Arrested [18 Nivvem 4385]

[sythyry]

Mirrored from Sythyry.

I wouldn’t say that I am in love with Arfaen, not exactly. I wouldn’t say I am in love with anyone just now, not exactly, and Arfaen might or might not be on the top of my list if I were. I know for a fact that Arfaen’s not in love with me either. She’s got about four lovers on board whom she asks for various moods — I am the one she for when she is feeling serious and somewhat needing to be protected, or, of course, when she is or I seem miserable in a way that a bit of body-play could help with. Last night was all of those. It is a sad thing to finally be in a place where traff-folk could get married, or sort of, and not have anyone to marry.

So we woke up at four hours after dawn (I did slip out for a bit at dawn, for work), comforted and distracted each other for a while, and sprawled together in her bed chatting.

Arfaen: “I need to find a good place to buy snails in Hanija. Vae really loves them pickled, and I’m almost out.”

Me: “Actually, I think Vae rather overdid it on the pickled snails. You might try something else, like onions or those tiny eggplants.” More to the point, Vae actually doesn’t like pickled snails at all, but Arfaen thinks she does, and Vae asked my aid in stopping her from making them without telling her that Vae thinks they’re disgusting and always has, and just only been eating them and praising them out of politeness.

Arfaen: “I smell that.” Which I suppose means that she deduced the whole thing from my facial expressions. “Pickled onions it will be. They’ve got five different kinds of scallions here, did you know that? I like the chive-scallions best, but they’re so leafy, I don’t think they’ll pickle right, do you?”

Windigar: [speaking to me through the ship's devices] “Sythyry? I’m sorry to bother you, but there are some constables from Hanija here to talk to you.”

Me: “Oh, dear. I’ll be right out.”

Windigar: “In the Parlor of the Seven Batik Crabs. Oh, and is Arfaen with you? They’d like to talk to her too.”

Me: “She is, in fact.”

So Arfaen and I blinked nervously at each other a bit (“I wonder what Grinwipey’s done now?”), and got dressed and washed in a time-bubble, and trotted out to the Parlor of the Seven Batik Crabs.

Constables

The tall brown-and-white-splotched Cani man greeted me first. “Lord Sythyry, we thank you for your prompt attention to this hopefully-minor matter. I am Inspector Hajang-Guyof. This is Rassimel Constable Napamdo, and this Herethroy Constable Hasathyo.” So we greeted them right back, and introduced ourselves, and I promptly forgot Napamdo’s and Hasathyo’s names.

“And what can we do for you today, O officers of the law of Hanija?” I asked them.

Hajang-Guyof flattened his ears. “We are here on a rather delicate matter. We recognize that you are a mighty wizard, here in a warship of unknown potencies, with a terrible nendrai and a subtle demon and many strong warriors. Still, there has been a violation of the law of Hanija. We wish to attend to the needs of the law, but we must clearly do so in a way that does not lead to any sort of war or battle.”

“We certainly don’t intend to battle Hanija, or wreck the city-state, or do any other injury. We don’t intend to break the laws, either. I give you my word that we will settle the matter peacefully if at all possible,” I said. Leaving myself the option of, say, peacefully taking all my crew and passengers on board and peacefully getting a long way off so that Hanijan law does not apply and Hanijan law enforcement has nothing to say. That would be peaceful, right?

“Very good. We appreciate this attention to larger matters. Your prompt and cooperative assistance will be a mitigating factor should punishment become a necessity.”

I ruffled my feathers. “Wait, I’m the criminal you seek?”

Hajang-Guyof nodded. “With many apologies, we do indeed have the honor of investigating you for certain activities that, while they may be legal in many other city-states, do in fact violate the laws of Hanija. And there are circumstances which make this violation all the more pungent.”

I asked, “May I be permitted to learn of these activites?”

“Certain evidence has come to us that you are breaking the tofyof laws — indeed, that you are knowingly stinking upon them and scorning them. We wish to ascertain the truth in this matter and apply certain correctives.”

I curled my tail. “Well, I must say that I am not scorning them. I admire these laws; I wish that more places had them. For one example, many of my closest friends entered keeper-tofyof relationships last night, a circumstance which I gave my most enthusiastic approval and assistance.”

