Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #132: (1/16/98)
Veraik enters the lobby.
Alea gathers her book and sketch pad and heads to the lobby.
Alea: Good afternoon, Hajene.
Veraik: Alea.
Veraik: Is your morning sickness getting any better?
Alea: They've finished the work on the gazebo. Did you notice that?
Alea shrugs.
Alea: They will soon.
Alea: The entire Gazebo is enclosed now. Should be a lot warmer in the winter.
Tramila sees Alea and Veraik and goes to stand next to her Donor.
Alea goes and gathers her cloak and slips it on.
Alea: Hello Tramila.
Tramila: Tramila zlins Alea.
Katryn walks into the Center and looks around.
Veraik steps back, wishing his Donor was with him since he was passed turnover.
Veraik goes to the strange Channel. "May I help you?"
Katryn is a 3rd order Channel new to the area.
Katryn: Is this the Bender Cove Sime Center?
Tramila steps a tiny bit closer to Alea.
Veraik: Yes. It is.
Alea moves forward curiously.
Veraik: I'm the Controller here.
Katryn: Oh!
Katryn smiles and holds out a file.
Katryn: My name is Kathryn. I'm new here, assigned to assist wherever.
Veraik takes the files and reads the fact sheet.
Veraik: Welcome.
Katryn is Sime slim with short red hair and freckles spattered across her nose.
Katryn: Thank you.
Katryn looks at the others in the room.
Alea smiles.
Veraik looks up. This is Alea and Tramila. [indicates with a tentacle]
Alea: I'm Alea Farris ambrov Zeor.
Alea touches her black belt.
Katryn eyes widen.
Katryn: Farrises here?
Katryn: I had no idea.
Katryn: It will be an honor working with you.
Tramila: And I am Tramila Farris ambrov Zeor.
Tramila smiles.
Katryn nods.
Katryn ~~few days past transfer~~.
Katryn looks back at the Controller.
Katryn: Controller Veraik, is there anything else I should do before reporting to work?
Veraik: Well, now that you have meet two of the Farris working here, would you like to step into my office so we can get the paperwork straigthened for you?
Alea thinks wonderful, ready for work already.
Katryn: Of course.
Katryn removes her cloak and folds it over her arm.
Veraik indicates with a tentacle towards the hall.
Katryn is wearing the standard Tecton uniform.
Katryn leaves with Veraik.
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: Hope Veraik doesn't get his claws into her before she's oriented a bit.
Alea: Or, heaven forbid, that Sumulo.
Tramila: Youth.
Tramila frowns.
Alea remembers those days fondly.
Veraik opens the office door and allows her inside.
Veraik sits behind the desk.
Katryn goes in and looks around.
Katryn: This is a big office.
Alea: I'm on my way out back to read.
Veraik: It says in your file that you are Katryn ambrov Jenier.
Alea: Did you hear, the new gazebo is done. It's totally enclosed.
Veraik: The House of Liorie welcomes you.
Katryn: The House of Jenier extends its greetings.
Tramila: Really? Is that a hint to go there, Alea?
Alea: If you'll excuse me, Hajene, I think I'll be going now.
Veraik smiles.
Alea: Yes. It is, Tramila.
Alea: Unless you want to check patients early.
Alea: We can rearrange the schedule if you'd like and go ahead and hit the infirmary.
Katryn smiles back nervously.
Katryn: What questions, did you have, Controller.
Veraik: We will schedule you for both transfers and donations, of course according to your capabilities.
Valrie sits in her bed in the infirmary, reading a pamphlet on Donors.
Katryn: That's wonderful.
Katryn shines with enthusiasm.
Veraik goes to a file. I see that your papers are in order and that your quarters have been assigned.
Veraik: Pushes key and folder across the desk and smiles at the enthusiasm.
Katryn: That's good.
Katryn: Thank you.
Veraik: The folder has your orientation papers.
Kadi wanders down the hall, looking for amusement.
Katryn is a bit overwhelmed.
Katryn: This is like going to first year school.
Kadi pokes her nose into a room and sees a person on a bed--promising.
Kadi: Mroww?
Valrie looks up and smiles.
Valrie: Here, kitty, kitty.
Veraik: Not really. After you have read the file, report to the lobby for your assignments. [Veraik stands.] Welcome.
Kadi switches her tail in disgust at this mispronunciation of her name.
Kadi saunters into the room, and sharpens her claws on the bed.
Tramila: No. Get your cloak. I think that a bit of fresh air could do you some good.
Katryn stands too.
Alea finishes with the cloak and nods.
Valrie looks at the cat doubtfully.
Valrie: I don't think you should be doing that, kitty.
Tramila baths in Alea's nager as she slips on her Zeor cloak and follows her outside.
Alea pauses when she hears a meow.
Kadi decides that the floor is a bit drafty, and jumps up on the bed to see if it's warmer.
Veraik: I think you will like it here Katryn. There is never a dull moment.
Alea pushes open the door and looks in to see Kati on the bed with Valrie.
Kadi kneads the coverlet briskly, assessing its suitability, and plops down
for a nap.
Tramila follows.
Katryn returns the smile.
Katryn: I'm glad.
Valrie looks up at Alea and smiles.
Valrie: I think the kitty likes me.
Veraik goes to the door and holds it open for the new third.
Katryn exits.
Alea: Looks like she does.
Alea thinks that Kadi has become a little traitor.
Tramila: Ah...CHOO!
Alea thinks it might help Valrie though.
Alea: You aren't allergic to cats TOO are you, Tramila.
Kadi lifts her head, blinks at Alea smugly, and goes back to sleep.
Tramila: {Eyes watering] Ye....CHO! am.
Alea sighs.
Kadi lifts her head again at the noise of the sneeze, thinking that this
has interesting possibilities.
Kadi jumps off the bed and wanders over to wind herself around
Tramila's ankles.
Kadi: Mrow?
Tramila backs out. "Ah...CHOO..Ah..CHOO....Ah..CHOOOOO"
Kadi follows Tramila, flirting her tail.
Kadi: Mrroooow!
Alea scoops up the cat.
Alea: Fraid not, little one.
Kadi: Purrrr, purrr.
Alea moves back over to Valrie and deposits the cat in her lap.
Kadi looks at Alea with wide, innocent green eyes.
Tramila: Ale....CHOO..."A!!!!! PLEAS...CHOO@"
Alea: Seems like I'm the only Farris not allergic to cats.
Alea smiles at Valrie.
Tramila: ~~~GASP~~~~
Alea: If you'll excuse....
Tramila: ~~~~Eyes almost swollen shut~~~~
Tramila: Ah...Choo!
Alea turns to look at Tramila.
Alea: Shen!
Alea shots over to Tramila's side.
Kadi decides that this would be a good time to take a nap.
Tramila: ~~~~gasp~~~~ "Hel..."
Alea looks around for a Channel.
Alea grabs Tramila.
Alea: Come on.
Veraik walks down the hall.
Alea urges her toward a treatment room.
Veraik: Tramila? [zlins] Alea??
Alea using her field to project easier breathing.
Alea: Veraik.
Alea: Allergic reaction.
Tramila: ~~~~easier breathing~~~~
Veraik: What happened?
Veraik: To what?
Alea: Cat.
Alea: Kadi.
Veraik helps Tramila into the room.
Veraik: Oh.
Katryn comes back down the hall with her papers and sees the Channel in distress.
Katryn: Wow. Oh wow.
Katryn: A Farris.
Katryn: Wow.
Tramila lays on the treatment table.
Veraik: YOU! [points to Katryn] Come here.
Alea moves up beside Tramila, worried.
Tramila: ~gasp~
Katryn zlins that Veraik means her and approaches excited.
Katryn: Yes, Controller?
Katryn looking at Tramila wide-eyed.
Veraik: Get the Farris kit and mix a tremand drink. QUICKLY>
Katryn: Farris kit...
Katryn: Where?
Katryn looks around.
Veraik: Show her Alea. I'll support Tramila for the moment. Just HURRY!
Alea takes hold of Tramila's arms leaning forward slightly, concentrating
on helping her.
Tramila: ALEA!
