Dst – Citizenship Shenanigans

Intro: One aspect of the Rifts game I play on is that they have an IC Roleplay board, where people can post story fragments that deal with their character ICly, but aren’t logs of actual scenes. Sort of like a bit that the audience might watch. I decided to make one for a particular episode. After it is a rumor I plan to post up as well.

** Start Story **

The City Hall was bustling as always, for midday. The long lobby was alive with peoples of varied species and varied tasks moving about in a state of ordered chaos, the air humming with the steady din of too many voices speaking at once.

Contrary heard none of it, her headphones inadequately hiding the firm, pulsing beat of the loud music which she listened to. She looked back along the line of people behind her, cordoned off with poles and rope to zigzag within the small office of the Kingsdale City Clerk. There were only a few more ahead of her, the long wait almost over. And just in time too, she though with a sour look as her belly rumbled in protest of its emptiness.

Should have eaten before coming here.

Several minutes and a track shift later, she was at the head of the line.

“May I help you.” The clerk for today, an aging man, looked up at Contrary expectantly as she swept her headphones back to settle on her neck.

“Yeah. I want to get citizenship.”, she responded, shifting her satchel bag to her side, prepared to produce whatever information the man needed.

“I see. I’ll need to see your citizenship work form”, he responded efficiently.

“My what?”, Contrary countered, mentally going over the papers given to her at the gates.

“The form that declares the work you’ve done for the city or your completed term of military service.”, he replies patiently. “You did know what was required to become a citizen, didn’t you?”

Contrary straightened some, looking down at the seated man with some irritation in her expression. “I assumed you just needed some form of ID or something.”, she replies. “The guy at the gate didn’t really tell me I needed to work for the city. What sort of job do I have to get?”

The clerk sighed and recited a familiar refrain. “You have two options to gain citizenship, Miss. First is to do work for one of the city agencies on this list, unpaid, for a term of at least one year. After that year, you may be requested to stay on at full salary.” He handed her a paper filled with neatly typed blocks of information. “Your second option is military service for two years at normal pay and benefits. You may choose after that time to stay on or to end your tour of duty. Once you have completed either, you will be given an official document to certify you have met your obligations.” He folded his hands, looking up at her expectantly again.

His attention was met with a sour look. “So let me get this straight. To get a few extra rights in this city, someone has to either be a servant for a year without pay or I have to serve as cannon fodder for two? What if I don’t like either of the two choices?”

The clerk sighed inaudibly. “Then you cannot become a citizen of Kingsdale, miss.”

“What kinda of bull is this?”, Contrary rumbled. “What geniuses made this up? That forces any poor shmuck who comes here trying to make a new life to either starve for a year or risk life and limb in military service, whether they want to or not!” She slapped the paper back down on the man’s desk angrily after her outburst, leaning forward with her hand remaining planted. “Does that seem very fair to you?”

The clerk leaned back, glancing past Contrary for a moment. “I’m sorry, but those are the rules and have been for some time.”, the clerk responds. “The council is the body that defines such things.”

Contrary caught his glance and knew he was likely looking toward guards. She bit back a random desire to lay the man out and leaned back with a huff. “Well maybe you should tell the council I think this is a big steaming load.”, she stated, loud enough that most of the room could hear her clearly. She glared at the clerk, then turned, almost running into a guard who had been advancing behind her.

“Back off rent-a-cop, I was just leaving.”, she growled, not waiting for him to step aside fully before she barged past him, leaving murmuring discussion amongst the beings in line behind her as she left.

** Start Rumor **

Two city guards, one a City Hall guard, the other a Gate Guard, converse at a table in Club Knight while nursing evening drinks.

Gate Guard: You should have seen the guy’s face when we found that load of contraband. He must have been new to not know we would search him. He gave off all the wrong signals. Either that or smugglers are getting more stupid every day.

City Hall Guard(Laughing): Hey, hey, I got one for you. We almost had a bit of trouble at the clerks today. There was this large woman who looked like she was about to reach across his desk. She looked like she could have broken that little guy in half if she got half a chance to.

Gate Guard: You don’t say? But only almost?

CHG(nodding): She backed down as I was getting there. I’m glad, I tell ya. Came up behind her just before. The look she had when she turned was nasty man. Personally, I’m torn though.

GG: What about?

CHG: Nice looker, but with a temper by the look. Any other time I might have liked to try and get close, but just then.. (He shakes his head) She looked like one of those Coalition canines, except her color was all wrong.. grey and silver. And she had a bushy tail, not a thin one.

GG(showing a bit more attention): Wait.. you said big? Canine, with grey and silver coloring? Did she look strong, but well curved? Lots of piercing?

CHG: Yeah, that’s right. You seen this one before?

GG: Oh yeah, that’s not something you forget. Especially with what she was packing. Came in just a week ago. Looked like a first visitor to me. Had a lot of Techno-Wizardry on her. One in particular.. looked like one of those magic swords without a blade, you know? But this wasn’t one of those normal looking, functional deals. This one looked like art, with wood and metal spirals and some big diamonds. And the way she handled it, looked like it had some value to her besides the materials, you know?

CHG: Strange. I wonder what’s with her, anyway?

** End Rumor **

Hopefully these two will foster some interest in the rabble rousing Contrary. 😉