You're Under Arrest
Log Info
- Title: You're Under Arrest
- Emitter: Delilah
- Characters: Ashes, Boshter, Delilah, Donna, Edinaz, Merek, Munch
- Place: Alexandrian Court House
- Time: Sunday, September 27, 2020, 10:30 PM
- Summary: Delilah and Donna are waiting outside the Alexandrian courthouse, awaiting trial. Mourner Ciaradh is there to deliver Death Certificates from the Vardama Temple. Merek has wandered by. Munch is dealing with lingering lawsuits. The trial is to resolve an issue with a noble woman, who accused Delilah of cheating at cards. As this is discussed, Knight Captain Norrington, local ass and nemsis of the pair, arrives in what is clearly a coordinated move to arrest Delilah and charge her with the murder of the noble woman. The pair protest Delilah's innocence, Ash interferes in a non productive way, Merek casts some spells. Munch and Edinaz offer some insults but the result is the same. Norrington insults the adventurers and blathers about legal proceedings then appropriates all of Delilahs' gear as he takes her into custody. Donna is left, stunned and alone as everyone doubts this display of justice.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ashes 5'11" 177 Lb Hobgoblin Female A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face Boshter 6'0" 240 Lb Hobgoblin Male An arvek nar in robes. Oh no! Delilah 5'4" 106 Lb Human Female A golden haired human girl in white robes. Donna 5'4" 106 Lb Human Female A black-haired human girl in black robes. Edinaz 6'10" 296 Lb Half-Orc Male Grey-skinned half-oruch, extensive black ink. Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. Munch 6'5" 225 Lb War Golem Male Dreadlocked golem with metal scales. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
It's a somewhat rainy, overcast day in Alexandria; the sky is gray with the occasional ray of sunlight that is quickly usherred off to some other part of the world. The rain comes in spits and dribbles, like the clouds can't really decide if they want to be drenching the streets below, or if it's really just not worth the effort.
Of course, this is Alexandria, and the city doesn't stop for anything less than a monsoon. Or an invasion.
The Courthouse stands tall and imperious, a stronghold of justice in the middle of one of the busiest areas of the city. Here is where civil disagreements are decided, criminal cases are prosecuted, and all too often, fates are decided and sealed. There's no shortage of people wandering in and out, ranging from the cheerful and relaxed to the dour and angry. Milling around outside are a number of guards with crossbows, but really, this isn't anything unusual either; afterall, this is the courthouse.
Mourner Ashlee Ciaradh, 'Ash', is one of the people wandering in and out, and her expression is fixed. A skull-tattoo on her face largely responsible for that, supplemented by her temple training. Of course, she wasn't all that expressive to start with. She's here for rather mundane purposes. The mourner has a bunch of death certificates to deliver.
Merek walks to the Courthouse, while he takes a moment to adjust that dark attire which he wears. The man pulls the hood up while the belcape would begin shifting along to the back. That rain doesn't look like it bothers the man a lot, he seems to be watching while he waits for the next case to be brought in, nodding a bit to the guards while he smiles. There's a wave along to Ashlee also.
Munch wanders out of a sideroom. That the golem barbarian should be familiar with the workings of the justice system should come as no suprise. he typically ends up at the Jail part of things, if only over night, but there's a process for getting there.
Waiting their turn to go before the magistrate, are a pair of adventurers; twins, one dark of hair and one blond. Both women seem more than a little unsettled, though the fair twin seems much the more fidgety one, while the dark twin looks the sort to deal with stress by playing it *aggressively* cool. Perhaps not yet to the point of kicking her feet up on the furniture, but, there is a definite air of 'nothing at all is bothering me why would you say otherwise I should be offended.'
"It's all right," the dark-haired woman mutters to her twin. "Remember; stakes are low, even if we lose."
Ash waves at Merek, giving him a slight nod. She's seen Munch around also, he recieves a wave as well. The ashen Arvec pats her satchel as if to signal she's got some business, and drifts over to the pair of adventurers, to wait behind them. She's not eavesdropping, but she is standing nearby and staring, and she has large goblinoid ears.
