Work Text:
In the matter of Diona Kätzlein a child under the age of 18 years
The Knights of Favonius
Investigator: Outrider Amber
Name of child: Diona Kätzlein
Birth date: 18 January
Age: 8
Sex: F
Residence: Springvale, Hanselwanderstraße 2
Parent 1: Draff Kätzlein
Residence: Springvale, Hanselwanderstraße 2
Parent 2: Freida Kätzlein (deceased)
Residence; N/A
Custody situation: Draff has full custody of Diona after the loss of his wife.
Records show that the child is employed.
Employer: Margret Franke, owner of the Cat's Tail.
…
Amber shut the file she was working on and stood up. First thing she had to do was interview the employer and coworkers. She prepared a bag with her notebook, utensils, a few other necessities for such an investigation.
She left the knights HQ and made her way to the Cat's Tail. Amber knew it was next to Good Hunter, she ate there often enough. But she had rarely gone into the bar until a card game came out, and even then she wasn't there too often unless invited to play cards with someone.
It was a nice establishment… however she wasn't sure if a child should be mixing alcoholic drinks in a bar. If it was a café it might have been better. Until she had more information she had to be patient.
"Margaret." Amber said.
"I'm sorry. I'm not working right now. You'll have to ask the wait staff."
"I actually have questions for you regarding Diona, if you have time." Amber said.
Margaret sighed. "Then this is official knights business?"
"Yes, ma'am." Amber replied.
"Alright then. I have a private room we can talk in." Margaret said. "Come this way." Amber followed Margaret to a small room with a large table, "Can I get you anything?" Margaret asked as she held the door open.
"Oh. I don't really care for alcohol." Amber replied. "And most definitely not when I'm working."
"I'll put an order in for some snacks and juice. On me." She ran out leaving Amber in the room. Amber examined the room. The walls had paintings of cats. The largest one depicted several cats making odd faces, a small signature in the corner. Crepus.
The furniture was almost all cat themed. A chair with cat ears, a coffee table, and a couch. She sat down on the couch and sank into the seat. She pulled her notebook and pens out in preparation for her investigation.
She was there for a while before Margaret returned. "One of the waiters will bring it shortly."
"Thank you. I won't take up much of your time."
"Take all the time you need." Margaret sat down by Amber. "This is important work."
Either she wanted to get out of doing work, or she had important information… potentially both.
"How long has Diona been working for you?" Amber asked.
"A few months."
"How often?"
"I try to schedule her as many days as possible… I can make sure she gets at least one hot meal in her."
"What makes you say that?"
"She approached me a couple of months ago, asking for a job. Her clothes were very tattered and old- I bought her the uniform she wears now- but she was so skinny. I don't think she gets to eat much."
"How many hours is she actually working here?"
"Only two or three a day. Then I usually convince her to sit down and eat, and she can do homework. She insists upon doing actual work. And I don't care much for the teasing she gets from customers."
Amber scribbled notes down, "Why haven't you reported this?"
"I wasn't certain. I don't live anywhere near Springvale so I couldn't be sure. I tried asking around plenty of times. But it's hard to do and not arouse suspicion." Margaret shrugged. "I didn't want to falsely accuse anyone and lose her trust."
"Have you noticed any other odd behaviors?" She asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Any aversions? Dislike touch? Sudden outbursts? Odd disclosures?" Amber listed. "Those things."
"Well…" she tapped her index against her chin before pointing at Amber's notes, "She dislikes alcohol."
The scratching of Amber's pen stopped. "She dislikes alcohol, yet is the bartender? And she asked for this job?"
"I found it pretty baffling too. But that is what I have seen." She said with a shrug. "I don't have children. She seems pretty normal to me."
"You won't mind if I ask your employees about her?"
"Not at all. Go right ahead." She said.
…
Coworkers of the child confirmed information from the owner, yet offered no new information.
