Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #104: (12/18/97)
Alea comes down the stairs, yawning and stretching.
B'cal comes out of the bathroom straightening her jacket, looking around for Snake.
B'cal: Anything else for us to do Snake?
B'cal keeps her voice down, knowing Nick is in the other room asleep.
Wise Snake glances toward the bedroom.
Wise Snake: Well, yeah, I want to discuss something with you.
B'cal: Oh?
B'cal raises an eyebrow as she seats herself.
Wise Snake seems in a dark mood, and somewhat fidgety as well.
Wise Snake seats herself opposite to B'cal.
Wise Snake: Transfe.r.
Alea goes down to the kitchen, scooping up Kadi along the way.
B'cal ~~soothing~~
B'cal: I surmised as much.
Wise Snake hesitates, formulating the right way to continue.
Alea snuggles Kadi, murmuring to her as they go for breakfast.
B'cal: Just spit it out, Snake.
B'cal: What is it?
B'cal is certain she knows what Snake has to say.
B'cal: We've worked together long enough that should should be able to talk openly by now.
Wise Snake: Bcal.. you aren't exactly an easy person to talk to. I'm trying.
B'cal nods patiently.
Alea sits down at a table with a plate of food and feeds Kadi small pieces as she eats.
Wise Snake thinks they actually haven't worked together that long at all.
Alea: Yes, sweetie, you were naughty last night. I'm gonna have to replace his shoe.
Alea: Of oucrse, I suppose we shouldn't have left it there.
Wise Snake: Tonight, in Eastcove. There's a Torn by Tentacles concert. I'm going to be performing.
Alea: You've been doing that more and more lately.
B'cal eyes narrow.
B'cal: I didn't realize you played a musical instrument.
Alea releases the cat when it tries to jump from her arms.
Alea: Go on...go play...but no more shoes.
Wise Snake: Not an instrument. I'll be taking a couple of donations on stage.
B'cal stiffens her lips thinning in anger.
B'cal: I hope you mean normal transfers. WIth the nager there, anything could happen to you if you try to burn one of those idiots.
Wise Snake looks into the distance.
Wise Snake: Originally, I was supposed to take my transfer there with Nick. On stage.
B'cal gasps, jumping up and moving back from Snake in an effort to control her shock.
B'cal: You what......
Wise Snake's eyes shift over to B'cal's, unreadable.
Wise Snake: I intended to take Nick on stage. In the ambient of pain.
B'cal forces her field under control.
B'cal only shakes her head.
B'cal: Not even a farris...ESPECIALLY a Farris, could handle that.
Wise Snake cocks her head, watching B'cal.
B'cal: YOu'd end up junct.
Alea finishes her breakfast and goes to check the boards for the day.
Wise Snake: Perhaps/
Wise Snake: .
B'cal: I'd like to have to explain how a farris in my care ended up killing someone.
B'cal shudders.
B'cal: No.
B'cal: You will NOT take transfer up there. That settles it.
Wise Snake: No? No what.
Wise Snake laughs dryly. I already told you it isn't going to happen.
B'cal thinks of the possibilites that could happen and pales.
B'cal: I just want to make sure you mean it.
B'cal studies her closely.
Wise Snake: == the 2nd part above should be in quotes ===
B'cal: I'm telling you, Snake, I have grave doubts about you even doing a transfer with that ambient.
Wise Snake looks a little crazy.
Wise Snake: Thank you for your vote of confidence.
B'cal: Oh, I have every confidence a mealy little no account channel might be able to do it. But you're much too sensitive. Farrises, despite everything else about them, are sensitive to everything.
B'cal thinks of course, the measly little no account channel would probably kill them too, but she doesn't say that.
B'cal: Why do you want to try this?
B'cal: ==transfer should be donation==
Wise Snake looks irritated.
Wise Snake: It doens't matter. That's not what I wanted to talk to you about.
B'cal frowns exasparated.
B'cal: You just wanted to see if you could irritate me, I take it.
B'cal sits back down.
B'cal: Fine.
B'cal: What is it?
Wise Snake: My transfer. My transfer and Nick's. I want them both to be out of the way before I have to go up on stage.
Alea takes part of the work that is normally left to Briel and goes into her office, figuring she'd rather do it than let Lanyi or someone else get their hands on it.
B'cal lifts a brow in surprise.
B'cal: That is certainly smart of you.
Alea thinks anyway, she might find something useful in the paperwork.
Wise Snake is looking out the window again, chewing on a thumbnail.
Wise Snake: I can't do Nick. I don't trust myself.
Wise Snake: Not this time.
B'cal sighs in great relief.
B'cal: I'm glad you realized that.
B'cal: Nick has great potential...but not this month. He should be with someone else first...maybe next month he'll be closer to you.
Wise Snake bridles at the words "he should be with someone else.
Wise Snake says nothing though, fighting back the reaction.
Wise Snake: ~~ bitter disappointment ~~
B'cal: Give it a month, then you can work Nick up to a Farris level.
B'cal gets up and goes to Snake and touches her elbow.
B'cal ~~reassurance~~
B'cal: Sometimes it's hard to make the right decision, Snake.
B'cal: I find that you are able to make this decision while so close to your own transfer date....admirable.
Wise Snake resists the crawling wrongness of B'cal's touch, then forces herself to accept this as her new transfer mate.
Wise Snake: ~~meshes fields~~
Wise Snake: I'm a week early, b'cal.
B'cal: I realize that.
Wise Snake: But I must get on schedule with Nick. I must.
B'cal: Again, a very wise decision.
Wise Snake thinks it's B'cal's need-to-give talking, but wisely says nothing.
Alea smiles when she notes these are the weekly stats on selyn collection.
Wise Snake: So I guess it will be you. And I will find another for Nick.
