From Dawn till Dusk in Saint Denis

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"Saint Denis, the city of headless saints...let's hope I won't become one of them."
-Samuel Maxwell Warden, March 25th 1900.

Not even Warden knows what brought him to Saint Denis.

After four years of Law at Tulane, where he specialized in constitutional and corporate law, he went back home. His father Maximilien ever silent, his friends gone, his old flame engaged with someone else. Baton Rouge was dull, uninteresting and without a future for him. His father's purse was slowly closing for him, and the options of "where should I go from here?" too.

That's when he decided to make a drastic move. A necessary, but difficult one, for sure. He loved his time in New Orleans, but he didn't want to go back there just yet. So he thought and thought until he reached a decision...

He'd move to Saint Denis. He'd find a job as a paralegal, and then go forward from there. He had some money set aside, and he did just that, in September, 1899. He lived in a cheap townhouse he managed to rent, and with careful studying and preparation, he passed the Tahoma Federal-State Bar, on the 3rd of March 1899, with flying colors. And then he met them: the D'Arcos.

He helped Evelyn get cleared of some spurious charges, and won them over, becoming the family's attorney and their guest. He also met Fiorenzo, Evelyn's husband, a scientist with a background in Physics, and who studied abroad, in Germany. He became a close friend of both of them, although he primarily worked with Evelyn, helping her with paperwork, managing the Bastille staff and so on.

While not busy doing so, handling corporate documents or preparing for a case, he went out hunting. He loved the outdoors, and especially the bayou, and he would frequently go out with his rifle and horse whenever he had the occasion. If not, he'd spend his time reading, drinking and enjoying good meals and adequate conversation in the Bastille, of which he was a frequent client.

Everything started to go wrong once he agreed to candidate as Mayor for Saint Denis...

(OOC: This thread will show Samuel Warden's perspective on multiple events, spanning months. Bear with me, as I do not have screens for many of them! I'll also NOT post spoilers on current events, but just Samuel's perspective on what's happening to him.
P.S.: many, many flashbacks, too!)

 

Samuel Maxwell Warden (photo taken in February, 1900)



Maximilien Warden (photo taken in 1898)

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15 January, 1900

The horse was laden with pelts of elks and deers, and two fat turkeys were tied to Warden's saddle. He was enjoying a hunt in West Elisabeth, far away from the hustle and bustle of Saint Denis.

He had the horse trot onwards, with it heaving under the load. He was close to Blackwater, although he still had to ford the river and then cross the plains. This was the life.
Outdoors, a good rifle and bow, and plenty of game to shoot at.
He loved lawyerin' but he enjoyed tracking a fox in the bushes, or shoot a fleeing deer.

When he got to Blackwater, the town was a bit in turmoil. A young boy had been attacked by a cougar, only for then to be arrested as a robber. Out of curiosity, Warden went to see the jailcell...and he saw Alex Johnson there.

"Alex? What are you doing in here?"
"..."
"Alright, lemme see what I can do."
Before he could even do anything, Sheriff Marek entered the Sheriff's Office. After a brief greeting with the man, Warden asked him the charges for the boy, and his bail. Two hundred dollars, and the charges were Attempted Murder, and Robbery. 
Samuel looked to his wallet. He had close to a hundred on him from his previous hunting trip to mount Shann, and with the pelts he had, he'd have close to that amount. So he went, sold the pelts and came back with the money.

Now free, Alex Johnson decided to come back to Saint Denis with Warden. Not that he had much choice to begin with: Warden was responsible for his presence at the arraignment.
"Tell me what's happened to you, Alex. I'm here to help you."
Warden had known Alex a few days ago, during the trip. He was a good tracker and shooter, although shooting a gun on an animal, and doing so on a person...
Warden shivered for a moment. But he thought he couldn't have, or at least he should've had a good reason to do so...right?
"I tried to rob a woman...I almost killed her with my gun."
Alex looked down. His face was young, although scarred by the cougar, and he must've not been older than twenty-five.

So young, and yet he has to resort to crime...Warden shaked his head. 
"Very well, Alex. I'll do my damndest not to see you hang for this, alright?"
"..."
"Good. Now let's go, we have to reach at least Rhodes before sundown."

The two of them rode until midnight, to reach Saint Denis. Warden got down from his horse, and helped Alex do the same. The lights of the Bastille shone in front of them.
"Alright, I'll get you a room here. I'll vouch for you with Madame D'Arco, and she'll perhaps find you a proper job here."
"...why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Helping me."
Warden smiled at him. "If I don't, who will? Get some rest, Alex, and take care."
"Night, mister Warden."

