Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #111: (12/26/97)
Alea comes dragging into the lobby, her arms once again loaded down with files.
Wise Snake is now known as rug.
Alea dumps them on the desk, noting the cashier's room is currently being moved.
Rug forms a lump right under Alea's foot.
Alea also notices....
Alea: Aaagh.
Alea slips.
Alea grabs at the desk sending the files flying.
Rug scrudgles up, pushed along the floor by Alea's foot.
Alea's right foot goes one way, the left the other and down she goes.
Alea: Oh dear!
Alea lays on the floor staring at the ceiling.
Rug wonders what hit it.
Alea: That's it.
Alea: The rug goes outside!
Alea ignores the offers of help and scrambles up.
Alea: Who put the shenned rug here anyway?
Alea: Someone wanted it out of their office when they moved?
Lowren is now known as Mostan.
Alea grabs up the end of the rug and hauls it toward the front door.
Rug is very dusty.
Mostan shows a renSime out.
Alea sneezes, shakes her head and drags it on toward the front door.
Alea backs toward the front door intending to shove it open and say goodbye to the nasty little rug.
Alea: Yeah, that's the last person you are going to trip up.
Alea: Do you KNOW how long I worked on those files?
Alea huffs.
Rug's corner gets under Alea's feet again.
Alea jerks and loses her balance.
Alea: Oh sheeeeeEEEEEEeeeeeennnnn...
Alea goes flying backward.
Rug lands on top of Alea, dustily.
Alea is covered in darkness...laying there staring at nothing.
Mostan sees Alea about to fall and starts running in augmentation.
Mostan skids to a stop, to late.
Alea: Stupid stinky shendi rug.
Alea: [mutters]
Alea: Outside on the porch is too good for you.
Alea: The trash.
Alea: You belong in the trash.
Mostan starts looking for Alea undercover.
Alea: Cut up in a million little pieces.
Alea: If I had the time.....
Alea coughs.
Alea feels someone pulling at the rug.
Mostan pulls the rug up from Alea's face. "Time for what?"
Alea: To burn this rug.
Alea nods blinking at the dust in her eyes.
Alea: Yes, I think I'll just burn it.
Alea winces and rubs at her eyes.
Alea: Shen..that hurts.
Alea reaches up to rub at her eyes.
Alea: Ouch!
Alea eyes beginning to water profusely.
Mostan: Don't rub. Come back and we'll flush them out.
Mostan zlins Alea for injuries.
Alea reaches out toward Mostan, squinting.
Mostan takes Alea's hand.
Alea struggles up.
Mostan: Do you hurt anywhere else?
Rug clings to Alea.
Alea kicks at the rug slipping and sliding as it tangles in her feet.
Alea: No..I ... uh...
Alea reaches out and holds onto Mostan trying to steady herself.
Mostan tries to untangle rug from Alea.
Alea doesn't want to mention the back half that hurts, figures he can zlin that.
Alea: Just my head.
Alea offers instead since it is hurting from conking it--TWICE--on the tiled floor.
Alea blinks trying to bring the rug into focus..stepping high to get her feet untangled.
Rug forms a lumpy pile in front of the door.
Mostan: Come back and let me take a zlin at it.
Alea nods and starts down the hall rubbing at her eyes.
Alea: They burn like shen.
Mostan: [ to clerk ] "Get some one to get that out of the way before someone else gets hurt.
Alea can't believe she hasn't gotten chewed out yet for tripping over it.
Mostan guides Alea into a treatment room.
Alea: Thank you.
Wise Snake and B'cal climb the front steps to the Sime Center.
Wise Snake reaches for the door handle.
B'cal snatches the door open and strides in before Snake can hold the door for her.
Mostan puts water in an eyecup. "Hold this over your left and blink in it."
Alea takes the cup and does as Mostan says.
Alea: I feel like an idiot. I guess I was carrying too many folders and not watching where I was going.
Alea: Did you see they're moving the cashier...and all of the donation rooms today.
Alea blinks a few times, feeling some relief.
B'cal: Stop treating me like a iii iiiIIIIIIGGGHH!
Mostan: No. Where? Why?
Alea hands the cup back to Mostan.
B'cal: [foot hits rug, B'cal skids across floor rather ignominiously]
Mostan takes the cup and refills it. "Now the right."
Wise Snake leaps forward in distress, nearly bowling over an approaching clerk, and grabs at B'cal trying to help her keep balance.
Alea: Briel is separating out the transfer and donation rooms to separate wings.
Alea hands the cup back.
B'cal: Get... don't... [slapping at Snake's hands] I'm fine!
Mostan: Keep Simes and Gens separate?
Alea blinks trying to bring the room into focus.
Alea: Yes.
Alea nods.
Wise Snake: Okay, okay.
Wise Snake lets B'cal stand on her own.
Mostan hands her a towel. Now blot dry. Don't rub. Is it all out?
Briel is now known as clerk`
Clerk: Watch out! My files!
Mostan: I can see the sense in that.
Alea blots carefully at her eyes.
Wise Snake turns around and gives the Clerk an extremely cold look.
Clerk shrinks away and hastily begins grabbing at the slew of files in the floor.
Wise Snake turns back to B'cal. Now, would you like to...
Alea: The cashier will be just at the entranceway of the hall now...so that the Gens who donate don't have to go where they are having transfers.
Alea shrugs.
B'cal glares at the clerk.
Alea: An awful lot of work.
B'cal: Can't you people keep anything in order around here?
Clerk swallows and avoids B'cal's look.
B'cal: In case you weren't aware, the rug is supposed to be on the floor, and the files up ON the desk.
Clerk: Yes..Natzehr.
Wise Snake: Uh... B'cal...
Clerk: As you say. I was just about to get the rug that Alea slipped on...
B'cal's eyes jerk up and she sees the artwork on the walls.
Clerk: But you came in the door.
Mostan: Worth it though.
Alea: Yes, yes, I suppose you're right.
