Log: Complete

[bitingnightmare.livejournal.com]

When; Jan. 29 (morning)
Rating; PG-13 (languages)
Characters; Lenny by_tea, Team Plaintiff worthyofhislove, Team Defendant bitingnightmare, Star Witness playstheblues
Summary; The Archangel Gabriel v. The Corinthian trial begins promptly, and hopefully remains without issue. (Other citizens are invited to mention they were in the audience, but be forewarned the consequence of being in the courthouse for this trial, as laid out in the verdict.)
Log;

The courthouse didn't feel threatening despite the morning light that made the bones accenting the stone and wood decor almost glow. In some ways the nightmare, dressed in a charcoal gray (and tailored) suit complete with white shirt and silver silk tie, fit right in. An order had been issued that he remain at least 20ft away from Boy Blue and without sunglasses for the duration of the trial. His eyeteeth narrowed as he waited for the deity Lenny to arrive, and once she... he... it did, they were asked to rise, relaying traditional court exchange, then opening arguments would begin.

"I need a cigarette," the Corinthian muttered aside to his defense attorney, Christopher Styles.

The nightmare was still skeptical of how this circus would turn out. He fought the urge to look over his shoulder, to see where Blue sat.

[Shortcut to the verdict!]

Comments

[under-secretary.livejournal.com]

Styles listened to the Corinthian's complaints with the usual sense of placation and then shook his head. "No," he said quietly to his employee, standing for the opening statement.

"Honorable judge," he began, pointedly addressing the entire courtroom, "My client and I intend to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Corinthian is not guilty of engaging in inappropriate relations with the defendant, Boy Blue. Further, I intend to demonstrate that in this situation age is not as much of a factor as maturity." He delivered his usual closing statements, something precise and accurate, and took his seat in a calm manner.

If anything, Styles knew how to put on a show. He signaled for one of the wizards and wrote out a memo for them to get a nicotine patch.

[worthyofhislove.livejournal.com]

Gabriel was prompt and took to the table opposite of the Corinthian and Christopher Styles. Sie set out each paper neatly and smoothed the front of the navy blue suit sie wore, fingers tracing the thin, dark gold pinstripes.

The defendant's attorney spoke well. Surely the man is grateful of his gift.
The angel smiled privately knowing that it was hir turn, thy will be done.

"Your Honor," Gabriel began, "it is the duty of the court to protect the rights of those who are unable to protect themselves. Often a folly of youth is biting off more than one can chew. I seek to incarcerate the Corinthian for carnal knowledge of one, Boy Blue not because of a lack of faith in the defendant's judgment but rather a concern for the defendant's wellbeing."

[bitingnightmare.livejournal.com]

Witness Testimony: Dexter Morgan (in person)

"I doubt the man that wanted me involved with another pedophilia case would commit the act himself."

Witness Testimony: The Joker (a tape)

Members of the deluded, the accused, and the unfashionably defensive, lend me your ears! I have seen the inner-workings of the mind of a pedophile, and, believe me when I say that this Corinthian-thing is as far away from the Mad Hatter and his ilk as you or I are! Look into his eyes! Look into your hearts, dear court-room! Is this man not an upstanding and upright citizen who wants nothing more than to simply live his life in peace? Is he not a real and fine gentlemen of a man-thing where it counts?

Who are we to judge him if his tastes run towards the slightly taboo, hmmm? And who are we to say the Boy Blue is so innocent in these matters?
Has the Corinthian been seen doing anything in public which would be construed as seducing the--Oh, wait. He has. Tch.

Alright, alright, I've got it! Has the Corinthian promised the teenager that he'd have a place to stay with him, no matter--Nevermind. That's out too; alright, here's a good one: has the Corinthian ever been seen doing anything that could be seen "bad" for the child, such as letting him fight during the Stewa-- Damn. You really ain't makin' this easy on you, are ya Gracie?

[A three second pause]

Fine, fine, fine. Label him a pedophile if you must, but, I implore you Citizens! Look at him, folks; see past the carnivorous eyes and bad suit and look! Is that the face of a man who would steal into your child's room at night and do horrible things to him?

[Another Pause]

...Don't answer that. No, really, don't.

[playstheblues.livejournal.com]

Blue wiggled on the stand a little, hating the scrutiny, hating this entire stupid affair.

