In Dire Straights|Maelstrom

[Kender Bard]

Hawk, Taurus, and Acqua are put into seperate holding cells, guard posted in front of each (two in front of Taurus's), who wait for their 'guests' to awaken.

[Northen Light36]

After a long wait, Acqua starts to wake up, groaning in pain from her burns.

[Kender Bard]

Her guard glances in and smiles wickedly. "Good morning sunshine."

At the same time, Taurus is beginning to come around, though Hawk stays out cold.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua glares at him, subtlely checking to see if her other two hidden knives had been found. "No morning is good if I have to look at your ugly face," she says and spits at her guard.

[Kender Bard]

The guard growls and wipes it away slowly. "Don't bother looking for your knives, bitch, we already relieved you of them." He smirks lewdly. "Had a good time looking for them too. Now, let me put you back in your place, insolent wench." Pointing at her, he sends a mild, but still painful shock.

[Northen Light36]

Hit, Acqua cries out in pain and then falls silent, simply glaring at her guard.

[Kender Bard]

The guard peers in at her and smirks. "I'm the nice guard, girl. You cause me too much trouble, and me and a couple of guys will come in there and show you what happens when you mix the storm and water symbols. It's delicious. The screams keep the other prisoners sombered up for a week or more."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua shudders and retreats into the farest corner of her cell. Hidden a little by the shadows there, Acqua lets herself cry silently as she tries to think of a way to escape.

[Kender Bard]

The guard resumes his former position and waits for when someone of higher rank comes around.

Meanwhile, a young male Storm advisor is escorting a higher-rank official to the prison cells. "I figured we should interrogate the Mind first. No need to waste our time listening to the prattle of a Water and a Wind type, eh?"

[Northen Light36]

In her cell Acqua sits and thinks. "First thing to do is take care of my injuries... And for that I'll need to get some rest... Eatting something would help as well, but there's not much chance of that here... I'll just have to sleep as much as possible, then take care of my burns at least to the point where it doesn't hurt to move." Although she's too weak to actually do anything, Acqua lets her hand drift towards her water symbol as a test of how her guard will react.

[Kender Bard]

Her guard lets some sparks jump from finger to finger on his hands as a warning.

The official frowns at his advisor then peers into the cell holding Taurus. "Let me in." Glancing at each other, then shrugging, the guards unlock the cell then walk inside. The official goes in and peers at Taurus, who glares at him. "Now, you're going to tell me the truth. What are you doing in Maelstrom?"

"I'm on my way to see my brethren," Taurus says with dignity. "I didn't lie."

"And the two rats hiding in their hole?" the official inquires. Taurus fidgets at that a bit. "As I suspected."

"They are my entourage," Taurus blurts. "The Wind type is my guide and the Water type is my guardian."

"Small entourage for a Mind," the official quips. Taurus peers at him.

"I didn't expect this kind of hostility," he growls. The official frowns and thinks.

"...You may go," he announces. "We wish no quarrels with your community. The girl and the man stay though."

"You can't do that!" Taurus growls. "The girl is not only my protector, but she has some valuable information in helping my people regain our lost leader."

The official eyes him closely. "You do like to keep secrets, don't you?"

"Don't all Minds?" Taurus asks, a sinister grin growing. "It's none of your business what the Minds do. We stay out of your hair and you stay out of ours."

The official grits his teeth and spits out, "Fine. But the man stays." As Taurus opens his mouth to protest, the official lifts a finger of warning. "Either one goes or they both stay. Make your choice wisely, Mind, for my patience has reached the end of its tolerance!"

Taurus falls silent again, then merely nods. The official glances at one of the guards and motions for him to bring Acqua. Walking out of Taurus's now left-open cell, the official goes off to see to their new Wind captive.
----
The guard outside of Ann's cell blinks in surprise as one of his comrades comes and orders her release.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua looks up, her expression as puzzled as the guard's. "Well, this is unexpected," she murmurs under her breath.

[Kender Bard]

Her guard scowls. "Can I have some alone time to say my goodbyes?" The other one glances in at her, smirks, and considers it. Finally, with great reluctance, he shakes his head. "Naw, don't want that Mind bringing down the house. He says she's important." The two lean in close and share a whispered joke that has them both chuckling darkly, even as the guard unlocks her cell.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua gives them a dark look. "I'd ask if you'd like to share the joke but I've already had enough of your company," she remarks, a hint of a sneer in her voice and expression.

[Kender Bard]

"Oh darlin', if you miss me so much, don't worry none about that," the guard snickers. "I have plenty of ways of seeing you again, and your Mind boytoy won't be able to protect you."