Chapter Text
The bus rattled something fierce while driving to its destination. The occasional bump stirring awake any sleeping passengers. The light sound of chains clinking was nice white noise compared to the reverberation the rickety bus was creating, but it didn't do anything to calm Neil's nerves. He’d been indifferent to the idea of him going to prison, but the court decided he be sent to “The Phoenix Project”.
Said project was a prison for young adults to convert criminals into “normal, everyday citizens” by giving them a potential chance at a career playing Exy. A big portion of the funds from said career goes straight to the project managers but participating does take a chunk out of prison time if you take it seriously.
Neil had no intention of taking it seriously. He was going to do his time. Quietly.
“We’re here, Maggot.”
An officer stood up from the front of the bus and strode up to Neil. The older man grabbed a handful of the nape of Neil’s shirt and hauled him onto his feet. He pushed the criminal down to the front of the bus, giving the other very little time to speak up or analyze his surroundings.
The only thing he could think when his feet hit the ground was that he was grateful to not be on the bus anymore. Though it was empty -unsurprising that rarely anybody gets sent here- the way it smelled like old sex and the feeling of the burning gaze of the bus driver's eyes on him made him lour. He’d looked up once to warn the other that he’d noticed the man's stare but he had only gotten a smirk in response.
“Get a move on.” The officer shoved Neil, making him almost lose his footing.
The new resident took in the place he's going to be held for the next few years of his life. He noticed multiple other buildings stretched yards from each other and became a bit curious but obeyed the man's words.
___
“Turn to your right.”
Neil did so easily but he can't seem but feel a familiar repulsion as before towards the man taking his pictures.
The officer had dropped him off in an office alone. Neil had time to look for cameras and found that there was. He hadn't really thought anything of it at first -it was reasonable to want to record criminals just in case for any potential situations- but when the current man entered, the energy in the room changed. He looked like every other druggie he'd seen on the run but the way he looked at him was familiar.
“Okay, all done!” The man grinned.
Neil nodded and placed the placard down. He was making his way towards the door, believing they completed what they were set out to do but was stopped.
“Where do you think you're goin’, buster?” He turned to the grinning man.
“You said we're done.”
“Yeah, with your mugshot.” He chuckled. “We have one more activity before I can let you go.”
Neils eyes darkened with edge.
“What?”
The man's grin widened. “Bend over and spread them.”
Neil should have known that this is how this place worked. He’d heard stories from some of the people his father brung over for particularly bloody evenings. How if you acted in any way as weak it would blow back up into your face. He didn't know things would escalate so quickly.
“Why?” Neil knew what this guy's objective was as well as what his excuse would be.
“Gotta check if you're hiding something in there.” The man winked and made a gesture towards the criminal. Neil’s frown deepened.
“If I was hiding something in there I would have killed you with it.” Neil’s tone had a little more bite to it then he’d wished but if this guy thought he could make Neil drop his pants, he was sorely mistaken.
“That doesn’t mean you don’t have anything else-”
“I would advise skipping this step or i'll take that,” The criminal gestured towards what he was just holding a bit ago for his mugshot. “And I'll cave your head in with it.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It's a promise.”
Neil was honest at making promises. That might be why the man seemed to back off immediately. He was let out after a quick pat down. Neil didn't mind pat downs, but knowing this freak was doing it made him want to hit something. He let it go shortly when he saw the way the other was sweating anxiously.
___
“This is your cell. Don't cause any trouble.” A new officer guided Neil to a cell that did not appear to be too nasty, considering the ones they’d passed. Neil sighed in relief at the feeling of bare wrists when the women released them from their cuffs.
Neil nodded. He stepped into the cell and observed the space. Two bunk beds on either side of the room that housed three males. Only two of them were already watching him while the other was engrossed in a book.
“Hey there, new friend.” One of the two smiled, but Neil could see there wasn't anything kind about it.
“Hello.” Was all Neil offered before stepping to the only empty bunk available.
A hand snatched his forearm just a foot from his quarters, forcing him to stop. Neil looked down at the other watcher that was currently glaring at him.
“That’s Bowers’ bunk.”
Neil raised a brow. “Who?”
The first watcher spoke up from his bunk. “He was our roommate before you. He got dragged out of here to the infirmary after an incident a few weeks ago. A newbie with some balls thought messing with him would give him some street cred or somethin’.”
“It seems he’s well liked around here.” Neil commented. “It also seems that this is mine,” He glanced down at the fist clenched around his arm, then up at the perpetrator. “until he gets back. Correct?”
The young man’s eyes narrowed at the attitude but let go of him.
Neil was quiet the next few hours, keeping company on his bunk. Chatter from the two the only noise filling his ears.
Neil despised silence, almost more than anything in the whole world. It usually leads to trouble or getting caught. So, when the sound of gossip abruptly cut short Neil instinctively tensed up. He listened intently into the chilly air. Neil twisted his front towards the room at the light tapping of feet against the concrete flooring. He was met with dark eyes, peering at him from the bunks edge. Neil sat up to greet the other.
“Hello.”
It would seem half-assed but Neil didn't really care. He wasn't forced to be nice to these people, but he wasn't going to be cruel. The other seemed to understand this fact and responded in a wave before walking off.
