Bow Street Lies

[Emmeline Denford]

In the grand scheme of things, planning the down fall of a respectable organization took care, and planning. Emmeline had none of this, but she did have determination. And perhaps that was worth more then having a plan. It would of course not replace care, but she had lost everything when her brother died. To hell with care.

It was on a rainy morning, before the sun was fully even up, that the plan began to take shape. On her third day working for Sir Throne, the magistrate over the bow street runners, that she finally met the man whom she needed to learn the most about. Though she wouldn't know it at first.

She had the local papers that covered the crimes for the bow street runners, and one of them belong to Mr. Huntington. One of them belong to the man who had arrested her brother, and thus had killed him--a child. Reaching down she looked over the name of the man she never met before. He might not know it yet, but he was about to meet his downfall.

^{Ezra Huntington}

[Ezra Huntington]

Tag: Emmeline Denford

you can run

BUT YOU'LL DIE TIRED

Ezra often only slept the bare minimum, requiring at most 5 hours of sleep. Fortunately, in his line of work nights required him to be active and for this, he held no complaints. He was arriving at work a tad bit earlier than usual as he had a meeting with Magistrate Robert Thorne to review recent days and the closing of a case that required concluding paperwork. Huntington was doing such more and more with Thorne, with the understanding that one day, he would take the man's place. Ezra just hoped it was not too soon for sitting within the building and having to take reports was certainly not within his preference.

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Once he entered however, he saw a young woman there . . . seemingly waiting for something. Or someone. She had something in her hand which Ezra could only presume was the latest copy of their newspaper article. But nothing explained her presence. "What are you doing here?" He immediately questioned, not bothering with pleasantries as he was direct and to the point. If she was waiting for something, she could wait somewhere else. And if she was here to make a report . . . Ezra certainly wasn't going to offer himself to take it.

[Emmeline Denford]

Looking up quickly from the villain's name,s he came face to face with a man. Emmeline was quit for a moment from the surprise of being spoken to so coursely, but she knew she'd better get used to it. A woman in a man's field better get used too. "I work here," she offered with a dry tone, refusing to raise to the bait. Nor did she offer to explain to him in what manner she worked here.

In truth, she doubted even Sir Throne knew how to best use her. The fact that she convinced him he needed her to manage things into running more smoothly, and keeping the building clean, was a small act of fate. Currently, she was managing the workers int he building that worked to keep it clean (both the offices, and holding cells, and sort term lodging), as well as making sure the small kitchen and medical area were stocked. She was also now (with out asking) handing out the reports to the bow street runners. She was quickly making her self invaluable and getting closer to her goal.

"I should assume you are a runner?" She asked, eyes taking in his form and then quickly back to his face. Alright, he wasn't as brutish formed as his tone. Still, runners were all brutes.

Ezra Huntington

[Ezra Huntington]

Tag: Emmeline Denford

you can run

BUT YOU'LL DIE TIRED

The confidence in which she stated that she worked here, led him to believe that this was of the magistrate's doing. The only one who ultimately had the authority to hire another. Usually it was more runners but now . . . it was a woman. "That remains to be seen," he said bluntly, when she spoke of working. If she was just hired to stand there and look pretty well then, perhaps that was all the work she was good for. What exactly did she even do here?

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He did not yet ask, knowing it would indicate he was actually interested in her duties. So long as they -- and she -- did not get in his way, then the magistrate could do whatever he wished with this new addition to the headquarters. Going over to the desk, brushing past her, he reached for one of the reports that was sitting there as she spoke of him being a runner. "Are you asking me or making a statement?" He bluntly inquired, eyes skimming over the article. "You can go," he said dismissively, not considering the fact that she may be here for the same reason he was: to meet the Magistrate.

[Emmeline Denford]

That arrogant son of--! Emmeline was not about to let his audacity make her anger show. She knew they were brutes and course men who cared nothing for people they were supposed to help. They saw only the coin. Or the fame. They were not good men--they were manipulators.

Reaching for the article he had in his hands she swiftly pulled it from his fingers with a strong tug. Surprise might have been the the only reason she got away with it. "I am not yours to dismiss. I work for Sir Throne--not you." She gathered up all the articles and then, squared her shoulders to look back at him. He was closer now, and taller, but she knew to do this she could not be spinless.

"The daily crime reports are for runners only." He had made fun of the way she asked him if he was a runner, "I was asking if you were a runner. You did not answer me." On purpose.