…
Schooling:
Schooling within Mond is run by the sisters of the church. They provide basic education for all children ages six to ten, and parents can choose to keep their kids in the program till the age of twelve. From then on children often go to trade schools, or seek higher education programs.
Diona's teacher is Sister Grace, so that is exactly who Amber had to talk to next.
Amber ran up the church steps, and consciously made herself slow to a brisk walk once inside… she had gotten scolded by Sister Victoria enough times to know better by now.
After asking around a bit, she found Sister Grace. She was in the garden by the fountain with a few kids who were playing some game involving a xylophone.
Amber introduced herself, and requested to ask some questions about Diona.
"Diona?" Sister Grace asked. "What about her?"
"It is a welfare assessment." Amber explained.
"Oh dear." The woman sighed. "I'm afraid I can't take any more children in. I'm spread thin as it is."
"Oh. I wasn't asking about that. I wanted to know…" Amber sighed, and tried explaining again. "I am performing an assessment as to if she has to be separated from her guardians temporarily or permanently depending upon her living conditions. You are her teacher. I need to ask you questions about her behavior in class."
"Oh. I see." The woman relaxed a little. "I'm sorry. Things have been hectic of late. And I have my hands full with three little ones on my own."
Amber was well aware of that. Two of them weren't even Grace's biological kids. "That is quite alright, miss." Amber assured. "May I sit with you to condut this interview?"
"Of course."
Amber sat down on the bench and got her notebook out.
"First thing is first. How is Diona's behavior in class?"
Sister Grace paused in thought. "While she is bright… she struggles with nuance in comparison to her peers. Something is either evil, or good. No in-between for her. She has a hard time understanding exemptions or things that are in the grey." She began. "She is incredibly independent- to the point of refusing help when she needs it. She also is quite close with a younger student… Klee. Diona likes to take care of her."
"Anything that concerns you?" Amber asked.
"She is frequently tired. Irritable too. She usually isn't too energetic until after snack time… and she usually doesn't have her own snack from home. Klee tends to share her snack with Diona if I can't find something for her." The woman looked tense as she kept glancing at the children playing, as though afraid they may eavesdrop.
Amber glanced at the kids. They had slowed their playing and we're now listening. "Would you kids like to play with Baron Bunny?" Amber asked.
"Yes!" They cheered.
Amber pulled out her mini Baron Bunny from her bag and handed the dancing figure to the kids. She turned her attention back to Sister Grace. "Any bruising? Any suspicion that her father is neglectful or violent?"
"Something seems wrong." The sister said. "I seriously doubt he would lay his hands on her in that way."
"Alright. Thank you. If you think of anything else… you can write a message and any knight will gladly deliver it to me."
The woman nodded, leaving Amber to head to the last place of investigation.
…
House assessment:
Amber knocked on the door of Draff… for a while there was no response. She knocked again.
This time the door opened a crack to reveal a hesitant little girl, "Daddy isn't here." She said.
"Are you Diona?" Amber took a knee to be eye level with the girl.
"Yes. I am."
"I'm Amber, with the Knights of Favonius. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions. May I come in?"
Diona sniffed the air intently for a moment, then glared at Amber. "You don't smell like alcohol. What do you want?"
"I want to ask some questions about you, look around the house."
"Why?"
"It is part of my job." Amber explained. "May I come in?"
Diona opened the door. "Okay."
Amber refrained from gasping in shock at Diona. She wore clothes that were utterly filthy, tattered, and far too small.
"Thank you." Amber stepped inside and looked around. The smell was the first thing she noticed. It stunk of alcohol, beer, and rotten fish. It was, quite frankly, overpowering.
The place was disgusting. The ground was covered in dirt, muddy footprints, sticks, seeds, and grass. She walked further in to see the living room.
It looked reasonably furnished… except every surface was covered in empty bottles and dirty dishes.
"I need to look around, then I can ask you some questions." Amber said.
