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Post by Carrow on Nov 30, 2009 19:03:16 GMT -5
Sciurus Whirlpaw felt a sort of nervous energy within him as he strolled through the cobbled streets of Cosnair at a leisurely pace. The red squirrel was on his way to visit his friend, Otto Kurtz. He had seen a side of the otter he had not known was there a few days previously, when the mustelid had been rocked by the revelations that one of his trusted friends, the long-since-dead Mirabeau, had lead a double life.
While pretending to be a supporter of the Rosferian Revolution, he had gone behind every creature's back and collaborated with the now-deposed leopard monarch, Augustine. He had died a hero, yet his name was now tarnished forever. Otto had ordered that all the statues depicting him as a creature that lived for the Revolution be smashed to pieces. Otto had been so disgusted with the double-dealing traitor. He had been absolutely crushed by the discovery made at the last Convention session.
The rodent hypnotist had been shocked to see his friend like that. They had agreed to meet up a few days after the incident. However, another development that had taken place at the Convention was on the squirrel's mind. Augustine was to be brought to trial in December for crimes against the nation, and Otto had put an offer to his bushy-tailed friend, suggesting that he take the role of prosecutor in the trial. Sciurus had thought deeply about the proposal over the last few days, but was only now beginning to come to a decision. He wanted his otter friend's input before he committed himself.
More important to him, however, was the welfare of his best friend. Plans for the trial were merely an aside: the real purpose of Sciurus' visit was to check up on Otto. His tail swayed slowly back and forth as he spotted the well-furnished home, with a sign outside indicating that it was the Kurtz residence. The rodent smiled slightly as he stepped up to the door and gave his knock: six sharp taps in quick succesion.
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Post by Ladorak on Dec 1, 2009 1:31:16 GMT -5
Otto Kurtz's residence was indeed well furnished. The otter's accepting bribes on the side had helped build him a very substantial estate, and it could be said that the mustelid lived rather well. Of course...it was also his weakness, and one he was trying to break. The only other weakness he had was for attractive otter jills, but his personal life aside Otto Kurtz really did pour a lot into Rosferia's well being.
It was a nice stone manor house, though still in Cosnair so it wasn't overly massive. Bigger than a lot of places on that street though. He also owned a country villa, and would retire there on weekends.
The otter, as it was, was getting ready to go out. But hearing the raps upon his door, he figured it could only be one beast particular. Yes....it had to be him. Padding over to his front door, the blue furred otter hurriedly undid the lock and swung the door open. "Ah yes....Sciurus....so you're here. Please, please, come in." he stood aside, waving to the interior of a rather plush living room behind him. There were nice upholstered chairs within, clustered around a mantel.
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Post by Carrow on Dec 1, 2009 8:47:52 GMT -5
"One thing about me, mate, is that I always keep my promises. I understand you've been rather busy of late, though. Hope I'm not imposing or anything. Just needed to get a couple of things off my chest, if I'm honest," Sciurus told the aquatic mustelid, smiling as he stepped inside. His blue eyes widened.
"I'm not saying you're the most well-off creature round these parts, but this is certainly more that what I would be used to!" The rodent's smile widened. It was a very cosy residence he had stepped into. For his part, the hypnotist actually did not have a place of his own just yet, for he had stayed in various inns, as well as the two friends' former place of work, at certain times over the previous guts of a year - and was now back to staying at an inn, the proprietors of which knew him quite well now, but he was working on securing his own domicile, when he had time to attend to such matters.
Now, the squirrel was many things, but he was not naive in the slightest. He'd known for a few months that Otto had taken bribes, and thus that this was how he could afford such a relatively lavish lifestyle, but didn't let this colour his opinion of his friend in the slightest. Politics, he thought.
Sciurus' face took on a slightly more concerned expression, however, when he glanced at Otto. He wouldn't be making himself comfortable just yet. His voice became softer, more gentle too. "We have business to attend to, but, before I get around to that... how have you been holding up?
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Post by Ladorak on Dec 2, 2009 10:53:50 GMT -5
"No, no, not at all, not at all." He held the door open further, doing a bit of a bow and sweeping his arm back to allow the squirrel into his abode. Blushing at bit as he knew that the squirrel would see his rather ostentatious surroundings.
Yes...the otter could be vainglorious when it came to spending his money, that much was certain. But he tried to constrain it to his public life and his public life alone. He wasn't perfect. He had his vices, and he knew it. But he was also devote to reforming his country, and would never try and go willingly against that.
"Yes...they aren't as humble as I'm sure you'd like them to be." the otter admitted with a bit of bile in his throat. He felt sick that he lived this way in all honesty. It was almost like a disease that had gripped hold of him, an addiction. But it really didn't affect his public life, and so long as he lived the otter would try and keep it that way.