Alea hesitates then releases Tramila and goes to get the kit.
Katryn follows.
Veraik: ~~~Support~~~
Alea grabs the black kit, opens it up and quickly mixes the dirnk, showing
Katryn as she does.
Veraik: Only for a moment Tramila.
Alea gives it to Kathryn and nods.
Wise Snake is lying on the floor in an old Ferry building office, reading
old Ferry building productivity reports by the light from the window.
Veraik: Alea! Hurry!
Katryn hurries back over with the drink.
Wise Snake: Huh. I wonder what this translates into in modern money.
Alea comes back around the side to continue support of her Channel.
Veraik supports Tramila's head and helps her with the drink.
Nick hurries towards the Ferry Building, on his way to his trial session
with Snake.
Tramila: [Tears] Alea.
Alea: I'm sorry, Tramila.
Alea: I had no idea you were allergic to cats.
Tramila drinks the concoction.
Alea: Should have known. Snake is too.
Nick is carrying a small package.
Katryn zlins intently.
Tramila nods with tears.
Veraik hands the glass but to Katryn.
Veraik: She'll be fine now but she'll sleep for a while.
Nick wades through the drifted show and opens the door, glad to be out of
the wind.
Nick: Snake?
Katryn realizes Veraik is handing her the glass and belatedly takes it.
Veraik: Come, Katryn. We'll leave the rest to Tramila's Donor.
Veraik waits impatiently while Katryn puts the glass away.
Katryn ~~disappointment~~
Katryn: Of course, Controller.
Tramila: Tramila zlins Alea .
Katryn crosses to the sink and washes the glass, then wipes it.
Nick starts for the stairs, reasoning that Snake will be in the warmer (?)
part of the building.
Katryn puts it up, takes time figuring out how to put up the Farris kit.
Wise Snake stuffs that report back into the cabinet and pulls out one for
a later year.
Katryn folds and refolds before she figures out how it all closes then slips
it back to where it goes, all the time, taking zlins of Tramila and Alea
and their interaction.
Nick's nager is carefully schooled so as not to irritate Snake's new sensitivity.
Katryn finally turns and sees Veraik still standing at the door.
Katryn hurries over.
Alea: Are you going to be okay?
Alea ~~comfort~~
Alea still has her books and cloak laying on a side table.
Tramila nods and takes the comfort of her Donor.
Wise Snake reads the report, then turns a few pages on a musty General ledger
nearby.
Nick checks the second floor offices, and finds no sign of Snake.
Veraik: Katryn. I think you should study a few Farris manuals. We have too
many incidents like this one in the Center.
Katryn flushes.
Katryn: Of course, Controller.
Nick heads up the stairs to the third floor.
Katryn: Do you have a manual on where everything is laid out in the Center
so I can find it next time.
Alea glances up in surprise at Veraik.
Alea: Hajene, she hasn't been here fifteen minutes. She hasn't even been
in a infirmary room yet. Don't you think you're being a little hard?
Wise Snake: I wonder if these people EVER made any money.
Wise Snake flips through a few more random years, then tosses the reports
aside.
Nick starts checking the third floor offices.
Veraik: Perhaps but since she is fresh out of first year, she should have
learned this and remembered it.
Alea: Learned this Center?
Alea: Shen Veraik. I don't even know where EVERYTHING is.
Alea shakes her head.
Katryn ~~embarrassed~~
Veraik: Come, Katryn. I'll get you that manual and after you have read it,
you can come to Alea or myself or even Tramila to ask questions.
Katryn: If you'll excuse me please. I should go find my room.
Katryn: Can you tell me which way to the Sime housing?
Alea: Send her to Briel.
Alea smiles at Veraik.
Veraik: Alea: No. Not learned this Center however she should have been taught
the basics about Farris' in First Year training.
Alea: She's the one who has done all the rearranging.
Wise Snake hears somebody outside and gets up and goes to the door, zlins
Nick some distance down the hallway.
Wise Snake: Nick. Over here.
Alea shakes her head, thinking Veraik is just in one of his moods today.
Nick looks up, his nager projecting a pleased greeting.
Veraik is not amused and indicates with a tentacle for Katryn to follow him.
Nick joins Snake, looking her over carefully to assess her condition.
Katryn follows Veraik, bewildered by what she has done wrong.
Katryn thinks she went to get the solution, when she was pointed out where
things were kept.
Katryn: She offered everything they asked for.
Wise Snake is not up to Linn's quality standards for appearance or cleanliness.
Wise Snake also appears tired.
Wise Snake: ~5 days until transfer~
Nick extends the package.
Alea soothes Tramila and then slips out to go to the back and read.
Wise Snake looks down at it.
Veraik: Which school did you go to Katryn?
Wise Snake: What's this?
Nick: Linn sent some baked apples. She thought you weren't eating enough.
Wise Snake: Ah. Good. Thank you.
Wise Snake takes the package.
Nick wishes that he could serve Snake, but knows it's impossible.
Wise Snake thinks the better of mentioning B'cal has been making her eat
like a pig each morning.
Wise Snake zlins Nick oddly, but says nothing.
Nick adjusts his nager to a restful state.
Wise Snake sets the package aside.
Nick: Have you heard from the Planning Commission yet?
Alea goes down the hall with book and cloak in hand and out to the gazebo
and slips through the door into the interior.
Wise Snake: I was reading these old rec - what? Oh.
Wise Snake: No.
Katryn: Channel's school.
Wise Snake: It's still a little soon, I think. I did hear from Urban
Redevelopment and they said there was interested in seeing the property restored.
Katryn: I've had training, Controller. Can you tell me what I didn't do that
I should have done?
Nick looks around at the mess.
Katryn: I didn't know where you kept the Farris kits. I'll learn that.
Katryn is upset that her first day which she'd been so excited about has
already made the Controller upset.
Nick: It's still a reasonably sound building, for all it's been deserted
for years. I wonder what it was like in its prime.
Katryn ~~nervous~~
Wise Snake: Go look at the public library. Same architect, but has never
been seriously neglected.
Wise Snake feels a flash of embarrassment at mentioning the library, a holdover
from her days as a street kid.. one didn't get caught dead admitting one
went THERE.
Veraik: Didn't your school teach you where the Farris kit would be located?
Veraik: ~~~concerned~~~~
Nick whistles softly.
Nick: You mean there's all that fancy tile work and stuff under all this
grime?
Katryn: Of course. They're located in the infirmary rooms and transfer rooms
as well as all donation rooms.
Wise Snake: Yeah... it's an all-stone building. The wood floors in some of
these rooms was built later over the stone.
Nick: It would help cut down on the drafts in winter.
Katryn: And then there are suppose to be kept in offices where Farrises might
be as well as some in the storage room on hand.
Veraik: That's right and they are always in the same place because a Farris
emerGency is usually worse than other emerGencies.
Wise Snake: Marble walls on the first floor... there's a huge tile medallion
in the middle of the terminal floor showing the old Bender Cove seal, which
of course no longer exists since that old government disappeared 30 years
ago.
Katryn: However, with so few Farrises, I imagine you don't have that many
here.
Wise Snake wonders if that last comment was a hint.
Wise Snake: We can go over to the other office where it's warmer.
Wise Snake leads the way.
Katryn: Supply being as they are, I would imagine your Farrises have certain
rooms assigned tot hem.
Nick follows Snake.
Katryn: Of course, that's just guessing.
Katryn is embarrassed that she is running on at the mouth with the Controller.
Veraik: We have Alea and Tramila and other named WiseSnake who is in and
out of the Center constantly. You will meet her sometime, I am sure.
Wise Snake enters the office she is using and closes the door behind them.
Katryn: Of course, Controller.
Katryn extremely nervous, waiting for the other boot to fall after her screw-up.
Wise Snake: By the way, how do you keep getting in with the door locked?
Nick: I wonder how they could afford such a building for a ferry terminal.
I wouldn't think there was so much profit in it.
Alea makes herself comfortable in the enclosed gazebo and opens her book
to read.
Wise Snake: It was city money. The ferries were subsidized.
Veraik: Actually, The Farris' use all the rooms and therefore all of the
rooms are equipped.
