Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #136: Lunch à la Smitty (1/20/98)
NickR trudges through the snow towards the Ferry Building.
NickR is whistling as he walks, optimistic that he finally understands what he's been doing wrong when supporting Snake.
Alea comes downstairs, brushing her hair back over her shoulder.
Kadi follows Alea, hoping for a treat.
NickR slogs through the snow to the broken window, and discovers that it is securely boarded up.
<NickR> Shen.
Alea goes toward her office and sees work being done on it and stares, mystified.
NickR looks up the building, trying to see if Snake is in her office.
NickR sees a string dangling from the window.
Alea turns to look at the desk clerk, who is busy looking down at his paperwork, and she shrugs.
<Alea> Oh, well, I suppose I can borrow someone else's office.
Kadi yowls politely, just in case Alea didn't realize that the cafeteria is the other direction.
Wisesnake is sitting at her desk wrapped in about 8 blankets, hunched over trying to do paperwork in hard need... not with much success.
NickR tugs on the string.
Alea starts toward Tramila's office and pauses, remembering she's allergic to cats.
Alea looks down at Kadi.
Wisesnake pauses to wipe condensation from her breath off the pen and warm it up in her hands.
<Alea> I know the perfect place we can find snacks.
Alea grins.
Kadi flirts her tail.
<Wisesnake> Shen it, I have to get the heat going in here soon. This is ridiculous.
<Kadi> Mrrrruuuppp!
<Alea> Let's go raid the kitchen.
Wisesnake jumps as a bell rings.
<Wisesnake> What the... Oh.
Wisesnake goes and hoists the window open and looks down.
<Wisesnake> Hey Nick... what's up? [calls down]
NickR sees Snake and waves.
Alea goes to the kitchen to cook up a meal for her and Kadi.
Kadi stalks back and forth, weaving between Alea's feet to "help".
Alea pulls out a pan, being careful not to trip over Kadi.
<Alea> Just a minute, sweetie.
<NickR> I'm a bit early, I know, but Linn wanted you to get this hot.
NickR holds up a large insulated bottle.
Wisesnake hadn't remembered Nick was supposed to be here today at all.
Alea hurries to the fridge and pulls out eggs and veggies and stirs up some breakfast.
<Wisesnake> Uh... [pauses] Okay, hold on. I'll be right down.
Alea fixes two plates--one for Kadi, and one for her.
Wisesnake slams the window shut and picks up all her paperwork, shoves it in a drawer.
Alea sets one on the floor for Kadi and then sits down at the table to eat her food.
Kadi is glad to see Alea fix two plates, because she's hungry.
Wisesnake goes back and pulls the window up again about a half inch in case someone needs to pull the doorbell string again.
Wisesnake trudges down the stairs to let Nick in.
Kadi steps onto the plate to inspect the offerings.
Alea savors the taste of her breakfast as she eats.
Kadi wonders if Alea's plate contains something more interesting.
Kadi jumps up onto the table to inspect it.
Alea reaches over and grabs Kadi.
LargRoach sees that Kadi is not going to eat her food and climbs aboard.
<Alea> No, sweetie. Not on the table.
Alea pulls Kadi in her lap and offers her a piece of food off her plate.
LargRoach crawls beneath the eggs and begins to eat happily.
Kadi puts a paw out towards the offering, snagging it deftly.
Alea finishes the food on her plate.
Wisesnake unlocks the door and opens it.
Alea keeps two small bites for Kadi.
Kadi snaps up the offerings, then jumps down to finish her own portion.
LitlRoach sees what its larger cousin has found and wants to join in, but sees the cat coming and remains safely hidden behind Alea's shoe.
Alea picks up her plate and sets it in the dirty dishes to be washed.
NickR smiles in greeting and falls into support mode--properly, this time.
LitlRoach decamps to behind a chair leg when Alea moves.
Kadi sees the movement, and goes to inspect.
LitlRoach moves around to the other side of the chair leg from where Kadi is looking.
Alea decides to wash the dishes quickly for the cook and runs some water.
Wisesnake thinks this is a definite improvement.
Kadi scurries after, flipping LitlRoach over onto its back.
<Wisesnake> H...uh, hello. [looks at kettle] Do you want to come in?
<NickR> Sure.
Wisesnake stands aside to let Nick enter.
NickR enters, noticing that it isn't any warmer inside.
LitlRoach's little legs squirm frantically before it rights itself and tries to scurry toward the nearest available cover.
Alea begins washing dishes.
LitlRoach sees a crack between Alea's shoe and the floor and dives for it.
Kadi's tail lashes with delight as she scoops LitlRoach up with one paw and flings it against a cabinet.
Wisesnake locks the door behind him and then leads him up the stairs.
Alea rinses the dishes and then begins drying them.
<Wisesnake> I paid a little kid to sweep the stairs, so you don't have to worry about breaking your neck.
NickR follows, once more seeing the possibilities in the building.
<NickR> Thank you. That helps, particularly on these overcast days.
<Wisesnake> I got tired of... [almost says, got tired of hearing B'cal complain about the stairs, then realizes she can't say that to him]
<Wisesnake> ...of hearing Gens trip over things.
<NickR> Ah.
