Bubbling to the Surface
Like a Tornado
From Blood to Dust
VIDIA
The alarm blared and Vidia for once in her life had stayed completely still as she stared at the dust in her hands.
She destroyed the crown.
It didn't make sense.
It wasn't that old. The case wasn't pressurized. Why was this happening?
Vidia's ears were ringing as blood from her hand and where she had punched through the glass dropped in an unknown pattern.
She didn't even hear the sirens.
She didn't hear the door slam open.
Vidia didn't run.
MAXIMUS
It was Maximus’s turn to work the late shift, although those were usually quiet in Swynlake. Unless some magical disaster happened, the city tended to roll up the sidewalks which meant there wasn’t a lot to attract the criminal element. He didn’t mind, as it usually served as time to go over the information for ongoing cases in between patrols.
Until the alarm went off for Town Hall.
Within moments, he and the officer that was working the shift with him were up from their desks and into the waiting patrol car, sirens on for safety as they raced down the street and to the steps of Town Hall.
When they raced inside, Maximus could see a single woman standing there frozen, along with the glints of shattered glass on the ground.
“Police. Don’t move.”
VIDIA
Vidia didn't move. Not because she was demanded not to but because the crown was now dust in her hands.
How did that happen?
Why did that happen?
It had to be the humans fault.
Fairies crafted Items that would never crumble like that. But even that thought process didn't make her feel better that she may have destroyed a priceless Artifact.
The only motion in the room was the dust falling. The blood dripping from her hand.
MAXIMUS
Maximus cautiously approached the still woman, quickly taking in the scene in front of him. He knew the officer with him would have already taken pictures of the scene for reference since there didn’t seem to be any immediate danger, and they would take more when they were able to return to properly investigate and clean the scene.
For now, the story told was obvious. The case for the Fairy Crown was smashed. The woman standing there had blood on her hand from the glass of the case. The crown was gone.
“Ma’am, I am placing you under arrest for breaking and entering and for destruction of public property. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention something you later rely on in court.” The rote phrase slipped out of his lips as he approached her with the handcuffs that he’d pulled off of his belt.
When she didn’t make any sign of running, he quickly handcuffed her. They’d have to deal with the cut as soon as they got back to the station, but as it wasn’t life threatening, he wanted her out of there first.
VIDIA
Vidia’s first reaction was to pull back. To not let the cuffs go around her wrists but he already had a good grip on her.
She could have used her magic. She could have him blown away. But that would make this worse.
She wasn't violent.
Even if the display here didn't prove that.
“I didn't take the crown. It just turned to dust. It shouldn't have done that.”
MAXIMUS
Internally, he raised an eyebrow. He found that hard to believe. That was supposed to be a gift from the fairies, and there was nothing in there that should have dissolved that quickly.
But that was only one detail among many.
After all, whether or not she currently had the crown didn’t change the fact that she had clearly been intending to take the crown, as evidenced by everything else on the scene. It didn’t change her other charges regardless. Theft was only one part.
“When we’re back at the station, you can tell me exactly what happened.”
Taking her elbow with a firm grip, he started to walk with her back towards the car.
VIDIA
Vidia Cursed mentally. She should know more about police matters. What to say. What not to say.
Did She call Clarion?
Did she call Tofi?
What did she do?
As Vidia frantically worked all this in her Head James could be seen running to townhall. Stopping short as he saw the flashing lights and the fairy in handcuffs.
“Fuck.” Glancing at town hall and the police officers, James pulled out his own phone. He'd get some records and information before pulling Clarion in.
The RAS didn't need to interfere if this was just Vidia acting brash but brash and as impulsive as she was she did deserve proper representation.
Put into the car Vidia let out a small Huff her magic blowing her hair away from her face.
First thing first.
Dont get in more trouble by talking.
MAXIMUS
It was a short ride back to the station before Maximus was helping her out of the car and inside. He walked past the initial desks and straight into the interview room with her.
He hadn’t used the magic suppression handcuffs on her as he hadn’t thought of it in the moment, although with the better light he was questioning if he should have. But she hadn’t done anything stupid since he’d arrived hopefully she would keep it that way.
As they’d walked past, he’d given a nod to the officer who had peeled off to grab the first aid kit and call the paramedics to take a look at her before handing him the kit.
Entering the room, he let go of her elbow and took the kit, walking over to start the tape recorder before he said anything else. He set the first aid kit down on the table and let her choose which seat she would prefer.
“Interview begun at 11:30 pm on March 12, 2024 Deputy Sheriff Maximus Keaton is here. Please state your name for the record.”