"My name is Boy Blue. I'm sixteen years old." Lie, but not really.

"I met the Corinthian on my first day in the City. He introduced me to Rose Walker, who's my roommate now." He paused and looked over at Cori. He hated the suit, too, tailored to him, a present from Gabriel. He was surprised it was dark blue instead of some powder-puff blue nonsense.

"He never did anything to me against my will. He's always been good to me. I don't agree with this suit..." he was stopped and he frowned. "Fine."

He paused again at the question if he had ever been sexually used before. "Yes." He gritted his teeth when they asked if it was by someone who he loved. "Yes."

It was typical. He spoke but no one really listened.

[worthyofhislove.livejournal.com]

The angel kept hir face neutral and calm, noting the discomfort in Blue. "I will be brief, Blue," sie spoke kindly in an effort to ease the unfortunate young man. Stepping forward Gabriel laced hir fingers together, coming nearer to the stand.

"Describe for the court your first meeting with the Corinthian in as much detail you remember, please."

[playstheblues.livejournal.com]

Blue wondered if someone could die simply by hate. He concluded - probably not - and answered the question. "I was sitting alone in the square. No one would talk to me, and then the Corinthian showed up. He was smoking a cigarette, and he explained to me that I was in the City."

Blue thought about it. "He talked to me about what that meant, and then Rose Walker showed up, and we all talked for a bit before she took me home with her."

[worthyofhislove.livejournal.com]

"That is how your...friendship began." Not a question but a comment. "I see."

"Was there anything in this encounter that told you that you could trust this individual?" Of course the answer would be yes. "If so, what?" Gabriel whet hir lips and remained between the council tables and the stand that Blue occupied.

[playstheblues.livejournal.com]

Blue's eyebrows furrowed at the tone.

"He was nice to me, and I didn't trust him right away but I wasn't going to avoid his company after that. We talked on the Network, and in person, several times afterwards."

[by-tea.livejournal.com]

Yes, this was dull. Yes, Lenny was bored. And yes, this was necessary. The Blue Kid seemed so sad, though, and while that was hilarious to Lenny, Lenny would have no crying in the courtroom. That was unbecoming.

"Candy, Blue~?" It was, of course, terribly sweet. And Lenny would be, of course, terribly offended if he didn't take it.

Lenny waved a hand: an indication for the trial to continue, to sit down and shut up.

[playstheblues.livejournal.com]

Blue looked up.

"Thank you, Miss Lenny."

He took the candy - gumdrops - ate one and felt a little bit better.

The image didn't strike him until later.

[bitingnightmare.livejournal.com]

Character Testimony: Flycatcher (in person)

"Blue is sensible and he wouldn't do anything against his will."

Character Testimony: Rose Walker (in person)

Rose takes the stand wondering what they'll get her to swear on, and where the point is in having character witnesses when the city could and regularly did pull anyone's inner truths out and put them on display like pygmies at the natural history museum. She guesses she's lucky they aren't doing this in song.

"Blue's my room mate. He works, he pays his rent on time and he likes the same kind of music my mom does. I've got a teenage brother, believe me if you don't have to fumigate his room twice a week then you can be sure you're not dealing with a regular sixteen year old boy."

Did she know about the relationship between Blue and the Corinthian? Did she condone it? "He knows what he's getting into with Cori, and he could take care of himself either way. I don't worry about him when they're together."

And the defendant? "You'll get better character witnesses for the Corinthian, I've only known this version since I got to the city."

Oh, shit. There was another version, she admits under questioning, but she didn't know him either except by second hand account. Jed's. Her long-lost little brother, who they found sobbing in the trunk of the Corinthian's car.

"What did he do? Listen, I never asked Jed to show me on a doll. I got the picture that it could've been worse, but it wasn't. Not with Jed, and not with the guy on the defendant's bench right now. I'd never forgive something like that, I never have forgiven it. But I have to believe that the Corinthian who would have hurt my brother and this one are different. I do believe it, or I wouldn't say a word in his favor."

[bitingnightmare.livejournal.com]

He took the stand as necessary, none too pleased by the most recent statements made to the court. The Corinthian felt like he was in hot water, and he found it difficult to look Blue in the face now. He managed the briefest of glances to the golden boy, a mixed expression of irritation and frustration and apology. Then his toothy gaze steeled when he faced Gabriel.