LitlRoach tries to run up the cabinet.
<LitlRoach> Shen! [to itself]
<LitlRoach> This always happens when I go anywhere with him!
Kadi leaps to knock it into the middle of the kitchen floor again.
Alea finishes drying the dishes.
<LitlRoach> He's probably back there laughing it up in the eggs while I get the whhooooooaaa!!!!
<Alea> Kadi!
LitlRoach runs in a frantic circle trying to decide which way to run next.
Alea looks down to see what Kadi is doing and sees the roach.
Kadi leaps, landing on LitlRoach with all four paws.
<Alea> Oh, yuck!
<LitlRoach> oooooofff!!!
LitlRoach's life flashes before its eyes
<KtchnWitc> Kill it! Kill it!
Alea looks around to grab something to kill the roach with.
<NickR> Has there been any word from the city about your bid?
Alea grabs Kadi's plate.
<LitlRoach> Oh please please spare my life... I promise I'll never touch kitten kibble again!
<Alea> Move Kadi..
LitlRoach voice somewhat muffled since it is being pressed face first into the floor.
Alea realizes the plate still has food on it and dumps it in the garbage.
LitlRoach waves its antennae forlornly, the only part showing under the paws.
Kadi ignores all the unsolicited advice, determined to make this new toy
last longer than the mouse.
LargRoach runs up Alea's arm.
Alea turns back around with the... "EEEAK!"
Alea drops the plate and starts slapping--and screaming--as well as jumping.
Kadi dances a cha-cha on LitlRoach.
<KtchnWitc> I HATE Roaches!
Alea knocks the roach off her arm.
<Wisesnake> There's a hearing about it in a few days.
Alea breathing hard, grabs at her chest.
Kadi looks up just in time to see LargRoach hit the floor.
LargRoach flies through the air and lands on the counter.
<Alea> Bugs. Bugs! Oh shen....BUGS!!
<LargRoach> Hey... wings do your thing!!
Kadi jumps onto the counter and pounces on LargRoach.
LargRoach dodges between two jars
<LargRoach> I'm faster than you think, litter stink!
Alea grabs the nearest thing--the cloth kitchen witch--and slams it down at the roach!
<LargRoach> ha-ha!
Kadi darts after, shoving the jars aside.
LargRoach bounces up off the edge of the counter and flies to an overhead cabinet front.
<LargRoach> Too big to miss, too small to hit! And now you're victim to my wit!
Alea uses the straw end to shove at the roach, trying to knock it down.
<KtchnWitc> Yuck!!!!
<NickR> Good. I hope they decide to take advantage of a good thing when it comes knocking on their door.
<LargRoach> Whee!
<KtchnWitc> I'm already burned! Don't get Roach guts on me!
LargRoach jumps into Alea's hair.
Alea lifts the kitchen witch and slaps...
<Alea> Aargh!!
<NickR> It's not as if they've had too many other bids, after all.
Alea drops the kitchen witch and starts jerking at her hair, frantically combing with her fingers to get it out.
Alea ~~PANIC~~
KtchnWitc would normally enjoy watching Alea dancing "La Cucaracha," but this time....
KtchnWitc is glad that she's no longer being used as a roach swatter.
LitlRoach lies on its back, various limbs and antennae twitching alternately.
LargRoach runs down Alea's cleavage.
<LargRoach> This game is fun, but gotta run!
KtchnWitc figures she's going to get to see Alea dancing "La Cucaracha" after all.
<Wisesnake> This is just a preliminary hearing to determine whether I am a serious candidate for consideration, and to learn whether there are any serious objections from the neighborhood surrounding the building.
<Wisesnake> In a couple of days they will be posting little notices around, so anybody who might be interested will know about the meeting.
Alea gasps.
Alea moans.
<NickR> Have there been any objections from the neighbors?
Alea jerks her shirt off in a frenzy to get to the roach.
KtchnWitc figures the roach is doing something right. Not even Tarsh can get those kind of reactions so quickly.
<NickR> I see.
<LargRoach> With haste disrobes, slowly clothes.
LargRoach takes a wrong turn and runs frantically around Alea looking for the exit.
<LargRoach> [crisscrossing patter of little feet over various parts of her body]
Alea reaches and grabs the thing, tossing it.
<LargRoach> Woo hoo!
Alea shudders.
LargRoach opens its wings and soars higher, roars out of the kitchen into an outer hallway.
Alea backs up, steps on KtchnWitc.
Alea slips and falls, squishing KtchnWitc.
Kadi scampers after LargRoach in hot pursuit.
<KtchnWitc> MmmMmmm! Hey!
Alea sits up, and pulls the kitchen witch out from under her.
KtchnWitc wishes she were back up on the wall where she belongs....
LitlRoach drags itself pathetically in the direction of safety, a millimeter at a time, various limbs continuing to twitch uncontrolled.
Alea realizes she is sitting in the kitchen half naked and decides to put her shirt back on before anyone wanders in.
LargRoach sees the cat is following and decides to play another game.
<NickR> Do you anticipate any serious trouble?
Alea stands and staggers over to her shirt, to find it in the soapy water.
<Alea> Well, shen.
Alea tosses KtchnWitc onto the counter and grabs her shirt.
