14 Oix 4385: Soliciting Protesters

[song-for-always.livejournal.com]

I've been to three offices so far. None of the solicitors would even talk to me about the case without a retainer of at least forty lz. But I remembered: we haven't been paid by the parade yet! I went to talk to Elsewhere. He's the one who hired me for it. He told me to see Biarana, who was the parade commitee's president. She was in gaol. Which was not really a good sign. But I went to see her anyway!

I commiserated with her for a bit through the bars. Biarana said she didn't mind much. She said that Michel, the treasurer, was supposed to pay bills first. He'd pay fines out of whatever was left over. Michel wasn't in gaol! Biarana gave me his address and I went to see him. He wasn't at home. One of his neighbors said he was at Namodeel Park. I went there and found him! He was in a crowd of about twenty-eight barely-decently-clad primes.

"Are you having another Naked Parade?" I asked one of the bystanders.

"No! This is the Anti-Anti-Obscenity Objections and Fundraiser Committee. Did you want to join?"

"I don't know. Maybe? Are you objecting to people opposed to obscenity or to people in favor of it?"

"Yes!" a couple of people near me said loudly. Others cheered.

"We think primes should be able to wear what they like," the Orren I was talking to said, more usefully.

"Or not wear!" said the girl beside him. Primes near us cheered some more.

"You don't see the duke of Vheshrame arresting primes for nudity! Or lewdity!" the Orren added in a shout, to even more cheering

"Or even traffitudity!" The cheering stopped. Everyone looked around for the person who yelled that, but she'd shut up fast. I think it was a tall green Herethroy, though.

"I just need to talk to Michel," I said. "I was a performer at the Naked Parade."

Michel was a shepherd-styled Cani, and already coming out of the throng towards me. "Song-for-Always! So good to see you here! So Don't Go In It's a Tarp! will be able to play for our fundraiser?"

"Sure if you get my drummer out of gaol first!"

Michel frowned at me. "Oh dear! What's he done?"

"Nothing! Someone stole his hat. And he got arrested for Public Indecency."

Michel tsked, clicking his long muzzle. "You see what we're up against! They're arresting people for not wearing HATS now!" A couple of primes covered their bare heads with their hands, looking alarmed. "That's exactly why we need the help of primes like you. You will help, won't you?"

"I can't perform without my drummer. But if you can get him out...."

"I'm not supposed to pay for fines yet, but let's talk." He steered me away from the crowd. When we were alone, he counted fifteen lozens into my palm. "There you go!"

"Um. Thanks! But the fine's two hundred."

"What?! For Public Indency? .... Wait. No hat ... your drummer was that Khtsoyis, wasn't he?"

"Yes, but --"

Michel tried to take the lozens back from my hand, but I snatched it behind my back. "You owe us twenty-four for the performance anyway. Can I have the other nine?"

"I don't have any other funds on me," Michel said, with his tail curled around his leg like Cani do when they lie. "And I need that back. It's not enough to get your shog -- drummer out anyway."

"I'll take it as the first installment. Every little bit helps!" I twisted out of his hands as he tried to grab me. "I'll be back for the rest later. Bye!"

I went home and checked my Secret Stash for more lozens, and then my Other Secret Secret Stash. Between Michel and the stashes and the cley-selling, I have enough for the retainer! For the cheapest solicitor.

I wanted to make sure I should get one, though. That's a fifth of the fine! And she might need more lozens than that in the end. And we might have to pay the fine anyway. What do you think?