Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #114: (12/29/97)
Alea walks out of her office with a stack of reports in her hand.
Alea goes down to Briel's office and slips them into the box on her door.
B'cal slips her cape on and waits for Snake to escort her back to the Center.
Wise Snake sees B'cal standing there and rolls her eyes up (so B'cal can't see it) puts down her pen, and gets up from the desk.
Wise Snake: I take it this means you are ready to go back?
B'cal: Yes.
Wise Snake goes and gets her black cloak, puts it on.
Wise Snake is not looking forward to seeing the Center again... considers telling B'cal to go back alone, but is too paranoid to accept that solution.
Wise Snake: Well then, let's go.
Wise Snake hold the door open for B'cal.
B'cal sighs and goes out the door.
Wise Snake smiles to herself and exits, closing and locking the door carefully.
B'cal glances at Snake.
B'cal: Don't think just because I didn't ask you about yesterday that you're off the hook.
Wise Snake looks at B'cal.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Wise Snake: B'cal, nobody ever considers themselves off the hook when it comes to you.
B'cal smiles a very self-satisfied smile.
B'cal: Why have you been dragging around all night? What happened to put you in such a ... different mood?
Alea turns and strolls back down the hall, more tired than usual today after not sleeping most of last night.
Wise Snake frowns.
Wise Snake: I learned something I should have known long ago.
B'cal studies Snake.
Wise Snake: Something both dangerous to know and dangerous to be ignorant of.
Wise Snake looks like she hasn't slept.
B'cal glares.
Wise Snake fidgets nervously under B'cal's stare.
Wise Snake looks away.
B'cal: You're telling me that idiot Briel allowed you to be exposed to something that is likely to effect you negatively when she knows how hard I'm working on your transfers.
B'cal mutters under her breath dire threat bout the insensitivity of disjunct channels.
B'cal: If she messes up this transfer....
B'cal looks at Snake.
B'cal: Forget whatever it was...it's not important.
Wise Snake thinks that B'cal is trying, in her own warped way, to make Snake feel better.
Wise Snake tries to smile.
Wise Snake: Thanks, B'cal.
B'cal: You're not going to have this transfer screwed up like every other one.
B'cal huffs and trudges on toward the center.
Wise Snake attempts valiantly to look more optimistic for B'cal.
Wise Snake is actually scared to try to take transfer from B'cal again.
Wise Snake walks at B'cal's side, darting little hidden glances at her now and then.
B'cal focuses her attention on Snake trying to soothe her.
Wise Snake calms down a little.
B'cal: Briel is looking for another Donor for you, one up to your speed, Snake.
B'cal: This transfer will be fine.
Wise Snake: I hope so. [with feeling]
Alea trails back into the lobby.
B'cal: I know so[nagerically backed up]
B'cal: Now....about last night...
B'cal frowns.
Wise Snake is naturally affected by B'cal's projected optimism.
B'cal: I didn't say anything then...but now....
Wise Snake is actually starting to feel pretty...
Wise Snake's good mood shatters at those words.
You are now known as Alea.
Wise Snake's eyes creep to B'cal's, then skitter away.
B'cal: You handled that case with the broken leg all wrong.
Wise Snake: What??
Wise Snake taken by surprise.
Wise Snake had thought B'cal was about to slam her silly over the D'Laura thing.
B'cal: I don't care IF there was a fight going on around us...
B'cal: Grabbing up the er, victim and running out with him was not an acceptable option.
Wise Snake looks at B'cal in confusion, listening to her words.
Wise Snake: He was getting trampled.
B'cal: Next time I tell you to leave him behind...LEAVE HIM.
B'cal: So.
B'cal shrugs.
Wise Snake: That's how he got that hand injury... somebody's boot heel.
B'cal: He would have still been there after it quieted down.
B'cal: And probably given you more work too.
Wise Snake: He was too big for me to block them all.
Wise Snake: You wanted me to leave the building entirely?
Wise Snake disapproving.
B'cal: Yes.
Wise Snake: Leave him there?
Wise Snake: Why?
B'cal: That woman weeping over him could have protected him.
Wise Snake: What was so bad about taking him out.
Wise Snake: ?
B'cal: After all, she did throw his attacker throughout he window.
You are now known as JulesDist.
Wise Snake remembers that part.. in fact she laid the guy with the broken leg down right next to his unconscious attacker when she healed them.
B'cal: Well, I suppose it doesn't matter...
B'cal: Since you're still living.
Jon Drake is now known as Piotr.
Wise Snake smiles at B'cal.
B'cal: I'm surprised, really I am...after what you did to that Distect Donor yesterday.
B'cal: I must admit I am surprised Briel didn't have you arrested.
B'cal: A Donor.
B'cal: Anyway to subdue them..yet you choose to physically knock her out.
B'cal shudders.
Wise Snake's eyes grow fiery with the memory.
B'cal: I can only thank the stars the renSimes around weren't affected.
B'cal turns the corner to the Center.
Jules Dist moans, tossing fitfully in her fever.
