i_moderate The People Vs Jack Napier (OPEN, please involve yourselves!)
It had begun like any other trial. Smoothly. Calmly. The judge entered and the people silenced. The baliff called for everybody to stand, and they did so, respectably. They sat just as silently, just as calmly when the judge called for them to do so. Judge Scott McRiley presiding...
It was just as the judge was settling in that the first mishap occured.
Jack Napier stood up to introduce himself to the court. And to the audience of people attending. He did so with a flourish and a bout of laughter so nerve-wracking that it took Judge McRiley a good ten minutes to quiet everybody down again.
"That is the last we'll have of that, I hope." He stated, looking Jack directly in the eye as he spoke.
Little did the poor judge know that this was only a pre-cursor to the sorts of things that could go on in a trial like this. A trial against Jack Napier. Maybe the only truly insane genius The City had ever seen. The misguided fellow might actually mistake to think he'd be able to control The Joker.
Jack himself spent a good few moments blowing kisses at Harvey Dent while Judge McRiley tried to call for order and the beginning of the trial.
He looked out at the lawyers and nodded. "Prosecution? You may begin."
And then he sat back, ready to hear this fantastic case.
From: i_exorcise Date: 06/13/2006 10:10:59
After Jack's little, introduction, Dean had never been so sure of his opinion of people in his life. They're crazy. More than crazy, and this dude was just the cream of the crop. How he wound up sitting on a jury for an obviously guilty man, was beyond him. He still wasn't sure on how The City worked, and how the justice system knew he was there and, well, why he wasn't in jail yet.
He sat back and watched everyone settle after the judge's call for order finally fell in. There was something vauguly familiar about this guys antics, but Dean wasn't sure why. He really didn't know very many people, and those he did know certanly weren't crazy - save pastor Jim, but he was a good crazy. If anything, this trial would prove good, free entertainment.
From: i_witchblade Date: 06/13/2006 11:24:24
Sara hadn't slept the night before the trial. She was thinking about what Jack had done, what sort of insanity had uprooted in the Asylum that night. She'd laid in bed and just stared at the ceiling, thinking and wondering how his trial was going to go. Sick men like Jack Napier should all be punished according to their crimes, no matter their level of sanity. Sara wasn't a pushover, no less did she have much mercy when it came to homicide cases. In Jack's case, she wasn't at all happy with how she knew the trial was going to work itself out.
Instead of thinking about everything all night long -- though she was a homicide detective, she didn't want to think about murders while she was trying to sleep -- she turned on her TV and watched reruns of Starsky and Hutch. It'd been her favourite show since she was a kid, even playing in the two cops' roles with her friends. It settled her down, reminded her of the brighter side of her job.
And now she sat wearing a red blouse and a black skirt with the rest of the witnesses. Being the arresting officer, she had a fairly important job to report everything she knew. Part of her didn't even want to be there, didn't want to help prove the man's insanity. It was hard enough for her to know that Jack would probably just be put back in the asylum because of his ill mental state. She was fiddling with the hem of her skirt self-consciously while the introductions were made, shuddering the tiniest bit at Jack's maniacal laughing. What a psycho.
Sara tried her best not to look at Dean, sitting there among the jury with barely a caring expression on his face. From what she saw when she glanced up every so often, he looked bored. Typical. She was still angry with him, but couldn't help to steal a glance every so often. He was still Dean Winchester, the ghost hunter extraordinaire that could always make her laugh. Sometimes she wanted to shoot him, too. Either worked, depending on her mood. At the moment, though? She was indifferent.
Sighing a bit, she eventually just stopped looking over there. There was no use, she figured, and she had to pay attention to the trial. We'll see how it goes, hmm?
From: i_seekgod Date: 06/13/2006 14:42:11
Jesse sat calmly. He wasn't put up front with the other witnesses. He'd be used to back up Max's story if she needed it. If they felt like she wasn't being believed. But he didn't think it would come to that. Max had scars. Evidence of what had been done to her.
Plus there was always the chance that Jack would pipe up about it when she took the stand.
Of course, what he really wanted to do was stand up and force Jack to confess. Use the Word and make it happen. In the end though, it would be like beating a dead horse, he figured. Jack had never actually claimed to not be guilty. And Jesse didn't think anybody in this room thought the psychotic was innocent.
