Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #127: (1/11/98)
Alea is warm.
Alea is warm except for her nose.
Wise Snake is snoring.
Alea wiggles her nose, finally opening and eye.
Alea eyes widen and she looks aorund in surprise.
Alea looks over and sees Snaek snoring.
Alea moves to sit up and check snake...and feels her stomach flip.
Alea: Oh.....no.
Alea covers her mouth, easing from the covers, then dashes out the door to the nearest broken window to be ill.
Alea feels better almost instantly and decides she wants back in the warm room.
Alea sets mode: +o LinnH
Alea slips back into the room where Snake is.
Wise Snake turns over restlessly, then suddenly wakes up.
Alea looks over at Snake.
Alea: Good morning.
Wise Snake: Alea?? I thought that was just a dream.
Alea ~~calm soothing~~
Wise Snake's voice makes it unclear whether she is relieved or disappointed -- and whether she is referring to Alea's presence or something that really WAS a dream.
Alea: Fraid not.
Alea tilts her head curiously.
Alea: How are you this morning?
Wise Snake blinks a few times.
Alea moves over to the fire for warmth.
Wise Snake: Well.. I can honestly say I hate sleeping on the floor as much now as I did when I was a kid.
Alea chuckles.
Wise Snake crawls out from under the blankets.
Alea: It is rather uncomfortable.
Wise Snake: You should wear these blankets. It's cold enough in here to see your breath!
Wise Snake picks them up and drapes them around Alea's shoulders.
Alea accepts them gratefully.
Alea: I didn't exactly want to snatch them off you.
Wise Snake: How thoughtful.
Wise Snake kneels in front of the embers from last night's fire and pokes at them, tears off bits of paper to add.
Alea's stomach growls.
Wise Snake: There's food in that back pack. I didn't realize I'd be feeding a pregnant Gen so it's not much, but... help yourself.
Alea hesitates then nods.
Wise Snake coaxes the fire back towards life.
Alea: At least it's Farris safe. And Gen safe too?
Alea goes over and rummages to see.
Wise Snake: Um... watch out for those red cap mushrooms. The rest should be fine.
Alea nods.
Wise Snake finally gets the fire going enough to add something more substantial to burn.
Alea pulls out pickled veggies and opens the jar and eats.
Alea sets mode: +o NickR
Nick is now known as straycat.
Wise Snake: There... maybe it will warm up a little bit between the sun and this. [unoptomistic]
Wise Snake crosses over to another pack and pulls out a water canteen... frozen solid.
Alea focuses her reassurance on Snake.
Straycat prowls through her domain, looking for mice, rats, bats, and other edibles.
Wise Snake sighs and places the canteen somewhat near the fire.
Alea moves closer to the fire.
Wise Snake: This is pathetic. I have to get a real place.
Alea: Any ideas?
Wise Snake: Either that, or go ahead and get the heat started in this old dump... pretty risky expenditure not knowing if the place is mine yet or not, though.
Straycat finds a door mysteriously closed, and indignantly claws it open a crack and slips through.
Straycat: Mrow!
Alea hears the cat and looks at Snake.
Straycat is delighted to find that the room is relatively warm, and saunters in as if she owns the place.
Alea: You haven't heard back yet?
Alea moves around the fire to the opposite side of straycat.
Wise Snake: I only sent in the proposal three or four days ago. Bureaucracy isn't lightning fast you know.
Alea: No, it's not.
Wise Snake rubs her hands together and eyes the cat warily.
Straycat makes a circuit around the perimeter, inspecting to see if the intruders have scared off the mice.
Wise Snake: Are you allergic? [nods in cat's direction]
Alea smiles.
Alea: No. I have my own cat at the Center now.
Straycat sees no sign of her usual prey, and decides to take advantage of the heaters while they're still around.
Wise Snake: I am.
Wise Snake: [sneezes suddenly]
Alea: Oh dear.
Straycat wanders towards the smaller one.
Straycat: Mrow! straycat starts purring, hoping that this will elicit something edible.
Wise Snake: Do something...
Alea ~~soothing healing thoughts~~
Wise Snake: [sneezes, then retreats to the other end of the room]
Alea: If it claws me....
Alea eases towared the cat.
Alea: Come here kitty, kitty kitty...
Wise Snake still has scars from last time she got near a cat... physically and mentally.
Straycat decides that a lap really is warmer than the floor.
Wise Snake: Give it something to eat. Maybe it will go to sleep and we can stick it out in the hallway.
Wise Snake isn't sure if she's remembering the procedure for cats, or Gens.
Alea sets mode: +o Veraik
Alea picks up the cat and snuggles it.
Alea: There we go, sweetie.
Straycat climbs into Snake's lap, purring loudly.
Wise Snake shivers and looks out the window.
Alea stares as the cat jumps down and onto Snake and goes after it.
Straycat turns in Alea's direction.
Alea scoops up the cat.
Wise Snake is standing and on the other side of the room... sorry cat.
Alea rubs it again.
Wise Snake: It's going to be an incredible pain to get all the way to the Center in this. Snow's still falling and it's deep already.
Briel paces through the Center, raking a hand through her hair.
Straycat purrs louder, and munches experimentally on the end of Alea's braid.
Alea digs through and finds food for Straycat.
Alea: It'll be just fine....
Alea sets mode: +o Mostan
Alea walks to the door and tosses the cat out.
Veraik sets mode: +t
Alea slams the door.
Alea: There you go.
Wise Snake looks quite relieved.
Alea ~~guilt~~
Wise Snake: Ah... good.
Wise Snake: Don't feel guilty. The cat has probably lived here all winter and done just fine for itself.
Veraik changes topic to "Bedner Cove Sime Center: Sime~Gen Roleplaying"
Straycat eats the food, then turns to look at the closed door indignantly.
Alea: If you say so.
Straycat: Mrooooow!
Wise Snake changes topic to "Bender Cove Sime Center: Sime~Gen Roleplaying"
Alea relieved.
Wise Snake: Well... we may as well get going. It may take us the better part of the morning to get to the Center.
Wise Snake thinks, at least with a Gen in tow.
Briel goes to the window and looks out.
Alea: Of course.
Alea buttons her cloak and ties her scarf back on.
Straycat claws at the door.
Alea looks around.
Wise Snake bundles her blankets carefully and puts them high on a shelf in a closet so the cat won't find them and get hair all over them.
Wise Snake carefully zips her bags and places them up there as well, then closes the closet door.
Straycat is now known as rat.
Wise Snake keeps the medical satchel.
Mostan is now known as SnowHare.
Wise Snake inspects Alea's clothes.
Alea: We missing anything?
Wise Snake: Where's your hat and gloves?
Rat peeks out of its hole, and discovers a bounty of wool blankets, and food in gnawable bags.
Alea holds up her scarf and reties it.
Snow Hare hops to the edge of the snow-weighted bush.
Rat decides that this is the perfect place to raise her family.
Alea: I didn't bring my gloves.
Alea miserable.
Wise Snake: Shen... fine.
Alea: I'll just work at keeping my hands inside my cloak.
Alea smiles.
Wise Snake re opens the closet door and pulls all her stuff down.
Alea is determined to be bright and happy to boost SNake's spirits after all Snake said to her last night.
Wise Snake looks through a bag and finds a towel to tear up... figures realistically speaking she probably wouldn't have used it much anyway.
Rat decides to invite its littermates to nest in the blankets as well, since there's plenty of space.
Wise Snake: Here.. wrap these around your hands and head.
Snow Hare tries to nibble at a branch and gets a faceful of snow.
Rat squeeks and ducks back in the hole.
Wise Snake notes the rat and sighs.
Alea takes the rag and wraps it around her hands, thinking her scarf will keep her warm enough around her head.
