Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario

Episode #48: Sins Come Home (10/16/97)

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* Tarsh comes in with a Handtruck.

* Alea is in the treatment room with Fenris, the renSime who changed over and attacked Alea in the park

* Tarsh goes over to the filing cabinets.

* Alea finishes explaining the renSime to him and then leaves the room

* Alea is dreading facing Veraik today... with a wrenched back and various bruises he is going  to tear a strip off her hide for this

* Alea smiles when she thinks that she doesn't have pneumoina like Veraik was worried about and can tell him that

* Alea goes down the hall to her office

* wisesnake has been grilling Rafe about his language for hours, ever since she got back from working the P.O. with Nick.

* Tarsh tilts a filing cabinet up and slips the handtruck's bill under it.

<wisesnake> [to Rafe] [in Spanish] No, you not can break until I know your tongue.

<wisesnake> NO wait, that didn't come out right

<wisesnake> [thinks]

* Alea comes into the lobby and sees Tarsh lifting the filing cabinet

<Alea> Tarsh?

* Alea looks curiously, wondering what he is doing

* Tarsh looks around. "Hi Alea."

<Alea> what are you doing?

* Tarsh carefully leans the cabinet & handtruck back to their balance point.

* Alea notes that the clerk is acting fretful over Tarsh's actions too

<Tarsh> [oof] "Moving some of the files into my office where I can watch them. Not the medical ones, of course."

<Alea> Just the financial ones, right?

* Alea knows Tarsh is very protective of those files

* Tarsh back out from behind the desk with the cabinet.

<Tarsh> "yeah."

* Tarsh twists the truck around towards the corridor.

* Alea nods

<Alea> oh, okay

* Alea quickly steps back out of the way

* Tarsh peers and zlins around and starts moving carefully down the corridor.

* Alea shakes her head and goes to her office

<wisesnake> [to Rafe:] No, no, you may eat when I am ready... not ready yet

<wisesnake> [in spanish]

* Alea closes her door and stretches, groaning in relief as she stretches out her aching muscles

* Alea remembers the conversation with Snake yesterday and wonders if maybe Zilla wasn't exaggerating just a tiny bit 1

* Tarsh gouges the doorframe chivvying the cabinet in.

* Briel jumps in her office and goes to the door to see what is going on

* Briel sees Tarsh moving in

* Briel leans against the door, crossing her arms and watching

* Briel zlins Tarsh

<wisesnake> [to Rafe in rather inaccurate spanish] I want know everthing.

<Tarsh> ~~ concentating and zlinning intently ~~

* Briel crosses quietly over to the door right behind Tarsh

<Briel> you gouged this door, Tarsh

* Tarsh swears when he realizes he can't get the transfer couch out with the cabinet there.

* Briel crosses quietly over to the door right behind Tarsh

<Briel> you gouged this door, Tarsh

* Tarsh swears when he realizes he can't get the transfer couch out with the cabinet there.

* Tarsh sets the cabinet down.

* Briel grins

<Briel> my, my, what language

<Tarsh> "what?"

* Briel shrugs and runs a tentacle over the scrape

<Briel> moving in, I see

* Tarsh zlins the gouge. "Shen."

* Briel smiles

<Briel> it happens

<Tarsh> "Yeah. Need to get the financial files in order. Figure out why one donor got paid twice."

* Briel zlins Tarsh again

<Briel> that, unfortunately, happens too

<Tarsh> ~~ about a week past turnover ~~

<Briel> so, how are you approaching this new transfer?

* Briel curious

<Tarsh> "that new guy. What's his nager... the 3rd."

* Briel nods

<Briel> what about him?

<Briel> Fise?

<Tarsh> "Yeah, that's him. Two vouchers for some donor named Hays."

<wisesnake> [to Rafe in Spanish] No no! Your hunger is too great, it overwhelms me. Go!

<Tarsh> ~~ disturbed and evasive ~~ "What about my transfer?"

<Briel> yeah, well, it's not a mess-up. He got two vouchers

* Briel shifts uncomfortably at the reminder of that idiot channel

* Briel focuses back on Tarsh

* Briel zlins him again

<Tarsh> "Why? And how did he go from a 3rd for 6 months to a mid-2nd."

<Briel> Well, after the fiasco the other night, with Linn and Zilla, I was worried you might be just a tad nervous about this upcoming transfer

<Briel> who Fise?

* Briel is suddenly confused and has a feeling Tarsh is purposely doing it

<Tarsh> ~~ need progressing normally - worried ~~

<Briel> he is NOT a second

<Tarsh> ~~ worry recedes ~~ "Uh, Yeah. I am actually."

<Tarsh> No, the donor.

<Briel> oh

* Briel frowns

<Briel> it's a long story....

<Tarsh> "His production almost doubled, then."

<Briel> no, well, yes...

<Briel> let's just say that the channel was a little clumsy and...

* Briel trails off

* Briel doesn't believe that little clumsy and figures it shows in her nager

<Tarsh> ~~ too busy trying to guard his own nager to notice ~~

* Briel glances in the office and sees the mess he is making... wondering how he is going to fit in what he requires and get out the rest

<Briel> well, I just wanted to offer again, counseling

<Briel> I know what fear is like...

<Briel> fear of transfers...

<Tarsh> "Thank you, Hajene, I'll consider it."

* Briel sees the way he guards himself and wonders

<Tarsh> ~~ worry increases, attention flickers down corridor ~~

<Briel> you might also consider staying away from... situations... that lend themselves to disorderly occurances

<Tarsh> "I'll just have to deal with it. At least I'll be out of the way now."

<Briel> it might help you when it's time to face those difficult transfers

* Briel thinking of an airhead he's always around

* Briel zlins down the corridor

<Briel> of course

<Briel> well, since I'm right next door, feel free to stop by

<Tarsh> ~~ worried more ~~

* Briel turns and heads back to her office

* Tarsh starts backing the cabinet out again.

* Briel zlins and decides to keep her eye on Tarsh, closely

* Briel goes into her office, but leaves the door open this time

<Tarsh> ~~ tongue between teeth in concentration ~~

* Alea goes to the cabinet and takes a double dose of fosebine and then goes to the lobby and break area to fix some tea

* wisesnake pages through Rafe's books while he's finding lunch

* Alea pours a cup and then a second one for Tarsh and goes down the hall

* Tarsh realizes he has to back out all the way to the lobby.

* Tarsh is backing up the hall.

<Tarsh> with the cabinet.

* Alea concentrates fiercely on not spilling the tea

* Alea hears a noise and looks up to see Tarsh backing up her way

* Tarsh overbalances the truck and corrects.

<Alea> Tarsh?

* Alea stops where she is

* Tarsh stops and trys to look around. "Alea?"

<Alea> I thought you were taking that TO your office?

<Tarsh> "I messed up. Can't put it in until I get the couch out."

<Alea> ahh

* Alea nods though she thinks it's odd

<Alea> okay

<Alea> well, I was bringing you tea, but that can wait

* Alea scoots to the side

<Alea> I'll take this to Briel instead

* Alea holds the cups up on either side of her to make room

<Tarsh> "Could you wait in the lobby. I'll be just a sec."

* Alea blinks

* Alea shrugs and goes back into the lobby

* Tarsh backs out to the lobby and sets the cabinet down in the middle with a slight thump.

* Tarsh smiles at Alea. "I need to take a breather. Can I still get that tea?"

* Alea slips past him and starts down the hall

<Alea> I'll get you another cup. I just bet Briel would love a cup right now

* Alea turns surprised

<Alea> sure

* Alea turns around and takes the tea back to Tarsh

<Alea> how is the new office?

* wisesnake tries out some new phrases in Spanish

<Tarsh> "I like it. The insulation is impenetrable, so I won't be... bothered by things."

<wisesnake> [to nobody: in Spanish] "Do you want to Donate to a dangerously unstable channel with no Tecton credentials?"

* Alea nods in understanding

* Alea hands him his tea

* Alea goes back over and pours another cup that she takes to the desk clerk and then another one for Briel

* Tarsh takes the tea. "Thanks."

<Alea> well, Veraik is all for your promotion

<Alea> he thinks you'll make an excellent finanacial officer

<Tarsh> "I hope so."

* Alea shakes her head

<Alea> think positive. You've been doing the job... now you're getting the promotion and pay you deserve.

* Alea smiles

<Tarsh> "Hope I get to enjoy it."

* Alea looks curious

<Alea> what do you mean by that?

<Tarsh> "You know."

* Alea sighs

<Alea> if you say so

* Tarsh changes the subject. "You know anything about that new Donor that came in for Snake the other day?"

* Alea turns to the hall

* Alea pauses

<Alea> no, nothing

<Alea> I'm not privilege to any information now

<Alea> why?

<Tarsh> "I zlinned him at the station and was trying to help him when Snake and some other Donor came and whisked him off."

<Alea> Veraik promised Snake a Donor... no matter what

<Alea> so, I would imagine he is qualified to work with a Zeor channel

<Alea> probably top notch

<wisesnake> [to nobody: trying out Spanish] "Unhand my arm, you cretin!"

<Tarsh> "He only spoke some strange Genlan I don't recognise."

<Alea> If you're really curious I'm sure I could find out

* Alea wondering why he is so curious about someone else's Donor

<Tarsh> "No big deal."

* Alea secretly relieved... not wanting another run-in with Veraik

<Alea> okay

<Alea> if he comes in, I'll make it a point of meeting him

<Alea> after all, I'm Farris

<Tarsh> "We got a new changeover yesterday?"

* Alea nods

<Alea> yeah.

* Alea frowns

<Tarsh> "Relative? He said something about ambrov Zeor."

<Tarsh> "The Donor, I mean."

<Alea> I was walking through the park when he changed over.

<Alea> no, I'm sure if he was, I would have been informed...

* Alea thinks no, she probably wouldn't have been informed after everything that has happened

* Alea 's mood takes a nosedive at the reminder that she is basically seperated from her House and everyone she is related to

* Alea thinks, except Snake

<Tarsh> "What's wrong? I'm sorry."

* Alea glances up and smiles

<Alea> No problem. I was thinking about Zeor.

<Alea> so, this new changeover. He's a renSime

<Alea> His name is Fenris

<Alea> He's from out Territory... was on his way here when he crossed my path

* wisesnake tries out more Spanish: "How is the interpersonal crime in your area?"

<Alea> Veraik is just going to love that I served him, when he sees the report

* Alea grimaces, thinking she shouldn't have brought up Veraik's name

* Tarsh looks sharply. "You served him? Berserker?"

* Alea realizes she shouldn't have told Tarsh that, but just assumed he'd zlinned her selyn wasn't as high as yesterday

<Alea> Yes.

<Alea> He changed over in the park. I couldn't let him die

* Alea chuckles

<Alea> although, the way he attacked, I don't think dying was on his mind

<Tarsh> "of course not."

<Tarsh> "What was on his mind?"

* Alea 's smile freezes wondering how he could know what she was thinking 2

<Alea> well, there was the need, of course...

<Alea> he needed selyn... desperately

<Alea> and so I gave it to him

* NickR staggers into the kitchen, wrapped in a threadbare bathrobe and still 9/10 asleep.

<Alea> we're lucky no one came by

<Alea> it probably would have scared them to death

* Tarsh restrains himself from commenting on how lucky Fenris was.

* Alea chuckles, eyeing Tarsh warily, wondering if this is going to affect his desire to have Gen transfer

* wisesnake attempts in spanish: "Whatever you think, it can't possibly be untrue!"

<wisesnake> Er....

<wisesnake> No wait...

<wisesnake> I'd better stay away from the subtle stuff until I learn more.

<Tarsh> ~~ is trying to make a point of not zlinning Alea ~~

* Alea is suddenly nervous by the way Tarsh is acting

<Alea> Fenris made it. He's fine.

<Alea> No problems at all.

* NickR ignores Snake's ravings in favor of putting on the teakettle and finding his favorite mug.

<Tarsh> "Well it sounds like you did saved another Sime. No telling who he would have gone after in this town otherwise."

* Alea shifts from foot to foot before finally setting Briel's cup down on a nearby filing cabinet

* NickR sorts through the mess in the cabinets to find the tea.

* Alea shrugs

<Alea> no big deal

<Alea> he's doing great so there was no real harm done

<NickR> Do you want some tea, too, Snake?

<Tarsh> "Uh, Alea.... About Veraik."

* wisesnake looks at the book, closes it, looks up at Nick

* Alea takes a sip of her tea, thinks it tastes like ash and so sets her cup aside

* Alea thinks about going back upstairs and just hiding in her room.

<Alea> Yes?

<wisesnake> Sure... sure, Nick.

* Alea really shouldn't have gotten up today

<Alea> what about him?

* Tarsh glances over at clerk. "Could you go check if the fosebine concentrate came in yesterday?"

* NickR would gladly have asked Rafe the same question, but he doesn't have even Snake's minimal command of the language.

<clerk> "Sure." [leaves]

* Alea goes over to the sofa and carefully lowers herself onto it. She pats the seat by her, motioning to Tarsh

<Tarsh> "he told me I shouldn't... that I should ..."

* NickR figures that if Rafe wants tea, he'll have to make that plain through some nonverbal means, like getting out a mug and putting it beside the ones he's laid out for himself and Snake.

* Tarsh sits down at the other end of the couch.

* Alea suddenly dawns on Tarsh

<Alea> oh, dear

* Alea stands and moves off

<Alea> I'm sorry

<Alea> I didn't realize you were that close to transfer

<Tarsh> "I've got a week to go, and I can't ..." [small voice] "be around you."

* Alea clasps her hands, standing close to the front window a good 30ft away

<Alea> I understand

<Alea> of course

* NickR is not at his best before he's had his first mug of tea.

<Tarsh> "I don't want to. But he's right, isn't he?"

