Chapter 3 - A Day Within the Walls
Lily awoke to see the same ceiling she's seen for the past three years, though it didn't bother so much anymore- it bothered her more that she had to wake up. She weighed whether closing her eyes was worth it today before shaking her head. She knew it was pointless when she would awaken later, sore and staring at the same ceiling. Either way, she was getting up at the end.
The sneasel sat up and stretched, letting out a long yawn as she did. She rubbed her eyes free from any grime a night's sleep leaves behind and scratched her head a few times before pulling off her pathetic excuse for a cover and swiveling her legs over the side of her bed- which was more a thin slab of padding on top of a metal frame, of which was chained and suspended from the wall.
She opened her eyes, only to close them a few times from the amount of artificial light coming in. When she grew accustomed to it again, she saw a sight that sank her heart every time: the steel bars that trapped her in her cell. On each side laid a concrete wall separating her from the cells of other inmates and she got a clear view of the wall, an odd shade of yellow, through the bars of her cell.
She reached below her bed and snatched up the top of her stripped uniform. Slowly, she put the hated thing on, something she wished she didn't have to do but was required or else face punishment. Once she had her shirt on, she brushed her teeth, did a few more stretches, and a few push-ups before sitting back down on her bed, which also doubled as a bench, and laid back down. She covered her face with her pillow and groaned loudly into it, with only a muffled noise coming out.
"Ugh… " she pulled it off her face. "I'm tired of being cooped up, bored, and feeling useless…" she sighed. "It's killing me…"
"You're a funny girl Lil." the sneasel heard from afar. She groaned. "Ah, am I making you mad already? What a record. Only two minutes this time- let's try for one-minute tomorrow. Or maybe next year? I mean, we got time- plenty of it!"
The sneasel snorted and shook her head. Three years being stuck with her cellmate and she had to admit, her corny jokes still rub her the wrong way somewhat.
"Come'on Rune. I'm serious…"
"Seriously bored?" asked Rune.
"Yes. I said that." answered Lily.
Lily sat up to see her neighbor across the cell. Sitting on a bed like hers, was a purrloin wearing the exact same black and white uniform, though she had short sleeves compared to Lily's long sleeves as well as bulky anklet on her left leg. Lily only wore a simple bracelet around her right arm, though her sleeve blocked sight of it.
Rune giggled and wagged her tail slowly behind her. "You know what I have to say about that Lily?"
"Is it, "that's prison for you" or...?"
"You got it!" Rune smiled smugly while Lily sank back down onto her bed with a long, frustrated sigh. "You know... I thought you said being bored was fine because you had all this time to think for yourself and shit. I mean, you've been complaining for the past year but hey, you always complain."
"Oh haha, very funny." Rune stuck her tongue out. Lily snorted again. "Ok look, I still do like to use my generous free time to think." explained Lily. She pulled a book out from under her bed. A small pile of them laid underneath, her pants draped over a few. "I got books to read and I've written a few short stories and the like already but... it's been three years. That stuff has worn out by now. I need something else to do when I wake up other than sit here, talk to you, do light exercise, stretch, or daydream until it's nine. I can't function without doing something productive or learning stuff and since they kicked me out of the classes for being a smartass..."
Rune grinned. Lily knew what she was going to suggest. "Well, if you want to be productive, get a job. You'd be doing something for the next five hours instead of just sitting around. Plus, you get money to use in the commizz and shorten your sentence little by little." suggested Rune. "And as I said every time we discussed this before: with your attitude towards work, they'd let you have any job."
"Really, you think so?" Rune could see the smile on her face was a catty one, making her roll her eyes. The other cat knew what always came next with that look on her face. "Because I'm sure I can lift some hundred kilo crates with incredible ease. Oh, and I'm so versatile, I bet I can totally work in the training studio as a punching bag. Maybe I should operate some heavy machinery too!" the navy-blue cat scoffed. "What does matter though… not like there are any jobs open anyways."
"Okay, yeah, you're a short-stack for a sneasel- you're still taller them me!" Rune pointed out, making Lily blush in shame. The purrloin was right in that regard though most of the other inmates outsized the two by quite the margin. "It also doesn't mean there aren't a few jobs available that you could do in and out of here. You could do mail work. I bet that's easy-peasy le-"
"I'm not tall enough." swiftly snapped Lily. "Plus, those bags they use are my size. I've seen them- they'd crush you no problem."
"Uhh… well…" Rune chuckled nervously, heralding a similar smile on her face. She forgot about that completely but then again, her work was just cleaning. She hadn't had to think about this for some time. "Okay, h-how 'bout road work?"
"I still have a shred of dignity, despite what I've been through."
"You're in p-" she sighed and let it go. Rune saw no need to press the issue- not when Lily would likely sock her in the face for saying that. The look on Lily's face told her she was definitely going to as well if she did continue. "Right, never mind… How 'bout laundry?"
"I like to keep contact with things that have been through sex as little as possible."
