[Cult Leader's Trial] Stand accused of cold seduction

[thepull_npc]

Who: A Judge and 12 Jurors, an OPEN gallery of onlookers.
The Defense: (Poor DAs), The Defendant (The Cult Leader known as "The Prophet", Miss Sylvia C. Alcázar)
The Prosecution: Franziska Von Karma (backed by an AGI Legal Team)
Testifying Witnesses: Ciel, Alois, Liquid Snake, Allen Walker, Magneto, Fratley and Veser.
When: Monday, April 4th -

Comments

Allen

[dancing_pierrot]

Now, this man was one of the last two witnesses she had caled who had been kidnapped the cult whose leader's guilt she was trying to - would - prove. It wasn't so much a need to present new information at this point in time, but more to confirm the details of what they knew so far and convince the jury that this cult was a danger to society.

"The prosecution calls Mr. Allen Walker to the stand."

[payingthepiper]

How formal-sounding. He'd done his best to dress up for the occasion, since he figured that was how these sorts of things were supposed to proceed - black ties, suits, everything like that - but it wasn't like there was a large budget to work from. Anyway, he walked straight-backed, a medical patch over his left eye; went on forward to the 'stand,' looked over the gathered public (there was a lot) for one moment before settling on Franziska.

It was like putting on an act, only a bit more serious for all involved-- no need to get nervous. Still, he had that 'yes?' half-smile and double eyebrow raise directed toward her, like a dog that wasn't entirely sure what it was supposed to do but was completely willing to try. The other witnesses had been examples, but he wasn't sure Liquid was the best one to follow.

[dancing_pierrot]

Well, at least this witness looked reasonably collected at least; everything would continue to work out smoothly -- well, of course it would. She was Franziska von Karma, after all.

"Please state your name and age for the court."

[payingthepiper]

"Allen Walker, fif-- sixteen."

That part was just a formality, as far as he understood it, but- it was probably a good thing none of them had birth certificates in Siren's Port. Too many things hinged on age in the city.

... Ah, right. The trial. Allen blinked and refocused on the well-put-together prosecutor, settling back to waiting.

[dancing_pierrot]

She noticed the faltering when the witness declared his age, but the question itself was mostly only a formality; perhaps he had celebrated a birthday recently. "How are you related to the case currently at trial?"

[payingthepiper]

"I was one of the kidnapped." There, no stuttering. Not even a frown, actually; he still held up that amiable look (for good or bad).

[dancing_pierrot]

"And where were you when the kidnapping took place?" With a sense of smug self-satisfaction, she thought to herself that the AGI legal team would be irritated by this continued questioning of witnesses who were all basically reiterating the very same facts. Very useful for proving her case, but not the one AGI most wanted her to prove.

[payingthepiper]

“The… Golden Dragon Buffet. It was noon. But I’d noticed some robed figures following me since the morning.”

Maybe not extra information she wanted, but it’d be volunteered, anyway. He was largely ignorant to the fact that any company at all was involved in this: that Franziska was sitting on a very solid, very well-repeated case was obviously, however.

[dancing_pierrot]

It was not a precise answer to her question, no, but it was a statement she could use to continue the testimony nonetheless. "You noticed them, you say? When did they begin to approach you?"

[payingthepiper]

"They never really approached me. I just kept noticing them in-- alleys and behind cars and posts and things. Until the buffet - they'd apparently drugged my food to kidnap me." Bit of embarrassment there, but not too much. It was all just facts, right?

[dancing_pierrot]

There was a slightly more obvious exhalation on Franziska's part at that point; with how easily food seemed to be compromised in this city she wondered how long it would be before it was unsafe to eat anything at all. "So, where did you find yourself once you regained consciousness?"

[payingthepiper]

"In a warehouse, I think. Or maybe underground... -- The walls and floors were cement, there were boxes and other odd things. I can't remember much more than that about the setting." Other than that the only exit had been ten feet too high and three feet too narrow, but that didn't seem like a point that would enamor any of the jurors.

[dancing_pierrot]

"And was there anyone else in there with you?"

[payingthepiper]

Small breath, pause, then without further hesitation: "A few people. Alois, Ciel... Veser. Samus. A good number of cultists. They didn't touch us then, though; I guess that first day was just meant to collect us."

[dancing_pierrot]

Similarly, Franziska did not provide much in the way of hesitation before she continued with her questioning. "And how many days were you contained for?"

[payingthepiper]

"... Three. With the third being the day we were rescued."