Wise Snake: You don't understand. You couldn't understand. It's about House and Family.
Piotr is helping Jules along by foot. It has been very slow going.
B'cal: How the shenned does coshing that Gen over the head have anything to do with household OR family.
B'cal looks B'cal up and down.
B'cal looks Snake up and down.
B'cal: And what do YOU know about household and family?
B'cal: A Farris...now that's funny.
B'cal: They're so inbreed and so devoted to the tecton....
Wise Snake looks at B'cal, eyes sparkling with an unhealthy, not quite hidden light.
B'cal: Family takes on a whole new meaning with them.
B'cal shakes her head disgusted.
Wise Snake: Perhaps.
Jules Dist drops to her knees.
Jules Dist ~~delerious~~
Wise Snake edges away from B'cal, fighting to control the nervous anger building in her again.
B'cal: No reason to get bent out of shape.
Wise Snake: I defend my own, though.
Wise Snake looks at B'cal incredulously.
Wise Snake: No reason to get bent out of shape? After your insults?
B'cal: I make a simple statement..about the Gen you tried to murder and you get upset.
Piotr bends down to help Jules.
Wise Snake: I did not, [tightly] attempt to murder her.
Wise Snake: [mutters] not that I wish I hadn't, now.
B'cal: Ah huh.
B'cal: I see.
Piotr looks her over, concerned. He has had to be very careful to keep her Jules conscious, and remaining in one spot when she's lost consciousness.
B'cal: A Sme who is wanting to murder, coshed her over the head, but wasn't trying to murder her.
B'cal: If you say so.
Wise Snake stops at the foot of the Sime Center's stairs, agitated, unwilling to go in there in that state.
B'cal leans against the railing.
B'cal: Did you hear what happened to her?
B'cal glares.
Wise Snake's tentacles squirm fretful.
B'cal: She ESCAPED.
B'cal ~~disbelief~~
Wise Snake: Imagine that.
B'cal: I would guess that Briel is somehow behind that and that YOU know exactly what is going on.
B'cal eyes narrow.
B'cal: However, since I CHOSE to leave the room, I won't ask how it happened.
Wise Snake: Suffice it to say that is not what I would have chosen to have happen.
Piotr: Not much longer, Jules. We can make it.
Wise Snake: ~~angered~~
B'cal: And so that's what has you so bent out of shape.
B'cal nods, satisfied.
B'cal: Thought so.
Wise Snake's eyes spark poison.
Wise Snake grips the railing and looks down.
Wise Snake: Your words.
Wise Snake keeps careful control of her voice.
B'cal: My words?
Wise Snake: Your words intended to hurt. They did.
B'cal: Yes, my words...
B'cal confused.
B'cal: Now how in the world did my guess that you are burning mad about Briel releasing a distect sympathizer hurt you?
Wise Snake unclenches one hand from the rail in order to rub her temple.
Jules Dist wobbles to her legs, trying to remember where he said they were going...
B'cal moves forward projecting a soothing calm.
Piotr is trying his best to support Jules--normally easy, but he is dead on his feet.
Wise Snake: No, fool [spits] your assumption that I know nothing of loyalty and your insults to that effect.
Piotr: Come on, Jules--we're almost there.
B'cal glares.
B'cal: I would say loyalty is a daily progression through hard times and good and wouldn't be judged yet.
B'cal: Since Haven't been here that long..
Jules Dist: I..uh...
Jules Dist staggers up, pain burning in her right shoulder and left arm where she was cut.
Wise Snake: You make a mistake when you condemn that which you cannot judge.
Wise Snake turns her back on B'cal and stalks away from the Center.
Piotr leads Jules through the Bender Cove. Hoping not to attract too much attention.
Piotr and Jules have reached the street in front of the Sime Center.
B'cal shrugs.
B'cal goes up the stairs and in to go to sleep.
Jon Drake heads out of his office to the front lobby.
B'cal is now known as Briel.
Jules Dist drops to her knees, breathing heavily.
Jules Dist sets mode: +o JonDrake wisesnake stops and looks at the pair of people in the street ahead of her.
Wise Snake: ~~still angry... now extremely wary seeing that one of them is Piotr~~
Piotr helps Jules up and makes their way up the steps of the center.
Wise Snake sees they are going to the Sime Center and reluctantly turns away.
Jules Dist zlins and starts struggling feebly.
Jules Dist: No...NO>....
Jules Dist: Traitor...
Wise Snake trudges home to Nick.
Piotr: I'm sorry, Jules--I don't see any other way.
Jules Dist: They'll arrest...I...don't...want..
Piotr stops there on the steps of the Center.
Briel comes running tot he front door.
Briel: What happened?
Piotr: Where else can we go, Jules?
Jules Dist glances up at Briel, zlinning.
Jon Drake: Briel?
Briel drops to her knees.
Briel ~~zlinning~~
Briel: She's lost a lot of blood.
Briel takes her arms in transfer grip and does a deep zlin.
Briel: Feverish, shocky...selyn loss....
