Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #85: (11/24/97)
Linn shakes her head in affectionate exasperation (say that ten times fast) as Snake returns home: Clean, well dressed, but hair uncombed. Sort of like a freshly shampooed wesal with curls.
Linn feels that the freshly shampooed weasal is, however, preferable to the previous grease weasal look.
Nick looks up from his textbook.
Nick: Snake! How was business this morning?
Nick ignores Rafe, still angry after learning that the man speaks perferctly comprehensible Simelan, and could therefore have been a major help in learning the basics of the Donor's craft.
Wise Snake: Not too bad, actually (pleased with self)
Nick: Oh?
Wise Snake: We went down and managed to talk our way onto that steamer ship from the North Shore and found practically everybody on there was sick in one way or another... talk about a field day.
Nick: It was a hard voyage?
Wise Snake: Well, would you want to cross the Great Lake north-to-south at this time of year?
Wise Snake: The reason we really went is we heart a rumor the cook had chopped off his thumb this morning and I wanted to see if he'd saved it so I could try to make it grow back together/
Wise Snake: .
Wise Snake: Heart == heard.
Nick: And had he?
Wise Snake: Well he'd really chopped it off, but he wasn't able to find it. Apparently it was just the first half-inch or so of the thumb, and rather well camouflaged amongst the.. er... breakfast preparations...
Wise Snake: So I just healed what was left.
Wise Snake: Oh, and after that we checked out the Eastcove general hospital again... boy is that place a great source of easy gigs. We found this woman with five children, four with a bad flu, one with pneumonia...
Nick: Will you want to go back there this evening?
Wise Snake: Oh, sure. We could probably work there full time and they would never know the difference... the place is overflowing.
Linn reflects that stealing business from the Eastcove hospital is better than burning Torn By Tentacles fans.
Nick: It's too bad we can't appropriate a treatment room right in the hospital, instead of relying on the patients to find a place for us.
Wise Snake laughs.
Wise Snake: Well if there was room in the hospital, the poor patients wouldn't be lined up in the halls now would they?
Linn: Actually, there probably is room. Eastcove Memorial has the long waits because they can't afford to hire enough doctors, not because they don't have enough treatment rooms.
Linn: Or that's what my nurse friend used to say.
Wise Snake: Linn, we're talking about a town that supports thugs beating teachers to death for teaching changeover classes. I'm sure they'll really be pleased to see me show my face there openly.
Linn: They wouldn't give your face a second glance, particularly if you wore a white uniform jacket.
Linn: It's your arms that would attract attention.
Wise Snake: Well I don't exactly come equipped with detachable ones.
Linn: Cover them, and you just might be able to pass.
Wise Snake: Um...
Wise Snake: Yeah, but, the entire staff and all the patients I treated would have to know.
L O S T A PIECE HERE GUSY.
Wise Snake: Sure, all it would take is one Gen.. the wrong Gen... to yell "Sime" and the place would be swarming with guys with rifles.
Wise Snake: [pauses] You actually have talked to somebody about this already???
Linn looks surprised.
Linn: No, I haven't seen Andi in months.
Wise Snake: Oh.
Wise Snake: But you said... "from what Andi said..." made it sound like rogue channelry, or at least rogue doctoring, was a topic of conversation.
Alea sets mode: +oo Briel Tarsh
Linn: No, Andi just likes to gripe, and he said that anyone could walk in off the street in a white jacket would be mistaken for a doctor, with the turnover in staff they've got.
Linn looks thoughtful.
Wise Snake: It sounds like a fun time, but think of the risk!
Linn: Although--if you'd like to try taking over a room at the hospital, you could do worse than get Andi to help.
Wise Snake: We've visited there several times now, and the one time I dared to actually sneak inside I felt as exposed as an earthworm on a skillet.
Wise Snake seems doubtful.
Wise Snake: Does Andi feel the same way you did about Simes?
Linn: I really don't know. We've never discussed the subject. But there's nothing he likes better than to do something that would make the doctors look like fools.
Wise Snake: Really?
Wise Snake: Hmmm...
Wise Snake: It's still awfully risky.
Wise Snake gets up and circles the room restlessly, tentacles flicking about a litle bit.
Linn still finds such sights a bit disquieting.
Wise Snake is 2 days from transfer.
Alea pulls the sled out to the back garden.
Linn is trying very hard not to let herself dwell on this fact.
Nick is refilling the medicine satchel.
Jon Drake is walking around the frozen garden to get some fresh air.
Alea looks around and decides the path near the gazeebo that goes uphill back to the huge hill behind the center would be the best place to sled.
Nick: Snake, we're almost out of some of the Farris medications.
Wise Snake: Shen.
Jon Drake is finding that the stretching and warming is coming much easier.
Wise Snake: Stuff I can get on the street, or the Tecton lab stuff?
Linn hopes this doesn't mean that Snake is popping pills again--one bad reaction was more than enough.
Nick: The Tecton stuff.
Alea: Hi jon!
Alea waves, still hauling on the sled.
Wise Snake would have felt fairly confident about getting more from the Sime Center a few weeks ago, but after that incident with the file cabinet and Veraik she is no longer so sure.
Wise Snake: Well, nothing to do but try to hit up the Sime Center again. I'll just walk in like I own the place and grab what I require. It's worked in the past.
Wise Snake makes a mental note to open the bottles and check the contents FIRST this time.
Alea pulls the scarf up onver her mouth and nose to lock in the heat, straightens her gloves and then starts up the hill paths again with the sled in tow.
Nick nods.
Nick: We can go by there, and then head to Eastcove.
Wise Snake grows visibly more nervous now that this subject has come up.
Alea pauses to go close the gate that leads to the alley, then goes on up the hill.
Nick steps in front of the pacing Snake and places a firm hand on her arm, stilling the restless tentacles.
Nick: It will work out.
Wise Snake stops.
Wise Snake sighs, then twines that arm's handling tentacles briefly around Nick's hand.
Wise Snake: Yeah.
Nick hands Snake her black cloak, and reaches for his own brown one.
Nick: No time like the present. Veraik usually spends the afternoons in Eastcove.
Wise Snake dons the black cloak.
Alea positions the sled at the top of the hill and looks down at the garden, surprised at just WHAT you can see from up here.
Alea: I had no idea....
Alea: And I thought that grove was private.[shakes her head]
Linn smiles and congratulates herself on how respectable Snake looks--at least when the hood covers her uncombed hair.
Nick picks up the satchel and follows Snake out the door.
Alea pulls on the leggings she is wearing under her skirt.
Alea studies the path and then looks back at the sled.
Alea: That doesn't look too difficult...
Alea thinks it shouldn't be too hard to learn to sled....
Alea: Let's see now...
Alea: I think the bar in the front stears it left and right...
Alea wraps the rope around the bar to get it out of the way.
Alea: Wonder why they put that on there anyway...
Alea shrugs.
Tarsh is now known as CptButton.
Alea steps over the sled, straddling it and eases herself down onto the wooden surface.
Wise Snake and Nick head for the Sime Center.
Alea sets mode: +o NickR wisesnake, despite Nick's efforts, is still in a bit of a nervous hurry.
Alea moves the sled back and forth, her heartrate doubling.
Alea: This really doesn't look so hard...
Alea thinks it feels awfully slick though.
Alea pulls her feet up and crosses them in front of her.
Nick follows Snake as best he can over the rutted ice in the road.
Alea shifts on the sled.
