Blue Raspberry 17 & Watermelon 9
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, During NIEE
Challenges: Blue Raspberry 17 (interrogation) & Watermelon 9 (slip of the tongue)
Toppings & Extras: None!
Word Count: 1,321
Rating: PG/PG-13
Summary: Jez (sort of) learns the value of self-control when chatting with Rees.
Notes: From the edits of NIEE. Trils and Ju will probably be getting new names, but these work for now. Takes place just before the Peanut Butter piece I posted on Rees during PB week.
Rees was wasting no time. He reached through the bars and shook me awake the next morning before dawn. I blinked owlishly at him as I tried to wake. The time in jail was definitely weighing on me. Even a week ago, I wouldn’t have been caught dead this sluggish immediately after waking, but the bruises and rough sleeping conditions were taking their toll. “Let’s go, Jasmine,” he said, unlocking the door.
I was a bit surprised, as it filtered in, to find him and not Shorty accompanying the brutes. “Where’s Shorty?” I asked as I stood and made a point of slowly stretching.
“It’s his day off. Now let’s go.”
“In a hurry this morning?” I asked, trying to seem unconcerned, but not sure how well I was doing.
“Something like that. Now, do I need to send Trils and Ju in or are you coming?”
“I’m coming.” I purposely went to tread on Jay’s hand, but he snatched it out of the way at the last second, forming it into a thumbs up. I felt a momentary flash of annoyance before reminding myself he might as well get some sleep - nothing was going to stop my date with Colonel Rees. I followed Rees down the hallway, carefully working out some of the kinks in my legs between the bruises and general low activity levels, something I had never been used to.
“After you,” he said, motioning me ahead of him. I hobbled into the room and he smirked. “Still a little sore, are we? Maybe not as confident?”
I rolled my eyes. “You wish, Rees…you know, I think I missed your first name. We are on a first name basis, aren’t we?” I asked, voice as sweet as possible.
“How about we stick with ‘colonel’?”
“And outwardly show you respect? In your dreams.”
He grinned and shook his head. “If nothing else, it’s always amusing to chat with you.”
“Don’t be disappointed that I do not share the same sentiments.” I folded my arms across my chest. “So let’s move on to the questions so I can refuse to answer and get back to my lovely little cell.”
“Why were you planting explosives around the city?”
“It was only around the palace and that is the question, isn’t it?” I replied mildly. I was very much aware that the brutes had worked their way around behind me.
“Care to not play semantics and supply me with an answer?”
“What happened to starting with the small stuff?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t feel like it today. Enough stalling, Jasmine. Answer it.”
“Can you blame me?”
“Now,” he said flatly. “Five…four…”
My mind scrambled for an answer. A grin skipped across my face as one occurred to me. “I was trying to blow it up.” At his look, I shrugged. “I answered the question. You’re the one who failed to specify.”
“Very well. Why did you want to blow up the palace? Who ordered you to?”
“First question is simple. People like you live there.” I forced a wide smile I didn’t feel, since I knew where my answer would lead me. “And I doubted the Three would appreciate it much if the second biggest city and one of their main strongholds went up in smoke under their watch and because they were too stupid to-” I didn’t get to finish my thought as one of the brutes grabbed me by the shirt, spun me and slammed me face first into the nearest wall.
My breath all left me in a whoosh and I struggled to recover as he set me back down with a thump that jarred my knees as well. I reached up and wiped at my bleeding nose. “Dat was fun,” I muttered, holding my hand there. “Any of you have a handkerchief?”
The brutes just stared, but I got a ghost of a smile out of Rees.
“The strangest things amuse you.”
“True. Now that we’ve gotten your impression of both me and the intelligence of our current rulers, how about the second question?”
“Going to need a repeat on that one. It went clear out of my head somewhere around being slammed into a solid wall.”
Again, that smile drifted across his face. “Who ordered you to blow up the palace?”
“No one. Jay and I came up with that little treat all on our own.” That was actually a bit of half-truth. Beau hadn’t specified what chaos we attempted to reign, just that we attempt some.
“You’re lying.”
“Only a little,” I said sarcastically, wrist still pressed against my leaking nose. “Honestly, you have no proof that I am. In fact, I think my feelings are hurt that you don’t think me capable of trying to blow up Greensward palace all by my lonesome. Well, okay, with Jay’s help.”
“What if I said that Jay told me who ordered you to do it?”
“Give me a name and I might believe you.” I knew he was bluffing. Disadvantage to them leaving us together, although I’d never say that out loud. If Jay had spilled about Beau, he would have told me.
