Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #10: Zethraim (9/6/97)
AleaFarris: thank you...Veraik? [Gen turns to channel who just walked in] I'm Alea ambrov Zeor. I'm your new Donor, assigned here indefinitely [hands folder carefully to Veraik]
Veraik: Looks at information. [groan...another Farris]
AleaFarris: [Alea is soft spoken, short] So, this is the new temporary Sime center? I'd heard the other one burned down...this is a nice new temporary shelter [looks around in approval] except the walls are very bare. At my last assignment I took care of scheduling if you'd like me to help there. [goes over and seats herself on floral sofa]
Veraik: Yes Alea. That would be most appreciated. [tentacle rubs eyes]
AleaFarris: this is comfortable. I'm surprised you got such good furniture. [peers at Veraik] what is it? [stands and goes to Veraik's side]
Veraik: [tentacle indicates] I'm sorry. It's just that.....well....I still can't believe that the Center was burned.
AleaFarris: [projects soothing ambient]
Veraik: We had just moved in.
AleaFarris: [takes elbow] a loss, but it'll work out, I'm sure.
Veraik: [relaxes a little under Alea's influence]
AleaFarris: I'll be glad to assist you any way I can, Hajene [bows head respectfully]
AleaFarris: Zethraim...have you been here long?
Zethraim: Born and raised here, Ma'am.
AleaFarris: ahhh...any children? Grandchildren?
Veraik: We're going for tea, Zeth. Why don't you join us.
AleaFarris: [immediately falls in beside Veraik in Companion's position<G>
Zethraim: [Looks a little in awe] Well, shucks, you youngsters don't need an old man like me slowing you down....1
AleaFarris: [laughs low] oh, please. We'd love your company
Zethraim: [finishes emptying waste basket and puts it back beside its desk]
Zethraim: Well in that case, I'd be happy to join you.
Veraik: [put kettle on and prepares three cups] We have to reorganize the Center and I suspect that you know everything that goes on here.
AleaFarris: [takes tea from Veraik]
AleaFarris: [offers it to Zeth]
Zethraim: Thank you [accepts tea]
AleaFarris: [accepts teas from Veraik]
AleaFarris: so, Zeth, have you donated here often?
Veraik: Zeth. now that Snake has disappeared, I could use soon help to getting the trust of the townspeople
AleaFarris: [sips tea, keeping eye on Veraik]
Zethraim: [To Alea] No, ma'am. Not here.
Zethraim: [To Veriak] I beg your pardon? [politely]
AleaFarris: [nods noncommitally]
AleaFarris: [shifts closer to veraik]
Veraik: [zlins elder Gen] Maybe not but you zlin like you have donated in the past.
Zethraim: [pretends to like tea - serrupticiously adds a lot of honey to cover the taste]
Veraik: No matter. [takes breath]
AleaFarris: how long have you been in this area Zeth?
Zethraim: Well, see, I was born and raised here. Been here ever since before the border moved. This here used to be Gen Territory.
Veraik: Do you think you could talk some of your friends into donating here.
Veraik: They will be paid.
Zethraim: [rubs whiskers]
Veraik: I'm sure they could use the money especially after the fire.
AleaFarris: really?[smiles in interest]
Zethraim: Well, now, that's an interesting question.
Zethraim: You see, donatin' and all that really ain't my area of expertise, if you know what I mean. Some folks is mighty perticular about that subject. I don't know that I want to be the one to bring it up around the dinner table and such.
AleaFarris: [glances at Veraik for permission to speak]
Veraik: [nods to Alea]
AleaFarris: you wouldn't have to be bold about it, Zeth
AleaFarris: actually, we dont' want someone who is going to push this down the people's throats.
AleaFarris: Just be ... friendly...from what I've already observed... you have a kind gentle way about you. That would attract people to you. Being yourself is the best advertisment...and letting them know where you work.
Zethraim: [looks embarassed, but pleased] Well shucks. If I can help you all out by just bein' myself, well I can't hardly refuse that can I?
AleaFarris: and when that opens up the inevatible questions, then you can invite them to come talk with us.
Zethraim: Well, people don't ask me too much about my work.
Veraik: yes.....I've heard how much people in this town respects you.