VIDIA
It was weird, he was weird. Letting her choose a seat. A trick. Something to get her guard down. Like he wasn’t out to get her.
Vidia didn’t like it.
She didn’t know what to expect.
And she really liked knowing what to expect.
Staring at the tape recorder, then the first aid kit and then him as he spoke.
She didn’t trust him.
“Vidia Windwhistler.”
MAXIMUS
Her silent hostility didn’t bother him in the slightest. He was used to the distrust people held for the police, and as a fairy, that was likely to be even worse. In some corner of him he sympathized.
But not enough to change what was happening here. Whatever she thought of herself, she had been caught in the act of breaking into a public building, destroying property, and interfering with something that was considered a town treasure. Fairy or not, there were laws she needed to respect.
His tone stayed even and careful. “How do you prefer to be addressed Ms. Windwhistler? Do I have permission to perform some basic first aid until the paramedics arrive?”
VIDIA
“The paramedics don’t need to be called.” Honestly Vidia was relying a little bit on the pain to ground herself. It stopped her from going into her head. Lost in the thoughts that would and could strangle her.
She should have just run.
“Vidia is fine too.”
MAXIMUS
“Vidia, do you realize that you are bleeding? We will need to make sure that there isn’t any glass in your wounds.”
He kept his voice steady, not sure what degree of shock she was in. He couldn’t interrogate her about what happened until she was stable, or until she formally refused medical care on record.
He didn’t see the point in mentioning that the paramedics had already been called and were likely on their way there. She could argue with them when they arrived, as that wasn’t his problem. His problem was to respond to the emergency using his best judgment.
VIDIA
Vidia leveled her gaze at the deputy. No shit she knew that she was bleeding. But why would she accept help from someone who just wanted the worse from her.
“It's a biohazard Or something?” Vidia questioned though her voice lacked the usual bite it would have.
“Fine. Whatever.”
MAXIMUS
Technically yes and no in response to her question. If it was human blood, it was absolutely a biohazard. Fairy blood was something more complicated than that, and he knew how desirable some people had found it. He’d been involved once in arresting a black market dealer in fairy blood when he’d been relatively new to the Force, and what he’d seen in that place still lived in his memory - including how his fellow officers had reacted.
So. He would treat it like a biohazard and clean this room thoroughly, and make sure that everything else her blood had touched was cleaned just as thoroughly. Better to think of it as a biohazard.
He didn’t respond to the question as he saw the paramedic through the window of the door and he waved them in.
Maximus took a moment to relate what he had seen and the potential concerns, and the cheerful medic quickly cleaned Vidia’s hand and ensured there wasn’t any class still inside. Once she was bandaged, the paramedic nodded to Maximus and stepped out again, presumably to talk to the officer who was still out there.
“Now. Will you tell me what happened this evening?”
VIDIA
The man moved carefully. With purpose. Every movement he made. Every Movement the paramedics made she eyed carefully.
As if they would lunge at her. Dragging her into some black hole that she would never be able to escape.
But as soon as that process started. It had ended.
Would she?
Should she?
“No. I'd like to call a lawyer instead.”
MAXIMUS
Maximus bit back a sigh. He’d hoped that she would make this easy, simply confess and they could move on with their night as he started to move through all the steps that came next. But nothing in this town was ever that easy.
Although this case was pretty cut and dried, and they would have all the forensic evidence they needed. But he preferred to have everything as neat as possible.
“Very well. I’ll walk you to the phone so you can make your call. Interview terminated at 11:47 pm.”
He stood up and stood at the door, holding it open for her so she could choose to walk through.
VIDIA
Vidia had two options. Clarion who probably had a lot of say but there was part of her that thought Clarion would leave her to rot. The Queen had told her to leave it and yet Vidia couldn’t.
Even if the plan hadn’t been all of this.
The other option was more likely. Someone that would actually help her spin a tale.
Making the phone call, Vidia was careful as she spoke as she was advised.
She wouldn’t speak anymore, not until someone else that knew the system could intervene.
Vidia was in the right and honestly, considering the fairy crown was so obviously fake. The whole town could get fucked.
MAXIMUS
As Vidia made her call, Maximus stood nearby, making sure he was in between her and the door. He didn’t listen beyond first identifying that it wasn’t Belle she was speaking to. He didn’t know enough of the lawyers in town yet to recognize who else it might be.
He’d know them all before long, he was sure.
Whatever she thought, she had broken the law today and she would be answerable for that fact.
As soon as she was done, he walked her back to the cell and locked her inside. She could make herself comfortable in there until the lawyer came, and then they would finish this conversation. For now, he had paperwork to fill out and clean up to organize.