He kept his eyes moving between Max and Jack. One move in her direction, and it would all be over for the gangly fuck. There would be no mercy this time.
From: i_assist Date: 06/13/2006 19:54:50
She was dressed not like herself at all. Babs had found her some clothing appropriate for the courtroom, because they'd both known that perhaps her ripped jeans and tanktops wouldn't have been perfect.
So she had on a black A-line skirt, a white dress shirt, and a vest over that. No heels, Babs hadn't even suggested it. She was in black mary-janes instead. Despite what she and Jesse had discussed the other night, she wasn't completely herself. Inside she was, but her outward apperance was completely demured.
Last but not least was a black skull cap sitting on her head. It didn't quite go with the outfit, but she'd smashed it onto her head anyway. Light brown strands stuck out, falling to her shoulders.
She was purposely not eyeing Jack and just sat very silently next to Babs. They were sitting closer to Jack than she would have liked, given that the handicapped section was closer to the front of the courtroom and right across from the where the madman was sitting.
From: i_seeall Date: 06/14/2006 08:25:26
Babs had put on a normal face coming into the court room. For a bit before the trial stared, she'd left Max in her seat and moved around the room, mingling was a few people. Specifically some of the doctors from Arkham (the few who were still alive and mentally unscathed) who'd shown up to see the proceedings.
They'd talked and shared opinions and the different things the knew about what was going on. The doctors' biggest question had been as to what exactly the defense lawyer was going to try and defend. Asked with rather incredulous faces, understandably. After Babs explained what she thought Matt was going to try and do (i.e, not get the man off) she asked a question of her own. Their predictions on Jack's behavior for such an event. They were as she'd expected: this was going to be a circus. A huge, possibly violent, circus.
When Jack began shouting out and blowing kisses to Harvey Dent as Babs moved back to her seat next to Max, she knew that the doctors were absolutely right. Unlike Max, she looked right at the man, shaking her head as she did so. She really did feel bad fot Matt. This was not going to be an easy trial.
From: i_crusade Date: 06/14/2006 14:50:26
He came late.
In truth, he was uncertain if he would come at all. But the remembrance of Barbara in a wheelchair and the knowledge he had... There had been only one choice. In the end.
For someone so well-known, he made a relatively quiet entrance into the courtroom. His light eyes picked out the girls and his long legs made easy work of getting to their side. Sliding into a chair behind Barbara, he rested his hand once - briefly - on her shoulder. And then he sat. Silent. No expression at all.
He merely watched.
From: i_prosecute Date: 06/13/2006 15:51:51
The District Attorney rose from his chair, a placid expression on his face.
"Your honor," he began, "it is my duty here as District Attorney to prove that the defendant, Mr. Jack Napier, is guilty of numerous crimes against the people of this city, any one of which could be ruled a capital offense. The personal, violent, and often disturbing nature of these crimes may be emotionally affecting to you, or to the members of the jury," he said, turning to the jury box, "but though it may be difficult to understand how any sane man could perform such horrific acts, I intend to prove that the defendant is of sound mind, and was at the time he committed them."
His voice was now clearly rising in volume. "The evidence will show that the actions for which Mr. Napier are being tried are not the work of a man with a fractured grasp on reality, one who merely needs more medication or more security to be contained in Arkham Asylum again ..." he paused, then pointed at Jack, eyes blazing as he continued, "but the machinations of a truly evil man who knows only too well the impact his actions have on those around him, and who would gladly do worse, given the chance."
Harvey sat down again and nonchalantly wiped a fleck of foam from his lip.
From: i_jest Date: 06/13/2006 16:34:52
"AW HARV!" Jack turned in his seat and blinked watery eyes at Harvey Dent. "You have so much faith in me! I adore you! Thank you for your kind words! I think you're sane too!"
He stood up and turned to the jury and blew kisses, as if he'd just been accepted as Miss America.
"Thank you! Thank you all! It's so very lovely for you to all come out and see me! So kind. You're all so kind!"
With that, he sat down, and lit up a smoke.
