Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #129: (1/13/98)
Alea is very pale and sickly as she slips into the cafeteria and gets herself a cup of tea.
Alea takes a sip of the tea and sighs.
Valrie wanders into the cafeteria.
Valrie looks at Alea, eyes wide.
Alea starts to move over to a table and spots Valrie.
Alea: Good morning, Valrie. How are you today?
Valrie: Much better, thank you.
Alea: Would you like something to eat?
Valrie: You don't look good, though. Are you sick/
Alea motions to the food.
Alea smiles feebly.
Alea: Just the baby. I'll be fine after my breakfast.
Alea gathers some toast and fruit as well as some cereal onto her plate.
Valrie sits down beside Alea and piles eggs, cereal, toast, and other goodies onto her plate.
Alea takes another sip of her tea and nibbles on the toast.
Alea: I must say you're looking better physically.
Alea thinks the rest of her doesn't look good, the haunted eyes, stress on her face, and undernoushied look about her.
Alea sets mode: +o Tramila
Nick is sitting in the living room, morosely doodling on a piece of scrap paper as he tries to procrastinate and not get Linn's groceries.
Valrie: I am, thank you.
Alea tentatively takes a bite of toast.
Alea: So, tell me Valrie, what do you plan to do now ... now that you're here?
Veraik goes to Briel's door and signals.
Nick thinks about what Linn told him about her encounter with Snake the previous day, and his pencil automatically scribbles an equation.
Briel glances up, zlinning.
Briel: Come!
Veraik walks in. Do you have a moment?
Valrie is shoveling in the food as if there were no tomorrow.
Briel sets aside her stylus and crosses her hands, smiling.
Briel: Of course I do.
Briel: How may I help you?
Valrie swallows hastily.
Valrie: I don't really know.
Valrie: I can't go home.
Alea: Of course you can't.
Alea looks outraged at such a thought.
Nick reaches the end of the equation, then takes a closer look.
Alea: You'll stay right here with us until we help you find a job.
Nick: No, that can't be right.
Alea: I just wondered if you might have any idea what type of work you would want to do.
Veraik: I think we should do some coordination. I assigned Tramila to Alea and yet Alea told me that you had already made that assignment.
Arcadia enters the lobby of the Sime Center.
Arcadia gives her papers to the clerk and is asked to wait in the lobby until somebody is available to greet her.
Nick tries again, this time paying closer attention, and gets the same answer.
Briel: Are you telling me you want to do the transfer schedules?
Arcadia sits down and, after making sure nobody is looking, slips a book out of her bag.
Nick: It couldn't be, unless....
Alea studies Valrie closely, wondering ... waiting to see what Valrie says.
Arcadia reads the book, becoming very engrossed... excited smile on her face.
Veraik: No. only that we should both know who is being assigned.
Valrie: I don't really know how to do anything. Except sell anti-Tecton books, and I wasn't very good at that.
Alea: I see.
Alea takes a bit of her fruit, smiling as she realizes her stomach, as predicted, is settling down.
Nick thinks it over, and begins swearing.
Tramila goes to the lobby and picks up the next folder. "Arcadia?"
Alea: Actually, Valrie, there's something you would be very good at, and could get paid for as well.
Arcadia doesn't notice her name being called at first.
Nick jumps up, grabs his coat, and is out the door before it's fully buttoned.
Briel: Then you want me to send copies of the transfer schedules to you? After I'm done with them?
Valrie: There is?
Tramila approaches the Gen. "Are you Arcadia?"
Alea: We gave you papers before on becoming a Donor. Have you considered coming to work for the Tecton, working with a channel?
Arcadia jumps wildly, dropping the book.
Arcadia: Oh! [laughs sheepishly] Yes, that's me.
Arcadia tries not to look at the book, which has landed face up: "The Ravishment of Launaleia"
Veraik: Briel. This is not a contest. I just want to make sure that I know who is being assigned to whom.
Briel stiffens.
Briel: I didn't say it was a contest, Veraik.
Nick plows through the snowdrifts, until he reaches the main street down the hill, which has been trampled enough to be easier going.
Briel: I simply asked if you wanted copies sent to your office.
Tramila smiles. "Good book?"
Arcadia blushes bright red.
Arcadia: Well it's... not for everybody, but...
Arcadia shamefacedly retrieves the book and tucks it into her bag.
Valrie: I never did get a chance to read them. My father took them away from me.
Alea nods.
Nick heads towards Dockside.
Alea: Well, a Donor's job can be a wonderful job. Not everyone can qualify, you know. It takes someone special, someone with all the right things going for her--like you, for instance.
Valrie: Me?
Alea: Yes you.
Tramila smiles. "Please step this way then."
Arcadia picks up her bags and follows Tramila, relieved the channel didn't give her a hard time.
Alea: Not every Gen can become a Donor.
Veraik: [frustrated] Sure. Send the copies.
Briel: Veraik, please sit down and tell me what's the matter.
Nick pauses at a vantage point, wondering where Snake could be holed up, then smiles as he sees a faint wisp of smoke rising from the long-abandoned Ferry Building.
Veraik goes to the door.
Alea: Some Gens are afraid of Simes. Others just don't have the selyn it takes.
Valrie: Tramila told me that. But she didn't say what a Donor actually did.
Veraik stops. "Nothing, Briel. You are past turnover and your usual self. Let's leave it at that."
Briel: Would explain that please.
Briel ~~building anger~~
Alea: Oh, my. Well, I'm a Donor, as a matter of fact.
Briel: ~~anger~~
Alea: Donors have a very responsible job.
Nick skids downhill at the most brisk pace conducive to maintaining a reasonable chance of arriving at the bottom in one piece and on his feet.
Tramila shows her the door then sits behind the desks to make notations while she studies the chart.
Alea: Without us, well, the Simes just couldn't make it in this world.
Tramila: [pencil poised] Have you had any illness since your last donation?
Valrie is hanging on Alea's words.
Nick sees the fresh, weasel-sized bootprints going up to a boarded window, and nods in satisfaction.
Arcadia confused "Donation?"
Alea: You see, we're a the giver of selyn for them. We're also their protectors in many ways. We work with them, are the ones who keep them healthy by making sure they eat and sleep. Why, you could say, without us, the channels couldn't even function.
Veraik: [At the door] Would you like me to send a Donor to you, Briel. You should have help handling that angry.
Briel: I had no anger problems, Veraik, until you started accusing me of running a contest with you.
Briel: No, I simply want to know what's going on here?