B'cal: Who put this up there! Are you people completely blind as well as incompetent!
Alea lowers the towel and looks around.
Mostan sets mode: +o Lanyi
Clerk: Uh..uh...
Clerk trembles and swallows.
Clerk: We have a uh, person in the Center who enjoys....art....
B'cal marches over to the largest picture and takes it off its peg, turns it around and rehangs it facing the wall.
Clerk''s eyes dart to wisesnake in supplication.
Alea blinks several times.
Mostan: Ok, sit down and let me zlin you head and... you head.
B'cal sees Alea's large signature on the back and sneers.
Alea: Better..still a little blurry though.
B'cal: That's even worse!
Alea sits.
B'cal snatches the painting down and throws it in a nearby garbage can; only a corner of it fits, the rest sticking up.
Wise Snake meets clerk's gaze briefly, then looks back at B'cal.
Clerk hunches over the desk and starts stacking files.
Mostan takes Alea's arms and makes lateral contact.
Wise Snake: Uh... B'cal.. [advancing cautiously] Let's just go up to your room, okay? [reaches out to touch her arm]
Alea sits patiently.
B'cal sneers and pushes past Snake, going to the next picture.
Wise Snake surprised.
Wise Snake: Hey uh, hey,
Wise Snake follows.
Mostan withdraws laterals.
Alea: Well then?
Alea blinks up at Mostan.
B'cal pulls down another picture, this one far too large to fit in the waste paper basket.
B'cal carries it toward the front door.
Clerk: Uh! Wait!
Wise Snake: Uh-oh, uh... clerk` knows Alea will have a fit if that goes out the door. He remembers the big deal she made over it.
Mostan: Nothing to serious. You'll have a bump back there, though.
Wise Snake starts to follow her, then hurries to the garbage can and retrieves the other painting, hangs it back in its place.
Alea: I'm not surprised. It's still stinging.
Alea: Oh well.
B'cal takes the picture outside and hands it to some bums standing around a barrel.
Alea shrugs.
B'cal: Here, this will make great firewood. Don't stand too close, the fumes might be toxic.
Alea: Thank you very much Mostan for your help.
B'cal returns to the Center.
Clerk: Ohnoohnoohnoohno.....
Clerk wishes on days like this, that he worked at the uptown center.
Mostan moves to look at it. He moves her hair aside.
Wise Snake steps forward firmly, intending to take B'cal under control this time.
Alea winces.
Mostan: Yeah. A small contusion, bleeding a bit.
Alea: It's not the first bump, or the last bump I'll get, though I plan to get a great many less in the next few months.
Alea: Oh dear.
B'cal strides back into the lobby.
B'cal sees the first picture back on the wall and her face turns beet red.
B'cal's nager spits fiery sparks.
Clerk sits down hoping the files will hide him from the imminent explosion.
Mostan: Clean it out. Hold on.
Alea: Okay.
Alea: Do you know, I am giving up ice skating for awhile.
Alea: Though I may take back up cooking.
Mostan goes to get antiseptic.
Alea: I just got my certificate in that.
Alea sighs.
B'cal marches to the picture on the wall, snatches it off, holds it by both sides, and kicks it in half.
B'cal takes the two halves and sticks them in the garbage can.
Alea looks around the room seeing that it is only a bit fuzzy.
Wise Snake approaches B'cal nervously.
Mostan: Sorry, this may sting a bit more. { dabs at wound )
Clerk: Uh, you know, we do have Simes come in this door sometimes..simes in--need.
Alea winces again.
Wise Snake: Um... B'cal... aren't you worried Briel might restrict you again if she were angry at you?
Alea: Oogh.
Alea: Yeah, that burns a little.
Clerk doesn't want to face this so stands and carefully starts toward the hallway to go take a break.
B'cal: All the more reason to keep this horrible art off the walls! This stuff will ruin the nerves of any Sime sensitive enough to know a Gen from a doorknob.
Alea: Thanks Mostan.
B'cal takes down the last two, smaller paintings, opens a window, and throws them out.
B'cal slams the window shut.
Alea: I probably would have just ignored it.
Wise Snake jumps.
Alea: I appreciate you taking the time to treat it.
Wise Snake: B'cal... [steps forward bravely and touches B'cal's arm again]
Wise Snake: Let's just... let's just go upstairs for a while...
B'cal: Don't treat me like a child. [bats Snake's hand away]
B'cal brushes past Snake once again to go to the lumpy rug.
Mostan: Don't want it getting infected. Now let me see... I haven't done much healing stimulation...
Mostan tries to project need at the scalp wound.
B'cal: What is the meaning of this! Can't the almighty Tecton afford to clad their floors appropriately? And this place is filthy! You'd think we were serving cattle, not citizens.
Clerk is now known as Briel.
B'cal tosses the rug onto Clerk's desk.
Briel strides into the lobby.
Briel: Good morning B'cal.
B'cal: Have this cleaned immediately.
Briel: I see you're feeling well.
Briel: Hello Snake.
B'cal: And next time....
Wise Snake looks apologetically at Briel.
Wise Snake wringing hands and tentacles.
Alea system responds to Mostan.
B'cal looks Briel up and down, doesn't seem too impressed.
B'cal: Wonderful operation you have running here.
B'cal: This place looks like a pig sty.
Briel: We're in the middle of cleaning. Give it another week.
Briel: Good, then we're doing our job.
Briel smiles.
B'cal: Don't you people have any pride at all?
Briel: Enough pride that our Donors don't go around upsetting the clerks or any people who might happen to come in that front door.
Briel eyes narrow.
B'cal: A week? It's been open for months. You'd think you people would have gotten your act together by now.
Briel: So, why don't you take it upstairs.
Lanyi comes down the stairs.
Briel shrugs.
Briel: Different priorities than your house.
B'cal: Lack of priorities, I'd say.
Briel: The internal workings are much more important than what the external looks like.
B'cal looks Briel up and down.