From: i_object Date: 06/13/2006 18:57:42
This was probably the most embarassing trial Matt had ever been involved in.
Leaning over to Mr. Napier, he could barely control his frustration. "Would you sit down and shut up already," he hissed through clenched teeth. "And get rid of that cigarette."
The smoke was bothering Matt's radar sense. It wasn't helpful when he was trying to focus on the trial. He felt like he was sitting in a cloud. Besides - this was a public building where smoking wasn't allowed. At least, it better not be. Visibly cringing with every puff of smoke issued by his client, Matt pulled his notes in front of him. He had to stay on top of what the prosecution had to say.
From: i_jest Date: 06/13/2006 19:08:44
Jack blinked at the man who had been appointed his attourney.
"Sure, Matty Matt." He snubed out the smoke on the back of his hand, and then tucked the rest of the butt behind his ear.
"Better?"
He wondered where Delly was.
From: i_amaleaf Date: 06/13/2006 16:18:18
Wash was decidedly uncomfortable. Jury duty? Not his thing, being in a court not his thing, not at all. He had once been a (mostly) law abiding citizen, but those days where long gone and all these people (and what seemed to pass for law around here) it was making him twitchy.
And than the person charged laughed all crazy like, and than one of the people doing the persecuting got up and gave a speech that ended with him looking a little crazy like (and Wash shared a ship with Jayne, he knew what crazy like sounded and looked like).
Wash sank down into his seat and tried to be as inconspicuous as a semi muscular man in a Hawaiian shirt could be.
From: i_imagine Date: 06/13/2006 18:14:08
Ugh. Jury Duty. Kyle'd tried to get out of it, citing that he'd missed enough days of work already due to a trip to hell he'd had to take with the God of Dreams.
Unfortunately, trying to play insane hadn't gotten him out of it. Possibly because the guy sitting in the defendant's chair was about fifty times insane than he could ever hope to be.
So here he was, sitting next to a man in a pretty sick (if Kyle did say so himself) Hawaiian shirt, looking pretty plain in comparison in his green tshirt.
"Nice shirt, man." Where they even supposed to be talking? Well, Kyle whispered just to be careful.
From: i_amaleaf Date: 06/13/2006 18:28:44
Wait. Someone was talking to him. Not only was someone talking to him someone was complimenting his shirt. And not in that sarcastic Mal way, or that exasperated Zoe way. "Thank you." Wash whispered back, just in case talking on was frowned on. It had been in pilot school. A pause and than; "How long does this normally take?"
From: i_imagine Date: 06/13/2006 18:46:41
"I was on one during college that took four weeks. They got my during the summer, it was horrible." Kyle looked over at Jack and considered his previous outbursts. "Yeah, this is going to take awhile. This guy's insane."
From: i_amaleaf Date: 06/14/2006 16:40:47
“Wonderful.” This said in the tone of voice of a man who has resigned himself to his face. In this case his fate seemed to be to sit here with these others and be forced to listen to long drawn out speeches. And oh yes the occasional crazy outburst.
“Four weeks. Tzao gao! What am I going to tell Zoe …”
Tzao gao = crap
From: i_amquitemad Date: 06/13/2006 17:13:01
Jamie- or Sally, whichever- was there with bells on. Literally. He'd gotten a little hat, and had persuaded the shop assistant to stick some bells on it for him. They jingled every time he moved, and he thought that it looked quite fetching on him.
He was sitting at the front with the other witnesses; this meant that he could get a good look at what was going on. He waved at Jack.
Jingle jangle, went his hat.
From: i_jest Date: 06/13/2006 18:36:48
Jack beamed when he spied Sally.
"OH SALLY! You made it. I had hoped you would be able to come."
He leaned over as far as he could get.
"This is gonna be so much fun." He whispered.
From: i_amquitemad Date: 06/13/2006 18:44:30
"Of course I'm here," Jamie said this like it was the most obvious thing in the world, because it really was. "Want my hat? It's pretty festive."
Glancing over to the jury, he pointed out, "they don't look like they're having fun."
From: i_jest Date: 06/13/2006 19:09:54
"I'd love your hat!"
His eyes glanced at the people sitting in the special box.
"They're not having any fun at all. Perhaps you should go find some party poppers for them. They need to be having fun."