“Yes, yes, this is quite true. The reports of this matter came from the officials performing the ceremony last night. So you know of the tofyof laws? Your solicitor says that you, personally, listened closely to his exegesis thereof,” said Hajang-Guyof.

“I am hardly a solicitor myself, but I listened to one with some interest, and I read my passengers’ papers on the topic. I would say I know something about them — though I could easily be wrong about important points,” I confessed.

Hajang-Guyof looked to Arfaen. “And, Miss Arfaen, did you and Sythyry perform bodily conjunctions last night, or any other time while you were within Hanija Mene?”

Arfaen snarled at him. “That is none of your business.”

Hajang-Guyof tucked his tail between his legs. “With many regrets, is currently my business.”

I said to her, “Let us tell the truth, with scrupulous accuracy, Arfaen. It is safer and more gracious that way.”

Arfaen tucked her tail. “Then yes, we did.”

Hajang-Guyof asked us, “And is there any formal and legal arrangement of relationship between the two of you, either marriage or tofitude, or some other legal status from another city-state that has analogous stature?”

“Yes — I am Sythyry’s client,” said Arfaen.

“Is that a formal and legal arrangement?” asked Hajang-Guyof. “I know something about the laws and customs of Inner Ketheria, which gives me cause to wonder.”

“It is an informal and extralegal arrangement, though one which we both take quite seriously,” I said.

“Then, O Sythyry… You have been treating this woman as a tofyof, but you have not formalized her tofitude, nor have you provided her with the protections and fees suitable to a tofyof of one with your status. It is clear that you know perfectly well which relationships are legal in Hanija Mene, and that you have had the opportunity to make it properly legal, as many of your shipmates have done. You chose not to. Thus I must arrest you.”

Arfaen howled, “It was voluntary! I invited zir to my bed willingly — eagerly! I am the one who is breaking the tofyof laws — I am the one you should charge!”

Hajang-Guyof said gently, “Are you the wizard, or the cook? In any reasonable estimation, Sythyry would be the keeper, and you the tofyof. If you had wished the reverse situation, you should have arranged the matter yesterday when so many of your friends did. By Hanijan law, is it Sythyry who bears the responsibility, and, should the court so decide, should be punished.”

I flapped my wings. “This is embarrassing!”

“Being arrested for sex crimes against your friends is often found so, O Zi Ri.”

Comments

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

Er. So, wait, even aboard your ship, they claim that their law applies? And who has spilled to the cops?


.... Alzagonde...?

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

even aboard your ship, they claim that their law applies?

While it is in Hanija Mene, the laws of Hanija Mene apply. Right now it's at the dock in Hanija.

And who has spilled to the cops?

Arfaen and I did, as it happens. We weren't being particularly sneaky about making our arrangements -- it's not as if everyone on Strayway wouldn't find out pretty much instantly anyways. We discussed it during the celebration. While the four highly-dignified and highly-placed Hanijan officials were about, in earshot perhaps, in eyeshot certainly. They evidently weren't much pleased with our brazen defiance of the law they came on board to administer.

[rowyn]

I thought you rented Weizef Hall for the ceremony?

[rowyn]

You know, when I was cautioning you to make sure the Strayaway people didn't flaunt their activities in Hanija, I didn't think you were the one who was needed the warning!

[sianmink.livejournal.com]

Getting Strayway declared its own city-state is getting more and more appealing by the moment, even with the associated Doom.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

I didn't either, alas.

[kensan-oni.livejournal.com]

Wait a second. As an Ambassador, don't you have diplomatic immunity, anyway? Or is that a foreign concept? It's not like you are performing a treasonous act, it's just a little... umm... Little!

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

I'm not an ambassador to Hanija, just to Vae and sort of to Eigrach.

[Diplomatic immunity isn't an absolute by any means, though most places would ignore this sort of minor crime.]

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

Finally, someone else who likes pickled onions! Although I'm even more of a fan of the huge ones that you can hold in your mouth and chew on for a while.