B'cal sets mode: +o LinnH
B'cal: You don't want him to wait a month?
Wise Snake: No. He's not growing fast enough. He must be pushed.
B'cal: I agree but I know this is hard.
B'cal: Fine.
B'cal thinks.
B'cal decides it's not her problem.
B'cal thinks her only problem now is to reassure Snake that all is going to be fine and that she's going to have a good transfer.
Linn gets out of bed, yawning in uncharacteristic fashion.
Alea goes to the front desk and gets the books to double check everything and make sure things 'add' up.
B'cal sets mode: +o NickR
B'cal: Are you ready to walk me home now?
Wise Snake hugs herself and looks out the window, wondering how she will break the news to Briel and how to control the results.
Wise Snake: No... I don't think so.
B'cal: Or would you rather...
B'cal nods.
Wise Snake: You stay here. I have to go to the Sime Center and bring back the person I want to do Nick.
Wise Snake:'s transfer.
Wise Snake rises restlessly.
Linn gathers her clothes and stumbles to the shower.
Wise Snake: It's for the best, I hope you understand.. I'll have to negotiate.
Wise Snake thinks with B'cal around she'll never get anything out of Briel.
B'cal: You're thinking about someone from the Center?
B'cal shakes her head.
Wise Snake: Who else? He needs a First.
Wise Snake: Briel is due for transfer today.
B'cal: Good luck.
B'cal chuckles.
Wise Snake looks at B'cal with narrowed eyes.
Wise Snake: What was that for?
B'cal: I doubt .... you can check..but I jsut can't see her doing that.
B'cal shrugs.
Linn gradually wakes up under the hot water.
Wise Snake: She's been making laterals at Nick for months.
B'cal: Yeah and she's scared of any Donor who she doesn't know well.
B'cal: I read the report about Jon Drake
You are now known as Briel.
Wise Snake: Nick isn't Jon Drake.
Wise Snake positively.
B'cal sighs.
B'cal: Look, if you can get her, I'll monitor with you. Okay?
Wise Snake wishes B'cal wasn't so keen on making her nerves into a raging mess.
Wise Snake: That was the idea, yes.
Briel goes into her office and shuts the door very softly.
Linn dries off and dresses.
B'cal lifts an eyebrow in surprise.
B'cal: You know, Snake. There's hope for you yet.
Briel: That shendoni fleckin' Farris.
Briel trembling.
Briel: One more shenned comment about my lack of Donor and her own Donor and I swear...I swaer, my first post act will be to strangle her.
Linn brushes her hair carefully, but is unable to do anything about the dark circles under her eyes.
Wise Snake shakes her head and looks at B'cal in astonishment.
B'cal nods curtly.
B'cal: Don't expect to hear that again.
Wise Snake mutters.
Wise Snake goes to the closet and finds her cloak, throws it on.
Wise Snake: Oh, and B'cal? Take it easy on my roommates. I still want to have some when I get home.
Wise Snake leaves the house.
B'cal sits down and grabs up the paper.
B'cal: Don't ahve much choice since I am your transfer partner[mutters]
Wise Snake trudges to the Sime Center.
Briel shudders, then forces herself to take a deep breath.
Briel: I would give anything under the sun not to have to get near Tramila for the rest of her stay.
Linn looks at her reflection in the mirror, shrugs, then heads down the hall.
Briel goes wearily into the lobby concentrating on one foot in front of the other and not all the joyous laughing selyn fields around her.
B'cal looks over the morning paper at Linn's entrance and sneers though she doesn't say anything.
B'cal decides asking after one's health doesn't break Snake's rules.
B'cal: You look like death. Didn't sleep last night?
Wise Snake climbs the front steps to the Sime Center.
Briel gets to the front desk and realizes some of her reports are missing.
Linn notices B'cal's sneer, and decides the less said the better.
Linn: Not well, no.
B'cal: Worried about the transfer today..or rather...transfers?
Briel: Where the shenned...who the....Alea!
Wise Snake enters the Center and spots Briel.
Briel runs a hand through her hair.
Briel: No, I don't want Alea. That shenned FARRIS is probably with her.
B'cal: Don't worry, they won't get near you, probably.
Wise Snake winces at Briel's tone and nager.
Briel sees Snake.
Briel: WHere's B'cal!
Briel forces her voice down.
Wise Snake backs off slightly, wary.
Briel: She isn't here.
Briel: Excuse me, Snake.
Wise Snake: Yes. She is working with me.
Briel: It's been rather, hectic today.
Briel: Ah.
Briel nods.
Briel: What can we do for you.
Wise Snake: I want to talk to you/
Wise Snake: .
Briel wary.
Briel: Me?
B'cal watches Linn.
B'cal decides asking Linn about her dress wouldn't violate that promise either.
B'cal: Old dress?
B'cal: It's certainly not borrowed from Snake since she doesn't wear them, unless it was from before she changed over.
B'cal eyes Linn's figure.
Wise Snake: Yes. Is there somewhere...?
Briel: My office.
Linn: Yes.
B'cal grins, her eyes narrow. She nods.
B'cal: THought so.
Linn shrugs, and head for the kitchen to make tea.
Nick starts showing signs of life.
Briel goes into her office.
B'cal folds the paper and stands, going over to the row of books.
Wise Snake follows.
Linn puts on the water and sets out two mugs, thinking that Nick will be up soon.
B'cal looks over them and remembers first year with disgust.
Briel seats herself, hands trembling slightly.
Briel: Would you like tea?
Wise Snake: Sure.
Nick rolls over, then remembers that Snake was going to talk to Briel today.
B'cal: Still, the Farris is trying.
Briel gets up and pours two cups, bringing one back to Snake.
Briel: How can I help you?
