ORIGIN - One Final Act as King

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Mau had never left Canis, not since she'd found her way there after her birth. Azazel had heard of the trial, however, and suggested she attend- it would be good for the Bonebound to make an appearance at such a thing. He'd sent her on her way with directions, but after the first tunnel, she'd been able to follow a line of traveling gembounds- sure enough, they were all going to the same place.

This cave was happily familiar, but not in the 'oh, I've been here before' kind of way. Comfortable, wet, warm. It reminded her of Canis before the water had begun to dry up. Greedily, and rudely, she darted over to the nearest pool to drink. It tasted much better than the bone-sand waters back home. Licking her lips, she made a note to come back and visit on better days as she wandered towards the gathering jury. There, she'd sit and pay rapt attention to the trial as it played out.

The bear was injured. Leon, was his name, and he was being represented by a lion- oh, goodie- named Makyna Songcat. They were admitting a black spotted cat, Carcino Karkata - or Cancer as they proceeded to call him - for attempted murder. This Makyna woman seemed absolutey certain of his guilt, but as the trial went on, the actual victim, Leon, didn't seem so innocent either. She was shocked to see the sudden outburst from the defendant, his court-side suicide playing out like some fanciful production. Then, an unexpected witness, defending him. He had supporters. The two prosecuting him were so certain, but Mau wasn't so sure. As the trial came to a near end and the Jury was asked to vote, she turned towards the other odd-ball group gathered.

Another lion - oh, wait no, she kenw this one. Usui. He voted for Cancer's guilt, but confirmed he'd like to see Leon punished as well. A fair suggestion. Then, a little furry thing came forward- oh, she smelled juts like this place! A local! She seemed destroyed. Poor thing was probably close to the defense- why was she permitted to be on the jury in that case? Mercy seemed fair, too, though. They were all, after all, meager children. It would be likely Cancer wouldn't have even been able to dig out the bear's stone so easily. Heaven knows a stone was mysterious enough as it was.

"Darlings, we should consider their ages." She started, refined and quiet, each word carefully pronounced. "Both the defendant and the victim here are mere adolescents like ourselves, barely adult. We've none of us have guidance of elder, wiser gems to teach us right from wrong. Only a spare few of us have even heard of the deer father- I have never met the old stag myself. These two have barely begun to live." She almost lectured, confident that if either had been given the chance to be raised by another, as she had with Azazel, then surely they'd have known better and none of this would've been taken so far.

"That's not to say these boys are not guilty of crimes. I vote we lessen the charges. He is clearly already distraught. No monster or killer would be so torn up over their actions like this." She glanced around at the leopard, all but a sodden mess on the floor now, face buried and looking quite pathetic really. Looking quite like a kit on time out.

"I can't deny his intentions, though. Attempted Murder for the black cat in undeniable, but I say we offer him a chance to repent, or at least suggest it. Five cycles banishment, not permanent. That should give him plenty of time to think about what he's done.

"And Aggravated Assault for the bear. He's not innocent. I can't even imagine what it must've been like to be lit ablaze. He attacked that cat with full intentions on harming him."

________________

Dark slipped away in silence, unobtrusive, having nothing more to add to any of this. He wanted to go and watch the thing in the pit. To listen, and to make sure it didn't come back to Pisces. They would need warning, if it did. A sentry.

He didn't know what most of them were discussing, anyway.

Prosecution? Defense? Aggravated assault? What does any of it mean? Where did they learn this?

Perhaps they had all been human in some past life, or drawing on the memories of humans. Certainly there was no law school in Pisces that he was aware of. If this were the case, then Dark seemed to be missing those memories--lacking that link.

He left them to their trial, quietly taking flight to slowly glide--low and cautious--back toward Monoceros, to things he deemed far more important than this... fighting of half-grown Gembound, over a female who hadn't bothered to simply state which she preferred. He thought this not with malice, or disgust, but rather detachment--he made no judgements on them. They were young, as was he. No--his mind was on Monoceros, and the dragon.

