To Slap, or Not To Slap

But just then Eukles heard a slap and a shriek and turned, along with much of the rest of the crowd, to see an unmarried lass, red faced, staring at Meriones and clutching her backside. “What?!” She spluttered, “What did you mean by that?”

The crowd, except for a few chuckles, was silent. As was Meriones, who stood grinning at the lass. “Well?!” She said, leaving off rubbing to put her hands on her hips and glare at him.

“I believe that I can explain,” Eukles heard, and everyone, for everyone was watching now, and the music had stopped, turned to see a tall, very well tailored, Naval officer (of some rank, Eukles never did understand navy ranks) walking toward the couple.

“He hit me!” The lass said, indignantly.

“Not… officially,” the officer said. “As you may know, the silent code is acted out rather differently in different areas of the Empire. Where our young friend comes from,” he said, pointing at Meriones, “A, umm, what he did is considered in the room of a tap on the shoulder.”

“Well, I never!”

“No, and perhaps he should have taken that into consideration. although, then, perhaps not. Perhaps he means to go on as he has started.”

Meriones held out his hand, and the lass looked at the officer, “And what does THAT mean?” She asked, “The same as with us?”

“Not… quite,” the lad admitted. “If you… if you reject this lad, the proper thing to do is for you to slap him… on the face,” he added, quickly.

Meriones leaned forward and presented his cheek. “If I… what about my guardian?” she asked, waving at a sub-commander standing nearby and, frankly, grinning.

“The New Irish do not use guardians, as such,” the lad said. “A young lass’s father, or her brothers, if they wished to object, would interpose themselves… with a good deal to say, normally.”

“But, normally, in a situation like this, the lass will do the speaking herself, after she slaps him.”

“And… and if I don’t slap him?” She asked, after a long pause.

Meriones turned and held out his hand again, “Then you, and your guardian, will be presumed to have given consent.”

The whole room held their breath while the lass stood, glaring back and forth between Meriones and the officer. Then she rubbed her backside one last times and held out her hand. When Meriones touched it, the room gave off a cheer, and the music resumed.

“I’m glad you didn’t do that!” Eudoria whispered.

“I didn’t think you would understand it,” he confessed.

Her eyes widened, “You are New Irish?” She asked.

He nodded, “Half breed. My father was more cosmopolitan and gave me my coloring,” he said, pulling at his beard. “My mother was straight new Irish. Meriones and I are from the same area, if not quite the same… ummm… economic circumstances.”

“Well, I’m still glad you didn’t do that. You know him?”

“Meriones? Oh, we know each other well. I think she will enjoy him. Do you know her?”

“Yes… she is interesting. Shy. That must have been a shock to her. But she was desperate to get married.”

He gave her a quizzical glance. “It is hard,” she said. “She is too smart, really. The lads umm, that we know, don’t like their wife to be more intelligent than they are; and if a lass is too shy they don’t really… our lads expect our lasses to take some initiative.”

Eukles laughed, “So do the New Irish, although sometimes brothers will do the talking for them. But Meriones has been so focused on making leader, and the front is so void of marriageable lasses… they get snapped up as soon as they come of age.”

“And, of course, he won’t mind her father’s money.”

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Our Story so Far:

Illoia, the smart, snobby, social, daughter of the local sector governor, was returning home ON A SPACESHIP when she and all of the other unmarried lasses were informed that their attendance was required at an Article 17 dance: a social event designed to get wives for unmarried soldiers. She was shocked to be forced to dance by Tom, Leader Cladin Tomirosh, a thrice-decorated hero on his way, along with the other soldiers, to the front lines.

She found him socially inept, brash, annoyingly forward… and he hums all the time. But she has been unable to get him to buzz off.

Meanwhile two other leaders are dancing with their chosen lasses, who seem much more willing about the whole thing.

Characters: 

Leader Cladin Tomirosh (Tom):

Socially inept, thrice decorated hero, hums all the time, dances poorly.

Illoia su-Tareno:

Governors daughter, socially ept, snobby, very bright.

Aleshia:

Illoia’s friend whose father is ‘disgustingly rich’. Likes to put on a ‘foolish’ persona.

Leader Eukles Ellin:

A leader, like Tom, but not so heroic.

Eudoria:

The daughter of an upper class merchant (whose father isn’t so rich as they make out), chosen by Euckles.

Meriones:

A leader like Tom, New Irish and rather proud of it. Swatted Marja on the backside by way of introduction.

Marja su-Fensta:

Meriones lass, still smarting from the swat on the backside Meriones gave her by way of introduction, but thrilled to get a husband.

Medinia:

A short, stout lass whose father is well off but finding her difficult to place.

Vocabulary: 

The Articles: Some sort of laws (more later :); 

Lad:

Man/Young man 

Lass:

Woman/Young woman

 Littlie:

Young child 

(Draftee, Recruit, Ranker), Mid-ranker, Top-ranker, Leader, Sub-commander, Commander, Staff major:

Military ranks listed in order of rank (ie a commander outranks a sub-commander etc.

Hero:

a military (or civilian) man whose honour(s) are more important than his rank.

Silent Code:

A ‘law’ that was never officially stated but which everyone understands.

Ash:

The dictators secret police.