From: i_amquitemad Date: 06/13/2006 19:13:15
Jamie passed along the hat.
He thought that party poppers were a good idea, but the bailiffs wouldn't let Jamie get out of his seat. He told Jack so.
From: i_jest Date: 06/13/2006 19:16:10
"Damn it." Jack scowled. "Those party poppers sure would come in handy right about now. How about this. If they let us recess, then you run and get them, yeah? A lot of em. Enough so everybody can have TWO!"
From: i_moderate Date: 06/13/2006 19:20:05
The gavel pounded and Jack jumped.
"ORDER." The judge hollared at him. "No more from you two."
The judge was having this rare problem in that he couldn't right well believe what he was seeing here. They hadn't even really gotten into the case and it was already chaos.
He shook his head.
From: i_object Date: 06/13/2006 19:20:55
The heartbeat from the judge was going haywire from across the room. The guy must have high blood pressure to begin with. Matt was going to get yelled at soon because his client was misbehaving.
"Mr. Napier. This is a serious matter. I don't want to have to ask you again," Matt interrupted. This was absolutely ridiculous. Matt was beginning to feel like he should apply for a job in a daycare next. It might be easier.
He was ready to signal the two burly bailiffs to escort the disruptive man with the bell hat out of the courtroom if they kept it up. Between smoke and bells...Matt was going to need something a bit stronger than Advil when he got home.
From: i_jest Date: 06/13/2006 19:28:56
"On the contrary, my dearest defender. This is a gas. Look at all of em!"
The bell hat was firmly set upon his head as he looked around the courtroom.
"I couldn't have asked for more. Really. Lighten up Matty. This is gonna be a riot."
From: i_object Date: 06/13/2006 19:47:41
"Oh, it'll be a riot, alright," Matt muttered, tilting his head slightly in consideration. He really wished he had a partner for this thing. This trial was too big for him to have to go at it alone, but here he was. At least Foggy could tell him what was going on so he could concentrate on the trial and not having to keep his client in line at the same time.
But, if there was ever a time when he just wanted to make sure a client landed behind bars where they legitimately belonged, it was probably now.
From: i_watch Date: 06/13/2006 17:59:30
For once Bartleby was practicing some sort of modesty. His wings were tucked away as he stood outside the courtroom that seemed to be buzzing with activity in the late morning. Any other celestial being would have recognised him for what he was, but he didn't see any others around and was glad for it. Talking to Gabriel was not on his ajenda this morning.
Bartleby was here for what looked to be free entertainment. And sinners galore. Well, there weren't that many actually, but the pale faced man he'd seen lead into the court house in handcuffs earlier more than made up for the lack of other sinners around. That man counted for at least twenty. But he wasn't going to kill him. Not yet.
He'd wait for this little game to play out first, because really, it did look like it was going to be fun. And he didn;t even know the details.
From: i_lovemybentley Date: 06/13/2006 18:04:13
Infernal creatures knew as well what Bartleby was. Especially the ones like Crowley, the ones of angel stock.
Crowley slithered up beside the angel, not recognizing him at first, but hey, there were a lot of angels to remember. And it had been a long time.
"What's your bet?" he said, glancing at the angel through his shades. "I've got a hundred pounds on a bloody massacre ending in a hung jury. Perhaps literally."
From: i_watch Date: 06/13/2006 18:22:29
"Well, I don't use pounds, but I'd be willing to wager a couple hundred on that hung jury. Either that or he pulls a gun out and tries to murder the entire courtroom." Bartleby didn't turn to look at Crowley until he'd finished speaking, and when he did he wore a slight smirk of amusement. He read the demon immediately, knowing him for what he was.
It wasn't Azreal though, so he didn't immediately pull out a knife and start stabbing. "Here for the free entertainment or do you have some highly ordained order?"
From: i_lovemybentley Date: 06/13/2006 18:28:03
Crowley raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you haven't noticed yet, but the orders don't seem to be coming in from above or below."
Crowley smiled like a snake. "So it's all for entertainment's sake."
He manifested a few bills in his jacket pocket, just as he reached in for them. "I can lay down... three hundred on the hung jury, five-to-one odds against your gun theory."
