Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #126: (1/10/98)
Veraik sits in front of the Gnome thinking. The snow is falling once again. This time in thick, wet clumps.
Gnome: Problems?
Veraik: The worst.
Gnome thought he'd get a break from this with the cold weather.
Gnome: To each, problems often seem bad at the time.
Gnome: It is only later that one realizes the problem isn't as overwhelming as they thought.
Gnome: So tell me your problem my friend.
Veraik: True, but I came back from my trip only to find out that I am no longer considered competent for my job.
Gnome: A job you loved?
Veraik: And they were right.
Veraik: More than anything.
Veraik: But now I do not know.
Veraik: The whole Center is changed and I am not a stranger to it now.
Gnome: Competency is putting your all into the job, not what outward appearces show.
Gnome: Stranger or no, a job is a job.
Veraik: If that were only so.
Gnome thinks he should know this.
Gnome: What makes you think it's not so?
Veraik: Competency is having the job run smoothy. I was never able to accomplash that.
Gnome: So, a Controller who wants to Control everything, including the circumstances created by others.
Gnome: A Controller who tries to take responsiblity for all unknowns and be more than Channel and Controller...
Gnome: A controller who wants to shape everything but can't because things go wrong.
Gnome: Is that incompetency?
Veraik's mouth tightens and he says nothing.
Gnome: Or is that simply saying that things happen beyond your control.
Gnome: Look at this gouge on my head. Do you think I wanted it there? If I could control where arrows were shot at, I would have and would still be safe.
Gnome: Some things we cannot control.
Gnome: Nor can you control everything. You can only do your job. And allow things to happen as they will.
Briel tosses restlessly in bed.
Veraik: Maybe but that is not the way the Tecton sees it.
Gnome: And so you want to control their views too?
Gnome: Why not simply do your job, do what you love and do not worry about what others say or think.
Briel is on the hunt.
Veraik: Not their views. That would be unreasonable. I just want to be an example.
Gnome: So you set yourself up to be perfect. To controle verything so it'll turn out right?
Gnome: Is this a realistic goal?
Veraik looks up painfully. "I would like that very much but now it is too late."3
Gnome: Then why come to me for advice?
Gnome: It seems you do not love your job as much as you say or you would go back and try.
Briel need surges through her deeply as she finally breaks the door downthey have been holding her behind.
Veraik stands. "Never mind."
Veraik: What do you know anyway? You have never been in my shoes.
Gnome: Have I not?
Gnome: The question is not whether or not you can be controller.
Gnome: The question is do you really want to do your job, love your job, as you say.
Briel zlins, hard need eating at her, the emptiness overpowering.
Veraik walks away. "Stupid Gnome. The Tecton would put me in the Funny Farm if they knew I was talking to one.
Veraik stops.
Veraik: I love my job and this Center. The problem is that it doesn't love me.
Briel sees her Donor and runs toward him, desprate, needy...
Gnome: So? True love doesn't have to be reciprocated.
Briel reaches for him but he jerks her duo.
Briel gasps, looks up.
Briel: Jon Drake!
Briel reaches for him, feeling the selyn burning slowly away.
Briel smiles, gestures and she sees Smes and Gns all taking trasnfer.
Briel: Distect!
Briel watches as one by one they turn, murmuring, "not one of us" over and over.
Briel looks back at Jon. "But you're not one of them. Help me..."
Briel smiles, walks over to a Channel and gives him transfer.
Briel: ==JonDrak smiles..==
Briel jumps up and rushes toward him, zlinning he is the only one near able to serve her.
Briel: No! No! Don't do that!
Briel hears laughter and looks around, shuddering, hard need eating at her.
Briel hears a voice near her ear. "You'll just have to kill. You have no Donor. Kill."
Briel shakes her head, horror filling her face. "No. No. Never again. I ... I have a Donor."
Briel: I'll FIND a Donor.
Briel zlins but only sees renSimes.
Briel blances as laughter fills her ears.
Briel watches the renSimes running, augmenting, burning up selyn, and then the Gens are back to serve them again.
Briel feels the power of their nager overcome her and she goes hyper.
Briel: One of the Gens sees her and shrieks. "tecton!" A stone is thrown, then another, missing and hitting a nearby Gen.
Briel runs to protect the Gen. "No! Don't hurt them...I'll leave..I'll leave..."
Briel suddenly feels sweet bright light fill her ... singing along her nerves. ~~fulfillment~~
Briel flips hypo. The Gen she tried to protect lay dead in her arms.
Briel: NO!
Briel jerks up in bed and looks around, soaked iwth sweat and trmeling.
Briel looks down at her ronaplin covered arms and cries out again, in fear.
Briel jumps out of bed and runs to the shower, getting in and allowing hte cold water to run over her until the trembling subsides.
Veraik: So simple so easy. Your just a Gnome and therefor know nothing. Veraik walks back to the Center.
Alea slips out of bed, stretching, aching a bit still.
Alea winces, and touches the back of her head.
Alea makes a dash for the bathroom for her morning illness then staggers back out and gratefully pours herself some tepid tea leftover from last night.
Alea sits still, sipping the tea until she feels much better.
Alea decides to bring tea up every night, thinking it's better than making a dash for the kitchen every morning.
Alea: Ugh, cold tea though.
Alea shudders, but thinks ti's the lesser of two evils.
Veraik walks down the hall in the and signals at Briel's door.
Briel shudders one last time and then turns the water off.
Veraik: Testing the door and seeing that it is open, Veraik opens it and sticks his head inside. Briel? Are you there?
Briel glances up, zlinning.
Briel ~~repressing needMare~~
Briel: Oh, uh ... yes.
Veraik zlins Briel's nager and gets very concerned. He walks in.
Briel snatches up a towel and dries off, wrapping one around her hair.