Briel: You're temporary.
Briel thinks, in other words, I don't care what you think.
B'cal: From what I've seen of the internal workings here, you have a lot of work ahead of you.
Briel looks at Bcal pointedly and smiles.
Briel: How true.
B'cal felt only relief at the thought she is only temporary here.
Lanyi surveys the two channels, Donor, Gen and rug in a dust cloud.
Alea: That feels much better..
B'cal sneers at Lanyi and Briel.
Alea: You know, Mostan, you are really learning your job.
Mostan: Thank you. That should be all right. Have it checked for infection tomorrow, just in case.
Wise Snake glances at the door and considers slipping out while the Center people's attentions are diverted.
Briel: So, snake how did it go last night?
Briel: Did B'cal make it..or end up passed out?
Mostan: I'm picking it up. Need work on nageric anatomy, though.
Wise Snake jumps, then sighs.
Wise Snake returns somewhat closer to them.
Wise Snake: She -
B'cal: I'm fine [interrupts]
B'cal: I worked, and I'm back here now, that's all you need to know.
Alea considers.
Alea: You know, anyone around here would probably be willing to help and we do have books in our small library.
Lanyi: Hello Bcal. The burn has healed, then?
Alea: Feel free to ask one of the channels questions anytime.
Wise Snake closes her mouth, reconsiders her words, reopens it and says "Well, "
Briel: I see, to Snake.
B'cal: Of course. [interrupts]
B'cal: I was never burned that badly in the first place, of course. I can handle Snake.
Briel: Hello Lanyi.
Briel: As you can see, B'cal is back in working order.
Mostan: Hello Briel.
Lanyi: Glad to zlin that.
Wise Snake looks sour, says nothing.
Alea shoves her hair back over her shoulder and stands.
Mostan: I intend to. Have to look up ... anyway.
Alea notices how long her hair has gotten.
Alea: Goodness.
Mostan: Did you want some fosebine for that?
Alea: Oh, yes, please.
Alea: My hair has grown a good three inches..
Alea looks at how long it hangs past her shoulders.
Alea: I should have cut this before now...but wearing it up all the time, I just hadn't noticed.
Mostan gets some fosebine and a water chaser.
Briel: Well, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. Please take the tantrums upstairs so you won't scare any incoming Simes.
Alea accepts the fosebine.
Alea: Oooh ugh.
Alea: This stuff tastes awful.
Alea: I'll never get used to the taste of it.
Mostan considers complimenting her on it, but remembers she is Tarsh's girl.
Mostan: No one does.
Alea takes the water and quickly downs it.
B'cal mutters something under her breath about Briel having work to do being an understatement, but allows Snake to urge her out of the lobby toward the stairs.
Lanyi notices the art sticking out of the trash and wonders.
Wise Snake hurries B'cal upstairs while she has the chance.
Briel: That Donor.
Briel shakes her head at Lanyi.
Alea: Thanks.
Wise Snake returns a very short time later without B'cal, but looking over her shoulder several times.
Alea: I think I'll go find some scissors and see about trimming this up.
Wise Snake re-enters the lobby.
Lanyi glances to see if Bcal is out of earshot and says "She takes things serious perhaps too much so. But she needs to realize that you get more ants with honey than vinegar.
Mostan: Ok. Later.
Briel grins at Lanyi's saying.
Briel: Uh, yeah.
Alea pauses at the door and smiles.
Wise Snake overhears that last as she enters.
Wise Snake shoots a glance at Lanyi.
Mostan goes out to sit down in the lobby for a minute.
Alea: Thank you again, Mostan. And if anyone hasn't thought to tell you, you've been doing a great job.
Alea leaves.
Lanyi: Snake, is she right about her burn?
Wise Snake: That it wasn't bad? No.
Briel turns serious as she waits for Snake's report.
Wise Snake: She was burned fairly seriously.
Wise Snake: She was bedridden for several days before she came back here.
Wise Snake: This is the first night she's been able to work at all... and to be honest, it was more show than anything else.
Wise Snake fidgets nervously, trying to keep her mind off of where her next transfer will come from if neither B'cal or Nick proves a safe choice at the time.
Lanyi: I thought so. Is she fit to be going about now, or just doing the Iron Gen bit?
Wise Snake: The latter, I'd say, although I do appreciate having a Donor at my side.
Briel: I don't see any harm in having her at your side as long as she doesn't overdo it.
Briel turns to Lanyi.
Briel: What do you think?
Wise Snake fidgets nervously, unable to think what it might mean if they restrict B'cal again.
Lanyi: Yeah. Shouldn't be a problem.
Wise Snake: ~~relief~~
Briel: Being around a first constantly might even help speed her healing.
Alea goes down the hall intending to go to her room and look for a pair of scissors.
Alea enters the lobby.
Wise Snake zlins Alea there and automatically moves closer to Briel.
Briel glances up and sees Alea and frowns.
Alea hesitates, turns and goes back down the hall.
Briel sighs and rubs at her neck.
Briel: Well, Lanyi, I appreciate the input on B'cals case.
Briel: I trust you Snake to keep an eye on her.
Lanyi: [ shrugs ] I was on her case for a while.
Wise Snake looks uncomfortable.
Wise Snake: I will do the best I can.
Wise Snake: She doesn't always... respond.. to my requests.
Briel: Does she to anyone's.
Lanyi: ~~ understanding chuckle ~~
Wise Snake: She sometimes listens to me.
Briel is thankful the Donor isn't working with them full time like she does snake during the night.
Wise Snake: Not always.
Briel nods.
Briel: Talking about responding...how is Nick's training coming?
Mostan comes out to get some tea in the Lobby. "Hi all."
Briel nods smiling.
Alea goes up the back steps to her room
Mostan: Briel, remind me to ask you about nageric anatomy later.
Briel eyes widen.
Briel: Of course.
Briel: Anytime.
Alea rummages through her drawers frowning.
Alea: Now where did those shears go to.