"How am I holding up?" he asked, swinging the door shut and swallowing. "As good as can be expected I suppose, what with having learned a close supporter that we all admired has betrayed us." he sank down into one of the chairs, curling his tail behind him and letting the tip jut out to the front, he folded his arms across his chest and closed his eyes, thinking.
"I....I guess I'm still digesting it all. Still hasn't left me yet. I've been managing though....getting ready for our next session. I really have no choice, and at least I get about a week off to gather myself together here." Opening his eyes, the otter drummed his claws on the side of his chair, looking up at Sciurus now with a slight frown, if only to indicate he was still unsure of things.
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Post by Carrow on Dec 2, 2009 15:51:55 GMT -5
"Like them to be?," Sciurus repeated, quirking an eyebrow at his otter companion. He himself was relatively barely managing to get by as things stood now, but he made light of it, and did not think of material wealth, howsoever acquired, as the real measure of who a creature was.
"Would I prefer it if you lived somewhere else? I would have no opinion on the subject. I'm not going to cast aspersions on you because of the life you live, Mr. Kurtz." Even though the two creatures were the best of friends, the squirrel took an opportunity to address the otter in a formal tone, indicating that he meant every word that he said. "I would not be all that much of a friend if I did, now would I? You keep your public and private lives separate from each other better than most, that's as clear as a blue summer sky to me."
The rodent smiled slightly as he sat down beside his friend. "I'm glad to hear you're taking things as well as could be expected. Most creatures would give themselves over to grief and withdraw into themselves for days if something like this happened to them, but it makes me smile to hear that you're coping. A certain strength is needed for that, and you have it in spades, that's another thing about you that I have quite honestly come to admire." Making use of the armrests, the squirrel relaxed in his chair. He was going to try and keep the tone as light as he could throughout the exchange. Two good friends were meeting to catch up on a few things, and the tactful creature did not wish to set anything off.
"You never know, perhaps the result of this trial might bring about a sense of vindication and justice, in spite of how this has affected you. If I were in your shoes, I would be working towards going for that."
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Post by Ladorak on Dec 3, 2009 14:43:01 GMT -5
Otto was glad for his friend's support. It meant quite a lot to him that he wasn't just judging him based on how he lived his private life. He wasn't trying to run himself into the ground after all, and it wasn't nearly has dangerous as some other habits that beasts had fallen into.
No...Otto Kurtz considered this more of just who he was. He was trying to change some of it, most specifically him floating around from jill to jill and desiring to actually start a steady relationship. In fact...there was one otter jill in particular he had in his thoughts....but he would be paying her a visit later.
For now his thoughts turned to what Sciurus was saying about the upcoming trial. Ah yes....Augustine's trial. The leopard who had driven the country apart. Of course, he could easily see Augustine as blaming beasts like the aquatic mustelid for the current dissension but that was the thing.....there were problems sure...but at least they had established their democracy without it failing. It would be a test to keep it going, but the otter felt as if they had pushed it so far now, and it could only keep moving forward from here.
"Vindication you say?" He looked at Sciurus from the corner of his eye. "Yes....you might say that would be a good effort to be directing my thoughts. I have to admit the prospect of Augustine's trial is something I've looked forward to for months now. He's been in prison long enough I think. We should decide once and for all what to do with our leopard guest of the nation." He was slowly digging his claws deeper into his armrest, and perhaps Sciurus could see this or perhaps not.
There would be small puncture marks close where the webbed paws of the otter rested on the fabric, but he seemed not to notice or care as he turned to face the rodent head on. "No amount of time we bide could be too short until the day we bring that despicable feline to justice." He said with marked determination in his tone. Too much damage had been done by that former monarch. It was clear where Otto stood on this.
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Post by Carrow on Dec 3, 2009 15:48:27 GMT -5
"Truer words have seldom been spoken, my mustelid friend," was the squirrel's reply. Sciurus even managed to crack a smile as he thought of the trial. The date had been set now - December 11th - and if anything marked just how much his outlook and demeanour had changed over the course of his stay in Cosnair, it was the fact that he was far from dreading the fateful day, but relishing it. "I long to see that despicable creature brought to justice for his most heinous crimes. Augustine has left the country in quite a state, as I'm sure he knows well."
The squirrel's sharp eyes did indeed pick up the puncture marks. Oh, suffering seasons! He's really cut up about all this, he thought. The hypnotist stood up, stretching a little. His train of thought was picking up speed now, yet to even think of the deposed monarch made him tense. "'Scuse me a moment," the rodent murmured as he limbered up, before sitting back down. "Oh, confound that... that creature! Just to think of him makes me feel as tight as a coiled spring. But yes... getting back to what you suggested to me last week."
Sciurus' sparkling blue eyes gazed into Otto's, his voice low, almost conspiratorial. "I have been thinking quite a lot about it, to tell you the truth, and while I myself will admit I'm no expert in legal studies, a creature would not need to be if they were to even attempt to bring him to justice. I do however value the input of other creatures, and especially now, since this is a decision I would not make before getting some advice, I would like to ask you what you think of the idea. I know you suggested it, and everything, but perhaps you had been thinking of this even before the events at the Convention?"