JonDrake comes in from the cold and heads to the kitchen to get a hot cup of tea.
<Wisesnake> Well, I had been concerned that various neighborhood groups would want to know what I was up to...
Alea squeezes the water out of her shirt, twisting it until the last drops of water slide into the sink.
<Wisesnake> So I have been careful to go and talk to them all... well shen, you've been in on a lot of that. They've been very encouraging.
Alea shakes her shirt out with a snap.
Alea thinks this is going to feel slimy and nasty....
<JonDrake> Alea?
Alea flips her shirt around and...
<Alea> Shen!
Alea whirls.
<Wisesnake> I was blindsided a couple of days ago by some fanatic from the Historical Conservation Society who said I was taking my life into my hands if I so much as touched the place.
Alea whirls back around.
<Alea> Just a minute.
<JonDrake> What _are_ you doing?
<Alea> Putting my shirt on.
Alea slips one arm, then the other into her shirt sleeves.
<Wisesnake> I guess she was under the impression that I planned on remodeling or something. I told her I was planning a partial restoration and that's when she really jumped on me.
Alea hisses as the wet material clings to her skin.
<NickR> Shen! Those folks are vicious, and the Planning Commission loves them.
Alea quickly buttons it up.
<LargRoach> Kitty, Kitty, follow Smitty...
Alea turns back around.
<Alea> Good morning, Jon.
Alea is flushed
SmittyRch (aka LargRoach) swoops lower, then takes a sudden turn into an office.
<JonDrake> Well, I can see that. What are you doing washing it in the kitchen sink? We have a laundry for that.
Kadi sets the halls ringing to the thunder of galumphing paws.
<Alea> I wasn't washing it in the sink, Jon.
<Alea> Why would I want to wash my shirt and then put it back on wet?
Alea grabs KtchnWitc and slams her hurriedly into place on the wall.
<NickR> You'd think that a bunch of historians, wanting to preserve the building's original atmosphere, would prefer your plans to having it abandoned and decaying.
<Wisesnake> Well, after wasting a good 10 minutes explaining that the upgrades I planned would NOT violate the building's integrity if I can at all help it, since I am interested in conservation too, then she DEMANDED to know my credentials as a preservationist.
Kadi sees Smitty Roach turn into Sumulo's office, and decides that they will make purrfect company for each other.
SmittyRch does a touch-and-go on the desk, faking the kitten into thinking he is going to land on it.
Kadi sits down in the hall and grooms herself in satisfaction, then strolls away, tail waving gently.
<NickR> Let me guess: she thinks only a fellow historian has the right to do restoration work?
<SmittyRch> Pretty trinkets will soon be junkets when she trips and spills them... shen it! The young have no attention span whatsoever.
SmittyRch lands on the back of the chair.
<Wisesnake> I guess so.
<Wisesnake> I'm afraid it went downhill from there.
NickR considers for a moment.
<NickR> Have you thought of asking Linn to come to the meeting with you?
She's got a history degree.
<SmittyRch> Hemmm... Either I'm mis-inspeckeratin' or this needs redeckeratin'.
<NickR> She's also pretty, and speaks well. That counts for a lot at these meetings.
<Alea> I mean, really Jon, that would be rather odd, don't you think?
Alea releases the water from the sink, starting to shiver in her wet top.
<Wisesnake> Ah... no. I've pretty much written off Linn. She doesn't require me anymore and I have too much work to do to go chasing after her.
Alea dries her hands, then remembers her cooking diploma and pulls it out of a drawer and hangs it up next to the kitchen witch before finally turning back to Jon Drake.
SmittyRch slides down the chair-back to lounge upon the seat.
NickR holds up the insulated jar.
SmittyRch waves his antennae thoughtfully, trying to decide which of his friends he should invite to help with the "work".
<NickR> Linn hasn't written you off. I expect she'd be glad to help out--if you asked her to.
<Wisesnake> This I can handle myself.
Wisesnake thinks, not like some other things Linn could have helped me with.
NickR shrugs casually.
<NickR> It was just an idea.
NickR decides to change the subject, and let Snake think it over after her transfer.
<Wisesnake> Are you cold? I could burn more schedules.
<NickR> How is Simone working out?
Wisesnake points to a half-empty box of them.
<Wisesnake> Oh... Simone? [vaguely]
<Wisesnake> He's... he's okay.
NickR is concerned.
<Wisesnake> I think his fame at giving good transfers has allowed him to get really sloppy in other areas.
<Wisesnake> And because he is never around a channel for long, he can get away with it.
<NickR> I see.
Wisesnake hopes the transfer will more than make up for the other trouble.
<NickR> I'd think that with a nager like his, he'd have to stay in practice or drive every Sime in the area nuts.
<Wisesnake> He does a lot of work in Gen Territory.
JonDrake shrugs.
Alea sighs.
<NickR> Gen Territory?
<JonDrake> You should get into something warm and dry.
NickR's interest is piqued.
JonDrake takes off his coat.
<Alea> I am planning on it.
<JonDrake> Here. Put this on for now.
<Alea> You know....
Alea surprised.
