#What's the Difference between Burglary and Theft

[yoted-meister]

Alright so the ‘tism is striking again and I’ve come up with an oc idea for a game I don’t have much knowledge in. I hope to make them as accurate as possible so feedback is appreciated!

(I attempted to make an official Urbanshade document for them here)

Lots of text alert below I did a lot of thinking for this but am officially quite satisfied with what I now have

Enoch Reed, Z-13-b, The Aquanaut:

Before conviction, Enoch would help around their home town with anyone that needed a hand and overall just was a great person. This helpful attitude attracted a bad group of people who threatened them into helping with their burglaries and small thefts.

This caught up to the group as the area grew more and more alert and in the end, all 5 were arrested on scene. After interrogations, police note Enoch as very compliant, confessing to just about everything, and offering convicting testimony about the whole group, granting them a reduced sentence, which they would serve in a separate prison to prevent potential retaliation from the other arrested members.

After Sebastian's breach and as a result, the loss of the Hadal Blacksite, Urbanshade gains interest in intentionally recreating Sebastian’s transformation in an attempt at pioneering a monster both fast and strong for use as an underwater aid including maintenance, pest control, and other such tasks as see fit. However, as a first precaution, they sought a prisoner who was willing to go through the experiments and would not object to the tasks given.

Upon obtaining info on Enoch, they were immediately proposed for the experiment and, once permission was granted, people were sent to give Enoch their offer. Enoch, while willing to help, was reluctant to sacrifice simply leaving on parole. This reluctance immediately vanished when informed the 4 others had broken out of prison.

Once taken back to one of Urbanshade's many docks, Enoch was promptly given LR-P status and a cell to wait in as preparations were made to begin the experiments.

The plan was to use some dna strands used in the original Z-13's experimentation, not just for their gills, but for some of their other traits, such as the sea snake's shape, great white shark's senses, blue whale's lungs and echolocation, female angler’s luminescent lure, silver spinyfin's darkvision and ability to see color at depths, and a “smasher” mantis shrimp's strength.

However, further dna was used in an attempt to further enhance Enoch such as the blue marlin's to copy it's tail and, in theory, its speed, alongside great indulgence into the whale shark's in an attempt to both allow buccal pumping to allow Enoch to sleep and be still underwater, as well as recreate blubber to allow stronger insulation and the ability for Enoch to potentially travel longer distances on less food, possibly permitting use in swift delivery of physical items between sites. As it was Sebastian's transformations that inspired the experiment, they chose to designate them as Z-13-b; and for the aquatic mastery they would hopefully obtain, they were also granted the codename: “The Aquanaut”

While the traits were successfully gained, some such as the mantis shrimp's punch at an albeit reduced potencies than expected, Z-13-b's human nose conflicted with the attempted acquisition of buccal pumping, and as a remedy, minute amounts of western clawed frog dna were used to replace their nose with that of an amphibian.

As a result of their mutations, The Aquanaut has gained a form similar to Z-13 with some differences naturally, such as a more oval head, having a messier hairstyle with a ponytail, and goggles resembling glasses(at Enoch's request), and some unnaturally, such as a lack of third arm. While still larger than a human, Z-13-b is smaller than Z-13 in an intended effort to increase speed by having a reduced mass while maintaining similar muscles. As a byproduct of the indulgence in whale shark dna alongside the blue whale, Z-13-b's scales have darkened and their skin has become a dark blue, slightly brighter on their face and chest, and their back to gain the white spots owned by whale sharks. Their eyes are a lighter yellow than their anglerfish lure and their tail fin is thinner, resembling that of a marlin's. Starting from their elbows, the back of their arms and hands are covered with calcified scales resembling that of their tail's that enhance the impact of blunt force from said regions, most likely obtained via mantis shrimp's dna.

Enoch's mutations were always painful, your very being being altered at the core would do that, and yet, the first alterations always left Enoch in awe. The tests that made sure the dna was applied successfully always passed and there was a sense of pride at the scientists' joy and excessive affirmations every time. But as their body changed more and more, they felt as though they were becoming less human.

It was easy to ignore with the gills or the senses and lungs, the arm scales were too, the lure was harder to ignore. The blue skin, missing nose, and eyes were…suppressible, but the tail was unignorable.

It was after they completed their final test and first official task, an under the table delivery from one dock to another, that they were up for consideration to become an MR-P; that they were given their collar.

“A specially designed PDG” they called it, after the actions of Z-13, the scientists wanted a failsafe to ensure their safety, and since Enoch didn’t need any diving gear, they created an alternative to give them.

While Enoch understood their reasoning, having your potential death always ready to execute you doesn’t do good for the nerves. The “good job, Enoch” and other affirmations given after they completed tasks went from just nice words to lifelines, proof they were doing things right and safe from being killed and discarded. Just because they didn’t SAY doing a bad job would kill them doesn’t mean they WONT, right?

Officially ranked MR-P, Enoch's range expanded to all nearby docks, no longer returning to their initial destination after completing objectives and now being sent between docks as required. Now integrated into and familiar to all nearby docks, tasks Enoch would be given ranged from important undersea transportation, inspection, retrieval, maintenance, or retrieval; to mundane reduction of local fish population(one of the few times they get to eat), and the application of blunt force to recreational televisions in an attempt to fix them(with a surprising 75% success rate). Positive affirmations are given after completion regardless of importance, it has almost felt like TOO much affirmation. This has continued to the present day, efforts have not been made to mass produce Z-13-b until reacquisition of the Hadal Blacksite for additional secrecy and potential, but likely impossible, experimentation in crossing the Veil of the Let-Vand zone.

In the present, Enoch is usually seen moving from one place of the docks to another due to there constant utilization. In the rare conversation, Enoch is usually timid and cautious when conversed with, often playing with their hands in silence and doing as they are told without question in an effort to ensure they don’t come off as hostile and have their collar detonated. The few who make efforts to befriend Enoch, however, find them to be a chipper and upbeat individual, enjoyable to be around. On their own, they sometimes talk to themself as they work and try to come up with a way to, at the very least, earn enough trust to have their collar removed.

Though it is known Z-13 is still alive in the Hadal Blacksite, Z-13-b has not (yet) been dispatched for objectives there to ensure they are not severely harmed or killed by the entities that roam it.

[bunnyinatree]

Here are my thoughts about Death Note compared to Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment...

It makes sense that people compare Light to Raskolnikov, although they strike me as very different characters. Light wants for nothing and is successful in basically everything he tries. Raskolnikov is intelligent, too, but unlike Light, he is down on his luck financially. While Raskolnikov might be just as capable of success as Light, it is denied him due to his socioeconomic standing.

In addition to his lack of resources, Raskolnikov is worse than Light at hiding his resentment and boredom with life. Especially in the manga, we see that Light has many friends, that he's popular with women, and that most everyone thinks of him as Japan's best and brightest. Conversely, Raskolnikov makes no effort to disguise his disgruntlement, and his only friend (Razumihin) is the one who carries and maintains their relationship, despite Raskolnikov's best efforts to drive him away.

The novel says that Raskolnikov "kept aloof from everyone, went to see no one, and did not welcome anyone who came to see him, and indeed everyone soon gave up" on being his friend (Part I, Chapter IV). This is a far cry from Light's outwardly social attitude, although I think that some people assume that Light is more of a lone wolf like Raskolnikov (specifically the people who wrote Light Turner in the Netflix adaptation of Death Note).

Still, I do see a kernel of similarity between Light and Raskolnikov, and that has to do with their lofty theories about society and criminal justice. Raskolnikov may not have any police chiefs in his family, but he does subscribe to a theory that resembles Kira's ideology: Those who are strong enough to seize what they want and who are charismatic enough to do so can get away with murder. The public may even regard their atrocities as progress and vital for the greater good, as is the case with Napoleon.

This reminds me of a quote from Tolstoy's War and Peace: "[W]ar began, that is, an event took place opposed to human reason and to human nature. Millions of men perpetrated against one another such innumerable crimes, frauds, treacheries, thefts, forgeries, issues of false money, burglaries, incendiarisms, and murders as in whole centuries are not recorded in the annals of all the laws courts of the world, but which those who committed them did not at the time regard as being crimes" (Book XI).

Just as Light develops a god complex and justifies his actions as Kira, Raskolnikov convinces himself that his murder was faultless and that it actually contributed to the greater good, even if it was technically illegal. There's also a shared theme about "might making right," where it's suggested that only time will tell if Kira is just or not. If he wins, then his actions are just; if he loses, then he's the worst murderer of all. Here's a quote from Crime and Punishment that expresses the same sentiment: "But those men [i.e. Napoleon] succeeded and so they were right, and I [Raskolnikov] didn't, and so I had no right to have taken that step [murder]" (Epilogue, II).

Both Light and Raskolnikov start off bored/fatigued by the world around them ("Mere existence had always been too little for him [Raskolnikov]; he had always wanted more" (Epilogue, II)), and both characters experience adverse reactions to their first kills, with manga Light cowering under his bedsheets and not eating for several days. Light, of course, continues murdering people, because he successfully convinces himself that it's the right thing to do, whereas Raskolnikov stops after his first attempt, which takes two lives. I think that if Raskolnikov had a Death Note, if he had possessed the same means as Light, then he would have pushed his theory further and murdered more people. As Porifry Petrovich says to Raskolnikov, "It's as well that you only killed the old woman. If you'd invented another theory you might perhaps have done something a thousand times more hideous" (Part VI, Chapter II).

If we were to assign the role of L to anyone in Crime and Punishment, Porfiry Petrovich is our best bet. He may not be a world-renowned detective, and he doesn't have the same autistic charisma as L (in my opinion), but he does back Raskolnikov into a corner with his disconcertingly accurate theories, and the style of these scenes reminds me of Death Note. Raskolnikov wonders why Porfiry Petrovich is being so frank with him; Porfiry Petrovich admits that he likes Raskolnikov a lot; Rasknolnikov's minute expressions are called into account as evidence that he's hiding something; Porfiry Petrovich has less physical proof against Raskolnikov than he has inner assumptions and gut feelings.

Of course, Raskolnikov stops after his first double murder, and he turns himself into the police. Unlike Death Note, where L dies halfway through, Porfiry Petrovich comes out alive and well, and the story concludes where many Death Note adaptations do, without delving into the second half of the story. For this reason, I don't think that there are any character equivalents of Near, Mikami, Mello, Takada, and the rest of the second half crew.

However, there are a few other parallels to address. Razumihin is a good stand-in for Matsuda. Both characters are chummy with the protagonist and always eager to help him out. I'm not sure that Razumihin shares Matsuda's clumsiness or perceived lack of capableness, but it is true that, like Raskolnikov, Razumihin is down on his luck and currently taking a break from his studies. Like Matsuda, Razumihin is talented and just needs the opportunity to flourish. There's also the parallel of Matsuda being attracted to Sayu (Light's sister) and Razumihin being attracted to Dounia (Raskolnikov's sister).

Honestly, I was hoping there would be a more dramatic betrayal scene when Razumihin learned about Raskolnikov's crime, but Crime and Punishment doesn't seem like that kind of story. While Light gets his just desserts and dies like all of the criminals that he's killed before, surrounded by the people he's hurt and betrayed, Raskolnikov retains his loving family, even after they know the full extent of his guilt, and the epilogue suggests that his life will go on, and he will be surrounded by people who love him—and people he's finally capable of loving back (specifically, Sonia).

Speaking of Sonia, I've heard people say that she is the Misa Amane of Crime and Punishment, but I don't think that's true. Personally, I think that Misa is a combination of Sonia and Svidrigailov. Sonia fits the bill of Misa's childish popularity, because the other characters often disapprove of her life choices but can't help feeling drawn to her. Also, she's positioned as Raskolnikov's love interest. Besides that, though, I don't think the connection is very strong. Light has no respect for Misa and sees her as a liability more than anything, whereas Raskolnikov often feels hateful toward Sonia but is frequently moved to bursts of kindness and generosity. And even though Sonia wants to save Raskolnikov and looks upon him in a religious way, Misa sees Light as a savior, while Sonia sees Raskolnikov as someone to be saved.

I think that Svidrigailov is a much better fit for Misa, because they are both brought into the story thanks to their stalkerish behavior. Misa makes a point of tracking down Light, because she is in love with him, while Svidrigailov shows up at Raskolnikov's apartment without any warning, because he is obsessed with Dounia. His love is directed towards the protagonist's sister, rather than the protagonist himself, but the way that Misa and Svidrigailov approach the objects of their affection is similar: They want to be a slave to their love; they'll do whatever their loved one says; they don't care if they're treated badly because of it.

The way that Raskolnikov treats Svidrigailov is much more similar to the way that Light treats Misa than the way that Raskolnikov treats Sonia is. Raskolnikov wishes that Svidrigailov would go away but recognizes him as a liability who learned his darkest secret without his permission, just as Misa uncovered Light's identity on her own.

Sadly, there are no Shinigami equivalents in Crime and Punishment—at least, none that I can make note of.

Lastly, we have Dounia, Raskolnikov's sister, and Pulcheria Alexandrovna, Raskolnikov's mother, who are parallels to Sayu and Sachiko respectively. There isn't much to say about Pulcheria Alexandrovna and Sachiko, because neither plays a major role in the story—although in my wildest dreams, Sachiko would also turn a blind eye to Light's murderous side and go on loving her son in spite of it. I'd like to think that Sachiko would go further than Pulcheria Alexandrovna and directly assist her son, joining Light's crusade to keep him from getting caught.

The connection between Dounia and Sayu fascinates me, because I see Dounia's storyline as everything that Sayu's could have been, had the creator of Death Note chosen to incorporate her into the main plot. Dostoyevsky makes frequent references to how similar Raskolnikov and Dounia are, in terms of appearance as well as personality. Both of them have an underlying coldness about them, a certain cunning intelligence that makes them unique and attractive to others. While Sayu is kidnapped and used as a pawn in other characters' schemes, Dounia is the final goal of Svidrigailov and gets her own scene involving helplessness and coercion—although Dounia made my day by pulling out a gun and aiming it at Svidrigailov. She did not kill him, but she did graze him with a bullet, and I love the parallel between her and her brother, the insinuation that both of them might be driven to murder under the right circumstances.

Sayu does not do any of this, of course, but I would have loved for her to play a more active role in her story. If she had been given as much intelligence and cunning as Light... If she had possessed more agency and had discovered her brother's secret on her own.... If she had pulled a gun on someone, Matsuda-style... As it stands, she and Dounia are both beloved by the main cast, but Sayu does less to differentiate herself from other little sisters. She's simply part of a generic category that people want to protect, and Dounia, in my opinion, has much more complexity and depth given to her.

Overall, I understand why I've seen more than one post comparing Death Note to Crime and Punishment. And while it's a fun topic to mull over, I don't think there's as direct of a correlation as some posts imply. Light and Raskolnikov are both young intellectuals driven to murder by lofty theories; they each have a mother who burdens them with her high expectations (Sachiko/Pulcheria Alexandrovna); they both have younger sisters with minor romantic subplots involving a friendly guy (Sayu with Matsuda/Dounia with Razumihin); there's a detective in both stories trying to catch a criminal (L/Porfiry Petrovich); and there's an unwelcome stalker with a romantic obsession there to complicate everything (Misa/Svidrigailov).

But Crime and Punishment ends much sooner than Death Note; there are only two deaths the protagonist is responsible for; and Dostoyevsky seems to have loftier themes of mercy and forgiveness to convey than Death Note. It's possible that swapping the two protagonists wouldn't alter the individuals stories much (if Raskolnikov were in Light's shoes and found a Death Note just before graduating high school, and if Light had been living in poverty, barred from higher education, and forced to deal with a disagreeable pawnbroker).

Still, Death Note strikes me as more of an engaging psychological thriller meant to entertain and satisfy with the protagonist's ultimate downfall, while Crime and Punishment feels intentionally religious and much more concerned with morals/messages. I enjoyed reading Crime and Punishment, but I've enjoyed reading/watching Death Note more (even though I appreciate what Dostoyevsky did with Dounia much more than what Ohba and Obata did with Sayu). I would recommend that fans of Death Note give Crime and Punishment a try, if nineteenth century Russian literature sounds at all appealing to you. It's fun to draw parallels between the stories as you go, and even if they're not the same (no story is), they're both entertaining and engaging in their own right.

