Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #112: (12/27/97)
Dlaura hurries down the street of Bender Cove.
Dlaura turns the corner to get out of the wind.
Dlaura looks at the paper in her hand, then slips it back in her pocket, searching out the tea house.
Dlaura continues slowly down the street as she checks each sign for the place she is searching for.
Dlaura sees the teahouse and enters.
Alea is sitting at a table in the corner, in non-Farris colors and a gray cloak, sipping tea.
Dlaura goes over to the table and seats herself.
Alea pushes a second cup to the Gen along with some papers and then gets up and leaves, leaving money on the table.
Dlaura quickly scans the papers then stuffs them in a pocket.
Dlaura enjoys her tea
Dlaura waits a little longer and then stands to leave.
Alea strolls down the chilly streets, noting all the activity going on. She watches different vendors hawking their goods, the hustle and bustle of everyday life of Bender Cove and smiles.
Dlaura exits and heads down the street
Alea pauses at a street vendor, studying a thick warm brown scarf with gray stripes.
Dlaura buys a hot sandwich and continues on
Alea decides it would look nice with Tarsh's cloak and buys it.
Wise Snake walks down the street, with B'cal.
Alea smiles and then pauses to smell the hot cider that is brewing at another vendor.
Wise Snake: I still think you shouldn't have thrown it in the garbage.
Alea thinks it smells delicious, but after yesterday's fiasco decides it's safer not to buy anything she isn't sure is Farris okayed.
B'cal snorts.
Alea rubs at her throat with memories.
Alea's eyes widen as she hears the familiar voices..and their WORDS.
Wise Snake: No, really. That Center is full of lunatics. The last thing I want is for people to set them off on purpose.
Alea slowly turns looking through the nearby people.
B'cal: With that art off the walls, maybe they'll improve. Talk about an insult to nature!
Wise Snake winces.
Alea: YOU threw my art away?
Alea sees snake and B'cal
Snake stops, seeing Alea ahead, and starts to back off.
Alea ~~simmering~~
Alea: Don't you move Snake!
Alea: Stay right where you are!
B'cal sees Alea and looks disgusted.
B'cal: Speak of the Devil...
Alea: Do you know what your stupid inconsiderate actions caused me?
Wise Snake stands near B'cal, looking ill-at-ease.
Alea forgets she is terrified of B'cal.
Dlaura is now known as Vendor.
B'cal ignores Alea.
Alea: Not only did you throw my art away...Listen to me!
B'cal: [to Snake] so, where do you want to eat?
Wise Snake: ~~increasing nervousness~~
Wise Snake: Uh.. B'cal, I...
Alea: You also caused by burning it, a chemical reaction that nearly caused my DEATH!
Wise Snake avoids looking Alea in the eye, and sidles around behind B'cal.
Wise Snake jumps at the word "death"
Vendor shuffles nervously sitting down his cider and starts gathering up his things.
B'cal looks at Alea again, bored.
B'cal: You didn't die, though?
Alea: Do you know what it's like not to be able to breathe?
Alea: To be gasping for every breath.
Alea: I didn't?!
B'cal: A pity. Now go home and sit in Veraik's lap where you'll be out of the way.
Alea: No thanks to you...
Alea ~~furious~~
Wise Snake covers her eyes with a shaky hand.
Alea: Yes, if the third order channel hadn't been so close to the door I would be dead.
Alea: I have Mostan to thank for my life.
Alea: You could have simply come and discussed it with me, but you have to take everything into your own hands.
Alea: I would have gladly removed them.
Alea: You're just like...like...Snake.
Alea: You two deserve each other!
B'cal looks down her nose at Alea.
B'cal: What are you talking about now?
Alea: She didn't even have the guts to come tell me she hated my guts but had Briel do the dirty deed for her!
B'cal disgusted.
Alea glares her anger radiating about her like a cloud.
B'cal: Well, good for her.
Vendor hears the name Snake and freezes.
Alea: Good for...
Alea lets out a low growl wisesnake looks at Alea, astonished at her words.
Alea: You should go soak your head.
Alea: It might do you some good.
Wise Snake: ~~confusion~~
Alea: You have an attitude that someone should knock down a peg or two...
Alea: Almighty V'lar..too terrified of outside interference or risking their Honor to actually JOIN in on what the Tecton is trying to do.
B'cal: I'd say the same of you, but you couldn't possibly go any lower.
Alea: No, you have to be forced...
Alea: Oh no?
Alea ~~furious~~
Alea: You don't know me then. Never underestimate the enemy B'cal.
Wise Snake creeps away from the uncomfortable public scene.
Alea turns, sees the cider and grabs up the pitcher and tosses it at B'cal.
