D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad-Chapter 1775 - On Guard

--- Gareth ---

Gareth clicked his teeth shut as Lily vanished. There was so much else he wanted to say. So many things he wanted to do… but if they'd been watched for a while it was best not to say anything they didn't need to. *I could give Lily my storage ring… but that's the sort of thing they'll be looking for. The station HAS to have some recording enchantments and it's better not to give them a reason to check them. Assuming they even can… hmmm… no too much of a risk.*

It didn't take long for a platoon of guards to show up. One of them pressed a wooden board into the barrier keeping them trapped and a small cut opened up to let the company inside. They all filed inside and the team remained still. Gareth felt his hands itching. The desire to stand in front of them, to pull out his shield and protect his friends from this nonsense was BURNING in his arms… but it wouldn't help. Things were already a mess and… *Perhaps separating us from Kat was the real goal here? It's hard to say… but at this point it's probably best for us to try and rest in jail. Hopefully Thyme will find out before the start of the round and interfere. Because at this point? Not a lot of hope that the guards will figure it out amongst themselves.*

"Under my authority as Captain of the night shift, I place you four under arrest for assaulting a guardsmen in good standing," stated the head elf. They were all in metal armour and probably had the standard enchantment that spread impacts out amongst the guard. It was quite efficient at their level of combat. The main difference marking him as 'in charge' was the fancy feather in his hat.

"I want it known, that at no point have we initiated an attack on Frank. It was some sort of sleeping agent that seems to only be minimally effective against my team. I know not if it is because we are not elves, that we are of greater strength, or that the purge Frank performed on the area before dropping was enough to prevent it building up to a critical mass.

"We are willing to surrender peacefully, but expect a fair trial and for this blatant interference to be investigated as well. This is far outside of the bounds of acceptability for tournament finalists,"

The head elf shrugged. "Cuff 'em. Use the Rank 2 stuff but not the mana restrictors,"

Gareth grimaced. The urge to slug one of these elves in the face as they approached him was strong but he slowly raised his hands and allowed himself to be handcuffed. That nearly changed when the cuffs clicked shut over Green's wrists, and Gareth couldn't help but flex lightly against the restraints, their dusty gold colour indictive of some sort of gold an mithril alloy… or so he thought.

It was meant to be a bit of show, a light flex against the restraints. Just to assure to himself that he'd already accepted this course of action. That despite his anger this was probably the right move. The metal flexed. Gareth's eyes widened before he quickly forced them shut in a pretend blink. Gareth tried to stretch his restrains once again. Two quick tugs just to see… and the metal visible bent. Just barely.

*There was… basically no real force in that. There is no way this are real Rank 2 cuffs… so what's going on here? Were they hoping we'd accidentally break them? Is someone else playing games and giving us a chance? Is somebody embezzling funds meant to be used for handcuffs and just getting shitty knockoffs? Do I say anything?*

Gareth glanced over at Nixilei to see what she was doing. The fae was standing with a regal bearing, sneering down at the person who had just cuffed her. If looks could kill that poor elf would be in fire. Nixilei had apparently decided to cooperate but be somewhat passive-aggressive about it.

Kress was pretending to be laidback. Something he was doing more often since Stan had come into his life. Still… in this instance Gareth could see it was faked. Kress had a few little ticks that he was never quite able to hide when he was annoyed. It was mostly in how his best friend positioned his feet funnily enough. Gareth had no idea where or why Kress had picked up the habit but he'd noticed it around the time they were ten and failing to learn poker.

Green, oh Green. Even when she was exhausted and in handcuffs she looked radiant. Her skin slick with a slight sheen of sweat, a slight darkening of the skin under her eyes that almost looked like makeup instead of the bags you saw on human women. Her perfect, light green hair that seemed the glow in the darkness. Wait what was he thinking about?

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Gareth found his focus brought back to the front when the head guard finished checking on Frank and declared. "Alright men, prisoners. We'll be heading back to the jail for this segment of the city. Do NOT test us," Gareth was a little surprised to see that the Captain had picked up Frank and was carefully carrying the other elf himself. He'd even pulled out a blanket from somewhere for some reason.

Gareth chose not to say anything. Not about the cuffs, or make snide comments while they were moving. Kress, had no such issues. "Man, what a way to experience the city. You guys think the gold on this chain brings out my eyes? Or is it a bit much?" The nearby guards remained silent. "I suppose it's not really my style. I am a bit of a rogue so I need something a bit duller then even this. Though… I know a guy with gold teeth. You reckon I could turn these chains into teeth or something? Really show off?"

One of the guard's glared at Kress while he was spewing nonsense but their neighbour elbowed them before they could actually say anything. "Oh? Look what I see here," it turned out that second guard… "a woman in armour? That's a shame…"

The woman in question pointedly did not turn to gaze at Kress but did tighten her jaw… her partner though? He was already riled up. "You think you're better then her? Just because you're a man? Think woman can't join the guard criminal scum?"

"What? Nah. I'm just very gay," said Kress as he wiggled his eyebrows and Gareth rolled his own eyes. "My boyfriend doesn't spend enough time in armour you know? So like… sure go woman I guess but it just doesn't get my engine running the same way you know?"

*I never understood why that sort of sexism stuck around in some places. Heck, THIS CITY is run by a pair of married lesbians?! Why would she find it insulting? Or why would her friend? Kress is obviously just stirring the pot… but WHY did that work? How did he know it would? Is this something I just don't understand as an adventurer?*

The guards clearly didn't know what to say to Kress' response though they definitely noticed they'd just been baited into responding. "Aw, did you guys think I was saying something else? Getting a little worked up? That's ok, I understand that my fabulous visage can provoke heretofore unknown feelings of inadequacy. It is a natural consequence of meeting me, so don't let it burden you unduly,"

The woman smacked him upside the back of the head and Kress snickered in response. The head guard shouted, "No assaulting the prisoners. Even if they're being morons. We can't review the tapes until one of the Three wake up and unlock the enchantments. If they're innocent then it's YOU that's going to be in trouble. I get that he's baiting you so there will be no formal mark on your record for this… just be careful,"

*Hmm… a reasonable response. Makes me wonder about the cuffs. Is it just me or not? I was hoping someone else might try a bit and notice something but I can't tell if they have. What about Lily? Did she see? It's not like I bent the chain much and I have no idea how good her eyes are at a distance, not for something that small.

I also wonder where she is? I can't exactly look around so the fact that nobody has mentioned her is good. I wonder… why though? Surely the person who tattled on us KNEW we had a small cat with us? Lily wasn't exactly hiding. So… why neglect to mention her in the official briefings? Did whoever set this up expect her to stay with Kat? Or perhaps they understand that if Lily DID get in trouble Kat might just break out instantly and start trashing the city once she arrived in complaint?*

Gareth wasn't sure how realistic that last worry was… but he could at least be glad for now. Hopefully Lily hadn't been taking out by some super sneaky top level assassin. Best not to even think of that though. No reason to tempt fate.