[thefandomcassandra]

hallowed be thy unknown Ch5: Tokusatsu Haunting 1: Sea Bindweed and Sensitive Plant

Maya was getting a headache. Words swam in front of her eyes, black ants crawling across a white sand pit. She wanted to bury herself alive and sink into nothingness.

"Maya, c'mon now, answer me."

She groaned as Nick called to her, phasing through the kitchen table so he sort-of blocked her view of the offending textbook. "Why though?"

"Because you promised. We get through ten of these and you're free until lunchtime. You've got three more." He could cajole as much as he wanted, she wasn't going to like it any more even if he begged her.

"But it sucks and it's early and I've barely eaten and—"

"And this week's episode of Steel Samurai is on the DVR and if you finish this we can watch and you can explain to me why you like it after you've digested the story for an hour or so." Stubborn ass.

"Fine..." Maya blinked until the words on the paper resolved themselves into something readable. "So the difference between battery and assault is actually injuring someone or not. Assault is threatening, battery is attacking, but both can be charged as a felony if a firearm or other illegal weapon is used during the act."

"Larceny, burglary, and robbery?"

More terms. "Larceny is just theft—taking things from people. Grand or minor larceny based on how much was stolen, what have you. Burglary is forcing entry to a place and stealing, whether or not someone is there. Robbery is stealing using force, like mugging someone could be charged as either theft and assault or robbery depending on things, right?"

"If you're lucky and have a good defense or a bad prosecutor, yeah. It's usually charged as robbery since intent to harm while stealing is as good as causing harm while stealing. They don't differentiate between assault and battery where theft is concerned." Nick seemed amused that she had even thought about that. "One more and this one is easy: manslaughter and murder."

It sure was easy. "Murder requires intent to kill, whether planned or in the heat of the moment. Manslaughter is an act, violent or otherwise, that results in death, like a hit and run. Aren't they a little nebulous though?"

"Yeah. You can argue second-degree murder down to manslaughter, you can argue manslaughter caused through planned battery up to first-degree murder. It's all how you spin it and how the court views the actions taken. Self defense usually is manslaughter." He frowned as he thought something over. "But, again, it's a little wiggly, like you said."

"Which was bad for me and good for Prosecutor Edgeworth, not that he won..." Maya mumbled as she laid her head down on her arms. She could feel Nick's piercing gaze, the unspoken admonishment let to drift in the wind.

She'd done as was asked, hadn't she? Maya rolled her head so she could give Nick puppy-dog-eyes.

He snorted and floated down so he looked like he was sitting at the table with her. "That is all ten."

"So I can watch my taped episode?"

"Breakfast, dishes, then yes." Wow, thanks mom.

"I'm only doing this because you'll haunt me well into the night if I don't, mister incorporeal." Maya stood up and popped her back, sighing in amusement. Living with a ghost wasn't the most normal circumstances but after...everything, it was a welcome oddity. A comforting weirdness. Nick kept her in line, made sure she did all the proper adult things to keep up and running, and she kept him focused on the now with her company.

After the trial ended, it took a week or so before the Fey & Co. Law Office was cleared out and available as a working space again—after a very thorough cleaning courtesy of the state, of course. During that week or so, Maya tended to Mia's funeral and estate—nobody came to the former, she was the sole inheritor when it came to the latter. Getting access to Mia's apartment through her—Maya's now, really—landlord was a mess but she moved in as soon as she could and tried to not break down every time she opened a cabinet and saw Mia's coffee cups.

Barely a few days after everything was sorted and Maya had begun making the apartment more her living space than a museum to her sister, a call came in on the office line and Maya was summoned to testify in court in the case of the State v. Redd White.

Being on the witness stand was significantly different than being on the defendant's chair or in the defendant's bench. It was nerve-wracking, sure, but Prosecutor Edgeworth was somehow more tolerable when she wasn't the one in his crosshairs. It was almost amusing to watch the rich, well-to-do lawyer trip over their expensive brand name shoes to try and talk down the charges.

Maya's testimony, the pictures of her face taken after the trial, Gumshoe's corroboration, several anonymous (or redacted) reports of threats and blackmail, and April May's affidavit regarding her employment with Bluecorp and its inner working all dug him a one-way ticket to jail for life. If he was lucky, he'd never leave.

He looked defeated as they hauled him off to ship him from the center to the prison. Maya couldn't find it in herself to feel sorry for him.

Becoming an accredited defense attorney was the difficult part of the whole plan. Proving she had been homeschooled in what constituted as a traditional territory and providing proof of residency in Kurain was most of the legwork. With proof in hand, and permission from the Bar Association to take it out of season, the test was comically easy in comparison. Nobody needed to know she cheated, either! She was sworn in a few days ago and had even gone out and bought some new casual clothes to celebrate! She had real lawyer outfits that wouldn't get her stared at in the court!

Then she realized that being a defense attorney was a lot of waiting for someone to call your office to ask you to help them, instead of the more active lie she'd been believing. So most of her days were spent studying the well-worn law books Mia had in her office while Nick quizzed her to make sure she was retaining what she read. It was boring, for sure, but it was a new type of boring.

(Maya kept expecting Aunt Himiko to call but she never did. Neither did Pearl, but that was less Pearl's fault and more likely Aunt Himiko being a little controlling. Sometimes she got nauseatingly homesick and would leave Japanese dramas on TV in the background for the simple comfort of hearing people talk in Japanese. Nick always looked uncomfortable, like he wasn't sure how to handle her when she got like that but she wasn't something that needed to be handled, she just...needed a moment.)

Maya shoveled a spoonful of cereal in her mouth as she watched the Steel Samurai fight the Jade Turtle in his underwater palace. Despite how much she had been looking forward to this episode, her brain was still leaking out her ears. She couldn't focus on anything, even the things she liked.

Frustrated, Maya stopped the recording and threw on the news while she washed the dishes so Nick didn't complain all day. The weather looked like it was gonna be sunny for this time of year. That's nice.

Getting old snuck up on you, Maya determined. She had been living independently for a little over two months and she already cared about things like the weather. Yuck. Adding on worrying about bills and the idea that she had a commute to work now and she was seconds away from rapidly aging to dust.

Without cases coming in, Maya had to think about eventual second jobs—if things continued the way they were, that is. Like before, retail and customer service might not be good fits but they'd be easy to get. If she was going to work for minimum wage and maximum emotional distress, she'd like to work somewhere she doesn't hate but apparently Eldoon's wasn't hiring anyone since it was family-owned and her usual burger joint didn't need any more waitresses or hostesses.

Elbows-deep in bubbly warm water, Maya was startled out of her reverie by someone on TV saying the phrase 'Steel Samurai'. She tuned in on what the anchors were saying and was very glad she wasn't holding anything when she realized what was going on or she might've broken one of the nicer bowls.

The actor who played the Steel Samurai was just arrested for the murder of his coworker, the guy who played the Evil Magistrate. This had to be fate.

"Nick?!" One of the benefits to living alone was that she could openly talk to her ghost friend without worrying about someone staring. It didn't mean that her shouting across the apartment didn't startle him, however. Judging by the speed at which he flew through the bedroom wall, he must've thought she'd hurt herself or broken something. A fair assumption.

"What?" His blank eyes were wide, searching for whatever trouble she was in.

Maya waved at the TV. "Do you know what I heard?" When he didn't respond immediately, she continued, bouncing in place. "They arrested the Steel Samurai."

"The...character?" Nick seemed confused.

"The guy who plays him! They arrested him for murder!"

"Is that why you shrieked like you were dying?" Cute.

"No! No but like, Nick—" Was he not understanding what this meant? "—Nick he's in a holding cell right now! He's gonna need a lawyer!"

"Wh—Maya, this isn't some kind of game." He folded his arms and tilted himself so he was looking down his nose at her, stern. The whole effect was ruined by how he was dressed and it was undercut by the sharp spike of frustration that tore through Maya at his accusation.

"What makes you think I think it's a game?"

"I know you like the Steel Samurai but you've only been studying for a little while and—"

"Nick, I'm not playing. I'm accredited, aren't I?" Legally, yes. The technicality didn't matter much when she and Nick were a unit—a single lawyer. "And we haven't had a single client for the last month."

"Mia's clients were pretty sparse too—"

"Nick, I'm not Mia, I'm me. And I want to take this case." Maya made eye-contact with him and held it, an act he knew was a challenge. "I like the Steel Samurai, yeah, but I also want to help him. Don't I have the right to choose my clients too?"

Nick sighed and floated down a little bit so he was looking straight at her. "You're certain you want to do this?"

"Very."

"This is a murder case, like yours was. Do you think you can handle that?" He was being firm with her. He was almost never this firm. He was worried.

Could she handle a murder? She handled being on the stand for Redd White well enough. She hadn't broken down or cried or anything, had she? But defending someone for murder...that was a different beast.

She wanted to help him like his show had helped her. She nodded at Nick, who seemed to roll his thoughts around a bit before speaking again.

"In the chance that your client is guilty, what are you going to do?"

She hadn't thought about that. If he was guilty...would she still want to defend him? No, that wasn't the question. The question was: if he was guilty, what would she do, not would she continue to defend him. "I would try and work out a plea that satisfies both my client and the prosecution."

"And in the case that your client is innocent and you find yourself incapable of defending them properly?"

"I would suggest a different attorney and give all of my findings and documents to them." Because if she couldn't defend her client, she wanted her work to be worth something.

Nick closed his eyes for what felt like an eternity before he spoke again. "Okay." Approval. Yes! Before Maya could say anything in her excitement, he continued on. "But promise me you're going to be smarter about this one. No mouthing off to dangerous people this time. Gumshoe won't always be around to save you."

"Isn't he a homicide detective? He should be around."

"That's not the point. C'mon now, please?"

"Okay, okay." She wasn't sure why he was being so touchy about this. It's not like Redd White was going to kill her or anything. He was being a worrywart. "I promise I'll be safe."

"I'm serious. I might be around but I can't help if the problem is physical." He was still upset about the whole thing with Redd White then.

"I know." She did, really. She didn't blame him for his inability to interact with the physical world. It was part and parcel of being a ghost, after all. The fact that he was still around as a fuyūrei was nothing short of miraculous but miracles only went so far. Fate hadn't seen fit to make him a poltergeist. "I'll be smart."

That got a laugh out of him. "Sure you will." Even as he said it, however sarcastically, Maya could feel him relax. "Well the detention center opens at nine. That means we have two hours before we can see your Steel Samurai. Wanna finish the dishes and explain why you like it better than, say, Rainbow Warriors?"

Maya puffed her cheeks at him, pouting. "Rainbow Warriors is a show for babies and I will not have you slander the good streets of Neo Olde Tokyo with your bad taste." Even so, she continued on as she went back to the dishes, the tension dissipating, leaving behind anticipation.

Her first real client (maybe)! Her first not-herself client (possibly)! And it was the Steel Samurai! That was something to be proud of! She was gonna do great!

"I'm sorry..." Will Powers—the Steel Samurai actor—hunched in on himself and stared at a spot on the floor. For a man easily twice Maya's size, he sure was meek.

"Like I said before: it's no big deal. You never really appeared in public without the costume on so it was a surprise, nothing more." Maya waved her hand, trying to assuage his fears. He just whined a bit and hunched more in on himself.

Will Powers was somewhat of a Cowardly Lion sort, really. Despite his large size and intimidating stature, he tried to take up as little space as possible. He didn't like making eye-contact with Maya and barely spoke above a mumble. He was also barely older than Nick was when he died, which was the biggest shock—Will Powers looked very much like a man in his thirties but he was in his early twenties.

"I don't know what I was expecting," Nick muttered to himself, "but this certainly wasn't it."

"Powers-san," straight to business, no messing about for ol' Maya the Actual Lawyer™, "we've gotten a bit off-topic."

"Right."

"So you've been formally charged with the murder of your coworker, Jack Hammer, correct?" Nick had made sure she knew what Will Powers had been arrested for before they arrived at the detention center. Turns out, rote memorization of law did, in fact, carry over to a better short term memory recall. Who knew?

Will Powers nodded, his eyes swimming with tears. "But I didn't do it! I was napping at the time of the murder!"

"The problem, Powers-san, is that you have no alibi past your word." In her peripheral, Nick nodded at her in agreement. "That, unfortunately, won't fly in court." Not with the way the legal system was currently structured, or so Nick said.

"I know." He sounded defeated before the trial had even begun. "What else do I even have to offer? Apparently someone saw me out and about, even though I was sleeping in my dressing room!"

"Well, if you accept my services, then I would go investigate the crime scene and collect evidence to prove your innocence." Will Powers hadn't quite hired Maya yet but she was hopeful. That's part of why she was trying so hard to sound professional about it. Nobody would hire some kid but if she sounded like she knew what she was doing, then her age wouldn't matter.

Will Powers mulled over her offer, his brow furrowing while he pondered. When your life was on the line, rash decisions were a bad idea and he seemed like he was a cautious man to begin with. She didn't expect him to have an answer immediately but the fact that he hadn't been too bothered by her age when he was told a lawyer was here for him did wonders for her ego.

"He says he was asleep but someone saw him? That's strange." Nick was already running over the facts aloud, sitting cross-legged in the air while they waited for Will Powers to come to a conclusion. "An eyewitness account is damning but also it's a movie and TV set, isn't it? Costumes can't be hard to get duplicates of and wear around to falsify someone's position, can they?"

The Steel Samurai costume was a heavy number with a full mask. Most actors didn't like or were incapable of properly moving in costumes like that without extensive training, which is why the fact that Will Powers and Jack Hammer did their own stunts and fights was so fascinating. Sure, someone could steal a costume and wear it, but it'd be a heavy and claustrophobic thing tailored for a man of Will Powers' build and strength.

"Okay."

Maya's focus snapped to Will Powers. Wait...had he—? "Huh?"

"I'll hire you. You - you came to me, chose to believe in me with no proof. That's...even if you are a fan that's, uh, that means a lot." Despite the fact that he seemed so sure of his decision, Will Powers was still mumbling and muttering, his speech soft and unclear. But he had! He was hiring her! "So I'll be, uh, taking your services...after...all..."

"You won't regret it, Powers-san!" Maya almost leapt out of her chair. The larger man flinched back and Maya withdrew a bit so she wasn't upsetting him and pulled the paperwork for representation out of her sash. "If you could sign this after reading, I'll file this with the court and get to investigating right away."

Will Powers looked over the paperwork and quickly signed on the dotted line, sliding it back to her through the slot in the glass. "Th-thank you for this."

"Of course!" Maya beamed. That bolstered his spirits, it seemed, as he responded with an equally bright grin. "I'll keep you updated and, in the chance that I'm unable to come by again before visiting hours are over, we can discuss the details before your trial tomorrow. It's gonna be fine, Powers-san, I promise."

The smile he gave her felt tired but sincere. "Is there anything else I can - I can help you with?"

"Could I have your memory of the day of the murder?" Making sure she knew what his alibi was, how he remembers things, would be the base on which she builds her defense for him.

"Well, um, Hammer and I did a run-through of some of the action sequences starting around ten in the morning 'till noon. The usual type of, uh, work. After that, there was lunch and I guess I was more tired than I thought because while there was a rehearsal at five, I woke up too late to attend." He fiddled with his jacket sleeve, picking at a loose thread as he tried to organize his thoughts. It's not like being on that side of the visitor's glass was easy. Maya would know. "When I walked out, tripping over myself to try and attend rehearsal, they just...arrested me. I didn't find out Hammer had been killed until questioning."

Maya watched as Will Powers' face went blotchy, tears spilling down his cheeks as he tried to fight his emotions. He scrubbed at his nose with his sleeve, sniffling hard. Her heart went out to him; this wasn't easy for anyone, let alone the defendant of a murder case. The accused.

"They probably weren't nice about it either, were they?" Could he tell she was sympathizing with him? Could he tell she had been in his place only a month before?

A loud, snotty inhale and weak nod. "They ac-accused me of stabbing him!" His breathing was shuddering and slow as he tried to get himself calmed.

