Enjolras wants to start a revolution (sourceit) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2014-08-17 12:03:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, !trigger warning, enjolras, marguerite blakeney |
Who:Enjolras and Marguerite
What:Court gone wrong and meeting.
When:Early August
Where:Courthouse.
Warnings:Low. But possible trigger, brief mention of adult theme case.
Rating:None
Status:complete
The only reason Marguerite had gone to the courthouse that day was to offer moral support to a friend from high school who had ended up raped and the case had gone to trial. The entire situation was a convoluted mess and she knew that Marie hadn’t wanted to say anything, was nervous about the entire thing so how could Marguerite sit back and not be there for her on the day she had to testify?
What happened in the courtroom was enough to make Marguerite livid. It was the normal questioning, anything to create doubt that the perpetrator had done the deed. Place the blame on the victim, paint them in a less than flattering light so that the jury found reasonable doubt and let some bastard walk. Really, the fact that it was still such an issue, especially in light of recent attacks and news reports… it was sickening. And well, Marguerite tended to be outspoken in such situations.
Somehow, she had managed to keep from lashing out at the defense attorney in the middle of the proceedings, though she made no effort to hide her disgust. The second they broke though? All bets were off. Grabbing her bag, the actress stalked out of the courtroom and waited until the defense attorney was in the hallway before confronting him.
“How do you sleep at night?!”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re trying to make it seem that if someone has one night stands, or gasp, is wearing something considered ‘revealing’, that it’s her own fault for being raped!”
“You can’t know for certain and that’s the entire point.”
“Yes, reasonable doubt. It’s this entire mindset that makes people so reluctant to speak out, to report being raped because it will be their actions called into questions. Oh no, such an accusation could hurt this man’s career! It’s disgusting! Yet under the guise of proving innocence, you attack someone who has been violated and can’t sleep and make them doubt themselves even more! So I repeat. How. Do. You. Sleep. At. Night?!”
The case was a long one and not the sort Enjolras enjoyed watching. But that was part of his job as a law student. He couldn't ignore cases because he didn't care for them or how they were handled. In this case however it was just handled by the book. Enjolras wasn't sure if that was better or worse. The vic was unhappy and distressed with the defensed line of questioning, and it bothered him. But by he'd also learned when it came to these case tips to put his heart in a jar.
Unfortunately the victims friends and family didn't have the same training. His heart only sunk when he rounded a corner to see the girl face off against his senior. He winced at Jacksons lack of empathy, but knew procedure. He lowered the soda he'd gotten from the other room and stared the man down, interrupting the conversation altogether. "Jackson, don't you have somewhere to be? " The man was breaking protocol just by standing there and having his little chat. Plus he felt badly for the girl he was so coldly addressing.
"Miss, how about we get some fresh air? " He asked her with a sympathetic smile.
Hearing someone address the both the asshole attorney as well as her gave Marguerite a moment of pause. Enough to send a withering glare to the person who interrupted the conversation. It was the fact she recognized him from Valarnet that Marguerite even bothered to listen. Mostly. Jackson as he was called seemed to take the opening he was given to escape her wrath and it wasn’t like there was much to do.
“No good lousy bottomfeeder.”
The comment was growled lowly in French as she watched the man leave before turning her attention to Enjolras, still incensed by the entire situation.
“Because fresh air really is going to do any good?”
Even so, Marguerite did stalk past him and outside the courthouse. She didn’t know much about him, just what she saw on the network and for someone with plans of the supreme court and changing the world or whatever it was he wanted to do based on what his friend said about him, well, she was seriously doubting his choices in who to work with at the moment.
Dear lord, she prayed Armand would have the sense not to fall into the trappings of the job.
“Maybe not for your friend but for you, yes.” Yelling until she was blue in the face wasn’t going to help anyone. In fact it could hurt her. As well as himself now that he’d put himself out there in his senior’s eye line. Trouble could be on the horizon, but at the moment he wasn’t concerned with it.
He only frowned in concern as he watched her stalk away outside and dared to follow. Firey.,/i> He mused to himself. He remembered when the entire firm was like that. New to the podium and itching to prove themselves. He’d seen it in the videos, and now working there he longed to bring it back. Enjolras sighed in frustration and rubbed a hand through his hair as he stepped out into the cool afternoon breeze.
“He’s forgotten what we stand for, but not all of us have..” He said idly as he enjoyed a moment of sunlight after having spent the day trapped inside.
