VIKRAM SHAH'S POLICE INTERROGATION
can you state your full name and age , please ?
"vikram shah. thirty five." he replies, voice steady despite the nervous bouncing of knee. it's clear that he is uncomfortable, has his hands resting on top of the interrogation table, his left thumb and index pressing on the valley point of his right hand. a pressure point known to reduce stress and migraines.
are you aware of why you're here today ?
"i'm assuming it's because of the knife right?" he looks between the two officers, frantic eyes hoping for validation. answers. anything. "does it have anything to do with... with the body that was reported?"
when was the last time you saw or spoke to alaina price ?
vikram doesn't like that they answer his question with one of their own but he tries to push past it. tries to focus on giving good answers rather than how clammy his hands suddenly feel. "alaina price?" he frowns. "i don't remember." a pause "please don't look at me like that. i really don't. "
what was your relationship with the victim ?
he looks away. hates feeling like he is under a microscope. his gaze lands on the corner of the table. uninteresting in every way but it's better than meeting the officer's analytical gaze. "i um, didn't have much of one. i don't have any kids so i never needed her services. i would see her around town sometimes but i rarely spoke to her."
were you aware of anyone who would want to hurt the victim ?
"no." he answers firmly, a sigh escaping him as he does. "no. as far as i know, everyone loves her. she is—" was? "—a valuable member of the town."
can you describe your whereabouts on the night of october 31st , 2024 ?
"i was um, out and about with everyone else in town."
is there anyone who can corroborate this ?
"i was with hana for a good portion of the night. before the warehouse shut down. then i spoke to kirby for a bit. made sure she didn't stray too far from the crowd." he closes his eyes then, knee still shaking, trying to recollect who he spoke to. "and in redstone uh, i think the only person who saw me was avery. everyone else was too preoccupied with their own shit." never one to throw around curse words, the profanity feels dirty on his tongue. reminds him of his younger, rougher days.
did you see and or hear anything unusual on the night of october 31st , 2024 ?
"aside from a body being found?" vikram scoffs and for a second it almost sounds like it might turn into a sob. death, he was accustomed to. but murder? "god, i was walking home when i saw azizi... standing over a bloody knife. it was behind the diner, so there wasn't a lot of light there. for a second it almost looked like.. i don't know. like he planted it there." it's all word vomit now, the stress of the situation settling in, heavy against his chest. if the officers exchange a look at that, vikram doesn't notice. hasn't looked back at them yet. "i don't think he did. it just, looked like it. i thought it was a prop at first. even made a joke about how real it looked. azi was the one who suggested we call the cops and so— here we are."
his smile widens at the sight of hana rolling her eyes, always a sucker for that type of banter, especially when it came from someone as vivacious as hana. always smiling, always sunny. salvador couldn’t help but wonder what she looks like when she’s annoyed. would she be the type to yell or silently plot revenge? can’t really picture her slashing a tire, but he is convinced that she has to be some type of crazy to work here. to base her reply on what a playing card has to say. he was a sucker for crazy too. his gaze only flickers to the image when she presents it, a lazy attempt to feign interest before landing back on hana. “the fool?” he repeats, an airy chuckle escaping her as he does. “didn’t even know they had a card named that. i’ll take it, i guess.” he’s been called worse. mostly deserved. honestly, she could have told him anything and he would have accepted it. knew better than to question a woman with witchy inclinations. “fresh starts and taking risks… think it’s talking about you? you got some danger attached to you, han?” he asks, taking a step back to look her over, as if he could find an answer on sight alone. “what are you doing this weekend?” // @repentulant
☾ ⋰ hana rolls her eyes as she stands upright, although she isn't entirely annoyed. any attention is great, positive attention even better. she bites the inside of her cheek to keep an excited smile from spreading across her features. head tilts like she's heavily debating the answer. ❝ hmm... let's see what card has to say about that, yes ? ❞ she flips the card & shrieks out a little laugh : in her hands sits the fool. she can think of more than one person that would love to know the card he pulled. she turns it to him like a gift. ❝ so, this one isn't bad. it was just funny to flip around. it's all about fresh starts & taking risks. ❞ and also warns of the dangers of blind optimism & delirium, but she can tell him about that later. ❝ lucky for you, it also means yes. ❞
“—and so my master plan to get you to buy me a drink tonight finally comes to fruition. about time you caught on.” they scrunch their nose in jest, playfully satisfied with his offer. “i mean, i don’t hate it…” they say, referring to the song. “i just— i don't know. between you and me, i don’t think i know how to dance to it very well.” the admission comes with a small laugh, a thin layer of sheepishness underneath. it's a reminder that this was never really their scene growing up. new york may have changed some of that, but the truth remains that they’re still no good with this kind of music. the beats were too amped for their usual swaying and with no lyrics to sing along to, kennedy was beginning to feel at a loss. confidence can only carry you so far. “that's why you have to get me out of here, rafael— before i resort to making us start ballroom dancing.”
truthfully - rafael's been nursing the same beer since he's gotten to the warehouse; no liquor needed when there's the remnants of a traumatic brain injury that keeps him six feet off the ground. still - there's something about kennedy ( her smile, maybe; so bright he has to squint in the already - dim lights of the club ) that he can't quite say no to - at least not completely. "no -" a lopsided smile as he leans in, "- but i can buy you a drink, yeah? unless you like this -" a vague gesture to the air around them, "- song?"