"Seriously…?" Lily nodded. She looked away and huffed. Rune didn't press further. "Okay, how about cleaning, like what I do?"
"Pretty sure there aren't any openings. Also, sorry to be an ass, but ditto with the laundry. The less contact with 'fluids' the better."
"R-right…" Rune's smile faltered. She started questioned how much she's handled so far now. She decided to keep going and forget it before she decided quitting was a good idea. "Cooking?"
"Same as cleaning. Pretty sure I can't reach the stoves anyways."
"Okay uhh…" Rune thought back to every brochure she's read on work programs. It has hard for her to remember one she hadn't stated yet but she found one. "How about being a handyman?"
"Hmm..." Lily thought about this one. She never thought about handyman work. Size didn't matter, only her skill in using tools and anyone could learn stuff like that. Plus, she knew there weren't many taking up those positions anytime soon- it was demanding work. "I guess handyman work isn't so bad."
"See, there's something for everyone- you just never thought about it." Rune hummed thoughtfully. "Though, really, I really don't know why you never took up any sort of work these past years." remarked Rune. Lily walked over and sat down next to her.
"Because I don't want to leave early. I'd prefer to stay the time I was convicted for. Leaving early would make me feel as if I cheated…" admitted Lily.
"Aww, isn't that noble of you." said Rune.
"Stuff it Rene."
"Ooo, using my real name. That means you're a mad Lily!" Rune giggled. "Bad flower- being mad isn't fun."
"Clearly. It's what brought me to you." Lily stated with a dejected look on her face. Rune grimaced- she wanted Lily to smile, not get depressed.
"Aw, assault ain't that bad. It's kinda like what I did!"
"You robbed like, a few banks in two days." Rune smiled proudly. No matter how wrong it was, the rush from all three times was a blast. She was sad what did her in was a simply bar fight. She reminded herself to not drink outside prison ever again. "I beat the snot out of four footballers. Our crimes don't exactly overlap."
"Okay, so you beat the shit out of a bunch of athletes. Did you have fun doing it at least?"
"Well, it was satisfying…" she looked down at the floor, letting her ears fall behind her head. Rune felt a pang of guilt- she made the girl sad once again. "I don't like admitting that though, so don't tell anyone, alright? Especially Caleb."
Rune nodded and held a hand over her chest. "Alright, no need to tell me. I'll just let that sit with me forever then."
"Thanks."
A long five minutes of silence befall the barred room as Rune tried to think up something else to talk with Lily about. Looking back on the past month, there was only one thing that she had on mind. She smirked confidently- there was no avoiding it this time for Lily.
"You know…" started Rune. Lily slowly turned her head to her- she knew exactly what she was going to talk about. "It's been three weeks since whoever visited you came and went. You never said anything about it to me yet and I'm still curious." Rune threw her hands into the air, her tail swishing a little more violently. Both told Lily she was slightly irritated. "I mean, you came back, hid under your pillow and cried. Didn't even say a damn thing to me- and this was after you left with a furious look on your face."
"I don't have to tell you anything." answered Lily. She didn't want to spill anything about Ruben's visit- especially after how she acted at first towards him. It was her second darkest moment.
"Well you should, in exchange for my advice earlier." Rune said with a cheeky smile. "It's only fair Lil."
Lily gave her a lame look. "All you did was suggest jobs I could do. That isn't much advice at all."
"Better than sitting around looking at my beautiful form, isn't it?" joked Rune.
"Well, I don't know about that…"
"Okay girl, no need to kiss up to me like that. I like you enough already!" she giggled and pat her fellow cat on the head. Lily whined openly about this demeaning act, which caused Rune to do it more. "Aww, does Lil like her petting?"
"You know I don't like it when you do it during the day." Rune kept petting her. "Stop it!"
Rune laughed. "Nyah!"
Lily grabbed the purrloin's hand and rudely shoved it away. She looked at the wall and scoffed.
"If I could, I'd have frozen you by now."
"So cold Lil…" the sneasel gave her a light slap over the head. "Yeah, bad pun. I know." a short pause gave her time to remember what she was asking. "Oh yeah, about that person who visited you…"
"Uuuuggggghhh…" groaned Lily, fed up with the pestering. She shook her head and let out a long, frustrated sigh. She was tired of it now, and if he visited again as he promised, she'd just ask more. She knew she might as well say something now. "Fine, I'll talk." Rune leaned in, ready to her everything. "It was… it was someone from my high school. From my year actually."
"Oh, really? What year were you when you were arrested?" asked Rune.
"Third year." Lily snorted. "Most of them hated me for all sorts stupid reasons. I can only imagine how much they celebrated when I got thrown in here… so..."
Rune sighed irritably at the random pause. "So? So, what?"
"Let me ask you this: with that in mind, what reason do you think any of my classmates would visit me?" questioned Lily.
