Natalya, High Inquisitrix of the Evil Empire (![]() ![]() @ 2016-11-25 18:01:00 |
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Entry tags: | donald abercrombie, natalya dolohov |
WHO: Natalya Dolohov and Donnie Abercrombie
WHAT: Negotiating a deal
WHEN: This morning
WHERE: Wizengamot Administration Services
WARNINGS: None
Being in prison was boring. (Okay, so he wasn't actually in prison, but you know.) All of the activist cred points he was racking up notwithstanding, spending that much time alone with nothing but his own voice to keep him company was liable to drive him insane. On top of that, why hadn't any of his friends tried to break him out yet? Or at the very least tried to sneak him a shiv in a bar of soap, or something? Didn't anyone watch prison dramas anymore?! For reasons of boredom alone, Donnie was glad to be out for a bit - even if it was to sit face to face with Natalya Dolohov, older sister to his sworn nemeses. (Or were they still his sworn nemeses if one of them was dead?) He tried to adopt a look of apathy, his face blank and his fingers drumming absently on the table. Inside he was panicking, of course. 'Getting arrested' had never really been a part of the plan. Natalya didn't say anything at first, instead flipping through the thick file in her hands for a long moment before finally setting it down on the desk and folding her hands on the table in front of her. "Let's speak frankly, Donald." She flashed a polite smile that didn't come anywhere close to reaching her eyes. "I've met a lot of criminals over the years. People who would have no qualms about spending time in prison for their cause, who would die rather than betray their confidants… But you don't have the look of those people. Are you willing to die for your little band of vigilante friends, Donald?" Donnie cringed inwardly every time she said Donald. Note to self: get legal name change, assuming that was a thing that was still allowed (it probably wasn't). "I'm tougher than I look," he spat out, trying to glare menacingly. "Hmmm." Natalya raised an eyebrow curiously but didn't comment on Donald's toughness instead glancing at the papers in front of her again. "The charges against you are trespassing, unauthorized access to Ministry files, and vigilantism, although if we go to trial there are several more I could add. But it's the vigilantism charge that kills you. Quite literally, I'm afraid. You see, the Wizengamot recently approved new sentencing guidelines that authorize the death penalty for charges of vigilantism. And they've already sentenced two people to death. If we go to trial, you would be the third. But there is another option, if you're interested." Admittedly, Donnie hadn't really been paying attention until he heard the words death penalty. At that, he shifted and sat up a little bit straighter in his seat. His heart pounded even faster, his mouth felt dry, his left hand started to shake - they were sentencing people to death now??? It briefly occurred to him that she could have been lying to try to get him to cooperate, but honestly, what did it matter? He was too young to die! "FINE," he blurted out at last. "What's the option?" A beat, and then, "I'm still willing to die in protest against this completely fucked totalitarian hell hole, by the way. But maybe just. Not YET." And this was why out of everyone they'd captured, Donald Abercrombie was the only one being offered any sort of alternative. Because Natalya knew he would crack. Also because he really was completely harmless, but she wasn't going to point that out. "That's fine, you can die later," Natalya agreed pleasantly. She reached in her folder and slid a piece of parchment across the table for Donald to read. "This is an agreement to become a confidential informant on behalf of the DMLE. You'll report directly to Evan and Jonah and only the four of us will know your status. You'll provide information on the activities of your vigilante group as you become aware of them and in exchange, the charges will be reduced to trespassing, you'll be fined 200 galleons and you can be sleeping in your own bed tonight." Donnie groaned loudly in frustration. "Rosier and Yaxley? Uggghhh they're DEATH EATERS." He eyed Natalya suspiciously and leaned forward a bit. "Actually, you probably are too, yeah? HMMMM." He snatched the piece of parchment off the table and scanned it quickly. This was actually a shit deal, and he was already thinking of ways that he could circumvent the arrangement (snitches get stitches, you know). "So...all I have to do is tell you what my people are up to? How will you know I'm not lying? I'm VERY creative and I have a wild imagination. I could say ANYTHING." "I'm not a Death Eater, I'm just their lawyer," Natalya replied easily. "And yes, Donald, that is all you have to do. You could lie, but I'd advise against it, unless you have a particular affection for the feeling of lightning running through your body. Have you ever felt that before?" "Well there was that one time when I was on - " Donnie cut himself off abruptly. Probably not a great idea to admit to illegal drug use to a lawyer. "Anyway. Nothing could be worse than the pain of like, betraying all of my friends." He played with the edges of the parchment paper and wondered if he was really, really going to do this. He didn't really have a choice though, did he? Carlotta Pinkstone was his hero but he wasn't about to die for her. And he knew without a doubt that if Florence had been in a similar situation, she would've taken the deal immediately. He sighed, loudly and dramatically, and slid the piece of parchment back across the table. "I guess...I'll do it. But only because I have to and because I am under EXTREME duress right now." "Your feeling of extreme duress is noted, although legally I believe that would require actual duress. If I brought someone in here to torture you and then made you sign that would qualify, but that isn't my style. Truthfully, I despise torture. Anyway," Natalya gave a vague gesture of her hand and then pulled out a quill and passed it and the parchment back to Donnie, giving him yet another placid smile. "You have to sign it. This is your choice, Donald. And it's the smart choice." He snatched the quill and stared at the parchment, deliberating. Sentenced to death...or confidential informant and then put all of his friends' lives at risk. Sentenced to death...or tell Death Eaters what his vigilante group was up to at every second of the day. Sentenced to death...or… Donnie squeezed his eyes shut and quickly scrawled out his signature then tossed the quill to the side as though it was on fire. "THERE I DID IT," he yelled. The outburst startled Natalya, her eyes going wide and her mask of aggressive politeness finally cracking. She flinched, as if she thought the quill was going to come flying at her and then quickly tried to smooth over her reaction as if it never happened. "Yes, I see. And with some unnecessary dramatics, as well," she replied. She reached for the quill and added her own signature before tapping the parchment with her wand to let Jonah's curse take effect. "Since you didn't read this terribly closely, I should warn you that if you tell anyone about your new role, you'll be shocked. And repeated violations of our agreement will result in the DMLE arresting you again and charging you with your original charges and then some. You're going to need to play by the rules for once in your life, Donald." Donnie glared across the table. Yeah, sure, he was going to play by the rules. Suddenly, the memory of what had happened the last time he'd pissed someone off jolted him out of his petulant state. "I'll play by your stupid rules," he spat out. "But when we take back the Ministry you'll be sorry. You'll be VERY sorry." He stood up, intending to leave with a dramatic flourish, before realizing that he still had to be escorted out of the building. So instead he just stood there glaring as he waited to leave. Natalya stood and took a moment to smooth out her skirt before opening the door and gesturing for a guard to come claim her prisoner. "It's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr Abercrombie. Congratulations on your freedom." |