"It is," he answered simply. "And you wouldn't believe the number of petitions I get to lift the restriction."

With a sigh, he leaned back against the cushions. "I practically have a box for them all to go in. It's... it's just not that simple. Nothing about any of this is simple, cut and dry."

Finally, he managed to get an arm free, and relieved his tail. He'd tucked the duck to sit on his shoulder and remain vigilant.

"But I try to explain why, and it's forgotten in two generations. It just becomes a lesson in futility."