Jules Dist struggles feebly then gives in.
Briel scoops up Jules and heads down to the infirmary.
Briel: How did this happen?
Jules Dist: None of your....[gasps]
Jules Dist ~~pain~~
Jules Dist features tighten.
Piotr looks to this Channel in Companion mode.
Piotr: Can you help her?
Jules Dist nods.
Jon Drake hears the commotion from the kitchen and rushes out, heads out to the infirmary.
Jules Dist: She's TECTON..of course she can..help[spits the word]
Briel: Distect!
Briel: I should have known...
Piotr: Now Jules, please relax.
Piotr lets his field extend to relax Jules.
Jon Drake rushes into the infirmary.
Jon Drake: Briel, what's going on? Do you need my hel--
Jon Drake pauses, surprised.
Jon Drake: Jules?
Jules Dist grimacing zlins JonDrake.
Piotr looks up to this young Gen, then continues his control of the ambient.
Jon Drake rushes to Briel's side, but is concerned for Jules.
Jon Drake: What happened?
Briel ~~panic~~
Briel: Jon what are you doing here?
Piotr's fieldwork isn't Tecton standard, but neither is it the unstructured Distect form.
Jon Drake: I thought you might need my help.
Piotr: ===standard===
Briel would welcome Jon's help anytime except with someone who is DISTECT.
Piotr: You seem hesitant to let this Donor help you. I am fully capable of assisting you if you will accept my help.
Jon Drake wants to help, but must defer to Briel.
Briel shakes her head.
Briel: No, no...Jon will help me.
Briel: Jon, get me some tweezers and some sterile water.
Briel: Get this ... woman some fosebine.
Piotr is holding the ambient very steady, despite his obvious fatigue.
Briel wonders why the shenned they're suddenly being invaded by distect people, wonders if there is a place nearby that they all live.
Jon Drake rushes to get the needed equipment.
Briel hopes, if there is, they move it.
Briel takes control of the fields.
Briel: Jules, this is going to hurt.
Briel: Drink the fosebine and I'll block the pain as much as possible.
Jules Dist ~~semi-conscious~~
Piotr relinquishes control seemlessly.
Piotr backs up, easing out of the nimbus.
Jon Drake stands beside Briel ready to help.
Jules Dist accepts the fosebine gulping it down.
Briel reaches for the tweezers, then pauses.
Briel: Support me Jon...focus...
Briel looks to Piotr.
Briel: Can you stand there[points]
Jon Drake lets his field support.
Briel: The ... metal..didnt' come out. I'm going to have to...take it out.
Briel begins to sweat.
Piotr takes a step and adjusts his field to compensate.
Briel has never had to do this before though she has had training. Briel wishes Tamlen was here at the moment.
Briel takes the tweezers from Jon.
Briel: Pour some water over this as I work, Jon.
Jon Drake gently pours the water...
Briel zlins the huge blackened hold on Jules' shoulder and then carefully inserts the tweezers into the entrance wound.
Jules Dist gasps in pain, her hand shooting out toward Piotr.
Jules Dist: Aaahhh...uuuhhh....
Piotr wants to reach out for her, but holds still.
Briel zlins the tissue and the selyn flowing through Jules' shoulder and feels that pain enter her as her tentacles slip into entry would and probe with the tweezers.
Briel feels herself sliding hyper...
Jon Drake tries to hold Briel steady.
Jules Dist gasps.
Briel forces herself duo.
Briel looks to Jon.
Piotr can see, can sense the stresses on Briel.
Piotr considers whether he should take over for the Donor anyway.
Briel: This is going to cause some problems...we pull this out and her selyn is going to
Briel head snaps around toward Piotr.
Briel: Do not even think about interfering....keep your focus on her not on us.
Briel: She's going to be in hard need by the time I finish healing this shoulder enough to stop the flow of selyn...
Piotr increases his focus on Jules.
Jules Dist relaxes as the pain seems to fade to a dull throb.
Jon Drake: You're doing ok, Briel. We can do it.
Piotr uses more of his Companion techniques to minimize Jules' perception of pain.
Briel: I want you to apply pressure with gauze when I get this out and I'll start working on healing the wound. If we work together, we might be able to handle this fine.
Briel: Ready?
Jon Drake: I understand.
Jon Drake: Yes.
Briel reaches out and with a sure move, pulls out the bullet.
Jules Dist gasps then her eyes roll back in her head.
Piotr adjusts his field to compensate for her pain.
Jon Drake brings the gauze to the wound.
Briel takes control of the fields and then projects over the renSime, stimulating her system to respond and heal.
Piotr moves to increase his support of Jules without interfering with the Tecton pair.
Briel zlins Jules.
Briel: Shen shen shen....
Piotr is holding his field to his Gypsy training. Flexible, with an underlying order.
Jon Drake looks to Briel.
Jon Drake: What's wrong?
Jules Dist eyes flutter open...zlinning..hyperconscious.
Briel: Losing selyn.
Briel notes the loss of selyn is slowing, but that jules is still far into need.