<Wisesnake> And for all I know, it may be a relatively recent development.... a Donor must practice constantly to remain in shape, just as an athlete or musician must.
<NickR> What would a First Order Donor be doing in Gen Territory?
<Wisesnake> I have never understood that myself.
<Alea> Why, thank you Jon. But, I'm going to run up to my room in just a minute.
<Alea> And I wouldn't want to get your coat wet.
Alea smiles, thinking Jon Drake is really a gentleman at heart.
<JonDrake> Don't worry about that. I wouldn't want you to catch a chill.
<NickR> With the shortages, I wouldn't think the Tecton would allow him to work at anything else.
<Alea> Well, okay.
Alea accepts Jon's coat.
<Alea> It was really a simple accident.
JonDrake notices things, but he doesn't ogle.
<NickR> Unless...
<Alea> A bug flew down my top and I was trying to get it out.
JonDrake helps Alea with the coat.
Alea slips it on.
<JonDrake> Ah... I see....
<Alea> The top was a casualty.
<Alea> Bugs!
<Alea> I am calling the exterminator as soon as I change and getting him in here.
<Alea> I have had it with all of the vermin running around.
JonDrake bends down to pick up the kitchen witch and place the stomped on, singed thing back on the wall.
<NickR> Rafe was also doing something very much outside of the normal job description. Could Simone be up to something similar?
Alea feels much warmer in Jon's coat.
<JonDrake> Well, it may help with the insects, but I don't know about the rest.
Alea notices kitchen witch fell of the wall and guesses when she slapped it on the wall, she missed the nail.
<Wisesnake> It's possible. [thinking Simone may be involved in the search for the missing Zeor art piece]
<Alea> I'm about ready to take a sledge hammer to the rest.
NickR looks around and locates a not-too-dirty mug.
NickR unscrews the cap of the insulated jar.
Wisesnake watches Nick's actions and judges he must be in a fairly reckless mood.
<Alea> If you want to walk up with me, I'll be glad to return your coat as soon as I get to my room.
NickR fills the mug with hot soup and holds it out to Snake.
Wisesnake grimaces, thinking of what was in the mug last, then accepts the cup.
<Wisesnake> Thanks.
<NickR> It's one of Linn's better efforts. [encouragingly]
Wisesnake wraps her fingers and tentacles around the mug and sips cautiously.
<Wisesnake> You know, this close to transfer I'm not really that hungry...
Alea shrugs.
<Alea> Thanks for the use of the coat, Jon. I'll get it right back to you after I change.
Alea leaves the kitchen and goes up the stairs
NickR , while equally close to transfer, is able to work up an appetite after sniffing the steam.
Wisesnake takes another sip, goaded on by Nick's nager.
<NickR> Drink it down. It'll warm you up.
Alea goes to her room and pulls off Jon's coat, looking down in disgust at her soaking wet shirt.
<Wisesnake> Ah. You sound like... [doesn't say it]
Wisesnake drinks some more... it is warm, although the taste is wasted on her in her condition.
Alea pulls open her drawer and pulls out a fresh bra and shirt.
Alea quickly changes and then goes back down the stairs, dropping off Jon's coat on the cloak stand.
centipede races across the floor in Alea's path.
centipede is bright red, with short legs and a shiny shell.
Alea notes they're not done with the work on her office.
<Alea> Oh, yuck!
Alea hurries over to the desk clerk's desk and grabs a file.
Alea runs back over to where centipede is.
Alea brings the folder down hard on the nasty little worm.
centipede runs into Veraik's office.
<Alea> Missed.
<Alea> Shen.
Alea hurries after it, into Veraik's office.
centipede sees the big-flopping-one is gaining on it and puts on some speed, runs underneath a small couch.
centipede sighs with relief at the close escape.
Alea drops down to her knees and peers under the couch.
centipede jumps as big-flopping-one pokes its enormous eyes into its personal space.
centipede runs over itself in its anxiety to escape.
<Alea> Just you wait, you little wretch, until the exterminator gets here.
centipede runs out the other side of the couch and under the desk.
Alea crawls across the floor with the file in hand, toward the desk.
Alea goes around the desk and crawls under it after the centipede.
Alea slams the folder down.
snails are infesting the underside of Veraik's desk... it smells like mushrooms.
<centipede> AAAIIIIIIIIGGHHHHH!!! [death scream inaudible to human ears]
centipede is reduced to a red smear and parts of limbs.
Alea smiles with pleasure, then sees the snails....
<Alea> Oooh, ugh.
Alea quickly backs out from under the desk.
Alea reaches up and grabs the phone and calls the exterminator.
JonDrake is heading to his office with his hot tea and hears the commotion.
<Alea> Yes. Today! I don't CARE if you charge extra because of the snow....
I want these gone now.
Alea slams the phone down.
Alea drops back down to look under Veraik's desk again.
Alea thinks yes....ugh! She did see what she thought she saw.
snails glisten moistly as they litter the desk's underside.
Alea makes a note to check under HER desk when they get done working on it.
snails are escargot... large, probably quite delicious.
Alea grabs the file folder, now red and green, and backs out from under the desk.
centipede is still lying in a crumpled mess under there as well
Alea lays the folder, mess face down, on Veraik's desk.
redroach thinks maybe climbing inside the folder was a bad idea.
redroach runs out in a hurry.
redroach runs into a desk drawer and hides between some safer paper.
