london trial ♔ i guess i'll save the best for last

[mislabeled]

WHO ||Lydia, Sark, Francesca, Cora, Will, Sam, Lila, Carol, Rose, Sydney, Dean, Audrey, Grant [Closed]
WHAT || Audrey Petersen is tried for her involvement in the schemes of Nicholas St. Andrew
WHERE || London, England
WHEN || June 2017
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

They're calling it one of the trials of the year.  Some of the more hyperbolic tabloids have referred to it as the "trial of the decade" or even "of the new century".

Audrey Petersen, wealthy socialite and wife of Professor Grant Petersen, curator of the Knights' archives has been involved in an extended proceeding ever since the day that the Knights and the London police stopped Nicholas St. Andrew, a charismatic cult leader, from completing a dark occult ritual.  St. Andrew was killed in the assault, but Audrey was taken prisoner, her role in the business less black and white. She now stands trial for the crimes she allegedly committed with her former mentor.  The authorities are still uncertain as to whether Audrey was a willing accomplice or just another of St. Andrew's brainwashed cultist lackeys.  Her lawyers and the popular press have taken to painting her as a victim, but Wynn is hardly so sure.  Dozens of people, including prominent citizens have said they are willing to appear as character witnesses for her, and some have even been obliquely criticizing the work the authorities did in arresting her.  Many of the Knights who were involved in thwarting the Children of Chaos have been asked to come to the trial to provide more insight into the situation.  

Police chief Jared O'Keefe paces nervously outside the doors as they arrive, rubbing his mouth with one hand.  

"Oh good.  You made it.  Now, we've insisted on no cameras anywhere nearby - we want to preserve the sanctity of the Knights' secrecy as much as possible.  The attorneys have a ... bit of a history.  They've sparred in the courtroom many a time.  I believe the plan is to call you up on the stand in small groups."

Comments

[likedillinger]

[ jared nods at sark's assertion. "Exactly. Hopefully... their questions will be brief."

dean is in the back with rose, his arms folded, not looking pleased about any of this in his nice febreezed suit ] Tell me there's some way we can keep our names out of the papers at least. [ his side-eye in sam's direction is not as subtle as he thinks it is.

jared nods. "We're doing our best to keep your identities as... anonymous as we can." ]

[mydesigns]

[i just wanted to note that will's spot(?) check was 42 so he definitely notes that febreze aroma coming from dean ok. what a classy bitch.]

That would be preferable.

[immuno]

I'm sorry, 'try your best'? That's what children do at their first track meet. [ Lydia scoffs. ] There are laws about this kind of thing. You can't release the names of material witness. Especially on a case as high profile as this one. [ Gently pushes american legal precedents onto British courts like a know-it-all (knowledge history 22). ]

[airforceful]

Which would be all well and good if the police releasing names was the only way information ever got out.

[Carol's not wearing her costume, at least, but she hasn't been bothering with a secret identity. It's highly possible she'll be recognized. But!! She's wearing glasses!! (disguise 12)]

[superswank]

[ jared gives lydia the kind of stern and exasperated look that only comes from raising three girls himself.

"As she says," he nods at carol. "We can control our end. The media is going to be doing all they can to skirt around the laws." ] If they go digging, we'll handle our own damage control. [ syd nods at the doors. ] Let's just get this over with.

[ the courtroom buzzes with conversation as they file in, and jared leads them to the seats directly behind assistant district attorney donald mcgregory, a sharply dressed man in his early thirties with stylish, ultra-thin glasses and swept-back blonde hair. when he notices their arrival, he turns to them with a smile.

"Good morning," he says. "We've got an open-and-shut case. But that means the defense will be looking for a way to discredit our witnesses. So when you're on the stand, remember to give short, direct answers. If you think he's asking an irrelevant question, don't answer it - look to me and I'll either nod to you or make an objection. If the judge overrules my objection, you'll have to answer, but be sure you do so with confidence and self-assuredness. Never look as though you're saying something you're ashamed of - that only makes you look untrustworthy to the jury."

he glances across the room at the defense table and frowns. audrey petersen sits calmly, dressed in a designer business suit with her hair pulled up into a serious-but-stylish coif. her hands are folded on the table in front of her, and she looks as if her thoughts are very far away. seated beside her is her attorney, a short, pudgy man in his mid-fifties wearing an expensive-tailored suit. his thinning hair has been slicked down and combed across his balding pate and the scent of strong cologne mixed with cigar smoke wafts from his direction, particularly stinging cora's delicate senses.

"That's Hiram Carlson," says mcgregory, nodding at the attorney. "He's up to something - I can tell by that smirk on his face." for a moment, ADA mcgregory practically glowers at carlson, then he looks back at them with an ear-to-ear smile. "Just relax and everything will be fine."

grant is already seated on the end of the booth, and sydney files in next to him, followed by sark, lydia, francesca, cora, will, sam, lila, carol, dean, and then rose on the end. so that you know who is close enough to quietly gossip girl with ok ]

[certainproclivity]

[creepily follows Sydney so he gets to sit next to her. tee hee. it's totally pragmatic, okay. he and Sydney have at least one witness stand ordeal together. also she might want his expertise on... something or other.

he observes Audrey quietly and murmurs, mostly in Sydney's direction:]

All of her character witnesses and a lawyer who looks like he's already made off with the canary, and I'm sure she's considered I know most of her dirty little secrets. What is she up to?

