itskarasykes

[itskarasykes]

So maybe Kara wasn't just looking for advice. Maybe that silly little podcast that had decided to broadcast on Hope's case had no idea what they were talking about - but maybe they did, too. And Kara had made it her business to familiarize herself with any and all possible suspects, and Maya happened to make it easily onto that list. It wasn't has if it was difficult to put two and two together in this puzzle. Maya deserved the spot in the program, but somehow it was transferred over to Hope instead and Maya got the boot. That would make just about anyone upset. Enough to murder, though?

"That only makes the decision more difficult," Kara put on a smile, her head shaking the slightest bit as she continued to survey her options. "Oh hell no, I come here all the time. Probably more often than I should, if I really stop to think about it, which I try not to. But usually I try to just stick to the coffee." She straightens up, her head now bobbing in a certain nod. "You know what, you've probably got the right idea though. Chocolate chip seems like the way to go. Are you a regular here?"

maya found that the best way to muffle the gossip was to keep her headphones in and drown out the voices. that way people were less likely to talk to her as well. except, clearly it wasn’t working too well. she hummed as she removed her headphones not wanting to seem rude, “definitely chocolate chip. but honestly, they’re all so good so you can’t go wrong no matter what you choose.” sometimes she used to joke that the muffins at black ridge coffee was the only thing keeping her in mercer hollow because she had never found a muffin that was consistently as good as the ones back home. “first time here?” 

#w; maya campbell-lee

[itskarasykes]

"Definitely not. Just trying to respect your desire to move on. Unless you want to get all touchy feely? I'm all ears, Corv." Everyone had something that they didn't like discussing. But funerals already put people in somber moods, it was hard not to keep with the theme in conversation, too.

"I mean, that would be what we'd all hope for," Kara murmured, her arms lifting to fold across her chest as her gaze pulled away from Jack and instead searched the crowds once more. If it were that simple, just about anyone could be a detective and crack the case. But when people didn't want to talk and secrets were being held close to the chest...It certainly wasn't just as hand wave-y through the air like Corvin tried to make it seem. The Mercers weren't exactly the easiest bunch to get along with, let alone put together a case for. Hope had a lot of friends - and alongside that, a lot of enemies. But who among them wanted her dead?

Probably someone standing in this very room.

"So, do you know anyone here, or you just paying your respects?"

"what, you immune to personal tragedy?" corvin huffed, trying to lighten the mood again and distract from his sour mood. but he did think his own tragedy was not unique, it was entirely of his own doing. but people didn't deserve to suffer forever for mistakes. except for him, maybe. but most people didn't. he had to wonder if what happened to hope was a mistake of her own making or someone else's personal tragedy being taken out on her. from the way everyone was talking to day she was both princess diana and also a saint.

"other than find out what happened before they do? find out if there's information being held over them or if they were up to some shady shit that got taken out on their daughter. make sure they know the police already know about it. but... could only be a distraction. hard to say. i haven't been investigating. this would be your expertise."

#w; jack corvin #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

"You are actually a horrible, terrible influence. You do know that, right? And - yes. I do still want a drink. Or two. Or three. The need for a drink keeps rising." Would it look worse if they were to turn around and go back now? Perhaps they could make excuses - they'd shown face for at least a little while. That had to count for something... Whatever, it was too late now because Javi was dragging her down the sidewalk once again and after a bit of grumbling under her breath her feet soon picked up the pace.

"That... is complete and utter bullshit," she mumbled in response to Javi's false promises. She'd never known the man to waste an opportunity for a cigarette, and certainly not drink without one lit between his fingers. It was a bad habit that he had, but she'd long since given up on fighting him on it. Still, she wasn't insisting on turning around...

