Topic: Nothing But the Truth

NightRunner

Date: 2007-11-18 23:55 EST
Nothing But the Truth
Shark Infested Waters

(( Please note that the final muns involved have no court or legal experience. To those that gave it a shot, my apologies and my thanks for at least trying. Also due to connection problems with FlashChat, an AIM room was created with the name "Red Dragon Inn Great Hall" for the purpose of setting continuity. No infringement is intended.))



The Red Dragon Inn Great Hall stood quietly and empty for the better part of three days. Generally a place for duels, feasts and other such functions, it soon expanded its repertoire to include a courthouse.
Rhy'Din had seen almost no honest legal proceeding in only the deities know but this trial was held come hell and high water. Fate had thrown it for a loop four times but it went on.

Robert Lodell was determined to have it go on.

---------------------

He had heard of the case a week prior when he had decided to go mingle at the marketplace. At first it meant nothing -- just another Rhy'Din freak getting off with one of the many Rhy'Dinese felonies and never being spoken of again.
And then he read the need for a prosecutor.

"Haven't had a case this juicy in a while."

Lodell muttered to himself as he read the copy of the paper. Eventually, the mutter turned into a sneer. Six consecutive killings and none had taken the freak in until after it all. At length, Robert tucked the paper under his arm, turned on one heel and briskly walked back to the carriage he rented for that day.
This Rhy'Dinese freak wasn't getting off so easily.

---------------

Henry Scotia had been keeping half-an-eye on the story of the Dockside Killer since the tale had been first circulated. Honestly, it was at first with detached interest, clinical curiosity. Honestly, he didn't see himself getting that involved.

The call to his dusty old office surprised him.

"Scotia, it's Bobby."

Henry cocked his head.

"Yeah, what's goin' on? Another divorce -- "

"No, Scotty."

"Oh come on! Only my dad called me that -- You're serious aren't you?"

Bobby was silent for a good fifteen seconds.

"Bobs, what's up?"

"I've got this cracked-up case."

Henry didn't know what drove him to accept this thing initially. Still, as he started gathering evidence and practically picking apart the surveillance footage at Port South, Room Five, he got more and more involved. Each passing hour turned up new thoughts and each stage of investigation turned up a more solid theory.
He knew Rhy'Din was full of nutcases but this one took the cake in a whole new way.

Henry had a misguided, crazy child on his hands.

NightRunner

Date: 2007-11-21 14:35 EST
Nothing But the Truth
Greyhound and Thunder

The Great Hall-turned-courtroom was abuzz with the murmur of people and scratching of stenographers' pencils. It was the kind of hubbub that reporters followed like flies to honey.
From the front, Lodell and Scotia sat quietly and sized each other up. They knew each other's standing and they each hoped the other would falter badly enough for the scales to tip.
This was Justice after all.

"All rise, all rise!"

The call went up and the court silenced. Judge Paulson smoothly took the bench and whacked his gavel once.
"Be seated. Counsel, are you ready?"

Lodell and Scotia answered almost in unison. And at realising this, both flinched inwardly.

"Yes, Your Honour."

*Curse the Reaper cowl'd in black

-----------------------

Lodell was determined. He called six witnesses to the stand and very nearly grilled each one with his questions. The first five weren't that impressive but this one fellow, this Malcolm, was interesting.
He liked the bloke already. He liked the way Malcolm thought but that didn't stop him from being merciless with his probing.
He had to know as much as possible -- the more he knew, the higher likelihood of seeing that blue abomination hang.

"So what did this creature do inside this building?"

"Objection, Your Honour!"

Lodell groaned inwardly at Scotia's sudden protest. he groaned outwardly as he heard the reason why.
It was some prattle about the defendant being called a "creature". He wondered why it mattered -- the defendant wasn't even human to begin with.
He's laughin' at your failing

-----------------------

Scotia was appalled. He was appalled at the blather he heard from the prosecution and no longer wondered why his client seemed to distrusting of humans -- all that was displayed was nothing more than fear and a twisted back. If one at all.
Half-listening to the prosecution, he rifled through his own papers and every note he had managed to make.

He already had a theory as to what had gone on.

Scotia nodded to himself and listened fully again to Lodell and Malcolm trading question and answer. Few opponents had gotten under his skin as well as this slick little shark had.
Few opponents indeed.
Still, Scotia was prepared and had to stop himself from nearly leaping to his feet as Lodell finally drawled out "No further questions."

~<>~

*The Greyhound; Heather Dale

NightRunner

Date: 2007-11-26 00:58 EST
Nothing But the Truth
Of Wingless Birds and Crying Suns

"Justice without Mercy renders tyranny."






Red Dragon Inn Great Hall

It was Scotia's turn.

As Malcolm was called down again to be cross-examined, Scotia chose his questions carefully. He knew what angle he was going on and it was that angle that prevailed on him to stand up for the blue creature chained like some dog in the prosecution box. Occasionally he glanced at his client and frowned each time.

He noted the confusion and the undercurrent of fear.

Resolved, he began his questioning.

-----------------------------

Scotia took Malcolm over the coals with his probing.

In the end, it proved to be a sort of win-win situation. Mercy and justice both rendered in a strange way.
Scotia had already figured for a guilty verdict but he didn't figure on the recognition of insanity. He didn't figure on the jury recognising a mind in desperate need of a thorough look-see.

It wasn't ideal -- it might even prove a small setback but it was better than what could have been rendered. Knowing Rhy'Din, Scotia didn't put it past this place to deliver the death penalty without a second thought. Scotia was glad it didn't come to that. he was glad that for once, Mercy existed.
Maybe Rhy'Din had a heart after all.

-----------------------------

Port South Holding House - Room Five

The trial had by now gone through. Finally, after four attempts, it had gone through. But now even as most of the silver was removed from him, he didn't feel the calm.

Reason was gone. Logic was gone.

Home was gone.

He sat for hours on the floor of his prison cell and tried to understand the onslaught of things that had occurred. He didn't understand too much. Too much confused him, frightened him.
Fear no more the heat of the sun

The sun was setting.

He felt the meager warmth fade away by the minute and let himself imagine the amazing display that might be put to the sky outside. He felt the warmth trickle away and he cried.
It was ridiculous, crying over a sunset.
It was stupid, crying over an event that took place every day and would for the next eternity.

He still cried.

The Hunter was surely laughing in some distant corner of his mind but Renne refused to let himself hear it. This was a quiet time and Renne relished the quiet that he got when it wasn't fraught with the unremembered rage. When it wasn't fraught with voices whispering guilty words with voices meant only for brighter times.
This was his time and he'd have it, crying or not.

He thought of the dying sunset.

He thought of the cold, unpredictable sea.

Of coffee brewing warm, rich and dark.

Of distant, echoing laughter.

He thought of the dream he could retreat to -- the dream where the sun always came up again. Where no fires of destruction blazed and the stars shone across the sky to illuminate countless, fascinating worlds.

The dream where no one died.