17 January, 1900


"...and furthermore, the way Alex Johnson was held by the West Elisabeth Sheriff's Office is frankly appalling. A young boy, who barely survives a cougar's attack...is the ruthless robber who shoots women and then robs them?"
This was no formal dinner. The room was fancy, but the occasion they were there was not. Warden had managed to arrange a meeting with the prosecutor in the hopes to have the charges dismissed. After all, no victim had been brought forward, not by name nor by statement.
In front of him, US Attorney Kellogg was thinking, and then he replied.

Better than nothing. At least now we have a shot at this, thought Warden.
Maybe, Alex Johnson can make it...

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3 January, 1900

Just a few days before this whole ordeal, a carriage had made its stop at the entrance of the Braithwaite Manor. Aside from the coachman and two bodyguards, three men were inside, making polite conversation: a Hawaiian prince, an up-and-coming lawyer and a business magnate.

Lucius Ulalena, prince of Hawaii, now landless after the Annexation, was now a wealthy socialite traveling the world, and currently a guest of the prestigious Braithwaite family; he was being returned to his hosts after a lenghty visit in Saint Denis.

Samuel Warden, fresh out of the bar exam, had just been offered a job in the magnate's law offices. He was truly happy, as this meant he had found a sure and stable income, while also doing corporate law, something he enjoyed...

On the way back, Warden and the businessman talked of Tahoma. Of the frail health of its Governor. Of the frequent absences of Mayor Benner. Of the lack of a proper police force in Saint Denis, and the requirement for any person of high status to travel with a private force of men, ready to defend him from outlaws and other ruffians. They also discussed law, and business, and the possibility for the company to improve its logistics. The road to Saint Denis was long, but at least it was comfortable.

Had he not decided to part ways with the businessman, Warden thinks this would have changed his whole career, perhaps for the better...and not damned him to what happened next.

20 January, 1900

The proceedings against Alex Johnson had been halted, after Warden's discussion with the prosecutor. The prosecution was scrambling to acquire evidence on the case, and frankly, Warden doubted that anything would surface on a matter that happened in New Austin. So, he went hunting, up north...and got himself a new bear rug.

The grizzly had charged him and spooked the horse, who bucked and made Warden fall on the ground. Still aching from the fall, Warden shot his trapdoor rifle's single shot, hitting the bear in the head before it could reach him. He died on the spot, falling with a loud *thud*.

Warden felt comfortable with his hunting clothes, just as much as he would with a suit and tie in a courtroom. And he loved the fur hat he made out of black mink, for when the outdoors were cold, windy or snowing. Hunting at night was a danger, since wolves and bears were many, but it also had its advantages. He hauled the pelt to be sold back in Valentine, and he decided to rest his aching bones there for some days.

6 February, 1900

After a daring motion, Warden had some news, from Judge Whitmore, for Alex. He had been working with Madame D'Arco, cleaning tables and whatnot, until he found a job somewhere else in Saint Denis. Still, Warden sent him a letter, asking him to come to Valentine.

"Well, Alex, good news..."
Warden showed him an envelope whom he had opened prior. He knew Alex Johnson couldn't read, so he did it for him:
"On this date, we agree with the defense's motion to dismiss, with prejudice, the charges brought forward to this Court, on behalf of the US Attorney's Office, towards the defendant Johnson, Alex..."
Alex looked at Warden, puzzled: "What does that mean?"
"It means you are completely free to go. Not on bail, not on probation. You are a free man."
Tears came out of Johnson's eyes. And who could blame him...he had left, still a child, his home in Utah, since his parents's mistreatment was too much to bear. He had endured hunger, thirst, poverty and many a hardship. This was the first break from a long series of misfortunes for him.

Warden grabbed another envelope, and a train ticket.
"Remember the talk we had? About you getting an education?"
"Yes, why?"
"Here's a ticket for New Orleans, a letter for my former tutor, and the money for a year's worth of classes and rent there. My old room at that old private school should still be free, I think. This was your bail, and it has been returned to me."
"Are you for real?!" 
"Yes. You've behaved, you've shown remorse and the desire to change your life for the better. All I can do is give you one last push, so that you can use *this*..." -he showed him the envelope- "...to make something out of yourself."
He wiped the tears off his face, happy.
"Thank you, mister Warden."
"Call me Samuel, we are no longer attorney and client, but friends. Take care, out there in New Orleans, and don't waste your time chasing dreams of a "big score". Lord knows the time of outlaws and such is coming to a close..."
Warden smiled, and handed the envelope and ticket to Alex, and then accompanied him to the train station. With a last wave, Alex Johnson and Samuel Warden parted ways...perhaps forever. 