Wise Snake: Great. Rats, cats, and in the bellfry there are doves. What will I find next.
Alea: Uh, Snake...
Alea: With our luck, you shouldn't really ask that question.
Wise Snake looks at Alea.
Wise Snake: True... I found you here too, didn't I.
Wise Snake sighs and stuffs her things back in the bags.
Alea sighs.
Wise Snake looks around for a better place to put them.
Alea goes to the door and opens it and looks out.
Snow Hare freezes at the motion.
Wise Snake finally pulls the shelf out of the closet, and wedges it out in the room, on the molding high up in a corner.
Wise Snake jumps to stash all her stuff up there a piece at a time.
Alea: Shen it's cold out here.
Rat is now known as roach.
Wise Snake grumbles.
Snow Hare relizes it is just tree branches in the wind.
Wise Snake: Alea! Cover your head.
Wise Snake: Do you want to freeze? This isn't about fashion.
Alea: ==alea's head is covered with a scarf==
Snow Hare hops across the open space toward the big man-thing.
Alea: I'll cover my mouth and face when we get outside Snake.
Roach scuttles across the floor under Snake's feet.
Alea: Don't worry. I don't want to cause you any discomfort.
Wise Snake fails to notice the roach.
Alea goes out the door and starts down the stairs carefully.
Wise Snake closes the door to the room then follows Alea.
Alea: You know, Snake, about last night...
Wise Snake is in a bad mood.
Wise Snake: What? [growls]
Alea ~~offers calm steady support~~
Alea: It's not important.
Wise Snake has her mind on forging through about 3 miles of deep snow uphill just to get Alea home and make sure B'cal isn't having heart failure.
Alea smiles.
Wise Snake: You might as well finish, since you've already started.
Snow Hare sniffs at the wall, wondering if it has any leaves.
Briel paces from the window and to the lobby desk.
Alea pulls open the front door and looks outside.
Wise Snake stands back as about 3 feet of soft snow slumps inward.
Snow Hare freezes at the sudden motion.
Alea: I don't want you to worry.
Alea jumps at the snow that comes inward, barely getting out of the way in time.
Alea: We'll see you through first year.
Alea: That's a lot of snow.
Briel sets mode: +o Rhelana
Wise Snake: Yeah. Come on, let's go.
Wise Snake nervously.
Alea moves to step outside..and gasps at the cold.
Snow Hare trembles.
Wise Snake steels herself against Alea's reaction and pulls the door closed behind them, locking it with the key her friend Vinnie made her.
Snow Hare bolts for the bush.
Alea forces her field under control and projects promise.
Alea: Oh, look! A hare.
Alea smiles.
Alea: Wonder if it's house is buried under all of this snow.
Alea wonders if maybe the cat's house wasn't out here too, but doesn't say so.
Wise Snake: Got to get those weeds cleared out of here. There's a nice tile sidewalk here, somewhere.
Snow Hare dives under the bush, causing snow on the branches to collapse.
Alea lifts one leg high as she starts trying to walk through the snow.
Wise Snake: Alea. Please, let me go first. [faintly annoyed]
Alea stops.
Alea: Of course.
Wise Snake leads the way, shoving through the snow and breaking a trail.
Alea: You know Wise Snake: Oh?
Alea follows finding it much easier to walk.
Alea shrugs.
Alea: Yeah.
Wise Snake: I'll keep that in mind.
Alea finds her legs are already numb from the wind and snow.
Alea: Does this happen often? This much snow?
Alea sets mode: +o Tarsh
Tarsh comes down to the lobby with a clipboard.
Briel glances up at Tarsh's entrance.
Snow Hare watches them go in relief. Now there is only straycat to worry about.
Tarsh: Hello Briel.
Alea slips on a slick place but quickly regains her balance.
Briel: Good morning.
Wise Snake: Usually happens at least once a year... it's lake effect snowfall. The wind comes from the north and the whole GReater Lake is there to add water to the air.
Briel ~~strained/impatient~~
Alea nods.
Alea: I see.
Rhelana goes to the lobby to return the files from yesterday's donors.
Alea: Not being from this area, I've never seen this.
Wise Snake keeps pushing along.
Roach is now known as Valrie.
Alea hurries as fast as possible to keep up with Snake.
Tarsh: Is something wrong Briel?
Wise Snake aims for some more mainstream streets, hoping to find places where other people have done much of the work.
Briel glances at Tarsh, then rubs her neck.
Briel: One of our Donors is missing.
Briel: I've been up all night...everyone has made it back except her.
Rhelana: Oh Hi Tarsh. {looks at the cute renSime wishing she weren't past turnover]
Tarsh: Really? Which One?
Briel paces back over to the window.
Rhelana: Hi Hajene Briel.
Briel: Oh, hello Rhelana.
Tarsh: [ distracted ] Hi Rhelana.
Briel: Alea.
Briel zlins out the window.
Tarsh: What!
Rhelana: What did you say? A Donor missing?
Tarsh rushes to zlin out the window too.
Briel nods.
Linn is now known as Valrie.
Briel: She went out for a shor time yesterday. Hasn't made it back. WE can't afford to lose a Farris Donor right now.
Rhelana frwons at Tarsh's reaction.
Valrie wanders into the lobby from the infirmary, wearing borrowed pajamas.
Tarsh: ~~ Distress/fear ~~
Alea looks around to see where they all and smiles.
Alea ~~teeth chattering~~
Alea: You going ot make house calls today?
Wise Snake: Yeah.
Valrie is still moving a little stiffly.
Wise Snake wonders if the Center will release Darron today, figures probably not under the circumstances.
Briel looks at Tarsh.
Rhelana goes to Tarsh and zlins with curiousity.
Briel: She'll be fine. She probably found shelter or something.
Alea: Do you have a Donor to go with you?
Tarsh: Where did she say she was going?
Wise Snake: Listen... hoofbeats. Two or three blocks up. Something.
Briel motions toward a box near the desk.
Wise Snake:'s at least a little cleared.
Briel: She evidently went to a quilt shop.
Tarsh: Is anyone out looking for her?
Briel: That arrived yesterday afternoon.
Briel looks incredulous.
Rhelana: Perhaps we can go out looking for her together?
Wise Snake: One is scheduled to me... whether they'll let him go out is a different story.
Briel: I'm not sending any ofthe Cetner's people out in this.
Tarsh zlins out at the storm.
Alea: Well youc an't go out alone.
Snow Hare sets mode: +o Ddraig
Wise Snake: Why not? I've done it before.
Alea: I'm sure they'll allow it.
Alea frowns.
Alea: You shouldn't. You need that supprot right now.
Wise Snake senses Alea falling further behind, and reaches back holding out her hand.
Wise Snake: Come on. Hold my hand, I'll help you.
Briel sees Valrie.
Briel: Valrie, what are you doing out of bed?
Tarsh: [ As cold as the snow outside ] Fine then.
Rhelana places a tentacle on Tarsh's arm in support.
Briel turns narrowed eyes on Tarsh.
Valrie looks at Briel.
Briel: She saw the snow. If she didn't have enough sense to get in out of it, there's nothing I can do. I won't risk other people over that.
Valrie: I was hungry.
Briel turns back to Valrie.
Briel: No one brought you food?
Alea takes Snake's hand.
Valrie: Just a bowl of cereal, and that was hours ago.
Tarsh goes over to get his cloak.
Alea carefully keeps her field under tight control.
Alea: I'm sorry, Snake. I'm just getting a little stiff from the cold.
Rhelana stays with Tarsh and gets her own.
Rhelana: I'll go with you.
Tarsh quickly puts it on and grabs his gloves.
Briel pauses to look at Tarsha nd Rhelana.
