Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #62: Place Needs a Cleanup (10/30/97)
Jorgre comes from his office toward the lobby.
Jorgre goes to check and see his duty schedule for the day and drop off some files to be filed.
Rache is sitting in reception again, filling in and going over files thoughtfully.
Jorgre nods to Rache.
Jorgre: Good morning. No clerk today?
Rache looks up and smiles. "Hi."
Jorgre ambles around her and pulls open the filing cabinet.
Jorgre: Excuse me. [politely]
Jorgre begins to file the files.
Rache: Good morning. [shrugs] I just like to be useful. I haven't been assigned yet.
Jorgre zlins Rache.
Rache ~~approaching repletion~~
Jorgre: It's been rather hectic the last couple of days. Either Veraik will assign you or perhaps when Briel is out of deferment, you can speak with her.
Jorgre: Are you adjusting yet, to the Center?
Jorgre finishes the filing and goes over to the desk, leaning against it and crossing his ankles, relaxed, waiting.
Rache: I seem to be getting there, gradually. [smiles faintly] It's a bit of a crazy Center.
Jorgre nods.
Jorgre: I just try to stay out of the way.
Rache ~~nager supporting Jorgre, as attention focuses on him~~
Rache nods. "That's about all we can hope to do, yes."
Wise Snake pops in the front door of the Center rather unexpectedly with Nick.
Jorgre: I've been here three months now....
Jorgre pauses and turns.
Jorgre: Hello Snake.
Jorgre looks at Rache as if to say 'one of the big guys to avoid. In other words, a First.'
Rache looks up as Snake enters. "Good morning."
Wise Snake zlins Jorgre, not recognizing him.
Wise Snake: Hello, Rache... is Veraik in?
Rache flicks a glance at Jorgre, lip twisting just the tiniest bit.
Rache looks up at the appointments board. "He seems to be at Eastcove again."
Wise Snake zlins the interaction in nageric letters the size of a billboard and wonders if they're trying to be subtle.
Rache: Can we help you?
Jorgre turns back to the filing, not surprised that Snake doesn't recognize him since he has never had to work directly with her.
Wise Snake: Beats me. Veraik came to me asking for help. You were there, as I recall.
Jorgre thinks he's not stupid, he's stayed clear.
Rache nods. "About Fise, who vanished."
Wise Snake: I followed the two of you back here and Veraik asked me to stay in the lobby... and neither of you ever came back. Leaves me kind of wondering what's going on.
Jorgre remembers Fise, thinks he was an odd little man.
Wise Snake: If you know what I mean.
Jorgre pulls out the new reports he requires regarding vendors in the area, then checks for the forms he has to have today.
Rache blinks in surprise. "I was told to go help in the collectorium. I assumed Hajene Veraik was dealing with the matter."
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Jorgre: Hajene Veraik was dealing with Briel, Rache.
Rache: Um. I can tell you what little I know, but it's only a little.
Wise Snake: I thought you and I were to go look for Fise, and we were just escorting Veraik back to the Center first.
Rache looks up at Jorgre.
Jorgre: We had a minor emergency. Signals must have gotten crossed.
Jorgre shrugs and goes back to work.
Wise Snake looks displeased.
Wise Snake: I spent an hour languishing of entran in this dreary blue lobby because of some 'crossed signals'?
Rache: I don't know.
Jorgre shrugs without turning around.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Wise Snake: Well, for whatever it's worth, tell Veraik I was here asking about it.
Rache: Oh for....
Rache: Ok. I don't know when or if Veraik will be back, or if I'll ever meet him. But if I see him, I'll tell him.
Wise Snake leaves the lobby, going farther into the Center.
Rache puts her files away, suppressing her emotion, and picks up her cloak.
Wise Snake makes a little stop in a treatment room and picks up a few supplies.
Jorgre: You okay?
Jorgre zlins Rache.
Rache: No. Not at all okay.
Jorgre goes back over and drops down, eye level with Rache.
Rache looks at Jorgre, arches an eyebrow.
Jorgre: Want to tell me what's the matter?
Rache ~~extreme frustration~~
Wise Snake leaves via the back door.
Rache: Being two days here before the controller even deigned to meet me. Still having no assignment at all.
