Thread: Georgian Wildlife -- TWD [Traveler & Virginia]

When the commotion started, it was hard not to notice it. The loud voices sort of made it hard to ignore, and while she did try her best because until they asked for her it wasn't really any of her business, Joyce still looked up from her laptop when they walked past her door. She wasn't entirely sure, but it had sounded like somebody was in pain a few seconds before, which was enough to set her a little bit on edge but not quite enough to have her leaving her seat to investigate immediately. Then one of the police officers was talking, and her fingers stopped typing entirely as she strained to listen. The things being said weren't ones that she liked. It sounded a whole lot like they were making plans that weren't this side of legal. Not even this side of moral, as far as she was concerned. The state of the handcuffed man's face when they passed was more than enough reason, combined with what she'd heard before, to push the lawyer into action. Once the group had passed her she stood up, pushed in her chair, and followed after, moving quietly so as not to disrupt anything that was happening. This wasn't her issue yet, and if anything happened she would be getting in the way more than she'd be helping. She had gotten some basic advice and training in interacting with perpetrators, but a pretty solid amount of it had involved 'make sure there's an officer with you'. For a good reason, Joyce supposed. There was really no reason for her to be with a potential defendant at all, not unless there was a defense attorney present or he waived the right to counsel. But still, this seemed like the kind of thing to keep an eye on. Joyce didn't want to say that she didn't necessarily trust the small town officers but... well, she wasn't going to not think it a little bit. Her reasonably heeled black shoes made soft clicks against the tile of the police station floor, but she left enough distance and they were distracted enough that it didn't seem like they noticed her tagging along behind. When they reached the holding cells she stopped a ways away, intent on just observing. She missed the actual shove into the cell, but saw the man on the ground, which was... not a great sign, honestly. The punch startled her enough that she had a physical response in the form of a start, a little gasp, and a Jesus Christ. . This was a nuts. Was this what the station was like on a regular basis? She was going to leave the officer alone, she had no use just standing around. But then there was the threat of the gun being pulled out, and she couldn't turn away, even though she definitely should have been going to get some kind of help for the unconscious man. This was not an appropriate reaction, and she absolutely did not approve. It wasn't like she could really boss them around, but she had learned young how to throw her weight around and she was pretty willing to do that now. You know what I admire about law enforcement? Her tone was even and pretty unemotional, at best a distant friendliness as she crossed the room to join the two officers, that they promise to hold themselves and others to a higher standard of behavior. To be able to put their biases and personal fights aside in order uphold an unwavering moral code to protect and serve everyone fairly and equally. I don't think I have the appropriate amount of restraint and empathy for the job. She smiled then, but it was didn't reach her eyes, I would love to know what's going on. Dark eyes moved from the officer and sheriff to the man with the busted face patiently, expectantly. It was the inquiry of someone who seemed to have a pretty good idea of what was going on, but was trying to decide how she ought to respond to it, and Joyce did nothing to hide that fact. Her outfit was still nearly as perfect as it had been when she'd put it on that morning, skirt and blazer neat and mostly wrinkle free. Not a single hair was loose from the tight bun that wrangled in her black hair, and it all lent itself to the image of control and professionalism that she actually worked carefully to craft and maintain. It didn't matter that she was basically in the middle of nowhere, Joyce had no intention of changing the way she did things. If anything it might be more required until she settled in and got a feel for everyone and everything that made this department unique. And it did seem to be unique, just... not in a positive way. Part of her brain was already running this whole thing over. She'd seen the man assault a police officer, that wasn't something that could just be brushed under the rug. He was very clearly violent and unsafe for people to be around. She wouldn't go into that cell with him if offered the best position in the best district in Georgia. On the other hand, she was entirely sure that the officers weren't acting in any sort of professional manner, and that mattered. Police brutality mattered, and the difference between someone striking out due to anger was vastly different from the occasional real need to protect oneself. She had the ability to make it matter if they thought it didn't. Wasn't like they could do anything to get rid of her except be a pain in the ass, and it looked like that was going to be the general state of affairs anyway. I am reading the hell out of stuff on prosecutors so I cam give more than silly Law Order things. Research is fun I edited because I realized I missed the part where the guy passed out.