Lannayerd
You know what a lanyard is: a looped string or cloth of some kind, usually worn around the neck, with a clip on the end that holds a small slip of paper or special identifying pendant. They’re pretty common.
Perhaps, though, you’ve never heard of a Lannayerd.
The Lannayerd is also a functional neckpiece, but to a tourmite, it is their most important possession.
Lannayerds are laden with far more clips, papers, and pendants than a regular lanyard. Tourmites wear them with pride, and rarely, if ever, remove any of the ornaments, even if the events are long since over or they’ve already passed through the relevant checkpoints. The lannayerd owner’s entire life story is contained in this dangling, jangling collection of tickets, day-passes, identification badges, stickers, and any other documents they can hang on there. It’s a portable scrapbook with which they can relive memories and provide proof of their accomplishments.
The material with which the strap itself is composed is also significant. Larval tourmites begin with a simple string that holds their laminated birth certificate. “Baby’s First Swag” baptismal ceremonies are conducted at the offices of the Greater Gri’x Association for the Preservation of Excessive Bureaucracy. When the family’s number is called, the officiant stamps the infant’s original birth certificate, makes copies for the files, stamps the proud parents’ medical history cards*, signs the Special Permission to Release a Reasonable Amount of Confetti in the GGAPEXB Lobby form, offers congratulations to all present, fills out a work order for the janitors to come and clean up the confetti, and sends the celebrants on their way through the exit line, indicated by the yellow ropes that lead down Hallways 16, 19, or 76.
As the tourmite ages, the leather string is replaced stronger, thicker straps of cloth or soft leather. The owner is free to choose their favorite colors and/or patterns, so long as the strap chosen is appropriate for their current collection. If it’s not sturdy enough, it is likely to break easily—an event that leads to one of two consequences:
To lose one’s swag collection due to an untimely neckstrap failure is the most soul-wrenching experience a tourmite can have.
However, so long as the collection is safe, a broken neckstrap is a cause for celebration—it represents growth, accomplishment, and advancement. The more neckstraps a tourmite breaks over the course of their life and travels, the more social status they enjoy. The Choosing of a New Strap Ceremonies are important events in every tourmite’s life, involving gifts, treats, and an exotic destination party in their honor. (Those who seem to intentionally choose weaker straps that will break easily are accused of cheating, and they will find themselves snubbed by other tourmites at their own parties.)
*One stamp per child—after ten stamps, the family receives an all-expenses paid trip to MouseWorld from the Interdimensional Go-Club, providing that they’re all members in good standing.
*One stamp per child—after ten stamps, the family receives an all-expenses paid trip to MouseWorld from the Interdimensional Go-Club, providing that they’re all members in good standing.
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