“So you aren’t part of the Freedom Fighters?”
“No.” And then I asked for it. “Haven’t you realized by now that no one likes you or your ‘employers’? Most people think you’re all slimy, no good…” His look turned dark and I ducked on reflex, dodging the first swing. Unfortunately for me, though, the second brute managed to snag my shirt and repeat the earlier wall slam. As I stumbled back from that, very off-kilter now, I ran straight into a fist to the gut. I doubled over, wishing that I’d been able to curb the temptation to bait them. My feet were swept out from under me and I ended up on the floor in an ungraceful heap. I immediately curled into the fetal position, but not before a boot connected solidly with my stomach, driving what little breath I’d regained out. As I struggled to breathe, I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to focus on anything but the beating, although it was far from easy.
Finally, some indeterminable time later, it stopped. I cracked open my eyes, someone’s boots swimming into view.
“Insults get you nowhere, Jasmine.” Of course it was Rees.
“Yes, but they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside,” I managed, still trying to catch my breath, which meant not that much time could have passed.
He snorted. “Give me your hand.”
I didn’t argue, reaching a hand up, and he pulled me to my feet. I braced myself on the wall with the other hand, the world spinning unpleasantly beneath, or maybe it was around, me.
“Are you part of the Freedom Fighters?”
“If you’re so sure you know the answer, why are you asking me?” I asked wearily. They had definitely rebruised every bruise and found a few new places for them too. I fought to stay upright.
“I want to hear it out of your mouth.”
“Then you’re going to be disappointed.”
“There’s always next time.”
“Boy, oh, boy, I can’t wait,” I said with all the false enthusiasm I could possibly muster. “It’s always such a joy to talk with someone as…” I trailed off, realizing now would be a very good time to beat back the temptation. “As wonderful as you,” I finished cheerfully.
One of the pair growled. My catch had fooled no one. I kept a wary eye on all three, but let out a breath as Rees merely said, “Take her back to her cell. Jasmine, we’ll talk again soon.”
I managed a salute before the thugs grabbed my arms. Even if Rees was capable to brush off my almost insult, it became apparent the brutes weren’t as forgiving. Instantly, they both twisted my arms tightly behind me. I heard two very distinct pops before the black rushed up to claim me.
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, During NIEE
Challenges: Blue Raspberry 17 (interrogation) & Watermelon 9 (slip of the tongue)
Toppings & Extras: None!
Word Count: 1,321
Rating: PG/PG-13
Summary: Jez (sort of) learns the value of self-control when chatting with Rees.
Notes: From the edits of NIEE. Trils and Ju will probably be getting new names, but these work for now. Takes place just before the Peanut Butter piece I posted on Rees during PB week.
Rees was wasting no time. He reached through the bars and shook me awake the next morning before dawn. I blinked owlishly at him as I tried to wake. The time in jail was definitely weighing on me. Even a week ago, I wouldn’t have been caught dead this sluggish immediately after waking, but the bruises and rough sleeping conditions were taking their toll. “Let’s go, Jasmine,” he said, unlocking the door.
I was a bit surprised, as it filtered in, to find him and not Shorty accompanying the brutes. “Where’s Shorty?” I asked as I stood and made a point of slowly stretching.
“It’s his day off. Now let’s go.”
“In a hurry this morning?” I asked, trying to seem unconcerned, but not sure how well I was doing.
“Something like that. Now, do I need to send Trils and Ju in or are you coming?”
“I’m coming.” I purposely went to tread on Jay’s hand, but he snatched it out of the way at the last second, forming it into a thumbs up. I felt a momentary flash of annoyance before reminding myself he might as well get some sleep - nothing was going to stop my date with Colonel Rees. I followed Rees down the hallway, carefully working out some of the kinks in my legs between the bruises and general low activity levels, something I had never been used to.
“After you,” he said, motioning me ahead of him. I hobbled into the room and he smirked. “Still a little sore, are we? Maybe not as confident?”
I rolled my eyes. “You wish, Rees…you know, I think I missed your first name. We are on a first name basis, aren’t we?” I asked, voice as sweet as possible.
“How about we stick with ‘colonel’?”
“And outwardly show you respect? In your dreams.”
He grinned and shook his head. “If nothing else, it’s always amusing to chat with you.”
“Don’t be disappointed that I do not share the same sentiments.” I folded my arms across my chest. “So let’s move on to the questions so I can refuse to answer and get back to my lovely little cell.”
“Why were you planting explosives around the city?”