<Alea> yes, of course he's right

<Alea> I'm so sorry I didn't realize sooner

<Alea> tell you what, why don't I just, uh, go for a walk while you finish up here

<Tarsh> "Ok."

* Tarsh blows Alea a kiss.

* Alea goes over the the coat rack and grabs her cloak, feeling like a total idiot for not realizing sooner...

* NickR waits for the water to boil, propping himself against the refrigerator to keep at least mostly vertical.

<Alea> be careful

* Alea leaves

<Tarsh> "I will."

* wisesnake cocks her head, looks out people walking past on the street

* Tarsh watches Alea go.

* Alea slips on her cloak, bundling herself in it and dejectedly walks down the street toward the park

* Tarsh pulls the handtruck loose and goes down the hall.

* Alea goes to the park -- wearing better shoes so she won't slip -- and finds her favorite bench and sits down to watch the birds fly and the leaves blow past.

* NickR forces his eyes to open -- halfway -- as the teakettle begins to whistle.

* wisesnake lets the book fall behind the couch, and walks into the kitchen, still wearing a dazed staring-at-the-window look in her eyes

* wisesnake looks at the whistling kettle, then Nick

* NickR tries to convince himself that he really should pick up the teakettle and pour.

* NickR is not sure that waking up is worth the effort required.

* NickR gets the hint and manages to propel himself towards the stove.

<NickR> I'll get it, I'll get it.

* Alea thinks about Zeor and wishes she had some relatives to talk to

* Alea thinks about the different things Zeor was involved in, and how she'd just started getting involved in the artistic end before she left

* NickR ignores Rafe's disgustingly cheerful smile, and the large meal the other Donor is putting together.

* NickR feels that smiles, and solid food, should be illegal until midmorning, when decent people might be expected to be fully awake and prepared to deal with them.

* NickR manages to lift the teakettle and direct the flow of hot water in more or less the direction of the mugs.

* wisesnake stands clear

* Alea wonders if she could find something to get involved in here to make friends

* Alea thinks no, not with the black braid she wears identifying her as a Farris....

<Seezi> [rustling sound in trees]

* Alea thinks now might be a good time to go talk to that dumb little Gnome everyone so admires, then shakes her head, disgusted

<Seezi> [high pitched giggle]

* NickR puts the empty teakettle back down on the stove, fishes one mostly full mug out of the puddle, and hands it to Snake.

<NickR> Here.

* wisesnake takes it gingerly

* wisesnake zlins NickR serrupticiously

* NickR tilts the other mug, which was filled to overflowing, to spill the excess tea onto the counter. Then he picks it up and takes it into the living room, where he slumps down on the couch.

* wisesnake looks at the tea all over the table, floor and counter

* Seezi falls out of a tree.

* wisesnake shakes her head and decides today would be a good day to start working with Nick on "finesse"

* Seezi twists and lands on her feet.

* Alea glances up at the trees

<Alea> oh dear!

* Alea jumps up and goes over toward the child...

* Alea sees the tentacles and slows

* wisesnake promptly forgets all about the mess in the kitchen

<Alea> hello

<Seezi> "Hi!"

* Alea smiles

<Seezi> "Gee you've got a bright one."

* Seezi zlins curiously.

* Alea grins and holds her arms out

<Alea> I do, don't I. I'm a Donor

* Alea holds her arms out ot her sides

* Seezi circles Alea, zlinning from all angles.

<Alea> I'm Alea abmrov Ze... Alea Farris. And who are you, you little imp?

* NickR buries his nose in his mug, inhaling the aroma.

<Seezi> "really? Like, with channels?"

<Alea> that's right

* Alea drops her arms and goes back over to the bench to sit down

<Seezi> "I'm Seezi. I'm a Sime! Whee!"

* Seezi spins around.

* Alea smiles encouragingly

<Alea> I can see that. So, you're living In Territory now?

* Seezi stops and puts her finger in her mouth.

<Seezi> [baby voice] "I'm only 10 days old."

<Alea> It's okay, sweetie. Come on over here and sit by me

* Alea pats the bench

* Alea grin widens

<Alea> I never would have guessed. My my. 10 days old

<Seezi> "With my folks, like always."

<Alea> so you grew up here then?

* Alea nods

<Seezi> "not like them meanies from out-t."

* Seezi nods.

* NickR warms his fingers on the mug, waiting for his tea to cool enough to drink.

<Alea> what do you mean, the meanies from out Territory?

* Alea concerned

<Seezi> "There were some school people from Eastcove there when I changed."

<Alea> oh... I see

* Alea now knows who this child is

* NickR is sufficiently revived by the odor of his tea to start showing an interest in the day.

<NickR> How is our guest?

<Alea> well, I hear you really put on a show from them, didn't you?

* NickR nods toward the spare room.

<wisesnake> Sleeping still.

* Seezi pouts. "I felt them being afraid and mean. I didn't like it."

<wisesnake> Doing better physically.

* Seezi nods. "wanna know a secret?"

<Alea> I bet you did. Word sure traveled fast about the young child who changed over in front of those people from out Territory

<Alea> sure

* Alea leans foward, smiling

<NickR> And mentally? How hard a time did she give you, anyway?

* wisesnake zlins Nick again, decides he's just tired, nothing worse

* wisesnake shrugs

<wisesnake> Well...

<wisesnake> It's hard to tell. She kind of freaked out when I tried for a full transfer position when she was conscious.

<wisesnake> But when she started worrying more about me than herself, it was like the fear was gone.

* Seezi augments over to whisper in Alea's ear. "I was pretending I wasn't in changeover until they got there. Then I pretended it just started then."

<wisesnake> I still haven't figured out if her fear is real or just reflexive.

* Alea forces her field flat to hide her shock

<Alea> I see

<Seezi> "I really fooled them!"

<Alea> I bet you had ... fun...

* Alea smiles

<Seezi> "I'm wasn't even in that class!"

<Alea> really?

* Seezi nods enthusiastically.

<NickR> Is fear less real if it isn't consciously intended?

<Seezi> "Really! I really really did?"

* wisesnake thinks

<wisesnake> It's different.

* Alea wonders why she ends up hearing things like this... knows what she could have done with this type of information

<wisesnake> Habitual fear isn't real, it's just habitual.

<Alea> so tell me, who served you when you changed over?

* Alea thinks she should not have asked that...she doens't even want to know

* Alea is certain she already knows

<Seezi> "This Sime girl. Whys Cake or something."

<Seezi> "You know what?"

<Alea> what?

* Alea forces herself to put that aside and talk to the enthusastic new Sime

* Alea smiles sweetly

<Seezi> "I think I was even older than she was!"

<Seezi> "In baby years."

* Alea silently groans

<Alea> really

* NickR sips carefully at his tea as he tries to figure out what Snake means.

<Alea> well, I bet you felt really cool then, when you changed over

<Seezi> "Uh huh. She was real little and skinny."

<Seezi> "Yes!"

* Seezi starts spinning around again.

<Alea> yeah, we've um... met

* Alea prays for a nice quiet Gen baby. Watching this young Sime is tiring her out

* wisesnake tries her tea

* Seezi stops. "You have? Are you her Companion?"

<NickR> Well, you may be right that Linn's fears are less of you, personally, than of Simes in general, and of any situation remotely related to transfer in particular.

<Alea> uh, she's a distant relative of mine

* Alea smiles

* Seezi goes over and starts playing peek-a-boo, zlinning through and around a tree at Alea's nager.

* Alea grins and forces her nager flat to see what Seezi will do

* wisesnake blinks, unused to hearing someone say a sentence with the front half of an agreement and the back half of an argument

<Alea> you enjoy zlinning, do you?

* Seezi pops out and zlins more intently.

<Seezi> "How do you *do* that?"

* Alea chuckles

<Alea> it's something Gens can do

<Seezi> "yes! I do! Don't you?"

<NickR> But the fact remains that you're a Sime. I don't think Linn believes you would harm her, but she'll still give you trouble when you trigger her phobia.

<Alea> sorta like the way you can zlin or not zlin when you choose

<Alea> Gens don't zlin, sweetie

<Seezi> "I can run real fast now. And pick up heavy things. Wanna see?"

<wisesnake> She'll get over it.

<Alea> are you suppose to be doing that?

* Alea questions her carefully, seriously

* Seezi tilts her head. "Why not?"

* Alea stands and goes over to the tree

* NickR takes a larger swallow of his cooling tea, feeling his brain jumpstart as it takes effect.

<NickR> I hope so.

* wisesnake regards Nick thoughtfully, eyes glinting pale through a greasy spill of black forelock

* Alea decides it's not her place to teach the young Sime about wasting selyn...

<Alea> sure, sweetie, why don't you show me how fast you can run

<Alea> just be careful

<NickR> Some reflexes are very hard to overcome.

* Seezi prances down the path a hundred feet or so.

* Seezi runs past Alea in augmentation.

* Alea grins indulgently, thinking about some of her former friends back at Zeor and when they had first changed over

<wisesnake> Perhaps... if one goes about trying to "overcome" the wrong way.

* Alea 's smile fades a bit, then she forces it back

* NickR raises a thoughtful eyebrow.

* Seezi prances back. "Did you see? Did you? huh?

<Alea> you did great, sweetheart

<wisesnake> Personally I think if one uses that word one is already going about it the wrong way.

<Seezi> "I did, didn't I" [spins again]

* wisesnake conveniently forgets that at age 14 with 2 months of actual training, she is hardly in a position to have any clue what she is talking about

<NickR> And how would you go about it?

* wisesnake considers

<wisesnake> It has to be from the inside.

<Alea> So, why aren't you in school today?

* Seezi stops suddenly and zlins. "are you sad?"

* NickR waits for clarification.

<wisesnake> The inside has to be strong first. The reflex just mirrors the inside.

* Alea blinks, wondering how in the world a renSime had zlinned that

<Seezi> "I was going, but I wanted to look at the trees."

<wisesnake> ugh... shenned Spanish lessons have my words all screwed up

<Seezi> "They are so... so... treelike."

<Alea> oh

* Alea smiles knowingly

<Alea> but they're so much more, aren't they

* Alea looks at the trees thinking what it must be like to zlin

<Seezi> "And the leaves! Most of them are dead now, though."

<Alea> every little shift, every movement... it sings a song to you, doesn't it

<Alea> yeah, but just wait until Spring

* Seezi looks thoughtful. "I wonder what pine trees zlin like?"

<Alea> maybe like a porcupine?

<Seezi> "Spring! Yeah! they'll be growing new ones then! Cosmic!"

* Alea thinks she should introduce this young girl to Jirelle.

* Seezi considers. "yeah! I think so!"

<Alea> well, come on, I'll walk you to school. How's that?

<Seezi> "One of my friends said I'll be interested in other stuff by then, but he wouldn't say what he meant."

<Seezi> "Ok! it's this way!"

<Alea> we don't want you getting in trouble because you were distracted

* Alea thinks her friend was probably right

* Seezi rushes off under augmentation.

* Alea thinks her field will hopefully keep Seezi from zlinning other things

<Alea> oh well, so much for that idea

* NickR waits for Snake to get her languages straight again.

* Seezi augments back. "I'm sorry. I forgot."

* Alea sighs, watching her run off

<Alea> that's quite all right, sweetie

<Alea> lead the way

* Seezi starts walking very slowly.

<wisesnake> Nick... her fear... it isn't hardwired. It doesn't even happen unless she thinks about it.

* Alea stretches out the kinks then walks along beside her

<Seezi> "do you know what my friend meant?" [confiding] "She's 3!"

<Alea> what's your favorite time of the year?

* Alea looks down very adultish, grinning

<Alea> uh well...

* Seezi gets lost in thought at the question.

<Alea> I imagine she'll mean you will be more interested in boys by then

* Alea decides either the cold or the baby is making her suddenly need to go to the bathroom... that or these questions... so she steps up her pace

<NickR> But how do you prevent her from thinking about it?

<Seezi> "Boys? Ick! I'm never go for that stuff. Not like those narky girls!"

<Seezi> "winter. I like to sled."

* Alea thinks just wait

<Alea> I bet you'll beat all your friends this winter

* wisesnake 's eyes glitter

<wisesnake> There's another of those words. "Prevent"

<wisesnake> You don't prevent people from something they want to do.. they'll resist.

<Seezi> "Well, maybe. The Gens, anyway."

<Alea> think you could beat me?

<Alea> I'm a pretty good sledder if I do say so

<wisesnake> You have to trade for it... give them something else they want more.

* Seezi zlins her speculatively.

* Alea projects confidence, boastful prideful confidence

<Seezi> "Your stomach zlins funny."

* NickR looks at Snake with interest.

* Alea eyes widen

<Alea> well, you got me there

<Alea> I was trying to trick you. You could outsled me right now because I have a baby in my tummy

<NickR> And what would you trade Linn for her fear?

<wisesnake> I'd have to think about it... I'm pretty sure "not being afraid" wouldn't do it though... that would be like trying to trade somebody "having no money" for all their cash. Where's the appeal?

* Seezi looks suddenly somber. [small voice] "are you gonna die then?"

* Alea looks horrified

<Alea> oh, no, honey

<NickR> Well, you've got time to come up with an answer. From the looks of her yesterday, it will be a day or two before she's fit to travel.

* Alea stops and bends down, taking Seezi's hands

<Alea> why do you ask that?

* Alea carefully keeps that exact fear deeply hidden where the little girl can't zlin it

* Seezi looks down and starts dragging her toe through the dirt. "My mommy died. My little brother killed her."

* Alea swallows

<Alea> I'm so sorry, sweetie

<Alea> But being pregnant doesn't mean you die

* wisesnake looks at Nick

<Alea> I'm lucky in the fact that I'll have the best medical care at the Sime Center...

<Seezi> "That's why I don't wanna do any of that icky stuff."