Mostan takes his tea and goes to sit down on the couch and lean his head back.
Alea goes into her bathroom and looks through all the cabinets.
Wise Snake hesitates, not liking it that it was Briel who asked.
Alea pauses, trying to remember...
Wise Snake: Nick's training is coming along well.
Briel: Very good. I'm glad to hear that.
Wise Snake: [reserved/wary]
Briel turns to Lanyi.
Briel: She has been working with him months now. I was impressed with the control he has developed last time I was over there.
Lanyi: Really? Well good Donors are always welcome.
Alea: Oh yes...Tarsh! When I offered to cut his hair...
Alea frowns, remembering.
Wise Snake's hackles raise.
Alea: He had something else to do though. I wonder if I left them in his room.
Wise Snake takes a few deep breaths and manages to keep her field under perfect control, although her eyes are a little insane looking.
Wise Snake: Nick is, of course, not available for general use.
Lanyi doesn't notice wisesnake's reaction.
Alea goes out and down the hall to check out Tarsh's room.
Briel lifts a brow, smirking.
Briel notes the possessive hint in snake's words.
Alea slips in and looks around quickly.
Alea frowns when she can't find them.
Wise Snake notes Briel's smirk and her eyes grow hard and cold.
Wise Snake looks away.
Lanyi: Oh. One of those Farris specific training regimes? Sensible.
Wise Snake: That was the idea, yes.
Alea suddenly smiles.
Alea: Kadi! That's right! I was cutting her hair the other day.
Alea: Downstairs in the conference room.
Alea frowns as she remembers that ordeal.
Alea thinks her cat certainly didn't like that
Lanyi considers asking about Linn, but decides not to.
Briel: I'm sure Nick will do fine.
Briel: You're doing a good job with him Snake.
Lanyi: Briel, We're going to have all the transfers in this wing, and donations over there, right? What about healing?
Briel: Actually, the transfers are moving to the other hall where the cashier used to be and the infirmary will stay put, enlarging now that we'll have more room.
Briel: With us able to enlarge the infirmary, we'll be able to move the med storage room closer to there too.
Briel: Oh, yes, and, if you don't mind, I thought you might like Veraik's old office...he's in his new one.
Briel: This one has been empty for awhile.
Briel motions to the one near the stairs.
Lanyi: I thought he was away?
Briel: He is.
Briel: He moved back a few months ago to an office in the very back of the Center.
Briel: Which left this office here empty.
Lanyi: Ok.
Briel thinks the only drawback is that Alea is in the same vicinity, but doesn't mention it.
Lanyi goes over to take a look at the office.
Briel: If that one won't suffice, we're going to move Tarsh to the hall where the transfers and financial information is.
Briel: You could have Snake's old office.
Briel: It is highly insulated.
Briel follows.
Briel: Both will be open. Both are well insulated. Either one.
Briel shrugs.
Lanyi: ~~ slight disquiet ~~ "I'd be buried in cotton behind Farris grade insulation."
Briel: Oh.
Briel: Well, I was going to move Tarsh to the financial wing, to get him away from the infirmary. I made that office insulated for me...
Briel: Perhaps you'd rather have that one.
Lanyi: If the signal broke, I'd never be heard from again.
Briel chuckles.
Alea comes down the stairs and hurries through the lobby, avoiding looking at snake and Briel.
Lanyi: No harm in looking, I suppose.
Briel motions and walks with Lanyi across the lobby to the other hall.
Lanyi goes over to Veraik's old office and opens it.
Lanyi goes in and looks around.
Alea goes to the conference room and goes inside.
Alea finds nothing of her attempts to cut the cat's hair yesterday--including the scissors.
Alea: Well shen.
Alea decides to wait, dragging out of the conference room and into the lobby.
Alea plops down next to Mostan.
Alea sets mode: +o wisesnake
Mostan: 'lo.
Alea: Recovery?
Alea motions to the tea and the way he's resting.
Briel: Well?
Mostan: Yeah. This stuff is such hard work. I don't know how the First can take it.
Alea shrugs, then grins.
Alea: They have good Donors.
Lanyi: I can use this. I'll manage.
Briel: Well then, good.
Briel: You can move in whenever you like.
Lanyi: Have to get furniture, of course. Can I repaint?
Briel: As long as it's by the end of next week.
Briel: You can do whatever you want.
Briel: Uh..except...no Rior orange. Veraik doesn't care for that color.
Lanyi: Don't know it. Isn't Rior that Gen headed house that burned down?
Briel nods.
Briel: Alea got on one of her kicks a few months ago and painted the lobby Rior orange..or at least Veraik said it was Rior orange.
Briel: Yellow trim.
Briel shudders.
Briel: You'll note the cloak stand is covered in that color of cloth.
Briel sets mode: +o wisesnake
Lanyi: Yeah. Is there a reason why this bookcase is upholstered?
Briel rubs at her neck.
Briel: When Alea was...painting...someone came in to recover all the furniture.
Briel: You'll note some of the couches in the transfer rooms are yellow and orange, just like the bookcase...well...
Briel: They tried to take everything and recover it...filing cabinets you name it.
Alea: I couldn't find the scissors to cut my hair. Someone must have picked them up by accident.
Lanyi: UH, Why?
Alea sighs forlornly.
Mostan: You're a barber too? Keep busy, don't you?
Alea: Just my hair...oh..and well my cat..and if I see someone that I think requires a hair cut.
Alea glances over at Mostan and notes the blank space on the wall.
Alea gasps, grabbing at her chest in dismay.
Mostan sits up. "What?"
Alea: My ART.
Alea jumps up and runs over to the trash can.
Alea: Who did this!
Mostan twists to look at the empty wall.
Alea looks back at the empty spaces then to the art she has.
Alea: One is missing.
Alea frantically moves around the room.
Alea: I bet it was Bcal. She hates my art.
Alea: She is always tearing it down...last time she tossed it out the window.....
Alea: Oh no!
