Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #87: (11/28/97)
Alea hobbles down the stairs, every muscle in her body sore.
After cleaning off the overhang from snow.
Lanyi: [ train pulls into station ]
Lanyi hops of the train as it comes to a stop.
Wise Snake is hanging out in the train station zlinning the.
People getting off the train.
Wise Snake does a spectactular double take.
Nick looks around to see what has attracted Snake's attention.
Wise Snake: Did you zlin what I zlin?
Nick: What's wrong?
Wise Snake: No. Of course not.
Nick charitably ignores Snake's question.
Lanyi is a tall brunette Sme with long hair pulled back.
Alea hobbles into the lobby, groaning as she reaches for this.
Mornings charts.
Wise Snake cannot restrain herself from bouncing toward the new.
Channel.
Nick follows after, still trying to figure out what's going on.
Lanyi zlins the well dressed young weasal...
Wise Snake approaches Lanyi zlinning with undisguised curiousity.
Nick: Who is that?
Lanyi: ~~ stable channel's showfield - snake zlins perhaps a week.
After transfer ~~
Lanyi looks calmly at wisesnake with dark eyes.
Wise Snake is amazed, having never zlinned a stable channel before.
Lanyi: "Here to pick me up?"
Wise Snake hesitates only a moment.
Wise Snake: Yes!
Wise Snake introduces herself.
Wise Snake: I'm Snake. This is Nick.
Nick, having no idea what Snake is up to, tries to smile.
Politely and not let Lanyi zlin how confused he is.
Lanyi shifts her back pack and makes a polite tentacles.
Gesture. "Lanyi ambrov Dar, QN-1"
Wise Snake: Ah.
Wise Snake thinks fast.
Wise Snake smiles.
Wise Snake: Will you be assigned here long?
Lanyi: At least six months, for starters.
Wise Snake zlins genuinely delighted, with perhaps a side of.
Deviousness.
Lanyi: How are things in this town? I heard things were a bit 'chaotic'.
Wise Snake smiles again, a bit less genuinely this time.
Wise Snake: Chaotic? Well, you know, the eye of the beholder, etc... uh, do.
You have any more bags? (looking around)
Lanyi doesn't zlin the insincerity.
Lanyi: No, I try to travel light.
Wise Snake: So.. um... are you replacing another channel already assigned.
Here? [hopefully, thinking of Tramila]
Wise Snake starts to lead Lanyi toward the door of the train station.
Lanyi looks 5 or 6 years past and Lanyi: [ train pulls into.
Station ]
Lanyi: Lanyi hops of the train as it comes to a stop.
Lanyi: wisesnake is hanging out in the train station.
Zlinning the people getting off the train.
Nick follows at Snake's elbow, trying very hard to look like a.
Real Donor.
Lanyi: == scratch last 4 lines ==
Lanyi follows. "I don't know, I'm just assigned here. I think.
They want me to get experience with out-t gens." [ snorts ]
Wise Snake looks and zlins surprised at Lanyi's tone.
Wise Snake: Well... out-T Gens?
Lanyi looks 5 or 6 years past and wears jeans and a t-shirt.
That says 'Zlin the Burn'.
Wise Snake stares at Lanyi's tee shirt.
Wise Snake looks about 9 months past and wears nothing even.
Remotely resembling a Tecton uniform.
Lanyi scowls. "Yeah. That's what I was told. I grew ip with.
Them, but that doesn't count, apparently."
Wise Snake smiles at Lanyi again, trying to look reassuring.
Wise Snake: Hmm... well this is technically In-Territory... not that many.
O T Gens actually come to the Center. Perhaps you are intended to work in.
The Sime school set up by Veraik in Gen Territory?
Lanyi: [ wisesnake realizes that a Torn by Tentacles logo has been.
Carefully scraped off. ]
Wise Snake looks at the shirt uncertainly.
Lanyi: A Sime school out-territory? What the devil do you mean?
Wise Snake: Um, ah, what's that supposed to mean?
Wise Snake: I asked you first.
Lanyi looks a bit embarassed. "It's a take off on a shirt I.
Had back home that said 'Feel the Burn', an atheletic slogan."
Wise Snake: Huh. You're not a Torn by Tentacles fan, are you? You don't.
Seem the type.
Lanyi: I changed a shirt from some band I don't listen to.
Wise Snake nods in understanding.
Wise Snake: Um, you might not wanna wear that shirt around the Sime Center.
Though.
Lanyi: I think that was it. No, I haven't heard anything by them. The.
Shirt just struck me as appropriate to me.
Wise Snake: Well I just happen to know the woman who thought up the whole.
Sime school in Gen Territory idea... she's an Out Territory Gen currently.
Living in Sime Territory. Would you like to meet her/
Lanyi: The usual stuffed shirts?
Wise Snake: ?
Wise Snake: Well, stuffed shirts yes. "Usual", no.
Lanyi: They allow thenm to deviate from tecton standards?
Wise Snake: Um...
Wise Snake: Yeah.
Lanyi: Certainly, if I'm going to be working there.
