Keeping Caution - RPLOG
Participants
Date
30/5/477
Log
Another day of shanties and drinking for the folks along the Maritime. While Selena's no stranger to a little afternoon drinking, it would seem she's a little preoccupied with something or another - unsurprising really, given her affiliation with the academy. It's difficult to tell exactly what it is, though, but from the look of the papers in front of her it's new lecture material for a spellcrafting class.
Without much pomp or circumstance, the usual noises are interupted by a heavy handed knocking upon Selena's door. Outside are three men dressed up in guard uniforms, two cats and a wolf. Something about the wolf just seems... Off? Like a dirty muddying sensation coming from him, though his gaze remains fixed on Selena's door as he keeps his facial features neutral.
Selena furrows her eyebrows a little at the knocking on her door, taking a quickl look through the window before calling out a simple "One minute!" and tidying her workspace a little before moving to the door cautiously. The events of the prior weeks didn't go unforgotten. Though soon enough, the wolfess's door opens. "May I help you?" she asks - as standard a greeting as any.
The cat to the wolf's left moves his foot slightly so as to help prevent Selena from shutting the door as the wolf speaks slowly to her. "Yes, you may. May we come inside?" All three giving her a rather serious gaze, and from the way they seemed ready to enter the question must have been posed as formality.
and certainly, there is some degree of formality in the greeting. Selena does allow the guards access to her house, gesturing to the ever-aparrent table in her dining room - it's plain to see that she's already considering the stiuation, though she remains polite. "I'd be within my rights to ask why you're here, then."
The three dip their heads for a moment as they are allowed entrance, one of the cats standing by the door to ensure she closes it while the wolf walks close to the table with the remaining cat. "You are, and I plan to inform you. It's come to our attention you have documentation pretaining to threats against the crown and people, and have yet to turn it in to the guards... I've already written to inform the captains of this fact, and am merely here to collect the item from you, and be on my way. Though, given your records... You'll understand why I have extra individuals accompanying me yes?"
Selena nods back to the wolf. "Then you'll understand if I request to speak with the captain of the guard for the hand-in of that item. And again - given my records - I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to understand that concern." She replies seriously. "... You wouldn't be allowed to drink on your jobs." She mutters, moving for a pitcher of water and some glasses. "Help yourselves. Now, if it so pleases you, I can easily inform both house Solacious properly myself. House Ironsoul is already aware. I'm unsure if local politics work in similar fashion to Cliffside's, but for the time I lived there possession of evidence was less relevant than the proof of possessing that evidence and willingness to divulge it. Of course, it helped it the individual was credible. "
They don't move for the water, instead keeping their gaze steady upon Selena as the wolf continues to speak. "To speak with all the captains is a impossible and time consuming task. Though, if you do get the information and ready yourself, we will escort you to the main captain heading up these orders... And to compare it to cliffside is a stretch. The guard do not care if you inform the noble houses, they are not the law of this city you must understand... And unlike cliffside, we need the evidence in our -hands-, and the motion to withhold it makes you claims null and void at the least, and should something happen, your life upon the line for obstructing justice. I do not mean to phrase it like a threat, merely the facts." The Cats look to the wolf, then back to Selena as they both take deep breaths in.
Selena sighs quietly, reading over the warrant carefully. "... Hmm. Why didn't you present this at the outset of your visit?" She asks, sighing quietly. "I'm aware of the guard's capacity to keep information. May I ask where you're requesting I go with you if not into custody? I understand that you have orders and I do not expect you to break them. It's unfortunate that our priorities are conflicting as such."
"... If I may offer an alternative, though. You are aware of Flora Longtail's 'camera', correct? Under supervision of the guard I would suggest the use of her camera to photograph the contents of the book. There is no room for tampering in such an arrangement and the copy of information would be absolute."
"We're aware of her camera, and we're aware of her service charges behind it. If this book is as important as you say it is, it comes with us. I mentioned you coming with us, as you said you desired to speak to the captain... Our priorities may be in conflict miss, but you -will- need to understand that the guard, and the law, of this city takes precidence over your own personal preference." The wolf shifts in his positioning come as one of the cats speak up. "We present it when asked Ma'am, had you barred us entrance we'd have shown it while forcing our entrance, but that may have ended a bit less satisfactory for all involved."
Selena stands from the table and sighs quietly, shaking her head, taking a moment to pack the pitcher and glasses back into their respective places. "I do understand that the safety of many takes precedence over the safety of one. This by no means a simple matter, as I'm sure you can understand." She replies, nodding back to the cat. "Typically I've seen guards present such warrants at the outset of a conversation rather than when asked. My understanding was not that they're last resorts."
"Nevertheless. If the book is as important as it is and the threat as such, my understanding is that it should be kept as safe as possible while legitimate, unaltered copies of its contents be presented. If you would be so kind, though, I would like to speak with your superiors."
"You may, we ask that you bring the book with you for them to see as well... They will then make the decision if the book is important enough that the guards must hold it, or if you'll be given control of it. We're ordered to bring the book back to them, or end up bringing you in our custody. As such, if you do not retrieve the book, per protocol, we will need to bind your hands behind you back and gag you so as to inhibit any spell casting, givin the strength demonstraighted in your records."
Selena coughs quietly. "That's a fundamental misconception of how spellcasting works. It's easier to cast spells when you have your hands and mouth free, but it's possible to do so even without. Also, that's not the protocol for apprehending soulless like myself." She replies, taking a stern tone. "I expect you to know better if you intend to apprehend any soulless at all. With that in mind, though. I can pick up the book and have it ready for... Appraisal tomorrow, unless you intend to spend a day's worth of walking to and from the ID's headquarters. I would offer to fly, however it's increasingly difficult to keep track of me if I was to do so."
