Guilt by Association (guiltbyassoc) wrote in gbaic, @ 2017-06-20 21:27:00 |
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Entry tags: | 2010 / 06, c: davies reginald, c: dunstan brian, c: robins demelza, c: spinks teresa, c: summerby titus, london : diagon alley |
June 14 | Post-Riot Interrogations
The holding cells of the Department of Law Enforcement were packed. The various arrests of protesters, bystanders, and anyone who had been in arms reach of DMLE officers during the Freedom March Riots were being processed through the system. Their DWP ranks, arrest circumstances, and history with the law were being evaluated as quickly as possible - with no public fact unturned. It had been announced by Carmine Bones that everyone would be held for 24hrs unless they met bail. Bail, of course, was determined by the intake and DWPA officer’s paperwork. Paperwork….that was taking abysmally long to complete. “According to the paperwork you were arrested for disturbing the peace,” read the plain looking blonde from the DWPA Department. “What exactly were you doing at that march?” “Okay,” started Brian Dunstan, “First of all - I was seriously running away from the wand fire when that auror grabbed me, what was his name?” “What were you doing at the march, Mr. Dunstan” repeated the woman. “I was there like everyone else. Demonstrating my distrust of this fucked system you support.” The woman scribbled something on her clipboard and skimmed the other papers she was using for her questions. “Says here you were unarmed, do you have any backup wands?” Brian snorted, “I wasn’t unarmed - I didn’t even bring my wand to the event. You can ask anyone - they all thought I was insane.” “You went to a demonstration unarmed?” the woman seemed unimpressed. “It was supposed to be peaceful!” Brian blurted with a frustrated shrug. He forcefully leaned back into the metal chair in which he was seated. “Going unarmed was a sign I wasn’t there to cause trouble.” The woman narrowed her eyes and went to scribble on her clipboard once more. “I told you,” Teresa rolled her eyes and lulled her head back in annoyance. “I wasn’t interfering with an arrest. I was letting the auror know that Brian Dunstan was unarmed. Had been all day.” “We’re not here to talk about Brian Dunstan,” explained a pointy faced DWPA Officer. “We’re here to talk about your involvement at the demonstration.” “My involvement was I attended, that’s it,” the woman answered. “Why?” “Because, the Dark Wizard Prevention act is irrational, fear based, labeling that causes mass hysteria,” Teresa urged, leaning into the table, her tone conversational enough as though challenging the man to a debate. “Was that the motive of the demonstration?” “What? No. It was supposed to be a movement of solidarity of the people who are concerned about--” “So, did you or did you not assist in the organization and promotion of the march?” “I had nothing to do with it--” Teresa’s voice shifted in defense. “So your radio show,” the man flipped through the woman’s file. “The Morning Feel Up… it didn’t promote the March details?” Teresa opened her mouth and closed it again realizing what this was. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms, “I want a lawyer.” “I still don’t understand why I’m here,” explained Demelza Robins. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” “You hospitalized two protesters with botched jelly-leg jinxes.” corrected an elderly woman of the DWPA Office. “Only because those imbeciles were attacking us!” the Demelza yelled. “According to this report -- they were unarmed.” “That’s a fucking lie!” the Gryffindor slammed her hands on the table. The elderly woman wrote down something on her clipboard. “You’re a Blue ranking, correct?” “Yeah, so I don’t quite understand why I’m here?” The younger woman crossed her arms and huffed a bit in her chair. “Well, ma’am… assuming your victims press charges your rank will change--” “WHAT!? I’m a good person! I was protecting a kid caught in the cross--” “Miss Robins, you need to calm down - I’m here to discuss your options.” “Assault of an officer, Interference with an arrest, and assault of five others are what it looks like you’ll be charged for,” informed a very casual, Reginald Davies, a DWPA officer in his mid-late 20’s. “The arresting officer also made a note that you were wandless and may be a squib-- are you a Squib Mr…” he glanced at the paperwork. “Mr. Summerby?” Wow. Just wow. Titus could only stare dumb at the officer in front of him. “I'm not sure if that's supposed to be an insult or if you're serious,” Titus drawled before heaving a sigh. “No. I'm not a squib. Exact