Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario

Episode #16: Artistry (9/16/97)

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* wisesnake zlins Alea

<wisesnake> You seem, ah, relaxed today

* Alea looks flustered

<Alea> hello Snake

* wisesnake is checking off incoming inventory that is lying around in shipping crates

<wisesnake> "one urinal, green"

<Alea> I see our supplies arrived

<wisesnake> Yes

<wisesnake> "One toilet, Yellow"

<wisesnake> You know, I never did find out how the police managed to wreck a toilet and a urinal.

* wisesnake moves over to a stack of smaller boxes

<Alea> did our med supplies arrive?

<wisesnake> This is supposed to be everything. I'm not through with the list yet though.

* wisesnake opens a box, looks inside, then checks off items on the packing list

<wisesnake> "Chairs, 3"

<wisesnake> "pendant lamps, 4"

<wisesnake> "Regulation High Voltage Warning Labels, six dozen"

<wisesnake> Sheez, that seems a bit excessivee

<wisesnake> Well, if that's how many they want, that's how many we'll put on.

<wisesnake> We'll be lucky if anybody can FIND the batteries

* wisesnake opens another box

<wisesnake> Ah!

* wisesnake recloses the small box and disappears down the hall with it

* wisesnake returns a few minutes later without it

<wisesnake> let's see here

<Alea> what was in that box?

<wisesnake> "Cans Industrial Strength Tomato Sauce, 8"

* Alea goes over to Veraik's office, pulls out sewing and returns to sit down and watch Snake work

<wisesnake> "Powdered soap, one carton"

* Alea takes sewing out of the loop...smiles proudly

* wisesnake glances at Alea's work

* Alea goes into storage room...rummages around...finds BIG frame

* Alea hauls big frame back out

<Alea> this thing is heavy[huffs and puffs]

* Alea smooths out cloth and works to put it in the frame

* Alea goes back to storage room and gets a hammer and nails

* wisesnake begins to look concerned

* Alea tosses nails down and pries back off frame

* Alea pulling really hard--hammer slips and goes flying

<Alea> ooops

<Alea> that's okay...that was the last part to pry off

<wisesnake> [nervously] Alea, can I do that for you?

* Alea smiles at snake

<Alea> oh no, I'm fine

* wisesnake turns reluctantly back to the boxes

* Alea smoothes fabric again...lays it in frame and then puts back together

<wisesnake> Ah, here's the medical restock.

* wisesnake checks off items, muttering to herself

* Alea sees Snake working diligently and smiles at how much she has changed over the past month

* Alea turns back to wall, hating to bother her

* wisesnake thinks this thing of Veraik letting her requisition things is working out better than she ever dreamed

<wisesnake> And to think I thought it would be a chore!

* wisesnake smiles

* Alea gathers hammer and nails and climbs up on back of couch since she is so short and has trouble reaching anything

* wisesnake becomes engrossed in reading a label

* Alea balances on edge of couch and lifts hammer and nail above her head

* Alea wobbles precariously...sucks in breath, then sighs in relief when she rebalances

<wisesnake> "no side effects? Oh yeah, I really believe that"

<wisesnake> huh.

* Alea positions nail......

* wisesnake opens another box

* wisesnake remembers there was something else she was supposed to be worrying about

* wisesnake can't remember exactly what it was, though

* Alea holds up heavy hammer

<wisesnake> oh!

* Alea is insulted that it feels so heavy over her head

* Alea wobbles in hand

* wisesnake augments and catches Alea's hand with the hammer

* Alea screws up her face in concentration...takes aim at the nail

<wisesnake> Ahhhh why don't you let me handle that.

<Alea> What?!

* Alea looks at Snake in surprise

<Alea> really...I'm fine...you go on with your work

* Alea wobbles again

<Alea> I really should have taken my shoes off before standing on this

<wisesnake> Well I really haven't been doing enough for you lately, and you've been so, [cough] overworked.

