Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #73: (11/11/97)
Alea paces the small room of confinement....
Alea counts off her steps as she goes.....
Alea thinks she never realized how small these treatment rooms were before.
Alea thought they always looked really big.
Jon Drake knocks on the door.
Alea winces at the sound and goes over to the door.
Alea: Yes?
Jon Drake: Breakfast!
Alea: Uh....
Alea is unsure.
Alea finally opens the door
Alea: Good morning, Jon.
Alea motions for Jon to place the tray on the table.
Jon Drake comes in with the tray and sets it down.
Alea: How are Tramila and Tamlen?
Jon Drake: As well as can be expected.
Alea nods.
Alea: Thank you for bringing the food.
Jon Drake: No problem. We're a little short, we're all pitching in.
Alea: Could you bring my sketch pad and paints...maybe a couple of canvases when you get a chance?
Jon Drake: At least it gives me something to keep me busy--and an excuse to postpone the logging of the shipment!
Alea: Yeah, well, I wished I'd helped you on that shipment now, Jon. I really do.
Jon Drake: If you'd like, I can come back when I have a moment. I have a few more rounds to do.
Alea glances over at Tarsh.
Alea: That'd be fine.
Jon Drake: It looks like a couple of the Seconds may have been exposed. They are in observation right now.
Jon Drake: See ya.
Jon Drake walks out the door.
Tarsh is engrossed in reading.
Alea: Food's here if you want it.
Tarsh: What?
Alea motions at the tray.
Alea: They brought enough for four people here.
Tarsh: Oh. [ zlins food ] Thanks. maybe later.
Alea nods, feeling the same way.
Tarsh puts the book down reluctantly.
Tarsh: "How are you feeling?
Alea: Just fine.
Alea: Go on...read....
Tarsh: Me too. How long would it take to....
Alea: Incubation period is up to ten days.
Alea: I imagine since Tramila was so worn down and not feeling well anyway is why she came down with it so quick.
Alea shrugs, not sure.
Tarsh: No, I should pay some attention to you.
Tarsh contemplates ten days with Alea but no touching.
Alea sighs, hating the quiet.
Tarsh: Did you grow up at Zeor?
Alea glances out the window.
Alea: Yes.
Alea: I was born there. My mother didn't live there but
I grew up with a wonderful family.
Alea: Planned my entire life what it was going to be like when I was a channel.
Alea: You know, Farris channels are famous.
Alea smiles.
Alea: I was devastated when I ended up establishing instead...I wouldn't believe anyone...just kept telling them they had to be wrong.
Tarsh: Where was your mother? Out on the tecton shuttle?
Alea: She met someone and wanted to be with them.
Alea shrugs.
Alea: He was from a different house and didn't care too much for Zeor from what I hear.
Tarsh: And she just *left* you?
Alea looks at Tarsh, surprised.
Alea: I was a Farris.
Alea: What could she do for me? With me?
Alea: Who could really handle me, except someone at the house if I changed over?
Tarsh: She wasn't? it was your father?
Alea: Yes, my father was a Farris.
Tarsh: From Zeor?
Alea: Yes.
Alea: He died when I was small. I don't remember him.
Tarsh face drops. "I'm sorry. I know how that is."
Alea paces across the room and drops into a chair.
Alea: You've never talked about your family much.
Alea: Where were you born, Tarsh? Did you grow up in a family?
Tarsh: Yeah. My parents were juncts from in-territory.
Alea: Juncts?
Alea stops swinging her leg over the arm of the chair and stares at Tarsh, surprised.
Tarsh: I grew up in Altan, in Eastern west Nivet.
Tarsh: Yeah. Mom was about 3 when the Tecton took over, and dad was 8. They went on channel's transfer, of course.
Alea knows what happens to juncts on channel's transfer.
Tarsh: I was born a number of years later.
Alea: It must have been very hard on you.
Alea is beginning to understand why Tarsh fears being junct so bad.
Tarsh: My parents were overjoyed to have a child, they had given up hope long before .
Alea nods.
Tarsh: I don't have any siblings.
Alea thinks she had one...
Alea: How old were you....when your parents died?
Tarsh: Dad was ... sick a lot. He never adjusted to living on channel's transfer. I don't think he really wanted to.
Tarsh: I was a child of 7 or 8 when DA went away to one of the special camps. They had always helped him before, but that time ....
Alea would love to take Tarsh's hand in sympathy, is frustrated because she can't.
Alea: He didn't come back?
Tarsh: No.
Tarsh: He didn't. And I thought I'd done something to make him mad.
Alea nods, empathizing.
Alea: It's hard for children to understand something like that.
Alea: Looking back, you can see why your father died.
Alea: Semi-juncts have a very hard time living with only killing twice a year.
Alea: I imagine when your father went to collect that...kill...his systems just couldn't handle it anymore.
Alea: Actually, Tarsh, he lived quite a long time as a semi-junct.
Alea looks sympathetically at Tarsh.
Tarsh: I never knew about semi-juncts till First Year.
Alea: I imagine your parents were trying to protect you.
Tarsh: My mother, she lasted till three months into my
First Year. I think she was just waiting for me to. In case she I established and required her help.
Alea sighs.
Alea: I'm sorry.
Tarsh: It wasn't as bad for her. She wasn't like dad, she wanted to disjunct but couldn't.
Alea nods.
Lowren rides up in a horse cab.
Alea: That was a sad time in history for so many.
Tarsh: I read a poem once, by a semi-junct about how
Zelerod's Doom still came for the juncts, just more slowly.
Alea: How true.
Lowren hops out and pays the cabby with generous tip.
Briel walks into the lobby to return some files to the clerk.
Lowren walks into the lobby.
Alea stands and goes back over to the food and picks at her plate, thinking how very very true that is...
Lowren: Hello Briel!
Briel: Lowren!
Briel smiles.
Lowren: Pardon, Hajene Briel.
Briel shakes her head.
Briel: Briel is fine.
Briel goes to the cabinet to pull his file.
Briel: That time already again?
Tarsh: So I was an adult, at least in theory, and all alone suddenly. Mom had spoiled me...
Lowren: Yes, I believe it is, Hajene.
Alea nibbles on a green sprout, thinking she's not really hungry.
Alea: Spoiled you?
Alea has trouble believing that.
Briel zlins Lowren.
Lowren is speaking Simelan much more grammatically, and with a reduced accent.
Briel: You look nice. Still working for Parnul?
Lowren: ~~ field somewhat higher than last month, by the file ~~
Briel opens the chart and scans it to make sure everything is in order.
Briel glances up.
Nally hurries into the Sime Center, broadcasting worry and hope.
Briel: You're field is a bit higher.
Briel surprised.
Lowren: Yes I am. He's taking me to meet his out-t contacts after his next transfer.
Nally looks around anxiously and spots Lowren.
Briel glances at the new person.
Nally: Lowren! I've found you at last!
Briel: That's good.
Briel zlins the Gen.
Nally rushes over to fling her arms around Lowren.
Briel steps back.
Tarsh: I was all she had. She never got over Dad, I think.
Nally: Oh, it's so good to see you again!
Alea: It's hard.
Lowren: Nally?
Nally smiles up at Lowren.
Nally: Yes. It's me.
Tarsh: She insisted on teaching me more than most. In case I established.
Alea: That was very wise of your mother.
Alea: You sound like you had a wonderful family.
Lowren: I don't believe it. What are you doing here?
Nally is fairly bursting with excitement.
Briel smiles zlinning their nager.
Nally: I've come to bring you home, Lowren!
Nally: Your father has decided that one son is better than none. He's pledged to forgive you for what you did.
Lowren looks sad. "I don't have a home anymore, Nally.