Alea: This sure doesn't feel very sta-a-aaaa...
Alea almost falls off as the sled takes off.
Alea: Aaargh!
Alea grabs the sides of the sled desperately staring in growing horror as the slide picks up speed.
Alea looks at the gardens which are fastly approaching.
Alea jerks trying to turn the sled...but the rope prevents it.
Wise Snake zlins Gen terror... like a Gen with a very large field a couple of miles away.
Alea: From turning.
Alea: Oh shen oh shen oh sheeeeEEEEEEEN!
Alea continues down the hill, managing to the the sled turned at the last minute to the garden path.
Alea doesn't get it turned from the Gnome though, which she runs into...stopping the sled abruptly and going head over heels into the air.
Alea screams...knowing she is going to pay for this when veraik finds out.
Alea hits a nice warm body, with a hard thud...and they both go tumbling to the ground.
Wise Snake hears a scream, matched with a flare of Gen surprise which comes closer very quickly then abruptly passes out of zlinning range... seemingly blocked by the Center itself.
Wise Snake puzzled.
Alea sees stars.
Wise Snake walks into the Sime Center.
Nick follows.
Alea sees feet near her nose.
Wise Snake looks around... everything appears normal.
Alea scrambles up, dizzy and looks around, to see an unconscious Jon Drake.
Alea: Oh my stars!
Alea: Jon!
Wise Snake pushes Nick forward, says quietly, "Go look out the back door of the Center and come get me if you think I'm required. I'll be... done in a minute."
Alea leans down and tries to shake Jon..almost falling over again from the dizziness.
Wise Snake avoids meeting the desk clerk's eyes and slips into a corridor.
Alea stands up and shakes her head.
Alea grabs it.
Alea: That didn't help.
Alea looks back down at the unconscious Jon.
Nick hesitates at leaving Snake alone so close to need, then obeys.
Alea: You're going to freeze to death!
Nick walks towards the rear of the Center.
Jon Drake groans.
Alea realilzes he can't hear her. She looks around for help. Seeing none, she bends down and grabs his arm and starts dragging him toward the back steps.
Alea: Oh thank goodness.
Alea drops his arm and kneels down beside him.
Alea: Are you alive?
Alea pulls the sled over and grabs at Jon again, trying to get him up on the sled.
Alea: Come on, let's get you inside.
Alea: I swear I'm gonna start back excersicing. I didn't realize I'd let myself go...just get up on the sled....
Wise Snake enters the room where the... items... she requires are stored.
Jon Drake doesn't respond.
Alea shoves until Jon Drake is halfway on the sled...then she starts pulling the sled.
Alea: I've put a Donor out of commison. Veraik is gonna kill me...
Alea hears a thump and realizes she hit Jon Drake's head on the Gnome.
Alea: Oh dear!
Jon Drake groans when he's moved, still unconscious.
Briel is now known as Jorgre.
Wise Snake discovers that though the room is unlocked, the cabinets containing the drugs are secured with expensive new locks.
Alea hurries over and tries to push Jon so his head is on the sled.
Wise Snake: Shen and double shen!
Wise Snake closes the door and pulls out her lockpicks.
Jorgre comes down the hall, clipboard in hand.
Alea pulls on his feet and ends up tipping the sled.
Alea: Well shen!
Alea moves around behind Jon Drake.
Nick reaches the back door of the Center and peers cautiously through the window... sees what appears to be a two-person sledding accident.
Alea: Stupid Gnome..you could have TOLD me I was about to hit his head..and did you have to knock me off the sled in the first place.
Alea slips her arms under Jon's arms but can't get a good hold so she moves to his feet and begins dragging again.
Jorgre goes to the storage area to retrive some meds to restock the kitchen.
Wise Snake sinks deep into concentration, picking apart the particular secrets of this lock; hums to self.
Alea begins to drag the semi-conscious/unconscious/dead Donor toward the back door.
Nick opens the door cautiously.
Jorgre zlins someone at the door.
Nick: Alea? Jon? Are you two all right? [looks at Jon]
Jorgre turns the corner and enters...slowing...
Alea: Oh Nick!
Alea: Jon got hurt....
Alea drops Jon's feet.
Alea: I'm trying to get him inside where it is warm...then i was going for help.
Jon Drake groans.
Jorgre: Uh...snake?
Wise Snake coaxes the stout little lock, teasing it toward opening for her... finessing its little tumblers.
Jorgre remembers seeing her around and is almost certain that is who it is.
Nick hurries to assist Alea.
Nick: Here, let me help you... he's too heavy for you alone.
Alea: You see..well, he had an accident...he sorta walked into something and hit his head.
Nick: Oh! I thought... well, I saw the sled and just assumed....
Alea flushes.
Alea: Yeah..he wasn't watching where he was going and jumped right otu in front of me.
Nick lifts JonDrake's shoulders.
Alea: Anyway...can you help me geth im inside....
Alea reaches down and grabs his feet.
Nick: Pick up his feet, there... are you strong enough?
Alea: Of course I am. I'm a farris.
Alea grunts and she slips an arm around each foot and beings to move toward the Center with Nick.
Wise Snake: [lock pops open]
Wise Snake: Ah!
Wise Snake notices Jorgre.
Wise Snake: !!!
Wise Snake jumps wildly to her feet, heart hammering.
Wise Snake: I didn't zlin you there!
Nick backs into the Sime Center.
Nick: Which way from here?
Jorgre backs up warily...unused to being around firsts.
Jorgre: Can I uh..help you?
Alea: Room ten.
Wise Snake: Oh, no... nope, I'm doing fine. Um, want anything out of this cabinet?
Wise Snake opens cabinet door.
Alea: First on on the your right.
Alea: Down that hall.
Alea motions.
Nick shuffles in the direction indicated.
Jorgre: Well...no.
Wise Snake: Okay.
Wise Snake turns to the cabinet and removes what she requires.
Jorgre isn't going to ask if she has permission or not to be in there. Instead, he makes a small note on his forms to ask Veraik.
Jorgre: Don't forget to sign for that.
Jorgre indicates a sheet of paper near the cabinet.
Wise Snake makes a point of opening each one and verifying the items inside look like the right stuff.
Wise Snake: Hmm.
Wise Snake looks at form.
Jorgre: They're keeping a much closwer tab on the drugs since you...well...
Jorgre shrugs.
Wise Snake: [the idea appeals to her in a twisted way]
Alea: Right in here...
Wise Snake: Since... what?
Wise Snake: Oh.
Wise Snake: That.
Jorgre: Well since..yeah, that.
Alea shoves at the door, cringing at the gathering crowd that are all staring at Jon Drake in bewilderment.
Wise Snake looks at sheet of paper, then signs out everything she took.
Wise Snake signs her name really large.
Wise Snake laughs.
Alea: Stay back...have no idea ... could be anything the matter with him.
Wise Snake: There, does that satisfy you?
Wise Snake cocky.
Alea purposely looks to room eight where the shaking plague cases have been kept.
Jorgre: Oh perfectly.
Alea watches the crowds scatter.
Jorgre: I mean..not that you have to satisfy me...it's a new Center policy to protect you.
Wise Snake: Give me a break.
Wise Snake pockets bottles.
Jorgre: Uh..I mean..farrises...not you..but farrises in general.
Wise Snake: I wonder what could be keeping Nick?
Jorgre starts sweating.
Jorgre: If you'll just excuse me...
Jorgre turns back toward the door.