Briel: And I don't require a Donor at the moment.[snapping]
Alea: Yes, a Donor's job is very very important to the Tecton.
Veraik: [looks at the Channel] nothing. Forget I came here.
Briel: Shendoni Veraik!~
Briel: Don't you leave here like this.
Briel: Get in here and tell me what the shenned is going on? What's bugging you?
Valrie: I had no idea.
Nick carefully schools his nager, then follows the tracks to the window, removes the board, which is no longer nailed to the frame, and slips into the building with somewhat less than Sime grace.
Alea smiles.
Nick replaces the board.
Nick: Snake?
Alea: I can give you some more literature to read while you're here.
Veraik frowns and leav----- "What is your problem, Briel? I only asked a question and you returned it with your usual past-turnover anger. I'll talk to you about it in two weeks."
Alea: It might be something to consider.
Briel glares.
Briel: Unfortunately, Veraik. Business doesn't wait for two weeks.
Briel: Now, did you want to talk about business or not?
Tramila: [pencil poised] Have you had any illness since your last TRANSFER?"
Valrie: Do you really think I could do it? And if I did, could I stay here?
Alea: Of course you could.
Alea: If I remember right, the chart said something about considering qualifying you next time you came in. And that you have 3rd or 2nd order potential.
Veraik: Forget Briel. you are doing a wonderful job. [Augments out the door]
Nick sees no one in the cavernous lower floor, but sees a staircase leading up to the second floor offices.
Alea: I'm sure Hajene Veraik or Briel could pull some strings and keep you here.
Briel yells.
Briel stands up and paces to the window.
Valrie: I'd like that.
Briel: Why does that man do that to me?
Briel: Come in, accuse me of running a contest and then twist it on my need condition that I'm acting irrational!
Arcadia: Nope.
Alea finishes her fruit and pushes the bowl away and takes a couple of bites of her cereal.
Nick goes up the stairs and starts trying doors.
Alea pushes the bowl away.
Alea: We'll get you some pamphlets then and get you started reading. How's that?
Wise Snake hears something poking around on the 2nd floor but can't zlin through the stone walls.
Wise Snake sighs and goes down to investigate.
Wise Snake is carrying a sizable stick in case it's the cat again and she has to scare it off from a distance.
Valrie is suddenly struck by the fact that a person with such an important job is taking the time to talk with her.
Alea nods.
Alea: Let me get you that literature then.
Nick sees Snake in the dim light from the remaining, dirty windows.
Nick: Snake!
Alea: Would you like to wait here or walk up front with me?
Tramila: Good. [pencils something in.] Who was your last transfer partner?
Nick: ~~relief, greeting, and an underlying urgency, all carefully controlled to a comfortable "volume"~~
Wise Snake stops.
Alea: Or maybe you'd like to go lay down?
Wise Snake: Nick.
Alea: And let me bring it to you?
Alea eyes Valrie with concern.
Wise Snake wary.
Nick smiles crookedly.
Briel decides to go find a Donor and latch onto them for the rest of the day.
Nick: Linn was right. You look terrible.
Valrie considers.
Valrie: I'd like that. I'm still tired.
Wise Snake scratches her head, tries to evaluate it as an opening, gives up.
Wise Snake: I see.
Alea: Okay, then. I'll go get the literature and get right back to you.
Wise Snake notes she is still carrying the large stick and puts it aside carefully.
Nick notices that he's shivering.
Nick: Snake, is there someplace a bit warmer we could talk?
Valrie: Thanks, Sosu Alea.
Alea: Of course, Valrie. Anytime.
Wise Snake hesitates.
Valrie goes back to her room in the infirmary, looking slightly less lost.
Wise Snake: Upstairs... it's not that much warmer.
Alea smiles, feeling much better, she goes out the door and down the hall.
Nick follows Snake up the stairs.
Alea is almost to the lobby when she spots Veraik, looking in a rather bad mood.
Alea: Hajene Veraik! Good morning!
Wise Snake leads Nick to the small office suite she has taken over, where the fireplace in the main room has made the temperature somewhat more bearable.
Veraik stops. "Hello Alea."
Alea ~~support~~
Alea: How are you doing today?
Arcadia: That was Hajene Genthum back in Ard City. My last Center.
Nick isn't quite sure how to start, now that he's found Snake.
Veraik: Not bad and you. [looks pointedly at her]
Alea smiles.
Alea: I'm doing great.
Alea: It looks like we might have a new Donor in our midst.
Wise Snake indicates an old, wheeled office chair made into a blanket-nest.
Alea grins.
Wise Snake: Have a seat, if you want.
Nick: Thank you.
Wise Snake: [the chair is in front of a fine old desk with Snake's papers all over it]
Wise Snake puts more ferry schedules on the fire.
Nick sits down in the chair, and looks around for inspiration.
Nick's eyes light on a book.
Wise Snake makes a mental note to check the chimney sometime soon... when there are no Gens over.
Tramila: Well now. Let's see. Why don't you wait right here and I'll get the transfer schedule. You ARE here for transfer, aren't you?
Veraik: Oh really? Who?
Alea: Valrie Forrest.
Alea: The beating victim that came in selling literature?
Arcadia: I thought I was assigned here. [starting to wonder]
Alea waits to see if the name registers with Veraik.
Veraik: Alea? You are not pushing her, are you?
Nick pulls out Linn's grocery list, puts it carefully between the pages of the book halfway through, and hands it to Snake.
Alea: Now why do you say that?
Nick: Snake, can you read me that paper? wisesnake looks at Nick like he's lost his mind.
Nick: Humor me. It's important.
Wise Snake: While it's inside the book ?
Wise Snake's laterals lick out.
Nick: Yes. Can you read it by zlinning?
Wise Snake wonder what Nick is getting at.
Wise Snake zlins the piece of paper.
Wise Snake: "Cinnamon... corn starch.. toilet paper.. one box of.. one box of... I can't read that next word... what is this all about??"
Wise Snake: You came all the way up here to read your grocery list?
Nick: ~~relief, contrition, and the sort of shakes one gets when disaster has narrowly been escaped--again, carefully muted~~
Wise Snake zlins Nick's reaction and is seriously confused.
Wise Snake removes the page and studies both sides.
Wise Snake: Oh. One box of feminine products.
Nick: It's true, then. Shen, no wonder you were so upset. That must have felt like you were being trampled.
Alea: Well?[looks at Veraik]
Wise Snake looks at Nick oddly.