Alea stands and shudders.
Alea leaves Veraik's office, pulling the door closed behind her.
Alea leans back against the door.
<Alea> What the shen else can go wrong today?
Alea shakes her head disgustedly.
Alea pushes away from Veraik's door and goes back toward the lobby.
Alea enters the lobby and goes to the clerk's desk to check the boards.
<boards> Alea: Bathroom Cleanup
<boards> 8am till 4pm
<Alea> Oh, geeez...
Alea thinks no way.
Alea reaches up and ERASES the board.
<boards> [blank]
Alea fills in the bathroom clean up : Sumulo 8-4
Alea smiles then goes on to do her work.
Alea goes down the hall away from the boards.
Sumulo sees the board and recognizes the handwriting.
Alea also wrote that Sumulo is assigned to Arcadia, a low level Donor.
<Sumulo> He erases it and reapplies the name. Stupid B..., Alea. Just one
more thing to add to the list.
SmittyRch stands back to survey the new decor of the office.
<SmittyRch> My bald-tailed friend, you'll start a trend!
<SmittyRch> Your witful taste will win the cake!
<RatDecrtr> You're too kind.
RatDecrtr surveys the thousands of rat turds neatly arranged, and bows to them as if accepting audience applause.
<RatDecrtr> I'd like to thank my agent... and my wife....
Alea remembers she forgot her files and returns to the lobby.
Alea sees the change on the board and chuckles, before erasing it.
Alea writes back up there, Sumulo and then Arcadia as his transfer partner.
Alea pauses, decides to make a few more changes while she's there.
Alea rearranges duties giving the really nasty ones to the really nasty people.
Alea finishes and smiles.
Alea nods.
<Alea> Yes, that should do it.
Alea drops the chalk and turns to leave.
Boards: [Rhelana: Dead file filing]
Alea notes they are now done with her office and heads for there.
<Boards> [1am to 11:30 pm]
Sumulo walks back through, sees the boards then removes the board and dumps it into the trash outside.
Alea goes to shove open her door and realizes the door doesn't fit right now that they're done.
<Sumulo> [steaming] Sumulo goes to his office.
Alea realizes it doesn't open at all.
<RatDecrtr> Well, thanks for the gig. I gotta leave now.
<Alea> Shen.
RatDecrtr crawls into a hole, lifting up his nasty bare tail to avoid disturbing anything on the floor.
Alea goes over to the desk and calls the company who insulated her office and whatever else to come back and fix her office door.
Sumulo sees his office littered in droppings.
Alea sighs when they promise to be back out within the hour.
<Sumulo> NO! I'm... I'm... It's that DONOR. She did this.
Alea drops down into desk clerk's chair.
Sumulo backs out. ~~~anger~~~
SmittyRch wriggles his antennae, from the vantage point of Sumulo's seat back.
Alea places her chin on her hand and waits, absently looking through the different files laying on the desk in front of her.
Sumulo sees the roach and grabs off one shoe, intending to smash the sucker.
Alea sees a file on their latest Donor and smiles, reading through it.
SmittyRch watches with interest as the human prepares to squelch across rat droppings in his socks.
<Sumulo> Ah!!!!!
Alea chuckles.
<Sumulo> I'm gonna get whoever....
Alea turns another page, thinking Arcadia has quite a file.
<Sumulo> Realizing that the damage was already done to his sock, Sumulo stalks the roach in earnest with an intent to murder.
Alea finishes the file and then files it.
Alea quickly files the rest of the files, wondering where the Clerk is.
<SmittyRch> Haste makes waste....
Alea pauses over Lanyi's.
Sumulo repeatedly bangs his shoe, hoping for a lucky shot.
Alea sinks down into the chair, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise at what she reads.
<Alea> Oh, my.
SmittyRch skitters back and forth, then runs down the back of the chair and under the desk.
<SmittyRch> He who quits and runs away, lives to waste another day!
Sumulo falls on his hands and knees to get at the... ahhhhhhhhhhhhgggggghhhhhhhhhh.
SmittyRch skitters just outside of Sumulo's reach and runs across the floor, dodging... obstacles.
<SmittyRch> One two three... look at me!
<SmittyRch> ...mostly number two, from the look of it....
Alea finds the file absolutely fascinating, and knows she will ALWAYS look at Lanyi differently now.
Alea decides, however, reading files in the lobby, personnel files, is a dangerous pastime.
<Sumulo> Oh... oh... ohhhh... [Swat] [splat, splash] [spitting out]
Alea slips Lanyi's file back into the filing cabinet and locks them all.
SmittyRch leads Sumulo on a cavorting chase all about the office.
Alea wonders if Jirelle or one of the other channels would like a visitor.
<SmittyRch> My ears are long, my son an egg. To me a road, could be your leg!
SmittyRch runs up Sumulo's pants leg (inside).
<Sumulo> I'm .... gonna.... GET ..... YOU!!!! [BANG!!!!]
<Sumulo> Wah... wah.
Sumulo pounds his leg, trying to smash the roach.
