Chaos is known as the being that never became a star. It is everywhere and yet nowhere at the same time.
Neither good nor evil, the ultimate expression of nothingness. The antithesis of the cosmos, creation itself.
Although Chaos claims to be the very state of existence from which the first entities appeared, it cannot form into the entity it wants most.
So it has been cursed to stay in the form of a dark and shapeless void. Floating between existence and nonexistence.
Longingly watching as stars are constantly born and lives are lived. The seeds of malice had been planted, flourished and transformed Chaos into the purest form of evil.
Domestic abuse, this wasn't exactly the first time Julius had seen a case file for it but it was certainly the first time he saw it holding his position. Before then, it was only because he was an intern. Was he really the right person for this? Then again, as a prosecutor, he couldn't exactly always choose his job. He needed to be versatile and if he wanted to help everyone, that had to include abuse victims as well. A sigh parted from his breath as he knew how hard these can be to win. Most of the time it was almost a game of 'he says, she says' and it makes it hard to track down the truth to reveal. The investigation hasn't even fully started yet as this paper was merely what the police station has given him after the woman had pressed charges.[break][break]
The woman certainly was not rich but he wouldn't say that she was poor either. She had a modest job as a secretary for a small stock company. That should be enough money for her to live in a small apartment should she leave. So that did beg the question of why she didn't just leave the man before now. The pictures itself was not exactly good to look at. The bruises had slightly worn away but it had obviously been there. There were a few scars as well but there were all on the body and not the face. In other words, this wasn't something that was uncommon if the person knew this, at least according to the report. [break][break]
A sigh parted from his lips, abuse victim. No pressure there. A quick glance at the clock told Julius that the woman, Amanda Hearth, should be coming soon. A part of him wondered if he should try to hand this off to someone instead. No...once again, he was going to have to do this eventually. Steeling what little resolve, he had, the prosecutor stood up and walked out to the front desk to meet with them. Julius recognized the brunette with brown eyes from the picture, that was Miss Hearth alright but who was the person next to her?[break][break]
"Miss Hearth, I am Julius Vesper, the prosecutor for your case." Despite the fact that Julius sounded as if he was on her side, he knew that he really wasn't. Not yet. It wasn't that he didn't want to help her but he wasn't exactly sure why she couldn't just leave or put a restraining order on the man. Why come to a prosecutor? Again, he was sure there had to be more to this. Gray eyes then trailed over to the person standing beside her. "We can talk more in my office," he stated expecting the stranger with white hair to leave. Yet, what he found instead was Amanda holding tightly onto the stranger. Well...this was...odd.[break][break]
Eleanor's heels clicked as she paced back and forth, waiting for Amanda to come from the bathroom stall she had gone into. After a few minutes of fretting over the woman as she vomited what must have been only bile - since she hadn't seen anything enter the woman's mouth, save for coffee and water - Amanda emerges and Eleanor lets out a sigh of relief, heart stuttering in her chest. "Are you alright?" She asks quickly, brushing some hair from the woman's face. Amanda nods, wordless, and Eleanor hands her a mint. [break] "For your stomach." She says. And your breath, goes unsaid. She presses a hand to the woman's back, and leads her out of the washroom. Amanda mutters a quiet thanks, and Eleanor sighs through her nose. [break] Her mind wanders to the day she found the woman, broken and battered outside her apartment - crying into her hands, saying she needed to go back. Eleanor had dragged her ass to her own apartment and kept her safe from that monster. Not because she was contractually obligated, either. But because it was the right thing to do. [break] As they walk the hallway of the office, Eleanor tucks some of her hair behind her ear, exhaling. As the door to the office of the prosecutor opens, she straightens, while Amanda recoils. He greets them, guides them into his office, and after they're both seated, Eleanor clears her throat. [break] "I'm just here for..." A pause. She glances to Amanda, and then gives her a reassuring smile. "Support."
