[She will take a seat at the desk nearby, watching her.]
You were mistaken in the cause of Miss Reze's reluctance, but I don't think you were mistaken in your aims. The decision of how hard to push another person when there are lives on the line is no easy one.
That is one aspect in which this is much like court. I, and Mr. Naruhodo as well, have often been forced to expose secrets that innocent people have wished to keep hidden. It is an ugly feeling but I cannot say that it is avoidable.
[That... makes her feel a little bit better, to be honest, even if she's still embarrassed by her earlier behavior. The pillow comes up a bit so that she can peer out from under it.]
Have you?
[...]
Mayhap I should think of it in that manner, then. Reze may have been innocent, but she was hiding something from us.
At the Studium, we're taught the value of research. There's been plenty of aetheric studies performed throughout the ages, but we're encouraged to validate the original hypothesis of newer discoveries or variables before applying them to our own theories. Until a theorem has been established as a constant, we cannot rely on the original author's word.
But that approach isn't possible here. [Finally she sits up, holding the pillow in her lap.] We must needs trust each other, which is difficult to do when we know so little and a killer is in our midst.
[Oh, science. She perks up a little bit at this description.]
Forensic science is the application of these principles to criminal investigation. That you adhere to such principles will only aid you here. Of course from time to time you will be wrong, but it also means you will be even-handed. After all, perhaps another person may not have pushed Miss Reze so hard, given she is a young girl and many people here care for her. And yet, that same person might have pushed a less sympathetic individual to remove a piece of jewelry, and fewer would have come to that individual's defense than they did Miss Reze. I don't necessarily think that would be better, would it not?
[She taps her chin.]
It is a difficult balance, one I have never quite mastered. To have trust in our friends, and yet to try to be even-handed in our approach to justice.
[But to answer the first question, with a slight sigh.]
Once, my colleague Mr. Naruhodo thought he saw an inconsistency that might help our client in the testimony of a carriage driver. He pressed the man, and the inconsistency was of no help to us - rather, it revealed the man had been inflating his prices, and he lost his job as a result. Unfortunate indeed, but I do not think Mr. Naruhodo was wrong to think first of the safety of his client.
As for me. . . I once represented my dearest childhood friend in court. I learned she had been lying about a poison that had been stolen from the laboratory where she worked. I admit that at that point. . . I found myself wondering if she had lied about the whole thing, whether my friend had indeed killed someone.
When I pressed the point, however, it only revealed that it had been her mistake that had led to the poison being stolen, and she feared for her reputation and her career. It was unfortunate that the truth had to be revealed that way, but it also only served to help establish her innocence of the crime.
But she listens. There's a look of understanding that crosses her face when she mentions suspecting her friend; who wouldn't, given the situation?]
I see. Then I cannot regret my actions, futile to solving our mystery as they were. I didn't want to suspect her, but it is difficult not to think something amiss when one seeks to stop you from investigating in such a forward manner.
[Which she won't detail unless asked; she's taken note of the fact that Susato gets easily flustered by such things!]
You're right; it's an ugly feeling. I was convinced of my cause, but with everybody else responding as they did, I began to question whether I had the right to press her. But if we simply accept protest without reason as an excuse to avoid examination--or worse, allow those easily influenced to pass judgment on the validity of that reason--I fear we'll risk missing important details if this happens again.
[Which, given the pattern of the past couple weeks... feels more likely than not.]
Yes. I admit. . . when Miss Ulrika refused to give me the key to her room. . .
[She sighs.]
I didn't think she was likely to have been the killer for a variety of reasons. And I also would not want someone piecing through my belongings. But I did not want to treat her differently, and I admit I felt somewhat frustrated at her obstinance even though she had every right to it.
I'm not certain what the right answer is. But it is sure to continue to happen.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[She will take a seat at the desk nearby, watching her.]
You were mistaken in the cause of Miss Reze's reluctance, but I don't think you were mistaken in your aims. The decision of how hard to push another person when there are lives on the line is no easy one.
That is one aspect in which this is much like court. I, and Mr. Naruhodo as well, have often been forced to expose secrets that innocent people have wished to keep hidden. It is an ugly feeling but I cannot say that it is avoidable.
no subject
Have you?
[...]
Mayhap I should think of it in that manner, then. Reze may have been innocent, but she was hiding something from us.
At the Studium, we're taught the value of research. There's been plenty of aetheric studies performed throughout the ages, but we're encouraged to validate the original hypothesis of newer discoveries or variables before applying them to our own theories. Until a theorem has been established as a constant, we cannot rely on the original author's word.
But that approach isn't possible here. [Finally she sits up, holding the pillow in her lap.] We must needs trust each other, which is difficult to do when we know so little and a killer is in our midst.
no subject
Forensic science is the application of these principles to criminal investigation. That you adhere to such principles will only aid you here. Of course from time to time you will be wrong, but it also means you will be even-handed. After all, perhaps another person may not have pushed Miss Reze so hard, given she is a young girl and many people here care for her. And yet, that same person might have pushed a less sympathetic individual to remove a piece of jewelry, and fewer would have come to that individual's defense than they did Miss Reze. I don't necessarily think that would be better, would it not?
[She taps her chin.]
It is a difficult balance, one I have never quite mastered. To have trust in our friends, and yet to try to be even-handed in our approach to justice.
[But to answer the first question, with a slight sigh.]
Once, my colleague Mr. Naruhodo thought he saw an inconsistency that might help our client in the testimony of a carriage driver. He pressed the man, and the inconsistency was of no help to us - rather, it revealed the man had been inflating his prices, and he lost his job as a result. Unfortunate indeed, but I do not think Mr. Naruhodo was wrong to think first of the safety of his client.
As for me. . . I once represented my dearest childhood friend in court. I learned she had been lying about a poison that had been stolen from the laboratory where she worked. I admit that at that point. . . I found myself wondering if she had lied about the whole thing, whether my friend had indeed killed someone.
When I pressed the point, however, it only revealed that it had been her mistake that had led to the poison being stolen, and she feared for her reputation and her career. It was unfortunate that the truth had to be revealed that way, but it also only served to help establish her innocence of the crime.
no subject
cuteBut she listens. There's a look of understanding that crosses her face when she mentions suspecting her friend; who wouldn't, given the situation?]
I see. Then I cannot regret my actions, futile to solving our mystery as they were. I didn't want to suspect her, but it is difficult not to think something amiss when one seeks to stop you from investigating in such a forward manner.
[Which she won't detail unless asked; she's taken note of the fact that Susato gets easily flustered by such things!]
You're right; it's an ugly feeling. I was convinced of my cause, but with everybody else responding as they did, I began to question whether I had the right to press her. But if we simply accept protest without reason as an excuse to avoid examination--or worse, allow those easily influenced to pass judgment on the validity of that reason--I fear we'll risk missing important details if this happens again.
[Which, given the pattern of the past couple weeks... feels more likely than not.]
no subject
[She sighs.]
I didn't think she was likely to have been the killer for a variety of reasons. And I also would not want someone piecing through my belongings. But I did not want to treat her differently, and I admit I felt somewhat frustrated at her obstinance even though she had every right to it.
I'm not certain what the right answer is. But it is sure to continue to happen.
no subject
[Which is frustrating. She'd rather have something tangible she can focus on! But... it is what it is, sometimes.]
Thank you, Susato. That makes me feel a bit better about it.