Veraik: We, as you can see, are Farris-high at the Center.
Alea is surprised.
Alea brought the wrong book out.
Alea tosses it aside and picks up her sketch pad.
Veraik: We also get a couple of Farris donors in and out for transfers.
Nick: It figures. Politicians love a showpiece.
Veraik: Look: Don't worry about it.
Katryn: That doesn't seem very efficient.
Katryn covers her mouth, turning red.
Katryn: I apologize, Controller.
Nick: What is on your schedule for today?
Veraik: Efficient?
Wise Snake: I want to go to the Center and ask a few questions.
Veraik: Farris' have to be somewhere and we have them.
Veraik: You'll get used to it after a while.
Nick nods.
Wise Snake: After that, I am still behind on visiting door-to-door. I want
to hurry and try to catch up on that in the next couple of days.
Katryn: I meant, the uh, allowing them to use all the rooms.
Veraik: As I said. Don't worry about it. Everything is under control now.
Katryn is very very red and wishing she had never opened her mouth.
Katryn only wants to leave.
Nick: Yes, this clear spell won't last.
Wise Snake is already wearing her sweater and outdoor cloak, so simply picks
up the medical satchel and some flyers she means to post.
Veraik zlins her. "Just read the manual and familiarize yourself with the
Farris equipment and meds and all will be fine.
Katryn: Of course, Controller.
Veraik looks down the junction in the hall. "Ask me anything, when you are
ready."
Nick smiles at the sight of the sweater Linn made for Snake, pulls his new
coat around himself, and prepares to face the great outdoors once more.
Veraik goes to the lobby.
Katryn turns and leaves, trying to figure out which way to the Sime Quarters.
Wise Snake leads Nick down the stairs.
Sumulo: ~~zlins~~ Are you lost?
Lanyi Shows a donor out. "yes, you aren't supposed to feel anything. You
did fine."
Nick is careful not to trip on the dimly lit staircase.
Katryn looks around and sees a Sime.
Katryn zlins.
Katryn: I'm looking for the Sime Quarters.
Wise Snake sees the snow Nick tracked in and follows it to a badly-boarded
window that someone succeeded in breaking the glass to.
Wise Snake: Shen. One more thing to take care of.
Sumulo: I said are you lost? [looks down nose and zlins worse].
Wise Snake goes the door she's been using and unlocks it, holds it for Nick.
Nick exits the building.
Wise Snake carefully locks the door behind them.
Wise Snake and Nick head off for the Sime Center.
Katryn confused that he isn't listening to what she says.
Katryn: Excuse me please.
Wise Snake has left IRC.
Sumulo points with tentacle. "First floor and to the right.
Katryn starts down the hall.
Katryn pauses and turns.
Katryn: Thank you [politely]
Sumulo thinks. "Heh! It's always great to get the newbies lost."
Sumulo goes in the opposite direction.
Briel comes striding down the hall.
Briel slows.
Katryn looks around and starts off, sees the Channel and nods politely.
Sumulo: "You are welcome." ~~leaves quickly~~
Briel: Ah, you must be Katryn, the new Channel.
Lanyi goes to the lobby to see if her next renSime is here for transfer.
Briel watches him leave.
Katryn: Yes, I am.
Briel smiles.
Sumulo sees Lanyi.
Briel: Have you gotten into your room yet?
Sumulo:
Leer: Hello.
Briel confused.
Katryn: No, I was just headed that way.
Briel: But you're quarters are the other way.
Katryn frowns, then her eyes narrow.
Katryn: I guess it's another one of those tricks like they did to us in first
year when we first got there. You know, redirect us to the wrong place.
Briel: Ah, you mean Sumulo.
Briel shakes her head.
Lanyi zlins/looks over Sumulo carefully.
Briel: Avoid him.
Briel points out the way to the quarters.
Sumulo touches a tentacle to Lanyi's arm. "Baby."
Briel: If you have any questions, please feel free to come by and ask.
Katryn: Thank you.
Katryn: I will.
Katryn heads off in the other direction.
Briel wonders why Katryn is going to the lobby then shrugs.
Lanyi looks down at his tentacle on her arm. Stares at it for several seconds,
then stares at Sumulo.
Sumulo: Want to have a cup of trin with me. [tentacle off] I guess not.
Sneer: But you will. I promise you that you will.
Lanyi: You must be Sumulo.
Sumulo: [smiles] You've heard of me.
Katryn comes into the lobby in time to overhear the last lines and thinks
he's more than just a prankster, he's disgusting.
Lanyi: Don't make promises you can't keep.
Katryn decides it's not worth her time to chastise a Second, and turns around
and heads toward the Sime Quarters.
Lanyi: Yes. I have.
Sumulo zlins. "Didn't make it to your quarters? Would you like me to show
you where they are?
Katryn continues down the hall, until she reaches the Sime wing.
Sumulo: I ALWAYS keep my promises. [nose high, nager elegant contempt]
Rhelana pays the donor and looks for Tarsh, wishing the handsome renSime
would drop by during her shift.
Lanyi: ~~ neutral showfield ~~ Nothing lasts forever.
Sumulo snorts a knowing contemptuous snort.
Sumulo: Stick with me and you will want for nothing.
Lanyi: ~~ allows slight revulsion to show through ~~
Sumulo sneers. "You'll come around."
Sumulo goes to the infirmary to check on Valrie.
Lanyi knows she doesn't want _this_ nothing. "Did you have any Center business
to discuss, Hajene?"
Valrie is reading some Donor material, Kadi curled on her chest.
Nick has left IRC.
Kadi: Purrrr, purrrrr.
Sumulo stops. "With you. You don't even know what is good for you."
Sumulo leaves and heads for the infirmary.
Sumulo enters Valrie's room and sees the cat.
Lanyi: I'll be sure to write you as soon as I want your opinion.
Valrie turns the page, stroking the cat absently.
Sumulo ignores Lanyi.
Sumulo: Valrie?
Valrie looks up.
Valrie: Yes?
Lanyi: "There's one in every crowd and they always find me."
Sumulo: A cat! What is a cat doing in the room?
Lanyi checks the board.
Sumulo pushes he cat off the bed. I'm here to zlin you."
Kadi thinks it should be very obvious what she's doing.
Valrie: She came in to keep me company.
Sumulo: ~~~Thinks, 'We'll see how long that cat stays in the room."
Lanyi takes Seezi down the hall for transfer.
Kadi wraps herself around Sumulo's arm, inserting claws into tender tentacle
sheaths and gnawing on a handling tentacle.
Sumulo: OW!!!!
Kadi: GRRRRROWWWWWWWLLLLL!!!!
Sumulo augments to throw the cat across the room.
Sumulo: Now give me your arms.
Kadi lands lightly on her feet and hisses at Sumulo, arching her back.
Alea lays her sketchbook aside to go get some more colors.
Valrie: You idiot! Don't you know how to pick up a cat?
Sumulo takes Valrie's arm and makes fifth contact.
Alea heads into the Center and down the hall
Sumulo augments to keep contact with the DONOR, showing her WHO is superior
as he avoids her efforts at his nodes.
Valrie is caught off balance by Sumulo's roughness, and clutches instinctively
at his arms, fingers closing on a painful scratch, and dangerous close to
his lateral nodes.
Alea hears the hiss of a cat and concerned pushes the door open to Valrie's
room, only to stare in shock.
Kadi decides that this wrestling business is fun, and attacks Sumulo's ankles.
Kadi: GRRRROWWWWWLLLLLL!!!!
Kadi gnaws on the back of Sumulo's heel.
Alea sees Kadi's actions, grins and steps back so as not to interfere.
Alea thinks Kadi is doing what she wishes she could do.
Sumulo kicks the cat in the head.
Valrie's eyes are wide with shock at this further abuse.
Alea: Sumulo.
Alea flicks her field at him.
Sumulo finishes his zlin and quickly releases the Donor. "You're healing.."
Kadi screams as she lands awkwardly.
Alea hurries over and scoops up Kadi, shooting Daggers at Sumulo with her
eyes.
Sumulo blanches and gasps.
Valrie is frozen with shock, unable to respond.