Wise Snake: Thanks. [takes cup]
Nick sits up, suddly much more awake than usual at this time of the morning.
Briel moves back around the desk with her own cup.
Wise Snake waits for Nick to sit down.
Wise Snake: === nick = Briel ==
B'cal seats herself, setting her cup down.
Nick climbs out of bed with more speed than a racing sloth.
Wise Snake: About your transfer. Who are you assigned to?
B'cal stiffens.
B'cal: ==scratch==
Briel stiffens.
Briel: Why?
Briel forces her hands flat against the desk.
Briel looks Snake in the eye.
Wise Snake meets Briel'
Briel: Because if you require another Donor..we don't ahve one.
Briel: That's right...Not even for me.
Nick collects one of his better outfits and heads for the shower, humming off tune.
Wise Snake: S gaze steadily, expression somewhere between distant and injured.
Briel: I'm stuck with that shendoni ....
Wise Snake finds Briel.
Briel: Do you know, she had the nerve to flaunt her Donor in front of me.
Wise Snake:'s reaction odd.
Briel realizes she is overreactiing and takes a deep breath.
Briel: Tramila.
Wise Snake massages her chin, regarding Briel.
Briel: Tramila is who I'm stu...working with today.
Briel: Her and her Donor.
Linn decides that if things work out, Nick and Snake will want to celebrate before heading for Eastcove and the concert.
Briel smiles thinly.
Wise Snake does not appear to be either in hard need or desperate for a Donor.
Wise Snake waits patiently for Briel's tirade to finish.
Linn thumbs through one of her cookbooks as the water heats, and finds a recipe for an applesauce cake.
Briel: Actually, if you reuqire Tramila's help, I'm sure she'd love to help you, once she gets done reminding you of how wonderful it is to have a Donor for two months in a row. One promised to her.
Wise Snake: Are you done?
Briel shrugs
Briel: You asked.
Briel sighs.
Wise Snake waits some more.
Briel: Yes, Snake. I'm sorry. What was it you wanted?
Briel: Do you know she was the only one avaliable. I had to assign myself to her?
Briel shudders.
Nick finishes showering and dresses, almost awake despite not having had his morning tea yet.
Wise Snake thinks Briel seems scatterbrained and not in good control, a bad sign.
B'cal moves back over to the couch to sit down with a new book.
Wise Snake is no longer sure how to approach Briel on the delicate matter she must speak of.
Briel picks up her tea, glancing over to the garden where she sees Tramila playing.
Briel shakes her head in disgust.
Linn makes a pot of tea and checks for cake ingredients as it steeps.
Wise Snake frowns.
Briel rubs at her neck wearily before turning back to Snake.
Briel: I must again apologize hajene for my lapse.
Nick dresses, and manages to keep his eyes more than three quarters open as he heads for the kitchen.
Wise Snake's eyebrows raise.
Briel: It's been hard, knowing I have to take trasnfer from her when all she has done for the last two days is flaunt the fact that she has a Donor waiting for her.
Wise Snake: Tramila?
B'cal sees Nick and sneers.
Briel: Yes, Tramila.
Wise Snake thinks that didn't sound like the Tramila she had known, at all.
B'cal: Is the wonder Gen ready for his big day?
Wise Snake decides she is better off gone, that she doesn't have to know about these things first hand.
Wise Snake: Well.
Briel: It has been rather strange. I think she's giddy over it.
Wise Snake waits politely.
Briel: So, now you know. MInd answering a question for me?
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Nick looks around, and notices that B'cal is alone in the living room.
Wise Snake: Okay? [warily]
Nick: Where's Snake?
Briel: Why did you want to know?
Briel curious.
Nick does not think for one moment that Snake is in the kitchen.
B'cal smiles at Nick hoping the smile will get to him as nothing else does.
B'cal thinks, after all, Snake did not say she couldn't SMILE at them.
Nick waits for an answer, unwilling to let B'cal's games ruin the day for him.
B'cal: Yeah, I bet you're really looking forward to it. Great. Good. I can't wait to monitor you.
B'cal nods.
B'cal goes back to perusing the book.
Linn hears Nick's voice and pours him some tea.
Nick: Where is Snake?
Wise Snake: I'm still trying to decide if I should tell you.
Linn starts to prepare Nick's breakfast.
B'cal shrugs, thinking since he didn't answer her question he must be upset and therefore, she doesn'te want to upset snake by picking a fight.
B'cal: She'll be here in time for your transfer...probably.
Nick: So she's gone to talk to Briel?
Briel: Snake, I've got a lot of work to do. WIth veraik gone and so many new staffers, I really shouldn't be sitting here.
Briel: So, just tell me. What's on your mind?
B'cal looks up in mock astonishment.
B'cal: Now how did you figure that out?
Nick: Good.
Wise Snake shivers.
Wise Snake: This is too hard. I can't do this.
Wise Snake puts down her tea, and gets up to leave.
Nick goes to the kitchen to get some of the tea he can smell brewing.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry I took you from your business.
B'cal returns to the book.
Briel sighs and stands.
Briel: Is it something about B'cal taht brought you here?
Wise Snake: No.. it.
Wise Snake:'s...
Briel just doesn't know how to read Snake when she gets in these moods.
Wise Snake: I can't... you're pushing me too fast. I can't just... just talk about it so fast.
Briel rubs at the back of her neck, feeling a headache starting.
Briel glances up at Snake.
Briel zlins Snake, concerned.
Wise Snake: ~~ upset but hiding it ~~
Briel: What is it?
Briel motions Snake back to a chair.
Nick sits down at the table with tea and breakfast.
Wise Snake reluctantly sinks back down into the chair.
Linn sips tea and nibbles on some toast, too keyed up to be really hungry.