" what ? why are we stopping. i want to keep moving, i want a whisky. do you not wanna drink anymore ? " javi questioned impetuously, taking a drag from his cigarette as he squeezed the other's arm, trying to provide some easement. " you need to chill the fuck out, kara. you're, like, overthinking things and it's making me nervous. we already left, we're not going back. "

just like two puerile siblings, he pulls kara forward a few steps, attempting to prevent their drinking plans from being scrapped. " i'll make you a deal. i won't light up another smoke for the rest of the day if we go to the bar. " the deal was certainly phony — as per usual, after a drink or two, he'll be puffing away like no tomorrow, but perhaps kara had forgotten that about him... or at least one could hope. " i'm an attention whore, don't shame me for it. "

#w; javier rojas #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

"Wait, wait, wait, wait - hold on. You mean to say that the service hadn't even started yet? All those people were crying and no one had even given a speech at the podium? I thought I'd just like...blacked out the whole thing and we were already on to the reception. Shit, Javi - now I feel bad." She pulled on his arm and abruptly came to a stop, huffing a bit childishly. "Should we go back? Why would you let me do this? I don't exactly make funerals a common occurrence in my life, I don't know the protocols! I wasn't talking about ditching the service - but like, wakes and receptions and shit - people mill in and out. Right? Right? Why would you go along with that - and fuck you you know I think that's a terrible habit and you're going to die early because of it and I'm going to have to ship you off to Saturn earlier than necessary." She paused, maybe a bit dramatically sucking in a breath after the string of words that had come out of her mouth in seemingly one go.

Once she'd gathered herself she scrunched her nose at him. "Also, you should rethink this whole wanting to be missed at a dead college girl's funeral thing. I don't think it's a good look."

" you're definitely supposed to stay at a funeral for the whole service, if you can. if you're planning on ditching, you usually do that during the transition between the funeral and the reception. " he inhales heavily as they're finally met with fresh air, no longer surrounded by the musty smell of an old church. " have you been ditching funerals early this whole time ? shit, kara. i don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but you're for sure going to hell. "

reaching into his pocket, javier pulled out an almost empty pack of marlboros and offered one to kara before lighting one for himself. " speak for yourself, " he said, taking a drag from his cigarette. " i want people to notice that i'm gone, i want to be missed. if i come into work tomorrow and don't see an angry email about us leaving early, i'm going to be very, very sad. "

#w; javier rojas #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

"Sure, copy that." Kara was starting to think most everything was an inappropriate topic for a funeral besides all the wonderful memories everyone suddenly seemed to have of the deceased. Which, good for Hope that she had so many apparent loved ones. But Kara didn't have all that much to share on the girl that turned up dead in their sleepy little town.

"Yeah, maybe so." She didn't really know what else to say about that, really. It came with the job, she supposed - dealing with families of the victims. They always wanted to find out what happened or punish who was responsible until things panned out a different way than they expected - then there was backpedaling and confusion that convoluted everything into a whole nightmare of a mess. "I would not be surprised if the Mercers are more difficult than any others, but there isn't much that we can do about that, is there?"

"sore subject." he repeated, feeling tension in his jaw. he was more worried about how he was going to be cracking all his teeth than he was about cigarettes killing him. "not really good conversation for a funeral. more stiff drink conversation."

and he didn't do stiff drinks anymore. so it was a conversation they never needed to have. if he could avoid it, he'd never have the conversation for the rest of his life.

"you'd be surprised how many families will fuck over an investigation to save face. if they know the killer. if they decide the world doesn't need to know because they have a relationship with the person. or if there is something the killer has over them they'd prefer not to get out. means they might try to ruin the whole thing. which screws over both of us."

#w; jack corvin #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

Open, Black Ridge Coffee

Hope Mercer. Hope Mercer. Hope Mercer.

It was all she heard around town these days. Sure, she'd known when she'd moved into Mercer Hollow that the Mercer family would come up now and again. But she hadn't expected to be plagued by a person. Especially not one that was coming back to haunt her from beyond the grave.

She knew she was going crazy and that likely no one was paying extra attention to her and making judgements that she wasn't focusing all of her attention on the case 24/7. Or were they? But everyone needed coffee in the morning, right? And maybe a muffin... Best muffins in town, so she'd been told...

"Would you go for chocolate chip or blueberry? Or...what is that, fruit explosion? That sounds interesting..." she inquired with the person stood nearby as she peered into the baked goods display case.

#mhstart

[itskarasykes]

"I mean, no one goes to a funeral and stays for the entire time other than like, immediate family anyway...right?" Was it disrespectful to leave early? Had she been doing this wrong all this time? Besides - who would even notice? They came in, they said their condolences, they stood around and nodded to their fellow Mercer Hollow townspeople...they came, they saw, they...would conquer, hopefully.