Jorgre clasps his hands.
Rache: And having people like that telling me off for matters I have no information about at all.
Jorgre: Well, it's not like there hasn't been emergencies, Rache.
Rache: And the channel who ran away is still out there, with apparently no one looking for him.
Jorgre: There are people out looking for him.
Jorgre: There are several people out looking for him.
Jorgre: Briel usually handles everything in Veraik's absence.
Jorgre: But with the problems with Fise, Briel's problems....
Rache: And what's wrong with her? Stubbed her precious toe or something?
Jorgre: When Briel gets out of deferment, if Veraik's not back, approach her. She doesn't bite.
Jorgre smiles.
Jorgre: Most of the time.
Jorgre: As for her....
Jorgre motions toward the back toward where Snake left.
Rache waits, requiring herself to be patient.
Jorgre: Don't even bother getting involved with her.
Jorgre: She's a Farris.
Jorgre: Way beyond our scope of understanding...
Jorgre: When I came here, I had no idea I'd be working around three Farrises.
Jorgre shakes his head.
Jorgre: They're all a little strange.
Jorgre touches Rache's hand with a tentacle.
Jorgre: Just be patient a little longer.
Rache lets her fingers curl around the tentacle.
Rache: What is wrong with Briel? No one's bothered to tell me anything.
Rache gestures to the appointment board. "That's all I know... that she's not on today."
Jorgre sighs.
Jorgre: She is disjunct.
Jorgre: A couple of weeks ago, she had some sort of scare.
Jorgre: She seems to be rather jumpy for a First.
Jorgre: Anyway....
Jorgre: She was going crazy from what rumors say. Wanting to find Fise, demanding to find Fise, and supposedly she did something to really tick off Hajene Veraik and force him to put her in deferment until her transfer.
Jorgre: Her Donor has been clucking around her like a worried hen.
Jorgre: She's due transfer later today. I'm sure she'll be fine after that.
Rache sighs. "Well, I hope so."
Rache: This is not at all what I expected.
Jorgre: What do you mean by that?
Jorgre stands back up and leans against the desk.
Rache: When I was sent out here I was expecting at least a decently-run....
Rache shakes her head.
Jorgre shrugs.
Jorgre: It's on the border. Things are different here.
Rache: I know. What can you expect from Firsts?
Jorgre: I'm sure they're doing their best. Exactly.
Jorgre nods and smiles warmly.
Rache smiles wryly.
Jorgre: How about I take you out and show you the town?
Rache: Sure. That'd be good.
Rache picks up her Householding cloak, and wraps it around herself.
Jorgre puts down the papers he'd been looking for and snags his cloak from the coat rack near the door.
Jorgre goes to the door and holds it open for Rache.
Rache gets someone to take over, and follows Jorgre.
Jorgre: Is it too cold for you?
Jorgre zlins.
Rache: Not in the cloak.
Jorgre nods and touches her lower back, guiding her down the stairs.
Rache follows, relaxing, glad to be working with a channel, however minor the task.
Jorgre: You should be careful about being out by yourself toward dark.
Rache: Why?
Jorgre: The town is a border town and not everyone here cares for the Center.
Rache frowns. "That's ridiculous, though... isn't it?"
Jorgre: Well... depends on just who you ask.
Jorgre: We still have juncts around.
Rache nods quietly. "I know."
Jorgre: I doubt they could hurt you, but they could certainly do damage to the Center's reputation.
Rache smiles faintly. "And what I'd have to do wouldn't be appreciated by everyone."
Jorgre: Exactly.
Jorgre comes to the end of the walkway.
Jorgre: To the right is the nicer part of town, the police station is also that way and a park.
Rache nods. "And to the left?"
Jorgre: A lot of stores. The further you go, you find shiltpron parlors, whorehouses....
Jorgre: There is a lot of rebuilding going on, though most has stopped because of the weather.
Jorgre: There was a big fire a few months ago that wiped out the original Center.
Jorgre: But if you keep going, you'll run into the docks.
Rache wrinkles her nose. "I've never gone to those."
Rache: Oh?
Rache nods.
Jorgre: Yeah. Sectuib of Zeor was injured in that fire. I'm surprised you didn't read about it in the news.