<wisesnake> I thought this was a theoretical discussion...

<Alea> well, that icky stuff can be pretty fun, sweeite, if you find someone you love

* Seezi sniffs.

<Alea> but you don't have to worry about any of that

<Alea> You should only worry about enjoying life right now

<Seezi> "Why not?"

<NickR> Is it? You seem awfully interested in the challenge.

<Seezi> "Ok! Let's go!"

<wisesnake> I do?

<Alea> great

* Seezi starts walking again.

* Alea sighs in relief, glad to have THAT conversation over

* Alea hit too close to what her worries have been lately to want to discuss it

<Alea> is that your school up there?

* Alea points to a tall, two story structure

<Seezi> "Yeah."

<Alea> you'd better get on in there, then before they start worrying

* wisesnake sighs

<NickR> Of course. You don't usually spend this much time worrying about problems which you don't intend to solve.

* Alea thinks the school probably knows EXACTLY where Seezi is since she is so newly changed over

<NickR> And I think you like Linn, despite the way her fear annoys you.

<Alea> come by the Center some time and visit

<wisesnake> I have too many of my own problems right now.

<wisesnake> Linn's fear certainly isn't one of them.

<Seezi> "OK! See you!"

* Seezi augments off.

* Alea smiles watching the young girl take off to the school

* NickR is mildly skeptical.

* Alea shakes her head and decides to walk, since it is so cold out... maybe she'll go look for her only other relative....

<NickR> You certainly sound like you're trying hard to convince yourself of that.

* wisesnake blinks

<wisesnake> How does he keep doing that? [to herself]

* Alea goes down the street, passing the Center, but deciding to continue on, certain Tarsh isn't done with his stuff yet

<wisesnake> I'm not trying hard to convince myself of that!

* Alea idly walks down the streets, remembering that is was down, in the bad part of town she'd last seen her

* NickR shrugs, finishing his tea.

<NickR> If you say so.

* Alea figures if she watches for any disaster on a side street, then she is sure to find Snake

* wisesnake looks at Nick suspiciously

<wisesnake> What do you mean, if I say so?

* Alea walks past the shiltpron parlor and looks in but doesn't see anyone she knows

* Alea sighs and goes on down the street, checking tea parlors as she passes

<NickR> Well, you seem to be spending a lot of time worrying about Linn's phobia, for a person who's absolutely convinced that she's not interested in the case.

<wisesnake> I am not worried!

* wisesnake looks worried, as well as increasingly paranoid.

* Alea sees the poverty in the area and wishes there was more the Center could do to help. She wonders if Veraik would be interested in starting up something

<wisesnake> What makes you think I'm worried about Linn's phobia?

<NickR> Concerned, then.

<wisesnake> Well I was a bit concerned when she just about jumped out of her skin before I had a firm lateral contact... but that only lasted a few minutes.

* Alea sees the many different houses that cater to post transfer conditions and shakes her head at the many people loitering around

<Alea> too tame for Snake here

* Alea goes on down the road, remembering Zilla said something about the waterfront

* Alea definitely decides, this place requires some help for the kids down here

* Garon` is standing outside a house of terminally ill repute.

* Alea sees a flashy renSime in front of one of the sleazier ones and shakes her head sadly

* Garon` turns and zlins Alea.

* Alea wonders what leads someone to open a house like this -- then decides it must be greed

* Garon` whistles.

* NickR reminds himself that Snake hates to admit that she cares about anyone enough to worry.

* Alea shakes her head again and continues walking

* Alea slows, thinking... maybe this type of person might know where Snake lives

* Alea turns back toward the renSime

<NickR> Well, shall we check on our patient, for whom you feel no worry?

* Garon` smiles "Hi SweetNager, where you been all my life?"

* Alea debates approaching then at the awful line thinks she has nothing to worry about

* Alea smiles politely and goes over to where he is standing

* Garon` zlins her up and down.

* wisesnake grits her teeth and wonders why that is so annoying

<Alea> I was wondering if maybe you could help me

* wisesnake can't figure out why

* Alea wonders how to ask about snake without scaring him off

* wisesnake also can't figure out why his words being annoying would have anything to do with whether she checked on Linn or not, so...

<wisesnake> Fine.

<Alea> I have this friend... well, no... actually, she's a relative of mine

* Alea thinks that's the ticket

<Garon`> "Oh Ho, there are more at home like you then?"

<Alea> no, I'm an only child 3

* NickR sets his empty mug down on the side table and stands.

* Alea chuckles

<Alea> actually, I'm looking for someone

* wisesnake gets up, debating whether to say anything to Nick and then decides not to

<Alea> she and I used to work together

* Alea touches the black braid on her cloak, wondering if the man has any idea what that means

<Alea> I'd really really like to find her.

* Garon` notices the braid. His eyes bulge a little.

* NickR follows Snake to the guest room.

* Alea smiles sweetly

<Garon`> "Well what can you tell me about her? I know *Lots* of girls."

* wisesnake zlins Linn

* Linn is awake and lying very still, because it hurts too much when she moves.

* Alea thinks he probably does and sighs to herself

<Alea> this girl happens to be a channel

* Alea waits for a reaction, watching carefully

* Linn turns her head towards Snake and Nick.

<Linn> Good morning.

<wisesnake> Hello, Linn.

* wisesnake zlins Linn

<Alea> do you know many of those?

* Garon` seems to shed most of his layer of slime. "A channel? Have you checked the Sime Center?"

<Alea> I'm from the Center

* Alea thinks she shouldn't have admitted that

<Alea> Actually, it's Snake I'm looking for

<Garon`> "I'll have to think about coming there sometime then..."

* Alea gives him a get real look

* Linn looks beyond Snake to nod a greeting to Nick.

* Garon` looks cagey. "Can't say if I know any channels named Snake. Why you looking for her?"

<Alea> for a friendly visit

* Alea simply stares, keeping her field guarded against Garon's zlinning

<Garon`> "Well I might know someone who knows someone. What's in it for me?"

<Alea> how about the good of knowing you helped someone

* Garon` considers the concept for its novelty value.

<wisesnake> How are you feeling?

<Alea> or how about the fact that if Snake finds out you didn't help me....

* Alea let's it trail off

<Alea> gee,

* Alea looks at the sky

<Garon`> 'That I didn't help _who_?"

<Alea> what could a FARRIS Donor want with a FARRIS Channel

<Linn> I hurt in places I didn't know I had, but that's much better than the alternative, if you hadn't found me last night.

* Garon` looks surprised. "Snake is a Farris?"

* wisesnake zlins Linn again just to find out what places she hadn't known she had

* Alea lifts an eyebrow arrogantly, not answering

<Alea> why else would a Farris Donor be out in this part of town?

* Alea of course, fails to mention she is always wandering all over the town

<Garon`> [fake snooty voice] "Of course Modom. Who shall I say is calling?"

* Alea knows if Snake finds out who it is, she'll run for the hills...

* Linn is apparently ignorant of just about everything above the knees, in particular a deeply bruised spot on her ribs.

<Alea> I don't know... when you see Snake why don't you just explain why you wouldn't lead me to her because you were a bit too curious

* Alea turns back toward the street shrugging

* Alea thinks, if nothing else, that will drive this man as well as Snake crazy for awhile

<wisesnake> Well, you're welcome to stay here until uh... [careful not to get into something she can't possibly get out of], um, until you are well enough to go home, or at least until we move.

* NickR rolls his eyes at the incoherence of this invitation.

* Alea decides she doesn't really want to see Snake anyway... seeing a Farris won't bring back Zeor

* wisesnake looks at little bit flustered at Nick's reaction and tries to keep her dignity outwardly intact

* Alea pauses and looks back at Garon

<Alea> it's not important

<Alea> thanks anyway

* Alea turns back to the street and starts down it

<Linn> That's a kind offer.

<Linn> I'd hate to have to walk home like this.

<wisesnake> Uh... I took the liberty of... uhm... calling your school this morning.

* Linn is relieved.

<Linn> Thank you. I hope they were able to find a substitute.

* Alea decides to just go back to the Center.

* Alea turns and retraces her steps

<wisesnake> I'm not sure... they certainly were excited when I called.

* Garon` rushes up to Alea. "Hold on, I'm just kidding. Sheesh."

<Linn> Excited?

* Alea glances around, surprised

<Garon`> "Why don't you wait over at that restaurant and I'll see what I can do."

* Alea smiles kindly

<Alea> No. really. Snake and I aren't on the best of terms and I'd hate to get her mad at you.

<Alea> I'm Alea... from the Center

<Garon`> "I hear that."

<Alea> and believe me, she won't thank you for revealing her house to me

<wisesnake> Well I told them I was Bitsy Forrest and I was holding you hostage.

<Alea> I guess I shouldn't have tried to manipulate you like htat

* Alea shrugs

<Linn> What??!!!

<wisesnake> And that if the school didn't stop holding Sime classes me and my pals would... um...

<Alea> but now that I know you know her, I at least know where to check next time I have to see her

* Alea smiles brightly

<Garon`> "OK then. Your loss."

* Garon` turns away.

<Alea> I suppose so

<wisesnake> Well I wasn't sure how much imagination she had, but since brick throwing and assault were the only real examples, I assumed not much...

* Alea goes on down the street

<wisesnake> So I said she'd kill you.

* Garon` wanders away.

<Linn> You tried to frame the daughter of a school board member for kidnapping?

* Alea goes down a side alley, taking a shortcut back to the Center... realizing she has stayed out too long again and is nearly frozen

* wisesnake blinks

* Alea wonders if she can sneak in the back gate and miss Veraik who will probably be up by now

* Garon` zlins around to make sure Alea isn't following him.

<wisesnake> She's already guilty of attempted murder... you'd feel guilty about setting her up for a little old kidnapping?

* Alea thinks about Veraik and her frustration soars.

<Alea> Why the shenned is he augmenting and lying to me about taking donations?

* wisesnake thinks at Nick, now THIS I'm worried about.

<Linn> Snake, what's going to happen when the police talk to Bitsy and it turns out that she was at her church last night and in school this morning, and couldn't possibly have managed to kidnap anybody in between?

* Alea doesn't want to think about it so she forces her mind away from that

* Alea once again starts thinking about Zeor and how she had planned a trip for a few weeks ago... thinks she should have gone then...

<wisesnake> That would be difficult...

* Garon` hurries over to that alley where that friend of Snake's was beat up.

<wisesnake> Seeing as how she was busy trying to murder you last night, and no one has seen her this morning.

* Alea doesn't want to admit that they way things are up in the air with Veraik and the fact that Zeor will probably not want her around at all now has her worried about the baby... that child today only reminded her of it...

* Linn is a bit surprised at the news, but Snake appears confident in it.

<Linn> How do you know that?

* wisesnake darts a nervous glance at Nick

<wisesnake> She's temporarily, ah, staying in Sime Territory. As of about 4am.

<Linn> I see.

<wisesnake> You do?

* wisesnake seems rather relieved

* Linn decides that it's better not to ask too many questions, since she objects to lying under oath.

* Alea wonders how the competions are going right now at Zeor, realizing now is the time they would have the artistic contests

* Alea decides not to think about anything except here and now

* Alea forces her mind onto the area surrounding her and realizes she is on an unfamiliar street

* JonDrake heads down to Briel's office, tea in hand.

* Alea looks around and doesn't recognize anything

<Alea> oh, great

* Alea kicks at a rock

<Alea> Ouch!

* Alea glares at the rock that is embedded in the ground and didn't move

* Alea feels her toe throbbing

* Alea hobbles down the street, muttering, trying to figure out which way is north

* Alea looks at the overcast sky and figures it'd be her luck

* Alea looks up and down the street...

* Alea shrugs and decides to cut through the next alley instead

* JonDrake signals at the door.

<Briel> come

* Briel smiles, glad Jon is here

* JonDrake enters.

* JonDrake smiles in greeting.

<Briel> oh tea?

* Briel drops her pen and stretches her tentacles

<JonDrake> Good afternoon, Briel.

* JonDrake sets one of the two cups before Briel.

<Briel> great. Perfect timing for a break

<Briel> hi JD

* Briel takes the cup and sips it

<JonDrake> Rough morning?

<Briel> tiring

<Briel> Tarsh is moving in next door and all of the bumping and pounding is making me on edge

<JonDrake> I've been working with Veraik all morning myself.

<JonDrake> Ah...

* JonDrake moves his chair into position....

<Briel> how'd the lessons go?

* Briel smiles approvingly at Jon's actions

<JonDrake> I think I'm really getting the hang of it. Veraik seemed pleased...

* Alea cuts through two more alleys before she decides she is really lost

<Briel> oh, that's great

* wisesnake thinks Linn and Nick are taking this remarkably well

* Alea looks around and sighs. Despondently she goes over and sits down on a bench along the sidewalks

* Linn tries to struggle to a more upright position, wincing at her bruises.

* Garon` knocks on the back door he thinks is Snake's

* wisesnake thinks now would be a good time to catch the door

<wisesnake> Whoops... I'll get that. Be right back.

* wisesnake hurries to the back door

* Linn looks at Nick inquiringly.

* wisesnake zlins, then opens the door

<Linn> Does she do this kind of thing often?

<Garon`> ~~ is excited and 3 days from need ~~

* NickR grins wryly.

<NickR> All the time. And she usually doesn't tell anyone until it's too late.

<wisesnake> Hello, Garon...?

<Briel> what did Veraik work with you on?

* wisesnake zlins the renSime

<Garon`> "Hi Snake. I got news for you."

<wisesnake> Oh yeah? That's great. [thinking it's news about Linn's attackers]

* Briel sips her tea, enjoying the flavor Jon picked

* Garon` looks conspiratorial. "Someone is looking for you."

<JonDrake> Let's see...

<NickR> Would you like some breakfast?

<wisesnake> Someone is looking for me? Anybody in particular?

