milliways_bar | (no subject)

How about a rather familiar bag being plunked on the sofa, well, more like gently placed, on the sofa beside him? That might be a good distraction.

It might, yes. Especially seeing as it's Mark's bag, but that certainly isn't Mark.
"...Am I reading too much into this, or did you just entrust me with Mark's sanity?"

"Angel, from how Mark calmed down when he read your letter, I think you practically have his sanity anyway." She shrugs. "I didn't have the heart to tell Mark that they took apart the camera looking for drugs. He'd have a fit. Anyway, that is exactly what it looks like. Mark's bag, camera, and some random notebooks and a textbook. The only thing I took out of there was Mark's wallet, which the police still have."

"They took it... oh, good God. Good thing you didn't tell him that, or he'd probably be up for homicide charges by now. Nice to know I calmed him down, in any case.
"Oh, and I thought of something last night. What do you think the odds are that these bastards used Mark's film as evidence enough to start watching for him? Because if they're under the impression the thing's fictional, they've got one really fucking flimsy case."
Angel may not know much about law, but he does know that.

"He's hanging onto sanity by a thread, Angel. Sure, he's better, but if he heard they touched his camera, he'd lose it. I don't understand his attatchment to that thing. That's beside the point, though." She pauses, and looks a bit pensive. "That is a good thought, Angel. I hadn't thought of that angle." She flops down on the couch. "I don't think I can get him off. I'm afraid that all I can do is get him probation. Not that he really cares, but it's not right. Anyone else but Mark, it would be settled out of court, with perhaps a slap on the hand, and if the defendant wasn't cooperative, perhaps six months of probation. The DA is wanting jailtime for Mark on this one. It's not right."

"...He's just trying to keep his friends alive. For the love of God, people, this isn't fucking rocket science."
Angel facepalms. He's actually perilously close to pissed off now, in that way that only ever happens when someone messes with his family.

Joanne blinks. "I wish I could call you as a witness. I'm sure that you'd convince any jury." She sighs. "I don't understand them, Angel. They're ready to condemn Mark for wanting to keep his best friends alive. I think that Mark somehow thinks he deserves all this, but I sure as hell don't know why."

"They already have condemned him. Because he dared to film us being ourselves, and probably also because it's popular. I don't even know if a heel to the crotch could bring those bastards around, at this point." But oh, how he'd love to try.
Angel takes a deep breath, then sighs. "Sorry. I shouldn't be dumping all this on you, but... they're messing with my family. I don't take that very well."

"No, Angel, go ahead and dump, please. I don't mind at all." She sighs. "I'd love to give them all what they deserve. What I am going to do, though, is give them the tightest damn case ever. That judge is not going to get me on anything. I owe it to Mark. And hell. This just isn't right. I'm going to get them."

"Perhaps it's just as well I can't be there. The chance at violence would be too damn tempting. Best of luck on the case, though."

"Thanks. It'll be, well, it's going to be interesting. Bail's going to be set tomorrow. We'll go from there and see what happens. And how big of an asshole everyone is going to be." She sighs. "I'm ready. I don't think Mark is. If he'll just keep his mouth shut, we'll be fine."

"Maybe if you tell him I said to let you do most of the talking, he will?"

"He might. I'll relay the message." She facepalms.

"I'm hoping to get at least an hour with him before the trial. He'll just need to calm the hell down."