She wasn't all that surprised when Javier gave in, though. And she was thankful for it, admittedly. Even just stepping outside the cathedral doors seemed to make it easier to suck in a breath of air, and Kara seemed to open right back up again. Funerals weren't a common occurrence in Kara's life, and it wasn't a good environment for her. She didn't know how to be in such a place.

"Thank you," She murmured after they'd walked a few paces away, looping her arm through his. "I really don't think we'll be missed."

he glanced over at kara, watching her arms wrap around her frame. her question hung in the air, tempting javier with the possibility of leaving early. part of him yearned to escape the dark atmosphere and find comfort in the company of good whiskey, but another part of him, the part that valued respect, wrestled with the conflicting desire.

hope mercer was a member of the town's most respected family, and attending her funeral was not just a formality; it was also a sign of solidarity, a way for law enforcement to show the residents of mercer hollow that they were on their side. " leaving early might be seen as disrespectful. " he grumbled, hues still attached to kara. despite the allure of a quick escape, he knew the right choice was to stay. but when had javi ever made the right choice ? with a nod, he motioned towards the door of the cathedral. " let's go while people are still crying. gotta take advatage of the fact that people are too busy mourning to pay any attention. "

#w; javier rojas #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

"Sore subject?" Normally Kara wasn't the type to press where it hurt, at least when it wasn't in a teasing manner with those she was comfortable around. But Corvin had an irritating way about him, and it felt good to give him one back - at least momentarily. It was true that she didn't know all that much about Corvin's scenario, just what had been going around the grapevines. And, truth be told, she didn't really care, either. They weren't friends. Clearly. She didn't see that changing any time soon if he stayed up on that high horse of his. "I'm not presuming to know anything about anything. Just seems like it's been a while since you've worked something like this is all. Don't get your panties in a twist."

She watches absently as Corvin goes about gathering his vices, a cigarette appearing between his fingertips. An eyebrow quirks up, but she holds her tongue. No need to dig in any further. Besides, there were plenty around today looking for ways to cope, and smoking probably wasn't the worst choice - but it wasn't a great one, either. Second hand smoke killed just as easily as it did the one sucking it down. "I'm honestly not all that interested in what the Mercers want. I'm just looking to find justice for Hope. If they interfere, it seems they'd only be hurting themselves."

"don't talk about shit you don't know, yeah?" corvin clenched his fist in his jacket pocket. he knew that kara couldn't know all the details of that last murder he worked on. and he had been working nonviolent crimes, drug addicts, petty theft, easy work. "cops have that habit. seeing what they think is the whole picture and jumping to the end."

he dug around until he found a cigarette. sweet relief. "i don't need to be ready until you have a clue who is going to be on the stand. but it is going to be messy. the mercers are going to be fucking hell to both sides of the investigation, especially if they don't like the suspect. throwing around enough money for a several hundred person memorial gathering, seems like? i'm surprised they haven't hired investigators to come in behind you."

#w; jack corvin #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

"That sounds like you are a little bit superstitious," Kara gave him a skeptical look. At least it would be entertaining, watching Javier go through all the hoops just to ensure this case went through as it should. To stay on the safe side. "Sure, sure, sure. You do what you gotta do, boss."

How shitty would it be, though, if she had just jinxed it? She couldn't burden herself with any more guilt over this case - even when she knew none of it actually rested on her shoulders. She wasn't the one who held the knife, after all. That was who was to blame, here.

Now she was getting all up in her head.

She breathed out a steadying sigh, arms wrapping around herself. "You think anyone would even notice if we didn't stay? I mean, we're here to pay our respects, not host the whole shindig."

" i'm not superstitious, but maybe i ought to be for this case — don't want anything or anyone fucking it up. until this case is done and dusted, i'll be knocking on wood, throwing some salt over my shoulder, and hanging up evil eye amulets around my house. i'll look fucking insane, but gotta do it just to be on the safe side. " he shrugged and gently nudged kara, an amused glint in his eye despite the solemn occasion. javier was almost certain that nothing supernatural existed in this world, but it didn't hurt to implement some superstitious beliefs for the time being... just in case.

he instantly perks up at the mention of a drink, hands shoving themselves into the pockets of his jacket as he rocked back and forth on his feet. " i could go for a drink... is it rude if we leave before the funeral's over ? we could say that we've been asked to respond to an incident that just so happens to be at the bear den. "

#w; javier rojas #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

"Great, seems like we're in agreement then." Kara was all for the one who did it getting a 'just' sentence - because the just sentence should put them behind bars for a good long while in a murder case. And yeah, for Mercer Hollow, a dead Mercer was a pretty big deal, no matter what way you sliced it.