Veraik: Briel? Is something wrong?
Briel grabs a nearby shirt and slips it on and leaves the bathroom.
Briel ~~pale, nervous, residual terror~~
Briel: Needmare. I'll be fine.
Briel: How can I help you.
Briel buttons her top up as she talks.
Veraik looks at her, following her with his eyes and zlinning her nager.
Alea finally sets her cup down and goes to perform her morning routine.
Veraik: Inwardly signing since she is past turnover.
Alea notes with dismay that her hair is way too long and wodners if she might find some scissors to cut off aobut four inches and get it back above her shoulders since it's too heavy to pin up anymore.
Veraik: I thought we should talk about the Controller's job.
Briel: Ah.
Briel motions to one of the chairs in her room.
Briel: Please sit down.
Briel goes over to the other chair and sits.
Veraik sits and unconsciously unties and reties his hair into a pony tail.
Alea pulls her hair back and clips it then dresses for the day's work.
Beebe sets mode: +o Paulatino
Beebe walks through the center, arms out hyperconscious.
Briel: So, Veraik. What is it you wanted to talk about?
Veraik: I think we should co-ordinate so that we do not get in each others way when it comes to running the Center.
Briel stares at Veraik a moment then laughs.
Briel: Get in each others way?
Briel: When have we ever gotten in each others way?
Briel: Look Veraik. Why don't you really tell me what's bothering you?
Briel zlins Veraik.
Veraik: You want to be Controller. I just thought I would make it ease for you. That is all.
Briel: Shenoni!
Briel: Veraik. I TOLD you I don't want to be controller.
Briel: You're starting to get me angry.
Veraik sets mode: +o wisesnake
Briel: How much clearer do I have to be on the subject.
Veraik: I don't understand/
Beebe continues to zlin, hyperconscious, arms out in front of her as she walks into the lobby.
Paulatino looks throughout the Center for BeeBe. Where could she be? He was in charge of her.
Briel: What do you not understand? That I don't want to be controller. Or that you're getting me angry by continually telling me I DO?
Veraik sets mode: +o Ddraig
Veraik: Veraik zlins Briel .
Beebe decides zlinning is fun and goes out the front door of the Center and down the steps, still zlinnning.
Veraik: You really don't? I [shakes head] Why not? I thought everyone wanted the job.
Briel: I told you I didn't. I'm perfectly happy being your assistant.
Paulatino sees BeeBe leave the Center just as he rounds the corner and rushes after her. "BeeBe! Wait!"
Beebe gets out on the street and smiles at all the shifting fields.
Beebe thinks this is so very interesting.
Paulatino rushes up to her and uses his field to entice her to notice him.
Paulatino: Hoping that his field would be enough after their transfer.
Beebe turns toward the field being pulled duo.
Beebe: How'd you do that?
Briel: Well, actually, I plan to return to my house one day.
Briel: I can't be a Controller AND do that.
Paulatino: Donor's trick. Come back to the Center. Until you are trained, it is not truely safe for you here.
Beebe: I want to go walking.
Veraik: Leave? [blink] But I thought you liked it here?
Beebe: I walked all the time.
Briel: Veraik. From day one I have told you I didn't want to leave my house.
Briel: I never wanted to leave my house.
Briel: They had to FORCE me out to do this.
Briel: One day I HOPE they'll let me back.
Paulatino: Then let's walk on the Center's grounds. You know your family should be here sometime today or tomorrow.
Briel: But while I'm here, I'll do my job as well as I can.
Beebe smiles at Paulatino.
Beebe: Can we walk in the park?
Veraik nods. "But what about the Tecton. What if they choose you as the next controller of the Center.
Briel: Then, Veraik, I guess I'm the next shendoni be flayed Controller of this hellhole, aren't I?
Paulatino: I'm sorry. Not today. You have to see the Controller and make decisions.
Veraik recoils with her blast of anger.
Briel lifts an eyebrow.
Veraik: I've never heard of anyone turning down the position since it usually means having good transfer partners each month.
Briel laughs harshly.
Briel: Where are YOU living, veraik?
Briel: Have you had decent transfers. Have I?
Briel: Give me a break.
Paulatino directs her towards the Center.
Beebe: Hey, Paulatino ... I bet you can't do this?
Beebe grins.
Beebe: Watch.
Veraik: Briel. Please!
Briel: What?
Briel: Dont' be honest?
Briel: Shen Veraik. WHy do you think I took transer from nick last month? I didn't wnat channels transfer.
Briel: And they coudln't get me a Donor.
Beebe turns and augments off down the street.
Veraik looks down and blanches. "I'm sorry. I should have taken care of your transfer assignment before I left. It is one of the reasons the Tecton is thinking of you as the new Controleer.
Briel: It wasn't your job to take care of it.
Briel: I called the Tecton when i was working otu the schedule.
Briel: The shendoni snow has stopped several Donors from getting through.
Briel: It's a mess right now.
Briel: Stop blaming yourself for things you have no control over.
Briel gets up and pulls out some pants and slips them on before garbbing some socks and boots to put on.
Beebe stops a few blocks from the Center and laughs.
Beebe looks around taking in the sights and how different everything looks now that she has changedover.
Beebe finds herself zlinning once again.
Briel: People might respect you more if you stopped sulking around and started acting like the Controller again, Veraik.
Briel tucks her top into her pants and then grabs a brush and runs it thorugh her hair.
Briel shoves her still wet hair back over her shoulder.
Veraik: Respect. [frowns] I don't think I've ever had that, Briel.
Briel: Well you're certainly not if you keep wandering around spouting oh, poor me, I can't do the job.
Briel: If the Tecton thought that, they wouldnt' have given you a chance at it at all.
Briel: They're concerned Veraik.
Briel: CONCERNED and not sure what is going on.