<SmittyRch> If self-destruction is your bent, let's see you try to reach this vent!
SmittyRch flies out of Sumulo's shirt collar and up into a cooling vent above a shelf.
<Sumulo> Ahhhhhhh!
Sumulo quickly takes off his pants.
Sumulo pounds his shoe at the cooling vent.
<Sumulo> Stupid roach.
Briel walks by, sees Sumulo and starts laughing.
Briel walks on.
Sumulo puts on his pants and decides to go to his room for a shower and a change.
<SmittyRch> [voice echoing down] Whee!
Sumulo augments out, mortified and promising revenge.
Alea goes out to the trash and retrieves the board and rehangs it.
Alea dries it off and painstakingly begins to rewrite all the information on the board--from memory.
<Alea> Lanyi and Tamlen transfer... no, no....
<Alea> Tamlen is low first and Lanyi...
<Alea> Lanyi and Jon.
<Alea> Jon has stable duties....
<Alea> Or was that Mostan?
Alea scratches her head and assigns both.
Alea writes Sumulo and Arcadia--that one she remembers.
Alea pauses, shakes her head and crawls down out of the chair and starts digging through the files.
Alea finds the roster for the day and climbs back up in the chair to finish listing everything.
Alea is certain with the board this high, no one will be able to just jerk it off and toss it outside.
Kadi trots smartly down the hall, dead roach in teeth.
Sumulo runs into his room and slams the door.
Kadi is looking for her mommie to leave a gift and see how proud she'll be.
Alea finishes half the board and leans back to look.
Sumulo squeezes his eyes shut, trying to calm himself.
Alea thinks it's very legible and neat.
<Sumulo> Slowly, he opens his eyes. "AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"
Alea thinks it's even neater than the normal person who does it.
Kadi trots into the lobby with her prize.
Sumulo sees his clothes ripped to shreds.
<Sumulo> My F'jord tunics!!!!
Kadi sees her mommie standing on a chair and walks proudly over, the gift still clutched in her teeth.
Sumulo looks at his underwear drawer.
<Sumulo> "I'm going to murder something!"
<Alea> Kadi!
Alea smiles at her cat and quickly climbs down from the chair.
Kadi drops the roach at her feet and waits expectantly for the praise she knows she'll receive.
Sumulo takes all the torn clothing and dumps it into the garbage can then goes to the shower.
<Alea> Oh... ugh... uh... Kadi. How very, uh, nice.
Kadi wraps herself around Alea's legs, rubbing, purring.
Sumulo strips his cloths and dives into the hot water, scrubbing until there is no hot water left.
Alea carefully toes the roach to make sure it's completely dead.
Alea looks around for something to pick the roach up with.
Alea finds nothing so she uses a file folder--she is really going to have to stop ruining so many of these--and kicks the roach onto the folder.
Alea steps over Kadi to get to the trash and dumps the roach, shuddering.
<Kadi> Meeowwrr!
Sumulo takes a clean towel and dries himself, thinking that he at least had one clean, untorn tunic and pants in his luggage.
Kadi sees her prize go into the trash and is offended.
<Alea> Oh, Kadi, thank you.
Alea is sincere, glad the thing is dead.
Sumulo looks and finds a clean pair of undies and decides to go to bed.
Alea reaches down and picks up her cat, and nuzzles it.
Sumulo slides into his bed, only wanting some rest.
<Sumulo> Whaaaaaaaa.......tttttt!!!!!!
Sumulo quickly stands and stripes the covers to find blood and guts mingled within his sheets.
<Sumulo> Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!! I'm going to have needmares for the rest of my life with this!!!
Sumulo strips the sheets and dumps them into the garbage with the rest of the clothes then heads back to the shower knowing that it will only be cold.
Kadi bathes in the praise from her mommie.
Sumulo curses Alea and every shendoni-be-flayed Farris since everything that happened to him just had to be HER fault!!!!
Alea rubs her fur, murmuring words of praise and love.
Kadi, thinking she's had enough praise and wants to go find other prizes, wiggles to be let down.
Sumulo is numbed by the coldness as he plots.
Alea sighs and releases Kadi.
<Sumulo> [groans] What am I going to wear!!!
Kadi hops down and goes off in search of more prey.
Sumulo uses the wet towel to try and dry himself then takes down his suitcase to remove his traveling clothes, thinking that next time he'll have extra underwear as a backup as well.
Sumulo calls housekeeping to come and clean his room then he leaves.
Alea crawls back up on the chair and quickly finishes the boards.
Kadi spots a small yellow and black caterpillar hurrying across the floor and freezes.
Sumulo calls the company stores to send him a dozen new Tecton tunics and pants.
Kadi lowers her head to the floor and silently watches, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.
Sumulo goes to town in search of new clothes, wishing for something more than this thin shirt in the cold weather.
Kadi pounces, catching yet another prize to be savored.
Alea finishes the boards with her new adjustments and smiles.
<Alea> They should keep better records if they want everything to stay the same.
Alea climbs down out of the chair
Alea sees the people who have come to fix her door, and goes over to supervise, to make sure it gets done right this time.
Wisesnake walks down a street through sheets of snow blowing off snowdrifts.
