[Lauchenoiria]

Elfwood Men’s Federal Prison, Melissa Province, Lauchenoiria

Clay Moss was a mix of bemused and outraged that the Lauchenoirian government had actually imprisoned him after the whole Xiomeran affair. Of course, all of his friends were in prison here too, so it wasn’t nearly going to be as bad. There were loads more WOE members in Elfwood Prison; including another pair who’d been in Xiomera, Toni Oquendo and Demetrio Iglesias. Although, somehow, the food was worse.

He was sitting at breakfast loudly complaining about the taste with the pair, and telling overexaggerated stories of his ordeal to anyone who would listen. Toni and Demetrio found it, if not amusing, then reassuring that at least they hadn’t suffered quite as much during their brief time in Xiomeran custody.

Nearby, two other prisoners who were all too familiar with Xiomeran custody found it hard to keep silent. Tlixō and Xōne had been in Lauchenoirian prisons for over three years now, but were originally from Xiomera and had spent their own fair share of time in prisons there. The two former activists sat quietly and listened to Clay spin his tales.

“And it was almost like her eyes glowed red!” he said of Mariya.

“Clay, you said that yesterday,” Toni groaned.

“And the day before,” Demetrio added.

"Xiomeran interrogators do not have demonic eyes. Even that one. Ask me how I know," Xōne finally snapped. Like the Lauchenoirians, he had finally had enough of the stories.

“Oh look, Xiomerans!” Clay said, turning to them. “Did you also post too many WOE memes on social media?”

"No. We tried to set fire to the Xiomeran embassy here years ago, and your government saw fit to toss us in jail for it," Xōne replied with a sigh.

Tlixō nodded. "I doubt anyone in here claims the Lauchenoirian government though, they
tossed us all in here after all."

“Oh hey, we tried to spray-paint an embassy!” Toni replied. “But yeah, Alvarez just keeps doing whatever whoever threatened her last told her to. It’s silly.”

“I heard the Xiomerans offered her free snakes,” Clay said.

“Your demon interrogator must’ve hit you over the head too many times,” Demetrio said to Clay.

"I would not be surprised if Calhualyana did offer Alvarez something though. Either threats, or bribes. Maybe both. Politicians are all alike. They are self-serving swine," Xōne sneered. Tlixō simply rolled his eyes.

“I’d still rather be here than be in prison in Xiomera,” shuddered Demetrio. “Even though this disgusting slop is inedible,” he shoved his breakfast bowl away.

There was a shout on the other side of the room as two men with what appeared to be gang tattoos started yelling at each other in Kvaskm and shoving. All the prison guards rushed towards them. A couple more WOE people joined their table to get further from the fight.

"Believe it or not, we'd rather be back in Xiomera. We left a lot of people behind there. And the opposition to Calhualyana, such as it is, could use some help." Tlixō toyed with his own bowl of food.

“Won’t they just kill you if you go back?” Clay asked with zero tact.

"It depends. I mean, they didn't kill you, after all," Xōne snorted. "Even the Empire usually reserves death for the most dangerous threats. They prefer to keep people alive, as examples. But you know that now."

"They're probably just gonna send spies to kidnap us all so they can torture us," one of the other WOE members said glumly. "Since our government here won't do anything about them just, like, snatching people off our streets."

"If you haven't done anything directly against Xiomera, you probably have nothing to worry about. Imperial Intelligence doesn't have enough spies to kidnap all of you," Xōne replied.

"And what if we did do something to them?" He asked. "Or, well, planned to, at any rate."

"If you just planned to, I wouldn't worry too much. A lot of people want to do things to Calhualyana and her regime, ImpSec isn't going to send agents after all of them. Can you imagine the time and effort involved?" Tlixō said in what was meant to be a calming way.

"Of course, if you actually did do something to the regime, or were close enough to doing something to be a credible threat, you're probably screwed just like us," Xōne laughed. This earned him a glare from Tlixō.

"Do you think they'll want us back?" Toni asked. "For what we did in Tlālacuetztla?"

"For some spray paint? No. Even in Xiomera, vandalism isn't a serious enough offense to bother with if they didn't catch you right then and there," Tlixō chuckled.

"Phew," Demetrio said. "Are you really gonna willingly go back there once you're out?"

"Yes. We have loved ones back there. Also, screw Calhualyana." Xōne had a grin on his face that didn't match the serious tone of his voice.

"To each his own," Demetrio shrugged. "I'm gonna get the hell out of Lauchenoiria, after, personally. This place is falling apart. I bet someone will invade it before 2030, the only question is who."

"Don't be an idiot," Toni rolled his eyes. "You sound like Clay. I know you got a fright in Xiomera, but you gotta get your confidence back, man! This doom and gloom isn't you."

"Even if someone were to invade Lauchenoiria, there are plenty of countries that will help it. It's funny, we actually wish someone would invade Xiomera and get rid of Calhualyana," Tlixō responded. "Then maybe democracy would actually have a chance there."

“What about the demons though?” Clay asked. “The ones possessing her and Mariya.”

Toni and Demetrio sighed in unison, one shaking his head and the other rolling his eyes. They didn’t know if Clay was insisting on this because it made a better story, or if he genuinely believed that Mariya Adema and Calhualyana were possessed by demons. Either way, it was getting old very fast, and in prison there was nowhere to get away from it.

"They aren't possessed by demons," Xōne said dismissively. "You're too smart to believe that. One doesn't have to be possessed by some farcical evil spirit to do evil things. Humans are more than capable of it all on their own."

“But what if that’s even scarier?” Clay said in a small voice, his demeanor shifting.

Tlixō sighed. "All you can do is face them as best you can. And keep going. They count on being so scary that they get you to quit on your own, just give up on everything. You can't do that."

Many of the WOE members were nodding along to this. Not all of them had any experience with Xiomera. But all of them were angry with at least one government; and very few of them intended to allow themselves to be intimidated by their brief imprisonment. It seemed, perhaps, as if Lauchenoiria had not stopped WOE - merely delayed them.