Roger Davies (en_roger) wrote in enigma_rpg, @ 2009-01-05 14:32:00 |
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Entry tags: | * complete, 2004-01, npc, retired character: roger davies |
RP: Almost Cost Me
when: 5 Jan 2004
who: Roger Davies and Barnabas Cuffe (NPC- Prophet Editor)
where: Daily Prophet
private/public: private
rating: PG-13
summary: Roger isn't very happy about the front page and goes to 'talk' to his boss.
***Set before the Olivia & Roger thread***
The door flew open with a thud against the opposing wall, Roger storming in as he only mere abused the wood again, slamming the same door behind him. “What the hell is this?!” He spit, throwing the day’s paper on the editor’s desk, Oliver Wood’s face splashed across the yellowed parchment.
Cuffe, looked up, and then pushing the glasses back up the bridge of his nose before turning to look down at the moving photography. “The Daily Prophet, my boy.” He said quietly, leaning back in his seat meeting Roger’s gaze evenly.
Roger, in his fury, slammed his hands on the desk, the back of his mind reminding him that Cuffe was his boss and he probably should act a bit more courteous. The thought made him stand a little straighter, otherwise his stance remained the same. “Why did Oliver Wood make front?! Or for that matter.. WHAT THE HELL IS SIMMONS STILL DOING HERE?!” Okay, technically Simmons wasn’t there but his cubicle was untouched. Roger had worked at the Prophet long enough to know that if you were fired your desk was immediately emptied. Simmons still had his job.
Cuffe seemed to wait patiently for Roger’s outburst to finish before coughing quietly, removing his glasses, cleaning them on his robes and standing, gazing evenly at Roger. “He is one of my best reporters. Once he does his time for making the wrong choice in hitting Mr Wood, he is welcome to return to work.”
“One of the best-!” Roger was staring slack-jawed. “He reports lies! You know th-“
“Roger.” The man’s dark gaze was all that was needed to silence Roger, for the moment. “We are a paper, we report what we hear and see.”
“We-!” Roger was getting furious, “you’re- he-“ Roger usually had a way with words, but he was too angry in that moment; first seeing the report in the paper, then coming in and finding out Simmons still had a job, then finding out Elaine’s piece was page twenty-five…that stupid piece of dribble on Quidditch players ‘gone bad’ was higher on the list! It was gossip, not News! Roger’s jaw got tight as he had to hold back another solid rant.
“With all due respect Sir; what you’ve been printing lately is gossip. I don’t know about you, but my job is to report the News.” With that he stormed out, slammed the door behind him, drawing attention from a few of the people nearby who stared as he nearly stomped back to his own office. He was acting childish, he knew; but with the sorts of things the Prophet was printing lately, first that whole debacle on Quigley (okay, but that turned out legitimate), and then Alicia, now Oliver…And then his story! His department! Not even highlighted!
Roger threw himself at his chair, spinning slightly in it before sighing heavily. He needed to calm down, get some tea or something… Possibly go apologize to Cuffe. Possibly. Okay, not; even if he knew he should.
As his door opened, however, it looked like he was going to have too. Cuffe sat down nonchalantly, legs crossing, before he rested his threaded hands on one knee. “Roger.” He said calmly again, waiting for Roger to look at him, respond.
“Yes sir?” He managed (surprisingly) not petulantly.
“You are one of my best reporters, Roger; but, if you come into my office and speak to me like that again… I will be forced to fire you.” His entire demeanor, even his tone of voice was calm, almost fatherly; Roger hated that about the man, but nodded slowly. “Good. Now, Simmons will, and is being punished for his crimes, but he still has a job; if you have a complaint about it talk to HR. But I’m not losing another good employee merely because you do not like him.”
Roger opened his mouth to argue but Cuffe put up a hand. “Don’t act like you do not have a personal vendetta against him Davies, I know my employees.
“Now, you wanted to see me about reporting a story outside your jurisdiction?” Cuffe asked as if they’d previously just been talking about the weather and Roger had to take an internal breath to calm himself. When he was Editor he wasn’t going to treat his reporters like twelve year olds, it was demeaning.
“I did.” Roger agreed, keeping firm eye-contact with Cuffe. Cuffe stared for a moment, as if studying him before the heavier man nodded.
“Well, you have permission then. Now,” and the man stood, smacking his own knee with a grin, “I have other things to attend too. I expect that new story on my desk by the end of the week Davies.”
Roger, almost flabbergasted by the change of tone in the room nodded, standing himself as Cuffe moved to the door. “Of course. You’ll have it by Friday.” And with a strange smile Cuffe was going and Roger was staring confused.
He definitely needed that drink now.