You know that."
Briel zlins Lowren, concerned.
Lowren goes stony faced.
Lowren: I ... see.
Lowren: What brought this on?
Tarsh: So I had to find myself another 'family'. I didn't know how to be alone.
Alea: Your friends...the Gens and...
Alea: Gen transfer.
Nally: He'd practically adopted your cousin Jak, and when Jak turned Sime, too, he started thinking more about how despite everything, you'd turned out Gen.
Tarsh: And the other renSimes. Yeah. Most of the renSimes were kids from out-t, the Gens from in-t families that rejected them for not being people.
Nally: He prayed all summer, and finally decided that your being Gen must be a sign from God that you were supposed to be his heir.
Lowren: Jak? How is ... what happened to Jak?
Nally: Oh, don't you see, Lowren? Now you can live among your own people.
Briel frowns at Nally's words.
Alea: I see.
Alea heartache over a child with no one to guide him. At least she had Zeor.
Nally: You won't have to let a Sime touch you ever again.
Tarsh: So we all were alone. All we had was each other.
Sometimes we'd joke about what colors to pick out for our cloaks.
Briel's eyebrows shoot up and her frown turns foreboding.
Nally smiles, almost dancing with joy.
Alea: You never thought about joining a household instead?
Lowren: What happened to Jak?
Alea wonders how anyone can exist without a household.
Nally looks at Lowren, astonished that he would bother to ask.
Lowren turns to Briel [Simelan] "I'll be along for my donation in a moment, Hajene."
Briel zlins Lowren again, forcing herself not to comment on Nally's erroneous assumptions that Lowren has to 'let' them touch him.
Briel: Of course. Take your time.
Briel moves off to give them a bit more privacy.
Nally: He's dead, of course. Your father would have done his duty and shot the monster, but Reverend Wells offered to do it instead. He's a kind and compassionate man.
Briel shudders at Nally's words.
Nally: What were those funny words you were speaking?
Lowren: ~~ field in turmoil, hope, anger, sorrow ~~
Lowren goes stony faced again.
Lowren: [English] "I'll be along for my donation in a moment, Hajene."
Nally gasps in horror.
Lowren: So. Father forgives me. And Mother?
Tarsh: No, we just joked about forming one. Why would a householding have wanted us?
Nally: She was the one Jak killed. Your father and
Reverend Wells found them a moment too late to save her.
Alea: Why wouldn't they?
Lowren face collapses.
Lowren: ~~ GRIEF ~~
Briel goes toward Lowren.
Briel: Lowren?
Nally throws her arms around Lowren, crying sympathetically.
Briel concerned, zlinning.
Lowren just sort of staggers over to the couch and tries to sit down.
Nally: She was a good woman, even if she didn't always believe what she should.
Lowren puts his arms around Nally.
Briel pauses unsure...steps back...
Lowren starts sobbing.
Alea cannot imagine anyone not wanting to be part of a householding or anyone being turned away.
Tarsh: Aren't the Householdings being picky about who they let in now? That's what we heard.
Briel moves over toward the desk, trying to get away from their nagers, wishing she had a Donor here with her.
Alea: I haven't heard that.
Nally: There, there. Surely God understood why she couldn't properly dispose of Jak and your brother, and has forgiven her and accepted her among the faithful.
Lowren blubbers " I thought, when she didn't answer my letters..."
Alea: Of course, it's different since I was raised in a house and you weren't. You might not have even thought to check there.
Alea ~~sympathy, understanding~~
Lowren: God accept her soul, Amen.
Nally: Amen.
Tarsh: And after a while, well, We'd have to go to the channels in a House.
Briel thinks about seriously slapping Nally silly for her beliefs but doesn't want to get close enough to do it.
Alea eyes widen.
Alea: Oh.
Alea: Of course.
Alea: I didn't think about that.
Lowren: Do you remember Parnul Redan?
Nally: Yes.
Lowren: I work for him now.
Nally's nose wrinkles in distaste.
Nally: Work for him? But he's a Sime!
Lowren: And I'm a Sime-lover. Father said so, remember?
Nally: He said a lot of things he didn't mean.
Nally: But now--Lowren, you're all he's got left.
Lowren: [ sarcasm ]He told me to come live among them.
Aren't I a dutiful son?
Nally recoils.
Lowren: ~~ filed churns with conflicting emotions ~~
Briel almost feels sorry for Nally.
Nally: He was crazy with grief over your brother. He'd never have said that if he were in his right mind.
Lowren: Grief for the son he murdered.
Lowren looks at Nally coldly.
Briel sorely wishes she had a Donor here.
Briel zlins Nally again.
Nally: He rescued your brother from the Devil's clutches and gave him salvation.
Tarsh: We rented two houses next to each other, and lived there, Simes in one, Gens in the other.
Lowren: And now I'm supposed to go back.
Nally is bewildered by Lowren's response.
Alea: They were there for you. That's what is important
Tarsh.
Alea: I'm only sorry for the problems it has caused you now.
Tarsh: Yeah. that was ... wonderful. But there was a
... numerical ... imbalance.
Alea: Oh dear.
Nally: What's the matter with you, Lowren?
Nally: You've got your life and your family back. You don't have to be an exile any longer.
Briel thinks he's seen the light..that's hat is the matter.
Lowren: I can go back, inherit, marry, have children ...
Nally nods eagerly.
Briel thinks and murder those kids if they change over.
Briel hopes Lowren isn't that dumb...
Nally: We've missed you so much, Lowren.
Lowren: And murder them.
Nally touches Lowren's sleeve.
Nally: I've missed you.
Briel grins in triumphant at Lowren's words.
Jon Drake decides to take a break from "The Stockroom
Project."
Nally jerks her hand back.
Nally: Why are you saying such hurtful things, Lowren?
Tarsh: There were more Simes than Gens, and we had to take channel's transfer sometimes.
Alea: Yeah?
Nally looks up at Lowren, looking like a kicked puppy.
Alea: I can only imagine what the channels must have thought about that.
Lowren: Nally.... I've missed you too...
Jon Drake enters the lobby, tea in hand.
Lowren: ~~ churn churn churn ~~
Alea: And the arguments it must have caused within your group as to who had to go do it.
Briel signals Jon.
Jon Drake moves by Briel.
Tarsh: Yeah. I started studying the Tecton procedures to try and cover for us.
Briel grabs Jon's arm, sighing in relief.
Lowren: But....
Nally: You can't want to say here, living under Sime law. Why, I've heard that every month, they make every person...
Briel whispers to Jon, "It's been a war zone out here. I have no idea who this woman is. Lowren came in for transfer, and then she came in and his emotions have run the gambit ever since."
Nally breaks off, her mouth twisting with disgust.
Lowren: They make us what?
Nally: You know...
Nally looks around the lobby.
Nally: Feed them.
Alea: Well, you certainly know Tecton procedures.
Alea smiles.
Nally shudders delicately.
Jon Drake smiles, remembering what a good transfer is like.
Briel grins evilly at Nally thinking she'd like to show her what "feeding" is.
Lowren: It is not *required* though lots of places won't hire [ Simelan for High field ] Gens.
Nally: What?
Lowren: It doesn't hurt and the money is good.
Briel squeezes Jon's arm.
Lowren: [ Simelan for High field ] means that a Gen has a lot of selyn, compared to after donation, when...
Nally shakes her head in disbelief.
Briel: Church of Purity.[low to Jon]
Jon Drake sneers.
Nally: You are so _different_, Lowren.
Tarsh: Yeah. Well, things got rather difficult in the group.
Alea: I imagine that is an understatement.
Lowren: Yes, I am.
