The handcuff meme: Feeling a little stuck?

[mutedpoint]

A snick. Then the feel of cool metal against your wrist. What??

Say hi to whoever you now find yourself cuffed to. There's no key, no catch, just what seems to be a seamless cuff you can't take off.

Comments

[creativesoldier]

[He rests a hand on his shoulder]

It is alright. [He looks at his wrist.]

Do you know how to get free?

[werewolf_hacker]

[panicky] No! There's no keyhole, no nothing, it's just bare metal and I can't-- [breathe, is the end of that sentence.]

[creativesoldier]

[He grabs him into a half hug with wings.]

Ben. Listen to me. No harm will befall you.

[werewolf_hacker]

[gasping] I know, it's just... automatic reaction. Restraints... bad enough. Don't even wear a seatbelt most times. Handcuffs? So much worse.

...The hell are those runes?

[creativesoldier]

[Rubs his back as he inspects the cuffs]

Benjamin... Where is Guriel?

[Looks like the "No harm befalling" was on hold.]

In ur post, hijackin' ur threads

[guriel]

[And right on cue, Guri blinks into existence at their side.] Ben, man, there you . . .

[He breaks off as he takes in his brother, the handcuffs, and Ben's impending panic attack.] Joph? What's going on?

[creativesoldier]

Guriel. Someone has imprisoned us with Rune-circled handcuffs.

[guriel]

Yeah. [Guriel's peering at the runes, scowling, and he reaches out one hand to grasp Ben's shoulder in reassurance, because this is clearly gonna take time to sort out.] Yeah, I can see that. You tried breaking them?

[creativesoldier]

Not yet. Have at it, Lion.

[guriel]

On it. [He grins flatly.] Good thing I went Home and studied up on this stuff, yeah? [Guriel scans the runes for a minute, looking for the weak point on the cuffs, and then reaches out and tries to snap the chain at that point -- without success.]

. . . oh that's not good.

[werewolf_hacker]

[Even the presence of his Guardian isn't enough to stop the wolf coming out at this point. Handcuffs plus runes push enough of the Bad Buttons that Ben's better off just letting it come than trying to fight it any longer. A few seconds later a forlorn wolf the size of a Shetland pony stands there in the shreds of Ben's clothes.

He flumps onto his haunches and puts a giant paw on Guri's knee.] Well, shit. [But at least he can breathe again.]

[creativesoldier]

[He tries to keep calm, and sits down on the ground when Ben's finished.] Got that out of your system? [He pets him slightly.]

[werewolf_hacker]

[The wolf nuzzles him, lightly and apologetically.] Sorry.

[guriel]

[Guriel gives Ben a flat, sympathetic smile.] Sorry, bro. Not as simple as I thought it was. [He bends over the cuffs again, gnawing thoughtfully on his lower lip.] Something more than just runes holding this thing together, I think.

[creativesoldier]

[He idly strokes Ben's fur as he speaks] Yeah, that would be too easy. You think one of our brothers could help?

[werewolf_hacker]

[For his part, Ben's breathing is something approaching normal. He's got angels by his side, his hands aren't cuffed together, and the wolf half doesn't have the same automatic reaction to the restraints that the human half does. He swipes his tongue across Guri's face, just because he can.]