Briel folds her hands, putting on a professional air since she realizes Snake is here for something more than chatting or drugs.
Briel: Fine, Snake. Take your time. I have all the time in the world.
Wise Snake picks up the tea again and takes a few sips.
Wise Snake finds it is unbelieveably difficult to hand Nick over to this woman who now seems like practically a stranger.
Wise Snake sweats.
Wise Snake: It isn't.. about B'cal. It's... Nick. [breathing hard]
Wise Snake: He's not ready for me.
Wise Snake: I have to take B'cal instead.
Briel leans forward concerned.
Briel: That's what she's there for, Snake.
Briel: Nick will understand if he's any type of Donor.
Wise Snake: I'd... [stops when Briel speaks]
Wise Snake: I know.
Wise Snake: He does.
Briel nods.
Briel zlins snake, trying to figure out what must be the problem.
Wise Snake: ~~ deep internal struggle - mostly shielded ~~
Briel: And...
Wise Snake: ~~jealousy~~
Wise Snake: And I'd...
Wise Snake: [struggles]
Briel looks surprised.
Wise Snake: I'd like you to be his first time.
Briel mouth drops open.
Briel ~~shock~~
Wise Snake: Today. Now. Without paperwork. In my living room. Take it or leave it.
Briel: Now?!
Briel: I...I...
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake: ~~desperate for it to be over with~~
Briel thinks hard.
Briel: I can't do it without a monitor, Snake.
Briel: You know that has been MY condition from the first.
Wise Snake puts down the tea and gets up and flees the room.
Briel: I...it's because of my past and the unknown of him.
Wise Snake: Shidoni... this is unbelieveable.
Briel jumps up and augments after Snake.
Wise Snake walks towards the front door of the Center, upset.
Briel: Stop, Snake.
Wise Snake: Don't - I can't deal with this anymore. I'm going to freak out if you drag it out any longer.
Wise Snake turns suddenly on Briel.
Briel: You introduced this topic. The least you can do is finish it.
Nick polishes off his breakfast, trying hard to keep from grinning with anticipation.
Wise Snake: Briel, it's finished. I can't have Veraik or Tramila or any of their kind in my house zlinning my Donor's qualification.
Briel: Then how am I suppose to do this without a monitor?
Wise Snake: I guess you can't.
Briel: I don't give a flip about hte paper work, or anything else...
Wise Snake: ~~savagely~~
Briel moves back from Snake, wary.
Wise Snake: I'll be there, and B'cal. If we aren't good enough for you, then....
Wise Snake turns her back on Briel and stalks for the front door.
Briel: B'cal will be there as monitor?
Briel: Well SHen, Snake. I can't read your mind.
Briel stalks forward.
Briel: YOu have to tell me these things.
Briel: You are saying you'll be monitoring,t hen with B'cal there too...correct?
Wise Snake: Yes. [tightly]
Briel thinks quickly about transfer with tramila or the possibility of Nick with B'cal there for Snake if Snake can't handle her taking Nick.
Briel also thinks yes, if something happens to her, then Snake would be there to help her.
Briel looks at Snake.
Briel: I'll do it.
Briel: I trust B'cal...and you with a competent Donor at your side.
Wise Snake not-quite-meets Briel's eyes, her own bright and insane-looking.
Wise Snake: Do you.
Wise Snake: Well then, you had best come now.
Wise Snake leaves the Center.
Wise Snake walks quickly towards home.
Briel nods and grabs her cloak. SHe goes to the front desk, quickly rearranging the schedule and tells them when she'll be back.
Nick finishes his breakfast and pours himself another cup of tea, trying to find the calm he'll require.
Briel leaves.
Linn is also seeking calm, and not doing as bad as she would have a few weeks before.
B'cal is sitting in the living room, enjoying the peace and quiet.
Briel hurries down the street, unable to believe the fact that she might actually have Donor transfer instead of B'cal.
Briel is certain someone heard her pleas.
Wise Snake continues toward her house, feeling trapped in the situation.
Briel is nervous, but thinks with a Donor like B'cal--no matter how much she dislikes her--or a First Order Channel, that things should be okay.
Nick knows he'll have to strike a delicate balance to give another channel transfer in Snake's presence, without driving her insane.
Briel acutally thinks this may be the safest she's felt since leaving her household to work at Bender Cove.
Wise Snake climbs the steps to her front door and unlocks it, dreading what will happen but just wanting to get it over with.
B'cal hears the click and stands, immediately going to Snake to offer full support for the ordeal she knows Snake will be facing.
Nick looks up as Snake enters, managing to project welcome without temptation.
Nick can tell just from looking at Snake that Briel agreed.
Briel calms herself and goes on to Snake's house.
Wise Snake goes into the living room and sits down beside B'cal without saying anything.
Wise Snake still shivering.
B'cal trudges up the steps of Snake's house, relieved that Snake is looking out for her Donor and trusts Briel to qualify him.
B'cal: ==BRIEL==
Wise Snake tries to concentrate B'cal as her partner instead of Nick, without much success.
Nick brings his tea into the living room and sits in a chair some distance from Snake and B'cal.
B'cal: You'll do fine.
B'cal ~~soothing/promise~~
Linn decides that the best thing she can do is stay in the kitchen and bake.
Briel signals.
Linn has no desire to face Briel in need.
Nick raises an eyebrow to Snake, asking if he should answer the door.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: [shortly]
Nick smiles sympathetically at Snake, then goes to answer the door.
B'cal focuses all of her attention on Snake.
Briel nods shortly to Nick.
Nick's attention is caught by Briel's need as the door opens.
Briel: Hello, Nick.
Wise Snake watches.
Nick lets his field fall into synch with Briel.
Nick: Hello, Briel.
Briel accepts Nick's field then turns to Snake.