From: i_watch Date: 06/13/2006 18:39:14
Bartleby had been making honest money in murders (dead bodies tended to have at least something on them) so he too was able to pull out the three hundred to show he had it. "You've got yourself a deal. Whatever the outcome, this should be pretty damned interesting."
He looked back at the courthouse for a moment. "The man they took in there looked like a freak and a half." To borrow one of Loki's favorite descriptive phrases. "Don't suppose you know anything beyond the basics?"
From: i_beatthedevil Date: 06/13/2006 18:50:44
"Like I said... never picked ya for your wits."
Like the bright flash of his matchstick, John Contantine appeared with no more flare than a slowly encroaching shadow. Ah, the old company. How could he possibly stay away? "Been in all the newspapers, if you'd care to look," he noted, passing the local news to the angel in disguise.
He smiled at them both like an old time mate from the pub.
From: i_lovemybentley Date: 06/13/2006 18:59:26
Crowley flashed a scowling grin at the fellow Londoner. "Won't due to give up the game, John."
Of course he knew who Constantine was. He might not have been Below in a few millenia, but you could tell when the Devil was displeased, if you were smart. It had only reinforced Crowley's decision not to go Below for any time in the forseeable future.
He did step back and let the angel take the paper, though. He could almost hear another angel clicking his tongue and muttering about fair play.
From: i_watch Date: 06/13/2006 19:11:31
Bartleby had been too busy 'working' to have completely kept up with the news. He took the paper from the man and and flipped over to the side with the coverage.
Hmm. Very interesting. Not only did that man look crazy, he, by all accounts, was. Bartleby smiled to himself. Loki might have gotten well with this man, though Bartleby didn't so much see the attraction. Insanity could only take one so far.
"Well, damn. This is going to be more exciting than I thought. Not everyday you get to watch a man who, what's this? Is he beating up teenaged girls in the street? Fun." He looked at the other two men, specifically the new comer. "And who're you?"
From: i_beatthedevil Date: 06/13/2006 19:20:40
Crowley's grin was given likewise consideration. There was magic in the air to be sure, it peeled off the man like a iron odor. He scratched an itch on his shoulder.
"Never been fond of games," he returned, taking a position between the two men, and just a step back. He looked from one to the other, but never turned his back towards either side.
John smiled genially at the query and, still in that old mate fashion, stuck out a weathered hand. "Constantine, pleasure to make your aquaintance and all that." Should Bartleby take him up on the shake, he didn't... feel right. Something was certainly Not Right(tm) about this human, like there was a sort of teflon feel to his skin.
Or maybe that was just his personality.
"So... you're bettin' men?"
From: i_amthelefthand Date: 06/13/2006 19:22:48
Gabriel approached from behind all of them. Peering into the courtroom to get a glimpse of the filled seats and the three ring circus already taking place therein.
Amazing.
And look who it'd drawn out.
"I'm betting on the batshit pale skinned creep. Some kind of violence is coming down before he's through."
From: i_lovemybentley Date: 06/13/2006 19:27:36
Well, this was becoming a regular reunion, wasn't it?
Crowley tried his best to blend into the woodwork. He preferred not to draw the attention of powers higher than himself. And Gabriel ranked among those.
Though... he did make a point.
Oh, hell. In for a penny...
"Are you going for general mayhem, or a specific sort of bloodshed? I've got three hundred on a literal hanging - I believe the bloke might find that funny - and my friend here has a like wager on gun work. John hasn't put any cash down yet, but would you like a barter?"
From: i_watch Date: 06/13/2006 19:33:30
"Oh we all know that, Gabriel. Try to keep up." Bartleby smirked back at the approaching angel when he arrived. He could deal with him in a group a better than he could one on one. And besides, Bartleby was in a better mood now.
So much company, so much fun.
He looked back over to Crowley and then to Gabriel. "There're so many guns in that room, and looking at Jack, I'm thinking he could get his hands on one of them. Who knows. I've got faith."
From: i_beatthedevil Date: 06/13/2006 19:42:27
John broke out into a grin at seeing Gabriel, turning to allow him into the group with a bit of body language. "Hey! Look 'ose here!," he called out with light and chummy slug to the archangel's arm. "Long time, no see."