Veraik: I don't know what to say.
Briel: Dont' say anthying! Just get up and and start being controller again.
Briel props her hands on her hips and waits by the door.
Veraik looks hopeful. "Are yous sure, Briel?
Beebe looks surprised at some of the things she is zlinning now.
Beebe: Oh, wow!
Beebe goes duo and looks around and sees funny dressed women hanging out of windows and in doorways.
Paulatino runs to BeeBe. Please. This is not a good place for you. {pant]
Beebe looks around, goggling.
Paulatino: BeeBe. Come back to the Center.
Beebe hears a faint call but can't take her eyes off everytghing going on around here.
Beebe: So, tihs is what 'the bad part of town' looks like.
Beebe ~~curious~~
Briel: I'm sure, Veraik.
Paulatino flints his weak nager at her.
Briel: Now, let's go downstairs.
Veraik: All right.
Beebe watches someone approach one of the Simes and start up a conversation.
Beebe goes hyper, zlinning the action.
Paulatino flicks his nager at BeeBe and calls her name.
Beebe doesn't note the nager with the sea of shifting nagers around her.
Alea goes down the stairs to the main part of the Center.
Paulatino despairs and knows that he is going to be raked over the coals no matter what so he decides to go back to the Center for a Channel and hopefull will be able to find one in time.
Beebe: Wow!
Beebe goes duo and looks around.
Beebe sees Paulatino.
Beebe: Paulitino!
Beebe: Come here.
Beebe goes over to where he is.
Paulatino stops. "BeeBe?"
Beebe hurries over, giggling.
Beebe: Come here, I wanna show you something.
Beebe drags paulatino over to point to the people she was zlinning.
Beebe doesn't understand Paulatino's shocked expression or the way he drags her away, but she shrugs and goes with him.
B'cal: My feet are cold.
B'cal glances sideways at Snake.
Wise Snake looks at B'cal.
B'cal lifts a foot and shakes the snow from the top of her boot.
B'cal lifts an eyebrow.
Wise Snake: Do you want to go back?
B'cal curses the fact that Snake phrased it like that.
B'cal: Yes. I do.
B'cal: It is morning. And it is cold.
B'cal: I don't know how you've done it.
B'cal: No sleep? Only a channel who thinks they're god..or a farris, would go without sleep.[mutters]
Wise Snake: What makes you think I went without sleep? [irritable due to sleep deprivation]
B'cal widens her eyes.
B'cal: Oh, I don't know.
B'cal: Could be that post turnover irritable Farris attitude is a bit more irritable than usual.
B'cal: Or, it could be the circles under your eyes.
B'cal: The scowl? Well, you normally wear that.
B'cal: However, the lips curls a bit more than normal farris lips.
B'cal: All signs of Farris Fatigue.
Wise Snake snarls at B'cal.
B'cal nods smugly.
Wise Snake: Fine, fine, I'll take you back. Just lay off me.
B'cal ~~I told you so~~
B'cal: Of course.
Wise Snake packs up the medical stuff.
B'cal: Do you want to go by and pick up Nick or iwll you pick him up after you drop me off?
Alea pauses at the front desk and goest through the rest of the papers that have been left there after the shooting for 'repair work'
Wise Snake: I'll drop you off at the Center.
Alea: Fine.
Alea: --bcal--
B'cal: You know, the Wonder Gen is really going to make you a good Companion. I'm glad you contacted Fraeyan to work with him this month.
Wise Snake passes her hand over her eyes.
Alea picks up the papers and picks out the ones pertaining to the reports she had to fill out.
B'cal ~~concern~~ ~~focuses support~~
B'cal: You should rest.
B'cal: Tell Nick when you get home to let you rest for a few hours first.
Wise Snake: If Nick is still there when I get home, I'm moving out.
B'cal: What?
B'cal eyes widen in surprise.
Wise Snake frowns.
Wise Snake: I think I was perfectly clear.
B'cal ~~very concerned~~ ~~focues tight control~~
Sumulo enters the lobby and sees that Farris Donor. Snubbing her, he goes to the clerk to ask for the next donation.
Wise Snake waves to the proprietor of the "Cock and Bull Room" that they are leaving, and pushes through the heavy doors to the outside.
Alea looks at Sumulo coolly and strokes her farris braid.
B'cal moves with Snake.
B'cal: I won't push. That something has happened with you and Nick is obvious.
B'cal: However, I will tell you, he'll mkae a good Donor. I hope you can work it out.
Sumulo: [to clerk] What are you waiting for? Me to ask! Give me the next donation.
Alea chuckles.
Alea: Look around, Sumulo...or zlin. No more donations right now.
Alea: It's slow today.
Sumulo turns cold eyes on her.
Alea returns the cold stare.
Alea strokes the Farris braid again.
Wise Snake: I don't see how. He wasn't listening to a word I said yesterday.
Sumulo: Then perhaps I should take yours.
B'cal frowns and thinks carefully beofre she replies.
B'cal: Perhaps, all he needs is time. Perhaps, if you allow him to go to Vlar and then come back,t hints will have changed.
B'cal: ==thints things==
Alea: Donation, Sumulo?
Alea: I don't think so.
Alea looks around at the occasional Sme or gne wandering past and smiles.
Wise Snake: I think he has no interest in going to V'lar. He seemed to have nothing but hate for... for V'lar.
B'cal: Ahhh...
Wise Snake: Perhaps he will change his tune when his time comes nearer.
B'cal studies Snake.
Wise Snake: However, I will not be around him to know it.
B'cal: YOu need a Donor, Snake. Please consider before you cut him off compoletely.
Wise Snake keeps trudging determinedly toward the Sime Center.
Sumulo walks up to her. "You will succumb to me some time. bitch.