Briel: Tarsh.
Briel: I don't want you going out in that.
Briel: Period.
Tarsh stops as he recalls how he got these gloves. Another time Alea was in danger.
Rhelana looks at Tarsh then at Briel.
Briel: You either Rhelana.
Wise Snake helps Alea, pulling/lifting when necessary to support her.
Tarsh looks at Briel. "what?"
Rhelana looks to Tarsh for direction.
Alea: I really am sorry about this.
Briel: I said, I don't want you going out in this.
Briel: It's too dangerous.
Wise Snake: Less sorry than you'd be if you'd died out in the street.
Tarsh: You let alea go out in this.
Briel stiffens.
Alea: I suppose so.
Briel: Yes. I did.
Briel: And I'm concerned too. I don't want to lose a Donor.
Tarsh: Donors are more important than rensimes. I'll go find her.
Briel: Even Alea.
Rhelana wonders what the significance of this conversation is because of the zlinned undercurrents.
Briel: Look, Tarsh. If she's out there...
Rhelana: And I'll go with him. [big smile]
Tarsh: ~~ concern mixed with frustration and annoyance ~~
Briel: She's found cover.
Briel: If she didn't find cover, then she's frozen to death soemwhere.
Briel: Either way, it's stupid for you to risk yourself.
Rhelana frowns at the nager Tarsh's is projecting.
Briel bluntly.
Alea: I guess one good thing came of this.
Tarsh: ~~ fear ~~
Alea tries to smile, unable to feel her cheeks anymore.
Tarsh: If she's frozen to death I'm going too.
Wise Snake pulls Alea along for another 3-4 blocks, and then they break out into a narrow lane that has been partially shoveled clear and is only about knee deep.. gray, wheel-and-foot stirred slush.
Wise Snake: What's that? [grimacing as they squelch through the wet stuff.
Briel: That's ridiculous.
Wise Snake: ]
Briel is surprised, frustrated.
Alea: At least we're getting you to somewhere that has heat.
Alea: And to a Donor.
Wise Snake: Only for a few minutes.
Wise Snake and Alea join a line of people trudging along in single file.. some more cheerfully than others.
Briel paces from the window to Valrie and helps her over to the couch.
Wise Snake: Well, there's that.
Briel: Sit right here. We'll get you something immediatley, okay?
Ddraig is now known as JonDrake.
Briel: Tarsh ... why don't you just wait another hour or so?
Wise Snake checks to make sure Alea's clothing is still in place.
Wise Snake: What's in that bundle?
Wise Snake: Clothes?
Tarsh stands at the windows, clenching and unclenching his covered ahnds.
Wise Snake zlins cloth.
Valrie sits a bit harder than she'd originally planned, due to still-weak knees.
Alea: Oh this?
Alea: It's a small lap blanket.
Wise Snake: You had another blanket and you didn't say anything? [amazed]
Alea: I had it on my shoulders yesterday when I came up the stairs.
Alea: I just figured it'd be too hard to wear out in this mess today.
Wise Snake shakes her head thinking "Gens"
Wise Snake: Well, you must not be as miserable as you zlin, then.
Wise Snake tries to zlin ahead.
Alea: You try holding a blanket and keeping your balance and...
Alea slips.
Wise Snake: I wonder how far this goes...
Wise Snake augments and catches Alea.
Alea: Sorry about that, Snake.
Alea flushes.
Briel sends someone for food.
Briel glacnes at Tarsh.
Briel: See anyone yet?
Wise Snake makes sure Alea is steady and starts going again.
Rhelana waits.
Wise Snake: Well.. we're almost a third of the way now. Only 2 miles or so... all uphill, granted, but...
Wise Snake: Look! [points back the way they came]
Alea breathing hard turns to look back.
Wise Snake: The tower. See it?
Alea: Yes. I do.
Tarsh: No.
Briel moves back over to the window.
Jon Drake comes out of the kitchen with a tray of hot beverages for everyone.
Wise Snake: [proprietory glee... a bit premature]
Briel: Look, Tarsh. I'm sorry I let her go out.
Alea smiles.
Briel: I'm sorry to for being so blunt.
Alea: You'll get it.
Jon Drake has hot cider, hot tea, and hot chocolate.
Alea: We'll make sure.
Wise Snake turns back and keeps walking uphill.
Valrie takes a drink, figuring that the adults aren't going to get around to finding her a second breakfast anytime soon.
Wise Snake: Shen, I hope so.
Valrie: Thank you. [shyly]
Briel: We're going to have a lot of work when this snow clears out.
Jon Drake smiles and makes his rounds among everyone.
Briel accepts a cup with a grateful not at Jon Drake and then takes a sip.
Wise Snake: Presumably there will be at least partially beaten track all the way to the Sime Center.. I mean, snowstorm or no, people still have to get transfer... and of course the donors will have to pay their rents and buy groceries and so forth.
Jon Drake lets his nager hold to help calm the tension.
Alea: Thta's good to know.
Tarsh doesn't notice JonDrake.
Alea: Shen this air is cold.
Alea: When will the snow melt?
Briel sees the person with the tray of food and accepts it, taking it over to Valrie.
Briel: Here you go.
Briel: Can you manage this on your own?
Briel zlins Valrie concerned.
Alea thinks even though the path is better she doesn't think the walking has gotten any easier.
Valrie eyes the steaming platter.
Valrie: Oh, yes!
Briel nods.
Briel goes over to the window.
Valrie takes the tray and starts consuming the meal like....well, like a half-starved Gen.
Briel: Why don't you go back to work, Tarsh. If she shows up, we'll tell you.
Tarsh: [ still staring out the window ] "You didn't tell me when she was gone."
Briel: Well, gee, Tarsh, considering your relationship I figured you already knew.
Briel impatient.
Tarsh turns to look at Briel intently.
Briel: I apologize for that.
Jon Drake finds that the tray empties too quickly and heads back to the kitchen to get more.
Tarsh: [ After a moment goes back to zlinning out the window ]
Briel: I should have let you know.
Tarsh doesn't reply.
Alea keeps her mouth closed and concentrates on going forward with Snake.
Briel: So, Valrie, how are you feeling today?
Valrie swallows to clear her mouth.
Valrie: Much better, thank you.
Briel: Good.
Briel: Looks like you're going to be here a few days.
Jon Drake returns with another tray full of hot beverages.
Wise Snake moves aside as a man on a horse tries to pass them.
Wise Snake reaches out to steady Alea.
Wise Snake recognises the man.
Wise Snake: Hey... hey, Gerro! Are you going anywhere near the Sime Center?
Alea startles and looks up, seeing why Snake moved her.
Valrie looks up at Briel, hope and fear mingling in an uncontrolled mess in her relatively strong, and very high, field.
Valrie: Did you really mean it? I can stay here?
Wise Snake moves up to the renSime's knee.
Valrie is now known as Gerro.
Wise Snake: Yeah... this Gen has to go up there. Would you give her a ride?
Wise Snake points at Alea.
Gerro zlins Alea.
Alea teeth chatter near blue from freezing her...fingers off.
Alea as well as other parts.
Gerro thinks about plowing through the snow for two miles with a frozen Gen behind him.
Briel: Of course you can, Valrie.
Alea tries to smile.
Gerro: Gee, Snake, I dunno. The horse is having a lot of trouble with just me.
Briel: You'll have to stay here until you're well.
Wise Snake looks disgusted.
Wise Snake: Sure thing Gerro.
Wise Snake: Come on, Alea.
Alea nods.
Alea turns with Snake.
Briel: You can stay here after that for as long as it takes.
Wise Snake waits for Gerro to resume, then keeps trudging up the hill.
Briel: You know that Valrie.
Gerro zlins Snake again, then knees the horse to follow them.
