Name?
“Imago. More commonly, ‘The wandering Ghost.’”
Orientation?
“Does a forgotten face need an identity?”
Imago shifted against the cold metal constraints and shifted his gaze to an odd corner of the intake cell.
“You may consider me male, for the records.”
What’s in your bag, do you carry any dangerous possessions?
Imago rolled his eyes, focusing back to the officer before him.
“Depends on what you’re looking for, but I don’t bite. Search my possessions if you so please.”
The guard unceremoniously dumped Imago’s bag onto the table, sending items scittering across the shrill aluminum table. He had clearly done this a time or two, Imago noted, as he wasn’t quite careful about it.
His Tarot deck slid across the table, a single card landing upwards, The Hermit.
“Ah, it seems we’re in luck, the cards have spoken. Your position is the the Hermit reversed, yes? My, my. It seems you are serving your own corrupt purpose... But I don’t mind indulging it. You may continue.” Imago smirked, leaning back in the chair, handcuffs clinking lightly against the backing.
The guardsman only scoffed, rummaging through Imago’s belongings in silence, clearly dissatisfied.
A canteen, useless. Half full, and unassuming. Though for a kalon found in the desert, the contents were unsurprising. Water, of course. The canteen itself was tattered, a dingy aluminum wrapped in kahki canvas stained with years of use. Sweat, tears, blood, water... the stains were unclear, but none were fresh.
A tarot deck, to which the officer shuffled back in The Hermit, grinning as if he may flourish some grand magic trick at any moment, or perhaps the major suits themselves would appear before him. But the deck, of course, did not reply. Though Imago notice they did still smell faintly of Jasmine and smoke. Perhaps he should have packed them away with more care...
A handful of daggers and assorted knives, this solicited an exclamation from the guard sitting across from Imago - and a rather nasty one at that. Imago was no criminal, the knives weren’t meant for violence... not any that he would instigate, anyhow. But a vagabond needed to forage for themselves, and be able to function independently. As the dulled, rusted edges of the daggers showed, Imago had been alone for a long while, and the knives had not been used for any recent conflict. Even so, those with new blood were clogged with fur, not that of a kalon, either, but of prey. Imago grimaced, turning to face the kalon across from him, “With all due respect, sir, there is no need to call me names. I am only one kalon, and I must supply for myself. An analysis of the fur on the blade will reveal it belongs not to another kalon, but to a hare. I had to eat, Sir.”
The guard continued, seemingly uninterested in challenging Imago’s claim.
Further rummaging through the bag produced crinkled documents and photographs, yellowed with age. The creases seemed painstakingly folded, it was obvious they were precious to their owner. The documents appeared as letters, birthday cards, even childish doodles. Imago inched closer to the table, the hitch in his breathing alerting the guard to his movement. Clearly, the pictures and papers were important to Imago, again, the guard cast them aside with relative disinterest.
Pressed flowers, dried herbs, potent mixes... nothing worth a trip to the village cellhold. Nothing illegal, as the officer came to realize, perhaps with some disdain...
Finally, he settled on a small, indigo bear. Meticulously carved, and well worn, it was easy to trace wear it had been held, even cradled on lonely nights under the sky. The clinking of Imago’s cuffs against the metal chair rim and the constant tap of his foot, the shifting of his weight all alerted the guard that while insignificant, the bear was sentimental. The guard set it down in callused paws, snorting as he watched the relief melt the tense look in Imago’s expression.
He crossed the small room in three strides, unlocked Imago’s restraints with a resounding click, and shoved the tattered burlap bag back into Imago’s arms. He had been a waste of time, clearly, and he was no longer welcome.
Imago adjusted his messenger bag, hoisting it over his shoulder and smoothing the ruffled fur around his wrists, shooting the officer a smug glare.
“Find what you were looking for, Sir? Did you enjoy finding out what was in my bag? Nothing dangerous, as I assured you, but of course you enjoy antagonizing anyone who enters these doors.”
Imago turned to the door, before heading off exactly as he had appeared, soon enveloped by the dusty desert scenery. Much akin to the ghost he had called himself.
[789 words]