Alea: Not in the snow!
Alea takes off at a mad rush, straight out the front door, certain she is going to find her art in the snow.
Mostan sighs "Everyone's' a critic."
Alea grabs hold of the banister to keep from slipping down the stairs and looks around.
Alea looks around, confused then relieved that she sees no art laying in the snow.
Alea's eye is caught by a group of people around a can with a fire out on the street.
Alea: How terrible.....
Alea eyes widen as she sees something suspiciously like a frame sticking up out of the fire.
Alea goes down the stairs and rushes toward the group, horrified.
Alea: My ART!
Lanyi is now known as transient.
Transient is warming her hands.
Alea rushes up staring at the protruding frame.
Alea reaches out to grab at the frame.
Alea: Ouch! Shen!
Transient: Hey!
Alea jerks her hand back, cradling it.
Alea glances around sees the woman.
Alea: What?
Transient: You want to get warm, you gotta bring something to burn.
Alea: Who gave you that picture?
Wise Snake is now known as hobo.
Alea reaches down and scoops up a bit of slush to put on her red hand.
Hobo speaks up.
Hobo: It was a nice woman.
Alea glances at the two people.
Alea: What did this "nice person" look like.
Alea narrows her eyes trying to think what nice person would give away her art.
Alea does NOT categorize B'cal as nice..maybe Briel...or snake..but no one would ever mistake B'cal for nice.
Hobo doesn't like the look and lets his eyes drift back to the barrel instead.
Transient: Burns good, but it's smelly.
Hobo: Yeah... she said don't stand in the smoke.
Alea looks back at the picture, totally black hobo and transient are standing on the upwind side... opposite Alea.
Transient: I tried it to see if there was a rush, but no dice.
Hobo: She said it was tox - tox - bad.
Alea: Don't stand in the....
Alea coughs and waves a hand in front of her face.
Alea's eyes widen as she realizes she's breathing in all the fumes.
Alea: Oh...shen....
Alea jumps back grabbing at her throat.
Alea sets mode: +o Jirelle
Alea gasps as the slush in her hand goes down over her dress
Alea wheezes.
Jirelle puts the finishing touches on the masterpiece of her new decor proposal.
Transient: Hey, it ain't that bad.
Alea turns and heads back to the center hacking the entire way.
Hobo shrugs.
Hobo: I guess she ain't hardened to life on the street.
Hobo: Had it too easy.
Transient: Rich folks. soft.
Alea staggers up the steps holding her throat trying to suck in breaths of air into her burning lungs.
Mostan zlins something.
Alea goes to the Center door shoving it open and bursting in.
Alea: Shen--don---I....smoke.
Mostan gets up. "What's wrong Alea?"
Hobo is now known as wisesnake.
Mostan zlins Alea.
Alea: Allergic reaction..toxic smoke.
Mostan: Shen!
Alea sounds like an asthmatic.
Jirelle carries the proposal to Briel's office and slips it into the in basket on the outside of the door.
Briel hears the sound and opens her door.
Briel: Oh, Jirelle!
Mostan picks Alea up and heads for treatment. "Get one on the Firsts!"
Jirelle smiles happily.
Jirelle: I finished my proposal.
Briel: Thank you. I'm so glad.
Jirelle removes it from the door, and offers it to Briel.
Briel accepts it.
Alea: Stu--pid...smoke....pic..ture.
Briel: Good. I'm sure this will be fine.
Briel scans it.
Briel frowns as she sees some of the suggestions.
Briel: Uh, Jirelle.
Jirelle : Yes?
Mostan puts Alea down on a treatment table and checks to make sure her collar isn't tight.
Transient is now known as Lanyi.
Briel: I think enlarging the windows and putting sunroofs, and uh...hothouses around would be a bit too expensive.
Lanyi comes running into the treatment room, zlins.
Alea tries to concentrate on breathing but feels like her throat is half the size it should be.
Jirelle: Oh really? I should have asked what the budget was. I'm sorry.
Jirelle: ~~~genuinely sorry~~~
Lanyi comes over to Alea. "allergic reaction? nod yes, shake no."
Briel: No problem...let's just redo this.
Alea nods yes.
Alea eyes are wide and face tinging blue.
Alea shrugs.
Lanyi makes lateral contact. "Mostan, get the nebulizer and the Farris marked medipack."
Briel scribbles an amount on the paper and hands it back to Jirelle.
Briel zlins something.
Briel: What's going on?
Jirelle: Thank you. [accepts it back]
Jirelle zlins.
Jirelle: I don't know.
Briel glances past Jirelle concerned.
Lanyi projects field, trying to reduce the inflammation.
Briel: Another sick person from the cold I imagine.
Mostan comes over with the nebulizer and general medipack.
Jirelle: It's so hard on the poor. ~~compassion~~
Alea breathing a bit better.
Lanyi: No!, the one with the *Black* markings!
Alea eyes widen at Mostan.
Alea ~~panic~~
Briel motions to Jirelle.
Briel: Make sure you get this redone with that price in mind.
Briel smiles.
Jirelle: I will. Thank you.
Jirelle exits Briel's office.
Lanyi stuffs a towel under Alea's neck to keep her airway straight.
Briel: Something else...I'd like you to spend more time in the infirmary in the coming weeks. I think it'll do you some good in learning.
Briel sets mode: +o JonDrake
Mostan comes back with the Farris pack.
Alea ~~relief~~
Jirelle: Gosh.. thanks! I've always wanted to do more of that.
Briel decides to go see what is going on.
Jirelle: [this is Jirelle's stock response to any order; apparently genuine]
Briel: That's good.
Briel: Help prepare you.
Briel: For things later on if you work hard here.
Jirelle smiles back.
Jirelle: I'll remember that.
Lanyi: Go get some hot water.
Alea: Burning...art...paints.
Lanyi breaks open the medipack and fumbles for the bronchial dilators.
Mostan runs out and comes back with a teapot.