"It's all relative, big boy. Last I heard you had yourself all nice and cozy defending people who crossed the street at the wrong place. Not to mention the last time you handled something like a murder case it didn't turn out so good for you. So instead of being a dickhead, how about an honest answer - are you ready for this?"

corvin scoffed at that prospect, "best suspect is the one who did it, and if its the person beside me, all i'm tryna do is get them a just sentence." he could practically hear his law professors touting the beauty and poetry of a just system, the importance of fighting for not the cruelest punishment but the fairest one, how everyone gets an advocate regardless of deserving one.

"if you think one dead girl in the woods that was probably a jealous classmate or a pissed off ex is the big leagues, you've been in a small town too long, dollface." he knew the term would be digging his thumb in. but funerals made him testy and emotional and his last real 'big league' case ended with him fleeing a city and spiraling out of control and nearly firebombing his whole career. he wasn't interested in another big league mass murdering sociopath. he was barely interested in defending a twenty-something burn out with a knife. but violent crime was low in mercer hollow and the number of lawyers with experience defending murder was low, and those willing to step on the mercer's bad side was lower.

#w; jack corvin #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

"Oh c'mon, you don't really believe in that shit, do you?" Granted, now that he'd pointed it out, there was the slightest twist in Kara's stomach. Had speaking about the case being solvable just made it unsolvable? No. That wasn't a thing. That wasn't how the world worked. Was it? "Fuck. I need a drink."

Weren't all cases technically solvable? But then again, so many went cold. They were all only human. They only had so much to go off of. And even when you had a suspect that seemed to fit all the right categories, they could get off on technicalities of the law. Innocent until proven guilty. Sometimes, proof wasn't as easy to come by.

But it was weird, wasn't it, that the last murder this little sleepy town had seen happened to be half a century ago, within the same family? Probably the most well known family in town, so it wasn't that unheard of, but still. There was something here. They would solve this. It didn't sound like Hope was an angel, but she still didn't deserve this. No one did.

javi sighed, his gaze returning to fix on kara. the weight of hope's murder rested heavy on the town's shoulders, and the echoes of her ancestor's tragic fate added an eerie layer to the investigation. " don't know what happened to the cops that were on charity's case. hell, i wasn't even born yet, but perhaps the mercer's were nicer back then. after all, the seventies were all about love, peace and all that other shit, i think ? "

he could only wish that hope's case wasn't a repeat of charity's — it had left the town with more questions than answers, and having another cold case wouldn't be a good look on mercer hollow's police department. " don't say that shit out loud, you're going to jinx it. "

#w; javier rojas

[itskarasykes]

Kara didn't necessarily see Jack as standing on the opposite side, but he definitely was a roadblock in many ways. Whoever their prime suspect ended up being (or, even better, whoever they proved committed the crime), was going to be defended on the stand by Corvin. And clearly he was going to do his very best to ensure they didn't get convicted.

She couldn't imagine standing in his shoes, attempting to get people off that may have very well committed the crime in question. But he wasn't there to get the guilty off. He was there to ensure the innocent went free. At least, that was how she was how she tried to look at it.

But she had no plans of putting the innocent in the hot seat in the first place.

"That will be difficult for you then, since there won't be a better suspect than the one sitting beside you, Corvin. You sure you're ready for the big leagues?"

"i can't blame you. i suppose i'm here doing the same thing. it's been a while since i had to do a murder defense, but the thing is... half the battle is having a better suspect than the one on the stand. get the jury thinking it was someone else. gives them the reasonable doubt." he sipped at his coffee, letting it burn his mouth and the bitter taste clear his mind about the last violent crime he had to work on.

he looked out at the sea of people in black and shades of gray they considered close enough. "besides, who takes time off work in our industry."

the crime and punishment industry, that is. he supposed they were on opposite sides, defense versus police. but the goal was to make sure the right person got convicted.