Jorgre: Our Center made the major newspapers.
Rache groans. "That was here?"
Jorgre nods.
Rache: Oh fun.
Rache looks around. "So pick a direction."
Jorgre: Let's go to the left.
Jorgre grins roguishly.
Rache shrugs. "OK. Lead on."
Jorgre reaches back and touches her back again, escorting her across the slippery street and then down the sidewalk.
Rache focuses a share of her attention on the channel, echoing his physical support with her nageric support.
Jorgre indicates a shiltpron parlor with one tentacle.
Rache looks in that direction, curious.
Jorgre: I heard one night that Alea Farris, the Donor to Veraik, went there with Tarsh and Veraik.
Jorgre: Oh... and that was when Snake still worked at the Center. She took him along.
Rache groans. That'd be Alea.
Jorgre: Can you imagine a Donor in a place full of Simes... a Donor with her nager?
Jorgre shakes his head.
Rache shudders.
Jorgre: Yeah, well, rumor is she's been back a couple of times since.
Jorgre: I told you these Farrises are strange, tempting fate....
Rache rolls her eyes. "Farrises."
Jorgre: Jirelle bought a bunch of art from this place right over here. Unfortunately, it was all destroyed in one of the fires at the current Center.
Jorgre continues down the road.
Rache turns her attention to the art place, though she turns back once to look at the shiltpron parlor.
Jorgre: I heard there's a real oily character named Garon you should watch out for down here.
Rache: Garon?
Jorgre shrugs.
Jorgre: Some pimp.
Jorgre: From what I hear, this area is where Snake hangs out.
Jorgre looks around at all the whorehouses, the Post Office, and a few incense stores as well as questionable tea houses.
Rache: Why? Surely she works at the Center... doesn't she?
Jorgre: No, Snake doesn't work at the Center. She's a rogue channel.
Jorgre: She is officially assigned to the Center, but something happened. She's gone now.
Rache stops still and just stares at Jorgre.
Jorgre pauses, wondering what he said, then flushes, wondering if he was too honest with Rache.
Jorgre: Forgive me, Rache, if I offended you with my talk.
Rache: No... no. I'm just wondering how crazy life here is.
Jorgre: Well, how crazy can it be? Snake, a Farris of all things, running the streets... wild... no training to speak of....
Jorgre: She's gonna get herself dead from entran or hurt one of her 'clients' in the process.
Jorgre debates if he should tell her the rumors about the interesting transfer positions she offers or not, and decides not to.
Rache shudders.
Jorgre: Yeah.
Jorgre: It's something else.
Rache: Clients?
Jorgre slips his arm around her to shield her from a drunk staggering by.
Rache: I....
Jorgre urges her on.
Rache shakes her head and keeps walking.
Jorgre: Yeah, some of the juncts. And others come to her.
Jorgre: She is rumored to give special transfers. Anything you want if the price is right.
Jorgre: Anything just short of death, including burning, pain, you name it. Any way you want it.
Jorgre shakes his head.
Rache: She makes people pay for transfer?
Jorgre: From what I understand.
Rache's eyes widen in horror.
Jorgre: I'm not sure how she works it.
Jorgre: As a Farris, I don't know how demanding she can be. She has to have the work. You'll notice what she said about entran earlier, though.
Rache turns her head to one side, regains control. She can't afford to have her nager ringing horror in this part of town.
Jorgre motions her into a tea shop.
Jorgre: I've never been here... Sippin Susans. It's rumored to have good tea though.
Jorgre: We should give you a chance to warm up.
Rache: Thanks.
Jorgre goes in, glances around and is surprised to see he is the only man.
Jorgre: Wow, guess I'm lucky.
Jorgre winks at Rache.
Jorgre motions to the waitress.
Rache flicks her gaze around. She shivers at the concentration of Simes, but then settles down.
Slotaqua undulates toward Jorgre and Rache, bearing menus.
Rache looks up at Slotaqua.
Jorgre: We'd like a table please.
Jorgre watches Slotaqua's actions.
Slotaqua: I'll bet. [winks, then play-hits Jorgre]
Slotaqua: Walk this way.
