Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #84: (11/23/97)
Meri hastens up the steps of Exotic Imports, Inc.
Tarsh is now known as Parnul.
Parnul is unpacking a crate.
Meri is an energetic office-worker type, and a renSime.
Meri looks around for the person in charge of the office.
Parnul is a rising young bussinessime.
Parnul looks up. "Hello."
Meri assesses Parnul, and decides that he's at least got enough authority for a start.
Parnul puts down the jar and walks over, brushing off excelsior. "Welcome to Exotic Imports."
Meri: Hello. My name is Meri Lisston. I'm with the Chamber of Commerce.
Meri: I'm organizing a conference on cross-Territory trading, to take place around Faith Day.
Parnul: Ah. Nice to meet you Tuib Lisston.
Parnul: Really? I'd be interested in that. Here in Bender Cove?
Meri: Yes. We'll have attendees from all over the continent: Nivet, Gulf, New Washington, and so on.
Parnul: Quite an achievement. I'm impressed.
Meri: Since your business is so closely involved with cross-Border marketing, I was hoping I could interest you in attending.
Parnul: Of course, I'd love to.
Meri pulls out a conference information packet and hands it to Parnul.
Parnul: Is the concentration on presentations, discussions, or a trade show?
Parnul takes the packet.
Parnul: Thank you.
Parnul leafs though the packet.
Meri: I am trying for a dynamic mixture, with some key presentations to get things started, and then more detailed workshops on specific areas of interest.
Parnul: Marketing across the border does present many difficulties, yes.
Meri: I was hoping that you might be willing to share some of your experiences in building up your trade with New Washington Territory.
Parnul: The culture out-t is very different and marketing has to take that into account.
Parnul looks thoughtful.
Meri: Most of the businesses which trade across borders, do so between two Sime or two Gen territories. Very few are trading between a Sime and a Gen Territory.
Parnul: Yes, I think I could do that. Let others learn form my mistakes, or at least laugh at them... [ grins ]
Linn is now known as Kati.
Kati pounces on Alea's toes.
Meri grins back.
Meri: That's the spirit.
Parnul: Of course, in my case it was more a matter of learning to understand in-t culture.
Meri: You're from Gen Territory originally?
Alea lays the letter from Zeor she is reading and smiles down at the kitten.
Kati sees the paper flutter and decides that it would make an even better toy than the toes.
Parnul: Yes, from a little place called Hamish. I was one of the first changeovers at the SC there.
Alea strokes Kati's soft fur.
Meri: Really? You hardly have an accent at all.
Parnul: This helps me in marketing out-t, of course.
Alea: Well, Kati, dear...[picks her up]you certainly are full of energy today.
Parnul: One topic you might want to cover is the difficulty of doing business in retainers.
Kati rolls over and grabs Alea's hand, biting it and purring loudly.
Parnul shudders at the memory.
Meri: How have you gotten around that problem.
Parnul smiles. "Why thank you. I have tried to work at it."
Alea contemplates the news in the letter as she rubs Kati's tummy.
Alea: It looks like we won't have to worry about Trel anymore, sweetie...our Sectuib is well and back in charge...
Alea stands and carries the kitten with her over to the bed where she stretches out on her side to play with Kati.
Kati decides that Alea _really_ wants to wrestle and grabs onto Alea's hand like a leech, looking totally adorable as she sinks her fangs into a convenient thumb.
Alea sucks in a sharp breath and jerks her finger.
Alea: Ouch!
Alea: Let go Kadi.
Alea sets mode: +o Tarsh
Kati loses her grip and falls to the bedspread.
Alea stares at her bloody finger which is now pulsing with pain.
Alea sets mode: +o Briel
Kati pauses to groom herself after this indignity.
Tarsh is now known as Parnul.
Kati decides she is tired and flops down for a nap, purring loudly and kneading the bedspread as she looks lovingly up at Alea.
Parnul: I've been trying to see If I could get one of those "Temporary Sime Territory" diplomatic signs, but no luck.
Parnul: I've found the local Sime center will often let you use some of their facilities.
Parnul: But then the Gens may be reluctant to come there and concede the home field advantage.
Meri: ==make that Meri==
Kati: That's the kind of practical solutions, and their drawbacks, that the conference members will be seeking.
Alea goes over to the bathroom and sticks the injured thumb under cold water, letting the cool flow numb the pain and cleanse the wound.
Parnul: I'd going to get some tea, would you care for some?
Meri: I would love some,thanks.
Parnul goes over to the stove and fiddles with stuff.
Parnul: Of course, It is invaluable to get good contacts among the Gen business community. Getting a good relationship with an established out-t firm is highly advised.
Meri: I can see where it would be.
Parnul: Not everyone has my kind of special luck.
Meri: Special luck?