Briel: She needs transfer.
Piotr realizes that Briel is going to insist on giving transfer.
Piotr nods.
Briel: We've got the injury healing...I want to hold off as much as I can...but...
Piotr: This is your domain.
Briel zlins again closer.
Jules Dist looks at Piotr.
Briel: You shendi...distect too?
Piotr cocks his head.
Briel shakes her head, angry
Piotr slowly shakes his head.
Jules Dist ~~gen field~~
Jules Dist ~~starving/black void~~
Piotr: I don't know that she will accept you. It's not her way.
Briel looks to Jon to see how he is taking this, then leans down and makes fifth contact point projecting Gen.
Piotr: Do what you can.
Piotr hopes that this will work. Jules is in no shape to about.
Briel takes control pushing the selyn in as fast as Jules can take it, not giving her a choice, watching at Jules accepts then rides on the flow to pleasure.
Piotr: ===abort===
Jules Dist ~~satisfaction~~
Jon Drake watches closely. Unsure of who this strange looking Gen is.
Briel sits back.
Piotr makes sure that his field is not more enticing than the Channel's Gen simulation.
Briel: In the Distect, Gens are said to control...I gave her exactly what she would expect in this situation.
Briel: Or what I zlinned SHE was expecting from her Gen.
Piotr: Very good.
Jules Dist flips hypo and looks around before it dawns on her just what happened.
Jon Drake thinks about the concept.
Jules Dist: Shen.
Piotr moves in to Jules' side.
Jules Dist tears flowing, pain.
Piotr: Jules, Jules....
Briel gets off zlins Jules other arm and sees it's only superficial and motions to Jon.
Briel: Come on, we'll get Loni to sit with her, or Jorgre...and a guard on the door.
Jules Dist: No.
Jules Dist shakes her head.
Jules Dist: Don't...don't....
Jules Dist exhausts what little strength she has and lays back against the bed.
Piotr: I'm here, Jules.
Piotr: I will stay with her.
Jules Dist doesn't reply but stares at the ceiling.
Briel: Yes, you will.
Briel: You'll have some questions to answer about just where you found this distect person and what you're doing with her.
Briel leaves.
Jon Drake looks to Jules, then follows Briel.
Briel goes down the hall and has guards placed at the door and sends in a renSime to stay with them to make sure she rests.
You are now known as Gone`
Briel turns to Jon and sighs.
Briel: I don't know where all these shenned distect people are coming from.
Piotr sits beside Jules. He realizes that Jules is stable, but they are not out of danger yet.
Briel: We've had too many in here lately, that's for sure.
Briel rubs at her neck.
Jon Drake: Who was that Gen?
Briel glances up.
Briel: I have no idea. A Gen who certainly doesn't know his place.
Jon Drake moves to massage Briel's neck.
Briel waves Jon off.
Briel: I'm fine.
Jon Drake pauses a moment.
Jon Drake steps back, almost as if slapped.
Briel: With the distect renSime...and that field...not Tecton.
Briel zlins JonDrake.
Jon Drake relaxes, but his field is not extended as it usually is with Briel.
Briel realizes she has offended JonDrake and isn't sure how and sighs.
Briel: Come on, I should write this up and get the Tecton over here asap.
Briel: I am NOT losing two distect individuals two days in a row.
Jon Drake nods.
Jon Drake: Whatever you say.
Briel hears the standoffish quality in Jon's voice and blames it on the distect renSime...thinking she should have sent him out of the room immediately since he was already questioning so many things.
You are now known as Alea.
Alea goes into the lobby, wondering if Briel has gotten those folders yet the work up she was told to do.
Alea is certain it's only drudge work..but doesn't argue since she feels responsible for what happened.
Briel is now known as Jorgre.
Jon Drake: Briel, if there's nothing else you require, I'd like a couple of hours off. There are some... things I need to do.
Jorgre strides into the lobby boxes stacked in his arms.
Alea stands up and backs away from the filing cabinet sensing the field too late.
Alea sees boxes go everywhere and ducks.
Jon Drake heads out for a walk to clear his head.
Jorgre grasps, dancing around, losing two of his boxes.
Jorgre manages to avoid dropping them on the Farris and sets them down on top of the filing cabinet.
Jorgre immediately bends to pick up the other files.
Jorgre: I didn't hurt you, did I Natezhr.
Jon Drake sees the commotion and moves to assist.
Alea: Jon!
Alea sees him coming down the hall.
Alea: No..no Jorgre, you didn't. I apologize, I was digging in the filing cabinets, looking for something...
Jorgre is relieved, thinking it wouldn't go over well if a second hurt a Farris, even if she did back into him.
Jon Drake sees that things are under control and continues out the door while putting his warm coat on.
Alea: Jon?
Jon Drake turns.
Alea wonders why he didn't acknowledge her.
Alea studies JonDrake.
Jon Drake: Alea?
Alea: Where are you going?
Jorgre continues to pick up files.
Alea belatedly bends down to help him.