Nick: I'm sorry. I didn't know.
Wise Snake: Well, it wasn't pleasant...
Tramila: Veraik? [nods to Alea] Do you know anything about a new 2nd? I have one sitting in my office right now.
Wise Snake hands him back the shopping list, and sets the book ["Plumbing for the Complete Idiot"] aside.
Wise Snake: I see.
Veraik: Because...[sees Tramila] [anger] "No you will have to ask Briel for that information."
Nick: Snake, why didn't you tell me that your sensitivity had increased? By about fifteen percent, I guess, since your transfer with B'cal?
Tramila: Oh? [looks at Alea]
Veraik sets mode: +o Tarsh
Alea: What?
Alea looks from Veraik to Tramila.
Tramila goes to Briel's office.
Briel sets mode: +o Mostan
Wise Snake: I'm still in First Year, Nick. My sensitivity and capacity will be growing quickly for another month and a half or so.
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: Fine, Veraik.
Alea: If you'll excuse me.
Veraik walks away without a word.
Alea thinks Veraik's brain is still on vacation in Liorie.
Alea heads on to the lobby.
Tramila signals at Briel's door.
Briel zlins.
Nick: It shouldn't have jumped so much, not this late in First Year. No wonder you burned B'cal so badly.
Briel: Come!
Tramila: Briel? Do you know anything about a 2nd arriving at the Center.
Briel decides she's not going to get any work done today, nor be able to find the Donor if she can't escape from this office for a bit.
Briel: Yes.
Tramila: I have one in my office. Would you like to meet her?
Wise Snake shrugs nervously.
Nick: You're going to be a match for Muryin Farris herself before you're through.
Nick: ~~pride~~
Briel: No.
Wise Snake: Give me a break, Nick. Is this your idea of flattery?
Briel: You handle it.
Briel: You're a Farris.
Wise Snake flattered despite thinking he's full of it.
Alea goes into the lobby and opens the storage closet.
Alea goes into the closet and rummages around for the paperwork she is looking for.
Arcadia, left alone to her own devices, pulls out a different book and begins reading avidly.
Arcadia: [this one is "Ambient Lust"]
Nick thinks through the implications.
Alea starts singing as she looks through the files.
Nick: No wonder you were so irritable after your transfer. I thought it was just that you were worried about B'cal.
Tramila: A bit stressed, Briel. You should get a Donor to help you.
Briel glares at Tramila.
Briel: I am going to FIND me one if I can ever make it OUT OF THIS OFFICE.
Arcadia moistens her lips, eyes shining, as she reads.
Briel: Now, why can't you handle Ardcdia?
Wise Snake becoming a bit irritable now.
Wise Snake: Nick... really...
Wise Snake: Flattery is all well and good, but...
Tramila: Briel. Veraik told me that you had the paperwork including her dormitory assignment.
Briel: Well, he was wrong.
Briel: The desk clerk has the file.
Briel: Why would I keep her files in here?
Nick: Snake, I'm serious.
Briel: My office has enough paperwork.
Arcadia breathes hard, turns a page, then another.
Briel rubs at her neck.
Arcadia: Oh...yeah.
Tramila: Touchy. All right. I'll go there.
Briel stiffens at the word 'touchy'
Nick: Remember when you first worked on control with me? wisesnake looks curiously at Nick.
Wise Snake: Of course.
Briel: You know, Tramila...perhaps I ought to handle her after all if you can't stand someone being touchy.
Arcadia gets off the chair and lies down on the transfer couch instead, without missing a word.
Arcadia: This is... oh... wow... oh yeah.
Nick: It took me a week to get it right: Enough to shield you, but not so much that I zlinned "dead".
Alea finds all the pamphlets she wanted and leaves the storage room, humming now.
Nick: It was longer before I could do it consistently.
Wise Snake thinks it was more like 4 weeks, but doesn't belabor the point.
Wise Snake: Ah. True.
Briel heads for the door.
Tramila: Forget it. Just find a Donor, Briel. [turns to leave} and quickly.
Briel goes out the door with Tramila.
Tramila goes to the lobby to pick up the files.
Arcadia moans.
Arcadia turns the pages quickly.
Alea: Hello Tramila.
Alea nods as she passes Tramila.
Nick: Snake, I wasn't doing anything differently three days ago than I was doing then. Neither was B'cal, I suspect. That was the problem.
Alea goes back to singing, ignoring the thunderous look on Briel's face as she follows Tramila.
Wise Snake: You're saying that your and B'cal's problem was all my fault for being too sensitive?
Tramila: She gets the papers then turns to the room.. "Alea." then passes on until she gets just outside the door, hearing the moans.
Arcadia gets to the best part.
Arcadia stiffens.
Alea goes on down the hall, humming again.
Arcadia flips the book around and grips it hard, staring at the picture on the front:
Briel stops by Tramila, zlins, listens and shakes her head in disgust.
Tramila: Alarmed! "Acardia?"
Nick: No, it was my fault for not _thinking_ what that transfer would have done to you.
Briel: She's all yours Tramila.
Arcadia: [a gorgeous male Sime bent over a swooning, huge-breasted Gen woman in a deep-cleft gown]
Arcadia: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....!!!.........................uh!
Briel turns back to her office.
Arcadia: I mean... Yes? [panting]
Arcadia jumps off the couch and stuffs the book back in her bag.
Arcadia sits on the chair again, schooling her nager.
Tramila: [steps into room] Are you all ri...? [puzzled]
Arcadia smiles weakly.
Arcadia: Hi!
Nick: You kept telling me that I was losing control, and I kept giving you the level of control which worked fine before...and driving you nuts with it.
Wise Snake likes the idea of having a legitimate reason to be crazy.
Wise Snake: Oh...?
Nick: I should have figured it out a week before.
Wise Snake: Well... I... I'm glad you're having these ideas, Nick. wisesnake still wonders if this is some outrageous form of flattery... zlins him for sincerity.
Nick: ~~absolutely, positively, 100% sincere~~
Wise Snake: Huh.
Mostan is reading a letter.
Mostan's tea cools to room temperature on the cafeteria table forgotten.
Wise Snake looks around, not knowing what to say.
Alea goes into the cafeteria looking for Valrie to give her the pamphlets and sees Mostan.
Wise Snake: Why did you come here?
Alea remembers things from the other day and decides to go see how he's doing.
Alea moves over to the table.
Alea: Good morning, Mostan.
Mostan looks up. "Morning Alea."
Mostan hastily folds up the letter.