* JonDrake smiles.

* Garon` eyes Snake's clothes, looking for the Farris braid.

* wisesnake 's clothes look like something the average Farris would rather die than wear

* wisesnake wears a lot of black things, but no braid

<JonDrake> One of the primary things he covered today was the effects of Turnover on ones Channel.

* Alea sighs, stands and starts down the street

<Garon`> "'Alea, from the Center'. She buttonholed me outside the Holdinghouse."

<Linn> That sounds marvelous.

* Briel smiles

<Briel> Very astute of Veraik

<wisesnake> Oh? All right. Thank you for passing that along.

* NickR thinks about the state of the kitchen, and wonders if Rafe has produced anything edible from the mess.

<Garon`> "She said is was some family matter." [sly grin]

<NickR> I'll see what I can find.

* wisesnake looks surprised

<wisesnake> She did?

<JonDrake> So, other than the noise next door, how _are_ you doing?

<Linn> Thank you.

<wisesnake> She's looking for me because of a family matter?

* wisesnake tries to think what THAT might be

* Briel sips her tea, studying Jon over the rim of her cup

* NickR departs for the kitchen.

<Garon`> "Yup. she tried to bully me in to bringing her here, but I wasn't gonna blow your place to her without your sayso."

<Briel> your overeagerness is showing again, Jon

<wisesnake> Did she say it's urgent?

<Garon`> "No. Just that she was looking for her relative."

* wisesnake looks thoughtful

* JonDrake backs off good naturedly.

<JonDrake> Ok, you got me.

<wisesnake> Okay.

<wisesnake> Thank you.

<Briel> yes, I'm fine. But tomorrow is turnover so I want you with me. Is that what you were wanting to know?

* wisesnake zlins Garon again

<Garon`> "Anytime, Snakey."

<wisesnake> So uh, what are you doing for transfer this month. You're not going to that sleazebag BumBum again are you?

<JonDrake> Yes. For you, does it hit like closing or opening a switch, or does it build?

<Garon`> "Uh, I'd rather not. I was gonna look you up."

<wisesnake> It's about time you learned the difference between transfer from a 3rd and transfer from a 1st.

* Alea dismally wonders if she is going to have to embarrass herself and ask for directions.

* Garon` looks intrigued.

* Briel simply stares at Jon, certain if he was a Sime he wouldn't have asked her such a question

<Briel> Let's see....

* Briel thinks, trying to find an apt description

<wisesnake> How about I give you a discount this month, since you've been so helpful lately. Give you a taste of what you could have all the time if you ever got off your ass and started making serious money.

<Garon`> "I had an idea. What if I bring you two Gens who'll donate for nothing? And you give me the selyn from one of them!"

<Briel> how about stepping off a mountain and seeing one tiny little point of light... you're plunging through the air to certain death and know that the light is your only hope... but it's going to take you two weeks to reach that light before your saved....

<wisesnake> Hmmm... we'll talk.

<Briel> and if that light isn't there... and you miss...

* Briel raises a brow...

<Briel> or would you like me to try something else?

<Garon`> "Ok. The other is fine, too. A First huh?"

<JonDrake> No, I think I get the general idea..

* wisesnake grins lopsidedly at Garon

* Briel nods

<Briel> good

<wisesnake> I'll see you when you're a little further along. Your place, eh?

<JonDrake> I think it is hard for a Gen to fully understand the situation without having lived it.

<JonDrake> ...but your description is plenty enlightening.

<Briel> by the way, Jon. Transfer is something you don't want to discuss with a Sime who is in the last half of their cycle, okay?

<Garon`> "Sure. No problem."

<JonDrake> Ok. I'm sorry. I'll remember.

<wisesnake> Thanks again for the info. Bye bye.

* Alea stops and leans against a building and hears music

* wisesnake closes the door and hurries back to the room Linn and Nick were left alone in

<Garon`> "Bye."

* Alea turns and is surprised when she recognizes the door... she hurries over and peers in, making sure this is the parlor is was in before... and falls smack dab into the middle of the shiltpron parlor

* wisesnake is releived to note Nick is pottering away in the kitchen instead of discussing the unknown with LInn

* Garon` rubs his tentacles together. "A First. Wonder if she'd want to .... Naah."

<wisesnake> [to Linn:] I'm sorry... somebody was at the door.

<Linn> That's quite all right.

* Alea hears the sudden cessation of noise and looks up

<wisesnake> So, uh, like I say, you're free to stay and, if you want any um, thing else, well, anything you want.

* Garon` hurries off down the street.

<Briel> let's do some work, see how steady you are now

* Alea smiles weakly

<Alea> uh, hello

* JonDrake holds out his arms.

<JonDrake> Ok.

* Alea pushes back up onto her knees

<Alea> I was just passing by

* Alea doesn't like the look and is glad she can't zlin the ambient

<Alea> I'll just be going now....

* Briel goes over and carefully takes Jon's arms and works with him

<Briel> very good, Jon

* Briel nods approvingly, thinking Veraik is really helping him along

* JonDrake smiles.

* Linn sees Snake quivering with eagerness like a kitty watching a bird through the window, while trying particularly hard to appear completely harmless.

<Briel> I think tomorrow, we'll going to work in the infirmary. If you think you're up to it

* Alea carefully backs out of the shiltpron parlor and leans against the wall in relief

<JonDrake> I'm confident that I will be able to do it.

<Briel> It's that confidence that has me worried

* Linn remembers what Snake said about channels having to work, and it occurs to her that it must be rather difficult for a freelance channel in competition with the Tecton and its well-equipped Sime Center.

* Briel waves a tentacle

<JonDrake> That will be good experience.

<Briel> fine, fine. We'll try it

* JonDrake can't win for losing...

* Linn also figures that Snake is too proud to ask for what she wants so badly.

<Briel> there's a new changeover that is ill... he'll be here a day or two more. You'll meet him later...

* JonDrake nods.

<Linn> Do you think you could do something about these bruises?

<wisesnake> Sure. If you like.

<Briel> how'd the books help that I gave you yesterday?

* wisesnake moves closer to Linn, and then sits down on the side of the bed.

* Briel thumbs through the papers on her desk, seperating them and organizing them

<JonDrake> I think they've helped. One of the big thing that's helping is as I'm getting an even better understanding of Simelan.

<Briel> it's a hard language for a Gen to learn

<JonDrake> Finally getting a handle on how much of it deals with transfer mechanics.

<Briel> some Gens just never conquer it

* NickR returns with a tray containing tea, crackers, some cheese with the moldy portions carefully cut off, and a somewhat withered apple.

<JonDrake> Learning to be a Donor, I'm getting a glimmering.

<Briel> here

* Briel holds out some papers

* JonDrake pauses, thinking about what he was using last month to help him learn written Simelan.

<JonDrake> Yes?

* JonDrake takes the papers.

<Briel> can you run these to Veraik and these others to the clerk

* Briel picks up a third pile

<JonDrake> Sure. Right away.

* wisesnake sighs inwardly at the distraction, but achieves patience with an effort.

* NickR sees Snake sitting on the bed, decides that she's come up with that idea in which she had no interest, sets the tray down on the dresser, and moves to offer Snake support in case her idea doesn't work.

<Briel> these, give to the renSime clerk and ask her to deliver them to Tarsh. They're financial

<wisesnake> Look, Linn, Nick brought you something to eat...

* JonDrake takes those papers, holding them separately in his hand.

<JonDrake> Anything else?

<Briel> uh, no

<Briel> just make sure to keep those papers seperate

<JonDrake> Will do. Be right back.

* JonDrake heads out of the door and into the hall.

* NickR takes Snake's cue and smoothly helps Linn to prop herself at a convenient angle, then retrieves the tray and places it in Linn's lap.

* JonDrake heads off to find the clerk first to pass on the financial papers.

* Briel grabs the rest of the papers and files them in her filing cabinet and then quickly picks up the reference books and older reports and restores order to her office

* wisesnake moves back to a chair, waits, being casual about it

* clerk` clerk is at the front desk playing solitaire.

* wisesnake wonders where in the world Nick got that old apple... was sure there were none in the house

* Alea glad to be out of that mess heads back to the Center... watching and going around to the back gate to enter

* JonDrake goes to the front desk.

<JonDrake> Greetings, Tuib. Briel wanted me to bring this to you. They need to go to Tarsh right away.

* Linn nibbles the cheese and manages the crackers, but only by dunking them in the tea to soften them. She looks at the apple and regretfully decides that it's too hard for her sore jaw just now.

* Alea slips into the gazebo and sits down in relief, glad to be back at the Center

* clerk` tries to hide the cards.

* JonDrake wonders why she wants him to go through this round-about way instead of just dropping them off next dooor.

<clerk`> "Oh! Of course, Sosu Drake. Right away."

<JonDrake> Thanks. Gotta run.

* wisesnake zlins Linn's pained jaw and sees her looking at the apple

* Briel finishes her filing and pulls out a book on languages she has been studying

<JonDrake> Wait. Almost forgot. These papers here are actually for you.

* JonDrake hands the appropriate pile to the Clerk.

* Alea stares at the Gnome and wonders why everyone tells their problems to it

* wisesnake goes and picks up the apple, brings it into the kitchen, finds a cleanish bowl, pounds the apple to juice and smithereens, finds a cleanish spoon, brings it back to Linn feeling much better

* JonDrake delivers Veraik's papers to his office.

* Alea decides she is going to have the gnome removed, tossed in the rubbish heap

* clerk` shuffles through the papers.

<Gnome> noooooooooooo!

* Linn accepts the battered offering in the spirit it was intended, carefully eating around the smashed remains of the core.

* Alea thinks it really is an ugly looking thing

* JonDrake signals at the door. Veraik bids him enter.

* Alea gets up and goes over to the gnome and shoves at it

* JonDrake sets the papers on Veraik's desk. Veraik seems very distracted, so Jon leaves quickly.

* Linn finishes the apple-mush and hands the tray to Nick.

<Linn> Thank you.

* Alea shoves again and it moves

<NickR> Nick takes the tray and sets it on the dresser again.

<Alea> this is for how absoulutely useless you really are you little stone statue

* Alea nudges it again

<Alea> absolutely helpless... no advice whatsoever for me on how to handle Veraik or what to do about my condition now that I can't go to Zeor for help

* Alea shoves it again and watches it topple

* wisesnake looks at Linn

<Gnome> "At least I don't mess up the ambient with my accidents!"

* Alea realizes she doesn't feel better at all

<Alea> yeah

<Gnome> "uuuhhhhh!"

<Alea> true

* Alea thinking how true her thoughts are... she does mess up the amient... constantly

<wisesnake> Linn... do you want me to look at those bruises now?

<Alea> and it's really crazy to take it out on a little statue

* Gnome agrees.

* Alea grins, thinking that the gnome somehow reminds her of Veraik though... she kicks it for good measure

<Alea> then grabs her toe, dropping to the ground

<Alea> OUCH!

* Alea thinks she might have broken it this time

<Alea> and everyone mutters about you solving problems

<Gnome> "Doesn't your anger with Veriak just make him angrier in turn?"

* Linn nods, concentrating on Snake's small-child eagerness, instead of her tentacles.

<Alea> you ought to hear the dreams I've heard from the different channels...

<Gnome> "You get what you give."

* Alea thinks about her stupid anger and how it has made Veraik so angry and wonders where that came from

* Alea slumps despondently

<Gnome> "never judge a channel until you've walked a mile in his tentacles."

* Alea had never really thought of it in that light and realizes she has really made a mess of everything

* Alea starts to cry

* wisesnake moves smoothly over to sit beside Linn on the edge of the bed

* Alea digs through her cloak pockets, then her dress pockets, looking for a hankie

* wisesnake reaches for Linn's arms, then hesitates

<wisesnake> Um...

<Gnome> "We are all prisoners in this life, but we can reach out to touch the fingers of those in other cells."

* Alea finds one in the pocket and pulls it out to mop at her eyes

* NickR offers as much support as he can, anticipating potential trouble.

<Alea> prisoners

<Alea> yeah... don't I know... unto death, with my luck...

* Alea thinks or Veraik's... with the way he has been acting

* Alea mops at her eyes again and drops the hankie in her haste

* Alea reaches for it and sees a box

* Alea recognizes the box 4

<Alea> oh, for heaven sake's Tarsh. Under the gnome?!

* Linn offers her arms, trying to control her apprehension.

<Linn> I'll hold still this time.

* wisesnake stares at Linn, searchingly

<Gnome> "I'd never tell."

<wisesnake> Are you really scared of Simes? Like everybody says you are?

<Alea> yeah, right, like a gnome can talk

* Alea realizes what she said outloud and shakes her head

* Alea grabs the box and takes it over to the gazebo... slips it under a loose board underneath

<Gnome> "Why talk unless you have something to say. Comtemplate the flowers instead."

* Alea comes back and tries to right the gnome

* Alea huffs and puffs, pulling on it shoving at it

<Alea> what a total mess... and now I've uncovered the box... of all places to hide a box... everyone is always talking about this gnome... at least in their dreams...

* Alea mutters

<Alea> geez, the stuff the subconscious admits to

<Linn> There are times when I think I'm finally getting used to Simes. And then something happens and the fear's back, as strong as ever.

* Alea gets the gnome back up, but it's listing to one side

* wisesnake shakes her head

<wisesnake> Is that what you want? To be afraid of Simes?

<Gnome> "There is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is Not being talked about. - Ancient Proverb"

* Alea turns her head to match the angle of the gnome

* JonDrake heads back to Briel's office.

<Gnome> "It is always good to view things from a different angle."

<Alea> wonder if anyone will notice?

* Gnome has already noticed.

* Alea wonders how nice it would be not to be talked about

<Alea> thinks that proberb is wrong

<Linn> Want? No.