Sumulo: Stupid cat.
Alea: Stupid, shendoni Second.
Alea moves over to look at Valrie.
Sumulo: There are too many Farris' in the place for a cat. It should be
incinerated.
Alea: Are you okay? Or would you like me to get one of the Controllers so
you can report this.
Kadi yowls again, to make her sentiments perfectly clear.
Alea looks down at Kadi, checking her out to see if she's okay.
Alea: Note, I am holding the cat and I am a Farris.
Alea: What's your problem?
Valrie slowly turns to look at Sumulo in horror, really believing that he'd
be allowed to follow through on the suggestion.
Alea nuzzles Kadi against her cheek.
Alea: If it comes to incinerating, it'll be you I make sure gets in there,
not Kadi.
Valrie's arms show red marks from Sumulo's tentacles, which are rapidly purpling
into bruises.
Alea goes over to the intercom and asks clerk to send a Channel down to Valrie's
room.
Sumulo: We'll see.
Kadi gradually calms down, but keeps a suspicious eye on Sumulo.
Sumulo: Not all Farris, I see are allergic.
Sumulo: Figures you would be one.
Alea smiles.
Alea: Oh, are you allergic?
Sumulo: I'll get you cat.
Alea moves next to Sumulo and strokes Kadi.
Sumulo: Of course not.
Kadi's ears go back in disgust.
Sumulo rubs his tentacle sheathes.
Sumulo: The cat is mind. Don't you forget it.
Alea chuckles and turns her back on Sumulo to look at Valrie again.
Sumulo looks at Valrie.
Alea: Sumulo, I've let you get by with a lot. But if you lay a tentacle on
this cat, you will regret it.
Sumulo: You're fine. I think it is time that you get to work and earn your
keep as a Donor should.
Alea turns to Sumulo.
Alea: Get out.
Sumulo: [looks at Alea] Oooo you are scaring me. [mocking]
Alea moves between Valrie and Sumulo.
Sumulo: Fine.
Sumulo walks out and goes to the lobby to get his next donation.
Lanyi is about to talk to Seezi after transfer about it being her fourth,
but cuts it short when she hears the page.
Lanyi passes Sumulo on her way to Valrie's room.
==== Between here and the next note, this part came with a corrupted log.
Read at your own risk.=====
Kadi begins to tremble.
Alea turns to Valrie.
Alea: Are you okay, hon?
Lanyi signals at Valrie's door.
Alea reaches out and strokes her hair, pushing it Gently back from her face.
Valrie: He... He was....
Lanyi comes in.
Alea: Enter [to Lanyi].
Seezi comes bouncing out of the transfer room towards the lobby.
Alea continues to stroke Valrie's hair, making soothing sounds.
Alea: Don't worry...
Lanyi zlins.
Alea moves back so Lanyi can get in.
Valrie: ~~new upset setting off old fears.~~~
Alea: Do you require my assistance or should I go, Hajene?
Valrie starts crying.
Alea strokes Kadi Gently.
Kadi: Purrrr, purrr.
Lanyi: Please stay a moment.
==== The end====
Kadi decides it's time to go exploring again, and wiggles to be let down.
Alea releases Kadi reluctantly.
Kadi runs off.
Alea moves to offer Lanyi support, remembering she isn't as sensitive as
Farrises.
Wise Snake walks up to the Sime Center.
Nick lets his nager link lightly with Snake's, blocking the ambient noise.
Valrie: He.... He came in, and he starting attacking the cat, and me....
Wise Snake approaches the clerk and asks to speak to Lanyi.
Wise Snake is told to wait.
Sumulo: Sumulo zlins WiseSnake.
Wise Snake gestures to Nick that they should have a seat.
Lanyi zlins the bruises on Valrie's arms. [thinks: Just what she needs. More
bruises. ]
Katryn comes out of the Sime wing and toward the lobby to get her bearings
Sumulo: Clerk: I said give me the next donation.
Nick sits next to Snake, concentrating on keeping a buffer between her and
the rest of the lobby.
Sumulo turns to the Farris Channel.
Katryn leaves.
Seezi is standing by the wall, looking around wide-eyed.
Sumulo: Who drug you in? The cat I just encountered?
Wise Snake stares at Sumulo.
Sumulo: Sumulo zlins NickR .
Lanyi: I see.
Wise Snake: Excuse me, but you seem to be zlinning my Donor.
Lanyi zlins Kadi.
Sumulo goes to Nick to zlin the strange nager closer.
Sumulo snorts. "Yours."
Sumulo: You sure you want him?
Sumulo: Why don't you just give him to me?
Nick ignores the rude Second, but likes being referred to as Snake's Donor.
Wise Snake blocks Nick's nager with hers.
Alea sees Kadi has returned and scoops her back up
Wise Snake gives Sumulo a look to freeze boiling water.
Sumulo: Rather protective, are you?
Wise Snake: You had best change your train of thought and change it quickly.
Nick lets his nager blend with Snake's, allowing it to take on the outward
appearance of hers.
Wise Snake: Me wonders who the hell this guy thinks he is.
Wise Snake wonders who the hell this guy thinks SHE is.
Sumulo: Who do you think you are, you scuffy-looking excuse for a Channel?
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Wise Snake: Snake Farris. Not that you have any idea what that means.
Sumulo: [looks closer] Excuuuuuse me. A FARRIS Channel. [sneer]
Lanyi: Kadi seems to have gotten off easier than you did. Let me see if I
can help.
Sumulo: How many Farris' ARE there in this no count Center?
Lanyi: ~~ projects need at Valrie's arms ~~
Wise Snake thinks this guy has to be kept away from B'cal.
Alea continues to offer support.
Wise Snake: Three.
Valrie is calming down with both Alea and Lanyi around to protect her.
Sumulo: You should make that 2. You certainly don't qualify as one.
Wise Snake: The balance is maintained, of course, by also having
negative-proficiency-rating Channels such as yourself around.
Sumulo bristles.
Wise Snake: Frankly, my friend, I hardly care what I qualify as in your book.
Sumulo: You may be a Farris but you are certainly no member of Zeor.
Lanyi: Alea, what did he put in her file, do you know?
Wise Snake: True. A fact I am proud of.
Sumulo: [Turns to clerk] Where is my donor?
Alea: I don't know.
Alea: I simply told him to get out.
Alea: And he did.
Seezi stares wide-eyed.
Nick's nager shows just a hint of amusement.
Sumulo: I'm sure you don't qualify at all.
Wise Snake pulls her Zeor ring out of her pocket, fingers it openly while
Sumulo is not paying attention.
Alea: He probably took the file with him.
Alea: I do know he threatened her, and told her she should start doing a
Donor's work when she hasn't even been qualified yet.
Wise Snake slips the ring onto a finger then covers it with a tentacle, invisible
to sight but perfectly obvious to zlinning.
Sumulo zlins and sneers.
Alea holds Kadi closely, rubbing her cheek against her one last time before
opening the door and releasing her to go play.
Wise Snake smiles blandly.
Sumulo: No matter.
Wise Snake: ~~~couldn't care less what you think and slightly bored with
you~~~
Wise Snake: ~~~but slightly amused also~~~~
Sumulo: They must have kicked you out or you wouldn't be here, looking and
zlinning the way you do.
Wise Snake: So true. They also begged me to come back. I refused.
Sumulo: [only is able to zlin what WiseSnake wants him to zlin]
Nick is proud of Snake's independence.
Sumulo grabs the papers from the clerk and looks at the next donor.
Lanyi momentarily wonders if it was snake, not Sumulo, was being pushy about
being a Donor, but Snake would never leave bruises.
Sumulo: "This way." [unpleasant smile]
Wise Snake: Is this the depths the Tecton has sunk to? [to Nick]
Lanyi: I'll make a note that your case will only be attended by Firsts, which
will exclude Sumulo from examining or treating you.
Sumulo indicates with a tentacle for the donor to follow.
Wise Snake notices Sumulo does not seem to have any particularly good intentions
towards the poor donor and zlins them both curiously.
Nick: I think the Tecton has always had its share of bad apples. But I pity
that poor guy.