Alea: Everything okay?
Alea ~~concerned~~
Mostan: Yes, of course. Why do you ask?
Alea nods, pamphlets still held in her hands, staring down at Mostan.
Alea: I was worried. About your, leg.
Alea: I had wondered if it had healed up properly.
Mostan: My leg? [ looks down at the unburned one, then back at the other ] Oh. It's much better, thanks.
Alea: I'm glad to hear that.
Alea motions to the letter.
Alea: News from home?
Nick: Snake, I was wrong. My control really was off from what you required, and I didn't understand why.
Mostan: Sort of.
Alea: Ah.
Alea nods.
Alea: I was just looking for Valrie. It looks like she's gone back to bed though.
Nick: B'cal is right. I'm not a good enough Donor for you yet. I don't know if I ever will be. But I'd like another chance to try.
Mostan: Valrie? The abused gen?
Wise Snake massages her forehead.
Alea leans against the edge of the table and nods.
Alea: Yes.
Alea: We were talking earlier, about her becoming a Donor.
Nick's nager slips into a gentle support mode, easing the incipient headache.
Mostan: She have potential? She's from out-t, right?
Alea: It says in her chart they were considering qualifying her. She was sent home with pamphlets last time she was here.
Wise Snake: Nick... it probably... all seems very clear to you right now.
Alea: She said her father confiscated them before she read them.
Mostan: What happened then?
Alea slips the pamphlets into her skirt pocket and sighs.
Alea: I'm afraid those pamphlets may have been what caused her father to send her off to that camp where she was so abused.
Wise Snake sighs.
Mostan: Oh dear.
Wise Snake: I don't know... why did you disobey me?
Alea: Yeah.
Alea sighs again.
Alea: Mind if I join you?
Alea motions to the chair at the table.
Nick: I was angry--and I didn't understand what you were asking, or why.
Wise Snake: Do you think it is okay to disobey me because you are angry?
Nick smiles wryly.
Mostan looks uncertain. "yeah, sure."
Mostan glances around.
Alea looks oddly.
Alea: Perhaps I shouldn't, Mostan.
Alea turns to leave then pauses.
Mostan: ~~ relief ~~
Alea: I'd like to apologize for the other day, by the way.
Wise Snake studies Nick intensely.
Mostan: Apologize for what?
Tramila: That must have been some book, Acadia. [fingers black Farris braid.]
Alea: When I asked you to leave the room. I know you were in a lot of pain ...
Alea shrugs.
Arcadia: Uh... [blushes]
Mostan sets mode: +o Arcadia
Arcadia: I'm terribly sorry, Hajene. I...
Alea: I had wanted to help you with your leg.
Alea: I'm glad you found someone else to help.
Arcadia realizes working around Firsts is going to be more perilous than she'd originally feared.
Mostan shrugs "I'll live."
Mostan: Brief gave me a tentacle with it.
Alea: Oh? Good.
Alea: Mostan?
Tramila: I don't care WHAT you read Arcadia, as long as it is in a private place. This hardly qualifies as private."
Nick: I can't promise never to get angry again. But I can promise that next time, I'll follow your orders first, as well as I can, and ask questions later if I still can't understand.
Alea concern on her face.
Mostan: Yes?
Arcadia grins in an attempt to appease Tramila.
Alea: Have I done something to upset you?
Arcadia: I'm sorry. [repeats]
Tramila slaps the file on the desk. "It took some doing, but I found all your paperwork."
Arcadia: ~~contrite nager covering satiated guilty/pleasure core~~
Arcadia: Oh... that's good.
Tramila: [slides key over] "Forget it. I have. But just remember that I am not the only First here and I am not the only Farris either."
Arcadia picks up the key.
Tramila: [The number to your room is on the key.
Arcadia considers what might happen if she "indulged" where a First could zlin, and her eyebrows twitch upward.
Tramila: Get settled in then report to Controller Veraik for your assignment.
Wise Snake: What about this deal where keeping B'cal away from you and out of your apartment was just "a start"?
Mostan glances around. "No, No you haven't."
Wise Snake: [suspiciously]
Alea ~~perplexed~~
Arcadia: Okay. Thank you.
Arcadia picks up her bags.
Arcadia: Sorry about... er....
Alea: Then will you tell me why you're acting like I'm about to cut your liver out with a spoon? ANd why you keep looking around like you're sure I'm not the only one?
Tramila: [waves tentacle] Just be more careful.
Mostan: Just worried about Tarsh.
Alea ~~confused~~
Alea: What about Tarsh?
Arcadia: Yes, Hajene. [leaves]
Mostan: If he zlins us talking, he might get the wrong idea, ok?
Arcadia asks after the location of the employee housing, then climbs up the stairs and finds her room by comparing room numbers to the one on the key.
Alea nager goes flat.
Alea: I see.
Alea: Well, then, excuse me, Mostan. I certainly wouldn't want that to happen.
Arcadia closes the door and locks it, then falls down on the bed with a sigh.
Alea ~~angry/hurt~~
Arcadia: Oh, that was soooooooooooo embarrassing. [to the empty air]
Arcadia: I can't believe what I... [sighs again]
Arcadia: It must be nerves.
Alea turns back toward the cafeteria door, figuring it's just best to leave.
Arcadia: That's it.. a new Center... it's just nerves.
Tramila is now known as Rhelana.
Arcadia: Well, I'd better get unpacked and go downstairs before they wonder what's keeping me.. don't want to get in trouble a second time.
Arcadia gets up and opens her bags.
Alea goes down the hall.
Arcadia gets out six Tecton uniforms (like the one she is wearing) and puts them in a drawer.
Nick: Snake, if this is going to have a chance of succeeding, we're going to have to find a way to take care of this kind of difficulty in the future, preferably before the situation gets critical. I probably shouldn't have started to bring it u.
Nick: P when I was angry, but there hasn't been a huge amount of opportunity for private conversation, lately.
Wise Snake: Perhaps if you simply asked to speak privately?
Alea wonders if her luck is always going to play out this way. She thinks she finds a new friend and then the friendship ends.
Wise Snake is becoming extremely irritated by Nick's constant arrangement of things to appear to be her fault... "not telling him" she'd increased in sensitivity, not giving him the "opportunity for private conversation" etc...
Wise Snake thinks it's a sign of the new Nick.. the one she can't imagine entrusting herself to in the same way again.
Rhelana pays off the donor then looks around for the very cute CFO, Tarsh.
