[JUDGES]

[somebodysdog]

There is a giant sign on the 'bulletin board' that is the largest wall in apartment 202.

Justice SystemWithin the next few days there will be a lottery for a 'jury' among the occupants of the building. Everyone's name will be in, unless you specifically come to me and explain why you should be exempt

Comments

[toomanypostits]

Rube comes into 202 for a bottle of water, and just to be visible for a little while, dammit. Big notice catches his eye. That wasn't there last time.

"So much for building a new utopia," he says to no one in particular.

[somebodysdog]

She glances up, and almost smiles to see him, relaxing a little.

"Trouble with that is the fact that we have to use real people," she observes. "Hello, Rube."

[toomanypostits]

He nods in greeting. "Angua."

Then, indicating the notice, "So, we've had ourselves a bit of a crime, have we?"

[somebodysdog]

"Just a bit," she says, and sighs, sitting back in the chair. "At least you didn't have to do any work for this."

[toomanypostits]

He whistles low.

"Boy, we're pretty much starting at the top, aren't we? Hell with assault and petty theft; let's cut straight to the attempted murder."

Yeah, there's basically only one reason she'd have phrased it like that.

"So, I take it you got a pretty good idea who did it? Since you're looking for judge and jury, I mean."

[somebodysdog]

"Oh, we know who," she says. "The question is, was this intentional or not? Someone gave one of our mothers-to-be a drink that had the potential to cause a miscarriage."

[toomanypostits]

Rube winces at that. He's also very glad that it didn't succeed, and not just for its own sake. There's a highly specialized group of Reapers who are heavily screened and specially trained before they're allowed to work in Miscarriage and Stillbirths.

"I see. So we're stuck between attempted homicide and reckless endangerment, then?"

[somebodysdog]

"Pretty much," she says. "Add into that the fact that the man in charge is related to both the defendant and the victim, and we're stuck in a very dangerous predicament."

[toomanypostits]

"Shit. This is Mel's kid we're talking about?" Rube shakes his head. "Tell me you don't think this was little Katara that did it."

Yeah, he's really out of the loop on this whole thing.

[somebodysdog]

Yeah, he is. Which is why Angua's blinking heavily at him.

"Azula," she says. "Zuko's sister."

[toomanypostits]

Rube nods.

"Ah. Sibling Rivalry, the home game. Actually, you probably shouldn't tell me any more. I've got a little legal experience, and I know if I got picked for jury after you told me all about the case, it would contaminate things."

[somebodysdog]

"Really?" Angua sighs. "See, I know nothing about how a jury trial works. But OK, I see how it would. I just imagined word would spread anyway."

But then what he said hits home. "What kind of legal experience?"

[toomanypostits]

"Place as small as this, it's possible," he replies with a shrug. "All the more reason to keep the speculation to a minimum to keep the mobs from forming. All we know for a fact is that Mel drank some tea that almost caused her to miscarry. Anything beyond that is what the trial is for."

To her other question, he shrugs again. "Reaping doesn't come with a paycheck, so you have to make your own way. And the time I came from, if you could read and write, you were in high demand for all sorts of jobs, lawyering among them. Haven't actually done it in forever, but I kept up with the law, just as a hobby."

[somebodysdog]

Angua looks as if Rube just made her day. "Would you be willing to serve as an advocate? For either side?"

[toomanypostits]

He considers it. That smile helps.

"Seeing as how I don't know the details of the case, I could definitely remain unbiased. So, yeah, if you need someone, I'd be willing."

[somebodysdog]

And it's not even her special smile.

"Thanks, Rube. I appreciate it."