"Okay. My room is there." Diona pointed to a door and headed over to it. Amber nodded and headed into the kitchen.
Dirty dishes were piled high in the sink.
They had running water.
She checked the pantry. Stale bread. And something that was so moldy Amber had no clue what it used to be. The same went for the ice box. Barren. Amber made the mistake of touching a countertop which had some kind of oil on it.
The outrider scrunched up her face and wiped her hand on her jacket. Today was a bad day to forget her gloves.
Amber left the kitchen to examine the bathroom. It stunk, the kind of stink associated with sewage and urine, had mold, and was in a desperate need of a clean. There was a ring of yellow on the bathtub, along with black grime around the drain and faucet.
Amber was fairly certain she didn't want to see more of this house… but she had a job to do.
She entered Diona's room. There was a small mattress on the floor. Very small. But it had a frame on it… it looked like it was designed to be on the floor.
The blanket was quite thin, more suited to summer than early spring. The room was quite barren… few items of clothing, and most of those were dirty, and even fewer toys.
Diona was curled up on her bed, flipping through a cookbook.
"You're going to ask me questions now… aren't you?" Diona asked.
"I am." Amber admitted and crouched down before the girl. "Where is your dad?"
"I don't know."
"Are you often home alone?"
"Yes."
"How long are you left alone for?"
"Um… daddy usually only comes home late at night." She said. "He has a hard time walking when he does. He drinks a lot."
"What is he like when he comes home?"
"He has a hard time doing things. Sometimes he tells me I'm a good kid. Sometimes he tries to baby me. Tuck me in. Sometimes he just stumbles to bed and doesn't say hello at all." Diona shrugged.
"How many meals do you get each day?"
"I got one from Margaret. And Klee shares her snack with me at school. She started bringing extra food for me when we play outside of school. And I usually make fish for dinner."
"Only fish?"
"I don't like vegetables."
That explains the kitchen.
"Does your daddy cook?"
"Not usually. But I'm a big girl. I can cook. I cook all by myself. And I am good at it too!"
"I believe you." Amber paused. "When your daddy is drunk… has he ever hit you?"
"No!" Diona replied. "He's a good daddy! He wouldn't hit me!"
"Of course. I just have to ask that. It is my job." Amber placated.
"Oh." Diona played with the hem of her shirt. "I guess that is okay then."
"What happens if you need help and your daddy isn't here?"
"Mr.Olaf has offered to help. He's kinda old but he is nice." Diona said.
"What is Mr.Olaf like?"
"He has back and knee pain. He needs a cane to walk around. He smells like old man. He can't really play. But he is really nice. He gives me fruit from his garden…" she frowned and her ears laid back and scrunched up her nose, "I don't like fruit."
Amber snorted and tried not to laugh. "You don't like fruit."
"No. But I eat it anyway. It makes mister Olaf happy." She smiled at that. "He says it's healthy to eat fruit. And he tells me fun stories. Mr.Olaf says I remind him of his granddaughter."
"That's nice." Amber paused.
This was a predicament…
With the given evidence one could conclude three things.
One, Draff was an alcoholic, and his parenting suffered because of it.
Two, Diona was a victim of neglect due to Draff's addiction.
Three, Diona had to be immediately removed from his care until trial.
"I can't leave you alone. Your daddy isn't supposed to do that. I'll leave a note for him explaining where you are, and you will have to come with me."
"No." The girl pulled away.
"As a knight I can not leave you alone. It is not safe for this to be normal. Your dad will know where you are. And you can play with Klee, maybe even have a sleepover." Amber placated.
Diona pondered that. "Okay."
"Pack up things you think you will need. Okay?"
"Okay."
…
Reasonable efforts needed:
For Draff, the legal guardian of Diona, to :
- be at least 90 days sober
- attend rehabilitation meetings
- Maintain cleanliness and safety of the home
- Attend parenting classes
- Have consistent meetings with his Daughter