Briel: That woman. She's trying to convince Lowren to go home. I never knew his background..not a lot, but it's amazing he has made it as far as he did.
Lowren: You say father has forgiven me. But I haven't forgiven him.
Jon Drake: I left home because I couldn't take the killing any more.
Alea: I imagine, Tarsh, that with more Simes than Gens, you're lucky you didn't end up killing one in a fight or something.
Nally: Lowren, it's not good to carry hate with you, especially not for your own family.
Alea shudders at the thought of Tarsh having to go through that after what he told her about his parents.
Tarsh: That's how I knew I had to leave. When I started considering it.
Alea: Oh, Tarsh.
Alea starts to get up out of the chair and go to him.
Lowren: It's not good to carry hate around with you.
Alea forces herself to sit back.
Tarsh: It ... it felt like I was cutting off part of myself...
Alea: Oh...Tarsh...
Lowren: It's not good to carry all that hatred of Simes around.
Alea remembers when she gave up her hope of ever being back at Zeor and how it almost killed her.
Alea: I know.
Lowren's face lights up. "Nally, it doesn't have to be that way! Klyd Farris was *right*. The Tecton can save us all!"
Nally: ~~alarmed~~
Nally: Lowren, what have they done to you?
Briel winces at Lowren’s words about Farrises.
Nally: You never used to say those kinds of things.
Nally: How did they make you reject everything you'd ever believed?
Lowren: They have shown me a better way, Nally. I've got Parnul back. You can see him too.
Nally fears that the Tecton's brainwashing abilities are even more efficient than rumored.
Lowren: Or anyone else from Hamish who made it to the
Sime Center. They're the same people they were before.
Nally shakes her head in disbelief.
Nally: How could they be?
Tarsh: I'd applied for a Tecton job so I could do the cover work. And they accepted me just after. It wasn't a family, but it was something.
Lowren: Remember how Parnul was always trading stuff from lunches? Always had some deal working/ We all said he'd be rich someday?
Alea gets up and goes to the window to look out.
Lowren: Well, we were right. He *is*.
Alea: I'm glad you got the job.
Tarsh: So am I. Otherwise I wouldn't have met you.
Alea glances at Tarsh, smiling
Alea: Nor I you.
Nally: He is?
Alea: But better than that is the fact that you're getting help regarding your problem with Gen transfers.
Tarsh smiles "So the tecton is good for *something*, anyway."
Nally wonders how Simes regard wealth--lots of Gens in their private Pens?
Alea chuckles.
Alea: I suppose.
Lowren: You think I could afford these clothes? This fancy schooling?
Nally: Well, I did wonder.
Lowren: Parnul has a thriving little import-export business going. He's going to make me the out-t partner someday.
Nally: So you _are_ planning to come back!
Lowren: The only bad thing in-territory is the food.
Nally: I've discovered that.
Lowren: You can make a bundle importing stuff we took for granted back home. Sometimes even ...
Lowren glances at Briel and stops.
Briel smiles at Lowren from over near the desk, still holding onto Jon's arm
Nally's jaw drops with horror.
Nally: Don't tell me you're planning to import Gens!
Lowren looks shocked.
Lowren: "WHAT!"
Lowren: ~~SHOCKED ~~
Lowren: How can you say such a thing!
Briel flinches at Lowren's shocked nager.
Briel whispers to Jon.
Nally: Oh, I'm sorry, Lowren, I didn't think you would, really. But one hears such stories about Gens being taken and brought to Sime Centers for their selyn...
Briel: O-t donors...they never learn anything about controlling their nager.
Lowren: No I meant. [ glances at Briel and leans forward to whisper ] "Simes don't eat meat. But some in-t Gens will pay well for beef jerky, salt pork, that sort of thing."
Nally: Travel food?
Lowren: [whispering] "Yeah, but that's because you have to ship it. You could get livestock past customs."
Nally can't imagine eating the tough, salty stuff as a treat.
Lowren: [ normal voice ] those stories are nonsense.
Every Gen I've seen here cam in by choice, for the money.
And they leave just fine.
Nally is plainly skeptical.
Briel thinks about offering to take Nally's donation to see her reaction.
Lowren: I was thinking I might throw some of the business over towards Hamish. How have the [ glance and whisper ] herds been doing?
Nally perks up.
Nally: You father's cows produced some fine calves this spring, and the chicken flock has recovered.
Nally: There'll be stock to sell in the Spring, God willing.
Nally smiles coyly.
Nally: Will I be seeing you then, Lowren?
Alea goes over and crawls up on the bed, hanging her head and shoulders off backwards, staring out the window across the room at the light snow.
Briel decides this is going to take some time.
Lowren smiles at Nally. "I hope so. If you want me to."
Briel: Jon Drake, I have other things to do. Let me know when they're done.
Briel turns and goes to the donation room
Nally: I do, Lowren. Very much.
Jon Drake nods.
Lowren smiles and blushes [ thinks: Someday she'll understand ]
Jon Drake: You sure you don't want me to go with you?
Nally looks around.
Nally: Where'd that Sime go?
Tarsh: Yeah, well, you know the bit about how I found out what a bad idea we all had.
Alea glances over at Tarsh, tilting her head slightly so he looks right side up.
Alea: Yes, yes I remember.
Lowren: She probably had to get back to work. She's a channel, a Sime who takes selyn from Gens and gives it to renSimes.
Nally: And you were planning to let her do that to you.
Nally is still trying to figure out Lowren got desperate enough to donate.
Jon Drake: Lowren, I'd like talk to you later about a personal matter, but I must beg your leave for now.
Lowren: Yes. It's painless, it lets a Sime live without having to attack a Gen, it pays well, and it keeps my nager from bothering Simes.
Jon Drake: Nice meeting you Nally.
Lowren looks over. "OK Jon. I'll talk to you later."
Nally: Bothering?
Jon Drake figures Nally isn't ready to handle the knowledge that he gives to Simes and supports them for a living.
Jon Drake gets up, and goes to Alea's office to pick up some of her art supplies.
Lowren: Simes can ... well it's like seeing, but it uses selyn instead of light. They call it 'zlinning'.
Lowren: That is how juncts - killer Simes - find their victims.
Lowren: If you donate selyn it makes you kinda darker, harder to zlin.
Jon Drake heads to Alea's infirmary room.
Lowren: And it means your emotions don't bother nonjunct
Simes. Or not as much, anyway.
Nally is interested, particularly in the part about being hard for a Sime to spot.
Lowren: It's only your fear that makes a junct dangerous. If you aren't afraid, like Jon, you're safe.
Jon Drake knock's at Alea's door.
Alea hears the knock and sits up...and immediately grabs the bed as she's hit with dizziness.
Lowren decides not to tell Nally about the time Jon was attacked.
Alea waits until the blood rush is gone, then scoots off the bed.
Nally: Oh, come now, Lowren, you know that's not true.
You remember old Mr. Jeeks. The one who got jumped from behind by a Sime he was too deaf to hear coming.
Alea goes to the door.
Alea: Yes?
Nally: When a Sime's hungry enough, he'll attack anyone.
Lowren: Yeah, well....
Jon Drake: I have your stuff. :-)
Alea sighs.
Alea: Come on in Jon.
Alea pulls the door open.
Alea: You know, Jon, you don't have to knock...actually, you shouldn't knock at all, but you don’t have to signal.
Jon Drake shrugs.
Alea sees what is in Jon's hands and stares at it greedily.
Alea: My supplies.
Alea throws her arms around him and hugs him.
Lowren: But if Mr. Jeeks hadn't been afraid, the Sime would have taken his selyn without hurting him. Of course, keeping yourself from being afraid isn't easy...
Alea: You saved my life.
