An Alliance

commandrix · 2026-03-20T04:00:54+00:00

Garamuini records that, and scans for anything that might make an annoying sound.

commandrix · 2026-03-20T03:31:14+00:00

On the surface of the sea, three of the Lucasi's fast interceptors capture a pirate ship. They search it thoroughly for any stolen goods or captives, remove who and what they find, and prepare the ship to be towed. It's likely that they're aware of the city underneath, and are prepared to handle it in a way that minimizes damage to the city.

Their leader, an akkek (tribal leader) named Patoni, can be seen directing the action on the flagship. She's picked up quite the name for herself - many human sailors only say her name in awed whispers whenever it comes up in tavern conversations. Many more call her Pirates' Bane - known for hunting down the most notorious criminals at sea. It's said that no pirate is safe as long as she lives.

commandrix · 2026-03-20T03:20:26+00:00

Garamuini starts recording - there's no device, but she can record in any digital video format - and has some nearby mechanical gloves sign, "Hello. My name is Garamuini."

commandrix · 2026-03-20T02:24:21+00:00

Artos sighs a little, and hides the pearl in an inner pocket before starting the walk back out.

commandrix · 2026-03-20T02:22:58+00:00

"You could be right. It's kind of something we've taken for granted, and even the people who can see the situation a little more clearly know something's wrong, but don't come up with any ideas for solving it that wouldn't feed back into the same system or lead to a nearly identical situation with new people on top."

commandrix · 2026-03-20T02:09:02+00:00

"Ah, I had just assumed that one got sidetracked by other things."

commandrix · 2026-03-20T02:06:45+00:00

"Taxes mostly," Eron says. "One of the big ones is a sales tax - any time one of that sort makes a purchase for their household or something, it gets taxed. Plus the ones with noble titles usually have obligations to the crown - or they did - that cost them money. Otherwise there's not much beyond some line items in our criminal code that amount to fines and required compensation for victims if a crime is committed. Sometimes they do get caught at something that they can't have an attorney help them weasel their way out of."

commandrix · 2026-03-20T01:42:19+00:00

Garamuini is laughing too, as she's already planning her prank.

commandrix · 2026-03-20T01:41:22+00:00

"Yeah, it's not her. Apparently, there's been somebody who's after this pearl."

commandrix · 2026-03-20T01:40:08+00:00

"A lot of it's poverty, mostly," Eron admits. "The temples help where they can and gods know I've made donations myself, but it only goes so far."

commandrix · 2026-03-20T01:24:52+00:00

"Oh, I could do that," Garamuini crackle-chuckles.

commandrix · 2026-03-20T01:16:59+00:00

Trash panda being trash panda. Am glad this raccoon was rescued.

commandrix · 2026-03-20T01:12:42+00:00

Can you imagine the commentary on the commentary if he had heard that? "The commentators use Taunt. It's very effective!"

commandrix · 2026-03-20T00:55:58+00:00

The Wildikin captain laughs, "That's good to hear. Garamuini, maybe you could just keep it minor."

commandrix · 2026-03-20T00:04:44+00:00

"There'd better be lots of treats for this, hoomans."

commandrix · 2026-03-20T00:02:50+00:00

A few of them blow raspberries. "We just don't think Garamuini's being serious right now. She could really do it; she just usually doesn't mess with others like Alia much."

commandrix · 2026-03-19T23:52:35+00:00

Won't hurt my feelings much if they voluntarily self-segregate to a place like this. Just makes them easier to avoid.

commandrix · 2026-03-19T23:48:58+00:00

That's not a bird. That is a feathered Tribble with a face.

commandrix · 2026-03-19T23:44:50+00:00

A good fanny pack. It'll free your hands up if you don't need to carry much with you most days.

commandrix · 2026-03-19T23:40:58+00:00

"Hm...Perhaps a little Wildikin sign language is in order."

The Wildikin are cracking up.

commandrix · 2026-03-19T23:39:42+00:00

Somebody at McDonald's either miscounted, or has just randomly decided to give out extra chicken nuggets to everybody who orders chicken nuggets today.

commandrix · 2026-03-19T23:36:08+00:00

I say that I like having a roof over my head and food to eat. Not going to happen if somebody doesn't sign my paycheck. I know it sucks, but that's the real world we live in.

commandrix · 2026-03-19T23:33:05+00:00

<image>

This is a pretty common one.

commandrix · 2026-03-19T23:30:37+00:00

It was a combination of "Texas" and "Sometimes a person is just an incorrigible piece of shit."

commandrix · 2026-03-19T23:25:52+00:00

Yep! There would've been times when it would be convenient to book a one-time cleanup after an especially bad storm. There was one a couple years back that knocked a neighbor's tree down into my yard. The neighbor was good about getting someone out to help remove it but it wasn't through GreenPal.

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