08-22-2019, 05:11 PM
(Jointly written with Lauchenoiria)
Buttercity International Airport
Detention Area
They were shown into a bland room by two police officers, a man and a woman. The woman pointed at two uncomfortable looking chairs and gestured for them to sit.
"Tlixō and Xōne?" The man asked, neither his voice nor his facial expression giving anything away about the state of his mind. He eyed them both, waiting for them to confirm their identities.
"You know who we are. Is there a need to play this game? You didn't pull us in here to have tea," Xōne said bitterly. This prelude to interrogation, in this blandly run-down room with two police officers, was already beginning to remind him of his previous run-ins with the Xiomeran tribal police in his youth, and then with the Imperial Police when his roster of "crimes" had grown more impressive. The only difference was that back in Xiomera, the interrogation rooms were in better shape and had better coffee. Xōne had no patience for this latest installment of real-life cop drama in his life.
"Xōne, don't be rude," Tlixō said. The more diplomatic of the two in this particular One Huenya cell, Tlixō was clearly of the opinion that antagonizing the Lauchenoirians wouldn't help their situation. "We are Tlixō and Xōne, yes. I would ask what we could do for you or why we're here, but I suspect I already know. No pun intended with the word suspect," Tlixō added, trying to lighten the mood.
"The two of you are under arrest for attempted arson for the attack on the Xiomeran Embassy on the 8th August," the man said, taking the seat opposite Xōne, the woman sitting beside him silently.
"Attempted arson. That's great. Do you know why we were trying to leave just now? The government back home is arresting our friends and family because they want us back home. Our friends and family have done nothing wrong, but the government doesn't care. And you're detaining us for attempted arson. Arson we didn't even succeed at. We barely scorched the front door, but sure, that's worth my boyfriend spending 10 years in prison for. Are they serious?" Xōne asked Tlixō in exasperation.
Tlixō waved his friend down irritably. "I'm sorry for his lack of patience, but he is correct. The government of Xiomera is detaining our families and friends to pressure us to surrender ourselves to them. Your holding us here puts them in grave danger," Tlixō said.
"What the Xiomeran government may or may not be doing is irrelevant," the woman said, speaking for the first time. "What concerns us is your activity in Lauchenoiria. You attacked the embassy in a willful act of premeditated violence. People could have got hurt. Events in Xiomera are not under our control. I'm sorry for your families, truly. But that is not our fault. You chose to commit a crime in Lauchenoiria, and you must answer for it."
"Now they show backbone?" Xōne muttered in Huenyan to Tlixō, whose facial expression had grown concerned.
"We know we did something wrong. We are not trying to evade punishment. If you want to see justice done - " Tlixō began.
"Justice," Xōne snorted with a bitter laugh, again in Huenyan.
" - the Xiomeran government will punish us far more harshly than you ever would. Trust me, we will pay for our actions at the embassy if we return to Xiomera. You can even escort us there if you want to make sure we're not just trying to run away," Tlixō said, a slight edge of desperation entering his voice. He reached into his pocket, taking out a photo in a keychain. "These are my parents. They are sitting in a jail cell right now, because of what I did." The picture showed an older couple, big smiles on their faces, standing on a beach with Tlixō.
Tlixō whispered something in Huenyan to Xōne; the other Xiomeran sighed, before taking out his wallet and removing a picture from it. He slid the picture across the table, looking dejectedly at the floor. The second picture showed Xōne standing with another young Xiomeran, who was kissing him on the cheek. "That's Calna, Xōne's boyfriend," Tlixō said with clear fondness in his voice. "He's in jail now also," Tlixō said next, his voice dropping.
After a moment of silence, Tlixō looked up at the police. "We are prepared to face judgment for what we did. We know it was wrong. But all we ask - please think about what will happen if you keep us here. There are still warrants out there - the Xiomeran government will pick us up in a heartbeat and we will face the consequences. Don't let them ruin our families' lives for our sins," Tlixō pleaded.
The woman sighed and looked at the man. Avoiding the gaze of the two Xiomerans, he spoke.
"I truly am sorry for your families. For what it's worth, I don't want to do this. But the decision is out of our hands. You would need to speak with a government official, I think, to discuss such things. There's nothing we here can do."
"I see. In that case....we request to speak with the Xiomeran consulate. I think they would be interested in hearing from us," Tlixō said softly.
Xōne jumped up in his seat at first on the mention of the consulate, as if to object, but when the meaning of Tlixō's words sank in, he sat back down slowly.
"That would be permissible. We will contact them. Is there anything else you wish to say just now?" asked the woman.
"Just this....thank you for listening. We know you're just doing your job. You're not to blame for this. If anyone is, it's the Xiomeran government. We are grateful for having had a refuge here....if only for a little while," Tlixō said. Xōne nodded in agreement. "We will cooperate until such time as a decision is made."
The woman nodded and stood up. Her partner smiled sadly at the two Xiomerans while her back was turned, then stood as well.
"Wait here, please, while we make some calls," said the woman and exited. The man glanced back before following. The door slammed shut behind them, and the sound of a lock turning echoed in the room.
In the ensuing silence, several moments passed before Xōne finally spoke in Huenyan. "Do you think they will allow us to leave?"
Tlixō sighed heavily, replying in Huenyan. "I honestly don't know. Our government will insist on it, but we've seen how far their insistence has gotten them as far as extraditions are concerned. And the Lauchenoirians don't have to extradite us now any more than they did before. Even though we 'attacked' the Xiomeran embassy, the Lauchenoirians are the ones who can pursue charges for that. Or not," Tlixō said. "It will all depend on how our government approaches them after we contact the consulate and offer to return."
Xōne's answering laugh said everything about his opinion of the diplomatic competence of the Xiomeran government. Nothing else was said; all they could do now was wait and see what would happen next.