"Yeah. Low stakes. And, we're not going to lose *anyway*, she doesn't have a leg to stand on," Delilah agrees. Well, she agrees verbally, at least; she's busy playing with a lock of her hair, like she always does when she's nervous, and she keeps readjusting her hat and corset and skirt and all the rest. "Why'd we get here so early? We still have another... what, twenty minutes to kill? Good grief I hate this waiting."
Looks like Delilah isn't the only one who hates waiting, either; one of the guards with the crossbows stretches, and starts wandering around. Then a second one does the same, both of them moving off in different directions, without really going anywhere in particular. Inside, someone gets loudly called into one of the courtrooms; something about child custody or some-such.
And then at the top of the stairs appears Knight Captain Norrington, with his sword held unsheathed and rested on one shoulder, as he scans across the crowd.
Munch nods his greetings to Ash, rasing a hand in greeting to Merek, before glacing to the twins. Pretty sure he was on some sort of adventure with at least one of them... orc bandits? Giant wasps? All blends after a while... doesn't help all humans tend to look alike... not that he's bias or anything. "So what are you all in for?"
Merek looks to be noting the beginning of that trial will be coming, then he motions to Ashlee and to anyone else, "There's a trial on for Adventurers, if you would like to come about," he states. There's a wave along to Munch. The man looks to the twins with a nod a little bit also as well.
We're here early so we don't give anyone call to come out an' *drag* us in," Donna notes. "Or worse; jus' hand her the win. Take a breath, D, we're all right."
The dark twin looks up, nodding once to Merek, raising an eyebrow at Munch's question. "Noble brat's up an' said my sister cheated 'er at cards, forced 'er to pay up, an' threatened her in the process. 'Cept she lost fair an' square, never paid up, an' there's a Guard Captain who jus' wants *any* excuse to have us run out on a rail."
A bared blade catches the brawler's eye, and her face goes a few shades paler. "...That one in particular, as it happens," she says, nodding Norrington's way.
Ashlee recalls Munch, golems are easier to remember than most random people. She explains her mission, "I have Certificates of the Dead to hand over."
She looks in Merek's direction, and repeats, "I have Certificates of the Dead to hand over. Which adventurers, what are they on trial for?"
The Knight Captain gets barely a glace, Ash is used to seeing lots of well appointed people at the Temple, usually in unfortunate circumstances for them. Flashy medals and armour attract problems, in her opinion. They beg to be validated and used. Then, Donna calls attention to him. He gets a second glance, then a stare.
Merek nods a bit to Ashlee, then notes the twins with a little wave, "These two," he states. The man adjusts that hood of his while he waits. Munch listens quietly, and blinks with a soft metallic click. "That's stupid. You don't run people on rails, you roll carts on them. Even -I- know that." Technically correct. The golem glances to the Knight in question, and makes a noise not unlike a snort. "Eh, I could take 'em." Well, maybe, but the artificial Korrite is not known for his sound battle judgement.
"I absolutely *destroyed* her at cards," Delilah points out. "She thought she was clever; definitely too clever for some low-born wench like me, so when she lost she couldn't handle it, and she's been a little noble snot-rag ever since." The golden-haired sorceress crosses her arms, and hrumphs softly. "And..." she trails off as she, too, catches sight of Norrington walking around with his blade unsheathed. "And what the hell is *he* doing here?" she inquires. "I mean... it's the Courts, I guess he's entitled, but I feel like he's stalking us."
Stalking is perhaps the wrong term, really; he's just strolling, but he's definitely approaching the conversation in progress. He nods to one of the crossbow-carrying guards, who nods back, all without anything being said.
Edinaz looks up towards the Courthouse, studying it. The millling crowd attracts him, pulling him in. Of course, he can see /over/ most heads, and so has a little warning as he draws closer.
Staring, is the correct term in Ash's case. It is what she's doing at the Knight Commander. She stands, still and silent, her arms at her side. Her clothes, once fine, are now faded and threadbare, the latest in exhumed fashion. She has a skull for a face, bright white against her dark skin, with a black nose and deep eye-sockets that contain her glittering eyes. She nods slowly, overhearing the twin's recounting of events, and understanding they're the ones on trail. The mourner is unsure whether she should get involved, but there is a naked blade about, perhaps some healing will be necessary soon. Or her other services. She comments, "Oh."
