Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #57: Easily Fixed (10/25/97)
Alea carefully slips on her dress over the injured arm.
Alea clips her hair back and slips on her shoes, then leaves her room.
Alea goes to the infirmary and takes a dose of fosebine and waits for it to take effect before leaving the infirmary.
Valrie walks down the sidewalk in front of the Sime Center, looks both ways to make sure no one is around to see her, and runs quickly down the walk, up the stairs to the porch. She checks behind her one more time, then slips into the lobby.
Alea goes to the lobby.
Valrie looks around the lobby, checking to make sure that there's nobody she knows present. Particularly adults, who might wonder why she isn't in school.
Alea enters the lobby and stops, surprised.
Alea: Well, hello Valrie.
Alea: You certainly are back soon.
Alea smiles.
Valrie looks at Alea, relieved.
Valrie: Well, I wanted to talk to somebody, without Frieda around.
Alea: Ahhh.
Alea nods.
Alea: Why don't we go to my office. Or would you rather talk with a channel?
Valrie: She wouldn't understand.
Valrie considers, then shakes her head.
Alea waits....
Valrie: I'd rather talk with a Donor, if you don't mind.
Alea: Not at all.
Alea motions to her office.
Alea: Come on in.
Alea: I was just about to make some tea.
Valrie perks up at the mention of refreshment.
Valrie: That would be nice. [shyly] I didn't have time to eat breakfast this morning.
Alea thinks about her burned arm and Veraik's anger, hesitates, then goes over to the clerk and asks him to bring a pot of hot water.
Alea pushes open her door and motions Valrie inside.
Alea takes the hot water and the tray of cakes from the clerk and goes in her office.
Alea: Here we go.
Alea sits the breakfast items down on the table.
Alea: Please, help yourself.
Alea carries the hot water over to the tiny place she stores tea and cups and fixes two cups...being very careful with the hot water.
Valrie grabs three cakes and consumes them with typical adolescent enthusiasm.
Alea brings the tea to the desk and hands a cup to Valrie.
Valrie takes the cup and sips.
Valrie: What is this stuff? It tastes weird.
Alea smiles.
Alea: It's called Trin.
Alea goes back out into the lobby and turns up the temperature, then returns.
Alea: It's a special type of tea.
Alea feels the heat blowing out and sighs.
Valrie: Oh.
Valrie takes another sip.
Valrie: I've heard that Simes drink a lot of trin tea.
Alea: Well yes, they do.
Alea: As a matter of fact, so do Donors. It sorta just happens when you're around Simes all the time.
Alea: So, Valrie, what was it you wanted?
Alea sits down behind her desk and smiles.
Valrie: Well....
Valrie isn't quite sure how to start, so she eats another cake to give herself time.
Valrie: I read that booklet you gave me yesterday.
Alea: Ahhh.
Alea nods.
Valrie: Or at least as much as I could before I had to go home.
Alea: And you have questions?
Valrie: Well, it was kind of vague in places.
Alea: Such as?
Alea wonders where, but doesn't remember reading it in quite a while.
Valrie: Well, there was a lot about how important a Donor's job is, but it didn't say much about what Donor's actually do.
Alea: Oh.
Alea: My.
Alea: Well.... A Donor has many jobs.
Alea: They do everyday things like anyone else.
Alea indicates the papers lying around.
Alea: Part of my job are different reports on the center....
Alea: But they also have a special job too, that no one else can fill.
Alea: And that's helping a channel.
Valrie looks at the disorganized stacks, and thinks about what her father would do if she left her desk in such a mess.
Alea sees her look and blushes.
Alea: Well, not everyone's desk is this messy.
Valrie: So how do you help channels?
Alea: Oh, boy... well, I can tell you from a Donor's view but you'd really have to talk to a channel to really understand.
Alea: It's a Donor's job to give transfer to a channel every month, of course.
Valrie remembers that Alea didn't seem to be doing all that much when Tramila was healing Frieda, or taking Valrie's donation, for that matter.
Alea: But that is only one part, and a very minor part of their role.
Alea: A Donor and a Channel are two parts of a whole.
Valrie: Well, maybe you could tell me what you do all day? What about yesterday?
Alea: Okay.
Alea thinks she will not tell her about yesterday, instead telling her about a good day.
Alea: A Donor gets up in the morning and it's their job to make sure their channel eats breakfast. Channels tend to be... persnickety, especially about eating.
Valrie: They don't like to eat?
Alea: Your field... the selyn in you, your emotions... you affect channels....
Alea: Well, I've never met one that did.
Valrie shakes her head in amazement, as she crunches a fifth cake.
Alea: I imagine they'd all starve to death if it wasn't for us Donors.
Alea: Anyway.
Valrie: Oh. How do you make them eat?
Alea: You know, Valrie... you certainly ask hard questions.
Alea: How much do you know about Simes and the cycle their system goes through?
Valrie: Umm.... Well, not much.
Valrie: I know they need selyn once a month, but that's about it.
Alea: Stay right here... I'll be right back.
Alea goes to the lobby and finds the key for the storage room.
Alea finds pamphlets on being a channel.
Tarsh is in his office looking through the file cabinet.
Alea also finds a pamphlet on Donor/Channel relationships.
Alea finds one on the Channel/transfer duties, the Donor duties in a Center and one on renSimes.
Valrie works her way steadily through the cakes as she waits.
Alea comes back out and goes back to Valrie.
Alea: Here are several pamphlets to read later on.
Alea: Now.
Alea: Let me give you a quick overview.
Alea: A Sime goes through a monthly cycle.
Alea: They have transfer with a Donor.
Alea: That gives them enough selyn to last them a month.
Alea: Halfway through that cycle they hit turnover, where they have used up exactly half their selyn.
Valrie: What happens if they don't get a transfer?
Alea: If they don't get transfer, they die.
Valrie: Oh.
Alea: Anyway... two weeks before transfer, they begin experiencing the loss of selyn to a greater degree.
Alea: Think about how scary this is to them.
Alea: If you were cut and bleeding and watched yourself bleed to death and knew only a Donor could stop it but there was no Donor around you'd worry.
Valrie shudders.
Alea: Well, this is how it is for a Sime.
Alea: And channels are much more sensitive than a normal Sime.
Alea: They really depend on the promise of their Donor, their helper, to be there for them.
Alea: It becomes the Donor's job to help them.
Alea: Now, with a channel, there's much more to it.
Alea wishes there was a channel around to explain.
Valrie is listening with far more attention than if she'd been in her math class.
Fise is wandering when he suddenly realizes he is in front of the Center.
Alea: A channel is a Sime.
Alea: However, a channel has a much much more important job.
Alea: His job is to give transfer to regular Simes so they never bother Gens.
Alea: And his job is to heal.
Fise shrugs and goes in.
Alea: And... oh dear... let me go see if I can find a channel to help me explain.
Valrie: Like Tramila did to Frieda?
Fise ignores the clerk and walks down to one of the transfer rooms.
Alea: Yes, Exactly!
Alea smiles.
Alea is greatly relieved.
Fise goes in and over to the cabinet.
Alea: And when I helped Tramila, I allowed her to use my field.
Alea: It's hard to explain.
Alea: Basically you have to give yourself over to the channel....
Valrie: Frieda was awfully afraid she was turning into a Sime, and would never see her family again.
Valrie: What's a field?
Alea: She could always see her family.
Alea: Hold on, sweetie, I'll be right back.
Alea leaves, closing the door behind her.
Alea doesn't think she is ever going to be any good at this.
Alea decides to find Veraik.
Alea goes to his office and signals.
Alea sighs when no one answers and begins going room to room looking for a channel.
Fise rattles at the locked cabinet.
Fise grabs some instrument and starts probing at the lock.
Alea comes to transfer room and hears a noise.
Alea pushes open the door.
Alea: Fise.
Valrie thinks over what Alea has said as she consumes her seventh cake, still confused about what a Donor really does.