* Alea goes over to the garden and gathers some leaves and stuffs them under the gnome, hoping that'll meake it look less like it is crooked

* wisesnake considers

<wisesnake> But you are used to it?

* Alea steps back and considers....

<Alea> it still looks wrong

* Alea leans down and shoves it in the opposite direction

* Briel gets up and stretches, going to her window

* Linn smiles wryly.

* Briel pauses, watching Alea moving the gnome and shakes her head

* JonDrake signals at the door.

* Alea finds more leaves and pushes them under the gnome, deciding it's only that she feels guilty that she knocked it over that it looks so crooked to her

<Linn> An Ancient joker is supposed to have said that a person could get used to hanging, if he did it long enough.

<Briel> come

* JonDrake enters.

<Linn> In that sense, I suppose I'm becoming used to it.

<JonDrake> Something interesting out in the garden?

* Alea brushes off her hands and turns to go inside

<Briel> no...just Alea

* Briel turns and goes back to her desk

<JonDrake> Oh.

<wisesnake> A fatalistic view.

* JonDrake wonders what is going on with her.

* wisesnake is well-equipped to recognize such

* Alea thinks about everything and thinks maybe her anger is at fault with Veraik... for the first time she really considers how he must have felt to find out she'd been giving every intimate detail of the Center to someone

* Linn starts to shrug, then thinks better of it as her shoulders complain.

<wisesnake> In that analogy, I suppose the equivalent to hanging until your head rots off and you fall from the tree, would be to one day panic in the face of a berserker and let yourself get killed for no reason?

<JonDrake> Do you think she's doing ok?

* Briel pushes the book closed she was reading

<Briel> who?

* Briel looks up at Jon

<JonDrake> Oh, sorry. Alea.

* Briel laughs

<JonDrake> I was just thinking.

<Briel> Okay?

* Briel laughs again and shakes her head

<Briel> Let's just say anything she does wouldn't surprise me.

<Briel> so how would you judge that as "okay" or not?

<JonDrake> It just seems like she's having a rougher time lately.

<Briel> like I said, who can tell with her...

* Briel doesn't want to even consider getting close enough to zlin... too many fires and accidents

* Alea slips into the Center and decides to go to her office... feeling really really guilty suddenly over how she has treated Veraik

* Linn tries to understand just how Snake thinks Linn could prevent a berserker from killing her.

* JonDrake thinks that maybe he should talk to her sometime soon. They seem to be getting along better since the blowup.

<wisesnake> Look, Linn, are you going to hang yourself with this fear?

<Linn> I'd rather not.

<wisesnake> It's hurting you, it's hurting your students, and it will get you killed if you keep spending time around kids and coming into Sime Territory.

* Briel grabs up the language book and goes to replace it with the other books in her bookcase

* Alea wonders if she just went to Veraik and apologize again... but no... wouldn't work

* Alea slips into her office and takes her cloak off

* Alea hurries over to the heater and pulls a chair close to it... shivering, glad to be back inside

* Alea contemplates what to do

<Linn> I know how dangerous it is. I don't know how to stop it.

<wisesnake> You stop it by not wanting to have it any more, and working to make yourself a place where it cannot find a home.

<Briel> did you deliever all the papers?

<wisesnake> Have you done that? Decided you think the fear is wrong, and make yourself despise it?

<JonDrake> Yes I did. NO problem.

<JonDrake> I was a little perplexed, though.

* Briel turns from the book case

<Briel> oh?

<Linn> Not successfully.

<Briel> about what?

<wisesnake> Out of curiousity, has a Sime ever hurt you as badly as the Gens did last night?

<JonDrake> The papers for Tarsh.

<Briel> yes?

<Briel> what about them?

* Linn remembers spending several sleepless nights before each of her donations, trying to convince herself that there was no reason to fear a channel.

<JonDrake> His office is just next door.

<Briel> I know that

* Briel goes back over to her desk and finishes clearing the notes she'd taken from the book

<JonDrake> I didn't understand why you wanted me to take the papers to the front desk just so the clerk could take them back to Tarsh's office.

* Briel pauses and looks up

<Briel> Ah....

* Briel nods

<Briel> well...

<Linn> Me, personally? No. But Alice was hurt worse, and I've seen two colleagues and a student die from berserker attacks. It isn't a pleasant way to go.

<Briel> the other night when Linn was here, Tarsh had some problems from her and Zilla's actions

* Briel thinks that is an understatement

<JonDrake> Ah...

<Briel> It's best if he's not around any gens right now...why else would they be putting him in the best insulated room in the Center

<Briel> anyway

<Briel> I think it would be best to help since he might be a bit sesnsitive right now

<Briel> He is, after all, only a renSime

<Briel> and I especially don't want my Donor around him

<JonDrake> I see....

* JonDrake smiles at that last.

<JonDrake> Too much of an unknown factor?

* wisesnake eyes grow shadowy

<Briel> everytime Alea gets around a renSime seems like she gets attacked... and she's had some traning... just don't want to risk it with you at all

<wisesnake> Linn, the only reason those people were hurt is because those children were forced to become berserkers...

<wisesnake> Forced by people's, by society's, refusal to deal with changeover in a responsible way.

<wisesnake> Have you ever seen anybody hurt by an adult Sime as badly as those Gens hurt you?

<JonDrake> I can understand your concern.

<Briel> no matter

<Briel> he'll be fine

<Briel> he's only a week from transfer

<Briel> the less contact he has with Gens right now, the better

<Briel> he's so jumpy he's making ME nervous

* JonDrake nods.

<JonDrake> Life sure does stay interesting here, doesn't it?

<Briel> interesting?

<Briel> what a nice way to put it

<JonDrake> I remember hearing about an Ancient's curse: "May you live in interesting times."

<Linn> There aren't any adult Simes on my side of the border, Snake. Just berserkers, who kill the nearest Gen. I know the kids can't help it, and I'm doing my best to change things. But for the moment, they are a deadly danger to me and every other Gen around.

* Briel nods

<Briel> come on, let's go walk... I'm feeling cooped up in here, I want a chance to see some things before I start that downward spiral

<JonDrake> That sounds good.

<JonDrake> We'll just get my coat on the way out.

* Briel sighs realizing she shouldn't have suggested going outside

<Briel> Jon, I'm sorry. Why don't you stay here

<Briel> I don't want you getting cold

<wisesnake> But Linn, don't you see?

<wisesnake> You are afraid of something your society breeds, something it manufactures. Not real Simes. Berserkers.

<JonDrake> No, that's the point of getting the coat. Don't worry about it.

* Briel swears to herself at the first chattering of teeth she'll pull Jon's out... teaching him not to be stubborn with her

<Briel> fine

* Briel grabs her cloak and slips it on, not wanting to augment too much to stay warm and bring on her turnover any faster

<Linn> Berserkers may be a product of the way Eastcove treats its children, but as long as the children are treated that way, they are... frighteningly real, Snake.

* wisesnake looks impatient.

<wisesnake> You seem intent upon missing my point.

* JonDrake remembers his training and figures that with Briel approaching turnover, now is not the best time to mention how "interesting" things are getting.

<wisesnake> Well, let me approach this another way.

<wisesnake> Linn, are you aware that fear triggers the attack instinct in a Sime?

* JonDrake thinks, "Not just interesting, sometimes 'going to hell in a handbasket' seems closer."

* Linn nods.

* Briel zlins the garden area through her window and doesn't zlin anyone else out there

<wisesnake> If you walk around shouting fear at every Sime that passes you, you're forcing decent, good people into an incredibly uncomfortable situation.

* Briel turns from the window and strides toward her door

<Briel> coming Jon?

<wisesnake> It's the equivalent of walking past mothers and kicking their little kids, or walking past police officers pointing your gun at random passers-by.

* JonDrake follows...

<wisesnake> I mean, it just isn't done! Not in Sime Territory, at any rate.

* Briel strides at a fast pace out the back door and through the garden paths

* Briel uses this time to expel the restless energy and zlin the dying leaves and sleeping trees

<wisesnake> If you did one of those things you'd be absolutely demanding their full attention, in the most negative possible way...

<wisesnake> It's the same thing with shoving fear at a renSime.

<Linn> I can see that. What I can't see is how to prevent it. So far, wanting to hasn't worked.

* Linn looks down at her hands.

<wisesnake> It has to come from inside.

* Briel realizes she is leaving Jon behind and slows to hook her arm through Jon's

* wisesnake stares at Linn, intensely

<Briel> come on, you won't stay warm if you don't speed up

<wisesnake> Inside yourself.

* JonDrake works to keep up.

<wisesnake> You have to have made a decision that you are not going to believe in fear anymore, that you are not going to worship it or let it tell you what to do.

<wisesnake> Have you made those decisions?

* Briel drags Jon along with her, enjoying the chance to finally be out of the Center for awhile

* Briel goes up and down all the paths, zlinning, point out things as they stride past, continuing until that excess energy is released, then she slows

* Linn considers for a long moment, and decides that it's worth a try.

* JonDrake is breathing a little heavily. No teeth chattering here!

* Linn nods.

* wisesnake zlins Linn, still watching her studiously

* Briel goes to the gazebo and drops down onto one of the seats, smiling in satisfaction

<Briel> have a seat Jon. We'll sit here until you rest up

<wisesnake> Now whenever you feel that fear, you must take it firmly by the throat and ask it why it's there.

<wisesnake> And if it doesn't have a good reason, you must throw it away.

<JonDrake> Thanks... pant... pant...

<wisesnake> And you have to use everything you know, to evaluate what is best in the situation you're in.

<wisesnake> Fear of Simes is a self-fulfilling problem, Linn.

<Briel> winter is a wonderful time of the year

* Linn thinks these instructions over carefully, then nods agreement.

<Briel> It's a shame you Gens are so cold-natured

<wisesnake> You must break the cycle and break it firmly.

<JonDrake> Cold natured?

<Briel> though the Gens back home just bundled up and went outside with us... though they could never outfight us in a snowball fight

* Briel smiles

<JonDrake> Ah... I see....

<wisesnake> It might help to learn more about Sime physiology. Knowing another person's point of view is to know yourself as you look in their eyes.

<Briel> those were nice days

* Briel smiles with fond memories of her house

<wisesnake> Kids in Sime Territory grow up knowing how to judge stages of Need, when a person is before or after turnover, and any of a dozen other things imperative in knowing how to act around a Sime, and how a Sime will act around you.

* Linn 's interest is piqued at the prospect of a new field of study.

<JonDrake> I bet.

<Briel> oh well... let's go in... it's getting later and I'm unusally tired today

* Briel doesn't mention that she's not been sleeping good since she's been up worrying over Veraik

<JonDrake> Ok. Are you sure you got the stuffiness of indoors out of your system.

<Briel> yeah, I'm fine

* Briel starts toward the back of the Sime Center, but pauses

<Briel> Jon?

* Briel doesn't turn around and face him

<JonDrake> Good. You seem a bit better.

<JonDrake> Yes?

* wisesnake looks away from Linn

<Briel> would you start spending the night in my room as of tonight?

<wisesnake> And don't do it just because I told you to. Do it because you really don't want fear anymore.

* Briel thinks with him there maybe she'll get a bit of sleep

<JonDrake> I'd be happy to, Briel.

* Briel also knows it'll be the middle of the night when she hits turnover

* Briel nods

<Briel> fine

* Briel goes inside

<Briel> right now, I want to take an hour rest... come on

* Briel heads up the stairs

<Briel> we'll do donations after that

* JonDrake follows alongside.

* JonDrake starts projecting comfort and encouragement for good rest.

* Briel visibly relaxes

* Briel stops at her door and pushes it open and goes inside

* Linn contemplates her motivations.

* JonDrake enters.

* Briel pulls her clothes off and climbs into bed, closing her eyes

* Briel 's breathing evens out almost immediately

* wisesnake keeps her hands in her lap, eyes turned away, and does her best not to fidget

* JonDrake follows suit, letting his field envelop her, providing support.

<Linn> Fear is very useful when it keeps you from doing something stupid. But fear which comes at inappropriate timess and places -- that, I'd gladly live without.

* wisesnake wonders what Linn's personal translation of that is

* JonDrake lets Briel lean into him.

* JonDrake gives her his comfort, she gives him her warmth...

* wisesnake thinks it sounds like an only partial agreement, to her

* JonDrake begins relaxing, dozing, pulling Briel into refreshing, healthy sleep.

<Linn> I'll follow your advice, Snake.

* wisesnake 's eyes steal slowly back to Linn's

<wisesnake> How about that healing now, Linn?

* Linn nods.

* wisesnake holds out her hands

* Linn applies Snake's principles on when to allow fear, and makes herself fight down her apprehension before putting her hands in Snake's.

* wisesnake looks down at Linn's hands

<wisesnake> Linn, you don't really require this.

<wisesnake> You can stay here until you are well enough to go home...

<wisesnake> I don't want you to touch me to prove something. I want you to touch me for healing, or donation, or something else I can do for you... not to you.

* wisesnake lets go of Linn's hands

<wisesnake> Nick, you have the house until we get back.

<wisesnake> I'll try to check in, later on, to see if you require anything.

<wisesnake> Your turn will come after.

* NickR nods his understanding.

* Veraik walks my Alea's office and hears crying.

* wisesnake gets up and leaves the room, goes to find out what in the world happened to Rafe

* Veraik signals at her door.

<Alea> come in

* Alea glances up, wondering who that could be

<wisesnake> [in overly ambitious Spanish:] Rafe, my Donorling, where have you hidden my big, bright sunshiny existence?

<Veraik> Alea? You are OK?

<Alea> oh, hajene

* Alea stands

<Alea> I'm fine

<Alea> really

<Alea> uh, come on it

<Alea> in

* Alea grabs her hanky and mops at her eyes quickly, trying to restore some semblance of order to her hair and dress, trying to look like a Donor

<Veraik> You're crying and you say that you're fine.