Merek looks to the twins while he nods a bit from the hood, beginning to look about while he watches Ashlee, "You alright?" he asks, then he waves to Edinaz and nods a bit to Munch a little also. "I think it will be interesting either way."
Munch doesn't wear clothing. But then, golem, they typically don't. "....so... how is a noble snot-rag different from a regular noble? They're usually kinda jerks until you pick them up and bouce them off the wall a couple times." Diplomacy, Korrite style.
"Yeah I'd love to," Donna sighs, "'cept when you bounce a Guard off the walls, they kinda get stabbity and hunty, an' we really don't need that headache. As for nobles... well they got money, an' connections, an' they could talk the Guard into gettin', again, stabbity an' hunty. An' really we just wanna be left alone, y'know?"
Edinaz waves towards Merek, then Ash. Munch gets a look -- he's still a novel sight for Edin. Still, he starts angling inwards, towards the others, towards the twins as well. He doesn't shout over the crowd, he just heads in.
Delilah nods to her sister, "Yeah, beating a noble at cards has been bad enough," she agrees. "Or, like, that one time Donna and I sorta... borrowed some clothes to sneak into a noble's ball. I mean I'd hate to see what happens if you really get up in noble business." She pauses, and glances off to the side. "Food... sure was good there, though, gotta admit that." She scratches the back of her head, and looks at Ashes. "That certainly is a hell of a tattoo, if you don't mind my saying," she points out, "And I seriously mean that as a compliment."
Norrington is still approaching, but now his course is pretty, well, obvious; he is definitely bearing down on the small gathering. Perhaps Delilah might've been about to say more; but it doesn't seem to be about to happen. All of the guards shift position, and as Norrington snaps his fingers, as one they all raise their crossbos and couch them against their shoulders. While a number of people are suddenly scrambling out of the immediate area, the Knight Captain clears his throat.
"Donna, you really should keep better control of your sister," he intones. "Delilah Valethor, you're under arrest. By all means, try to escape, but I doubt you can outrun crossbows."
Munch snorts again. "Well when they get stabbity, ya just shove them -through- the wall!" the golem offer brightly. He blinks, and then slumps a little. "And then the bar owner starts yelling... and ya gotta go to Court to settle damages." He slumps a little more. "Okay, so maybe don't do that..." Then there's crossbows pointed in his general direction, and the barbarian perks up. Maybe this day will be fun after all!
"WHOA WHOA *WHOA!*" Donna shouts, springing into action as the crossbows come up. Unarmed, unarmored, she still plants herself formly in front of her sister. "What the hells d'you think you're fuckin' *doing,* Captain?! We're *here* for our fucking Court date, you blistering curry fart of a human fucking being!"
Amazing how aimed and loaded crossbows tend to focus the attention. Especially when they're pointed at *you.*"
"Thanks." Ash answers Delilah, then Knight Captain Norrington interrupts her convesation. This irks her. She steps in front of him, so his sight of Delilah and Donna is blocked. She stares. She says nothing, standing there, intently gazing into his eyes. She's talked vampires to death, this will be an interesting conversation.
The ashen Arvec waits until the moment his lips move, when he's about to speak, and she talks over him. Loudly, in monotone, "Your Do Not Ressucitate Papers have been processed. The next time you die will be your last, as you requested."
GAME: Merek casts Sanctuary. Caster Level: 11 DC: 15
Edinaz looks around, suddenly, for street meat. This seems like it requires snack food. Then, he sidles up, and asks quietly. "Are you going to talk to the court, or would you like to slip quietly away?"
Merek looks to the crossbows all being lifted up, "Ah whoa well, can we not do all of that?" he asks. The man then places a hand to Delilah's shoulder while a holy light begins to shimmer along the woman. He speaks with the Celestial Language while he works the magic. "I think we would probably want to try diplomacy first, please."
Munch looks calmly to the armed guards. "I know I'm not directly part of this, and you're probally good aims, but I do feel I should mention that if you happen to shoot me, I -will- feed you your own crossbow."
