(no subject)

[amicably_absent]

Glitch wanted to stay in the cabin forever, but Ambrose insisted on heading back, getting home the day before the trial was set to happen. He didn't elaborate on why, though it was fairly apparent that he wanted to attend, especially when he spent an hour the night before it setting out clothes, putting them in orders with numbers to clearly mark how they went on. It was a lot of work and planning.

Ambrose, also unlike Glitch, had no problems using the privilege of an attendant to help get ready. He gets dressed carefully in what is just shy of a dress uniform but speaks with position to anyone entitled to know it. The attendant helps him with his hair, getting the ringlets settled neatly, if not combed down in his usual manner. He thinks Glitch would protest it and, as he has been told, he needs to stop being ashamed of the line of steel in his scalp. A few touches of make up highlight his pale, striking appearance and he asks Wyatt to escort him down to the court house.

Wyatt has to be there anyway, as the first officer on scene with the small delegation of Viewers who will also present evidence through a mirror set up in court just for that, one with a moratanium frame that Ambrose thinks he might've designed.

The case isn't short, but the conclusion is foregone. He himself is unable to sit to testify, no headcase testimony can be taken by the court, but since he can't remember anything anyway, there would be no point in unnecessarily working him up into glitching.

He does that enough as it is. Each bit of testimony sets off glitches and skips, fragments of thought and getting caught in cycles. It's a hard, long few hours as they plow though it all. They plead guilty, but it's before sentencing that the judge asks if anyone has anything to say.

That's when he raises his hand. "I do, Your Honour."

The judge gives him a long look. "While you cannot testify, the court will recognise any additional statements you have to offer, Adviser Ambrose."

He stands up, smoothing down his military style coat with the tiny badges across the breast marking the medals he won't wear in public. "My learned judge, I would ask you to consider clemency in your sentencing of these men."

He takes a breath to give the noise a moment to subside. "I cannot and will not condone the acts of violence that have been committed, against myself and potentially against other individuals who have suffered violation at the hands of the Witch's surgeons. Justice and retribution is the domain of the court and the police, and it is unacceptable to have the public taking vengeance for actions that may - or indeed may not - have been committed. The court has already taken action against violent offenders, their headcasing is - believe me - punishment enough for their actions, leaving them incapable of directed malice of any consistent amount.

"But.

"The commonality of headcasing as political terrorism to silence dissidence and rebellion is not yet commonly seen, understood or recognised. Ignorance, in truth, is the enemy here. These men were wrong, but they acted in fear and ignorance. I personally feel no need to vengeance against these men, I pity them for being so scared during these dark times past that they cannot reach towards the better future we are all striving for. I pity their ignorance in attacking those who present a visible sign of their ongoing imprisonment, for the thoughts they had, the allegiances they held and not for any crime committed. Headcasing for crime is almost unknown now, but for political motivations? That has been far more prevalent in recent times. Punishment should be a learning aid, to educated individuals and society and this case and serve to educate these men, theoir families and society as a whole. Not just of the heinous acts taken against political prisoners such as myself, but a learning experience that the barbaric and harsh times of the Witch are over and we will once again strive towards a benevolent society of correction, not vengeance."

He bows his head. "Thank you." And he sits down, reaching for Wyatt's hand.

Comments

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"Yeah?" He turns to look, eyes full of warmth and happiness. "Good. Wouldn't want to find out you don't."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Glitch likes it too." He strolls alongside him comfortably. "We don't have long, do we?"

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"I know... It always seems to brighten his spirit." He nods affirmative. "Little under an hour."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"It's sweet and it's just between us." He nods slightly. "All right. You'll keep track of the time?"

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

He pats his vest pocket, where he keeps his piece of clockwork. He'll keep track, like he always does.

He knows just where they're going, too. He knows these streets like the back of his hand, and he's fond enough of the place that he'll never forget.

He leads Ambrose to the front door of the same bakery he and Glitch found on their first outing together. "Here we are. Gents first."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Oh this is... I've been here before," Ambrose murmurs. He steps in, lost a bit of a dream like trance. "I know I have. I remember this case, with the beesting cake..."

His hands trail the glass.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

Wyatt steps inside as well, the tiny bell ding-dinging again as he passes the sensor. He tips his hat to the young woman behind the counter with a smile. "Ambrose, this is Selia. Selia, Ambrose. You've met Glitch."

"H'lo, Ambrose. Good to meetcha." Selia waves at him excitedly from where she stands, a bundle of energy even on the slowest of days.

"What can I get you today?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

He looks up sharply, eyes going wide and then looking back at Wyatt for reassurance. New person, and he's starting to panic a bit. "Good, good day, Selia," he says softly. "I- Wyatt? What do you recommend?"

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

He steps up, placing his hand at the small of Ambrose's back in silent support. "We'll have something light. Tea for two, and I'm thinking we'll share a sandwich," he looks to Ambrose for confirmation.

"Make room for some cake after?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Ambrose leans back into Wyatt, not quite pressing but clearly wanting too. "That sounds fine," he says quietly. "I'm going to go get us a seat."

He steps away and over to the window. To the exact seat Glitch always sits in.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

Wyatt's strategy is very simple, now that he thinks on it. Introduce Ambrose to people who've met Glitch. One by one, maybe Ambrose will find it easier to talk to people he doesn't know.

He brings their tray over to the table, complete with cups of tea and small containers of milk and honey. The sandwich is split diagonally in half, leaving equal amounts to them both of toasted rhye bread, lettuce, cheese, ham and what Sila said is a hint of homemade mustard.

"Hey. That wasn't too bad, was it?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Ambrose is watching out the window at the world going by when Wyatt gets there. "Mm? Well... I suppose not." Intellectually not, but he still feels terribly shy. "She already knows Glitch? I feel, terribly crazy when I have to explain about that."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

He nods, pushing Ambrose's cup closer to him. "Sometimes, you'll pop in and out in the middle of things. Glitch gets flashbacks and glitches, and you fill in the gaps... Selia was the first to notice."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Ah." That makes sense, and explains exactly why this place is so familiar to him. He's been here. Even if it's just flickers and a sense of familiarity.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"I've wanted to take you here for some time now," Wyatt confides softly. "No one here ever treated you wrong because of the zipper. They're good people. Don't look so glum."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

He looks up with a small smile. "I'm sorry, Wyatt, I'm just terribly shaken by giving that speech and... everything." He takes Wyatt's hands in his. "Thank you."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

Of course he is... Of course he is, and dammit, Wyatt should have thought that one step further. He looks at their hands, squeezes Ambrose's firmly. "Don't be. I don't think I realized... Sometimes I really should think before opening my mouth."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Ambrose smiles more fondly. "You're right, I should relax a bit more." He lifts up Wyatt's hands and kisses the knuckles. "I might steal all of this day, you know."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"And what might I do to tip the scales, then?" He smiles wider, keeping his hands relaxed and pliant in Ambrose's grip.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"After court, take me out to the garden to just spend time with you, dinner in my room and an evening just to us?"

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"Just us." It sounds wonderful. It sounds absolutely delightful. He nods, leaning in and tilting his head for a kiss.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Just us," he agrees. He returns the kiss softly, delicately.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

He hums into the kiss, bringing his hands up to touch. He loves this...the way they're so different from each other, yet so very much the same.

He loves them both. All of them.

"Mmm."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Ambrose keeps hold of Wyatt's hands, lacing their fingers and breaking the kiss to smile shyly. "I can't wait until court is over."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"Me neither." He looks into Ambrose's eyes, completely taken with how brown they are. "Dancing in the garden, smelling the flowers and just enjoying each other's company. And later on, just you and me and the fireplace."