Franklin Mills shopping mall - Philadelphia, PA (opened May 11th, 1989)
Architect: Cambridge Seven Architects
Branding and Graphic Design: Milton Glaser
Scanned from the following: Special Event Graphics (P.I.E. Books), a 1990 issue of VM&SD Magazine, Storefronts & Facades 4, Art is Work - Milton Glaser, American Shopping Centers (by I.M. Tao), and Food Retail Display & Design 2
uhm idk if you do stuff like this but Reader being branded by the 141? all of the members have a specific “taskforce 141” LITERALLY burned into their thigh, and Reader being the new rookie? Had to also be branded. So Kyle and Johnny holding Reader down while John tries to sooth their worries, and of course Simon is the brander.
BARK BARK HOOOOOWWWWL I'm actually kinda obsessed with marking and branding... Just like the idea of being claimed so baaad
"Did I do something wrong?" You check over your shoulder to see where Price was before sitting at the mess hall table. "Price just asked me to see him in his office at the end of the day, but he didn't say why." You explain as nerves smim around in your stomach.
"You're not in trouble. Price doesn't wait to correct misbehavior." Simon pipes up as he looks at your tray. "Do you want your biscuits?"
You toss the cookies to him with a sigh, picking at your tray. "Ghost is right, Bonnie. I think Price is just ready to make you a permanent member of the team." Johnny pipes up, ignoring when Simon nudges him under the table. That makes you feel just a bit better just as Price approaches the table.
By the time you finish up for the day, you step out of the showers to see Kyle leaning on the wall. "Hey... Price told me to come get you when you were done." He smiles at you as you towel off and get dressed. You didn't feel uncomfortable being naked around your teammates, but you were starting to realize something.
You'd never seen this team naked. They never showered with you or changed around you in the locker room. It wasn't something you really paid attention to until now, but you would think about it later. Right now, you just hoped this meeting with Price would go well.
Kyle wraps an arm around your shoulders as you both start to walk. "I promise you aren't in trouble, okay? You feel so tense still." He teases softly, jostling your shoulders slightly. You smile up at him a little as you reach Price's office, letting Kyle guide you inside.
You feel another spike of anxiety when you see Johnny and Simon in the office. Kyle shuts the door behind him, his arm shifting down to hold onto your arm. "Sir?" You pipe up nervously, watching as Price stands up and clears some space on his desk.
"Don't worry, love. It's going to hurt a bit, but I'll give you a few days off to handle it, yeah?" Price explains, patting his desk twice. Johnny steps forward, grabbing your other arm firmly.
"Wait, what's going on??" Neither man holding you responds as they pull you towards the desk. They easily bend you over, pinning you down firmly but gently. "Kyle! Johnny, let me go!" You plea as you try to wiggle your torso free.
Price and Simon step around the other side of the desk, tying your legs still before pulling your pants down. You whimper in fear as you feel a cold cloth rubbing across your thigh. Price comes back to his seat, sitting down and leaning down to your eye level.
"You're such a valuable member of the team now, Y/N. You've proved yourself to be a quality soldier." He explains, his voice softer than you had ever heard it before. You hear his belt unbuckling, the leather sliding out of the loops before he folds it in half. You notice a few teeth marks in the belt as he raises it to your face. "Open your mouth." He orders firmly, smiling when you immediately obey.
"So scared but still following orders. Perfect for the 141." You perk up when you hear Simon's voice behind you. Price pushes the belt between your teeth, tapping your jaw so that you shut your mouth.
"Exactly what we need. You listen to me so well... just breath, Y/N." He assures as he strokes your head and looks up at Simon. "Is it hot enough?" You hear movement behind you, looking between Kyle and Johnny as best you could.
"You're our new permanent member of the team." Johnny whispers, voice laced with pride. He squeezes your shoulder reassuringly, never letting up the pressure that kept you pinned. You feel the heat for only a second before you feel the pain, clamping down on the belt as scream rips through you.
Simon holds the brand steady, pressing down firmly so the words would be seared into your skin forever. His own brand ached like a phantom pain as he watched you writhe on the desk. He slowly removes the brand, looking down at his handiwork with a proud smile.
Price slowly thumbs tears away from your face, pulling the belt out of your mouth. "Shh, don't speak yet." He chuckles as you try to catch your breath, giving Kyle and Johnny the signal to let you go.
The team leaves you and Price alone in his office. Your new brand is exposed to the cool air of the office. You feel a tissue softly cleaning your face, nose wrinkling whenever you manage to catch a whiff of your own burned flesh. When you pry your eyes open to look at Price, he's smiling down at you with the proudest eyes you'd ever seen.
