(no subject)

[sythyry]

All Very Innocent, Really [13 Oix 4261]

Ptefshi:"Sythyry, do you ever go to the cafe called Across Saga?"

Which is as straightforward a way of asking "Are you traff?" as any in Vheshrame. Except for asking "Are you traff?", I suppose. Or ... on second thought, it's as delicate a way of asking "Are you traff?" as any in Vheshrame. (Ten days away from the journal and I have forgotten how to write, it seems.)

So I astutely deduced that he was asking if I was boinking the nendrai.

Me:"Only with primes!" Which is to say, "no".

Ptefshi:"Well, if you do happen to go there tonight ... don't go there tonight."

And, incidentally, I have been back to Across Saga half a dozen times since then. The firt two times were with Ilottat, who I had persuaded to be a Rassimel for the occasion by means of some bound spells and some brandy. He's pretty uncomfortable there, so since then I've been going back alone.

Me:"Why not?"

Ptefshi:"It's being, well, inspected."

Me:"What sort of inspection?"

Ptefshi:"To see who goes there, of course. People who go there sometimes need special ... protection, it's somehow called ... which the city guard is happy to supply."

Me:"The people who go there may need special protection, but I've never heard that the city guard was doing that."

Ptefshi:"Well, some of those people would need protection more, and have it less, if the guard didn't provide this particular service. For that matter, Across Saga itself needs a great deal of this service, and pays accordingly." He curled his tailtip. "It's a bit ugly."

A bit, yes.

Me:"When should I be out of there?"

Ptefshi:"An hour or so after sunout."

Me:"What if nobody's there? If everyone learns about this inspection in advance?"

Ptefshi:"Then, I suspect, you don't hear about the next time. Likely I don't either."

Me:"You're not involved in this inspection?"

Ptefshi bristled at me. "Hardly."

I thought a bit, and thanked him.

Across Saga, at sunout

So of course I was at Across Saga an hour before sunout, looking like a Herethroy. I can't warn everyone, but I could warn a couple friends.

Thestra was there alone, eating the pickled caterpillar appetizer in the social half of the room. She's Cani: short, red-tailed and foxy, muscular, and some sort of criminal or other by profession. We've played cards and drank brandy and complained about our lovers and otherwise been fairly friendly. I asked for an invitation to join her, and got it. The vegetarian appetizers didn't look very good, so I turned into an Orren and ordered some grilled fish bits in three spicy sauces. Casting Cloak of Another God is a good way to get attention in Across Saga, which I usually don't want, but this time a bit of eavesdropping on me wouldn't go over that badly.

Me:Pleasantries, pleasantries, pleasantries.

Thestra:Pleasantries, pleasantries, pleasantries.

Me: "Across Saga is going to get visited by the City Guard in about two-thirds of an hour."

Thestra:Unpleasantries, unpleasantries, unpleasantries.

Me:"You're going to have to teach me some of those words."

Thestra:"Later. Last time the guard came I had to pay about two hundred lozens. I don't have that much on me."

Me:"Time to go, then?"

Thestra:"Definitely time to go. Thanks for the tip, Sythyry. I owe you dinner or something. It's good to have a friend in the guard."

I suppose I do count as a friend in the guard, sort of.

Me:"I suppose I should go too. They might be early."

Thestra:"Come to my place for a bit, if you like? You've never met my lover, and I can pick up that dinner I owe you on the way."

(Thestra explained the guard's scheme: for a modest fee, the guards will, themselves, not do anything unpleasant to the patrons of Across Cafe. For people of other interesting behaviors as well -- such as herself -- the fees can get quite large. Later on, Khyrrain corroborated this, and noted that the guards involved get some 2/3 of the proceeds, the relevant captains and such get 1/6, and the duke gets 1/6, so the matter is entirely legal and entirely properly overseen. Khyrrain doesn't get involved in that particular deed either ... I wonder if she and Ptefshi are a couple .)

And that's why I wound up at Thestra's house that evening.... In case you hear something less reasonable from Ilottat.

[And thanks to jareth_atian for a Katrina contribution.]

Comments

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

Thestra: Unpleasantries, unpleasantries, unpleasantries.


This made me laugh out loud, in my office. It was... difficult to explain.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

[Bard beams]

I am glad to make your life difficult to explain!

Well, in case it was too easy to explain as it is, of course.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

Ah, you're alive! And here I thought you'd been added to Vae's permanent decor. Although I suppose you'd likely be alive then, as well... er... nevermind.

So in addition to hanging out with city guards, sleeth, and monsters, you're into criminals now? o.O

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Sorry -- my interpreter was malingering for a week or so, or, perhaps, attending some peculiar cultic festivities.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

Oh, there's no need to apologize. Everyone's always busy, it's the way of the world(s).

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

(I was sick for about a World Tree week.)

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

(aww... I'd give you some sort of comforting hug, but you're probably still infectious };)

[jareth-atian.livejournal.com]

"...some sort of criminal or other..."

So, do you suppose that it speaks poorly of my personality that my primary emotional response upon hearing that statement was a vague annoyance that my analog hadn't achieved significant levels of notoriety through her criminal activities?

I love it. Thank you!

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't it be much more civilized if the cafe were to provide a fee to the guards for protection sight unseen? Or is that so much more costly that it hasn't proven a workable alternative?

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

I am given to understand that that's how it usually works -- certainly Across Saga is more expensive than a cafe of its quality, location, and atmosphere would usually indicate. But every once in a while, the guards take a more active approach, to encourage us to be more punctilious and generous with those fees. A few carefully-anonymous beatings and knifings in obscure spots as selected people walk home from the traff cafe work wonders of encouragement.

[zeeth_kyrah]

I'd have to say that while a protectively dangerous thing like the "seven-winged burning thing" is good, a dangerously protective thing like a "barrier of cutting edges" would be just as useful in situations like that, and perhaps much less dangerous to the surrounding terrain (that is, it won't likely get bored and poke at random stuff while you're being carried off to someone's idea of relative safety).

[zeeth_kyrah]

Actually, once the first bout of symptoms has passed, most viral illnesses are no longer infectious. Bacteria, however, can malinger.