AleaFarris: since you're working here now and will be wearing our symbol...
AleaFarris: [smiles gain at Veraik ]
Veraik: don't they get curious about you working at the Center?
Zethraim: Well, y'see, there was a bit o' curious circumstances around how I got my job here, and people don't like to ask too many questions. Don't want to be nosy and pry and all. Can't say as I can fault 'em on that myself.
Veraik: oh...why don't you tell me about them, if you don't mind?
Zethraim: Well, you see, my grand-daughter's godmother was very ill.
Veraik: [suddenly turns to Alea and speaks in SimeLan (SL)] His nager is driving me crazy.
AleaFarris: [bows head ] I'm sorry Hajene. [simelan] [moves next to Veraik] When are you due transfer?
Veraik: [listens intently to Zeth while shielding himself as best he can]
AleaFarris: [concentrates on Veraik and tries to match waht he needs]
Veraik: [SL] 10 days
Zethraim: And my wife Rosie, her sister was working up at the uptown Laiy's Hotel, you know, the fancy place.
AleaFarris: [blinks in surprise]
Zethraim: In the laundry.
Veraik: I know the place.
AleaFarris: [nods to Zeth also]
Zethraim: So she happens to know, that there is a channel staying at the hotel, who could use some work. Or I shed say, was stayin' at the Hotel at the time.
Veraik: Which channel was that?
Zethraim: This was round about four, five month ago.
Zethraim: I'm gettin' to that part.
Veraik: [smiles slyly]
Zethraim: So I says, to my wife Rosie, I says, you shed get your sister to talk her into coming down and taking care of Junie.
Zethraim: Junie is the Godmother of all my grandchillen on Yeena's side.
Zethraim: Yeena is my eldest daughter.
Zethraim: And she was very sick. Pneumonia. Everybody thought she was done for.
AleaFarris: [touches Veraiks elbow to see if he'd like more tea]
Zethraim: So I says, Rosie (that's ma wife) you shed git your sister to, you know, talk her into it.
Zethraim: And so Gian, that's my wife's sister,
Zethraim: Said that she wed try and see if she could arrange some way to talk with the channel
Zethraim: and get her to come down into this part of town.
Veraik: [go to tea kettle before Alea gets there] Allow me.
AleaFarris: [smiles knowingly at Zeth before standing] please go on Zeth. Let me
Zethraim: Which we knew wed have to be how it was, cause there's no way in h -- excuse me, Ma'am --
AleaFarris: just get us something to eat
AleaFarris: [goes and retrieves sandwiches since Veraik is keeping his Donor from taking proper care of him]
Veraik: That was very smart of you. Channels are very good at healing pneumonia.
Zethraim: As I was saying, no way we ced reelisticly go up there uptown.
AleaFarris: [projects hunger as passes out sandwiches to Zeth and Veraik]
Zethraim: So she, Gian (that's my wife's sister) wen up into that room on pretence of bringin up some towels
Zethraim: And -- thank you, Ma'am [takes a sandwich]
Zethraim: I really appreciate how kind you all at the Center have been tuh me.
AleaFarris: [sits innocently by Veraik nibbling on sandwich, projecting voracious appetite]
Zethraim: [munches on sandwich]
Veraik: [sighs, nibbles corner of sandwich]
AleaFarris: and so, Zeth, that is how you met?....
Zethraim: Eh?
Zethraim: Oh.
Zethraim: Yes, I was telling you how I came to be working here.
AleaFarris: and who the channel was you met?
Zethraim: I'm gettin' to that part.
AleaFarris: [smiles]
Veraik: So she was getting some towels and....
Zethraim: So my Rosie's sister Gian wen up there and she talked to that channel.
Zethraim: Well. You should have heard the story she came back with!
Zethraim: I never seen old Gian so worked up over something.
Veraik: What story was that.... [amused curiousity]
Veraik: [goes to stand by Alea]
Zethraim: She said, "I have never heard a person spout such filthy language without never speaking a swear word"
Veraik: Who did?
Zethraim: Ma wife's sister Gian said that.
AleaFarris: [meshes with Veraik]
Veraik: oh
Zethraim: About that there channel in the Hotel.
Veraik: [relaxes under Alea's care]
AleaFarris: and the channel's name was?