Nick finds it a little awkward because Briel doesn't respond as quickly to his efforts as Snake.
Briel ignores B'cal so as not to bother Snake anymore than she is certain she is already bothering her.
Briel: Okay, Snake. I'm here. How do we want to do this?
Briel removes her cloak and tosses it across a chair.
Nick can feel his selyn production peaking in response to Briel's need.
Briel forces herself to concentrate on Snake until they work out the procedure.
Wise Snake indicates the loveseat across the coffee table from the couch they are on.
Wise Snake: There.
Linn keeps her attention strictly on the cake batter, not wanting to know what's happening out in the living room.
Wise Snake: [voice comes out as a whisper]
B'cal reaches out and touches Snake's shoulder
Briel nods and motions to Nick.
Nick moves with Briel to the loveseat.
Wise Snake is sitting directly next to B'cal.
Briel seats herself then zlins Nick.
Briel: Are you in agreement with this?
Nick makes himself ignore Snake and let the attraction to Briel grow.
Nick: Yes.
Briel releases her control and allows Nick to feel all of her need.
Briel: Let's do it then.
Nick feels his attraction to Briel peak as he feels her full need.
Nick reaches for Briel's hands.
Briel goes hyper zlinning.
Wise Snake slides hyper as she zlins them.
Briel takes Nick's offered hands and wraps the tentacles around them.
Nick: ~~overstuffed Gen aching with too much selyn~~
Wise Snake's hand clenches on B'cal's arm as the two touch.
Briel pulls Nick gently forward and seats her lips against his.
Briel hesitates.
Nick lets the barriers between the dissolve, starting the selyn flow.
Briel begins to draw.
Briel ~~need/deep/dark/desolate~~
Nick feels the flow jump as Briel tries to fill the emptiness he can feel.
Briel increases the draw, filling the aching void.
Nick lets himself revel in the pleasure of feeding that emptiness.
Briel's draw jumps when she feels Nick's pleasure and draws in earnest...pulling selyn at a fast rate.
Nick hadn't expected it to feel quite this good, even after the exercises he'd been doing with Snake.
Briel feels the rushing, filling her system,
Briel ~~joy, pleasure, fulfillment~~
Nick relaxes his barriers, encouraging Briel to draw even faster.
Briel pulls the last bit of selyn for her system, feeling satisfaction as she does.
Briel ~~release of need~~
Linn puts the cake in the oven.
Nick allows the flow to slow and stop, already regretting that it will be a full month before he can experience this satisfaction again.
Briel holds Nick Steady feeling the selyn pulsing in time with her selyn consumption rate, before finally sitting back and slowly releasing Nick, knwoing she will once again start the consumption that will lead her back into need in a month.
Briel: Congradulations Nick.
Nick stretches luxuriously, and breaks into a broad, sleekly satisfied smile.
Briel stares allowing everything to focus.
Nick: Thank you, Briel.
Briel nods.
Nick glances at Snake, to see how she is taking the success of the experiment.
Wise Snake has B'cal's arm in a death grip and looks very pale.
Briel feels the emotions of the last two weeks, the desertaion of veraik, the problems with Tramila and a million other little things that have happened and drops her head into her ands and shudders.
Wise Snake fades down from hypoconsciousness to duo very reluctantly.
B'cal grinning painfully.
B'cal: You're fine, Snake.
Nick: Take your transfer, Snake. We're fine.
Briel begins to weep softly.
B'cal looks at Snake in question.
Wise Snake: ~~ depression/innerpain ~~
Wise Snake shields herself.
Nick recalls himself to his job and puts an arm around Briel to comfort her and encourage her post reaction.
B'cal: Next month, Snake...think how wonderful it'll be.
Wise Snake realizes she never could have given Nick what he got from Briel this month.
Briel allows it, weeping as emotion after emotion to pour out in her weeping.
Wise Snake releases B'cals arm and stands, turning away from the others in the room.
B'cal stands, moving between briel and nick and Snake as she waits.
Linn mixes butter, brown sugar, and cocoanut to make a frosting for the cake.
Wise Snake struggles to regain control as depression begins to give way to more dangerous emotions.
Wise Snake: ~~bitterness~~
Briel shudders trying to regain control.
Nick: Don't try to hold it in, Briel.
Wise Snake seals over the feelings in a shell of cold calmness, then turns to face them again.
Wise Snake: If the two of you.. want... privacy..
Briel dissolves into tears again
Wise Snake: [finds this difficult to say, but says it anyway]
B'cal moves over to Snake.
Briel whispers to Nick.
Briel: I think she needs you more than I do right now.
Nick shakes his head at Snake.
Briel forces herself away from Nick and stands before getting her cloak.
Wise Snake rests on B'cal's field, ignoring the others.
Briel: He's qualified, Snake. Good luck...next...month.
Briel nods toward Nick without looking at him and goes out the dor.
Nick goes to Snake, careful not to let his depleted nager interfere with B'cal.
Wise Snake: ~~pain~~
Briel finds the nearest area to sit down where she won't be observed and finishes crying out her post.
Wise Snake: Nick, you should go take care of your post. It might be the last you have for a while.
Wise Snake: [roughly]
Nick raises a questioning eyebrow at B'cal, asking if she'd prefer that he leave.
B'cal surprisingly shrugs without any nasty meaning behidn it.
Briel finishes crying, then reaches down for a handfull of snow, washing her face with it quickly beofre standing and starting toward the Center.
Nick decides that he'd have a rather hard time celebrathing his postreaction if he was wondering if Snake had aborted.
Nick: I'll stay.
Wise Snake says nothing.
B'cal turns to Snake.
B'cal: Do you want to do transfer now or later?
Wise Snake turns away from them both.
Wise Snake: Not now. I can't do it now.
B'cal nods.