Typical lawyer response, which was why Marguerite rolled her eyes in response to fresh air doing her good at the very least. The actress doubted that as once her temper got riled, it took a lot for her to calm down. But getting away from smug bastards who didn’t care about the pain they caused in their quest for justice was probably good for everyone. No need for Armand to have to bail her out of court prison or whatever.
“Money tends to make people lose sight of what they wanted.”
It was the same wherever she looked. The passion and dreams, they all seemed to fade when money started being made. People lost sight and lost themselves in the process. And really, even if the asshole was granted the right to a good defense, that didn’t mean attacking the victim to prove a point. There were other ways to prove innocence if it were actually there.
Eyes narrowing in thought, Marguerite scrutinized Enjolras for a moment.
“You’re the one who wants to change the world.” No question needed. Pay enough attention to those around you, or on the network and what they said and you could figure it out easily enough.
Unlike his colleague, Enjolras’ eyes were still full of hope for the world. He wanted to believe he could change it, and the court system if he put enough hard work into it. The fact that the fiery redhead noticed, caused him to smile despite her anger. “Yes. I hope to change it so the victims are no longer forgotten and justice is properly served.” He was still young compared to most of the people he worked under, so he didn’t have the bags under his eyes they did. He had been called an idealist more than once, but it didn’t stop him. He didn’t care about their opinions much. He genuinely wanted a better world to live in.
Enjolras couldn't stand to sit around and wait anymore for it to happen, so he was taking action. He was continuing to go to court and stand up for those without a voice. It was his life passion, and money couldn’t cloud it. Besides that, he really wasn’t making much yet. He wasn’t a partner, he was only an intern. Once he made partner he was sure things would get better.
“I know it won’t be easy, but the best things in life never are.” He said with a shrug and looked up at the sky for a moment as the breeze messed with his hair.
His heart was in the right place. Just like Armand’s. It was people like those two that made Marguerite think that people were more aware of these situations than they actually were. Especially at the moment. It didn’t erase her ire at the fact Marie was put on the stand as if she had something to prove. As if she brought it on herself. It was that mindset that sickened the actress so much.
“No, they aren’t.”
She didn’t have the patience for law, and her passion was in the theatre and her volunteer work. But even that took a lot of energy and work. She had a natural talent but she also still worked and did all she could to keep improving. She knew there was a hierarchy but at the moment, she was seeing red. Really, she was easy going for the most part, but the second someone she cared about was put into a situation like that, when they were wronged or she saw someone being demeaned for reasons that were just excuses, well, she tended to speak out.
“Well, I do hope you don’t get pushed down by the system. There’s a lot to be done with it right now.”
It would be a shame to see someone who was still full of hope for creating actual change be brought down and crushed under the status quo.
Enjolras knew that. And he knew the public had a poor eye on the system right at that moment. His colleagues weren’t helping either. Most of them were old and tired of fighting, Enjolras was still trying to maintain a fresh outlook. He was determined to be the face of the newer, better system. The one that didn’t forget it’s victims or treat them as trash.
One day he’d change it, he had to. Otherwise everything he believed in was a lie. Enjolras frowned a little and nodded. “I’m aware. I have plans..I hope they work, they’ve got to. Anything is better than this.” He said sympathetically toward her. “I’m Enjolras by the way. And I’m sorry about what your friend went through, but not all of us are like that. One day it’ll be different..but for now just be a little bit patient.” He was charming, whether he was aware or not he had this sort of charisma about him that he hoped would calm some of the rage he saw in the red head. He was also sincere. He didn’t have any other motive.
Despite a perchance for making poor decisions in the heat of the moment and giving all things a chance, Marguerite could read people. She could tell when they were being sincere which was really the only reason she had yet to lash out at Enjolras. No need to accidentally scar one of the few good people out there who wanted to make a difference and didn’t get bogged down by the state of things, who didn’t let the status quo control what they did.
“You’re right about that. So I hope your plans work out.”
And she did. She didn’t want the world to continue in such a way. She had faith it could, she lived for the moment, believed that it was possible. But when she saw the same situations play out over and over again, she had to wonder what it all meant. And those thoughts and questions had nothing to do with her Dreams.
“But pleasure to meet you, Enjolras. I’m Marguerite.”
“They will. It’ll just take time. I want to be the new Supreme Court one day, but right now..I’m just an intern. I don’t have much power here or there..” Enjolras frowned at the thought as he looked back at the courtroom. He genuinely believed his plans would work. He had to for his own sanity. “Maybe I should walk you home? I can’t imagine hanging around here is helping you any.” He truly did care about people unlike his colleague who had forgotten the little man when money came into the picture. That was the sort of thing Enjolras would strive to change when he made partner. No more old suits who didn’t care. They were a part of the problem and only hurting the publics view of the system.