B'cal snorts and knocks it aside before it hits her.
B'cal: You're pathetic.
Vendor: Hey.
Alea tosses money at the vendor.
Alea: I'm glad you think so.
Alea: If you thought anything else, I'd be worried since you're from V'lar.
Wise Snake slips out of the booth and walks down the street in a bit of a hurry, glancing over her shoulder once or twice.
Alea: I will appreciate it if you'd keep..SNAKE!
Alea: Get back here!~
Alea smirks.
Alea: Such a good Donor that you let your Channel walk off without you?
Alea arches an eyebrow looking down her nose at B'cal.
Alea: Just keep your hands off anything that belongs to me.
Wise Snake stops, but doesn't come back; hesitates nervously.
B'cal glares at Snake.
Alea turns to leave.
Vendor grabs up the money, overpayment as well thinking he deserves it for the customers these people probably ran off.
Vendor stuffs it in his pockets.
Alea ~~shaking with rage~~
B'cal walks to meet Snake.
B'cal: You're spineless, do you know that?
Wise Snake: Uh, well... that was kind of, uh...
B'cal: Don't tell me you felt any of that. I was blocking.
Vendor grabs his cart and starts pushing it way.
Wise Snake: Um... [hesitates to suggest B'cal wasn't doing that great of a job of blocking]
Wise Snake: Well it was just kinda embarrassing to tell the truth.
Dlaura finishes off her sandwich and tosses the paper in a trash receptacle.
B'cal: I'd be embarrassed too if that fluff-brained nincompoop was a relative of mine.
Alea gets two blocks before she begins shaking with reaction.
Wise Snake: That's not what I meant....
Alea collapse on the doorstep of one of the 'houses' of that area.
Wise Snake freezes as she zlins a familiar nager and stares at the person, trying to remember where she's zlinned her before.
Dlaura strides slowly down the street contemplating what she might do while she's here.
Wise Snake: That woman...
Alea holds out her hands and sees how bad they're trembling and clasps them together.
Dlaura slips her hands in her pockets, slowing as she approaches a booth with tourist items hanging in it.
Wise Snake approaches D'laura from behind, zlinning her and finally remembers who D'laura is.
Wise Snake grabs B'cal's arm.
Dlaura reaches up to touch a Sime statue in skates with a small ring on it for keys.
B'cal: What is it? [slightly annoyed since the grip is rather painful]
Wise Snake: I know her. She came to the Center once, claiming to be a Donor for Veraik, a day late. She also said some things about Tramila that...
Wise Snake realizes she doesn't know what to feel about Tramila at this point.
Wise Snake: ... that were.. either lies, or terrible truths.
Dlaura shakes her head.
B'cal thinks probably terrible truths, from what she's heard of Tramila and of Farrises in general.
B'cal: Oh? [sardonically]
Dlaura fingers the circular keychain...
Dlaura: Probably where Bender Got it's name.
Wise Snake approaches D'laura from behind.
Alea puts her hands to her face sitting there as she continues to shake.
Alea: How COULD she have done that just out of meanness.
Alea: Why didn't she come to me?
Alea remembers belatedly that Snake was also there.
Alea: Oh just great. I bet I really lived up to her expectations.
Wise Snake: D'laura, [whispers]
Dlaura jumps and whirls around.
Dlaura stares in confusion at the channel in front of her.
Dlaura: Do I know you?
Dlaura studies the young channel.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Dlaura remembers suddenly, her eyes widening.
Dlaura: You.
Dlaura swallows.
Dlaura: Hello...wisesnake, is it?
Dlaura didn't recognize the scruffy near dead channel as the one who only looks half dead now.
Dlaura: Oh well.
Dlaura tries to smile.
Dlaura: How...nice to see you.
Dlaura ~~nervous~~
Wise Snake darts a short glance at B'cal, then studies D'laura.
Dlaura: I was just shopping...
B'cal is not impressed by what she sees.
Wise Snake: You're not really a Tecton Donor, are you.
Alea rubs her hands together, realizing she is cold sitting here.
Dlaura: Why do you ask that?
Dlaura ~~wary~~
Dlaura: You're wearing a Farris cape.
Dlaura looks at the cape.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow slightly. "Because I was just in their files last week, and there was no file for you. Yet you are here in Bender Cove. And you are not wearing a Tecton uniform.
Wise Snake: "
Dlaura: I am only passing through here.
Dlaura: I don't work at the Center, haven't been there in months.
Dlaura ~~truth~~
Wise Snake smoothes the black cloth with a certain amount of nervous self-consciousness.
Wise Snake: Why are you here then?
