THE DEAL

• What if Mello had to serve some time in prison after Kira, what if that's kinda part of Near's deal? No death penalty but serve some time? That's the maximum Near could do for him? Or do they settle on something like that the criminal "Mello" died in that mafia explosion, they make a fake corpse, so the authorities can file it, bury someone and "Mihael Keehl" gets a new life? They make a cover story for what he did between 2004 and 2010? He would kinda have to let go of the alias though. But it would make for some interesting side story if Mello had to serve, at least a couple of months, in prison. Maybe Near could frame him as a mafia lowbob instead of the mastermind and he got a very mild penalty? He could be making some new contacts while Matt's out there trying to get their life in order. Imagine them in court, Mello being judged, making faces at every crime he supposedly commited, knowing he did so much worse.

THE TRIAL

• I'm still debating on which time Mello has to serve, either 3 or 6 months max - tending to 6 cause then the heartache is stronger
• Maybe Mello got 3 months, fucked something up and got 3 more?

PRISON TIME

MELLO

• I saw Mello having a big guy mentor like dude by his side and they were grouping up with some other people
• Can see mello making some concoctions from what he learned about prison food he’s making a burrito using ramen, popcorn and goldfish crackers
• I also think Mello has to hold back so much when he hears inmates talking about Kira theories
• Complete horseshit they're making up but the truth isn't much more farfetched
• I think he would present what he knows as another crazy story "or you know.... it's a fucking magic book you write names in and people drop dead lololol who would believe that....."
• and big mentor dude sees through Mello a little and is like ".... you aren't in here cause you ran drugs, are you? you did some stuff didn't you......?"
• what if they find out he grew up with the LABB murderer
• he would be so good at cards
• he’s having a side hustle where he’s writing the other prisoners letters of appeal
• mello will be in prison networking and making all kinds of new business partners
• he'll make sure by the time he's out all the top criminals in that prison owe him a favour
• and are in his debt
• he will have everyone in his back pocket and he'll get all the nicest prison luxuries
• Mello writing Matt letters during his prison time with very desperate sappy melodramatic little subtext about missing him only Matt can decipher

VISITATION / CONTACT

• You get 6 points per month.
  • week in-person visits cost 1 point
  • weekend in-person visits cost 2 points
• Visitation time on weekends is usually overcrowded.
• Visitation rules; eg 1 hug per visit, rest of the time no physical contact.
• Inmates get stripped and checked “balls up and asscheeks apart” before and after every visit.
• Staff is rigorous and doesn’t make exceptions. Matt was sent home at least once without getting in. Matt was furious. Mello was furious.
• Matt comes in w a fat spliff in his prison wallet to share w mello (near has bribed the guards to ignore)
• And I saw M2 at these glass phone booths talking and Mello pretending everything is fine but he is so homesick he wants to collapse and Matt is so lost outside without Mello but they're both putting up a smile

MATT

• Does community service
• Matt even considered messing something up so he can join Mello in prison
• I'm also sure he spent a considerable amount of time with Near
• spends time with Near online
• Matt’s not doing well, eating, putting on weight, nervous about seeing Mello cause of it
• He thinks Mello is getting prison jacked haha
• explodes emotionally quite a lot about little things, like knocking off his toothbrush off the sink
• maybe even punches the mirror for it
• has a lot of quiet rage that comes out more than usual
• Matt got new glasses. Mello of course notices one visit and it’s maybe a stinging reminder that life goes on out there without him.

Possible timeline

13.02.2010 — "Arrest" of Mihael Keehl

• The SPK (possibly working with FBI/local police) arrest "Mihael Keehl" under his real name.
• Charges: Drug trafficking (minor scale), gang affiliation, illegal firearm possession — all framed to paint him as a small-time player in Rod Ross’s organization. Enough for 6 months but nothing that would require a serious investigation into the real Mello background.
• Mello fully cooperates (per the deal with Near), gives up minor intel to solidify the cover.

13–16.02.2010 — Initial Holding (Untersuchungshaft / Pretrial Detention)

• After the arrest, Mello is put into pretrial detention. In the U.S., this would be in a county jail, not a federal prison, since he's awaiting arraignment and possible trial.
• Within 48–72 hours, he appears before a judge for an arraignment hearing. He pleads guilty as part of a plea bargain worked out behind the scenes.

17.02.2010 — Plea Bargain Finalized

• Due to Near and SPK working their magic, the District Attorney accepts the plea to avoid going to trial.