And so it begins | [Capulet Para]
Who: Cris, Leo and Mel Capulet
What: Cristian invites his coworkers to a private meeting in his office Friday afternoon to enlist them in a top secret privately launched investigation into Lord Oz’s case, theorizing he was not truly at fault and might have been framed.
Where: Cristian’s office at the Capulet estate
When: Friday, October 25th.
Cristian spent the week musing Lord Tybalt's request and how best to approach it-- as well as to what extent both Leo and Mel should know of the head's involvement. How to spin the story. When Friday afternoon approached he was almost relieved, curious what the other two would make of the idea and if they would be supportive or not.. Not that there was much choice, of course. Whether stated directly or not, it was expected of them. "Leo. Mel. Thank you for joining me-- please take a seat," he requested as his coworkers appeared at the entrance to his office. The two chairs kept off to the side of his desk by a small coffee table had been moved in front of it to make it easier addressing them both. It was rare he had more than one visitor, let alone someone for an extended period of time. "Make sure to shut the door tight behind you... And lock it."
As the day and time of the meeting approached, Leo felt his curiosity rise as to what this meeting could be about. Arriving at Cristian’s office, he allowed Mel to enter before him with a small greeting before closing and locking the door behind them, checking quickly to make sure the door could not be opened before making his way to one of the empty chairs. There was a sense of relief that at least the two other people in this room were two he felt were trustworthy. He had already figured out that whatever was going to be discussed was incredibly private, and didn’t have to worry about the other people involved. With that, he unbuttoned his suit jacket as he sat down and his eyes landed on Cristian. “Now you’ve got us here,” Leo began, “I’m curious to know what it is you’ve brought us here for that requires us to lock the door.”
Mel hadn't been sure what to think about Cristian's cryptic request. It was relatively out of character for him and she couldn't stop the creeping fear that he was going to be breaking some bad news to her that he thought would screw her up for the rest of the day. When she arrived and saw Leo there too, the anxiety dissipated into a more suspicious confusion. What on earth would require both of them and for so long? The request to lock the door only increased the suspicious confusion at what was to come as Mel settled in a chair. She didn't bother to reiterate Leo's question, instead just looking at Cristian to see what he would say.
“I feel the need to preface this meeting with the disclaimer— everything said, including my words now— are to be repeated to no one. Everything spoke here is completely confidential. That means nobody— including in the family— not even Lord Tybalt. And especially no members of the watch,” Cristian warned, turning his gaze from Leo to Mel. “If this is going to be an issue, please speak up now. Otherwise I will presume you understand and consent to this level of secrecy. It is... necessary in order to discuss the matter.”
When Cristian began speaking Leo simply listened until he finished. Secrecy was something that had come along with all of his previous jobs since he was in the military. If he hadn't been able to keep his mouth shut about the things that he was going to do, did do, and the people he had worked for when necessary then he wouldn't have been able to have the success in his careers that he had. Once Cristian finished speaking Leo shrugged slightly and said, "That should be easy enough for me. I have no problem keeping quiet about things."
Mel's suspicious gaze only intensified as Cristian started to speak. Something so secret they couldn't tell anyone in the family? And she was being explicitly told to keep this from Nico? She trusted Cristian not to ask anything completely insane of her - but then the city had gone insane so she wasn't sure exactly who to trust. "Exactly how illegal are we talking with this thing I'm potentially not supposed to talk about? Is this covering up a murder level illegal or is this more family secrets you don't want spread around?"
Cristian mused over the comment, lips pulled into a thin line. “You can’t tell your Dom about this if that’s what you’re concerned over... this is not covering up an illegal murder, no, but it’s not far off. I may make... questionable requests that will need to be kept a secret and will involve you taking potential legal risks though. Is that going to be a problem, Mel?”
Leo looked from Cristian to Mel. He could understand why someone might be hesitant but he had complete trust that Cristian wouldn’t ask something like this out of him unless it were important. He was also far too curious to turn back now. So, instead he relaxed back in his seat, crossing one leg over the other so that his ankle rested on his knee, as he watched for Mel’s answer to Cristian’s question.
Mel bit her lip and thought about it. Keeping a secret from Nico that sounded to be big would be...hard. Their relationship meant a lot to her, and the riots had only reinforced that. On the other hand, she knew Cristian wouldn't ask that unless it was important. If he was doing this, Lord Tybalt was involved in some way even if it wasn't official - and she owed too much to Lord Tybalt to forget that. Plus as selfish as it was, if she didn't know her curiosity was going to kill her. So. She'd just have to see if she could deal. "I'm in. It'll be tough, but I'll figure it out." She just hoped those wouldn't be on the list of 'famous last words'.
“Good,” Cristian replied almost immediately, though he silently hoped Mel was being honest and he wouldn’t later regret her involvement. He relaxed back in his chair, moving to address them both. “Now rather than beat around the bush, I’m certain both of you are fairly caught up on the entire proceedings of Oz’s trial from a few weeks ago, yes? I’m curious to hear your overall thoughts regarding the incident and the verdict. And please— don’t withhold anything. Speak openly. This is, after all, confidential.”
