. ]

[arrancar]

( well, it isn't a mistake that grimmjow's here.

he really hasn't been the most well-behaved restless, picking fights and burning down corn mazes. honestly, he was beginning to think the rules around here were pretty flexible, until they started rounding people up and sending them off to the gallows anyway.

he isn't too worried about his current captivity though. grimmjow doesn't plan to stay here for long. it doesn't matter that his powers aren't working. he just needs to bide his time and wait for the right opportunity to make his move. )

Think they're gonna feed you anytime soon, boy? ( yea, he's talkin' to you, joonghyuk. )

[regression]

[ Joonghyuk had also considered that there is a lack of order in general, seeing that restless were expected to handle whatever was happening in Oakwoods. In the end, the death of Puck was for the better, so he's scrutinizing the judgment set upon them...

Well, upon him. When he recognizes the voice, he instantly assumes Grimmjow deserves to be here. ]

Why?

[ There's so much confusion in the air right now. What kind of question is that...? ]

[arrancar]

( he appreciates the complete faith in his absolute depravity. it's very sweet.

but it isn't enough to earn him a straight answer. )

Well, if they're plannin' to starve you to death anyway, then I need to decide how many days I should give you before I turn you into a nice supplementary meal. Wouldn't want to waste a soul as good as yours.

( have a dickish one instead. he's only partially joking. )

[regression]

[ Joonghyuk thinks it's right of him especially after this half-joke he hears. Frowning, the only reason he doesn't see this as a real threat is because of the magic barrier stripping them of their powers.

His expression can only be described as weary, like he's left to babysit ten toddlers and given the budget of ten dollars to entertain them. ]

I won't be staying here long enough for them to starve me. [ Ridiculous. ] And I can't imagine you'd stay here that long, either.

[arrancar]

( grimmjow is really just ten toddlers packed into one super old creature.

underpaid and no benefits, but at least he isn't your soulmate, joonghyuk. silver lining. )

I don't plan on it. ( he'll be more serious now. ) If they bring you food, we can take 'em out and set ourselves free.

[regression]

[ He'd rather die than be soulmated to ten toddlers in a big cat man, so that is a blessing. Being in the same space is barely tolerable.

The idea isn't bad and he'd be inclined if the guards were stronger than him, but he believes he can take on a couple. It could be hubris and arrogance, really. ]

That can be hours from now. [ Impatient as ever, he doesn't want to WAIT. ] If we cause enough commotion, someone has to come in.

[arrancar]

( don't be so grouchy. he makes for wonderful company. he doesn't )

They're gonna send in more than one. ( grimmjow didn't exactly give the guards an easy time detaining him and he has no doubt in his mind that it's the same case for lightning boy over there. ) It'll make it harder to get the key without being caught.

( he leans back against the wall, resting his right arm on top of an upright knee. )

No, we wait. ( it's only a couple of hours. chill a little, yjh. )

[regression]

I can take on more than one.

[ Just not like... ten which he doesn't think would fit inside the cell. Limitations can work in their favor, he thinks. What he doesn't convey or want to admit is that Grimmjow could be useful here.

He doesn't want his help, though. It would just be by convenience. Joonghyuk stays standing, stiff and wound up like usual. ]

And if they bring in weapons, it's something to steal.

[paraselenes]

[ yjh stop thinking you can karen your way out of these things

Dimitri is a little less upset about being jailed in general—he does probably deserve it, frankly—made more restless by the fact that so many people don't. False sentencings, being branded like chattel, left in passed-down and tattered rags. It's absymal.

Though he can't say he's surprised that Joonghyuk is stuck here with him. ]

...Glaring at them won't get you anywhere, you know.

[regression]

[ Joonghyuk should be able to. He thinks the universe owes him so much.

Of course he would be here... And he's somewhat surprised that Dimitri is, though only a bit. His leer shifts to his cellmate, simmering only one level. ]

You're going to sit here?

[paraselenes]

[ Joonghyuk did see him punch Puck into a tree, so it shouldn't be that much of a shock. They're two violent peas in a pod today. ]

As opposed to what? Staring? Launching a daring escape...?

[ He can say so aloud, considering that what scant guards here aren't paying any attention to them at all. It seems like he can do anything short of raising his voice and they'd never come check in. ]

[regression]

[ Dimitri just seems like still a good boy deep down to Joonghyuk... Violent good boy. Before he can address their immediate situation and see if they can have a hand in their fates, he must ask: ]

Are you usually this rude?

[ Because he's being extremely rude to him. More rude than Felix Fire Emblem has been based on his own metrics. ]

[paraselenes]

[ He's not a good boy. He's just violent. Also, none of his current behavior should indicate that he's a good boy, but indeed one who doesn't get to be sarcastic very often and is perhaps indulging a little much. ]

No. I was raised to be well-mannered, if nothing else.

[ Felix Fire Emblem does not count as he and Joonghyuk are the same person. ]

You have never been polite to me, however.

[regression]

[ One act of genuine consideration makes you better than most of the people Joonghyuk knows. ]

If you choose to act this indignant despite your upbringing, then you weren't raised well.

[ Basically, Joonghyuk is calling Dimitri a little shit. It's annoying, though not offensive yet. Crossing his arms, he assesses their interactions so far. ]

I haven't been rude to you.

[ While not polite, he doesn't think he has been rude. Provoked, maybe. That isn't his fault? ]

[paraselenes]

[ Questioning his upbringing! It peeves him, though he does have to admit he's been a bit childish, which is unlike him. It isn't as though Joonghyuk has been terrible to him at every occasion.

But he certainly hasn't been pleasant. Dimitri's expression is... disbelieving. ]

You have been rude to me since the very first time we encountered each other.

[regression]

You refused to return my gem.

[ The gem of Christmas' past. The tone is the same, but the vehemence is palpable. Joonghyuk is capable of staying mad forever, but he snuffs it as it won't help them in their jail cell. His posture slackens and relaxes, focusing on their problem now. ]

Do you not wish to escape?

[ It's a sincere question since he isn't sure if Dimitri is accepting of punishment, accountability, for whatever he did. Will he be useless? Useful? Please be the latter, Joonghyuk is praying. ]