Interrogation Part I
With Katherine

Katherine asks: So, what is interrogation?
Katherine says: My favorite definition is, "To question formally and systematically." It sounds so.. Nice. Katherine grins. Has anyone ever done an interrogation scene? Or seen one?

Lwonder bottomed to one.

Katherine says: They can be very intense. So, why interrogate? To learn secrets. To gather and test the validity of information. And of course, obtain a confession of guilt. I'm sure you have all seen one form of interrogation or another at some point. Whether it be in movies or TV shows about police interrogations, or war movies, etc. Oh, and the Spanish Inquisition.

Katherine asks: Questions so far?
ZonEl says: You'll never make us talk
xaveria thought that YOU were supposed to ask the questions.
Katherine laughs. I'm not going to interrogate anyone <wink>

Katherine says: Interrogation is a type of roleplay. I've heard it called consensually non-consensual. You want to do it. It's a test of your will. But as the bottom, you really don't want to admit or tell whatever it is you're keeping a secret. As the top in the scene, it's your job to make the bottom tell you the secret, or admit guilt. As you can imagine, this can be extremely intense. The top will use fear to get what they want, and humiliation. or physical sensations. or bondage. Anything their devious little minds can think of to get you to start talking. Interrogation scenes generally push a bottom's limits. It's not something you want to do if you're just into spanking and light bondage.
Katherine pauses for questions again.

Tessa asks: Are you always looking for the answer to a question? I mean, do you have some sort of specific "confession" in mind?
Katherine says: Generally yes. When we talk about the types of interrogations we will talk about that. Usually, if you're doing a criminal interrogation, you want a criminalistic confession. You don't want to know that your questionee was a prisoner or war 30 years ago and knows a secret passage to a gold mind. You want them to tell you they broke the law.

Katherine says: back to setting the scene. First and foremost, you need to know your suspect. You need to be able to communicate with them and know their hot spots. It's pointless to threaten someone with anal sex when they absolutely LOVE anal sex. Also, you need to decide on your plot. Is this a prisoner or war scene? or are they a criminal suspect? are you chasing witches to burn them at the stake? Once you decide what you'd like to do, research it a bit. Both the top and bottom should do research. You don't want to rely too heavily on your imagination once you know what type of interrogation you want to do. By making the effort to do the research, you make the interrogation appear more realistic.

Katherine says: Another thing to consider is the setting. Where are you going to do your scene? A place free from interruption and distractions is ideal. Select lighting that is appropriate as well. We've all seen the cop shows where the suspect sits in a bare room with one light glaring down on them. If you have a scary basement, that's a good place to do inquisition scenes. And if you can, try to have some type of background sounds to make it even more real. The sound of chains clinking, whips, and screams would be good background for an inquisition. And of course, try to have the appropriate furniture.

Samantha hides her teddybears in the closet.
Katherine grins at Sam

Katherine says: A horizontal beam or a steak of some kind would make an excellent setting for a witch burning. And then there's costumes. If you're into the Spanish Inquisition scene, have your suspect wear a nun's habit or a priest's outfit. Wear a military uniform for prisoner of war scenes. That adds even more to your interrogation.

Katherine asks: So we've researched our topic, we have a great setting, a costume. What else do we need? If it's going to be a long interrogation, have food and sleeping arrangements ready. You may want a space for your victim that's "their" space. Where they know you will not interrogate them. A patch of straw on the floor or an empty cell. A place that has water and bread that you can put them when you need a break.

Lavicka asks: a dog kennel?
Katherine says: that works too. Anything that fits in with your scene. Shacked to a wall with water dripping in the dark. We're still not ready for the victim to show up yet. The point of that space Changeling is to give them somewhere they can regroup. Once you start questioning things can get intense. You don't want them to feel threatened in that space. That is "their" space. Where you put them when you don't need them.

Katherine says: So, before we actually meet our victim spread a rumor that someone is interested in them. Maybe send them a summons in the mail or arrange a hunt and capture. I've heard of fake arrests even being done. So whatever you can think of. Keep them anticipating the scene. Once you have the victim, everything is in place.

Katherine says: Make sure you're both in costume and "in role." Don't speak to the interogatee. Make them worry. You may want to march them directly to "their space" while you prepare things. Setting out scary implements, or getting out the appropriate bondage you may need. After that, start with a few questions.. maybe 15 to 20 minutes worth. Nothing too heavy. Like, "Do you know why you're here?" Shake your head and tsk at them a lot.

Katherine says: There are three degrees of interrogation. In the first degree, you spend a lot of time asking for a confession. Ask them what they did, why are they here. Don't let them know why they're here. Try to get them to tell you why. Don't even let them know they're a suspect in whatever it is you're interrogating them for. Tell them that you expect their full cooperation. Tell them they will be rewarded if they cooperate. At this point, you should be using a firm and even tone. No shouting or real threatening. You don't want to end the scene before you get to the fun parts.

Katherine says: In the second degree, you should strip the interogatee. If they're restrained, increase the intensity of the restraint. Start showing them all your scary tools or torture. Tell them what each tool will do to them if they don't cooperate. Keep asking them to confess while they still can. Again, don't tell them what they are charged with, or what you think they've done.

Lavicka asks: what if they cave before you expect or want them to? do you arrange that beforehand?
Katherine says: generally it's arranged before hand. You don't want to scare them too much from the get go

Katherine says: In the third degree is when you start to question more aggressively. Yell and scream at them, threaten them with things you know they don't want.

Samantha says: if they cave in too soon.. time for the 'punishment' You won't TORTURE them now but you can have LOOOOTS of fun 'punishing' them now. For their misdoing.

Changeling asks: Or say you know they've not confessed to everything?
Katherine nods. Or they've given false information.
Katherine says: Personally, the third degree is my favorite.

Katherine says: This is where limits are pushed. Between degrees, return your victim to their personal area. The cell or closet or dog kennel you set up for them. Each time you take them back, tell them to think about confessing. tell them it will be easier for them if they do.

Changeling says: In working out the situation beforehand... Which of you knows what about what the suspect has done?

Katherine says: usually just the victim, but you have a general idea of their crime before going into it. You'll know that a prisoner of war knows some secret or that a criminal broke a law.

Changeling says: If it's an Inquisition scene, usually the inquisitors will "know" but the victim won't.
Katherine says: Yes. And sometimes, they victim hasn't done ANYTHING. You just want them to confess something so you can 'punish' them.
Samantha exclaims: hahaha..just torture me baby!
Katherine pokes Sam
Samantha says: sorry.
Katherine grins.
Samantha gets quiet and serious again.

Katherine says: There are a million ways to get someone to confess, and that's the fun part <grin>.