Wise Snake: That guy seems to be a bit of an asshole, doesn't he? [to donor,
about Sumulo]
Alea is very glad to hear that and smiles at Valrie.
Wise Snake: Tell you what. I'll give you double the price just to keep him
out of work. [to donor]
Sumulo ignores Snake and leaves with the donor.
Victim1 follows the Channel.
Lanyi: Did you want me to ask the Controller to look into this?
Valrie: Thank you [shyly]
Nick: He'll be wishing he took you up on that offer before he's through.
Wise Snake pulls a big wad of cash out of her pocket, then shrugs and replaces
it as the victim... er, donor... leaves.
Wise Snake: Ah well. None of my business anyway, I suppose.
Victim1 hesitates, then moves back over to Snake.
Wise Snake: The guy's probably competent enough, just no bedside manner.
Wise Snake: Well, it's easy enough to find out...
Victim1: Double?
Sumulo stops. "What are you doing!?"
Victim1: Can you pay me more than she is going to?
Seezi notes that Nick is so insightful.
Wise Snake smiles lazily.
Wise Snake: Why not? It's only money.
Victim1 looks at the Channel
Sumulo: Don't do it. The Tecton doesn't take kindly to interference.
Wise Snake pulls the big wad of cash out again, begins counting off bills.
Victim1: I just want the money.
Wise Snake: Technically, I am still a Tecton employee.
Victim1 chuckles as he watches Snake count out the money.
Wise Snake: Oh? You don't want to be low-field? Okay.
Wise Snake hands the bills to Victim.
Nick is glad that he is definitely NOT a Tecton employee, not even technically.
Wise Snake: I aim to please.
Victim1 accepts them, gladly.
Victim1: Thank you.
Wise Snake: Good bye... see you next month.
Victim1 grins with glee and heads out the door.
Victim1: Of course.
Sumulo sees the donor and stares to Snake. "I will have to die in attrition
for this."
Wise Snake laughs.
Sumulo goes to his office to make a phone call.
Alea: I offered to get the Controller so she could file a complaint against
him, Hajene.
Wise Snake glances at Nick and shrugs.
Nick winks back.
Seezi: ~~ jealousy ~~
Wise Snake zlins Seezi curiously.
Valrie: I don't want to make trouble.
Seezi blushes and runs out of the lobby with her head down.
Valrie has learned the hard way that making trouble means getting beaten.
Lanyi: As you wish.
Valrie thinks that Sumulo would probably be quite happy to do it himself.
Lanyi: I've gotten the ruptured capillaries healed, so there won't be anymore
bleeding under the skin.
Lanyi: I'm afraid there will be superficial discoloration until your body
reabsorbs the blood already there.
Wise Snake: I think that girl has a crush on you. [to Nick]
Valrie nods, not quite understanding what capillaries are.
Nick lifts an eyebrow in surprise.
Nick: But I've never seen her before in my life!
Wise Snake: Hey... haven't you ever heard of love at first sight?
Wise Snake gets up and goes to the front desk, casually goes to the cabinet
with Channel files and sees if the drawer that would have Sumulo's file is
unlocked.
Lanyi eyes the other bruises faded to yellow. "Try to eat plenty of greens
the next few days, ok. For the iron."
Nick follows, maintaining the proper spacing as if glued to Snake's side.
Valrie nods.
Seezi runs down the street crying and not knowing why.
Valrie: Okay.
Wise Snake notes it's locked, and without a pause pulls out a set of lock
picks and deftly renders that information out-of-date.
Nick automatically holds the fields steady while casually stepping between
Snake and any casual observers.
Wise Snake pops the drawer open and pulls out Sumulo's file, glances over
it.
Lanyi: Do you think you'll be ok now, Valrie?
Wise Snake looks frankly amazed, then shakes her head.
Wise Snake replaces the file and closes the cabinet.
Wise Snake: Scratch my previous estimation of that Sumulo fellow.
Nick lifts an interrogative eyebrow.
Wise Snake returns to the lobby seating and has a seat.
Lanyi: Ok. Get some more rest or go have something to eat, as you wish.
Nick follows at Snake's side.
Lanyi: Bye.
Wise Snake: Apparently the guy has a history of mistreating, and even hurting,
donors.
Wise Snake: [low tone so nobody else hears]
Valrie: I will.
Alea follows Lanyi.
Nick: I wouldn't think the Tecton would keep a Channel like that.
Wise Snake: Not to mention Donors.
Lanyi comes out to the lobby.
Wise Snake: Well... according to his paperwork he's got a well-placed uncle
who keeps pulling his ass out of the fire.
Nick: Oh. It figures.
Lanyi asks clerk for Valrie's file.
Nick: Hasn't he ever been disciplined?
Wise Snake: Well I didn't read every little note, but it looks like most
of the discipline he was signed up for was either "postponed" or severely
reduced.
Alea continues to offer Lanyi support.
Valrie settles back in her bed and looks around the room, thinking that it
was just starting to feel safe here.
Lanyi nods to Alea in acknowledgement.
Wise Snake: I doubt I would take on a Channel like that without at least
knowing what his motivation was.
Nick: Most bullies run on false pride.
Lanyi makes notations in Valrie's file that she is to be handled by Firsts
only, and not pressured about Donation.
Wise Snake pushes back her unruly mane of black hair.
Wise Snake feels distinctly sleazy and sourly thinks she has Linn to thank
for this new, unwelcome level of awareness.
Wise Snake wonders if the entire building would have to be heated to have
water running in the Ferry Building.
Nick notices Lanyi, and looks at Snake in question to see if she's ready
to talk to the other Channel.
Wise Snake holds up her hand to stay Nick's impatience.
Nick settles back to wait.
Lanyi finishes with Valrie's file and gives it back to clerk.
Lanyi goes to check her mailbox.
Lanyi reads a message slip.
Lanyi raises her eyebrows.
Alea: Message?
Alea curious at Lanyi's reaction.
Lanyi: Yes, from ... [ gestures to snake ]
Alea: Ah...
Alea nods.
Wise Snake thumbs through a pamphlet.
Alea keeps a careful neutral expression and nager.
Nick keeps his attention on Snake while keeping his eye on the activity in
the lobby, in order to spot nageric chaos before it happens.
Lanyi walks over to WiseSnake. "Hajene Snake?"
Alea follows keeping her attention focused on Lanyi.
Wise Snake stands.
Nick stands also.
Wise Snake: Hajene Lanyi. [formally] May I have a word with you in private?
Lanyi: Certainly. In my office?
Wise Snake realizes there must be some truth to Nick's claim of radically
increased sensitivity on her part... at least, she'd never noticed Alea's
nager feeling quite so GOOD before.
Wise Snake tries to restrain herself from noticing any further.
Wise Snake: Th-at would be fine. [manages]
Lanyi: Thank you Alea. You've been very helpful.
Nick hears Snake stutter and increases his support.
Alea nods, surprised at the dismissal.
Wise Snake is relieved when Nick's scratchy, slightly clumsy nager covers
up Alea's distractingly smooth one.
Alea moves back from Lanyi, nodding to Snake.
Lanyi leads to her office.
Wise Snake remains close to Nick until they reach the office door.
Wise Snake: Nick, would you please remain here while I speak to Lanyi in
private?
Wise Snake: It should only be a short time.
Alea cannot believe Snake dismissing the Donor either and stares, even more
surprised.
Wise Snake: You too, Alea. I'm sorry.
Nick nods, slightly saddened at this new evidence of the rift between them.
Alea shrugs.
Nick then disciplines his nager to stillness.
Wise Snake closes the door behind herself and Lanyi.
Wise Snake: Shen [mutters to self] what a disaster.
Lanyi sees nothing odd in this. Private means private.
Lanyi goes into her office.
Wise Snake sits down across from Lanyi.
Alea looks at Nick.
Lanyi intertwines her fingers and tentacles. "What can I do you for?"
Nick shrugs, unwilling to discuss his problems dealing with Snake with an
outsider.
Alea: Would you like some trin.
Wise Snake: Ah, yes. I was hoping to request a favor of you.
Lanyi: I'll be glad to help if I can.
