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Post by Louis de Saint-Just on Oct 2, 2008 18:07:41 GMT -5
Upon first inspection, the office of Mayor Antoine de Ginvillione was a tidy, regular office. There was a mug (a World's Best something, or an I Heart something) full of pens on the desk, as well as two trays of paper marked respectively In and Out, a computer monitor, and a small picture in a distinguished frame. The picture held Antoine, shaking hands with the Prime Minister of France. Both of them were on the cusp of uncontrollable giggles, perhaps because they were both wearing the same suit. On the wall was a calendar with a picture of a castle, sharing its estate with an equally stately river. On the floor, there was a small dog bed, one of those white whicker basket-type ones. It was lined with pink silk, and looked as if it were made for a pretty princess of a dog. Except that on the side, it proclaimed in flashy gold letters, that a certain "Gilles-Gilles" lived there.
On a second sweep of the room, you might have seen the oak cabinets, proudly displaying trophies, pictures of golden locks (Antoine's), or the sticky notes on the other side of the computer monitor, or the green notebook on the desk. The blinds were closed, but light trickled through as easily as water through a sieve.
And on a third sweep, you might have seen that the patterns in the carpet are mostly, if not entirely faded, and that the floor underneath them was new, hardly-touched hardwood. The desk, too, was old, but well preserved.
On a whole, the office was tidy, and stately. Rare would it be to find someone who would bother to stare at the intricate woodwork on the desk: for why look at a desk when you could watch the Mayor, or stare in despair at the cold, black plastic of his monitor?
Maxim made it up to the office first, and took his place to the right of Antoine's (insanely expensive) desk chair. It had to be tall, or Antoine could never do that thing that villains do in the old movies and spin around so that people coming into the room couldn't see them. Of course, the office was hardly a place that oozed evil charm: Antoine just liked pretending in his big, big chair. While he took his time getting up here with that police officer, Maxim set out the papers that he had prepared earlier that week, took out a pen from the mug, and put it beside the papers.
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Post by Fabre d'Eglantine on Oct 2, 2008 21:09:24 GMT -5
Kyle entered the office after Maxim. He examined the whole thing, though he was lacking in interest. The office was an office. That's all it was to Kyle. A room with a desk, a chair, and paperwork. Ugh... He hated that sort of stuff. It annoyed him, just sitting around. Another room to clean. That's all he would see in an office. It had always been like that with him.
He stood still, not daring to sit himself down. He didn't feel like getting comfortable. Not yet at least. He just wanted to know what they wanted to talk with him about. Curious, and now that he knew, it bugged him. He knew the position of police chief was open, but that just seemed like a coincidence. He definitely wasn't the best officer. Not meant for that sort of promotion.
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Post by Maximilien Robespierre on Oct 2, 2008 23:23:49 GMT -5
Antoine entered behind the other two, shutting the door firmly behind him. He stood leaning against it as though anticipating some attempt at escape, a faintly pompous, vain watchdog. He clapped his hands. "Gilles-Gilles, viens, mon cher." A single fluffy white ear perked up out of the basket at the clap, followed by a bundle of nervous poodle bounding across the room to knock into Antoine's knees. Clucking his tongue, he bent down and scooped up the scrabbling, yipping dog. It quieted as he began scritching behind its ears.
"Do you like dogs, officer?" he asked conversationally, his voice forgetting to fall out of its French intonation. Biting his lip, he glanced at Maxim. How were they going to approach this? He had not bet on having to have a role in this conversation. It was the sort of thing that Maxim infinitely preferred to do on his own without Antoine to befuddle the other party with charm and charisma. Antoine smiled at the officer. Please don't be stubborn. "Do sit down."
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Post by Louis de Saint-Just on Oct 4, 2008 20:26:06 GMT -5
Maxim sensed very quickly that he was going to get no help from Antoine. He didn't even have to shoot him A Look (slightly narrowed eyes, a burning glare, the usual), and so he instead picked up the sheaf of papers from where he had placed them on the desk. "Yes, please, Monsieur Gertz, do have a seat."
He picked up the pen, and then moved to the other side of the desk, where he could face Kyle without a desk in between them. "I am sure that you know why exactly you are up here. As you know, Shawl has been without a Chief of Police for a little bit too long. We need someone who will watch over this city, and monitor those others who are also watching over it. See, we are starting to have a problem where those trying to uphold the law...are breaking the law while they are pretending to keep it in check. Those who are hunting down criminals are led by a man so corrupt that he can't even catch criminals anymore."
Here, Maxim paused so that he could clear his throat. Then, he picked up the sheaf of papers, and presented it to Kyle. "We only need you to sign a few papers, and you can be on your way to making this city better than it is right now. Your diligence and attention paid to your work has astounded us all, Officer Kyle Gertz. We would like for you to introduce that concept of diligence to all of your officers. There will be a few changes made to the system, like the number of hours that each officer has to put in, and the enforcement of bulletproof vests being worn at all times.”