* Veraik holds her "Tell me what the problem is?"

* Alea starts to shrug and then remembers what she thought about when she was out assaulting the gnome

<Alea> please, sit down

* Veraik sits in front of Alea's desk.

* Alea goes over and pushes her door closed and locks it so they won't be interrupted

* Alea goes back over and sits down in the chair by Veraik

<Alea> Veraik...

* Alea glances up and then her eyes slide away

* Alea clasps her hands nervously in front of her

* Veraik smiles. "What Alea?"

<Veraik> What is the matter?

<Alea> I've been thinking....

* Alea twists her hands, linking her fingers

<Alea> I-I... It's about my spying

<wisesnake> [Spanish] Rafe? Where aren't you not?

<wisesnake> er..

<wisesnake> shen it

* Alea glances down at Veraik's feet

<Veraik> [using a tentacles, Veriak lifts her chin] What about your spying, Alea?

<Veraik> smiles

* wisesnake is frustrated and full of lots of fun entran warnings

* wisesnake takes a deep breath

<wisesnake> Now, keep calm.

<wisesnake> [coaches self]

<Alea> I was so upset and angry when you found out and came in demanding I stay here and everything... I didn't even consider how hurt you must have been, how much of a right you had to be angry

<wisesnake> No need to panic.

<wisesnake> He's probably right around here somewhere.

* Alea glances at veraik's very male hands and thinks about how much work he has put into the Center with those very hands and fresh tears fall

<Rafael> [zipping up pants] Ahy problema, Señorita Essnake.

* Rafael focusses on Snake.

<Alea> only today did I realize that you have every right to hate me

<Alea> that you have every right to be so angry that you never let me out of your sight again

<Alea> I wanted to... apologize for all of the problems I've caused you in the past and present

* Alea is feeling totally alone, isolated from everyone at the moment

<Veraik> Oh Alea. I don't hate you. I thought I had made myself very, very clear. I love you.

<Veraik> That is one of the reasons why I want you here.

<wisesnake> [Sp] How did you that with no nager???

* Alea trembles at the thought of being here when her child is due and not at Zeor

<Veraik> And also, I don't think Zeor will protect you during childbirth the way that I can.

<Alea> Veraik... I-I...

<Alea> but I'm a Farris

<Veraik> Look at what your House has done to you.

* Alea looks back up at Veraik

* Alea drops her eyes in shame

* Veraik zlins all the aches and pains Alea has and adjusts ambient.

<Alea> but Veraik... I have to be around Farrises when this child is born.

<Alea> I know the problems, having lived there

* wisesnake is frustrated by Rafe's lack of response

* Alea allow shte fear she refuses to voice about the delivery to show in her nager

<Veraik> And I will assure you that you will have Farris' here. The Sectuib has promised it to me.

<wisesnake> Well, we're working tonight. Get ready and let's go.

<wisesnake> [in spanish]

<wisesnake> [it actually came out more like "Hot action in the city, so get your buns shaking"]

* Rafael nods. Sí Señorita EsSnake. "Estoy lista." Vamos. [waves hands]

<Alea> I-thank you, hajene[feels guilty for the relief she feels when she knows Veraik should still be furious with her]

* Rafael suppressing a laugh.

<Alea> then will you tell me why you're augmenting and lying about taking donations if you're no longer upset at me?

* wisesnake suspects she didn't say that quite correctly

* Veraik stands. "We have rounds to make and several donations scheduled. Shall we go?

* Alea sighs, her spirit sinking that he won't answer her

<Alea> of course, hajene

* Alea pushes wearily to her feet, her toe still throbbing and follows Veraik

<Veraik> Ouch! What have you done to yourself. I think I will have to heal you before we do anything.

<Alea> I'm fine. I just... stubbed my toe a couple of times

<Rafael> [Spanish] Señorita Essnake. Where are we going?

* Alea frowns when she thinks that the gnome actually won their fight because her toe was already bruised from the stone she'd kicked that had been embedded in the ground

* Alea thinks if she'd kicked the gnome with her other foot, she just might have cracked the gnome

<wisesnake> [in spanish] For the eightieth time, do not call me that!

* Alea limps on behind veraik

* Veraik sweeps her off her feet and carries Alea to the transfer couch in her office.

<Veraik> Then he goes to make her fosebine.

* Alea sighs getting used to Veraik's proprietory ways

<Veraik> Alea, What has happend to you?

<Veraik> You zlin of bruises everywhere.

<Alea> I kicked something by accidnet

<Alea> oh that

<Alea> well, let's see

* Alea thinks

<Alea> I suppose the big bruise here [points to her forehead] is from when I hit the front door when I dropped my new clothes trying to get into the Center

<wisesnake> [in Spanish] first we go to the Center of Sime, um, Sime Center, to take precautionary actions of a family nature.

<Alea> and then well, I wrenched my back out when I slipped on som leaves in the park yesterday evening

<Alea> and the knee and the elbow are when I fell in the park

* Rafael grins. [spanish] If that is what you'd like. Señ... Essnake.

<Alea> and the goose egg on the back of my head... well, that's when the berserker attacked me

<Alea> he knoked me to the ground you see...

<Alea> as a matter of fact, I sorta ache all over from that

<Veraik> BERSERKER!!!

<Alea> but the toe... well, I kicked a rock... and well, it was embedded in the dirt

* Alea shrugs

<Alea> that's most of it

* Alea blinks

<Veraik> What... When Alea... This is too much for you.

<Alea> well there was this kids from out Territory

<Alea> he was evidently out of it... and changed over in the park just as I cam walking by

<wisesnake> [spanish] afterward to the Whorehouses for a night of taking and receiving many gifts.

<wisesnake> [spanish] donations! many donations.

<Rafael> [Spanish] What family matter?

<wisesnake> [spanish] And transfers.

<Alea> my toe would be okay if I hadn't... accidently... kicked the gnome

<Rafael> [spanish] Ahhhh Donations are good

for you. No entran. yes.

* Alea doesn't dare tell him she was thinking of him when she kicked it

<Veraik> poor Gnome. Did you hurt him? [grin]

* Alea thinks of course, that's when she realized what a jerk she'd been to Veraik all along

<wisesnake> [spanish] A family member called upon a Pimp to arrange an appointment with me. I must do my duty.

<Alea> no

* Veraik takes her in tranfer position for a deep zlin.

<Rafael> sí sí

* Veraik zlins each bruise then the toe which is not broken but is very bruised.

* wisesnake makes sure Rafe has everything, then puts on her rather disreputable cloak and leaves the apartment

<Alea> you know, I think the skinned arms came from when I accidently fell into the shiltpron parlor earlier

<Rafael> [spanish] where is your Householding Zeor cloak, essnake?

<wisesnake> [spanish] Excuse me, I believe I misunderstood. Did you say "Zeor"?

<Veraik> Alea... you must think about your baby. A Shiltpron parlor.

<Veraik> ~~~Veraik is very distressed about Alea's condition.~~~

<Alea> uh, well... I was lost and thought I recognized it... and I did... which meant I wasn't really lost... and I peeked in, but the door moved and I landed right in the middle...

<Rafael> Sí Señ... Essnake. Zeor.

* Alea trails off, realizing it is not a good idea to tell Veraik that the Simes really enjoyed seeing a Donor laying in the middle of their floor

<Alea> nothing happened. I eased up and backed out and was fine

* Veraik zlins and clears a bruise on her arm.

<wisesnake> [spanish] [grimly] I not of Zeor anymore. Didn't tell you?

<Alea> the renSime made it.

<Alea> He's ill, and in the infirmary. Fenris.

<Rafael> [spanish] No? I don't understand. I was told that you are Farris. You feel of Farris. Farris... Zeor... right?

<wisesnake> [spanish] Farris yes. Zeor no.

<Veraik> Was that the changeover victim you served?

<Alea> yes

* Veraik moves tentacles to a bruise on her leg.

* Alea sits back, closing her eyes, wondering why

Veraik is taking the time to heal her... wishing he'd just let her stay bruised and injured... she'd feel a lot better, like she had paid her dues for her betrayal

* Rafael forehead wrinkles. He shakes head. "I don't understand that I will serve you matter. You are Farris. You feel Farris. Farris is good. Transfer, no?"

* wisesnake frowns, realizing the grammatical rules of Spanish are a lot more flexible than she'd originally believed

* Veraik moves his tentacles to her shoulders. Rubs her shoulders as he zlins and eases the tension of each knot and bruise.

* Veraik tentacles are more of a caress then a clinical placing.

<wisesnake> Uh... yeah... whatever

<Rafael> [spanish] Transfers? Donations? Let's go. This is good.

* Alea mind is miles off and doesn't notice the caress

* wisesnake hurries toward the Sime Center, anxious to hear the [presumably bad] news from Alea and get that out of the way so she can get into some serious work

* Alea wonders why Veraik won't level with her and thinks maybe he is really ready to be rid of her... for his next Donor

* Veraik removes her shoe and places tentacles on the toe, projecting hard need and wishing that his next transfer was with Alea instead of Simone.

* Alea responds

* Veraik bathes in Alea's nager.

* Alea sighs and opens her eyes

* Alea smiles softly at Veraik, thinking this is like old times, without them at each others throats and wonders if it can be this way for very long

* Veraik is hyper and zlinning.

* wisesnake climbs the front steps of the Center, pushes her way in the front door

* wisesnake holds the door open for Rafe

* Rafael is always in the perfect place for Snake's comfort.

<clerk> oh, um, may I help you?

* wisesnake goes to the front desk, a little bit wild looking from the fast walking

<Rafael> gracias

<wisesnake> Yes, I have to talk to Alea.

<clerk`> she's in her office

<wisesnake> Thanks.

* Alea notes that Veraik is hyper

* wisesnake goes to what she remembers as Alea's office, checks the sign to make sure it is still hers, and signals

<clerk`> I'm not sure if she is avaliable

* clerk` frets

* wisesnake hears clerk's addition after she has already signalled

* wisesnake glances back at clerk in annoyance

* Alea looks toward the door and pulls on her foot trying to get Veraik's attention

<wisesnake> Oh?

* Veraik faces Alea. [look in his eyes of wild passion, love, desire, and need.]

<Alea> there's someone at the door, hajene

* wisesnake starts to turn away, but hears Alea's voice through the lousy sound barriers

* Veraik holds foot and toe tighter.

<clerk`> uh, if you want to have a seat?

* clerk` nervously clears throat

* Rafael follows Essnake.

<Alea> hajene?

<Alea> someone is at the door?

* Alea glances at the door

* Veraik becomes duo. "What?"

* wisesnake looks irritable [which, by the way, is NOT a good thing to see] and moves stiffly into the lobby, takes a seat with displeasure

<Alea> I have to unlock the door. Someone is signalling

<Veraik> Oh. I'll get it

* Alea sighs, glad to have her foot back

* Veraik unwraps tentacles and goes to the door.

* Alea smoothes her dress and then grabs her shoe, slipping it back on

* Alea realizes she has relaxed for the first time today and is relieved

* Veraik looks out and sees no one then closes the door. "Nobody."

* wisesnake wishes she could charge the Center for every moment she sits feeling entran build

* clerk` tries to disappear behind the desk as she works... hoping Snake will ignore her

<clerk`> uh, the door is open

* clerk` sees it closed

<clerk`> and uh, closed again

* wisesnake zlins Veraik's and Alea's nager briefly, almost jumps up, then hears the door close again

<Alea> hajene... please

* wisesnake subsides with a shudder

* Alea pushes herself up and goes over to the door and opens it

<Alea> yes?

* Alea looks to clerk... sees Snake and a good looking -- very good looking -- Donor

* wisesnake looks at Rafe and points to the couch beside her

* Veraik tries to readjust his nager to filter then tension out of it.

<Alea> Snake?

* Rafael sits by Essnake.

* Alea thinks she must be here for Veraik

* wisesnake looks up

<wisesnake> Alea. You wanted to talk to me.

* Alea looks confused, totally clueless

* wisesnake 's eyes narrowed

<Alea> I did?

<wisesnake> You told Garon you wanted to speak to me, about a family matter.

<Alea> oh, is he that man.... oh!

* Alea glances helplessly at Veraik and then motions for Snake to come on in

* Veraik stands in the middle of Alea's office.

* wisesnake leans hard on Rafe's nager, drawing the strength to be patient with Alea

* Rafael projects protection, strength, presence.

* Alea clasps her hands together, crossing the room

* wisesnake stands, waits for Rafe, then follows Alea.

* Veraik is fighting himself to control his nager.

* Alea nods to the good looking Donor to close the door please

* wisesnake zlins Veraik's condition as she enters... eyes flicker

* Alea wonders what Snake zlinned and is now worried... glances at Veraik in concern

* Alea waits for Rafe to close the door

* wisesnake averts her eyes, concentrating on Alea

<wisesnake> You called me here. Why?

* Alea realizes she is just standing there

<Alea> oh!

<Alea> uh...

* Alea blushes a bit

<Alea> I... well... Snake... you're a Farris

* Alea clasps her hands together tighter, her knuckles turning white

* wisesnake 's lips tighten with impatience

<wisesnake> Yes.

<Alea> I just thought I'd come by and visit you for awhile

<Alea> that's all

* wisesnake notices the white knuckles

* wisesnake had already noticed the bruises, wrenched back, goose egg, etc.

* Alea shrugs and smiles rather sheepishly

* wisesnake 's eyes narrow

<Alea> just a spur of the moment thing

* wisesnake glances from Alea to Veraik to Alea again

<Alea> I told Garon... you did say he was Garon... he never told me his name... I did tell Garon not to worry, that it wasn't important

<Alea> I can't believe you came all the way here

<Alea> I just thought we could... chat...