Alea claws at her chest seeing the bronchial dilator there.
Lanyi: Pour it in the reservoir.
Mostan: [ does ]
Alea thinks this must be how a person dying of thirst feels like with a glass of water just inches from their hand.
Lanyi dumps the medicine in the water and checks the steam temperature.
Lanyi puts the mask on Alea's face.
Alea nods gratefully to Lanyi.
Lanyi zlins again.
Alea starts breathing easier.
Alea right hand is also blistered up slightly.
Alea thinks she will live--no thanks to the jerk who threw her painting in the fire.
Lanyi concentrates her field on getting the contracted bronchial muscles to relax.
Alea slowly relaxes, her breathing becoming easier.
Alea: Better....
Alea breathes in..and out...in...and out....slowly.
Lanyi: That's good. Slow and deep.
Alea nods concentrating on Lanyi as she forces her breathing to continue slow and deep.
Alea feels the pain in her lungs slowly fading.
Jessi comes up the Sime center steps.
Alea takes a deep breath, then tries to talk, it coming out a bit raspy.
Alea: Thank you, Hajene...Mostan.
Jirelle checks her in basket.
Jirelle finds a note:
Jirelle: "I have to talk to you. - Signed, F"
Jirelle's heart leaps.
Jirelle: Wow!
Jirelle looks quickly at both sides and the rest of the paper, finds an address.
Alea: I...the art.
Jirelle starts to drop everything and rush out of the Sime Center, then carefully puts the note in her pocket and sits down to finish out the time till her break... 10 minutes and 43 seconds.
Alea: Someone threw my art in the trash. I found it in the burning trash receptacle otuside...
Alea: Didn't realize I was standing in the toxic smoke until it was too late.
Alea takes a deep breath.
Alea releases it.
Alea: I feel much better.
Lanyi makes a lateral contact to deep zlin.
Alea thinks twice in one day..in one hour..must be a new record.
Lanyi: Yes, you are. But your hand and ... oh.
Alea looks oddly at Lanyi.
Alea: What?
Lanyi: The embryo. No sign of any ill effect.
Alea: Oh.
Alea ~~relief~~
Alea: I had feared that.
Alea dark look.
Mostan: Embryo? Is that what that is?
Alea: After what happened last time..I have vowed to be more careful...
Alea looks at Mostan.
Alea: The baby, you mean?
Alea realizes she is obviously going to be a learning lesson for Mostan and lays there patiently.
Mostan: I zlinned something odd down there, but I wasn't sure what it should zlin like...
Alea chuckles.
Alea: Odd?
Alea: Well zlin again and get a close look so you'll recognize it next time.
Alea coughs from chuckling.
Lanyi: You zlinned her? Yes. A embryo at this stage does look more like a knot in the Gen field than a individual field.
Jessi comes into the center and looks around
Alea thinks knot in the Gen field indeed.
Mostan: Well, if it is Ok...
Alea shrugs.
Alea: How else are you going to learn.
Mostan: OK.
Mostan reaches out to make a contact.
Jirelle's work shift is finally up; she bolts to her room, throws off her uniform, throws on a tie-dyed dress and some bead necklaces, as well as her cloak, and rushes back down the stairs again.
Jirelle hurries to the front of the Sime Center.
Jirelle sees Jessi wandering around looking lost.
Jirelle: Hello? May I help you?
Jirelle: [to Jessi]
Jessi: Uh..well..I was wanting to talk to....someone about a job.
Jirelle zlins Jessi.
Jessi Gen nervous, feeling lost.
Mostan: I zlin the flow around the womb. Like in a Sime woman in need.
Jirelle: What kind of work were you looking for?
Jessi shrugs.
Jessi: Someone was advertising janitorial.
Jessi holds up the newspaper.
Jessi: I thought maybe...I could get a job here.
Jessi: I know I don't speak very good Simelan...
Lanyi: Yes. But the Sime women are using the selyn to build up the lining. Gens don't use selyn for that, but the baby does draw selyn throughout.
Alea listens patiently.
Mostan: It looks like it is going around, not in.
Jirelle: Okay, I can help you with that.
Jessi nods.
Jessi: Great.
Jessi smiles.
Jirelle goes to the front desk and asks the clerk for an employment application.
Jessi thinks the girl in front of him is the most gorgeous person he has ever seen.
Jirelle fails to notice the clerk's perplexed look.
Jessi thinks if she only wasn't Sime.
Jirelle comes back to Jessi.
Jirelle: Here you go... fill out this form... the instructions are in both Genlan and Simelan.
Alea: Think you'll understand it next time Mostan? If you zlin it?
Lanyi: After about ten weeks it will zlin more like you expect. This is only 4 or 5, I think.
Jessi blushes, then nods.
Jessi: Thank you.
Jirelle: Put "custodian" in the "spot applied for". Then give it to that clerk right there when you are done.
Jirelle indicates the front desk.
Jessi: Okay.
Mostan: Yeah I think so. Thank you, Alea.
Jessi goes over and sits down.
Mostan removes his laterals.
Jirelle rushes out the door.
Alea: Great.
Alea: Can I uh..go now, Hajene?
Alea tries to sit up.
Alea reaches to remove the mask from her face.
Lanyi: Yes. But take it easy for an hour or two.
Alea nods.
Alea: Thank you.
Alea: And you, Mostan, again.
Lanyi switches off the heat source under the water.
Mostan: Alea.
Mostan gestures politely and leaves.
Alea slides carefully off the table and walks slowly to the door.
Mostan is now known as Fise.
Lanyi tidies up the equipment. Goes down the hall to get a new Farris mediack.
Alea thinks she feels like a Donor who's been turned inside out but doesn't say so, thinking in an hour or two she'll feel much much better.
Wise Snake is now known as Jirelle.
Jessi fills out the form, chewing on the pencil as he considers each question carefully.
Jirelle checks the address on the note, then scurries there as fast as she can without drawing widespread public attention.