Delilah sputters, as she lifts both hands up in the air, "Hey, look, like Donna said, we're *here*, aren't we? I mean fine, you've got ten crossbows one me--" She puases and Merek claps a hand on her and gives her the benefit of a protective spell. "--So I'm not, y'know, going anywhere or nothing, but maybe you could tell me what I'm being arrested *for*?" She glances back and forth between Norrington, her sister, and her fellow adventurers of various stripe. Well, and all the guards with crossbows.
Norrington curls his upper lip and sneers at Donna. "You should shut up and get out of the way, or I'll have you too, for aiding and abetting," he informs her. "You should consider yourself lucky there's nothing implicating you in this, except for a mouth that belongs on the back end of a donkey." He flexes his fingeres around his sword, and shifts his sneer to Merek, and the others standing in the way. "Nobody is going to shoot anyone, unless she," He nods towards Delilah, "Attempts to escape, at which point we will be legally justified in shooting her, and any of you who get in the way. Step back," he points to Munch, "Step back," he points to Ashes, "And all the rest of you, out of the way."
Norrington pauses, and clears his throat. "Delilah Valethor, I have a signed warrant for your arrest, for the murder of Lady Bethany Alenthor."
When Boshter arrived, it was just in time for Donna yelling. He stares at her. Then stares at the captain. Then stares around some more.
"... I think I am very late," he adds. But he's taking a position up *near* to her.
Because, of course, he doesn't like a Certain Someone. Hey, he met him before.
Ashes, does not get out of the way. She continues to stare at Norrington, "Are you threatening a mourner? I have nothing to do with these two. I'm delivering paperwork."
She pulls out a Death Certificate, for an exotic animal keeper who was trampled to death. Sat on actually, by an elephant. Very final. Very flat. She shows it to Norrington, "Do you like this font, or this font, for yours? Now you move, out of my way. Please."
....The *murder?*
For a moment, Donna's brain grinds to a shrieking halt as she tries to process this new information. Heedless of the crossbows pointed her way, and in knowing and direct defiance of Norrington, she stares at the ground for awhile, trying to wrap her brain around the fact that the brat who was dragging them to court is dead, and *nobody bothered to tell the twins until the court date.*
"....Okay," she says, more quietly but with less emotional control. "Okay so. ...Okay. Okay." Her hands clap together in a gesture akin to prayer, and she turns her gaze up to the sneering Guard-Captain. "So the girl who was dragging us to court is dead. Yeah? An' you think *my sister,* who ain't left my sight all week, did it. ...And *you're telling us this ON THE STEPS OF THE EVERFUCKING COURTHOUSE WHERE WE WAS ABOUT TO GO TO COURT AGAINST HER?!* WHAT -- and I mean this sincerely -- THE FUCK, MAN."
Merek does not look like he likes all the shouting, and begins shifting away a bit from the twins, though the protection would be up still. He nods a bit to Boshter with a little wave, and looks then to Ashlee. He does not offer a lot of commentary all in all.
Munch buzzes quietly, confused, but more or less following along. He doesn't move out of the way though, at least not yet. He does turn his attention to Norrington. "So, didn't you skip the part where you tell people who you are? Because right now you're just some shouty jerk. I mean, if you're going to be a procedural ass, then you should really follow procedure."
Edinaz nods slowly. THe war-golem is talking sense. He's not sure if this is worrisome of not. "My village elders told me with fists that shouting doesn't make things happen faster."
The guards are hardly standing still; a couple of them are backing up, taking positions that would be advantageous to shooting crossbows should it come to that. A couple more are moving around the group; one of whome shoulders his crossbow, and produces a set of manacles instead. The chains clink loudly against each other, but he doesn't move on anyone yet.
The man apparently in charge rolls his eyes, and breathes an exagerated sigh. "Adventurers," he complains. "Always you lot think you know what's going on, always think you know what's best." He weathers the verbal assault from Donna, before he takes a step forwards, getting rather... close into her personal space. "I am Knight Captain Norrington, of the City Guard," he intones, as he steps neatly around Ashes to get where he is going. "File whatever death certificates you wish, Mourner, it's no concern of mine unless you impede my duties. Which, right now," he pulls a folded up piece of paper from where it was tucked in his belt, and with a smoth motion unfolds the crisp piece of paper, "And I have an arrest warrant. Take a look around; this isn't the sewers or the wildernss. You have no authority here, whatsoever; and I do. Now the lot of you, move."
