© THE YARD.

@Kim Jongin "Do you know how to play, Lanky? We need another person."

Lanky. It wasn't the best name assigned to him in comparison to all those fancy nicknames his fans made up when he was still performing as an illusionist, but it could've been the best welcome remark he'll receive in a prison. While Jim was minding his business a few minutes ago, scanning the area to gather information on their location for future prison breaks, a couple of taller but young-looking men approached him. The one who spoke to him, a bloke in his early twenties, was holding the ball.

Jim studied him. In fact, he studied all of them. From their postures, skin tones, wrinkly attires, and even facial expressions. This young bloke was Caucasian but tanned, giving Jim the impression that he spends more time in the yard than any of the prisoners. None of the basketball players gained his interest because none of them will give him any useful information about the prison since basketball is the only thing that occupies their tiny heads.

He was about to reject his offer until Jim spots another prisoner somewhere in the yard. "This one." He said to himself. "This one knows more than they do." The prisoner appeared very reserved. He had tattoos and piercings on him. Jim began wondering how valuable those piercings are.

"My name is Jim." He clarifies, following them in the middle of the court. Jim was the shooting guard since he's pretty decent at three-point shots and at navigating the court. He eyed the prisoner with piercings as he drove the ball near the sideline before making a quick pass. He stays on his post, which is a few meters near the prisoner. When the opponent made a failed shot and the ball bounced off the hoop, Jim readied himself. The ball was about to bounce off the court, towards Jim's direction. The former magician began his little trick.

He rushed to brush off the ball, preventing it from touching the outside field. In the process, he bumps the innocent by-stander and accidentally pushes him. Being a master of sleight-of-hand tricks, removing the piercing was easy during that short period of close contact with the prisoner.

"Sorry about that." He murmured, giving him a quick pat on the shoulder before he rushes back to the game. His hand quickly inserts the earring on the front pocket of his shirt.

The game ended at 54-58 with the rival team as victors. Jim eyed the prisoner again and approached him. "Say, did you notice the disappearing trick I did awhile ago?" His eyes showed a spark of deception.

[I'm apologise if it's lengthy. You see, I wanted to establish the setting and set a pre-encounter scene for our characters.]