Alea is surprised to see him here... maybe Veraik had that talk with him after all.
Fise doesn't notice Alea.
Alea: What are you doing?
Fise: ~~ mid to late need ~~
Alea goes in toward Fise.
Fise turns around.
Fise: I needed some medication.
Alea: Ahhh.
Alea nods.
Alea: For what?
Alea studies Fise closely.
Fise has some food stains on his shirt. His fancy clothes look like he slept in them.
Alea: Why don't you sit down and let's talk.
Valrie starts skimming the pamphlets as she waits for Alea to return.
Fise doesn't seem nearly as confrontational as usual.
Fise sits on the table.
Alea goes over and leans carefully against the table.
Alea: Tell me what's up, Fise.
Fise: I just need vacanin, that's all. [vacanin is a stimulant for Simes.]
Alea: Why do you think you require that?
Fise: I'm only suspended, not fired.
Alea: Fise, your suspension was only for a day or two.
Alea: You should be back to work already.
Valrie finishes reading the interesting parts of the pamphlets, and her tea, at about the same time.
Alea is concerned for Fise.
Fise: At this stage of my cycle, without it I'll be semiconscious.
Alea thinks that is wonderful news but doesn't say so.
Valrie wonders what's taking Alea so long.
Alea projects a soothing nager.
Valrie tries to read some of the papers on Alea's desk, just to see what she was working on, but they're all in Simelan.
Alea: Why don't we find a channel to check you out first.
Valrie gets up and starts pacing.
Fise: All right, have it your way.
Valrie wonders how long she can keep her in-T visits secret from her father.
Fise lays down on the table.
Alea: Uh....
Alea just remembers she can't find a channel.
Alea: Just a second.
Alea leaves the room.
Alea: Shen.
Briel is just coming from breakfast.
Briel sees Alea.
Alea: Thank goodness.... Briel, Fise is in here. Could you talk to him?
Valrie wonders if she should go to look for Alea.
Briel sighs, thinking this is going to be a wonderful day, and nods.
Jon Drake is there with Briel, after having had breakfast as well.
Alea nods and motions to the room.
Briel goes in the room.
Briel: Good morning Fise.
Briel zlins Fise.
Fise: Morning.
Briel: I hear you're having some problems.
Alea goes back to find Valrie.
Valrie debates the wisdom of wandering around a Sime Center on her own, since the pamphlets warned of the dangers of the ignorant associating with Simes.
Jon Drake: Good morning.
Alea goes back to her office.
Jon Drake moves in beside Briel.
Alea: I'm sorry I took so long, dear. I was looking for a channel.
Valrie: Oh. I was wondering where you'd gone.
Fise: ~~ 5 days to hard need, but his selyn flows are much lower than would be expected ~~
Alea: Now, where were we?
Briel frowns.
Valrie: You were going to tell me how you get a channel to eat breakfast.
Jon Drake smiles.
Fise: ~~ You might think he was in attrition, but his field is too high and his intil much too low for that. ~~
Alea: Oh.
Alea: Well....
Alea sighs.
Alea: If you're hungry, it makes them hungry.
Briel: Let me check you closer, Fise.
Valrie: It does?
Briel goes over and takes Fise's arms into hers.
Briel: It'll only take a minute.
Alea: Yes.
Valrie thinks that Simes are even stranger than she thought.
Fise does not resist.
Alea: It has to do with the way you as a Gen, affect a Sime.
Valrie looks confused.
Briel zlins internal field gradient, finding old scarred lesions.
Alea: Everything you do as a Gen affects a Sime.
Briel forces selyn from his secondary into his primary system.
Alea: If you feel ill, it can affect them.
Alea: That's why your fear affects them.
Valrie: How does it affect them?
Alea: It makes them feel ill.
Alea: If you're hungry, it can cause them to feel hunger.
Alea: Oh dear.... Valrie, I'm just not the right one to ask these questions of.
Fise: ~~ idle curiosity ~~
Alea: You know, sweetie... maybe you just ought to watch some work in progress.
Alea: How'd you like that?
Briel finally releases Fise.
Valrie looks eager.
Valrie: Could I really?
Alea: Sure you could.
Alea: I have the perfect candidate too.
Alea: Come on.
Valrie follows Alea.
Briel: You have poor linkage in your systems Fise.
Fise: Primary secondary? I've been able to shunt OK.
Alea slips in the room, motioning Valrie to follow.
Jon Drake notices the two entering and tries to adjust the ambient in Briel's area.
Valrie looks around.
Valrie: What are they doing?
Briel: Fise... the shunt isn't what I'm talking about.
Fise: What then?
Briel: It's your primary consumption nerves....
Briel: And the way your body distributes it.
Briel glances over at Alea and Valrie and motions Jon to go stand by them.
Fise: They've never been very active. Vacanin helps me stay somewhat active.
Briel: There seems to be a ... short for lack of a better word.
Jon Drake goes to stand by them.
Briel: The short is caused from the lesions. They are blocking the amount of selyn that can be absorbed which is causing you to experience these problems.
Fise: What problems?
Fise: Just life as a 3rd.
Briel: You have plenty of selyn, but to get it distributed. There is the problem.
Briel: And no, this isn't life as a Third.
Briel: This is a very serious problem for you.
Briel: No wonder you're taking drugs to help....
Fise: Always hated to augment. Hurts.
Fise sounds like he is half-asleep.
Briel: I imagine it does.
Alea motions to Jon to watch Valrie and slips out of the room.
Valrie looks up at Jon.
Valrie: Are you a Donor, too?
Jon Drake nods to Valerie.
Jon Drake speaks quietly so as not to distract.
Jon Drake: Yes, I am. I'm in training actually.
Valrie: Why did you decide to be a Donor?
Jon Drake: Well, it sort of came upon me.
Jon Drake: I had given my second donation, and we found that my systems were responding faster than expected.
Briel goes to the cabinet and gets some medicine.
Jon Drake: My selyn production was reacting very readily to Simes working around me.
Briel: Here we go, Fise. Try taking this. It's only a temporary relief.
Briel: But let me confer with Veraik and we'll see about getting you straightened out.
Valrie: It was?
Alea goes to her room and lays down, feeling ill.
Fise takes the medicine and sips at it. Some dribbles down his cheek.
Jon Drake: Yes. It was actually a bit uncomfortable, primarily because I didn't know what was happening. Sort of like a panic attack, that feeling of unease, nervous energy.
Briel zlins Fise again, concerned.
Briel grabs a towel and dabs at it.
Valrie: It sounds dreadful.
Briel: Why don't you go upstairs and take a good hot shower? You'll feel better especially when the medication kicks in.
Jon Drake: Once I started, though, once I started working with my system, I found it very satisfying.
Fise: ~~ system is in conservation mode, a bit like menar sleep ~~
Jon Drake: Before, it was like there was something I needed to do, but I didn't know what.
Fise: OK.
Fise slowly pushes himself up to a sitting position.
Valrie: Oh.
Valrie compares Jon's account with her own response to Tramila during her donation the day before.
Valrie looks at Fise.
Valrie: What's wrong with him?
Fise carefully pushes himself down onto his feet.
Fise overbalances and recovers.
Jon Drake: If I had any doubt, a couple of days later, I pretty much knew that this was right for me.
Jon Drake: I was walking with a renSime, escorting him to a hotel. We were attacked.
Valrie's eyes open wide.
Fise semistaggers (a Sime?) to the doorway.
Briel grabs Fise.
Jon Drake decides not to mention him fighting off the Sime who wanted to kill him.
Jon Drake: The renSime was stabbed.
Jon Drake: I felt I needed to do something to help him.
Jon Drake: I'd probably read just enough to get myself in trouble.
Jon Drake smiles.
Fise: Sorry.
Jon Drake: I've learned since just how lucky I was. Needless to say, help arrived and the renSime survived.
Briel: Come back over here and sit down.
Briel is very concerned.
Jon Drake: I realized though, that my need to help must have been very deep. I gave no thought to myself.