Dlaura: Last time I saw you...
Wise Snake: Tecton Donors don't get vacations.
Dlaura eyes widen.
Dlaura: Since when?
Wise Snake: Since the serious shortages began. For years now.
Dlaura: On their way to other assignments isn't considered a vacation?
Wise Snake's eyes narrow again.
Dlaura: It may only be a day, or two at the most...but to me, that would constitute a vacation.
Wise Snake: Bender Cove isn't on the way anywhere. That's why we get all the Tecton's rejects.
Dlaura stares back at Snake.
Dlaura: Well then, I'm glad I'm not here if everyone is considered a reject.
B'cal studies Dlaura then looks down her nose at her.
Dlaura: It was nice seeing you again...
Dlaura ~~lie~~
B'cal thinks Snake is wasting her time
Dlaura: If you'll excuse me...
Wise Snake: Tramila didn't do the things you say.
Dlaura ~~panic~~
Wise Snake's eyes take on a ferocious glitter at the panic.
Dlaura turns to go down the street.
Wise Snake: Who are you? Tell me, or you'll regret it.
Dlaura: I...look...I had no idea at the time she didn't do those things..
Wise Snake: B'cal - come.
Dlaura smiles ~~truth~~
Wise Snake follows D'laura closely.
Wise Snake: Why did you say she did?
Dlaura stops and turns to Snake.
Dlaura: Look...I had been told that...I repeated it.
Dlaura: What can I say.
B'cal follows, supporting Snake although she is utterly disinterested in whatever sordid arguments Snake wants to get into with street scum.
Dlaura: It was a lie.
Wise Snake: Who told you those things?
Dlaura holds up her hands in supplication.
Dlaura eyes narrow.
Dlaura: Why are you so interested.
Alea stands and smoothes the ugly gray cloak over her
Wise Snake: Tramila was my mentor. Your words accused her of having ruined my first transfer on purpose! I have a right to know.
Wise Snake: ~~dangerous~~
Dlaura backs up a step.
Dlaura: A friend...
Dlaura: I have no idea if he knew the truth or not.
Dlaura ~~guarding/hiding~~
Wise Snake: Your eyes did not deceive you. I am indeed a Farris. Your words, however, do try to deceive me. Tell me the truth.
Dlaura: No.
Dlaura turns and starts down the street at a fast pace.
Wise Snake starts to chase her, but then remembers being slammed by Alea and remains still.
Alea takes several deep breaths, trying to relax and recapture the sense of calm.
Wise Snake: I'll call the Tecton Marshall down on you if I ever see you again!
Wise Snake: And rest assured, I WILL tell them what I do know of you now.
Wise Snake: ~~fuming~~
Dlaura runs until she finds somewhere to duck into and then keeps going.
B'cal declines to ask what that was all about.
Alea takes another deep breath and then relaxes.
Jemmi comes bopping down the street, her ponytail swinging in time to her step.
Wise Snake: Let's go back to the Center. Your shift is over, and anyway, I want to report that scheming little...
Wise Snake: Oh, shen.
Jemmi: Why Snake!
Wise Snake: [sees/zlins Jemmi]
Wise Snake: Ugh.
Jemmi giggles and totters up to her on heels.
Wise Snake: Hello!
Jemmi: I'm back....
Jemmi: I know I'm still two days from actual transfer...but....
Jemmi giggles.
B'cal goggles at this ridiculous figure, and snorts explosively.
Jemmi: Where is that cute Gen you had with you.
Jemmi blinks looking around wide-eyed.
Jemmi: I came back for that transfer...
Jemmi pouts.
Jemmi: He's not here with you though.
Wise Snake is still enraged over the meeting with D'laura and doesn't react well to the other Sime's interest in Nick.
Wise Snake swells up like a maddened cat.
Jemmi blinks owlishly.
Jemmi: Why, look how red you are.
Wise Snake: ~~rage~~
Jemmi: I don't think I've ever seen....
Jemmi cocks her head.
Wise Snake: Would you get out of my way! Come back when you'
Wise Snake: Re in need.
Jemmi: Did I come at a.....
Jemmi: Oh!
Jemmi blinks once, then twice...
Jemmi: I see.
Jemmi: He dumped you, didn't he.
Jemmi shakes her head.
Wise Snake's tentacles wave.
Jemmi: Just like a man.
Wise Snake's tentacles tie themselves in knots.
Wise Snake: What?!!
Jemmi: Oh well...I understand these things...
Wise Snake: He did not "dump" me.
Jemmi: I'll come back in two days when you're feeling better.
Wise Snake: He works during the days, B'cal at nights.
Jemmi: Oh, honey, you don't have to lie to me.