Alea smiles ~~fat chance~~
B'cal walks with Snake offering support.
Sumulo: Runs a tentacle up arm. "And you will enjoy it."
Alea: Tell me, Sumulo, what screw up sent you here?
Alea moves back around the desk to gather some more charts.
Alea ~~distaste~~
Wise Snake: He no longer sees me as an authority figure. He no longer believes I have anything to teach him about being a Donor. He disobeyed all of my direct orders and furthermore, he deliberately displayed anger at me in order to get my attention.
Sumulo: [sniffs] I'm the best thing that could happen to this Center.
Wise Snake: When I offered a compromise, he was not interested.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Sumulo: From what I understand, even the Controller, Veraik, if a total screw up.
B'cal: Snake, a Donor/Channel relationship is a partnership. However, yes, that might be problematic.
Wise Snake: Even if he were to turn around his behavior entirely, I have absolutely no faith in his trustworthiness anymore.
Alea: Well then, you should fit in perfectly, shouldn't you?
Alea smiles.
Alea: Screwups love .... screwups, so they say.
B'cal: People do make mistakes.
B'cal: Is it not possible this was just one of those times?
B'cal realizes she is aruging for Nick and closes her mouth.
Wise Snake looks at B'cal, incredulous.
Wise Snake: You're saying I'm mistaken??? Which part do you think I got wrong?
B'cal: I don't think you got any part wrong.
Sumulo whips a tentacle around her arm and squeezes. "So THAT is why you are here. You're a screw up too. Good thing I'm not!"
B'cal: I'm simply saying that he's young in this. He's ego has been stroked that a Farris wants him. Perhaps he's not seeing straight right now.
Alea chuckles.
Alea eyes narrowed as she does.
Sumulo squeezes harder.
Alea: Only a total screw up would lay a hand more than once on a Farris Donor.
Alea flattens her nager and stares, refusing to make a sound.
Sumulo: Not much of a Farris, are you?
Alea: Farrises don't have to prove themselves, my friend. Their nager says it all. Be glad I'm not letting my talk right now.
B'cal: I don't know Snake.
Sumulo: Sumulo stares back, in total challenge.
Alea grins.
Alea: Something to prove?
Alea shrugs.
Alea: Don't expect me to accept the challenge of a mere second.
Alea: That would be ... child's play.
Alea: Totally unfair.
Sumulo: You don't scare me but you SHOULD be very scared me.
B'cal: I just hate to see you without a Donor.
Wise Snake: His attitude will have to change before I'll even speak to him again.
B'cal nods.
B'cal: It is your coice.
Sumulo sputters.
B'cal starts up the stairs of the Center.
Wise Snake: Do you think I like it? But trust me, what he was yesterday would not be healthy for me to hang around.
Wise Snake looks at B'cal's back, hesitates.
B'cal puases at the door. "I understand. You do have good judgement."
Sumulo: I already have a call placed which will burn you.
Alea shakes her head, unable to stop the laugh.
Sumulo jerks her towards him. "You'll be sorry!"
Alea: Dream on, Sumulo.
B'cal waits for Snake to open the door.
B'cal: What is it?
Wise Snake shakes her head at B'cal's words.
Wise Snake climbs the stairs and pulls the door open for B'cal.
Alea: You don't have enough power to ruin a Farris. The sooner you learn that, the better off you'll be. Maybe it'll save your job.
B'cal enters.
B'cal looks from Alea to Sumulo.
B'cal: He's a new one, isn't he, little lovebird?
B'cal sneers
Sumulo: I'
Sumulo: I've already ruined one...Bitch. Remember that.
Wise Snake stands there holding the door open, unable to believe the awful ambient she zlins in the lobby.
Wise Snake closes the door carefully and turns to tiptoe down the Center's steps.
Sumulo turns at the new nagers.
Alea: A little late.
Alea: The other farris spotted your nastiness and left.
Alea chuckles.
Sumulo rushes the doors.
Sumulo: How do you like your life? bitch.
Alea rubs the bruised arm, glareing at Sumulo's back.
B'cal sticks out her foot to trip the channel.
Sumulo: Yeah Farris Bitch. Are you making it>?
Sumulo: [to Snake] or are you ready to die...BITCH!!!
B'cal gives Sumulo an extra little push over Bcal's foot and then jumps back to watch Sumulo tumble.
Alea slams the door.
B'cal looks alea up and down, notes the bruised arm.
Wise Snake turns realizing somebody is shreiking abuse at her.
Sumulo using his Sime agility to stay of his feet.
B'cal: Glad to know your taste hasn't dropped to THAT level.
B'cal turns and heads up the stairs.
Wise Snake turns nervously, sees somebody flying out the Center's door.
Wise Snake thinks -- uh-oh.
Sumulo: Yeah YOU! You shedoni-be-flayed Farris.
Alea stares, shrugs, then goes to the window to look out.
Wise Snake looks around, realizes she is the only Farris in sight.
Alea is disappointed the Channel didn't fall down on his ...
Wise Snake points a finger at herself in question, just to be sure.
Sumulo: YES YOU!!
Alea props her hands on hre fists, thinking this is going to be good.
Wise Snake jumps.
Sumulo: Remember me!
Wise Snake: What do you.... ???
Sumulo: Think you can just get away this time?
Alea wonders if she should go get someone to help, then thinks, nah, Snake can handle herself.
Wise Snake: Get away from what? [confused]
Alea moves over as the Clerk joins her at the window.
Wise Snake: And I'm sorry, I don't recognize you, Hajene..... ?
Sumulo: You don't even know, do you?
Clerk glances at Alea's arm.
Clerk: You gonna get that treated?
Sumulo: Stupid Farris. wisesnake mystified.
Alea looks back at Clerk. "And miss this? Nope."
Wise Snake: Know what?