Wise Snake: Well, I don't know if you are or aren't, but she might.
Wise Snake attempts to sound as if she were just sent to "pick.
Lanyi up"
Lanyi: Anyi looks 5 or 6 years past and wears jeans and a t-shirt that.
Says 'Zlin the Burn'.
Lanyi: == scratch that ==
Sime~ Gen Roleplaying.
Wise Snake: Well she's probably home right now... let's stop by and get the.
Story straight.
Wise Snake hides glee.
--> wisesnake ~~ a bit uncomfortable at wisenake's staring ~~
Lanyi: Ok. which way?
Nick wonders why the usually secretive Snake is actually.
Inviting this stranger into thier home.
Lanyi looks around for landmarks while referencing her location.
Sense.
Wise Snake leads Lanyi and Nick cheerfully out into the blowing snow.
Wise Snake: [landmarks: Burnt out shell of a large brewery; small church.
With a peculiar steeple; very stinky fish rendering facility]
Lanyi stops at the door. " Hold on a few seconds"
Wise Snake stops, zline Lanyi curiously.
Wise Snake: === zline = zlins ==
Lanyi reaches back into her pack and pulls out a light jacket.
Realizes she has to take the pack off to put it on. does so.
Lanyi reshoulder her pack. "Let's go."
Wise Snake waits, snow collecting on the nice and warm, but.
Regrettably black, cloak Linn bought for her.
Nick shivers, and picks up Lanyi's pack.
Nick: I'd be happy to carry this for you.
Wise Snake bounces off down the road, mind whirling with ideas.
Lanyi: "No, I can handle it."
Lanyi jogs after wisesnake, keeping up easily.
Nick shrugs.
Nick scurries after them, trying not to slip and fall on the ice.
Lanyi zlins NickR. "Lanyi amborv Dar. Nice to meet you, Sosu."
Wise Snake's good mood takes on a rather paranoid edge as she.
Notices Lanyi zlinning Nick.
Wise Snake drops back to make sure Nick has no trouble meshing.
With HER field.
Nick is able to complete this simple exercise, thus assisted.
Lanyi keeps a standard bland Tecton showfield.
Wise Snake finds this rather tedious.
Wise Snake forces another smile, her eyes glinting whitely.
Wise Snake: Well. It's only a little farther.
Lanyi: Ok. I'm fine.
Wise Snake leads Lanyi through some pretty gnarly neighborhoods.
[which she doesn't notice she is doing] and then to her, Nick and Linn's.
House.
Lanyi is breathing rhythmically but not hard.
Wise Snake: [which is of course just an apartment]
Lanyi zlins some rather odd and run down places and looks wary.
Lanyi: [ breathe steams in the cold air ]
Wise Snake leads Lanyi up the front steps of a charming but.
Rather run down little row house.
Linn is just taking an apple crisp out of the oven.
Wise Snake: Linn lives here. [signals at door]
Linn opens the door, and is rather surprised to see Snake. She.
Wonders if Snake mislaid her key.
Linn: Snake! I wasn't expecting you for another few hours.
Lanyi looks around at the neighborhood. "Really"
Wise Snake: Ah.
Wise Snake: Linn, this is Lanyi, a new channel who quite possibly has been.
Brought here to be assigned to Veraik's school in Gen Territory.
Linn looks at Lanyi.
Linn: How nice.
Linn: Come in and have some apple crisp and tea.
Lanyi carefully knocks and scrapes snow off her sneakers before.
Coming in.
Linn steps back so that the strange channel won't have to come.
Too close to get to the living room.
Lanyi looks at Linn. "Please, Thank you."
Lanyi: Lanyi ambrov Dar. Pleased to meet you.
Wise Snake tracks in a considerable quantity of snow in the.
Course of bouncing into the living room and landing in a lounging position.
On the couch.
Wise Snake: The snow covered cloak ends up in disarray across much of the desk.
Lanyi carefully takes off her pack and coat and puts them in an.
Appropriate looking place.
Lanyi zlins around the room.
Linn rolls her eyes in exasperation, and nods approval as Nick.
Collects Snake's cloak and his own and hangs them to dry in the hall.
Closet.
Wise Snake thinks that this soon after transfer, apple crisp.
Sounds kinda good.
Linn leaves Nick and Snake to entertain the visitor, and goes.
To collect the repaste.
Wise Snake gestures at a chair.
Wise Snake: Make yourself at home, Lanyi.
Linn puts the water on to heat, and rattles teacups and dessert.
Plates.
Wise Snake moves over slightly as Nick sits down beside her on.
The couch.
Lanyi sits down in a lotus postition near the heater.
Lanyi: Thank you.
Lanyi: So is the Center here a source or a sink?
Wise Snake: I beg your pardon?
Lanyi: Does it export selyn, or import it?
Wise Snake: Ah. Source. The population here is 90% Gen.
Lanyi: So we ship it out then. Don't know why they sent me here.
Carrying this much then.
Wise Snake: I can take that off your hands if it's making you uncomfortable....?
Wise Snake: [helpfully]
Lanyi: A mostly Gen in-t town? How did that happen?