Maya caught Nick's eye. "You should ask more about the victim." She should. Knowing that might shed light on motive—or lack thereof.

"What was your relationship with Jack Hammer?"

That seemed to touch a weird nerve. Will Powers flinched a little and went back to staring at the floor, sniffling as he tried to get his emotions under control. "Jack and I...we weren't friends but - but I didn't hate him. Nobody did. We - we all mostly felt bad for him, considering..."

"Considering?" What did celebrity gossip have to do with this murder case?

"Well, I mean, before his role as the Evil Magistrate, he was a big action hero." A starstruck smile split Will Powers' face as he recounted his coworker's portfolio. "He's always worked for Global Studios—he's the most senior person there aside from the producer—but he never seemed...happy with his role? I dunno why he stayed."

"And you didn't get along?" The important part was whether or not her client had a motive.

"No, we got along fine. We never - never really interacted outside of a professional setting, is all..."

Nick hummed in thought. "So no direct conflict."

"Was there anyone who might have had an issue with Jack Hammer?" Maya pressed.

"Not anyone who'd kill him! He was Global Studio's darling!" Will Powers was affronted, raising his voice for the first time since she'd started talking with him. He was angry, not on his behalf, but on the behalf of someone else. Hm...

"Just checking! Thanks for your time." She waved her hand, clearing the air a bit, and gave Will Powers a soft smile. "See you later, Powers-san."

"Yeah, uh, um, bye."

Paperwork in hand, Maya felt light as a feather. Her first case—first real case—and she was defending the Steel Samurai! What a rush!

"You seem in high spirits." Nick laughed from his spot above her shoulder.

"Ha ha," Maya replied under her breath. "Very funny."

"No, but really: you look excited. Ready to do an investigation out of cuffs?"

"I'm ready to prove it wasn't just a flash in a pan, yknow?" The thought put some pep in her step. "Murder case or otherwise."

"Thoughts?"

"He didn't do it."

"You sound sure of yourself."

Maya fixed him with a flat stare. "Nick, did you see him? He could barely talk to me and I'm five foot two. Solid foot shorter than him. I'm certain he couldn't hurt a fly, let alone kill a man he worked with."

Something weird crossed his face for a second but he didn't say anything else on the matter. Instead, he shrugged and asked, "So where to?"

"After I drop off this form? Global Studios. It should be closed to the public, right?" He confirmed with a soft nod so she continued. "Investigate the crime scene, talk to employees of Global Studios, try and see what the timeframe looked like, what have you. Unlike last time, we weren't there the day of the murder so we have to start from nothing." She was excited. It was like solving a puzzle.

"Don't get cocky."

"Me? Never." She laughed. He laughed too.

"You're so certain they'll let you investigate."

"Weren't you the one who taught me that, while the police don't work directly with the defense, all attorneys are afforded access to the crime scene? They can't tell me no." She paid attention to his lessons, no matter how much he insisted she didn't.

"Touché." He laughed again.

She was so excited. ——— "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times: no lookie-loos allowed on the premises at this time! There's been an incident and everything is shut down for all the adults and that means you kids can't just waltz in here with your big ol' eyes all pouting and just say 'well I was told that I could—' no you weren't! I'm head of security and if you were told you could do this, that, or the other, I'd be the first one told. We've already got this place swarming with the force and I've run out of donuts but overall I just can't handle some third party being introduced just to cause me grief! After all, I'm already grieving my poor Hammer—"

"Ma'am!" Maya finally managed to get a word in edgewise. The old security woman huffed, breathing heavily as she glared at Maya but she didn't care. She just wanted to take advantage of the silence. "I have proof of representation. I'm asking to be allowed in because I'm Will Powers' lawyer."

The security woman held out a bony hand and Maya handed her a copy of the filed paperwork. Her eyes darted over the fine print and caught on Will Powers' signature, face twisting like she ate something off. "Hmph." The paper was unceremoniously shoved back into Maya's hands. "Why didn't ya just say so, girlie?"

"Because you wouldn't shut up."

Maya swallowed a giggle at Nick's comment and managed a very level, "I didn't have a chance to when I first arrived."

Global Studios was a moderately well-known film studio but it wasn't large by any means. The whole campus was composed of about three large buildings—two areas used for filming and one employee area that contained the prop and costume departments as well as the break rooms and dressing rooms—and was around an hour long round walk if you didn't sightsee. When Maya had gotten off the bus, the first thing she did was grab a pamphlet with the layout of the whole campus on it and study it, trying to mark her path of action. That's when the security woman—Oldbag, if her name-tag wasn't some kind of cruel joke—power-walked over and started scolding her.

She knew she looked young and all—she was only seventeen—but Maya had hoped her wardrobe upgrade would make people take her more seriously. She'd exchanged her kimono from Kurain for a dress blouse and a long skirt, keeping her sash so she could have extra storage space for evidence. Her tall traditional sandals were exchanged for cute flats that had thin leather straps she could tie like laces up her ankles. She even had swapped her three-quarters-sleeve shrug for a suit jacket in her favorite shade of lavender where she pinned her attorney's badge to the lapel! She looked the part of a lawyer now and yet...Oldbag had assumed she was some meddlesome kid.

"If it's any consolation, I think anyone younger than the dinosaurs is a kid to her." It wasn't a consolation but the mean little joke did make her feel a little better.

"Well you should learn to speak up!" Oldbag looked down her nose at Maya. "And get a name-tag or a sign or something so well-meaning people doing their job don't mistake you for a loitering hooligan!"

This woman, Maya realized, was going to be a bit of a headache to deal with in casual conversation. Heaven forbid she be put on the witness stand.

"Sorry, Oldbag-san." Maya bowed to her, more out of obligation than anything else. The older woman preened under her respectful manners. Nice to know she had an easy way to butter her up. "Before I go into the studio and look around, I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about the incident and involved parties?"

"So we don't have to come back later, I assume?" Nick asked. Maya didn't need to answer him. He'd gotten it in one.

"Of course, ask away! Just make it quick."

Deep inhale, exhale. She's not even a witness. She's just a busy old woman. She's not that scary.

"What were you doing at the time of the murder?" Concise and simple, so Oldbag couldn't take it and run.

Oldbag scoffed. "My job of course!"

"Which is?"

"Is it a lawyer's job to ask stupid questions or is it just the job of the young ones? Maybe I'm in the wrong profession if you get paid big for bothering hardworking women like me." Thankfully this rant didn't go on too long. Oldbag sniffed and straightened her jumpsuit's collar, motioning with her hands as she talked. "I'm head of security. My job is to sit here and monitor who goes in and out, keep an eye on the cameras, and prevent snotty little brats from trying to get free photos or tours." On and on like a runaway train of thought.

"I'd bet whatever money that was in my pockets when I died that the age demographic for a B&E at Global Studios is an inverse bell graph." Nick snickered and, when Maya furrowed her brows to silently ask for an elaboration, added on, "Well, Steel Samurai is a children's show and Jack Hammer is an old action film star, not much someone in the teens-to-late-twenties age range would be into." Ah. That made Maya a statistical anomaly. Neat!

Maya tuned back in to the conversation in time to hear Oldbag finish her explanation with, "—and if I find one more candy wrapper in the woods I will personally turn whatever little shit that littered into a rubbish bin."

Maya nodded at Oldbag and gave her an appeasing, if not vapid, smile. "Thank you for telling me all that, Oldbag-san."

"You did ask." If she was pleased, it was hard to tell by tone alone. She had a very dry way of speaking and her volume and speed made it difficult to figure out if she was genuinely angry or just passionate. "Anything else or can I get back to it?"

"Uh..." What else? "You've been here a while? With Global Studios, I mean."

"Almost ten years, yeah." Oh wow. Oldbag must've seen the stars in her eyes because she smirked before continuing. "I've been here since the studio was doing the mid-stage Samurai films."

"That's dedicated." Genuinely, keeping a security gig—any job, really—for a decade wasn't anything to sneeze at. "You must've seen a lot of talent come and go."

"Oh more than you'd expect." The key to getting her to talk, it seemed, was buttering her up. Or just asking her the right questions. "I remember when Vasquez was a production assistant and Manella was a sweaty dork getting cease and desist paperwork from the local talent."

The idea of the lead show-writer Sal Manella being just some fan was actually fascinating but it wasn't a story Maya wanted to get from the long-winded Oldbag. "What's your thoughts on Will Powers?"

"Oh he's guilty for sure." Succinct. Maya took a breath to ask another question but Oldbag cut her off, continuing her once-complete thought. "I mean, really, the big lug is so ugly he can't even show his face in public and dear Hammer was always a handsome fella, even in his younger years. Powers was jealous, of course, and it's not like anyone had the raw acting talent of my Hammer but really, killing him? The man had seniority and you just stab him with a broken prop? What a petty boy. When I was his age I would've gotten my shit rocked if I so much as looked crossways at someone with more seniority than me at work, let alone attacked and or killed them. But really—"

"I'm starting to think Oldbag actually is her name, in some kind of horrible ironic twist." Maya grimaced in agreement as Nick started rifling through the security office to kill time. "Imagine growing up with the surname Oldbag and then you manage to hit your fifties and you are a certified old person. Like the oldest person to ever old person."

He really needed to stop talking while Oldbag was rambling. Maya had long-since lost track of what she was saying, silently praying for her to stop talking so she could press for info about Hammer, since she liked him so much.

"—anyway, that's neither here nor there." Finally. Finally she's finished.

Maya took a second to gather her thoughts before trying to talk again. The woman was a minefield of conversation. One misplaced word would set her off on a tirade. What did she absolutely need to know? What was worth braving the rapids to learn? Well, obviously it would be the victim. "One last thing, if you don't mind?" Please don't mind. Please, please don't mind.

"If that's really all, then sure."

"You said you're a huge fan of Jack Hammer, right? I used to watch his movies a lot—I think I have the collector's edition box set of the Samurai series, honestly. But what's your personal thoughts on the actor himself? You must've worked closely with him, right?" That was the right thing to ask about. Oldbag's face lit up and stars filled her eyes.

"Oh, poor dear Hammer." She sounded like a teenager talking about her prom date. "It's unfair, I tell you, what Global Studios was doing to him."

"Huh?" Even Nick seemed interested in what she had to say now.

"Well, y'know, my Hammer was a big star so many years ago. He's actually one of the oldest members of cast and crew here in Global Studio. Seniority aside, however, they're just not paying him like they used to—as if degrading him by making him act in that good-for-nothing children's nonsense as a villain no less and—"

"The main villain actor wasn't being paid well?" That was news. The Evil Magistrate was actually one of the favored villains in Steel Samurai—not Maya's, mind you, but that's because she had refined taste—and he was The Villain so why—?

Oldbag huffed and rolled her eyes. She seemed as incised as Maya was about the idea. "Not in the slightest! For some un-god-known reason, the bigwigs thought to reward his years of dedication with a costume that hides his pretty face and peanuts on the dollar, which means he was working doubles and triples and even picked up a second job to make ends meet and isn't that just so sad? That in this day and age, men of his talent are forced to scrape the ground for pennies? A shame, I tell you. A right shame!"

"That is weird." Brow furrowed, deep in thought, Maya rolled the concept around. A big name star paid pittance for a long running role in a company he's got seniority in. Who would kill a man like that? It's a reverse-motive, really. Anti-motive?

"In the end, how much he got paid doesn't matter now. They don't pay you in heaven." Tears shone in her eyes as she spoke fondly of the dead man. She really did actually miss him. Huh...

Maya bowed. "Thank you for your assistance, Oldbag-san. And for answering my questions."

"Hrmph. If every lawyer was as polite as you, I think the world would be a slightly better place!"

"If every lawyer was like Maya, she'd be out of a job. Dime-a-dozen attorneys don't get noticed." Nick's little comment got him a stern look, not that he seemed to mind much.

Maya sidled by Oldbag and entered onto the Global Studios campus proper, the pamphlet still clutched in her fist. Immediately there was a decision she had to make: go to the crime scene or visit the employee area. Try and find more information about the victim or verify her client's alibi.

Before she could actually make that decision, however, she heard someone jogging up alongside her. Heavy footsteps and heavy breathing. Nick hadn't said anything so they were likely someone they knew already; someone safe.

"Why am I not surprised you're takin' this case, pal?"

"Gumshoe!" Maya wheeled about and gave the detective a wide, genuine grin. He returned her smile with one of his own as she continued with, "Why am I not surprised you're here?"

"I am lead homicide detective for the precinct. It's kinda' my job and all." He scratched at the back of his head, bashful all of a sudden.

"He missed you, I'd assume," Nick offered. He was probably right. During the transition period, when she was handling Mia's estate, she had received a clumsily made bento and a card offering condolences from him. While he couldn't be there personally due to work hours picking up and his pay going down—which on the card was just written as 'extenuating circumstances'—he wanted to show her kindness the way most people did when it came to someone grieving a loss.

(The bento tasted great, even if it was mostly rice and hot dogs.)

"How goes the investigation?"

"You representin' Powers?" He asked a question instead of answering hers.

"Yeah? I mean...I am a defense attorney now. See?" Maya flashed the badge on her lapel, grinning up at him with all of her. It truly was a mark of pride. Like her sister, she was a bonafide lawyer!

Gumshoe leaned forward, squinting a bit, but the smile he gave her was proud and sincere and filled her chest with warmth. "Yeah! I heard. Prosecutor Edgeworth said his sister was furious about some girl from nowhere gettin' a cultural pass on the Bar. Said she was considerin' flyin' down from Germany to see what the fuss was about. From his side of the phone call, sounded like he warded her off, which is good coz just talkin' to her made him sweat. That made me worry."

Anyone who made Prosecutor Edgeworth uncomfortable was a friend of Maya's. She filed that information away for later.

"Sister?" Apparently Phoenix was unaware. Odd. He knew almost everything about the man, if his starry-eyed proselytization on the virtues of the Demon Prosecutor were anything to go by.

Because she didn't care about Prosecutor Edgeworth in the slightest, Maya chose to ignore the comment about him having a sister. "So how's the investigation going?"

Gumshoe sighed and picked at the bandage on his cheek. It was a new one, different from the last time she saw him, but was in the same place as before. Maybe he was just clumsy? "Could be better, could be worse. Nice to see you out and about without cuffs on. How's that feel?"

She beamed. "Feels way better than last time!" It really did. The cuffs didn't restrict her movement too much but being able to go places without an escort was nice. Freeing. She felt in control of things. "Plus I got to pick my clients. I chose Will Powers!"

"You like the Steel Samurai too, pal?"

"Too?"

Gumshoe covered his mouth and quickly looked anywhere but at Maya. As she tried to get him to focus on her again, she heard Nick full-body laughing about it. "Forget I said anything."

Oh, she won't be forgetting that any time soon, but she didn't want to make him sad. A sad Gumshoe wouldn't be any fun. So she placed her hand over her heart, her magatama cold beneath her fingers, and gave him a solemn nod. "Alright. My lips are sealed."

Gumshoe relaxed. Exhaled. Stood back upright. "Thanks." He seemed actually relieved. "Anyway, uh, what were we talkin' about again?"

"The investigation?"

"The investigation." He pursed his lips, the effort of organizing his thoughts obvious on his face. "It's lookin' pretty cut-and-dry. Only person unaccounted for was Powers, we got a picture of him goin' from the employee area to Studio One, the Samurai Spear was run through the poor victim, and that's that."

"My client says that, from around noon to five in the afternoon, he was asleep in the employee area." She did her best to reign in her bite. This was Gumshoe. He was nice. She didn't need to be aggressive with him.

"Your client was caught on camera, like I said." Gumshoe pointed over her shoulder at something. "There's security cameras that take still shots every time someone passes by. We got a copy of the one he's in." He rifled through his pockets and pulled out a black and white print with something written on the back, presenting it for Maya to take. "You can keep this one. I can get another, all I gotta do is ask nicely."

"I think Gumshoe might be one of the only good cops in existence."

"Thanks!" Maya gave the photo a quick look. It was the Steel Samurai, spear and all, wandering towards something. Judging by the camera angle, it wasn't the employee area, it was one of the studio lots. But it wasn't definitively Will Powers, it was just someone in the Steel Samurai costume.