Jon Drake shrugs.
Jon Drake: I need to go out for a walk.
Alea stands up, dropping the files.
Alea: Are you okay.
Alea: Oh!
Alea looks down.
Jorgre sighs and smiles patiently.
Jorgre: It's quite all right, Natezhr.
Jon Drake: Yes, I just have to clear my head.
Alea bends down to pick up the files again, looking over at Jon.
Alea: You want someone to go with you?
Alea: You don't look like you should be alone.
Alea picks up the files and stands to go place them over in one of the boxes.
Jon Drake: Sure. I don't know what kind of company I'll be.
Jorgre jumps when she steps on his hand.
Alea turns and studies Jon.
Alea feels the pull.
Alea: Oh..oh dear...
Alea: I'm so sorry.
Alea leans back down to check out Jorgre's hand.
Jorgre smiles weakly, rubbing the offended part.
Alea looks over at Jon, concerned.
Jorgre: It's no problem...really.
Alea: You don't have to be good company. Company is just that, company.
Alea moves away from Jorgre and finishes picking up the files.
Alea: Just a sec, Jon...
Jon Drake shrugs.
Jon Drake: Ok.
Alea turns, files in hands and stares at jon, absently dropping the folders in the box.
Alea sets mode: +o wisesnake
Alea: Please finish this, Jorgre. Ill be glad to return the favor later.
Jorgre nods, not wanting to come between first orders with any objections, especially when one zlins like Jon does.
Alea goes over and retrieves her Zeor cloak from the cloak stand and slips it on, putting on her blue scarf and gloves.
Alea: Okay, Jon...
Alea moves toward the front door of the Sime Center.
Alea: Let's go for that walk.
Alea lowers her voice.
Alea: And you can tell me what's eating at you.
Alea moves through the door.
Alea looks up at the sun and wonders when they're going to feel it's warmth again but doesn't say so outloud, afraid she'll discourage Jon from talking.
Jorgre finishes picking up the files and returning them to the boxes and stands.
Alea stares in shock as JonDrake waves her off and hurries down the steps alone.
Alea: Wow...
Alea wonders what or who got him so upset.
Alea turns and goes back into the Center.
Alea slips off her cloak and hangs it back up and returns to help Jorgre.
Alea bends down to pick up some files, then pauses.
Alea: Jorgre? you can handle this, can't you?
Jorgre grabs the files gently before Alea can drop them again.
Jorgre: Of course, Natzehr.
Jon Drake is out walking in the cold air.
Alea jumps up, grabs her cloak and hurries out of the Center.
Alea tears out of the center.....right into the icy stairs.
Alea: Oh..ohhhoooooh!
Alea weaves back and forth, trying to catch her balance.
Alea hits a stable spot and stops sliding.
Alea: Jon!
Alea: JON!
Wise Snake sets mode: +o NickR
Alea wobbles a bit, then hurries on down the sidewalk.
Jorgre is now known as Briel.
Jon Drake doesn't quite understand why Alea left, but he's not sure if his thought processes are things he could share with her.
Jon Drake is off in the distance, near the docks.
Alea waves an arm to get his attention.
Jon Drake is lost in thought, looking out over the lake.
Alea looks around, decides she lost her chance and drops her arm.
Alea turns and goes back to the Center.
Wise Snake and Nick are walking along the docks, making their rounds to the dockside storefronts.
Jon Drake has the nagging feeling that the pieces are not fitting together.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow as she zlins Jon Drake down at the end of a pier.
Nick: What is it?
Wise Snake puts her hand on Nick's arm.
Alea goes slowly back toward the Center.
Wise Snake reaches into her pocket and gives him her stash and some money.
Wise Snake: Keep going. You know what to do by now. I -- I'll catch up to you.
Nick sees the lonely figure down at the end of the pier and looks at Snake, then simply nods.
Nick: I'll see you in a few, then.
Nick pockets the goods and walks towards their next stop.
Alea ~~concern~~
Wise Snake watches him disappear into a greasy spoon, then turns and walks the length of the pier toward JonDrake.
Wise Snake thinks it has been a long time since she caught the Donor alone.
Alea didn't like Jon's look and is worried something disturbing has happened.
Jon Drake is trying to sort out this whole mess...
Alea: Like nothing 'disturbing' has happened in the last few days.
Alea sighs and goes back up the stairs of the Center.
Wise Snake approaches JonDrake quietly from behind and takes a moment to zlin his emotional state.
Jon Drake's nager is a bit turbulent--not with anger, but with conflicting thoughts.
Wise Snake steps softly forward, and joins JonDrake at the rail.
Jon Drake begins to feel a presence behind him despite his thoughts.
Jon Drake turns.
Jon Drake: Oh, hi Snake.
Jon Drake: How are you doing?
Wise Snake studies JonDrake.
Wise Snake: Have done better.
Wise Snake looks tired.
Jon Drake: Heh!
Jon Drake looks at WiseSnake.
Alea finishes with the folders and then deposits herself in the clerk's seat, propping her chin in her hands.