Once everyone seemed to be on the same page, Leo listened as Cristian began to speak, nodding with regard to the question of being caught up about Oz’s trial. He was surprised, however, to have Cristian ask them to speak about their overall thoughts. However, Leo answered after a moment, “Well, I’d been gone for quite some time, so I feel as though perhaps I don’t know him as well as others do, and therefore have no right to truly judge with regard to character. Still, I think it all seems very odd. I, personally, thought that things would inevitably go in his favor... but they didn’t.” It had all felt off in a way, but what did Leo know, really. He just assumed that he was missing something important from the trial, the whole judiciary system wasn’t his forte. However, after reading everything, speaking with Lucio had really made an impact on how Leo had felt over it all. It had caused him to look on Oz in a much more sympathetic light. In the end he didn’t really know how to put his thoughts into words, and so, left it at what he’d said.
"It stinks," Mel said bluntly. "If Oz had actually committed the murder, he'd have had a clean up crew through there and an alibi 10 Montagues deep so that the Watch looked like idiots for even trying to implicate him. He's too smart to be caught up in a case so...clumsy." Which seemed like a callous way to talk about a murder, but they weren't talking about that. They were talking about the trial and that was easier to be clinical about. "Not saying that he can't ever make mistakes, but like. During the year of the decree, he nearly rail roaded all 12 couples to be Montague Doms and Capulet submissives, and it happened so smoothly most of us didn't see it until he was close to winning. He's an asshole and he's guilty of a lot of shit I'm sure, but I don't buy that he's guilty of this one." She paused for a moment, biting her lip. "Plus. I don't know. He just seemed...sad."
“Yes, well, most people in his situation would likely appear sad, guilty or not,” Cristian replied back calmly, not at all surprised to see it was Mel who became more passionate about his question. It assured him somewhat of her investment in what he was asking of them. “You’re not alone in your doubts though. That doubt is specifically why you’re here— why you’re both here,” he explained. “Lord Tybalt and I both also found the entire case... for lack of a better word— well— lacking. It isn’t to say the Watch did a poor job, so much as we believe someone else did an excellent job, and that there’s a decent chance Lord Oz is innocent. Certainly not of numerous other crimes of his, but at very least of murdering Rosemund Reed. Now of course, that opinion is not to leave this room. Like everything else said... this is off the record. But while both of us would love to see the man rot in prison, seeing him go down for a charge he did not commit... doesn’t sit well with us. So we intend to launch our own investigation into the case. One funded entirely by our own means,” he continued. Not that the family had much funding— but then again, that was why they were only involving family. Mel and Leo were already on payroll, and there would be no hired help that ran up bills. That, and for the sake of privacy. “In order for there to be any chance of success, however, it will require both of you as well.”
Somehow, Cristian’s plans didn’t surprise Leo. He sat quietly, listening to everything, waiting for when the submissive was finished speaking before he said anything. “Do we have any idea of where to start? Is there anything that gives us any clue as to which direction to go with this investigation, or are starting from scratch?” In truth, Leo just wanted to know where they stood in terms of knowledge. It would be easier to formulate a plan if he knew where they were so far.
Mel listened intently as Cristian started to outline what this was actually about. In a way, it was a relief. She knew why he said some of this might be questionable now, and it was likely she would have to stretch her own rigid code of ethics to be part of this investigation. But at the same time, he was right. If Oz didn't do this crime, it meant someone else had and had made it look like Oz. Which meant this was something a whole lot bigger that needed to be put right. That, she could agree with. Besides, this was going to be the biggest tech challenge of her life, so how could she pass it up? She waited to hear Cristian's answer to Leo's question even as her own brain started to tick through some of the various possibilities.
“We have what’s been released to the public thus far regarding the court cases,” Cristian admitted, lips curling into a slight frown. “Unfortunately not much else to begin with. “The question though is— presuming this is a cover up— who would want to frame Oz— and why now of all times. He’s committed numerous crimes on his own over the years... So why Rosemund and why now. Whomever it was was keeping a close eye on him or had someone doing it. Perhaps we could start with the witnesses interviewed and loose more closely at their cases and who these people are outside of the court room... That, or else try for more details from his family members. Try to find a motive and what may have changed over the past year aside from the decree being fulfilled. Something else has to have been going on,” Cristian suggested. “Leo, for you this means looking into some backgrounds and likely some legwork.. Mel... I know you’re talented, so this means digging up more data than just what’s public. Anything at all you can find or access— if either of you require additional resources of any form at any time, you can come to me with those needs.”