________________

((ooc -- exit Dark))

Tal'at knew Pisces briefly, and although he wasn't fond of the noise, he loved the map of green under his feet. The moss that blanketed this moist, cool place told him of the space before him, finite and understandable. Where as most of the time, the blind bat kept to the ceiling or the air, here in the place of slate and falling water, he felt safe on the ground. He had come to answer the call and found himself among many beating hearts, so loud and close together that he could sense them without using his magic.

The bat stood among them, quiet and silent. He heard Dark, confused and worried, and wished to go out to greet him, to tell him of the stories he had, to share... But here, he had other duties. He had a purpose to fulfill, no matter how overwhelming it was. Perhaps he was the most fair judge, for he could not see the glares and faces and wounds, only the voices as they spoke what they thought as true. Tal'at did not see himself as the right one to decide, but with a ground around him ready to collaborate, he found a bit of peace in this moment.

The story was long and complicated, suggesting there was even more to the situation than they had gone over. Tal'at would do his best not to get distracted by such questions, keeping his mind on the problem at hand. One of them, the lion from the Raptor visit, spoke up, suggesting that they were both to blame, although unevenly. Another voice, soft and sweet, only offered mercy. He tilted his head, twitching his pointed ears as the last voice spoke, using stronger, more structured words.

"If I understand," he spoke up softly, clicking and chattering a bit to himself, "murder didn't occur. Mistakes were made. We are agreed? Cancer is punished. We withdraw slightly... The punishment partial."

He pushed up on his wings, raising his tiny gem higher to almost peer around at the group, despite the fact his face was mostly featureless. "Cancer is guilty. Banishment for awhile. Leon is guilty. Smaller punishment given. Whatever is suitable. Both guilty indeed. Both are young. They may change... As cave changes. Time changes all."

!!! ...

It's in the eyes!
I can tell, you will always be danger!
We had it tonight! Why do we always seek absolution?

It seemed as if the lion forgave him for his earlier transgressions. Baratheon flashed him a relieved smile before he listened to the words that were spoken. Well, listened until he felt something on his back at which point he snaked his neck around to look. On his back between his wings was his tiny little brother. Happily he gave a rumble of joy before using his nose to gentle nudge the numbat onto his muzzle. Happy that he had been reunited he turned back to the others.

The trial... Baratheon considered everyone's words on their youth, wants for mercy, their guilt. Slowly he began to form his own opinion on the matter. Whenever he was in a fight it was hard for him to think at all but did this leopard have bloodlust? Probably not. Still, in a fight emotions ran high and your actions were not your own. The lioness had said the fight was over but in that moment... Would the leopard be able to see that clearly? Baratheon doubted it. Still, using a knife which was an outside thing to dig out someone's gem sounded gruesome even to him. If you were going to fight then do it fairly not by stooping down low to dig away someone's gem. Go for the throat if you really wanted to.

In this the bear was also not shameless for he had apparently started the fight and even set the leopard on fire. He had claimed that he wanted to put it out but still, the intention had been there. They were both to blame but the bear was slightly less-so.

"Both are guilty, no doubt about that. Cancer of attempted murder and Leon of... of assault since he started it. I vote for banishment in Cancer's case but not permanent, only temporary. Perhaps the bear should be banished for a time as well but for a lesser time than Cancer." That was fair, right? "What do you think?" He asked the tiny one on his nose.

words: 338
tagged: Trial
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

"Speech"
Thoughts

After he had spoken, a little fennec fox scurried into the area looking most distraught. Usui cast an empathetic glance towards the young one. She must have taken one of the largest blows around here, and although her decision was but one word, it made sense. Mercy was a necessary value in Origin for without it…Usui could just about imagine what the culture and relations among gembounds would turn into. He turned his attention onto a new white cat whom he had never seen before. She seemed mature and should be around Leon’s and Makyna’s age. She proceeded to explain why mercy was justifiable. He nodded at her, then turned to the next jury member who chose to stay – a little bat with a gemstone upon his head. The lion regarded him with slight curiosity. It was his first time encountering a bat after all. His words were sensible and in alignment with their wishes. Baratheon spoke up next. He spoke of temporal banishment of Cancer and and Leon. The lion nodded, then addressed all of them. "We seem to have arrived at a common agreement. The jury believes that Cancer and Leon are both at fault although the sentence is to be harsher for Cancer.” He looked over his shoulder then to regard Leon. The bear had sustained grievous wounds from the assault. It would be unwise to turn him out from his home. "No,” he finally spoke heavily, turning his attention to Baratheon. "He has paid the price in flesh. He should not be turned out from Maji Walezi. Leon has unjustly attacked Cancer however, anyone could have let slip their mind in a moment. I propose that he be demoted in rank and take on actions of servitude lest he be quick to lose his temper again. He can start by cleaning out the snow that enters one of the tunnel’s entrances and hunt for the pack. Until he has demonstrated his civility shall he be restored to his original glory as the pack deems fit.” The lion then looked to the rest to see what they thought.