Jon Drake: You look a bit tired. Being run ragged as usual?
Wise Snake: There have been... problems.
Wise Snake declines to elaborate.
Jon Drake shrugs.
Wise Snake looks briefly out at the water.
Wise Snake: Why are you on the docks?
Wise Snake: It's not a safe place for a Donor to be, alone.
Jon Drake: How do you maintain your focus when things get rough?
Wise Snake is reminded of Alea by JonDrake's repeated shrugging.
Jon Drake: I needed some space to think. I find that the waves on the lake helps to relax me.
Wise Snake grinds her teeth but forebears to comment.
Wise Snake: My focus?
Jon Drake is not his usual optimistic self today.
Alea: -
Jon Drake: I've been here for almost five months now.
Jon Drake: For a long time, things seemed very clear.
Wise Snake studies JonDrake, his expression, his nager.
Wise Snake: I remember. We talked once, then.
Jon Drake: I've been dedicated to service, and it seemed like it all made sense.
Wise Snake: Remember === remember.
Jon Drake: Now, things are so chaotic.
Wise Snake: If you put your head down and keep following the Tecton's rules, you will get through it eventually.
Jon Drake: Really?
Wise Snake: It is too large an organization to be swayed by local disturbances.
Jon Drake: Sometimes it's hard to see that it's doing enough.
Jon Drake: Does anything we do matter?
Wise Snake: The Tecton is also slow. It grows, but slowly.
Wise Snake looks up at JonDrake.
Wise Snake: We who?
Jon Drake: Any of us.
Jon Drake: That Distect renSime I treated came back today.
Wise Snake freezes.
Wise Snake: Distect renSime?
Jon Drake: Yeah. Jules.
Wise Snake simply stares at JonDrake for a second, while thoughts run amuck in her head.
Jon Drake: She came in a few months ago--raiders had killed her..companion.. and left her to die.
Wise Snake: Is that so. [carefully]
Wise Snake knows JonDrake witnessed the whole thing with D'Laura, but not what his final feelings were about that.
Jon Drake: Soon afterward, she escaped, still grievously injured. I tried to find out what happened to her, but she'd disappeared.
Wise Snake: She probably ran. It would have been that or prison.
Jon Drake: She came in today with a strange Gen. She'd been shot and had a cut on her arm.
Wise Snake remembers the woman she'd seen with Pitor Rava had the same injuries.
Wise Snake remembers Piotr "selling" her selyn for money to help "a friend".
Wise Snake: Ahhh....
Wise Snake mutters something to herself.
Jon Drake: Briel helped her, but I don't know what is to happen to them now.
Wise Snake: [to self: I can't believe he'd bring her *there]
Alea decides since she has some time before her next shift, she decides to go down to the pond in the park and watch the skaters skate.
Wise Snake studies JonDrake again.
Wise Snake: You care about this woman? This Distect Sime?
Jon Drake: Well, she was in need of help.
Wise Snake zlins.
Jon Drake: It wasn't her fault her companion had been killed.
Jon Drake: I couldn't help but care, could I?
Jon Drake: Isn't that what it means to be a Donor?
Alea gathers her outside clothes and slips them on, before leaving the Center.
Wise Snake: That's what it is supposed to mean, anyway.
Jon Drake: Lately though, it seems that all of my caring is "inappropriate."
Wise Snake: Who said that?
Jon Drake: Briel made some comment about that Gen not knowing his place. I couldn't help but wonder how she looks at me. I thought we worked as partners, now I'm not so sure.
Jon Drake: You left before things continued last night.
Wise Snake leans against the rail, wind ruffling her shaggy black mess of curls.
Alea strolls down the street, enjoying the sunshine.
Wise Snake: My part was over.
Wise Snake tilts her head to look up at JonDrake again.
Wise Snake: What happened later?
Jon Drake: You didn't see how they jumped on me.
Wise Snake listens.
Alea frowns as she passes the police station remembering B&N and how they smashed up the Center, but what good shape it is now approaching.
Alea turns into the park.
Alea thinks despite the problems the Center has had, it is now shaping up good.
Alea sighs and turns down a path that will eventually take her to the pond.
Jon Drake: With all that's happening, I have a difficult time taking everything on faith.
Jon Drake: Faith is what told me that Simes were the soulless monsters my parents taught me.
Jon Drake: Now I'm told to believe that if it's not the Tecton, it is evil and must be eradicated.
Jon Drake: At least that's how it seems.
Alea follows the winding path, listening to the bare branches of the trees as they slap together, the bushes as they rustle and the laughter and shrieks of fun in the distance.
Wise Snake wonders what JonDrake thought of the injured D'Laura, knocked out and hauled in by Wise Snake.
Wise Snake: [and Distect as well]
Wise Snake looks away, out at the water, leaning on the rail.
Wise Snake's wind ruffled hair masks her expression on Jon's side.
Jon Drake: Jules didn't seem evil to me--she was just trying to live her life the way she saw fit.
