Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #121: (1/5/98)
Alea comes down the stairs of the Center, smiling.
B'cal is prowling through Linn's papers.
Alea feels much better today.
Wise Snake is aware that something she should be paying attention to is.
Going on behind her back, so she instinctively tries even harder to.
Concentrate on her own work.
Wise Snake scowls at some figures, uses the eraser.
Wise Snake: B'cal... What are you doing over there?
B'cal, curiosity satisfied, moves over to Snake.
B'cal: Me?
B'cal: Nothing.
Wise Snake looks up at B'cal, sees that B'cal is, in fact, doing nothing.
Wise Snake: Oh.
B'cal stops by Snake and slowly smiles.
Wise Snake looks back at her paperwork, perplexed by the numbers not.
Working out right just by magic.
Wise Snake's spine tingles.
B'cal: What are you working on?
Wise Snake looks up and sure enough, B'cal is smiling.
Wise Snake: Who, me? Oh..
Alea stops by the desk to check her assignments for the day, then goes to.
Make some checks in the infirmary.
Wise Snake pushes the papers away.
Wise Snake: I'm trying to buy a building. You know, that can get quite.
Expensive.
Wise Snake still a little surprised.
B'cal stares at the papers.
B'cal: I can see that.
Wise Snake: I mean, just buying the building isn't so bad, but the.
Maintenance... incredible.
Wise Snake: What it costs to heat that Ferry Building in winter would pay.
For the building over again about once every five years.
B'cal nods.
Wise Snake: Not to mention, nearly everything in the place would have to be.
Repaired before we could even use it extensively... If I'm any judge. I.
Haven't paid anybody to go look at it yet.
Wise Snake seems disappointed.
B'cal sighs.
Wise Snake: I guess there was a reason nobody is using that place.
B'cal: It can still work out.
Wise Snake: I guess so.. but.. the amount of work involved... and the.
Expense.. It would have to be a Householding founded on Maintenance instead.
Of Loyalty.
Wise Snake pauses.
B'cal: Get someone professional to look over it. Maybe they can find ways.
To cut corners, or to start out with only using PART of the building.
B'cal: As you grow, you can open up more parts.
Wise Snake: Well, at least after the first cold winder and rainy spring,
We'd KNOW who was loyal...
B'cal chuckling.
Wise Snake perks up at B'cal's suggestions.
Wise Snake: Well.... That could work. It is a rather large building, for.
In the beginning.
Wise Snake: Perhaps only the top floor could be used the first winter.
B'cal: And you won't need all of the room, at first.
B'cal: Easier to heat?
Wise Snake: True.
Wise Snake: Yeah... the heat goes up to the top of the building.
B'cal nods.
Alea goes into the office to talk to Briel--again.
Alea sighs, thinking this is the third time since yesterday morning she's.
Had to talk to that woman.
Wise Snake: Nothing worse than trying to work surrounded by blue-lipped,
Shivering Gens.
B'cal stares.
B'cal: Nothing worse than working around nervous Simes, you mean.
Wise Snake: What?
B'cal smiles blandly.
Wise Snake: I don't know. I don't work around nervous Simes.
Wise Snake smiles thinly in return.
B'cal: And I don't work around blue lipped Gens.
B'cal shrugs.
B'cal: It's all a matter of perspective.
Wise Snake looks at B'cal oddly.
Alea comes out of Briel's office, relieved.
Wise Snake: You do so work around blue-lipped Gens. We've had them for.
Clients for weeks.
B'cal: Well, then, they must not affect me much since I don't remember.
B'cal: My point.
B'cal smiles.
Wise Snake: Well.. That may be true.
Alea smiles in relief, then frowns as she goes in search of Frutata.
Wise Snake: Take my word for it. All Gens who spend a lot of time outdoors.
Are freezing their tentacles off at this time of year.
Wise Snake: Err... figuratively speaking.
B'cal: Of course.
B'cal: So, rework your figures, say, for a quarter of the building, and see.
If that will work out.
Alea moves to Frutata's infirmary door and signals.
Wise Snake starts scribbling on a new sheet of ledger paper.
Frutata says, "Come in."
Alea pushes the door open.
Alea: Good morning, Frutata.
Alea studies the man.
Wise Snake's writing has gotten worse and worse, particularly when doing.
Mathematics, because of the high risk of Nick or Linn humiliating her with.
Corrections if they can understand what she's trying to do.
Frutata: Good morning, Alea.
Frutata seems subdued... even for him.
Alea sighs.
Alea: Do you mind if I come in?
B'cal: You should work on that handwriting.
Frutata looks at Alea, who appears to be already in.
B'cal: Linn is probably the only one who can read it.
Frutata: Of course not. Please do.
B'cal: Being a teacher.
Alea moves into the room and over beside the bed.
Alea: How are you today?
Wise Snake flattens her nager, hunches her shoulders, and begins writing.
More neatly, muttering under her breath.
Wise Snake writes up a new version of numbers... still frightfully large,
But less than before.
Frutata: I'm fine, thank you. And you?
B'cal: Yeah, Linn, being a teacher can probably read anything. But still,
Nick and I should be able to read it, too.
Frutata closes his book.
Alea: A little better. I'm not throwing up with fear anymore, at least.
Alea waits to see Frutata's reaction.
Frutata is baffled, since Alea just didn't seem that scared when he was there.
Alea: I think we should talk about yesterday, Frutata.
Frutata: Okay.
Alea: I obviously did something that ... broke some code of your people.
Alea: I know you were very upset.
Wise Snake: I find that if I write atrociously, I get more comments about.
My handwriting and less comments on my business.
B'cal leans against the desk and picks up a pencil, then another, rummaging.
Through them one by one.