Alea takes the supplies.
Jon Drake: What did I do?
Nally: I should say not!
Tarsh wave. "Hi Jon."
Alea is flipping through the supplies.
Nally shudders, imagining how it would feel to be attacked by a Sime.
Alea: Only saved me from a lifetime of counting the snowflakes as they fell.
Jon Drake: Hi Tarsh.
Jon Drake: Oh, I see...
Alea hurries over to the table and begins spreading supplies out.
Lowren: And that is why Klyd Farris created the tecton.
A channel like Briel can take selyn even from a frightened Gen without hurting him.
Nally: Are you frightened, when she dies it to you?
Lowren: I still get a bit frightened when I donate, but none of the channels hurt me. I'm fine, see?
Nally is sympathetic, imagining the tortures Lowren has been put through.
Alea: So, any update on Tamlen or Tramila?
Alea continues to go through her paints and pencils...moving the canvases off to one side and setting the sketch pad on top
Lowren: You can watch us and see what I mean if you want.
Nally: Watch you?
Jon Drake: They are still hanging in there.
Alea doesn't like the sound of that, and pauses in her arranging to look at Tarsh.
Lowren gestures towards the corridor with his head.
" Watch Briel take my donation. See that it doesn't hurt."
Nally usually considers watching Lowren a favorite recreational activity, but this doesn't sound like a lot of fun.
Nally then considers that on the other hand, she's not going to convince Lowren to come back to her unless she can accept how he's changed.
Tarsh looks over at Alea. "Is something wrong?"
Alea's chipper mood has faded.
Nally: Well, if you're sure it's all right...
Alea: No.
Alea: Will you tell us if there is any change, Jon?
Jon Drake: I will, you can count on me.
Lowren: I'm sure it will be all right.
Nally certainly doesn't want to have a Sime mad at her.
Alea: What about any more cases?
Lowren gets up and shyly offers his arm to Nally.
Nally dimples and places her hand on the proffered arm.
Lowren walks over to the corridor with Nally.
Alea: Thank you, Jon.
Nally sways her hips as she walks.
Jon Drake: No problem.
Jon Drake heads down the corridor.
Alea sinks down in the chair at the table.
Briel is just finishing up another donor
Lowren: "Jon!"
Jon Drake looks up.
Jon Drake: Ready to donate, Lowren?
Briel sees the donor on her way.
Briel goes to the sink and washes her hands.
Lowren: Yes I am. I told Nally she could watch to see it is harmless.
Jon Drake accompanies them, figuring that the change in situation warrants his help.
Lowren goes with Jon to Briel's donation room.
Nally is more than a little nervous about this, now that she's committed herself.
Briel: Lowren.
Briel zlins Nally surprised and a little wary.
Nally clings to Lowren's arm as the Sime looks her over.
Jon Drake nods to Briel, gesturing with his eyes to Nally.
Briel can tell Nally certainly doesn't want to donate.
Briel: Lowren?
Lowren: [ Simelan] Hajene, Could she -* [ English ]
Briel can Nally watch me donate? Just to see it's harmless?
Briel looks to Lowren questioningly.
Briel almost denies it, but then decides it might be good for her to see it and be able to take tales home.
Briel looks over at Jon.
Briel: Would you assist me?
Jon Drake: Of course.
Briel motions to the transfer couch.
Jon Drake moves into position.
Lowren pats Nally's hand. "Please wait over there."
Jon Drake works to find the best spot to eclipse Nally's nager.
Nally clings tighter to Lowren, unwilling to leave him to
Briel's Sime non-mercy.
Lowren goes over and sits on the wrong end of the couch.
Briel sighs.
Lowren pauses.
Briel: Nally, stand right there.
Briel motions her where Jon's field will block her fear.
Nally moves to the indicated spot, wringing her hands.
Briel takes a long breath and release it.
Briel: This end, Lowren.
Briel motions to the other end of the couch.
Jon Drake considers explaining why Nally has to stay where she is, but isn't sure if that would make her worry all the more.
Briel: So, how's it going living with Parnul? No problems?
Briel snags a chart and begins to write.
Lowren moves to the other end. "Sorry, I always get that wrong."
Briel looks up at Lowren.
Lowren holds out his arms, palms down.
Lowren: ~~~ a bit more nervous than usual, with Nally there ~~
Nally stares, still wringing her hands, unable to believe that Lowren is really going to let the Sime to this.
Lowren: No, No real problems. He makes me stay in a hotel for his last week, though.
Briel: Good.
Briel nods and writes on the chart.
Briel: Your field is very healthy this month.
Briel glances at Nally and wonders if she sees the easy rapport between them.
Briel is only glad she can't zlin how nervous Lowren really is.
Lowren is proud though vague about why.
Lowren: My Simelan is getting better.
Briel: I noticed that.
Briel smiles.
Jon Drake works with the ambient, balancing all the fields involved.
Briel: So Lowren, you know the drill.
Stripped Snake sticks head in door of Sime Center which is slightly ajar.
Stripped Snake tongue licks out.
Briel reaches out and takes Lowren's arms, slipping the tentacles around his arms.
Stripped Snake waits for a few moments, then oozes up onto the floor of the lobby with a smooth, sinuous movement.
Nally gasps in horror.
Briel holds still.
Briel: Nally.
Jon Drake moves to adjust.
Briel: Look. All I've done is take Lowren's arms in mine.
Briel looks over at Nally.
Briel: Do you feel any pain, Lowren?
Stripped Snake crawls across the lobby floor and disappears into the hallway.
Briel: Am I doing anything at all, other than holding your hands, so to speak?
Nally is staring at the tentacles imprisoning Lowren's arms.
Lowren: No. No pain. and no slime either.
Jon Drake: Briel, would you rather I move closer to
Nally, explain to her what's happening?
Briel shakes her head at Jon..distracted.
Briel: No.
Lowren: No, you are not.
Stripped Snake slips under the door of a janitor's closet.
Briel: Now, I'm going to take some selyn from him.
Briel: It's perfectly painless.
Briel turns back to Lowren.
Briel: Ready?
Briel allows her laterals to slip out and then smiles.
Lowren: Yes, I am ready. Go ahead.
Briel: You can make fifth contact point, then I'll draw.
Stripped Snake's long, striped body disappears down the drain in the janitor's closet's floor.
Briel waits.
Lowren leans forward and carefully puts his lips on
Briel's.
Lowren: ~~ nervous ~~
Briel begins to draw.
Stripped Snake: [a splash is heard in a washroom on the
2nd floor]
Stripped Snake rises up out of a toilet bowl, red black and yellow stripes glistening brilliantly.
Briel finishes the draw and then sits back.
Briel carefully removes her laterals then her tentacles.
Lowren: I still didn't feel anything at all.
Briel smiles.
Stripped Snake slides out, and onto the floor, leaving a moist trail.
Briel: You never will, Lowren.
Lowren: I only have your word that you are doing anything at all.
Stripped Snake approaches a bed.
Briel: Believe...just ask Parnul. He'll tell you the truth.
Nally is very relieved that Lowren is unharmed.
Stripped Snake's head insinuates itself under the edge of the covers hanging down.
Briel reaches for the chart and fills out a voucher.
Briel glances up at Nally.
Briel: Would you like to try that while you're here?
Stripped Snake crawls inside the bed and curls up.
Nally: Me?
Briel mentions the increase of selyn rate on the chart, charting it, then signs it.
Briel: Yes, dear. you.
Lowren stands up and walks over to Nally.
Lowren holds out his arms for inspection.
Nally is not at all comfortable with the idea.
Nally looks at Lowren's arms.
Briel: Think about it.
Black Snake crawls from a bag of groceries on a cafeteria counter.