Valrie nods.
Valrie: I felt that way when I thought Freida was in changeover.
Valrie: All I wanted was for her to be safe.
Jon Drake nods.
Fise goes along to sit.
Jon Drake keeps an eye on Briel.
Valrie: What's wrong with him?
Valrie looks curiously at Fise.
Jon Drake: Fise appears to be having a problem getting selyn to move through the system.
Veraik walks in the transfer room. "What's the problem?"
Briel turns in surprise.
Briel motions with a tentacle.
Fise is sitting down, head hung over.
Briel: Fise is having some problems.
Briel: Come back over to the bed Fise so Veraik can zlin you.
Veraik: Let me zlin him.
Briel: It looks like the problem is in his primary system.
Fise: ~~ 5 days from hard need, but intil is far too low for the stage. ~~
Briel helps Fise up.
Veraik takes Fise in full transfer contact for a deep zlinning.
Fise: ~~ selyn consumption at a very low level ~~
Briel: There are lesions. The selyn in his primary storage isn't making it out because of the lesions. In other words, it looks like he is starving to death with a plateful of food in front of him.
Briel: Or attrition full of selyn.
Briel helps Fise over to the table.
Veraik releases Fise.
Veraik: Briel. Go get Alea. I'm going to require her support in order to do this outfunction.
Veraik: And hurry!
Briel hurries out and goes to find Alea and finds her in her room, lying down.
Fise goes along.
Valrie watches with wide eyes.
Alea jumps at Briel's intrusion, squawks when Briel grabs her.
Briel: Hurry up, Veraik needs you.
Alea doesn't argue but rushes after Briel.
Jon Drake is a bit uncomfortable with Briel gone so suddenly. He moves more toward Veraik to fill the gap.
Alea skids into the room, stopping just inside, locating Veraik and hurries up to him.
Jon Drake moves back as Alea takes her place.
Briel snags Jon's arm and moves to the other side.
Alea: Hajene.
Alea supports him.
Veraik: [Simelan shorthand] Alea. I'm going to be doing delicate work. Stay with me or we could lose Fise.
Alea acknowledges Veraik, turning her attention to doing her job.
Veraik makes eye contact with Briel, trying to tell her that he understands then wraps tentacles and begins.
Veraik zlins his vriamic node.
Fise: ~~ vriamic shows some signs of entran. Also rather under developed even for a 3rd ~~
Briel zlins the procedure.
Alea sensing fields, moves into a different position for maximum support.
Valrie watches in fascination.
Valrie moves a little closer to Jon and Briel.
Jon Drake adjusts.
Valrie: What are they doing?
Briel distracted by the field, turns.
Briel: [to Valrie] Come here.
Fise: ~~ almost completely unconscious now ~~
Briel grabs her gently by the arm.
Veraik using Alea's field zlins the microcells, pulling and pushing his field to release the blockage from the outside of the node.
Briel: Stand right here, don't move. Jon will answer your questions. Okay?
Valrie looks at Jon, waiting for an answer.
Fise: ~~ constriction greatly limiting flow ~~
Veraik zlins a drop then another drop of selyn ooze through the closed path as each cell releases.
Briel zlins in fascination, watching the path slowly forced open.
Fise: ~~ cells in starvation mode loosen their hold on selyn and start allowing it to pass on. ~~
Jon Drake speaks quietly.
Jon Drake: What they are attempting to do is to clear out Fise's pathways.
Jon Drake: It's going to be require a delicate balance, that's why you need to be here.
Valrie: What are pathways?
Veraik moves his tentacles only a fraction of an inch to push a piece which is zlinning like it may release.
Jon Drake: The nerves that feed selyn to his the cells in his body.
Veraik picks at the cell with his field almost willing it to loosen and flush away.
Alea moves position, shifting her hand to Veraik's shoulder.
Fise: ~~ nerve cluster allows higher flow ~~
Alea continues to concentrate on Veraik and the shifting fields.
Valrie: So what's Sosu Alea doing?
Briel knows Jon can't zlin that so she answers.
Veraik then zlins the key to the blockage.
Briel: She's a Farris. She can sense fields. She's helping Veraik.
Briel zlins closer.
Valrie: She's a Farris? Like in History class?
Briel: Yes... yes.
Fise: ~~ critical cluster nagerically knotted up ~~
Briel: From Zeor, the whole nine yards.
Veraik using his field projects a focused field of hard Donor need to give, creating a pulsing like a vibrating broken fan to jar the mass into shards.
Alea shifts.
Valrie looks at Alea more closely, as if she'd suddenly sprouted pointed ears, green blood, and an obsession with logic.
Valrie: Cosmic!
Fise: ~~ cluster responds to Gen field ~~
Briel motions to Valrie to lower her voice.
Briel motions to Jon to move a bit to block her excitement.
Valrie: Hey, I can't see!
Briel sighs, reaches back and moves her just a bit.
Fise: ~~ allows flow to resume ~~
Veraik's field gives one last final pulse of selyn Need.
Briel adjusts fields, blocking Valrie so she doesn't disturb Veraik as he works.
Fise: ~~ cluster allows flow to resume ~~
Veraik quickly zlins the node to assure that it is flowing correctly.
Fise: ~~ selyn begins to flow at a low but viable level ~~
Fise: ~~ system starts to become more active ~~
Jon Drake: Valerie, it is important that you try to keep your mood stable.
Veraik uses his field to help Fise do an outfunction to shunt selyn from his secondary to his primary system.
Alea moves again for better support.
Jon Drake: For a Sime, our nager -- the field produced by our selyn -- is like a body of water.
Jon Drake: If we are calm, it supports them like floating in a calm lake.
Jon Drake: If we are upset, it is like trying to swim during a storm at sea.
Jon Drake: It is the job of a Channel's Donor to make that body of water as calm as possible, especially during a delicate time as this.
Fise: ~~ selyn moves through shunt ~~
Valrie thinks about this for a moment.
Veraik supports Fise until his primary is at the normal level for his need cycle.
Valrie: Does this have something to do with how you make your channel eat breakfast?
Fise: ~~ becomes conscious again ~~
Veraik withdraws.
Briel zlins as the system stabilizes and the selyn is moving easily again.
Fise opens his eyes to look at the crowd.
Veraik: Fise? How are you feeling?
Alea moves back, relieved.
Fise: Better.
Valrie is staring at Fise.
Briel: You okay now?
Fise: Funny. Not edgy.
Veraik: Briel, can you make Fise a fosebine and then we should all leave. I think he should rest for a while.
Briel nods.
Briel goes over and gets some fosebine and brings it back.
Veraik zlins Alea.
Valrie drifts closer to Fise for a better look at him.
Briel slips an arm under Fise's shoulders and lifts him up.
Briel: Here we go.
Briel: Drink this.
Alea looks to Veraik in question.
Fise drinks it, grimacing.
Veraik: Briel. See to Fise's comfort. I have to get Alea back to her room. She requires rest.
Briel: No problem, Veraik.
Veraik takes Alea's good arm and leaves with her.
Valrie looks at Alea.
Valrie: So is that what you do all day?
Alea: Uh, yeah....
Alea says going out the door.
Valrie looks after Veraik and Alea, wondering why they left so quickly.
Briel: Jon, can you help him get his shoes off, things like that, then make sure the rails are up.
Fise doesn't notice Valrie.
Jon Drake goes to assist.
Alea: I'm fine, Veraik.
Alea hates being dragged around.
Veraik picks up Alea when they are out in the hallway and augments to her room with her.
Alea groans.
Alea: Ver-rick.
Alea: You should not augment unless it's necessary.
Alea: Remember last month.
Alea feels suddenly ill and throws up all over Veraik.
Alea: Oh, dear....
Alea: Forgive me, Hajene.
Alea: I left earlier because I was feeling so bad.
Veraik: I know. [takes her and goes to the shower]
Alea: I'm fine. It was jerking me up... I was okay until the switch in position.
