chicago ♔ i wish you could see | how apart we've all grown

[lawofsurvival]

WHO || The Failboat, Rafael Giovanni, Isabella Alessandro, Hiro, Jaka, Burt Becksworth, DA of Chicago [closed]
WHAT || The trial of Rafael Giovanni
WHERE || Chicago courthouse, Chicago, IL
WHEN || Friday, Nov 22nd  [backdated]
HOW || Actionspam

The big day has finally arrived.  As media coverage rises to a frenzied fever pitch, Jaka's final preparations are completed, and the team assembles to head down for the trial of Rafael Giovanni.   

Large crowds are gathered outside, some of whom tote signs condemning Rafael as a murderer, others pledging their support and love for the singer.  Police officers keep order, and hold the crowds back as the stars are led up the steps and inside the courthouse.  

They'll have some time to convene with Burt and Jaka in a private room before the trial itself begins.  Unfortunately, Jaka still hasn't shared the change in plans that he and Des discussed in private... 

Comments

[nosdacariad]

He had authority to bring in guests of his own too, I suppose.

[llllllaurel]

Was your point of entrance the only one?

[nosdacariad]

I think that would be a bit of a safety hazard, don't you? No. It wasn't. You could enter the backstage area from inside the concert hall.

[llllllaurel]

But inside the concert hall, it's likely that many more people would have seen him approach, no? Given the amount of people in attendance?

[nosdacariad]

People whose eyes were riveted on the stage. The accesses are through side hallways. It's not like he would have been shoving his way through a crowd.

[llllllaurel]

But someone backstage would have seen him prior to him attacking Miss Jade, would they?

[nosdacariad]

Not necessarily. From what I hear, the lights went out inside through the whole building and the fog machines went on. I couldn't tell you exactly how long - like I said, I was outside when all that happened.

[llllllaurel]

[Okay, this is getting nowhere. She nods, and decides to let the defense have at him instead.]

Defense's witness.

[isisagent]

[A ceiling tile falls to the ground, and a long black cable follows. After a pause, A man slowly slides down, one hand on the rope, one on something metal in his other hand. Archer slides down, into an open seat near Elena, takes a nip from the flask in his hand, and says;]

Asshole out front said I couldn't bring any booze in... Like, excuse me, I thought this was a courtroom - not some kind of time machine back to the prohibition era. [He scoffs, and takes another sip from the flask.] Did I miss anything good?

[notaroundme]

[Her 28 will save means she somehow keeps a totally straight face like...nothing strange just happened at all. Nope, nothing to see here.]

You could have just hid it in your coat? [She whispers.] Prosecution just questioned Mark, though that's probably not your definition of 'good.'

[isisagent]

[Awkwardly loud whispering;] I did... but they gave me a pat-down... He said something like "something-something was informed you would have contraband." And then he takes my guns and my flask... So then I had to run up the street to buy a new flask and some liquor, played a few hands of poker, then spent the past like hour crawling through the damned airducts. [He shakes his flask victoriously, and takes another sip.] But, he missed my knife, so I slashed his tires. [How Archer knew it was that specific guard's car, or if he just indiscriminately slashed the tires of several cars, is left to the imagination, as he relaxes and tries to get comfortable.]

[llllllaurel]

[Arianna is just ... watching him and ... not even knowing what to do with it. She's just going to sit down now.

Okay.]

[lawofsurvival]

[ the judge bangs her gavel on the stand and points at archer. ] "Kindly remove that man from my courtroom if he can't use the door properly. Mr. Becksworth, you'd better hope this isn't your idea of another publicity stunt." [ burt spreads his hands innocently, as jaka stands. ]

Your Honor, let's not forget that Mr. Archer is a hero in his own right. The man who actually stopped the assailant on the day in question. [ the judge looks at jaka like he's on crack but before she can say anything he presses on smoothly ] The defense has no further questions for Mr. ... Sandazhard. [ he raises an eyebrow at the prosecution that quite deftly communicates his judgment over her choice of witnesses.

mark gets off the stand and makes his way wordlessly to have a seat beside gar, jaw tight. his under-oaths bluffs were so seemingly effortless that it's almost a little disturbing. ]

[llllllaurel]

[Screw you, Jaka. Arianna had been hoping she'd get further, but that's going to have to wait for now. She shuffles her papers and gets up again.]

Prosecution calls Desmond Descant.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des just swaggers up to the stand. He's got this.]

[llllllaurel]

[Sure he does. Arianna gets up from behind the desk and makes her way closer.]

Mr. Descant, were you at the concert on the night in question?

[nothingsodivine]

I was. [succinct and to the point.]

[llllllaurel]

Were you there to enjoy the concert?

[nothingsodivine]

That's kind of a stupid question, ma'am. [he laughs and sits up a bit straighter.] I didn't go to shoot anyone in the head with my perfectly legal- I want that on the record- firearm, that's for sure. But yeah. I was there to enjoy the concert.

[llllllaurel]

[Her eyebrows raise a bit at that.]

Funny. You don't really strike me as Mr. Giovanni's usual fan demographic.

[But moving on.]

But since you brought up that firearm, you seemed particularly upset when Ms. Jade was shot. Were you two acquainted with each other prior to the concert?

[nothingsodivine]

Nah, I was there for Finnick.

[mention of jade sobers him quickly.] Yeah. We were friends.

[llllllaurel]

Friends.

[She pauses, turning back to the table and picking up a set of photos, sorting through them for a moment, before picking up one of Des kissing Jade, and turning it to face him.]

Seems like a bit more than friendship, wouldn't you agree?

[nothingsodivine]

That depends on your definition of friendship, ma'am.

[his will save was a nineteen. he stone faced.]

I got caught up in the moment . I think your video proves it didn't mean much to her.

[well that's what it looked like anyway with her googoo eues on rafael.]

[llllllaurel]

[She glances down at the pictures again, raising her eyebrows almost as though she's silently saying that she doesn't kiss her friends like that, but she passes the pictures to the jury as they are evidence and moves on.]

How long had you known Ms. Jade?

[nothingsodivine]

[Maybe you should, Arianna.]

About a year.