Wise Snake: The sharpener is over there. [points a tentacle at a lump.
Underneath a mound of papers]
B'cal lifts an eyebrow then gathers them all and goes to sharpen them one.
By one.
Frutata listens to Alea.
Alea: What is it exactly that upset you?
Alea ~~ why did you leave ~~
Wise Snake hates sharpening pencils because the little curls of shavings.
Are always trying to find their way up her arms.
Frutata: I... I am from another land, Alea. I do not understand your culture.
B'cal finishes each one then brings them back, dropping them one by one.
Into the pencil holder.
Frutata: Some things have been explained to me, and others... have not.
Maybe I did not respond correctly for that situation.
Frutata unhappy.
Alea reaches out and takes Frutata's hand.
Wise Snake smiles at the pencils.
Alea: Please. It was all a misunderstanding, I think.
Alea: Let me explain, see if we can, heal the breach, so to speak.
Wise Snake discards the extremely dull one she was using, and gets a new.
One... starts writing again much more legibly.
Frutata looks at Alea's hand, then up at her again.
Frutata: Okay.
B'cal takes the dull one, sharpens it, testing the point on the end of her.
Finger, then bringing it back.
Alea releases his hand, apologetically.
Wise Snake: There.
Wise Snake shows B'cal the paper.
B'cal takes the paper and studies it.
B'cal: You can write.
Wise Snake: This is only an estimate, since I don't have some information.
Like how the heating is routed to which rooms on the third floor, but...
Wise Snake: No! I mean the numbers.
Alea: I have run into this man before. This, Lupo.
Wise Snake impatient.
B'cal: Ah, yes.
Alea: He robbed Tarsh and me last week.
Alea: I guess I was overly angry when I confronted him. To be honest, I.
Didn't even notice the knife until he pointed it at us.
Alea: You are injured, ill. I am, well, though not everyone knows this yet,
I'm pregnant.
Alea sighs and clasps her hands.
B'cal: I think this will work.
Frutata is very surprised, since he thought nobody here was married yet.
B'cal: It looks good.
Frutata then realizes this, too, may be a difference in culture and turns.
Green.
Frutata doesn't know whether to congratulate her or not.
Frutata settles for a weak, "Oh."
Alea: When this man threatened to debase me, sending you home, I only had a.
Few choices.
Frutata thinks of her enticement and offer of her body, and turns even greener.
Alea: I mean, you are ill and I didn't want to risk you.
Frutata feels ill.
Frutata: I... appreciate your... consideration.
Alea: Had it just been rape, I probably wouldn't have fought. I'm a Farris.
The dangers of hurting someone, of killing someone are too great.
Alea cocks her head, looking curiously at Frutata.
Frutata's mouth falls open at her words.
Frutata closes his mouth and tries to think of something to say... still can't.
Frutata: .. Oh.
Alea: I'm a Donor, a Farris Donor, Frutata. I cannot go around hurting.
People no matter what it means to me personally.
Alea: However, the knife changed things.
Alea: He was out for blood. I'm pregnant and have lost one child. I wasn't.
Going to risk this child, or that they might actually murder me afterwards.
Alea: So, I fought back the only way I knew how. I enticed him into.
Transfer to get him on grounds where I could fight, with my field. Then I.
Shenned him.
Wise Snake snatches the paper back.
Wise Snake: Of course it looks good!
Wise Snake is fairly proud of her ability to massage finances.
B'cal thinks Farris Pride.
Alea: Believe me, I didn't want that lorsh touching me. And I didn't want.
To hurt him like I did. But I didn't know what else to do.
Wise Snake: Now all I have to do is convince the City of Bender Cove that.
It doesn't want this building anymore.
Alea: That's why I fell apart when I got back from the situation and why I.
Was sick on and off most of last night.
Wise Snake: Which essentially means going uptown and trying to look rich.
And successful in front of a bunch of city council members and such.
Wise Snake: Ought to be a piece of cake!
B'cal: You could burn it down. That should convince them.
Wise Snake pauses.
Wise Snake: B'cal!
Wise Snake: You're brilliant!
B'cal shrugs.
Wise Snake jumps up and kisses B'cal.
B'cal grunts.
B'cal sneers.
B'cal: Transfer is still two weeks away. Restrain yourself.
Wise Snake: Really, you have to do something about that standoffishness.
Nobody likes an uncuddly Donor.
Wise Snake: Shen, the thing couldn't hardly be in any worse shape after the.
Fire than before... and the sale price would undoubtedly be lower... might.
Even be restoration money available from historical societies.
Wise Snake shakes her head at B'cal.
B'cal: Arson is also against the law.
Wise Snake sits back down again.
Wise Snake: Oh.. that.. well, of course.
Alea: Are you okay? You don't look very good.
Alea tightens the grip on her hands.
Alea: Please, tell me, what's the matter?
B'cal: Let some vagrants or some such move in, someone who isn't careful, a.
Fire will happen quick enough with the shape that place is in.
Frutata: I am glad now I did not act. [shaken] Our cultures are too.
Different. I would have done something... unforgivable.
Alea curious.
Alea: What?
Frutata thinks what she did is unforgivable... in his own culture. In hers,
The right thing to do.
Frutata: In my homeland... we have different ways.
Alea: Would you tell me, help me understand?
Frutata: A person's body is... of ultimate privacy. Only you and yours may.
Partake of it.
Alea nods.
Alea: It sounds wonderful.
Frutata: Even the suggestion of... violation... is cause for bitter insult.
Alea frowns.
Alea: It is here too, Frutata.
Frutata: A person would die on the knife rather than... than...
Alea: To be honest with you, had the person completed what he had thought.
To do, I don't know that I would be here. I don't know if I could have ...
Faced the people.
Frutata: But you offered yourself.