Rune thought hard but it didn't last long. She knew there were only a few reasons why they would ever bother visit- none of them were good. Especially if she put the fact the girl is all the way from Gold City, then it would be one heck of a distance to cover just to meet her.
"I guess it's to… see how you're holding up? Mock you on how far you've fallen compared to whoever it was? General asshattery?"
"More or less, yeah." Lily chuckled. "Kinda why I left the cell in such a bad mood."
"You thought it was one of those reasons why someone was visiting you?" she nodded. Rune pursed her lips anxiously- this was a little awkward for her. "Okay… so, what happened when you got there? Clearly, it wasn't that."
"I… he…" a small smile made its way on Lily's face. "The person who visited me. He wasn't there to mock me, fuck with me, or anything like that. He just wanted to talk." she looked up at the ceiling, trying to jog her memory. "If I remember right, he seemed a bit desperate actually."
"Really? How?" asked Rune.
Lily got up from Rune's side, went over to her bed and slipped her pants on. Once done, she walked back over to Rune's bed and sat down next to the purrloin. Rune had no clue why she did this, but assumed it was to hide herself as much as she could. She was always a bit prude when it came to personal talk.
"He… he told me he's been moving girl to girl like crazy. He said they were all crazy but I feel like he's just lying through his teeth to butter me up…" the cat couldn't stop herself from leaning back and putting her hands over her face. Rune could see she was ashamed about something. "I…"
"Hmm?" Rune raised an eyebrow curiously. Why the pause? "What'd you do Lil?"
"I… I just went along with it like an idiot. Everything he said, about looking for someone special, and that he cared about me… all of it." revealed Lily. Rune glared at her.
"Wait, what!?" shouted Rune. She quickly clamped her mouth but the damage was done. They heard no chatter up and down the hall. It took a few minutes for the chatter to come back and only then did she speak. "S-So, you didn't call him out? Why?!"
Lily sighed and put a hand to her face. "I mean, I was already in hot shit for yelling at him, so that played a part but… I guess I just wanted to feel like someone did care for me, even if probably didn't." she groaned and pushed her face against into her hands. "Fuck, I even said I like the guy… and that was after he said he like me too!" she cursed quietly again. "He played me…"
Rune wagged a finger in front of her face. "Now, now… it's not entirely possible he was lying to you. He could actually like you, you know."
"After three years of not seeing me and knowing I'm in prison, he just up and decides that I'm someone he can like?" surmised Lily. Rune's smile faltered. "Is that what you suppose?"
"W-well…" Rune looked down at her bed. She had to admit, it didn't make much sense. "It… it does sound fishy like that."
"It's like the old saying: You can always fool a flaafy but you can never sneak past a sneasel. No matter what, he's not getting past me." Lily nodded and smiled. "Yeah, next time we meet, I'm going really pick him apart."
"You two are meeting again?" Lily nodded. "Care to explain?"
"He made a promise and I accepted. I mean, if he wants to take the time and money, let him. I can't certainly stop his ass." explained Lily.
Rune leaned in with a mischievous smile. "Well, let me ask this: what kind of monster is he anyway and does he look good?"
"I…" she looked away. "He's a strong buizel, rough looking but strong. Nice coat of fur, long tails, nice eyes, short whiskers…" she eyed the looked Rune was giving her- one of feminine curiosity. "Yeah, I know, really detailed. I… I did like him before I came here…"
"Ah, se-"
"I don't anymore." she clenched her fist and pounded her leg. "I don't even know why I said I did…"
Rune stopped and slowly closed her mouth. A glance at the sneasel's face showed the inkling of tears in her eyes. She couldn't help but feel a little sad for her as well.
"Why?" she looked up at Rune. "Why don't you like him anymore?"
"I…" she sniffed a little then wiped a tear away. Rune helped clean one out herself. "I don't because he was just like the others… he lied and act as if he didn't but… I just… I just ignored it and… and…" she closed her eyes tightly and put her hands over them. Rune spied a tear run down her face. "I don't want to talk about this anymore…"
The sneasel couldn't help but cry as she always did. The purrloin let her lay on her lap while she cried. Rune had to admit, when she first met the girl, she was nothing but a pile of crying fur. These days, she still cried but she was far stronger than before- but to see her cry now made her feel bad… but it was plenty cute in her eyes. Still, Rune decided she needed some cheering up, even if she did look cute right now.
"I know what'll cheer you up. Let's snuggle." offered Rune. "And you know exactly what I mean.
"W-what?" Lily sat up from the purrloin's lap. She saw the look in Rune's eyes- they didn't have the usual playful look but a far more worried one. "Now? W-why now? It's not…"
"I know it's not light's out. Not unless the moon is playing a trick on everyone." she gestured around to the light filled cell. Lily giggled. "But hey, why not have some fun? As I said, it'll cheer you up."
"…" Lily sat there silently, thinking over her options. Possibly get embarrassed if someone saw her or have a good time with someone she did like. Lily took long enough for Rune to take the silence as a no.