Ezra Huntington

[Ezra Huntington]

Tag: Emmeline Denford

you can run

BUT YOU'LL DIE TIRED

Indeed, he did not expect her to take it from his hands so when she did, it slipped right through his fingers. As if he was not already annoyed by her presence, he was even more so now for interfering with his reading. "He is not present at this time, so you have no work here then." His words spoken as if this should be the most obvious thing. But then, she indicated that the crime reports were for runners only. What a nuisance. Where he has been in this position for years, would become the magistrate one day and held experience . . . he now had to explain himself to this, woman?

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"Is that what you are then?" He asked without even wanting an answer, for the question was meant to be rhetorical and unanswered. "Either that, or a hypocrite." Considering she was reading the reports yet she herself was not a runner. How dare she question him when he most certainly was here longer than her. Far longer. And yet now she practically demanded to know his position and withheld the article from him. He took a step towards her, intending to take it back, whether she was willing to relinquish it or not.

[Emmeline Denford]

Do not step back! DO. NOT. STEP. BACK! He moved closer, and she tilted her face in order to keep making eye contact with him. She'd learned in her time as a house keeper to her aunt that if one stepped back it was a sign of submission or fear. She would admit to nether. Even if she felt the later.

"The acceptation." She countered, keeping her voice calmer then she felt. The acceptation to the only for runners rule. She could see them as she helped dispense them, thus saving Sir Throne time. He liked saving time, and thus was hesitant but willing to give it a try. Emmeline assumed he thought she would be startled and run away--and she might have, had she not been so determined.

While anyone could walk into this part of the office, she had strict orders that the papers would tell the bow runners where they were needed, and they didn't want people knowing what they were investigating. So she wasn't handing them over to him yet.

Ezra Huntington

[Ezra Huntington]

Tag: Emmeline Denford

you can run

BUT YOU'LL DIE TIRED

"The exception." she seemed to label herself as. "How convenient," he commented, unimpressed, unmoved. Remaining firmly planted in place his eyes continued to lock onto the young woman who was far too bold for her own good. Letting the moment linger, he suddenly jerked his hand forward to grab the papers from her grasp. Papers that she should not have in the first place.

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"Go home," he told her dismissively and he started to walk around her towards the desk. "Someone will send for you when the magistrate comes, if your position here is truly that important." Besides, Ezra wanted to have a discussion with his superior regarding her position . . . not that he was holding back in front of her nor would his words change out of politeness with her presence.

[Emmeline Denford]

He--HE--OH DARE HE! Emmeline's lips parted and hung open in surprise that his tall brute had just snatched papers from her fingers as if he was a child and she held his toy!! "Sir!" She chided him! "Give them back! These papers of for runners only--not common brutes!"

"Sir Throne is the only one who can give me orders, so unless you had bewitched yourself into becoming him--which by your manners you have NOT, then give me back my papers so I might do the job that he has instructed me to do while he is away! And then you, sir, can kindly take yourself to him to make your complaints!" Because she was not going to follow his orders and leave when she had worked so hard at making Sir Throne see how valuable she was! She was saving him so much time and energy that she believed that Mr. Grumpy Trousers could not sway Sir Throne into getting rid of her!

Reaching out she held her hand out and waited, while not looking away from his face. Weakness was not something she could afford right now, even if he made her want to hide under a desk. She had to stand her ground here. This only proved how brutish men here were.

Ezra Huntington

[Ezra Huntington]

Tag: Emmeline Denford

you can run

BUT YOU'LL DIE TIRED

He was unapologetic for snatching the papers from her hands, despite how rude it could quite accurately be deemed as. His patience for her was wearing thin. "Indeed, Runners only," he emphasized. Of which, she was not. While her words held that that the Magistrate was the one with ultimate authority, Hunt took his position here rather seriously. The responsibility of being the ultimate authority among the Bow Street Runners would soon fall upon Ezra, and he did not take this lightly.

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"And what precisely is it that he has instructed you to do?" Ezra questioned, looking at her, unimpressed. He would most certainly lodge several complaints regarding her to the Magistrate, but the elder man surely knew Hunt well enough that he would not take too kindly to her. He already objected to conducting his investigations with a partner to begin with, yet his senior position here and his skill in this occupation, did not leave him with that choice. He expectantly awaited her answer, and as if to further spite her when she held out her hand with her own expectation that he would return the papers, he instead opened them, and began to skim over the written text, completely ignoring her actions yet waiting for her response to his question.

[Emmeline Denford]

This was the rudest man she had ever met! How dare he ignore her hand and just read the text! She had been give the important job and she was NOT going to let so over tall brute bumble it up! Reaching forward with her hands she snatched what she could back from him! NOW he had her acting like a child too!

"I will have you know that I will let Sir Throne know about your rude, and mean behavior toward a member of his employ! I do not report to you sir! What I am assigned to do it between the magistrate and myself!" One would think he would understand how things work. "Now, if you do not have business here--begone! Or I will summon a runner to send you on your way!"