Wise Snake: Next week. When I am really due.
B'cal: Okay.
B'cal: Do you want to go for a walk now? Or maybe just sit and talk?
Wise Snake believes if she could retain control through what she just witnessed, she would be able to retain control through anything... even a Torn by Tentacles concert.
Wise Snake considers, unable for the moment to be sure exactly what she wants.
B'cal ~~willing to give~~
B'cal: If you want to lay down, relax for a bit, rest....
Linn takes the cake out of the oven and spreads the frosting, setting water on for tea and preparing the large pot.
Wise Snake: Maybe I will sit down.
Wise Snake sits down on the couch again.
Wise Snake darts a glance at Nick, looking haunted.
Briel ~~desire to give~~
Briel: ==BCAL==
Nick: Snake, we'll work it out.
Wise Snake's attention on Nick is thwarted by B'cal's field.
B'cal lays her hand over snake's sheaths.
B'cal: You have a concert tonight, snake.
Wise Snake twitches, but forces herself to remain still under B'cal's touch.
Wise Snake: I'm not really in need yet, B'cal, you know that.
Wise Snake: ~~despairing~~
B'cal: I know that.
B'cal: I'm worried though, about tonight.
B'cal: If you really want to wait, I'll wait...but I'm here if you change your mind.
Linn pokes her head around into the living room, checking to see if there is something to celebrate.
Linn: There's tea and cake.
B'cal: As a matter of fact...if you change your mind, I'll just take a nap here today in the other room.
B'cal: That way, if you DO decide to take transfer today, I'll be here for you.
B'cal: You don't need to be alone today.
Nick grins at Linn, feeling delighted with the whole world. And even B'cal, as well.
Nick: That sounds wonderful.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Okay. Do it.
B'cal tries to interpret what Snake means, and decides snake didnt' say she didn't want transfer.
Linn sees where B'cal's hand is resting and looks away.
B'cal smiles, running her hand up Snake's arms by her laterals.
B'cal turns the full force of her desire to serve to hit snake.
Wise Snake had actually meant for B'cal to sleep in the other room, but all thoughts of this (and anything else) are utterly erased by the force of B'cal's desire to give.
Briel finally stands, wrapping her cloak around her and goes back toward the Center.
Wise Snake's tentacles crawl as her intil is prematurely raised, already having been given a head start by Nick's transfer.
Linn sees Snake's tentacles licking out of their sheaths and backs away, eyes widening.
B'cal reaches over with her other hand and runs it along snake's arms.
B'cal ~~desire to give~~
B'cal: I'm here Snake.
Wise Snake seizes B'cal's arms with a despairing little cry.
B'cal cointinues to trail her fingers up and down the sheaths, projecting need to give.
Wise Snake: ~~ desperation ~~
B'cal grins joyfully, leaning into SNake's desperation.
Linn misjudges her angle and bumps into the wall, banging her head painfully.
Wise Snake's tentacles lash around B'cal's arms, the laterals finding their places.
Wise Snake feels Linn's pain dimly through B'cal's greater field and the thing within her that nees pain cries out for it.
Wise Snake: === nees == needs ====
B'cal sucks in a sharp breath when Snake tightens her tentacles over the bruised arm, then forces her mind from that to Snake.
Wise Snake hisses at B'cal's pain and darts forward to take a 5th contact.
Briel trots up the stairs to the Center.
Linn sees Snake strike like, well, a snake!
B'cal gives in willingly to Snake. ~~anticipation~~
Wise Snake gives in to need.
Wise Snake draws.
Nick watches with interest, taking mental notes on how B'cal handles Snake.
B'cal ~~surprise~~
B'cal didn't remember Snake being this fast.
B'cal ~~pleasure to give~~
Wise Snake's draw speed quickly accelerates toward her maximum.
Wise Snake: ~~voracious~~
B'cal ~~hesisates as speed shrieks through her~~
Wise Snake goes insane at the hint of resistance, and goes all out, seeking more and faster, no matter what the price.
B'cal relaxes focusing on giving all
Linn sees Snake's vicious, gleeful snarl and shudders.
B'cal ~~only wants to see Snake get satisfaction/fulfillment~~
Linn plasters herself back against the wall.
B'cal shudders at the pain the speed causes but refuses to fight her channel and cause a possible abort.
B'cal instead focuses all of her energy on satisfying Snake.
Wise Snake peaks briefly, agony/ecstasy.
Briel goes into the Center and tosses her cloak onto the cloak rack, looking around the Center to see if everything looks okay.
Wise Snake's scorching rate of draw fades as her less-than-usual need is fulfilled.
B'cal projects pleasure and fulfillment.
Linn sees B'cal's pain and lifts a hand to her mouth and bites it to keep from screaming.
Wise Snake ends it.
Wise Snake withdraws from the 5th contact and collapses against B'cal, tentacles still in place, eyes closed.
B'cal holds Snake.
B'cal ~~pale/sweaty~~
Linn stops gnawing on her hand and gradually relaxes as she realizes that everyone is alive and pretty much well.
Nick sees B'cal's shockiness and moves closer, concerned.
B'cal looks up at Nick's movement and opens her mouth to reply before slumping down.
Wise Snake follows B'cal down, still clinging automatically.
Wise Snake's eyes open, in evident confusion.
Wise Snake looks at Nick and Linn like she doesn't know them.
Linn gasps as B'cal collapses.
Briel goes down the hall, feeling much better than she has in over two months.
Nick immediately goes to Snake's side.
Briel grins sweetly at Tramila as she passes her.
B'cal groans.
Linn's horror fades just a bit at this evidence that B'cal isn't quite dead.
Nick puts a hand on Snake's tentacle sheaths, drawing her duoconscious.
Nick: Snake, I think you'd better check B'cal over.