Briel hands the voucher to Lowren.
Lowren: Thank you Briel.
Briel stands.
Briel: No problem.
Briel: See you next month.
Black Snake slips off the counter and lands on the cafeteria floor with a flip.
Black Snake: Flip = flop.
Black Snake disappears into the dark crevice underneath an oven.
Lowren: You bet Hajene.
Nally is a bit disappointed at this evidence that Lowren is planning to continue his Sime-loving activities.
Briel goes to the door and opens it.
Lowren offers his arm to Nally again.
Black Snake emerges from a mouse hole along the baseboard halfway down a hallway.
Jon Drake: Lowren, could you stay in the lobby for a bit?
Jon Drake: I need to ask you a favor, if you don't mind.
Briel waits by the door, smiling politely, glad Nally's fear is about to leave her in peace finally.
Nally places her hand on Lowren's arm, then pulls it back as her fingers encounter moisture.
Lowren: Ok Jon.
Nally: What's that on your arms?
Black Snake sidewinds down the center of the hallway, tongue flicking in and out.
Lowren: That? just some stuff from Briel's laterals. nothing to worry about.
Nally: It tingles.
Lowren goes over to get a towel to wipe his arms off.
Lowren: It has something to do with making the selyn move easier. like greasing a wheel.
Black Snake finds itself in a large open room and curves itself into the soft tunnel of a throw rug's wrinkle.
Nally wipes the offending tentacle grease off on her dress, then reaches for Lowren's hand, instead of his arm.
Rat hurries across an open floor.
Nally sees the rodent and shrieks.
Lowren runs to try and stamp Rat by reflex.
Nally jumps back, and slips on the throw rug.
Briel stiffens, taking the shock to her primary system..
Rat panics and turns tail.
Rat darts in a wild zigzag pattern.
Rat dashes underneath the couch.
Nally's arms windmill as she fights a losing battle for her balance.
Lowren stamps in a just wild pattern.
Black Snake is exposed as the rug is whipped away.
Black Snake thrashes.
Jon Drake turns to Briel, balancing her systems.
Briel gasps grabbing at Jon.
Lowren sees that Rat has escapes and turns back to
Nally.
Nally falls, flailing, and her right arm comes down on
Black Snake.
Nally: Snake!!!
Black Snake bites the giant pink attacker that just glommed it.
Jon Drake hears the word snake.
Lowren surges forward to grab Nally.
Jon Drake: Do you want me to deal with her this time or do you?
Nally shrieks again, this time louder, and flings the snake across the room.
Black Snake [wham]
Black Snake slides down the wall and lands in a heap at the base.
Rat gets up its nerve and makes a break for it, bolting out from under the couch between JonDrake's feet.
Lowren drops to his knees by Nally. "Are ya bit?"
Briel whimpers.
Jon Drake: Realizes that Nally's not talking about the wayward channel.
Nally stares at the bite on her arm, whimpering louder than Briel.
Jon Drake: Briel, I think you're needed.
Briel turns toward Nally.
Briel zlins.
Lowren examines the bite marks for the two deep punctures of a poisonous snake's fangs.
Briel takes a breath, still shudder.
Briel: You're okay, Nally.
Briel: It's not poisonous.
Jon Drake supports.
Briel ~~pale sweaty~~
Briel: Jon, get some cleanser. Let's wash this.
Briel goes over to Nally.
Jon Drake hurries to the restocked medicine cabinet.
Briel leans down and reaches out for her arm to examine it again.
Lowren: It's all right Nally. Briel is a real good doctor.
Briel takes Nally's hand in hers.
Briel: And Jon, get someone zlinning for those snakes and rats.
Nally leans against Lowren for reassurance.
Jon Drake returns with the supplies.
Jon Drake: Right away.
Briel: No.
Briel: Don't leave.
Lowren puts his arm around Nally.
Briel: Uh...
Briel: After.
Black Snake moves feebly.
Jon Drake: I understand.
Black Snake turns over onto its belly.
Briel kneels down.
Jon Drake: Lowren...?
Briel takes the supplies and washes her arm up gently.
Lowren: What.
Black Snake slinks behind a piece of furniture and disappears.
Jon Drake: Could you find a renSime to zlin the room for us?
Lowren: Parnul was stabbed in the back twice and they fixed him up.
Nally's arm twitches as the cleanser enters the punctures.
Briel zlins as she cleans the wound.
Nally: Stabbed?
Lowren: Don't worry, Nally, I'm here.
Briel projects need to promote healing.
Lowren: He ran into some thugs when he was looking for me. They got criminals here like anywhere. You know what these big cities are like.
Black Snake creeps stealthily down the hallway, through the mouse hole, and back into the cafeteria kitchen.
Jon Drake focuses on his support.
Nally plasters her head against Lowren's chest, trying to pretend the arm belongs to someone else.
Briel nods, satisfied.
Briel: You'll be just fine.
Briel takes some gauze and carefully wraps it.
Black Snake disappears briefly inside a cupboard door, then re-emerges up on top of the counter.
Clerk comes to the door. "What happened?"
Briel glances up.
Briel: Snake bite.
Black Snake climbs inside a stone cookie jar with the lid slightly tilted.
Jon Drake: We had a snake.
Black Snake curls up and becomes still.
Briel: How do you feel Nally.
Lowren strokes Nally's hair.
Jon Drake: Could you zlin to see if it's still in the room, please?
Briel: Zlin the entire place. Find that snake.
Nally peeks up at Briel.
Clerk is not surprised that wisesnake is biting Gens now.
Briel: We shouldn't have snakes this time of year.
Nally: I'll be OK.
Clerk: Sure.
Briel nods.
Rat lurks under the receptionist's desk, near the receptionist's feet.
Briel slips an arm around her to help her up.
Clerk extends his laterals and starts zlinning about.
Rat's little whiskers tickly the receptionist's ankles.
Nally stiffens at the sight of clerk's extended laterals.
Jon Drake: Oh, and there was a rat in here too.
Briel shudders.
Briel: You can go if you want.
Briel: You'll be fine.
Stray Cat wanders into the lobby.
Lowren gives Nally a squeeze. "S'all 'ri"
Nally enjoys the squeeze very much.
Clerk: I can't zlin anything, Hajene.
Briel nods curtly.
Briel: Get some people looking in the rest of the Center.
Briel: I want to know where the shenned those snakes came from.
Briel: I want to know what type it is.
Briel: I want to know within the hour.
Stray Cat skulks around the edge of the lobby, keeping a sharp eye out for danger.
Bighairy creeps softly along the molding just below the ceiling's edge.
Briel goes back to the door.
Clerk: Yes Hajene.
Briel doesn't want to get too far from Jon.
Rat notes the cat and backs between the receptionist's feet, crouching down.
Clerk goes out to the lobby, passing under the molding.
Stray Cat pauses to spray the potted palm, and sharpen his claws on the upholstered coat rack.
Jon Drake: Double check to see if it's in that corner dead. That's where Lowren threw it.
Bighairy drops down softly upon clerk's shoulder.
Lowren: You need some ferrets here. [ to Nally ] you know if mine are OK back home?
Stray Cat smells an interesting odor and looks towards the reception desk.
Nally: Yes. I've been feeding them every day.
Clerk jumps and brushes frantically at his shoulder.
Briel stares patiently at Nally and Lowren waiting for them to go so she can go have a nice quiet cup of tea in a Donor's presence.
Bighairy is transferred onto the back of Clerk's hand.
Lowren: Thank you Nally.
Lowren: Come on. I’ll buy you dinner.
Nally smiles.
Clerk tries to snap his hand to get rid of bighairy.
