Making A Comeback

*Tirea looks confused, but follows Keter anyway*

And so Keter leads a merry band of lesbians, a bisexual, a straight chick, whatever Tirea is, and Tarrlok.

Dalia gave him an odd glance when he repeated the line, but didn't say anything.

Astarte followed him in, "So um... what's up?"

"Oh, well, yesterday, Noctis invited us up into the owner's box to watch the match."
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*As she's walking towards the gate, she swishes her arms, erecting a large wall of blue flame outside. A hush goes over the crowd, save for a few oo's & aw's, & the fire also hides the gate opening, them filing in a line with Keter at the center, & the gate closing behind them. When the fire dies down, Euryale squints from all of the camera flashes, looks around for the man behind the video camera, & waves. Keter opens her mouth, but Tarrlok steps forward.*

Tarrlok<Ladies & gentlemen, might I just say that it's an honor to be out here today, with the Dancing Dragons, the fine women of the force who helped to capture Senthose...ah, yes, and Keter.>

*He gestures to each of them in turn.*

<But didn't Senthose escape from police custody?>

Tarrlok<Ah, yes. Perhaps Keter can elaborate about why she asked them out here today. As I recall, you helped capture him, did you not? Does that not mean he made you look like a fool?>

*Keter breathes deeply with barely suppressed fury.*

Keter<I will aid, in any way, the RCPD in his recapture.>

Tarrlok<So, would either of our fine officers like to expand on the plan to recapture him?>

*Tirea waves at the cameras*

Gabe furrows her brow, reading the attack on Keter quite clearly, and feeling pretty low since she brought him there.

Mortal shook her head, "I'm afraid, we cannot speak on matters of the investigation in any official capacity. You would need to contact the department directly for an official statement. I can only say that, personally, I have every intent and interest in bringing him back to jail."

"Where he would still be today had it not been for an unrelated event leading to his escape," Noct added, "Hardly fair to imply Keter should feel shame for it. She performed the city a great service, and deserves nothing but acclaim, and her desire, and continued dedication to seeing Senthose brought to justice is admirable."

"And here I thought we had put debates behind us," Gabe said with a nervous chuckle.

Tarrlok<Why, I didn't say anything of the sort! Aren't you all being a little untrusting?>

<Excuse me! What about the other Triads? The Purist Leader already attempted to assassinate one of your own. Do you plan to do anything about that?>

Tarrlok<I'm afraid she doesn't know where the other leaders are. Except for "Lightning Bolt" Zolt, of course.>

E"Uh, we can't actually do anything about Zolt, Mr. Tarrlok. He was acquitted of all previous charges, there isn't enough hard evidence, in the eyes of the law, to say that he is a Triad member, let alone a leader."

Tarrlok<So would that be to say that you don't know who the Triple Threat leader is, or that you do, but you don't intend to do anything about it?>

E"I'm not really sure that's a fair question...."

"It isn't, it is a loaded one," Mortal said furrowing her brow, "If you plan to be a leader to this city, I would hope you know how police business is handled. We have our suspicions, but there is nothing anyone can do without proof. If we allowed opinion to decide who stood trial our jails would be filled with more assholes than criminals."

Noct raised her eyebrows, not expecting the outburst. She made a mental note not to pick on Euryale. She also made a mental note that this was quickly becoming a disaster, she just wondered why Tarrlok would go out of his way to drag Keter down.

"That's very nice of her," Astarte said.

Tarrlok<Well, what are yours and Keter's other priorities? Endorsing...a game?>

*Ven steps up to Tarrlok & stands on tip-toes so she can glare right into his face. Tarrlok sneers.*

V"You're going to back off."

<Keter, is it true that your primary priority is the Pro-Bending match?>

<Why DID you invite the Dancing Dragons on stage with you?>

<Ms. Aurora, do you want it on record that your fellow spokesperson threatened Mr. Tarrlok?>

<Come to think of it, why have you not issued a statement regarding the attempt to assassinate Mr. Tenzin?>

<How do you respond to the allegations that you are, in fact, responsible for the recent Spirit attacks?>
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"Uhh...not sure I made that clear. What I'm saying is, you don't have to worry about buying tickets for tonight's match."