Wise Snake: I don't think its that they believe it's... evil, exactly, Jon.
Jon Drake: I know I haven't been raised on this side.
Jon Drake: I thought I knew Briel very well, but the last couple of days, I'm seeing a side of her I never new.
Wise Snake: She's been forced to take on the work of Controller. People are different under pressure.
Wise Snake looks at her hands.
Alea comes around the corner and stops, observing the scene set out before her on the ice.
Alea slowly smiles as she watches the different people skating and finally goes down the path and takes a seat on a nearby bench, pulling her Zeor cloak closely about her to protect her from the wind.
Jon Drake: But still...does the Tecton really look down upon Gens as inferior?
Wise Snake hesitates.
Wise Snake: Jon... not the way it sounds. Not exactly.
Jon Drake: Only so long as we know our place?
Wise Snake looks up at JonDrake, leaning on the rail.
Jon Drake realizes how much that comment has hurt him.
Wise Snake: Everybody must know their place. Sime and Gen alike.
Wise Snake: Jon... the Tecton is not evil, nor is it fighting evil.
Wise Snake: What the Tecton is, is extremely large, with literally millions of people within it and beneath it.
Wise Snake: The Tecton's system, whatever else it is, is the only system which could be carried out on a scale that massive.
Wise Snake: Have you ever studied the Distect teachings?
Jon Drake: I was reading up on the history of Zeor, to understand the politics and such. From there, I came across the founding of Rior and the writings of Hugh Valleroy.
Wise Snake: Ah. Then you have.
Jon Drake: It just seems like there's so much more, but we're closed off.
Jon Drake: I look at how hard the system is on the Channels.
Wise Snake avoids Jon's eyes.
Wise Snake: Jon.. listen to me.
Jon Drake: Yes.
Wise Snake: The Distect way is a very responsibility-intensive, a very supervision-intensive way of life.
Wise Snake: It requires persons in the community who are very, very good at matching Gen to Sime, and it requires that every single case be examined with extreme thoroughness.
Wise Snake: It requires that the pair be monitored during their first years together, to make sure they aren't growing away from each other to a dangerous degree.
Jon Drake: Isn't that a little like Keon did in the first years of the Tecton?
Alea watches the skaters as they fly by, their feet barely touching the ground.
Wise Snake: Listen...
Wise Snake: And it absolutely requires that there be a large pool of unmatched Gens and Sime to choose from.
Wise Snake: Matches of that type are so rare, so preciously rare to come upon, that even at Keon before Unity there were only a small percentage of the population living that way.
Jon Drake listens.
Wise Snake: It is true, that it is possible to live that way. And some people do. But...
Alea wishes she had brought her skates with her but knows it'd be too dangerous now..
Wise Snake: It could only succeed on a small scale, and imbedded within a larger, Tecton-style culture.
Wise Snake: Or at least, within close enough proximity to be able to draw matches from that pool.
Wise Snake: The big Disctect enclaves are constantly struggling to bring in new members...primarily Gens, because those are the most difficult to find.
Jon Drake nods.
Wise Snake: And Jon.. in case you were thinking of it.. you personally have nil chance of finding a Distect Sime who could match you... the only Sime who could satisfy you in transfer now would be a working channel.
Wise Snake: I'll tell you something.
Wise Snake looks at the horizon, eyes narrowed.
Jon Drake thinks about what he knows of underdraw.
Wise Snake: I tolerate the people who live that way here in Bender Cove because I know different people have to live different ways to be happy. But...
Wise Snake: The organized Distect, the attacks against the Tecton, are a mistake.
Alea finally stands and heads back to the Center.
Wise Snake: That lifestyle cannot be carried out upon a large scale because human beings simply are incapable of being that careful and that intensive about something applying to millions of folks.
Wise Snake: And to destroy the Tecton would be to destroy the peaceable framework that allows the tiny subculture that can succeed to exist.
Wise Snake looks up at Jon Drake again, studying his expression and nager.
Wise Snake: Does this make any sense to you?
Jon Drake nods, but it is so hard to understand how people are different some times.
Jon Drake: Yes, I think so.
Wise Snake: Your friend... what are they going to do with her.
Wise Snake: Have they said?
Jon Drake: No. Briel ordered guards posted. I think she intends to turn them both over to the Tecton authorities.
Alea trails slowly back to the Center, contemplating the next few months and the direction she will be taking.
Wise Snake: It is... unfortunate... that.. he... chose to bring her there.
Jon Drake: Do you know these two?
Wise Snake thinks Piotr probably would have brought her to Snake, if he hadn't already owed Snake a sizable favor.
Wise Snake: I...... [hesitates] ... not her. Him I have had dealings with.
Jon Drake: Really? Who is he? He carries himself so differently. Once he he was working it was different. His fields more powerful than mine, so he must have been 4+.
Wise Snake: I am surprised he revealed himself in that way.
Jon Drake: He really seemed to care for her.
Wise Snake isn't that easy to trick when it comes to giving up other people's secrets.
