Meeting an Angel
Even as the ‘guests’ appeared and interjected on his behalf, the chained man’s smile did not waiver, in fact the only difference was a slight shift to his posture so his face was facing his new friends.
The soldier who had his gun leveled at the prisoner refused to budge or sway, his trigger finger trembling and for a few seconds it seemed he would fire but right at the last moment reason prevailed. He did not want that paperwork and the questioning, it was too much of a hassle to endure for the bum in the cage. Heaving a sigh and finally relaxing his shoulders the stationed guard eased his finger away from the trigger and holstered his weapon. “I need some fresh air, I’ve always hated these gloomy cells. Keep an eye on this one for a bit eh?”
Angel watched the guard leave the small jail compound and as soon as the door shut themselves his gaze fixed upon his new ‘guards’.
“And what brings you fine ladies and gentleman to this luxurious abode of mine?” The man spoke in a self-amused tone while arousing from his sleeping posture to sit atop his wretched bed. His fingers clasped and resting under his chin, the chains on his wrists and legs clanking from his movement.
“Please by all means…..come inside…..make yourselves at home.” The man spoke before chuckling as if finding this entire scenario rather hilarious.
Zane snorted at the man’s invitation and refused to move any closer. “How about instead you tell us why we were asked to come here. You would know better on what brought us here and the events that led to the lovely changes to your decor.” The man said as he nodded towards the damaged wall.
"You are asking me why you were sent here?" Angel replied in a monotone so as to subtly hint at the obvious nature of said question. "Perhaps it was that hole in the wall? As for the event that led to it….well..." He continued, his friendly expression at odd with his stoic tone. "Right before the guard could cast his alchemy I believe I terrified him to a degree where he lost his
composure and…" The man finished his explanation with a flourish of a wrist, pointing at the destroyed wall.
“And why would he cast his alchemy in the first place?” Zane asked, continuing his questions. “I doubt the man would have attacked unless he was provoked especially if the prisoner was barred and chained as you are.” While keeping his gaze on the man Zane brought his focus towards his partner. ‘Stay near the back of the group and have Skylar record our interactions. I don’t trust this prisoner.’
Samad stood nearby, but he remained at the back of the group. His dark eyes studied the prisoner's body language and his restraints. Each small movement and tick jotted down in his head. He shared his notes with his partner while she dealt with the stressed guard.
Are you thinking Samad? Elsa asked mentally to her partner.
She made sure to shut off their conversation from the others.
This whole situation rubbed him wrong. At this point, he didn't bother to dull or stop his alchemy drive. He prepared to react if needed, but only when needed. Worst that happened, it provoked the prisoner, and they discovered something.
I don't like it. The man is completely relaxed despite being in a cell. Difficult to tell if he's being truthful or lying. All we know for a fact is that he was brought in and greeted by a Chronos. Not a common occurrence for a prisoner.
That was strange... Elsa pressed her fingers to her lips in thought and turned to the prisoner.
Upon hearing Zane, she pointed something out. "I find it strange that he would bother. The guards were usually trained well to tune out annoying prisoners and especially against one that is restrained with anti-alchemy measures. I doubt you could do much unless..."
She trailed off not finishing her thought. Her eyes looked to Bella, wondering if she could add to it. There was missing information in here as Samad pointed out. The lack of information about the prisoner left too much to guess when came to this guy’s capabilities. Combat and containment lesson 101: know your target and enemies in order to succeed.
Angel expressions slowly changed from good natured to bored as the questionings continued. He was now sitting leaning his back against the wall so all the Asylums were in his line of sight. "Your interrogation bores me," the chained prisoner replied to Zane's questions. His chained wrists pointing towards Bella and swiftly moving into sign language. [I]Is your partner always this serious and broody?[\i]
Then his attention shifted to the other pair, the Iranian and his partner. As they conversed telepathically Angel merely smiled and allowed them to finish before observing their deductions and reasonings.
"I think we all could….relax as well," the man replied to the group, a smirk on his face. "This was just an incapable soldier losing his nerve and causing a mess. It's nothing to ruin a day over. And there are far greater mysteries here than one simple man in chains." As if on que, Angel's head turned to face the south east wall, almost as if he was seeing through it to a particular destination. "This entire Island resonates with Alchemic energy. It is to be expected, A.M.R.O picked a prime location, ripe with raw Alchemic power. And yet why is there a deadzone here….somewhere. A singular spot which is barren. Now that is a mystery."
Samad looked at Elsa. It was a silent question about the prisoner's sincerity. The blond woman frowned then expanded her alchemy sense and located the abnormal event.
“He’s right.” She stated out loud as her attention focused on that spot.
Not once in all her time did she ever recall a dead zone for alchemy within Innocence. She looked at Samad, his discomfort rippled across their bond. It was obvious they would be checking it out as soon as they were done here.
Excitement flashed across Bella’s face as she saw the man sign to her. It was rare to find someone that could understand sign even with those that knew her. After years of knowing each other, even her partner was limited to knowing fewer than a dozen words in case of an emergency.
‘You understand my language?’ Bella signed back. She knew she should stay alert like the others given who the signer was but Bella was interested in learning more about who the man was. As she thought about what she wanted to ask next Bella’s smile suddenly stopped and her hands dropped to her side. How did the stranger know she was deaf? Up until this point she was certain she didn’t let off any sign that she was different than those that could hear so how would he know that he should sign to her. Lifting up her hands Bella continued to sign but with a bit more caution. ‘The guard called you a rogue but something is off about that. You know too much for a simple rogue. Who are you?’
Angel had keenly observed Elsa try to zone in on the anomaly and confirm it, her inquisitive look giving him enough surety that these two would investigate and save him the trouble of looking into it. "Clever girl" the chained convict replied to Elsa before turning to face Bella and continuing their conversation via sign.
"Yesterday I was a demon, today I am a prisoner, who knows what I will be tomorrow." The convict replied to Bella.
"Alright I've cooled off enough" the guard who had walked off finally returned, the smell of tobacco lingering around him. "You guys should head off and probably get some rest. As instructors you are expected to report to your designated classes." With that the guard sat down on a bench opposite to Angel, a scowl on his face as he observed his yawning prisoner.
Fallenreaper