Arcadia puts a small personal kit in the bathroom.
Arcadia dumps 156 paperback books out of the other bags.
Arcadia puts them on some shelves.
Rhelana sighs, wishing she could simply go looking for him.
Alea goes down the hall into the lobby.
Arcadia is almost ready to leave when she spots one book that fell almost under the bed.
Arcadia picks it up...
Arcadia: Oh, this is one of my favorites!
Nick smiles, and his nager shimmers with an echo of his previous joy in working with her, before the winter cold and 12-hour shifts took their toll.
Alea stops at the desk and looks through the charts, pulls the paperwork from certain ones and reads over the reports.
Arcadia: [the cover shows a long-haired, bare muscular-chested fellow in a open white shirt, holding a lush-figured blonde in a ripped red dress on his arm... they are on the windswept deck of a wave-tossed ship.
Arcadia: ]
Arcadia: [the title reads: Salt Spray Rapture"]
Nick: I feel like I did when Linn showed me that shortcut in calculating deprodas. How could I have over looked something so simple?
Wise Snake stares at Nick in confusion.
Wise Snake zlins Nick for sincerity.
Wise Snake: You can't be telling me it didn't OCCUR to you to ask?
Arcadia smiles and sinks down on the bed.
Nick: ~~embarassment~~
Alea goes to the filing cabinet and morosely looks through the files until she finds what she wants, and then heads to her office, no longer singing or humming.
Nick: I'm afraid it didn't. I felt I should be able to handle thinks myself, until there was time.
Wise Snake frowns.
Nick: But then, my mother used to say that there's never time until you make it.
Wise Snake is feeling better with Nick's field there.
Avaleia walks up the front steps of the Sime Center and enters the lobby.
Avaleia is a small, harmless looking Gen woman carrying a large book.
Lowren carefully pulls the razor along his jawline.
Barak Drak is in the barn tending to the animals.
Avaleia sees nobody in the lobby and walks through it, with small steps, hugging the book to her chest.
Alea realizes she has a wrong file and turns to go back out to rectify the situation.
Avaleia sees an office door ajar and leans carefully to look.
Alea eyes widen in shock.
Avaleia looks at Alea.
Alea: You!
Avaleia looks over her shoulder to see who Alea is talking about.
Alea looks around deciding to go find Veraik to help this woman.
Nick can feel how ragged Snake's field is, and wants to help, but waits for her to decide whether she's willing to work with him.
Tarsh is now known as Tamlen.
Tamlen comes into the lobby from the street.
Alea: What are you doing here?
Alea moves toward the door, trying to ease past Avaleia.
Avaleia: I'm here to talk about the new love.
Alea groans.
Avaleia: The new oneness that will make the world of love and freedom come to us.
Avaleia hesitates at Alea's reaction.
Alea: I'll just uh...go to find some help...
Tamlen comes towards them. "Good Morning."
Alea looks over and sees Tamlen and groans silently.
Wise Snake: Nick... look... I'll think about it.
Avaleia turns as Tamlen approaches.
Alea: Hi Tamlen.
Alea smiles.
Avaleia looks at Tamlen's arms.
Avaleia smiles tentatively at Tamlen.
Avaleia: Hello... I'm here to talk about the new love.
Alea: Uh, could you perhaps entertain this young woman while I...go for um...something.
Veraik walks down the hall and sees Alea and Tamlen with another Gen woman.
Tamlen: Certainly.
Alea think shen..almost made it to find security before a Sime showed up.
Alea grabs Avaleia's arm.
Avaleia sees Veraik and stiffens.
Alea: Why don't we just go this way.....
Tamlen smiles at Avaliea. "I'm Tamlen Bobers."
Avaleia grips the book with suddenly clenched hands.
Veraik zlins Alea. "Is there a problem?
Avaleia: D--- d---- d--
Alea looks at Tamlen.
Tamlen offers his hand.
Alea: Remember Lanyi and Jirelle?
Avaleia: DEMON SPAWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [shreiks]
Alea ~~too late~~
Avaleia hurls the book wildly at Veraik then lunges at him, fingers clawed.
Avaleia: DIE!!!!!!!! DIE!!!!!!!!!!!! DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alea holds onto Avaleia not letting go, stumbling along with her.
Avaleia's fingernails are one inch long.
Tamlen charges after Avaleia.
Nick nods sadly.
Veraik bats the books away then takes the woman is a strong transfer grip in order to control her.
Wise Snake: Maybe a... a test... a day or two over time...
Veraik: Alea? Tamlen. What is going on?
Alea let's go, jumping back.
Avaleia tries to grab Veraik's nodes.
Alea: The woman who tried to murder Jirelle and Lanyi, and Tarsh...
Veraik releases and augments back.
Alea: This is her.
Tamlen: ~~ !! ~~
Avaleia: AHIIIIIIIi!!!!!!!!!
Tamlen grabs for Avaleia.
Alea grabs at Avaleia.
Avaleia knees Tamlen solidly
Veraik takes her again, this time getting a grip which will not expose his nodes.
Tamlen: OOOFFFF!!
Avaleia claws at Alea like a wildcat.
Avaleia: Die you Sleeper with Demons!
Tamlen doubles up and sags against the wall.
Alea sucks in a sharp breath of pain.
Avaleia struggles against Veraik.
Nick: That's more than fair.
Avaleia: ~~~ Nager shoots lightning bolts of hate~~~~
Veraik tightens his grip.
Avaleia: I hate you!!! I hate you!!!!!!!!! Dieeeeeeiiii!!!!
Alea moves up to support Veraik.
Alea looks over at Tamlen and winces.
Veraik sucks in breath then adjusts his nager to block.
Avaleia uses Veraik's grip to jerk herself close; tries to bite Veraik's forearm.
Veraik: ALEA!
Alea: Yes?
Alea focusing attention on Veraik.
Avaleia: ~~~nager screams like a hundred demented baboons on broken glass~~~~
Veraik staggers.
Nick's nager shifts, subtly offering.
Avaleia kicks savagely at Alea.
Tamlen lurches over to bump up against Avaliea hard.
Avaleia smashes her head backward trying to get Tamlen in the face.
Nick: Would you like some help with that headache?
Alea looks around for something to hit the woman over the head with...and cries out in pain at the kick
Veraik using a tentacle to kept her head still.
Alea grabs her knee gasping.
Lowren finishes shaving and wipes his face off.
Wise Snake grimaces.
Alea growls and makes a grab at the woman's legs, wrapping her arms around them tightly.