"Okay, okay… you don-"
"I'll do it."
"Wait, seriously?" Lily took off her shirt and placed on the bed. Rune was left to slowly do the same. "Alright then, I g-"
Rune only got that far with her words as Lily pulled her into a vicious hug, squeezing the purrloin hard. The hug pushed most of the wind out of her lungs and left her leaning completely on Lily for support.
"D-Damn your strong…" Rune said, trying to act tough. She hated admitting she and Lily were equals in terms of strength, even if she was the smaller of the two. She also didn't want to admit that she loved being in Lily's hold. Or that she loved her at all. "H-Hold onto me… please…" said Rune.
Lily swept her hand over Rune's cheek and smiled. "Don't worry, I got you."
"Oh, so soft…" Rune rubbed her face against the sneasel's stomach. Lily hummed a little but didn't protest in any other way. She had to admit how enjoyable it was to snuggle with Rune, even if a bit awkward outside light's out. "That foamy shit they have here really keeps fur nice and soft, doesn't it?"
"You ask me that every time- you know the answer." Lily helpfully pointed out.
"I do because it's so amazing." she plunged her nose in her upper breasts, rubbing her face in it with glee. Lily's face was a mixture of embarrassed and ecstatic as she did this, her mouth quivering in place. Rune pulled her face back out a let out a delighted sigh. "Man do you smell nice too. I don't know how you keep so clean."
"I… I don't go at it every night?" Lily chuckled anxiously as Rune climbed over her. "I… uhh..." she stopped when she noticed Rune's face only centimeters from hers. "Rune?"
"Calm down, I'm only doing this…" Rune plunged forward and kissed the sneasel on the cheek. Lily fell back into the bedsheets, surprised by her cellmate kissing her at all. Rune pulled back, satisfied. "That felt liberating…"
Looking down at her cellmate, she could see Lily was stunned into nothing but incoherent mumbling. The blush on her face was bright red and she could tell Lily was loving it as much as she was.
"Well since you seem to be having fun, let's kick it up a notch…"
"W-wait, n-no…" Lily protested as she felt the purrloin's hand start to slide up and down her chest. The sneasel couldn't help but giggle at the feeling. She was fine with snuggling with Rune but this was a level beyond that and she was not ready for this. "G-get off Rune… p-please!" begged Lily. Rune refused and kept tickling her. "S-stop… n-noooo… hahaha…"
"No, I gotta have some fun in here!"
As Rune found grip on Lily's pants, amid the sneasel's uncontrollable giggling, they heard a clang against the bars of their cell. It was enough to scare Rune and make her pull back her hand. The two looked over to see a familiar lucario standing there with one highly confused expression on his face.
"What is going on in here?"
"Caleb! Heeeeeyyyy…" Rune called out from on top of Lily. The sneasel blew out a breath of pure relief- she was not ready for anything like what she wanted at all. "You know, it's perverted to stand and watch two women have fun."
"You know that I can stand here all day and that wouldn't be up to you. You don't write my checks Janvier."
"Yeah, that'd be the Warden, and we both know you'd do anything to su-" Lily clamped Rune's mouth shut before she could finish. She sat up from her place, rolling Rune off her chest.
"R-Right, it's a really n-nice day Caleb, right?" she quickly asked.
"Considering it's always the same temperature inside this place and the same amount of light; so yes, I would say it is a lovely day. Always is." he narrowed his eyes at the two of them. "That is, as long as no one tries anything stupid…. Rene."
The purrloin forced Lily's hand from her mouth. "It's Rune, fucktard."
"Care to repeat that a little closer to me?"
"I could but then you'd hit me with that blue bone attack of yours…"
"Smart girl." he clicked his tongue a few times while moving his eyes between the pair. "Sadly, I don't think today is one of those "smart" days for you. Disrobing is an infraction..." he glared at Rene specifically. "and bothof you are clearly in the wrong."
Rune groaned. Lily sighed sadly. They knew they were busted.
Caleb sighed and shook his head. "But… considering it looked more like you two were just tickling each other… no matter how odd, childish, and against the rules that is…" the two looked away from each other, blushes on their faces. "I'll let it slide. Now, put on your shirts please before someone else comes by. The report I'd need to write would be three pages long and avoiding that would be nice."
The two wasted no time putting their shirts on for the lucario on the other side of the bars. He nodded once they both had their uniforms in full and began to leave. Lily took the chance to ask her favorite guard a question.
"Wait Caleb, can I ask you something?" requested Lily. The lucario took a step back and looked in. "Do you think I'd make a good handyman?"
He put on a thoughtful look and hummed. "I mean, you're a bright girl, so you'd learn quick." he nodded. "Yeah, I'd say you'd be good but… why though?"
"Because she asked idiot." quipped Rune.
"Shut it Janvier." he scolded. The purrloin clocked her tongue angrily and leaned back against the wall. Caleb turned his focus on the waiting sneasel next to her. "Go on Lily."