Farewell, Alex, farewell.

 

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A few days before the 15th of January 1900, in New Austin...

River Emerson raised the bandana over her face. She readied her repeater and revolver, and went out on a hunt. Not of game nor other animals, but for a quick payout.
She was from Ogden, Utah, the birthplace of famous gunsmith and inventor John Moses Browning. Once a territory of the United States, it was now a State...but still, ever the awful place to live. She left her abusive and empoverished family to make a living in South Tahoma, but all she found were poverty and hunger.
So she planned a robbery.
A quick run into the train station, guns drawn, scare the people inside, grabs some cash and bonds, and quickly leave. However, one witness was there. Vivian Chen.

River quickly hogtied and interrogated her, while Vivian's ears were still ringing from a stray shot that had struck her in her upper chest:


After securing the witness, she got inside, held up the train station's manager and started to take the bonds and money...and ran away.

The take? Barely worth the risk, considering that now she was on the run, and liable to be hang if caught...

15 January 1900, Blackwater

The lawmen had heard of a young boy attacked by a cougar, being patched up in the Blackwater clinic. A certain "Alex Johnson", to be precise. And since the lawmen wanted a quick solution to the robbery they heard of, they came an' tied Alex up for the crime.

Still hurting from the cougar's attack, and with a visible scar on her face, she was hogtied and dropped to the ground by Deputy Langley, who searched her for any contraband, and took her weapons. Still answerin' to the name of Alex Johnson, she was jailed in the town jail, pending arraignment. There she stood, with no chance to contact a lawyer, or call anyone else...
Then Warden arrived.

She had guided Warden during a hunting trip in the northern woods of West Elisabeth county, starting from Strawberry, then mount Shann and finally Little Creek and its' woods. It had been a good haul, and the money Warden gave her helped, for some time. And now he was here, to help her get out.
He paid her bail, and indeed, he got her out. Sheriff Marek was surprisingly happy not to have Alex in his jail anymore, and Warden moreso to see Alex, the one who guided him on the treacherous trip to Mount Shann, free. Warden had no knowledge of her real name or sex, nor did he ask. As long as he managed to keep his word, that'd have been enough for River.

16 January 1900, Saint Denis

Warden had called Alex to his office, to see what could be done on his case. He had questions for him, but also suggestions and plans for how to face US Attorney Kellogg...


The plan was simple. They had quick access to the prosecutor, the Court and the chance to make the matter disappear quickly if no witnesses came forward. So Warden quickly acted, and the day after they met US Attorney Kellogg to deal with the issue...


While not enough to make her a certain of an acquittal, Warden helped her in any way he could. Getting a prescription for laudanum when the fears of death by hanging got to her, giving her debilitating headaches. Helping her enlist in night classes to get an education, however basic it could be...and always trying to cheer her up, despite her grim demeanor.


And the dreams of seeing Vivian in Saint Denis clearly did NOT help her state of mind, during those days...

Everything seemed grim, hopeless for her.
Until that fateful day.

6 February 1900, Valentine

Warden had called her, by telegram, to Valentine. A telegram she could barely read, but read she could without any help. It seemed like he had urgent news, but luckily she was free from night classes, and Madame D'Arco had given her the day off.
She rode quickly through Lemoyne County, getting to Valentine in a matter of hours.
And at ol' Smithfield Saloon, there was Warden, waving her from the saloon doors.
"Come, come, Alex. Rest, and get a drink."
She nodded, dismounted and tied the horse in front of it. "Why? What's the occasion?"
"Don't you worry about it. Lemme explain more inside." Warden was secretive, but his smile was visible and his happiness a bit concerning.
Had he cut a deal behind her back? Had he done something he wanted to be forgiven for?
...


She could not believe her eyes, for she could barely read. And neither could she believe her ears, when she heard from Warden what the letter meant.
She was free.
She had been given a chance to start anew, and not fuck up this time.
...
Then Warden gave her another envelope. She opened it, and it had a sheaf of ten dollar bills, in the value of two hundred, another small letter, and a train ticket to New Orleans.
He had gone above and beyond for her. The money was to get by for a year in a small private school, the letter was to a tutor there, and the ticket the chance to leave Tahoma behind, and keep on studying, make something out of herself.

She was happy. For once, fortune was with her, not against her. 

She waved Warden goodbye, while the train was leaving Tahoma for her, perhaps forever...

Thank you @VonTarkin for the screens that show your perspectives on what happened! ❤️

[VonTarkin]

God bless you man, awesome work.