“So Marguerite, what is your passion then? I’ve told you all about mine..” He chuckled sheepishly at that, a little embarrassed over it. He wasn’t usually so forward. “It’s only fair.” Plus maybe it would take her mind off of the court for a bit.
“One of nine then. Very ambitious. If you mean on the federal level.” Between a father who had been a lawyer and her brother, Marguerite knew more about the general justice system than she would otherwise. Too much schooling and opinions that she would challenge. Yes there were indeed things which needed to be challenged, but Marguerite didn’t have the temperament for doing so in that setting.
“A gentleman on top of it all. You really are an interesting one.”
Smirking slightly as she was still angry, but at least calming down slightly, Marguerite’s flirtatious side was showing some. It was really just teasing on her end. It was why she and Courfeyrac had gotten along as they were both natural flirts. Besides, being walked home was probably a good idea. There was also the chance that Enjolras needed the breather as well and he would know if he was free to leave or not.
“Well, not everything. Just your aspirations for the future. But I’ll let that slide. My passion is the theatre. Nothing nearly as important to changing the political and social stratosphere, but it is where my heart is. I also do volunteer work for different shelters.”
“I do. “ He confirmed. “But I want to reshape the way they think on the Federal level as well.” He admitted with a shrug. He knew he’d be dealing with nine very different personalities, but that was part of what made it all interesting.
“See, not all lawyers are evil.” He mused as he unknowingly flirting back as he walked back with her. He definitely did need the breather also. His colleagues brought him down at times. Today was one of those days he was frustrated with them, but he didn’t let it show that much.
“No, not all. My father wasn’t, and well… my brother isn’t. True he is still in school, but I could never see him being a bottom feeder like that. He has too much heart. He cares too much to be brought down to that level.”
At least her flirting wasn’t looked at oddly. It was always hard to know how someone might react. Turning the conversation to Armand was natural. He was the most important person in her world and it was obvious to anyone who bothered to talk to her when the conversation turned to him. As frustrated as she was with him transferring to UCLA after being so close to finishing up at Harvard, she was still proud of him and believed he could change the world.
“I wish you luck with changing things on the Federal level. But all things that are worth fighting for won’t come easily.”
He was glad that she wasn’t soured on all lawyers. Given a chance she might have been a very interesting person to befriend. Honestly Enjolras could use a few friends. He wasn’t the most social unless it came to work. But outside of Grantaire he really didn’t allow anyone into his inner circle. It was highly protected, and he wasn’t sure the reason. Maybe he’d been in the court system too long and could see what everyone ended up doing to eachother, or maybe just the world had jaded him. He didn’t know. Either way he was wary of letting anyone in close, but he did still hope one day that might change.
“This job takes heart. I am sure your brother will be fine with it.” He offered a genuine smile as he walked her home. “It takes patience too..you will not always win, but your attitude makes all the difference on it.” He said with a shrug and folded his arms comfortably.
“I appreciate that. If my plan pays off it will change everything for the better but I am aware it’s a long road to follow.”
It was information she knew well enough. While she worried about Armand, she knew that this was where his heart was. Being a lawyer, trying to do good in the world. It was just impossible not to worry for her younger brother, especially when she saw bottom feeders in the job and how jaded they had become.
“Armand has plenty of both so he should be fine. I on the other hand, do not.” At least when it came to patience. She let her emotions get the best of her. Usually she was upbeat and being social was never an issue, even after the times that trait had blown up in her face. But when it came to controlling her temper? That was when things got ugly.
“The important thing I imagine is that you’re prepared for the long road.” Most people weren’t. They had a goal and they wanted it right away, so when things didn’t work out the way they wanted when they wanted, they grew upset. It was human nature, but sometimes people were impatient. Or usually they were impatient.
Whatever the case, Marguerite blinked when they got to her building. Well yes, things did tend to go by quicker when talking with someone, so she supposed it wasn’t so shocking that they had gotten there sooner than she would have expected.
“Well. This is my building. Thank you for walking with me.”
“I suspect it will be frustrating at times, and I’ll want to give up-but I’m stubborn like that. “ He said with a small shrug and looked around her neighborhood. He didn’t often get out, so seeing new places was a nice change of pace. However he did wish he’d met her on different terms of course.
“Of course. Any time Marguerite. It was a pleasure.” He offered her a smile and nod. “If you ever need any help with any legal thing, do let me know will you?” He gave her a wave before he began to head back to the apartment he shared with Grantaire.