Fise check his hair again and looks around to see if he missed anything.
Fise goes out, carefully locking the door behind him.
Jirelle takes a small side trip to a gift shop and buys a present for Fise.
Fise heads around the corner to the cafe.
Jirelle has them gift wrap it, and thinks the gift shop clerk is a saint for putting up with her admittedly impatient squirming.
Lanyi puts the new pack in place, and takes the old one for restocking.
Jirelle finally hurries the rest of the way to the address on the paper.... a cafe.
Alea wanders into the lobby and sits down heavily.
Alea ~~depressed~~
Jessi notices the older lady that comes in and sits down but doesn't pay much attention.
Lanyi overcasually wanders by, zlinning all the tables.
Lanyi: == Fise ==
Wise Snake walks into the lobby from farther inside the Center, looking implausibly innocent.
Jirelle comes into the cafe and sees Fise.
Alea glances up then her eyes widen.
Jirelle: ~~~joy~~~
Alea: Oh shen, just what I need.
Alea does not feel like jumping up and running.
Alea tries to pretend like she's invisible.
Wise Snake notes Alea's reaction to her presence and stops, turns her head to look at Alea.
Alea glances toward the window studying it.
Alea sets mode: +o wisesnake wisesnake notices Alea's condition; recently ill.
Wise Snake frowns.
Jirelle comes into the cafe and goes to Fise.
Jirelle: Fise?
Fise turns at Jirelle's field.
Alea decides she had better leave and she stands.
Alea coughs.
Jirelle: ~~~welcoming/joy~~~
Jirelle smiles a beautiful smile.
Fise: Yes. Hello Jirelle. It's good to see you again.
Wise Snake: What happened to you?
Alea darts a look at snake then starts across the lobby.
Alea: Uh...
Wise Snake wonders at the paranoid dread in Alea's nager.
Alea takes a deep breath and lets it out, twice then turns.
Alea: I was looking for artwork.
Alea shrugs.
Alea: It was in the fire. The toxic fumes caused a uh...Farris reaction.
Jirelle hugs Fise, impulsively.
Alea eyes skitter away from snakes.
Wise Snake: ... Fire?
Alea waves vaguely at the door.
Fise: Ooff! [ hugs back ]
Wise Snake: ~~nervousness~~
Alea: Hobo's transients...outside.
Jirelle: Where have you been all this time?
Alea moves a couple of steps back, closer to her office door.
Jirelle: Oh, I've been so worried, especially when they couldn't find you...
Fise: Hiding.
Jirelle looks in Fise's eyes.
Jirelle: Hiding? Hiding from what? [innocently]
Fise: I'm sorry I didn't get in touch sooner. But...
Wise Snake: Oh.
Wise Snake looks at Alea again.
Wise Snake: Why are you acting so weird?
Alea: Someone tossed my painting in there...
Alea: Weird?
Alea blinks, her field going flat.
Alea: I am not acting weird.
Wise Snake: Uh... sure.
Alea: I am just trying to follow....I was told....
Fise: [ eyes are evasive and frightened at memories ]
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Alea: I am not suppose to get near you or bother you in any way shape or form.
Snake: Oh.
Alea shrugs and won't look at Snake.
Wise Snake: By Briel?
Alea nods.
Jirelle zlins Fise's fear and embraces him again.
Jirelle: ~~~love/caring/safety~~~
Fise: The Center. You're the only on there ... the rest aren't worth the selyn to throw them over the border.
Jirelle: Oh, Fise, what happened that was so terrible? They didn't tell us anything.
Wise Snake considers that.
Alea: Was there something you required snake?
Alea: I can get clerk or someone to help you.
Wise Snake: ... No.
Wise Snake: No.
Fise: They threatened to kill me. Said I burned a Donor.
Wise Snake turns and walks out the front door of the Center.
Fise holds Jirelle tight.
Alea sighs in relief and goes back over and sits down.
Alea rubs at her eyes wearily.
Jirelle: Oh, no!
Jirelle: ~~compassion~~
Alea leans her head back against the sofa and stares at the ceiling.
Fise: I don't know, they may have been lying about that.
Jessi shakes his head at the others, finishes his report, and then takes it to the clerk.
Fise: But I didn't want to risk it.
Jessi turns and leaves promising to be back for an interview.
Jirelle: What are you going to do now?
Jirelle draws Fise down to sit at a nearby empty table.
Jessi is now known as Briel.
Fise: I've got another job. One that may let me regain my health.
Fise sits down.
Jirelle: Oh Fise... that's great! I'm so happy for you.
Jirelle hold Fise's hands and tentacles in hers.
Fise cracks a smile. "Thanks."
Jirelle: ~~encouragement/support~~
Fise squeezes her hands back.
Fise: I just hope I can keep it.
Jirelle's smiles turns shyer at the returned squeeze.
Jirelle: Oh, I'm sure you can, if you work really hard at it...
Jirelle: ~~loyal~~
Fise: Thanks.
Fise: I meant to contact you sooner but I had the crimping problem a lot.
Jirelle: Oh no! I'm so sorry. Can I help you in any way?
Jirelle thinks it's sad that a brave and honest man like Fise could be given such a difficult row to hoe.
Fise: I don't know. It comes and goes.
Fise: How have they been treating you?
Fise: Seen the Centers ghosts yet?
Jirelle: No... although Alea...do you remember her? Saw the ghost of a WOLF. Right at the gates!
Jirelle: I love working at a Sime Center with all the great people and the interesting things that happen... [blissful]
Fise: Did it eat her?
Jirelle: Everybody is always so nice to me, I just love everybody.
Jirelle pauses.
Jirelle giggles at Fise's wonderful sense of humor.
Jirelle: Oh, did it eat her! Oh Fise, I love you.
Fise smiles wider.
Fise: I...
Fise sucks in his breath and looks away.
Fise wonders why her saying that is effecting him so much. It was always just a sign of success before.