Sumulo: I'm HAJENE Sumulo ambrov F'Jord. Recoognize the name now.
Wise Snake tries not to zlin the obnoxious guy.
Sumulo: [snner]
Wise Snake: Um..... sorry... no.
Alea: Do you know .... do we have any of that noxious agent that brings on severe abdominal cramps in SImes left in the Drug room.
Sumulo: You should. My Householding is the one....[stops when he realizes what he is about to say] Oh never mind.
Clerk cuckles.
Wise Snake: You were saying? [curious as to what his householding did that was so well-known]
Clerk: That certainly was a mess. That stuff labeled wrong, wasn't it?
Alea thinks not anymore.
Alea: Yeah.
Alea watches Sumulo.
Alea: They got rid of it all then?
Clerk: I made sure of it personally.
Clerk says this proudly, liking at a First Order Donor is taking the time to sit and talk with him as the watch the new obnoxious channel.
Veraik: "Stupid Farris." Turns and walks away. "You'll know soon enough. Shendoni...mutter..mutter...mutter]
Veraik: ==Veraik - Sumulo===
Alea disappointed but hides it.
Alea: Yeah, yeah, that's good.
Alea frowns.
Alea: Is that all? Well, at least Sumulo looks out of sorts. That's a start.
Alea shifts back and smiels at clerk.
Sumulo goes to his office to make another phone call.
Alea: Excuse me. I"ll go get that arm treated now.
Beebe walks slowly down the street taking in the sights.
Paulatino stays with her.
Wise Snake scratches her head and wonders what that was all about.
Clerk: Everyone zlins so differently.
Clerk: Like that person ahead...WOW.
Paulatino: [thinking Veraik is gonna murder me when he finds out that BeeBe has been on the streets.
Beebe goes hyper zlinning Snake.
Wise Snake changes her mind and decides to go back and see if she can mooch a Donor off the Center for a day.
Clerk: === bebee===
Wise Snake climbs the Center's steps and opens the door, zlinning the lobby carefully before entering.
Beebe: OH look, she's going in the Center.
Beebe: Do you work with her?
Beebe looks up grinning at Paulatino.
Wise Snake goes behind the clerk's desk and studies the schedule board, to see if anybody has loads and loads of free time.
Beebe goes hyper again, extending her arms.
Paulatino: No. I've only seen her at the Center occassionally.
Paulatino engages her field to pull her duo.
Beebe zlins around watching the fields--
Beebe: Whoa...
Paulatino: ~~~Soothing~~~
Beebe blinks and looks at Paulatino.
Beebe: How'd you do----
Beebe smiles and relaxes.
Paulatino smiles knowingly.
Briel: Hello Snake.
Paulatino: Donors secret.
Briel coming down the stairs pauses at seeing Snake in the center going over the boards.
Wise Snake jumps.
Wise Snake: Oh... hello, Briel.
Beebe: Secrets?
Wise Snake steps away from the boards.
Paulatino: Come on. Let's get back to the Center.
Beebe: But should Donors have secrets?
Wise Snake moving nervously.
Paulatino projects calm.
Beebe nods, basking in the sudden field Paulatino has produced.
Briel moves on down the stairs.
Briel: What's up?
Paulatino laughs. "IF they went the Channel to pay atrtention they do.
Beebe: Oh, I think any channel would pay attention nto you Paulatino.
Beebe smiles softly climbing the Center stairs.
Paulatino blushes.
Paulatino opens the door and leds her inside.
Wise Snake: Can I borrow a Donor for a day or two?
Briel: Uh, well, I'm not sure. Let me look.
Briel: I'm sure I can find someone.
Beebe goes inside and immeidiately reutnrs her attention to the nager she zlinned earlier...going hyper again and zlinning.
Wise Snake notes the empty lobby and raises her eyebrows.
Wise Snake: Good.
Briel goes over and pulls out the mangled forms and looks through them.
Briel squints, then sighs.
Briel: Well let's see...
Briel shakes her head.
Briel: Alea isn't avaliable. Jon Drake might be for part of a day.
Wise Snake: Well.... okay.
Briel: Ah..here is one.
Briel smiles.
Briel: DarronGar.
Wise Snake: Is he any good? [dubiously; never heard of the guy]
Briel: Yes, he is.
Briel: But I'll let you be the judge of that.
Wise Snake: Can he lift items up to 75 pounds?
Briel: He's been working in the teaching section.
Briel: Of course.
Wise Snake thinking she might have to move out of Nick's apartment in a few minutes.
Wise Snake: Great. I'll take him.
Briel: He's new enough that he still has all of first year training under his belt.
Briel: Good.
Briel nods.
Briel sends clerk to find Darron.
Beebe: Oh, wow...coool.
Beebe moves forward toward Snake to get a closwer zlin.
Wise Snake looks at Beebe with a mixture of curious annoyance.
Beebe cocks her head oddly.
Paulatino pulls BeeBe hypo again.
Beebe jerks and blinks, gasping slightly.
Beebe looks at Paulatino and then back at the channel she was zlinning.
Paulatino: You were not invited to zlin WiseSnake. You should ask first.
Beebe ~~`a mid-first who just cahnged over two days earlier~~
Wise Snake is still looking at Beebe.
Beebe flushes.
Beebe: Oh.
Beebe: I - I'm sorry.
Beebe figits.
Paulatino: Sorry. She is just learning.
Wise Snake's eyes linger a moment longer on Beebe's, then slide away.
Paulatino: ~~~calm~~~
Beebe: You zlinn different than the othres I've zlinned.
Paulatino: Come, BeeBe. Let's go get some tea.
Briel sighs.
Briel: Snake, this is Beebe.
Wise Snake: Imagine that. [muttered, in response to Beebe's statement]
Paulatino looks to Briel in an appologe.