opposite. And I didn't have my wand because I've already had it snapped once, and I know what you fu-- government officials are capable of if you don't like a situation. Best not to have it with me. Just in case. And besides that, everyone I ‘assaulted’ were going after people smaller, younger, or slower than them. Including your officer. So yeah.” “Size of an opponent isn't exactly a very good excuse when there's magic involved’” the officer countered as he scribbled a note. “I’ve seen little old ladies destroy men twice their size. You wanna try again?” “Grown men attacking people who are practically children? Angry counter-protesters pulling people into fights who were just trying to get away? Officers of the law laughing when people they body-bind face plant into the ground and injure themselves? You think there’s nothing wrong with that?” Titus asked, his voice having an edge to it. He was containing himself but just barely. “Size might not qualify your magical ability, but it says a lot about a person who targets someone physically weaker just because they fucking can.” “Moral chivalry aside,” Reginald sighed, slightly disappointed by the 2nd answer. “Let's talk about what these charges mean for you.” Titus felt himself twitch a bit at the words ‘moral chivalry’ as he noted to himself that the guy in front of him was likely a Ravenclaw or a Slytherin rather than a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff. Probably a Ravenclaw given the amount of detached objectivity that he seemed to be spewing. Officer Davies took a silent moment and flipped through the paperwork. An absent snort left the man when he finally read the arresting officer’s name, “Yeah, Montague’s a piece of work isn't he? Arrested 8 people tonight. Most of em just for breathing I think.” He closed the file and leaned into the table. “He’s not going to change the assault on an officer charge. But if the 5 others don't push charges, and since you were unarmed… probably could convince them 100 hours of community service would suffice. Keep ya at a yellow. But if anyone other than Montague pursues you legally… courts decide.” There was a sudden 180 the second that the guy came across the name of his arresting officer, and Titus was confused, sudden and intensely confused. Wasn’t police solidarity a thing in the wizarding world, too? Granted, there were sometimes exceptions, but still… “So basically I’m fucked either way, is that it?” Titus asked, not trying to seem ungrateful for at least… some leniency, but he shouldn’t have had to be in this position in the first place. And the exhaustion over the situation was definitely showing. “I can do community service. But it’s fine… If my rank goes up… has to. It’s fine. I don’t know why I didn’t just go home, get a job on the docks, and fucking forget about all of this after they stuck me in Azkaban for nothing the first time. But I guess I’m in it now either way.” Titus shifted, closing his eyes briefly, before opening them again, “That officer’s not even going to get a reprimand, is he?” Davies snorted at the question, “You try doing their job when chaos breaks and spells are flyin from all sides. Some of ‘em get into survival mode and strike anything that moves. You're lucky he didn't kill ya and blame it on friendly fire.” “It’s one thing to do a job. It’s another to think hurting people’s fun,” Titus said, the words a half mumble. He wasn’t entirely sure how that sentiment was going to be taken. “I’m sure there’s plenty of hitwizards that got the job done without bashing someone’s face in.” “Well,” the Reginald looked at his watch as he shifted to stand, “Unless you can post bail you’ll get 19 more hours to ask around and find out the answer to that bet. Law enforcements going to ask you a few more questions and calculate bail for ya.” He picked up the man's file from the table. “Good luck.” “Wait,” Titus said, the words coming out a bit frantic as he realized that, either way, he was probably going to end up sitting in the cell for however long they wanted to keep him. He wasn’t going to have the kind of money they wanted no matter what the amount was. “Do you have information on anyone else? I lost my friend in the chaos, and I don’t know if she’s all right. Or if she got arrested or what. Stimpson? Patricia? Anything… Please.” “Not sure,” The DWPA officer shrugged. “The only people I know about are the ones on the intake roster. Once they declare bail, you’ll get a phone call.” “I guess that's something. She didn't get arrested,” Titus said, frowning to himself. He could only hope she got away instead of any other reason. “Thank you.” |