Gumshoe must've seen the look on her face, the pensive way her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to figure out what the deal was, because he also pulled out a piece of paper from a different pocket. "Autopsy report too. Up to date this time." He had the decency to be embarrassed about that.

"Glad to hear it." The photo print was folded into simple quarters and shoved into her sash as she looked over the report.

Victim: Jack Hammer (37, Male) Time of death: 10/15 at 2:30 PM. Cause: Pierced through the chest by a spear.

"They're so sure of the murder weapon, aren't they?" Nick mused.

"The, uh, coroner is certain that the murder weapon is the Samurai Spear?" That was the right word for the person who does autopsies for the police, right? Coroner?

"It was in his body, if you'll mind the graphic description." As if he just remembered he was talking to someone her age, Gumshoe curbed his language a bit.

"The autopsy says 'pierced through the chest'. Talking about it won't make me upset." Maya puffed her cheeks and frowned up at Gumshoe, who broke eye-contact again. The power she wielded over this man is amazing. "Besides: I need to understand what's going on to properly represent my client, don't I?"

"Yeah...I guess you do."

"So there's a security camera up here," Nick called from where he was floating. He was by the welcome arch, studying the camera intently. "Number ST1-307, it looks like? That might be what we needed if we wanted to pull a copy of the photo ourselves. It's a good thing Gumshoe is so nice to us." Even in the middle of an investigation, Nick was already running his mouth. He forgets, or so he says, that Maya can hear him. He's too used to thinking aloud, apparently.

It's still comforting, even if it isn't always helpful. It meant someone was there. It reminded her that she wasn't alone.

"Well aside from the autopsy report and picture, I don't have much of any use to you I don't think. The security lady was more helpful than we thought but there were only a handful of employees there the day of, so we talked to 'em, looked around, and now we're takin' a comb to the woods on campus."

"Oldbag was helpful?" It's not like she was unhelpful when Maya talked to her, just...hard to talk to.

"She gave us donuts and coffee too! Which was good coz my wallet is gettin' a little empty." Poor Gumshoe. Apparently being a homicide detective didn't pay well. "But she gave us the photo, gave us her testimony, and even offered to come to court tomorrow!"

"Joy." She was going to have to cross-examine Oldbag. Yippee.

"Yeah, I think Prosecutor Edgeworth wasn't too keen on it neither."

"Of course he's prosecuting this one." He is a huge Steel Samurai fan, after all.

"He asked for it specifically, actually. That's the third one in so many months." Was that odd? Defense attorneys picked their cases for the most part. Was it different for prosecutors? "The first one was your case, the second was Mr. White, the third is this one. Usually he takes whatever Miss Chief Lana gives him or whatever his mentor thinks would look good. He doesn't have an opinion about cases so long as he gets his verdict, y'know?"

"I'm sure." If he—or Nick—heard her irritation, neither said a word about it. "I didn't know that was odd for prosecutors. Picking cases, I mean."

"It's not unheard of," Gumshoe clarified, "just unusual. Especially for him."

"Is Oldbag the only witness you have?"

"Now I can't tell you all Prosecutor Edgeworth's secrets, pal!" He laughed at her attempt to change the topic.

"Not even for me?" How far could she push him if she made the saddest face possible?

"You're an attorney, aren't you? Do attorney things! You're smart." Not very. Ah well, it was all in good fun. "Can't sell Prosecutor Edgeworth up the river or he'll dock my pay."

"Fair enough. Fair enough."

Nick had drifted over to what appeared to be a very large statue of a monkey with a top-knot that had fallen over and was busy inspecting that—but not so busy to not smile fondly about her antics.

"Studio One—the place where the murder took place—is technically closed off to everyone but the police but I left the door open for you. Don't tell Prosecutor Edgeworth though, okay pal?" That was becoming Gumshoe's catchphrase. Don't tell Prosecutor Edgeworth.

To be fair: she wasn't going to. It was really nice having someone on the inside. Made her feel powerful.

"You know I won't."

"Thanks, pal." Gumshoe scratched the back of his neck. "I, uh, gotta get back to work and all but hope your investigation goes well."

"Me too! Oh!" Her exclamation caused him to stop his slow, sheepish retreat towards the woods on campus. "Where do I go to give you back your bento box? It was really good."

Something strangely bright, like a child seeing a rainbow for the first time in their life, bloomed on his face. His hesitant expression was replaced with a bashful smile and he ducked his head down. "Oh, uh, you don't need to return the box or nuthin'. I have a million of 'em just sitting around from an old job I had. I'm just glad you liked it."

"It was really good food, Gumshoe. I needed that." It wasn't a tradition in Kurain but she knew the importance of it anyway, judging by how Nick had spent minutes staring at the bento like it was an offering on an altar. "I just don't want to keep the box if you don't have a lot. I've got enough myself."

"No, no, like I said: I got plenty, pal." Resolute and firm, Gumshoe refused a second time. "It's just a clear disposable container anyway. Nuthin' special."

Alright. "Okay then. Maybe we can get lunch or something after this case is done with. My treat?" She'd always wanted to say that.

He blanched and blushed, the colors rapidly cycling like Christmas lights. "I - I couldn't!"

"I insist."

"But—"

"Gumshoe, c'mon! Let me use my paycheck for something other than clothes and bills! Please? Being independent sucks because it's no fun!"

Gumshoe crumpled like a bad house of cards. "Fine. You got a place in mind?"

"Burger joint I'm a regular at. Me and Mia went every time I came around." Against all odds, mentioning Mia in this context didn't hurt. It's not as if the grief was any smaller, just that talking about her habits and little idiosyncrasies didn't feel like she was cracking her ribs open like an oyster shell.

(It was different compared to the mundane emptiness of missing her, the agonies of wanting to make a joke at her expense and her not being there. Telling people 'my sister did this or that' was a statement, a simple fact. Every inch of her apartment was a minefield but work, at a murder scene no less, was safe for some reason. Grief was a persistence predator. Work was a steady clip to keep her ahead. She'd go home and be caught in its jaws but for now she would take the yearning in place of vacuous loss.)

Gumshoe's expression softened. It was something between pity and understanding, sympathy and empathy. He had to be holding himself back from reaching out to comfort her. Otherwise, why would he look like that? "Sounds good."

She didn't try to keep him there, trapped in a conversation going nowhere. They were both adults! They both had jobs to do—even if it was a novel concept even now. "Good luck!"

Maya turned on her heels and walked to where Phoenix was poking around by the fork in the pathway, trying her best to not run away from the weird emotions nipping at her heels. To keep her hands busy, she folded Hammer's autopsy like she'd done to Mia's and put it in the inside breast pocket of her new jacket. Nick was inside the severed head of the monkey mascot, whatever he might have been saying echoing inside the plaster or concrete of the head.

Maya knocked her hand against the head, wincing at the flash of pain that spattered starbursts across her knuckles. Concrete. Ow. "Nick? Gumshoe left."

"Okay?" If she wasn't used to seeing him half-inside of objects, she might have lost it at the comedy of his head resting on top of the concrete—and probably rebar among other things—monkey head. "Get anything good?"

"Nothing you didn't see. Oh, but he did say that I had his permission to poke around the crime scene, so long as I didn't tell Prosecutor Edgeworth." She leaned against the monkey head. "So what'd you find out inside that?"

"Well, it's a clock, for one." Nick leaned forward, resting his elbows on the sign it's body was holding that directed people to the studio lots. "You wouldn't be able to tell unless it was working or if you were inside it."

"Please don't let this be the actual murder weapon." It was only a joke but, between what she'd learned about the Thinker clock and Mia's death, she wasn't taking any chances.

Nick might've understood what she was getting at but he still managed to sound almost put-off as he replied. "Unless the top-knot of this monkey is secretly a bladed weapon, I think we've finally broken our weird clock-as-murder-weapon streak. It's a digital clock, same as the Thinker, and also it looks too heavy for a person to lift without assistance."

Maya crouched, dug her fingers under the chin of the monkey, and tried to lift it.

When she gave up, face a brilliant scarlet, ears ringing for the effort, Nick was giggling. "Like I said."

"Okay, digital clock, super heavy, anything else?"

If he cared that she was pouting at him, he didn't show it. "Well it took out a tree and blocked this whole path here." He gestured with one hand at the pathway leading to Studio Two. The dense foliage and concrete monkey's head made it impossible for her to see farther down the pathway. Even the railings on either side of the paths were crumpled like tinfoil beneath the weight of them both. "So it's unlikely that anyone was going to or from that studio during the time it was down."

"Do you have a way to know when that was?"

"Ask Oldbag." Yeah, she was afraid of that.

"Anything else?" The way Nick was grinning at her made her think the answer was 'no'. "Guess we'll never know."

"Coward."

"I value my time." Maya looked at the sign directing people to the two studio lots. Studio One, where the murder took place. Studio Two, likely cut off from the rest of the campus by any conventional means. The employee area, where Will Powers was taking a nap. A photograph showing the Steel Samurai heading towards the studio lots from the employee area at two pm.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She startled when he spoke, glaring daggers up at him. "I was thinking about the security photograph."

"What about it?"

"It was from that camera, right?" She indicated the camera he had been studying earlier, the one by the welcome arch. "But it's not definitive evidence, just someone in the Steel Samurai costume, with the Samurai Spear and everything, heading towards the studio lots. Everyone keeps saying Will Powers did it though."

Nick sighed through his teeth and floated down so he was standing next to Maya. "Welcome to law enforcement. With trials the way they are, it's guilty until proven innocent and first seen, first arrested. You've seen how biased and bad it can get, and White was an outlier. Not every trial has some secret mastermind behind them but almost every trial is going to be an uphill battle. It's just...how the law is right now."

"I've said it once and I'll say it again: this sucks." Maybe it was petulant but—

"You're right." Oh, yeah...Nick had been the defendant of a trial when he died, hadn't he? If anyone understood, it was him.

Maya pulled the photo print from her sash and unfolded it, studying it closely. It really was someone in the Steel Samurai costume walking on camera. It seemed almost staged, their hold on the Samurai Spear unnatural, their entire torso angled so the camera would see it all. On the back of the print it read: ST1-307 – Oct 15, 2:00 PM, Photo #2.

"Two?"

"It comes after one."

Maya shot him a flat, unamused glare. "No, I mean: this is the second photo?"

"I think the camera is motion activated. It probably grabs shots of everyone who passes it." It was a solid theory.

"But two?"

"Oh, like 'where is photo one'?"

"Yes."

"No clue." Super helpful, Nick. "But we can use that, I'm sure. If there were two photos taken, one before this one, then we can assume someone else wandered in and around. And in full view of the camera, so we can rule out someone sneaking around in the woods."

"They were doing action scenes early in the morning, then they were supposed to do the rehearsal in the afternoon. Between the action scenes and the murder, everyone should have been in the employee area, right?" She met Nick's eyes as she spoke, hoping he understood what she was getting at. Judging by the way he was gaping in surprise, he did. "That could be the real murder!"

"Or an unrelated and mysterious third party?"

"Who could be the murderer!" It's not like every murder was some kind of locked room nonsense. People could walk in and out of public areas—private areas too. Third party didn't mean unrelated, if April May and Redd White were anything to go by.

"Possibly." Nick frowned in thought. "So what next, Maya?"

"Uh..." They had two options, really. Either check out the employee area or the murder scene. Probably both. "Well it depends on what we should do first."

"First?"

"The thing before second." Turnabout is fair play.

"Ha ha." He was unamused. Sucks to suck. "What I was asking was: how many options do we have?"

"Two; the scene of the murder and the employee area."

"Then how about this: you go check out Studio One and I'll poke about in the employee area to see if I can find anything useful. In the off chance it's a physical piece of evidence or something we might want to...hold on to," steal for later, "I can tell you where it is so you don't waste your time rummaging through the garbage."

"Is looking in the trash a regular occurrence?"

Nick's face drew into a pitying grimace. "More than you'd expect but less than doing it for fun and profit."

"Weird." Maya tried to imagine her sister rummaging in the trash and couldn't. The two disparate ideas wouldn't reconcile into a single occurrence. "But that sounds good! I'm gonna try and be super thorough when I look at the crime scene so come to me when you're done, okay?"

He flashed her an 'okay' hand sign. "Will do. Don't die."

"I don't plan on it."

"Usually you don't." Even though his tone was light and airy, there was something tense and choking in his chest. She felt it slam into her own heart and wrap tendrils around it, squeezing and sharp.

Like the last time he said it, he wasn't joking. Not entirely.

People don't usually plan on dying.

Then they parted ways. ——— Studio One was a large warehouse-like building with a single entrance accessible by foot traffic. Maya was surprised to see that the door, while it had a card reader on it to prevent unauthorized entry, was propped open with a re-sealed can of brilliant jade high-gloss paint. That must've been what Gumshoe meant when he said 'I left the door open for you'. No wonder he didn't want Prosecutor Edgeworth finding out. If someone else had taken advantage of the open door, he'd be in massive trouble. As she entered the studio, she moved the paint can inside so nobody else could get in without a keycard.

Now nobody would know what Gumshoe'd done.

Normally, the idea of being inside the area where rehearsals and filming for Steel Samurai took place would have sent Maya into a hyperventilating spiral of delight but...

White tape outlined the place where a man had died. There was no blood—it's likely the costume absorbed all of it—but little white markers pointed to where the weapon had to have been. Cameras pointed towards a backdrop of Mt. Neo Fujiyama against the brilliant midday sky, framing the scene like the finale of the show in its entirety.

The Evil Magistrate was dead! All of Neo Olde Tokyo can rest easy! The Steel Samurai has done it!

He's dead! He's dead!

He's dead!

(She can't pull her wrists too far apart. The cold metal bites, the fangs of the law around her hands and she knows if she doesn't keep fighting she's going to be dragged to hell with words and money. Iron floods her nose and the raw skin on her cheek aches against the cold. She wants to cry but there's someone there, wailing for her, crying for all her own emotions are trapped in her chest.)

(Mia is laying there, slumped. Surrounding her is a puddle of blood, white tape framing her like rim-lighting, the glass from the light stand a shotgun impact mark. Her dead, sightless gaze catches Maya's own and she opens her mouth to admonish her, ask why she didn't save her, why she didn't show up sooner and—)

"—miss? Miss?! Are you—?"

(There are two ghosts holding on to Maya's hands, their grip steel and iron claws vicious and restricting. Her sister—her sister dead and gone and dead and not gone and she never channeled her but if she did she'd be so disappointed and Maya couldn't talk to her anyway and—screaming and wailing, her other hand phased into Maya's chest clutching and squeezing her heart to stop it in its tracks. The other is someone she doesn't know—Nick Nick Nick who is her friend her lifesaver an anchor to reality it's Nick look it's Nick he's here to help he's—and his sightless eyes bore holes in her head as his own agony amplifies her own.)

(Her sister is being attacked and she can't move her hands too far apart and she wants to help but everyone's eyes mark her as a killer. No one will help her but the dead. No one cares but the dead. All she has are the dead. She's dying she's dying she's—)

"—in, hold, out. C'mon now, Maya, breathe!"

(Eyes like flood-lamps, like spotlights, derision and judgment burning blisters against her skin. Paper crumpled in her fist as she spits bullets of black and white reasoning across a battlefield. Stop looking at me! Stop it! Please stop! I didn't do it!)

(She can't afford to be anything other than angry. If she stops being angry she'll crumple in on herself like a dying star. She can't rest until the killer is caught but he smiles at her like he's won and all she can see is white tape and blood and blank eyes and blood and blood and blood.)

(She wants him dead. She wants him to suffer.)

(She's suffering.)

"—there we go, slow and deep. You've got this."

"Do I need to get someone, miss?"

Two people, one familiar and one not, were talking to her. The familiar voice—Nick, it's Nick, and he sounded so worried for her? Why was he worried for her?—was instructing her to breathe. She followed his instructions, suddenly aware of how hard her heart was hammering and how much of her hearing was being consumed by a shrieking ringing noise.

The other voice, the unfamiliar one, was also worried for her but in a more impersonal way. "Uh, I don't know if we have anything that can help and they never trained me on this! Um...uh..."

