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

[llllllaurel]

[She buys it, obviously, but she shrugs as she steps back towards the table, her face a bit skeptical (bluff 32).]

Can't deny that it worked.

[and with that, she'll turn back to the defense.]

Your witness.

[lawofsurvival]

[ jaka rises slowly, taking his sweet time in circling the table and coming around in front of des, regarding him with utter cool. ]

Mr. Descant. [ his oily smile follows, eyes lighting on arianna, looking as if he knows something highly amusing that she doesn't. he wheels slowly on des. ] As you say, much has been made of allegations regarding your relationship to Ms. Jade, and how that might have played into Mr. Giovanni's motivations the night of the concert.

However, I believe this man, when he says the murder had nothing to do with jealousy. That would be far too simple an explanation for what is truly a more elaborate puzzle.

Mr. Descant, I'm uninterested in the nature of your relationship to Ms. Jade, but what I am interested in is the fact that you came to know her quite well. While it is, as you say, logical that she would not be quick to divulge all of her romantic history regarding her former lover with a new one, I do not wish to hear about what you knew of Mr. Giovanni through your conversations with her.

I want to know what you learned about Ms. Jade herself.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des folds his hands on the railing and nods along with Jaka, keeping his eyes glued on him, so they don't wander anywhere else. Like hell if he wants to see the gang or Rafael looking at him right now.

Here it comes. He holds himself together (will save 18), and the lie comes naturally. (Bluff 32)] She was a complicated girl. Sordid past- that kind of thing. She had a lot of people coming after her. And I mean a lot. And not the kind of fanboy stalkers you'd think- heavy hitters. A couple of car chases and bad guys turning up around her later, and I started asking. She got shirty. I'm a detective? I got curious.

[He leans closer to the microphone.] Now the way I see it, Jade gave off this aura about her- real dream girl. I bought it and I'm not easily bought, so it doesn't shock me that a romantic like Giovanni over there bought it. And the thing about it is, no one likes being lied to. I'm a big boy. I can handle finding out a dame I was friends with has secrets. A guy who maybe has a few screws loose who thinks she's this perfect doll? I dunno. Things like that might shatter his worldview. Might even set him off to preserve the image in his head.

[He sucks in a breath.] And who knows? Maybe it was his own warped way of protecting her from herself. [Another beat.] Big time assassins don't get fairy tale endings.

[lawofsurvival]

[ jaka lofts an eyebrow, turning to glance at the jury with mild ~surprise~ on his face, before he leans closer to des ] Let us make this very clear, Mr. Descant. You're saying that Eterna Jade had criminals pursuing her, even during the time you were together, in this year prior to the concert? And that she admitted to you why they were interested in her?

Would you please tell the courtroom what it was that Ms. Jade was keeping secret?

[nothingsodivine]

I am. [Completely cool.]

Eterna Jade was an assassin known as The Black Scourge.

[slay]

[ it is through the grace of god alone that buffy keeps from blurting out something fucking stupid and interrupting the court and implicating all of them. her mouth opens, ready to shout out, but she snaps it shut with considerable indignation and frustration. her hands grip the edges of the bench beside her, audibly cracking the wood to keep herself rooted to it (will 18, str 29). that poor bench.

but no will save in the world will hold back the look of abject betrayal, anger and threat of physical violence that burns in her eyes as she stares at des. there is going to be a recess coming up, sir, and you are not going to come back from it with your body parts in one piece. ]

[romanticidal]

[ rafael's chair squeaks back as he suddenly gets to his feet, standing instantly at the proclamation, the look on buffy's face mirrored in his own, but multiplied through a fractal lens. burt looks up at him with raised eyebrows, and then grabs his arm to try to yank him back down. rafael pulls his arm away angrily, refusing, but for the moment, manages to not shout out an objection. ]

[nosdacariad]

[ oops there goes mark's poker face in the audience as he mutters a little too audibly: ] What the hell is he doing?

[rationalizes]

Oh god... [ gar will just be over here sinking further into her seat forever, maybe into a hole in the floor k bye ]

[lawofsurvival]

[ jaka doesn't miss a beat ]

And Ms. Jade acted in this capacity before she came to know you? Say, during the time she was allegedly involved with Mr. Giovanni?