Wise Snake looks at Jorgre [pale eyes]
Wise Snake closes the cabinet and makes sure it is locked.
Alea manages to get Jon's feet in the door and moves toward the bed.
Nick helps Alea carry Jon into the room.
Jorgre decides to come back for the kitchen's medical supplies later.
Wise Snake leaves the supply room and closes the door behind them.
Wise Snake: You are a nervous sort. [to Jorgre ahead of her in hall]
Jorgre thinks if you were only a second around farrises you probably would be too and then hurries off.
Alea: I just don't know...poor Jon.
Alea hurries over to the cabinet and grabs a blanket to cover jon with.
Alea reaches up and slaps Jon's cheek gently, then harder.
Alea: Jon..JON..can you hear me?
Wise Snake smiles at his retreating back.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Jon Drake seems to groan a bit more loudly.
Alea: Oh good!
Alea looks up at Nick.
Nick: Uh... don't you think we should let somebody zlin him before... [breaks off as the slapping produces results]
Alea: I think he's coming around.
Alea grabs his shoulders to shake him.
Nick winces at the rough treatment.
Jon Drake mumbles then stops with the shaking.
Alea: Jon!
Alea leans down by his ear.
Alea: I just know he is going to die!
Jon Drake feels his brain rattling around in his skull.
Alea ~~guilt~~
Wise Snake: Die?
Alea: I have to find a...Snake!
Jon Drake feels his limp tongue being pinched between his teeth.
Nick turns as Snake enters.
Alea: Where'd you come from....
Nick: Jon Drake appears to have suffered a head injury.
Alea looks at Nick, realizes with one is always the other.
Alea: He fell down.
Wise Snake zlins Jon Drake, then pauses and zlins Alea.
Alea immediately forces her panic aside so as not to bother the channel in the room.
Alea looks at Snake impassively.
Alea: He hurt his head.
Jon Drake has a head injury (recently aggravated), a shoulder injury, arm injury, hip injury...
Alea: And a few other things probably.
Alea tucks the blanket closer around Jon.
Wise Snake is a bit taken aback by how high Alea's field is.. and her own need makes her sensitive enough to zlin Alea's complicated hidden emotions.
Wise Snake confused.
Alea is bumpbed and bruised and hurting too.
Wise Snake turns slowly to JonDrake.
Alea: Can you zlin what is the matter?
Alea: I'm terribly worried about him.
Nick moves to help cut Alea's field somewhat.
Alea automatically moves to help Nick with her field.
Wise Snake: Well he seems pretty banged up. A fall?
Alea: Yes.
Alea: A hard fall.
Wise Snake takes JonDrake's arms and zlins him more deeply.
Nick supports.
Alea peels off her gloves and scarf and hat, tossing them onto a chair.
Jon Drake begins to mumble again.
Alea reaches down and strips off her leggings too, tossing them to the chair also.
Wise Snake: Shh.. shh... be still. We're here to help you.
Jon Drake's eyelids flutter, but remain closed.
Wise Snake goes into healing mode.
Alea sneezes.
Jon Drake takes Snake's by reflex.
Wise Snake allows her need to snow fully, encouraging Jon's body to production and healing.
Wise Snake: === show fully ====
Alea responds to Snake's need.
Alea moves away.
Nick shifts to compensate and continues to support Snaek.
Nick: === Snake ===
Jon Drake's high, five-week field responds...
Alea moves across the room.
Alea wonders if Snake would be interested in transfer with her...a farris.
Alea is beginning to feel symptoms of underdraw.
Alea watches Snake and Nick working...and sighs.
Nick finds himself responding to Snake's need, despite his best self-control. He wants to be her Donor so much...
Nick: It is a torment to know that Snake plans to leave him high-field this month....
Alea: Is he going to be okay?
Alea looks over, worriedly.
Wise Snake, caught between the fields of three high-field First order Donors all responding quite vigorously to her field, has to take a few deep breaths before she can reply.
Jon Drake is not yet conscious, but his field is almost acting as if it wants transfer, not healing.
Wise Snake: I believe so. He is just stunned, and banged up. Once he comes to he should be allowed to rest for at least the rest of the day.
Wise Snake: Who is this man's transfer partner?
Alea: Great. great.
Jon Drake's fields react to Wisesnake's distraction.
Alea: Kaymeil.
Alea moves further away.
Wise Snake: When are they due for transfer?
Alea forces her field neutral.
Alea: Two days.
Alea: He was held back for her...it's been almost five weeks since he last had transfer.
Alea thinks about the same time as her.
Jon Drake's field hangs there as Snake's field is withdrawn slightly.
Wise Snake: Where is Kaymeil now?
Alea: I'm not sure...
Alea: I have two more days off...I haven't paid much attention to schedules.
Wise Snake grits her teeth and reminds herself she has to be patient.
Wise Snake turns back to JonDrake.
Alea slips out of the room wisesnake returns to the healing mode and concentrates specifically upon the injuries, encouraging them to heal and trying to keep the.. side effects.. under control.
Jon Drake's field expands again in response.
Nick moves to compensate for Alea's departure, then adjusts his position slightly as Snake signals him subtly.
Wise Snake conctrates upon the head injury first, then spends some time on the others.
Wise Snake: ===concentrates====
Jon Drake has an intriguing field, not Farris sharp, but high and resilient nonetheless.
Wise Snake notices JonDrake is trying to interest her and does her best to stick to business.
Wise Snake: [sweat breaks out on Snake's forehead]
Alea finds Kaymeil and sends her to snake.
Wise Snake does as little healing as she dares, and stops as soon as she is sure JonDrake will be fine with rest.
Jon Drake's field slowly, disappointedly settles down as Snake finishes and lightens the contact.
Wise Snake backs off into Nick's protection.
Wise Snake looks to the door as it opens and a channel enters.
Jon Drake begins to settle from unconsciousness to sleep.
Wise Snake zlins it is a First Order Donor.
Wise Snake: Donor ==== Channel [thank goodness!]
Jon Drake is still dressed in the warm up suit he was waring out in the garden.
Wise Snake: Are you Kaymeil? JonDrake has been injured... you may want to see to him. I don't believe I am.. er... the appropriate person under the circumstances.
Wise Snake leaves JonDrake to Kaymeil.
Alea is waiting in the hall.
Nick follows Snake out of the room.
Alea: Snake.
Alea goes forward.
Alea forces her field neutral.
Wise Snake: Shedoni! If only he'd had such lust for my nager back when I was trying to recruit him! [to herself]
Wise Snake: Ah, Alea. Thank you for finding his channel. That was a lifesaver.
Alea: I'm sorry you were dragged into this.
Wise Snake: Nick is a fine Donor and high field as well but.. [glances at door] no match for Jon's field in terms of brute force.
Jon Drake relaxes even more as Kaymeil approaches.
Alea: I know you're in need and I apologize.
Alea: Thank you Nick for helping.
Wise Snake unconsciously checks presence of pill bottles in pocket and figures the work was worth the reward.
Nick: No problem.
Jon Drake seems to be stirring.
Alea: He will be okay?
Alea clasps her hands worriedly.
Wise Snake: Yes. So long as he gets some rest. The bump on the head was the worst but I was able to do a bit of healing on that.
Wise Snake: How did it happen?
Alea ~~guilt~~
Alea: It was a slight accident.
Wise Snake zlins Alea curiously.
Jon Drake's heavy eyelids slowly open part way.
Alea: I thought I"d learn how to sled...