She needed to assure this poor person that she wasn't dying, that she was going to be alright. Her mouth worked around the words, lungs filling with enough air she could say things again, and she managed to wheeze out, "Don't—" The rest of what she wanted to express—don't worry about me, I'll be fine—died on her tongue. She didn't have the energy yet. She needed a little bit longer.

"Oh!" Maya's vision swam, the blue of Mt. Neo Fujiyama leaving blurry streaks across the face of the other person. She couldn't make out details just yet. "You're okay! That's - that's great!" The poor person sounded like they were about to cry.

"In, hold, out." Nick hadn't stopped coaching Maya's breathing. He just continued on, uninterrupted. She focused on his words, closing her eyes, and breathed. And breathed. And breathed.

When she opened her eyes again, everything was back to normal.

Admittedly, she was on the ground—which was concerning, but her head didn't hurt so she probably didn't fall over—and her mouth was simultaneously dry as cotton and full of weirdly sweet and sticky spit, but she wasn't...whatever that was.

If grief was touching an active heating coil, whatever had just happened was sticking a fork into a toaster. Overall a terrible experience that sapped the strength from every part of her.

"Th—" Maya started to say. Her tongues stuck to the back of her teeth so she took a second and tried again. "Thanks."

"I'm just glad you're alright." The other person—the worried stranger—was crouching nearby, her eyes wide behind her large, round glasses. She looked maybe Maya's age, dressed in a striped shirt with a camo cargo vest on. Her fingers were covered in bandages of one kind or another but she didn't seem to be having issues in spite of that, like she was used to it. "You really worried me there."

"Didn't mean to." Maya was talking to both of them, Nick close enough she could feel the cool tingle of him against the nape of her neck. "I just...didn't expect to react like that."

The girl's expression twisted in sympathy and she fiddled with her ponytail. "Yeah. It's pretty bad. Or, was."

Maya took another moment before she tried to stand up, her legs threatening to give out under her. She leaned against a folding table for support and continued to meter her breathing. "Uh, sorry, I'm Maya. I'm Will Powers' attorney."

The girl's face lit up at that. "Oh! You're taking care of WP! That's good. I was worried." WP? "I'm Penny. Penny Nichols. I'm an assistant on Steel Samurai."

Maya considered bowing to her but Nick interjected. "Don't. You might pass out."

Instead she smiled and inclined her head. "Pleased to meet you Nichols-san."

Penny Nichols blushed so hard her freckles popped against her pink skin. "No no no, you don't have to be so polite! Like I said: I'm just an assistant. I make props and things! I'm just Penny!"

Whoops. Too formal. Time to diffuse the situation. "Okay, just Penny." Judging by the startled laugh that got out of the assistant, it was the right call. "Again: I'm really sorry about...that."

"It's fine!" Judging by the way her voice cracked, it was not fine in the slightest. Penny might've been close to joining her if she hadn't snapped out of it. "I thought something had happened or someone else had attacked you and I was about to call security."

Nobody wanted that, it seemed.

"I'm better now. Glad you held off, though." Going from that to Oldbag would've been...hell, probably. "Uh, anyway, do you mind if I ask you a few questions Penny?"

"Straight to work out of a panic attack." It was hard to tell if Nick was impressed or upset with her. Either could be true. She hoped he could tell from her expression that she was fine right now, stop worrying.

(Be Mia. Be Mia.)

"I already talked to the police but yeah! Anything for WP."

"You keep saying that. WP. Who is that?" Context clues probably should have keyed her in but her thoughts were still prickly around the edges so forgive her if she didn't put one and one together.

"Oh! WP is Will Powers. He's...," Penny tried to find the right words, fiddling with her vest zipper, "He's a sweetheart but 'Will Powers' is a mouthful. It's how he's registered in the actor's guild so I want to be polite and all, hence the abbreviation. He says it's fine." She stumbled over her words, tripping all the way to the conclusion. For someone who worked with stars, she sure didn't act like it.

Judging by the way he had reacted when Maya called him 'Powers-san', he was content with however people wanted to call him. "Oh, okay. That makes sense."

Penny nodded, her ponytail slapping her shoulder. "WP didn't do it. I know he didn't."

"Me too. That's why I took his case."

"I'm so glad! It's nice to know he has someone looking out for him, considering."

"Likewise." Wait, hold on. "Considering?"

Penny's eyes widened behind her glasses. "Oh! I don't mean—that is..."

"I'm not trying to pry." Maya tried to alleviate her discomfort. "That's just the second time someone has mentioned something about Will Powers and Jack Hammer, or something like it. I was just curious."

Penny's expression shuttered, her concern masked with stark disapproval. "Oh, I'll bet you heard that WP and Mr. Jack didn't like each other, didn't you? I've been trying to squash those rumors on the forums for months. It's such a mess."

Forums? Wait, was she big on the forums? Did she do official social media for Steel Samurai or was it a hobby thing? "Not quite, though I wouldn't expect you to be on the forums."

She hadn't meant to let that slip, judging by how flushed she got. Penny carded her fingers through her ponytail and stared through Nick—whom she didn't know was there—in an attempt to not look at Maya. "Oh, uh, I mean...look, it's not like it's official..."

"Do I look like a cop?" Wait, she was a lawyer. "Or a narc?"

"Where did you learn 'narc'?" That word choice apparently amused Phoenix to no end.

"No?"

Maya shrugged. "I took the case because I'm a fan myself. What you do with your time is your business and, unless it directly impacts my investigation or if it would harm or aid my cause, I'm not worried about it. Besides: it's a stupid rumor mill echo chamber anyway. Like the whole thing about the moon being an ancient ayakashi egg. It's the moon! There are sapient rabbits up there! There's no reason to also make it an ancient ayakashi egg! That'd be overkill and, for all that the show can be a bit much, that's too much."

That was the right thing to say, it seemed, because Penny immediately started nodding so hard Maya was worried her glasses would fall off. "Right?! Do they not understand that there's a rhyme and reason to the mythos of the show? Making the moon an ancient ayakashi egg would throw off the whole point of the Mutant Moon Rabbits and the Moon Rabbit Kingdom!"

Penny was like her! Penny was a huge nerd just like her! That more than made up for the panic attack she just had. They should exchange numbers to talk about Steel Samurai stuff.

"Earth to moon rabbit," Nick called out, pulling her away from her imaginary conversations with her new Steel Samurai fan friend. "The case?"

Right. The case. "Sorry, that was off-topic. Uh, right," Maya cleared her throat and tried to be Mia for a bit, "so what were you doing the day of the...murder?" She tried to keep from looking at the outline of the body so she didn't panic again. That shade of white made her itch.

Penny also tried to go back to being professional, though she was grinning a mile a minute. "Right, uh, that day. So I was doing set work, like usual. The action sequence run-through was for early in the morning so that there could be a break before rehearsals so I was mostly prepping the scenes."

"Just her?"

"Are you the only assistant Global Studios has?" Maya tried to not sound pitying but she apparently did a bad job, judging by how Penny flinched.

"The studio isn't doing...great. Don't get me wrong: Steel Samurai is more popular than ever, it's just...not enough to hire a lot of staff. I'm set assistant, prop department, and gaffer. I don't do active lighting all the time—we have programs for that—but there's very little on set I don't—or can't—do, so I'm busy most days. Especially shoot days." That explained the bandages on her fingers.

"Was everyone there for the action scenes or just Hammer, Powers, and the relevant staff?" Did they need the crowd and suit extras or just the Steel Samurai and the Evil Magistrate?

"Staff that day was WP, Mr. Jack, security, our producer, Sal, our cameraman, stunt coordinator, and myself." Penny ticked each person on her fingers as she talked. "Most of our extras had filmed their scenes for the next batch of episodes days before so we only needed the big players. Off record: there's been layoffs so the whole place is running on a skeleton crew, myself included. The pay is good because it's more hours than I'd normally get, but it's exhausting. Every time I close my eyes I see the sets I've painted."

"Yikes." What else could she say?

"Action run-through and then break, right?" Nick prompted. Right.

"So the action scenes in the morning, then lunch break while staff set up for the rehearsal, right?"

Penny nodded. "Everyone took lunch in the employee area. After lunch, WP went to his dressing room and I got super busy making sure markers were put down and everything looked good and was greased and ready to go for rehearsal. I was actually patching some of the bit-part suits and running laundry when they found the body." Busy bee.

"There's remnants of t-bone steak all over the employee area," Nick corroborated. "Global Studio seems to cater its meals on shoot days. They haven't cleaned them up, either, but that's probably on the police's orders. Don't touch anything, and all." Good information to have.

"You said Will Powers went to his dressing room after lunch?" Maya got a nod in response. "Did you see him any time after that?" That was a shake. "Did you check to see if he was asleep?"

That actually made Penny blush. "No! He's one of the big names, the important ones! I know he's pretty cool and all but you don't go busting into someone's personal dressing room like that! It's improper."

"To her credit, and his, there's a bed in the dressing room. It's small, barely a cot, but it's unmade and messy. He absolutely was sleeping after lunch." That was a relief.

"Understandable!" Maya laughed. "I think I'd've done the same. I'm just asking to make sure I have the facts straight."

"I understand." Penny went back to fiddling with her vest zipper. "I just...you know how it is."

"I really do." They were, after all, kindred spirits. "And you're certain nobody else was around during that time? The run-through and before the body was found?" Best to check for her mysterious unrelated third party.

Penny looked strangely on-edge when she asked that. She kept glancing between an open grate on the floor and Maya herself, chewing on her lower lip. When she finally spoke again, she seemed to be choosing her words carefully. "I didn't see anyone else but..."

"But?"

"Well, I...sensed? Someone?" She shifted in place a bit. "I know it sounds silly but there's only so many people here and you get used to their noise and presence and all—"

"Oh I get that, believe me." A village of people, everyone knowing everyone, and a manor with only three residents in it. Nightingale floorboards and the sounds of the forest outside. Screaming cicadas and crickets and owls. Wandering a mostly-empty street but knowing there's a tourist in town because the rhythm of everything was off. "You didn't see them, though?"

"Whoever it was kept out of sight." Penny actively looked at the grate this time. "We get, uh, kids coming in from time to time because, y'know." The Steel Samurai's demographic. The inverse bell graph. "But I don't recall seeing anyone, no."

"I assume that's what's up with the cops searching the woods? The whole...fans situation?"

"Couldn't tell you." Penny frowned. "Not that any of them would be here today. School day."

"Has that ever stopped a fan before?" Maya joked, knowing full well the answer.

"No." At least Penny got the joke.

Speaking of. "That grate—"

"Yeah." She sounded somewhat resigned. "Security keeps demanding I close it because it's a hazard and also the kids keep littering but Sal..."

"I assume he's telling you otherwise?" Maya hazarded.

Penny looked like she swallowed something sour. "'Free publicity,' he says." She plugged her nose and, probably imitating Sal Manella, continued, "'The kids tell their friends they saw the Steel Samurai fighting the new bad guy and more people watch. Even if we aren't making as much on tours, our numbers look great. Win-win.' I think he just is living out his childhood dreams vicariously through them."

Maya thought back to Oldbag mentioning Sal Manella and cease and desist orders. She grimaced. "Probably, but he's not wrong."

Even though it looked like it pained her to say it, Penny agreed. "He's not wrong. The problem is: I'm more scared of security than I am in agreement with Sal so...I'm boarding this up later today. I sure hope nobody gets too upset by it."

"You're just doing your job." Unfortunately for everyone, Maya had run out of questions to ask.

Penny seemed to pick up on that because she had a question for Maya. "Is he doing alright? WP, I mean."

"Oh, uh, I mean...he's okay?" He seemed nervous but that was likely just how he was. "The detention center isn't a great place to be but they're pretty...tolerable." It suddenly occurred to her that she really didn't want Penny to ask how she knew that. "He seemed...he was happy? Relieved? That I had taken his case—believed in him."

"Good." Penny's response was surprisingly firm. "WP needs people in his corner. He's a good guy."

"He didn't do it," Maya stated again. Penny nodded in agreement. "Besides, the Steel Samurai is a warrior of justice, not evil."

"Powers isn't the Steel Samurai," Nick pointed out. "You can't make judgment calls based on predisposed notions you have regarding someone's character. Especially if it's an actual character."

Maya chose to ignore him for now. "You want to exchange phone numbers? I'd love to chat about Steel Samurai if you have the time!"

"Sure!" Penny pulled out her phone and the two quickly sent an SMS to each other. She beamed at Maya, the happiness tinged with tired optimism. "Let me know how the trial goes? I won't be able to take off."

"I will." Wow, working a labor job sure seemed like it sucked. "Thanks for all the help! Sorry about freaking you out."

"It's good!" And somehow, Maya knew she meant that.

Leaving Studio One, Maya and Nick headed towards the front entrance so they could catch the next bus back to the Office to organize what information they had. Maya was thinking about the missing first picture and Will Powers' alibi and Oldbag and how people seemed to think Powers and Hammer actually disliked each other.

That's why she didn't hear Nick until he cleared his throat and repeated himself a little louder. "You can't just decide that your client is innocent based on your emotional leaning."

That seemed a little hypocritical. "What?"

"You equated Powers to his character, the Steel Samurai. Because the Steel Samurai is a noble warrior of justice, Powers can't have killed Hammer. That's a false equivalency. You can't do that in court. They'll rip you apart." He was trying to help her. She knew that. It's just—

"Aren't I supposed to trust my client? That's an emotional leaning!"

Nick flinched as if struck. "That's not the same thing."

"No, I know it's not, I'm just pointing out that I'm not...I don't actually think Will Powers is the Steel Samurai. I actually believe in him. I just also..." Shame curled around her ears and cheeks and nape, flushing her skin on contact.

"Yeah." Nick let out a long-suffering sigh. "All I meant was: remember to watch how you say things, especially in a high-profile case like this one. If the prosecution doesn't rip you to shreds, the media will. There won't be anything left over."

They both were kinda bad at talking to people, huh? Maya stifled an amused laugh with a cough. "I get it. I'll try and be smart in court tomorrow."

"That's all I'm asking." And wasn't that comforting? Knowing someone was there without strings attached, at her side every step of the way? "Do you think you're prepared?"

"I think I've got the basis of a good defense. Barring something truly heinous or, I don't know, Will Powers choosing to confess and plead guilty, I'll be fine. It's not my first rodeo."

"You're right." That teasing lilt returned to Nick's voice and he grinned at her. "It's your second."

"And I'm only getting stronger and more formidable every time!" They passed beneath the welcome arch, the feeling of the security camera taking a snapshot prickling against the back of her neck. "Prosecutor Edgeworth better watch himself."

"I think he's learned to not underestimate you already."

"And he's gonna learn I'm a certified powerhouse!" Maya cackled. "I can't wait."

"Just remember that this is about our client, not your grudge."

No, that was fair. She needed that reminder from time to time. "He's innocent and I'm gonna prove it."

"I can't wait." Neither could she.

[quirkwizard]

For people with Quirks identical or similar to each of 1A and Shinso, how would each be used for villainy and why do you think each would be a villain? You could also just use 1A for this. Ignore cases like blackmailing someone into being a villain.

I'm focusing on the Quirks for this. Not only because that would be a lot to cover, but I don't think most of 1A is fleshed out enough to come up with real motivations for villainy. Even if they were, what they would use their Quirks for what I think they would be like as villains are two very different things. If they were villains, I doubt most, if not all of the students wouldn't use their Quirks like this. I'll also be dropping Izuku in favor in Shinso for this.

Tail: Given how simple it is, the only way I see it working with most people is just as hired muscle for a job.

Tape: This works best for quick, low risk marks, like nabbing someone's wallet while swinging away on a roll of tape.

Naval Laser: Not a lot of great choices with how unsubtle it is. Maybe some kind of interference work, like taking out cameras?

Sugar Rush: I could see this being hired muscle, but it could work for get in and get out kind of crimes given the short time limit, such as robbery.

Pop Off: Another good Quirk for stalling, like using it to lock up places heroes may try to enter through or bobby trapping other places.

Invisibility: This can’t work for most burglary, as you can’t really get around or use equipment, but it may work for spy work to get blackmail on someone.

