psychic thread

[agentlenpc]

[The gentle brush against the Strangers' minds comes in early evening. It is, as all mental touches are from Fayura, soft and unassuming, much like a polite knock at a door. Once as many minds are connected as she thinks will open the door to her, she speaks.]

I am curious, Strangers, what you would do with the young man who shot and killed Councilwoman Vera.

Many of you come from worlds where there are laws against murder. While we have no such laws here, when a Blood male in a Queen's Territory kills another without cause, she may demand a price from him. Sometimes, that is his own life if he was negligent enough with his temper and sometimes, it's something less.

My trouble is this: if I execute him according to the laws of the Blood, of which he is not one, the Guilds will rouse their people into a furor and attack not only me, but the people of Draega. If I turn him over to the Ebon Council, the Guilds will do much the same, and that will incite the Council to strike back. And if I return him to the Guilds for accolades instead of punishment for taking a life, the Ebon Council will have cause to rip apart the Guilds and anyone in their way to extract from him the price for murdering one of their own.

Were you me, what course would you take? And please try not to shout over each other; this is as many of you as I could reach.

Comments

[agentlenpc]

You are helping. Lady Fayura asked and you've answered. You've spoken your heart and there is value in that. [ He replies sincerely. ] You aided those trapped at the power plant and you sought to help in the city.

[sunborne]

It's the least I could have done for you guys when I heard about what happened at the power plant. I mean- I promised to help you guys.

[ it's why he's here. and while he does get something out of this arrangement- daylight isn't one to simply coast on by and do minimum effort. not when others are relying on him and lots it at stake. ]

It's just- Well- [ hrrrrm. ] Do you mind me asking a question?

[agentlenpc]

Ask what you will. [ He's sincere, but Allairavar's tone implies that he also reserves the right to not answer.]

[sunborne]

[ daylight is quick to pick up on that and y i k e s. let's hope the question won't be fall under that category. ]

Um- If the decision is made to go through with the trial- [ he's trying his best to not imply a trial could happen, since he doesn't want to sound, like, presumptuous or anything. it's the queen's decision. ] -than what are the guy's options in terms of punishment?

[ he now knows - thanks to some folks here /stares at haein - that death is an option hanging over the guy and the preferred one at that. but daylight is now left wondering about what else could happen to him. ]

[agentlenpc]

It will depend, I think, on what the group can agree to. However, there are some commonalities. If his actions are found to be malicious, death is usually the punishment. If not, then exile is a possibility. [ One that Allairavar doesn't sound like he agrees with. Exiling someone from Draega is, in reality, a death sentence. ] The other option would be restitution to Lady Vera's family.

[sunborne]

[ judging by the (known) options currently available, it looks like restitution would be the best for the guy. day thought the option of exile could be a good one except he really listens to sir allairavar and realises that no. it won't be a good option.

so yeah. restitution will be the thing the guy has to hope for if his case will get some sort of trial.

… though, now that he gives it some thought, something needs to be cleared up with that option: ] Will the restitution be decided by the party that’s handling the case? Or will Lady Vera’s family be the ones to decide what it’ll be?

[ will there be limits to what can be done in the name of restitution? ]

[agentlenpc]

Hard to say. It may be that this panel, if it happens, will decide. Or they might bring their verdict to the Lady and she will make the decision.

This jury will be new territory for all of Draega. [ Uncertainty, threads his voice, but Allairavar doesn't comment upon it. ]

[sunborne]

[ daylight is quick to catch onto that and of course he'll be the one who will comment on it. ]

So how this trial goes — if it goes through and stuff — then it will decide whether or not this is a good idea to continue with. [ a case of make it or break it, then. a test run for all sorts of things to see if its worth it. this type of judgement and the handling of the case and more.

he suddenly understands some of the tension that's fallen on the city since the assassination. ]

... Some other folks, of course, don't want the trial to happen. [ he doesn't comment beyond that. ] Do you, um, need help guarding him until a decision has been made about where to go next? I have time on my ser- hands besides working on some things.