Gerro: Now, now, I didn't say it wasn't possible.
Wise Snake rolls her eyes to herself.
Wise Snake: Oh? It isn't?
Wise Snake reaches out a hand when Alea almost slips, but doesn't.
Gerro: I could always put her on the horse and lead it.
Alea blinks feeling absolutely miserable.
Gerro: Of course, that would require using a lot more selyn than I'd planned.
Wise Snake: Tell you what. Lend me the horse for a couple of hours and I'll bring it to wherever you're going.
Alea likes that idea. She wouldn't have to be around an unknown renSime.
Gerro: I'd have to have a transfer early, and I haven't got quite enough to hire a really...good...channel yet.
Gerro: If you know what I mean.
Wise Snake: Yeah, yeah. Not interested. Thanks anyway.
Briel moves back over to the window.
Wise Snake helps Alea over an unidentified lump in the snow.
Briel: So, tarsh. How's the paperwork coming that was destroyed the other day.
Alea groans.
Gerro shrugs and knees the shivering horse forward.
Tarsh: Well enough.
Briel zlins Tarsh.
Tarsh: ~~ week before transfer ~~
Tarsh: ~~ concern/anger/frustration ~~
Wise Snake: Come on. We're making great progress.
Wise Snake regrets Alea had to hear that; raised her hopes for nothing.
Briel ~~ offers hope ~~
Valrie looks arouind the lobby, thinking how cheerful and safe it looks, after the camp.
Alea: I'm really sorry, Snake.
Briel sighs.
Briel: This place is like a shenned masoleum.
Briel stalks over to the desk and starts rummaging through the files.
Valrie remembers unheated dormatories and shivers.
Wise Snake catches Alea for the 10th time and sighs.
Wise Snake: Look, do you want me to try to carry you?
Wise Snake: It'll be faster.
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: I...you used up an awful lot of selyn last night ....
Alea sighs.
Alea: Fine.
Alea thinks Snake is using up as much selyn catching her as she would carrying her.
Jon Drake notices Briel and wonders what is going on.
Wise Snake picks up Alea and continues on her way.
Wise Snake augments somewhat to make time.
Jon Drake waits until his tray is once again empty and heads in her direction on the way to the kitchen.
Wise Snake: They are probably worried about you.
Alea: They probably didn't notice I was gone.
Valrie goes from thoughts of the camp dorms to thoughts of the punishment shed, and begins to tremble.
Wise Snake thinking about B'cal, who probably wasn't worried about Alea at all, but was, she hoped, worried about HER.
Wise Snake: Not even Tarsh?
Alea: Oh, well.
Alea: Yeah, at least, I hope he's worried.
Briel turns toward Valrie, zlinning.
Briel: Valrie?
Valrie is staring forward, eyes unfocused.
Briel sits down the files and moves toward her concerned.
Wise Snake turns onto the street that the Center is on.
Wise Snake: JUst a few more blocks to go, Alea.
Wise Snake realizes Alea probably knows where they are, but is just trying to reassure.
Alea nods numbly.
Briel eases down by Valrie.
Briel: What is it?
Briel touches Valrie's arm.
Wise Snake's breath snorts out steam.
Valrie starts, then her eyes focus on Briel.
Tarsh suddenly dashes out the door.
Briel glances up, torn, before finally turning back to Valrie.
Valrie's eyes look lost and forlorn.
Jon Drake sees that Briel is talking to Valrie, so he changes his mind and continues on into the kitchen.
Briel: Shenned impatinet renSime.
Briel: [mutters]
Briel: We aren't going to let you go back to taht place.
Wise Snake stumps up the somewhat beaten path up the center of the street, finally turns in at the Sime Center's shoveled walk.
Wise Snake: Shen! I am getting more exercise this week.
Alea ~~cold/miserable/guilt~~
Tarsh rushes up to snake and Alea.
Tarsh: Alea!
Wise Snake sees Tarsh.
Wise Snake: Ah... Tarsh...
Alea turns her head, eyes widening.
Alea: Tarsh....
Alea tries to smile.
Tarsh ignores snake. "Are you hurt? Are you alright?"
Alea nods.
Alea: I'm fine, really.
Wise Snake carries Alea up the steps.
Alea: I'm just...cold.
Alea: I'm sorry if I worried you...
Tarsh follows along wringin his tentacles.
Alea following tarsh with her eyes.
Jon Drake comes out of the kitchen again.
Briel turns and stands.
Valrie is unable to really believe that she's safe.
Briel: Ah, I see our wayward Donor has been returned.
Tarsh gives Briel a 'no thanks to you' look.
Briel lifts an eyebrow at Tarsh.
Wise Snake advances through the lobby and finds an open treatment room to lay Alea down in.
Alea: Really Snake, I can walk now.
Alea: Please don't put me in here.
Alea ~~embarrassed~~
Wise Snake put Alea on the table and stands back, brushing snow off herself.
Wise Snake: Sorry.
Briel looks to follow them, then at Valrie.
Briel sighs.
Briel: Jon Drake?
Tarsh starts chafing Alea's hands.
Jon Drake turns.
Jon Drake: Yes, Brie?
Alea looks at what Tarsh is doing.
Alea: They're numb.
Wise Snake: Tarsh, can you handle getting a channel in here to deal with her?
Briel: Would you hlep Valrie to her room?
Briel: I should go check on Alea...
Jon Drake: Ok. Where is her room?
Tarsh: What? Snake! When did you get here?
Wise Snake gives Tarsh a long-suffering look and leaves the room.
Briel: She can show you the way.
Snow Hare is now known as Mostan.
Wise Snake goes off in search of B'cal.
Briel walks over to Jon.
Briel: And talk to her, get her to open up if you can.
Jon Drake: Ok.
Briel walks off.
Briel is now known as Bcal.
Jon Drake: I'll try.
Mostan is checking the setup in one of the treatment rooms.
Wise Snake tries B'cal's office, then her quarters.
Jon Drake is a little confused, but leads Valrie to the room that she knows and he doesn't.
B'cal is sitting in her room.
Alea: I really am sorry
B'cal jumps up and answers the door.
B'cal: Where the shen have you been!
Valrie looks around at the room, which has exactly 174 tiles in the ceiling,
if you add up the half tiles along the far end, and sighs.
Wise Snake jumps.
Wise Snake: Sorry. I fell asleep and didn't wake up until this morning.
B'cal reaches out for snake's hands and looks her over.
B'cal: Well, at least you're not dead.
B'cal: When that storm hit last night and you didn't show up, I had my concerns.
Wise Snake lets B'cal take her hands, more relieved by B'cals' concern than
she cares to admit.
Mostan comes down the hall and stops wondering why he feels cold all the
sudden.
Alea eyes widen
Wise Snake: Ah... well.. I'm fine. No problems.
Alea: I think we're going to experience the same thing I did last night when
I stumbled into Snake's shelter....
Alea ~~fingers beginning to tingle~~
Mostan realizes its someone else's coldness.
Alea looks odd.
Alea: Tarsh?
Mostan looks into the room.
B'cal: Are you sure?
B'cal frowning.
Valrie decides that 174 weatherproof tiles over a bed with a nearly new mattress
and lots of blankets isn't such a bad deal, and slips into bed.
Wise Snake: Well.... a little cold. That's all. I got over it.
B'cal: How much augmenting did you do to stay warm?
Wise Snake: As little as I could under the circumstances.
B'cal looking like a drill sargeant.
Wise Snake avoids B'cal's eyes.
Wise Snake: Some.
B'cal: Too much.
B'cal nods.
Wise Snake: I don't know about too much... a Gen stumbled in with me and
I had to keep her warm too.
Alea ~~cofused~~ sees Mostan.
