un: aquila

[leitstern]

Name: Jasper
Date: 12/21 [Forward-dated]
Format: Text

[Come the evening of the 21st, a message pops up in words and sentences. Not a single letter is out of place. The script is formal and almost designed for an audience.]

It is a truth unfortunate that joyous times bring out those villainous souls who prey on the citizenry.

Bandits and cutpurses. Thieves who steal and contribute nothing. Should it be illegal to transmogrify those vermin into forms more suited for their crimes?

[The message falters for a moment; its sender considering his own question. Would he curse such boorish people? Yes. Would he were it illegal? Well, he ignores the fact he might have done so and continues.]

Rats, perhaps?

There is poetic justic in such literal representation if nothing else.

[This is all hypothetical. Clearly.]

Comments

text; un: nibelung

[sonnestark]

[Right. Hypothetical.]

Poetic justice, maybe, but I don't think it would work out well for you otherwise. Wouldn't that be an abuse of magic?

[The question is rhetorical. Yes, it would be, Jasper.]

[leitstern]

Depends on whom you ask, of course. I would hardly think teaching a lesson is so unlawful as to be a crime.

[His emotions - disgust and anger and disappointment - hardly register any bit of guilt.]

[sonnestark]

Duration would likely be an important factor, too, although I'm not sure the Coven would look too kindly on it overall. Couldn't say for sure, though, not being a witch.

[Her moral compass is pointing decidedly at Dubious, either way.]

[leitstern]

Oh, I should not permit that to sour your mood. For all my word is worth, I cannot say whether the Coven would look kindly on it either.

[His moral compass is pointing decidedly at I don't care.]

[sonnestark]

[You know, that sounds about right.]

You can't just do whatever you want, you know. All actions have consequences. I'm sure I don't have to explain that to you, you're an intelligent man.

[She is teasing— mostly. He'll feel a note of mirth through their bond, regardless. She's getting some amusement out of this, at the very least, though there is some real concern buried in there, as well.]

un: username; text

[fuelingfire]

Thieves deserve the retribution they earn through their hard work and effort. Your method is less harsh than that of many other places, which would happily cut off hands or even execute outright.

But increasing the breeding population of vermin might not be wise either.

[leitstern]

It would certainly be a predicament requiring firm oversight. But can you imagine the alternative? Living amongst foul and obnoxious filth? I would consider it a fault of any government to leave people of inferior grace to spread rot and infestation.

Scour the slums of their depravity if nothing more. If they do not change their ways, starve them and let them learn, lest they devour each other.

[fuelingfire]

How unexpected. I am in complete agreement on the principle, though the fine points of application may need more thought to prevent an outbreak of vermin.

Mayhap consider flies instead of rodents. Or swine, that may be fed the refuse of the city and by doing so unwillingly help clean it instead of fouling it further.

[leitstern]

Perhaps there is a case to be made for enforcing some contribution to society instead of enduring their infection of the same. But should the rulers of this city listen and endorse such punishment? That is the burning question.

Alas, I fear awaiting their ruling should prove inefficeient. There are few people in government who are entirely competent.

text; un: ajc

[sparkofgoodness]

Nothing wrong with rats. Known plenty of good rats, myself. Got a bad name after the whole plague thing, but they're a smart lot.

[leitstern]

On the contrary, I have known them to be clueless fools.

I hardly believe prosperous relationships can be found with such craven crowds, personally?

[sparkofgoodness]

[ Bit rude about the rats, but he can let it go. Not everyone is as chatty with them as he is. ]

Dunno about prosperous. In my experience, end of year celebrations normally turn everyone aggressive -- all too stressed and in a hurry.

[ Season of good will and all that. Puts everyone in the mood for murder. ]

[leitstern]

[This is a man who has enjoyed plenty of occasions where there is wine enough for the most law-abiding man to turn criminal. The words he is given are turned over repeatedly and analysed.

How funny, he thinks.]

In your experience? Sounds like you have been to plenty a New Year's soiree, friend.

voice; un: crow

[crowsfeat]

[ A snort. ]

That depends on if you're targeting the actual thieves of the world.

Pickpockets and cutpurses take very little, and often only out of desperation, compared to those who steal from the tables of the masses, after all. Would you dare turn your curses upon the ruling class, I wonder?

[leitstern]

[Fortunately one cannot see him grit his teeth.]

Absolutely. I hardly considered it incompatable with my office to bereave the gentry of their delusions of grandeur. It was my duty to uphold order, though I cannot pretend I punished them in similar fashion.

I hope that answers your question.

[crowsfeat]

You didn't punish them the same?

That figures...

[ But something about her tone suggested she wasn't exactly blaming him for it. While constables were tools of the state, she knew their hands were often tied by that same relationship, unwillingly so. ]

[leitstern]

Not in the manner you imagine. Dissimilar hardly implies they escaped with a slap on the wrist, does it not?

[His own relationship with the state, well that is a story for another time.]

text, un: filament

[omnicrafter]

One cannot give what they do not have. If you're looking at things from the perspective of an idealist or someone who's never been in a place like that before, it must seem heinous, yes. But the crime committed really depends on the circumstances of the people involved, and the society that they come from.

[leitstern]

Oh circumstances, of course. Take pity on circumstance although others raised in similar fashion raise not a finger to anyone. If only clemency should always be so simple.

That said, crime depends on more than circumstance and society; it hinges upon the will of the individual. Reducing it to circumstances does nothing but curtail responsibility.

[omnicrafter]

It's a rather enlightening circumstance, talking with people who haven't eaten in days trying to scavenge warmth in perpetual below freezing temperatures. Try it sometime.

In a perfect society that provides properly for everyone, theft is a petty crime for a cheap thrill at best... Thing is, most of us don't come from a world like that. Wealth and power make certain types of people complacent and complicit. It's often either that or sheer ignorance of what goes on below that causes nobility and ruling classes to overlook the situations that drive people to do it in the first place.

Of all the crimes to think new and exciting punishments up for, I don't think theft should be your main concern.

[leitstern]

Clearly not! Though I hardly think that you can deny that larceny, like grevious wounding and murder, is an act of aggression that encourages retribution. Were one gentleman to loot and plunder another's abode we cannot argue it is meaningless. Not when it violates the victim's personal sense of security and faith in society.

Or will you argue that, too, is meaningless and prove you have no compassion for your fellow man?

text; un: styx

[tothemetal]

[Styx's typing style is in stark contrast to Jasper's, almost comically so...but his inquiry had struck a surprisingly personal chord with him. no matter how long it takes his massive thumbs to laboriously text out an answer, he's determined to give it.]

i actually did that once
it was a mouse though but
thats pretty close i guess



dont really think people should be able to do it just cause

[leitstern]

[What the hell kind of grammar is that? He is appalled.]

It would wipe the streets clean which is all some care about.

But in the grand scheme of things, I certainly agree with you. I dislike people running amok myself.

[tothemetal]

[would you believe me if I told you this is a big improvement from his texting habits at home]

i mean
i guess ?
not like you could be everywhere at once though
and
like
basically what you said
if people did that all the time i dont really think itd make them any better than the ratpeople

[leitstern]

[Not without evidence!]

Oh, do you believe adherence to laws and prescripts makes some people better than the rest?

Each individual is generally no better than the next, I should think.

[Jasper is not... a fan of people in general.]