Noct raised her hands in a calming manner, "Please, quiet down. One question at a time. To address Tarrlok's previous question, I'd like to point out that if you were looking for Keter's stance on wide ranging issues you should have paid more attention to the debates. Keter can explain her priorities better than I can, but I felt the need to address that."

"Wait, that isn't fair," Gabe said, "You were trying to do the same thing as Keter with us. In fact, when I said we were coming here you were adamant on coming along. If you're so against this kind of thing why did you want to do the exact same thing. It is hypocritical."

"Oh," Astarte said, giving an almost apologetic smile. "That's good, then."

Tarrlok<A fair point.>

*He covers his mouth with his hand as he whispers in Gabe's ear.*

Tarrlok<(But let me tell you a little secret: They won't see it that way. The damage is already done, & Keter has no chance of victory. How does that phrase go...game, set, match?)>

Keter<My priority is, & always has been, the proper management of Republic City. If elected, I will...I will put a law on the books that finally puts Zolt away for good!>
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"I guess I didn't have to come by to tell you that, but I didn't know what else to do. Everyone else is at that press conference, but judging from what I've heard on the radio, it's going to be a train wreck."

"Oh... I should put it on," Astarte said, walking to the radio and turning it on, then finding it. "Why do you think that?"

<Stop it, all of you!>

*Tirea looks like she may be about to murder someone*

Gabe frowned, and put her head in her hands when Tarrlok was talking.

Mortal opened her mouth to say that Keter couldn't do that, but kept her mouth shut.

{Keter's press conference is a train wreck!}

R"Well, that's a pretty good indicator, for starters."

{Tarrlok has caused several questions to be raised about Keter's effectiveness as a leader. Just now, Keter has made a desperate promise to draft a law that finally gets "Lightning Bolt" Zolt off of the streets, in exchange for votes.}

R"See, I knew he was going to do something like that."
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Tarrlok<And what might this law entail?>

Keter<The sheer number of times he has been arrested on Triple Threat Triad related charges is itself reasonable suspicion to subject him to greater investigation. If he is the leader of the Triple Threats--because I am legally obligated to say that--then he will be found guilty in short order. I believe my associates will agree that this is a sound principle.>

*She looks at Euryale.*

E"Well, umm...it certainly is...efficient."

"Oh dear."

"Keter actually raises a fair legal point," Noct said, "Under the law a citizen may be stopped and detained based on what is called Reasonable Suspicion. Reasonable Suspicion is a legal standard of proof that falls below Probable Cause, but is more concrete than a 'hunch'." Noct continued, "Expanding the law, or altering it to lengthen the time allowed for the police to detain a suspect might lead to facts being discovered that can lead to a probable cause."

Mortal had forgot Noctis was a lawyer.

{We hope you can hear the live coverage of the event behind us.}
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*For a moment, Tarrlok looks stumped at how to counter this. Then he grins, turning to Euryale.*

Tarrlok<You're the officer. Would you, personally, feel comfortable enforcing that law?>

E"I...I...."

*She fidgets under the combined stare of Keter, Tarrlok, & the press. When camera flashes start going off, she becomes even more nervous, wringing her hands to keep her fingers from twitching.*

"The law is already on the books," Mortal said. "It has the potential to be abused, but all laws do if not properly enforced."

"What do you think, Tarrlok?" Noct asked, "Surely you're not opposed. Or do you believe that the laws as they are now, the same ones that allow Lightning Bolt Zolt to go unimpeded, are good enough?"

Astarte listened quietly.

Tarrlok<I merely think that laws are not useful unless they are enforced. Mortal sure seems willing, but I had actually asked the question of Euryale.>

*Ven crosses her arms, glaring at him from behind Gabe. She is bad at this.*

V"Well, you got your answer, either way."

Tarrlok<I suppose that is true.>

*Keter's assistant emerges from the gate. When Keter doesn't even look at him, he gulps, knowing that he's in deep.*

Assistant<Pardon the interruption, but I have Tarrlok's page on the phone with what he says is a most urgent matter.>

Tarrlok<I do hope that you will all excuse my abrupt departure. I feel that this has been most...illuminating.>

"Indeed it has," Noct said.

<Bye.>

*Tirea does not look sad to see him go*