"Well… I was thinking…" she played with her index fingers, pushing them together nervously over and over. "I kind of want to find some work in here to uhh… pass the time?"
Caleb grinned. "It's about time you did this. I mean, seeing you just sitting around miserably- I thought you'd have done this long ago." he laughed and leaned against the bars. "So, handyman, huh? Not gonna bother with anything else?"
"I'm either too small or needs me to have a lack of dignity."
Caleb gave her an odd look. "You're in prison Lily. Dignity is the least concerning issue for you."
"I thought the same thing!" added Rune. "Getting paraded around in ice cream clothes and in handcuffs isn't dignifying."
"I know that… it's just a personal thing, alright." she responded.
"I understand Lily." Caleb stood up from the bars and started back on his beat. "Well, if you want to get that job, then you best head to the Work Office during free time as soon as you can."
"I will, thanks Caleb." the lucario gave her a wave and slipped out of sight, past the wall where their eyes couldn't follow. Lily shivered and held herself. "I'm nervous. What if the person running the place turns me back?"
"Now Lily, he'd never do that." assured Rune.
Lily sat up, a hopeful smile at the front. "Really?"
"Yeah. He's paid to make sure we work- he has no choice actually." the sneasel gave her a worried look. Rune chuckled. "Don't worry, he's a mean ole' geezer but he's got a heart."
"What?"
"You have ten seconds to tell me why you're standing in my doorway prisoner."
"Uh… err… hmm…" Lily froze up. The man behind the desk in front of her was far too intimidating for her, his bright yellow eyes matching the intense red of her eyes. She swallowed her anxiety as best she could and answered him just after he mouthed four. "I'm here because I'd like to work as a handyman… I... I think I fit best there…"
The monster behind the desk smiled, though she could tell it was mocking one. "Usually, most of those who're standing there say, "I want to work Mr. Hochberg. Can you help me?" and then expect me to do miracles with no information on their part but you seem to have brain in you." he gave her a half-hearted snort and smiled arrogantly. "Congratulations." he waved her in. "Come inside and shut the door."
The sneasel did as he asked and closed the door behind her. He stood up from his desk and walked around to eye her carefully. She didn't dare move a muscle as the well-dressed watchog scanned her every detail. She did the same, and couldn't help but wonder how a simple blue shirt and brown khakis were every bit more interesting than her depressing uniform. Lily then remembered that anything is better than wearing prison clothes because it meant they weren't a prisoner.
"So, a handyman huh?" he asked. The sudden question made her jump in shock. She fell against the door with a thud. "Don't break my door. I just got that one. I lost the last one to a tyranitar."
"Sorry, sorry…" she stood up and fixed her clothes to appear neat again. Lily cleared her throat and put on the most innocent smile she could muster, pretending she didn't just almost fall from a mundane surprise. "Yeah, I want to do maintenance work. Mostly, it's because I can do the work than anything else… I'm kind of small and well…"
"It's understandably. Small monsters like us can't do what the bigger ones can. I certainly can tell you that me and you are not working in the construction business anytime soon." he calmly supposed. Lily had to admit, she didn't find building houses all that appealing anyways. "So, first off, if you want this line of work, I'm going to need a name. First, middle, last."
He paused and rolled his eyes. Lily raised an eyebrow at this.
"And please, no nicknames."
Lily giggled. She could only imagine how many times he's dealt with that. When she noticed he was staring, she briskly nodded and stepped forward, hand on her chest.
"M-My name is L-Lily Blume Harrison err… s-sir." he nodded and walked over to the cabinets at the side of the room. He opened one and began sifting through it silently. Lily felt a little uncomfortable at the silence and decided to try and strike up more conversation. "So… what's your name, sir?"
The watchog kept sifting through the cabinet quietly, completely ignoring her request. Lily couldn't help but sigh and rub her face in irritation. She hated being ignored, even if the alternative is being bullied; at least then she was being somewhat acknowledged. The sneasel decided to sit down in the only chair available in front of his desk and wait. After a count of four minutes, from observing the wall clock, he stood up with a folder in his hand. She could see her name written on the small tab on top.
"Here it is… Lily B. Harrison, LBH-D9-47." she squirmed at the mention of her ID number- she hated just being some number in the system. The watchog didn't notice as he placed the folder on his desk as he sat down. Flipping through the sheets of paper, he finally spoke up and answered her request. "Mmm… Since you were nice enough to ask, my name is Manfred Hochberg. No, you may not call me Manny."
"I wasn't going to." responded Lily.
Manfred snorted. "Force of habit. All you inmates like to use nicknames a little too much over your real names." he picked out one sheet and set in front of her. He tapped on a single line and she could see it was the length of her sentence next to the date of her conviction. "It's a little strange to request this three years into your sentence, isn't it? Most do it within their first-year due to the benefits."
"I've had a change in heart?" she explained, a nervous tone to her voice. "Yeah… that's it."