"We offered such so as to allow you to keep your current soulgem inserted, due entirely to your graceful record of following the law... but if you insist..." The Wulf nodding to the nearest Cat whom places a blank parent gem on the table before the wolf continues. "You've stored this book within the Iron Defenders headquarters then?" The Wolf sighing as he shakes his head and rubs his face. "Then I'm afraid this is more complicated indeed. I will have to take you into custody, and you will spend the time within the jail as we send a runner to verify your statement, before we allow you to depart like such Ma'am."
Selena looks back to the beings. "... I'm sorry, but you were planning to make an exception based on one extraordinary circumstance without regard for another?" She questions, shaking her head. "Further, demanding to bind me in the event I'm to be taken into custody to an extent further than is necessary for an arrest? There's a degree of respect involved - even for this - and what you're saying is not making me feel any more sympathetic to your demands." The wolfess leans forwards slightly. "Is there anything else you'd like to tell me before I'm forced to resist arrest then turn myself in? You come to my house and opt not to inform me why until I ask. You produce a warrant only when I wish to see one. You deny my mention of unique circumstance, but make an exception due to my previous history and then presume to change arrest protocol because of it. Your badges, now. All three of you."
The wolf gives a soft growl and shakes his head with a sigh. "Ma'am, I'm going to make this suggestion quickly. If you resist arrest, we will be forced to bring you in through the use of force. As you're aware, fighting back will only make things worse for you when the other guards arrive." The wolf motioning once more to the Cats as he holds up his badge along with them. "Yet again we will hold up our badges as per -your- request, I ask that you pay attention to them this time. Further more, understand that I have given you a -great- degree of respect, and time to comply. Now, I shall ask simply that you remove your soul gem, and replace it with the blank parent gem upon your table." The Cat's reaching down to grip the hilt of their swords somewhat, as the wolf remains standing still.
Selena looks over the badges closely - more so for any distinguishing markings or names than anything else. "You have given me 'special treatment', which is a far cry from respect." She replies slowly. "Frankly I do not trust you after the mixed display you've given. I do not intend to harm any of you. When I stated that I would 'resist arrest' I merely refer to walking directly to the guard's station, invoking right to contact next of kin to have Angus Solacious summoned and respecting established protocol from then forwards. I understand that by your orders that is not acceptable, but you have given me very little reason to trust your integrity as a member of the guard." She replies, even having the gall to move back to her workdesk and sign whatever those papers were before filing them away. "And I suspect that to those ends you wouldn't allow me out of this room without a fuss. So, I'll offer you a compromise. I will follow you as I am currently. You will not gag or bind me, as magic does not necessitate hand gestures or speech. I will accompany you by my own will . Your 'protocol' is preserved and I will be delivered into custody."
"You're attempting to tell us that Angus Solacious is your next of Kin? You'll have to excuse me, but you do not appear a fox. This is rather clear right now ma'am, you will be placed under arrest until such time that your -actual- next of kin may be contacted, not your friends. I will ask you to remove your soul gem, and insert the blank parent soulgem at this moment as well. That is the only way I will allow you to depart this room without being bound or gagged."
Selena rolls her eyes. "I believe law dictates that in the event next of kin are not available for contact, a third party may be nominated." She replies surtly. "Or did you not receive the files Cliffside had delivered following the attack on Sweetwater's granaries?" She replies flatly. "It was to my understanding that my surname surfaced here directly because of those documents being sent over." She replies, sitting back at her table. "Again. If your concern is my ability to cast magic, then you would not be gagging me. That's a lesson every being learns at academy." She replies, gesturing to a candle. "Watch." She allows for a few moments to pass - then ignites it and the others in the room before extinguishing them in short order. "Your department is aware of this. Unless you have a real explanation for the gag then I suggest you not try to put it on any mages - it wastes time at absolute best."
"Listen, regardless of this lecture on magic you feel inclined to give us, I'm going to ask you -ONE- last time, to switch your soul gems. As far as your next of kin goes, that can be sorted out there, but I am not an expert in your family tree. That being said, I will yet again stress that you either switch out your soulgems right now and come with us, or we will bring you in for failing to comply with instructions." The Wolf growing aggitated it seems, as the cats jump slightly from the magic demonstraition.
Selena shakes her head. "That was more for your benefit than mine, Mr. Everstein." She replies. "I fail to see how an escort to the guard's department would be out-of-line with your goals. What are you intending to arrest me for? Failure to provide information? There's nothing to arrest me for in that instance. Failure to comply with your requests? Hardly. At worst I've told you that you cannot arrest me because I have given you your information. Arresting me because I am incapable of providing that information due to circumstance? We have a term for that and it is 'unjust'. Conspiracy to commit a felony? Pray tell what I would be doing now that would be any more illegal than it would otherwise. What you're currently insinuating is that I should be arrested because you lack information that I cannot currently provide but am willing to under appropriate situations. The extent of my crimes are in informing you of the situation and denying you the ability to follow non-standard arrest procedure - which I might add, is not part of your warrant - much less any mention of a gag." She replies, taking a few moments to 'cool off' in her own right.
"... Now. In interest of your investigation I would like to invite you to inspect the house for the book in question. You may not have an official search warrant, but I am willing to write a letter of permission. The reason I offer is that the only other active member of the ID of importance - Bite - is unaware that I have stored to book in the fortress. It would be safer and faster to allow you the opportunity to see that the book is in fact not here as a gesture of good intentions. But I do want to know why you ignored the protocol given and opted to present your own. If you were to do that to anyone in Cliffside you'd be throwing your own credibility under the cart."