[kensan-oni.livejournal.com]

Okay. I was not clear on such things.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

[No reason why you would be]

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

So what law did you actually break? The summary suggested tofyof was to decriminalize adultery, which would require you to be married I'd think.

[read-alicia.livejournal.com]

I believe the part of the law which specifies the department to which a large sackful of lozens must be delivered in exchange for state-sanctioned tofyof -nookie.

I predict a resolution involving two sackfuls of lozens appearing at the feet of said constables while Sythyry says, "Oh no. I just dropped some awful situation-resolving garbage. Could you possibly see to taking it with you?"

[rowyn]

The tofyof laws were to decriminalize extramarital fornication of all kinds. They benefit unmarried folk who want a temporary concubine, for instance, but not a permanent marriage. Hanija law doesn't just forbid adultery, but premarital sex (or pre-tofitude) too.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

The law is to decriminalize concubinage, and to protect concubines (in some rather specific ways). I broke the part about protecting concubines. I don't think I do so badly by Arfaen in general, but I'm definitely not doing it properly by Hanijan standards.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

'Oh, how awful, we seem to have mislaid our certificate of tofyofitude, could you see your way to procuring a replacement for us?'

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

That would have worked a lot better yesterday, when we were having lots of that sort of thing done.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

Everything's suggested that it's only *meant* for concubines when you're already married, and the other cases are exceptions and need special handling. "Why would you need a tofyof if you aren't married?" was my interpretation.

I don't remember seeing anywhere where they said fornication of all kinds was illegal unless you were married.

[rowyn]

From the Jan 13th entry: "The only form of non-spousal body-play that is legal in Hanija is between a tofyof and their keeper. All other adultery and fornication are punishable by law, in greater or lesser degree. These laws seem to be taken quite seriously: it took our expert investigators several hours longer than usual to find prostitutes."

So not just adultery. In the entry before that, the lawyer gives a dozen examples of 'indecent' lovers, of which adulterous is only one.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

[Bard is glad that it had actually written that!]

Exactly so. Sex is quite regulated in Hanija. Which is somewhat odd, since some surprising things are permitted ... if all the paperwork is done and fees and wages paid.

My impression is that Hanijans do all the things that everyone else does: I'm sure that there is fornication both same- and cross-species, my experts have found prostitutes, and all of that. All of these are kept rather quiet, and one expects the occasional fine or other hassle is one is discovered.

Of course, if one is a foreigner who is, in effect, keeping a tofyof without actually performing the legalities --- and one has had plenty of opportunity to perform the legalities, as evidenced by many of one's friends doing so -- then one can be seen to be directly attacking the tofyof laws.

One should not be surprised when the tofyof laws mount an impressive counterattack in this case. (But one was, anyhow, because one did not quite realize how it would look to Hanija.)

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

Still, an arrest is kind of extreme. One would think that issuing a... an unregistered concubinage ticket with an associated large fine would be sufficient unto the cause.

Their laws essentially force anyone who wants to have extramarital nookie into prostitution. If you're not married, you have to have nookie for money/protection. There's no such thing as having a fling for fun, apparently.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Yes -- ordinarily one would simply be ticketed, more or less. In the eyes of the Hanijan legal system, though, I was a particularly foreign and egregious offender. I obviously knew about the laws, and had plenty of opportunity to take Arfaen as my tofyof when so many of our friends were doing the same thing. And my relationship with her is precisely what the tofyof laws are designed to prevent -- viz. I am her employer; she depends on me greatly; and I am using her body for my pleasure.

I have been fussing about a similar point for quite a while. I think I've been doing well by Arfaen. We will see how that argument works in court.

There's no such thing as having a fling for fun, apparently.

That there is not. Sex is not for fun, in Hanija; not officially.

[thestra.livejournal.com]

See, now...This is why it's NEVER a good idea to give an honest answer to an officer of the law.

[stormydragon.livejournal.com]

Law school professor / criminal defense lawyer and a police detevtive on why you should never talk to the police:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

[goodluckfox.livejournal.com]

This! But even if the laws in Hanija worked the same as ours, there's abundantly sufficient evidence to convict him.