* Alea smiling down at Snake sweetly

* wisesnake removes the hammer gently but unstoppably from Alea's hand

<Alea> that's so sweet of you, honey

* Alea looks back down at couch and realizes just how high she is.

<Alea> step back

<wisesnake> Step back?

* Alea bends at knees to jump down

* Alea takes a flying leap to the floor

* wisesnake cringes

<Alea> Yikes!

* Alea windmills, then catches her balance

<Alea> I'm just too short

* Alea sighs

<Alea> these shoes have slick bottoms

* wisesnake shudders

<wisesnake> Where's the nails?

* wisesnake bounces down off the back of the couch and tries to get the nails away from Alea

* Alea digs in pocket of dress

<Alea> I put them here for safe keeping

* Alea hands two to Snake

* wisesnake zlins to make sure she got all of them out of the pocket... wouldn't want her to sit on one and give some poor Sime a heart attack

* Alea negligently drops the rest in her pocket

* wisesnake winces

* wisesnake accepts nails and climbs up to pound in nails

<Alea> I want it right...THERE

* Alea points

<Alea> It will look perfect

* wisesnake tries to figure out where Alea is pointing 1

<Alea> This place needs some color everything is so white

<Alea> centered about the couch Snake

<Alea> You're too far to the right

* wisesnake glances at Alea's artwork to make sure it's something she wants to be associated with.

* wisesnake centers on the couch

<wisesnake> Here?

<Alea> no no...more to the left

<Alea> no...BACK to the right some

* wisesnake is frustrated by the fact that the art is lying face down and she can't see what it is

<wisesnake> oh all right

<wisesnake> Here?

<Alea> yes Perfect

* wisesnake pounds in nails

* Alea wondering if she can't tell her right from her left

* wisesnake pounds in the nail right-handedly, then switches hands and pounds in the other nail with the left

<wisesnake> hum de dum

* Alea turns and starts pulling the frame over to the couch

<wisesnake> Here, let me lift that.

* Alea lifts frame and starts huffing and puffing, pushing it up against the couch where Snake is standing

* wisesnake has visions of back strain, broken glass, etc...

<Alea> here...we[huff]...go

* wisesnake takes frame and hangs it on the nails

* Alea kicks off shoes and climbs up on couch to pull picture up to Snake

<Alea> Don't you like the colors - all primary sewn in various shapes with blue background sorta blending them all together

<Alea> then around that puce green

<Alea> it's my impressions of the Sime, Gen relationship

* Alea beams proudly

* wisesnake squints at the artwork

<wisesnake> I must be too close to it.

* wisesnake gets down off the couch and backs away to a normal viewing distance

* wisesnake studies the picture

<Alea> see how the different colors just sorta bleed together into one big mess of everything

<wisesnake> Yes... I see the big mess.

* Alea points to the very middle

<Alea> I actually was thinking about you when I came up with the idea

* wisesnake zlins in an attempt to figure out what the picture's merits are

<Alea> idea...I'm so glad you like it

* wisesnake grimaces

<wisesnake> Gee, a compliment

<wisesnake> Well!

* Alea thinking that maybe I'll make SEVERAL more and hang them around if everyone likes it that much

<wisesnake> You must be, er, very proud of this, work.

<Alea> oh yes...I've been working on it constantly

* wisesnake can zlin perfectly well Alea is proud of it

<Alea> That's what this Sime Center is missing

<wisesnake> Constant work?

<Alea> It requires a "human" touch

<Alea> well...in my spare time

<Alea> usually when I'm in Veraik's office

* wisesnake looks at picture again, backs up even farther, until she is almost to the door. It still looks awful.

<wisesnake> You know, ah, Alea...

* Alea smooths skirt and pats at the twist at the back of her head as if she's just finished a huge job

<Alea> yes?

* Alea smiling proudly

<wisesnake> I was just thinking...

