Twenty-First Patrol
Coppers aren't religious people by nature. Spend enough time on the streets and you'll lose your faith in people, never mind faith in things you can't even see. Suppose it's the cynical nature most carry with them, that we're disinclined to believe in any sort of higher power.
But by gods, if there was ever a time to wish that I did have faith in some other-worldly being, now would be the time.
...Who's that goddess that that bloody postmaster's always going on about?
Oh, right. Anoia. Goddess of lost causes. Forgot her for a minute. What I wouldn't give for her help now.
Is there a god for watchmen? There's one for every other hope and profession in this whole damned place. Doctors and seamstresses and kings and women in childbirth and all other random assortments of things deities supposedly care enough about to look after. Suppose policemen and guards are more or less considered disposable, not flashy enough to warrant the attention of any higher power.
If there is one out there - and I'm not saying there is, but there's always that million-to-one chance - then I'd be asking him to watch over my men.
And, being a cynical bastard, he'd go, "What for?", to which I'd reply "So that they wouldn't stray from justice, would learn to tell the difference between right and easy, and make that choice, and gods-willing protect them from harm."
Because we all need someone watching our backs for us. And these men, every one of them young and old and both at once, they're doing the job they didn't have to do. And they're doing it anyway, and my god please keep them safe, so they can keep the rest of the public safe.
I'll be watching over them. I just hope for damned certain someone up there's thinking to watch out for me. Otherwise this'll be the shortest Warden term to date.
Someone needs to get in here and take this bloody swamp dragon off my hands.
[Police Force Filter//Copied to a second channel made viewable to Ryuzaki//Viewable to Harry Dresden]
Suppose you'll all hear this eventually. Co-Warden Charming's decided for some bloody reason that there ought to be an inaugural ball of some sort this Saturday, so I trust most, if not all of you'll be in attendance. If he's getting me to go I'm taking all of you poor sods with me.
After that nonsense's done with, we'll be putting our heads together to establish a body of law that'll be acceptable to this City and at least get us some damned legitimacy, making it legal for you to arrest criminals.
I know that most of you are coming from various bodies of experience and have years of policing and military field work under your belts, but I'm going to pass this around anyway, as a casual reminder of what is and isn't appropriate in the City watch;
-No bribes Can't stress it enough. If someone's gone and decided out of the goodness of their hearts to bestow upon you as much beer and doughnuts and cigarettes as you can handle, then it's up to you whether or not to accept it. But under no circumstances let this influence your decision-making capabilities. I've talked to most, if not all of you at least once and I know I'm not employing stupid people. You've got brains. Use 'em.
-New equipment We're in the process of squaring out a deal with the deities over budget issues. Should all things go according to plan, we'll be seeing a few new shipments of things coming in over the next few days. Some of you already have your own weapons and armor; if that's the case, use what you're most familiar with. For those that don't, let me know and we'll sort something out with Harry Dresden, he's got a few ideas of his own. Weapons of unnecessary cruelty such as blackjacks and brass knuckles aren't to be used, but for gods' sake, if your life's in danger, use what you can to live to see another day.
-Your job is to protect the peace That's it. Protecting the peace is what coppers do. I don't want you to be loyal to me, loyal to Light, or loyal to Prince Charming. If you are, all the better, but I hope I don't need to tell you that this office of Warden isn't worth the dirt on the bottom of my boots. We're all in this to protect the people, not play some elaborate politicking system of different sides while the rest of the city goes unprotected.
That's it for right now. I'll be in my office until my patrol comes up if you've got questions.
[ooc: Strikes are so deleted. Also, if you're part of the police force and haven't yet filled this out, please do so if you get a chance? ^^ Thanks again, it'll help to keep things a tiny more bit organized]
But by gods, if there was ever a time to wish that I did have faith in some other-worldly being, now would be the time.
...Who's that goddess that that bloody postmaster's always going on about?
Oh, right. Anoia. Goddess of lost causes. Forgot her for a minute. What I wouldn't give for her help now.
Is there a god for watchmen? There's one for every other hope and profession in this whole damned place. Doctors and seamstresses and kings and women in childbirth and all other random assortments of things deities supposedly care enough about to look after. Suppose policemen and guards are more or less considered disposable, not flashy enough to warrant the attention of any higher power.
If there is one out there - and I'm not saying there is, but there's always that million-to-one chance - then I'd be asking him to watch over my men.
And, being a cynical bastard, he'd go, "What for?", to which I'd reply "So that they wouldn't stray from justice, would learn to tell the difference between right and easy, and make that choice, and gods-willing protect them from harm."
Because we all need someone watching our backs for us. And these men, every one of them young and old and both at once, they're doing the job they didn't have to do. And they're doing it anyway, and my god please keep them safe, so they can keep the rest of the public safe.
I'll be watching over them. I just hope for damned certain someone up there's thinking to watch out for me. Otherwise this'll be the shortest Warden term to date.
Someone needs to get in here and take this bloody swamp dragon off my hands.
[Police Force Filter//Copied to a second channel made viewable to Ryuzaki//Viewable to Harry Dresden]
Suppose you'll all hear this eventually. Co-Warden Charming's decided for some bloody reason that there ought to be an inaugural ball of some sort this Saturday, so I trust most, if not all of you'll be in attendance. If he's getting me to go I'm taking all of you poor sods with me.
After that nonsense's done with, we'll be putting our heads together to establish a body of law that'll be acceptable to this City and at least get us some damned legitimacy, making it legal for you to arrest criminals.
I know that most of you are coming from various bodies of experience and have years of policing and military field work under your belts, but I'm going to pass this around anyway, as a casual reminder of what is and isn't appropriate in the City watch;
-No bribes Can't stress it enough. If someone's gone and decided out of the goodness of their hearts to bestow upon you as much beer and doughnuts and cigarettes as you can handle, then it's up to you whether or not to accept it. But under no circumstances let this influence your decision-making capabilities. I've talked to most, if not all of you at least once and I know I'm not employing stupid people. You've got brains. Use 'em.
-New equipment We're in the process of squaring out a deal with the deities over budget issues. Should all things go according to plan, we'll be seeing a few new shipments of things coming in over the next few days. Some of you already have your own weapons and armor; if that's the case, use what you're most familiar with. For those that don't, let me know and we'll sort something out with Harry Dresden, he's got a few ideas of his own. Weapons of unnecessary cruelty such as blackjacks and brass knuckles aren't to be used, but for gods' sake, if your life's in danger, use what you can to live to see another day.
-Your job is to protect the peace That's it. Protecting the peace is what coppers do. I don't want you to be loyal to me, loyal to Light, or loyal to Prince Charming. If you are, all the better, but I hope I don't need to tell you that this office of Warden isn't worth the dirt on the bottom of my boots. We're all in this to protect the people, not play some elaborate politicking system of different sides while the rest of the city goes unprotected.
That's it for right now. I'll be in my office until my patrol comes up if you've got questions.
[ooc: Strikes are so deleted. Also, if you're part of the police force and haven't yet filled this out, please do so if you get a chance? ^^ Thanks again, it'll help to keep things a tiny more bit organized]