Slotaqua slithers in slow motion to a small table near the window, and puts down their menus.
Jorgre zlins Slotaqua, thinking he wouldn't be caught dead walking that way, but he sure doesn't mind watching it.
Jorgre suddenly blinks at Slotaqua's nager.
Jorgre zlins around the restaurant, vaguely.
Jorgre: Uh, yeah, thank you.
Jorgre holds the chair for Rache.
Slotaqua: Here you go, girls!
Slotaqua smiles.
Slotaqua: Anything to drink first? Red Zoiks?
Jorgre: I'd suggest that, Rache. It is quite good.
Rache focuses her attention on Jorgre, supporting against the can-be-expected pain.
Jorgre: How about an appetizer too.
Slotaqua: Two Red Zoiks?
Jorgre: That sounds fine.
Jorgre looks at her tag.
Jorgre: Slotaqua.
Jorgre smiles faintly, waiting for Rache to seat herself.
Slotaqua: You can call me Sloty, everybody else does. You said an appetizer?
Jorgre: Yes, please.
Slotaqua: How about the faux-strawberries in bark glaze? They're very popular, and quite safe for Simes.
Jorgre looks interested.
Jorgre: That sounds perfect.
Rache sits quietly, smiling at Jorgre.
Jorgre seats himself next to her.
Slotaqua: I'll be right out with your tea.
Slotaqua smiles cheerily and swishes between the tables and into the back.
Jorgre looks around again, uneasily, wondering if Rache has noticed the difference in this tea house.
Jorgre: So, Rache. Any questions about the area so far? Or anything I've told you?
Rache smiles wryly, looking around. "It sounds like a bad novel."
Jorgre: I don't read novels.
Jorgre looks disgusted.
Jorgre: They're all too syrupy for me.
Jorgre: Give me a good action series any day.
Rache: Novels? Maybe you're just reading the wrong ones.
Jorgre shakes his head.
Jorgre: Speaking of reading material....
Rache: Yes?
Jorgre: Our Controller seems to be rather fond of PlaySime and PlayGen instead of novels.
Slotaqua returns with two glasses containing a hot, dark wine-red liquid.
Jorgre grins, and again shakes his head.
Jorgre: Ah, thank you Sloty.
Rache lifts her hands to take her glass. "Thank you."
Slotaqua hands the glass to Rache and smiles, fingers lingering to touch Rache's a moment longer than necessary.
Slotaqua: I hope you like it. ~~sincerely~~
Slotaqua sets Jorgre's tea down in front of him.
Jorgre zlins Sloty surprised, flushing a bit, looking at Rache in embarrassment.
Slotaqua: I'll be right back with your fauxberries.
Rache looks at Slotaqua, eyes widening slightly. Studies the woman's face, then nods quietly. "Thank you."
Jorgre: Uh, yeah, it's just fine.
Slotaqua departs, with a wink.
Rache leans over, speaks softly "Did you zlin that?"
Jorgre: Yeah.
Rache whispers "And?"
Jorgre can't help but grin from embarrassment.
Jorgre: Well, it's rather um, obvious, that she's uh... well... possibly interested in... well... you.
Rache suddenly blushes, the blush fading into her nager as well. Probably turning heads.
Rache: Oh.
Rache tries to block the embarrassment, which - of course - just makes it worse.
Jorgre reaches out and touches her hand.
Jorgre: It's okay... you're with me.
Jorgre smiles gently.
Rache manages to smile, while begging the earth to open up and swallow her.
Jorgre: Let's just enjoy the day. No reason to be blaring your embarrassment to the entire diner.
Jorgre smiles again.
Jorgre: How is the red Zoik?
Jorgre lifts his glass and sips it, smiling.
Slotaqua comes out of the back again, this time with a plate.
Slotaqua comes to their table and presents them with a spread of ripe fruit that is not at all what it seems.
Jorgre: Thank you, Sloty.
Jorgre nods.
Slotaqua: Enjoy!
Slotaqua glances at Rache.
Slotaqua: [to Jorgre] She's cute when she blushes!
Slotaqua leaves again.
Jorgre: She is that.
Jorgre smiles softly at Rache.
Jorgre: I'll tell you what... we'll get this to go and we'll go back to the Center.
