INTERLUDE -- SCENES FROM TERSNIA
The encyclopedia holds that Tersnia was settled in 1604 by French colonists who set up sugar, mining, and fishing industries. Over the next 100 years, it became a significant east Asian port and had a reputation for a strong, strict rule-of-law and was part of an anti-piracy coalition in the South China Sea.
In 1824, it underwent a change of hands to a family of English-French ancestry. The wealthy patriarch of the English family, Lord Somerset, was one of the wealthiest men of his age although the extent of his holdings is obscured because he held majority positions in a number of far-flung industries and interests and while it is suggested that he oversaw the entirety of the wealth represented (which at one point may have constituted 23% of the East India Company) the historical record is uncertain.
His acquisition of the island of Tersnia and surrounding smaller island and territorial waters was followed by his relocation of his second-eldest daughter and her husband to the island in a lavishly built estate near the extinct volcanic summit named Cougaway. Beatrice Landers nee Somerset held court in the estate for nearly 80 years and was credited with the establishment of both the modern government and English educational system among the natives (as well as the less well regarded establishment of the Church of England).
Lady Beatrice, referred to as the 'tigress' for her strict and uncompromising discipline, was a subject of intense fascination among the islanders. She oversaw the complex and often baroque court-system of punishment enacted and, as a believer in the restorative effects of public humiliation, instituted a number of fairly harrowing protocols for offenses that the lower courts were charged with carrying out.
Notable was the lampin sushan, a sentence where the subject was placed on a public dias naked and with their arms and legs extended. A low-concentration glycolic acid solution was then brushed onto the subject's buttocks and genitals--it was left for a prescribed period of time to sensitize the skin and leave it tenderized for the punishment.
The punishment was the application of a cloth wrap soaked in concentrated hot-pepper extract. The procedure would place a knot of the cloth into the subject's anus or vagina and then wrap it with special care paid to the labia or penis. The subject was then presented for the required period of time.
Another feared implement was the ulupong latigo, a whip that was rubbed with the oil from a native poison ivy like plant and, before use, decorated with prepared nettles along its length such that the marks from it itched horribly and in addition to welts, the subject was also vexed by a vicious rash.
Notably, these and similar punishments were used on both men and women and while undoubtedly intensely humiliating, it was noted by writers at the time that a trip to the public punishment platforms could improve their marriage prospects greatly.
AMIHAN - UPSCALE APARTMENT COMPLEXES -- BOYFRIEND'S TEARS GAME SHOW
Amihan closed her history book and pushed back from the table. There were AI tutors and audio / video learning courses--but her flesh and blood tutor, the formidable Ms Harmony, insisted on the old-fashioned paper-kind of book. Amihan padded from the kitchen table to the TV nook where the screen was showing an alert that coincided with her widget. Benigo, a boy from school in her clique, was on TV!
Well, he was on a punishment game-show which, while far, far less fun for him, was interesting and enjoyable for her! She felt bad for him--this was going to be awful! But he'd earned it pretty well, getting caught with an illicit masturbation toy that had his DNA on the inside. His trip to the local court had landed him on the tawa paralo BATA LUHA! Normally she could get the show on her media feed since it was technically a judicial sentence and limited to the higher echelons of society, but here she could get it because the system knew someone from her circle was featured... and that was part of the punishment.
She curled up on the sofa, tucking her feet under her and let the screen come up.
Ping! She checked her widget,
Diwata: Are you watching!
Amihan: Wouldn't miss it! Poor Beni!
Diwata: I heard the device was made to look like one of the circle's puki's!
Amihan: Eww.
Chesa: WHOSE!?
Diwata: Don't know? Amihan's, I'm sure!
Amihan: WHAT??
Chesa:
Diwata:
Hmmph. If his sex toy really was somehow patterned after her sex this was going to be even more delicious.
The screen came up with border disclaimers that recording was prohibited and that the stream was for approved audiences only. Then it dissolved into the dancing game-show logo for BATA LUHA! Boyfriend's Tears!
It was a stage with a gold curtain and set out were three boys on colorful bright yellow and pink X-racks. They were naked and looked horrified--blushing, squirming. All of them were erect. She could see Beingo there--stretched out. The camera system showed a small circle under each subject with a close in focus on their penis and testicles, the upwards angle showing a small portion of their buttocks and the cleft of their anus.
The three 'contestants' looked wide eyed and squirming. Benigo looked cute--and utterly abashed. He was covered in blush, hairless below his neck, thin. A much heavier boy was next to him, looking like he was trying to squirm out of the bonds. A more muscular and handsome boy was the third, wide-eyed and staring.