Jemmi: B'cal?
Jemmi looks at Snake.
Jemmi: Who's that?
Alea finally starts back toward the Center feeling much more relaxed.
B'cal looks disdainfully at the teeny-bopper.
Jemmi: Is he as cute as the other one?
Jemmi: I sure would like to try a threesome--if that really isn't just some legend.
Jemmi giggles.
B'cal: I'll thank you to keep such speculations to yourself.
Jemmi looks wide-eyed at the old woman next to the young Channel.
Wise Snake nearly chokes at the suggestion of Jemmi, Nick and B'cal in a threesome.
Jemmi: What speculations?
B'cal pounds Snake on the back.
Jemmi: About the legends...
Jemmi: Ooooh.
Jemmi: You mean, you don't know either if you can have a transfer with three people..two Simes and a Gen?
Jemmi: OR!!!
Jemmi grins....
Jemmi: Maybe that's it.
B'cal: I'm B'cal. And Snake will do no such thing.
Jemmi: You do and don't want anyone else to know.
Wise Snake pushes B'cal's hands away, sputtering.
Jemmi: He's not a boy.
Alea feels much better as she continues to walk.
Wise Snake: Of course not. Donors come in both genders.
Jemmi: Well...would she do something like that...her field sure does zlin nice...
Alea: You know, baby, it's not good for me to get upset like that and I've promised I'm not going to let you get hurt like...
Alea trails off
B'cal: I most certainly will not!
Alea: Anyway...we're back to the Center...where I am going to get to work.
Jemmi: Oh.
B'cal's nager flicks outrage.
Jemmi frowns.
Jemmi: I didn't think so. You don't zlin as....cool as the other one.
Wise Snake: Uh.... look, Jemmi.
Jemmi thinks and he was cute too.
Wise Snake: Yeah um, why don't you go home and come back in two days.
Jemmi smiles, then giggles.
Jemmi: Don't worry snake..I think that's a grand idea. I'll be back in two days.
Jemmi: Two days now okay.
Wise Snake: Great.
Jemmi leans toward Snake and whispers.
Jemmi: Have the cute one there instead of the stick in the mud old lady.
Jemmi turns and totters off, pony tail bouncing.
Jemmi is now known as Briel.
B'cal: And this is what passes for upper class in Bender Cove? This town is in worse trouble than I thought.
Wise Snake: ~~irritated~~ I'll thank you to stop flicking your nager at my customers, at the expense of my support.
Wise Snake: And while I'm at it, where do you get off lighting into Alea like that? And in a public place, no less!
Alea touches her stomach, still unable to believe the news Briel just dumped on her...thinks she'd better tell Tarsh before anyone of the every growing number of people who have zlinned it.
Alea goes up the stairs to the Center and into the building.
Briel zlins Alea entering the building.
Briel: Alea, have you finished the reports I wanted done by today? We're ready to get the new filing room set up and those are some of the first to be moved.
Alea nods slowly, sighing.
Alea: Yes, Hajene.
Alea: I'll get them right now.
Briel hesitates and then follows Alea into her office.
B'cal [frostily] Don't tell me what to do. I know more about being a good Donor than you'll ever understand.
Briel: Look, Alea, about the other day...
Alea stiffens.
Wise Snake: Look, forget it. Just don't create disruptions, okay?
Briel: I came down overly harsh. It simply that, your field is a menace and you have even hurt Snake with it. God knows I have no feelings for her after what happened between us. But she is a channel and deserving of respect.
Alea stiffens, thinking she is a Farris and deserving of a bit of respect but has never seen it, except from amazingly enough, Mostan.
B'cal: And don't order me around! I'm no awe-stricken, wet-behind-the-ears Nick type you can push around.
Briel: She doesn't want you around her. I want you to respect that. I hope, with you now pregnant it'll slow you down some anyway.
Alea thinks she'd never admit she is worried about the unborn child and so simply shrugs.
Briel rubs at her neck.
B'cal turns on her heel and stomps off in the direction of the Sime Center, as if going back there were her idea.
Briel: Fine...look, just get your work done and I won't hound you about your spare time, as long as it IS your spare time and it's not spent with Snake.
Alea decides not to tell Briel who she just ran into.
Wise Snake freezes for a moment, then hurries after B'cal, in an agitated state.
Briel shakes her head and leaves.
Alea: You know, Tramila, if you were around more, I wouldn't be putting up with Briel. She would definitely avoid me..just to avoid you, a Farris.
Alea says this to the ceiling.
Alea: And if Veraik were here, I'd only have to listen to his arguments....and end up getting locked in the shendoni room with him.