Wise Snake realizes Alea must have been involved.... nods in comprehension.
Alea: Briel had been talking about it....
Wise Snake: Sled!!
Alea shrugs.
Alea: Yes.
Wise Snake: Where? On the streets??
Wise Snake: ~~disbelief~~
Alea: But a rope got in the way of the steering and it hit a Gnome and well...I lost my seat.
Alea: Jon was in the garden and got in the way of my fall.
Alea smiles sheepishly.
Jon Drake dimly realizes who is sitting beside him, more from the feel than his dim, blurred vision.
Alea: I can honestly say, I probably would have had a few broken bones if it wasn't for him.
Jon Drake: Kay..Kaymeil?
Alea: I owe him.
Wise Snake: No doubt. [a touch disgustedly; tries to keep it out of voice and off face but doesn't have much practice at that]
Alea: I should have been more careful.
Wise Snake: I am not sure that sledding is an appropriate reacreational activity for a working Dononr.
Alea: He's such a sweet man...I feel so sorry for him.
Alea: But I'm not working right now...
Wise Snake: I mean a person employed as a Donor.
Alea: It was fun there at the last when i realized I wasn't going to hit the bushes.
Alea: That is..until I hit the um...Gnome.
Wise Snake is beginning to become infuriated by Alea's attitude.. it is bringing back a lot of other memories of feeling the same way about the same sorts of things.
Alea shrugs helplessly.
Alea smiles.
Wise Snake: Who is your channel this month?
Jon Drake tries to sit up, is urged back down by Kaymeil.
Alea: At least he's gong to be okay.
Alea: I'm not sure. tramila is suppose to be....
Jon Drake: What..what happened?
Wise Snake: Tramila??
Wise Snake: They have you to Tramila?
Alea: If she is okay, then she'll be my partner, yes.
Wise Snake: ===gave===
Wise Snake smiles slowly... a big smile.
Wise Snake: You'll be working with her?
Alea looks warily.
Alea: In two more days I suppose so.
Alea rubs at her sore arm, not certain where this is going.
Alea sets mode: +o Tarsh
Wise Snake: That's... that's fantastic!
Alea wary.
Nick has never seen Snake grin like a jack-o-lantern before.
Alea: I'm not sure if she'll be here still. she's still recovering from shaking plauge..but yeah..if she's here....I'll be excited.
Jon Drake is reassured by Kaymeil and is urged to lie down and rest.
Alea thinks it means no underdraw...and a farris for a change...shivers.
Wise Snake: I think the two of you will be perfect for each other.
Alea: Any farris would be wonderful right now...
Alea: Not quite a week left...and she's still here.
Alea looks back at Snake.
Alea: Thank you, again, Snake for helping Jon.
Alea: I'm just glad nothing was broken.
Wise Snake: It was my pleasure.
Wise Snake looks at Nick.
Alea: Well, I should go put up the sled I suppose....
Wise Snake: Come on. [doesn't add -- I have what we came for]
Alea wonders if now that no one is in the garden she might take one more ride...
Nick sees Snake.
Nick:'s look and nods.
Alea: Oh!
Jon Drake lays back and goes back to sleep.
Wise Snake starts to head for the front of the Center.
Wise Snake pauses.
Alea: Snake..while you're here, you might want to pick up some Farris supplies...
Alea: We have all new drugs in that have been thorougly checked.
Wise Snake cocks her head.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Alea: Yes. Checked them myself along with Veraik.
Alea: Of course, we know veraik makes mistakes..the reason I wouldn't let him check them alone.
Wise Snake considers the various implications of that last.
Wise Snake: Hmmm.
Alea: Anyway...we have enough if you require any.
Alea: I just wanted you to know.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Alea nods and turns back toward the back door.
Wise Snake meets Nick's eyes wordlessly then turns back toward the front of the Center.
Nick surpresses a smile and follows Snake.
Alea decides one more ride...and then she'll retire the sled.
Tarsh is now known as CptButton.
Alea knows she has to go back to work in two days...
Alea hurries outside, grabbing only her cloak on the way.
Wise Snake and Nick begin the long walk toward Eastcove.
Nick: Was it just me, or was there something strange about the ambient in that room?
Alea goes up to the top of the hill...and climbs onto the sled.
Wise Snake: Do you mean when you and JonDrake and Alea were all screaming "take me take me" fit to drive me into killmode?
Wise Snake: [dryly]
Alea decides to take a different route to avoid knocking over the Gnome this time.
Alea picks up the sled and moves off the grounds of the Sime Center, deciding to go down the back of the hill, toward the lakes.
Alea sets mode: +o wisesnake wisesnake zlins and finds Alea's tiny form atop the crest of a steep cobbled street covered with packed snow.
Alea: One last time...just to prove i can do it without running over a Donor...
Alea sits back down and launches herself down the hill.
Wise Snake is disturbed by memories of what happened earlier and turns her attention away from the Alea nager before she has time to notice the sled.
Nick notices Snake looking over her shoulder.
Alea screams in sheer pleasure as the wind catches her hair, whipping it away from her face.
Nick: What were you looking at?
Wise Snake: Just..
Alea reaches down to adjust the course, and realizes she forgot about the shendoni rope.
Alea: SheeeeeEEEEEEEeeeeeennnnnnnnnn!
Wise Snake: [pauses as she zlins Alea's nager approaching at a rate of speed entirely unnatural]
Alea feels the sled picking up speed at an alarming rate.
Nick spins around as he hears an ungodly shreik getting rapidly nearer.
Alea leans a bit to the right, hoping to keep from running over a wagon.
Alea: Waaaaaaaaaccchhhoooooouuuuuuttttt.
Alea closes her eyes and ducks.
Wise Snake watches and zlins, flabbergasted, as Alea shoots underneath a wagon and barrels down the hill directly toward herself and Nick.
Alea realizes she went under the wagon when there is no pain from the crash.
Wise Snake: I don't believe it.
Alea opens her eyes...and they widen in horror.....
Wise Snake: [but she does... she does...]
Alea: Outtathewaaaay, Snake!!!!
Nick's eyes widen.
Alea sees faces bluring past, feels ice flying up and pelting her in the face.
Wise Snake freezes, then suddenly augments to drag Nick out of the way.
Alea: Aaaaahhhhhhhkkkk!
Alea: HeeeEEEEEEeeeeelpmeeeeeeeeee.
Alea: Braaaaake???
Wise Snake: Shed-oh!
Wise Snake: Nick, you stay here.
Alea realizes she never bothered to find out if there is even a break on this thing.
Alea: Oh shen oh shen oh shen!!!
Wise Snake augments to run down the hill after the sled.
Alea holds on...
Wise Snake quickly finds herself moving far too quickly to be entirely in control.
Wise Snake: Shen.....
Alea leans left...swevers and leans back right.
Alea: Don't move idiot..just stay still[to herself]
Alea: Straight avoids the buildings...straight is good....
Alea looks up and sees a boat in front of her propped up on two large beams...
Alea's eyes widen and she ducks again.
Alea: Fall off...just fall off!....
Alea can't force her fingers to let go...and goes sailing right into the lakes.
Alea hits the ice...whirls in maddening circles before she hears a loud crack.
Alea lunges, trying to get off the sled...too late.
Wise Snake swerves around the boat and leaps wildly out over the ice, lands on it and skids several yards.
Alea claws at the ice that breaks under her hands.