“am i?” vikram asks, taking a beat too long to process the playfulness in natha's voice. once it does, he offers a breathless chuckle “yeah, i suppose i am. i um, actually stopped by to see if you wanted some extra candy to hand out. i… overindulged.” especially for the number of visitors vikram tends to get. it should be no surprise to anyone that the mayors house would be more popular to bring your kids to than the funeral director's. “oh —this?” he looks down at his costume, which isn’t all too different from his usual attire — a black suit. “one sec,” he frees a hand from the pumpkin shaped bucket of candy bars he’s holding to dig into the pocket of his suit jacket. some shuffling later, he pulls out the only real indicator that this would be a costume — a white half masquerade mask. he quickly puts it on before facing nathan once more. “i’m the phantom… from phantom of the opera? are you a fan of musicals, mayor?” vikram is certain he should know the answer to this but alas, his memory falls short.
𝖫𝖮𝖢𝖠𝖳𝖨𝖮𝖭 : nathan's front door, around 7pm 𝖲𝖳𝖠𝖳𝖴𝖲 : open for anyone
“ aren't you a bit too old to be trick or treating? ” nathan asks, cradling a bowl of candy on his hip as he leans against his cobweb-decorated door. there's no malice in his tone, if anything he's amused, chuckling as he hands them over a few fun-sized chocolate bars. “ and you're supposed to be … ahh? … ” he wonders with a raised brow, gesturing towards their costume.
the message behind rafael’s words only deepens kennedy's amusement. it’s such a stark contrast to everything she’s ever known. she’s used to plotting, to blending grit and determination with a little bit of elbow grease to get what she wants. the simple idea that sometimes all she had to do was ask? that feels almost foreign to her— even for something as inconsequential as having rafael buy her a drink. “careful— give me too much power and i can't promise i won't let it go to my head” she replies, a hint of mischief finding its way in their eyes as they tap a cautionary finger on his chest. when rafael leans in, kennedy does too, smiling at his critique. “you’re only saying that to make me feel better!” they holler over his shoulder, allowing themselves to be pulled in by rafael's familiar and ever so careful lead.
the bar is not nearly as loud as the dance floor but it’s still lively enough to warrant them staying close. any more yelling as kennedy fears they won't be able to use their voice tomorrow. “wait— that is the cutest thing ever!" fondness flickers in her expression at the mention of rafael's parents. "i’ll have to hold you to that dance another time, then. preferably when we’re less likely to get elbowed in the face. oh— i'll just have a tequila sunrise or something." they should probably follow rafaels lead and stick to nursing a beer for the night but they have never been a fan of them. prefers their flavored cocktails. their index finger hooks onto the strap of his wings, careful not to snap the elastic as she fixes it over his shoulder. “nice costume, by the way. … icarus? no — wait, don’t tell me.” their eyes narrow as they try to place it. “the guy from saltburn?” the one that people swear looks like kieran but kennedy thinks it's just the height.
"all you need to do is ask and i'll obey, kennedy. i'm only semi - oblivious." he's always been a compliant person; the spotter, the watcher, the willing. won't put himself into a risky position, but won't let his friends walk into danger alone, either. almost too eager to accompany them; like it's his duty. rafael's smile only widens as kennedy laughs, his gaze drifting upwards as purple and orange hues wash over them. "and between the two of us -," leans in, eyes falling onto her again, "- i don't think half the people in here know how to dance - to anything. but -" his hand finds her wrist, gentle as he guides her away from the floor and towards the bar. always delicate - always cautious. "- your wish is my command. personally - i'd love to waltz across the room with you. i know a thing or two, y'know - my parents were big on that stuff. probably didn't want me to embarrass them at my first school dance."
The Addams Family (1991)
"it means you didn't break your nose." he tries, speaking carefully as to not feed into her panic. "we're gonna get you home. i just gonna clean you up first." he's almost done. the rambling tells vik that she’s definitely in shock, and honestly, he can’t blame her. she's handling it a lot better than he expected. "what? is that what you're worried about, right now?" he asks, the corner of his lips tugging into a small smile. it was endearing, actually. "don't be, avery. you still look very pretty." he reassures, finally moving his handkerchief away from every now that the wound is not bleeding as much anymore. "hold tight for a second, okay? i'm going to get you some ice."
“ what does ‘ not bad ‘ mean? " she appears doe - eyed for a moment the situation striking fear into her. " i should really get home -- well not to my apartment -- i should go to my actual home. my dad's probably worried. i don't live at home anymore but -- " she's rambling and feels the onset of a migraine. " head hurts, face hurts. am i still pretty at least? "
RYAN DESTINY as ALEXANDRA CRANE in STAR (2016-2019)
if yasmine shows discomfort, kennedy does not catch it. too preoccupied with reacting to their comment about the watered-down drinks with a gasp. "do you think so? ugh, of course, they would! think they might be willing to do a better pour if i offer to buy them a drink? with this crowd, they might actually need it."
"always. " gaze drifted to the glass in their hand, nothing more than melted ice. it took everything not to flinch at the touch, but didn't pull back, didn't want to be perceived as strange. "i think they're watering the drinks down for halloween. cheapskates. really i'll hold it against them."
𝐢 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝐢 𝐀𝐌 !
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