Frutata: [whispered]
Alea: No, I offered my field, so I could get control of the situation and.
Prevent him from what he planned.
Frutata: You said that he could take you... after.
Alea: Frutata. I'm Gen. I'm not strong enough to fight him. Physically I.
Would not have been able to fight him.
Alea: I lied.
Frutata: You lied to a Sime?
Alea: I never planned to allow him to finish the transfer he was starting.
Alea shrugs.
Alea: I'm a Farris. A simple renSime isn't going to read the lie if I hide it.
Frutata: Where I am from, it is never done.
Alea: Lying?
Alea: Or lying to a Sime?
Frutata: To Them.
Frutata spreads his hands helplessly.
Alea: Well, most Gens wouldn't be able to do it.
Frutata: Do you see? It is too different. We cannot understand each other's.
Ways.
Alea ~~ sad for the hurt she has caused Frutata ~~
Alea: I see.
Alea's features fall.
Alea: Well then, if you'll excuse me, I guess I should get to work.
Frutata: In my land a woman, or a Gen, or anybody else assaulted in that.
Way would have died rather than offer herself...
Frutata lowers his eyes.
Frutata: Of course.
Frutata knows he has offended her once again.
Alea: I am sorry, Frutata, that I hurt you.
Alea turns to the door, hurting over the loss of her new friend.
Frutata: And I'm sorry, too. [after she has gone]
Alea goes to her office.
Alea sits down, and thinks how lucky she is that Tarsh doesn't blame her.
For what happened.
Wise Snake: Hmmm, but that could take years. I was hoping to obtain the.
Building this summer.
B'cal: Well, the places around it are certainly in bad shape. That might.
Bring the value down.
B'cal: As long as they don't know a Farris is buying it, that is.
Wise Snake's eyebrows raise.
Wise Snake: Well, I can hardly avoid them finding THAT out... I'd have to.
Sign the deed.
Wise Snake: I suppose I could work through an agent until a price has been.
Agreed upon.
Wise Snake grimaces at the thought of giving up a percentage to some.
Middleman... and losing the benefit of being able to use her own.
"persuasive powers" on the seller.
B'cal: Perhaps Nick could arrange it.
Wise Snake: This sure is turning out to be more complicated than I.
Originally... No!
B'cal looks surprised.
B'cal: Why not?
Wise Snake: I can't do it through him. I don't even know if he's going to.
Be alive in two months.
B'cal frowns.
B'cal: Of course he is.
Wise Snake looks a little bit appalled that an unspoken fear she'd rather.
Not have thought about at all, much less blurted out, is now in the open.
B'cal: Beside, you don't know if YOU are going to be alive in two months,
So what's the difference?
Wise Snake: Uh.. well if I'm not alive, I won't care about the building either.
Wise Snake uneasy/
Wise Snake: Anyway... the risk to Nick is real.
B'cal: And if he's not alive, you can start over.
B'cal: As it is to you.
Wise Snake: I am not delegating it to Nick, and that's final.
B'cal: I wish you'd stop worrying about him.
Wise Snake scowling.
B'cal: We'll find him a high first to push him .. .work him ... until...
B'cal smiles.
Wise Snake: I do not.. well, fine, I do worry about him, but it's perfectly.
Natural!
Wise Snake defensively.
B'cal: You go to someone else, you're going to have to lose money.
Wise Snake: And as for having other Firsts touch him, that is something I'd.
Prefer NOT to think about more than absolutely necessary. It gives me the.
Heebie jeebies.
B'cal: It should encourage you to know that means there is less chance of.
Him being injured.
B'cal: And Linn can't buy property yet.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
B'cal: If a Farris goes in there, they're liable to triple the price.
Wise Snake: I'll handle it myself. If I pay more for being Farris, so be it.
Wise Snake tries to look arrogant, but manages to turn pale at the mention.
Of triple price.
Wise Snake: Yeah... well... that's just the sale price. Utilities would be.
The same for anybody, and...
Wise Snake stares at B'cal.
B'cal: And the word "Farris" always means BIG. They'll think you have huge.
Plans for that building, no matter what you say.
Wise Snake wishes B'cal would talk about one subject at a time... it's unfair.
B'cal crosses her arms and Scowls at Snake.
B'cal: What?
Wise Snake: First of all, I don't LIKE thinking about Nick with another.
Channel [shudders] and it does NOT make me feel better to remember I am.
Doingit for a reason.
Wise Snake: And secondly.. [struggles to remember what the other subject.
Was] ... uh... secondly...
B'cal: Then I'll remember not to mention talking with Sectuib V'lar.
Regarding Nick, and...
Wise Snake wishes B'cal wouldn't scowl at her like that.
B'cal looks innocent and closes her mouth.
Wise Snake wonders what in shen B'cal was just talking about.
Wise Snake: What?
B'cal: You just said you didn't want to talk about other transfer partners.
For him. Or was I wrong?
Wise Snake: I said it makes me shenned uncomfortable to do it, is what I.
Said! [pencil snaps in half as punctuation]
Wise Snake looks down at the pencil, surprised, then quietly puts it on the.
Desk.
B'cal: Ah, okay.
Wise Snake: That doesn't mean I can't talk about it if there is a.
Legitimate, important reason to do so.
B'cal: Very well.
B'cal nods.
B'cal: Well then, are you ready to escort me back to the Center?
Wise Snake pauses, confused.
Wise Snake: Weren't you about to say something about Nick and the Sectuib.
In V'lar?
B'cal: Was I?
B'cal smiles.
Wise Snake fidgets nervously.
B'cal: It's nothing I haven't mentioned before.
Wise Snake: I ... [blinks] What??
B'cal: Simply that I think Fraeyan will probably be able to take transer.
