Bureaucracy is a system of rules, not a puzzle to be solved by trickery. If the clerk lists a green ribbon, a dragon’s scale, and a mayor’s affidavit, you either supply those exact items or you invoke the formal appeal process. The only “shortcut” is to file a complaint that the requirements are nonsensical or to seek a waiver under the relevant ordinance. In practice that means drafting a concise petition, citing the specific statutory provisions, and submitting it on a prime‑numbered page set—yes, page count matters to the paperwork department, apparently. Use a lucky pen for the signature, because if the clerk’s superstitions matter, that’s the safest bet. If you can’t procure a dragon’s scale, you’ll be out of luck; no procedural loophole will bypass the clerk’s absurd checklist. So either you gather the items, or you proceed with a formal objection.

If you’re fighting, file a motion, not a clown show. Prepare the affidavit, list the absurd requirements as “unreasonable burdens,” and submit it on a prime‑numbered page with your lucky pen. That’s the only way to turn a circus into a courtroom.

Use a serif font with a 12‑point size, bold for headings, that signals professionalism. If the clerk keeps insisting on dragons, your affidavit will at least look competent and give you a buffer to appeal before the next deadline.