[agentlenpc]

Right on all counts. [ Allairavar can already imagine the protests. The offer surprises him though, and pleases him. Both of which color the mental strand linking their minds. ]

Your assistant would be appreciated. If you could take the shift after dinner, that would be immensely helpful. I prefer to make a flight over the city just at dusk since that seems to be the time of day that troublemakers contemplate causing trouble the most.

[sunborne]

[ he's being helpful!! and a sort of helpful he knows how to do because it sounds a lot like scouting. his winglets have been itching to get back in the air again since arriving. it'll be pretty different since he'll probably be by himself, but he's sure he can handle it.

with or without nightbreak to be the big scary one. he has a feeling his height will give him an advantage. ]

So I take over the shift after dinner and do a flyover the city around dusk to keep an optic out for anyone wanting to cause trouble- Gotcha! And if I see anything like that, than I'll- [ he pauses, because this is where it'll diverge for them both. ] I'll follow protocol of how to handle the situation...?

[ his way of saying, 'and how do i handle any troublemakers?' without admitting he has no idea of how to handle any troublemakers. ]

[agentlenpc]

You, Lord Daylight, will keep watch on our guest. I will handle the flyover of the city.

[ Allairavar realizes that he hasn't been clear enough. Ah, but that is an idea.]

After this matter is dealt with, if you wish to help with city watch, you may patrol with me.

[ Daylight may have just gotten drafted. ]

[sunborne]

Oh— Oh!!

[ cards on the table: daylight had simply thought he got politely told ‘no you cannot interact with the guy who is going to have the first ever trial thingy here’ but it was, like, done politely. he’s used to that sort of thing at this point in his life.

so to realise he not only is going to keep watch on him but help out on city watch is- is a shock.

but!! a good shock! he can do that! ]

Yeah! I can do that! [ he can totally do that! he can!! he doesn't seem to mind he got drafted, only pleased he can be that useful right now. ]

So if I go with you than I'll know how to behave during the round. Okay. Go that part but- What are the protocols for watching a prisoner here? [ he is. so full of questions. someone needs to be now that dialup isn't around and she can't whittle the immediate list into the most efficient version of it. no consideration, only all the question. ] Like, um, I know I won't be handing him stuff unless it's given the okay by the higher ups and stuff but- Will it be alright for me to speak with him? See if he's doing okay?

[agentlenpc]

[ So much enthusiasm makes Allairavar a touch suspicious. Just a touch though. ]

It's fine if you talk to him. The shields keeping him put are mine, so there is little worry of him getting free. Nothing and no one goes into or out of that room and anyone lingering should be noted. If you haven't learned the Craft that helps detect poison, I will teach it to you.

[sunborne]

[ don't you trust the enthusiasm of basically a giant robot teenager. surely nothing will go wrong.

but to get on track: daylight does try to be a bit more serious now. especially when he learns that he'll need to be able to detect poison while he's on duty. excited as he is to do something he's familiar with again, he's reminded that this is someone's life he needs to protect.

and, gosh darn it, he's going to protect the guy to the best of his abilities. ]

I haven't learned that Craft yet so I, um, appreciate your offer and would like to take you up on it when you have the time to teach me.

I promise to do my best to help you out on these shifts! You can count on me- [ oh shoot. how do you address someone of higher authority than you here? he just got the ranks and titles of the lornful light down before he came here. ] -for this stuff.

[ ... smooth ... save... ]

[agentlenpc]

Then I will stay when you begin your first shift in two days and teach you that bit of Craft. It's simple, but delicate. [ If Allairavar worries about a title or lack thereof, it isn't apparent. ] We can discuss any other particulars then, Lord Daylight.

[sunborne]

'Course! Looking forward to working with you.

And. um, good luck with everything else. I'll do what I can to help on my end until then!