Sythyry, you need to find the equivalent of the prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney. The attorney can tell you what sort of penalty you are facing, and they can negotiate a plea deal. In exchange for a fine and contrition on your part, they may reduce the crime to some lesser offense. Certainly the allowable penalties for breaking the tofytude laws are statutory, and you ought to be capable of paying any conceivable fine. Also, I'm sure the judges would very much like to chalk up a "win" against a mighty wizard for breaking bedrock community laws without getting their city destroyed in the process.

[goodluckfox.livejournal.com]

And another thing... hire the best lawyer/firm you can afford, which is probably anybody in the city state I'd guess.

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

I think that the court is a bad idea, full of doom. The passing of coinage and the withdrawal of airship, terrible wizard, and terrible, not-very-understanding nendrai from their airspace should really be the option here.

[archadia.livejournal.com]

The speed at which that man in that video stumbles over his words makes me feel nervous and skeptical. Couldn't even finish watching!

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

But it is a law I generally like, and wish other countries had! I remember that you approve most strongly of same-sex marriage laws in your alien world --- how would you feel about coming to a place that had such laws, but in a (sensible) form that you somehow violated?

[sianmink.livejournal.com]

In hindsight, quite obvious.

I wonder if the case may be made that certain powerful foreign wizards are also a bit addle-minded about some things (pointing out that the daily care and ambassadorship to a Nerandi has side-effects)and it simply never crossed zir mind even while being obvious to Hanijan observers -- and now that such a flagrant violation of local law has been pointed out, it will be righted most hastily and accompanied by any and all necessary fees.

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

I would probably still try to get out or away without dealing with the court. Because courts are notoriously problematic. I might feel guilty about using my privilege -- whatever it might have been -- to evade the penalties, but I contend that there are far worse criminals around that the money and time could be spent pursuing.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

All true!

[stormydragon.livejournal.com]

I just had a brilliant idea for a possible defense:

Given the locador warping properties inside your skyboat, why not argue that the interior of the ship is not actually located within Hanija mene, but within some alternate created space. Thus your assignations with Arfaen did not occur within the jurisdiction of their laws?

[ragarth.livejournal.com]

Aah... Oh Mighty Keeper of the Nendrai, I think this might be a good time to point out that you are, indeed the keeper of the nendrai, and that arresting you would impinge upon those duties. For the safety of your crew and of Hanija itself, perhaps suggesting house arrest instead so you can tend to your nendrai duties properly would be in order. What if Vae turns someone into a newt, or a heated discussion between her and the local locust population about the purpose of life started getting out of hand?

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Indeed, I should have thought of that. See the events of later in the day.

[kobolds.livejournal.com]

After what Eigrach just pulled, what's the status of Hanija? How greatly would they benefit from an enchantment or two of yours in exchange for imprisonment?

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[foomf.livejournal.com]

I rather suspect that Arfaen would be unwilling to restrict all sexual dalliance to Sythyry alone; the tofyof law simply permits a species-appropriate concubinage relationship between a marriage-unit and an individual who would otherwise be disallowed according to somewhat draconian sexual morality laws. The law still appears to require the tofyof to exclude anyone other than the keeper(s) from any sexual dalliance.

This leads me to note that Sythyry's, and the World Tree Primes' collective societies' morals tend to be rather binary on some things. Libertine (I initially put libertarian, an entirely different vice) seems to be flung about as a tarry brush, but in fact, in practice there are shades and degrees, just as there appear to be regarding transfection and cross-gender alliance and dalliance. Not being binary beings, most Primes, if reduced to points on arbitrary conceptual lines, will tend to vibrate around that point rather than sticking to them, and the magnitude of that vibration will vary from person to person and line to line.

[foomf.livejournal.com]

JOY, you've been spammed. Time to turn of automatic acceptance of anonymous, alas.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

[You are exactly right about the morality, and that the nature of people does not much fit the morality's divisions. -bb]

Arfaen has proven herself unable or unwilling to keep her pants on, when her relationship with the love of her life depended on it. I doubt that a minor thing like some foreign city's laws would compel her to do so.

[foomf.livejournal.com]

As three-cornered beings, corpador, mentador, spiridor, it seems that her corpador part is stronger than mentador and spiridor - or that they're not working together.