Wise Snake sees Alea break through and tries to stop; discovers that level 8 augmentation is difficult to brake on a frictionless surface.
Alea: Snake!
Alea: Watch out!
Wise Snake skids into the water with Alea.
Wise Snake: Aargh!
Alea sinks under the surface, realizes her cloak is dragging at her and releases the catch.
Alea claws her way back to the surface, gasping.
Alea: Shenned channels are sup-p-posed to be g-gr-ceful.
Alea going numb.
Wise Snake breaks more ice, then manages to drag herself partway up onto some.
Wise Snake augmenting.
Alea swings an arm at the ice...clumsily.
Wise Snake: H-h-h-hold your h-h-h-h.
Alea tedth chattering.
Alea: ==tedth teeth==
Wise Snake drags herself up the rest of the way, gasping.
Alea: In th-the iceth with me...
Alea tries to hold on, thinking maybe she could swing a leg up..but decides she can't make htem work.
Alea: She-e-e-e-n.
Wise Snake stretches herself out flat on the ice and tries to grab for one of Alea's hands.
Wise Snake: Give me your hand.
Alea moves her numb appendage toward snake, forcing herself to stretch.
Alea: Augmenting shendoni simes...
Wise Snake grasps Alea's wrist and drags her forward.
Alea gasps
Alea claws with her other hand, trying to get closwer to shore.
Wise Snake: Alea, alea... hold still.
Alea hears snake's voice and finally collapses, exhausted next to her.
Alea rolls her head to stare at snake.
Wise Snake pulls Alea up against the ice edge, then shifts her grip to Alea's clothes and hauls her up next to her on the ice.
Wise Snake: I'll get you in where it's warm, Alea.
Alea: Th-an-k y-you, Snake.
Alea: Lost my c-c-c-ape in the wa-t-ter.
Wise Snake pulls Alea farther back along the ice until it is thick enough to be safe.
Wise Snake: You can get another.
Alea rolls her to her knees, and finds herself incredibly weak.
Wise Snake climbs shivering to her feet.
Wise Snake: Let me carry you.
Alea: Didn't hit a Gn this time.
Alea tries to push herself up.
Wise Snake: The things that didn't happen, that could have, would fill a book.
Alea only nods.
Wise Snake bends to try to pick Alea up.
Wise Snake: Just let me... come on, help me out here.
Alea reaches for snake, slipping an arm around her shoulders.
Alea: I can w-walk...hon-est...
Wise Snake: No.
Alea: W-w-warm me up fast-t-ter.
Wise Snake picks Alea up and hurries with her to a nearby tavern.
Alea looks up at the sign and remembers this place...from where, she's not sure.
Alea thinks this is the one she passed when she got lost that day.
Wise Snake carries Alea into the heat of the interior and shoulders her way through the crowd to the back.
Wise Snake: Give me one of your rooms. Yeah, the insulated kind. wisesnake takes Alea into the room and lays her on the.. stained... ned.
Wise Snake: === ned == bed ===
Alea: Thank you, Snake.
Alea: I'm warmer already.
Alea is horrified by the state of the room..has seen a few of these in her life.
Alea has always steered clear unless necessary.
Alea reaches for Snakes arms.
Alea: Let me make sure your laterals are okay.
Wise Snake hurriedly strips off her and Alea's soaked clothes and throws them in the corner.
Alea still freezing and fingers not working very good.
Wise Snake pulls the covers out from under Alea and crawls into the bed with her.
Alea lays her arms over snake's trying to help her out.
Alea: Sorry if my field...is...bothering you...
Wise Snake's Sime heat glows through the cold surface of her skin.
Wise Snake wraps cold tentacles around Alea's arms.
Wise Snake: Right now, your field is the best thing I have ever zlinned.
Alea moves closer to snake, seeking her Sime heat.
Wise Snake presses against Alea, trying to share her heat.
Alea's field responds to Snake's need.
Wise Snake is still augmenting somewhat, to drive her temperature toward normal.
Wise Snake: You crazy Gen [shivering] whatever possessed you to pull a stunt like that?
Wise Snake: [buries face against Alea's shoulder]
Alea starting to shiver again, smiles crookedly...
Alea: I just wanted to try it one more time and get it right this time.
Wise Snake: And did you?
Alea moves her arms around Snake, rubbing at her back, trying to warm her.
Alea: Well..I didn't hit Jon again.
Alea: But I forgot about the rope.
Alea: You know, if I'd removed that rope, I could ahve steered it and probably wouldn't have crashed.
Wise Snake: The steering rope?
Alea: Do you know, do those things have brakes?
Alea: Is THAT what the rope is for?
Alea eyes widen in surprise.
Alea: I thought it was to drag it up the hill with.
Wise Snake: Most sleds don't stop until they hit something or run out of momentum on flat ground.
Alea thinks that explains why those little bars were so hard to reach.
Wise Snake: [mumbled as presses entire self against Alea, seeking to transfer warmth]
Alea focuses back on snake.
Alea: I see...well..next time i'll have to make sure the hill isn't quite so high.
Wise Snake notices all the augmentation has driven her further into need.
Alea shivers as her body begins to warm.
Wise Snake: Oh, Alea... please don't let there be a next time.
Alea realizes what she said...
Alea: I promise if I do it again, someone will be with me.
Alea wonders who she could talk into teaching her to sled.
Wise Snake: Alea, it's too dangerous.
Alea thinks tarsh, veraik know her too well...jon is out..snake is out...hmmm...jorgre or rache maybe.
Alea: Yeah, you're probably right.
Alea thinks it would have been fun to learn though.
Alea: Let me see those arms.
Alea moves her amrs back to Snake's arms.
Wise Snake pulls away from Alea, offers her arms to her.
Alea: How are your laterals?
Wise Snake: [red, somewhat cold still]
Alea hands stroke down her arms in concern.
Wise Snake: Um, they've been better.
Alea pulls snake closer.
Wise Snake: An icewater bath in midwinter is not on most recommendation lists for Sime health.
Alea: Keep them between us.
Alea: See if we can get them warmed up.
Wise Snake tucks up her arms between her and Alea's chests.
Alea slips her arms back around snake rubbing her back, absorbing the heat while trying to give heat.
Alea ~~concern~~
Wise Snake tries to stop augmenting but finds if she does so she just starts shivering.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: This wasn't the best of timing.
Alea's hands hesitate...then resume rubbing snake's back.
Alea: No...I suppose it wasn't.
Alea feels her field responding to a deepening need in Snake.
Alea: Uh...what happened to Nick?
Wise Snake trembles against Alea.
Wise Snake: He was.. left behind. Where you passed us.
Wise Snake: About 2 miles uphill
Alea: I see...two miles...oh.
Wise Snake: [tries to smile; fails]
Alea rubs her hands on snake's arms...
Alea: Would it be better if you um...left...
Alea: I'll get warm eventually.
Wise Snake doesn't answer at first.
Alea ~~doesn't believe it~~
Wise Snake: Maybe it would be for the best [whispered]
Alea forces her arms from around snake.
Wise Snake's tentacles writhe.
Alea covers snake's arms...
Alea: Can you make it back to Nick? How far are you into need?
Alea ~~worried~~
Wise Snake's breath catches.
Alea: Shen...Rafe....
Alea: Not Nick..it's Rafe you need.
Alea stares at Snake.
Wise Snake is trapped by the intricate depth of Alea's field -- Farris, and filled with compassion instead of the dispassionate professionalism of Rafe.