Fise lets Jon drake help him off with his shoes, etc.
Alea: You can put me down.
Veraik strips both Alea and himself and turns on the water.
Alea: Once the movement... Hajene.
Valrie watches Briel and Jon undress Fise... perhaps a bit more attentively than strictly necessary.
Alea grabs at her clothes.
Fise: Hang up the shirt. It's Imil. 2
Veraik begins washing himself off.
Alea: If you hadn't grabbed me and augmented, I wouldn't have thrown up.
Briel zlins Valrie and turns to her.
Briel: Come on, hon.
Briel: Let's go wait in the office.
Briel thinks 'teenage hormones' and sighs.
Veraik: Perhaps but you were zlinning sick next to Fise and I couldn't let him zlin you like that just as he was recovering.
Alea: Of course, Hajene.
Valrie follows Briel out the door obediently.
Alea goes over and gets other clothes and slips into them.
Briel leads her to her office.
Veraik finishes and steps out of the shower. "Are you just going to stand there or are you going to wash the vomit off and get dressed."
Alea: I didn't throw up on myself, just you, Hajene. And as you can see, I am now dressed.
Alea goes over to a cabinet and finds some medicine for her nausea.
Alea thinks she should have taken it before going to help, but didn't.
Veraik: So you are, but I am not. Do you have a spare Tecton tunic for me?
Alea groans.
Alea: No. I don't keep your uniforms in my room.
Alea grins.
Alea: You'll just have to go to your room as is.
Valrie looks around Briel's office curiously.
Valrie: This is a lot neater than Alea's office.
Veraik: In that case, I guess I will just stay here.
Valrie: Or should I call her Sosu Farris?
Alea glares at Veraik.
Jon Drake finishes up in his assistance of Fise and then once things are done, makes his way back to Briel's office.
Alea goes into the bathroom and grabs a towel and her frilly robe and tosses them at Veraik.
Alea: There.
Veraik looks at the frills.
Veraik: [shakes head] I don't think so, Alea. I'm the Controller of the Center. I would never have respect if I wore that.
Alea: Well, it's all I have, though I doubt it will fit you. And I want it back. I don't care for the Zeor patch that much, but the black tubing marks it Farris.
Briel: No one calls Alea anything except Alea.
Briel thinks this is just great. Farris hero worship, and of Alea no less.
Alea: And if you are so worried about your reputation, you should have thought of that before stripping down in my room.
Valrie: Oh.
Veraik looks at the robe. He zlins and caresses the Zeor patch before he realizes he has done it.
Briel: You know, you might like to meet Tramila.
Briel: She's a Farris too.
Briel doesn't like zlinning the disappointment in Valrie.
Valrie: I've met Tramila. She healed Frieda, and yesterday she took my donation.
Valrie: I liked her.
Briel: Did you know she is a Farris too?
Fise settles down to rest without saying thank you.
Alea fists her hands on her hips.
Jon Drake signals at Briel's door.
Alea: Well?
Alea looking at Veraik who is still sitting in her room naked.
Veraik suddenly looks up.
Veraik: Oh!
Briel: Come.
Briel: Jon's here.
Briel smiles at Valrie.
Valrie: How did you know he was there? He didn't knock.
Briel grins.
Veraik puts on the robe then augments out of the room and to his own before anyone sees him.
Briel: Zlinned him.
Jon Drake enters the room.
Jon Drake: Fise is all secure.
Valrie: Zlin? What's that?
Alea shakes her head in disgust.
Alea gathers up Veraik's clothes, rinsing them out, then goes to her door to take them to Veraik.
Veraik dresses in his room, then takes the frilly robe to look at the patch.
Briel: It's the way a Sime is able to perceive selyn fields.
Briel: What Veraik was doing while he was working on Fise.
Veraik: He touches it and dreams then sees the black braid and tries to feel what it would feel like to be a Farris.
Valrie: He looked like he was just standing there.
Briel: He was "looking" with more than his eyes.
Briel: It's hard to explain.
Briel: How about if I show you?
Briel motions Jon Drake to come over by her.
Valrie: Sure.
Jon Drake moves over by Briel.
Veraik finally signals a renSime to pick it up and take it to Alea's room.
Veraik sighs as he sees it disappear down the hall, then steps back and closes the door.
Briel: Watch my eyes now as I start zlinning. Notice how they go unfocused, like I'm not looking at anything.
Valrie watches Briel's eyes closely.
Briel zlins Valrie and the shifting of her field.
Briel refocuses.
Briel: Could you see the difference? Perhaps even feel it inside you?
Briel shakes her head, knowing that is not making sense to Valrie.
Alea takes Veraik's clothes and dumps them outside his door.
Valrie thinks that this is even more confusing than the math lecture she's skipping.
Alea accepts the robe from the renSime, ignoring the curious look and tosses it in her room.
Alea starts downstairs to go eat lunch.
Briel: Well, Valrie, why don't you go read those pamphlets and we'll see you later when you're ready to talk some more.
Groupie wanders into the lobby, stoned as usual.
Valrie: Yeah. I have practice after school, and I shouldn't miss it.
Briel: Okay.
Briel: Thanks for coming by.
Alea comes down the stairs and sees Groupie.
Alea looks around the lobby.
Tarsh comes out of his office with a handful of folders.
Groupie stares up the stairs at Alea.
Alea: May I help you?
Groupie: Cosmic!
Alea is beginning to hate that word.
Alea: Hi.
Alea goes on down the stairs and pauses by Groupie.
Valrie takes the pamphlets and puts them carefully in her purse.
Alea: You here to donate again?
Tarsh comes out and speaks to the clerk. "Please, could you refile these for me?"
Tarsh doesn't notice Groupie.
Groupie: Donating is cosmic.
Groupie smiles, on a good high today.
Tarsh drops the folders.
Alea worries how Tarsh is going to react to Groupie.
Alea: Uh, well....
Tarsh thinks: I hope that isn't who I think it is....
Valrie passes through the lobby on her way out of the Sime Center.
Alea: Perhaps first we should have you fill out some paperwork, okay?
Valrie notices Groupie's Torn by Tentacles T-shirt.
Valrie: Hey, those rags are cosmic! You going to the show tomorrow?
Tarsh carefully holds himself hypo and tries to look at Groupie with his peripheral vision.
Tarsh thinks, oh no.
Alea thinks Valrie is crazy to get near Groupie.
Groupie isn't tracking too well, but he finally manages to locate Valrie and process her question.
Tarsh very carefully turns away from the lobby and walks slowly down the hall.
Groupie: Yeah, if I can get money for a ticket.
Valrie nods sympathetically.
Valrie: They are expensive.
Alea is relieved Tarsh got away and wishes she could follow.
Valrie brightens.
Valrie: You could get the money by donating. That's what me and my friend Frieda did. Front row seats!
Tarsh gets to his office and closes the door. He checks very carefully to make sure it is locked.
Groupie: Cosmic!
Alea: Well, Cosmic... why don't we have a talk first.
Clerk looks very annoyed at Tarsh's rudeness.
Clerk gets up to try and sort out the mess of papers.
Alea goes carefully over to Cosmic and takes his elbow, motioning toward the couch.
Groupie looks down at Alea.
Alea nods to Groupie.
Alea: Right this way.
Groupie: Don't have time to talk, lady. Gotta get the cash for a ticket. Cosmic show!
Alea looks up at Groupie.
Alea: I'm afraid you're going to have to talk to me about this.
Alea would prefer him sitting down for the bad news.
Alea: Why don't we just sit down.
Valrie smiles brightly at Groupie.
Valrie: I'll see you at the concert!
Groupie waves vaguely at Valrie as she leaves, then decides to humor Alea and sits on the couch.
Alea clasps her hands, seating herself next to Groupie.
Alea: Now Groupie, I believe last time you were here, we told you we do not take donations from people who have drugs in their systems.
Groupie was too stoned to remember that minor detail.
Alea studies Groupie.