The squirrel's bushy tail swayed slowly from side to side as he spoke. He was wondering what his otter companion made of it all.
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Post by Ladorak on Dec 5, 2009 1:38:42 GMT -5
"Before the Convention? Oh seasons no!" Otto exclaimed, actually managing to emit a laugh. I'm not THAT well versed in planning ahead, in spite of what you may think about me." the otter said, giving Sciurus a knowing look. "No, I think a lack of training is no problem. We're planning on getting Paul Cutter on the prosecution as well, so at least you'll have a good intellect with you who's fairly well versed with trials. True he was a vet before the Revolution, but he should be fine working with you."
"After all..." he went on. "Augustine will have around three lawyers from what I hear, all well educated in the profession." He was growing a bit more calmed just talking about the circumstances and what lay before them. Yes...a real job with real results awaited just around the corner. No more plotting, no more organizing. Only acting.
"So to answer your concerns yes....I did. I am far more inclined to say you'll do a good job if you just be honest and present the facts. Start going over those letters that he received as well, as those will prove invaluable evidence in convicting him I think. Cutter should have access to them now. So I'd give them a thorough perusal when you can." the former hypnotists suggested, glancing from his empty hearth back to the squirrel. Fire....it was a fire that was needed. Ignition. And they would get it in a few short weeks.
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Post by Carrow on Dec 5, 2009 8:41:08 GMT -5
"I thought you might have put a little more planning into this idea than it turns out you have," Sciurus replied, chuckling. "Two things suggested to me this might have been the case: for one thing, quite a few Convention beasts think of me as an above-average orator, something that astounds me if I'm quite honest," the squirrel replied modestly. "And also, you realise that I can use this hatred of Augustine that has developed within me for some productive things. Wait, you're telling me this was a complete spur-of-the-moment idea?" The rodent arched an eyebrow, blue eyes twinkling. "Very well. Rather a good one, I must say.
"Now, as for the news that Cutter will be alongside me on the day, well, that's fantastic! I quite liked what I saw of him back when you brought me to see him; he may well be a loose cannon, sure - I've noticed that myself - but for once its seems that we are all united in this attempt to rid ourselves of that terrified cub that passed for a monarch. Something like that really makes me feel more confident, you know. Are we going to have another creature on our team, just to balance the scales: our three lawyers against his?"
Sciurus smiled widely, his tail whipping back and forth now to show his ecitement. He really was subscribing to the whole idea now, that much hed had to admit. He knew that for all his inexperience, he would be working alongside a beast more than worth his salt as a prosecutor. This was a reassuring thought, and, like his otter companion, he felt himself becoming calmer about this whole thing. The squirrel was looking forward to some long-overdue action.
"I will certainly cast an eye over those letters - I really think that if we can bring up enough evdience from them to use against him, then he's doomed. And we shall all be the better for it," he finished, taking on a darker tone now. At this moment, there was nothing in the world that the hypnotist wanted more than to bring about Augustine's demise - although his desire to get back to working in a parlour of any description was never all that far from his mind. He'd loved his old job, and would continue to look for a way to balance the main areas of his life.
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Post by Ladorak on Dec 5, 2009 15:07:13 GMT -5
"Thank you." Otto said. Milton had pushed in the call for a trial for Augustine from the streets of Cosnair, and Cutter had urged the Convention to vote on an open, public trial rather than a closed one. The timid Brissoe had opposed this of course, but Cutter had managed to convince enough beasts to vote for it that it had passed and Augustine's trial would be public.
"I believe that perhaps Milton might take up the job with you and Cutter as well. He IS a lawyer by profession after all...or was. He was the Public Prosecutor of Cosnair before he resigned that post. Now he's just back to making speeches. But yes, he might in fact by on your team as well. If that suits you as course. A vet, a hypnotist and a lawyer....all playing at being lawyers heheh." the otter chuckled at the thought now.
"As for those papers....I believe Cutter mentioned to me that they contain almost 34 things that you could indict Augustine for. He gave me a list....and it seems our leopard monarch has been quite the busybody as of late. Writing letters from the Winter Palace to all sorts of beasts and forming conspiracies left and right. You should be able to get him on quite a bit.....here let me see if I can find that list."
Otto stood up, stretching a bit now. "I need to get out more. Get active before this trial. Oh....yes...that's right....it seems Augustine was bribing Mirabeau....paying him quite a bit of money in fact. To think he'd do that for the King's gold....what a shameful creature indeed." Otto said distastefully. Shaking his head, he moved over to a shelf that was behind them, containing mostly books. "Let's see...where did I put that....?" he murmured, rifling through a few of them.
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