Jorgre tosses some money on the table, then takes the plate up to the register.
Jorgre: Sloty, can we get this to go?
Rache looks up at Jorgre. "No need to do that...."
Jorgre: Are you sure?
Jorgre turns back to her.
Rache nods quietly.
Clerk at the register watches their dithering in some amusement, guessing what it is about.
Rache manages to master her blush, and sips her drink again.
Jorgre returns back to the table.
Jorgre: Here we go.
Jorgre sets the plate back down.
Rache picks up one of the fruits and nibbles absently on it. The "strawberries" are actually other fruits, cut to resemble large berries and with poppy seeds coating them over the bark glaze.
Jorgre tastes it and smiles.
Jorgre: These are delicious.
Jorgre: So, any questions so far?
Rache nods, studying one carefully. Murmurs softly "I hope they're safe for Gens as well."
Jorgre zlinning.
Jorgre: They are.
Rache laughs softly "Too many to pick just one."
Jorgre: Well... give it time.
Rache: But if I had to, it'd be... ummm....
Rache: Tell me about Snake? What she does?
Jorgre: What she does?
Jorgre chokes on his faux berry.
Rache leans over and pats his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
Jorgre: Uh... well....
Jorgre blinks, swallowing a gulp of tea.
Jorgre: Snake is... well... Snake.
Jorgre sighs and takes another gulp of his glass of Red Zoik.
Jorgre: Let's see where to start.
Jorgre feels himself relaxing.
Jorgre: Snake is not even out of her First Year.
Rache leans back and relaxes, listening.
Jorgre: She was evidently kicked out of Zeor or something.
Jorgre: She and the controller have some weird relationship.
Jorgre: It seems the main reason he founded this Center was because of her. He had enough experience that he could be in a really nice Center now, but he wanted to do this.
Jorgre: Anyway....
Rache nods slowly, thinking and listening. Nibbles on a berry.
Jorgre: I think Snake has only had two months of training, then came here.
Jorgre: There was some big blow up with B'cal, a top notch Donor from hell... uh, V'lar, I mean... and with Alea... she was somehow involved--is always involved--and Snake left the Center.
Jorgre downs the rest of his glass and motions for another one for both of them.
Jorgre: Snake is... Snake. What can I say?
Jorgre: Some say she is totally over the edge.
Jorgre: There's rumors she does anything for money, that she's totally unstable.
Rache shakes her head thoughtfully, then nods. "Thank you for telling me."
Jorgre: Others say she could be one of the best channels if she had training.
Jorgre: Who knows.
Jorgre nods.
Jorgre does not like talking about Snake.
Jorgre thinks all of the Firsts are odd, but doesn't say so out loud.
Rache nods quietly, and murmurs "Thank you."
Rache sets her... drink... down.
Jorgre: Hey, how about we go back to the Center. I'll explain on the way.
Jorgre: The better aspects of Bender Cove.
Rache nods.
Jorgre helps Rache up and starts back to the Center with her, feeling very relaxed with all of the wine in his system. 1
Rache follows.
Maleane is a renSime who works at the Center cleaning offices.
Maleane goes into Veraik's office to clean, noting both Veraik and Briel are gone.
Maleane: Oh my my my... what an absolute mess.
Maleane begins to clean very thoroughly, throwing out magazines, gathering up dirty clothes with tentacles, scrubbing the desk until it shines.
Maleane quickly rearranges the furniture to a nice neat order, then vacuums the rug.
Maleane looks at the bars on the windows...frowns...goes to her cart and finds a tool to remove them.
Maleane nods in satisfaction.
Maleane looks about the pristine office, gathers the dirty clothes and atrocious reading material someone left in there, and leaves.
Briel is lying on the bed in the deferment suite, eyes closed.
Jon Drake is watching over Briel, concerned.
Briel: I'm fine, JD... just fine.
Briel continues to keep her eyes closed.
Briel: Five more minutes... you sure you don't want to just do it early?
Jon Drake: I think we should do this by the book, Briel.
Jon Drake: I'm sorry. I know it's rough on you.
Jon Drake: With Veraik unavailable, is anyone going to monitor us?
Briel: Veraik is unavailable?