With Nick.
Wise Snake grimaces.
Wise Snake: That's great.
B'cal: I am awaiting a reply to my query.
B'cal thinks if Pamlos knows what's good for him, he won't say a word after.
That little trick with 'the bag'.
Wise Snake visibly hates the thought of giving Nick away again; shivers.
B'cal: I heard you rated Simone.
B'cal: Wonder how our little disjunct is going to take it that she won't.
Get Nick again.
Wise Snake's expression changes embarrassingly to something almost like.
Need at the mention of Simone.
B'cal looks surprised but says nothing.
Wise Snake quickly schools her expression and, a moment later,
Serrupticiously wipes her wrists on a napkin lying nearby.
Wise Snake: Uh.. I... am sure Briel never thought she'd get him more than once.
B'cal chuckles.
B'cal: If you say so.
B'cal gets her cloak.
Wise Snake: Well I never SAID she could have him more than once.
B'cal: With a field like that, she would probably hope to have him again.
Wise Snake begins to fret at the idea of having to deal with Briel horning.
In on Nick some more.
B'cal slips her cloak on.
Wise Snake: Briel can't push him, though. She proved that last month.
B'cal: Make sure you get all of that ronaplin off before you put your cloak on.
B'cal shrugs.
Wise Snake fidgets, worrying about having both Fraeyan AND Briel after Nick.
In 2 months time.
Wise Snake: ...What?
Wise Snake: What are you talking about? [hiding arms]
Wise Snake sidles to the coat closet and slips her cloak on quickly, so.
B'cal won't be able to get a good look at anything...embarrassing.
B'cal: He certainly satisfied her, though.
B'cal: It's called lust.
Wise Snake's chest muscles cramp because she is clenching her teeth so hard.
B'cal: Would have never guessed it. Simone huh? Seem to recall he's served.
You before.
Wise Snake says nothing; breath snorting out nose.
Wise Snake tells herself B'cal is just trying to get her goat... there is.
N O basis in fact there... NONE.
B'cal: I have heard he has some field.
B'cal shakes her head.
Wise Snake is glad when B'cal changes the subject back to Simone instead of.
Nick.
Wise Snake: Yes... once. [manages]
B'cal: Field isn't everything.
B'cal: Control.
B'cal: Now there's the word. How much control does he have?
Wise Snake grimaces at the mention of that transfer produces more.
Embarrassing physical reactions.
B'cal: Wonder if Nick will have that much control?
B'cal: He certainly did with Briel.
B'cal: She's still smiling over it.
B'cal: If you say so.
Wise Snake looks at B'cal, annoyed.
Wise Snake: I know so! There is nothing going on there.. and.. if there.
I S... well then, it will stop.
B'cal looks incredulously at Snake.
B'cal: You're controlling their sex life, too, now?
Wise Snake stares back at B'cal.
B'cal: I'll tell you what. Before you start worrying about them, you ought to worry about your lust for Simone.
Wise Snake: You're talking about SEX?
B'cal: Ronaplin actually dripping with ronaplin.
Wise Snake: Shen, I could give a rip who they sleep with. I'm talking about.
Transf... What???
Wise Snake: __What???___
B'cal: That's what YOU just said.
B'cal: Not me.
B'cal: I was talking about your NEED of Simone.
Wise Snake: What are you accusing me of saying... ??
B'cal: Just WHAT are you talking about?
B'cal fists her hands on her hips and sneers.
Wise Snake: Nick and Briel! Or rather, the LACK of there being any such.
Thing as Nick and Briel.
Wise Snake stops and stares at B'cal.
Wise Snake: And what are you talking about?
B'cal: I'm not talking about Nick and Briel.
B'cal: Except to simply say he gave her a slam bang transfer that she's.
Still glowing from.
B'cal: I am talking about you and Simone and the fact that every time I.
Mention his name, your laterals drool!
Wise Snake: Nick did?
Wise Snake: They do not!! [indignantly]
Wise Snake's arms are in her cloak.
B'cal: Yes, he did.
B'cal: And why hide your arms if he doesn't'?
Wise Snake: Well I.. it's cold outside.
B'cal: I see.
B'cal smirks.
Wise Snake draws herself up arrogantly.
Wise Snake: And even if it's true... I deserve a decent transfer for once.
B'cal: You're right. It's cold. Get me to the Center.
B'cal ~~ satisifed ~~
B'cal looks back at Snake.
Wise Snake: With pleasure. [means it]
Wise Snake starts walking toward the Center again.
B'cal: Of course you do.
Briel goes to the lobby, returning a stack of files from her office.
Briel goes back to her office.
Wise Snake mutters under her breath.
Wise Snake: Thanks for getting me in a sweat just in time for a nice walk.
In subzero temperatures.
B'cal hums.
Wise Snake wraps her cloak around herself.
B'cal: Does this have something to do with blue lipped Gens again?
B'cal smiling.
Jules Dist pushes herself slowly up in bed to eat the food that has been.
Brought to her.
Piotr Rava is sitting by Jules. They are eating a meal brought by one of.
The guards.
Wise Snake pushes lots of black crazy hair out of her eyes, and looks at.
B'cal with a poisonous look.
Wise Snake is sure B'cal was pushing her buttons just for entertainment.
B'cal goes back to humming.
Jules Dist pushes her food around, listlessly.
B'cal goes up the Center's steps.
Wise Snake rubs her forearms serrupticiously.
Piotr Rava: Jules, you have to eat.
Wise Snake follows B'cal up the steps.
Piotr Rava: You need to get your strength up.
B'cal goes inside.
B'cal turns to smile at Snake.
B'cal: Good ... night ... day.
B'cal goes right up the stairs leaving Snake in the lobby.