Wise Snake nods at Beebe in response to Briel's introduction.
Briel: This is Wise Snake Farris ambrov Zeor.
Briel waves a hand at Paulatino.
Briel ~~no problem~~
Paulatino looks pained.
Beebe: I've heard of them.
Beebe wide eyed.
Beebe ~~worshipful~~
Beebe starts to zlin again, then frowns and forces herslef to stay duo.
Beebe waffles a bit.
Wise Snake thinks she obviously hasn't heard of Snake in particular or the nager would probably zlin a bit differently.
Beebe: Do you work here?
Paulatino wishing he was any play but in the presence of the Channel who took him away for transferring the Veraik.
Beebe inches forward, still staring wide-eyed curious at Snake.
Paulatino: ==play - place==
Briel grins amused at Snake.
Beebe: You nkow. I'm a channel too.
Beebe proud.
Beebe: I heard Farrises are the best. I want to be a Farris one day.
Wise Snake: Good luck. [dryly]
Beebe grins then smiles up at Paulatino.
Paulatino inches closer to his channel, hoping Snake will only see him as a Donor and not as an incompetant mess-up.
Beebe turns back to Snake.
Beebe: I'm going to try really hard.
Briel thinks she is going ot have to sit the child down and explain the levels of Channles plus a few other things to her.
Paulatino: Come one BeeBe. Let's get that cup of tea.
Briel: Her parents were stuck out of town. She barely made it to the Center. We're expecting her parents in the next day.
Wise Snake recognizes Paulatino as the high-second whose field she took down during Tormer's rampage.
Paulatino: You shouldn't be bothering Snake. She has important business to attend to.
Beebe face falls.
Beebe: Oh, I'm sorry.
Beebe blushes.
Wise Snake is privately amazed Paulatino came back after having lived through that experience.
Beebe: I, um, excuse me, please.
Beebe hurries off down the hall.
Paulatino leds her out the door towards the cafeteria.
Paulatino runs to keep up.
Briel: Sorry about that Snake.
Briel: She's new and well, doesn't understand much at all about manners or ... as you saw, anything.
Wise Snake: Huh.
Briel: And Paulatino, well, he's just ...
Briel shrugs.
Briel: Nervous, I suppose.
Briel rubs at her neck.
Wise Snake: I see.
Briel: I find her refreshing actually.
Briel: I imagine she'll be leaving for school soon now.
Wise Snake wonders if this DarronGar guy is in the act of climbing out the back window or if he will be showing up any time soon.
Wise Snake shifts the medical satchel on her shoulder.
Briel looks up at the man awlking into the room with Clerk.
Briel: Ah ... Darron.
Briel motions.
Briel: This is Snake. She requires a Donor with her for the next two days.
Briel: During the daytime.
Briel looks at SNake.
Wise Snake inspects Darron Gar.
Briel: Isn't that right?
Wise Snake: Of course. I have B'cal at night.
Briel nods.
Briel: Good.
Wise Snake: Thank you, Briel.
Briel: I hope things work out.
Wise Snake moves toward the door, making sure Darron follows.
Briel ~~sincerely~~
Wise Snake: Ah... yes. We'll see.
Wise Snake leaves, with the Donor.
Rock Hill. S C. U S. Undernet. Org sets mode: +o Briel.
Briel sets mode: +o wisesnake
Alea sets mode: +o Veraik
Alea goes out the door to go buy a blanket at the market.
Alea makes sure she's wearing her warm farris cloak.
Alea goes down the street, watching for ice, to the market downtown.
Alea suddenly glances up at the big flakes of snow that start falling.
Alea: Oh my!
Alea holds her hand out, catching one and smiling, thinking how beautiful they are.
Syen runs across a roof, panting, breathing harshly.
Syen is now known as Syunulo.
Alea slips into the store to buy a special blanket for Tarsh's bed.
Alea browses through the many many blankets, looking at the different patterns and shapes and colors.
Alea finds one with his favorite colors, and smiles at the pattern, wondering if he'll like it.
Alea takes it to the counter and payes for it, having it boxed up.
Alea slips the box under her arm and starts out of the store.
Alea realizes this is too heavy so she shifts it in front of her to carry neraly blocking her view of the outside.
Alea goes back inside and decides to have it delivered, taking the smaller blanket she also purchased to carry with her.
Alea: There we go.
Alea goes out the door.
Alea hefts the smaller bag, wondering what Tarsh will think when a huge package arrives for him at the Center.
Alea looks around in surprise at all the snow.
Alea: Oh my goodness!
Alea sees the snow coming down much much faster and harder.
Snow Raven cries out from a rooftop.... cark, cark, cark.
Alea sets mode: +o SnowRaven
Syunulo slips and slides his way across the roofs, furious, angry, sure he's going to get caught....
Alea glances up at the SnowRaven.
Snow Raven takes off.
Snow Raven flaps heavily downward through the falling snow, passing just over Alea's head, then rising up again into the gray sky.
Alea ducks and follows the sight of the bird.
Snow Raven: Cark! Carrk cark!
Alea realizes snow is accumulating on her and shakes it off.
Snow Raven circles, white on gray.
Alea starts off then apuses.
Alea shakes her head wondering how a bird can fly in all of this snow.
Alea starts back down the street.
Syunulo slips and screams going over the edge of a roof.
Snow Raven circles higher.
Syunulo falls five feet in front of Alea.
Alea jumps, then cries out.
Alea watches as people who were hurrying close in on the man...
Alea feels her gorge rising and turns...hears the bird and looks up thinking that must ahve been what startled it from a warm palce.
Syunulo is now known as Splat`
Alea sticks around offering help until the body is taken away. By this time the snow is raging and she heads for home.
Snow Raven cries out mournfully... cark, cark, cark.