* Alea goes over and takes list from Snake

<wisesnake> Can I send this artwork to a friend of mine? I think he'd really like it.

<Alea> you know...you have really matured this last month Snake

<Alea> Oh really?

<wisesnake> I'd even pay you for it.

<Alea> well, actually I made this one for the Center

<Alea> but I'd be glad to make another one for your friend

<wisesnake> How long did it say it would take you to make another one? Months?

<Alea> who knows...it all depends

<wisesnake> It looks like a LOT of work went into that. Weeks and weeks of... uh... whatever it took.

<Alea> just tell me when you want your friend to have one and I'll make sure it's done

<wisesnake> I was kind of thinking right now.

* Alea laughs merrily

<Alea> how sweet

* wisesnake smiles weakly

<Alea> oh, I'm sure your friend isn't dying

<wisesnake> oh, come on.

<wisesnake> please?

<Alea> and if he was...then he wouldn't require it

<wisesnake> but...

* Alea waves her hand at Snake

<Alea> you're so funny

* Alea goes into Veraik's office

* wisesnake jumps up and snatches frame down from the wall

* wisesnake puts the frame in an empty box and packs it up

* wisesnake hurries to the front desk and makes out a delivery order

<Alea> Snake! Where did that picture go!

* wisesnake looks startled

<wisesnake> What?

* Alea standing at Veraik's door

<Alea> You took it down!

* Alea nager shows surprise

<wisesnake> No I -- er,

<Alea> If you're friend wants it that bad...perhaps we could leave it up for two days, then send it to your friend

* Alea feels complimented that someone really wants her work that bad

<Alea> But I really would like Veraik to see it

* wisesnake grimaces

<Alea> Oh, and the others

<wisesnake> Actually, if you want my advice,

* Alea smiles

<wisesnake> You might want to stay away from Veraik for at least a couple of days.

* Alea looks wary remembering yesterday

<Alea> why?

<wisesnake> Duh? He's really angry with you right now.

* Alea nager blares with acute discomfort

* Alea smile disappears

* wisesnake squirms

* Alea forces nager flat

<Alea> does EVERYONE know?

<wisesnake> I walked right into that giant fight you two were having, there's no way I could have missed that.

<wisesnake> As far as everyone else, I would have no idea.

<Alea> well, you didn't look quite yourself either

* Alea remembers her talking to statues

* wisesnake declines to comment

<Alea> I'd thought maybe you hadn't realized...

<wisesnake> Okay, well, I was a little depressed. But I was fully possessed of my senses.

* Alea blushes

<Alea> excuse me, hajene

* Alea starts toward Veraik's office but pauses

<Alea> please, leave the picture up...you can send it off tomorrow...but I'd like the...others...to see it

* wisesnake sighs

<wisesnake> That will ruin everything.

* Alea goes into Veraik's office to finish reports she was working on

* wisesnake disappears down the hallway, returns with a blue envelope and sheet of stationary

* wisesnake smiles to herself and sits down at the front desk again

* wisesnake writes a letter

* wisesnake inspects the quality of the forgery

<wisesnake> my, my, my.

<wisesnake> Sometimes I impress even myself.

* wisesnake gets up and goes to the door of Veraik's office where Aleia is

<wisesnake> Alea, what is the title of your piece of art?

* Alea Alea thinks of this as her office and is sad that Veraik will be in later

<Alea> My Life Is Yours

<wisesnake> Ah. Thank you.

* wisesnake returns to desk and continues letter:

* Alea looks oddly but looks back down at reports

<wisesnake> "And so in consideration for the fine display of teamwork and good sense you have recently shown, I would like to present you with this gift, which is the original of "My Life is Yours", a piece which missed nomination for the Arensti Awards by only the narrowest of margins. Its value is inestimable."

* wisesnake smiles happily

* wisesnake forges signature

* wisesnake is very, very, careful with the signature

<wisesnake> Ha ha, I hope he hangs it in his living room!