Briel comes walking down the hall with more charts.
Briel glances at B'cal's back then at Snake.
Wise Snake darts forward before B'cal can touch the door, and opens it for her.
Briel smiles at Snake.
Briel: Good morning, Snake.
Wise Snake: Good morning. ~~ field opaqued ~~
Jules Dist: Why? So they can just put me in another cell?
Briel: ~~ glowing ~~
Briel lays the charts onto the desk and smiles.
Wise Snake notices Briel is glowing.
Wise Snake suspicious.
Briel: Nice day today.
Briel: I feel wonderful.
Briel: You know, I've been sleeping better lately.
Briel shakes her head.
Wise Snake: Uh.... sure... [rubs one of her arms which is feeling tender.
For some reason]
Wise Snake: Well, that's good.
Briel sighs.
Briel: Why don't you have a seat? I'd like to talk to you.
Briel's good mood slowly fades.
Wise Snake: Um.. okay. [wary of mood change]
Wise Snake's nerves have been put in a fine state by B'cal's toying with.
Her earlier.
Wise Snake therefore starts to become nervous automatically.
Briel seats herself.
Briel: So, have you found anyone for Nick yet this month?
Briel remembers the wonderful transfer with him and thinks he deserves.
Another good transfer. Wonders who they might have found.
Wise Snake starts violently.
Wise Snake zlins Briel, remembering.
Wise Snake: What... what... Why do you ask? [defensively]
Wise Snake takes a few deep breaths, tells herself she's overreacting...
It doesn't help at all, of course.
Briel: Oh. Just curious.
Briel grins.
Wise Snake: I ... I mean... yes.
Briel: Good. Good.
Briel: Well, I told you I'd keep you informed if I heard anything about.
Veraik. And well, I am.
Briel: That's why I wanted to talk to you.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Briel: I was going to come by later.
Briel: Yeah.
Wise Snake's nerves tingle with dread.
Briel frowns and rubs at her neck.
Wise Snake: So... so what is the.. What have you heard?
Briel: I don't want this sheuvan cursed Center.[mutters]
Wise Snake: Shen it.
Briel: Anyway, I got word today...
Briel looks at Snake.
Briel: What?
Wise Snake: Briel, do you have any Farris ronaplin inhibitor? [utterly.
Embarrassed]
Piotr Rava: I already said not to give up hope.
Piotr Rava: Who knows what the future will hold?
Briel stares at Snake.
Jules Dist: Prison cell [murmured]
Wise Snake: ~ uncomfortable ~
Briel: Well, I think .. yes.
Briel: Just a moment.
Briel gets up and goes to the desk clerk and sends the desk clerk for.
Ronaplin inhibitor for a FARRIS.
Briel: Yes, please bring it back here to me. No, not Tramila.
Briel nods.
Briel comes back over to Snake.
Jules Dist: Why did you bring me here Piotr? Why?
Jules Dist tosses down her fork and stares.
Piotr Rava gets up and begins pacing around the room.
Piotr Rava: You were dying.
Jules Dist: I'm still dying.
Jules Dist: Dying at the thought that I'm going to be stuck in a prison the.
Rest of my life .
Piotr Rava: I didn't have the facilities to stop that.
Briel accepts the ronaplin inhibitor from Clerk and hands it to Snake.
Briel: As I was saying...
Briel tries to remember.
Piotr Rava brings his field in tight control to get her attention.
Briel: Ah, yes.
Piotr Rava: No more of that, Jules.
Piotr Rava: It will do you no good.
Wise Snake listens to Briel while putting the ronaplin inhibitor to use,
Resigned to having to do it in front of her.
Piotr Rava: Our first priority is to get you healthy.
Piotr Rava: Everything else follows.
Jules Dist glowers, hating the way he is using his field to force her.
Despair so far away.
Jules Dist: If you say so.
Briel: I received word today that Veraik has been called on the carpet.
About the goings on here at the Center.
Wise Snake looks up from what she is doing.
Wise Snake: I knew it would come to that.
Briel: He left yesterday to go face what was going on.
Briel sighs.
Briel: Please, no 'I told you so's right now.
Wise Snake: ~~ very slight sadness shows ~~
Wise Snake looks up at Briel again.
Piotr Rava notices Jules reaction and lightens up.
Wise Snake: You think this is an 'I told you so'?
Briel: I think Veraik has done his best. I have no idea if he'll be kept in.
Charge or sent somewhere else. Or just demoted.
Briel: Shen, I don't want to even think about it.
Piotr Rava: I'm sorry, Jules.
Jules Dist: It doesn't matter.
Jules Dist: My body is healing. I suppose that's the important thing.
Piotr Rava: Come here.
Piotr Rava holds out his hands.
Jules Dist moves carefully off the bed, grimacing slightly before going to.
Piotr.
Briel: All I know, Snake, is that Veraik must go answer for the problems at.
The Center.
Briel: They aren't saying he's been dismissed.
Briel: But Veraik was certainly acting like he didn't want to be in charge.
Any more. I think if he has his way, he might just give the position away,
If he can stay on here.
Briel looks at Snake.
Briel: If it weren't for you, I think he might just leave it all together.
Piotr Rava takes Jules' hands in his.
Wise Snake: He couldn't handle it and it broke him.
Briel: He certainly didn't act broken when he was here the other night.
Briel smiles.
Wise Snake: But... if he hadn't started it, it wouldn't have been at all.
He's done his part.
Wise Snake: Now it's time when... [annoyed at the interruption]
Briel: He was actually, very, invigorated.
Piotr Rava relaxes, letting his field relax Jules a bit more softly.
Briel looks back at Snake.
Jules Dist sighs, relaxing with Piotr's help.