Avaleia realizing one of her arms is free punches Alea in the nose.
Alea falls back, grabbing her face.
Veraik starts to drag the Gen towards the closet where he are lock her up.
Veraik grabs at the free hand with a tentacle and holds it.
Avaleia: ~~~nager is a cacophonous mess of psychotic jets of light and jangling wailing~~~
Alea moans.
Avaleia knees Veraik in the nuts.
Veraik's knees collapses then he falls.
Wise Snake: All right.
Alea Forces herself up and leaps toward Avaleia again.
Avaleia kicks Veraik in the head.
Nick smiles and moves closer to Snake, letting his nager link fully with hers.
Avaleia whirls to face Alea.
Alea grabs up the book of Avaliea's and slams it against Avaliea.
Veraik groans.
Alea wipes her bloody nose against her shirt sleeve, wondering where the shenned help is when you require it.
Avaleia: You're next, you little booAOUCHHH!
Avaleia: ~~rage~~~
Avaleia: [book slams off her head leaving her twice as mad]
Veraik grabs at Avaleia's leg and trips her.
Avaleia leaps at Alea, tries to strangle her.... instead grabs her neck and yanks Alea suddenly to the floor as Veraik trips her.
Alea ~~pain~~
Avaleia: AAAIiii!!!! YOu're all Demons!!!!
Alea reaches for Avaleia's neck to cut off her oxygen supply.
Avaleia jams Veraik's hand with her other foot.
Avaleia and Alea try mightily to strangle one another.
Avaleia seems to possess the strength of ten Gens.
Alea tries to break Avaleia's hold as she starts seeing black spots.
Veraik pulls back.
Alea gouges at Avaleia's eyes, praying Veraik is hypo.
Avaleia uses the opportunity to gasp for air, while still squeezing the Demon Lover's neck.
Veraik goes for her head, tentacles whipping out in the last second to touch the pressure points on her forehead to put her to sleep.
Avaleia: OUUUUUUuuuuuu!!!! [eyes in agony]
Alea passes out.
Avaleia is put to sleep by some mysterious magical means.
Veraik crawls to Alea, taking her in transfer grip and making lateral contact.
Veraik zlins her and focuses on getting the blood to move through his arteries.
Briel comes augmenting down the hall.
Briel: What the shenned.....
Veraik projects need. [{looks up to see Tamlen laying close by]
Briel from Veraik, to Alea to Tamlen to.....
Briel: Avaleia!
Briel shudders and hurries forward to Tamlen.
Veraik: Briel! See to Tamlen but first call the guards to carry this Gen away and lock her up.
Briel snatches up the phone and has guards sent for.
Briel moves over and slips off Alea's black braid and binds Aveleia's arms with it.
Briel moves to Tamlen and zlins him.
Lowren tries to get to his feet.
Veraik: [almost a cry] Alea! zlins the baby having trouble.
Lowren: == Tamlen ==
Lowren is now known as Tamlen.
Briel slips an arm around Tamlen.
Veraik works on getting the blood to flow to the baby.
Briel: Shen, Tamlen.
Tamlen: ~~ bad blows to head and groin ~~
Briel: Just sit here.
Briel: Let me zlin you.
Veraik: Finally, the fetus settles down to stability.
Avaleia mutters feverishly in nightmarish, unnatural sleep, but seems to have been rendered harmless.
Tamlen sits back down.
Briel takes Tamlen in transfer grip and deep zlins him.
Veraik: Alea?
Veraik: [Shen. And just when I told myself that I didn't care]
Alea groans raspy, blinking, slowly opening her eyes.
Briel releases Tamlen.
Briel projects her need to stimulate Tamlen toward healing.
Briel: Want to tell me what happened?
Briel extends her laterals over the injury to Tamlen's head.
Veraik: Alea. [uses tentacle to brush hair off face]
Briel thinks as if she can't guess.
Veraik: ~~~need~~~
Briel: She's getting a little more accurate with her aim, though.
Alea looks up, sees Veraik.
Alea: Shen...
Alea reaches for her neck, feeling like it's on fire when she talks or breathes.
Wise Snake is now known as Arcadia`
Veraik smiles. "You're going to be all right and so is the baby."
Arcadia staggers out of her room, weak-kneed and wearing a jack-o-lantern grin.
Alea sure thinks she doesn't feel all right.
Arcadia looks at her watch and swears.
Briel: Tamlen?
Arcadia pulls the door closed and straightens her uniform and her nager, then goes down the stairs.
Briel ~~concern~~
Arcadia realizes she forgot to ask the Controller's name and hopes she can find his/her office.
Tamlen tries to focus on Briel.
Veraik: Let's get these two to the infirmary. I'm sure they could use a glass of fosebine a piece.
Arcadia asks someone who says the Controller is named Briel and her office is "that way"
Arcadia nods her thanks and goes in that direction until she is sure she has gone too far... stops and asks for directions again.
Tamlen: Sursspise lee.
Briel: Tamlen. You've got a concussion.
Veraik gently picks up Alea and carries her to the infirmary.
Briel: If I help you up, do you think you can lean on me until I get you to the infirmary.
Alea moans.
Arcadia is confused when the person refers to the controller as male and points in an entirely different direction than Arcadia had thought it would be in.
Alea: Shen...that...woman.
Tamlen: ~~ ?? throbbing pain ~~
Arcadia sighs, trudges that way.
Tamlen: San vo.
Arcadia feels she's almost there... asks a passing orderly where Briel's office is... is pointed in the opposite direction.
Tamlen starts to push himself up.
Arcadia throws up her hands.
Briel slips her arms around Tamlen and augments, lifting him up.
Arcadia walks back the other way.
Veraik carries her down the hall.
Tamlen leans on Briel.
Briel moves with Tamlen to the infirmary.
Arcadia spots an office which appears to have once had the words "Controller's Office" on it... but there are only pale spots on the door where they had been.
Briel moves into a room with Tamlen and gets him on the bed.
Arcadia enters that office and looks around... the furniture sure looks like a Controller's office, but the name plaque on the desk says "Veraik ambrov Liorie"
Arcadia leaves the office, dejected.
Veraik goes to another room with Alea and gently places her on the bed.
Briel: Tamlen.
Veraik mixes a strong fosebine and helps Alea to drink it.
Briel: I'm going to work on healing you now.
Briel: Don't go to sleep on me.
Briel smiles ~~worry~~
Briel extends her laterals over Tamlen's head to control the swelling.