Julius had guided the two into his office so that they can talk privately. He knew how hard it must be to come forward with abuse allegations if only from the research papers he had read back when he was still in school. He had to do this delicately, get her to give him the information he needed and to know if there was anything he needed to prepare for as well. Actually, it wasn't just that. He may very well have to prepare Amanda Hearth for anything the defense attorney may throw her way. They never care what they do as long as they get their victory and more importantly their payment.[break][break]
Once inside the office, he moved behind his desk before looking over at the unknown woman questioningly. Just who exactly was she to have not left yet? Fortunately, the woman had answered one of his questions. She was there for support. The male gestured to the two chairs on the other side of the table. This might take a while so really, it would be best if they were to take a seat. Yet despite that logic, Julius still remained standing. It wouldn't be right to sit before the other two did. "What is your relationship to Miss Hearth?" Was she a supporting friend? A cousin perhaps? More importantly, "are you involved with this case?"
Sighing softly, Eleanor runs her thumb over her lip, thinking about what she was to Amanda. They had become friends over the past two weeks - considering the woman lived in her apartment for the time being. "A friend. I was the one who found her when her husband decided to use her as a professional boxing bag." Eleanor's jaw tightens, and she frowns at the man across from her. [break] Amanda coils more, and Eleanor sighs, stifling her anger for now. "My apologies. It just angers me to think of the state that monster left her in." Her mouth coils inwards, lips pursing. For now, she'd stay silent, if not for her own sanity, then for Amanda's, as she opens her mouth to start to process. [break] "What do I need to do to proceed?" Amanda's voice is small, and Eleanor squeezes her hand, chewing on the inside of her cheek so that she didn't mention the countless times the man had shown up at her residence, breaking his restraining order. Not yet, anyway. Not until Amanda said her piece. [break] She could give her that much before she dragged her assailant through the coals.
A friend who had been the one to find her. Remembering the photographs, Julius would assume, this person must have found her after it had already happened rather than during it. The prosecutor did not flinch at the woman's frown but instead had merely stared blankly back at her. He had seen criminals given him threatening looks and as far as he knew, he hadn't done anything to cross the woman yet. Theoretically, he should be safe for now. [break][break]
It was Amanda who had reacted first flinching at the sight. It was her action that had caused the white haired woman to apologize. Julius had merely given a nod even though he was unsure as to why the woman was apologizing to him. He wasn't the one that was affected.[break][break]
"First I will need you to go over the story once again. I know you have told the police the story," Julius had gotten the transcript himself but it was part of the procedure. "I will also be asking you some questions along the way. If you wish to stop at any time, tell me and we will take a break. After listening to the story, I will tell you what I can charge him with and how far it will go." The prosecutor took a small pause realizing that he might have said something wrong. He needed to make sure he would give power to the survivor, "but I will hear what you wish to charge him with. If there is enough evidence, I will charge him with what you wish for to the extent of the law." He took a short moment to allow Miss Hearth to process the information before taking out his own phone to record. "Feel free to begin when you are ready," he informed her as he opened the app and started the recording.[break][break]
The man hadn't always been like this. Maybe it was a mask or maybe the stress of work got to him. Miss Hearth was not sure but it started out with small things. Miss Hearth would make a mistake such as forgetting to cook for him or playfully pushing him too hard. He would start with yelling at her for her forgetfulness. When she made a mistake in public or when he thought she might be cheating on him because she was having a small reunion with her highschool friend, he would wait until they were home before beating her. It escalated on from there until it became the smallest mistake or just when he got mad. He did not allow her to call anyone on her phone often checking any outgoing or incoming calls. Any form of social media had also been off limits that Miss Hearth was only allowed to talk to him and perhaps some of her co-workers. Of course, talking about abuse with a co-worker can be difficult. It didn't help that Miss Hearth had gotten her job through the man so there was always the fear that they would not side with her. He had also threatened to hunt her down should she leave. It wasn't just her that he would be after but her sister as well. And this has been happening for the past three years. Throughout the questionings, Miss Hearth would often take breaks and Julius had also asked an intern to go out and get some water for her to drink.[break][break]
Eventually, when the story was done, Julius gave a nod before looking over the notes that he had taken. "With the information we have, I may be able to charge him with ten years of jail...I may be able to push for no parole." Although even then it might be a stretch, but Julius would rather not let the man have any chance. "I see that you have filed a temporary restraining order on him," Julius noted as his eyes glanced at her file, "may I ask who you are staying with?'[break][break]
Miss Hearth looked over at her friend.[break][break]
Ah...it seems she was more involved than Julius had originally thought. Truly, she was a good friend. "I see. Have you seen him or his lawyer after the restraining order has been filed?"