Piotr Rava tries to get a feeling for how strong Jules is; how much she had.
Healed.
Wise Snake finishes applying the ronaplin inhibitor with obvious distaste.
Jules Dist: ~~ almost completely healed, physically ~~
Jules Dist: ~~ emotionally raw ~~
Briel: Is that helping?
Wise Snake slips the tube into her pocket just on the extremely, very very.
Remote chance it might come in handy again in the next couple of weeks.
Briel motions to the inhibitor.
Wise Snake: Ah... yes.
Briel nods.
Briel: Good.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Wise Snake hopes Briel leaves it at that and doesn't inquire.
Briel: Now, what were you saying?
Wise Snake: Only that the person who starts a thing and the person who can.
Sustain its existence usually aren't the same person. Veraik has done his.
Part.
Piotr Rava also tries to get a feel of how she compares to this particular.
Ren Sime guard...just in case.
Briel runs a tentacle across her neck, rubbing at the tight muscles.
Briel: That's true.
Wise Snake's heart aches momentarily for the loss of a different, long ago.
Veraik, then the feeling is pushed away again.
Wise Snake: When will you find out what will happen?
Briel: I am hoping to hear something by Wednesday.
Briel: Two days.
Wise Snake smiles at Briel's attempt to help Snake remember how many days.
Until Wednesday.
Briel: I will keep you updated.
Briel: I know you and Veraik have a special friendship.
Briel smiles.
Briel: So, tell me, what had B'cal in such a good mood today?
Briel motions toward the stairs with a tentacle where she saw B'cal go up.
Earlier.
Wise Snake: Oh.. [sours]
Briel frowns, curious.
Wise Snake: B'cal is under the mistaken impression that driving me into a.
Frenzy for her own entertainment is also amusing to me.
Briel chuckles.
Briel: I see.
Wise Snake reconsiders.
Briel: Well, hasn't B'cal always been that way?
Wise Snake: No, I take that back. She knows perfectly well I don't find it.
Amusing. She just doesn't care.
Briel: Yeah, you're probably right.
Wise Snake: I don't think so. She used to torment me because she thought it.
Would help me.
Wise Snake: Today it was for her amusement.
Briel: Or to prove something to you?
Wise Snake is aware that B'cal wouldn't have been able to get as far if it.
Wasn't so easy to do, but isn't sure how to get around that.
Briel: It would seem odd that if she did it before for a reason, that she.
Would suddenly just start tormenting you for no reason at all.
Wise Snake looks at Briel, surprised.
Wise Snake: Prove something to me? What?
Briel: I don't know.
Briel: I wasn't there.
Wise Snake massages her arms again, not realizing she is doing it; ronaplin.
More or less under control now.
Briel nods.
Wise Snake: Well it's certainly.. possible, I suppose... I confess I'm not.
Used to thinking of B'cal as someone who feels she has to prove anything to.
Anyone...except her House.
Briel: She might be worried about your transfer, or even Nick.
Briel: I mean, both of those have certainly been on my mind lately.
Wise Snake's eyes snap to Briel's.
Briel looks surprised.
Wise Snake zlins Briel in a paranoid fashion for any sign of personal.
Interest in Nick.
Briel: ~~ curious ~~
Wise Snake: I don't see why she should take out her worry on me. I mean, if.
I have a heart attack before the end of the month, the whole Nick and.
Next-transfer thing will be moot anyway.
Wise Snake: [peevishly]
Briel surprised.
Briel: Snake, Nick has had a small taste of what transfer is like with me.
Briel: Do you honestly think he's going to give that up if you die?
Wise Snake: I have no idea. Nor will I care under those circumstances.
Wise Snake: As I say... B'cal has a perfect right to worry about whoever.
She wants to... but to take it out on me?
Briel: Hey, I'm only offering suggestions, not defending her.
Briel lifts her tentacles in surrender.
Briel: Talk to her about it.
Wise Snake wonders if everybody ELSE is crazy today.
Tantrika: Tentacles???
Wise Snake looks up at the funny looking Gen staring at them.
Wise Snake: Can I help you? [point blank]
Tantrika: No, just dancing through looking for Piotr, he had a package for me.
Briel looks at Snake.
Wise Snake stares at Tantrika, dumbfounded.
Wise Snake: You were going to pick it up HERE? [thinks the Gen has a screw.
Loose]
Tantrika: Heard he hung out here on occasion.
Briel: Piotr is under arrest. I wouldn't want to be looking him up if I.
Were you.
Briel zlins Tantrika.
Tantrika: Ooh, got in trouble again, huh?
Wise Snake hadn't heard Piotr was under arrest; is not surprised though.
Tantrika tsks and shakes her head.
Wise Snake smiles at Tantrika suddenly.
Briel looks surprised at what she sees in her field.
Wise Snake: Can I take a name and address where he can reach you? I could.
Leave a message.
Tantrika smiles back at Wise Snake.
Wise Snake: ~~ friendly nager ~~
Tantrika: I have his mailing address, my new friend, I just hoped to.
Encounter him on line.
Tantrika looks at Briel and says what do you expect from someone called.
Tantrika.
Briel chuckles.
Wise Snake tries to decipher the bit about the address.
Wise Snake: Whatever you say.
Wise Snake turns to Briel.
Briel nods.
Wise Snake: You know, this place hasn't changed one jot. Veraik will have a.
Heck of a time explaining it.
Briel: And it looks like the perfect record I was trying for was destroyed.
Let's see...
Tantrika: Do you mind if I just quietly observe?
Briel: Was it Poovlar?
Briel: Not at all.
Briel: We have many Gens who observe before donating.
Briel smiles at Tantrika again.
Tantrika sits on zosa in a lotus position and watches.
Briel: Or any one of the many other incidents.