Acid: This Quirk is so dangerous that it would be great for pretty much any kind of seedy work, like clean up work or torture.

Hardening: This would work for some hired muscle, specifically ones you want to slow down or prevent heroes from interfering.

Earphone Jack: Obviously, information broker would be pretty high on the list, but could be good in certain thief roles, like lockpicking or safe cracking.

Frog: Great for burglary. Between the high mobility, the camouflage, and various slime the user could make, it could serve pretty well for some sneaky thievery.

Zero Gravity: As weird as it sounds, smuggling may be a good choice. I'm just thinking about how easily you could hide, transport, or git rid of certain objects if they didn't weight anything.

Electrification: This only have one niche, but it's certainly useful. They could overload any electronic system, basically making any kind of electric security system next to useless.

Anivoice: As much as I want to focus on animal related crimes, this is just way too good for an information broker. They have spies everywhere that nobody cares about or takes note of.

Engine: While I could see this being used for petty theft, like snatching someone's purse at super speed, I think that it'd work better for a getaway driver, someone who could escape with all their allies.

Dupli Arms: While this would make for a good information broker, I think that it would make for way better insurance fraud or extortion. Imagine you hit someone with your car and you see hands flying everywhere.

Explosion: This would be perfect for any kind of forceful robbery, like at a bank. Not only could you burst through security in the way and quickly establish yourself as a threat, but make a quick getaway to boot.

Creation: This would be amazing for any substance based crimes, like making up guns or counterfeit money with next to no production costs or real trail left behind for people to track down or middle men to worry.

Dark Shadow: “Dark Shadow” is so versatile that it’s difficult to place anywhere. I guess more aggressive robberies could be an option, whether they be day or night, but it still could do well in more combat oriented crimes.

Half Cold Half Hot: Again, the versatility makes this one hard to place. Though with the sheer range and options, I think this would work best for a fill in guy or someone to run interference for when the heroes show up.

Brainwashing: This would be a top tier villain power. It is so great for villainy work that it's hard to think about what crimes it couldn't be used for. Turns out robbing people of their free will would be useful for crime work.

[xiakha]

FFXIVWrite 2024 Prompt #19 - Taken

Themis knocked briefly on Azem's front door before trying the handle. Of course it was unlocked.

The idea of petty theft or burglary in Amaurot was practically unthinkable, but most citizens still locked and sometimes warded their doors for the sake of privacy. In the case of the Convocation, it was also that they could get at least a sense of secure respite against the onslaught of the demands placed upon them by their ceaseless work. No wonder so many of their number chose to return to the Star so immediately after handing off their seat.

But the current Azem... she was different in a somewhat disconcerting manner.

Themis found her at the loom again, after letting himself in. Ah, that would be it. Her other work. Outside of her Convocation duties, she also kept this loom busy and clacking well into the night until her two lovers dragged her to bed. Or at least, that was what was once said. Nowadays, with the other ascended to the Seat of Emet-Selch, it was said that Hythlodaeus mostly slept alone.

The spinning wheel was also in the room, slowly turning and twisting the raw aetheric matter. In another time, Azem might have been three: one to gather, one to spin, one to weave. But with the advances made with aetheric manipulation, the only bit that needed actual work was the weaving part. The gathering part was even so lost to time, it never attained a modern term. There was no equivalent to "Fategathering" as there were for Fatespinning and Fateweaving.

But of course, anyone who knew, anyone who cared, anyone who had any reason to doubt Azem's disposition, anyone who did not believe wholeheartedly that Azem would have the best intentions for them, would be guarded at best. There were many things that Azem could not influence, there was no way she could break causality over her knee. But the placement of events, the bend of the narrative, the incidents between, these were her domain.

He first learned of her abilities when he became Elidibus, and it occurred to him that no one took pains to hide what Azem could do from him, nor did anyone really seek to influence him to pursue the Seat of Elidibus as far as he could tell.

And yet, once he knew of what Azem did on the side, he was sure that she had, in a very literal way, pulled the strings. He was sure that the other candidates, some of whom that he had considered his betters, were aware of what Azem could do, and thus were in a sense disadvantaged by their knowledge. Perhaps more importantly, Azem was aware that they were aware.

As Emissary, he was naturally the Azem-botherer, the one that would keep her in line with the Convocation even as her role was to be the loyal opposition. Of course she was quite invested in who the next Elidibus would be. And Themis could not bring himself to be fully wary of her. He knew her well as the firebrand and the champion of the smallfolk. He could not help but admire the selfless way that she went about her duties. Not once at any meetings of the Convocation did he find her to be in the wrong. Reckless? Often. Out of line? Sometimes. Unreasonable? Here and there. But wrong? Never.

But perhaps that was why, after all considerations were done, he was the one chosen to assume the Seat. Azem needed someone like-minded, or perhaps someone easily susceptible to her machinations. After all, the less she needed to fight with the warp and weft, the more elaborate the schemes she could weave.

So there was this matter of a fallen star, this "familiar" of Azem's. Why did she keep her a surprise? Why was it necessary to make such cryptic statements? For what it was worth, there was nothing about the familiar that seemed strange to Themis's eye. Oh she was clad in the most outlandish of outfits of a brilliant red, and a foppish hat that would have looked silly upon his head but was rather fetching on hers. He even recognized that she had an eye of the same tint as Azem's.

Why the feline features though? And why dress her so... provocatively? Themis's proclivities aside, the familiar seemed all too fond of unbuttoned shirts and loosened belts that hung on the hips just so. It lent her an androgynous, nay, masculine air that, when viewed from behind, would easily mistaken her for a man, especially with the wide shoulders and pinched waist of her overcoat. And the way she leaped and bounded as she spellcasted and thrust with her rapier, why, were she better endowed, the physical activity would leave her quite exposed! But she wasn't.

He didn't dwell on the sexualities or preferences of his colleagues but this familiar left him absolutely puzzled. Azem's relationship with the Chief of the Bureau of the Architect and Emet-Selch was, if not public knowledge, an unspoken axiom. Yet neither really held himself with the same kind of masculinity. Oh, they had their masculine sides of course, but Emet-Selch was just much more formal and prim while Hythlodaeus was much more pretty and sophisticated. Neither gave the sort of rugged, unrefined individualism that the familiar had. Was it something that Azem wished for or found wanting in her partners?

And why was the familiar such a miserable spellcaster? This "red magery" was a poor approximation of the spellweaving that was the basis for much of Azem's magicks. It was recognizably akin to Azem's own weavings but done with the articulation and mastery of a child. It would seem the familiar was much more comfortable with the sword aspect of her magery than the actual spellcraft. Was it just a half finished experiment of Azem's? Was the lack of refinement in the familiar's attitude and presence a reflection of her work-in-progress state? But then why let it roam?

And if that was a work-in-progress, what kind of power would the finished product wield? As unimpressed as Themis was with the actual spellwork, the familiar still had deadly efficacy. Was the round about way that Azem brought up the familiar a matter of trying to get Themis's unbiased opinion on the work-in-progress? Was she trying to get a rise out of him by making the familiar so... unconventionally attractive? No, no, she had been so obviously of Azem's upon first meeting that he was almost sure Azem was able to peer through the familiar's scarred eye. There must have been another reason...

It suddenly struck Themis that Azem never mentioned the familiar, only a chance encounter.

With the autonomy that the familiar worked, with the way that she also did little to identify herself as related to Azem, almost as if she didn't know or didn't care for the connection, she might very really have been something that wasn't Azem's. Suddenly a lot of things made more sense. The dress, the lack of refinement, the piss poor spellweaving, all of it. Azem wasn't aware of the familiar. It wasn't her work. There was a strange kind of relief involved.

But how? How could something that was so clearly wrought by her be so unknown to her? How could something that clearly took many sleepless nights to get into the rough state it was in, and would require many more sleepless nights to continue to hone and polish be something that Azem was so unaware of, she needed Themis to go and incidentally investigate while uncovering the strange circumstances revolving around Pandæmonium.

So Themis decided to do his job as Elidibus, and put a check to Azem's shenanigans until he could understand the shape of the scheme better. Had Azem split herself as some were rumored to have done in order to be able to do more at once, and this was something a rogue portion of Azem had done without the core being's knowledge? Was the "familiar" actually a portion of Azem that was split from the whole that manifested in quite the queer way?

Whatever the case, Elidibus would take the time to regale the incident at Pandæmonium so Azem could take note of it properly for her weave, and then report the overall incident to the Convocation for their judgement.

In neither instance would he mention the "familiar." That would remain a secret between he and Erichthonios, at least until he could figure out what Azem was plotting.

[rehasaleh]

How to File a Criminal Lawsuit: A Comprehensive Guide

A criminal lawsuit is a legal proceeding initiated to seek punishment for a person who has committed a crime. It is typically filed by the public prosecutor on behalf of society. However, in some cases, the victim may need to file a criminal lawsuit. This guide will outline the general steps involved in filing a criminal lawsuit, but it is important to note that the specific details may vary from country to country. Therefore, consulting with a specialized lawyer is crucial.

What is a Criminal Lawsuit?

A criminal lawsuit is a legal procedure aimed at holding a person accountable for committing a crime and determining their criminal liability. Crimes vary from one country to another but generally include crimes against persons (such as murder, assault, and theft), crimes against property (such as vandalism and burglary), and other crimes like drug offenses and cybercrimes.

Read More: Theft cases in Saudi Arabia

When is a Criminal Lawsuit Filed?

A criminal lawsuit is usually filed in the following situations:

When a crime is committed: If you are the victim of a crime, you can file a complaint with the police, who will then open an investigation.

If there is sufficient evidence: There must be enough evidence to support the claim that a crime has been committed.

When there is a public interest: In some cases, a criminal lawsuit may be filed to protect the public interest, even if there is no direct victim.

Read More: Marijuana user prison term

Steps Involved in Filing a Criminal Lawsuit:

Filing a complaint: The first step is to file a complaint with the police or the public prosecutor. The complaint should include a detailed description of the crime, the available evidence, and the names of any witnesses.

Investigation: After receiving the complaint, the police or the public prosecutor will open an investigation to gather evidence and interview witnesses.

Referring the case to court: If there is sufficient evidence, the public prosecutor will refer the case to the criminal court.

Trial: A trial will be held where witnesses will be heard, and evidence will be presented.

Judgment: At the end of the trial, the court will issue a verdict, either convicting or acquitting the defendant.

Read More: The difference between bail and fine

Required Documents

The documents required to file a criminal lawsuit vary from country to country, but they typically include:

Plaintiff's identification: The plaintiff must prove their identity.

Power of attorney (if applicable): If the plaintiff is represented by an attorney, a notarized power of attorney must be submitted.

Description of the crime: The crime must be described clearly and accurately.

Evidence: Any available evidence, such as photos, videos, and testimonies, must be submitted.

Names of witnesses: The names and addresses of witnesses must be provided.

Read More: Penalty for possession of hashish in Saudi Arabia

Important Tips

Consult a lawyer: It is best to consult with a criminal lawyer to assist you in filing the lawsuit.

Preserve evidence: Preserve all evidence related to the crime, such as photos and videos.

Be patient: Criminal cases can take a long time to resolve.

Respect legal procedures: All legal procedures must be respected throughout the lawsuit process.

Conclusion: Filing a criminal lawsuit is a complex legal process that should be approached with caution. It is essential to consult with a specialized lawyer to obtain the necessary legal advice.

[patrickrobertslaw]

The Difference Between a Felony and a Felony-Misdemeanor: What You Need to Know

When facing criminal charges, understanding the distinctions between various types of offenses can significantly impact your defense strategy. Two terms that often come up in discussions about criminal law are “felony” and “felony-misdemeanor.” Although they might sound similar, they represent different levels of severity in the legal system. In this blog, we’ll break down the differences between a felony and a felony-misdemeanor and explain how a felony defense lawyer can help you navigate these complex charges.

What is a Felony?

A felony is a serious crime typically punishable by more than one year in prison. Felonies are classified into different degrees, ranging from first-degree felonies (the most severe) to lower degrees, depending on the nature of the crime and the defendant’s prior criminal history. Examples of felonies include:

Murder

Rape

Robbery

Burglary

Drug Trafficking

Felonies carry long-term consequences beyond incarceration. A felony conviction can lead to a permanent criminal record, loss of voting rights, difficulty finding employment, and other significant repercussions.

What is a Felony-Misdemeanor?

The term “felony-misdemeanor” can be somewhat misleading. It refers to offenses that are classified as misdemeanors but are punishable by a maximum penalty that is more severe than typical misdemeanors. In some jurisdictions, felony-misdemeanors are considered less severe than felonies but more severe than standard misdemeanors.

Key Characteristics of Felony-Misdemeanors:

Punishment: Felony-misdemeanors generally carry a maximum jail sentence of up to one year, which is longer than standard misdemeanors but shorter than felonies.

Classification: These offenses might include crimes that are categorized as misdemeanors but have severe penalties, such as certain types of assault or theft crimes where aggravating factors are present.

Criminal Record: While a felony-misdemeanor is not as severe as a felony, a conviction can still have significant implications for your criminal record and personal life.

How a Felony Defense Lawyer Can Help

Whether you’re facing a felony or a felony-misdemeanor charge, having a skilled defense lawyer is crucial. Here’s how a felony defense lawyer can assist you:

Understanding the Charges: A lawyer can help you understand the exact nature of the charges against you, whether they are categorized as a felony or a felony-misdemeanor. This understanding is essential for developing an effective defense strategy.

Exploring Defense Strategies: Your lawyer will assess your case and explore various defense options, including challenging the evidence, questioning the legality of the arrest, or negotiating a plea deal.

Navigating Legal Procedures: The legal process can be complex and overwhelming. A defense lawyer will guide you through every step, from arraignment to trial, ensuring that your rights are protected throughout the process.

Mitigating Consequences: If conviction seems likely, a lawyer can help mitigate the potential consequences by negotiating for reduced charges or lighter sentencing.

Providing Support: Facing criminal charges can be stressful and emotionally draining. A defense lawyer provides not only legal expertise but also support and guidance during this challenging time.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between a felony and a felony-misdemeanor is essential when facing criminal charges. Felonies are serious offenses with long-term consequences, while felony-misdemeanors, though less severe, still carry significant penalties. Regardless of the charges you face, consulting with a qualified felony defense lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. By providing expert legal advice, exploring defense strategies, and guiding you through the legal system, a defense lawyer can help you achieve the best possible outcome.

If you or someone you know is facing felony or felony-misdemeanor charges, don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced defense attorney to discuss your case and start building a robust defense strategy today.

[themedlinlawfirm]

Navigating Legal Challenges with a Defense Attorney in Dallas

When legal troubles arise, finding the right representation is crucial. A defense attorney in Dallas can offer guidance and advocacy to those facing criminal charges. The role of such a lawyer is complex and multifaceted, requiring a deep understanding of criminal law defense and an unwavering commitment to clients' rights and interests.

Understanding the Role of a Criminal Law Defense Attorney

The cornerstone of any defense attorney's role is the protection and assertion of a client's legal rights from arrest through to trial. These legal professionals are well-versed in the intricacies of criminal law and are dedicated to crafting a strategic approach tailored to each unique case they undertake. They stand as stalwarts between their clients and a system that can often feel overwhelmingly complex.

The Importance of Local Knowledge

A defense attorney based in Dallas brings not only expertise in criminal law but also invaluable local knowledge that can be instrumental in navigating the nuances of Texas state laws. Familiarity with local courts, judges, and legal procedures allows these attorneys to handle cases with an awareness of regional idiosyncrasies that might influence outcomes.

Services Offered by Criminal Law Defense Attorneys

Criminal law defense encompasses various services, each critical for defending against different types of charges. A reliable defense attorney offers rigorous representation for diverse allegations ranging from DUIs to more severe offenses like violent crimes or theft & burglary. Their remit includes everything from initial advice upon arrest, handling bail proceedings, plea negotiations, trial representation, and even assistance with appeals if necessary.

