"A class?"

"Addressing the cause, whatever it was."

"...I don't think I've ever heard of this kind of class -"

"The idea is people commit crimes for reasons and you should address those."

"How?"

"- well, if they stole because they were hungry, you give them food. If they were mad at the person they stole from, you address why they reacted by stealing. If they just get a thrill out of doing things they're not allowed to do, maybe they need better sources for that."

"I need you to be more specific, if I tell them that they're going to imagine - fantasy brainwashing -"

" - I mean, if someone was a kleptomaniac and wanted a subtle artist to help we could arrange that, but the classes are just sitting down with people who did the same thing and some counselors and social workers and talking about what things you'd need to do better in the future."

"I'm not sure they'll believe me."

"They'll think we're lying to you, or you're lying to them?"

"Both."

"...because that's so different from how the justice system in Tapa works?"

"I don't know about Tapa specifically. It's not how things work for reds."

" - okay but the rest of the universe doesn't believe in that and the only reason we haven't invited all of them to live anywhere is because Vanda Nossëo has been promising they're working on it as fast as possible."

"But I only sort of believe you because I've been here for a while."

" - I guess pregnant women and their traumatized immediate family members living in a hotel on a foreign planet aren't really going to get up to a lot of crimes."

"Is it only immediate family, do the grandmas have to clear out -"

" - no, no, anyone who wants to stay can, just, we're not going to have lots of horrible things happening if they're too scared to report crimes, are we?"

"I don't know. I don't know these reds."

Sigh. "Would it be more believable if we just said the punishment for nonviolent crimes will not exceed one local year in prison and the punishment for violent crimes will not exceed eight, except murder, for which you get sixteen."

Nod.

"Well. That's true."

Kvina wades back in and talks to people.

Walks out again. "I told them stuff."

"Thank you. What's your consulting fee?"

"...I thought you'd have some amount in mind if you paid me at all."