Briel rubs at her neck.
Briel: I'll tell you, Snake.
Briel: The Center in the bad part of town here attracts the crazy people.
Wise Snake: Of course. Why do you think they put the first one in the.
Financial District?
Briel: I still don't understand why Piotr brought that Distect Sime to us.
Briel shakes her head.
Briel: So they could stick the rest of us here, I suppose and make us all.
Look bad?
Wise Snake: I just hope you know what you're getting into if you accept.
Veraik's job.
Briel chuckles.
Briel scowls.
Briel: I am finding out.
Wise Snake: Well, they didn't want to have a Center down here at all.
That's what Veraik was fighting against.
Wise Snake: Now that it's been so successful I doubt they'd be able to talk.
Themselves into shutting it down.
Briel: Ah, I see. These people were just suppose to ... what? Fight it out.
And live as they could.
Briel: True.
Wise Snake: I think the rich typically just sort of hope the poor will...
Go away.
Briel nods.
Briel: Well, they aren't. And the Center has flourished.
Briel: Of course, we have had a few problems, with the Distect and other.
Odd incidents. But on the average, the place is continuing to grow.
Alea comes out of her office, looking decidedly green.
Briel glances over at Alea, zlinning.
Alea: I ... uh ...
Wise Snake carefully moves to the other side of Briel.
Alea: The ... baby.
Alea runs down the hall holding her stomach and mouth, flaring ~~ ILL ~~
Briel turns green.
Briel looks at Snake.
Briel: Another three months of this.
Briel's stomach calms down as the Donor gets out of zlinning range.
Briel: Why did you move?
Wise Snake: I won't go near her again.
Briel: Ah.
Wise Snake: ~~ nerves ~~
Briel: I see.
Briel: So, who is Nick's new transfer partner?
Briel: ~~ interested and a bit jealous ~~
Wise Snake: ~~ too-nervous, and defensive ~~
Wise Snake: A channel... a Householder. A high first.
Wise Snake: We think. I don't have a confirmation on this, yet.
Briel: Ah, well, I suppose he should have a high First with a field like he.
Has.
Wise Snake: He'll need to have one, if he is going to be pushed fast enough.
To meet me anytime soon.
Briel: Of course.
Wise Snake: Why are you so interested?
Briel smiles.
Wise Snake immediately curses herself for letting that slip out.
Briel: I suppose simply because he has such a good field and ... well, only.
Wishful thinking I suppose.
Briel chuckles.
Wise Snake: Good.
Wise Snake: I mean, "Oh."
Wise Snake thinks the ronaplin inhibitor is muddling her wits.
Wise Snake looks with distaste at her arms and wishes she could, one day,
Get a grip.
Yergen comes staggering up the Center steps, holding his middle, blood and.
Selyn leaking out of his Gen body.
Wise Snake: Heads up.
Wise Snake jumps to the door and opens it.
Briel jumps up augmenting after Snake.
Yergen staggers, losing his footing.
Yergen: ~~ pain ~~
Wise Snake catches Yergen.
Yergen gasps.
Wise Snake: Sorry.. sorry... I've got you. Take it easy.
Wise Snake realizes too late she should have let Briel take charge.
Wise Snake: Briel?
Yergen: Shendoni ... told them I didn't have ... [grimaces] drugs.
Briel: No. Go ahead.
Briel: Room 4's open.
Briel thinks Snake is a much more sensitive channel and with his messed up.
Abdomen they'll require that expertise.
Briel: I'm not sure where Lanyi is. Go on.
Wise Snake supports/carries Yergen as gently as possible to Room 4...
Wonders where they moved Lupo to.
Yergen: Bunch a ... anti ... Tecton-ists.
Yergen gasps, then groans.
Briel moves with Snake, allowing her to control the fields.
Wise Snake gets Yergen laid out on the treatment table.
Wise Snake takes hold of his field and tries to block some of his pain.
Yergen: Crazy kids .. knifed me. Said I was lying, a Sime ... lover.
Wise Snake examines the damage and attempts to determine his general condition.
Yergen: ~~ one large slash severing several layers of skin and muscle, but.
Not puncturing into the abdominal cavity ~~
Yergen: ~~ larger slash on arm from which he's bleeding very heavily ~~
Briel goes over and grabs the med kit, opening it up onto the tray and.
Pushing it toward Snake.
Briel then grabs bandages and a blanket before returning to Snake's side.
Wise Snake slides into healing mode and reaches for the slashed arm,
Wrapping tentacles around it to slow blood loss.
Briel works with Snake to control the bleeding while ripping the Gen's.
Shirt out of the way.
Yergen: Can ... is it ... bad?
Yergen: Only had ... my wife ... her medication for illness. Got to get it.
To her. They ... took it.
Yergen: Cheaper here in Bender ...
Briel: ~~ soothing ~~
Tantrika tones a soft chant of compassion.
Briel: We're working on you right now. Give us some time. It doesn't look.
Like anything major was hurt. Just some major bleeding and selyn loss.
Wise Snake concentrates healing attention upon the wound, blocking the loss.
Of selyn with her field, slowing bleeding.
Briel shudders trying not to zlin the seeping selyn.
Briel: Don't worry about the medicine. Tell me what it was and we'll get it.
To your wife.
Yergen: Tri ninton...for..Sheldor. Yanava Sheldor.
Briel carefully turns to one of the other people who followed in the room.
To help and dispatches them.
Briel gets the address and sends the person on his way.
Briel: You just relax now. Let us help block the pain.
Yergen: ~~ pain easing ~~
Wise Snake is deep in an intense healing session, attention locked into.
Cells and nerves, oblivious to outside.
Briel: By the way, my name is Briel. This is Hajene Sn...Wise.