“It was only around the palace and that is the question, isn’t it?” I replied mildly. I was very much aware that the brutes had worked their way around behind me.
“Care to not play semantics and supply me with an answer?”
“What happened to starting with the small stuff?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t feel like it today. Enough stalling, Jasmine. Answer it.”
“Can you blame me?”
“Now,” he said flatly. “Five…four…”
My mind scrambled for an answer. A grin skipped across my face as one occurred to me. “I was trying to blow it up.” At his look, I shrugged. “I answered the question. You’re the one who failed to specify.”
“Very well. Why did you want to blow up the palace? Who ordered you to?”
“First question is simple. People like you live there.” I forced a wide smile I didn’t feel, since I knew where my answer would lead me. “And I doubted the Three would appreciate it much if the second biggest city and one of their main strongholds went up in smoke under their watch and because they were too stupid to-” I didn’t get to finish my thought as one of the brutes grabbed me by the shirt, spun me and slammed me face first into the nearest wall.
My breath all left me in a whoosh and I struggled to recover as he set me back down with a thump that jarred my knees as well. I reached up and wiped at my bleeding nose. “Dat was fun,” I muttered, holding my hand there. “Any of you have a handkerchief?”
The brutes just stared, but I got a ghost of a smile out of Rees.
“The strangest things amuse you.”
“True. Now that we’ve gotten your impression of both me and the intelligence of our current rulers, how about the second question?”
“Going to need a repeat on that one. It went clear out of my head somewhere around being slammed into a solid wall.”
Again, that smile drifted across his face. “Who ordered you to blow up the palace?”
“No one. Jay and I came up with that little treat all on our own.” That was actually a bit of half-truth. Beau hadn’t specified what chaos we attempted to reign, just that we attempt some.
“You’re lying.”
“Only a little,” I said sarcastically, wrist still pressed against my leaking nose. “Honestly, you have no proof that I am. In fact, I think my feelings are hurt that you don’t think me capable of trying to blow up Greensward palace all by my lonesome. Well, okay, with Jay’s help.”
“What if I said that Jay told me who ordered you to do it?”
“Give me a name and I might believe you.” I knew he was bluffing. Disadvantage to them leaving us together, although I’d never say that out loud. If Jay had spilled about Beau, he would have told me.
“So you aren’t part of the Freedom Fighters?”
“No.” And then I asked for it. “Haven’t you realized by now that no one likes you or your ‘employers’? Most people think you’re all slimy, no good…” His look turned dark and I ducked on reflex, dodging the first swing. Unfortunately for me, though, the second brute managed to snag my shirt and repeat the earlier wall slam. As I stumbled back from that, very off-kilter now, I ran straight into a fist to the gut. I doubled over, wishing that I’d been able to curb the temptation to bait them. My feet were swept out from under me and I ended up on the floor in an ungraceful heap. I immediately curled into the fetal position, but not before a boot connected solidly with my stomach, driving what little breath I’d regained out. As I struggled to breathe, I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to focus on anything but the beating, although it was far from easy.
Finally, some indeterminable time later, it stopped. I cracked open my eyes, someone’s boots swimming into view.
“Insults get you nowhere, Jasmine.” Of course it was Rees.
“Yes, but they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside,” I managed, still trying to catch my breath, which meant not that much time could have passed.
He snorted. “Give me your hand.”
I didn’t argue, reaching a hand up, and he pulled me to my feet. I braced myself on the wall with the other hand, the world spinning unpleasantly beneath, or maybe it was around, me.
“Are you part of the Freedom Fighters?”
“If you’re so sure you know the answer, why are you asking me?” I asked wearily. They had definitely rebruised every bruise and found a few new places for them too. I fought to stay upright.
“I want to hear it out of your mouth.”
“Then you’re going to be disappointed.”
“There’s always next time.”
“Boy, oh, boy, I can’t wait,” I said with all the false enthusiasm I could possibly muster. “It’s always such a joy to talk with someone as…” I trailed off, realizing now would be a very good time to beat back the temptation. “As wonderful as you,” I finished cheerfully.
One of the pair growled. My catch had fooled no one. I kept a wary eye on all three, but let out a breath as Rees merely said, “Take her back to her cell. Jasmine, we’ll talk again soon.”
I managed a salute before the thugs grabbed my arms. Even if Rees was capable to brush off my almost insult, it became apparent the brutes weren’t as forgiving. Instantly, they both twisted my arms tightly behind me. I heard two very distinct pops before the black rushed up to claim me.