Briel opens her eyes, dull.
Briel: The shenned lorsh. [said simply, without any fire]
Jon Drake wants so much to give in to her, but after last month, he doesn't want to take a chance.
Briel: He would bail out.
Briel frowns.
Briel: Must have been a big emergency.
Briel: But after yesterday....
Briel shudders.
Jon Drake feels for Briel.
Jon Drake takes her hands and looks into her eyes.
Briel zlins Jon.
Briel: Don't worry. It'll go fine this time.
Jon Drake lets her see how much he is ready as well.
Briel doesn't tell him about the aborted dreams she had about killing him... or about the accident that injured both her arms causing her to die in attrition.
Jon Drake lets his field mesh with hers, working toward trautholo.
Briel relaxes by degrees.
Briel: That's good Jon. I see the exercises have helped with your control.
Briel tries to smile, but it's more of a stretching of skin than anything.
Jon Drake smiles with satisfaction that he's helping.
Jon Drake helps their two systems work toward selyur nager.
Jon Drake lets Briel feel the promise.
Briel relaxes.
Briel: It will be good this time.
Jon Drake: Yes.
Briel sits up.
Briel: Let's go ahead and move to the transfer lounge.
Jon Drake is glad to see her brightening.
Jon Drake nods, then gets up with Briel.
Jon Drake walks with Briel to the transfer lounge, his hand in hers.
Briel sits down, reclining a bit.
Jon Drake lets his rising anticipation begin the process of building Briel's intil.
Briel can't help responding to Jon's field.
Jon Drake sits down before her, all aglow with selyn waiting to be released.
Briel groans.
Jon Drake lets himself relax, not holding in his need to give.
Briel: Two more minutes.
Jon Drake nods.
Jon Drake holds his hands in hers, his temptingly close.
Briel goes hyper, zlinning the golden field of promise.
Jon Drake lets relax those little barriers that held his field in check.
Briel feels awash in selyn, perfectly at peace.
Briel: Wow, Jon. You... are... good....
Briel takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly, relaxing.
Briel: Now, Jon.
Jon Drake lets his hands move up Briel's arms, his fingertips tracing lines up her sensitive nerves.
Briel shudders going back hyperconscious.
Jon Drake lets his field entice her, offering the promise of life.
Briel extends her laterals, lashing them around his arms, then pulls him forward, zlinning the shifting promising field.
Briel goes for the fifth contact point.
Jon Drake feels the satisfaction of Briel's tentacles around his forearms.
Jon Drake leans forward, wanting this nearly as much as her.
Jon Drake holds his field there for her, letting her make the first pull.
Jon Drake touches lips with Briel, fifth contact point, the kiss of life.
Briel begins to draw, hunger for the selyn taking over every nerve.
Briel releases the barriers in her hunger and draws faster, pulling harder, demanding more.
Briel feels the selyn singing into her body, replenishing empty cells.
Jon Drake opens himself up to her, body and soul.
Briel trembles with her need, feeling the selyn, soaring with it... demanding more... more....
Jon Drake feels her draw, feels its increase.
Jon Drake doesn't push, but holds himself out to her.
Briel feels the completion but needs more... needs....
Jon Drake feels the pull, the satisfaction, the joy--and shares it with Briel!
Briel grasps onto the joy allowing it to burst through the walls of her isolation these past two weeks.
Briel accepts and allows the transfer to come to an end, replete.
Jon Drake merges with Briel on myriad levels, he feels himself in her, feels her though him.
Jon Drake feels a link between the two of them, the link of the Selyn.
Briel moves back from fifth contact.
Jon Drake feels the link of Life.
Jon Drake feels bliss.
Jon Drake looks into Briel's face, into her eyes.
Briel's eyes are closed.
Jon Drake looks to Briel's closed eyes.
Briel slowly opens her eyes and meets Jon's stare.
Jon Drake smiles.
Briel's features waver, then crumple.
Briel: Oh, shen! Jon!
Briel starts to cry.
Jon Drake pulls her close to him.
Briel: I didn't kill!
Jon Drake lets his hands move up Briel's arms and around to her back.
Briel sobs into his chest.
Jon Drake: No, you didn't. It was wonderful!