Alea: Do you remember?
Groupie thinks about it with all two brain cells.
Alea: What I'm trying to say, Groupie, is that we can't take your donation.
Groupie: But I gotta get to the show, lady. It's gonna be cosmic!
Alea: I realize that... but you should have thought about that before today.
Groupie: I haven't had much today, honest.
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: Even a little is too much.
Groupie is starting to realize that life is not going his way.
Alea sees comprehension and sighs in relief.
Alea: Next time, just make sure your system has no abusive substances in it and we'll see about taking your donation.
Groupie decides to resort to his usual solution for unhappiness.
Alea looks hopefully at Groupie, wondering if he understood.
Groupie remembers that at one point, the trash can in the infirmary contained a number of such solutions.
Alea: Well then.
Alea stands.
Alea: Maybe you can come back again later.
Alea reaches for Groupie's arm, hoping to encourage him along.
Groupie experiences a flash of inspiration, like a two-watt lightbulb attached to a nearly dead battery.
Groupie absentmindedly pulls loose from Alea's hold and makes a beeline for the infirmary.
Alea: Well shen.
Alea takes off after him.
Alea: Wait!
Alea: You can't go back there.
Alea grabs at his sleeve, latching on.
Groupie starts throwing open the doors, trying to find the right room.
Alea: Stop!
Alea tries to dig in her heels.
Alea wonders where a channel is when you require help.
Alea thinks, or a renSime.
Alea thinks, or a big huge Donor.
Groupie drags Alea along, hardly noticing her in his obsession.
Alea: Will... you... stop!
Clerk comes after Alea and Groupie.
Alea thinks, or a little person with a big stick to knock him out with.
Groupie pulls open the door of a donation room, but it doesn't look right.
Fise starts awake at Groupie bangs his door open.
Alea: Listen, Groupie, I told you, we can't take your donation.
Alea: You'll have to come back.
Fise sits up and looks.
Groupie ignores Alea and heads for the trash can, dumping it out onto the floor.
Alea: Oh not the trash....
Alea grabs Groupie around the arm and begins to jerk.
Groupie squats down and starts pawing through the mess.
Alea: Get some help, Clerk.
Clerk runs off.
Alea: Groupie....
Alea stumbles, falling to her knees when trying to pull him up.
Groupie: Chill off, lady. All I want is my pills.
Alea: Pills?
Alea: What pills?
Fise gets out of bed in his underwear. "Stop that."
Groupie: Yeah. I can sell them and get a ticket.
Alea: There aren't any pills here.
Fise walks over to them.
Groupie: Well, I can sell some of them.
Alea: There are no pills here....
Groupie looks up at Fise.
Groupie: Totally cubical, man. Boxers went out months ago.
Fise leans over and grabs Groupie's shoulder. "Stop That!"
Groupie returns to his search for the pills.
Alea forces her field under control since Fise is in the room.
Alea grabs at Groupie's arm again.
Alea: Listen, Groupie.
Alea: There are no pills here.
Alea looks up at Fise helplessly.
Fise tries to pull Groupie to his feet.
Groupie ignores the smaller Fise's efforts in his pursuit of the pills.
Fise draws a deep breath.
Alea: Well shen.
Groupie finally realizes that the pills aren't in this collection of trash.
Alea stands and reaches for Groupie's arm.
Alea: If you'll come with me, we'll go check with...
Fise augments and picks up Groupie and shoves him against the wall.
Alea jumps back, shocked.
Alea: Good heavens.
Alea didn't know Fise had it in him.
Groupie stares at Fise.
Fise: I said stop that!
Groupie: What's with you, man?
Alea eyes widen in shock.
Alea hurries forward.
Alea projects a soothing field.
Fise: Do I come and dig through your trash?
Alea: Now Fise....
Alea reaches out and touches his shoulder.
Alea: Gently... don't hurt him.
Fise's face is twisted with something that isn't just anger.
Alea: Fise....
Alea reaches out with her field.
Groupie: Just trying to find my pills man.
Fise: Do you work here? Are you the janitor?
Groupie: Work?
Groupie is obviously unfamiliar with the concept.
Alea wonders where a sane channel is when you need one.
Fise: If we want you to have pills, a channel will give you some.
Alea: No we won't, Fise.
Alea: We don't just give out pills to anyone.
Alea is surprised at Fise's words.
Groupie brightens at this solution.
Fise: Which channel told you to dig in the garbage?
Groupie: Yeah! Are you a channel?
Fise: Yes I am.
Alea rolls her eyes.
Alea: Sorry, Groupie. He's sick, he can't authorize anything.
Alea thinks like Veraik would let him.
Fise: And you can't have any pills.
Alea wilts in relief. Maybe he isn't totally insane.
Groupie: What's with you folks anyway?
Groupie: You say I can't donate, you won't give me my pills.
Alea: We don't have your pills.
Fise: Now are you going to walk out? Or should I just throw you straight through the wall?
Alea's eyes widen again.
Alea turns all of her attention to Fise.
Alea: That's no solution, Fise....
Groupie considers the options.
Groupie: You want to make a hole in the wall, when you're dressed like that?
Groupie shakes his head at the prospect of such a sartorial blunder.
Fise: When I want your fashion advice, I'll... ask you for it.
Alea: Let's just escort him out of the Center.
Fise: I'm not asking now, get it?
Alea looks down the length of Fise and then back up.
Alea: Or let me escort him.
Fise: [to Alea] OK.
Alea sighs in relief.
Alea: Come on, Groupie, it's time for you to leave.
Groupie thinks that this is the first sensible advice anyone has given in quite a while.
Groupie is quite sure that this is the wrong room.
Alea slips her arm through Groupie's, anchoring it to her side.
Fise pulls Groupie away from the wall and grabs him by the shoulders from behind.
Fise: Walk or be dragged.
Alea is jerked along and releases her hold on Groupie.
Groupie walks out of the door to Fise's room.
Fise starts pushing Groupie down the hall towards the lobby.
Alea: Uh Fise... you aren't dressed.
Fise: What?
Alea motions.
Fise looks down at his lack of clothes.
Fise: Can you handle this?
Alea looks at Groupie and decides he is quieter.
Alea: Yeah.
Groupie is standing docilely, staring at the walls.
Groupie: Cosmic.
Fise: [to Groupie] Don't let me see you again. You won't like it.
Fise lets go of Groupie and watches him.
Alea takes Groupie's arm.
Alea: Now remember, Groupie... next time you want to donate, no drugs in your system okay?
Alea nods, relieved.
Fise wonders why on earth Alea is telling this guy to come back under any circumstances.
Alea thinks she's going to have nightmares over the word Cosmic for a month.
Groupie looks at Fise, standing in the hall in the offensive boxers.
Groupie: Get bikinis, man. They're cosmic.
Alea: Come on, now. The door is right here... right this way....
Fise: I'll give that suggestion all the consideration I think it merits.
Groupie evaluates Fise's attitude, and decides that his advice has not been properly appreciated.
Groupie: Babes think they're cosmic.
Alea pulls on Groupie's arm.
Alea: Come on.
Groupie: Really. Try it, man. Then you won't have to be so square.
Fise says nothing.
Alea: Come on Groupie.
Alea doesn't like the look on Fise's face.
Alea doesn't trust Fise.
Clerk comes back with a renSime orderly.
Alea thinks renSime... oh dear.
Berg: Problem, Sosu Farris?
Groupie suddenly ducks down the hall while they talk, in search of the proper trash can.
Alea: Well shen.
Alea starts after Groupie.
Alea: Catch him.
Groupie throws open a random door and enters the room.
Briel jumps up, zlinning.
Briel: What the....
Berg runs after Groupie.
Briel augments and grabs Groupie.
Groupie sees the trash can and snatches it up eagerly, dumping it on the floor.
Briel: What's going on here?
Briel jerks him back up.
Berg grabs Groupie from the other side.
Alea comes running in behind.
Alea: He's stoned, Briel.