Tarsh: Yes, Alea?
Alea nods to Mostan, embarrassment creeping up.
Alea glances back at tarsh.
Alea: Are you upset at me?
Mostan: Alea? Did you require help?
Alea: You seem distracted.
Tarsh: Yes. She does.
Alea: No...uh...well...yeah.
Tarsh: I was *worried* about you. Bur Briel wouldn't let me come looking.
Alea: Oh.
B'cal: Do you require a shunt?
Wise Snake: I'll let you get your sleep today.. but be ready for a marathon
session tonight... what?
Wise Snake: Ah... [hesitates] ... well, it couldn't hurt.
Wise Snake: [admits]
Alea: I only went out shopping. I apologize that I got delayed.
Mostan comes in and zlins Alea.
B'cal motions for Snake to come in.
Wise Snake enters and closes the door.
Wise Snake takes off her cloak, shaking out the last of the snow hidden in
the folds.
Wise Snake: It's still snowing like crazy out there.
Gerro is now known as Kadi.
Kadi looks up from her spot on B'cal's bed and yawns, showing kitten-fangs.
Wise Snake looks at the cat with displeasure.
Wise Snake: I see. You have one of those.
Alea ~~very low body temperature~~
Kadi kneads the coverlet, and blinks innocent green eyes at Snake.
Alea ~~knees and lower thighs dangerously cold~~
Alea ~~ face and hands chafed, toes and feet numb~~
B'cal: Shenned Cat.
Mostan treis to boost Alea's metabolism. "Tarsh, could you get her some hot
tea?"
B'cal goes over, scoops it up and tosses it out the door.
Tarsh: Sure. [ augments out ]
Kadi: Mrow!
B'cal: Alea's cat.
B'cal moves back over and sits down on the bed.
B'cal: Come here.
Kadi decides to wander off in search of Alea.
Mostan: Talk to me Alea. Are you feeling sleepy? Confused?
Alea: Just tired.
Alea: And numb.
Alea: My legs feel like they're not there.
Alea ~~concerned~~
Alea: Can you ... is the baby okay?
Kadi heads down the stairs.
Mostan: Hmmm.
B'cal shoves up the arms of her jacket and waits for Snake to sit down.
Wise Snake augments to open and close the door for the cat as it flies through
the air.
Wise Snake shakes her head, then goes to the bed.
Wise Snake sits down before B'cal.
Mostan spreads his laterals over Alea's abdomen.
Wise Snake glances up and sees the plaque that says "Honor" on B'cal's wall...
smiles for the first time in a couple of days.
B'cal reaches out ...
Mostan zlins carefully.
Wise Snake takes B'cal's hands.
Kadi stops at the base of the stairs and sniffs.
B'cal: You really should be careful about this augmenting. ANd the first
thing you should have thought about was an internal shunt if you're going
to be out and around, wasting more selyn.
Alea ~~tense~~
Kadi decides it's playtime, and gallumphs down the hall like the half-grown
kitten she is.
Wise Snake: Yes... I know.
B'cal surprised.
B'cal: Oh, well.
B'cal grumbles, nodding.
B'cal leans forward to make fifth contact and let snake do the shunt.
Kadi manages to cross the hall just as Tarsh runs by with the tea, tripping
him.
Mostan: No, its ok. That's the best protected part of the body.
Kadi: Mrooow!
Wise Snake performs the shunt, steals a little bit of extra time, then
reluctantly releases B'cal.
Alea ~~relief~~
Alea lays back.
Tarsh comes in and see Mostan feeling up Alea. ~~ Jealousy ~~
Alea: I'm so glad.
Wise Snake: Ah... thanks.
Tarsh falls over Kadi, spalshing hot tea onto mostan.
B'cal: Would you like some tea, something to eat before you go out?
Mostan: OWWW!! ~~ burn ~~
Alea sits up, startled, reaching out for Mostan in worry.
Alea: What!
Alea glances around
Kadi scampers under the bed, and peers out at Tarsh indignantly.
Wise Snake: That sounds great.
Wise Snake: [truthfully]
Mostan clutches at his leg.
B'cal: I haven't eaten since last night.
B'cal allows her hunger to show.
B'cal: Okay.
B'cal: Let's go.
Wise Snake: You haven't? [reprovingly] Why not?
Wise Snake rises and collects her cloak.
Tarsh gets to his feet. ~~ anger ~~
Alea: Shen, Mostan...
Alea: Tarsh...
Tarsh: Was I... interuppting something?
Kadi decides (perhaps unwisely) that it's safe to come out, and sits down
in the middle of the floor to groom herself.
Alea gapes.
Alea: I'm sorry?
Alea: I know you didn't mean that the way it sounded.
Tarsh: Are you?
Tarsh glares at Mostan suspisciously.
Alea: Am I what?
Alea shocked.
Kadi sees Alea and hops onto the bed.
Alea accepts Kadi, clumsily trying to pet her.
Kadi: Mrow! [purr, purr]
Wise Snake holds the door open for B'cal and then follows her down the stairs.
B'cal leads her toward the cafeteria.
Tarsh: I'd better get more tea. [ turns to go ]
Alea: Tarsh.
Kadi bats at Alea's braid.
Alea getting angry.
Wise Snake: Tarsh sure was relieved to see Alea back. He didn't even notice
I was there.
Tarsh: [ without turning ] 'what'
Alea: Would you mind explaining exactly what you meant by that?
B'cal sneers.
B'cal: I'm not surprised.
Mostan rolls up his pants leg to see his calf.
Kadi decides that Alea's hands are too cold for comfort, squirms free, and
hops off the bed.
Alea grabs at the cat, misses and sighs.
Tarsh: What did *he* have to zlin. There.
Wise Snake sighs.
Alea painfully turns to see if she can help Mostan.
Alea pauses.
Alea: Oh, tarsh.
Kadi decides that Tarsh looks like a better prospect for a warm lap, and
twines herself around his ankles.
B'cal takes her to the cafeteria and pours them some tea.
Kadi: Mroow!
Alea: Tarsh, please come here.
Tarsh kicks to shake off whatever is on his pants cuff.
Wise Snake examines the cafeteria food and thinks it would be a good idea
to try to eat something...
B'cal projects hunger.
Kadi decides that this is fun and grabs hold with teeth and claws.
B'cal is starving.
Tarsh turns and stiffly walks over to the side opposite Mostan.
Alea: Most, will you excuse us for just a moment?
Wise Snake is finally inspired to select an apple and some rolls with jam.
Tarsh starts to fal again at the extra weight.
Alea reaches out for Tarsh.
Tarsh grabs for the edge of the tabnle.
Mostan: [ gritted teeth ] "sure."
Mostan limps out.
Kadi drops her hold, not wanting to be squished, and romps off.
B'cal fills a tray with enough food for two.
B'cal takes it to the table.
Alea: Tarsh, can you please zlin me deeply right there to make sure everything
is okay?
Wise Snake sits beside B'cal.
Alea lays back and waits to see if he will.
Wise Snake sips her tea, enjoying its heat, and munches on some bread.
Tarsh sticks his arms and extends his laterals without touching and zlins.
B'cal eats her soup very very slowly, easing a bowl over toward Snake as
she eats.
Alea watches Tarsh carefully.
Wise Snake looks dreamily out the window and absentmindedly has some of the
soup too.
Tarsh frowns and touches alea's abdomen through her clothes.
Valrie starts awake, heart pounding.
B'cal joy at eating, slips in some extra vegetables.
Alea eyes fill with tears as she waits for him to realize what he's zlinning.
Valrie realizes after a few minutes that it was just another nightmare, and
that this isn't the punishment shed.