John flicked the ash from his cigarette away from the group hanging his head as they all discussed the tragedy that was going to befall. None of them helpful, one of them downright bloodthirsty from the sounds of it. And for what, so far? Money? "Shite," he breathed under his breath. "Higher forces at work, eh?"
He turned to Gabriel, ready to hear what the Snob would announce, either at him or the assembled.
From: i_amthelefthand Date: 06/13/2006 19:48:20
"Hardy Har." He shot at Bartleby while rolling his eyes. Very funny that. Keep up. Gabriel had half a mind to kick his ass, just because he could.
Instead, he answered Crowley. "I dunno. It seems to me that Jack's a hands-on kind of guy. So I'll put my money on that. Violence With Hands."
Constantine. With friendly greetings. It made him bitterly cold on the inside.
"Lovely to see you again too, John. Funny how people turn up places, isn't it?" Of course, there was a bone to pick there, but he wasn't going to ruin the fun and do it now.
Gabriel pulled out a wad of ill-gotten money and handed it to Crowley. "However much it is."
He, unlike Bartleby, was doing nothing to hide his wings. If people wanted to stare, they would. It wasn't like he was carrying around a fucking trumpet or anything.
From: i_lovemybentley Date: 06/13/2006 19:56:25
Crowley peeled back the bills, muttering privately something about uncouth and uncultured angels, no sense of etiquette, the lot of them.
He counted out the bills, and shrugged. "Two hundred fifty-three. Don't worry, Gabe. I think I can spot you the extra."
He glanced at the angels. "Anyone care to up the wager a bit? Past mere monetary value?"
A reptilian eye lingered on Constantine. "Maybe then you can play along, Johnny boy?"
From: i_watch Date: 06/13/2006 20:01:54
"Past the monetary value, eh?" Bartleby raised an eyebrow, considering it for a moment and looked at each gentleman. Trying to think of anything could possibly want from the other three.
"What did you have in mind?" He could offer up some corpses. Some organs. Maybe something else depending on what came up. Who knew.
From: i_beatthedevil Date: 06/13/2006 20:07:22
Constantine rolled his eyes at Bentley's crack, "Oh, sure, join in your little game that none of you seem to care 'bout in the least."
"Christ on a crutch," he sighed despite company, putting a hand lit with cigarette to his head before making a dismissive gesture with his hand. "This is what it's come to? Making wagers on death? With avarice? Like any of you need bloody money!" He crossed his arms, looking rightly disappointed in the crew.
"I'd say no one here's willing to make a real wager out of this," he declared, looking to each of them in turn. Crowley, no one he'd met personally, but well... there were a lot of intelligent guess one could make on snake oil. The other one, unannounced, was one of the eager types liked to get canned for enthusiasm upstairs. Oh, he could smell the Fall. Then Gabriel, wings displayed, was rather like the little gothling in his cape trying to hang out with the cool kids. Fucking trumpet or no, he still reeked of taking himself far too seriously.
This was a miserable lot. Himself included.
From: i_lovemybentley Date: 06/13/2006 20:15:31
Crowley shrugged. "The money is just for entertainment. Same as the rest of this fiasco." He waved a hand at the courtroom.
"I was going to offer up souls and favors. Favors being the harder currency of course." He tipped his head down to peer at Constantine over his sunglasses. "Unless you've got better stakes in mind, Constantine?"
Gabriel didn't make a response, only watched the others as though waiting to hear the stakes.
From: i_watch Date: 06/13/2006 20:21:22
"Favors, I like the sound of that. Unfortunately the knife I work with doesn't extract souls, just life." Plus he'd never been an angel who'd dealt much in souls. He'd just watched.
The word fiasco brought a smile to his face. He wondered if it would completely be cheating to try and provoke the defendant. It would have been cheating, but it would have also ended in more entertainment for all involved.
Or, rather, all the non-humans involved.
From: i_beatthedevil Date: 06/13/2006 20:44:38
"Sorry, chaps, but I'm not all that keen on reality programmes."