The Knight Captain glowers back down at Donna, and holds the piece of paper up where she can see it. "The law is enected when and where it is necessary. The gates are being watched, but we thought you'd come here, to keep up the charade that you didn't know anything. And here you are. I know you both so well."
Delilah, through all this, has basically just gone white. Her indignant sputtering has all but dried up; this isn't being arrested for thieving or fighting or public drunkeness or mischief, like Norrington has tried to pin on the twins in the past. This is murder. This isn't small stakes anymore. "I..." she gasps, and her eyes go wide. "WHAT?!" She shrieks, as she takes a step back and nearly stumbles over her own feet.
Ashlee made her pointless point, the bully knight stepped around her. And he gave some interesting permission which she might put to use. Still, she has paperwork to file, so she heads up the steps with a simple, "Ok."
Partway along, she looks directly back at Merek. "Did you forget to prepare Calm Emotions today?"
GAME: Merek casts Calm Emotions. Caster Level: 11 DC: 16
Munch makes a show of glancing around. "Are you -sure- this isn't the sewer? Seems pretty full of crap right now." The golem does, however, step away, no longer having a real excuse not to. He does step into the path of a crossbow, but there's a chance that's an accident.
Merek looks then to Ashlee while he nods a bit, then he begins to chant before he uses that magic. It might be about as much for him as anyone else, then he seems to relax, he does not like all the noise. He seems to look from the hood while he thinks about it, "Ya, I think it ould be better if we try to learn a little about the whole of the situation. I'm pretty sure she didn't do it. Would you let people look into it first?" he asks of the Knight.
Edinaz considers, looking at Delilah. "So, you don't know what's going on?" Arms fold on his chest. He's not moving quickly, that's for sure. "....We don't," Donna says, snatching the paper out of Norrington's hand and giving it a hurried scan. "We been together all week, an' I *know* she's smarter than to *gun down* some silly girl when the whole court thing didn't even *matter.* It was just some money... We were planning to just pay up an' do some more work just in case we lost..."
Blank, her eyes drift from the warrant, to Norrington. ".....What did you *do,*" she whispers, horrified. Because right or wrong, she has a *much* more compelling idea of what happened, that also suits the facts on display.
Norrington tucks the warrant back into his belt, and gestures with his free hand. "What did *I* do, Miss Valethor? I signed off on the conclusion one of my KNight Liuetenants came to from the scene and the available witnesses, and then took the warrant drawn up by the magistrates' office to arrest the individual in question. No more, nor less." He looks over Donna's shoulder, to glare balefully at Delilah for a moment, before he shifts his glower towards Merek. "She's an adventurer," he acknowledges, "No doubt the Guild will want to conduct their own investigation. You'll get your chance then; until then the scene is preserved and the witnesses are available."
The guards do seem to relax just a bit, as Merek casts his second spell; the one that Munch stepped in front of points his weapon upwards, as he repositions to try to draw a bead on Delilah once more.
Delilah, for her part, is shaking like a leaf. A skinny, suddenly very small leaf. "Yeah but," she squeaks, "But, but, but I *didn't do it,*" she finally manages to spit out. "I didn't. I didn't. I'm *Innocent*."
Behind her, the guard with the manacles is moving up, and rests one hand on her shoulder, that almost makes her collapse; but she weathers it, swallowing audibly.
Norrington lifts his sword, and slides it into the scabbard on his back. (It's a very big sword. Some people might take note of this; Delilah certainly does, for the first time, really.) "All of you," he states, quietly. "Step away, please. If any of you wish to protest Miss Valethor's innocense, you will have your chance in court, if," he holds up one finger, "You have any evidence." He refocuses his gaze on Donna, and puts a single finger on her shoulder, giving her a gentle but insistent sideways push. "Out of the way, please."
"Touch me again," Donna whispers, her voice quivering. "Touch me again an' see how many fingers you come away with." Her glare is pure poison, when it finally deigns to rise to the Guard-Captain's eyes. "An' ask yourself how *badly* I want to make sure nothin' happens to my sister, while yer at it."