Nick: If you can bring it here. I don't know how long this will take, but
Snake will want to leave immediately when she's done.
Lanyi wonders if Snake's arrogance has gotten her into trouble.
Alea looks to clerk and sends him for trin.
Wise Snake: I am asking you because you seem an honest, and above all, practical
sort of person, who the other employees of the Center respect.
Alea: Well, have fun waiting. The tea will be here in a moment.
Alea smiles.
Alea: If you'll excuse me.
Nick: Certainly. I'm sure you have work to do.
Alea goes over and retrieves her cloak and heads toward the front door.
Alea: Oh, no. Not at all. I'm on my way out for a walk.
Lanyi: Thank you.
Nick thinks of all the disasters which have started that way and winces.
Nick: Isn't there somebody to go with you?
Alea: I wish there was.
Nick looks up and down the hall, looking for reinforcements.
Alea: However, I have got to go get some more items for my sketchbook. I
have time off until later today.
Wise Snake: I hope that you will keep what I am telling you in the strictest
confidence, telling only those people you must.
Nick: What about that fellow who was with you the day you fell through the
ice?
Alea: I'd love to be with him right now, Nick. But he's a renSime and is
due transfer in a couple of days. I wouldn't dream of getting near him right
now.
Alea: Thank you for being so concerned though.
Lanyi: Of course. Channel's confidentiality.
Nick reflects that, after all, Alea isn't his problem.
Wise Snake: About two months ago a high-level investigation was begun, into
the disappearance of an... art object belonging to, and housed at, Zeor.
Nick is very glad of that, considering the trouble she gets into.
Alea buttons up her cloak, goes over and takes the tea from clerk and offers
it to Nick.
Nick accepts the tea.
Alea: Here you go.
Nick: Thank you.
Alea: You can pull up a chair if you'd like.
Lanyi raises her eyebrows.
Nick: I will, if it takes long.
Alea nods.
Alea: If you'll excuse me.
Nick nods courteously.
Seezi is sitting in the park where she talked to that nice lady, wondering
what these strange feelings are.
Alea goes out the door and down the steps to make a quick trip downtown for
some more supplies.
Wise Snake: However, the investigation has not gone well.
Wise Snake: The object was traced here, to Bender Cove, but there the
investigation stalled.
Alea looks through her purse checking to see if she has her money...notes
Lawana out walking and gets her to walk along.
Nick sips the tea, raising an eyebrow at the mediocre quality.
Wise Snake: Among other difficulties, it seems the Tecton has refused to
cooperate by handing over the information on who was transferred to, and
from, this Center during that time.
Lanyi: Has anyone been trying to sell it?
Wise Snake looks confused.
Nick: Shen, you'd think that the Tecton could afford something a bit better.
Wise Snake: The object? Not that I know of.
Lanyi: Did you mean staff transfers, or clients?
Wise Snake wonders what kind of an idiot Lanyi thinks she is, that Snake
would be here asking for this information if she knew who was trying to SELL
the thing.
Alea goes down the street, chatting with Lawana as they walk toward the art
store.
Wise Snake: Both, as I understand it.
Lanyi: Why did the Tecton say no?
Alea crosses the street to cut through the park.
Wise Snake: Well, there was no official refusal... but the request was made
on a local level and it seems that certain ...well placed employees of the
Center harbor a certain.. resentment against the parties making the request.
This may have been a factor in the lack of cooperation.
Wise Snake: Personally, I am in favor of simply handing the information over
to the local authorities, but of course I have little say in the Center's
actual operation.
Wise Snake: I was wondering if you, being of sound judgement and relatively
unprejudiced in this matter, could expedite matters?
Alea sees Seezi sitting on a bench and smiles.
Alea: Seezi!
Katryn comes back down the hallway and zlins the new Donor in the lobby.
Katryn smiles and goes over.
Katryn: Hello, I'm Katryn. I'm new here.
Katryn makes a gesture with her Tentacles.
Katryn: I just started today.
Nick: Pleased to meet you.
Katryn: Have you worked here long?
Nick: No.
Katryn nods.
Katryn: I see.
Katryn is a third order Channel, short red hair with a sprinkling of freckles,
just out of first year.
Nick sips at the tea, thinking that at least it's warm, as is the building.
Katryn: I'm trying to learn the building right now.
Nick thinks that it's probably the last warmth he's going to see for a long
time, once Snake gets done with her business with Lanyi.
Katryn: Unfortunately, today when I was reporting in to the Center, they
had an emerGency with a Farris and the Controller was very upset that I didn't
do as good as he expected.
Katryn: So, I thought to familiarize myself as well as possible with the
building, so we won't have any more mistakes.
Katryn is very enthusiastic about her job.
Nick: Yes, Farrises are tricky to handle.
Katryn: Ah well, it wasn't handling them but that I didn't know where everything
was in the infirmary room I was in.
Katryn: I don't want that to happen again so I'm going over everything.
Nick: Knowing where the supplies are is important, certainly.
Katryn: Of course.
Katryn zlins Nick.
Katryn: Who are you working with this month?
Nick keeps his nager completely neutral.
Nick: I work with Hajene Snake.
Katryn tries to think if she's met him/her and decides she hasn't.
Katryn: I don't believe I've had the pleasure yet.
Nick is quite sure of that, given Katryn's lack of response to Snake's name.
Katryn: I'm sure I'll me Snake eventually. What an odd name.
Nick: It is.
Katryn: Must have been prophetic.
Katryn chuckles.
Katryn: If she's a Channel.
Katryn looks at her own tentacles and smiles fondly.
Katryn: Or is it a um he?
Nick reflects that, given the pre-natal selyn draw of a Farris Channel, prophecy
had very little to do with it.
Katryn blushes.
Nick: No. Snake's a woman.
Katryn: Ah.
Katryn decides this Donor has no desire to chat.
Katryn: Well, thank you for talking.
Katryn: I should be on my way.
Katryn studies the lobby, where everything is, then turns toward the hall.
Alea: Donation left, transfer right infirmary....
Katryn continues to mutter as she goes down the hall.
Nick wonders if Snake will be able to organize the Ferry Building to avoid
this sort of confusion on the part of the staff.
Wise Snake exits Lanyi's office, her business concluded.
Katryn walks with Lawana through the park.
Nick slurps down the last of the tea and tosses the paper cup in a convenient
trash can.
Veraik sees Snake. "Hello Snake."
Alea goes to the art store and rummages around, looking for just the right
colors.
Wise Snake sees Veraik.
Wise Snake: Hello.
Nick falls in at Snake's side.
Veraik: Nick?
Nick nods a greeting.
Veraik: Have you seen Sumulo, one of our new seconds? ~~nager bristles~~
Wise Snake: I hear you're having a bit of trouble with one of your new Channels.
Wise Snake: [conversationally]
Wise Snake looks surprised.
Veraik: What have you heard?
Wise Snake: Well actually... I believe we are speaking of the same fellow.
Veraik: ~~~nager flattens~~~ "Probably."
Wise Snake: A bunch of insults directed at myself, for one thing...
Alea finds the colors she wants and buys a new sketch pad. She also buys
some paints to add to her private collection that she now allows no one to
see.
Wise Snake: And his nager when he tried to assist a donor... positively hates
his job from the way he zlins. I'm sure the Gens pick up on it.
Veraik wipes tentacles across face.
Veraik: Yes. Well I am afraid we are stuck with him for a while.
Veraik: He is going to demolish the reputation of this Center if I do not
find a way to control him soon.
Veraik: Well, that's not your probably.
Wise Snake: I'd offer to whip him into shape for you, given suitable compensation
and sufficient free rein.
Wise Snake: [helpfully]
Veraik: Thanks but I'm afraid that that would cause more harm than good.
Wise Snake frowns, wondering what on earth Veraik thinks she is talking about.
Wise Snake: Whatever you say.
Wise Snake continues on toward the front of the Center.
Nick follows at her elbow.
Alea finds all she wants and heads back to the center.
Veraik: He has to be pawned off in a way which will, in the end, make this
Center come up roses.
Veraik goes to the donation reimbursement office.
Alea comes back to the Center and up the stairs.
