xp_logs | Jay and Namor - Fishing License

xp_icarus posting in

Jay and Namor run into some trouble with the New York Fish and Game department. Backdated to August 31, 2024.

The mid-morning sun was shimmering like a jewel on the water of the river Jay and Namor had flown out to for Namor to teach Jay to spearfish. Jay hadn't had much luck at all, but it had been fun and had been taking him out of his head. He was shirtless and waist deep in the river, wings carefully lifted to be as out of the water as possible. (Unlike Namor, he was not waterfowl.) Then he heard the sound of an ATV and the familiar sight of a fish-and-game uniform.

"Ah, hell."

Getting a fishing licence had completely slipped Jay's mind this year, especially with being up here in New York.

Namor, however, seemed immune to looming authority.

"Small men," he lectured, "enjoy feeling catered to. You are in liege with royalty, and we bend to no mere functionary." He may have rolled his shoulders back at that proclamation as if to set himself as a wall against the State Authority of New York.

The warden had gotten out of the vehicle, but was currently not advancing – be it in accordance to how Namor saw the world, or merely because they were on their radio. The soft beeping chatter clashed in cacophony with the drone of birds and insects.

"He don't know that and is just doin' his job of conservation," Jay reminded him. "You know that's why there's Fish and Game officers, right?" Jay wasn't actually sure if Namor did know that. Though he was sure Namor would be able to go on and on about how he knew better than anyone else- and Jay wasn't so sure that didn't have some basis of truth.

The officer did approach after looking at their pole arms with a sort of incredulousness. He was an older man. Certainly older than Jay, and older than Namor looked.

"Officer," Jay greeted with the sinking feeling he would have to hold Namor back from getting something more than a fine.

"Having a good morning, boys?" He asked in the way of a kindly teacher. "Can I see your licences?"

The flat eyed stare the officer got from the King of Atlantis was equal parts shark and dragon. Something scaly from deep beneath the waves that had too many teeth. Still, Namor managed to comport himself into something not made of sharp angles and snarls.

"It is kind of you to ask," Namor said, "but We do not follow your customs or your ways."

Sometimes that royal we could get not just Namor but others into trouble too. "Completely slipped my mind," Jay said, barrelling over what Namor said. "And my friend ain't from here. I'll pay whatever fine there is for the both of us."

The officer looked at Namor in a distrusting way. "Hold on a minute, son. What do you mean?"

That flat stare sharped. "Not your son," and Namor's tone was surprisingly diplomatic, "As I descend from the long and proud line of . . ." He looked over to Jay and sighed. An ID was produced, and it wasn't local. "Canada."

Jay prayed then to the Lord Jesus that this fish and game warden would just take Namor as being a French-Canadian and not look anymore into it.

The warden looked them both over, staring at Namor's pointed ears and Jay's wings before writing out a fine. It was exorbitant. He ripped the paper off his sheet and handed it to Jay.

"I'll be expecting to see both you boys in court to pay that. And it looks like you were over the yield limit for spear fishing in this area anyways."

The man gave the two one more once over before heading back to his ATV.

Jay shoved the paper with the fines in his pocket without looking.

A hand was extended, even if Namor's stare didn't leave the retreating officer. "Show me."

Jay pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to the king. "Now don't go fightin' an officer," he warned. They did, after all, break the law.

"Enough," Namor corrected as he carefully reviewed the citation line by line. "I do not suffer the laws of the surface world. I afforded him more attention than he deserved." It was a statement made like he was talking about the color of the sky. Pausing his review, Namor locked eyes with Jay. "You, however, lost your spine immediately."

"I broke the law and I gotta accept that. I know I broke the law by fishing without a license." Jay looked at Namor, frowning at his accusation of not having a spine. "If the charges ain't what the should be I can deal with that after, but I gotta check on what the exact laws in New York are. Jes' because you don't feel you gotta follow the laws don't mean I don't."

"Do you often just accept the authority of small men?"

"Accept the authority of- do you mean the law?" Jay asked, incredulously. "Yes, Namor, I try t' follow the law."

"There is no perfect law," Namor said. "No justice untouched by those with power. Did you not see how that man's eyes affixed to our wings? He is not like us." He handed over the ticket for Jay's inspection. "Tell me what you see."

Jay looked over the ticket and swore. "That can't be the right amount, even up North," he said under his breath and he set to figuring it, but the numbers didn't make sense in his head. "I can see yer point," he conceded. "Suppose we better get talkin' to Mr. Murdock or Mr. Espinosa, because I don't think whatever nonlegal avenues of takin' care of this you might have in mind are gonna do anything but cause trouble for us."

Namor's expression flattened. "I am a king. Raising one royal finger against that man would not only be beneath me, it would afford that civil servant more than his due. Furthermore, do not pretend I am not a citizen of this 'America.'"

Honestly, Jay hadn't ever thought one way or another on Namor's citizenship. For a good while he hadn't even been sure Namor was alive. "Didn't mean to insult you, Namor," Jay said. "I'm sorry about that."

"Hmp," came with a snort as Namor crossed his arms. "More apologies. I hold the hope you will get over that soon." He was no longer looking at Jay, and he searched for nothing across the wetlands before them. "No," and his voice was smaller as he sighed, "There may be something in humility. I have merely never had a reason to know it."

"I ain't gonna apologize for apologizing when I feel sorry," Jay responded. He watched where Namor was watching.

"Humility ain't a bad thing, you know. Can save you a lot of grief in the long run."

"Listen here. I have earned that grief," Namor responded with just the twist of a smile as they stared out across the weather together. "No one will deny me what is mine."