Nally: Certainly. We've got a lot of catching up to do.
Bighairy flies across the room and tumbles into
Nally's... collar.
Jon Drake: Lowren, I'll catch you later then. Please drop by the center again when you get a chance?
Briel zlins it and snags it before Nally can panic.
Nally jerks convulsively, and starts frantically clawing at her neck.
Briel jumps back, the spider in her tentacles.
Nally: What was that?
Bighairy is a chunky brown spider about the size of a pair of walnuts, with long hair and huge thick legs.
Briel drops it and slams her foot down on it.
Stray Cat sits in the geometric center of the lobby, surveying his new domain.
Lotsaguts are splattered all over the floor.
Lowren doesn't notice Jon speaking as he peers down the back of Nally's shirt.
Lowren: It's gone.
Briel: Clerk?
Briel strides out into the hall.
Nally looks at lotsaguts.
Nally: ~~nauesa~~
Briel: Clerk!
Nally: Let's get out of here.
Clerk: Yes, Hajene? [ wiping hand]
Briel: You get as many Simes as you require and you start zlinning everywhere. I want to find out who's behind these plagues.
Nally grabs Lowren's hand, avoiding the nasty stuff on his arms, and pulls him towards the lobby.
Briel: Spiders, snakes, rats....
Lowren realizes where he is looking and jerks his eyes away, blushing.
Briel shudders.
Lowren: Ok. I'll cash this later.
Briel thinks this is too unbelievable to have not been planned by someone.
Clerk: Yes Hajene. Right away, Hajene.
Clerk goes out.
Briel goes on down the hall toward the lobby.
Catnheat wanders in the rear door of the center.
Catnheat: Yowl.
Catnheat: ... yowl...
Catnheat: ... moww...
Stray Cat pricks up his ears, and his nostrils twitch.
Catnheat: ... [plaintive/dissonant]... yyyow...
Lowren goes toward the front with Nally.
Rat darts out from underneath the desk and streaks across
Lowren and Nally's path.
Stray Cat's tail twitches at the sound.
Alea gets out her sketch book and begins to sketch, enjoying the peaceful, quiet day.
Stray Cat races behind, upsetting Lowren.
Catnheat walks aimlessly, seeking that which it doesn't understand but must have.
Catnheat: Yowl..
Nally falls down on top of Lowren.
Lowren flails as he loses his balance.
Rat is cornered against the wall and can't decide which way to turn.
Briel: Well shen.
Lowren: OOoofff!
Briel augments toward Lowren to catch him.
Briel misses.
Stray Cat relives him of the agony of indecision by pouncing and landing on his neck, breaking it.
Yukkobody lies there pathetically.
Briel leaps over Lowren and Nally, and the cat, landing easily on her feet.
Nally screams at the sight of Briel moving WAY too fast in her direction.
Clerk decides to get help from the cafeteria.
Catnheat: ... myowl....
Stray Cat's ears prick up at the sound.
Catnheat: [at an amazing volume for such a small creature] ... YOWL....
Stray Cat: Mrowl!
Lowren clutches Nally.
Briel staggers from the nageric scream.
Catnheat's aimless walk takes it into an office.
Jon Drake moves forward with Briel, balancing.
Briel forces herself hypo.
Nally clings to Lowren.
Catnheat: Yowl...
Lowren tries to get to his feet while holding Nally.
Briel shudders, clutching at Jon.
Catnheat: ..mwow...
Jon Drake supports.
Stray Cat picks up his prize and starts to search for the source of the enticing sound.
Catnheat: .. bawl...
Briel turns to control.
Briel: Get those shenned cats out of here Jon.
Briel gritted teeth.
Briel: No.
Nally is crying on Lowren's shoulder.
Briel: Get clerk to get them.
Briel: Stay here.
Jon Drake nods.
Jon Drake looks around the area for the clerk.
Catnheat: Rrrowww..
Stray Cat puts yukkobody down long enough to mrowl again.
Briel: Forget it.
Lowren tries to get out the front door with Nally without further encounters with fauna.
Lowren: [ drops his donation voucher in all the confusion.
Stray Cat takes the opportunity to neaten his pantaloons.
Briel augmenting toward the room where the cat went.
Briel goes in and slams the door.
Briel eyes the cat.
Jon Drake follows as fast as he can.
Catnheat is trapped in Veraik's office.
Catnheat: Myow...
Briel: Come here kitty kitty.
Catnheat looks at Briel with wild, not-understanding eyes.
Catnheat walks towards Briel.
Catnheat: Myowl...
Catnheat: Yowl..
Catnheat: Yowl...
Briel smiles, narrowed eyes.
Catnheat: Yow.
Stray Cat picks up the dead rat and takes a few steps, then pauses.
Briel: That's it, cat...come here...kitty...kitty.
Catnheat: Mmmmmrow.
Jon Drake figures that she can handle the cat, then goes to look for the other.
Catnheat moves stiff legged toward Briel.
Briel reaches down to pick up the cat.
Stray Cat drops the rat as his flanks begin to heave.
Catnheat sags down like an inverted "U"
Clerk comes out of the cafeteria with 2 other renSimes with sticks.
Briel snatches up the cat.
Briel: Now let's get you out of here.
Catnheat: Myow---ooff!
Stray Cat heaves several times and deposits a hairball on
Lowren's donation voucher.
Lowren gets out the door with Nally. "Are you All right?"
Jon Drake spots the stray cat in the lobby.
Catnheat claws at Briel.
Briel hurries across the room and tosses the cat out the window.
Nally shudders.
Briel gasps.
Catnheat: ===CRASH!!!!!===
Nally: Let's just get out of here.
Catnheat lands in the garden in a shower of glass.
Jon Drake chases the cat out of the room.
Catnheat lies stunned for a moment, then jumps to its feet and scampers out of sight behind a building.
Briel jerks the window closed and turns back to the door.
Stray Cat runs quickly out the door, then resumes his interrupted search for the interesting smell.
Briel looks looks at her chest where the shenned cat scratched her chest and growls low in her throat.
Jon Drake gets some paper towels and removes the hairball from the voucher.
Wise Snake nearly trips over a cat that darts out the Sime
Center door right at her feet.
Briel opens the door and goes out of the office, dabbing at the bloody marks.
Wise Snake: Good grief.
Stray Cat spots catnheat and approaches, mrowling in a chivalrous fashion.
Jon Drake disposes of the offending hairball and works to clean the voucher off a little.
Nick: I thought the Tecton didn't encourage pets?
Catnheat feels compelled to stand very still and let him approach.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Wise Snake enters the Sime Center.
Briel zlins Snake and frowns.
Clerk goes on a hunt for unauthorized life forms.
Stray Cat sits down close to catnheat and grooms himself.
Briel: Hello Snake.
Wise Snake: Hello, Briel.. uh.. [zlins the crazy ambient]
Briel tries to zlin to see if Snake is getting any enjoyment out of this.
Briel or for sign of guilt.
Nick moves closer to Snake, trying to protect her from the confusion.
Briel: Yes?
Nick: What's going on here, Briel?
Jon Drake comes out with a rather wet voucher, takes it to the desk to be given to Lowren when he returns.
Wise Snake: ~~~mostly sort of baffled~~~
Briel finish dabbing at her chest and goes over to Snake.
Jon Drake sees snake and Briel's body language and moves closer to support Briel.
Briel: Someone released all kinds of interesting .... animals into our center.
Briel ~~frustrated and at the end of her rope~~
Wise Snake: What, did you have a bad off-the-street donor day or something?
Briel: Heh heh.
Briel: That sounds more up your alley, Snake.
Wise Snake remembers there being several of those days during her time at the Center.
Briel: So, what did you come here for?