Every time Amanda told the story, Eleanor was moved - not to tears, but to anger. By the time she was done telling it again, she was near to bursting the entire room into ice. Instead, she exhales slowly, releasing the pent-up anger. [break] "He came by recently." She frowns and narrows her eyes. "With a couple of his friends." Eleanor releases the grip on her chair and moves to lean forward. "He threatened her. I'll be at the trial, standing as witness." Her eyes narrow at the man across the desk. "Can you push for 25? If you go lower -" She swallows and leans back again. "He might get even less. At least if you ask for more... He'll get what we originally were going to ask for." [break] She thinks about her ex - spending 30 years behind bars for attempted murder of the 2nd degree. Eleanor clears her throat and sighs through her nose, looking to Amanda. "It's up to you, Mandy." She mutters. Amanda thinks for a moment, then nods firmly, agreeing with her new friend. [break] "I want to give him the most time possible." She answers, shakily, but determined.
So the man came by recently, huh? And with friends, Julius wondered if he can charge them too or if that would be pushing it. He'll have to talk to someone else in the office to figure that part out later. The prosecutor watched as the woman slowly release her grip on the chair in order to move forward. Her action demanding the attention, that he was more than willing to give her. The woman had volunteered herself to be a witness, that was good to know. The logic of her request also made sense. The defense attorney would naturally try to convince the judge to lower the sentence, it was their job, to lessen the punishment for one's crime in return for money. Defense attorneys were honestly a disgusting job, only being above actual criminals.[break][break]
'If we are pushing for 25 years, this will be held in front of a court with a jury," he stated keeping eye contact with Miis hearth. If the punishment was to be pushed that far, the court case would also be dragged out. Julius did not exactly mind that himself, it was his job. He would do just that if it was Miss Hearth's wish, he will do just that. It just meant that there would be slightly more people who may know of her story. The words, despite the dispassionate tone, carried a small warning. It was something he wanted her to consider. According to what he read back in university, court cases can usually be quite hard for abuse victims. Not only did they have to see their abuser again but also let a selected people hear and judge their story. They also have to face the defense attorney trying to tear down their stories. They would have to face people possibly thinking they were liars. Julius will do the best he can to defend her but he couldn't exactly protect her from all their scorn.[break][break]
At her decision, Julius gave a nod, "then considered done. I will push as far as I can." There was a small pause as the prosecutor debated on how to continue with this. He didn't want to scare the woman or destroy her determination. Yet, he needed to make preparations for her own mental health. "I will have the police do an investigation around the resident that you are staying in. So I will need the address. If it is possible, can you tell one of the secretaries outside?' In truth, he already had the information about her current residence from the police. However, he needed someone to distract her for the moment. "I will need your friend to stay if she plans to be a witness. There are papers that will be needed to fill out." Well that part wasn't exactly a lie. And he knew there was a risk in separating them but it would only be for a few short minutes. Gray eyes caught the hesitation on her face, the small glance at her friend before giving a nod.[break][break]
"I'll be right back," she informed the two. Julus merely nodded back at her, his face remaining passive.[break][break]
The male waited for the door to close behind the woman before opening the drawer to take out some of the papers that he needed to do. His hand then moved over to pluck a pen from its container, not exactly looking at the only other person in the room. "You told me the man came around withs ome of his friends, I assume from that the two of you are currently staying together?"