Wise Snake leaves the Center.
Alea nods.
Alea thanks Lawana for her help.
Veraik: Rhelana? How many donations have you accounted for today?
Alea goes inside and slips off her cloak.
Rhelana: 30 so far, Hajene.
Veraik: Have you seen Tarsh?
Rhelana:
Blush: No. Not for a while.
Alea hangs up her cloak.
Nick sets out with Snake, ready for a challenging day of "tax collection"
and disaster response.
Veraik: All right. Thank you.
Alea takes her bag to her office.
Wise Snake: Uh, Nick... before we begin...
Nick looks at Snake.
Nick: Yes?
Alea puts it in her office and asks Clerk to please get her stuff from the
gazebo since it doesn't look like she's going to escape anytime soon.
Veraik goes to the lobby but passes Alea's office and decides to see if she
is in.
Wise Snake: Let's find someplace to work on a few things. You're running
a little rough today.
Veraik signals.
Alea opens her door, dismissing clerk.
Alea: Hello Veraik.
Veraik: Alea.
Veraik: I came to check on you.
Nick: It's not too far to the house.
Wise Snake grimaces.
Wise Snake: Sure. Let's go there.
Alea: Ah, well, come in.
Alea steps back.
Wise Snake anticipates a rather grisly scene if Linn is there and catches
her in less than pristine condition.
Wise Snake envisions something involving hot water and considerable delay
in getting started with the day's work.
Veraik enters.
Alea: Now, how can I help you?
Nick leads the way up the steps and unlocks the door.
Veraik: As I said. I thought I should check you and your baby to make sure
you are doing all right.
Alea motions to a chair and then seats herself.
Alea: I'm feeling fine.
Alea: You'll notice I'm walking fine, all the bruises are gone again.
Alea: I'm even talking again.
Linn is just preparing to go out job hunting.
Linn: Nick, I thought you were... Snake!
Alea: Do you want to zlin me?
Veraik: Oh.... Maybe this isn't such a good thing after all. [tease]
Linn runs forward to hug Snake.
Alea chuckles.
Alea: Just for that, I ought to read the reports I've had to redo out loud.
Alea: All seventy-five of them.
Wise Snake flinches but lets her do it.
Veraik: ~blanch~ "Spare me."
Alea gets up and unpacks her art supplies waiting for Veraik to say what
he wants.
Veraik: [holds tentacles out] So may I?
Alea smiles.
Veraik waits patiently.
Alea puts away the paints, pencils and chalks, then turns.
Linn notices the flinch.
Linn: What's the matter, dear?
Wise Snake wonders how they got from fencing words over barely polite tea,
to passionate hugs... hopes Linn isn't totally misunderstanding the situation.
Linn: I've got to go out for a while, but there's tea in the kitchen. And
Snake, there's a bundle of your clean clothes in the bedroom--they were at
the laundry when you packed. There are clean towels, too.
Linn buttons her coat and hurries out the door.
Nick smiles after Linn with affectionate amusement.
Briel goes out for a walk in the park.
Briel is glad to be out of the Center for a bit, though she couldn't find
a Donor to go with her.
Wise Snake wishes Linn had trusted her to know what was right for Linn
transfer-wise.
Seezi notices a cute guy from school in the park.
Briel zlins Seezi.
Wise Snake looks depressed after Linn is gone.
Parnul leaves the office to take a walk.
Nick sees Snake's depression.
Briel: Hello Seezi.
Nick: What's wrong?
Briel moves over to where the young woman is.
Seezi jumps up from the tree she is peering around.
Seezi: Oh! Hi.
Briel zlins and smiles.
Nick: Has your headache returned?
Briel: You just had transfer?
Wise Snake: Linn.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Nick: Oh?
Wise Snake: I hope she finds what she's looking for.
Seezi: Hi ... you're Briel, right? The Channel?
Briel: That's right.
Wise Snake: And I hope it turns out to be what she thought it would be.
Briel: You had a really good transfer. I'm glad.
Veraik Gently takes Alea's arms and wraps tentacles.
Alea stands patiently.
Parnul wanders the streets. He worries that Lowren hasn't gotten back from
out-t yet.
Nick nods agreement with these sentiments.
Seezi: Yeah! She was great!
Veraik: He notes how good it feels then makes fifth and zlins.
Briel: That's wonderful.
Veraik: Shortly, he releases her.
Seezi: But... it made me feel ... funny.
Alea: Well?
Briel: Ah...
Wise Snake removes her cloak.
Briel: You mean 'post'.
Veraik smiles. You're almost healed and the baby is perfect.
Seezi: [over-casually] Who was that guy with Hajene Snake at the center?
Alea: I know. I'm keeping a very careful watch on the baby's progress.
Seezi wrinkles up her brow. "Post?"
Veraik: Good.
Briel smothers a grin.
Veraik: Well. Time for me to get back.
Nick takes off his coat, hangs it up, and reaches for another hanger and
Snake's cloak.
Alea: Of course.
Alea: Um, Hajene....
Veraik: [Turns back] Yes.
Alea: What would it take exactly to possibly get a Channel or Donor sent
from here?
Briel goes over and sits down.
Briel: You mean that old man that's Hajene WiseSnake's Donor?
Veraik grimaces. "If he is from F'Jord? An act of God.
Parnul: [ mutters ] He finished the tour on the 1st. To get to Far Fall and
then Hamish would take ...
Alea: What would you consider acts of God?
Alea really wants this guy gone.
Alea ~~anger~~
Nick hangs up Snake's cloak, then leads the way to the living room.
Seezi studies a tree. "he didn't look that old.'
Veraik quickly protects himself from Alea's nager. "Alea?"
Briel: Come here, sweetie.
Briel motions to the bench beside her.
Seezi moves over to the bench, walking like she will break into a run at
any moment.
Briel stretches out and sighs, cupping her hands behind her head and stretching
out her legs, not looking at Seezi.
Nick sits down on the couch.
Wise Snake is feeling extremely un-optimistic after the encounter with Linn
and drags herself into the living room behind Nick.
Parnul: They've had a lot of snow out that way, but still....
Briel: Has anyone explained what might start happening to you this month?
Alea: Just how far would be too far for Sumulo to go?
Alea forces her nager under control and seats herself on the sofa, crossing
her legs, and placing her hands carefully in her lap.
Nick: So, I still haven't got the hang of your new sensitivity. Where do
you want to start?
Seezi: Which month? What day is it? [thinks] oh, yeah.
Wise Snake: Nick... first of all, let's talk about my "new" sensitivity.
Briel: Your fourth month, Seezi.
Seezi: That icky stuff about the fourth month?
Briel: Yes.
Wise Snake: I've always been sensitive. What you must remember is that you
always need to do your best.
Briel: That icky stuff.
Veraik unconsciously rubs his tentacles after Alea's anger. "If I could,
I would let you read his REAL file."
Wise Snake: Always. Keep trying to be better. There is no "already learned"
something, no "good enough for now", all right? There isn't.
Parnul worries that the delay has more to do with Nally then the weather.
Briel doesn't know exactly what she's getting and so decides to expand.
Veraik: Then perhaps you would understand the extent of the problem.
Alea perks up at real file and thinks she'll be making a nocturnal visit
to Veraik's office.
Alea: I see.
Nick nods acceptance.
Seezi: Its nothing like *that*. I just thought he looked, like, you know.
Veraik: Unfortunately, he is NOT all bluster.
Veraik: He does have all power to back him up and he uses it at ever opportunity.
Briel: Do you remember how awful and empty the last two weeks have been?
Alea: Please Veraik. He can only do so much.
Seezi scowls. "yeah. Wish I could have transfer sooner."
Veraik notes to himself to leave the file in an easy place to find.
Alea: He might can buy his way out of things, but there has got to be somewhere
the Tecton would draw the line.
Briel: Exactly.
Briel: Well, after you have transfer, those two weeks when you have been
so empty, so cold inside are suddenly working again.
Veraik: Only if he truly killed someone or someone's kid who is in a higher
place than his family's.
Wise Snake: What you were, back at the Center, was uneven. Part of the time
you were meshing well with me but not watching your emotions; other times
you were doing well controlling your emotions but failing to mesh perfectly.