Wise Snake: [incoherent mutter; eyes closed]
Alea ~~sympathy~~
Wise Snake's tentacles caress Alea's forearms.
Alea: I'm so sorry, Snake.
Alea: I didn't mean....
Wise Snake's lips brush Alea's throat.
Alea shivers at the farris field.
Wise Snake: Alea...
Alea's field responds.
Alea ~~guilt over pushing Snake into need because of her negligent acts~~
Wise Snake's heat has risen enough to begin to penetrate the chill in Alea's bones.
Alea slowly warms.
Wise Snake's eyes slit open, feverish with need.
Alea: Your laterals? how are they?
Wise Snake: I'll ... I'll live. [breathing hard]
Alea reaches up and runs fingers over Snake's arms, touching the sheathes, testing ...checking...
Wise Snake's ronaplin glands are working doubletime.
Alea looks up at Snake.
Wise Snake's eyes close at the touching.
Alea: Nick's not here yet.
Alea: Where is Rafe?
Wise Snake's face is at once releaxed and tormented.
Wise Snake: [with difficulty] Rafe... home..
Alea tries to decide if she could get Snake to Rafe in time.
Alea thinks about the path..having to send someone for clothes....
Alea: Shen[softly]
Alea: Oh, snake...
Alea debates what to do...decides she has no choice...rleaxes, allowing her field to engulf Snake with promise.
Wise Snake's laterals lick against Alea's forearms briefly -- moist, tingling, then gone.
Wise Snake shudders at the change in Alea's field.
Wise Snake moans.
Wise Snake: Alea..
Alea shivers in respoind, her own need to give overwhelming her.
Alea: I can serve you Snake...
Wise Snake is reduced to mindless neediness the face of Alea's field.
Alea: You're zlinning my field....you know I'm in the beginning of underdraw...and still almost a week to go.
Alea: ==respoind response==
Wise Snake's handling tentacles grip Alea's arms more powerfully.
Wise Snake: ~intil~
Alea trembling with joy of a farris in need in her grip.
Alea: Oh shen, snake....
Wise Snake trembles with the power of Alea's joy.
Wise Snake's mouth seeks Alea's.
Alea moves forward.
Alea mouth finds Snake's.
Wise Snake's laterals find their places wet and quivering and hot on Alea's arms.
Alea shivers in response to the touch of the laterals.
Wise Snake begins to draw, very gently at first... a delicate savoring of what is almost irresistably sweet.
Alea trembles, her field quivering with the delight of a farris drawing.
Alea ~~promise of joy~~
Wise Snake, maddened by that taste, draws harder.
Wise Snake: ~~~ brute hunger ~~~
Alea ~~harsh need to give all~~
Wise Snake draws savagely, no longer able to control.
Alea ~~giving willingly~~
Wise Snake seeks pain.
Alea hesitates ~~joy, not pain~~
Alea goes compeletly passive, offering joy.
Wise Snake: ~~~ tormented; grasps at joy, but seeking pain ~~~
Alea contiues to allow Snake to draw. ~~joy, pleasure, fulfillment~~
Alea experiences true joy at finally giving the depth of selyn she hasn't been able to give in months.
Wise Snake: ~~~ descent toward despair; weirdly superimposed over the mirror of Alea's glorious joy ~~
Wise Snake continues to draw at a furious rate until the transfer is simply over.
Alea lays still waiting for Snake ...
Wise Snake's laterals withdraw.
Alea: Snake[whispers softly]
Wise Snake releases the fifth contact point and bows her head, but continues to clutch Alea's arms with her handling tentacles.
Alea feels wonderful but fears Snake didn't get what she was wanting.
Wise Snake finally releases Alea's arms and pulls Alea roughly against her, face hidden.
Alea slips her arms around Snake, stroking her back, waiting.
Wise Snake remains that way for some time, before eventually releasing Alea from her embrace.
Alea shivers.
Alea studies snake.
Alea: Are you okay?
Alea ~~concern~~
Alea is feeling much warmer now...and better than she has in a long time.
Wise Snake opens her eyes; they seem more or less emotionless... with perhaps some caring for Alea.
Wise Snake meets Alea's eyes.
Wise Snake: You've been undermatched for a while now.
Alea strokes Snake's cheek, pushing her hair back behind her ear. "I'm sorry, Snake...so shenned sorry I couldn't give you what you wanted."
Alea simply nods.
Wise Snake closes her eyes briefly at Alea's touch.
Wise Snake: I don't know that anybody can.
Alea sighs before sitting up and slipping from under the covers.
Alea: Let me find us some dry clothes.
Alea misses the Sime warmth.
Wise Snake slides out of the bed also.
Wise Snake massages her arms and tentacles.
Alea goes toward the door.
Alea: Do you happen to know the guy who gave us the room..if I can get some extra clothes from him?
Alea cracks open the door to look out.
Cpt Button is now known as Garon`
Garon sips at his porstan.
Alea sees Garon and her eyes widen.
Alea: Garon!
Wise Snake zlins.
Alea looks at snake incredulously.
Alea: What is HE doing here.
Garon shifts as he zlins a change in the ambient he can't place...
Wise Snake sits down and holds her head in her hands.
Wise Snake: I don't know.
Alea opens the door wide enough for Snake to see.
Wise Snake: Just ask him if he has any clothes.
Alea pokes her head back around the door.
Alea: Uh, excuse me...Garon....?
Alea wishes she were anywhere but here now...wonders how snake feels about this.
Garon turns at his name. "yes?"
Alea smiles hesitantly.
Garon gets off his stool and comes over.
Alea: Uh, remember me?
Alea waves.
Alea: Snake's relative?
Garon: Yeah, snake's cousin, right?
Alea: Yeah.
Alea: Well..you see...we've had a little bit of a problem...
Alea: Our clothes got rather wet and we have to have some replacements so we can leave here...
Garon thought he remmbered her as having a much more impressive nager...
Garon: We?
Alea: You wouldn't perchance have any ladies clothes we could borrow, would you?
Alea looks back at Snake...wanting to groan...
Alea: Yeah, uh...Snake is here too.
Alea motions to somewhere behind her.
Garon''s eyebrows raise and he zlins Alea.
Alea: Snake...
Wise Snake: What? [head still in hands]
Alea ~~embarrassment~~
Alea: Wanna explain to garon?
Garon: Why, sure. Always glad to help out Snake. Give me a couple of minutes.
Alea sighs in relief.
Alea: Thank you so much.
Alea slams the door.
Alea: Shen!
Garon snaps his fingers loudly.
Alea leans against the door.
Wise Snake: [to Alea] Don't be shocked if what he finds isn't, um, what you're used to.
Garon grins as he considers the implications.
Alea: My idea of fun is not getting caught naked with a channel in a bar by a pimp.
Alea shudders.
Alea: I can only imagine...oh shen oh shen oh shen...how am I going to go back to the center dressed in whatever he brings?
Alea: You don't suppose he'd bring some of his own clothes, do you?
Garon returns to his porstan and drinks it with an amused expression.
Alea: Shen, snake.
Wise Snake looks up at Alea.
Alea shakes her head, imgainging walking back into the Center in whatever the man brings.
Alea groans and buries her head in her hands.
Alea: Oh sheeeennn.
Alea skin prickles as she starts getting cold again.
Wise Snake gets up and goes to Alea.
Wise Snake: Come here.
Alea wraps her arms around herself.
Alea: I can't believe this...this is all my fault...