Alea: At least Briel doesn't do that.
Briel goes out to clerk's desk to have the folders gathered up.
You are now known as clerk`
Briel: Also make sure that board is updated.
Clerk: Yes Hajene.
B'cal and Snake approach the Sime Center, still arguing.
Clerk looks to the board and the new list that Briel just presenting him and nods again.
Wise Snake: Look... we talked about this before... B'cal, would you listen to me!
Briel: I swear someone has it out for this Center..trying to mess up the Donor's schedules. As if we don't already have a problem with Donor shortages.
B'cal whips the door open and strides inside.
Briel thinks of last transfer and Nick and sighs, thinking how well it went.
Briel hears something and turns.
Clerk blanches.
Wise Snake jumps back to avoid the fast-moving door, then her mouth tightens and she follows B'cal inside.
B'cal's eyes see, then totally dismiss, the clerk.
B'cal sees Briel.
B'cal's expression turns sour.
Clerk sighs relieved and goes about changing the board.
B'cal: Oh. It's you.
Briel: Yes.
Briel smiles thinly.
Briel: Good night, B'cal.
Briel: Sleep well.
Wise Snake joins B'cal at her side.
Briel nods to Snake.
Briel: Hello Snake.
Briel hopes B'cal takes the hint and goes upstairs to sleep.
Briel: What brings you here this morning, Snake?
B'cal, annoyed by Briel's amateurish attempt to dismiss her, says right where she is.
Briel: Just dropping off B'cal as usual?
Briel sighs when B'cal digs in her heels to stay. Just what she requires...a Donor who isn't her own standing around.
Wise Snake: B'cal.. please. I'll come up in a few minutes.
Briel: ==goodnight B'cal...on your way to bed b'cal?==
Briel turns back make sure the helpers are taking the medical files, not personnel files.
Clerk quickly moves and gathers up the personnel files, moving them away from the many boxes of other files.
Clerk slips them into the bottom drawer and locks it.
B'cal: You can't order me around any more than she can.
Briel vows right then to write to V'lar demanding B'cal be removed from this Center in one month from today.
Briel finishes up what she is doing and then turns, eyes narrow, false smile in place.
Wise Snake sighs, and resigns herself to pleading with B'cal for what she wants... after she gets done with Briel.
Clerk: If you'll just excuse me...
Clerk slips around Briel and over to the board to work on it.
Wise Snake looks up at Briel.
Briel moves studying Snake curiously.
Briel: Was there something else?
You are now known as Alea.
Wise Snake: I want to talk to you about a couple of people I ran into this morning.
Briel: Oh, okay. My office?
Briel motions down the hall.
Wise Snake nods.
Briel: It'll be quieter than in here.
Wise Snake goes there.
Briel turns and heads down the hall going into the office when she arrives.
Briel goes over and sits down.
Briel: Who did you run into to.....Alea?
Briel ~~dismay/anger~~
Briel: I'm sorry Snake. I informed her she was to stay away from you.
Briel thinks that's the only person Snake could possibly mean and then tries to think of who else it might be she is upset at.
Wise Snake glances at B'cal, then lowers her eyes.
Briel: Who is the second person?
Wise Snake: She didn't exactly talk to me. She attacked my Donor.
Briel: She WHAT!
Briel stands, shocked.
Wise Snake: Started screaming at her in full public view.
Briel drops back into her chair.
Briel: Well shen.
Briel rubs wearily at her neck.
Wise Snake: Radiating the most excruciating blend of anger and she even threw something at her.
Briel looks up at B'cal studying her and thinking she could probably provoke anyone to anger.
Briel: She threw? What did she ...
Briel zlins.
Briel: Are you covered with Cider?
Briel: Oh...
Briel rubs at her temples with both hands.
B'cal's lips twist in a sneer.
Briel: What happened?
B'cal: Her aim didn't match her spite, fortunately.
Wise Snake: B'cal, please.
Briel: Alea is usually so...calm...
Briel: I don't know that I've ever seen her angry, except at Veraik.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Briel thinks calm isn't the exact word but doesn't know quite how to describe Alea.
Wise Snake: She came up to us in a marketplace and started screaming about... something about... nearly dying, and art.
Briel nods.
Briel: Ah....
Briel: I see.
Wise Snake: Then she snatched up a... it was a glass pitcher, and hurled it at B'cal.
Briel: So, B'cal was the one who tossed her art in the fire.
Wise Snake: And... Alea said... you told her I hated her?
Briel blinks.
Wise Snake: Hated her guts, I believe was the term.
Briel: Well, I ... she's right. I did.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Wise Snake: What right have you?