"Yes, I'm fairly sure staring at gray concrete walls does that to anyone." he looked over another sheet of paper and chuckled. Lily raised an eyebrow at this- what did he find funny? Her crime? "I see you're Rene Janvier's cellmate." he looked up at her with another mocking smile. "I pity you."
"W-what? Why?"
"Before you, she drove her last two cellmates to request a change in cell within a week. That should be enough to tell you what kind of woman she is." he whistled as her kept reading. "Yet you stayed with her since you came here. I'm impressed."
"I… I didn't know I could request such a thing." she said, embarrassed. No one told her that- she was sure of it. "It's too late to bother anyways… I'm used to her."
"Right…" he flipped to another sheet and hummed curiously. Lily leaned in and could see what it was- her academic record. "You were arrested before you could graduate from school? What a pity." she could tell he didn't actually care and felt no pity at all. "Doesn't matter really- you don't need an education to work in here."
"Really? Are the requirements that lenient?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. Manfred sighed.
"Yes, really." he shook his head and then massaged it. "If we didn't, then at least a good eighty-percent of the inmates could never work at all." Lily eyes went wide at hearing this. Manfred scoffed upon seeing her face. "What, did you think everyone who came to this place in handcuffs was as smart as you were, missy?"
"No!" he smiled. "W-wait... y-yes. No, I mean… uhh…"
Manfred held up a hand, stopping her pitiful attempt to answer him. She looked down at her feet in shame.
"Your assumption is optimistic, I can at least say that- and how I wish it were true. Truth be told, however, most of the people in here are bandits who were caught trying to steal- and usually after they've done so multiple times. People who failed in life or in school and had no intention in trying to fix their mistakes." he gave the cat a piercing stare that made her feel smaller than usual. "You are nothing but an exception amongst the rules."
"R-right…"
Lily had nothing else to say as the watchog went back to looking over her file. He shifted between the sheets, taking in all the information on each one. Whenever he found something relevant, he wrote it down on a notepad next to him. She counted a long twelve minutes until he closed the file, leaving one sheet outside it for some purpose. She watched him open a drawer and pull out a different sheet and filled it in the next minute, using the notes on the writing pad to help him.
He clicked the pen closed and set it down. "Right, you said maintenance, correct?"
"Handyman work yeah." replied Lily.
"Yes…" he scribbled on the sheet. "Handyman work, or maintenance as it's actually called, deals with fixing the plumbing, electrical work, heating and air, and dealing with garbage disposal. Think you can handle all this?" asked Manfred. Lily put a finger to her chin and brushed it a few times.
"I mean… I hope I can." Lily sighed. She hated being shorter than average, even if that's only by a fifth of a meter. "If it's stuff that's means I need to be a bit taller, then I'm screwed. Otherwise, I'm good."
"Well, that's up to whoever supervises you. I just get you your papers and a schedule." the watchog replied. He fiddled with the pen in his hand. "If you find out you can't handle it, you have the option of quitting or switching work. Either way, it's all up to you." he placed the pen down on the sheet and slid it to her. "So, make your decision."
The sneasel didn't take long to sign her name in the places marked down. She handed it to the watchog who took it from her and carefully looked it over. He hummed and set it down.
"So… what now?"
"Wait just a moment." he ordered. He stood up and walked over to a different cabinet and pulled out a much thicker folder than hers. He quickly sifted through it and pulled a paper out. He folded it in half and tore along the center before stapling it to the sheet Lily signed.
"Alright then Miss Harrison," he handed the combined paper to her. She looked it over and smiled. "this is yours. By tomorrow morning, when the records are updated, you are officially employed within these walls- and yes, you can use this for future employers. This place can be used as a reference… not like you could avoid that."
Lily ignored the slight. She handed him the paper and pointed at the schedule attached. "So… when do I start working? Today?"
"The day after tomorrow." the watchog shoved the paper back into her chest. "You'll have a morning shift and will work five days a week from seven in the morning to twelve noon. And no, you cannot change that."
"Thank you so much Manfred." Lily looked down at the sheet, taking in the details. Suddenly, it was pushed down and she was face to face with the watchog, who was staring directly into her eyes. The sneasel tried to lean back, only for him to lean forward. "Y-yes sir?"
"Let me be brief with you Miss Harrison, since you need some clearing up on your position here." he tapped the sheet a few times. "You will work for those five hours with no complaints and no slacking. I don't care what any of the guards say about you, what's in your file, how educated you may have been, or how little trouble you get in, little missy; at the end of the day you're just another inmate in this building. This place is supposed to be punishment for you, not a daycare. I'm not going to treat you like a kit nor am I going to let any little thing you do slide. If I find out that you mess up from your superior, then you will face consequences… Understand me, Harrison?"
"R… right. Got it, sir." she got up and backed away from the irate watchog. "Umm… any… anything else?"