Eleanor nods at everything that the man - Julius Vesper, she notes by the placard on his desk - is saying. She licks her lips as he explains everything to Amanda, and reaches across, gently offering her hand to the other woman. She takes it graciously, agreeing to everything the lawyer says. [break] When he mentions she'll need to fill out paperwork, Eleanor clears her throat. "Of course." She says quietly, tilting her head. "That's fine." She looks up at Amanda and lets her go, smiling gently. "I'll be out soon." Eleanor gestures to the door and smiles, before glancing back to the lawyer as soon as Amanda is gone. [break] "Yeah, he came around with three of his friends. Tried to intimidate us." Eleanor sighs gently, reaching for the pen. She knows the drill - answer all the questions as truthfully as possible, without mentioning her contract. Or how she got rid of them. Remembers shoving a solid ice spice of a hand through the foot of one. [break] "One of them tried to grab me. I was holding a knife for protection. I dropped it and it went into his foot." Another sigh escapes her lips. "I feel bad about that, actually." She licks her lips. Not entirely a lie. Her hand had taken a week to regrow new skin over the parts that had melted inside the man's foot - that part, she did feel bad about. "I'm sure there won't be a complaint filed, since it was self-defense, and there are witnesses." Eleanor pauses. "What am I signing?" She glances down at the papers, rifling through them a bit. Reading.
Julius gave a nod to the story also agreeing with her that they couldn't say much. For one, it had been in self-defense. The best they can argue was for it to be excessive but in her defense, it was only the foot. "I'll make sure to argue on that point if they try to push for it" he stated, his voice carrying the usual dispassion as if he was almost annoyed by the extra work. In truth though, he really doubted they would try. If they filed a complaint, that would be an admitance to breaking the restraining order. If the defense attorney was worth the money, they would advise against such ideas to their clients.[break][break]
The prosecutor marked the last remaining areas where she needed to initial her name. "This is essentially a paper marking you as a witness to the judge. The judge will be allowed to question you before the court case is presented should he accept the severity of the case." Well, that was the short version of it. Julius doubted she would want to hear the entire thing or else she would have become a prosecutor, or worse, a defense attorney herself. "The defense attorney will not have your information, just as I will not have any information on who they may call as a witness." Of course, that won't prevent either side of having guesses. He was sure the defense attorney will predict this woman's involvement, the same way Julius was sure a few character witnesses will be the man's friend. [break][break]
"While you're here, I would also like to talk to you. Miss Hearth wishes to push for the greatest severity she can and I will abide by her wish." It was part of his job working for the state, he was someone that worked for the people. If the victim or their family (should the worst case scenario occurred) wanted a certain punishment, he will do everything in his power to see it through. " However, as I have stated before, this will be shown in front of a jury. There will be people who will doubt her story, who may call her out. Even more so, there will be a larger amount of people who may find out. The defense attorney will most likely try to tear down her story to make it appear either as lies or for the transgressions to be less than what they actually are. Miss Hearth will have to encounter these challenges." And Julius was sure that was only naming some. There may also be witnesses who will attack her character rather than the facts in order to discredit her and sway the jury. "I will do what I can to defend her during court but I cannot always be there for her. As you are living with her...she may need your support." Support, not pity. Julius was honestly not sure how he would approach this. Then again, it wasn't his job to do so. "You had been the one to encourage her to go this far," even if the woman had backed down, it had been her suggestion. She had a sway over Miss Hearth and therefore there was a small message in his words.[break][break]
It was the woman's responsibility to take care of her friend. If something was to happen, it was on the woman in front of him.
The skin LIGHTS OFF was made by JAWN of WICKED WONDERLAND.
HALATION was created by KOJIHIME. Images belong to their respective artists. All codes and scripts belong to their respective coders. Please DO NOT take anything without the owners' permission.