Wise Snake notices B'cal is making her eat like a pig and hides the apple
and the other rolls in her cloak pocket.
B'cal smiles smugly as she turns her attention back to her soup.
Valrie decides that she'll sleep better if she's not alone, and slips out
of bed.
Valrie wanders towards the cafeteria, with vague thoughts of getting something
hot to drink.
Mostan limps to anothe treatment room and gets some ointment to put on his
leg.
Valrie pauses at the cafeteria door to see who's around, still shaky from
the nightmare.
Tarsh looks puzzled and pulls Alea's blouse and makes direct lateral-skin
contact.
Tarsh starts to shake. "alea.... you're ...."
Alea nods.
Alea: I was worried the baby might have been injured.
Alea: I asked Mostan to make sure the baby was okay.
Valrie sees two strangers eating, and looks at them forlornly.
B'cal sees Valrie.
B'cal looks at Snake.
Tarsh grabs alea in a crushing hug. "I'm sorry.... i thought..."
B'cal: Can we invite her over? I don't like her standing there.
Alea ~~great relief~~
Alea slips her arms around him.
Alea: It's okay.
Tarsh: Please forgive me.
Alea kisses Tarsh gently.
Alea: There's nothing to forgive.
B'cal: She looks like she's going to fall down.
Alea: I had wanted to wait to tell you later.
Alea: I guess I should have told you before you had to find out this way.
Tarsh: A baby...
Valrie sidles into the room timidly.
Alea: I just thought, well, after transfer would be the best for you.
Alea shrugs sheepishly.
B'cal motions to Valrie forcing a smile to her face.
B'cal: I just hate being so nice[mutters]
Valrie thinks that B'cal looks dangerously formidable, and Snake with her
white eyes looks dangerous period.
Wise Snake examines Valrie curiously.
Wise Snake thinks she zlins familiar for some reason.
Valrie sees B'cal wave and gulps, but is too conditioned to obedience to
even think of disobeying.
Tarsh: I'm sorry, Alea.
Alea: I'm glad now I told you. I have no idea WHAT your reaction would have
been in a week.
Alea chuckles.
Alea: For what?
Tarsh: For thinking that ... that....
B'cal: This is Valrie, a patient here. For some reason, they say last time
she was here she was thinking of becoming a Donor. Now she hates Simes...
Alea ~~hurt~~
Alea: I imagine my field isn't helping matters.
Wise Snake is of the opinion that what Valrie is feeling right at the moment
is not hate.
Alea: Today is the last day I should really see you.
Valrie slips into a chair meekly, then straightens up as the back of the
chair meets her still-bruised back.
Wise Snake: I see. [carefully]
Tarsh: No it isn't. I can zlin that much. But Mostan ... We've had issues
before.
Wise Snake gets up and goes to the counter to get Valrie tea.
Alea looks surprised.
Alea: Oh.
B'cal: Snake, this is Valrie Forrester. Valire, Hajene Snake Farris.
Wise Snake starts to pour trin, then thinks the better of it... for some
reason... and picks something an out-Territory person might like.
Wise Snake returns to the table and sets the tea before Valrie.
Tarsh: Why? Oh. yes. of course.
Wise Snake: Blackberry.
Wise Snake: Pleased to meet you.
Wise Snake sits again beside B'cal.
Valrie: Pleased to meet you, Hajene Snake.
Alea: I just hadn't planned on breaking it this way, now.
Alea sighs.
Tarsh looks down at his arms, and the laterals that extended automatically.
Valrie: Blackberry is my favorite.
Alea forces her field neutral.
Tarsh releases Alea.
Wise Snake zlins for truth, out of habit.
Alea smiles.
Alea: See.
Valrie no longer knows what she likes or dislikes, since her preferences
haven't been important enough for even herself to consider them for some
time.
Tarsh: Thanks. ~~ regret at field loss ~~
Alea: Can you lean over here and let me grab one more kiss before I don't
see you for a week?
Tarsh: You talked me into it.
Tarsh leans over and kisses alea carefully.
Valrie is, however, less pleased than uneasy about Snake's unkempt appearance
and strange eyes.
Alea: I'll see you in a week.
Tarsh: Yeah. I'll want that kiss back then.
Alea: And tarsh?
Wise Snake is turned off by Valrie's reaction to her and looks away, drawing
closer to B'cal.
Tarsh realizes that if Alea is pregnant they'll have to ... refrain.
Tarsh: ~~ disappointment ~~
Alea: You've had the problem with Mostan. Not me. Remember that.
Tarsh: Yes?
B'cal ~~offer support~~
Tarsh: Yes. Of course.
Valrie looks at Snake.
Tarsh: [ sheepish ] I owe him an apology, don't I?
Alea: I don't know what is going on between you two.
Alea: If you think you do, then yeah. He really wasn't doing anything Tarsh.
Alea: Just his job.
Valrie: You know, you look a bit like a ghost picture in a book my sister
Bitsy used to read me.
Alea: Believe me, if he had been doing anything he would have ended up on
the floor from my anger.
Tarsh: I'd better go find him then.
Alea: Yeah.
Alea glad he is going to go talk to Mostan.
Alea disappointed that they won't see each other and really get to talk baout
this for a whole week.
Valrie sips at her tea, a bit embarassed at having spoken out of turn.
Tarsh goes out.
Wise Snake frowns.
Valrie hopes that B'cal won't punish her for such rudeness.
B'cal nods at Bcal.
Wise Snake: Bitsy Forrest? [surprised]
B'cal: ==Valrie==
You are now known as Briel.
Valrie: Yes. She's older than me.
Wise Snake: Ah. No wonder your nager seemed so familiar.
Valrie: What?
Valrie: Do you know Bitsy?
Briel zlins someone in a treatment room nursing a burn...
Briel turns into there.
Briel: Mostan?
Mostan finally gets the ointment completely over the burn, having already
gotten it on losts of other places.
Wise Snake: Oh, yes.
Wise Snake: I know Bitsy.
Briel: What happened to your leg?
Briel goes in zlinning.
Mostan looks up. "Briel. Hi."
Valrie's eyes widen.
Mostan: Hot tea.
Briel: Hot tea? wisesnake has a sip of trin.
Valrie: Did she come to Bender Cove and donate to you?
Briel kneels down to zlin closely.
Wise Snake considers answering yes.
Wise Snake: Not exactly.
Briel projects Gen to help it heal and then looks back up.
Valrie thinks that it would be just like Bitsy to do something outrageous--and
not get caught.
Briel: How did you spill hot tea on that part of your leg.
Mostan: Ahhh... tahnks.
Mostan: Didn't tarsh did.
Kadi pokes her head into the treatment room and meows at Mostan.
Briel: Tarsh did?
Briel ~~confused and just a bit wary~~
Wise Snake: My association with Bitsy is related more to her... terrorist
activities.
Valrie: What?
Briel: What'd he do, throw it at you?
Mostan: Yeah. I was zlinning Alea's baby.
Valrie leans forward, thinking that this sounds like interesting dirt on
Big Sister.
Mostan: He was angry about something, and fell down.
Briel: Fell down.
Kadi saunters into the treatment room.
Briel knows she sounds like a simpleton...
Briel shakes her head.
Kadi goes over to Briel and headstrokes her to mark her as property.
Kadi: Mrow!
Wise Snake: Her terrorist activities... You know, throwing bricks in windows
and beating people up and leaving them for dead in alleys in the name of
Anti-Tectonism.
Briel: The man is a little off at the moment. He's peturbed because I didn't
tell him Alea was missing and was clucking around her like an old hen when
she came up the walkway with snake. I suupose it's not suprising he spilled
tea...or is clumsy.
Briel strokes Kadi absently.
Valrie's eyes widen.