[littledhampir]

[The words 'relax and everything will be fine' sees Rose shoot McGregory a thinly veiled look of disdain as she files in behind the others, glancing up the row at Sam before dropping into her seat beside Dean.

Because, Rose, she makes a point of sweeping the courtroom, clocking exits and guards (Spot 34) as she settles with her arms folded across her chest. She likes courtrooms about as much as the Winchesters do, okay. (OTP)]

[impetere]

[OH GOD WHAT IS THAT WHY IS IT SO AWFUL.

Cora visibly gags as the defense attorney's general odor before she can get a handle on herself (will save crit fail), but manages to pull her composure back in again enough to listen to the attorney's schpiel about what they need to do.

She won't complain - she doesn't think it'll get her out of testifying - but she will inch closer to Will so that his usual musk of dog can at least drown out some of it. It probably doesn't help as much as she hopes.]

[mydesigns]

[will's sense motive was a fucking 58 to sense that cora has ... her that doesn't smell good face on. i mean. he is a behavior analyst. good to know he's still got it i guess. but since he can't really ask her about it right now he thinks she's just smelling dean (unsure). he tries to be comforting in his awkward way, patting her on the shoulder a couple times.]

[immuno]

[ to Sark, ]

Maybe she thinks we won't risk exposing ourselves to put her away.

[superswank]

[ rose clocks 4 bailiffs, and only two exits - the one behind the stand and the one they came through. anyone is free to make a knowledge (currents events) check about the lawyers IF they have ranks in it only. ] Worst case, maybe she plans to do the exposing for us. [ syd glances down at grant out of the corner of her eye. at that point, the bailiff cries "All rise" and everyone in the room stands.

"This municipal court is now in session, the honorable Leonard Elmore presiding. All those having business with this court speak and ye shall be heard."

judge elmore, a boxy man with salt and pepper hair and beard, walks to the bench and sits down. i only just remembered this is england so EVERYONE IS ALSO WEARING RIDICULOUS WIGS AND ROBES PROBABLY. JUST FIGURE THAT INTO YOUR MENTAL PICTURES. the judge's eyes twinkle with keen intellect, but his jaw is set with grim determination.

"Be seated," he says. "Before we examine the merits of the People versus Audrey Petersen, I'd like to remind both counselors and the gallery that this room is a court of law. A great deal has been said in the popular press about both the crimes and the defendant, but none of that matters here. I will not let anyone use my courtroom to play to an audience. For that reason, I have banned photo and audio recording from the proceedings." ]

[familybusiness]

[Oh god what is happening next to him? He looks over at Will who is...comforting Cora because she's about to throw up or something. He whispers:]

She okay? Stage fright?

[Also Know:current events 15]

[mydesigns]

[current events 25; will loves ridiculous wigs and robes (jk he probably actually prepared for this mission by reading a newspaper or something.)

he looks over at sam and whispers back:]

I don't know.

[how is he gonna be like "she smelled your brother not knowing how to do laundry"?? that's rude.]

[impetere]

[That's cool, Cora can fill in the blanks for Will. Though she is fond of how blunt and to the point Will is.]

The defense attorney smokes god awful cigars and doesn't know the meaning of "subtle" when it comes to his cheap cologne.

[So yeah, she's fine, people are just rude. And she has no ranks in current events so she doesn't have a clue.]

[bittersweeter]

[ zero ranks lila don't care. but she fishes a lavender scented towelette from her purse and leans over sam, without so much as a by your leave, to pass it to cora because girl is gonna need it on the stand when will's eau de doggo won't protect her. ]

I'll give you twenty bucks if you get out of a question by throwing up on him. [ she whispers bc she knows cora will catch it. ]

[impetere]

[There is a small grateful look as Cora takes it, and a smirk at the request. She doesn't need the twenty bucks, but she may just.

Depends how much he pisses her off.]

[likedillinger]

[ WILL DID HIS HOMEWORK and therefore recognizes the names of the lawyers. they have a long history together and have represented opposing sides in no fewer than twelve different cases, and carlson has won every time. in each case, carlson was able to find a hole in what otherwise seemed to be an airtight case for mcgregory - and in each case, the 'hole' was either some superficial irregularity in the way evidence was gathered, or a character flaw in the investigating officers. carlson has made a career out of making good men and women look corrupt or incompetent while they are giving evidence. being aware of this gives will a +2 to any rolls i ask him to do when he's on the stand yeahhhh boi

the judge continues. "Now, let's proceed with the opening arguments." mcgregory is up first, and he offers them a wink as he rises and heads towards the jury. dean glances over his shoulder in a poor imitation of a casual gesture. ]

[bittersweeter]

[ quietly: ] Did he just wink? The man is wearing a fucking powdered wig, Jesus.