"Don't lose that paper. You need it to prove you're working the job as you asked." Lily nodded- she wasn't letting Rune touch this for anything. "And for your first day, you'll meet with a wartortle named Karen. She's the manager of maintenance- you're superior. You answer to her with whatever she asks you." he pointed at the door. Lily stood up. "Now, you can leave. Good day Harrison."
"G-good day M-mister Hochberg!"
Lily wasted no time rushing out the door. Manfred let out contentious scoff and sat back down in his seat. Once he did, he let out a satisfied sigh.
"Gods do I hate this place… but it pays too damn well..."
Rune watched the sneasel walk back into the cell with a paper in hand. She stuffed it into her pillow and let out a satisfied hum. Turning around, she came face to face with her purrloin cell-mate. Rune laughed as Lily jumped into the air and landed onto the ground with a thud.
"Don't do that Rune! You know my heart can't take stuff like that!" yelled Lily. Rune kept laughing, so the sneasel got up and pushed her onto the ground. "Asshole."
"Ah, don't be so mad Lily." Rune stood up and dusted herself off. "I'm just toying with you!"
"Next time, remember to tell the medics when I accidentally cut your face in half." she held up her right hand, letting the sleeve fall down to reveal the cuff tightly locked around the wrist. "Even with this disabler, my claws are still sharp as all hell."
"Yeah, yeah. You say that every time." Rune said flippantly, ignoring Lily's exasperated look. "So, you got the job?"
"Well, it's as you said: he wasn't going to say no. I'm not being hired- I'm basically offering myself as free labor."
"In exchange for some funds and time shaved off your sentence." added Rune. Lily rolled her eyes- not stuff that she really cared for. "Hardly what I call "free labor" really."
"I don't really care for that stuff, only that it'll give me something to do." she patted her pillow. Rune reached in and took the paper out. "Hey, that's not for you to read!"
"Hmm…" Rune managed to keep Lily from snatching it back from her as she read. "Working all week in the morning." she handed it back and pouted. "You're not going to be with me anymore?"
"I know, you work in the afternoon, but we'll see each other at the end of the day. I mean, we get locked back up in here by six- so no avoiding each other by then. And don't forget lunch still exists."
Rune's pouting face quickly changed to a happy one. "Oh yeah, lunch!" she looked around and frowned. "Oh wait, we don't have a clock…"
"Announcements Rune. They do one by the hour." noted Lily. Rune slapped herself in the face- how'd she forget that? "Besides, it's only ten."
"Cool, it's closer than I thought."
"Yo, Rune." the turned to see a pair of male sneasel standing in the doorway. "Wanna play dice?"
"Nah guys, I wanna stay with my favorite doll." she picked up Lily's shirt and rubbed her stomach. The sneasel blushed, embarrassed but enjoying the attention. "'Sides, I always lose anyways."
"Ah, leave Lil'Runt to her lonesome. Kid just wants to cry by herself." quipped the larger of the pair. This one had a button-down shirt instead of a normal shirt.
"I haven't cried in two years Jack."
"It's Jules and you were crying three weeks ago, everyone saw it." he beamed smugly, which made her furious. "What, did the first person to ever visit you want you to suck their cock?"
"Nah, they refused because you weren't available." the purrloin and the other sneasel both couldn't hold back their laughter while Jules seethed. "Cocksucker piece of shit. Don't act like you haven't cried either when someone visited you."
"Fuck your stupid runt-ass. That time was only because I learned my sister had a litter."
"Your legit sis or the one your mom shat out from whoring herself out?" again, Rune and Jules' partner couldn't keep quiet from the burn Lily delivered. Jules growled loudly.
"Stop laughing Vet, you gods-damned poochyena! I'm gonna sock you if you keep this up."
"Fuck you Jules, you don't laugh for shit. Have some fun once in a while- being serious in here is really fucking boring." said the smaller of the two. He wore a shirt just like Rune, though one size too large for him. "Plus, you suck at sucking."
"VET!" Jules slapped him hard, knocking him to the ground. Vet didn't stop laughing, even if the slap stung hard. "Only cock that's getting sucked now is mine you piece of shit! Wait till light's out!"
Jules stomped away in a huff, leaving the three laughing in the cell. More laughter could be heard up and down the row of cells, to which Jules yelled "Cut it out! It ain't that funny!" which did little to stop them.
"Oh gods… why is he so stuck up…?" asked Rune. "I still don't understand…"
"Haha… four years in and he's still such a prima donna." remarked Vet. "And he refuses to admit he's in love with me!"
"Even though he's the biggest mouth here?" quipped Lily. A bang could be heard in the distance as the pair began laughing once more.
"L… Lily stop… I can't…" Rune said between her laughter. Vet was no better, as he was unable to stop. "Please…"
"Fine, fine. I'll cut it out…" she smiled naughtily, to which Rune was horrified. "As long as Jules cuts his dick off and acts like the girl he truly is."
"Okay, that does it you little shit!"