Parnul: I had a childhood friend show up here in town. Gen, but he'd moved in-t despite it. He looked me up and I've taken him into the firm. I may make him my partner someday, don't tell him I said so.
Parnul: So I'm grooming him to be my out-t rep.
Meri: I can see where that would be very convenient.
Meri accepts the tea Parnul hands her.
Meri: Thank you.
Parnul: Let me know what you think. It's a blend I get from Maple Leaf territory.
Meri: While I'm here, I was wondering if you could advise me of any particular problems I can expect during the conference. We will have a number of representatives from New Washington Territory firms, and as an expert in that culture, you might.
Meri: be able to tell me what's likely to cause problems.
Meri sips the tea.
Meri: It's delicious.
Parnul sips at his tea and gestures for Meri to sit as he perches on the edge of a crate.
Meri: I admit, I haven't had much contact with out-Territory Gens.
Parnul: Hmmm ... Well there are the usual worries about nervous Gens, of course. Try to get staff renSimes who are pre-turnover as much as feasible.
Kati is now known as Nally-o.
Nally-o comes into the Sime Center, alone.
Meri nods, listening attentively.
Nally-o looks around, hoping to see someone she recognizes.
Parnul: You might consider a Gen only lounge, with Gen staff. Give them a place to relax.
Meri: An excellent idea.
Parnul: Out-t Gens are always at least a little nervous around Simes, especially if they aren't in retainers.
Parnul: A more iffy idea might be to ask your workers to not use tentacles in sight of out-t Gens, but that might be pushing them too far...
Alea comes down the stairs, holding her injured thumb in her hand.
Meri: And I can hardly ask the rest of the conference members to wear retainers.
Alea sees the Gen standing just inside the door and pauses, smiling.
Alea: May I help you?
Parnul: Of course not. But that does mean that you'll be getting the least simephobic of their businessgens. But you have to start somewhere. Money will erode fear, eventually.
Meri: I was hoping to offer tours of various local businesses, and of the Sime Center, since the Tecton is the biggest interterritorial concern of all.
Meri: That close to Faith Day, we may get quite a few of the Gens deciding to donate in honor of the holiday.
Parnul: That is a very good idea. Most out-t Gens have a ridiculous idea of what in-t is like.
Nally-o smiles at Alea.
Nally-o: I hope so. I was hoping to talk to someone about....things.
Alea hesitates, studying Nally again...wary of someone entering the front door wanting to discuss 'things'. However, this woman doesn't look like the normal crazy person they tend to get...
Parnul: Very likely. And faith day means you'll want to have good food at any meals you hold.
Alea: Uh, sure...
Alea: I'm Alea Farris. Why don't we go to my office and we can talk there.
Meri: Yes, and well marked for Gens or Simes.
Nally-o follows Alea to the office.
Parnul: Good point. And remember about portion size.
Alea seats herself, motioning for the young Gen to do the same thing.
Alea: Now, how can we help you here at Bender Cove Sime Center?
Alea: Have you perhaps come to donate?
Meri: I was wondering if there should be an early workshop on cross-border courtesy, to give people the basics.
Alea opens up a drawer on the side of her desk and begins rummaging through the literature.
Parnul: One thing, Gens tend to have small food items at receptions. Crackers, cheese, wine, small fruit like grapes, that sort of thing...
Parnul: Another good idea.
Nally-o: Oh, no! I already did that.
Nally-o smiles ingenuously.
Alea looks up, a pleased smile on her face.
Alea: Oh, good.
Parnul: You might consider asking the SC to set up a donation station at your site.
Meri: Really? Food at a reception? What a strange idea.
Alea sits back in her chair, resting her hands on her desk.
Nally-o: Actually, I wanted to talk to somebody about Lowren.
Meri: A donation station? Do you think they would do that?
Alea surprised.
Alea: Lowren?
Alea: I'm sorry, but I don't think I caught your name.
Nally-o: Oh, I'm Nally.
Alea wondering who would be asking about him.
Alea: Nally?
Parnul: Gens tend to have many small meals throughout the day instead of only one or two. And'snacks' a Gen word for a small amount of food are a common social lubricant.
Alea relief.
Alea: Ah...well. [Alea nods]
Nally-o: I live in Hamish, New Washington Territory.
Meri: Sort of like trin tea?
Parnul: They had a station at the recent Winter carnival, I don't see why not.
Meri holds up her mug.
Alea: Lowren's old home. Yes, I know where Hamish is.
Nally-o: Well, he and I have been seeing each other.
Parnul: Yes, exactly. Where Simes just have tea, Gens like to eat a little.
Nally-o: I like him a lot, but he doesn't want to go back to live in Hamish.
Meri shakes her head in amazement.
Meri: Trust a Gen to use food as a social event.
Alea: I see.
Nally-o: He wants to stay here in Bender Cove and work in this export firm run by a friend o his.
Alea: Yes, Parnul. Another good man. From what I understand, he has quite a business. He's doing really good and so is Lowren.
