"I wouldn't-."
"-into the fields."
...You want John Constantine
farming? Are you nuts? Knowing
his luck, he'd probably raise a crop of
mandrakes.
"-go that far. And he probably doesn't know anything about farming anyway."
Amynta frowns, blinking, then appears to mentally kick herself.
Ah, a bit behind the times, is she?
"Of course he.. doesn't. It was foolish to assume-."
"Three thousand year old assumptions?"
Heh. To be fair, when they came to the island,
most men were either common farmers, soldiers or nobility.
"Yes. I apologise."
"You don't need to apologise, just.. bear in mind that across the world most men aren't involved in farming. Though while we're on the subject, what are your thoughts on the whole Medina situation?"
And those that are
usually don't do the old 'plant and pick by hand' thing you might be used to. Things are rather more
industrial, especially in the first and second-world nations.
Amynta hisses in irritation and shakes her head. "She is a fool. Having children sired by foreign men caused problems even in the Old City."
I look her over. "So is it Kon, Mitchell, me or Daniel who should-?"
And of them, two are technically under five years of age. And Daniel Hall is
happily married.
Edit: Scratch that, I was thinking of his father, Hector. Too many semi-
obscure characters to keep straight...
"No." She hesitates, perhaps worrying about her own abruptness. "I mean, we are not all rushing to have children. Most marriages are just having-. Planning to have, one become pregnant. There is nothing about being women which means that we all instinctively know how to raise children. And the island is not large."
"Do you want a new island?"
True, having the entire population pregnant at once would be
terrible for defence. Never mind those who are asexual or aromantic, and therefore not interested in
anyone.
"I would not insult the gods by-."
"No, I mean, it's well within my power to create a new island here. Or to increase the size of Themyscira itself, you know, to handle the extra people. I'd clear it with the Five before I did anything that would increase their workload."
Maybe consult with
Gaea too, before you go giving her a
facelift?
"Can you believe that I forgot you could perform such feats?"
"After the farming thing? Certainly."
...Well, he
is giving as good as he's getting from her.
Um.
"If you're.. forgetting things a lot, there have been a lot of medical advances in the outside world. And I could attach a quantum wafer in your brain and then you'd never have to worry about forgetting things again."
...Oh, god, that'd be hilarious. A senile Amazon. To be fair, some of them
are older physically, for whatever reason.
"No, it's just that it is so new. I am certain I will adapt."
I nod. "Alright. So how would you resolve the dispute?"
Just out of curiosity,
hmm? I'm sure the regional folk will have different opinions to the City, where Kon is probably focusing.
"Move her to the Embassy until the child is of age. Fifteen years is no time at all to us, and the father would be able to visit."
"And the rest of her family?"
So, a
short exile. Though with the ability to visit, presumably.
"They can visit easily enough. Or move their as well; it isn't a small place."
"And what about future incidents?"
...Because of
course people are going to think 'Oh, of course that won't happen to
me.' Humans gonna
human, no matter how experienced.
"Are homes in New Yark expensive?"
"New York, and, yes. There are cheap places to live and I could just put a Gate there, but that's not going to be near anyone who's sired a child already-." I frown. "Are there other children sired in that way, and this is the first time there's been a complaint?"
...Well,
shit. Leave it to OL to spot the glaring gap in the situation.
She can't quite meet my eyes.
"I am not myself aware of any other-."
Save the sophistry and verbal
evasions for the courts, lady.
"Amynta."
"The idea has been mooted before. I haven't heard of anyone else actually doing it. Most of those who have visited Man's World for sex have focused their interests on women."
Because go with what you know, and look for new grounds. I bet modern sex toys will blow their mind... "How is it
moving by itself?"
Oh dear.
"Has Themyscira sorted out the visa rules?"
...Beyond 'These people are over there, the rest are over here.'? Being
hopeful enough to Give Alan a point of charge there, OL.
"Visa?"
"Rules for who can come here. I know that men need an invitation or they get forcibly expelled, but have you thought about what happens if a significant number of women want to come here?"
And there's bound to be
someone too in love or sick of modern society to care that Themyscira is still something of an antiquarian town in terms of
technology? Oh, sure, they probably have a sewerage system, but
everything else...
"Do you think that's likely?
"For now it's just hook-up visits, but Amazon women are going to start getting attached to New Yorkers eventually. What happens if they want to bring America women for a visit?"
As long as they aren't acting like typical tourists, expecting all their modern conveniences like malls, hot water heaters, electric lights and cell coverage?
"Why would that be a problem?"
"There are about three million women in New York City alone. How many could come here? How many-?"
Keeping in mind that's about
a hundred times the native population. Yeah, I don't see the island coping with
that kind of cultural shift.
"Oh. Yes. I see. But why are you asking me?"
"Because I can't argue for something in the forum when I don't really care and it doesn't affect me. Now that they've decided that there's going to be a relationship, the women of Themyscira need to decide what mechanism they want to use to regulate it." I exhale. "Kon's trying to sound out the city, but so far no one really has an opinion beyond 'Medina's kind of dumb'."
To be fair, she is, if she expected to get away scot free. Seriously, I've seen
almost as bad a comprehension of consequences in
some versions Sophia Hess...
Ahead of us on the beach I see John prop himself up slightly on his sun lounger.
"Think about it. Talk to the other guards. Come to me or Kon with any questions." I glance at John. "And you could talk to John-."
Are you
sure that's a good idea?
"No."
"Good decision. John!"
Well, at least she's got good sense.
I march towards him, while Amynta wisely decides to hang back.
"How's life treating you?"
Besides the amazing scenery, life of leisure and amazing
scenery.
He stares into the middle distance for a moment.
"Bored out of my fucking skull, mate."
Of course he is. Man just doesn't
know what to do with himself if things are going his way...
"How do you feel about farm work?"
"I-. You know something? I'd pick up a hoe right now."
,,,You know that
castration is still an option, John?
Especially if the guards hear you talk about them like
that...
"But that aside?"
"I don't know what Quinn did, but the withdrawal isn't hitting me. It's just the mental aspect. Normally I'd just find another terminal case and dump my need on them, but… Doesn't really seem right, here."
No, no it isn't,
mate. Let's try to curb your
normal courses of action?
"Good, because it's not. And now that you're nicely becalmed, would you like to meet the island's other guest? I suspect that she'll be able to hold your attention."
"Well, with an invitation like that..." He climbs ungraciously off the lounger and stands next to me. "Let's go meet the neighbour."
Huh, not ringing any bells. I'd ask if it were Sparta, daughter of Astarte, but I can't remember if OL has met the Citizenry or not...
Or that one of the four captains... Alcyone?