Jules jumped at her, claws first, through the open doorway. Lily blocked the attempt with her own claws and locked with his when he tried to strike again. They butt heads with each other and bared their fangs. Rune swore she could hear them hissing.
"Wanna catfight Jules? You really are just a girl."
"Fuck you." Jules kicked her in the stomach. Lily reeled hard, the wind coming out of her stomach. Even then, she was still able to kick him in the face for trying to strike once more.
"My, my… this is interesting…" said Vet. Looking outside gave him a view of the rest of the prisoners in the row- it was clear that everyone came over to watch the two fight it out. Rune scoffed.
"How long do you think this'll last?"
"I give it two minutes till the guards run in. They're bound to notice." guessed Vet.
Lily stood up and wiped at her mouth. Checking the top of her wrist showed bright red blood staining the white fur. She snarled at Jules, who was clutching his stomach. Her kick had cut into his stomach with the claws on her feet and he was bleeding slowly like she was.
"Okay, enough playing around." she extended her claws again, which he mimicked. They both got ready to pounce. "I can see you want that hole a lot faster than I thought."
"Can't wait to cut your runt ass in half…" taunted Jules through his teeth.
"Rrr…" growled Lily.
They both lunged only to get knocked away by two different attacks. Lily ate the floor while Jules slammed face first into the sink. Both groaned and held their faces in pain as Katie and a typhlosion walked into the cell.
"Both of you, opposite walls, now." barked Katie. She picked up Lily and shoved her against the wall, her words more to make herself known than to order them around. "Move and I knock you out where you stand Harrison."
"Hmph." she snorted. Katie forcibly pulled her clawed hands back and slipped gloves over them, effectively taking out her only means of attacking, before handcuffing her. The typhlosion did the same to Jules against the other wall. Once done, they were moved outside and sat, backs against the wall.
"Disperse to your cells now, or else you'll feel what they felt." yelled Katie. The rest of the prisoners slowly dispersed as she asked, but not fast enough for the irate audino. "Now, or it won't be the baton but my hidden power you'll all feel!" this made them all quickly rush into the cells. Katie smiled- she loved having Dragon-typing for her hidden power.
"Don't be so harsh Katie." scolded the typhlosion. He harrumphed and leaned against the wall while she pouted. "Didn't I teach you better?"
Katie looked away and frowned. "Sorry sir."
"It's fine. No need to apologize." she smiled. "But I'm expecting a report from you later for that unnecessary use of force."
"W-what? They needed to be separated, didn't they?"
The fire-type unhook his baton and held it up. She squirmed at the sight of it. "You have a baton. Use it." he hooked it to his belt. "No need to knock the fangs out of a cat."
He looked over to where Lily and Jules were sitting, both bruised, battered, and bleeding. He could see Lily was half-conscious and was letting out soft groans with every twitch she made.
"Speaking of cats, I think these two need to be sent to the medic wing before they recover from being stunned." he walked over and picked up Jules, who protested with a groan of pain as he was forced to stand. "Take her and don't harm her."
"Right away lieutenant." she smiled devilishly and hoisted Lily to her feet. She too protested, in pain from Katie's sudden attack on her. "Come'on Lily, let's get you to a doctor, then comes the punishment."
"Mghmm…" she moaned, unable to form much in the way of words. Her stomach was burning hard and her arms were sore from bruising. "…mhmm."
Rune watched the two walk her and Jules away. She sighed and sat on her bed, waiting for them to leave. Once she heard the door slam in the distance, she heard the rest of the row begin to speak once more.
"Man, that was awesome."
"I can always count on Lily and Jules for monthly entertainment!"
"Those two should fuck- they need it."
"Nah dude, Jules has Vet. He'd kill her if she did that."
"No I wouldn't!" protested Vet from his cell.
Rune snorted and laid down on her bed. She knew for a fact that she and Jules were likely going to be staying in solitary for the rest of the day and possibly all of tomorrow. She'd be worried but it was a monthly routine for the two- she was surprised it took till this far into the month for them to go at it.
"Lily… you're a natural troublemaker aren't you…" she muttered to herself.
Thinking back on it, Rune had to admit. If Lily weren't such a snob and distaste for battling.
She'd make a great battler.
Lily awoke to see a ceiling above her, not unlike the one in her cell but unlike the one in her cell it was missing something important. A light bulb.
Turning to the side, she saw the wall opposite her current bed not that far away, close enough that she could touch it. She turned in her bed, yelping in pain as she did from her injuries and only then noticed the bandages on her arm and torso. Ignoring the pain, she looked at the back wall to see a plain concrete wall with the number '7' painted on it in white. Encased in cement was a hole that functioned like a toilet and a faucet above it- the only tap being cold water.
"Fuck… not again… I was doing so well too…" she shifted back to her starting position and sat up to see a large steel door with a tiny slot at the top in front of her bed by only a few centimeters. She groaned in frustration and laid back down.
She was in solitary.
Again.
"Fuck me and the queen…"
End of Chapter 3