Alea: Crazy.
Alea: Same one we had problems with before.
Alea out of breath.
Fise sees that there is someone else to take care of this, and goes back into his room.
Groupie, foiled in his quest to find the pills, looks at Briel and Berg.
Briel nods, eyes narrowing.
Groupie: What's the matter with you?
Briel: What's the matter with....?
Briel stares incredulously.
Briel looks at the renSime.
Briel: Get him out of here.
Berg: Come on, kid. Time to go.
Briel turns back to her desk, shaking her head.
Alea backs up, getting out of Berg's way.
Groupie plants his feet stubbornly.
Groupie: I want my pills!
Alea groans.
Briel turns back zlinning.
Berg sighs and grabs Groupie and throws him over his shoulder.
Briel grins, shaking her head.
Jon Drake shrugs.
Groupie flops in Berg's grasp.
Alea thinks that's the best sight she has seen today. She grins.
Groupie decides that his current position is not cosmic.
Alea smiles.
Alea: Wow, Cosmic.
Berg zlins carefully as he tries to carry Groupie down the hall with out banging him into anything... very hard.
Alea nods her head sweetly at Groupie.
Rache's nager is detectable - to the Simes, anyway - from just outside the door. Patience and a solid, reliable feel.
Groupie continues to flop.
Berg walks heavily through the lobby.
Alea follows, pausing when she sees Rache.
Alea watches gleefully as Groupie is thrown out.
Groupie kicks out, upsetting a lamp.
Alea: Hello.
Alea says to Rache. She winces at the lamp that crashes to the floor but ignores it otherwise.
Berg: Quit it!
Alea: May I help you?
Berg pauses, zlinning Rache. "Excuse me."
Rache watches the - um - scene. She doesn't allow her nager or her expression to change. She smiles at Alea, and offers a document wallet. "Rache ambrov Ahlvastin."
Alea reads it.
Alea: Of course, how may I help you?
Berg ducks carefully through the front door.
Alea continues to read.
Rache: I seem to be here for a while.
Alea: Oh, a new Donor.
Rache smiles faintly. "Precisely."
Alea: How nice.
Alea: Why don't you come over here and the clerk will have you fill out some paperwork.
Groupie manages to kick several hanging plants on his way across the porch.
Alea winces at the crashes but ignores them as everyday events.
Rache lets her gaze flick curiously over Groupie, then returns her attention to Alea. "Certainly." She shoulders her duffel, picks up her oh-so-standard travel kit in her other hand, and follows Alea.
Alea: Please, have a seat right here. Clerk, can you help her?
Berg sets Groupie down in a pile of snow and steps back.
Berg: Scram.
Clerk looks up at her name. 1
Groupie decides that the Sime Center is not cosmic, whatever the latest Torn By Tentacles album says.
Alea goes over to the shattered lamp, looks around, then bends down and begins to carefully pick up the broken glass.
Berg stands impassively with folded arms.
Alea pokes a finger and sticks it in her mouth, wondering if anyone around noticed.
Alea pulls the small trash can over.
Alea: It's a miracle he didn't dump this one too. [mutters]
Rache sits down, rubbing her forehead. Hands the clerk the document folder, in silence.
Alea dumps the broken glass pieces from her hand into the trash can and then continues to carefully pick up some more pieces.
Groupie staggers to his feet, glaring at Berg.
Groupie: Bunch of squares!
Clerk goes over to Rache. "Hello. May I help you?"
Groupie wanders off down the street.
Berg watches Groupie go.
Alea finishes picking up the broken lamp, with only two more small cuts.
Rache: Please. I've been assigned here. Rache ambrov Ahlvastin, Donor second.
Clerk: Ah. Pleased to meet you. Welcome to Bender Cove Sime Center.
Rache: If nothing else, a broom closet with a bed and a share of a bathroom would be nice.
Rache: Thank you.
Alea picks up the larger piece of lamp and drops it in the trash can.
Alea looks outside and sees the dead hanging plants...some crashed to the porch and sighs.
Clerk: The Controller isn't available right now, but I'm sure Tuib Chutmas can help you.
Clerk: Walk this way, please.
Rache thinks 'If I could walk that way....'
Rache follows without verbalizing her thought, but amusement ripples in her nager.
Clerk goes down to Tarsh's office and signals.
Tarsh's door opens halfway and he cautiously looks out.
Clerk: We have a new Donor, Tuib Chutmas.
Alea goes out front, sucking in a sharp breath at the cold.
Alea thinks she should have grabbed her cloak.
Alea hurriedly grabs the plants Groupie knocked down and then stacks them against the side of the porch.
Tarsh opens the door fully. "Oh! Come in, please. I'm Tarsh Chutmas, Financial Officer here."
Rache smiles at Tarsh. "Rache ambrov Ahlvastin. Donor second."
Tarsh: Pleased to meet you.
Rache: It's mutual.
Tarsh: Have a seat. Did you need anything?
Alea goes back in and slams the door.
Rache smiles faintly. "A broom closet to put my stuff in and to sleep in, if such an item is available."
Alea: Wow, it's cold out there.
Rache: Other than that, I carry my house on my back. What do you need me to do?
Tarsh: We can do better than that, I'm sure.
Alea goes down the hall to check on Fise and make sure he is okay.
Tarsh pulls a file out and flips through it.
Rache smiles. "The last place I was sent was overcrowded."
Rache: In-Territory, and an old building....
Tarsh: Sorry, no more garden views available, but a room with a separate bath is available.
Alea pushes Fise's door open and goes in.
Rache whistles. "That'd be lovely."
Tarsh opens a drawer and rummages around in it.
Fise is lying curled up on top of the bedclothes.
Alea hurries over.
Alea: Fise.
Fise's face is screwed up.
Tarsh pulls out a key.
Alea touches his shoulder.
Tarsh: Come with me please. Let me help you with that.
Tarsh reaches for the duffel.
Fise is breathing fast and shallowly.
Fise: What?
Alea projects soothing.
Rache smiles at Tarsh, and picks up the other bag. "I never argue with a Sime. At least, not when he's offering a hand."
Alea: Let me help you.
Fise looks over at Alea. "Can I just use your field a moment?"
Alea: Of course, Fise.
Tarsh picks up the duffel.
Rache walks out of the room and waits for Tarsh to lead on.
Alea smiles gently.
Tarsh: Come with me.
Alea: I'm sorry you had to go through that earlier...
Tarsh leads the way back to the lobby and over to the residential wing.
Rache follows, looking around with undisguised curiosity.
Tarsh: You'll have to talk to Controller Veraik about what he wants you to do, of course.
Rache: Of course.
Fise painfully sits up and puts his arms out on either side of Alea without touching her.
Alea stands still.
Tarsh: Things are a little non-standard here, despite my best efforts. Bender Cove is an oddity.
Rache: Oh? Aside from being on the border?
Tarsh: Legally in-territory, but with a long-established Gen majority. Neither fish nor fowl.
Rache nods, her nager tinged with enough curiosity to encourage Tarsh to continue.
Alea: I'm here, Fise. You'll be fine.
Alea wonders if she ever thought she'd have to mutter those words to Fise.
Tarsh: ~~ not in need and not even zlinning at the moment, which suggests that he is just past transfer ~~
Tarsh: There was also a... shall we say... informal channeling system in place.
Rache's expression is also curious, though she is apparently accustomed to communicating through her nager as part of her body language.
Fise moves the fields around in a odd fashion.
Alea: Fise....
Rache: Informal channeling system?
Fise: I really hate augmenting.
Alea warning in her voice.
Alea: What are you doing?
Fise starts massaging his left arm with his right.
Alea: Entran?
Tarsh: There are some non-Tecton channels here in town. we tried to make arrangements to absorb them, but that didn't work out.
Tarsh: We don't get on with the local police, but we are getting a lot of first time donors, even some from out-t.
Tarsh: By the way, be careful around here, this isn't a real good neighborhood.