#w; jack corvin #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

"Sure, we could do that," Kara agreed, watching as he fidgeted absently with her fingers before also letting her gaze shift to observe their surroundings. Which, right, she should probably be focusing on. "As long as you're prepared to lose."

Kara digested his statement, not giving it an immediate response for once. People could do many questionable things when they had a shit ton of money filling their pockets, so perhaps what he said wasn't impossible...But could they really? "Well, is that what happened in Charity's case, or are those guys still investigating?" She asked, brows raising curiously. "Maybe we'd just be doomed to spin our wheels on this until we find a solution." Which...didn't sound like a much more pleasing fate. Actually, at least in Javi's proposed result they'd both be dead and not have to worry about it anymore. "I think I might take the eternal solitude...But that's all to say if we can't solve it. This...it's a solvable case."

javier straightened his tie and then gently held the other's hand, his gaze fixated on her fingers. he fidgeted with them, attention diverting from the weight of the occasion. perhaps today was one of those days when he should have taken his adderall. " how would one even manage to pull a trigger with these hands ? " he mused. " maybe that's something we should do today – after this is over, let's head to the shooting range. "

his eyes wandered around the funeral, mind struggling to maintain focus. usually, he could camouflage his difficulty in paying attention to things that didn't truly captivate his attention. however, with the anxiety that accompanied being at a funeral, he had zero control over his racing thoughts. " you know, it's funny that you mention the mercers, " he remarked. " because i was thinking that if we fail to solve this case, they'll probably ensure that when we pass away, we're given nothing but unmarked graves. doomed to eternal solitude. "

#w; javier rojas #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

"Nope, nope. I'm sorry. You're just jealous you don't have these delicate, perfect fingers. I understand. It must be hard for you to be around me all the time and bask in my glory, so I forgive you." For added measure she pokes him in the ribs again, just to fully impart her words. "I won't even demand you take it back. I know deep down your regret is vast and just eating you right up inside. It's okay. You can forgive yourself, too."

Her eyes skim over the faces of the mourners that pass them by, knowing she should probably be more attentive to the event they were at rather than joking about what would happen should Javi become the one in the box. But she'd never exactly been the type for well timed joking, either. Maybe it came with the job. She couldn't be serious all the time (in fact, it was rare that she was serious outside the job anymore). "Now we're getting inventive. It's cute that you think I'd miss you, but beyond that it sounds like a nice ride. Forever sliding around Saturn's rings takes the cake for me, though. But I suppose since it would be your funeral I could make some exceptions."

She would miss him. Dearly, in fact. And despite the words she moves just a bit closer to him to be reminded that he is still standing there with her, living and breathing. "The Mercers are a big deal to Mercer Hollow. But you on the other hand..."

" fucking alien-like fingers they are. honestly, i'm scared to see what your toes look like. if they resemble your fingers in even the slightest, we might need to deem you the antichrist of mercer hollow. " as much as he loved to take little digs at kara, she was one of the few people that he genuinely cared for. it just so happens that the only way javier showed that he cared was through insult.

perhaps he should be focusing more of his attention to the people paying their respects, but his mind's wandered too far and he's off on a tangent. " speaking of being launched into space, i'd also accept being human slingshotted into earth's orbit. if you ever missed me, you'd just have to look outside every ninety minutes with a telescope and bamn, i'll float by all mummified and shit. i think that's my favourite idea, actually. "

#w; javier rojas #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

Damn it, she'd been caught people watching, hadn't she? Then again, who wasn't people watching? At least half the town had to be here just to see whatever there was to see. Or maybe, as Corvin had so dutifully pointed out, someone might just be here to bask in the glory of their so far successful murder.

"Probably more than half the town, if I had to guess," Kara hummed, glancing at the coffee cup in his hand and thinking for just a moment she might steal a sip from it before deciding better of it. It looked like a shit cup of coffee Corvin probably paid like a buck fifty or less for. Get what you pay for, she guessed. Though then again, Starbucks was also way over priced.

There had to be a happy medium right? --- She was getting off track.