He stepped back from the group, away from the scene inside the courtroom to puff a cloud of smoke. "Now, if you lot want to wager with money like a bloody back alley dice game, that's your problem, not mine. I could fart dollar bills until Tueday- and yes, I have been particularly drunk enough to try out that one, thankyouverymuch-, " he added before anyone could get a word in edgewise. Best to keep on your toes among a snotty little group like this. "- so what was it now, three hundred isn't really enough to keep me entertained. And I'm the relatively sane one here."
He affected a disinterested look. "But, if you're willing t make this a tad more dangerous," he waited for everyone's attention before giving them a pirate's grin. "Anyone got a hat?"
From: i_watch Date: 06/13/2006 20:54:18
"No, but I'm sure our demon friend over here could pull one out of his ass if he so decided." He gestured over to Crowley and then grinned.
He was in. He smirked over at Gabriel, wondering if the oh so pious one would voice some disapproval. Luckily there was none.
From: i_lovemybentley Date: 06/13/2006 21:14:46
Crowley rolled his eyes at Bartelby's comment. "Nothing so vulgar. Honestly, one might think you were American."
The hat was produced instead from his jacket pocket. Nothing fancy, a simple yet stylish cap.
'Dangerous' wasn't usually his style. But he was interested, at least. It certainly was a change from his typical day.
From: i_beatthedevil Date: 06/13/2006 21:21:25
"Maybe things are different from where you come from, but I'm not touching anything coming out of his bum," John told Bartlby cooly, rather surprised at how quiet the Snob had gotten. He really didn't fit in anywhere, did he? Too lofty to mingle with the mortals, too geeky to hang out with the immortal.
No matter where you go, somethings do not change. "Here," he waved off the stylish cap, letting the cigarette dangle from his lips as he waved his hands out in front of him. With a bit of a pervert's wink, he added to Crowley, "Learned this one out of a real special bird, full of tricks."
A twist of his wrist (and a muttered '!taH raeppA') and a top hat appeared with a flourish, clean and neat as the magician's staple should be. "Right," he announced, knowing the parlor trick was bound to cause a few smart remarks. Best to get to this quick. "Here are the rules...
"One, everyone makes a pronouncement. Nothing like 'Oh, the procecution is going to wear a pair of tan trousers on Tuesday' or the like. This is something we all agree is a fair idea. Then... put something of yours in the hat. Once everyone's made their bet, we wait. And don't do a thing." A point to each one in turn, sounding stern despite the pedegree of those nearby. "No mucking about with things, trying to make them go your way."
One last hard look to Crowley and he lightened back up. "Then, should one of these pronouncements come true, you get to pick from the Prize Bin," the hat was waved about. "More than one chance to win, more than one chance to lose. The question is, what do we win? Favors?"
From: i_watch Date: 06/13/2006 21:41:38
Hmm, well, Constantine had said dangerous. Bartleby nodded, agreeing with the little game, and reached up to the wings he'd concealed from mortal view.
He plucked himself, ignoring the small dart of pain that resulted, and held the feather above the hat. It was no normal feather, it was one of his. And whoever pulled it out would gain more than just your average favor. But he would explain that to whoever the lucky winner was.
"I say we win favors, with the cavet that if one of us has to chase the other down for them the other person is suseptible to whatever punishment the winner would like to dole out."
From: i_lovemybentley Date: 06/13/2006 21:52:27
Crowley considered, and finally took of his sunglasses. "Agreed, then. Favors and all."
The only other item he had to offer was the keys to his Bentley. And no matter how sure he was, there was no way he'd be laying that on the line.
"Other condition. Someone apart from the magician here be the one to hold our items." He gave Constantine a look. "Sorry, chap. I don't think I trust you that much."
From: i_beatthedevil Date: 06/13/2006 22:03:04
John smiled lovingly at Crowley. "Ah, but do I trust any of you lot anymore? All part of the danger, mate. If you're not up to it, I understand..."
He looked at Bartleby, pleased and proud at the angel's readiness. See? Eager. He pegged him right. "Fine, fine, drag him back, tar and feather, as you like. We're just in the realm of the courtroom, once the trial is over, the hat disappears and any unused prizes go back ot their rightful place."
One had held out the hat while the other patted himself down to find his last Silk Cut, the special emergency one. Not in the hat, not just yet, not until everyone was on the same page.