Wise Snake thinks of Piotr coming to sell his pride along with his selyn.
Wise Snake: I imagine he does care for her quite a bit.
Jon Drake: He's there at her side, not that Briel would have given him a choice of leaving.
Wise Snake: If he let them zlin him, then he will never be free again.
Wise Snake looks down.
Jon Drake sucks on his lips.
Jon Drake: Hmmm...
Wise Snake: Look, ah...
Jon Drake: Yes.
Jon Drake: ?
Wise Snake: If it's any consolation to you... there are a lot of people living on the fringes, beneath the notice of regular society... all around you. Right here.
Alea leaves the park and starts up the street.
Jon Drake looks curious.
Wise Snake: You work for the Tecton, yes... so you are serving the mainstream, and the Tecton will fight to keep the mainstream strong.
Wise Snake: But there are others who feed off the mainstream, who use the Tecton's strength and the stability it lends society to survive in pockets of their own making.
Wise Snake: There will always be those groups.
Alea goes down the street to the Center and up the front steps.
Wise Snake: And individuals... and families.
Jon Drake smiles a little.
Jon Drake: I can't help thinking that there's to to be more.
Wise Snake: And the people that absolutely require such things... they eventually fall out of society, and the lucky ones find what they need.
Jon Drake considers that.
Wise Snake gestures at the dockfront, and the city laid out behind it.
Wise Snake: I see it every day. It lives out there.
Wise Snake: And what you are doing at the Sime Center is what keeps it alive.
Alea slips into the center and removes her Cloak.
Wise Snake: It's true.
Alea rubs her chilly hands together and then goes upstairs to lay down and rest.
Jon Drake smiles.
Jon Drake: === comment above should be "there's got to be more."===
Wise Snake: The Tecton keeps the economy running and keeps the food on the shelves and keeps the peace.
Wise Snake: And it keeps the vast majority happy enough and alive.
Wise Snake: Be proud of working for the Tecton, JonDrake.
Briel: Well shen...
Briel rubs a hand down her face, looking at the transfer schedule again.
Wise Snake: You can't live the Distect lifestyle anyway... if you want to feel close to it, find some people that way and be their friend and visit them at home... but don't sabotage yourself.
Briel shoves the paper away, unable to believe the mistake she made.
Jon Drake: I just want to know that I'm doing good..
Wise Snake: Oh... you are.
Wise Snake turns to look at JonDrake.
Jon Drake: I hope so.
Wise Snake: If you ever doubt it, take a moment to look into the quarterly reports for the Center...
Briel: Shen Lanyi...a Tigue.
Briel pulls the forms back over and begins to study it.
Wise Snake: Look at how many healing and changeovers and transfers were given...
Briel: You're gonna require someone with a field....like....
Jon Drake thinks about how satisfying it is to help with healing.
Briel goes through her mind quickly listing all the Donors.
Briel: Like...Jon Drake.
Wise Snake: And whatever Briel said, the Tecton doesn't perceive the Gen as inferior... just the one more at risk.
Wise Snake: There's a big difference.
Jon Drake: Ok.
Briel scrubs at her eyes wisesnake looks JonDrake in the eye.
Briel: Well, Great!
Wise Snake: And one other thing...
Jon Drake: Yes?
Briel drops her head into her hands feeling a headache the size of the bay coming on.
Briel looks to see who else might match her.
Briel scribbles and marks and finally sighs.
Wise Snake: I want you to know... I did not leave the Tecton because I do not believe in the Tecton. I do. And if it could have provided for me, and if I could have been happy in it, I would have stayed.
Jon Drake listens.
Briel: Well, he may not like waiting almost two entire weeks but looks like Tamlen is going to get stuck with me.
Wise Snake reaches out, offering a hand to Jon Drake.
Jon Drake holds out his hand.
Briel realizes, that with a field like Jon's and with Lanyi around as well as the other higher first that she may very well never be assigned to him again.
Wise Snake takes his hand, sealing the grip with tentacles, hot and dry.
Wise Snake: I was the one who brought you into it. I remember.
Briel stares at the paper, stunned.
Wise Snake: I would not have directed you towards a disaster.
Jon Drake nods.
Jon Drake: Thank you Snake.
Wise Snake looks at JonDrake, searchingly.
Wise Snake smiles softly.
Wise Snake releases Jon's hand.
Wise Snake: You're welcome. Good luck, Jon Drake.
Jon Drake smiles, genuinely this time.
Briel throws the pen across the room.
Briel: I hate this job sometimes.
Jon Drake: Thank you, Snake. I'm glad we talked. I feel better.
Briel covers her face with her hands and sighs.
Wise Snake's smile lingers as she nods a farewell to him.
Wise Snake pushes her unruly mane back with her fingers, and then turns away from him to walk down the pier toward shore.
Jon Drake says farewell as well, and walks back to the Center, a bit more energy in his step hen before.
Wise Snake calculates the point on their shakedown route Nick would have reached by now, and heads away to rejoin him.
Briel gets up and goes across the room and retrieves the pen.