She hummed thoughtfully, arms folding across her chest as she surveyed the scene. "Can it be...both? I mean, definitely here to pay respects, but..."

@itskarasykes | corvin | at the funeral

"more than half the town out here today, makes it seems awfully hard to spot if someone is here to gloat, hm?" corvin walked up behind kara, a cup of cheap coffee in one hand. he traded out his usual jacket for one in black, and his black tie hid a coffee stain from earlier in the day. he took a sip and swept his eyes over the green field that people had gathered on to share stories and awkward hugs.

"you here to investigate or pay respects?"

#w; jack corvin #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

Kara scowled, holding her hands out before her and studying them. "I'm sorry, weird-looking fingers where? These are the most beautiful fingers I've ever seen, thank you very much." Okay, so maybe it wasn't quite the appropriate behavior or discussion for a funeral, but it wasn't as if she were connected with Hope on any sort of personal level - she was just here to show her support. Besides, irritating Javier was practically in her job description. She was doing her civic duty.

"It would be a sad party," Kara whispered back, though her head bobbed in a nod of agreement to what he'd said. She wasn't necessarily surprised by the way all this was turning out. A murder in a small town? Or one of the namesake kids, no less? It was certain to draw the attention of - well. Everyone, evidently.

Her eyes lit up as Javier went on, explaining an alternate route for his ending. "Oh, shit, a burial among the stars? That's poetic Javi. Maybe too poetic for you. But hey, you've got me in your pocket so you can have just about anything you want. I'm that good. If your one true wish is to slide across Saturn's rings for the rest of forever, I am the girl to do that for you. But if your one true wish is really to sail away in a dumpster fire - I mean, if I made it a really glorious ending for you then maybe but it would have to be a really nice trash bin I think. No rust. Maybe only light, tasteful graffiti."

he winced as kara poked him in the ribs, face contorting in a mock expression of pain. " ouch. i may not like funerals, but i'm not ready to feel the wrath of your weird-looking fingers. " cracking a slight grin as they watched the somber procession, javier leaned in closer to kara, words merely a whisper. " a party ? no fucking way. i want everyone to be sad, but not like this kind of sad — the mood's a bit of a downer. cry for a minute and move on, y'know ? "

" if you're not going to throw me in the bin then the least you could do is launch me into space. tie me to a rocket, make sure the twilight zone theme song's playing, and aim me at saturn. " talking about burial ideas probably wasn't appropriate today, but it's his way of coping with the heaviness of the moment. " i'll just become one with its ring system or whatever. "

#w; javier rojas #e; hm memorial

[itskarasykes]

Kara had a lot of mixed feelings about Hope Mercer's death. Javier probably knew better than most. Hope had reached out to the police, to Kara specifically, to say she was feeling as if she were being followed. She hadn't given it much thought, hadn't pursued any leads in the investigation - at least, not quickly enough. Mercer was obviously a big name in town. Kara had assumed it had been nothing to worry about. Just another Mercer family admirer that meant no harm.

Perhaps she'd been wrong - but she was trying not to feel guilty about it. Hope was dead, but that didn't mean it was Kara's fault. Right?

She was a bit antsy. Funerals would always be uncomfortable, and this one in particular had it's own reasons for making her rock back and forth on her feet beside Javier. When he spoke she was thankful for the distraction, even if it was a bit morbid. Her nose scrunched, lips pursing and head shaking. "Ahh, nah. I don't think so. You're too good for trash, Javi." She pokes him in the ribs. "No, I think if you go," if because she couldn't imagine when it inevitably happens, "we'll throw a party. But like, in a good way?"

javier stood amongst the somber crowd, his gaze fixed on the mourners paying their respects to hope. though the atmosphere was heavy with sorrow, he remained stoic, his features impassive. he had learned to shield his emotions long ago, an essential trait for someone who spent much of their life surrounded by death. while others shed tears and whispered their condolences, he scanned the faces of every attendee, searching for any subtle shift in behavior that could reveal a hidden truth.

his presence at the funeral served a dual purpose. not only did he want to pay his respects to the mercer family, but he also saw the funeral as an opportunity to meticulously study those present. " i fucking hate funerals. " he murmured to the person beside him, arms crossing against his chest. " when i die just dump me in the trash. "

#w; javier rojas #e; hm memorial