<Alea> you know, like... old times

* wisesnake is starting to look genuinely annoyed

<wisesnake> And I suppose you don't even want to do that, now.

* Alea drops her hands and shrugs innocently

<Alea> well... if you'd like to

<Alea> I can make some tea and we can sit down....

<Alea> we are related... sort of, you know

* Veraik turns to Alea and zlins.

<wisesnake> Here I am, wondering if somebody died or what, knowing nothing but you wanted to talk to me and it was family related.

<Alea> why would you think someone died?

<Alea> and well... it is kinda family related

<Alea> you know, catch up on the local... um... gossip?

<wisesnake> I don't know! I thought it would have to be something serious for you to invoke our family connection, and to go out on the street and tell someone you were looking for me, which as everybody knows is the way to find me.

<Alea> oh

* Alea bites her lower lip, realizing how upset Snake is

* Alea tries to project a calm soothing nager

* Rafael looks at the other channel in the room and wonders who he is. Not a Farris... doesn't feel like a Farris.

<Alea> I apologize Snake

<Alea> I didn't think

* wisesnake should have known better than to think anything was real or serious, with Alea

* wisesnake sighs

<wisesnake> It's fine. It's fine, forget about it.

* Alea nods and turns away

* Rafael steps closer to protect his Channel.

* wisesnake notices her Donor is giving Veraik the eyeball

<Alea> would you like to stay for lunch... I'm sure they wouldn't mind... after all, you came all the way here

* Alea shrugs

* wisesnake gets a little defensive

* Veraik is hyper and zlinning.

* wisesnake gets really defensive

* Alea passing Veraik notes he is hyper again and engages his field and pulls him down duo

* Alea frowns at Veraik

* Rafael focusses on Essnake.

* Veraik blinks. "U..Hello Snake. How are you?

* wisesnake takes advantage of Rafael's moving closer to mask his field with her own... no mean feat considering the differences in their fields at this time

<wisesnake> Hello, Veraik. [warily]

* Alea flushes at Veraik's words thinking he is going to really upset Snake if he keeps staring at her Donor like that

* wisesnake zlins Veraik again, more closely than before

<wisesnake> What in the world have you been doing to yourself?

* Alea glances back at Wisesnake in alarm

<Alea> what?

<Veraik> [points with tentacles] I see you have your Donor. How is he working out?

* Alea desperately wanting to know what is going on with Veraik and realizes Snake now has a good idea

* Veraik zlins like he has real power.

* wisesnake almost glances at Rafe, but then stands firm, waiting for an answer.

* Alea 's frown turns foreboding as she waits for Veraik to answer too

* Alea fists her hands and places them on her hips

<Alea> well, hajene?

<Veraik> Well what?

<Alea> Snake wants to know why you're so screwed up? You gonna tell her since you won't tell me?

* Veraik zlins Snake. "Entran. Does it hurt?"

* Alea looks at Snake

<Veraik> There is nothing wrng with me Alea.

<Alea> he has been lying to me about his donation and he is augmenting like crazy... but he, of courses, denies it all

<Alea> I'm worried about him... but he won't tell me what's going on

<Veraik> I've done a little augmenting. Not much more than what I usually do.

* Alea snorts

<Veraik> No cause for alarm though.

<wisesnake> You're way ahead of schedule, Veraik. And entran besides.

* Alea huffs

<Alea> entran

* Alea narrows her eyes on Veraik

<wisesnake> Why? You can have all the work you want.

<wisesnake> And the augmenting... it's not a little. You're significantly ahead of schedule.

<Alea> just how far, Snake

* Alea asks without taking her eyes off Veraik

* Veraik turns away and goes to the window. "I'm fine. There is no problem with me."

<wisesnake> Two days... maybe two and a half.

<Alea> two days?!

* Alea takes a deep breath

<Veraik> I've just been doing a lot of paperwork lately so there's not been a lot of time for other activities.

<Alea> what were you trying to do... kill yourself by lying to me?

<Alea> Veraik... have you let Simone know?

<Alea> is he going to be here on time?

* Alea concerned goes forward and touches his elbow

<Veraik> Simone will be here in plenty of time.

<wisesnake> Simone!

* wisesnake goes white

<wisesnake> You're assigned with Simone!

* Alea glances back at Snake and then at Rafe

<Veraik> ~~~thinks about the notice he received today saying that Simone would be at least 36 hours late~~~

* Veraik cringes. "Yes. Is that a problem, Snake?"

* Alea very VERY worried now about Veraik

* Alea projects her field around Veraik, trying to block Snake's outburst

* Rafael tightens focus on esnnake, realizing that she is under some kind of stress.

<wisesnake> ~~~ nager is quite under control ~~~

* Alea focuses solely on Veraik... ignoring everyone else in the room

<wisesnake> Yes, there is a problem. [glint of dark insanity in Snake's eyes]

<wisesnake> You... and Simone.. it's preposterous!

* Alea is now sorry she mentioned anything about Simone in front of Snake

* Veraik staggers with Snake's blast.

<wisesnake> === for the last time, Snake does not do "nageric blasts" any more than Klyd would ===

<wisesnake> ~~~ nager remains quite under control ~~~

* Alea continues to project soothing steady support to Veraik

<Alea> hajene

* Alea reaches out and touches his elbow

<Alea> you know how the Tecton is, Snake

<Alea> they assign who they want to assign

<Alea> besides, Simone is only passing through

<Alea> he'll only be here an hour... just long enough to stop and then go on

* Alea continues to focus on Veraik

* wisesnake remembers her own transfer with Simone and shivers

<Veraik> I was told that Simone would be able to make it as far inland as he would like so it was arranged for him to take transfer here.

* wisesnake does not understand Veraik's statement

<Veraik> He's an archeologist and is in Gen Territory on an excavation.

<Veraik> Like I said, Simone is a very busy man.

* Alea nods, confirming Veraik's words

* wisesnake pulls closer to Rafe's field... because it's a supportive field, but feels a dread of the coming transfer, knowing Rafe will share the standard Tecton refusal to allow what she needs...

* Alea disagrees with that... from what she's learned, he sounds like a very arrogant man who doesn't know where his real duty lies

* wisesnake anticipates a terrible, if not disastrous, transfer and wishes she had never heard about Simone and Veraik

* Rafael smiles when he feels his channel closer to him. [spanish] good transfer. sí?

<wisesnake> [upset]

* Veraik zlins Snake. What's the matter?

<wisesnake> que?!

<Veraik> Is it that a mere Channel is going to have a very powerful Farris Donor?

* Alea eyes widen in shock at Veraik's words...

* wisesnake looks slowly back at Veraik.

* Rafael is happy that his Channel is close to him. [anticipation of transfer]

<Alea> uh focuses her attention more on Veraik, trying to calm him, certain it is only need talking since it is Snake that is upset about Veraik having a trasnfer with Simone -- his Donor this month

* Alea steps in front of Veraik and reaches out to take his hands

<wisesnake> [rough-voiced] You think after all I've been through, and with all I'll go through still waiting, you think I'm worried about the politics of mixed transfers?

<Veraik> Mixed transfers? You see what I mean Snake. That's the Farris talking in you.

* wisesnake looks dumbfounded

<wisesnake> What?

<Alea> Veraik... you're both too close to transfer... wait until after to discuss this

<Alea> please Veraik

* Alea grabs his hands, looking up, pleading with her nager

<wisesnake> That's what I'm trying to tell you... that was the last thing on my mind!

* Veraik turns and zlins Alea. [nods] You're right.

* wisesnake shivers like a bull during a pause between picadores

<Alea> I'm sorry I brought you here Snake.

<Alea> I only wanted to chat... to talk... not to cause more problems

* Alea doesn't turn to face her, continuing to concentrate on Veraik and keep hold of his hands

* Veraik holds tight control on nager.

* Rafael places hand lightly over Snake's tentacles sheaths to show support but still not understanding what is the matter.

<wisesnake> Veraik, things were bad enough at this Center before. But if you lose it, and it sure looks like you're about to, there won't be any Center at all. Is that what you're going to let happen?

* wisesnake trembles at Rafael's unexpected touch, temporarily rendered speechless

<Veraik> **I** can handle the Center, Snake.

<Veraik> I have no choice since you have abandon me and the Center.

<wisesnake> [whisper] Veraik, you're not going to last another week at this rate.

* wisesnake 's patience snaps

<wisesnake> Oh don't give me that!

<Veraik> [through tight teeth] I can do anything a Farris can do.

<wisesnake> I didn't make you avoid work so you get entran... I didn't make you augment. I ---

* wisesnake stunned pause

<wisesnake> What?

<wisesnake> ___what___?

<Alea`> what?

* Alea` is stunned too

* Rafael is very worried about Snake and projects his caring, his desire to help, and assurance that he will be there for her.

<wisesnake> You cannot, Veraik. What made you think that? It's impossible.

<Alea`> Hajene, you are falling apart before our eyes. What makes you think you can do the job of a Farris?

<Veraik> I can and I will.

<wisesnake> What do you mean "job"? He hasn't been doing work, that's for sure.

* Alea` trembles, wondering if Veraik has gone mad too

<Veraik> I am the Controller. I have work to do. Paperwork.

<Alea`> but Veraik... you are also a channel

<Veraik> Work to assure that all is safe.

<Alea`> You have to do your channel's work too

<Alea`> any good Farris channel NEVER ever avoids that work

<Alea`> they're too sensitive.

<Veraik> I... I... I need my Donor to be with me for the Donations.

<Alea`> If you were a Farris channel, you'd already be in the infirmary

* Alea` steps back, guilt crashing in on her

<wisesnake> [in spanish] Rafe, ease up, I can't think.

* Veraik augments to the window and refuses to listen to what Alea says.

* wisesnake looks between the two of them

* Rafael blinks then takes a tiny step back.

<Alea`> you lied to me Veraik

* Alea` says this calmly

<Alea`> you purposely said you went BEFORE your time of donations while I was gone

<Alea`> I was back in time.

<Alea`> Why did you do that?

<wisesnake> [aside, to Rafael in Spanish very quietly] I will tell you all later. No explain now too busy.

<Veraik> Lied? No, I didn't. I've worked. [enclosing nager hoping that Snake doesn't zlin him]

<Alea`> I know better

* wisesnake can of course zlin perfectly clearly

<Alea`> I checked with the channel's place you supposedly took

<Alea`> He worked that shift. You didn't

* Rafael nods his head and frowns at the Channel across the room, wondering what the problem is.

<Alea`> you assigned someone else to work your shift, trying to convinve me you'd already worked earlier... why?

* wisesnake moves in Veraik's direction, not getting between him and Alea

<Alea> answer me, Veraik

<Alea> why?

* Alea takes his arm, frightened by his actions

<Alea> why are you doing this?

<Alea> why are you lying and augmenting and running yourself into the ground?

<Veraik> I... I.... [looks hopeless]

<Alea> Veraik

* Alea fear is obvious

<Alea> please, confide in me, hajene

<Veraik> My lateral isn't completely recovered.

<Alea> hogwash

<Alea> I know better

* Veraik looks embarressed.

<Alea> try again

<Alea> and STOP lying to me

<Alea> I'm a Farris

* Alea 's old arrogance is back as she stares at him with that statement

* Veraik wants to augment.

<Veraik> There is no hope.

<Alea> come on Veraik... you say you're in awe of Farrises but you're lying to me...

* wisesnake is now close enough to reach out for Veraik with her field, if she chooses

<Alea> tell me

<Veraik> [looks to Alea]

<Alea> what do you mean there is no hope

* Alea warns Snake off with a look

* wisesnake has seen worse

<Veraik> [looks down and closes eyes in pain]

<Alea> Veraik?

* Alea moves closer

<Alea> please, Veraik

<Alea> answer me.

* wisesnake zlins the feelings Veraik has for Alea

<Alea> I have to know. I need to know

<Veraik> I love you Alea but you love Tarsh and Zeor doesn't marry outside of Zeor.

<Veraik> I can't even be a Farris for you.

* Alea stares in shock

<Alea> oh shen

* Alea backs up

<Alea> you can't Veraik

<Alea> oh veraik

* Alea tries desperately to think of something to say

<Alea> I... only need... the best Controller you can be.

<Alea> You don't have to be Farris... or anything

* Veraik sighs. Sure. Whatever you say. [down]

<Alea> please Veraik

<Alea> you're special... you don't know how special...

* Alea trembles

<Alea> but... I... just... can't.....

<Alea> not....

* Veraik tries to smile. I know. It's all right.

* Alea looks very very hurt. Hurting for Veraik and the situation... and what might have been

* NaztRafe steps a little closer to esnake.

<Veraik> I'll... I'll just go on to the Donation room.

<Alea> I should go with you Veraik

<wisesnake> Veraik.

<Alea> you're too close to transfer to be alone

* Alea heart is aching

* wisesnake stops them

<Veraik> [turns back] Yes, Snake?

<Veraik> [looks down and up]

* Alea cares deeply for Veraik... would love him if she wasn't committed elsewhere and just can't handle the pain Veraik is in

<wisesnake> Veraik, you need help. Let me help you.

* Alea wonders if maybe she shouldn't just get out of sight... like she has for Tarsh... if that would help Veraik... except this time leave...

<Veraik> With the lateral? I'll be fine. It just requires more time to heal.

* wisesnake reaches out and takes Alea by the wrist

<wisesnake> No. With everything. What you've done to yourself... it's shocking. That people walk into the Center and zlin this is appalling.

<Veraik> [short laugh] That's the pot calling the kettle black, don't you think?

* wisesnake narrows her eyes

<wisesnake> I don't pretend to be the leader of the Tecton in this part of town.

<wisesnake> So I don't have to display myself as the Tecton's best.

<Alea> His Donor will be here to serve him... right Veraik?

<Veraik> Simone will be here.