Wise Snake: Well this town was in OT just about 30 years ago.
Lanyi shrugs. 'Nah. It doesn't bother me.'
Wise Snake: And it's still traditional for new changeovers to seek their.
Fortunes in other [doesn't say, more hip] cities deeper In Territory.
Lanyi: Annexed right around Unity? How did that happen?
Wise Snake: I dunno, I wasn't here.
Linn returns with a loaded tray, almost tripping over Lanyi,
Since she hadn't expected for their guest to be sitting on the floor.
Lanyi: In school they always went on about the deep distrust New.
Washington had for the new treaty.
Lanyi leans back.'sorry'
Wise Snake nods but actually has no basis for agreeing or.
Disagreeing since school and she knew only a passing acquaintance.
Lanyi: There are still large garrison a day or two's ride back from.
Most borders.
Wise Snake: Is that so? [politely]
Lanyi zlins Linn. "That smells wonderful."
Wise Snake never heard of this, but then again her experience.
With OT has been limited to sneaking over to the hospital and sometimes.
Downtown Eastcove.
Wise Snake stiffens as Lanyi zlins Linn and makes herself relax.
Lanyi: Gen Territory never saw that the Unity treaty cost them much.
Just allow some Centers in big cities in return for a end to organized.
Raiding.
Lanyi doesn't notice wisesnake's reaction.
Linn distributes the tea and apple crisp.
Wise Snake zlins Linn speculatively, wondering how the teacher.
Will respond to discovering her donation day has rather crept up on them.
Wise Snake: Perhaps, Linn and Lanyi, you would like to discuss the school.
Lanyi: Snake was saying something about a Sime school Out-territory.
What does that mean?
Linn sits down in a chair close to the couch where Snake and.
Nick are sitting, and across the room from Lanyi.
Linn: Controller Veraik rented a building close to the Eastcove.
Elementary school where I used to teach.
Linn: He's turned it into a children's community center, with games.
And tutors.
Linn: He also provides changeover classes and information about the.
Sime Centers to any child whose parents don't object.
Lanyi: Children? So you aren't teaching Simes there, then.
Wise Snake devotes her full attention to the apple crisp.
Lanyi: Always a good idea. Out-t kids need that information.
Linn: No. Any Simes in Eastcove are shot on sight.
Lanyi sips at her tea.
Lanyi sighs. "even in retainers?"
Linn: Well, there was an incident three years ago, when an overeager.
Shopkeeper didn't stop long enough to check a Sime tourist's arms when she.
Augmented in front of him.
Lanyi: The orientation courses say not to augment out-t, yeah.
Linn: Most of the time, a Sime wearing retainers is reasonably safe.
Much as Gen visitors on this side of the border are usually safe enough.
Linn remembers more than one incident in the recent past where.
She was not safe at all.
Lanyi zlins that Linn is uncomfortable on the subject.
Wise Snake is really heavily into her apple crisp.
Wise Snake: Mmmah... mumn mum.
Lanyi: So are the teachers at this children all gens?
Lanyi eats some of the crisp.
Linn: No, after the first few weeks, once the publicity died down,
Hajene Veraik started going over almost every afternoon.
Linn sneaks a look at the speed with which Snake is shoveling.
Calories into her mouth and exchanges a wink with Nick.
Lanyi: Veriak? He's the Controller, right?
Linn: Yes.
Lanyi is eating more sedately.
Lanyi: Deigning to actually work at something?
Wise Snake downs her tea.
Lanyi: That doesn't involves politics or avoiding entran?
Linn isn't quite sure which category Veraik's efforts fall into.
Wise Snake looks up curiously.
Wise Snake: What kind of work doesn't involve politics or entran???
Wise Snake: === entran = avoiding entran ===
Lanyi: Teaching kids. Out-territory.
Wise Snake opens her mouth to suggest that the circumstances of.
The school's creation were nothing if not political, then decides the.
Better of it and has some more tea.
Linn: Despite ostensibly being in English, Linn finds herself unable.
To quite follow the latest exchange.
Lanyi: Snake says you wanted me to work there?
Linn shrugs.
Lanyi: I grew up out-t.
Linn: Hajene Veraik is the one to talk to about that. I haven't been.
Closely involved with staffing the school.
Lanyi: Ok.
Wise Snake: [thinks: Really? we couldn't tell at all.]
Linn finishes her tea and sets the cup back on the tray,
Wondering why Snake brought this visitor home.
Lanyi reflects that Linn reminds her of the better teachers back home.
Linn wonders if she should make a descreet withdrawal and leave.
Them to their business.
Wise Snake: So, um, what have you heard about the Sime Center here?
Lanyi: That it burned down a few months back, and the Sectuib in Zeor.
Had to come out here to do something or other.
Wise Snake remembers some other things the Sectuib did at the.
Same time and hides a scowl.
Wise Snake: Yeah... well... it's good that you don't have any preconceived.
Picture of it or anything.
Lanyi: And that there was a shaking plague scare. has that been.
Cleared up?