As she turns, she holds Norrington's eyes until the very last second, before dropping to her knees in front of her sister. "It's okay, D," she says, very clearly trying to talk away her rising panic. "It's okay. I'll put my own cash up if I gotta, but there's good, smart folk in the Guild. I'll tell 'em everything I know an' they'll figure it out an' you'll be free as spring air in no time. You watch, yeah?"
Edinaz considers Norrington for a moment, like he's really seeing him for the first time. "Huh," is all he says, as he looks at him. The sword, well, someone's got to carry it somewhere, no matter how much of a pain it is to draw.
"In Blar, liars and those who colluded with them were strung up by their tongues." The ashen Arvek tells the guards nearest her, as she continues up the stairs with her paperwork. Her deadly, final, paperwork. Only two things one can count on, death and taxes, and she stares death at the guards in her immediate vicinity. She continues her random lecture, "had to purge all the way up the chain, to break the influence. You handle things differently here."
She glances at Norrington, back at random guards, "I'm sure you'll be fine. He seems on the up and up."
Judgement made, the mourner continues inside, where she'll file some documents and then look at some documents and make inquires back at her temple when she gets there.
Boshter's expression hardens at Ashes' words. Clear that Boshter knows exactly waht happens in Blar, what, with his being a hobgoblin hismelf. He doesn't add anything. Indeed, he simply eyes the Guardsmen and lets out a sigh. A sympathetic look falles upon Delilah, and then Donna. The look towards the latter is more warning.
Munch's weapon is bigger. Not that size really matters, it's all in how you use it. But the golem is still confused, buzzing quietly. "I don't get it, people get killed all the time. Is this a big deal because she was a snot-rag? ...I mean 'a noble'?"
Merek sees manacles, then it all seems to be forgotten. The world as a whole, he just moves to take the chains then tries to pull them from the Guard, "No! NO! NO CHAINS," the mage then tries to push away the guard, "You can take her in without the chains!"
Norrington watches as things unfold in front of him. Donna is busy trying to threaten to cover her terror. Delilah is quivering like a leaf. Ashes, Boshter, and Munch all seem to have enough sense to disapprove without getting involved; and so does... no, wait, Merek is having a panic attack. The guard does his best to keep the manacles away from Merek, but of course that means he's not putting them on Delilah. The Knight Captain's expression goes like granite. "STEP BACK!" he shouts at Merek, "Or *you* will be in a jail cell tonight, for impeding a lawful arrest. "And you," he points at Donna, "Can--"
"EVERYBODY STOP!" Delilah throws her head back and screams the words. "Stop! Just *STOP*." She sucks in a deep breath, and lifts both hands to wipe tears away from her eyes. "This is happening. Nobody is going to stop it right now. But *NONE* of you are going to help me if you end up in jail." She looks over her shoulder at Merek, and then forward again, leaning down to rest a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I know you'll get me out," she murmurs. "We always look after each other and we always will. I'll be okay for a few days. Jail's nothing new, an' if our Orc who needs his stuffy is there, I'll have someone to talk to." She straightens, and sucks in a deep breath. "Put the chains on, if you must, I'll come quietly."
"Very sensible, Miss Valethor." Norrington looks to the guard with the manacles, and nods once. "And someone keep him," he points at Merek, "Under control."
A look towards Merek. Boshter's body tenses.
"You will demand no such thing of a lawful agent acting in his lawful capacity. You will simply make things worse for her. Put aside whatever thoughts you have and do so quickly for her good." And with thqat, he turns towards DElilah, stopping. He nods towardsa her.
"You will be fine. You will have visitors." A glance towards Donna, then, nodding. "A lawful agent is here to enact qa lawfully ordered arrest. It will not be opposed, nor interfered, but it will of course be properly opposed in due course."
"Yeah... yeah okay," Donna says, sniffling as she climbs to her feet, then steps back. "Just... take care, yeah? I mean like..." And now the brawler finds herself completely lost for words, unable to look at the architect of their misery, and just... standing there, shaking and miserable. "...Don't do anything I wouldn't do, D? Like.... please...?"