Crafting Efficient Defense Strategies

Every case presents its own set of facts and challenges which require a bespoke defensive strategy. A seasoned defense attorney evaluates evidence, identifies weaknesses in the prosecution's case, interviews witnesses, and consults experts when needed—all aimed at constructing the most effective defense possible. Whether it’s challenging unlawful search and seizure practices or negotiating plea bargains that benefit their clients, these lawyers strive to achieve resolutions that align with their clients’ best interests.

Supporting Clients Through Legal Proceedings

Beyond technical legal services, a Dallas-based defense attorney provides support throughout what can be an emotionally draining process. They ensure clients understand each step as their case progresses through the justice system while offering counsel on potential consequences and strategies moving forward.

Accessibility for Diverse Clientele

Dallas's cultural diversity means that attorneys need to cater to a wide range of clients, including international students or visiting persons who may not be familiar with U.S. laws. A culturally sensitive approach ensures all defendants receive fair representation regardless of background or circumstances.

In conclusion, having a skilled defense attorney Dallas is essential for those facing criminal accusations within this bustling Texan metropolis. From DUI cases to more serious allegations such as drug crimes or federal offenses, these lawyers provide invaluable counsel rooted in experience and local expertise. While they cannot promise specific outcomes—and should not assert themselves as being superior—they work tirelessly to advocate on behalf about their client's needs within the bounds established by law.

The Medlin Law Firm

2550 Pacific Ave #866, Dallas, Texas, 75226

214-888-4810

[fomille]

Approaches Your Organization Can Usually Benefit From Security Cameras

It may be difficult to suppose that your personal employees would grab out of your organization, but it takes place more than you might think.

A surveillance digicam is a sure way to hook them inside the respond and reclaim your belongings. When staff know they’re under movie security, they’ll think twice before taking this sort of danger.

Excellent appearance high quality is essential within a protection digicam, as fuzzy graphics allow it to be tough to determine which employees are undertaking what. You will want digital camera that catches good quality video footage to protect your organization effectively.

Are your workers operating their complete shifts, or will they be spending their time carrying out something different? Worker tracking is not only for taking theft. Using the appropriate surveillance digital cameras, you will discover what your workers are going to do and when any actions are essential to boost performance. This is particularly helpful for store owners to evaluate if they’re over- or understaffed. Just two minutes of video will tell you a great deal concerning your company’s operating product.

Of course, there are more strategies to keep tabs on the personnel as worker checking software program is constantly improve. There is a lot of software program open to check what your workers are operating on should you need it.

The worst thing you will need is actually a lawsuit delivered from a disgruntled personnel who faked a slip-and-tumble injury to sue your company. Security cameras are perfect deterrents against this kind of crime.

Actual physical battles between employees or harassment statements could also spawn lawsuits. Installing cameras can protect your business’ fiscal upcoming

Shielding your staff can be just as important as protecting your organization. Attach protection digital camera at entrance doors, exits, and vehicle parking loads to create a more secure setting for the staff members. Not merely will they feel far more confident wandering to their vehicles in the evening, but this safety approach also inhibits automobile split-ins, wanton damage,multi lens camera as well as other illegal activity around your working environment or shop.

Security is a straightforward way to save money on your organization insurance plan. A lot of insurance carriers supply discounted rates once you purchase monitoring camcorders for your personal retailer or place of work. The best outdoor or indoor monitoring program ensures your insurance carrier that you’re using the essential actions to shield your organization from burglary, that makes their job much easier and your business a lesser culpability on the finish.

“I consider all businesses by using a actual physical place ought to have surveillance cameras, since robberies are always probable, even if the business proprietor is incredibly cautious about sealing up,” mentioned Gabe Turner, director of information for Protection.org. “If a robbery does take place, any company manager may want to know as quickly as possible for them to speak to the police.”

Security cameras are capable of doing far more for your personal organization than find bad guys. You may protect your belongings, better provide your workers, and improve the everyday surgical procedures of your respective business using a security video camera built to aid in far more techniques than one.

related articles：

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Multi-undefinedSensor Cameras: Seeing Beyond Limitations

[getlegalattorney]

Understanding Felony and Its Charges

Few words in the legal sphere conjure up as much seriousness and ramifications as "felony." With its origins firmly ingrained in judicial systems across the globe, a felony represents more than just a misdemeanor; it is an act of great social transgression that frequently carries heavy consequences.

Felons include a wide range of misconduct, from violent crimes to white-collar crimes, and each one necessitates a close investigation of the evidence, the offender's motive, and the consequences. These crimes, which lie on the line between misdemeanors and felonies, represent a turning point in the legal system where the consequences of illegal activity become more serious.

What Is a Felony?

A serious offense for which a person may get a sentence of more than one year in prison is referred to as a "felony." In addition, a prisoner serving a term for a felony is normally housed in a state or federal prison as opposed to a local or county jail.

How Does a Felony Differ from Other Types of Crimes?

There are many ways that felony charges differ from those of other criminal prosecutions:

If you are found guilty of a felony, you may be arrested and held in custody right away. You would also probably need to post bail in order to be freed. Arrest and detention are also possible outcomes of misdemeanor charges (not only violations).

A convicted felon may get the death sentence in states where it is legal. Convictions for misdemeanors do not allow for the death penalty.

You can ask the court to assign an attorney to represent you pro bono, or at no expense to you, if you are accused with a felony but cannot afford legal representation. Generally speaking, defendants in minor cases are not entitled to court-appointed legal counsel.

When a felony is committed, the fines imposed might be far greater than when a misdemeanor or infraction is committed. While some misdemeanor convictions in some places, including Alaska, may result in fines of up to $25,000, felonies can carry fines of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Expungements of felonies are much more difficult, if not impossible, to obtain, and usually require a longer waiting period before the court will grant the request.

While a conviction on a misdemeanor may result in probation once the term is completed, a conviction on a felony has extra lifetime restrictions in addition to probation:

A convicted felon may lose the right to vote.

A convicted felon may not be able to hold public office.

A convicted felon may be prevented from owning firearms or certain other weapons.

A convicted felon may be prohibited from holding a professional license.

A grand jury must be called and it must return an indictment in every federal felony proceeding. A grand jury indictment is another need that some states, but not all, have in order to move on with a felony trial.

What Crimes Are Typically Charged as Felonies?

A wide array of criminal wrongs are almost always charged as felonies:

Violent crimes

Homicide offenses, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and manslaughter

Robbery—committing a theft through the threat or use of force

Burglary—entering a building or home with the intention of committing a theft offense

Serious sexual offenses, such as rape, human trafficking, child molestation, and child pornography

Serious drug crimes, including manufacturing or cultivating controlled substances, distribution, sale, and trafficking

Property crimes, including malicious destruction, arson, misappropriation of property, and grand theft

White collar crimes, such as fraud, misrepresentation, identity theft, embezzlement, securities fraud, and tax evasion

Can the Same Criminal Act Be Prosecuted as a Misdemeanor or a Felony?

Yes, there are situations where a misdemeanor can rise to the level of a felony and be charged as such:

Statutes frequently provide prosecutors the option to press either misdemeanor or felony charges against a repeat offender. This procedure is frequently used on repeat DUI/DWI offenders.

If the victim falls within one of certain categories—such as being a kid, having mental health issues, or working as a law enforcement officer or other public official—a crime that would normally be charged as a felony.

Depending on whether the defendant's conduct were deemed aggravated or done with wanton disregard for the worth of human life, certain offenses may be classified as felonies or misdemeanors. For instance, if the defendant utilized a gun or other weapon, ordinary assault might escalate to felonious assault.

[roombanker-iot]

What Are Commonly-Used Home Security System Components?

Burglary is a common form of crime but most people have not yet installed security alarm systems. Installing a security alarm system is important as it helps protect your property and yourself against criminals and deters them from entering your premises.

Whether you are considering installing or learning about the components, here is an explanation of the commonly seen home security system components.

Home Security Hub

A smart home hub refers to central point that connects devices on home automation networks and manages communication between them. Smart home networks connect to the cloud or locally which is essential for Internet of Things (IoT) devices that employ Z-Wave or Zigbee protocols or Bluetooth or RBF instead of Wi-Fi.

A smart home network ties together different systems and devices in a central platform. This makes the users' network simple and provides them with one smart home application like RB Link to control the different applications and systems.

Some home security hubs have integrated home automation enabling users to manage smart devices like thermostats, door locks, and lights.

PIR Motion Sensor

Passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors are devices that detect any variations in infrared radiation in the direction of view. When an intruder steps into the monitored area, the detecting sensor picks up the heat waves emitted from their body so that the alarm can be triggered.

They are vital are they detect unauthorized motion within the compound thus alerting the owner of any approaching danger in advance.

Door and Window Sensor Alarm

When a burglar opens the door or the window, a text alert or a burglar alarm is triggered. These alarms are inexpensive, which makes them ideal for an initial move toward securing your home. They are also easy to customize making it easy for the user to fit them according to their door and window sizes.

Panic Alarm Button

A panic button is a dedicated feature or device that enables homeowners to discreetly and easily summon assistance in case of an attack. By pressing on it, a wireless signal is transmitted to a home console where it flags alarm monitoring personnel with an emergency case. 

The panic button triggers an immediate response by sending alerts to the monitoring center and authorities so that assistance can be dispatched. Panic buttons are essential when dealing with emergencies that require rapid response.

Alarm Keypad or Keyfob for the Security System

On the other hand, a card system or the KeyFob uses proximity access cards or swiping (the card must be around for the lock to open). KeyFob requires people to use key or card swipes while the Keypad system requires users to type a certain code.  

These security systems are cost-effective and convenient making it easier for the user to move around easily. It is also easy to determine people coming in and out of the house thus controlling vandalism and theft.

Alarm Siren

The systems deter intruders and signal homeowners that the security system has been breached. They also alert neighbors and nearby occupants that there are potential threats in your house.

There are different types of alarm sirens including fire alarm systems, panic alarm systems, manual alarms, intruder alarms, and automatic alarm systems, all offering both outdoor and indoor installation. Some of them feature flashing lights while others feature strobe lights for enhanced effectiveness and visibility.

Mobile App for Remote Access and Monitoring

They offer convenience and flexibility, enabling homeowners to stay informed and connected to the status of their home security even when outside. Mobile apps are essential in guarding homes because they allow remote management and continuous management of home security.

Final Words

To conclude, it is essential to install a security system as it ensures you stay secure at all times. No matter the product you decide to purchase, most of the systems will include the components discussed above. But you will have to buy the components that suit your needs best without necessarily buying all of them.

[olympicshutters]

Rolling Shutters, Types, Features and Material used for Manufacturing

To protect your business and assets, you need security you can trust in any situation. This article provides information about roller shutters and how roller shutters can provide superior security for your business. Whether you're covering windows, outlining a patio, or protecting a garage, the following information can help.

Roller shutters are an important component of window security systems, protecting windows from damage that can be caused by the elements. Roller shutters are made of different materials such as aluminum, UPVC, and steel. Steel roller doors and shutters are considered the best in terms of durability and security measures. For this, you need to contact the rolling shutter dealers in Karur.

What is rolling shutter?

Rolling shutter or rolling door is a type of door or window shutter that consists of several horizontal slats (rod or net system) connected by hinges. The door is opened by raising it and closed by lowering it. For large doors, the movement can be motorized.  It protects and withstands against wind, rain, fire, and theft. In the form of roller shutters, they are used in front of windows to protect them from vandalism and burglary. Roller shutters work efficiently and quickly, providing unparalleled security in minimal space.  They are otherwise called roller doors, security doors, or sectional doors. Contact best rolling shutter dealers in Karur!

Components of Rolling Shutter

Roller shutters consist of a series of wide, horizontal steel slats connected by hinges, resulting in a robust and sturdy door ideal for industrial applications. Roller doors, on the other hand, are more flexible as they consist of a single 'curtain' made of lighter steel.

Cheek plate (end plates)

Flag post

Roller assembly

Tubular Motor

Safety Brake

U- Cup or Bearing

Guides

Curtain

The rolling shutter protects against wind, rain, fire, and theft. In the form of roller shutters, they are used in front of windows to protect them from vandalism and break-in attempts. One of the main differences between the different types of roller shutters is residential and commercial roller shutters. While most residential shutters are for security and insulation purposes, industrial shutters focus on security and improving the ambience.

Features

Versatility

Energy efficient

Noise control

Light control

Bushfire protection

Security

Aluminum roller shutters

Aluminum roller shutters are the best in terms of durability and qualities. This is one of the most commonly used roller shutters due to its light weight and good corrosion resistance. It uses a variety of components to reduce noise, save energy and provide protection.

Stainless steel roller shutters

Stainless steel roller shutters made from SS 304 or SS 316 interlocking profiles are high quality. These high-performing roller shutters are easy to use and install and offer very good corrosion resistance while providing an attractive finish. It offers 100% security as it can withstand adverse weather conditions.

uPVC Roller Shutters

Windows are great for views, but sometimes you want them to close completely. Most thieves enter through windows, so uPVC roller shutters can be an effective deterrent.

New Olympic Rolling Shutters Company, one of the best rolling shutter dealers in Karur offers a range of high-quality rolling shutters that are made of quality sturdy materials. One of the main differences between the different types of roller shutters is residential and commercial roller shutters.

[mynattinsurance-blog]

Purchase Quality Home Insurance from Reliable and Trusted Insurance Agency in Tampa and Lutz, Florida

Buying home insurance is no walk in the park; it's a task that demands attention to detail and a bit of savvy. Before jumping into the world of premiums and coverage, let's break down the essential factors that can safeguard home from potential risks.

Unseen Risks: Knowing What Lurks

In a region where thunderstorms and palm trees coexist, it's crucial to recognize the lurking risks. Local insurance agencies in Tampa and Lutz, FL, are well-versed in tales of hurricanes, flooding, and sneaky sinkholes that could turn cozy residences into a waterlogged mess. A suitable policy should act as a shield against these unseen adversaries.

Coverage Jargon: Decoding the Language

Each insurance policy has its own set of terms—deductibles, limits, and exclusions—that can baffle even the most experienced individuals.

Before signing the dotted line, it is essential to consult an expert agent who can decipher the complexities of the otherwise enigmatic legal lexicons in home insurance in Tampa and Lutz, Florida.

The difference between robust protection and a shaky safety net might hinge on seemingly small details, like the use of "unless." The insurance agents are knowledgeable and insightful enough to explain those conditionals before you pick up any policy.

Valuation Wisdom: Recognizing True Worth

The value of a home extends beyond bricks and mortar; it's a collection of memories, dreams, and aspirations.

Don't be indifferent to your prized property. Calculating different aspects to ensure the safety net beneath the home is essential for genuine evaluation.

Agents as Guides: Tapping into Modern Wisdom

There are thousands of local insurance agencies in Tampa and Lutz that act as modern-day oracles. These experts decode the policy language, offering guidance in the ever-changing landscape of premiums and risks. They assess, evaluate, and help clients select their policies.

Neglect's Consequences: Avoiding Gaps

Neglect is the enemy of security. An unattended policy is like a garden overrun with weeds, inviting confusion and coverage gaps.

Home insurance isn't a one-size-fits-all deal; it's more like a tailored suit. Regular reviews and adjustments act as stitches, keeping one's coverage snug against the unpredictable winds of disasters.

Types of Home Insurance

Basic Fire and Perils Policy – Just like the name says, this policy covers damage from fire and certain natural disasters. It kicks in for damages caused by any kind of explosion and even steps up for man-made chaos like riots or damage from mischief.

Home Structure/Building Insurance - If anything messes with the structure of one's place or poses a risk, this policy has its back. It safeguards the permanent fixtures, like one's bathroom or kitchen fittings, and even covers extended structures like garages on their property.

Public Liability Coverage - If someone gets hurt on someone's property, this coverage takes care of the damages caused to them. It's like a safety net for third-party injuries on one's turf.

Personal Accident - This insurance supports an individual if that person or a family member ends up permanently disabled or passes away – no matter where it happens. It's solid protection for life's unexpected twists and turns.

Burglary & Theft - If anything valuable gets swiped from one's place, this coverage steps in and compensates them. It's one's financial cushion against theft and burglary of their prized possessions.

Contents Insurance – This one's all about protecting what one's got inside their home – their documents, portable gadgets, and home appliances. If it belongs to the policyholder and it's inside, this policy's got it covered.