Rache's nager rings with shock for a moment, before she gets it under control. "Precisely... what is a non-Tecton channel?"
Fise: That's a little better.
Alea: What's a little better?
Fise: Got those cramps out.
Fise: I always get sore from augmenting.
Alea: Sore from....
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: Maybe if you did it a little more often, that wouldn't happen.
Fise: No. I've never had problems with that. But expending selyn hurts.
Fise snorts. "I'm just a 3rd, remember?"
Alea: How could I forget?
Alea thinks barely a Third.
Tarsh stops at a door and puts the key in.
Rache walks into the room, puts her case down on the bed that is presumably there, and looks at Tarsh. "You didn't answer the question."
Tarsh: Hajene Snake runs her own operation. It is tied in with some of the... seamier elements in town.
Rache folds her arms and watches Tarsh.
Tarsh hands Rache the key.
Rache perforce unfolds her arms and takes the key. Tentacles would be soooo handy sometimes.
Tarsh shrugs. "She pays Gens for donations and then gives transfers for money. On a per time basis.
Fise: I have enough trouble being a channel without pushing my luck.
Rache swallows. Hard. Suppresses her reaction to this. "I assume she knows what she is doing."
Alea: You know, Fise... if you worked a little harder, it might help you feel better.
Fise looks at Alea incredulously.
Tarsh: More like she bulls through on the strength of being a Farris. Snake's an odd one.
Tarsh: Half mobster and half angel of mercy.
Alea smiles sweetly.
Fise: Should I cure burns with acid, then?
Alea: If it'll make you feel better.
Rache frowns. "Thank you for the warning. I suppose I should be grateful I'm only a Second."
Alea: Really, Fise... you know what I say is right. Exercise and you won't have those pains. Augmenting will eventually help... it'll only hurt at first.
Tarsh: We're not all weird here. Hajene Briel and Sosu Drake are solid. And Hajene Jirelle is pleasant if a bit perky.
Rache gets Tarsh to put the duffel on the bed as well, and starts unpacking. Householding cloak on a hanger, into the wardrobe. Clothing in plain, solid colors and durable weaves, folded, put into drawers.
Tarsh: And abusing the Gnome in the back garden is becoming a local tradition.
Tarsh: We could use a bit more stability here.
Rache smiles. "I'll see what I can do." She unpacks some more, taking out a handmade drum which had been wrapped in her second cloak.
Rache: The Gnome in the back garden?
Tarsh: Yes. Orange. Or maybe purple. Haven't looked today.
Rache: Orange? Purple? I don't understand?
Tarsh: Paint. This place gets redecorated frequently.
Rache: Oh.
Tarsh: Hajene Veraik and Sosu Farris... I shouldn't comment, I'm not objective.
Rache: Which Sosu Farris? There's such a lot of them....
Tarsh: Alea.
Rache nods. "I haven't met that Farris. Guess I'll get to meet... her...? soon."
Tarsh: Alea is wonderful. You'll like her.
Tarsh: Hajene Tramila is a Farris as well as Snake and Alea.
Rache groans. "Wonderful. Is this Bender Cove or Zeor?"
Fise: I don't think so.
Rache snaps her fingers. "Would Sosu Farris be the woman who met me?"
Alea shrugs.
Alea: Well then, it's your choice Fise.
Alea: I just wanted to come check on you, make sure you were okay after Groupie was in here.
Tarsh: Probably. [describes Alea]
Alea is a short, pregnant Gen with long hair in a clip at the back of her head. She doesn't keep her attention on one thing too long.
Fise: What complaint is she filing?
Alea: Is who filing?
Rache: Yes, that's her. All right. I've met her once.
Fise: The Gen I roughed up for you.
Alea: The Gen you....
Alea sighs and fists her hands on her hips.
Alea: You are going to have to stay here longer if you thought that guy was a girl Fise.
Alea: And he isn't filing charges.
Alea: And you did not rough him up for me.
Rache sets the drum on the desk, her folder into the drawer of the desk. Opens her Donor kit, sets the medical kit on a shelf, stows the bathroom stuff there, generally sorts out a rather 'standard' room.
Fise: I didn't intend anything that made that important.
Alea: Made what important?
Rache gets out a length of silver-edged purple gauze, and looks around the room. Climbs up onto the bed, takes down the curtain. Grins at Tarsh.
Tarsh: Well, I'll let you get settle in. Ask me if you require anymore help.
Rache: Would anyone mind if I explored?
Fise: Whatever was under that T-shirt.
Rache twists the purple gauze around the curtain rod, making a rather nice valance. Puts it back in place.
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: Fine, whatever Fise.
Alea: I'm sure Groupie isn't going to file charges.
Alea: He probably won't even remember coming here.
Rache gets another length, and uses it to help personalize the room somewhat. Twisting it someplace else creative.
Fise: And I'll try to remember not to interfere next time you want to wrestle with your studs. But try not to do it in my room, please.
Alea gasps, outraged.
Alea: Excuse me? [strangled exclamation]
Fise: Certainly. You're excused.
Alea gapes.
Alea: Why don't you get in bed....
Tarsh: Not at all.
Alea: I came here to check on you and should finish what I'm doing.
Alea smiles tightly.
Rache checks her bags, then folds them and stows them on top of the wardrobe. "OK. I seem to be unpacked. And thank you for the individual bath - it's appreciated."
Tarsh: You're welcome.
Tarsh returns to his office.
Alea: I have to finish up information on your chart....
Fise looks her up and down. "No thanks."
Alea chuckles.
Alea: Honey, I wouldn't even consider you in the running for that.
Alea: Now, get up in bed and let me finish the treatment.
Alea goes over to the medicine cabinet.
Alea allows her nager to blare sexual satisfaction as she does.
Fise sits down in a chair.
Fise isn't zlinning and doesn't notice.
Alea mixes up some medicine and brings it back.
Alea: Here.
Alea hands it to him and goes over to get his chart.
Fise looks at the medicine carefully.
Alea picks up the chart and begins writing, her movements jerky with frustration.
Rache leaves her room and starts wandering, exploring the Sime Center.
Alea glares over at Fise.
Alea glances back down at the chart and writes a few more words.
Alea finishes up her notations...
Alea goes back over and closes the medicine chest and locks it...remembering how he tried to break in earlier.
Alea: You know, Fise...it wouldn't hurt you to TRY to be nice...though I imagine that is past your comprehension.
Alea is still simmering.
Fise takes no notice.
Alea goes over and leans against the cabinet by the chair.
Alea: And I thought I asked you to get in bed.
Alea: You shouldn't be sitting up.
Alea holds the file in front of her, enjoying that she can stare down on this little pip-squeak.
Alea: Fise!
Alea: Are you listening to me?
Alea: Take your medicine please and then I'll help you to bed.
Alea wonders what he would do if she plopped down on his lap... maybe then she'd at least get his attention, the jerk.
Fise stands up and walks over to his clothes.
Alea jumps, startled, and follows.
Fise starts putting them on.
Alea: Now wait just a minute.
Rache wanders out to the back, to look at the aforementioned Gnome.
Alea grabs at his clothes, shoving some behind her back.
Alea: I asked you to take your medicine and get back in bed.
Alea: I did not dismiss you.
Fise looks at Alea coldly.
Alea glares right back.
Alea: Don't tempt a Farris, Fise.
Fise: No. You didn't.
Alea: I didn't what?
Fise: I thought we went over that ground already.
Alea: No, I didn't not dismiss....
Alea growls.
Alea: You are being unreasonably stubborn.
Alea goes over and gets the medication and brings it back.
Alea: Take this and then I'll compromise... you can go rest in your room.
Fise: You should know.
Alea holds out the medicine.
Alea: Ah... but I'm a Farris... you're only a 3rd...there is the difference.
Fise: What is it? Aconite?
Alea shrugs.
Alea: Arsenic actually.
Alea smiles grimly.
Alea: You want your clothes back, you'll drink it.
Alea: And then you'll let me get a channel to check you out.
