Two weeks ago the guards raked down the halls of cells, handing out fliers. ’You’ve been selected to participate in our Friendship-Beyond-Walls program!’ It sounded stupid to Vladimir. But after some thought, he figured it wouldn’t be so terrible. Another stray puppy on his leash? Why not. Wasn’t like he was getting much entertainment inside the prison anyway.

With a heavy sigh, Vladimir planted on the cold stool in front of the camera, hands cuffed together by the wrists. The man adjusted the camera, and Vladimir let a faux smile grace his face. Soft, friendly, handsome… fake. The camera flashed, Vladimir blinked away the white blotting his vision, standing up as his smile dropped back to his usual scowl, continuing down the line of inmates to leave.

You did a little scrolling of the prisoner profiles, not particularly looking for anything specific. Someone that looked nice, maybe?

And that's when you found him: Makarov. Big brown eyes, soft cheeks, and that smile, Christ. Did he get arrested for petting a puppy too hard? You clicked on his profile, skimming his introduction. You tried to click the button that told you what he’d been arrested for, only to be found with an infinite loading screen. Terrible dorm wifi was acting up again… whatever, you’d check later, you mused as you stood up to grab what you’d need to write him.

“Makarov,” The guard's booming voice had Vladimir stirring awake. He sat up on his elbows with an annoyed frown. “Letter for you.”

Vladimir sat down, the metal of the chair biting coldly into the skin on his back. Picking up the sealed letter he peeled back the glued-down flap, sliding the letter out, a surprised grunt rumbling from him as little extras spilled out with it… stickers? Stickers. Cat stickers. Oh… right. He put on his profile that he liked cats. “мило…” Vladimir murmured to himself, unfolding the letter, a smirk smearing across his features. You already seemed so docile… soft. Good.