* wisesnake puts letter in envelope

<wisesnake> Actually if the sucker falls for it, the thing shenned well MIGHT have some value some day.

* wisesnake hides the letter on her person and goes back to her inventory duties

* Alea Alea rubs her neck...finishing up reports

* wisesnake finishes checking everything in and directs some renSimes to put the large items in storage

* wisesnake takes charge of restocking the medical stuff herself

* wisesnake enters Veraik's office and sets all the boxes down, begins pottering with cabinet

* Alea glances up at Snake

<Alea> do you have to do that now

* wisesnake looks surprised

<wisesnake> I suppose I could do the transfer and treatment rooms first.

* wisesnake picks up all the stuff

* Alea signs

<Alea> No, no

<Alea> stay

<wisesnake> [of course]

* wisesnake puts all the stuff back down again

* wisesnake dumps the mess at the bottom of the cabinet into an empty box then restocks the cabinet from the new supplies

* Alea gets up and goes over to help Snake put it up

<Alea> SO, what all goes in here

<wisesnake> See, there's this list stuck in the folder in the side of the cabinet.

* Alea thinks of all of Veraik's stuff she dumped earlier and how much more room they now have for official stuff

* Alea despite Alea's best attempts to stay neutral for the time she will be assigned here, she is starting to act more at home

* wisesnake pulls the list out of the folder and offers it to Alea.

<wisesnake> It has the standard inventory printed on it.

* Alea gratefully takes it

* Alea goes to one box

<Alea> At least we'll have plenty of room in his desk for these pens and pencils and reports since we got rid of all of his toys and magazines

* wisesnake puts things in the cabinet with an experienced speed

* Alea straightens desk

* Alea puts things away

* Alea goes over by Snake to see that she is putting everything up in the right place

* wisesnake seems to have it memorized

<Alea> I take it you've been keeping up Veraik's office before I came?

<wisesnake> Huh?

<wisesnake> Oh.

<wisesnake> No.

* Alea nager indicates Snake's actions

<wisesnake> All the cabinets are the same, I learned this long ago somewhere else.

* wisesnake smiles a lopsided smile

<wisesnake> I guess there is some advantage to the Tecton trying to standardize everything... you don't have to think as much.

<Alea> then how do you know where everything goes

* Alea suddenly suspicous

* wisesnake frowns

<wisesnake> I told you. It's the same everywhere.

<Alea> If you say so

* wisesnake looks tense as she finishes the job

* Alea frowns at Snake

<Alea> what is the matter with you?

<wisesnake> Why does everybody keep asking me that? [annoyed]

* Alea backs away...[coolly]

<Alea> perhaps it's because of the way you are jumping around right now

<Alea> snapping at people, ignoring others wishes

<wisesnake> Oh, give me a break

<Alea> give you a break?

<Alea> a break?

* wisesnake starts picking up all the new boxes

<Alea> I think you've had one, with Tramila now here to help you

<Alea> how about you give the rest of us a break

* wisesnake puts them on top of the box of junk and picks it all up

<wisesnake> For your information, I do not perceieve Tramila's presence here as "a break".

* Alea nager plainly agrees

<wisesnake> In fact, "insult to injury" is probably too kind a term.

<Alea> but since you don't my help with your problems

<Alea> You require Farris help

* Alea thinks, here we go again. What is it that rubs the two of us the wrong way

<wisesnake> Alea, you don't offer help to my problems. You offer driving me insane with your clumsy stunts and your constantly fluttering nager.