Tamlen: Zlle? Nei mon vawcch?
Arcadia out of desperation starts reading all the labels on all the doors... looking for either "Briel" or a new label of "Controller"...
Arcadia sees a passing person and grabs their arm.
Arcadia: Is the Controller a male or a female?
Arcadia watches the person back away from her.
Arcadia confused.
Arcadia thinks she isn't starting off on the right foot at all.
Arcadia thinks... then realizes she should go back to the front Lobby and ask the clerk.
Veraik: Placing tentacles on the her knee, Veraik moves the water to reduce the swelling.
Arcadia heads in what she hopes is that direction.
Alea: Make sure...don't leave her....she'll escape.
Alea holding her neck in pain.
Arcadia stumbles across a Gen lying unconscious on a blood-smeared floor.
Arcadia gasps.
Briel: I think I'm just going to keep you with me the rest of the week. Less chance of you getting into trouble that way.
Arcadia runs and finds a couple of renSimes to help move the person somewhere safe to be examined.
Veraik slides a tentacle to the painful area on her neck and heals the effected area.
Briel continues to zlin, making sure the swelling is being reduced.
Arcadia returns and she and the renSimes carry the unconscious Gen toward a row of treatment rooms... all with "occupied" sign lit.
Arcadia scratches her head.
Arcadia: Are there more treatment rooms?
Arcadia: Oh... how about transfer rooms? Okay... let's see if any of those are opened.
Arcadia hurries after the two renSimes as they portage the unconscious Gen down a few hallways.
Briel: Feeling any better Tamlen?
Alea face is still throbbing with pain as well as general body aches.
Veraik stops the nose bleed then tackles the head injury.
Arcadia: What? Those are full too?
Arcadia perplexed.
Arcadia: Oh? Expanding... that's great, but, what do we do in the meantime?
Arcadia consults with the two orderlies on how to handle where to put this injured Gen obviously requiring treatment.
Briel ~~concern~~ ~~need~~
Briel continues to work over Tamlen, then finds someone to sit with him with instructions to keep him away until she returns.
Veraik: ~~~Veraik forgot to place the occupied sign on the door where he took Alea~~~
Briel leaves Tamlen in good care.
Arcadia: Well... WHO is the Controller and WHERE is his.. or her.. office?
Alea: Shenned woman[whispers through raw throat]
Veraik: Placing tentacles on the back of the head and at the temples, Veraik continues to heal Alea.
Briel: I'm controller.
Arcadia: [two renSimes simultaneously: "Veraik is" "Briel is"
Briel stepping up behind Arcadia.
Arcadia jumps out of her skin.
Briel flinches.
Alea: Sorry ... Hajene.
Arcadia: You're Briel?
Alea: We weren't much ... help.
Briel: Yes, I am.
Arcadia: Where should we put this injured Gen? There aren't any beds available.
Briel: I am temporarily co-Controller with Veraik.
Briel looks at Avaleia and sneers.
Briel: Put her in the basement in the lock-up room.
Arcadia: OH! [thinks this explains a lot]
Veraik: Shhhh It's all right Alea. Just lie still. Everything is under control now.
Alea: You?? Okay?
Arcadia looks like Briel has only one oar in the water.
Arcadia: Put here where??
Briel: Down the stairs, near the bottom is a special room we use as a holding cell.
Veraik: I could be better but I'm all right.
Briel: Take her down there. Toss her in it. And then, under no circumstances are you to open it back up without my express approval.
Arcadia looks appalled.
Briel: Not to check on her. Not to give her anything. Not for food.
Arcadia wonders if Briel is really the Controller.
Arcadia: Um... o--okay.
Briel zlins Arcadia's actions and takes pity on her.
Briel: You're new here.
Arcadia: Yeah. I sure am.
Briel: So far, this woman almost murdered a renSime. Tried to murder a 2nd order and first order Channel.
Briel: Today, she incapacitated to Donors. Two First Order Donors.
Arcadia thinks well at least the score is even as far as her screwing up and the Center screwing up on her first day.
Briel: Not to mention probably has the other controller worried that he'll never have kids.
Arcadia: So you want me to just throw her in the cell? Then what.
Arcadia hopes she didn't hear what she thought she just heard.
Arcadia: He's what??
Briel: Find Lanyi. Lanyi and her Donor. Plus three renSime guards to go treat her.
Briel looks at Arcadia.
Briel: What?
Arcadia: Okay.
Alea: I'm so sorry.
Veraik signals a 2nd to stay with Alea. "I'll be back. I have to check on that woman."
Arcadia shrugs at the renSimes and the three of them go in search of the basement stairs.
Arcadia: [lugging Avaleia]
Alea nods painfully.
Veraik: Shhh.
Alea: Tamlen?[whispers]
Veraik leaves then sees Briel.
Briel turns and zlins Veraik.
Briel: You look like shen too.
Veraik: I'll live.
Briel: And Alea?
Veraik: Is that Gen safely tucked away?
Briel nods.
Briel: LOCKED away.
Briel rubs at her neck.
Briel: Tamlen has a concussion, beat up pretty good. He'll be in the infirmary a day, possibly two.
Veraik: Good. Alea is not in good shape but she will recover. The baby is fine.
Briel: That's good to hear.
Briel: What the shenned were those Donors doing?
Veraik: Yes.
Veraik: [Looks curiously down the hall] Who was that you were talking to just before I arrived?
Veraik: I don't know.
Briel: The injuries they both sustained, I'm surprised you're standing at all.
Veraik: But then, I doubt many could control that maniac.
Briel snorts.
Briel: Especially not Donors.
Briel: That woman is resilient.
Briel: She tried to murder Jirelle and I tossed her across the room into a wall.
Veraik: [smiles but covers nager] Augmentation helps.
Briel: And she still came around and tried to attack Lanyi.
Briel shakes her head.
Veraik: No. So that is the one. No wonder.
Briel: A new Second, Arcadia, is taking the Gn down to the lock up room.
Veraik: [pain in groin getting worst and more difficult to hide.]
Briel: I gave express orders that the door was to be opened for no reason.
Briel zlins Veraik again.
Briel: You system zlins like ...
Briel's widen.
Briel: You too?
Veraik: Good. I'll call the Tecton to hav......
Briel: She got Tamlen there too.
Veraik blushes.
Veraik: Is he all right?
Briel: No. He's not.
Briel: He's got a shendoni concussion and is in extreme pain.
Briel: I have someone sitting with him now.