Buttercity International Airport
Detention Area
They were shown into a bland room by two police officers, a man and a woman. The woman pointed at two uncomfortable looking chairs and gestured for them to sit.
"Tlixō and Xōne?" The man asked, neither his voice nor his facial expression giving anything away about the state of his mind. He eyed them both, waiting for them to confirm their identities.
"You know who we are. Is there a need to play this game? You didn't pull us in here to have tea," Xōne said bitterly. This prelude to interrogation, in this blandly run-down room with two police officers, was already beginning to remind him of his previous run-ins with the Xiomeran tribal police in his youth, and then with the Imperial Police when his roster of "crimes" had grown more impressive. The only difference was that back in Xiomera, the interrogation rooms were in better shape and had better coffee. Xōne had no patience for this latest installment of real-life cop drama in his life.
"Xōne, don't be rude," Tlixō said. The more diplomatic of the two in this particular One Huenya cell, Tlixō was clearly of the opinion that antagonizing the Lauchenoirians wouldn't help their situation. "We are Tlixō and Xōne, yes. I would ask what we could do for you or why we're here, but I suspect I already know. No pun intended with the word suspect," Tlixō added, trying to lighten the mood.
"The two of you are under arrest for attempted arson for the attack on the Xiomeran Embassy on the 8th August," the man said, taking the seat opposite Xōne, the woman sitting beside him silently.
"Attempted arson. That's great. Do you know why we were trying to leave just now? The government back home is arresting our friends and family because they want us back home. Our friends and family have done nothing wrong, but the government doesn't care. And you're detaining us for attempted arson. Arson we didn't even succeed at. We barely scorched the front door, but sure, that's worth my boyfriend spending 10 years in prison for. Are they serious?" Xōne asked Tlixō in exasperation.
Tlixō waved his friend down irritably. "I'm sorry for his lack of patience, but he is correct. The government of Xiomera is detaining our families and friends to pressure us to surrender ourselves to them. Your holding us here puts them in grave danger," Tlixō said.
"What the Xiomeran government may or may not be doing is irrelevant," the woman said, speaking for the first time. "What concerns us is your activity in Lauchenoiria. You attacked the embassy in a willful act of premeditated violence. People could have got hurt. Events in Xiomera are not under our control. I'm sorry for your families, truly. But that is not our fault. You chose to commit a crime in Lauchenoiria, and you must answer for it."
"Now they show backbone?" Xōne muttered in Huenyan to Tlixō, whose facial expression had grown concerned.
"We know we did something wrong. We are not trying to evade punishment. If you want to see justice done - " Tlixō began.
"Justice," Xōne snorted with a bitter laugh, again in Huenyan.
" - the Xiomeran government will punish us far more harshly than you ever would. Trust me, we will pay for our actions at the embassy if we return to Xiomera. You can even escort us there if you want to make sure we're not just trying to run away," Tlixō said, a slight edge of desperation entering his voice. He reached into his pocket, taking out a photo in a keychain. "These are my parents. They are sitting in a jail cell right now, because of what I did." The picture showed an older couple, big smiles on their faces, standing on a beach with Tlixō.
Tlixō whispered something in Huenyan to Xōne; the other Xiomeran sighed, before taking out his wallet and removing a picture from it. He slid the picture across the table, looking dejectedly at the floor. The second picture showed Xōne standing with another young Xiomeran, who was kissing him on the cheek. "That's Calna, Xōne's boyfriend," Tlixō said with clear fondness in his voice. "He's in jail now also," Tlixō said next, his voice dropping.
After a moment of silence, Tlixō looked up at the police. "We are prepared to face judgment for what we did. We know it was wrong. But all we ask - please think about what will happen if you keep us here. There are still warrants out there - the Xiomeran government will pick us up in a heartbeat and we will face the consequences. Don't let them ruin our families' lives for our sins," Tlixō pleaded.
The woman sighed and looked at the man. Avoiding the gaze of the two Xiomerans, he spoke.
"I truly am sorry for your families. For what it's worth, I don't want to do this. But the decision is out of our hands. You would need to speak with a government official, I think, to discuss such things. There's nothing we here can do."
"I see. In that case....we request to speak with the Xiomeran consulate. I think they would be interested in hearing from us," Tlixō said softly.
Xōne jumped up in his seat at first on the mention of the consulate, as if to object, but when the meaning of Tlixō's words sank in, he sat back down slowly.
"That would be permissible. We will contact them. Is there anything else you wish to say just now?" asked the woman.
"Just this....thank you for listening. We know you're just doing your job. You're not to blame for this. If anyone is, it's the Xiomeran government. We are grateful for having had a refuge here....if only for a little while," Tlixō said. Xōne nodded in agreement. "We will cooperate until such time as a decision is made."
The woman nodded and stood up. Her partner smiled sadly at the two Xiomerans while her back was turned, then stood as well.
"Wait here, please, while we make some calls," said the woman and exited. The man glanced back before following. The door slammed shut behind them, and the sound of a lock turning echoed in the room.
In the ensuing silence, several moments passed before Xōne finally spoke in Huenyan. "Do you think they will allow us to leave?"
Tlixō sighed heavily, replying in Huenyan. "I honestly don't know. Our government will insist on it, but we've seen how far their insistence has gotten them as far as extraditions are concerned. And the Lauchenoirians don't have to extradite us now any more than they did before. Even though we 'attacked' the Xiomeran embassy, the Lauchenoirians are the ones who can pursue charges for that. Or not," Tlixō said. "It will all depend on how our government approaches them after we contact the consulate and offer to return."
Xōne's answering laugh said everything about his opinion of the diplomatic competence of the Xiomeran government. Nothing else was said; all they could do now was wait and see what would happen next.
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