Archivist note: This post is from an older recovered archive.
==Initial Post==
(Posted by Sky Netizen on April 2, 2010 at 7:51pm)
“You would be willing to trust an assassin?!” I asked Vernden out of exasperation. We had been having this debate all morning. Though certain theories and clues were leading towards Mr. Darkfold’s innocence were brought to light last night I still insisted that he was a murderer and thus not worthy of trust or the benefit of the doubt.
He replied in his usual calm voice, “I trust an air pirate, don’t I?” Vernden did not even look up from the hovering gurney with which he was tinkering.
I inhaled, about to spit back another part of my argument, but caught myself just in time. That was too clever, using me as a part of his reasoning. “Well, drat,” I said in a disappointed tone after a long pause. “His situation could be seen as rather similar to mine, I suppose.”
“Yep,” he replied with a nod as he put his goggles over his eyes and started to weld.
I frowned a bit, still standing at the top of a ladder where I was installing a light in the ceiling. It did not feel good to be equated with a paid killer, no matter how correct the relation may have been at one point. I liked to think of myself as entirely reformed, a useful member of society. Building rather than destroying, socializing rather than fighting, and rarely ever stealing. Ah, but if I was indeed reformed I only came to that state by proving my character was different from my once unlawful actions. “Could Reed Darkfold possibly be trying to do the same?” I mumbled to myself and climbed down the ladder to look up at my horribly crooked lamp I just installed. Shaking my head, I climbed up another time, to detach the lamp to set it right. Then my mind started to go through the clues that may in fact lead to Darkfold’s innocence, and I dared to speculate, eventual redemption.
When Lia, Cyan and I had the pleasure of speaking to Ms. Stargirl Macbain the night before, one specific bit of information stood out from the rest: That the red “X” was Darkfold’s signature. Not only that, but his signature was rather well known, simple to replicate and could easily be used by an enemy to frame him. Therefore, the fact that a piece of paper with a red “X” was found on the scene of the “accident” does not necessarily mean that Darkfold killed the victim or was even involved. At the very least, the red “X” implicates him which could be exactly what the true killer (if it was someone other than Darkfold) had intended.
After bidding Ms. Macbain a pleasant night, the three of us walked to the Cocoajava Café and were greeted by none other than Mr. Darkfold and Ms. Adderstein. After the appropriate greetings were given and received there was a whirlwind of analogies, banter and tense gazes. Cyan soon cut straight to the heart of what we wanted to know by saying to Darkfold, “So why did you kill Mr. Adderstein, or if you didn’t why were you blamed for it?” Seemingly amused, Darkfold responded, “This boy is straight to the point, a good quality, but you question will be answered in time, not of why or how, but did I or not, the body of one Mr. Adderstein, I am told you will examine.” That same theme played repeatedly during our visit with them. Cyan, Lia and I would ask pointed questions and Darkfold would speak riddles of truth, proof and enlightenment. He insisted that in order to find the truth we would need to examine Mr. Adderstein’s body. We all agreed that we would meet at the earliest time and do just that.
Then Darkfold made the point to ask me, “Ms Netizen, today one is not armed, were you not in expectation of my acquaintance this eve?”
Lia smiled and said, “You underestimate the lady.”
I then stated, “Sir, my skirt hides many things. “
“As my jacket,” he said.
I continued, “Weaponry may be among them. Why do you ask?”
He then explained, “However you think one must have weapon ready when in my presence, if one thinks that they are fooled, harm comes to not one around unless for reason, as well if reason were to come, weapons would nay increase your chances.”
I confidently responded, “Perhaps, I’m willing to take that chance. “ At that very moment I tried to restrain myself from drawing my sword.
Darkfold proceeded to assure us that he meant us no harm, unless we had enemies that had hired him.
To that we all had something to say:
Cyan was glad he had no enemies yet.
I said boldly, “I have few enemies and none on this side of the earth.”
And Lia said, “I have no enemies, although my father has proven to have them.”
It was strange to hear Darkfold try to make us comfortable with his presence. Perhaps he was attempting to gain our trust. Soon afterwards, both Ms. Adderstein and Mr. Darkfold took their leave. All three of us then sat down and discussed various theories. We admitted that we doubted that Darkfold was the killer of Mr. Adderstein. Another thing we noticed was that our sense of fear attached to Darkfold had mostly vanished. Perhaps he had gained a bit of our trust after all.
I smiled up at my newly straightened light fixture. “I’m willing to give him a chance,” I said out loud.
“The light appreciates it, I’m sure,” Vernden joked.
Laughing, I replied, “I’m sure he does!”
==Comments==
*Comment by Cyan Icewolf (Cyan Rayna) on April 3, 2010 at 11:01am
Is now overly curious to know what happened with the examination of Mr. Adderstein’s body.
*Comment by Verlia Bilavio on April 3, 2010 at 12:00pm
Ah, hasn’t happened yet, but will today.
*Comment by Sky Netizen on April 4, 2010 at 2:29am
Or more like Monday…but it will be done, rest assured!