Zethraim: And then she said, "That child said more and worse when she didn't say a word, than most people say in their lifetime."
Zethraim: Well ah asked her, "Gian, did you get her to come down here or not" And she said, all disapproving like, "Yes I dead," and I ain't never spoke with her since then. (Gian)
Zethraim: But that channel came down heah and healed my poor granddaughter's Godmother, and for that I am forever grateful.
AleaFarris: we'd be grateful too, Zeth, if you'd share the channel's name
Veraik: Channel's enjoy healing people.
Zethraim: Well then, round about a month later, I gets to hearin these rumors.
Veraik: [listens intently]
Zethraim: Seemed that a bad kid from lowertown that done good and left two, three years back had come back an started trouble all new again.
AleaFarris: [glances at Veraik in question]
Veraik: And that bad kid was the channel you have been telling us about?
Zethraim: I knowed what kid they was talking about, too, cause my cousin Phylissa's brother in law's ex wife, that's Delium, had a run in with her when they was both kids, and ain't never stopped talkin about it since.
Zethraim: But I 'spect you don't care about that. Anyway,
Zethraim: I didn't put two and two together until, oh, maybe two, three week after that.
Veraik: I'm here to listen. [smiles congenially]
AleaFarris: [stands and picks up plates--taking them to sink]
Zethraim: After all, I didn't never meet this channel whal she wuz down hear healin June Bug.
Veraik: [is grateful that he doesn't have to eat more than that one nibble of sandwich]
Zethraim: But whan I heard this kid had ben up in Zee-or and come back down in desgrace, I started thenkin.
AleaFarris: [stiffens at mention at Zeor]
Veraik: ZEOR!
AleaFarris: [hurries to Veraik's side]
Zethraim: Yez Ma'am.
Zethraim: On account of, somethin' Gian tol me back before the whole thing with Junie bein' sick happened...
Zethraim: When she had told me there was some channel stayin at the hotel and there was some kinda bad publecity about the whole thing, but it was supposed to be very hush hush.
Zethraim: I hed kinda forgot about all that until the rumors started comin around.
Zethraim: So I'm thenkin, this channel who helped us is mebbe tha same one as did Delium dirt a while back, an I thought, "Well, now, poor Willem -"
AleaFarris: [strained patience]
Zethraim: " -that's my cousin Phylissa's brother-in-law-"
AleaFarris: if you'll excuse me Hajene. I have some things I need to do
Zethraim: "is never going to hear the end of this now. On account of, she never stepped talkin about it even back when that channel weren't around!!
Zethraim: So I thet I'd do me a good deed.
AleaFarris: [gives Veraik a nageric slap to wake him up]
Zethraim: I whan an told Delium and Willem thet that channel did us a service and we should live an let live
Zethraim: An I guess it must of done some good, because a few week later, who come by but Snake herssef, sayin' she could gev me a job here at the Center.
Zethraim: An I ben here ever since.
Zethraim: Sorry, I do get tuh ramblin'. I hope I didn't bore y'all none.
Veraik: Snake [looks sternly]
AleaFarris: [glances worriedly at Veraik]
AleaFarris: [in simlean] I remember her from Zeor. Was she here?
Veraik: [smile with a touch of strain] That is quite all right.
Veraik: So you know Snake. Can you tell me where she is now?
AleaFarris: [looks to Zeth for Alea certainly doesn't know]
Veraik: We, at the Center, are very worried about her.
Zethraim: [rubs whiskers]
Zethraim: Well, now....
Veraik: So Zeth, if you know anything, please tell us.
Zethraim: Thet there is a bit of a sticky question.
Veraik: And why is it? [show a little impatient strain]
Zethraim: Ah seed her durin the Fahr, when we was tryin a stop the fahr up at thuh Canal.
Zethraim: [frowns a little at the signs of impatience... starts to speak even slower in an attempt to be careful what he says]
Veraik: A fahr? What is that?
Zethraim: Fahr [attempting to enunciate] whet burnt down half tha docks
AleaFarris: [thinking we should take this janitor out and shoot him put us out of our misery]
Zethraim: But I herd a rumor she wan't involved with thes place no more.