Veraik: [trying not to shift continuously to get a more comfortable position.]
Veraik: Good. [strained]
Briel: Better get that looked at.
Briel zlins Veraik and shakes her head.
Briel: I should check in on Alea...
Briel realizes what she is saying and breaks off.
Veraik: ~~annoyed~~~ You do it.
Briel: Do what?
Briel: I should go fill out my paperwork. And I want to make sure Tamlen is still healing.
Veraik: Heal me. You already know. I'd prefer to keep the numbers of who knows down.
Briel smiles.
Briel: Ever heard the term. Channel, heal thyself.
Briel chuckles.
Briel: You know, Veraik. I think I like this ... position ... you are in. Yeah, depending on me after you were so angry earlier today because I didn't have a Donor with me. Are you sure you trust me without a Donor?
Veraik: ~~annoyed and wishing that the crisis was still on so that his body wasn't reminding itself of the abuse that it just took~~~
Briel ~~projecting Gen~~
Veraik: Just do it Briel.
Briel: Sorta snappy, Veraik. Maybe we should find you a Donor.
Veraik: In the hall? [panic]
Briel: You told me to just do it.
Briel: Sure you haven't hit turnover three days early?
Briel tsks.
Veraik: Save me. My office. There are no more infirmary rooms available.
Briel zlins as Veraik's body responds in his injured areas to her Gen desire.
Veraik: Briel?!!!!
Briel: Come on, Veraik.
Veraik limps after her.
Briel turns toward his office, continuing to project Gen desire.
Cojones: Ow... ow..... ow...
Veraik ~~~wishing that the walk to his office wasn't so far away~~~
Briel: My, Veraik, that must have been quite a hit.
Briel: Put a real dent in your love life for the next few days.
Briel watching him limp.
Cojones: Ooooooooooooooooooopainpainpainpainpain.
Veraik: [Looks at her then away]
Briel: How're they feeling?
Veraik doubles over.
Briel trying to sound sympathetic.
Cojones: Pain nausea dizziness pain.
Briel stops and leans down by Veraik.
Briel: That's it.
Veraik: ~anger~ what do you think?
Briel: Office or no, it's time.
Veraik collapses to knees.
Alea kneels down by him and unzips his pants.
Alea: ==Briel==
Veraik smiles through gritted teeth. "If only you would do that when I'm healthy and post."
Briel slips her hand inside Veraik's pants smiling.
Briel: First time you've let me do this so openly Veraik.
Briel extends her laterals and slowly heals Veraik.
Veraik: Anytime baby. You just say that word. Owwwwww.. But not for the next week.
Briel can't help but grin at Veraik's embarrassment and at the people who are walking by zlinning.
Briel: You've devastated me, Veraik.
Cojones is now known as Arcadia`
Briel: And I thought now would be a good time.
Arcadia walks past, does a double take and realizes this whole Controller business is a LOT more complicated than she had originally realized.
Arcadia hurries on past.
Briel ~~one week from transfer date~~
Briel: Oh, Arcadia! Nice to have you on staff!
Briel calls to her as she runs past.
Arcadia runs faster.
Briel: I'll get with you tomorrow about your assignments!
Briel finishes healing Veraik and sits back.
Briel: There you go.
Briel: As good as ... new.
Veraik breaths easier.
Veraik: About that date.
Briel: Well, I'm off to check Tamlen again.
Veraik: [me smiles.
Briel: Talk to me after Transfer.
Briel: I would put him to sleep if it wasn't for the swelling around the brain.
Briel shakes her head and stands.
Veraik: Oh I plan on it.
Briel: How long is Alea going to be laid up with this?
Veraik: A couple of days.
Briel: Shen.
Briel shakes her head.
Veraik: Someone will have to sit with her for the next few hours as well.
Briel: Well, I suppose we can get some of the seconds to help out while she
and Tamlen are laid up.
Briel looks up, curious.
Briel: Why?
Veraik: She had a head injury as well and I just want to make sure that the
baby is truly undisturbed.
Briel: Oh.
Briel nods.
Briel: I saw a lot of blood. All I zlinned was facial injuries and knee injuries.
Guess the quick zlinned missed that.
Briel shrugs and reaches down to help Veraik up.
Briel: Avaleia is getting much more specific in her attacks.
Briel: Going for vulnerable points. Scratching someone's face up, a man's
uh, [grins]well, you know. Kicking them in the head.
Briel: I wonder where she learned this. Or if practice makes perfect.
Veraik: Yes. We can get the Tecton to haul her away and if we are lucky,
we will never have to deal with her again.
Briel ~~dream on~~
Briel: Yeah. If we get lucky.
Briel: Come on. Let's go check on our patients.
Veraik: Who knows.
Veraik: Sure.
Briel slips an arm around Veraik, projecting Gen Desire for his minor head
injury as they head back to the infirmary.
Veraik: This is nice Briel. I look forward to that date. [looks at her]
Briel goes on to Tamlen's room.
Veraik enters Alea's room. [still feeling tender but knowing it will clear
up soon]
Alea looks at Veraik.
Alea ~~numb pain~~
Veraik: How are you feeling Alea? [zlins]
Alea: Alive.
Alea voice is still very raspy from Avaleia's grip earlier.
Veraik: I'll just sit here for a while with you.
Alea: You know, I was going ... come get you. Have you alert Security.
Alea: Bad timing.
Alea nods carefully.
Veraik: [pulls over a chair, face averting so she will not see even the slightest
pain which may or may not be on his face]
Veraik sits tenderly. "Yes. The story of my life."
Alea: Not ... true.
Alea sighs painfully wishing she had just stayed in bed today.
Veraik smiles and projects need.
Alea: Veraik....
Veraik: Yes.
Alea thinking back over the luck of bad today
Alea trying to phrase her question
Alea realizes she can't think of any way to ask what she really wants to
ask...why she runs everyone off.[mind on Mostan again]and sighs.
Alea: Never mind.
Veraik looks at her patiently.
Veraik: You can tell me, Alea.
Alea debates, then asks. "Could you put me to sleep?"
Alea knows he'll zlin that's not what was bothering her and thinks, oh well.
Veraik zlins, knows the truth but decides not to press it.
Veraik: I can put you to sleep but you will have to be awaken on the hour.
Alea: Fine[whispers]
Veraik stands then reaches over with tentacles then pauses. "Don't worry..
I'll stay with you."
Veraik: Relax now.
Alea closes her eyes.
Veraik touches her trigger points and puts her to sleep.