Fise: How nice.
Fise: So you're a thief too?
Alea: Among other things.
Alea smiles sweetly.
Alea really hates this guy.
Fise walks out in such clothes as he has.
Alea thinks she should have let him break into the cabinet and go on, then feels guilty for that thought.
Alea: I should have known.
Alea runs to the door and tosses the clothes at him.
Alea: Here!
Alea: Don't scare everyone in the Center off.
Fise heads for his room upstairs in the residential wing.
Alea: Or kill them with laughter.
Alea grumbles under her breath.
Alea: Should have known he wouldn't take the purgative.
Alea: I should have just waited.
Fise turns and looks at the clothes and then Alea. "Gutless too."
Fise gathers up the clothes.
Piotr enters Bender Cove under cover of darkness.
Alea smiles.
Alea feels like she is going to explode and wonders where she can go for peace.
Fise finishes dressing in the hall and heads towards the lobby unsteadily.
Alea flies past Fise, ignoring him and grabs her cape.
Alea slips it on and heads out back to the Gnome.
Rache is sitting out the back, wrapped in her Ahlvastin cloak, wondering where in the snow the Gnome might be.
Alea almost falls over Rache.
Alea: Oh, uh, excuse me.
Fise leaves the Center.
Rache blinks and stands, wincing. "Uh. No problem.."
Alea smiles and edges around Rache.
Piotr walks through the cold snowy night dressed in a long dark cloak and hood, his features and larity hidden from casual view.
Rache steps to one side. "You OK?"
Alea crosses the yard and knocks the snow off the gray Gnome.
Alea glances back.
Alea: Yeah, fine.
Alea: It's sort of a tradition to um... stop by and talk to the Gnome everyday.
Alea: I was just uh... doing that.
Rache has heard. "So there it is."
Alea shoves at it with her foot.
Rache: So what's happened that you're talking about?
Alea notes that doesn't straighten it up on it's foundation so she leans over and starts shoving at it.
Alea: What's happened about what?
Rache: You just about ran over me. That usually indicates distress.
Alea glances up looking at Rache and thus, loses her balance and knocks the Gnome over.
Alea flushes and pushes herself back up.
Rache walks over and offers her hands.
Piotr makes his way to the seedier side of the township, where fewer questions are asked. He looks around, seeing the burned out buildings, the squalor, conditions with which he's become very familiar over the last few years.
Alea: I'm fine, really.
Alea: They didn't set the Gnome right.
Alea: No... uh... I actually didn't come to talk to it. That'd be crazy to talk to a Gnome.
Alea smiles.
Alea: I just wanted to check it.
Rache: Then let's set it right.
Rache: No it's not. It's just a matter of perspective.
Rache: Sometimes you need to be in a different place to see something from a different view. And seeing it that way, you can see the solution.
Alea grabs at the Gnome and is please to see Rache help.
Rache kneels in the snow, unashamed, and tries to shove the Gnome back in place.
Alea helps reseat the Gnome, aligning it perfectly.
Alea: There we go.
Alea smiles sweetly at Rache.
Alea: I'm sorry if I didn't introduce myself earlier. I'm Alea Farris.
Alea's smile widens.
Rache smiles. "Rache ambrov Ahlvastin. House of Perspective, in case it wasn't totally obvious."
Alea: Nice to meet you.
Piotr finds a barely tolerable place to sleep for the night. He lays down thinking that he must get what sleep he can. He expects he will be very busy before long.
Alea: Let me tell you, there is only one person that can bother me like this: Fise.
Rache: Who's Fise?
Alea chuckles evilly.
Alea: He is a sickly little third channel -- barely --who has delusions of being a regular Sime. He is lazy, rude, obnoxious, and a seducer of innocents. So just watch out for him.
Rache groans. "Wonderful."
Alea: Yeah, isn't he though.
Rache: But he's used his secondary system?
Alea: I am trying to be a bit more careful with my field and decided to come out here to blow off steam. See, I'm fine now.
Alea smiles again.
Rache nods. "Honestly, I think Donors need our own lounge. Someplace where we can let our nagers just... drift."
Alea: You know, I like the way you think Rache.
Alea: Maybe we can talk to Hajene Veraik about that.
Rache nods. "Be my guest."
Rache: I certainly won't be saying it till I've settled in some.
Alea reaches out and takes Rache's hand.
Alea: Don't you worry.
Alea: I'll take care of everything.
Alea gets a determined expression on her face.
Alea: You know, I know just the place....
Alea nods absently.
Alea smiles at Rache.
Alea: Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy it here. Please feel free to stop by my room anytime or ask me anything.
Alea shivers, looks around at the snow.
Alea: You really shouldn't stay out here too long. You might bother the Simes if you start shivering.
Rache clasps Alea's hand, smiling.
Rache lets her eyes drift pointedly to Alea's black- trimmed collar. "Leave some things for the rest of us to do, hmm?"
Alea: Oh, of course.
Alea pats her hand and starts back inside.
Alea: I'll see you inside.
Rache nods. "Let's go inside."
Rache: Just the place?
Rache walks in.
Alea goes down the hall, holding Rache's hand. She pauses outside Tarsh's office and signals.
Tarsh: Come!
Alea pushes the door open.
Alea: Hello Tarsh.
Tarsh: Alea! Hi.
Alea smiles sweetly.
Tarsh gets up and comes around the desk.
Alea: I just had to ask you a quick question if you have a minute.
Tarsh: Sure.
Alea releases Rache's hand and walks across the room.
Alea: You know that conference room near Veraik's office?
Tarsh holds out his arms.
Alea: It's been empty.
Alea goes into Tarsh's arms.
Tarsh sees Rache and drops his arms.
Rache watches, arching an eyebrow.
Tarsh hugs Alea.
Alea blinks steps back.
Alea: Uh..well...
Rache is extraordinarily interested in the ceiling. You've never seen anyone so interested in a ceiling before.
Tarsh: What about it?
Alea: Oh... the um conference room... it hasn't been used since we moved into here. Actually it's only got old things tossed in there.
Alea: Do you know the plans for it?
Tarsh: No, I don't think so. Veraik doesn't seem to be the Meeting Mania type.
Alea smiles brilliantly.
Alea: Great.
Tarsh gestures hello to Rache.
Alea: Have you met Rache yet?
Alea is embarrassed to have forgotten her manners.
Alea: I'm so sorry.
Rache looks down from that fascinating ceiling. "Thank you, but we have met."
Tarsh: Yes I have. Everything all right Sosu?
Rache: Everything is fine, thank you.
Alea: Well, that was all I wanted to ask... thanks.
Rache looks warily at Alea.
Tarsh: Glad to help.
Alea smiles sweetly at Rache.
Alea: See you later.
Tarsh smiles. "Hope so."
Alea gets a gleam of excitement in her eyes as she starts making plans.
Alea glances back at Tarsh and blushes... waves.
Alea goes out the door.
Rache brushes loose tendrils of hair from her face, gifts Tarsh with a puzzled look, and vanishes.
Alea glances at Rache oddly.
Alea: What's the matter?
Rache slips out the door, looks at Alea. "I don't think I want to know what you're planning."
Alea laughs.
Alea: Oh, I assure, it's nothing dangerous. I would never risk hurting someone or getting in trouble.
Alea slips her cloak off and tosses it in Jon Drake's office as she passes.
Rache: I think I shall wander off and see if there's anything to eat around here.
Alea: I love to cook. Maybe sometime I'll cook you up a real treat.
Alea: But until then... go back the way we came and hang a left.
Alea: There's wonderful cafeteria there.
Rache nods. "Thank you."
Alea rubs her hands.
Alea heads toward the conference room, anticipation in every step.
Rache doesn't quite run off, but beats the record for the hundred-yard nonchalant stroll.
Notes:
1) Her first name or last name? (snicker) [return]
2) Imil is a Householding from the novels specializing in Fashion. Fise's shirt is thus stylish and expensive. [return]