Alea: I'm so sorry Snake.
Wise Snake hugs Alea, lending her warmth.
Wise Snake: Shhh.... it's happened.
Alea: At least letting you warm me isn't going to send you into need again.
Alea tries to smile at that thought.
Alea: Is he trustworthy..will Garon get us some clothes?
Wise Snake: If he wants transfer from me again this month, he'll know better than to cross me.
Alea slips her arms around Snake.
Alea: I'm so glad you have pull down here in this part of town.
Alea absorbs her warmth.
Wise Snake: If he doesn't... well... I will simply hang the clothes to dry and stay here until they are safe to wear again.
Alea wonders if anyone would even miss her at the center...and decides probably not.
Wise Snake: [dryly] Nick will be pleased, at least. This means his own chance at transfer will come two days sooner.
Alea groans.
Alea: Nick.
Alea: WOuld he have any idea where you went?
Wise Snake: No. But he knows enough to return home when I do not reappear.
Alea: There went the chance of sending him for decent clothes.
Wise Snake: We get into enough unusal situations that we have contingency plans for everything.
Alea goes back over to the bed and crawls under the covers.
Wise Snake picks up the various clothes and hangs them around the room.
Wise Snake squeezes water out of the black cloak and spreads it out.
Alea tucks the blanket under her arms and pulls her knees up to wrap her arms around them.
Alea: I suppose I could wear those clothes home.
Wise Snake: When they are dry. Not before.
Alea relutcantly nods.
Wise Snake: If you wear them wet, the wind will cut right through them... you'd be frozen as well as have pneumonia by the time you returned.
Alea: You're right snake...I'm not arguing.
Alea takes a deep breath and then releases.
Alea: It.
Wise Snake sits on the edge of the bed.
Alea sits still for a minute, then whispers, "I'm sorry, snake, you had to take transfer early."
Wise Snake: It won't be the last time.
Alea shrugs.
Alea: I was scheduled with tramila in a few days.
Wise Snake examines her sheathes and laterals for ice cuts or other damage, then massages her arms and tentacles.
Wise Snake: Tramila will have to make do with Rafe.
Alea sees her actions.
Alea: Want some help?
Alea reaches out for one of snake's arms to rub it gently.
Wise Snake hesitates, then allows Alea to take the arm.
Alea allows her concern to show as she carefully rubs snake's arms.
Alea: Cramps?
Wise Snake: A little.
Alea fingers are hurting after warming up and she imagines snake's arms must feel worse.
Wise Snake closes eyes.
Alea continues to carefully massage snake's arm, projecting her caring concern as she does.
Garon: [ tapping at door ]
Alea glances up.
Alea: You want to get that or want me to?
Wise Snake stands and goes to the door, entirely unaware of herself as being naked.
Wise Snake opens door ~~~ zlins like a Farris channel ~~~
Garon stands there with two bundles of clothes.
Alea stands, pulling the sheet with her.
Wise Snake looks at Garon.
Alea moves up behind snake to take one of the bundles.
Wise Snake takes the bundles.
Wise Snake nods at Garon.
Garon is his usual impecably groomed, garishly dressed, somehow slimy self.
Alea: Uh, thank you, Garon.
Garon cranes a bit to see if he can see anything interesting.
Alea takes a bundle from snake.
Wise Snake's body is more or less unremarkable: Typical scrawny Sime, rather beat up.
Alea keeps the sheet around her and shakes out the bundle.
Garon: Either of you ... want anything else? [leer ]
Garon: [ A long slinky red dress, slit up one leg to mid-thigh, silk undergarments, solid work shoes, a thick maroon coat with wide lapels and belts, white hose.]
Wise Snake: As you can zlin, I require nothing else.
Wise Snake: ~~~ very unpost ~~~
Alea looks from the dress up to Garon, smiling rather desperately..."Uh, no..."
Garon looks disappointed.
Alea thinking she hopes no one at the Center sees her in this.
Alea ~~zlins very post~~
Alea: Thank you again, Garon.
Garon: Well, glad to do you a favor anytime, snake. And you too Tuib ....?
Alea: Alea Farris.
Alea glances up.
Alea nods.
Alea: At least they're dry[to snake]
Garon: Alea ... That's a lovely name.
Alea glances back over at Garon, curious.
Alea: Thank you.
Alea looks to snake...waiting for her to close the door so she can get dressed.
Garon exudes what might be described masculine charm that has gone off some time back.
Alea sets mode: +o wisesnake
Garon: == described -> described as ==
Alea smiles at Garon.
Alea: Thank you again Garon.
Alea: But we uh[blushes]should get dressed.
Alea: Excuse us please.
Garon: Until later then. [ smiles and turns away ]
Wise Snake closes the door.
Alea sighs in relief
Alea: Goodness.
Wise Snake puts on whatever clothes Garon brought, not thinking about them.
Alea picks up the undies and white hose and just stars at them before slipping them on.
Garon: [ a medium length cape of some luxurious brown fur, silk undergarments, knee high shiny black leather boots, a small but stretchy blue sweater, suede calf-length pants.
Garon: ]
Wise Snake grimaces as she accidentally notices the clothes while putting them on.
Alea pulls on the red dress...feeling too unocvered in the front and back and up the side of one leg.
Wise Snake gathers her damp clothes.
Alea slips on the coat.
Alea gathers her own cloths.
Alea: Thank you snake for what you did.
Wise Snake: I had better call a cab for you back to the Sime Center.
Alea bundles her clothes up, slips on the shoes, then goes to the door.
Alea: Okay...fine.
Alea opens the door.
Alea: Are you okay?
Wise Snake exits the room and passes back through the tavern.
Alea follows.
Wise Snake: ~~utterly unconcerned with the opinions of others ~~~
Alea is terribly embarrassed, hoping no one recognizes her.
Wise Snake uses her high field to disguise Alea's embarassment so it won't embarass her.
Alea: You'd think I would have gotten used to situations like this when I was spying[mutters]
Alea: But I don't think I've ever been in quite this situation.
Alea goes with snake outside and winces at the bitterly cold wind.
Wise Snake hails a passing cab.
Garon admires them as they leave.
Alea: Will you be okay snake? WIthout a Donor out on the street by yourslef?
Wise Snake: Take her to the Sime Center... make it quick, and make sure she goes in. [gives money to cab driver]
Wise Snake turns to Alea.
Wise Snake: Yes. Don't worry about me.
Garon is now known as cabby.
Alea shrugs. "I can't help but worry."
Wise Snake hides her arms inside the warmth of the stinking animal carcass coat.
Cabby: Sure thing, Ma'am.
Alea: Be careful Snake.
Wise Snake looks at Alea.
Wise Snake: I will.
Alea huddles into the cab from the wind.
Alea: Good.
Wise Snake sees the cab off, and then turns into the wind and begins the trudge home.
Cabby: Heeyah!
Cabby: [ clop clop clop... ]
Alea thinks about possible excuses she can make..then decides the best way to avoid anything is to go in a door beside the main door..she releaxes.
Cabby shortly pulls up at the main door. "Sime Center Ma'am"
Alea: Thank you.
Alea jumps out and hurries around the side of the building.
Alea muttering to herself about idiot Gens.
Cabby wonders exactly what her business here is.
Nick is now known as jirelle.
Alea slips in the side door and heads for the stairs.
Jirelle: Oh! Hi Alea.
Cabby shrugs and drives off.