Alea nods to the men as the finish with her door.
Alea makes one of the men go inside and then scream, to see if there is enough insulation.
Alea listens as she hears only a squeak through the door.
Wisesnake stops and squints against the brightness, looks at a slot of skyline visible between two buildings.
Alea then sends another passing Gen into the room--just to make sure they're not lying and tells that Gen to scream.
Alea winces... tells her to wait until the door is closed.
Wisesnake turns around and looks behind her, looks all around.
Alea closes the door and then waits... a small murmur is heard.
Alea nods satisfied.
Alea dismisses the workers.
Alea walks into the room and gasps.
<Alea> Where the shenned did all the room go?
Alea decides all of the extra book cases and storage cabinets that have been here from day one must go. She has them taken to Veraik's office.
Wisesnake doesn't remember why she came here.
Wisesnake keeps walking.
Wisesnake doesn't remember how Nick's visit ended, or how she left the Ferry building or got to where she is now.
Alea looks and is stunned with all the room she has with everything taken out.
Alea grins and orders a transfer couch brought in.
Alea still wishes she had a window and wonders if she might possibly sneak in an order to have one put in her office.
Alea moves through the room, finally sitting down on the couch.
Alea feels a sudden lag in energy.
Wisesnake turns toward the Sime Center.
<Wisesnake> Shen... [mutters under her breath]
Wisesnake can feel the city all around her.. living, breathing, but hidden under snow and in silence.
Wisesnake wonders where everybody has gone.
<Wisesnake> ~~surreal~~
B'cal comes downstairs, muttering under her breath.
Wisesnake keeps walking, snow crunching under her quick, light footsteps
B'cal glances at the board... does a double take.
<B'cal> Who the shen scheduled me with Mostan!
B'cal ~~insulted/outraged~~
<B'cal> Pipsqueak of a barely third order who didn't even know he was a channel...
B'cal stomps over to the board and uses the chalk to completely mark her name out.
Wisesnake walks down the street that the Sime Center is on, still not seeing anybody on the streets but zlinning their lives squirreled away inside buildings, blocked by stone and brick.
Wisesnake rubs her forehead, sure she is supposed to be remembering something terribly important that happened... or is about to happen... can't remember which .
Wisesnake stops for a moment, puzzled, but need causes her to start walking again, aiming for the Center's gates.
Wisesnake floats over the snow, her feet barely touching.
B'cal dusts her hands off.
<B'cal> Shendoni idiots.
B'cal sees Rhelana on duty....
<B'cal> Dead File... THAT long?
B'cal shakes her head.
<B'cal> Wonder who she ticked off.
B'cal sees a channel named Sumulo on bathroom detail and chuckles nastily.
Wisesnake glides up the Sime Center.
Wisesnake stops, zlinning the peaceful silence of the city.
B'cal finishes looking at the boards and turns away in disgust.
Wisesnake enters the Sime Center's lobby in a strange, feral state.
B'cal sees Snake.
<B'cal> Hello...
B'cal studies Snake.
Wisesnake stops, zlinning B'cal.
B'cal ~~support~~
Wisesnake looks at B'cal.
<Wisesnake> B'cal... what are you doing here?
<B'cal> Where else would I be?
<Wisesnake> I thought you were... [confused... is this a dream or real?]
<Wisesnake> Maybe that wasn't real.
B'cal moves forward, concerned.
<B'cal> Where is Nick or Simone?
<Wisesnake> Nick? Nick is... [doesn't remember]
<Wisesnake> He was at the Ferry Building. He gave me soup.
B'cal ~~support~~
<B'cal> Well, I'm here for you now. Let's not worry.
<B'cal> It doesn't matter where they are.
Wisesnake comes closer to B'cal.
<Wisesnake> I don't know about Simone. Would he have been here?
Wisesnake shakes her head.
<B'cal> I'm not sure. I don't know his schedule.
<Wisesnake> Simone. I should know... I should know this.
<B'cal> He'll be here for you. Don't worry.
B'cal ~~soothing~~
<Wisesnake> ~~frustration~~
Wisesnake leans on B'cal's field.
<B'cal> It's okay, Snake. Why don't we just go have a cup of tea?
<Wisesnake> Tea... okay.
B'cal nods.
B'cal wonders where to take her, decides the conference room.
B'cal asks Clerk to get them tea.
<B'cal> Let's just go right down here...
B'cal goes to the conference room and pushes the door open, accepting the tea from Clerk as he arrives with it.
<B'cal> Tell me, Snake. What brought you here?
Wisesnake frowns.
<Wisesnake> It's my transfer day today.
<B'cal> Yes. Several hours from now.
B'cal motions to a chair, then seats herself.
B'cal sets the tea cups down.
<Wisesnake> I'm only halfway back. Time is different there.
<B'cal> I'm not sure what you mean.
B'cal ~~caring, concern~~
Wisesnake looks at the chair, goes to it and sits down, holding onto the table.
<Wisesnake> I mean I'm not all here... yet.
B'cal reaches out and touches Snake, trying to anchor her more to reality.
B'cal ~~comfort~~
Wisesnake flinches at B'cal's touch, then feels a sudden rush of relief.
<Wisesnake> Ahh... yes. That's better.