Briel: It's pretty obvious from the way you avoid her even if you've never actually allowed anyone to zlin the hate.
Briel: What right?
Briel: Now wait a minute..you TOLD me to get rid of her.
Briel: You wanted her to stay away.
Briel: I simply did what you asked.
Wise Snake: That is not true. I avoid her, yes. I don't want to see her, yes. But it is out of concern for my safety, not out of hate.
Wise Snake: I do not hate Alea.
Briel eyes widen then narrow.
Briel: Well.
Briel rubs at her neck.
Wise Snake: And telling her I did does not appear to have helped her emotional state.
Briel glances up, then laughs, surprised.
Briel: You CARE about her emotional state?
Briel: Look, SNake..you wanted her gone. You were desperate.
Briel: You know how Alea is. She is a fixer. She tries to fix everything.
Briel: I knew if I wasn't blunt about how I THOUGHT you felt, she wouldn't take the hint.
Briel: I'm sorry if I...mistook the situation.
Wise Snake lowers her head, rubs her forehead with the fingers and tentacles of one hand.
Wise Snake: Look, Briel...
Briel ~~embarrassed/defensive~~
Briel: I'll set things right if that's what you want.
Briel flushes at the thought of having to apologize again to Alea.
Wise Snake: I am as close to Alea as I have ever been to a Tecton employee I met working at the Center. But...
Wise Snake: She is dangerous, and I am defensive by nature. It is too nerve-wracking to be around her in uncontrolled situations.
Briel nods.
Briel: Of course. I understand.
Wise Snake: All I ask is that she not arrive unannounced at my house, or grab me on the street.
Briel: Or scream at your Donor?
Wise Snake: She needn't leave the room to avoid me here at the Center, or....
Wise Snake smiles wryly at Briel's words.
Wise Snake: Or that, yes.
Briel lifts an eyebrow studied B'cal...and thinks she won't pass that last bit of info along.
B'cal thinks Briel is an idiot.
B'cal fails to keep this from her face or nager.
Briel looks sharply at B'cal.
Briel: Glad to know that B'cal. It'll only make my letters more meaningful when your house learns your losing control of your nager around a low first.
Briel chuckles.
Wise Snake: Would you like for me to talk to her first, or after... [stops at Briel's words]
Wise Snake: What?
Briel: Sure, talk to her.
Briel: I don't think she'd believe me anyway.
Wise Snake: Wait a minute... what are you accusing B'cal of?
Briel: She can't control her nager enough that a low first can zlin.
Briel shrugs.
Briel: It's just one of the things that will be going into my weekly report I've been sending to V'lar.
Briel: I don't know why they rate their Donors so high.
Briel: It's really up to you though. If you'd rather avoid Alea, then I'll try to explain things.
Briel ~~frustrated embarassment~~
Wise Snake's eyes narrow further.
Alea lugs the two hug stacks of folders out to clerk and sets them on his desk.
Wise Snake wonders when Briel lost the ability to determine when a Donor is deliberately allowing something to show, and when it is accidental.
Wise Snake: I will speak to Alea.
Wise Snake: You should still speak to her too, though. After I am done.
Alea goes back to her office and gets the one additional stack that wasn't due yet and takes it out, finished also.
B'cal thinks that her House will have a good laugh at Briel's expense when they read the letter.
Briel ~~disgruntled~~
Briel: I will.
Briel: Don't worry about that.
Wise Snake: Great.
Wise Snake: Then there is the other matter I came about.
Briel thinks it's a shame that B'cal didn't buy the threat and she'll have to think of something else.
Briel: Yes?
Wise Snake's eyes dart to B'cal's, then slide away.
Wise Snake meets Briel's eyes reluctantly.
Alea then goes and gets her normal work for the week and takes it out, also finished.
Alea smiles at the clerk.
Wise Snake: In your files you should find a record of a Donor named D'Laura who was here for less than a day.
Alea: No sleep for days, but it's done..and the last time I go without that much sleep.
Briel frowns.
Briel: I am not up on all the files.
Briel: But I'll check.
Wise Snake: She was scheduled for Veraik's transfer the same month the Center was opened.
Briel: Ah.
Briel thinks.
Wise Snake: Or at least, so she said, and so her folder said.
Briel: I seem to remember.....oh yeah.
Wise Snake: However, she arrived a day late.
Briel: I vaguely remember something about her...
Wise Snake: I was the only one there when she arrived.
Wise Snake: I was the only one who ever saw her or spoke to her.
Briel nods.
Wise Snake: You'll find my report in her file.
Briel: Okay.
Wise Snake stops, considering her next words.
Alea goes back into her office, drops down in her chair, and then decides to sketch to relax.