(Other vocabulary changes so far not very important)

Setting:

A Star Liner jointly run by the navy and a civilian company (the company owns the ship, the navy staffs it, its passengers are both civilians taking trips from planet to planet and military on their way to/from assignments. It is very spartan, with some luxuries, and slightly bigger compartments for the (first class) civilian passengers. Everything made out of metal, no perfumes etc allowed, rigid divisions on where people are allowed to go.

Government:

A military dictatorship in the middle of an enormous war against aliens.

Culture:

A bit reminiscent of Napoleon era Britain. Formerly an aristocracy, the dictatorship has changed things up.

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Some AI images that don’t reflect the story :)

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

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Links

Article 17

Intro // Podcast Version

She was pretty, popular, snobby, and a planetary governor’s daughter. He was the son of shopkeepers, a social misfit, and a decorated hero. She thought she was there to dance. He had other ideas.

A Dance // Podcast Version

As a governor’s daughter, Illoia usually avoided such events, but when the captain made the announcement that there was to be an Article 17 dance, she, too, was forced to attend. If only the scum hadn’t been there too.

The Unbridgeable Chasm // Podcast Version

Eukles and Meriones, brave military leaders, quail at cross the gulf between themselves and asking a lass to dance.

There He Is // Podcast Version

The young hero comes in, and Aleshia and Illoyia gossip about him.

Look at the Young Hero // Podcast Version

The young hero comes in, and greets Eukles and Meriones… and announces his intentions.

Target // Podcast Version

Tom, Leader Cladin Tomirosh, sets his sights on the governors daughter. She isn’t impressed.

Fuming // Podcast Version

Tom and Illoia dance, while she desperately tries to get him to go away!

Contract Marriage

Contract marriage is an adult dystopia examining the issues of marriage. Like 1984 and Brave New World, Contract Marriage treats the relations between the sexes as a fundamental aspect of how a society is formed and, thus, how a society can go wrong.

Unlike those dystopias, Contract Marriage isn’t all horrible all of the time. The characters for the most part have a good time and get along in their society. But the issues of sexuality, of marriage or not, monogamy or not, faithfulness or not, and gender roles… keep coming up and causing tension and conflict and joy and pain.

My desire is that my readers would be thinking along with my characters about these issues and perhaps even arrive at the same place (minus the flying cars).

Introduction

In which I lay out the themes that I intend to explore in this light Dystopia, and ask others to participate.

Trade Master: First Chapter // Podcast Version

In which Fenestra, our heroine’s mother, puts in her application for the job of 'Trade Master’ on the planet Libertas, and finds out that it isn’t that easy.

En-Drek Contract // Podcast Version

In which Fenestra finds out that, on Libertas, everyone must be in an ‘En-drek’ contract… a long-term, live-in, heavy date between a man and a woman for the purpose of producing one child after the other with one date after the other.

Disappointment and Meditation // Podcast Version

In which Jellia, the daughter and our heroine, finds out about her mother’s job opportunity, including its difficulties, and commits herself to meditating on the situation. (And internally commits herself to encouraging her mother to take the job.)

Decision Reached

Jellia tells her mother that she thinks she should take the job, and so her mother puts in her application… and gets the job!

First School

Jellia goes to school and gets to tell everyone about her new adventure.

First Work

Fenestra goes to work, and tells her coworker about her new opportunity.

Writing Class

Jellia writes a poem (a limerick) and tells her classmates more about her new adventure.

Trader Galloway

In which a man comes over for a ‘date’ (Ie to sleep over with her mother) and to tell them all about his time as Trade Master for their company on Libertas. And as how he was almost executed for asking a woman out on a date.

Shopping

In which Jellia and her mother go shopping for the last time, and we explore some of the nature of the planet she is leaving.

Language

In which Jellia starts using some new words at school, and everyone gathers round to find out what they mean.

Kesh-i Cooking Class

In which Jellia finds out that children (Kesh-i) on Libertas are expected to cook.

Trade Master Training

In which Fenestra begins her training for her new role, with an old enemy.

Two Week Date

In which Fenestra and Alex decide to date for the next two weeks.

The Facts of Life

In which Fenestra brings Alex home, and Jellia isn’t impressed. Although she is interested in how dating works for boys.

Snips

In which Jellia spends time snipping with a boy, and brings him home.

Kissing

In which Jellia and her mother both have a sexual ‘last fling’ before they leave, and Jellia practices the new kisses she will need for her new planet.

Off Ephemera // Podcast Version

In which Jellia and her mother arrive at the shuttle port, go through some annoying formalities, and take off!

And Fly! // Podcast Version

In which Jellia and her mother board their spaceship, and Jellia starts doing her homework.

Abstinate // Podcast Version

In which Jellia gets bored, rejects an older gentleman, and rejects her mother’s idea of dating.

Older Kesh-u

In which Jellia learns more about what Kesh-u (children) are allowed to do on Libertas.

Fertilit // Podcast Version

In which Jellia and her mother are taken off birth control by an odd doctor.

Decon

Jellia and her mother arrive on their new planet, go through an awful decontamination, get sent to a briefing, and receive their first kiss/greeting!

Briefing

Jellia and her mother are warned that the laws on Libertas can be very serious.