Wise Snake: So far as I know. I never zlinned anybody there who actually.
Had it. All of those in quarantine have been released.
Lanyi shrugs. "You can't believe much of what you hear. i try.
To maintain an open mind till i see for myself."
Wise Snake: Ah. Probably a good practice.
Wise Snake wonders what Lanyi thinks she sees right now.
Lanyi: I've always found it so.
Wise Snake: Out of curiousity... how much Donor qualification have you done?
Lanyi wonders why this kid still in first year isn't a training.
Center to get her skills honed while she still can.
Lanyi: Not too much. I've worked with some easy cases, but that's all.
Wise Snake: Hmm...
Wise Snake appears lost in thought briefly.
Wise Snake: Well.
Wise Snake: I suppose you are eager to see the Sime Center.
Lanyi: I should check in.
Wise Snake: Linn here is high field... do you want to take her donation.
While you're here?
Linn's nager flares alarm at the prospect of being more or.
Less thrown into the arms of this strange channel.
Lanyi zlins Linn. [ to linn ] "certainly, if you'd like me to."
Linn at least assumes that Lanyi is a channel, or Snake.
Wouldn't be making such a suggestion.
Lanyi notes Linn's alarm without being disturbed by it.
Wise Snake leans back with a small hidden smile.
Wise Snake: [and watches]
Linn looks at Snake questioningly, trying to figure out what.
Prompted Snake to make such an offer.
Wise Snake smiles pleasantly at Linn, eyebrows raised slightly.
As if to say, "My what a beautiful day, and what are you waiting for?"
Lanyi zlins the look exchange with curiousity.
Lanyi: Is there a problem?
Linn gets Snake's hint.
Linn: I had expected Snake to do it, that's all.
Linn wonders why Snake seems to eager to give away perfectly.
Good work.
Lanyi: Whatever you would prefer, Miz ...?
Lanyi: I assure you I am a fully trained First Order Tigue channel.
Lanyi hold out her hand with Tecton ring.
Linn looks at the ring, trying to avoid the sight of the.
Tentacles beyond.
Linn: Well...
Lanyi zlins Linn, wondering why she is waffling. If she.
Doesn't want to, she should say so.
Linn sends a slightly desperate look in the direction of the.
Complacent Snake, then gives in with a sigh.
Linn: Very well.
Lanyi rises smoothly out to her feet and looks around the room.
For the closest equivalnet to a transfer couch.
Wise Snake grins a lazy grin and settles back to observe.
Linn swallows nervously and stands, unconsciously wringing her.
Hands.
Wise Snake appears to be lounging on the closest equivalent to a.
Transfer couch.
Lanyi stretches her arms.
Lanyi: Snake, could we use that couch?
Wise Snake looks at Lanyi in some surprise, then remembers Lanyi.
Could have no way of knowing the couch is "her" spot.
Wise Snake shrugs and slithers off the couch.
Wise Snake: Nick.
Wise Snake: Come.
Wise Snake and Nick stand back.
Lanyi walks over slowly and sits down on one end.
Lanyi folds her hands and waits calmly.
Linn moves to her end of the couch even more slowly, sits, and.
Holds out slightly trembling hands.
Lanyi lifts her arms and hold them out just above Linn's.
Lanyi zlins Linn deeply.
Linn tenses, waiting for Lanyi to grab her the way Snake.
Usually does.
Wise Snake wanders into the kitchen to see if there's any more.
Of that apple crisp in there... Nick follows.
Lanyi zlins the anticipation and carefully takes hold of Linn's.
Arms with fingers and then handling tentacles.
Linn is more than a little alarmed at being abandoned to the.
Tender mercies of this stranger.
Lanyi zlins again. "are you ready?"
Linn swallows nervously, glancing towards the kitchen in hopes.
That Snake will return, then makes herself nod.
Lanyi extends her laterals and makes contact. Her laterals are.
Hot and moist.
Lanyi: Make the fifth contact whenever you are ready.
Linn always forgets from month to month how much she hates the.
Feel of tentacles.
Lanyi zlins Linn for any illness while she waits.
Wise Snake lurks in the kitchen, zlinning what is going on in.
The living room.
Linn hesitates, then decides that she might as well get it over.
With, and leans forward to make the fifth contact.
Linn just hopes that the slightly altered Torn By Tentacles.
T-shirt Lanyi is wearing doesn't mean that the channel shares Snake's.
Enthusiasm for Near-Death Donations.
Lanyi draws selyn carefully from the GN-3 level.
Lanyi realizes she doesn't know Linn's donor rating, though.
G N-3 seems likely based on the amount of nerves she shows.
Lanyi finishes draining the GN-3 level and tentatively draws at.
The GN-2 level, zlinning carefully for any sensation.
Linn is increasingly worried about the length of time Lanyi is.
Taking to take her donation.
Lanyi zlins the worry and carefully terminates her draw.
Lanyi slowly pulls her head back.
Lanyi: Thank you.
Lanyi retracts her laterals.
Linn relaxes somewhat as it becomes apparent that she's.
Survived the monthly ordeal once again.