AleaFarris: [turns in surprise to Veraik]
Veraik: [sends a nager nudge to Alea to indicate her feelings are showing]
AleaFarris: [tamps down control]
Zethraim: But seein as how she never tol me not to show up here, I figgered ah'd better keep on comin to work. So hair I am.
AleaFarris: that's good, Zeth.
Veraik: And we appreciate it that you are still with us.
Zethraim: [Slightly embarassed] I don' know what good I ken do you, I'm just a slowed down old man.
Veraik: WE all do what we can.
Zethraim: [puzzled at Veraik's choice of emphasis]
Zethraim: Ah reckon we do.
Veraik: And speaking of want can be done. Do you think that you can get your friends to donate?
Zethraim: [becomes a little bit wary for the first time]
Zethraim: Mebbe...
Zethraim: Ah won't know until ah try.
AleaFarris: [moves closer at Zeth's actions to help Veraik shield]
Veraik: As I said earlier, any donor would be paid....I think that your friends would be surprise at
Veraik: how much
Zethraim: [scratches his head] A lot of folks already got their own arrangement for that type o' thing
Veraik: Is there anything that you would like to buy for your Grandchilden?
Zethraim: [rubs his bristly chin]
Zethraim: Well,
Zethraim: Thet's a bet of a tricky question.
Veraik: and why is that?
Zethraim: Y'see, there's some thing the chillun need, and the granchillin need, they's no denyin that. Bet if'n I gev my Donation to you all, then I loses some other services ah'm alreddy paid for now.
Zethraim: I 'spect a lot of other folks is in the same setuation.
Veraik: What are you talking about??
Zethraim: Well,
Zethraim: you see,
Zethraim: I needs to give ma donation to my usual person, or ma granchillren won't be pertected from the people as want to take advantage of the weak.
Veraik: PROTECTION!!!!! Who is doing this?
Zethraim: [a little bit surprised] Son, thes has been goin on a long time, ever sence I was a kid mysself.
Zethraim: Only difference weth Snake is, she'll take Donation insted of money, and there aint
Zethraim: many who is willin to do that.
Veraik: What!? This must stop. [goes to desk]
Veraik: Snake....
Veraik: Well, I plan to tell the Tecton authorities about this.
Zethraim: [gets to his feet, muscles all stiff and old bones sore]
Veraik: This will stop and it will stop soon.
Zethraim: Now don't go gettin all riled up now.
Veraik: Thank you for talking to me Zeth. Please keep your ear to the ground.
Zethraim: I didn't mean to cause no trouble for Snake.
Veraik: That is the best you can do for this Center and your friends.
Zethraim: [looking a little bit worried now]
Veraik: It is time that Bender Cove comes out of this tyrany.
Zethraim: She's had more'n enough trouble in life and she is making it a better place.
Veraik: Snake ...Snake is running frightened without knowing that there is nothing to be frightened about.
Zethraim: [listens; confused]
Veraik: If you see or hear from her, tell her... the order was removed and she is safe.
Zethraim: [puzzled; mouths the words as if trying to memorize them]
Zethraim: I don't know as I'll see her, bet if I do ah'll tell her whet you said.
Veraik: Tell her to come back and remind her that she came back her to help her people.
Zethraim: Eh... okey, bet I cant promise anything. I dont barely even know her.
Veraik: That is what she told meand after listening to you,...
Veraik: I understand even more for desparately this town requires help.
Veraik: I know...just give her the message.
Zethraim: Thess here is a strong town. We people hang together,
Zethraim: I'll gev her the message ef I see her.
Veraik: I know and that is why I know you can get the message to her.
Veraik: That is all that I ask.
Zethraim: I hef to get back to work.
Zethraim: [picks up a mop]
Zethraim: People tracken in ash all over.
Veraik: Thank you for stopping by.
Veraik: I know. The Center will help in anything that the townspeople requires.
Zethraim: [Zethraim leaves without remembering to thank Veraik for the tea... a sure sign of distress]
Veraik: You can tell your people that as well.
Veraik: [smiles in hopes after the old man leaves]
Veraik: [Goes back to work]
Notes:
1) Well, it can't be said he didn't give them advance warning. :) [return]
Go on to Episode #11: Snake Returns
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