Nally-o: Lowren wants me to stay with him, but before I give him an answer, I have to know what that would mean for me.
Alea: What is it you want to know? I'll try to help in any way I can.
Nally-o: I know there are rules about how Gens can live on this side of the border.
Nally-o: I could also use information on immigration, work regulations, and that sort of thing.
Alea: I have information on all of that.
Alea begins to dig through her folders again.
Alea: However, there is something else you might want to consider too.
Nally-o: What's that?
Parnul: Food is central to Gen culture. You know the way children are always at least a little hungry? For Gens, that never goes away.
Meri: It's hard to imagine. Particularly after turnover.
Alea pulls out several different forms and papers.
Alea: You might consider living in Eastcove, right across the border, since you are both Gens.
Alea: It's so close it wouldn't affect Lowren's job.
Alea: And you would be close enough to continue donating each month.
Parnul: That's another part of it. We all live in a cycle. transfer, p -* after transfer, turnover, need and around again. We tend to think in months for medium term time frames.
Nally-o: Well, where we would live would have to be decided later. However, if Lowren's going to work on this side of the border, I have to know what the rules are before I can decide whether I want to live with them.
Nally-o: Which I'd have to do, no matter which side of the border we lived on.
Alea sets mode: +o Tarsh
Alea: Of course.
Alea hands the papers to Nally.
Alea: These will explain everything you should know about moving in-Territory.
Alea: There are also the papers there to fill out if you decide to do so.
Nally-o takes the papers and skims them in a businesslike fashion.
Tarsh: Parnul: That's another part of it. We all live in a cycle. transfer, p -* after transfer, turnover, need and around again. We tend to think in months for medium term time frames.
Tarsh: == scratch last line ==
Tarsh is now known as Parnul.
Nally-o locates the papers, and notices a pamphlet on nageric etiquette and work regulations also in the stack.
Nally-o: This is exactly what I wanted. Thank you.
Alea: I hope they help.
Parnul: Gens tend to be more week-oriented.
Meri: I've noticed that tendency in some people I've known who grew up on the other side.
Parnul: And they expect people to be at their best all the time.
Nally-o stands.
Meri: Even when they're in need?
Alea pushes herself to her feet.
Alea: Thanks for stopping by, Nally.
Parnul: Working hours for a Gen stay the same all the time, unlike here where you have to accommodate worker's need cycle.
Nally-o: Thank you for the information.
Alea: Any time.
Alea goes to her door and opens it.
Parnul: No one is in need out-t. At least, not for very long. That's my point.
Meri: That would certainly simplify the accounting.
Nally-o leaves Alea's office and makes her way out of the Sime Center, heading for a tea shop she's found, where she can read the materials in comfort.
Alea makes her way to the infirmary to get her thumb treated.
Parnul: Oh yes. Remember there aren't any provisions for paying workers extra if they have to augment.
Meri: I suppose Gens don't augment, do they?
Parnul: Nope. Which means that work has to take a Gen's base strength and dexterity into account.
Parnul: I know a number of Sime businesses have had great difficulty integrating their workforces here in-t.
Meri: I can see why.
Meri puts down her cup.
Meri: This has been very interesting, Parnul, and I would like to continue the discussion at a later time.
Meri: However, I've got a meeting this afternoon, and I've just barely got enough time to make it.
Parnul smiles "Certainly. I look forward to it. Let me give you my card."
Parnul fumbles in pockets.
Parnul hold out a card. "Would like a sample of that tea to take with you?
Meri takes Parnul's card and returns one of her own.
Meri: I would love one. It's a unique blend.
Parnul puts the card away. "Just a moment."
Meri puts Parnul's card in a safe place.
Alea comes out of the infirmary, flexing her thumb, relieved to have it healed.
Parnul goes over and scoops some trin into a small bag.
Meri accepts the bag with a smile.
Parnul hands Meri the bag. "I hope your family enjoys it as much as I do."
Meri: I'll be sure to share it with my colleague Hirn. He's in charge of refreshments for the conference.
Meri wraps her cape around herself and prepares to brave the elements once more.
Parnul: "Well, you know where he can come for more of it."
Meri: I do.
Meri: Good-day!
Parnul: Good day, Tuib.
Meri leaves the import house and heads for her appointment to discuss security with Police Chief Tormer.
Alea goes back to the lobby to start her work for the day.
Alea realizes she has the rest of the week off.
Alea goes upstairs and changes into some warmer clothes.
Alea sets mode: +o JonDrake
Alea goes down to the basement and searches through the storage rooms until she finds the sled.
Alea: Perfect!
Alea grabs hold of the sled and hauls it with her, backing carefully up the stairs.
Alea is now wearing a hat and scarf around her neck with gloves hanging half out of her pocket, leg warmers under her skirt and a cloak.