Alea looks up in surprise, unable to believe that crazy bird is still flying around.
Alea: What is the matter with you?
Snow Raven is high in the sky.
Alea realizes she can't even see the bird now because of the snow and turns toward home...
Alea looks around.
Alea: Oh shen!
Alea isn't sure which way since the snow is so heavy.
Snow Raven circles lower.
Snow Raven dips low, then flaps up to the peak of a roof and sits looking down at Alea with one eye.
Alea thinks about going back into a building, but realizes this wouldn't be ideal since the Center would worry. She turns right...
Alea: Would be the only time I don't bring Lawana this happens.
Alea staggers through the snow, already getting cold.
Alea: Shenned Snow.
Alea: Doesn't snow like thist back home.
Alea: WHy'd I end up HERE?
Fawviah launches itself into the air and circles, hoping the slowly stumbling creature will fall down and die so it can feast.
Fawviah: ===snowraven=====
Alea forces herself ownward, gasping when she suddenly amkes out boats.
Alea: Oh no!
Alea ~~shivering~~
Alea realizes she has come the wrong way.
Snow Raven warms its chill breast with thoughts of plucking out an eye, or maybe the tongue, of the beast.
Alea's face is cold...numb, as are her hands.
Alea turns and starts the opposite direction.
Alea thinks it's getting harder to walk, which must mean she's gonig uphill.
Snow Raven flaps from rooftop to rooftop, observing the pitiful creature's increasingly erratic progress with some interest.
Alea trips and falls painfully to her hands and knees.
Alea gasps.
Snow Raven glides down to perch upon a railing some distance away.
Alea pulls at the increasingly heavy package and staggers back up looking around for somewhere to take shelter.
Snow Raven cocks its head and peers alertly from various angles.
Snow Raven flies up into the air again as Alea rises.
Alea sees the bird again the only living thing out there.
Snow Raven: Cark...cark cark.
Snow Raven: [disappointed]
Alea moves forward slowly ... very slowly ... toward where seh'd seen the raven.
Alea thinks there must be a building there.
Alea stumbles and falls again.
Alea ~~breathing hard~~
Alea forces herself up and to the building.
Alea pushes into the building, falling down in relief.
Alea feels numb from head to foot, can't ever remember feeling this numb.
Alea looks around and realizes she is in some abdoned building..with no lights.
Alea realizes that means no heat and almost cries.
Snow Raven, which had been circling lower, turns upward instead and flies up and up until it reaches the steeple of the clock tower.
Alea decides she can probably burn something in the building and gets up to go find soething to burn.
Alea lifts an arm and ralizes she is still clutching the bag though she can't feel it in her stiff fingers.
Snow Raven preens its feathers, and keeps watch for other travellers through the steeply falling snow.
Alea: Blanket!
Alea froces hre fingers open and pulls out the blanket alarmed that she still can't feel anything.
Alea decides to find something to start a figre with and starts toward an office.
Alea trips over a can...sending it crashing through the room.
Alea lays there, hurting as well as numb--she didn't know the two coexisted--when she smells smoke.
Wise Snake tenses, hearing a tiny noise from far below.
Wise Snake tells herself she didn't hear anything.
Wise Snake: You're being too paranoid. [shivering]
Alea: Smoke?
Alea pushes herself slowly up and looks around, then up.
Alea: Probably awrmer up there.
Wise Snake wraps her cloak tighter around herself and puts another bundle of 35 year old Ferry schedules on the fire.
Alea: Which would mean, anyone wanting to stay warm would go ... up.
Wise Snake: I can't believe I'm doing this. [shivering]
Alea goes to the stairs and starts climbing.
Wise Snake: And now I'm talking to myself. People are going to say I'm crazy!
Wise Snake tenses as she hears another sound, this one seeming closer.
Alea forces herself up the stairs one by one, the muslces in hre legs burning as they try to stretch.
Alea stumbles falling ot her knee and crying out in pain.
Alea: Well, feeling pain should be a good sign.
Alea pulls the blanket back up around her cloak.
Wise Snake jumps wildly at the cry.
Wise Snake: Bloody shen...
Alea pauses thinking she heard a creak.
Alea ~~unease but determinatino~~
Alea goes up the stairs again reaching the second story.
Wise Snake unfolds herself from her cramped huddle and forces herself to ease silently over to the door.
Alea starts up to the third.
Alea: "Anyone home"
Alea comes out in a squeak.
Wise Snake zlins carefully through the door, which is much easier to zlin through than the walls.
Alea hopes the person will share the fire.
Alea thinks the smoke smells much stronger in here and shivers with longing.
Alea pulls herself up the last of the stairs.
Wise Snake zlins a very cold person.
Wise Snake zlins a Gen.. cold.. in pain...
Alea: Uh...yooo...hooo?
Alea [a little louder]
Wise Snake eases the door open quitely.
Wise Snake: Quietly.
Alea coughs at the pain that caused in her chest.
Alea starts down the hall.
Wise Snake has a fright as she realizes it's Alea.
Wise Snake: Alea! What are you doing here? [surprised/alarmed]
Alea jumps eyes widening.
Alea: Snake?
Alea: Oh Snake!
Alea ~~relief~~
Wise Snake: Shen, Alea, what have you done to yourself? Come in here by the fire.
Alea: I was out buying a blanket and...
Alea: Gladly.
Alea moves toward the room, and the warmth.
Alea: It's cold out there.
Alea: Feels like a furnace in here.
Alea: What are you doing here?
Alea reaches out toward the fire, hands red and chapped.
Wise Snake: Trying to... uh... well I'm between places right now and came here to crash.
Alea focuses on Snake's words ... when the register she looks worried.
Wise Snake indicates small pile of blankets on floor, along with medicine satchel and other bags.
Alea: I see.
