>Fang's eyes threatened to boor a hole through the white tiles of Volcaldera Detention Center's professional visitation lobby. A weird smile had settled into her face, the kind born entirely of shame. >Her hands gripped her orange jumpsuit tightly, threatening to tear through the soft fabric. She could barely tune out the sound of the lecherous male inmates and their catcalls. >She had only woken up a few minutes ago. Dizzy. Filthy. Hair and feathers a mess... >And in the drunk tank. >It came back to her in pieces. The band rehearsal. Burger Shack. Stopping at Reed's house for a few quick things... >The carfe... >Trish going completely off the handles... >Spotting Naser's car in the school parking lot... >A nervous swallow forces itself down Fang's throat before a loud buzzer rings through the room. >She pulls her twisted expression away from the floor and over toward the secretary tucked snugly away behind a thick glass window. >"Aaron! Room number one! Aaron, to room number one." She wagged her hand with one finger extended as if Fang wouldn't understand what she was saying. >'Some people might not be able to count to one,' she thought, shuffling her tacky orange shower shoes across the room to her designated meeting area. >She doesn't wait long before the door across from her opens, the heavy metal contraption sweeping open to reveal... >Fuck... >This isn't a lawyer... >Ripley strode into the room and wordlessly settled himself in the small brown seat before him.
>Fang quickly turns, her hands trying and failing to unlock her side of the room and escape. "Hey! Let me out!" She screamed. Her voice fell on deaf ears. >"Sit. Down." >Ripley's cold stare was harsher than his cold words, and Fang subconsciously complied. If anyone knew how to make her sit down and shut up, it was him. >Her eyes find their way to the floor as Ripley pulls out a small tablet and flips it on. A grainy video pops up immediately. Fang didn't need to look up to know what was about to play. >"I'm gonna need some backup. Looks like we got a grey, maybe blue, winged dino on the roof of a real piece of shit." >Fast and heavy footsteps were heard, the officer's equipment rustling as he chased after the 'suspect.' >"We got a code 89 captain! Public indecency, resisting arrest, and simple possession." >With a click, the video pauses, and Ripley interjects. "Why." >Fang had anticipated more of a tongue-lashing and a louder voice, but the weird calm in Ripley's tone was more unsettling. She leaned her head back up to face her father and the screen. >"I... I don't know what I was thinking... I..." >Ripley cuts her off with a wide shake of his head. With one hand, he rubs the bridge of his nose and, with the other, resumes the video. >"Fuck you, pigs! It's called theater! It's a fuckin' performance! Leave me a-fuck! Get off of me, you bastards!" >Another click and the video stops again. Ripley's eyes met Fang's as he closed the laptop. "This video went viral, you know. Police commissioner's daughter... fucking..." >His snoot furrowed with hot anger, his stoicism bubbling away almost in an instant. >"I had to explain to your mother what a 'Chicago Sunroof' was, for god's sake!"
>>67152222 >Blood rushed to Fang's face as her eyes met the floor again. The psychotic smile was back as her hands trembled. She clenched her teeth. "I was... we had..." >Ripley's hands smashed into the table, Fang almost jumping out of her feathers to get away from the sudden outburst. >"YOU DEFECATED THROUGH A SUNROOF" >Fang scooted toward the door again, trying to pry it open. Ripley shook his head and stood back up. >The anger was gone. His already-weathered body looked like it had aged 20 years over the course of an afternoon. >He turned and opened the door, stepping out without saying another word. Fang watched it close silently, only speaking up once she was sure the portal was completely sealed. >"Dad..?" She called out weakly. "You're gonna get me out, right...?" >Silence followed. She swallowed nervously again >"Right?"