Wise Snake becomes more aware, though still in recovery.
Wise Snake: What?
Wise Snake's tentacles withdraw sluggishly from B'cal's arms.
B'cal gasps as the one set of tentacles draw across her bruised arm.
Nick nods towards B'cal.
B'cal eyelids flutter.
Wise Snake focuses on B'cal, only gradually becoming aware of what happened.
Wise Snake: B'cal?
B'cal opens her eyes, blinking, slowly focusing on Snake.
Wise Snake: Nick, get fosebine.
B'cal: Huughhh...
Wise Snake: Shh.... shhh [gently] B'cal, just lie still... you've been burned.
B'cal: Shhhheeeeennnn....
B'cal: Fast [whsiper] fast...er...sheeennn.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry, B'cal. I didn't know....
B'cal groans again blinking.
Wise Snake hadn't known her speed had been increasing so rapidly in the time since their other transfer.
B'cal: Good transfer? [to snake]
Nick hurries to the bathroom to find fosebine.
Wise Snake adjusts B'cal's position slightly on the couch, to be more comfortable.
Wise Snake: It was fine, B'cal. It was fine. [soothingly]
B'cal sighs, nodding slowly.
Wise Snake: You're going to have to rest for a while.
B'cal: Worth..it....then.
Nick is momentarily bewildered by the many forms of the drug available, then finds the old jar and mixes up a double dose.
Nick brings the fosebine back to the living room and hands it to Snake.
Wise Snake: Here's some fosebine, B'cal. Try to have some.
Linn collapses in the closest chair, shuddering with reaction.
B'cal eyelids flutter and she reaches for the fosebine.
Wise Snake: Nick... see to Linn.
Wise Snake helps B'cal take the fosebine, supporting her.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry...
B'cal grimaces at the taste.
Wise Snake: I really didn't know.
B'cal: No. It's...fine...I know.
Wise Snake wonders what this means for next month... will Nick be even close to ready? Can B'cal even be used again?
B'cal: I should have expected it...too much like Tramila in that way.
Wise Snake: ~~concern~~
Wise Snake: ~~bewilderment~~ Tramila?
B'cal: Ask Tramila what she did to me once....[faint smile]
Nick moves between Snake and Linn, hoping that his depleted field will block at least some of her nager.
B'cal: You're fast..just like she is.
Linn waves Nick off and tries to breath deeply, fighting for control.
Wise Snake: Maybe we share a father. ~~disgusted~~
Wise Snake: Just rest.
Wise Snake brushes B'cal's disarrayed hair back from her forehead.
B'cal: Heaven forbid..that old coot...
B'cal sighs.
B'cal: I should be supporting you, Snake, not this way.
B'cal frowns.
Wise Snake: Don't try to overdo it. A burning is nothing to ignore.
B'cal opens eyes, haunted with past memories.
Wise Snake: You'll require bed rest, for several days... a week if I have any say in it.
Linn tries to reconcile Snake's current tender care for B'cal with the vicious attacker of before.
B'cal looks at snake, then finally nods.
B'cal: You're right, hajene.
Wise Snake: Why don't you stay here for a couple of days, and then when you can be moved we'll have a coach from the Center come and pick you up so you can rest some more there.
B'cal wonders if Nick's speed will be up to Snake..just how pliable he is still.
B'cal nods, drifting
B'cal: Nick?
Wise Snake desperately hopes that with B'cal's injury, and Nick's still being so green, she hasn't missed her window of opportunity... for life.
Nick moves closer to the couch.
Nick: Yes?
B'cal: Stick with Snake. Make sure she gets as much milage as possible out of this transfer. SHe'll require it for next month to be what it should.
Nick nods, recognizing good advice when it's offered.
Nick: I will.
B'cal nods.
B'cal: We still have time Snake. You'll make it.
Nick's attitude towards Snake is more than a little posessive.
B'cal sighs closes her eyes.
Linn wonders how Nick can still want Snake, after seeing her burn B'cal so viciously.
Briel goes into her office to catch up on work, but finds her mind drifting.
Wise Snake: She'll require some blankets, and a pillow. [softly] Let's keep her here, she shouldn't be moved yet.
Linn pulls herself together, and goes to fetch the bedding.
Nick is so overjoyed at being a real Donor at last that he isn't too upset at the prospect of having B'cal around for the next week.
Briel thinks fondly of transfers back at her household and how much she misses the time they had to work out the entire post.
Briel looks down at her papers and moves them around absently on her desk.
Linn brings a pillow, with a sheet and two blankets folded on top.
Linn hesitates, just out of arm's reach of Snake.
Briel sighs and picks them up, straightening them in a neat, perfect little pile, then sets them in the middle of her desk.
Briel realizes she is doing something Alea might do and gets up and moves away from her desk.
Briel decides the business of the center can wait, she should walk of the extra energy.
You are now known as Alea.
Wise Snake realizes she would have killed him, had they tried.
Wise Snake: Nick...
Nick puts a comforting arm around Snake.
Briel snatches up her cloak and goes to take a walk to get rid of the excess energy.
Wise Snake sighs and touches Nick's arm, then turns to look at Linn.
Wise Snake: Linn,
Wise Snake: [hesitates]
You are now known as Bcal.
B'cal sighs softly and moves to her side.
Linn looks up at Snake, her field a strange mixture of trust and nervousness.
Linn sets mode: +o Bcal
Linn sets mode: +o Briel
Briel stretches her arms up over her head, touching her tentacles, smiling as the brisk end of the year breeze blows over her as she walks.
B'cal decides a few things are going to change when she gets back to the Center.
B'cal: ==Briel==
Wise Snake zlins Linn, unable to ascertain exactly what she is feeling through the fog of transfer-induced loss of sensitivity.