Maxim flashed Kyle his most charming smile, and offered the pen along with the papers. “You can take as much time to read through these as you would like, Officer. We won’t be offended.”
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Post by Fabre d'Eglantine on Oct 5, 2008 1:06:47 GMT -5
Kyle watched Antoine and the dog. "Yes, I like dogs, and cats. Most animals really." He said with a nod, a small smile breaking his otherwise serious look. Happy dogs, something he loved to see. So many had he seen neglected, sad and scared. Abused. He was pleased to find the others with better luck. His attention returned to the conversation as he was asked to sit down, by both. The invitation to him seemed more like an order, just put in a polite and more calm way. Not just a suggestion. He complied, sitting himself down as he listened to Maxim.
He nodded. That was true, he knew things weren't quite what he would call right within the city's law enforcement. He looked at Maxim, glancing at Antoine for only a second. "That is a big promotion, and a risky move on your part.." He commented. He didn't explain, and didn't plan to. For all they knew, his hard work was just to cover up other things. It wasn't, but it was possible.
He took the papers and the pen, looking things over. "I'll still be doing what I have been." He said. "Same jobs... No matter what promotion you give." He mumbled, almost just to himself. He would make sure he got out often to do all the same things. Whether it was normal or not. He never had paid attention to his superiors, or who was until orders were being given. Being the stubborn man he was, and obsessive, he'd be sure to get it his way. He hesitated to accept it, wondering if he'd really be best for it.
After a few minutes of silent thinking, he decided it would be best. All he wanted was to make the city safer, and this could give him a chance at affecting the city more. He nodded, looking at both of them once more. "Alright... I suppose I could.." He hid the pleasure and joy under his calm voice. The look in his eyes gave it away, and the pleased smile that showed up was not helping him hide the pride and happiness this brought. He'd wanted a promotion, but hadn't expected such a big one.
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Post by Louis de Saint-Just on Oct 7, 2008 21:04:04 GMT -5
"Risky?" Maxim seemed surprised. "Whyever would it be a risky move? The people of Shawl adore you, Monsieur Gertz. Why, you are part of the reason that we have healthy, well-trained dogs on our teams. If it weren't for you, we would still be that tiny police department with mangy pups who can't respond to orders in any situation, let alone a hectic one where they have to think on their feet. And you are so diligent on the job, why, you never let anything around the police department go awry. So yes, you will be doing the same work, and yes, you will be paid more."
Maxim smiled, but didn't look away from Kyle. "It is wonderful that you accept this. We hope that with this change in place, the city of Shawl can be a safer, more well-connected, and cleaner city. Without criminals ravaging our precious streets, and with you helping to prevent said ravaging, it will take us significantly less time to reach our goals of a safer Shawl."
With Kyle at the head of the police department...well, at least it would have a leader once more, and it wouldn't be a slightly willy-nilly assortment of officers who didn't quite know what they were supposed to do. And judging from the look of pure joy in Kyle's eyes, Maxim thought that they had definitely made the right choice in choosing Kyle.
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Post by Fabre d'Eglantine on Oct 7, 2008 23:23:54 GMT -5
"More money..." Kyle muttered. He shook his head. "Money isn't the reason I do the job, that's for sure." He said. He looked back at the papers as he signed them. Luckily, for now it was just signatures and some reading. He hated the paperwork. It was necessary, but he still did not like it one bit. He returned his gaze to Maxim as he heard the man speak again. So much talking... So uncomfortable too. Say a wrong thing, and these men could fire him easier than they could promote him.
"I can assure you that the amount of crimes going unsolved, criminals unpunished, will be greatly decreased, and the amount of criminals themselves." Kyle said, sitting still, his voice still calm, despite the mixed feelings in him. "But it will never stop completely. No matter how hard anyone tries. We'll come close. It's possible to come very close. Never completely. It just isn't possible, and saying that it is will not change the fact. Though I am sure you both are well aware of that. You two aren't stupid. I know that for sure." He sighed lightly, letting his gaze wander around the office. Finally taking in the items and things n the room with a bit of interest. Or maybe just to hide his true emotions of worry, uncertainty.
"I do not make a point of hiding things." Well, here he was proving it he supposed. "Hiding that some things are happening. Hiding much of anything. Specifics, I understand why not to share that with the public." He hesitated, as if searching his words to find the right ones, though he really wasn't sure why. "Neglecting the responsibility to inform someone is almost like just telling them a lie. At least, to me." He was an honest man, telling the truth at almost all times, and he expected that from at least his fellow officers. Hardly ever happened though.
"I guess I can actually give orders and not have everyone complaining that I'm not really their boss, or any higher than them." He commented. "I swear, so many of them just hate having someone tell them what to do. It's like, they'll do it on their own if they thought of it, but you tell them to do it and no.. That just won't happen." He let out a faint and quiet, held back laugh, then fell serious again as well as silent.
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Post by Louis de Saint-Just on Oct 18, 2008 1:34:14 GMT -5
Gilles-Gilles yipped and ran around in Antoine's arms excitedly.