Wise Snake doesn't like the sound of that laugh.
Stray Cat starts singing the praises of catnheat.
Briel relaxes with Jon's field.
Wise Snake: Well I came to talk to you.. but.. um.. is this a bad time?
Briel sighs and rubs a tentacle across her neck.
Briel: No.
Briel: No.
Briel: Now is fine.
Briel: Come on in my office.
Wise Snake follows Briel.
Wise Snake: Moving up in the world, eh? Good for you.
Nick follows Snake.
Briel goes in her office...zlins carefully, then sits down.
Wise Snake skirts a nasty looking splatter on the lobby floor.
Jon Drake follows barring any other instruction.
Stray Cat starts out softly, crooning a lullaby.
Wise Snake enters Briel's office, starts to sit down, then notices Briel zlin first and prudently does the same.
Wise Snake zlins nothing wrong with the chair.
Wise Snake sits.
Nick perches on the arm of Snake's chair, unwilling to be farther away with the ambient so unsettled.
Stray Cat continues with a ballad extolling the virtues of his love's whiskers.
Briel: How can I help you?
Briel folds her hands, intertwining her tentacles
Wise Snake: You offered some assistance with regards to transfers.
Briel nods to Jon to please sit down by her.
Briel: Yes?
Briel: You want to come here and work some each day?
Catnheat accompanies StrayCat with a low, mournful descant reminiscent of a fire engine siren winding down.
Briel brightens visibly.
Stray Cat rounds out the program with a rousing oratorio.
Jon Drake sits.
Catnheat's passion is ignited by his vocalizations and she howls out a crescendoing duet that would do any self-
Respecting tornado alert siren proud.
Wise Snake's eyebrows twitch.
Wise Snake: I was referring to your offer of assistance in breaking in Nick to personal transfers.
Stray Cat improvises a virtuoso accompaniment, at twice the volume.
Briel zlins nick, her interest definitely caught.
Nick: ~~astonishment and anticipation~~
Catnheat is overcome with awe of her tenor tom.
Briel turns back to snake.
Stray Cat approaches catnheat, swaggering boldly.
Briel: You want me to take Nick's first transfer?
Catnheat shrills a quavering triumphant aria whose theme would seem to be "take me"
Briel leans back closer to Jon, controlling her nager.
Wise Snake's forehead beads sweat.
Wise Snake: Maybe. If we can come to an agreement.
Stray Cat sniffs at catnheat cautiously, wary of her claws.
Briel: And that agreement is?
Briel untwines her tentacles and drops her hand to Jon's arm.
Catnheat presents her business end to StrayCat.
Wise Snake: Controlled conditions. A location of my choosing. And nobody is told you didn't take transfer from your real assignment.
Mutt comes trotting up the street.
Jon Drake takes her hand in hers, supporting.
Briel: I don't have an assignment yet, Snake.
Stray Cat mrowls soothingly, bites catnheat's neck to immobilize her, and accepts her invitation.
Alea glances out the window and smiles as she sees the mutt pass a gate.
Mutt stops to sniff the corner of the center.
Briel: And you know I'm not going to go for that.
Catnheat stiffens as the indecipherable longing which had plagued her for days is suddenly crystal clear, and in that same moment its resolution is achieved.
Briel: If we have transfer, it's going to have to be here where there is help if something goes wrong.
Mutt leaves a comment of his own and goes down the alley looking for a nice trash can.
Alea turns back and quietly sketches Tarsh, adding depth to the hollows of his cheeks as she does.
Stray Cat longing also being resolved, he climbs down, expertly dodging catnheat's swat.
Wise Snake: I'll be there.
Briel nods.
Briel: I would expect you to be.
Briel: After all, Nick is your Donor.
Briel: However, I would want it here. And it will have to be known who I had transfer from.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Briel: But you could monitor. We could ...
Briel sighs.
Wise Snake: I can't do that. You know I can't do that.
Nick isn't Tecton.
Wise Snake: So neither can you. You can't have that on your record, taking transfer from a non-Tecton Gen.
Briel: I can't go somewhere else, Snake. I don't know anything about Nick.
Nick's feelings make it clear that he has no intention of becoming Tecton, either.
Briel zlins Nick again.
Mutt stops as he sniffs.
Deadfishy reclines aromatically in a dumpster.
Mutt rushes forward barking.
Briel: I would have to have it here. wisesnake looks disappointed, but keeps her nager carefully controlled.
Briel: Maybe I'm too Tecton. I just can't....[shakes her head, her grip increasing on Jon's arm]
Briel: I'm sorry.
Mutt spots StrayCat and skids as he tries to change direction.
Wise Snake looks away, pale eyes colder.
Stray Cat arches to twice his usual size and hisses.
Jon Drake increases support, gentle nager.
Briel: If you could allow the transfer to take place here...monitor it here in a room....
Briel: Perhaps if you allow me to talk to
Veraik....maybe he could come with me and we could set up something.
Mutt stops 2 feet short of StrayCat and barks furiously.
Wise Snake: Set up something? Like what?
Briel: I don't know. Maybe transfer at your house. You and Veraik monitoring together.
Stray Cat turns and scampers up a nearby tree, perching on a branch above Mutt.
Mutt barks louder at the uppity Cat that doesn't know it should run away.
Briel: But, Snake, I can't lie on my forms. I can't put down I've had transfer from someone else.
Stray Cat hisses again, then jumps down onto Mutt's back, hanging on with teeth and claws.
Wise Snake: And you can't tell the truth either. So it is impossible.
Briel simply stares at snake.
Mutt's barks take on a frustrated tone as he jumps into the air again and again trying to get to StrayCat.
Wise Snake: An empty offer...
Briel: I don't make empty offers.
Briel: I meant every word I said.
Mutt yelp piteously as he runs off down the alley with
Strary Cat attached.
Wise Snake studies the floor, frowns.
Briel: That's what I'm proposing. I can talk to Veraik, see if he can get special permission or something...
Briel glances at the window zlinning.
Briel: What is shenned is going on out there now?
Briel turns back to Snake.
Mutt: YIPE! YIPE! YIPE! YIPE! YIPE! wisesnake lifts her gaze to look at Briel, soberly.
Wise Snake: I don't plan on losing Nick.
Briel nods.
Stray Cat waits until Mutt is running in blind panic, then jumps neatly off and saunters down the nearest alley to inspect it.
Briel doesn't trust Snake enough for her to be the only one present though.
Mutt: Yipe! yipe! yipe! yipe!
Mutt's yipes fade into the distance.
Wise Snake zlins Briel, then sighs.
Briel: I can tell you I'll talk to Veraik...maybe we can work it out.
Wise Snake: I don't really feel comfortable with that.
I'm sorry.
Wise Snake: Nick... [rises]
Nick stands.
Briel controls her field.
Wise Snake: Ever since I witnessed what happened between
Veraik and Alea, I feel I don't know him anymore.
Nick looks at Briel, and deliberately lets his field entice her.
Briel goes hypo.
Wise Snake is shocked.
Briel: Jon.
Briel turns toward him.
Jon Drake looks to Briel.
Wise Snake glances at Jon.
Jon Drake strengthens his fields for Briel.
Briel: You have my offer, Snake.
Briel: It's all I can offer.
Nick shrugs and turns his attention back to Snake.
Wise Snake's face and nager are hard as stone.
Briel: You know how much I want to do it...but I would want Veraik there too.
Wise Snake motions Nick to precede her out the door [sharp motion]
Briel: Think about it.
Nick leads the way out of the Sime Center.
Wise Snake stalks out without another word.
Briel: Oh shen Jon.
Briel trembles.
Wise Snake: ~~fury~~~
Jon Drake holds Briel.