Briel: Zilla tempted me... Linn tried to also... but I didn't do it!
Jon Drake is misty-eyed himself.
Briel sobs louder, pouring out her grief and fears of the past month.
Jon Drake: I never knew it could be like this, Brie!
Briel continues to sob, oblivious.
Jon Drake holds Briel, both happy for himself, and supporting her post reaction.
Jon Drake: We did it!
Jon Drake: You did it!
Briel: Oh shen... Veraik!
Briel: I tried to choke him.
Jon Drake: We'll deal with that later. You were too close to need. That was compounded by claustrophobia.
Briel continues to cry allowing the fear of the room the anger at Veraik to all leave, cleansing herself.
Briel's sobs slow, her breathing returning to somewhat normal.
Jon Drake holds her, letting all that rush though them and away.
Briel: I'm sorry, Jon, for how I've treated you too. I've been very hard on you the last couple of weeks.
Jon Drake: Don't worry about it, Brie.
Jon Drake: It's all behind us now.
Briel nods, taking in a slow deep breath.
Jon Drake smiles a true smile of satisfaction.
Briel smiles.
Briel: It beats the shen out of last month's transfer.
Jon Drake lets his hand cup her jaw, showing his feelings.
Jon Drake nods with a big amused smile.
Briel reaches up and traces Jon's hand.
Jon Drake smiles tenderly.
Jon Drake: You look so much better, Brie.
Briel: I will have to apologize to Veraik.
Jon Drake: Shhh, later....
Briel: Thank you, Jon.
Jon Drake: Thank you.
Briel: For what?
Briel continues to stroke Jon's large hand with one of her tentacles.
Jon Drake: For this gift. All the other experiences pale.
Jon Drake smiles, tingling at the sensation.
Briel smiles, fresh tears coming to her eyes.
Jon Drake leans forward.
Briel: I think I have a lot of people to apologize to.
Jon Drake: Shhhh....
Jon Drake moves his finger before her lips.
Briel nods, staring at Jon's mouth.
Jon Drake lets his other hand move to Briel's shoulder, to her neck.
Briel sucks in a soft breath.
Jon Drake leans in even closer.
Jon Drake: Brie... I....
Briel moves the remaining space and closes her lips over his.
Jon Drake feels a second electric shock.
Jon Drake presses his lips against hers, not for transfer, but in passion.
see note 2
Jon Drake: Brie....
Briel forces herself to focus on Jon.
Briel: Yes?
Jon Drake gives himself to the passion, the life, the love.
Jon Drake: Brie... I... I think I love you!
Alea pushes herself wearily up from the couch in her office.
Alea rubs at her face, wincing slightly.
Alea looks out the window, wondering how long she has been laying in here.
Alea notes it looks to be mid-afternoon... but what day?
Alea's hand goes to her stomach for she's not sure how many times and she sighs. The tears all gone. Nothing now but emptiness.
Alea doesn't think the pain will ever leave her heart, but she forces that aside.
Alea: I'm a Farris.
Alea whispers it painfully.
Alea: A Farris doesn't need anyone.... A Donor only needs serve his or her Channel.
Alea stands and realizes she is still very weak. She grabs onto her desk, steadying herself until the dizziness passes.
Alea goes to the door and carefully opens it, looking around to make sure no one is in sight...
Alea slips out the door and slowly, step by step, makes her way to the stairs.
Alea grabs the banister and goes up them, breathing heavily and weak when she finally makes the top.
Alea leans against the wall, gripping it until she feels better. Seeing a renSime who offers to help, she sends him for some food, then allows his assistance to her room.
Alea collapses wearily on her bed.
Alea: A Farris.
Alea: Remember, you're a Farris. That's all you need. Ever.
Alea feels tears well up in her eyes.
Alea whispers "Oh, Trel...."
Alea: You were almost an uncle.
Alea lays down to wait on her food, new determination in her heart.
Alea: Aleiaa....
Alea closes her eyes.
Notes:
1) Red Zoiks is actually tea, not wine. It's just red in color. [return]
2) There was a rather explicit sex scene here which had to be cut so the log would be readable by a general audience. Awww, sorry. Use your imagination! [return]