B'cal stays perfectly calm though her nager plainly states
'you-didn't-tell-me-this'
Mostan: That cat was there too. MAybe she can explain. ~~ lame joke ~~
Valrie: I didn't know Bitsy was a real terrorist.
Briel looks down at Kadi.
Wise Snake spreads her hands.
Briel: Can you tell us Kadi what happened? She was there....
Wise Snake: Maybe she isn't anymore. This was a while ago.
Briel suddenly gets a picture and sighs.
Kadi helpfully twines around Briel's ankeles.
Briel: Are you tripping up people again?
Valrie: Oh.
Briel looks up at Mostan.
Valrie: ~~disappointed at the loss of the chance for excitement~~
Valrie: You were working with her?
Valrie thinks perhaps the incident took place before Snake's changeover.
Wise Snake: No! I was trying to stop her from killing my friend.
Wise Snake: ===killing = murdering===
Mostan: That might be why Tarsh fell.
Briel: Kadi you are becoming a problem here.
Briel picks up the cat and looks her in the eyes.
Valrie: Murdering! I don't think---
Valrie reconsiders.
Valrie: Well, maybe she would.
Briel: I might just have to take you out somewhere and toss you away when
Alea isn't around if you don't straighten up.
Kadi looks at Briel with big green eyes, purring innocently.
Briel shakes her head and puts the cat back down, then examins Mostan's leg.
Briel nods.
Briel: It looks like it's healing fine.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry, but your sister almost did. If I hadn't found Linn
in time, Linn would have died.
Mostan: It's hard to see. I got any blisters?
Briel: No.
Briel: Had you not treated it so quickly you would have.
Briel: It's only first degree.
Wise Snake: Linn still carries scars from that beating... and she cannot
go back and be a teacher in Eastcove ever again.
Valrie: Well, even Bitsy must have had a reason...[doubtfully]
Briel: Get your Donor to stick with you for awhile and that should help.
Wise Snake: A person could think of a reason for anything. But common sense
stops most people from murder.
Briel stands and goes to wash up.
Mostan: Yeah, Ok.
Briel dries them and turns.
Briel: I'm off to check Alea. How'd she zlin?
B'cal has to agree with Snake about that.
Mostan: Borderline hypothermia, but no nervous system symptoms. No sign of
frostbite.
Valrie sips her tea, wide-eyed at this exposure to Adult Things.
Briel: Good.
Briel: Okay then...
Briel: Be sure to take care of that leg. Find your Donor.
Wise Snake: Murder lies within the domain of the insane, the fanatical, or
in some cases those driven to self defense...
Briel heads toward the door.
Wise Snake: Your sister was a fanatic.
Valrie: Was?
Wise Snake: I don't know what she is now. I haven't seen her in a month or
two.
Briel goes down the hall to where Alea is.
Valrie: My father said that Bitsy was gone for a while, but he didn't know
where.
Briel decides to sit with Alea for awhile to encourage healing.
Wise Snake: No, he didn't.
Valrie: It was one of the last things he said before he sent me off to the
camp.
You are now known as Clerk.
You are now known as Clerk`
Wise Snake: Oh?
Valrie shudders at the memory of the camp.
Valrie: He told me that at least he had one daughter who wasn't a disgrace...
Wise Snake zlins Valrie's shudder.
Wise Snake: Which daughter was he referring to?
B'cal support.
Valrie: Bitsy. _She_ wasn't running around in Sime Territory, and she'd _never_
donate.
Valrie: So he sent me to camp so I'd be more like her.
Wise Snake: Are you, now?
Valrie starts crying.
B'cal inches closer to Snake, focusing closely.
Valrie: I told them I'd be good, but they put me in the punishment shed anyway.
Wise Snake: What's the punishment shed?
Valrie: They said I'd never be like Bitsy.
Valrie: That's where they put you when you've been bad. It's cold, and there's
no food or water, and the senior staff come to give you your penance.
Wise Snake: Well, I admit being locked up in a small confined uncomfortable
space for a month or two would make you share at least one thing with Bitsy..
but... why? What were they hoping to accomplish?
Valrie: Five hits for not getting all your work done, ten for asking questions,
and twenty if they thought you didn't show the proper respect for authority.
Valrie: They said it was for my own good, to keep me from being so wild.
Valrie's half-healed back throbs with the memory.
Wise Snake wonders if that technique would work on Nick, then discards the
idea as impractical.
Wise Snake: Was your father pleased with the results?
Valrie: I don't know. I haven't seen him since he left me at the camp.
Valrie: They let me out to sell books, because they want to build a new
headquarters.
Wise Snake: Sell books? [thinks this is a new one on her]
Wise Snake: I thought sales was a job that required eagerness.
Valrie: Yes. To spread the word while raising money.
Wise Snake: [skeptical] Really... does it work?
Rhelana is now known as Zel_
Valrie: Well... I didn't sell any my first three days.
Valrie remembers the fifteen "hits" she got for her failure.
Wise Snake: Huh. Doesn't surprised me. Sales is not a job for beaten demoralized
slaves.
Wise Snake: Fish gutting, yes. Sales, no.
Wise Snake: ===surprised = surprise====
You are now known as Jorgre.
Valrie: I thought if I could sell a book here, they couldn't put me in the
shed.
Wise Snake: What kind of books were these?
B'cal sets mode: +o Veraik
B'cal thinks she has a very good idea.
Valrie: They were all about the Tecton. I never did have time to read them,
exactly.
Wise Snake is puzzled.
Valrie: But I thought people here might be more interested than in Eastcove.
Wise Snake: They kept you in a shed and beat you so they could send you out
to sell books about the Tecton? You could get a job as a government clerk
doing the same work for Union pay.
Wise Snake thinks... making the poor girl try to sell books about the Tecton
in Eastcove... these people really were sadists.
B'cal shakes her head disgusted.
Jorgre goes into the lobby with a pile of clipboars.
Zel_ push opens the lobby door, zlinning. [hunting mode]
Jorgre glances up, at the opening door zlinning.
Jorgre: How may we....
Zel_: [not seeing] Zel augments down the hall.
Jorgre augments after Zel flaring Gen enticement.
Valrie: I don't think they were Tecton books.
Zel_ stops, turns.
Wise Snake notes Valrie's tea is empty and takes all three teas to go refill
them.
Jorgre goes forward
Jorgre zlins Zel.
Wise Snake returns, placing them, frowning thoughtfully.
Zel_ augments to the Gen, wrapping tentacles.
Jorgre zlins Zel's immediate need and intertwines laterals.
Zel_: Blood dripping down face, Zel takes fifth.
B'cal: Thank you.
B'cal nods.
Wise Snake sips her tea, saying nothing for a time.
Jorgre gives
Valrie: Hajene Briel says that she won't let them put me in the shed any
more.
Zel_ takes~~~~~kill mode~~~~~~
Jorgre gives enough resistance and ~~bliss~
Valrie thinks Briel is sincere, but doubts her ability to deliver on this
promise.
Zel_: ~~~joy, fullfillment~~~~
Jorgre ~~completion~~
Zel_ finishes and sags, blood dripping down the right dorsal.
Jorgre lifts Zel carrying him to a treatment room, zlinning.
Jorgre: Can you tell me what happened?
Zel_ snivers.
Zel_: ==snivers - shivers===
B'cal: And she won't.
Wise Snake: Well, so long as you stay in Sime Territory, they can't. You're
legally adult here. If they took you back it would be illegal - an abduction.
B'cal doesn' tknow hwy she's sticking up for Briel except that the young
woman looks so lost.
B'cal frowns.
Valrie: You mean the police would stop them?
Zel_ baths in the warmth of a safe nager.
Zel_: Thank you. I didn't think I was going to make it.