<Alea> surely Simone can straighten out the problems...

<Alea> and I'll be here until then

<wisesnake> Yeah, two and a half days after you come due.

<Alea> what are you talking about?

* Veraik smiles sadly. "Thank you Naztehr."

<wisesnake> Or were you able to reschedule him to fit your new need date?

<wisesnake> [doubtful]

* Alea blinks, certain Veraik wasn't calling her Naztehr... looks over at Rafe to see if he was talking to him

<Veraik> I'll be fine. I'll probably end up in the deferment suite again but I'll make it.

<Alea> defermen....NO WAY

<wisesnake> Veraik you can't go two and a half days past and you know it.

<Alea> if you are telling me that Simone isn't going to be here on time

* Veraik sees her glance. I was talking to you Alea. [tired]

* Alea takes a deep breath, shuddering at what Veraik is suggesting

<wisesnake> Simone will probably be here on time to the minute. Veraik will be early.

<Alea> oh no... no... no

<Alea> you can NOT go two days

<Alea> Veraik... you're as crazy as Snake if you think that

* Alea glances at Snake

<Alea> uh, sorry, Snake

* wisesnake wonders what that was supposed to mean

* Alea turns her gaze back at Veraik

<Alea> you call them and tell them he has to be early

* Veraik is worried at what Alea just said regarding Snake.

* Alea goes over and grabs the phone

<Alea> here, call them now

<Alea> you make sure they know you have to have someone here as soon as possible

* wisesnake tosses back her head, to clear the hair out of her eyes - an unconsciously arrogant motion

<Alea> before that even

* Veraik takes the phone and cradles it. "I'll be fine, Alea."

<Alea> shen

* Alea forces herself to stay calm

<Alea> no, Veraik, you won't... unless you have a... death wish?

<Veraik> No death wish.

<Alea> shen shen shen [mutters]

<Alea> well, then, you'll just be stuck with me again, won't you

<Alea> because you can't wait two days

<Alea> or maybe Jon... no....

* Alea shakes her head

* wisesnake reaches for the phone.

<Alea> Zilla?

* Alea shakes her head again

<wisesnake> I will...

<Alea> go ahead Snake

<wisesnake> Let me... [gently pulls the phone from Veraik's hand]

* Veraik augments to take the phone. "I SAID I'll be fine.

* wisesnake looks Veraik hard in the eye

* Alea shakes her head at Snake

<wisesnake> I don't beleve that.

* Alea mouths "later"

* Veraik suddenly releases the phone.

* wisesnake catches it

* Alea goes over and takes Veraik's arm

<Alea> please, come over here and sit down

* Veraik goes with Alea.

* Alea reaches out for his arms

<Alea> let's do an outfunction and get that straightened out right now

<Alea> don't worry about the good looking Donor or Snake

* Alea is glad the Donor doesn't speak Simelan

<Veraik> ~~Veraik is burning selyn even as he sits. His body is in a raging selyn consumption rate.~~~

<Alea> just concentrate on me

* wisesnake calls, muttering to herself about still having the number memorized

<wisesnake> "Hello. Scheduling, please."

* Alea slides her hands up Veraik's arms projecting desperation in her desire to help

* Veraik wraps tentacles.

<Alea> come on, Veraik, that's it

* wisesnake does a double take as she zlins what's going on across the way

<Alea> you know I'm here for you... always...

<wisesnake> "Hold? No, I won't hold. What, you weren't expecting any calls today?"

* Veraik raises intil

* Alea leans forward enticing Veraik

<wisesnake> Hey!

<wisesnake> Hey you two!

<Alea> come on, let's get that entran straightened out

<wisesnake> No intil!

<wisesnake> shen it

<Tecton> I'm sorry but that line is busy. Who did you say you wanted to talk to?

* Alea hears Snake's words... but they don't register

<Alea> Veraik

<wisesnake> Scheduling... anybody in scheduling.

<wisesnake> We have an emergency situation and require somebody's transfer date to be moved up.

<Alea> come on... just accept me... accept this

* Veraik zlins deeper. Focusng on the rich selyn source of promise.

* Alea 's desire to help is desperate as she realizes that Veraik might not have someone in time

* wisesnake pulls the phone to its greatest extent and tries to stretch her field to interfere

<Alea> I'm going to be here for you Veraik

<Alea> Simone will be here on time. Snake will take care of everything

<Alea> but in the mean time, I'll be here for you

* wisesnake wonders who thought of having such a short phone cord for such a large office

<Alea> I promise not to leave your side

<Tecton> I'm sorry but that office is closed for the day. It will reopen at midnight.

* Alea uses her field to enhance that promise

<wisesnake> This is an emergency!

<wisesnake> Give me to Emergency.

* Veraik sets laterals.

* Alea concentrates on Veraik, blocking out the sound of Snake's voice

<wisesnake> Whoa!

<Alea> outfunction, Veraik?

<Tecton> Patching you through.

<wisesnake> Ah... thank you

* Alea looks down at her arms and then up at Veraik

<Alea> Veraik?

<wisesnake> Alea! [hissed]

<Alea> Veraik???

* Veraik is hyper, zlinning.

* Veraik makes the fifth contact point.

* Alea sits still, not moving

* Alea freezes at the fifth contact point

* Alea hesitates

<wisesnake> "hello? Hello? Is this Emergency?"

* Veraik draws a tiny bit of selyn then... shens himself. "Ahhhh"

<emergency> yes

<wisesnake> Ohgod it's happening right now!

* Alea feels the action and flares desire to help

* wisesnake drops phone and darts across the room

* Alea ~~please Veraik...~~

* Veraik zlins back to the selyn source.

* Alea takes all the heartache she has caused him and channels it into keeping him from being hurt by her again...

<emergency> Hello? hello? Tell me the nature of the emergency?

* wisesnake envelopes them both in a supportive field

* Alea ~~I won't hurt you~~

* Alea ~~I'm here for you~~

* Veraik goes for the fifth contact again. zlinning the desiring nager.

* Alea goes completely compliant in his grip... giving him total control

* Veraik draws selyn then stops at the familiar nager then shens himself. "Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!

* Veraik rolls up into a ball.

* Alea cries out, grabbing at him

<Alea> NO!

* Alea flares desire to give and grabs his arms

* Alea slides her arms up his, projecting excitement and desire

* Alea reaches for a fifth contact point

* Veraik pants then takes the fifth contact point and draws.

* Alea gives herself completely to the draw, encouraging

* Alea ~~giving freely~~

* Veraik strips selyn for her systems, taking it all.

* Alea feels it but allows it

* Veraik sings through all the levels and into the first level.

* Alea ~~won't hurt you~~

* Veraik draws and draws to get his life.

* Alea ~~joy to give~~

* Veraik burns into a level then shens himself, unsatisfied but refuses to kill.

* Alea gasps

<Alea> Snake...

* Alea hisses

* Veraik encloses himself and falls.

* wisesnake zlins it all

* Alea turns white

<emergency> What's happening? Hello? Hello?

* wisesnake turns and walks over to the phone, picks it up

<wisesnake> Hello.

<wisesnake> [very calm voice]

<wisesnake> Yes, we had an emergency.

<emergency> Emergency. What happened?

<emergency> Had?

* Alea crawls over to Veraik

<Veraik> Alea..

<Veraik> Don't leave me.

<wisesnake> Well, the Center's controller augmented himself into requiring transfer days early... and had entran from refusing to work... and then he took the wrong transfer partner, who he's in love with. He aborted out of it and she's burned.

* Alea doesn't think she is going anywhere

<wisesnake> I'm not really sure what to do since I don't actually work at the Center.

* Alea staggers up and hits the emergency button

<emergency> Do you have another Channel to help with the situation?

<wisesnake> Yes.

* Alea staggers back over to Veraik, wondering if it does any good for her to try to support him

<emergency> You really require two Channels in your situation. Do you have two?

<wisesnake> Maybe.

<wisesnake> I'll have to look.

* Briel hears the alarm and sits up, shocked

<Veraik> I'm sorry Alea. [barely over a whisper]

* Briel jumps out of bed, grabbing her clothes... answers the clerk's call... and hurriedly dresses on the way out of her room

<Veraik> Don't leave me. Alea. please don't leave me.

* Alea tries to encourage him with her nager

* Jirelle hears the alarm and jumps wildly out of [Fise's old] bed

* Briel comes running down the stairs and sees the clerk pointing

<Briel> shen! what'd she do this time

* Jirelle runs out of the room half dressed and follows Briel down the stairs

* Briel goes bursting into the office

* Jirelle follows Briel

* Veraik rolls up more refuses to touch the nager he loves again.

* Briel zlins shocked

* wisesnake looks at Briel and Jirelle and then says "Yes, two channels" in a very calm voice

<Briel> I'll be shendoni... lunatic idiot I knew something was the matter

* Jirelle looks amazed

<Jirelle> Wow!

* Briel augments over to Veraik

* Jirelle takes Alea

<Alea> I'm fine, really

* Jirelle goes to Alea

<emergency> Good have each one handle the two.

* Briel takes Veraik into full transfer position

<emergency> I'll stand by if you have any questions.

* Briel zlins

* Jirelle zlins Alea, then takes her by the shoulders and makes her lie down

* Alea rolls over and throws up

* Alea I-I'm fine... reeeeally

* Alea groans

* Veraik allows it.

<Jirelle> Just lie down.

<Jirelle> Come on, lie down... [softly] you've been burned.

<Alea> minor

<Alea> very very minor

<Alea> honest

* Alea tries to smile

* wisesnake grips the phone, white-knuckled

<wisesnake> I think I... have to sit down.

* wisesnake does, on the floor

<wisesnake> [slumps, rather]

<emergency> Perhaps you require a channel as well. Can you get one for yourself?

* Briel checks his systems...

* Jirelle smiles at Alea

<Jirelle> That's fine, you just lie here, okay?

<Briel> shen and shid Veraik... what crazy stunt was this?

* Alea moans

<Alea> the baby

<emergency> Gens like you shouldn't be seeing these kind of problems.

<wisesnake> [whisper] I'm not a Gen

<Alea> the excitement I'm sure just made me sick

* Veraik groans.

* Jirelle zlins Alea's abdomen

<emergency> Oh well then have a channel subscribe a dose of fosebine for you.

<wisesnake> [voiceless] fosebine...

* Briel stablizes Veraik

<emergency> Tell me you will require one dosage measure.

<wisesnake> one dosage measure

* Briel waits for Veraik to look up at her

* Veraik responds to Briel's steady nager.

<Jirelle> The baby's fine, Alea. Just lie there and rest. Rest for the next few days. You'll be just fine.

<Briel> you do realize, don't you, that you didn't have to go this early for transfer... you still had two days... and Alea shouldn't... couldn't have transfer this early after that renSime and being 8 days early????

<Briel> if you don't... well, Veraik, you now see the results

<Briel> Farris or not... 8 days is just a tad early

* Briel shakes her head in disgust

* wisesnake grips the phone and curls her arms and legs up against her, staring at nothing

<Alea> I'm fine, really. Honestly. It wasn't that bad... he was shenning... I was afraid he was going to....

* Alea trails off, not wanting to say what idiot emotions led her to do such a stupid risky thing

<Jirelle> Shhh... shhh...

* Veraik listens to Briel and thinks that he deserves what he is getting.

* Briel works on the selyn nerves endings that are frayed

<Jirelle> Try to remain calm. Let me get you some fosebine all right? Will you lie here quietly if I go away for a minute?

<Briel> I could have given you a better transfer than this, hajene... shen... Snake could have really gotten you post

<emergency> Are you still there? Hello... hello. tell me what is happening.

* wisesnake breath coming in short hoarse pants

* Veraik curls into a ball.

* Briel finally sits back and gets up and goes and gets some fosebine for Veraik... and some for Snake

<wisesnake> Hurt. them

<wisesnake> I watched it happen.

* Briel goes to Snake

<Briel> Snake

* Briel reaches out to touch Snake

<Briel> it's okay, sweetie

<emergency> Who was hurt? You said the Controller. Which Controller?

* wisesnake flinches

* wisesnake looks up, doesn't recognize Briel

* Briel adjusts the ambient

<Briel> come on, drink this for me

<wisesnake> Veraik... [whisper into phone]

* Briel holds out some fosbine

* wisesnake eyes go to the fosebine

<Briel> you're in shock

<Briel> come on, drink it up...

<NaztRafe> Señorita Esnake. [spanish] are you all right?

* Briel snaps out in Spanish. "She is in shock. Help her."

* wisesnake drinks the fosebine with no reaction to the taste

<NaztRafe> Sí

* Jirelle returns with fosebine for Alea

* NaztRafe focusses on Snake, projecting calm and assurance that he will be there for her when she needs him.

* Alea smiels her thanks

* NaztRafe hangs up the phone.

* Veraik drinks the fosebine

* wisesnake puts her face in her hands

* Briel goes to the door and orders someone in here for Veraik

* Alea pushes herself up to a sitting position

* Jirelle doesn't let her

<Alea> Jirelle... I'm a Farris... I know when I'm okay

<Jirelle> Really, Alea, you should rest. Let me get someone to bring you to bed, all right?

* Jirelle laughs

<Jirelle> I hear it's the other way around.

* NaztRafe takes Esnake into tranfer position and projects need to give if hopes that she will respond to his field.

* Alea can't help but smile at Jirelle

<Alea> well, trust me

<Alea> it ususally is... but I'm different

* Jirelle smiles

<Jirelle> Sure, Alea... but I'm just following the rules.

* Briel moves out of the way for the renSimes who come in for Veraik

<Jirelle> Just lie there while I call somebody.

<Briel> go with him, Jon [to her Donor]

* NaztRafe backs off on his field as soon as she reponds but still projects a soothing assurance that he will be there for her when the time comes.

* Alea mutters, feelin