"Absolutely disgusting."
Ly Ly shook her head as she surveyed her living conditions, the likes of which she had not seen for years, since those… ignorant days of misery, before she had discovered the light - that was Dark Rizzardry…!
Dirt and grime… filth and slime…
It made her want to gag and choke, prison life was clearly no joke…
Even so. There were pros and cons to every situation. There was routine. She also got three meals as part of the regulations, delivered, not to mention that things had become much more interesting and even fun…(!?) since she had soon learned that the prison was run, in large part by protocols and procedures, but also - in larger part - by People.
People, whom she had gotten to know, increasingly well…
___
Jael Gardéoné had been working at Imadeis Up Prison for quite some time, making sure that the prisoners stayed in line.
And, for the most part, things had gone just fine…
He was seasoned. Reasoned.
-And hopelessly infatuated.
…He just didn't know it yet.
He hummed a little tune, even as he entered the guards' coffee break room.
She wasn't like the others. He had read her file. What nonsense. She was more like an angel, going through an unfair trial…
It had nothing to do with the fact that she was beautiful, or the fact that she had also happened to see him - truly see him - for the real man he was…
Nay. The real man he could be!!!
He poured himself a little scotch, even as he checked his watch. Oh. It soon would be time to deliver the afternoon meal… and at the same time, he might just check on her, to see if he could help ease her ordeal…
Human beings, he told himself, deserved decency and respect…
Not just institutionalized neglect…!
He was shaken from his rather noble thoughts by the sounds of some unruly prisoners - the usual culprits - down the hallway, making an awful din.
He scowled. Those no good thugs… They were best off thrown in the bin…!
He downed his drink down to the dregs, and hoisted himself up on unsteady legs.
He wasn't paid enough for this… he thought to himself, as he gathered up the prison dinners… and all just to feed those blasted sinners…!!!
But then he found himself grabbing an extra pie, and his visage noticeably brightened, as he realised that a hot meal might be of comfort to Ly Ly - especially if that poor girl was frightened…
Prison was a scary place, after all.
Curiously, if one were to look very very closely, they might notice that Jael's eyes were currently tinged with a violet halo, as he trundled the dinner trolley down the hall…
___