B'cal nods thinking and probably every channel in the area if they tried
to take a Gen by force, a Gen who had been beat.
Zel_: I was sure that I was going to kill.
Zel_ is a young, female renSime.
Wise Snake: Yes. The police would stop them.
Wise Snake: And if it happened on the street and you yelled out for help,
people would come running. You're a Gen, not a child.
Jorgre extends his laterals over the head wound waiting for the young renSime
to tell him how she got these injuries.
Zel_: [Whimper] I barely got away.
Valrie can't quite believe that strangers would help where her own family
abandoned her.
Jorgre takes control of the fields and fills it with a soothing workable
ambient.
Jorgre: Yes?
Jorgre encourage.
Zel_: They also got me. I was so stupid. I just wanted to get out of the
snow of a bit but I feel asleep.
B'cal thinks there are too many kidslike this out there, who don't know how
to stand up for themselves.
Jorgre: Who?
Zel_ takes the soothing nager and holds onto it for dear life.
Zel_: When I woke, they were just there.
Jorgre decides he's not going to get anything out of this renSime so he just
works on soothing her.
Jorgre [and healing her]
Kadi wanders down the hall in search of something interesting, and pokes
her head into the treatment room.
Kadi: Mrow!
Zel_: I was so frightened that I augmented to get away.
Wise Snake: Any idea if Briel will let DarronGar go today?
Jorgre frowns at the cat
Wise Snake: [to B'cal]
Kadi wanders into the treatment room, and sits down in the middle of the
floor to groom herself.
B'cal: Of cours she will.
B'cal sneers with that look of "just let anyone try to cross me"
Zel_: Then a little girl ran out into then middle of the road and I had to
augment more to take her from a car's path.
Wise Snake: I'll see you tonight.
Wise Snake rises from her chair.
Kadi looks at Zel hopefully.
Kadi: Mrrrup!
B'cal: You WILL return?
B'cal narrows her eyes.
Wise Snake glances at Valrie again, not quite meeting her eyes.
Veraik: I was so near attrition before and then the little girl's Gen father
came after me with a club so I had to augment again.
Wise Snake: Of course. The only reason I didn't last night is because that
shenned Alea held me asleep for about 6 hours.
Jorgre: I see.
B'cal chuckles.
B'cal: They might be hope for that Donor yet.
Wise Snake: Maybe it was more like 8.
Veraik: ====Zel=== not Veraik===
Wise Snake doesn't like not being sure.
B'cal grins evilly.
Kadi wanders over and rubs against Zel's ankles.
B'cal's smile collapses.
B'cal gapes.
B'cal: You were with ALEA?!
Wise Snake backs off uneasily.
Wise Snake: Well I... yes.
B'cal: Just howt he shenned did you end up with her?
Zel_ sees the cat and picks her up to baury her face into its fur.
B'cal: Oh shen..no, let me guess....
Kadi: Purrrr, purrrr.
B'cal stands placing her hands on her hips.
Wise Snake: She stumbled into the Ferry Building half frozen by blind luck.
B'cal: She was skating..sledding..riding a boat....
B'cal: Luck?
Wise Snake: She was... shopping.
B'cal shakes her head.
B'cal: Shopping.
B'cal: Ah...
Zel_: [Crying into the fur] I didn't think I was going to make it here in
time.
B'cal: Figures.
Jorgre: You did.
Wise Snake: Caught in the snow... must have wandered for quite a while to
have gotten as far as the Ferry Building.
Wise Snake: Frankly it seems a bit too incredible to be true... somehow she
practically stumbled over me.
Kadi stiffens indignantly at being doused with water.
Kadi: Mrrow!
B'cal: Is she trying to tempt you into transfer again?
Kadi wiggles, demanding to be let down.
Zel_ tightens hold on fur and she cries out her post.
Wise Snake: Are you kidding? I'm only 4 days past turnover.
Wise Snake zlins B'cal curiously.
Kadi is no longer purring.
Wise Snake: Are you jealous??
Jorgre moves over and sits down on the bed beside Zel slipping an arm around
her.
Wise Snake: [surprised]
Zel_: I was so scared!!!
B'cal: Yeah well, four days after...and meeting up wtih you like that. Just
wait and see. She keeps stumbling overyou, mark my words, she'll be after
you.
B'cal glowers.
Zel_: Rocks and holds cat.
B'cal: She has this thing about Farrises.
Kadi reaches out a velvat paw and claws Zel on the hand.
Wise Snake: I'm assigned to Simone.
B'cal: Yeah.
B'cal: I know.
B'cal: Does She?
Kadi: Hisssssssst!
Zel_: Oooooooch.
Wise Snake: Anyway, you have nothing to fear in the long term. Alea has no
interest in leaving the Tecton or exerting the self discipline it would take
to keep me pleased with her.
Kadi takes advantage of Zel's discomfort to jump down.
Wise Snake: That other transfer was an accident, nothing more.
Zel_: [Let's go of cat] BAD cat.
B'cal: I don't care about htat. I only care about your next two transfers.
Zel_: [[Crying hard] Even the cat.......
Zel_: [sob]
Wise Snake: I know, B'cal.
B'cal: They are going to be good. Period.
B'cal: You are going to make it through first yeaer if I have to drag you
through it.
Wise Snake: They will.
B'cal: And you are going to live.
Wise Snake: Well. That's encouraging.
B'cal: And be a good ... shendoni good [can't say farris] Channel.
B'cal nods.
Kadi smooths her ruffled fur hastily with her tongue.
Jorgre: Just cry it out.
Jorgre: It'll be okay.
Jorgre keeps his arm around the young renSime.
Wise Snake wonders what the world is coming to when she's soothing Donors.
Wise Snake: I'll see you tonight, B'cal. I promise.
Zel_ sobs in the nice channel's arms then finally is able to come up for
air.
Wise Snake edging toward the door.
B'cal: If you aren't here, I don't care waht Briel says, I'll come looking.
B'cal: Do you understand me?
Wise Snake: Don't do that! I mean, of course I'll be here.
Wise Snake smiles appeasingly.
B'cal: You'd better be.
B'cal smiles a warning smile.
Wise Snake: I will!
B'cal: I don't want you Donorless.
Wise Snake hurries oout.
B'cal watches then turns back to Valrie.
B'cal: Come on, let's get you to bed.
Wise Snake tries to find Briel.
B'cal is now known as Briel.
Briel: Just leaving Alea's room.
Kadi's beauty restored, she leaves the room, tail still twitching with
indignation.
Wise Snake starts with Briel's office.
Valrie allows B'cal to take her back to bed.
Jorgre: Let me help you rest, Zel and warm you up.
Wise Snake goes into the lobby and checks the schedule board to see what
it says for DarronGar.
Zel_ nods and goes with the channel.
Jorgre helps her onto the bed in the infirmary and then takes her and puts
her to sleep.
Zel_ ~~~~Sleep~~~
Briel sees Snake.
Briel: Snake?
Briel comes striding into the lobby.
Briel: Darron should be waiting for you in his office. He had a few more
things to finish before leaving.
Wise Snake: Ah. Good. ~relieved~
Briel nods.
Briel: Down that hall through the double doors.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Briel drops the chart and turns toward the stairs to go change.
Briel: No problem.
Briel: Just keep him from getting lost.
Wise Snake wonders if Briel blames Alea's getting lost on Snake.
Wise Snake: I will.
Briel: YOu know these Donors. Absolutely no sense of direction.
Briel shakes her head disgusted.
Wise Snake: Of course. [surprised at the disgust]
Briel turns and heads up the stairs still feeling angry/disgusted/and guilty
over alea.
Wise Snake leaves the lobby.
Wise Snake collects DarronGar and leaves the building.