Lanyi: [ laterals securely tucked away, disasemmbles transfer grip.
Wise Snake comes out of the kitchen quite innocently.
Lanyi sit back wtih her hands folded in her lap.
Lanyi: Very good Linn. Thanks for making that so easy.
Lanyi looks over at snake. "Hajene Snake, the forms are where?"
Linn shoots Snake a "how could you run off so irresponsibly" look.
Wise Snake smiles winningly.
Wise Snake: Forms? Oh... I don't use them much. If you like, you can fill.
Something out when you get to the Sime Center.
Wise Snake pulls Linn's allowance out of her pocket and hands it.
To Linn.
Lanyi looks at Linn. "Will that be alright with you? Picking.
Up your fee there later?"
Lanyi gets up.
Lanyi: What was your last name again? For the paperwork.
Linn: Haskins.
Lanyi: Thank you again Miz Haskins.
Wise Snake: Well, shall we show you to the Center now, Lanyi?
Wise Snake: [all charm and goodwill]
Lanyi: Yes, I should go report in.
Lanyi goes over to put on her jacket and pack.
Linn says nothing, but her nager makes it plain that she will.
Want a full explination on Snake's return.
Wise Snake looks at Linn, then hurries to the door and puts on.
Her cloak.
Lanyi wonders what this has all been about. She senses it is.
More than just a donation.
Wise Snake holds the door for Lanyi and Nick.
Linn watches the door close behind them, then goes to the.
Bathroom to wash the nasty tingling off of her arms.
Lanyi goes out, zlinning carefully for ice.
Wise Snake looks and zlins quite pleased.
Wise Snake: Well. I thought that went quite well.
Lanyi: Yes it did. But she wasn't expecting it. You trying to.
Broaden her horizons?
Wise Snake: Yes. You are the first channel besides myself who has ever taken her donation.
Wise Snake: You will find that Out Territory Gens offer all sorts of.
Peculiar challenges during donation.
Lanyi: I zlin.
Lanyi: So I'm told. I assume you mean besides fear.
Nick doesn't believe for one moment that Snake made Linn.
Donate to Lanyi to broaden Linn's horizens or to give Lanyi a challenge.
Nick follows the channels, trying to figure out what Snake.
Gained by the change in plans.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake leads Lanyi in the direction of the Sime Center.
Lanyi is surprised to see a Gn road crew spreading salt.
Shouldn't Smes be doing that kind of work in this weather?
Wise Snake: I hope I didn't make you too late.
Lanyi: Should I note in the file that the fee should be paid to you, then?
Lanyi: No, I'm ahead of schedule.
Wise Snake starts to shrug, then laughs.
Wise Snake: Sure. That will raise a few eyebrows.
Lanyi: Just Hajene snake Farris then?
Wise Snake: I think you can say Snake and they'll have enough other things.
On their mind that you won't have to worry about being nailed for.
Imprecision.
Lanyi zlins snake wondering what she meant by that.
Wise Snake: Look, here's the Sime Center now.
Wise Snake: ~~~ amused with herself~~~
Lanyi looks over at the center.
Wise Snake: [it is a huge sprawling building with various wings]
Wise Snake stops at the front gate.
Wise Snake: Good luck in your stay.
Lanyi: Well thank you for everything, snake. Will I be seeing you.
Around the center?
Lanyi: Tahnk you.
Wise Snake: Perhaps. I pop in from time to time.
Lanyi: Until then.
Wise Snake smiles a snaky smile.
Wise Snake and Nick turn away from the gate.
Lanyi turns and walks onto the porch to clean off her sneakers.
Lanyi goes into the lobby.
Nick looks at Snake somewhat suspiciously.
Nick: What was that all about? I thought you wanted to prevent any.
More Tecton officials from learning about us and our activities?
Nick shrugs.
Wise Snake shrugs.
Wise Snake: What was she to find out? She didn't even know we lived there.
Nick gives Snake a "don't try to evade the issue" look.
Nick: Why did you invite her to come home with us, and then hand Linn.
Over to her?
Nick: I wanted to check her out before Veraik and his crew got their.
Tentacles all over her.
Nick: ===that was Snake ===
Nick: Why?
Wise Snake: Why not? I can't afford to overlook a possible windfall.
Lanyi reports in to the clerk, and asks for Linn Haskins's file.
Nick: What do you want from her?
Nick knows there must be something, or Snake wouldn't risk.
Getting Linn so upset with her.
Nick: Well, I did want Linn to know another channel's touch. That.
Much was fairly straightforward. Lanyi was a no-risk opportunity because.
There isn't a First born who couldn't handle Linn's little tricks.
Nick: ===== that was Snake too ====
Nick: And the rest of it?
Wise Snake hesitates.
Lanyi reads the file and then fills out a donation form, noting.
That snake paid Linn a undetermined amount. Also notes that Linn may be.
Able to qualify as a GN-2 with careful handling.
Nick: I'm going to have to learn sometime. And Linn's going to want.
To know the instant we step through the door. She was NOT happy about your.
Springing this on her unexpectedly.