Briel thinks Wise sounds better than Snake.
Yergen tries to nod, winces.
Yergen: Yergen. Yergen Shelder.
Yergen shudders.
Briel: Just relax. We'll make sure everything is taken care of.
Wise Snake leaves the arm area and turns toward his abdomen, not coming.
Duoconscious in between.
Briel pauses to turn to another Gen in the room. "Please dispatch someone.
To the police and let them know what has happened here."
Briel zlins as the Gen gracefully moves through the room without disrupting.
The fields too much.
Briel turns back and concentrates on zlinning Snake's work.
Wise Snake is caught up in the growth of cells, the knitting of fibers and.
Rejoining of nerves.
Yergen: ~~ weak from blood loss ~~
Wise Snake turns her attention to his system over all, projecting need,
Encouraging his body toward growth and replenishment.
Yergen: ~~ selyn production increases ~~
Briel: I think we're going to have to keep you here a few days. Don't worry.
About your wife. My employee will talk to her, reassure her, bring her here.
If she wants to come.
Tantrika chants another mantra of compassion...
Briel thinks this young Gen reminds her of the second order Channel,
Jirelle and smiles.
Tantrika looks warmly on Briel; not quite your typical Gen.
Tantrika has more than two arms, after all.
Yergen sighs.
Wise Snake struggles toward duoconsciousness.
Briel thinks wereGens and creeping need and shudders.
Briel: Well, Snake?
Wise Snake finally opens her eyes, blinking.
Briel motions to Keli to offer support as she is the only Donor in the room.
Tantrika: No, not a wereGen.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry... give me a few moments.
Briel: Of course, Snake.
Yergen: ~~ pale, sweaty, but not quite tense as he was ~~
Briel motions to one of the helpers for fosebine.
Wise Snake declines Keli's support with an attempt at a smile.
Wise Snake: He will be fine, with rest and care. The arm wound was the more.
Serious of the two.
Wise Snake: He was in good shape before the attack, which should help.
Briel: Good. Good.
Wise Snake looks down at Yergen.
Wise Snake: Will you be able to describe your attackers to the police?
Tantrika makes a mudra of healing towards Yergen to add more energy.
Wise Snake does a doubletake as she finally notices the extra arms on.
Trantrika.
Tantrika smiles at Wise Snake.
Wise Snake's tentacles shrink inside.
Yergen: I .. yeah.
Wise Snake smiles nervously.
Yergen: I think so.
Briel: You should have seen the two headed Sime, Dabe if you think this is odd.
Briel smirking at Snake.
Wise Snake: I read the file. [refusing to be teased any more today]
Tantrika: Have you never seen the many armed dakinis of Buddhism?
Tantrika: All the more arms to hold one with.
Briel: I see.
Yergen: I ...
Yergen: ~~ tired ~~
Wise Snake: This is not the first time I have heard of a Gen being.
Physically attacked by anti-Tectonists. [frowns]
Briel frowns, nodding.
Wise Snake: I doubt it was the same group again. Therefore it seems the.
Anti- Tectonists are becoming more militant as a general class.
Briel: We've had a couple of attacks here ourselves.
Wise Snake looks at Briel.
Wise Snake: __Here__?
Briel: Yes, near the Center.
Briel: Outside.
Briel: It makes me wonder if the "animals" that were released in the Center.
Were from these people.
Briel: Snakes, bats, ant eaters, you name it.
Briel shakes her head in disgust.
Wise Snake: Ant eaters? [baffled]
Briel: Any information you get on these anti-Tectonists would be appreciated.
Briel: Some animal that enjoyed rooting around in our plants and trying to.
Suck up anything smaller than it.
Briel: Large nose.
Briel: Odd looking animal.
Wise Snake: I held four of them prisoner once. Managed to reform one, the.
Others were all hard-core. Brainwashed. Just kids, too. It doesn't bode.
Well for the future.
Wise Snake: If that is what they are all like, then I am not surprised some.
More of them have found beatings to be a form of communication.
Wise Snake considers.
Wise Snake: Er, I am speaking of anti-Tectonists, not ant eaters.
Briel nods.
Yergen drifts off to sleep.
Briel motions to someone to sit with him and then toward the door to Snake.
Tantrika has long flowing black hair, is slender, wears Nepalese robes and.
Wears much jewelry.
Tantrika places lotus blossoms by Yergen's face as he drifts off.
Jorgre moves over to sit by Yergen.
Wise Snake is a short scrawny, weasel-faced channel with black crazy hair.
Spilling all over the place, and weird gleaming white eyes.
Wise Snake sees Briel's gesture and leaves the room.
Tantrika returns to her Zosa in meditative contemplation.
Briel goes with Snake.
Briel: Thank you, Snake for your help in there.
Briel heads toward the lobby, pausing in the hall to wash her hands in one.
Of the sinks.
Wise Snake realizes she will be expected to do the same, and reluctantly washes blood, etc. off her hands, too.
Wise Snake is pleased to see there is Farris soap there, too.
Briel: Too many shenned Farrises wandering around to risk it.
Briel: Have it at every sink now, too.
Briel: Blasted supply probably thinks we're hoarding Farrises here.
Briel: ~~ tends to think supply is right ~~
Briel: Thank you again, Snake for your help.
Wise Snake senses she is being kicked out.
Wise Snake: Well. Anyt.. er, you're welcome.
Wise Snake turns and leaves the Center.
Briel: Would you like some tea...
Briel: Oh.
Briel realizes Snake has left.
Briel turns to go back to her office and to work, before starting her.
Rounds in the infirmary later.
Alea comes back down the hall, pale, but feeling much better and staggers.
Back into her office.
Alea finds Lawana, a new channel, and gets her to go walking in the garden.
With her.