* Alea closes herself completely off from Snake

* wisesnake sighs and pushes past Alea to the door

* Alea turns her back, refusing to discuss anymore and goes back to putting the last of her supplies away

* wisesnake goes to the first unoccupied treatment room and begins on cabinet there

* Alea thinks she is glad that those letters were put out for Tarsh

<Alea> can't wait to see what he does to Snake

* wisesnake is upset by the encounter and wonders what she did to deserve being stuck with no Donor for the 2nd month in a row

* Alea thinks of the way she tried to imitate Snake's writing and thinks she will enjoy watching Snake under fire instead of her

* Alea wonders perhaps if Veraik would assign her to Snake so they would be forced to work out their problems

* wisesnake finishes restocking all the cabinets and puts the overstock in the store room

* Alea would much rather work with Snake who is so sensitive

* Alea thinks of all of her traveling and how she has worked with some real doozies in her travels

* Alea thinks it would be nice if she had a chance to get her skills back in order

* Alea knows Snake is too young to understand--nor can she reveal it anyway

* wisesnake returns to the front desk and struggles to figure out what Tarsh would want her to do with the packing slips now that the shipment has been verified

* wisesnake looks around, spots an encyclopediaic set of books titled "Standard Regulations"

* wisesnake sighs

* wisesnake pulls out the index and starts trying to figure out what to look under

* Alea finishes up paperwork

* Alea seals up the many copies that have to be mailed out and drops them in the out box

<wisesnake> "Receiving...? nope"

<wisesnake> "Shipping..? No, that would have been too easy."

* Alea goes out and sees Snake

<Alea> what are you looking for

* wisesnake looks up warily

* Alea nager zlins patient

<wisesnake> The regulations on handling processed shipping documents.

* Alea goes over to filing cabinet...gets in second drawer and pulls out book

<Alea> here you go

* Alea has learned the filing cabinet really good<G>

* wisesnake gives her a look, then takes book

* Alea thinking Tarsh would have a sime fit if he knew just how much time she spent in there

* wisesnake forgets and leaves the index lying on the floor under the desk

* wisesnake ignores Alea and tentacles through the receiving regulations

<wisesnake> shen it, this is ridiculous

* wisesnake surpresses - barely - an instinct to rip all the pages from the binding and throw them away

<wisesnake> okay, stay calm, there has to be some logical structure to this.

<wisesnake> [talking to self]

* wisesnake turns back to beginning of regulations, reads first page

* Alea meanders over to filing cabinet and opens top filing cabinet...rummages through it

* wisesnake maintains admirable self-control as she then turns to page ccvix

<wisesnake> See, there. How perfectly sensible. Now that wasn't so bad, was it?

* wisesnake takes deep breaths, congratulates self

* Alea finds what she wants and pulls it out

* wisesnake lets the regulations book fall between the desk and the wall

* wisesnake finishes processing shipping paperwork

* wisesnake reaches for the file-logging tablet

* Alea makes notes, then slips folder back in, not realizing she stuffed it in someone else's folder, since her mind is on Veraik

<absent> [wise snake notices an envelope peeking out from below the pages on the log.]

* wisesnake pulls the envelope out

<absent> [envelope is addressed to tarsh in a strangely familar script.]

* wisesnake carefully signs the regulation booklet out in Alea's handwriting, then lets the signout tablet, too, fall between the desk and wall

* wisesnake studies the envelope

<wisesnake> That writing looks awfully familiar.

* wisesnake is puzzled by how familiar it is; she has a knack for memorizing handwriting and somehow can't quite place this hand.

* Alea goes over and pulls out picture to replace on wall

* wisesnake notices the envelope is not sealed.

* Alea drags it across the floor, huffing and puffing again

* wisesnake , being at least as curious as any other First Year Sime, pulls out the contents

<letter> [The envelope contains a single piece as paper]

* Alea climbs onto couch...hauling at the frame

* wisesnake has of course completely forgotten about the picture by this time

* wisesnake reads the letter

* Alea steps back onto the back of the couch

<letter> Ever since I first saw you I have been entranced.

<wisesnake> Whoa! This is good.

* wisesnake keeps reading

<letter> I've watched you move with such grace.

<wisesnake> uh-huh, yeah, yeah, keep going

<letter> But I see you every day and I am filled with such longing.