Edinaz looks at Merek and Donna, "Do you need a hug?" It's an honest question. "It will be okay, in the end."
It will be. We all die in the end. It's a happy thought that Ash doesn't share.
Munch says, ".....if we're doing the hug thing now, I should warn you I'm not very good at them."
Merek thinks about it a little, and nods, "Apologies." The man seems to begin moving away from that all, then he looks to that rain while he waves, "I... Will try to find information that might assist."
"Better," is what Boshter answers to Merek, relaxing slowly.
He turns his gaze back on Norrington thereafter.
Delilah steps forwards, and throws her arms around her sister. "I'll be fine," she whispers. She clearly doesn't believe it; that much is obvious, but she says it anyway. "You don't do anything to give them an excuse, okay? Be *perfect*. I know you can do it."
Already, two of the guards are pulling Delilah away; they pull her arms behind her back, and the guard with the manacles snaps them both into place around her wrists. Norrington steps forwards, and pulls Delilah's gun out of its holster, tucking it into his own belt. The guards claim her crossbow, and her daggers, before Norrington starts patting his hand over her. He's thorough.
Very thorough.
"Please visit me tonight," she gasps, looking to Boshter. "Bring Donna. Please. *please*." She sucks in her breath and blushes, turning her head away as Norrington goes over her, pulling a wand out of her sleeve and tucking it into his belt beside the dragonspitter. "Please, Merek. Everyone. Just do what you can but do it *legally*, okay?"
Norrington finally steps back, having claimed all of Delilah's weapons and most of her adventuring gear. "Time to go," he intones. "No more stalling."
Munch considers a long moment. "....prison breaks are illegal, right? If it's in a country where the majority of the system is only a little corrupt?"
"Yeah," Donna says, faint and numb, as Delilah gives her one last hug. "Yeah..." The click of the manacles seems to snap a measure of sense back into her, and finally, finally she meets Norrington's eyes again. "Okay... So... I guess it's on you to see she's safe. Don't. Fuck. That. Up." Drawing in a breath, she takes another step back, squeezing her eyes shut at Munch's question. "Yeah. It is," she says, flatly. "An' it don't tend to go too well for folks what break that law. So, like, *don't.*"
Edinaz nods. "Correct. There is, however, a story to find."
Merek watches while he waits, the man nods. Delilah wanted all of them to do what they are able to do. A look to the Guards, "Make sure she will be treated well." There's a tone which notes that he means that, "You be safe," he then notes to Delilah.
Munch buzzes and waves vaugely. "Breaking the law is -fine-. You just need to make sure it's the right law with the right justification... or that you're okay with taking down the entire legal system. Sometimes both. But Alexandros is pretty good on keeping laws that make sence, even if they are really grumpy about property danage. Wasn't even a load bearing wall...." He may have wandered off topic.
Norrington points at Munch, "You," he declares, "Are lucky I'm busy." He glances back to the others, "You should teach your... thing... to respect the law, and keep its mouth shut." With chastizement thus given, the Knight Captain moves to Delilah's side, and puts a hand on her shoulder. "This way, Miss Valethor, and please remember that if you try to escape, my men *will* fire on you. However," he looks back to the group, "So long as she behaves, she will be entirely unharmed and well fed between now, and the trial debt, whenver that happens to be set."
"I said I'd come quietly," Delilah half-whispers, as terror sets back in once more. She shoots a desperate, pleading look to Donna; and then with a sharp tug, she's yanked away. "WAIT!" she gasps, "Wait... give my hat to my sister, please, just... just please."
Norrington oblidges, with a shrug, plucking the pointy hat off Delilah's shoulders and tossing it carelessly towards Donna. Then with another firm tug, he's on his way, the guards moving as a group with the Sorceress and the Night Captain at the center.
Munch snorts, muttering mostly to himself. "...didn't even open my mouth..." To be fair, he didn't. His voice box isn't connected to his mouth.... it's a golem thing.
Donna scrambles to catch the hat out of the air, crushing it to her chest. Motionless, she stares after the procession, until long after the group has disappeared down the crowded streets. Something inside the brawler looks... lost, somehow.
Because for the first time in a very, very long time, she's all alone. And the last time she was alone, was pure nightmare.