Briel: And it's only normal, now that you're older, that you're going to
notice men and be interested in sex.
Wise Snake: I realize it's a lot to keep track of but with time, if you keep
working hard at it, you will improve.
Briel: Like Nick, or the young boy over there that you saw.
Seezi: ~~ revulsion/interest ~~
Briel: And you wanna know a secret?
Nick: Let's work on it, then.
Seezi glances over at him and blushes again.
Briel: You aren't the only one. Many of these other young boys your age are
just as interested.
Seezi: He's just a kid I knew in school.
Alea: So, he can do whatever he wants and you're saying the Tecton isn't
going to lift a finger to help, no matter who he hurts.
Seezi looks carefully away from Briel. "Really?"
Alea: As long as he doesn't end their life?
Veraik: Essentially yes.
Briel stretches out again and nods.
Alea gets a determined look on her face.
Alea: I see.
Veraik: And the Center has him for at least six months.
Seezi doesn't see the nod.
Briel: Yeah. They do.
Veraik zlins Alea, glad that he was having this 'talk' with her.
Alea thinks we'll see about that.
Alea looks back at Veraik and smiles.
Alea: I won't let him endanger the child Veraik.
Briel: Of course, I would imagine most of the really old ones like Nick aren't
real interested anymore....
Parnul notices he is walking by the site of the winter carnival.
Seezi: ~~ devastated ~~
Veraik: I know you will, Naztehr.
Briel finally looks over at Seezi.
Briel: Then again, who knows.
Veraik thinks that the best thing that could happen to Sumulo was Alea.
Seezi is hanging her head., but perks it up.
Alea nods.
Veraik goes to the door.
Briel: The important thing about post, Seezi is that you allow the odd feelings,
the anger, pain, frustration, tears, free rein so you can function again
fully.
Briel: Don't fear them. It's perfectly normal to feel all of this afterward,
including the desire for a closer relationship with another human.
Seezi wonders how this is supposed to differ from how she usually behaves.
Alea: Thank you Hajene.
Veraik: I'm going to my office and then to the cafeteria. So, I'll be back
working dispensary in an hour.
Seezi blushes and looks away again.
Veraik looks at Alea. "You're welcome."
Alea: I understand.
Alea smiles, thinking this is the easiest she and Veraik have talked in a
while.
Alea thinks it must be they both have the same goal: get rid of Sumulo.
Parnul: Wish Nally had chickened out on donating. Then she would have had
to leave sooner.
Nick patiently begins the training drills once more, letting Snake correct
him when his nager strays.
Seezi: But what .. what if...
Briel ~~encouraging~~
Seezi: What if he doesn't like me?
Alea waits until Veraik is gone.
Briel: That's a chance we take.
Briel: However, Seezi, you can zlin his emotions, see in them what he's feeling.
Seezi: I can?
Seezi had never considered that aspect of it...
Briel: Even a Gen can watch someone and get hints if they like them or not.
Briel: Let's just put it this way, Seezi.
Briel: Go, up, be friends. If things go farther, that's nice, if not, then
don't worry about it.
Seezi: Uh... about all this ... stuff ... does it matter if he's ...which
kind of,
Briel: Not at all.
Seezi: ~~ relief ~~
Briel grins.
Briel: Just be prepared for this kind of feeling every month right after
transfer, sweetie.
Briel: Known that it's normal.
Briel: And that it's okay.
Seezi: Every month?
Briel: Well yeah, just about every month.
Seezi: ~~ uncertain ~~ ok. Thanks, Hajene Briel.
Briel realizes she hasn't helped Seezi at all.
Briel: You have fun, sweetie. We'll see you later.
Briel stands.
Seezi: All right.
Alea slips out the door and down to Veraik's office.
Seezi leaps up and throws her arms around Briel. "Thanks again!"
Briel squeezes the little girl back.
Briel: Any time.
Seezi lets go and dances over into the trees.
Briel watches her and thinks that little boy Seezi has her eye on is about
to be in big trouble. Briel doesn't think anyone is going to be able to resist
Seezi.
Briel heads on off on her walk down the streets.
Seezi ends up peering around a tree at the boy again.
Parnul recalls that teacher that he gave a ride home from the carnival.
Alea works through the ring of keys until she finds the one she requires
and after making sure no one is around, unlocks the door and slips into Veraik's
office.
Alea relocks the door then moves over to Veraik's files and digs carefully
through them.
Alea finds the file she is looking for and removes it, going over to Veraik's
desk and seating herself.
Alea notes how thick it is, then grasps the top and opens it.
Alea starts reading, one page at a time.
Alea [with each page she grows more shocked and angry]
Alea is white with rage by the time she finishes looking at the file.
Alea carefully closes it and forces herself to walk over to the cabinet and
put it up without ripping it to shreds.
Alea goes to the door and pauses before exiting, thinking she won't stay
at this Center six months with that man unless she can completely avoid him.
Alea thinks as a second she can avoid him, and when she can't she will make
sure his life is miserable.
Alea thinks maybe she won't have to see him at all, then thinks of all the
donors Sumulo will work with and is furious all over again.
Alea slips out of Veraik's office.
Alea carefully locks the door behind her.
Alea is trembling she is so angry.
Alea leans against the door taking deep calming breaths.
Lanyi comes down the hall.
Alea turns and starts toward her office.
Alea sees Lanyi.
Alea works to force her nager flat and remove all sign of her rage from it.
Alea: Hello Hajene.
Alea features are harsh with suppressed emotion.
Lanyi pauses at something she almost zlinned, and then goes on.
Lanyi: Alea. How are you doing?
Alea takes a deep breath, then let's it out.
Alea: Fine. And you?
Lanyi: Well enough. Plenty of work today.
Alea: Yes, there has been.
Alea: Lanyi, might I talk to you a moment?
Lanyi: Certainly.
Lanyi reflects that is her day for it.
Alea moves toward her office.
Lanyi follows.
Alea hesitates in front of her office.
Alea: Is this okay or do you want to go in yours.
Alea: I'll warn you now, mine is half the size and cluttered as well.
Alea pushes the door open in offering.
Lanyi goes on in, zlins around.
Alea pushes the door to behind her.
Alea [office no window, no hot plate for tea, very full with personal as
well as work items]
Alea goes over and sits down.
Lanyi evaluates the art on the walls.
Alea flushes knowing what she is probably thinking about her art so she hurries
on.
Lanyi sits down and interlaces her hands and fingers.
Alea: I noticed Valrie wouldn't talk to the Controller today about our newest
Channel.
Lanyi sighs. "Yeah."
Alea: I have information that he tends to hurt Gens, as a rule, I think,
and not the exception.
Alea thinks first hand experience too, trying not to let the anger build
again.
Lanyi looks concerned. "Usually?"
Alea nods.
Lanyi broods. "How does he do with renSimes?"
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: If he doesn't fear a Farris Donor, is he going to treat a renSime decent?
Lanyi: How does he keep getting away with it?
Alea: Powerful family members in strategic places.
Alea: Bribery, blackmail...
Lanyi scowls. "string pulling."
Alea: Yes.
Alea: He's dangerous.
Alea: He's going to seriously hurt someone, I'm afraid.
Alea: Not to mention that I detest him.
Alea smiles.
Lanyi drums her tentacles on the chair arm.
Lanyi: What do you think we should do?
Lanyi: He's an easy man to detest.
Alea: I don't know. I was hoping you might have an idea.
Alea sighs.
Alea: They usual Farris threats don't bother him.
Lanyi: I'll have to think about it.
Alea: I'm seriously considering how to get rid of him and would appreciate
any input.
Lanyi: The Tecton doesn't require people like him messing things up.
Alea: True.
Alea: This will be kept between us?
Lanyi: Of course.
Alea: Thank you.
Alea stands and opens the door.
Parnul gets up. "I'll get back to you Alea."
Alea: Good.
Alea: See you later.
Lanyi goes out.
Alea closes the door behind Lanyi.
Alea goes back to her chair and sits down and sighs, wondering how they're
going to pull this off and come out smelling like roses.