<letter> But I am afraid to say anything to you, because what could you see in me?

<wisesnake> WHO is this love sloshed hack anyway?

* wisesnake keeps reading

<letter> I am writing this letter hoping that will help me organize my mind and give me the courage to speak,

* Alea pulls picture up and wobbles a bit on back of couch

* Alea stops to take a break, breathing heavily

* Alea thinks the picture frame is easily as big as she is

<letter> or so I can truly realize my folly and give up on what I know to be hopeless

<wisesnake> what a pathetic dreamer! sheez!

* wisesnake keeps reading

<letter> If you would love me we could fly away beyond the clouds and dwell in bliss forever.

<letter> But you would never want to try.

* letter is unsigned, but there are round waterstains at the bottom.

<wisesnake> Wow.

<wisesnake> This person is really sick.

<wisesnake> I mean, _Tarsh_, for goodness sake.

* Alea turns and pushes picture up against wall. Squats down to to heft it up

* wisesnake rubs chin, studying the writing.

<wisesnake> I know I've seen this somewhere before.

<wisesnake> Hmmm...

* Alea starts pushing up slowly...edging picture carefully up wall

<wisesnake> It really doesn't look like Alea's writing... I know she has something going with Tarsh.

<wisesnake> Well actually, it DOES look quite a bit like Alea's writing, but not exactly.

* Alea takes a deep breath, gets picture pushed up and hooked over nails

<wisesnake> More leaning toward, er,

* Alea moves to one side to try to straighten it

* wisesnake stares at the writing incredulously

<wisesnake> Oh, she wouldn't!

* Alea leans back slightly to see if it's straight

<wisesnake> Oh yes she would.

* Alea keeps on hand against wall for balance

* wisesnake bursts out in a loud shreik of laughter

* Alea lets go of wall to reach back and move picture a bit more

* Alea Jumps!

* Alea widmills...

<Alea> oooohOOHOH!

* Alea falls

* wisesnake jumps over the desk and augments to try to catch Alea

* Alea misses and she lands on her rump--hard

<Alea> Ouch!

* wisesnake narrowly avoids bowling over a couch after missing Alea

* Alea ducks startled by Snake

* wisesnake is still laughing

<Alea> what...

<Alea> Careful

<wisesnake> hoo hoo hoo!

<Alea> what are you laughing about

<wisesnake> You are about as good at carpentry as you are at forgery!

* Alea looks at snake in confusion then sees letter in her hand

* Alea eyes widen with innocent and her nager blares it

<wisesnake> I have to tell you, it took me several minutes of staring at it to even figure out whose writing it was supposed to be!

<wisesnake> And this poetry... it's... [eyes dart up to embroidery on wall] ... well actually, I probably should have figured it out sooner.

<Alea> I don't have any idea what you are talking about

<wisesnake> I'm just glad I found this before poor Tarsh saw it.. he has enough problems.

* Alea smiles innocently as if not worried that you found it

* Alea shrugs

<Alea> oh well...easy come easy go

* Alea thinking of the many others, including the clothing article missing

* Tarsh is sitting in a cafe sipping trin tea.

* Tarsh reaches inot his pocket for coins, stops, pulls out an envelope of the same size and color.

* wisesnake takes the letter back to Tarsh's desk

* Tarsh turns it over and looks at the front, puzzled.

* wisesnake studies the faked handwriting, then laboriously signs the letter "Alea, in Snake's handwriting"

* wisesnake grins

<wisesnake> I think I'm gonna get this framed. This really made my day!

<wisesnake> heh heh heh

* Tarsh opens the envelope and pulls out the page.

* Tarsh reads the letter, tentacles drumming on the table.

<Tarsh> [tentacles stop]

* Tarsh stares at the bottom of the letter.