With that she reached forward to try to grab the rest of the papers, and then turned to put them in a drawer so he could not get any more of them.

Ezra Huntington

[Ezra Huntington]

Tag: Emmeline Denford

you can run

BUT YOU'LL DIE TIRED

If Ezra was one who frequently smiled, he would have done so now. But instead, he remained stoic and unafraid of her threats . . . considering who he was. In fact, he considered it an upper hand that she did not know who he was. And thus, made threats of reporting him to the Magistrate, and summoning a Bow Street Runner. To add to it all, she snatched the papers back from him when he was mid sentence -- the words far more difficult to concentrate on her with incessant threats ringing in the air -- but this time, stuffed them into a drawer.

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Giving her a stern look he lowered his hands to his side, eyes on her and the audacity in which she interacted with him. "Summon a Runner then," he said, challenge in his voice, for while his tone was leveled, there was an underlying tone in it, just daring her to do so. He anticipated it would result in either her doing so and being able to cause her embarrassment once his identity was revealed. Or it would result in her being all talk. He knew which he preferred. "Unless of course you are merely filled with empty threats." Let her try to intimidate him. Let her try to come into his workplace, and make demands upon him; spouting orders to him as if he was obligated to comply.

[Emmeline Denford]

He told her to summon the runners, and she striaghtened her spike. "I will do just that!" Turning she reached for a rope pull (one that would ring a bell in another room) to summon Vickery. Turning back to the arrogant beast of a man, Emmeline folded her arms over her chest and waited for the other to come. For once she said nothing, decide that she would not waste her time on him! He clearly thought that because she was a woman, he could walk all over her! Well! Ready or not he was going to learn that she would not be put off.

He had told her she had empty threats, but he would see! She was not going to let him bully her into not doing her job exactly as it was given to her. Shortly the young man came in. "Mr. Vickery, will you please escort this man out of the offices?" She demand, waiting for him to do so.

Ezra Huntington

[Ezra Huntington]

Tag: Emmeline Denford
Note: I modded Vickery but if you had something else in mind, let me know and I can edit!

you can run

BUT YOU'LL DIE TIRED

Ordinarily Ezra would not entertain such a thing. He would have long since gone and yet, this woman was in his way, in every sense of the word. So he wanted to watch her embarrass herself as she rung the bell to summon a runner. When one walked in, she gave order to dismiss him out of the offices and Vickery just looked between Ezra and Emmeline, clearly conflicted on what to do in this moment. Huntington stood quietly, silently, as if daring him to do what she instructed. Ezra had to admit . . . the woman was bold to take such liberties in her first day here. Despite her not knowing who he was, and despite the fact that it was irritating to Hunt.

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"Sir?" He asked as if awaiting orders. Oh this was too good. She thought she could arrogantly come in here and assert some sort of authority over him. He would make this mentality crumble quite rapidly for he refused to be challenged by her again. "I am Mister Hunt, magistrate in training," he finally introduced to the woman, his tone not holding any of the amusement that he felt. "And you Miss, have overstepped your position here." That, being more in tune to his thoughts as he slightly jerked his head to the side to dismiss Vickery from the room. And with any luck, the woman would be embarrassed enough to leave as well.

[Emmeline Denford]

He was--He said--he was--fickle sticks!

Emmeline could only stare at him with both her eyes and her mouth wide open, as red heat (from embarrassment or anger) pooled in her cheeks. OH! THIS WAS GRAND! This brute could have easily just introduced himself, but instead bullied her into his position! Stepping around the easy introduction of himself that could have cleared up all this! Part of her--the larger part of her--wanted to slap him. Wanted to reach out and do violence to this bear of a human. No wonder these runners were so untrustworthy. No wonder people like her brother ended up jailed for so little of a crime. If the runners were these types of men--then she could see why she needed to stop them. Discredit them. Play nice. Win them over. Get the proof. Bring them down.

Yet her brother's face stayed in her mind. It was what pulled her lips closed and made her take a deep breath. This man would need to be her first target. If he was going to take over the runners, then she needed to make sure she knew enough about him to assure she could prove how he was. Which was why she did not slap him. Instead she took a deep breath and spoke, "Was it embarrassment from your manners that kept you from easily clearing up this, or your arrogance?" She questioned, in what might have been the most articulate sentence she ever spoke. Play nice. Win them over. Get the proof. Bring them down.

"Perhaps you need more training," She quibbed out. Play nice. Win them over. Get the proof. Bring them down. Play nice. Win them over. Get the proof. Bring them down. PLAY NICE. "Would you like your copy of the hue and cry?" She said with fake sweetness, as if this last bit had not happened.

Ezra Huntington