So they didn't have very much to go on. Leo had a feeling that his own family members wouldn't have much else to share that wasn't already in Oz's favor. But they had to start somewhere. Looking into the backgrounds for people would be simple enough. He had ways of finding out information, if there was anything else to be had that they didn't already know. With a nod, "Of course. Is there anyone, or anywhere in particular that you're wanting me to start? Or should I just make up my own mind with that?" He turned to look at Mel, "And I may need some help with a thing or two... but I'll let you know if we come to that."
"The decree being fulfilled and the Romanos coming to town," Mel added almost absently as she started to think through the problem as it had been presented to her. She might be able to access the full testimonies at least with some strategic information hunting which would give her a better place to go. Who knows? Maybe it was time to test if she could actually stack up to the Montague tech security. At Leo's direct question she refocused back in. "Hm? Yeah, just let me know and I can tell you how possible it is and how much time it'll take."
Cristian's lips curled into a faint frown. Jumping to conclusions was one concern of his involving individuals who werent trained for this type of work. "Be mindful of your thoughts Mel, and try to remember we must consider all possibilities here... The last thing we can afford is chasing false leads or making up our own. Yes the decree was fulfilled and new individuals settled into Verona, however, last I checked there wasn't any evidence of a motive for the latter to want this done with Oz, nor should the decree have any impact on them," he addressed in a rather parental tone. "Perhaps they do have something to do with it, but for all we know if someone did frame him, it could be someone within our very family-- or a Montague just as well, looking for a shift in power. Or even, perhaps a third party not known. We must consider all possibilities. Understood?"
Mel’s thoughts had Leo’s mind sifting through possibilities. He knew better, he’d been around enough corruption, and closed door plotting to know that every single option couldn’t be taken off the table until it was completely cleared. Maybe there was nothing to what she said, but it was still an avenue to be explored later on. He remained silent as he compiled a mental checklist of all the possibilities for who might have motives against the former head of the Montague family, and frowned as he realized that list was likely a rather long one. He merely nodded at what Cristian said, not needing to add anything else to what had been said.
Cristian's criticism had Mel refocusing. "What? I wasn't saying that they did. You were just saying stuff that had changed, and the Romanos arriving is a big thing for the city. It's not that often that new aristocracies rise up out of nowhere. But I know how important it is to be thorough. Especially with something like this." What they were doing was insane enough that she wasn't going to rush to any conclusions. But it was a reminder that she would need to bite her tongue even around Cristian. He was bound to be balancing a lot since he was coordinating whatever this was. But that parental tone made her want to sass him back. Which she tried to suppress. Now really wasn't the time.
One eyebrow rose in response to Mel's defensive tone, not wholly convinced but knowing he had little choice at this point than to trust Mel, and that now was not the time to make mountains out of molehills. "Very well," he responded after a beat, sighing. "Are there any questions as to steps moving forward? Currently we will need to do some digging... look for leads. Nobody is to hear word of your activities, and anything you find is to immediately be reported directly to me. Discussions regarding updates in findings should be through secure means online or in the privacy of our own offices here at the estate. You may work with each other of course, however, as a reminder Lord Tybalt is not involved with our investigation. He is for all intents and purposes to remain publicly opposed to Lord Oz and accepting of the court's ruling."
It was true, what Mel said. Despite the fact that she hadn't intended to point a finger at the Romano family, Leo knew that as unlikely as it might be, all options had to remain open. That included their own family, which he certainly hoped it didn't turn out to be. The fact that Cristian was warning them about keeping everything quiet seemed unnecessary where he was concerned, and he merely nodded along. He understood the severity of what could happen if word got out that they were doing any of this. Fortunately for him, the only to people he would even care to speak to about this were in the room with him. "I have no questions now, but I'll come to you later if I do. I'm sure that once I've had time to think about things, questions will come up. Can't exactly be prepared with all the appropriate things to ask when you don't know what's coming." He would ask Cristian later if anything came to mind, but for now he needed time to consider where to begin with his new task.
"Nope, no real questions." Until she had a better sense of what had actually happened during the trial, she wouldn't know what leads would be viable. She looked at Leo for a moment, before mentally shrugging. At least the three of them could bounce ideas off of each other, and she and Leo had already been working together so closely no one would find anything to comment on in that. "If it works for you, I'm going to start by disconnecting one of the computers in my office from the main server and setting it up with its own password the three of us. It won't be totally impossible to trace stuff back to us as we're using it, but it'll make it harder to connect. I'll have that set by tomorrow."
Cristian nodded, surprised by Mel's comment and actually finding himself somewhat relieved. Those were the types of ideas he needed right now and why he'd found it so valuable to work with the two of them. While he wasn't sure if they'd find the proof needed, he was hopeful if anyone would, it would be the three of them... And perhaps whomever else was needed along the way. "Very well then. I trust you both to be discrete, but yes-- we need to start taking action immediately," he reaffirmed. "That should be all we need to cover for now.. I will follow up with you both when the time comes for us to reconvene together, but until then please take all precautions for none of this to leak out and alert me immediately to any leads as they come forward. "