From: i_lovemybentley Date: 06/14/2006 09:06:34
"Hmmph."
Crowley took a glance at the courtroom. Along with it was a subtle line of influence, aimed soley at Jack Napier. It was a subtle one, purely willful, nothing that would be noticable to the others.
{Hmm. I wonder how much rope you need to really hang a jury. Along with am image of a jury box-turned-gallows.}
"Bugger all." He dropped the sunglasses into the hat. "I'm in."
At least he broke the rules before agreeing to them. He was a demon of his word, after all. But trickery was part of the game.
From: i_amthelefthand Date: 06/14/2006 12:01:15
"Favors?" Gabriel shrugged. "Here's a qualifier. No favors that would leave somebody permanently indebted to another. Like, say, protecting a body from the devil." He glared directly at Constantine.
Mimicking Bartleby's actions, Gabriel reached back and plucked one of his feathers, and then put it into the hat.
"I'm in."
From: i_watch Date: 06/14/2006 13:26:07
How lucky that their feathers were two differenct colors. Bartleby let his fall into the hat as well and dropped his arm back to his side. The cruel side of him hoped that if he did win, it was Gabriel's feather he picked out.
"Sounds fine to me," he agreed, certainly not wanting to be indebted to someone for the rest of his tme here. "Does anyone have anything left to add?"
From: i_beatthedevil Date: 06/16/2006 00:39:58
John rolled his eyes at Gabriel's stipulation and shook the hat, the three objects rattling about as much as a pair of sunglasses and two feathers really can. "Everyone agreed then? Bonding words and all that?"
There is just something entirely untrustworthy about that smile. With a flick of his fingers, his last Silk Cut joined the illustrious trio.
"Well, who wants to proclaim the first doom and gloom, boys?" A look towards Bartleby. "And, well... other."
From: i_hide Date: 06/14/2006 13:09:12
The entire trial had been a circus so far, MJ found herself shrinking back more into her seat int he jury box. She knew men like this Jack, she knew how they thought, how insane and dangerous they were. You don't marry a spandex clad hero and not get a taste of that life.
Red haired model and aspiring actress shifted again her glance spared across the jury box to the other members. The hawaiian shirt was an interesting choice, at least it meant the jury room would be a bit more light hearted, or so she hoped.
She would have smiled to Matt had the situation allowed, but of course, that would be a bad idea, still, she wished him well in his case, even if he was defending a man she felt was better off in some asylum somewhere.
From: i_moderate Date: 06/14/2006 15:06:08
The gavel banged down, and justifyibly. The audience was murmuring, the jurors were whispering, and the defendant was being his usual exhuberant self.
McRiley laid down the gavel after calling the court to order and then looked to Matt. "I'll as you to try and control your client, Mr. Murdock. You may proceed with your opening statements."
From: i_object Date: 06/14/2006 18:36:50
Embarassed as he was about being asked to control his client, Matt managed not to let his face turn red. "Thank you, your Honor."
Standing up, his cane extended in front of him, he was relying on the steady clacking from the stenographer to give him a layout of the room. Pausing in the center of the floor, he stood facing the jury, his cane resting against his shoe. The court room fell silent as he proceeded.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client should not be considered a prime example of someone who is mentally healthy, or "sane" as the prosecution should lead you to believe. The criminal mind is never healthy. Sick people commit sick acts. Jack Napier's actions and his subsequent confession of those actions, however, should not clear him of the charges for which he is accused."
Unlike Mr. Dent's exuberant presentation, Matt remained calm and slightly subdued. He paced a few steps, using the handle of his cane to punctuate key words. "Despite knowingly acting with reckless disregard, in the eyes of this court Mr. Napier should be perceived as someone who is not mentally sound and cannot function within society. His incompetency to comprehend the meaning of punishment only gives a masochist such as Mr. Napier the pleasure of going to prison. Therefore, I suggest to the court to remember that justice is blind, but not deaf. Impartial, yet listens to all of the evidence presented. Thus, giving every citizen a fair and appropriate trial. Thank you."
Confidently, his cane held ahead of him, Matt proceeded back to his seat and sat down.