Wise Snake: I do not know what she is, but she is definitely not Tecton.
Briel sharpens leaning forward, all trace of relaxed speculation gone.
Briel: What do you mean?
Briel: Not Tecton?
Wise Snake: When I talked to her the first time, she told me a bunch of tales about Tramila which she believed to be true.
Briel: Tramila?
Briel wonders what Tramila has to do with Veraik's transfer partner...and sees Snake's point.
Briel: And?
Wise Snake: They consisted mainly of stories of Tramila working to aid the Distect in Tecton politics, and accusing her of having deliberately... ruined the transfers of Firsts who were not Distect-sympathetic.
Wise Snake: ~~ uneasiness ~~
Briel face turns white.
Briel: What.
Briel: A Farris helping the distect?
Wise Snake: The woman believed her words at the time. Therefore I did not know whether to believe or not.
Briel: I find that hard to believe.
Briel: I see.
Briel confused.
Briel: I take it she doesn't believe them now?
Briel: She came to..warn you?
Wise Snake is finding this very difficult, with Briel pestering her with questions.
Briel pulls out a sheet of paper and snatches up a pen in her tentacle and beings to write.
Wise Snake: At the time, I... I was in a state of confusion about Tramila.. She was my teacher and mentor at Zeor for the two years before I changed over. And... she chose my first transfer partner.
Wise Snake: At that time, we hadn't spoken a civil word since that transfer happened.
Briel sets mode: +o Mostan
Briel makes notes of this trying not to think about how disastrous that first transfer was for snake.
Wise Snake: I... the stories D'laura told me matched up with what I knew of Tramila's activities and actions, or at least did not contradict them.
Briel continues to make notes.
Wise Snake: Five months before, I would have found it impossible to believe Tramila could do the terrible things D'laura described. But then... right then... I didn't know what to believe.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Wise Snake: Since then, I have learned it was lies. All lies.
Briel pauses and looks up.
Wise Snake: Tramila didn't do those things.
Wise Snake: She appears pro-Distect simply because she works for reform. But she is not.
Briel: I ... see..
Briel nods makes some more notes.
Wise Snake: And she did not ruin my first transfer on purpose. It was an accident, pure and simple. She made a mistake in not checking out the Donor well enough in advance.
Wise Snake: Today I saw that D'laura in the marketplace again. She was afraid when she recognized me.
Briel shudders.
Briel: Afraid?
Wise Snake: I asked her who she really was, and she responded with deceptions and fear.
Briel gaze sharpens.
Wise Snake: I accused her of being non-Tecton and she deflected my accusations without responding directly.
Briel eyes narrow considering.
Briel: Is she still in the area?
Wise Snake: She was twenty minutes ago.
Briel: We'll see if someone can find her. I think she has some answering to do.
Wise Snake: Give me a piece of paper.
Briel slides an empty sheet of stationary across the desk.
Wise Snake grabs a pencil and scribbles out a bunch of obtuse technical notations that will allow a zlinning Sime to probably recognize the right nager.
Wise Snake also writes the name "D'Laura" on the page.
Wise Snake: Her records should still be on file here.
Briel: I'll check.
Briel: Thank you for informing us of this Snake.
Wise Snake: And I think D'laura is her real name, or at least one she uses regularly. She turned when I called it.
Briel: Good.
Wise Snake massages her forehead.
Briel: If we can't find her, maybe someone else at one of the centers will know something.
Briel zlins Snake.
Briel: You going to be okay?
Wise Snake: I don't know. I'm worried sick about the end of this month.
Alea sits quietly sketching a picture of her ideal day at the Center in her free time.
B'cal doesn't see why, since she'll be there to provide transfer.
Briel: I'm working on getting someone else here for you, Snake.
Briel: I've got calls out for Farris level Donors, with speed that could easily match Tramila.
Wise Snake: Sounds good... [dubiously... how many of those can there be?]
Briel thinks there aren't many but doesn't want to worry snake.
Wise Snake: Well I appreciate the effort.
Briel: Don't worry. We'll have someone here for you.
Wise Snake zlins B'cal's disgruntled reaction through her shields, and tries to pretend she didn't notice.
Wise Snake: Great.
Briel nods.
Briel takes the paper with the description of D'laura on it and stands.
Wise Snake stands also, starts to motion B'cal to accompany her, then thinks the better of it.
Briel covers her smirk and studies the paper.
Wise Snake darts a poisonous look at Briel, who isn't looking, and walks out of the office.
Briel can't help but chuckle when Snake is gone.
Briel is so glad B'cal is not her Donor.
B'cal gets up and decides it's about time to go upstairs, since she doesn't want to have to sit through the disgusting scene of Snake trying to talk to Alea.