Wise Snake looks distinctly displeased.
Wise Snake: I see. And I am expected to put up with numerous unexpected.
Changes she inflicts upon me, with no complaint?
Nick shrugs.
Nick: There's a difference between cleaning the house without asking,
And rearranging a scheduled transfer without consulting the parties.
Involved.
Nick: Isn't that a large part of what you hated about working for the.
Tecton?
Wise Snake is now quite annoyed.
Wise Snake: I expect both of you to do as I ask when I ask, and trust that my judgement is sound.
Nick: You sound like Sectuib Tral.
Wise Snake's eyes spark fire.
Wise Snake: You should watch yourself.
Nick's nager betrays his exasperation.
Nick: It's not that I--or Linn, either--don't trust your judgement,
Or that we won't do as you ask. We would like to know your reasons,
Though, and be kept informed of your plans when possible.
Nick: Your plans about Lanyi (whatever they might be) would have been.
Put back quite a bit if Lanyi had been more curious about our surprise at.
Your actions. Or if Linn hadn't been able to hold together during that.
Donation.
Wise Snake: Good grief, Nick, I only just met the woman. I was feeling her.
Out. That is all.
Nick decides to leave getting the truth out of Snake until.
Linn is around to reinforce his arguments.
Nick: Look, Snake, just remember that neither of us can support your.
Efforts if we don't know what they are.
Wise Snake keeps walking, wondering who decided all Donors must.
Be a giant pain in the laterals at least part of the time, and hopes she.
Might get her handling tentacles around that person's neck one day.
Nick: [follows Snake into the house]
Snake: [Throws her cloak wherever and sits down at the desk to attack a mountain of paperwork]
Linn: [passes through the living room with a tray stacked with random dirty dishes recovered from Snake and Nick's room, gets her legs tangled in Snake's cloak which is lying on the floor, and falls]
Nick: [looks up from his current text at the loud thump and crash of breaking crockery.
Snake: [jumps up to zlin if Linn is all right]
Linn: [looks at the shards of multicolored glass and bits of rotting food scattered across the floor, puts her hands to her aching head, and begins to cry.]
Snake: [zlins that Linn is only banged up a little, physically]
Snake: [steps carefully around the worst of the broken glass and crouches down by Linn's side]
Snake: Linn? Linn, it's all right. You're fine. Nothing important got broken. [soothing]
Linn: [cries harder]
Nick: [decides to let Snake handle the sobbing Linn, looks at the mess on the floor, and goes to the kitchen to find some appropriate cleaning tools.]
Snake: [zlins Linn, concerned] I think you'd better lie down for a few minutes. [Tries to help Linn up]
Linn: [stumbles to her feet, nager throbbing with depression and homesickness, and yelps in pain as her stockinged foot comes down on the remains of a particularly ugly drinking glass.]
Snake: [winces and prudently avoids zlinning any further; tries to help Linn around the rest of the glass]
Snake: Come on, step over, that's good. Let's get you to bed. [crooning]
Nick:[pokes his head out of the kitchen, where he is trying to decide whether the technical complications of the mop are worth the trouble, or whether he should use the old-fashioned broom instead]
Nick: Is she all right?
Snake: I guess so. But she's freaking out. [sees broom and mop in Nick's hands] Come in when you are done. [Leads Linn into bedroom]
Snake: [to Linn] Come here... everything's going to be all right. Come here and lie down.
Linn: [stumbles along under Snake's direction, limping.]
Nick:[looks at the trail of red spots in their wake, sets down the broom, and starts to decipher the mysteries of the sponge squeezer on the mop.]
Snake: [gets Linn to lie down on the bed, then examines Linn for injuries; removes Linn's socks and any glass, then stops the bleeding]
Nick: [having managed to clean up the broken glass and Snake's cape, while smearing the food scraps and bloodstains liberally across the previously pristine floor, brings tea to Linn.]
Linn: [sips the tea, and finally manages to get the crying down to occasional gasps and hiccoughs]
Linn: I'm [hic] sorry. It all [hic] just caught up with me at [hic] once.
Snake: [concerned] There, there. Things aren't so bad, are they? [consolingly]
Linn: [shrugs, her nager throbbing with hopelessness]
Linn: It's just [hic] that two months ago, I had [hic] everything I had ever wanted, and now it's all [hic] gone. I can't go [hic] back to my old life, or my old job, and [hic] I don't know any other way [hic] to make a living.
Linn: [swallows a gulp of tea, and nearly chokes as she hiccoughs simultaneously.]
Snake: [puts her arm tentatively around Linn] But... can't you teach here?