Tenants' Insurance – For those who are renting, focusing on protecting their stuff is more important than the building. Since the policy holders don't own the land, this policy steps in to financially cover the contents they've got inside.

Landlords' Insurance – It behooves landlords to keep their property in shape. This coverage provides a financial safety net in case they lose rent or need to cover public liability. It's the security blanket for property owners. Check out a reliable and trusted insurance agency in Tampa and Lutz, Florida.

When people are looking for home insurance policies, they must check out a bunch of policies and compare them before settling on just one. For those who are renting a place, renter's insurance is a must-purchase. It's crucial to dig into the nitty-gritty details before spending on a specific plan to avoid getting blindsided.

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The Difference Between a Felony and a Misdemeanor

Felonies and misdemeanors are two different classifications of crimes, with different potential punishments. In this blog post, we will discuss the key differences between felonies and misdemeanors. Most often, a felony lawyer from Stowell Crayk law firm is the best solution for minimizing punishment.

Felony: A felony is a serious crime that is punishable by a year or more in prison. 

Misdemeanor: A misdemeanor is a less serious crime that is punishable by less than a year in jail. 

The severity of a crime is determined by a number of factors, including the following:

The level of violence involved

The amount of property damage caused

Whether the victim was injured

Whether the crime was committed against a person in a position of trust, such as a police officer or a teacher

Whether the crime was committed with a weapon

The defendant's criminal history

However, the penalties for felonies and misdemeanors can vary depending on the state and the specific crime.

Here are some examples of felonies and misdemeanors:

Felonies: Murder, rape, robbery, burglary, arson, drug trafficking, and grand theft

Misdemeanors: Simple assault, petty theft, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and traffic violations

Felony and misdemeanor definitions and charges can differ by state. The same crime can vary from felony to misdemeanor based on circumstances. For instance, a simple assault causing serious injury may become a felony, while one without serious injury may be a misdemeanor. Consult a felony lawyer if facing such charges to grasp your situation and potential penalties.

Personal Impact

The impact of a felony conviction on a person's life can be significant. Felony convictions can make it difficult to find a job, get housing, obtain financial aid, and vote. They can also lead to deportation for non-citizens.

Wobble Offense

A wobbler offense is a crime that can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances. The factors that prosecutors and judges consider when deciding whether to charge a wobbler offense as a felony or a misdemeanor include:

The severity of the crime

The defendant's criminal history

The defendant's age

The defendant's mental health

The defendant's amenability to rehabilitation

The public's interest

Felony, misdemeanor, and wobbler definitions vary by state, and crimes can be charged differently in various places. Consult a felony lawyer to grasp your charges and potential penalties if you've been accused of a crime.

What is an Infraction?

An infraction is a minor offense that doesn't lead to jail time and usually doesn't go on a criminal record. Typically, it results in fines or community service as the primary punishment.

Traffic tickets are the most common infractions, but other examples include trespassing, littering, disorderly conduct, and minor offenses.

Infractions typically don't require court or jail time, but ignoring them can lead to a criminal record or higher fines.

Infractions have varying classes, with moving violations (like speeding) often seen as more serious than non-moving violations (such as parking tickets). The law usually sets higher fines and potential penalties for different classes of infractions.

For an infraction charge, consult an attorney at Stowell Crayk to learn your rights and options. They can assist in challenging the charge or securing a plea deal to reduce the consequences.

Conclusion

The misdemeanor vs. felony distinction is crucial, with substantial life consequences. If charged with a crime, consult an attorney to grasp your charges and possible penalties.

In short, felonies and misdemeanors are different crimes with varying consequences. Felonies are more serious, often leading to over a year in prison, while misdemeanors result in less than a year in jail. Penalties depend on factors like violence and property damage. They vary by state but usually mean longer sentences, higher fines, and lasting consequences. Consult a felony lawyer if charged to understand your situation and defense options.

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How To Choose The Right Security Screen Doors In Melbourne?

People don't give it too much importance, but the safety of the property relies a lot on security screen doors in Melbourne. They play a crucial role in keeping belongings and families safer. However, this is possible only when you have chosen this door carefully by following the important tips discussed in this post.

WHAT ARE SECURITY SCREEN DOORS IN MELBOURNE?

These are basically heavy-duty doors made from metal and equipped with a stainless steel mesh screen. This screen is robust enough to withstand the impacts of unauthorised access while protecting the interiors from deadly pests, bugs and insects. They can be used as standalone doors or as an additional layer of safety alongside your home's main gate.

WHY RELY UPON SECURITY SCREEN DOORS IN MELBOURNE?

By installing security screen doors in Melbourne homes, people can avail multiple benefits, and the most impressive is the protection from bugs and pests. A window insect screen in Melbourne is also installed with the same motive. The difference between security screen doors and screens for windows in Melbourne is that the doors can prevent theft, burglary and unauthorised access.

EXTRA LAYER OF SECURITY

By using security screen doors in Melbourne homes, homeowners get an additional layer of security for their property. These doors act robustly to keep burglars and unwanted visitors away from your property by denying them unauthorised access. You can be at peace of mind with these security screen doors in Melbourne.

ENJOY OUTDOORS BETTER

With these security screen doors, Melbourne homeowners enjoy one more benefit, i.e., outdoor weather without any stress of bugs and pests entering inside. These screens for windows in Melbourne homes also allow the same opportunity, as the windows can be left open with the confidence that bugs and pests will never enter the property.

ENHANCED VENTILATION

Another incredible advantage is that homeowners get high-quality ventilation while keeping the home completely secure. These security screen doors in Melbourne are ideal for homes in coastal areas and dry climates, as they will stay ventilated without sacrificing safety and security.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SECURITY SCREEN DOORS IN MELBOURNE?

While shopping for these doors, you have to keep a few things in mind, and the first is the material they are made up of. Not just the door, but you have to consider the material of the screen as well, and the same rule goes when choosing window insect screens in Melbourne. Experts advise relying upon metal doors, as they are more durable than wooden doors, but at the same time, they are expensive as well. As far as the screen is concerned, again metal screen is recommended, as it is stronger than the screens made from plastic or fiberglass.

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Understanding what is a Risk in Insurance

In the world of insurance, understanding risk is crucial. Insurance is designed to protect individuals and businesses from the financial consequences of unforeseen events or risks. By transferring the burden of these risks to insurance companies, policyholders gain peace of mind knowing that they are financially protected. This article provides an in-depth exploration of what risk means in the context of insurance, the types of risks covered, and the significance of understanding risk in insurance.

What is a Risk in Insurance?

Defining Risk

Risk, in the insurance industry, refers to the potential occurrence of an event that could result in financial loss or damage. It represents uncertainty and the possibility of negative outcomes. Insurance companies assess risks to determine the likelihood of specific events happening and to quantify the potential financial impact they may have on policyholders. Understanding risk allows insurers to price their policies appropriately and ensure they have sufficient funds to pay out claims.Role of Risk in InsuranceRisk is the foundation of the insurance business. In exchange for premium payments, insurance firms take in risks from policyholders. By pooling the premiums of many policyholders, insurers are able to create a fund that can be used to compensate those who suffer losses covered by the policy. The concept of risk-sharing allows individuals and businesses to transfer the financial consequences of risk to the insurance company, providing a form of protection against unexpected events.

Types of Risks Covered

Insurance covers a wide range of risks, and different types of insurance policies address specific areas of concern. Some common types of risks covered by insurance include:1. Property Risks: These encompass risks related to property damage, such as fire and smoke damage, theft, burglary, and natural disasters like floods and earthquakes.2. Liability Risks: Liability risks involve the potential for legal claims and financial responsibility resulting from personal, professional, or product-related liabilities.3. Health and Life Risks: Health insurance covers medical expenses and health-related risks, while life insurance provides financial protection in the event of the policyholder's death.4. Other Types of Insurance Risks: This category includes risks associated with auto insurance, cybersecurity, and environmental factors.

 Understanding Insurance Policies

 1.Overview of Insurance PoliciesInsurance policies are contracts between the insurance company and the policyholder. They outline the terms and conditions of coverage, including the specific risks covered, policy limits, and premium payments. Understanding the details of an insurance policy is crucial for policyholders to ensure they have appropriate coverage for their specific needs.2. Components of an Insurance PolicyInsurance policies typically consist of several key components:1. Declarations: This section provides information about the policyholder, the insured property or individuals, and the policy's effective dates.2. Insuring Agreement: The insuring agreement specifies the coverage provided by the policy, including the risks covered and the scope of protection.3. Exclusions: Exclusions outline the risks and circumstances not covered by the policy. It is important for policyholders to understand these exclusions to avoid any potential gaps in coverage.4. Conditions: Conditions specify the obligations and responsibilities of both the insurance company and the policyholder. They often include requirements for premium payments, claims reporting, and cooperation during the claims process.3.How Risk is Assessed and ManagedInsurance companies employ various methods to assess and manage risks effectively. Risk assessment involves evaluating the probability and potential severity of specific events. Insurers use historical data, statistical models, actuarial analysis, and other tools to estimate the likelihood of a risk occurring and its potential financial impact. This assessment allows insurers to determine appropriate premium rates and policy terms.Must Read: Understanding what is Floating Policy and its BenefitsRisk management in insurance involves implementing strategies to mitigate and control risks. These strategies can include risk avoidance (not engaging in activities with high potential risks), risk reduction (implementing safety measures to minimize risks), risk transfer (shifting the risk to an insurance company), and risk retention (accepting the risk and managing it internally).

 Common Types of Insurance Risks

Understanding the different types of risks covered by insurance is essential for individuals and businesses seeking adequate protection. Let's explore some common categories of insurance risks:1. Property RisksProperty risks pertain to potential damages or losses to physical assets. Some examples include:1. Fire and Smoke Damage: Insurance policies can provide coverage for damages caused by fires and smoke, including the destruction of property and the cost of repairs.2. Theft and Burglary: Insurance policies can protect against losses resulting from theft or burglary, reimbursing the policyholder for stolen items or property damage.3. Natural Disasters: Insurance coverage can extend to natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and storms, offering financial protection against the resulting damages.2.Liability RisksLiability risks involve the potential legal and financial obligations arising from personal, professional, or product-related liabilities. Some examples include:1. Personal Liability: Personal liability insurance protects individuals from claims arising from injuries or property damage they may be responsible for.2. Professional Liability: Also known as errors and omissions insurance, this coverage protects professionals from claims arising due to negligence, errors, or omissions in their professional services.3. Product Liability: Product liability insurance covers manufacturers, distributors, and sellers against claims arising from injuries or damages caused by their products.3. Health and Life RisksHealth and life insurance address risks related to individuals' well-being and financial security. Some examples include:1. Health Insurance Risks: Health insurance policies cover medical expenses and provide financial protection against health-related risks such as illness or injury.2. Life Insurance Risks: Life insurance provides a payout to beneficiaries upon the policyholder's death, offering financial security and protection for loved ones.4. Other Types of Insurance RisksInsurance also covers a wide range of other risks, including:1. Auto Insurance Risks: Auto insurance covers damages, theft, and liability related to vehicles, providing financial protection for drivers.2. Cybersecurity Risks: Cyber insurance protects against losses resulting from cyberattacks, data breaches, and other cybersecurity threats.3. Environmental Risks: Environmental insurance covers risks associated with pollution, contamination, and other environmental hazards.Must Read: A Guide to Different types of insurance for businesses

 Risk Assessment and Underwriting

1.Risk Assessment ProcessRisk assessment is a crucial step in the underwriting process, where insurers evaluate the risks associated with a particular policyholder or situation. It involves analyzing various factors to determine the likelihood of an event occurring and the potential severity of its impact. Insurers consider factors such as the policyholder's history, location, occupation, and other relevant details to assess the level of risk involved.2.Underwriting and Its Role in Risk EvaluationUnderwriting is the process by which insurance companies evaluate the risks associated with a particular policy application. Underwriters analyze the information provided by the applicant and assess the potential risks involved. Based on their evaluation, underwriters determine the insurability of the applicant and the appropriate premium rate for the coverage requested.3. Factors Considered in Risk AssessmentInsurance companies consider several factors when assessing risk, including:1. Demographic Factors: Age, gender, location, and occupation can influence the level of risk associated with an individual or property.2. Historical Data: Insurers analyze historical data related to specific risks to assess the likelihood of similar events occurring in the future.3. Policyholder's History: The applicant's claims history, credit history, and previous insurance coverage can impact the risk assessment.4. Type and Scope of Coverage: The specific coverage requested, policy limits, and deductibles play a role in determining the associated risks.

 Risk Management Strategies in Insurance

Risk management in insurance involves implementing strategies to minimize risks and protect against potential losses. Some common risk management strategies include:1. Risk AvoidanceRisk avoidance involves refraining from engaging in activities that pose high levels of risk. Insurance companies may choose not to provide coverage for certain high-risk activities or industries to mitigate their exposure to potential losses.2.Risk ReductionRisk reduction focuses on implementing measures to minimize the likelihood or severity of potential risks. For example, individuals and businesses can implement safety protocols, install security systems, or conduct regular inspections to reduce the chances of accidents, theft, or damage.3.Risk TransferRisk transfer involves shifting the financial burden of risks to an insurance company. By purchasing insurance policies, individuals and businesses transfer the potential losses to the insurer in exchange for paying premiums. Insurance companies, in turn, assume the responsibility of compensating policyholders for covered losses.4. Risk RetentionRisk retention refers to the decision to accept and manage certain risks internally. Some risks may be more cost-effective to handle directly, especially when the potential losses are minimal or insurable. In such cases, individuals or businesses may choose to retain the risk rather than transferring it to an insurance company.Insurance ClaimsWhen an insured event occurs, policyholders can file a claim with their insurance company to seek compensation for the losses covered by their policy. The claims process involves submitting relevant documentation, such as incident reports, medical records, or proof of ownership, to support the claim. Insurance companies assess the validity of the claim and, if approved, provide the necessary compensation to the policyholder. Loss Control MeasuresLoss control measures aim to prevent or minimize losses and damages covered by insurance policies. Insurance companies often provide guidance and resources to policyholders to help them implement loss control measures. These measures can include safety guidelines, risk management training, and recommendations for protective measures.Investigating and Processing ClaimsInsurance companies have claim adjusters who investigate the details of each claim to determine its validity and the extent of the loss. Adjusters may conduct interviews, review documents, or seek expert opinions to assess the claim thoroughly. Once the investigation is complete, the insurance company processes the claim and, if approved, provides the appropriate compensation to the policyholder.

 Conclusion

Understanding risk in the context of insurance is essential for both insurance companies and policyholders. Risk represents the potential for financial loss or damage and serves as the foundation of the insurance business. By comprehending different types of risks, individuals and businesses can make informed decisions about the coverage they need.Risk assessment, underwriting, and risk management strategies help insurance companies effectively evaluate and manage risks. Additionally, understanding the claims process enables policyholders to navigate the insurance system and seek compensation for covered losses. By grasping the concept of risk in insurance, individuals and businesses can make informed choices to protect themselves from the uncertainties of life.Related : What is Co-Insurance Meaning, Importance, and Impact  |  What Does Home Insurance Cover?

FAQ

What is a risk example insurance? An example of a risk in insurance is the potential occurrence of a fire that causes damage to a property. This risk can be covered by property insurance, where the insurance company provides financial compensation to the policyholder for the losses resulting from the fire. What are the 4 types of risk? The four types of risk are:1. Strategic Risk: Risks associated with the overall direction and decisions of an organization. 2. Operational Risk: Risks arising from internal processes, systems, and people. 3. Financial Risk: Risks related to financial transactions, investments, and market fluctuations. 4. Compliance Risk: Risks associated with legal and regulatory requirements and non-compliance. What are the three 3 categories of risk? The three categories of risk are:1. Pure Risk: This refers to risks where there are only possibilities of loss or no loss at all, such as natural disasters, accidents, or illness.2. Speculative Risk: This category involves risks where there is a chance of both loss and gain, such as investments in stocks or gambling.3. Operational Risk: These risks arise from the day-to-day operations of an organization and include risks related to processes, systems, human error, and external events that can impact business operations. Read the full article