[ doesn't matter that he is their lawyer, that deserves judgement. ]

[mydesigns]

This could be a problem.

[is he going to actually explain all the things he learned by doing his homework??? nah. just make everyone uncertain and uncomfortable. that's what's up.]

[immuno]

[ lydia leans the fuck over like that loud ass who can't shut up in a movie and says to will in her normal voice: ]

What could?

[superswank]

[ mcgregory hears that, and his face drops into a frown for a split second, before he composes himself and faces the jury again.

"Audrey Petersen," he begins, folding his hands beneath his back and beginning to pace. "The perfect wife, or the perfect accomplice? I stand before you today to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that Mrs. Petersen not only was aware of the machinations of Nicholas St. Andrew, but that she colluded with him on a number of crimes. That she hosted a dinner party at her penthouse home, for the express purpose of allowing members of the Children of Chaos cult to take her 'hostage'. That this allowed her to steal property belonging to her husband and sneak it out of their home unnoticed when she was 'rescued'. That together with Nicholas St. Andrew, she broke into the Sweet Tooth Inc. manufacturing plant and tampered with the Halloween candy manufactured there. This incident alone resulted in at least one death, numerous injuries, and untold amounts of property damage. That also with St. Andrew, Audrey poisoned the Thanksgiving dinner being prepared at a Food for Life shelter. Then the two of them, purposely and with malice, had that food served to homeless and poverty-stricken men, women, and children. That again with Nicholas St. Andrew, Mrs. Petersen committed a series of ritualistic murders and fed the victims' remains to an exotic animal, which they were keeping without a license."

grant is staring down at the back of the booth before him, unable to even glance up as the prosecutor continues. "Audrey Petersen has repeatedly lied to, stolen from, and committed violent offenses against everyone she has come into contact with since meeting St. Andrew. Unlike the cult leader's other associates, she was not a witless dupe. Certainly she was not the mastermind of all these schemes, but she did help in their planning and execution. She is and always has been cognizant of her actions, and is responsible for their consequences. Therefore, the jury should find her guilty of all charges and recommend the most severe punishment possible." he pauses in place, one hand settled over his heart. "Thank you."

the speech is actually quite stirring (diplomacy 35), and he gives carlson a bit of a smug look as he moves to sit down. audrey's own features are inscrutable. ]

[certainproclivity]

[Sark looks fucking pleased as punch... which means he's smirking a little bit. his face isn't very good at emotion.]

[bittersweeter]

[ snidely, but quietly enough that there is no way for grant to hear her: ] Obviously she's not the perfect fucking wife.

[mislabeled]

[ hiram carlson rises next, and audrey's eyes drop to the table as he speaks.

"Audrey Petersen was a neglected woman." his beginning is dropped like a bomb, and he looks pointedly over at grant, who manages to contain his anger, at least. "Neglected to the point of abuse. Although she was a scholar and researcher of the highest order, her husband and the Karthur Institute pigeonholed her into the role of trophy wife and socialite. Rather than allow her any real authority or responsibility, they forced her to stay on the periphery, forever within sight of her life's calling - but never allowed to pursue it."

he slowly walks the length of the jury, each step almost menacing in its measured pace. "Nicholas St. Andrew came to Audrey at her weakest hour and did exactly what he had done to so many others," he adds, spreading his hands. "He brainwashed her. The charismatic cult leader perverted her confusion and dismay into paranoia and hatred, then used her for his own selfish ends."

"Throughout all the incidents detailed by the prosecution, Audrey Petersen was at best an unwitting accomplice - a brainwashed thrall following orders from the only authority figure she could remember. Even so, she never personally attacked or injured anyone. Indeed, at the time the authorities captured Nicholas St. Andrew, Audrey was unconscious and chained to a wall - hardly what any reasonable person would describe as a "willing accomplice." The only criminal act that Audrey Petersen committed was robbery, and even that charge is open to debate. After all, she 'stole' the objects in question from her own home. Furthermore, according to the Karthur Institute's own experts, the objects she took were relatively valueless replicas, not priceless arcane relics."

he stops dead center, looking back to audrey. "Audrey Petersen is not a criminal - she is a victim. While the defense recognizes the need to find and punish the one responsible for these atrocities, Audrey is not that person. To punish her simply because she survived the devastation wrought by Nicholas St. Andrew is not only unjust - it is supremely unfair." he looks back to the judge. "Audrey Petersen deserves both justice and mercy. She needs to the opportunity to heal the damage done to her by the true author of all this senseless carnage - Nicholas St. Andrew. A man who has already paid the price for these crimes. We need to lay this matter to rest with his death, just as it should have been already." his speech is impressive itself (diplomacy 30) and mcgregory frowns as he moves to take his seat. ]

[certainproclivity]

[Sark's smile dissipates.]

Well. [he says under his breath.] That's wonderful spin, isn't it? I can only imagine how well that would play if he knew what I know.