The short man in the dapper green suit was led casually into the adjacent legal office. [color=red]"Mr Tawny? This gentleman is Mr Oswald Loomis, he says he's brought a new case for us."[/color] Mary Marvel announced the spritely gentleman's entry. Bobo tailed them at a careful distance on his skates and sat, as discreetly as a chimpanzee on roller skates is capable of sitting, on the lounge in the corner of the office. [color=limegreen]"Linoleum? That's an-- interesting choice-- for a legal office."[/color] Mr Loomis said, inspecting the floors. [color=orange]"Oh, uh-- yes. Please forgive the floors. We're between legal offices at the moment."[/color] Mr Tawny stammered, his covering as poor and convincing as the linoleum itself. [color=brown][i]"Yes. Between the legal offices on the western and eastern sides of the building. Located in this slum right here."[/i][/color] Detective Chimp thought to himself, not wanting to deter the business they could ill afford to lose. [color=orange]"Now, what can our Firm do for you today, Mr Loomis?"[/color] Mr Loomis took another look around the inauspicious workspace of the "Firm" before openly discussing the case in question. [color=limegreen]"Well, as you may be aware, I recently spent a-- length of time, under the accommodation of the state..."[/color] [color=brown]"You were in prison. Because you're a self-proclaimed supervillain."[/color] The private investigator said from the couch in the corner, to glares from all in attendance. [color=brown]"What? You're here for our legal services, right? There's not much point playing coy and beating around the bush here for reasons of politeness and civility. If you decide to push forward with the case, he's your lawyer, right? Besides, you were already convicted and served your time, yes?"[/color] [color=orange]"Apologies for my investigator's abruptness, as uncouth as he may be, I assure you he is very good at his job. Please continue."[/color] Mr Tawny interjected, before instructing Loomis to lay out his case. [color=limegreen]"Yes, as you both may well know, I have graced this city with joy and jocular japes as the supervillain known as The Prankster, and that's part of the reason I'm hear."[/color] He began. [color=limegreen]"You see, I believe I've been wrongly imprisoned on a count and that my own reputation has led to my being persecuted by the state. I wish to sue the Metropolis PD and/or the district attorney's office for this."[/color] Detective Chimp rubbed his face, it was too early for this conversation without scotch. [color=brown]"This isn't about that thing with the pennies is it?"[/color] Both lawyer and potential client in their tweed green suits turned and stared at the Chimpanzee investigator. [color=limegreen]“No.”[/color] Detective Chimp arched a solitary eyebrow from his lounge. [color=limegreen]“Alright, YES, but I had a valid point with the pennies.”[/color] The Prankster jabbed a pointed finger down, tapping hard on the desk. Detective Chimp rocked back on the couch, a smug, self-satisfied grin of confirmation spread across his face. [color=limegreen]“Nobody appreciates good satire anymore…”[/color] [color=brown]“Certainly don’t appreciate bad, ham-fisted satire, either.”[/color] The Prankster scowled at the chattering investigator. [color=limegreen]“Are you going to get your monkey in line?”[/color] Behind his desk, Mr Tawky Tawny winced. He’d seen how this kind of thing had played out before. All of the mirth drained from Bobo’s face. [color=brown]“Do you see a tail, sir?”[/color] [color=limegreen]“Pardon?”[/color] The man in the green tweed suit uttered, with confusion. He looked at Tawky Tawny, but he’d pushed himself away from his desk and held his paws out in a gesture that suggested he wanted no part of what was happening. [color=brown]“Do you. See. A tail. Sir?”[/color] Detective Chimp repeated, deliberately and with no small amount of venom in his words. Detective Chimp held the uncomfortable silence for a few extra beats with malignant ferocity as he bared his teeth in full. [color=brown]“Great. Ape.”[/color] The words whistled through his domineering grin. [color=brown]“If you see no tail, it's a great ape. Emphasis on the 'Great'. I am no man's 'monkey', least of all yours, or his.”[/color] And with that, the small-statured detective skated grumpily from the room. ...Around the corner, where he held an extended finger to his lips in Mary's direction as he listened in to the conversation which continued without him. [color=limegreen]“Well, anyway. As I was saying, my satirical commentary may not have been well received, but the Metropolis Police Department had no connection between my actions and those of the supercriminal known as Toyman besides speculation and hearsay. They heard claims from Superman - a witness who never took the stand in my own case - which sent them on a tunnel-vision path where they determined I was guilty from the outset and set about ensuring I fit that frame.”[/color] Tawky Tawny leaned forward and tented his paws from behind his desk. [color=orange]“So you... want me to sue Superman..?”[/color] The Prankster had rocked back in his own chair by now, as he regaled the tiger with his own side of the story. [color=limegreen]“Hmm..? What? No, Superman is just a concerned citizen, albeit a superpowered one. It's not his responsibility to investigate and solve the crime. No, I intend to address the people responsible. The Metropolis Police Department and District Attorney's office. They're the ones who wrongly convicted me.”[/color] The tiger attorney considered this. He wasn't going to have to press anyone from within the superhero community. And everyone deserved their day in court... If he could prove that due process hadn't been undertaken, that assumptions had been made, then maybe... [color=orange]“I'll take the case!”[/color] Tawky Tawny said, reachin a paw across the table. The audible slap of a primate's palm against a chimpanzee's forehead could be heard in the room as the handshake consummated the agreement. [color=limegreen]“What was that?”[/color] The Prankster asked, about the loud sound that punctuated their deal. [color=orange]“Oh, it was just the plumbing. I hear that noise around here all the time...”[/color]