* wisesnake bounces down the hall and into her room

* Alea alea rubs her sore bottom but smiles now that picture is hanging back up again

* Alea goes back to Veraik's office

* wisesnake considers various locations, then finally throws the letter on the floor in a corner

* Alea grabs another piece of cloth and some thread and goes back out into the lobby

* Alea merrily begins to sew, watching the front desk until the replacement can show up

* wisesnake sits down at her desk and pulls out the letter "from" the Sectuib in Zeor

<Alea> I think I'll make this one to go right over the filing cabinets

<Alea> perhaps oranges and purples...

<Alea> maybe some mauve added to it

* wisesnake unscrews her trick paperweight and removes her Zeor ring

<wisesnake> That big dummy Tormer will never notice it isn't the Sectuib's ring.

* wisesnake uses ring and seals the envelope

* wisesnake re-hides the ring

* wisesnake accidentally knocks the stationary off the edge of the desk

<wisesnake> shen it!

<wisesnake> look at this. [papers all over floor]

* Alea begins to stitch, thinking of the new wild pattern she is giong to make

<Alea> Heart of Unity

<Alea> yes, that's a good name. Heart of Unity

* Alea pulls out blood red and black and some white to add to the other colors

* wisesnake nudges the stationary into a corner so it sort of blends in with the rest of the mess.

<wisesnake> I'll clean this up later I guess.

* wisesnake goes back to the lobby

* Alea looks up to see snake's approach

* wisesnake finds the delivery order she filled out lying on the front desk and tries to remember what it was for.

* Alea is sitting under the artwork above the couch

<wisesnake> huh.

<wisesnake> Oh!

* wisesnake goes and looks for the box she had in mind for the artwork

* wisesnake comes back into the lobby with the box

<Alea> what's that for?

<wisesnake> Oh, for shipping your artwork. It's just the right size, don't you think?

<wisesnake> Not too large to handle, not so tight it would get damaged.

<Alea> yeah, we'll ship it tomorrow

<wisesnake> You have to put in a lot of padding for shipping glass you know.

* Alea eyes Snake and the box acting protective of work

<wisesnake> Now, now. You'll have another one done in no time.

<wisesnake> Just think of how much your artwork will be helping the Center!

<Alea> yeah, but we're leaving this up until after tomorrow

* Alea zlins stubborn

<wisesnake> Come on, be reasonable. There's no sense in letting everybody see a piece of art they won't be able to see again, it'll just make them miserable.

<Alea> tomorrow is soon enough

* wisesnake thinks that it would make them less miserable than seeing it every day, though

* Alea gets an inkling that Snake really doesn't like her artword

* wisesnake sighs

<wisesnake> Oh, fine.

* Alea gets angry but forces herself not to show it

<Alea> Fine.

* Alea stands

<Alea> Go ahead and send it to your friend

* wisesnake looks confused

<Alea> I'll have another one ready in a few weeks

* wisesnake smiles

* Alea walks down the hall, dragging her other piece of cloth with her

* wisesnake jumps up on the couch, retreives artwork, wraps it up, and sticks it in box

* Alea thinks she'll make a piece of artwork indeed

* Alea goes in Snake's room...locks door

* Alea looks through Snakes things, gathering different pieces of clothing

<Alea> oh, now these panties

<Alea> oh yeah...and this little thing-ie

* Alea looks at the stocking with the toes out

* Alea sees mess of paper

<Alea> ugh...she is such a mess

* wisesnake inserts the letter "from" the Sectuib in Zeor in package, then attaches the shipping order proudly to the front. [to: Police Inspector Tormer]

* wisesnake calls a Tecton courier

* Alea kicks at paper...

* Alea sees one written

<wisesnake> Lets see, what's next?

* Alea sees her NAME written on it

* Alea picks it up...reads it...tears it up...gathers up paper and tosses it out the window in revenge

* Alea goes back to snooping...finding some jewlery, very cheap, and a necklace

* wisesnake gets up to answer the door; gives package to Courier

* Alea takes articles back out of room, and making sure left nothing behind, leaves

<wisesnake> "Be very careful, that's Arensti Award material."