Snake: [not sure if she likes the implication that she is somehow responsible for ruining Linn's life... nor the feeling that causes]
Snake: ~~confusion~~
Linn: [shakes her head] It's not that [hic] simple. To get a teaching job on [hic] this side of the border, I'd have to register as a resident [hic] alien and get a work permit. The Tecton being what it is [hic], that could take months. Then I'd [hic] have to convince one of the local schools to hire me, which would [hic] be pretty difficult. My Simelan isn't going to impress [hic] anyone during an interview, and I [hic] couldn't use the Eastcove schools as a reference, since they still [hicl] think I'm being held captive by Bit[hic]sy and her friends. If by some miracle they hired me [hic] anyway...well, how can I teach students how [hic] to live on this side of the border when [hic] I don't understand the first thing about the subject myself? [hic]
Snake: [frowns, with a slight blink at each hick up]
Snake: I can get you the permit and provide a reference. As for your Simelan, that will improve with practice... well perhaps you could teach English. Most of the native English speakers who come here are new changeovers with no teaching experience.
Nick: [wonders what will happen to the abundant supply of clean laundry and culinary delights if Linn starts working full time.]
Linn: [wonders what Snake has on the Bender Cove educational officials]
Linn: [hic] I'm a history teacher, Snake, and I don't know [hic] the first thing about the history of Nivet Terri[hic]tory. I don't know anything about teaching [hic] English as a language, either. I can't even judge [hic] what sorts of materials and classroom discussions are considered inap[hic]propriate for children on this side of the border.
Snake: Well there's nothing that says you have to work.
Nick: ~~relief at this simple solution to the housekeeping dilemma~~
Linn: I'm no ff[hic]freeloader. [pounds on her chest in a futile attempt to stop the spasoms] I hate hic[hic]hiccoughs. [conversationally]
Snake: Here, let me. [reaches for Linn's arms]
Nick: [sees Snake's tentacles emerge and immediately goes from casual awareness of her to full support]
Linn: [blinks as Snake takes her arms]
Linn: Wha[hic]what are you doing?
Snake: I thought you wanted to get rid of those hick ups.
Linn: You can [hic] do that?
Snake: There's no reason to assume it can't be done.
Nick: [Appreciates the artistry of Snake's misleading, if technically honest, confidence statement, and resolves to use it the next time she tries to call his bluff when he suggests some technique he's read about, but not actually practiced.]
Linn: [looks down as Snake's ventrals grip her wrists, effectively immobilizing her hands]
Linn: You [hic] haven't tried this be[hic]fore?
Snake: It never really seemed important before.
Linn: I see. [HIC]
Linn: [body and arms jerk with the particularly violent spasom]
Linn: [hopes that Snake can manage to figure out something more effective than the traditional brown paper bag]
Snake: [tentacles clench involuntarily at sharp movement of arms]
Linn: Ouch [unclear whether hic or clench is meant]
Snake: [readjusts grip, then zlins for cause of hic's]
Snake: [after a few moments] Oh. I zlin. It's actually quite simple.
Snake: [uses field to try to coax the guilty muscle to relax]
Linn: Tha[hic]that's nice to know. Does that [hic] mean you can [hic] stop them?
Snake: [keeps experimenting until she finds the trick to making the hiccoughs stop]
Linn: [takes several deep, hic-free experimental breaths]
Linn: I think you've got it, Snake.
Snake: Ah.
Snake: Might as well take your field the rest of the way down while we're at it.
Linn: ~~flash of surprise, tinged with alarm~~
Linn: What? I thought your friend did it.
Snake: She didn't know you were a GN-2 and backed off when you started getting worried. It won't take but a moment to finish the job.
Snake: [Takes the opportunity to do so, during Linn's surprised pause]
Linn: [jerks her head backwards into the pillow, way too late to inconvenience Snake.]
Snake: [finishes taking donation, then releases Linn]
Nick: [interested] When did you qualify her as a GN-2?
Linn: [wilts back on the bed as she realizes that this time, it really is over for the month, and recovers in time to hear Nick's question]
Linn: More to the point, what is a GN-2 in the first place?
Snake: [surprised] I would have thought that'd be covered in those brochures you were given.
Snake: A GN-2 is a general order donor from whom two levels of selyn may be drained, as opposed to a GN-1 from whom only one level may be drained. I qualified you as a GN-2, or took selyn from your second level, for the first time last month.
Linn: [feels betrayed by the information that Snake has once again done something dangerous-sounding to her, and kept it a secret from both her and apparently Nick as well.]
Linn: Why didn't you tell me?
Nick: [clearly feels he should have been informed also]
Snake: [Looks genuinely surprised]
Snake: Well, I didn't think you wanted to hear the details. You always seem like you are just trying to get it over with.
Nick: You should have told her. She has the right to know. You should have told me also, for that matter.
Snake: Good grief. What do you want me to do, start a file system like the Tecton, so you can look up people's records any time you want?
Snake: [to Linn] And as for you, perhaps it would be easier to discuss your field with you if you didn't stab me with that pointy little spike of alarm every time I bring the subject up.
Linn: [experiences said pointy alarm spike upon becoming the focus of reptillian anger]
Snake: [grimaces]
Snake: You're doing it again. Would your students keep raising their hands to answer questions if you slapped them with a ruler every time they did it?
Linn: ~~unhappy, but very serious, resignation~~
Linn: If you find my reactions so unbearable that you can't be honest with me, perhaps it would be better for both of us if I left. There must be some little town in the interior of New Washington Territory that's desperate enough to hire a teacher, no questions asked.