[notaroundme]

[Elena manages to keep all of her horror and unsure words internalized with her will save of 19. There's no keeping it completely on her face, but it's safe to say that everyone in the courtroom is going to have some reaction to this exchange.]

[nothingsodivine]

Look, all I know is those thugs that kept showing up wherever we went weren't after my handsome mug. She seemed pretty used to it. Damn professional. Like this had been her thing for awhile.

[bigbad]

[Spike's poker face doesn't change a bit (will save 24) but his eyes burn with anger and he reaches to grab Buffy's hand and try to... gently pull it away from the poor, innocent bench. She can break his fingers instead if she wants to. They're quieter. He's not planning on beating Des up. But he's sure not gonna make any moves to stop Buffy from doing it.]

[isisagent]

[Archer grins bemusedly, takes a sip from his flask, and nudges Elena.]

[Quietly he says;] Well this just got interesting, right?

[And he offers her the flask. Seems like an occasion to drink, if ever there was one.]

[lawofsurvival]

Mr. Descant, based on your experience with Ms. Jade, do you believe that she was capable of having committed the crimes attributed to the assassin called the Black Scourge?

[nothingsodivine]

[Des's stone-faced demeanor falters a bit (will save 12), but it only serves to make his bluff more realistic and less rehearsed. He still isn't looking at anyone- or acknowledging anything is amiss in the courtroom. His eyes are all on Jaka.]

Yeah, I do. Definitely.

[notaroundme]

[Interesting isn't exactly the word she'd use to describe it, but that doesn't make it false. She just lets out a heavy breath, takes the offered flask, and takes a quiet sip out of it before handing it back.

Because yes, if there was ever a time to need a drink, it would be now.]

[lawofsurvival]

No more questions, your Honor. [ and a smirkity smirk smirk at the other lawyer as he waltzes back to his seat, where rafael ignores him very pointedly, glaring forward at des with so much hatred in his eyes that it looks like he's going to shoot lasers through his skull. ]

[llllllaurel]

[Arianna is over here with a serious case of what the fuck just happened, and while she's looking for the lie, she's having a hard time finding it (sense motive 26). All the same, that doesn't mean she's not paying attention either and Raphael's reaction gets the wheels turning (wisdom 20 total).]

Mr. Descant, do you have any evidence supporting this claim? A weapon that was used, or a specific death that you can point to? Anything at all?

[nothingsodivine]

[Des shakes his head, still blatantly ignoring Rafael and everyone else.] Just her word. And the knowledge my ass was getting shot at signifantly more while knowing her.

[llllllaurel]

And given Ms. Jade's alleged profession, I'm going to assume that you didn't report these incidents to the police?

[nothingsodivine]

That's the kind of thing that gets a guy's face blown off.

[accusatory]

[ as des - the only person facing the back of the courtroom, except for the judge, etc. - glances over the heads of the gathered, he'd notice that there several people against the wall by the doors that weren't there moments ago. or at least he doesn't think they were.

on the right side of the door are a line of men in dark grey suits - 3 of whom are familiar faces to him, from that day on the bridge. joining them, but with the same mysterious air and wardrobe selection is this guy and this woman with fabulous hair. they all look decidedly grim as they stare pointedly at des.

on the left side of the door another figure stands all alone, and not really dressed for a court date. the smirk at the edge of her lips speaks volumes. she seems to really be enjoying this. ]

[llllllaurel]

[Arianna nods because really, that's what she thought.]

So all we have to believe this ... tale, is your word.

[True, it's more of a statement than a question, but she's going to pile as much skepticism on it as she can, before taking a step back and going back to her pile of evidence. It was more rhetorical than anything else.]

Thank you, Mr. Descant. You may step down.

[nothingsodivine]

[Des critfailed his will save, so he's left staring vacantly at the back of the room with a look of discomfort and maybe even a little fear. For all that most of the people present will know, he's seen a ghost.

It takes him a second for Arianna's words to register for him and he's left dumb fish gaping at the back of the room until he finally snaps himself out of it and stumbles out of the box, sweeping past the seats currently occupied by glaring faces, and mumbling something about a bathroom as soon as he reaches the back door.]