<wisesnake> [smiles pleasantly]

* wisesnake closes door behind courier

* wisesnake wonders how much Alea will stiff her for the piece of "art"

* wisesnake checks her wallet

* Alea hides articles

* Alea goes back to lobby

* Alea smiles at Snake

<Alea> I doubt it will take me as LONG this time to make another piece for over the couch

* Alea smiles sweetly

* wisesnake smiles easily

<wisesnake> You should take your time. After all, you want it to be the best it can be, right? Why hurry?

* Alea goes over, making sure Snake sees her and measures the space above the filing cabinet for latest "picture"

<Alea> oh, but I feel so...INSPIRED...this time

* Alea glances back at the space over the couch and nods grimly

* Alea nods and goes into Veraik's office for something

* Tarsh sits at the cafe zlinning off into space, the letter fluttering in the breeze in front of him.

* wisesnake nips out the front door for a bit, walks down the street to the local plumbers' Union headquarters

* Alea in Veraik's office, sits down and writes a private letter...very detailed...then seals it and calls someone to go mail it

* wisesnake arranges for a plumber to replace the busted urinal and sink

* wisesnake arranges for a plumber to assist in the theft of the Police Station's entire sprinkler system

* wisesnake accidentally leaves the contents of her wallet behind, minus what she figures Alea would charge her for the "art"

* wisesnake strolls back to the Sime Center saying hi to people in the street

* wisesnake stops in a sunny alley to enjoy the heat of the day

<wall> [grafitti] Let Go, Let Gen.

* wisesnake studies the inscription

<wisesnake> huh.

<wisesnake> Some people will never learn.

* wisesnake shakes her head, makes mental note, immediately forgotten, to pick up some paint somewhere

* wisesnake goes back to Sime Center

* Alea wonders if maybe it's time to consider moving on to another Sime Center

* Alea pulls out another sheet of paper and thinks about asking for transfer

* Alea puts it back, knowing that it won't be granted yet

* wisesnake spends some time taking donations and giving transfers

* Alea decides to quietly move her things out of Veraik's office before he returns so she can avoid any confrontations

* Alea thinks about turning the storage room into an office...or getting a larger desk for her room

* Alea goes to her room...gets rid of all the surplus stuff

<Alea> has someone store it with the Center's supplies in the storage room

* Alea decides to put her desk in Veraik's office and take his desk

* Alea reasons she does more work than he does

* Alea also knows SHE is a Farris

* Alea gets two renSimes to help and it is done almost immediately

* Alea decides she wants his chair too

<Alea> after all[mutters]this other one is a clunker...and Veraik never spends time in his office

* Alea has one of the renSimes bring the desk to her new "office"

* Alea thiks about how beat up and scrawny the desk is

* Alea wonders if Veraik will get splinters from it

* Alea KNOWS he'll get splinters from the chair

* wisesnake takes donations and gives transfers... in the process of doing so, manages to find buyers for all the Tecton contraband

* Alea feels guilty, decides to make a cushion for it

<wisesnake> I never knew Tecton work could be so fulfilling!

* Alea thinks WHEN she has time...first she'll wait and see how nice he is to her

* Alea decides she likes the nice cushy rug too, but decides to leave it so people who come to see the center will think it's not too poor

* Alea goes back to her room, sectioning off the bed and chest from her new "office"

* Alea goes to supply closest and takes some things out to put on Veraik's desktop

* Alea thinks maybe he won't notice the change

Notes:

1) One player pointed out that Snake should have been able to zlin where Alea's attention was directed. Of course, considering how Alea's attention wanders, and the various altered states Snake tends to walk around in, maybe this failure shouldn't be surprising. [return]

Go on to Episode #17: Alea's Dream (9/16/97)

Return to the Index of Episodes