"Shoot."

The nightmare wasn't exactly a model defendant.

[worthyofhislove.livejournal.com]

The angel lightly cleared hir throat. "What was your first impression of Boy Blue when you met?"

[bitingnightmare.livejournal.com]

"My first impression was that he needed directions."

[worthyofhislove.livejournal.com]

"And of him as a person?"

[bitingnightmare.livejournal.com]

"At the time? Not very good at reading a map."

His tone remained calm and cool.

[bitingnightmare.livejournal.com]

Professional Testimony: Jan Valentine (in person)

"Ok, I first knew about the relationship when they came into The Raven after some crazy spell shit went down. Don't remember what that was about but some giant wolfy thing in chains was runnin around in the Square. Anyway, they didn't see me cause was workin the other side and the place was fuckin packed too. Thought Cor was scrapin the bottom of the cradle. The thing that really fuckin bothered me is that the kid was puttin out a straight vibe and shit he still does.

But, Blue's not some whitebread. During the Chef War, the kid proved he could fight and had a workin brain too. He was the one leadin Tactical, that's something a real innocent boy sure as shit couldn't do. He's nothing like Cheza.

You know what's really fuckin funny about this case? Cor is only 13 years old. I fuckin SWEAR he really is!! We were talkin awhile back when the relationship was still a secret, he asked me how old of a vampire I was and that's how his age came up.

So yeah, you guys are jumpin on the wrong fuckin one for statutory rape, hahaha!!"

Professional Testimony: Lucien of the Dreaming (in person)

"The Corinthian was not made by Lord Dream to prey on children."

[under-secretary.livejournal.com]

Styles stood up casually.

"The defense would like to call the Lord Dream to the stand."

Ace in the hole.

[2nd-dream-king.livejournal.com]

Called.

The Dream King wasn't there at first, then he was. The tall gaunt shade of snow white accented in golds and greens hadn't even faded into the light, he was just there in the doorway to the main hall. He approached the stand without taking a single step, unnatural, ethereal. Dream took a seat calmly, then waited.

[under-secretary.livejournal.com]

Styles wasn't intimidated - or at least, if he was, he would never show it. Lynne was a lot more terrifying than Dream in any case. He stepped casually.

"Lord Dream, tell me what your relation to the Corinthian is, please."

[2nd-dream-king.livejournal.com]

I am his lord and creator.

It wasn't his intention to intimidate... only to carry out events in the book as they should happen. That and he owed a courtesy.

[playstheblues.livejournal.com]

Blue felt a jolt - and resisted the urge to throw himself onto Cori. The nightmare already looked nervous enough. Instead he smiled broadly as people started leaving the courthouse, and saw Styles next to Dream on the steps. He thanked the lawyer profusely, and then turned to look at Cori in his suit.

He really was so handsome in it. He looked up at Dream, just a touch nervous, and nodded before moving towards the Corinthian.

[2nd-dream-king.livejournal.com]

Dream's midnight and emerald gaze fell on Blue, demanding his attention with color alone. His white arms folded under the ivory fabric of his robes.

I did not do this to secure my court, Boy Blue, the Corinthian is a phantom of my doing. Still, progeny of one such as your mother's should receive better.

[playstheblues.livejournal.com]

Blue's eyes widened. He hadn't seen, spoken, heard from his mother since...he didn't remember. He was young.

"You know my mother? Is she well?" He knew there was a distressed look on his face, but he couldn't stop it. "Can you give her a message? Can you tell her that...can you tell her that I'd like it very much if she would see me?" He looked down, realizing exactly what he should be saying. "Thank you, Lord Dream. For helping me. For my sake, not only my mother's."

[2nd-dream-king.livejournal.com]

...

If only it was Dream's place to answer such questions and do such things for Boy Blue. What the trumpeter didn't know was that Fortuna would certainly bring wrath to his door for not preventing the tears of her dearest boy when the Endless had an opportunity to do so. For this, he testified in court.

It was best to leave now, with no consequence.

Be well, Boy Blue.

The Dream King dissipated in the winter air of an approaching sunset. A stream and nothing more.