___
Neil didn't have a weak stomach. Never did. In his fathers line of work it wouldn't be acceptable and being on the run he had seen and eaten some vulgar things. Taking that all to account he was mildly terrified to eat this pile of green on the side of his tray. It looked slimy, mussy but chucky, void without any flavor, but also looked spicy all at the same time. Don't even get him started on the smell. He only decided not to eat it when he swore he saw it breathing in his peripherals. He was trying to catch it moving when someone sat in front of him.
“So, you're Bowers’ replacement I take it?” The new voice asked.
“Yep.” Was all Neil replied with, giving up on catching the dreadful green ‘thing’ in front of him. Instead, taking interest in the main course. Was it some kind of burger? A very sad sandwich? Neil didn't know, but took a bite anyway.
“I heard he got shanked by a guy that got here a few weeks ago.” The man yammered. Neil only hummed in answer.
There was a long pause. Neil assumed it was because he was unapproachable. Or maybe because he hadn't looked up or properly responded to any of the others attempts at conversation. Neil wanted to be unapproachable so he’d fade into the background.
“I also heard he didn't even make it to confinement before he was jumped. ‘said that he was beaten so badly he died the next day.” The other was quite persistent, Neil would give him that.
“You hear a lot of things, huh?” Neil really didn't want to talk to anyone, especially on his first day. He was hoping he could watch for a while and figure out who was with who before making himself known.
“Excuse me?” Irritation was growing in his tone of voice.
Neil sighed in disappointment, more at himself than anything else. He was going to live through his sentence without any hiccups, but he appeared to have already messed it up.
“My bad.” Neil looked up and put up a hand in surrender. He'd be damned if he got enemies on day one. Better to apologize now and get it out of the way. “I didn't mean anything negative by it.”
“It sure as hell sounded ‘negative’!” The young man raised his voice. The talk in the dining area faded.
‘Shit.’ Neil thought. He had to calm this guy down before he created more unwanted attention.
“Really, that was on me. I think I have the first day jitters or whatever. All these big, bad guys around are making me nervous.”
“Are you making fun of us?!”
Jesus christ. The guy was yelling now. Neil couldn't hear anything other than him so he supposed it was the same for everyone else in the room. ‘Could one of the guards step in or..?’
“I would never.”
Ohhh.
There it is.
Neil didn't even realize his tone could be mistaken as sarcastic. He’d been around his father for so long he forgot how to act around normal people. Were they normal people? Neil supposes that these inmates could be put under the label ‘normal’ if he’s comparing them to his father and his people.
“That's it!” The guy jumped over the table and grabbed the collar of Neil’s shirt. He raised his fist, initiating that this was now a fight.
This was not on Neil’s 2025 bingo card.
Neil grabs onto the fist that was buried in the fabric of his clothing and uses his weight to lean back and push off the table. This resulted in Neil flipping the other over the table and simultaneously over him. Neil experienced a bit of discomfort but the impact to the concrete ground knocked the air out of the other. The new prisoner rolled over and stood up from his place on the floor and watched as the guy gasped for air.
Neil turned towards one of the guards that did not appear to want to do anything about the situation.
“You saw that right?” Neil pointed to the young man that was now on his hands and knees, pathetically gulping down air. “He started it.”
The guard just shrugged. “Do you want me to take you both to your cells or are you going to finish your chow?”
Neil looked towards his practically untouched tray and then looked back up to the guard.
“Then I didn't see anything.” The guard sighed.
The redhead quirked a brow but didn't comment any further, instead sat at his original seat and munched on his hamburger(?) as well as these weird, sweet potato fries.
Chatter filled the cafeteria quickly after that. Neil assumed that It was normal behavior from the inmate as well as the guard for no one to give it much attention. If things continued this way then everyone would forget Neil soon, if not immediately.
The table around him shakes with attention.
“Heya, buddy!” His lively roommate grinned from in front of him.
“Hello.” Neil repeated his lowly greeting for the third time that day.
“You were so cool just now! You put him way in his place!” He snickered. “What was that move just now?”
Neil stared at him for a bit before his gaze drifted to his other two cellmates that sat on either side of him.
“Is there a reason you guys are here all of a sudden?” Neil asked.
The chipper one whistles. “Cold, but understandable.” His lips stretch in a familiar smirk. “We gotta make sure no more trouble comes around and messes with our new roomy.”
“Is that why you sent that guy over here?” Neil pushed the green thing around on his tray. The other was quiet for a few moments. Neil glanced up.
“You’re kinda cool, bunky.” A fond smile filling his lips. “I’m Moore. Daniel Moore.”
“Neil Josten.” Is all the former offered.
“This is Martinez.” Moore points to Neil’s right to the rather grumpy one. Neil nods in greeting. Martinez clicks his tongue in response. “And that's Fox.” He points to Neil’s left to the quiet one. Neil repeats his greeting. Fox does the same.
A loud buzzing sound erupted through the speakers. Neil tried not to flinch at the sudden noise.
“Chow is over already?” Moore whined dramatically and stood up.
Neil watched intensely at the men around him out of habit. His attention was swayed by Moore gesturing for him to follow him. The other two were already by his side before Neil could get a word out.
“Come on, Josten! We gotta get to our cell before another buzzkill ruins your first day.”
Neil raised a brow at the sudden kindness, but did as he was told.
The next 5 years are going to be long. Neil could feel it.