calypso
critical and melodic
ooc;;
JURY VOTES

There was a small, horrified twinge in her thoughts, invading them, seeping through. It took a lot of focus to keep hold of herself in that moment, as she listened to them talk. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and, finally, approached the group as they seemed to come to a consensus.

"If it pleases the jury," Calypso chirped up as the group quieted down, her eyes bright as she looked over each of them. "Both Cancer and Leon shall be called guilty. Cancer shall be banished for four cycles, and Leon shall be demoted to Runt-- our lowest rank. He will have a cycle to recover and prove himself before Maji Walezi votes on if he has redeemed himself. Are you all in agreement? Just a yes or no shall suffice."

@Booker @Talat @Baratheon @Usui @Mau
if you can't post, feel free to just pm me your vote! <3

murderers are not monsters,
they're men; and that's the most frightening
thing about them

"I vote yes," the blind bat spoke, feeling the moss under his belly, wondering if the punishments would serve to change these gembound for the better. He had little else to say, though now he found himself hopeful... Looking for the blind fluffy owl he called friend.

He had things he had wanted to show the owl. Things of his new rainy home, of the leatherskin and other bird and the bogs... He wanted to see them, through the owl's magical powers, to know his new friends better. Unfortunately, that would have to wait. There were too many heartbeats-- he didn't dare use his red sense. The green was overwhelming enough.

So instead, he simply waited.

!!! ...

It's in the eyes!
I can tell, you will always be danger!
We had it tonight! Why do we always seek absolution?

Booker had stayed silent long enough, absorbing the thoughts of the other jury members, young mind mulling over words as serious as attempted murder and banishment. He jumped when Baratheon asked for his own take on the trial, and before he had thought of anything to say, Bevy was calling for a vote. The tiny numbat waited as long as he could, staring out at the crowd from his perch, finally speaking as loudly as he could to be heard - though the volume was still quite quiet, comparatively.

"Yes. Yes, I agree. Both hurt each-other, and both did things none of us would say were right, but Leon has already begun to pay for it," he intoned, eyeing the bear's wounds worriedly. "They both need time, and it needs to be spent away from the other." Opinion posed, the tiny Gembound huffed, settling back down onto Baratheon's snout, hoping he hadn't just embarrassed both himself and the dragon.

Then, he waited, watching, trying to lock away the waves of empathy he felt brewing every time he glanced towards both the leopard and the bear. Booker didn't dare look at Quix, too sure the little fox would see his words as a betrayal - if his assumptions on her earlier 'story' were true.

Baratheon listened to Usui's advice and he had to admit that he agreed. He took another look at the beaten up bear and thought that perhaps a banishment where he would have to fend for himself might be a bit much. He gave a nod, yes, a demotion in rank would be better. He listened to the little brother on his snout and yes, he agreed as well. "It's a yes for me too."

words: ---
tagged: Trial
ooc: ---
muse: pffth

"Speech"
Thoughts

Mau sat in polite silence as the others discussed the sentence. They agreed that both should be punished, which rubbed her ego nicely, but decided the bear should only be demoted, the cat's banishment only four cycles long. It seemed fair. She turned to preen the fur on her shoulder, drawing it between tiny comb teeth before turning back as they began to address the tiny bird. Yes, that all seemed fair. She nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes, let's be on with it then? I've a busy schedule to adhere to." She was almost late for her third cat nap of the day! Gods forbid she miss it!

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