Jirelle zlins Alea in amazement.
Alea stumbles to a halt.
Jirelle: Wow! Are you all right?
Alea: Oh...
Jirelle: ~~concerned~~
Alea: Yeah, fine..just fine.
Alea smiles brightly.
Jirelle is heartened by the smile.
Jirelle: You're um, you're uh, really low field.
Jirelle zlins somewhat disbelievingly.
Alea thinks just a little longer...shen...her field...
Alea: Well, yeah.
Alea: I am, aren't I.
Cabby is now known as Tarsh.
Jirelle: I thought you were a.. [doesn't say it]
Alea: That's what happens when a first takes transfer with a frist...and a farris and farris.
Tarsh scribbles 'approved" and tosses the form into his 'out' basket.
Jirelle: You and Tramila already... ?
Alea: As I said..farris/farris transfer will do it everytime.
Jirelle notices Alea is really post.
Jirelle: Well... don't let me stand in your way.
Jirelle smiles.
Alea smiles back.
Alea: You have a nice day Jirelle.
Jirelle continues on her way, failing to grasp any of the more heavy duty questions or implications which may have occured to anybody else.
Jirelle: Bye bye! [as disappears down a hall]
Alea turns back to the stairs, only wanting to get up the stairs and get out of this outfit.
Tarsh stares off into space. "Alea's tranfer is in .... Shuven. right at my turnover. "
Alea passes the laundry and tosses her wet clothes in it.
Tarsh sighs and stands up.
Alea goes on down the hall to the stairs and starts up them.
Tarsh: Better get something to eat while it's still attractive.
Tarsh goes out his office door, locking it behind him.
Tarsh goes to the lobby, stops to think.
Alea goes on up to the second floor.
Alea slips into her room and removes the coat.
Tarsh decides to go see if Alea wants to join him.
Tarsh goes up the stairs.
Alea moves to the mirror and looks at her reflection.
Alea: Heavens!
Alea tries to jerk on the top..then pulls at the slit on the side.
Tarsh comes to to Alea's door.
Alea wonders how the woman who wore this kept from getting pneumonia..even in the summer.
Alea: Figures[mutters]
Tarsh taps. "alea?"
Alea moves over to her cabinet..
Alea: Tarsh?
Alea's eyes widen.
Alea moves over toward the door.
Tarsh: The one and only.
Alea sighs...
Alea: Uh...
Alea opens the door standing sorta behind it.
Alea: Hello.
Alea: What brings you up here this time of day.
Tarsh smiles. "Hi Alea. I was just going to get a bite, and I wondered if you wanted to join me."
Alea smiles weakly. "I'd love to. I just have to uh...change first."
Alea ~~zlins very low field/post~~
Tarsh: Ok. I'll wait ... for ever, if needs be.
Alea sighs.
Alea: Be right there.
Alea pushes the door partially closed and hurries back over to her chest.
Alea opens the doors and digs through...
Alea: "you know, Tarsh...I went sledding today"
Alea calls out to him.
Alea finds a skirt and sweater to slip on.
Alea feels guilty and remembers what happned.
Alea hands slow and she holds the sweater and skirt in her hands.
Alea: Uh, Tarsh?
Alea remembers too many times in the past when falsehoods came up and knows this one isn't going to be hidden...
Tarsh: Really?
Alea: I have something I think I'd better tell you before it hits the Center. Come on in.
Alea goes over and sits down on the edge of the bed.
Tarsh: I haven't sledded since before changeover.
Alea thinks she won't be sledding for awhile..if ever.
Tarsh pushes open the door and comes in, closing it behind him.
Alea smiles, stiffly, waiting for his reaction ot her outfit.
Tarsh: Is something the matter?
Alea: I had a bit of a problem today.
Tarsh jaw drops "Uh.... wow!"
Alea thinks that wasn't the reaction she was expecting and actually starts laughing.
Alea: Like the outfit, do you?
Tarsh starts laughing also.
Alea shakes her head, still chuckling.
Alea: Rather uh.....
Tarsh: It's ... well, different.
Alea tries to think of an approriate word...
Alea: Garish?
Alea: Anyway...I had this accident today.
Tarsh: Well, maybe a bit.
Alea: A lot.
Alea: Don't worry..it's only borrowed.
Tarsh wonders if this is the klatest expression of Alea's artistic leanings.
Alea: Anyway...well...I went sledding and ended up in the lakes.
Alea shakes her head remembering.
Tarsh looks concerned. "The lake? In this weather?"
Alea smile fades as she turns serious.
Alea: Snake saved my life, tarsh.
Tarsh zlins Alea concerned. "are you .... "
Tarsh: Uh, Alea....
Alea: She almost lost her own life...She fell in helping me..but she manged to get out...
Alea tilts her head.
Alea: Yes?
Tarsh: Snake did?
Alea: Yes.
Alea: What?
Tarsh: Your field...
Alea looks down at her hands.
Alea: Yeah...I thought you'd better hear it from me before Veraik finds out.
Alea: Because Snake helped me, she augmented and was in need...bad...
Alea: I uh....served her transfer.
Tarsh: Snake?
Alea: Yes, snake.
Tarsh: ~~ stab of jealousy ~~ [ brief scowl ]
Alea: She's a Farris Tarsh. We are close in matching...how else would I be so...
Alea sees tarsh's scowl.
Tarsh: Well, she's a Farris, and I know you've been ...
Alea stands...clasping her hands together.
Alea: She saved my life.
Alea defensively.
Alea: Rafe can serve Tramila.
Alea: Was I suppose to leave her there in need?
Tarsh: And yougave her your life in turn.
Tarsh: That balances. [grins]
Alea still wondering over the short spurt of anger.
Tarsh: Of course not. What kind of a Donor would you be if you had?
Alea: What bothers you about it, then Tarsh?
Alea: Why the anger and scowl?
Tarsh looks away. "Alea ... I know that you could never ... that we aren't ..."
Alea: Yes?
Tarsh: I know it's impossible, but that doesn't mean I don't want it.
Alea eyes widen in dismay.
Alea: Oh Tarsh.
Alea moves forward to hug him.
Alea: I'm so sorry.
Tarsh: And I resent snake a little because she did.
Alea: I suppose you do.
Tarsh puts his arms around Alea. "Don't worry. It's my own fault. Not yours. Not Snake's."
Alea: Not yours either...just...
Alea thinks she is going to choke mostan.
Alea: Well...
Alea tries to think of some way to comfort Tarsh.
Alea: Hey...
Alea smiles.
Tarsh: It's all right Alea. I understand.
Alea: At least you get all the fringe benefits of it.
Alea: I'm glad you do, tarsh...because giving you transfer would be too dangerous.
Alea: For you, not me.
Tarsh looks at her. "Oh yeah...."
Alea: Remind me later to tell you how I came about this dress. Right now, I have other things on my mind.
Tarsh looks puzzled.
Tarsh: You mean because it would make me to likely to ...
Alea: End up wanting a Gen one day that you might hurt.
Tarsh: Yeah. I know that. But knowing what I should do and wanting to do it aren't the same things a lot of the time.
Alea: I know, tarsh, I know.
Tarsh: What was it that was more important than explaining the dress? [ squeeze ]
Alea hugs Tarsh.
Alea: You have a bit of free time?
Alea lifts an eyebrow in query.
Alea toys with the closures on his shirt. "If you do, I have the perfect way to show you some of the benefits of a good farris transfer."
Alea smiles...