Wise Snake closes the door so no more heat will escape.
Alea nods and sinks to her knees near the fire.
Wise Snake: I thought this little room would heat up faster.. I've been here nearly an hour and it still seems cold.
Alea looks incredulous.
Alea: It is a veratible furnace, Snake.
Wise Snake reaches into the box and pulls out three or four more bundles of old schedules, puts them on the fire.
Alea moves her hands closer to the fire, being careful not to touch.
Wise Snake: That's because you're dangerously chilled.
Alea: Oh dear.
Alea looks at SNake.
Alea: I ...
Alea moves back from Snake.
Wise Snake looks up at Alea.
Alea wraps her arms around herself, sticking her hands under each arm.
Alea puts the fire between them, with as much room as possible.
Wise Snake: What are you doing? Here, come lie under these.
Wise Snake pulls the blankets closer to the fire, motions for alea to get under them.
Alea: My field. If I feel that cold to you, I'm not going to do anything excpet bother you if I get that close.
Alea hesistates.
Wise Snake: You bother me over there too.
Alea sighs.
Wise Snake: Come on, get warmed up, unless you have a death wish?
Alea moves over and crawls under the blankets.
Alea: I apologize, Snake. I didn't mean to burst in here on you like this.
Wise Snake: Well I... can't say I expected it, but... well...
Wise Snake: Hold on a minute.
Wise Snake slips out of the room.
Alea nods feeling more miserable than she can remember feeling---no, the dip in the lake was pretty bad too.
Wise Snake pokes through the building, zlinning, finally finds the loose bricks she remembered.
Wise Snake brinks three or four of them back.
Alea closes her eyes.
Wise Snake re-enters the room and, after closing the door carefully, kneels in front of the fire and slides the bricks in around the edges so they can get warm.
Alea: Shenned cold out.
Wise Snake: Yeah... a nasty wind.
Alea: Killed a man.
Wise Snake: There ought to be people out there to be rescued, tonight.
Wise Snake looks at Alea, startled.
Alea: Yeah.
Wise Snake: What?
Alea: I was agreeing...people...rescued.
Wise Snake: What was that about killing?
Wise Snake nervously.
Alea opens her eyes and looks at snake, tries to project soothing ambient.
Alea: I mean died...
Alea: The wind. It must have blown him off the roof.
Alea: He landed right at my feet. Five feet away.
Alea: Not a pretty picture.
Alea ~~nausea~~
Alea forces the nausea away.
Wise Snake: Oh... no. I imagine not.. [avoiding zlinning suddenly]
Alea: Would have gotten back to the Center on time if I hadn't stayed around to give the police my name as a witness.
Wise Snake: Look I.. I'm trying to avoid augmenting for heat.. but I could climb under there with you if you want. For warmth.
Alea: Would be nice.
Wise Snake: These bricks will be warmed eventually and I can wrap them in something to put next to you.
Alea turns and lifts the blanket.
Alea tries three times before she gets them up.
Wise Snake: You take the side by the fire.
Alea scoots over.
Wise Snake climbs in, shivers, forces herself to press against Alea's cold body.
Wise Snake: Shen... why do we end up in these situations? [discouraged]
Alea groans.
Alea: YOu feel wonderful so I'm not going to worry about it right now.
Alea chuckles softly.
Alea: But it does always seem to be us, doesn't it?
Wise Snake thinks, not for the first time that evening, here I am nearly a year past changeover and where am I? Back sleeping on the floor in abandoned buildings again.
Alea: I heard you picked up a Donor from the Center today.
Alea: [softly]
Wise Snake: [long silence]
Wise Snake: Well, yeah, I did... two days, I have him.
Alea ~~soothing~~ ~~offer support~~
Wise Snake finds herself relaxing in Alea's field.
Alea: I hope it all works out.
Alea scoots closer, burying her nose against snake's shoulder to warm it.
Alea: I am numb.
Alea: My nose is numb. My fingers, feet, face...all numb.
Wise Snake is suddenly overwhelmed by the looming question of what will happen in the time till her transfer... and then, what will happen after that.
Alea: I had a headache from the bump until I went numb.
Alea: Now I'm just numb.
Wise Snake sees a life of backsliding, never quite achieving a goal before it is replaced by lesser ones, and never knowing security.. only a facade, a sham of it.
Alea eases a hand out, flexing her fingers then slips it bakc under the covers between her and snake, pressing it to her back hoping that will warm it.
Wise Snake suddenly sees no point in conserving selyn.
Wise Snake: Shen [whispers]
Alea: Snake?
Alea [query]
Wise Snake closes her eyes and begins to work to raise her body temperature by augmenting.
Alea begins to shiver.
Wise Snake whispers in Alea's ear.
Wise Snake: Shhh....
Alea nods.
Alea: I am cold.
Wise Snake's skin heats as her body is driven to waste energy.
Alea: You're augmenting.
Wise Snake: I know. [whispers]
Alea feels the increased warmth in snake's body.
Alea: Oh, no, Snake.
Alea: We'll get warm.
Alea: DOn't waste your selyn.
Wise Snake: It doesn't matter.
Alea ~~concern~~
Alea: Of course it matters.
Alea reches up and touches Snake's shoulder.
Alea: What do you mean it doesn't matter?
Wise Snake: It's too hard, Alea... I can't do it. Nobody can do it.
Wise Snake: That's why nobody does it.
Alea: Do what?
Alea ~~growing concern~~
Wise Snake: Just.... be.... a channel can't just be.
Wise Snake: There isn't anything but work and struggle and then just darkness.
Alea: You're wrong Snake.
Alea: You're needed here.
Alea: You're a good channel.
Wise Snake: ~~heat~~
Alea shivers and moves closer.
Alea: Don't give up, Snake.[whispers]
Alea: Don't give up.