Snake: [glances at Nick]
Snake: You are free to go if that's what you really want.
Snake: I did not believe that the information I withheld from you was of a serious enough nature to be of consequence.
Nick: [wonders what sort of information Snake would consider important enough to pass on to Linn-or himself]
Linn: Not serious? It's my body we're talking about. Don't you think it natural for me to be interested in what happens to it? Even if the information scares me sometimes?
Snake: Interested? You have not zlinned of interest when we've talked about donation. You've zlinned of fear, worry, and denial, but never interest.
Linn: Snake, you've admitted that you took a lot more selyn from me last month than you said you would. Then this morning, you handed me over to your friend, who apparently botched the job. Why are you surprised that I'm upset, or that I want to be told about such things, where practical before they happen?
Snake: [baffled] When did I ever say I would draw only from your GN-3 level? And as for the latter, my "friend", as you refer to her, was only being careful and stopped drawing selyn when she sensed you becoming worried.
Linn: What do you mean, your friend "as I refer to her"? And you told me you'd only draw from the surface level four months ago, just before you took my donation the first time.
Nick: [wonders at the peculiar emphasis on the word "took"]
Snake: I number few people as my friends, and Tecton channels fresh off the boat are not among them. Lanyi is a business associate, at best, and that only because she was unaware at the time that I am not a Tecton employee myself.
Linn: [eyes wide] You mean you turned me over to a total stranger, one wearing a Torn By Tentacles shirt-and yes, I looked up the logo-and then you LEFT THE ROOM?
Linn: ~~betrayed~~
Snake: She is a Tecton-trained First Order Donor, as well as a Tigue... essentially the best channel the average GN-2 could hope to encounter in a lifetime. Most would argue she is more competent than I.
Snake: And I was right in the kitchen, from which I could zlin perfectly.
Snake: ~~faint disgust~~ And as for that shirt... she isn't a Torn by Tentacles fan at all. The logo was removed so she could use the other letters on the front for some sort of Out-Territory in-joke. I suggested she not wear it around the Sime Center.
Linn: You said this super-competent channel quit at the shallow layer, just like you promised you would that first time. Why have you been going deeper, and without telling me?
Snake: Lanyi stopped because you flared worry. She assumed it was because she had gone too far and you felt selyn movement.
Linn: [is not reassured at all by this hint that Snake ignored the same warning, two times now]
Nick: [is interested by the technical implications for both his transfer exercises and their Torn By Tentacles business.]
Snake: [notices Linn remains unreassured]
Snake: What? She was concerned for your wellbeing. Since she didn't know you or what you were capable of, she erred on the side of caution. In case you didn't notice, I finished your donation just now and you didn't feel a thing. You were in perfectly good hands both times.
Linn: [closes her eyes, overcome with homesickness]
Linn: I just want to be somewhere where I speak the language, and where I know what people are doing and why. I'm tired of struggling every day just to figure out what's going on, and missing half of it anyway.
Linn: [wipes a tear away, almost angrily]
Linn: Oh, don't mind me. It's just self-pity.
Snake: [stares at Linn]
Snake: [gently] Linn, I want to help you. That's all I have been trying to do from the beginning. But I can't always tell the difference between your Simephobia and your genuine desires. If I am forcing you to do something that you don't want, in donating or living here or anything else, then tell me that.
Linn: All right.
Nick: [reaches to squeeze Linn's shoulder reassuringly.]
Snake: [blinks]
Linn: Just remember, I can't agree to anything unless I know what you want to do and why. It's when you throw these things at me, without warning, and expect me to understand what's happening, that I feel so confused.
Snake: [long pause]
Snake: Well, sometimes I don't know what's happening in advance myself.
Nick: When you do know, it would help both of us if you would share your plans with us. Even a last minute warning is better than none. Linn's your friend: You owe her that much, especially when the situation isn't particularly time-critical. And for me--I can't offer you the kind of Donor support you claim to want, if you don't brief me regularly so I know what your goals are, and how you plan to reach them.
Snake: [even longer pause]
Snake: [looks at the two of them]
Snake: [looks down]
Snake: Well I can try to, ah, try to tell you two more, when possible, I mean when I know more and it seems like a good time to tell you and, uhm...
Snake: ~~ trying to deflect an uncomfortable subject ~~
Linn: [smiles and reaches out to place her hand on Snake's]
Linn: That will make life less confusing-for all of us.
Linn: ~~relief that she has managed to settle the matter to her satisfaction~~
Snake: [somewhat baffled by the quick turnabout, especially since she didn't feel she had really given them a straight answer]
Snake: Sure...
Nick: [places his hand on top of Linn's, gripping Snake's as well.]
Nick: I'm glad that's settled. Why don't we discuss your current objectives now, over a cup of tea? We could all use some.
Nick: ~~honest desire to know, concern for both Snake and Linn, and a very strong determination to hold Snake to her almost-promise~~
Snake: [zlins Nick's determination]
Snake: Uh... [weakly] sure...
Nick: [smiles and leads the way to the kitchen]