Maxim smiled. Yes we are about to close the deal, he thought. Gilles-Gilles was so very good at reading emotions. Kyle was talking again, and Maxim glanced back down at him, as he had taken up the delightful, albeit temporary pastime of leaning against the desk while still mostly standing. These shoes were not doing wonders for his feet, and they hadn't been for the entirety of the evening.
"Indeed. You can flash them your badge, and remind them that the Mayor handpicked you precisely because you did all of your work, and on time and all of that. And do not worry, because Monsieur de Ginvillione will be the one announcing your promotion, at a very small ceremony that will not take up too many of our city's precious resources, or too much of your officers' time. It is important that they not waste their time, because they must always be diligent in their duty in order to uphold the law."
Maxim nodded firmly at this last statement, because it was very much true: when people were allowed to step outside the law, even supernatural people, things did not go well for anyone around them. People could be gravely injured, killed even, if anyone were to break the law, and the law, the law, the law, the law, it was so very important. "We believe," Maxim said, hand poised at the top of the paper,and he took it away as soon as it was signed, "that you will be an excellent Chief. You will even be able to fire those who misbehave, or do not work as hard as they could, or any other manner of things that could go wrong. And you will be in charge of most of the detectives of this city. Not the private ones, I'm afraid, but the ones who are currently under the control of Basil Dixon."
He put the papers on the desk behind him, and smiled at Kyle. "The mayor," he said, looking pointedly at Antoine, "Thanks you for your commitment to this city. We are sure that it will be a time of prosperity and peace...all thanks to people like you."
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Post by Maximilien Robespierre on Oct 21, 2008 0:41:19 GMT -5
While Maxim was being official and officious, he set down Gilles-Gilles on the ground and kissed the top of his head. Silly dog. It probably just wanted to join the party. He gave it one last scratch behind the ears before straightening up. Antoine held out his hand the traditional gesture of American gratitude. They had not actually rehearsed this scene, which was fairly impressive considering how micromanaging Maxim tended to be. He put on his standard I-think-you-are-absolutely-charming smile, toning down the dazzle to a moderate glare. "It is good to know that someone so trustworthy and dependable is out on our streets, keeping Shawl's citizens safe, Monsieur Gertz."
He sighed. "It is a shame that you were not in charge during this horrible string of murders; I am sure you could have solved it." Maxim would be angry about that, but Maxim was generally angry about most things that Antoine did or said, and if Antoine could translate that anger into any other emotion, he called it a good day. "I have confidence that you will do your best, however, to ensure that we have seen the last of them." He added, "Do what you must." If that meant asking that Dixon be removed, both he and Maxim would be behind it. After all, strictly speaking, it was not entirely above board for a private institution to be managing so many of the city's cases."
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Post by Fabre d'Eglantine on Oct 24, 2008 18:25:09 GMT -5
Kyle nodded, listening to Maxim. He would do fine with the job, he knew it. It was the other officers he was worried about with anything. They were lacking in... Good officers, and it didn't seem that anyone willing to go above the standard expectations was going to show up any time soon. He looked at the dog, then glanced at the mayor.
"I can promise that I will do the most I can." He said. "Maybe manage more than I already have, but I can't say the same for the others." He shrugged, before standing. He cut his comment short there, not feeling like getting into it. He normally didn't talk much to people higher than him like that. He'd much rather go home, change, and go to work. He didn't have family at home, though sometimes he wished he had at least a pet if anything. It got a bit lonely on his days off, and sometimes work got too stressful. Even for the obsessive man.
"If that is all... I should get going." He said. Sure he had no real commitment to being anywhere, but saying that he he wanted to leave just didn't seem to be a good thing to say. He smiled at the two before moving towards the door.
"Wished I could have done something with those cases." He commented at the mention of the murders. "But in a way, I'm also glad that I wasn't involved in any of it."
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Post by Louis de Saint-Just on Oct 25, 2008 16:03:43 GMT -5
"Mm, yes, darn shame," Maxim said, carefully placing the papers onto Antoine's desk. "If only the head detective would pick up the slack that his junior detectives are so clearly...well, they obviously aren't up to par, are they? And if they aren't up to par, then there is something very clearly fishy going on in the upper offices. We would like to clear that up, and...perhaps put some power into different hands."
He looked up towards Kyle, and smiled. "So good that you agreed to this, Monsieur Gertz. Or, should I say, Chief Gertz? You can move your personal effects into your new office as soon as you'd like, and have any of the janitorial staff clean if up first. We'll have your nameplate printed up, and, of course, we'll remove any old nameplates that you would like to be removed. You may look through the records of all of the officers under your employ. Unfortunately, they are not in your office, but that of the 'Chief of Investigations', Mr. Dixon. You'll have to consult him if you wish to decide who to keep and who to replace."
Maxim gave Kyle a little wave. "We look forward to several years of prosperity and law-abiding citizens with you at the head of our police department, Monsieur Gertz. Have a nice day."
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