<B'cal> How are the plans for the Ferry Building coming?
Wisesnake concentrates on B'cal's words.
<Wisesnake> There's... there's the meeting to go to. To prepare for.
Wisesnake thinks it over carefully to make sure that is all correct, and really happening.
<Wisesnake> Yes. In a few days.
<B'cal> You'll be ready for it.
<B'cal> Is there any information or anything you don't have for the meeting?
Wisesnake rubs her eyes with two ventrals.
<Wisesnake> I don't think so.
<Wisesnake> I don't know.
<B'cal> Good. Good. You'll do just fine... Ah ...
<B'cal> well ...
<B'cal> You'll still do fine. Right after transfer, everything will be much clearer.
<Wisesnake> You know, I was having this conversation with Nick.
<B'cal> Yes?
<Wisesnake> He had just come over, and acted like we had an appointment, but I didn't remember anything about an appointment.
<Wisesnake> But I just sort of played along with it. And he had this thing with him, it was, like, a jar of soup.
<B'cal> Is it possible you didn't have an appointment... and Nick has just decided to go back to being with you?
<Wisesnake> He was talking about... well... maybe.
Wisesnake hopes Nick has more sense than to try to use Linn's methods on her.
<B'cal> It doesn't matter.
<B'cal> I'm sure he was just concerned.
Wisesnake nods.
B'cal feels she might have said something wrong.
<B'cal> So what was he talking about?
<Wisesnake> So there he was. And he wanted to talk about... the building, and he was trying to get me to ask Linn for help, for historical credentials.
<B'cal> Does Linn have historical credentials?
<Wisesnake> No. She just teaches history to kids.
<Wisesnake> But I think he was just trying to be helpful to Linn and hoping I would go for it.
<B'cal> I would have guessed math.
<B'cal> What has Linn done?
Wisesnake pauses.
<Wisesnake> Do you mean besides being a teacher?
<B'cal> You said, Nick was trying to be helpful to Linn hoping you would "Go for it." To me, that sounds like you're unhappy or out of sorts with Linn right now.
<B'cal> I wondered how she had hurt or offended you.
<Wisesnake> She sided with Nick over the issue of....
Wisesnake's eyes slide away from B'cal
<Wisesnake> Some issues.
<B'cal> I see.
<B'cal> Ah, well, they do live together. She has known him for quite some time. I imagine they have developed a close friendship.
<B'cal> It is only natural that they might stick up occasionally for each other, especially if it involves an outsider.
Wisesnake darts a startled and disturbed look at B'cal.
B'cal stares at Snake wondering if she has indeed hit upon the source of the problem.
Wisesnake avoids the stare, fiddling nervously with the edge of the table.
<B'cal> I have only one question about the problem with Nick, Snake.
<B'cal> Is this going to affect your upcoming transfer?
<Wisesnake> [on edge] How should I know?
<B'cal> Tell me what you're feeling right now about Nick.
<Wisesnake> Transfer with Simone would be shendoni weird no matter what led up to it. I can't predict that.
<B'cal> That's true
B'cal smiles lightly.
<Wisesnake> And as for Nick...
<B'cal> So, it's Simone that has you so jumpy?
Wisesnake is getting flustered by the changes of subject.
<Wisesnake> I don't know... maybe...
<Wisesnake> Some of it.
B'cal ~~support~~ ~~concern~~
Wisesnake tries to relax in B'cal's support, feeling helpless to control the situation.
<B'cal> You know, Snake. Simone is one of the best to transfer with.
<B'cal> You talk to him, tell him your fears about transfer, and he'll work with you to make sure you soar through it with no problems.
<B'cal> All you should concentrate on right now is how good your transfer is going to be.
<Wisesnake> I wish I could just have nightmares like regular people.
B'cal ~~promise~~
<B'cal> You're not regular, Snake. You're a Farris.
<Wisesnake> I wish I could be like a regular Farris.
B'cal takes a sip of her tea.
<B'cal> And what do you think a regular Farris is like?
<Wisesnake> They don't find themselves walking down the street not sure what time it is or whether they really had a conversation with somebody earlier or not.
<Wisesnake> I think I had a conversation with Nick... I don't remember leaving the building or getting to where I was.
<B'cal> Do you think that might be your stress, the anxiety on the crucial first year coming up?
<Wisesnake> I.. have no idea.
<B'cal> It's possible, Snake, that after the anxiety of first year is over, you will find these problems melt away.
<Wisesnake> Shen, I hope so.
<Wisesnake> I need a keeper.
<B'cal> I wouldn't expect it to be odd at all, for someone who is really stressed out over the fact that they don't know if they're going to live or die two months down the road, that they might like to take walks to escape.
<B'cal> No.
B'cal smiles.
B'cal slowly sobers.
<B'cal> You need to be free of some of your stress.
B'cal slowly smiles.
<Wisesnake> I don't see there being any less of that anytime soon.
<B'cal> After transfer, tell me, will you schedule in some free time, just you and me?
<Wisesnake> How much time are we talking about?
<B'cal> Three, four hours.
<Wisesnake> I suppose so. What for?
B'cal smiles mysteriously.
<B'cal> A surprise.