Briel: I don't have a Donor yet.
Briel: Kaymeil will be here any day.
Briel: And I just turned away a potential Donor that....shen....
Jon Drake: I'm sure you will have one soon.
Wise Snake plunges down the Sime Center's steps as if in escape.
Briel: I had one...
Briel: But I let him get away.
Briel: But I don't trust Snake.
Nick follows on her heels, his usually indifferent opinion of the Tecton sinking to a new low.
Briel wishes she could cry.
Wise Snake rounds on Nick as soon as they are out of range of the Center.
Briel: She slammed me once...what if...what if something happened out there....
Wise Snake: What in shen did you think you were doing!!!
Briel shudders again.
Jon Drake: It is important for you to stick to your principles.
Jon Drake: You need to do what's right.
Briel: I don't know if I could....I'm disjunct...not used to being outside the house....I need someone "safe" there.
Nick: Letting her see what she was turning down.
Briel: But I would have qualified him.
Briel: I wanted to.
Briel: I don't have a Donor yet. Maybe with Veraik's help...he could get something...anything...so that it could be done.
Jon Drake nods, comforting.
Wise Snake grips her temples briefly, then forces her hands down.
Jon Drake: It'll be all right, Brie...
Wise Snake: Do you know what that does to me?
Jon Drake: There's always hope.
Wise Snake: I said a controlled situation! Not mayhem!
Briel: After everything that happened, then seeing his field...
Nick: Snake, she's not anywhere near hard need yet.
Jon Drake: I understand, Brie.
Briel: You know what that was like? Knowing I was going to have to say not until I talked to Veraik and him flashing his field like that?
Wise Snake breaths hard.
Briel relaxes under Jon's field.
Nick: And you've taught me how to disengage my field without hurting someone.
Briel: Maybe if everything else hadn't happened today...it wouldn't have bothered me so much.
Wise Snake: Nick wi~e~nake.
Nick puts a comforting hand on Snake's shoulder, letting her feel his concern.
Briel: I have got to talk to Veraik and see why I don't have a Donor yet.
Wise Snake feels her own outrage.
Wise Snake tries to calm down without much success.
Nick: Snake, she was so close to agreeing...I'm sorry if it upset you, but I thought it might tip the balance.
Wise Snake: Watching somebody else take you is going to be hard enough without you feeding my paranoia with these sorts of... of random acts beforehand!
Briel: You know, I heard Kaymeil is arriving tomorrow.
Briel tries to smile.
Kaymeil walks into the front door.
Jon Drake: Really? We've heard that before now. :-)
Nick: Snake, I will be there for you, just as soon as you decide to allow it.
Wise Snake: Not if you let raw impulse let you fall into the Tecton's clutches.
Kaymeil: Then waits in the lobby until the clerk or someone returns.
Nick: The Tecton has nothing that I want.
Briel sighs.
Briel: Go make sure they've gotten rid of the rats please.
Briel: I'll go check on the rest of the vermin.
Jon Drake: You want me to sleep with you tonight, Brie?
Briel starts to nod yes.
Briel pauses.
Briel: We'll talk about it later.
Jon Drake: Ok.
Jon Drake nods.
Nick: And Briel is better than nothing, but she's not got half the attraction for me that you do.
Briel gets up and goes to the door.
Wise Snake zlins the truth in his words and is somewhat mollified despite herself.
Wise Snake: Well...
Jon Drake heads out to the lobby.
Jon Drake sees someone new.
Jon Drake: Hello, may I help you?
Briel pauses to zlin her office for any slimy snakes and then goes down the hall at a slower pace than Jon, zlinning.
Kaymeil stands.
Kaymeil: Hello. I'm Kaymeil. I'm here to see Briel.
Briel finds two more spiders she tromps, thinking of them as Nick.
Nick falls into his accustomed support position.
Jon Drake: Kaymeil? I, I'm Jon Drake. Let me go get her.
Nick: Come on, Linn will have dinner ready, and she'll worry if we're not there to eat it.
Briel zlins someone in the lobby and heads down the hall.
Jon Drake turns toward the hall.
Jon Drake heads up the hall.
Wise Snake: Nick, if you ever do that again...
Wise Snake: So help me..
Briel absently bats at a spider hanging on its web.
Briel: Jon...
Kaymeil: Thank you. [Looks around the lobby wandering if she will like it here.]
Jon Drake: Briel...
Jon Drake: Kaymeil's here, she asked for you.
Nick: You'll what? Attack me?
Briel stiffens.
Nick: ~~humorous anticipation~~
Jon Drake: I'm sorry.
Nick holds out his hands.
Briel: No...it's....okay.
Briel: Come on.
Nick: Go ahead, please!
Jon Drake nods.
Kaymeil is a First Order Channel, about thirties, who is wearing a blue pants suit.
Wise Snake hovers on a tortured edge between humor and genuine freak out.
Wise Snake: Don't tempt me.
Briel dabs at the cat scratches, sighing when she sees she can't hide them.
Nick grins and leads the way towards their apartment.
Briel: Oh well...I don't look my best but till have to do.
Wise Snake follows, hiding the mess this has made of her sense of security under a facade of seeming peace.
Jon Drake: You look fine.
Briel: Kaymeil? I'm Briel. Welcome to Bender Cove Sime
Center.
Briel goes into the lobby, her field guarded.
Briel nods curtly.
Briel: This is Jon. He'll be glad to show you around.
However, don't go wandering anywhere without someone.
We’ve just had an outbreak of shaking plague.
Kaymeil: You are Briel?
Briel: Among other plagues[mutters]
Briel: Yes.
Kaymeil gulps.
Briel: This is Jon Drake.
Briel: He has been assigned to you this month.
Jon Drake smiles.
Briel tries to smile as she watches her only hope of a
Donor move to Kaymeil’s side.
Jon Drake must step forward.
Jon Drake: Pleased to meet you.
Kaymeil: Kaymeil zlins JonDrake .
Briel: Jon...why don't you show her around. Keep her away from the isolation wards and show her her assigned room.
Jon Drake nods.
Briel: Nice ... meeting you.
Jon Drake: I'll do that Brie.
Kaymeil almost smiles.
Kaymeil: That would be great Jon.
Kaymeil: I'm very tired.
Jon Drake: Please come this way.
Briel turns and strides down the hallway.
Kaymeil zlins Briel but says nothing about what she zlins.
Jon Drake: Sleep well, Briel.
Kaymeil: It was nice to meet you, Briel.
Kaymeil follows Jon.
Jon Drake leads Kaymeil upstairs.
Briel doesn't answer but continues down the hall to her office where she closes and locks the door.
Jon Drake: Would you rather I show you the tour tonight or tomorrow?
Kaymeil: Oh thank you. It's been a long day.
Kaymeil: Tomorrow, we can get to know each other.
Jon Drake: Ok, so rather than just putting your luggage in the room, I'll leave you to rest.
Jon Drake leads her to one of the unoccupied rooms.
Kaymeil: Yes. I'm afraid there won't be many more days for me to be alone. Need approaches.
Jon Drake: I understand. I will do my best. You can be assured of that.
Kaymeil enters a room. "Thank you."
Jon Drake: Sleep well.
Kaymeil smiles. "I can zlin it."
Kaymeil: You too.
Jon Drake heads back to his room, then considers.
Kaymeil closes the door and falls on the bed, asleep almost before she hits the pillow.
Briel: [a loud crash is heard from behind Briel's office door]
Alea finishes up her portrait of Tarsh sitting there reading and smiles, thinking it the perfect way to while away the quiet hours of their isolation. With a smile and a nod at Tarsh, she goes over to lay down and rest.
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