B'cal gives Briel a pitying look and leaves the office also.
Briel thinks, although she wouldn't ever have to worry about hurting someone with a field like that.
B'cal retires to her quarters.
Wise Snake seeks out Alea.
Alea sighs as she darkens some areas and is careful not to shadow others.
Alea glances at her tiny office and thinks she should really have gone somewhere else to draw instead of this closet.
Alea: A closet that was converted to an office just for me by Veraik.
Alea grumbles.
Alea: The rat.
Wise Snake pauses in front of Alea's office and takes a deep breath.
Wise Snake turns the handle.
Alea hears a click and looks up.
Wise Snake finds it unlocked and pushes it the rest of the way open, slips inside.
Alea: Snake!
Alea drops her sketch pad.
Wise Snake closes the door and leans her back against it.
Wise Snake looking at floor.
Alea glances down and snatches at the pad, tossing it on the couch.
Alea: I .. uh...
Alea: How can I um....help you?
Alea clasps her hands together.
Alea: Look, I'm sorry about earlier.
Alea: I know I shouldn't have lost my temper.
Alea sets mode: +o Tarsh
Alea: Really.
Alea: I..just...she could have asked me to take the artwork down.
Alea glances over at the sketch pad and sees it's still open exposing her art.
Alea moves across the room and closes the sketch pad, clasping it to her chest.
Wise Snake raises her head and looks Alea in the eye.
Wise Snake: ~~discomfort/pain~~
Wise Snake: Look, I... what you were told about my feelings wasn't true.
Alea tosses the sketch pad over on the couch.
Alea: What?
Alea starts forward concerned, then stops.
Alea: I...
Alea: You mean....
Alea looks away.
Alea: Briel?
Wise Snake: I don't hate you and never have.
Alea: I... didn't think you did, Snake.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Alea shrugs.
Wise Snake: You said you did. This morning.
Alea: Okay, well I did.
Alea: It's not that important.
Wise Snake zlins for lie.
Alea ~~lying~~
Wise Snake: Why do you lie to me, Alea?
Alea sighs.
Wise Snake: I'm telling you the truth of my heart.
Alea: Perhaps because I'm uncomfortable talking about it.
Alea: And I'm used to talking with people who aren't Farrises and can't zlin the lies.
Alea smiles slightly.
Wise Snake: A bad habit.
Alea: I'd offer you tea...but well...I don't have a tea maker in here.
Alea: Tell me.
Alea: It'd been two years that I'd worked with a Farris before I came here.
Alea: Takes a lot of readjustments.
Alea: Okay, Snake, yes, I was hurt. I suppose I had it coming in part.
Alea: I will admit I have caused you problems in the past.
Alea: Most weren't on purpose though.
Alea: I wouldn't set out to sabotage a Farris channel.
Wise Snake: I know.
Wise Snake: I know that, Alea. None of it is on purpose.
Wise Snake: That is why I cannot hate you.
Alea: Ah well...it's over.
Alea: I suppose we shouldn't worry about it anymore.
Wise Snake: What I asked Briel to do, was simply to keep you from surprising me at my home or on the streets.
Alea nods, her gaze going back to her sketchbook.
Alea: I see.
Alea: I imagine that's acceptable.
Alea: If you don't want me at your house, I can make sure to send notes or requests through other people.
Wise Snake: I said nothing about avoiding me here at the Center, or anything like that. Just in the unexpected places.
Alea: Well, I don't plan to run into you on the streets.
Alea winces as she thinks she has actually RUN INTO her literally.
Wise Snake: It's happened.
Alea: I know.
Alea: You're a Farris. I like to be around Farrises.
Alea: But I'll respect your wishes.
Alea: Really Snake, it's okay. I'm just glad you came and...explained things to me.
Wise Snake: Alea, I want to be around you too. But in controlled situations. Safe situations. Not situations where I can be hurt.
Alea: I understand.
Alea: And I do appreciate you coming and telling me this.
Alea picks up her sketch pad and idly flips through the pages before finally looking up at Snake.
Alea: I mean it, Snake.
Alea ~~truth~~
Alea smiles, though a bit sad.
Wise Snake senses the dismissal and turns her back on Alea, head down.
Wise Snake also senses the truth.
Wise Snake hesitates, then leaves the office, closing the door behind her.
Alea: Snake...
Alea sighs.
Alea goes over and sits down.
Wise Snake walks back to the lobby, feeling down.
Alea doesn't like seeing any channel upset and it bothers her to see snake look so down.
Wise Snake leaves the Sime Center.
Alea picks up her sketch book and begins to draw again.