Jirelle pulls her hands away and reaches into her (embroidery-covered) purse.
Jirelle: I brought you something...
Jirelle brings out the gift.
Fise: You shouldn't have.
Jirelle: Oh, I know, [blush], but I just felt so happy to see you after all this time I just couldn't help myself.
Jirelle: I hope you don't mind?
Fise smiles. "Well, I'll forgive you this once."
Jirelle smiles a radiant smile.
Jirelle: ~~~~radiant smile~~~~~
Fise catches the infectious smile even without zlinning.
Fise: ~~ happy focus on face ~~
Fise: Shall I open it now?
Jirelle: Sure! [beams happily]
Fise reaches for the package and carefully unwraps it.
Alea finally gets up, gathers up her art and goes to the conference room.
Alea searches through each drawer until she can find what she is searching for.
Fise: Thank you.
Alea goes over to her pictures and raises the knife, bringing it down in the middle of the smallest one.
Alea nods at the sound of ripping canvas and then patiently begins to saw away at the canvas.
Jirelle smiles at Fise.
Fise: I've never heard of Crystal Sphere Incense, but it certainly sounds intriguing.
Jirelle: Thank you... for letting me know you are okay.
Alea totally unassembles the first picture and starts on the next one and the next until she has destroyed all of the artwork.
Alea gets a tablecloth from one of the drawers and brings it back to the table.
Fise lifts up Jirelle's hand and kisses it. "Thank you for caring about it."
Alea puts all of the canvas and wood onto the tablecloth and ties it up.
Alea drags the cloth behind her back into the lobby.
Alea pauses to slip on her Zeor cloak, blue scarf and then opens the front door of the Center.
Alea sets mode: +o Jirelle
Alea drags the bulky package behind her being very careful as she goes down the icy porch steps.
Jirelle blushes deeply, and her hand and nager tremble with joy.
Alea shivers at the cold, thinking the air burns her lungs almost as much as the smoke did.
Alea lugs the wood and canvas down the sidewalk to the fire and gives it to the people standing there.
Alea: Don't breathe in the fumes.
Alea turns and goes back to the Center and into her office where she grabs her ice skates.
Alea remembers she told Mostan she wasn't going to skate, but thinks if she goes where she's alone, it won't be dangerous for anyone else so she hurries back out the front door.
Alea slings them over her shoulder, pulling her cloak closely and goes down the street
Fise clasps her hand in his. "I've missed you."
Jirelle: And I you. Fise, I worry about you, I want you to be happy.
Alea goes into the forest where she knows of a small pond.
Alea sits down on the ground and slips off her boots before slipping on the ice skates.
Fise: Well I hope this new job works out for me.
Jirelle: Oh, it will, Fise, it will. I know you can do it.
Fise: I'm glad I won't have to leave town.
Alea ties up her skates and stands, moving much more easily onto the ice.
Jirelle: Oh, I'm glad too!
Alea pushes off from the edge smiling as she glides smoothly across the hard cold surface.
Fise: Did you want anything? Where is the waitsime anyway?
Jirelle: Tea?
Alea smiles as she makes her way around the pond.
Fise: Certainly.
Fise signals.
Fise zlins Jirelle.
Alea ignores the burning in her chest from earlier, thinking the deep breathing will do it good as she continues to skate.
Alea practices turning backwards and skating and does much better than she did last time.
Jirelle: ~~ happy and relieved and overjoyed~~
Fise orders tea for tow and some spicy beans.
Alea gets tired and stops, going over to the side and collapsing backward onto the snow-covered bank.
Fise is astonished at the intensity of Jirelle's feelings.
Fise: ~~ surprised and happy astonishment ~~
Fise: ~~ desire ~~
Jirelle responds to Fise's desire with ~~surprise/curiousity~~
Jirelle smiles at Fise again, this time tender.
Jirelle: I have* missed you, Fise.
Snow Hare hops around a tree and freezes at the sight of Alea.
Jirelle notes Fise is post.. as is she.
Alea stares up at the sky thinking of Zeor, comparing the lush green fields to the cold white fields here.
Snow Hare decides that this unmoving thing may not be dangerous, and takes a tentative hop.
Snow Hare wiggles his nose and sniffs.
Alea sighs.
Alea watches the occasional cloud drifting by.
Fise slides a finger down Jirelle's arm. What did you miss the most, hmmm?
Alea closes her eyes and thinks of the soft rolling hills, the fun they used to have, the joy of simple day to day life.
Snow Hare hops closer, hungry from the grass being under the snow.
Snow Hare sniffs at this strange stuff. Doesn't smell like grass....
Snow Hare starts nibbling at it.
Alea wonders if Meri or Jem or even Jonua still live there.
Jirelle: I missed.. being with you, Fise.
Alea feels something pulling at her hair and reaches up
Alea: Oh!
Alea rolls onto her side.
Alea sets mode: +o Jirelle
Snow Hare startles and freezes.
Alea comes face to uh...well...with a snowehare.
Alea: Sorry, little one, but my hair is not edible..at least...not for you.
Alea sits up and slips the blue scarf back up over her head and around her neck.
Fise squeezes tighter. "I'll try not to let that happen again."
Snow Hare bolts off behind the tree.
Jirelle looks up shyly.
Jirelle: I hope it never does.
Alea leans down and unlaces her ice skates.
Alea decides she has had enough time to think about Zeor and now should return home to the Center and work...or something.
Alea stands and slips on her boots, stomping her feet into them.
Snow Hare peers around the tree.
Alea shakes the snow from her cloak, pausing when she sees the hare.
Alea smiles and bends down.
Alea: Come here, sweet one.
Snow Hare hops forward carefully.
Alea surprised, slips her hand in her pocket feeling around until she finds a piece of something to feed the hare.
Alea realizes she doesn't have anything and stands.
Alea: I'm sorry, little one...maybe next time.
Alea bends down and scoops up her skates, tossing them over her shoulder and heading back to town.
Snow Hare hops off.