Wise Snake squints at Linn's face.
Briel grins with anticipation.
Nick sees what Snake is attempting and adjusts his field to sharpen her perception.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry you had to see that, Linn.
Wise Snake: It's... it wasn't... exactly... what it looked like.
Wise Snake knows it was, unfortunately, exactly what it looked like.
Linn wonders what else it could possibly be.
Wise Snake: B'cal knew what would happen, and she enticed me into transfer before my time anyway.
Wise Snake knows, of course, that B'cal didn't know ALL of what would happen.. particularly the speed.
Wise Snake glum.
Wise Snake: But I... I can't expect you to forgive me for it.
Briel stretches again exhuberantly, thinking she should have stayed around and seen if Nick had wanted to pursue post further now that she is feeling very relaxed.
Briel thinks of Snake, and decides they did what was best...snake could not have handled her there around "her" Donor any longer.
Wise Snake waits, and when there is no response from Linn she sighs and pulls away from Nick.
Linn: Snake...
Wise Snake: I have to go out. I will be back in while.
Wise Snake swings back toward Linn.
Wise Snake: What? [cautiously]
Briel decides there is a nice young entusiastic Channel back at the Donor who has been making it well understood he'd been interested...and decides to see if he's around, later.
Briel: ==Donor - Center==
Linn: I'm not going to blame you for being a Sime, or for having limits.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Linn: And I'm very glad that things worked out as well as they did.
Wise Snake: You are?
Linn: I've baked Nick's favorite cake. Won't you stay to help us celebrate?
Wise Snake hesitates.
Wise Snake: All right.
Wise Snake does feel a mite peckish.
Wise Snake glances at B'cal's quiet form and points at the kitchen with a tentacle.
B'cal heads back to the Center, her step lighter than it has been in a long time as she thinks about the new plans she has for the center.
B'cal: ==Briel==
Linn leads the way to the kitchen.
Nick pours the tea while Linn cuts the apple cake.
Wise Snake carefully scrapes off the coconut frosting onto Nick's plate, then has a few bites of cake.
Linn: Snake? About this concert?
Wise Snake grimaces, then puts her fork down.
Wise Snake: What about it? [prepared for an ugly scene, but not wanting one]
Linn: Nick said that manager was very insistant on having me on stage for the schoolteacher song.
Briel is now known as Alea.
Wise Snake: Yeah, well, I told him I didn't think I could talk you into it. What can he do? Nothing.
Linn: Except refuse to let you do it again next month.
Linn: The math hasn't changed. A Torn By Tentacles concert is still the best chance for you and Nick.
Linn: You may be able to work something different out before then...but just in case you can't, we'd best stay on Manny's good side.
Wise Snake: Just what are you getting at?
Wise Snake finds the thought of doing next month's transfer at a Torn by Tentacles concert well nigh unbearable right at the moment.
Linn: If it will keep that chance open, in case you two require it...I'll do the show.
Linn: ~~fierce loyalty for both Snake and Nick~~
Wise Snake stares at Linn, at a loss.
Wise Snake: You... what???
Wise Snake: Linn, I...
Wise Snake: I'm speechless.
Nick is also suprised and touched by Linn's offer.
Wise Snake glances at Nick.
Wise Snake: Well, uh, Linn, you understand that you will be called upon to pretend you are being attacked by a berserker?
Nick glances back at Snake.
Linn: Yes.
Linn: Believe me, that's one Torn By Tentacles song that every teacher has heard often enough to memorize.
Linn: It was their first big hit, and when I worked at the high school, the students used to sing it whenever they wanted to annoy the teachers.
Wise Snake: What do you think that will do for your reputation as a teacher?
Linn: With the proper makeup, no one will recognize me, even if any of my former students are sober enough to do so.
Linn: And...I'm no longer teaching in Eastcove.
Wise Snake: Hmmmm....
Wise Snake: Well of course it's your choice. If you want to do it, I certainly won't stop you.
Wise Snake: I mean... Linn... thanks.
Wise Snake reaches out for Linn's hand.
Linn squeezes Snake's hand.
Wise Snake starts to hold her tentacles inside, then realizes it is silly under the circumstances, and allows them to seal the grip.
Linn's hand twitchs involuntarily, then stills.
Wise Snake withdraws her hand.
Wise Snake: Well. Thank you for the cake... now I have some business I must attend to.
Nick looks at Snake to see if she requires his assistance.
Wise Snake looks away.
Wise Snake: Sorry, Nick.
Wise Snake: I'll be back soon.
Nick nods.
Wise Snake gets up and goes to check on B'cal, then gets her cloak.
Alea is now known as Briel.
Wise Snake throws on her cloak and leaves the house quickly.
You are now known as Alea.
Nick helps Linn to clear the table, then picks up a book and settles down in the living room to keep an eye on B'cal.
Linn starts to wash the dishes, trying not to dwell on the afternoon's concert.
Wise Snake walks quickly downhill.
Wise Snake enters an older neighborhood, with apartments above crummy boarded up shops.
Wise Snake keeps walking until she arrives at a particular door.
Wise Snake ducks into the doorway and looks and zlins both ways before signalling.
Wise Snake fidgets as she waits.
Wise Snake looks up as a small slot opens, and a voice asks a question.
Wise Snake: Yeah. Snake. Is Jaizlo there?
Wise Snake waits as the slot closes for a while.
Wise Snake looks around the street, pulls her cloak closer as the wind blows garbage down the icy road.
Wise Snake jumps as the slot reopens.
Wise Snake: Jaizlo! It's me.
Wise Snake: Yeah, finally. Well, almost. We'll see. Let me in.
Wise Snake waits while various locks are unlocked.
Wise Snake waits until the door is open, then embraces the man on the other side.