Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #137: Transfers R Us (1/21/98)
Leena comes hurrying to the house, a bucket of milk clutched in her hand.
Leena goes in, careful not to spill the milk, and she slams the door behind her.
Leena sets the pail on the counter and gets the cheese cloth out and then strains the milk into a pitcher.
Lowren comes into the kitchen.
Lowren: Good morning, Leena.
Leena removes the cheesecloth from the pitcher.
Leena smiles.
Leena: Good morning, Lowren.
Leena rinses the cheese cloth and places it over the edge of the faucet.
Leena: Did you sleep good last night?
Barak Drake is out feeding many of the animals.
Leena takes the rest of the eggs and bacon and sausage and scoops it onto a large platter.
Lowren: Yes, thank you.
Lowren: Did you need any help?
Leena: Mama's over at a friend's sitting with someone sick. She's not here so I cooked breakfast.
Leena: Yes.
Leena: Would you help me carry all of this to the dining room?
Leena hands him a pitcher and the platter.
Barak Drake trudges up the path back to the house.
Leena takes the plates and flatware and napkins into the other room and sets the table.
Lowren carries them to the table.
Lowren puts them down in the center of the table.
Lowren: It's good of your mother to help someone like that.
Leena: She likes to help people.
Leena goes back to the kitchen and gets glasses for the milk.
Leena sets them out and then fills them.
Leena: Daddy should be right here.
Leena: So, when will you be heading home?
Lowren: I'm going to head on to Hamish in the next day or two. Then I'll probably go back to Bender Cove.
Leena nods.
Leena: Will you take something to Jon for me?
Lowren: Sure, I'd be glad to.
Leena: I have a letter I'd like to send him.
Leena: I really appreciate you taking it.
Leena: I, um, perhaps it might be best if you didn't mention it to Daddy.
Leena blushes.
Lowren looks thoughtful. "OK."
Leena: I made him a pillow, with embroidery on the front. I mean, that's okay. Just not the letter. If you have room for the pillow that is.
Lowren: Am I right that I shouldn't be too specific about where Jon is?
Leena looks down at her shoes.
Leena: Yeah.
Lowren: I thought so.
Leena: Why did he decide to live there?
Leena: I mean, instead of in a Gen town if he's Gen. Why would he go over there?
Barak Drake is about a dozen meters from the door.
Lowren: He thought that he....
Leena: Yes?
Leena looks up.
Barak Drake reaches the back porch.
Lowren gestures abruptly.
Lowren: Good morning, Sir.
Lowren: How are the animals?
Barak Drake opens the back door and enters the house.
Leena finishes folding the napkins and laying them out by the plates.
Barak Drake: As well as can be expected. They don't like the cold, but they're not hungry.
Leena: Breakfast is ready, Daddy.
Barak Drake: Thank you, Sissy. I'm hungry!
Barak Drake notices that his daughter is quite handy in the kitchen. He realizes she's growing up and a look of worry passes by his face.
Lowren: This has been a fairly rough winter, at least by what I'm used to.
Leena goes to her chair and seats herself.
Leena glances at her arms, wondering if Jon will be able to answer her questions about what she fears.
Barak Drake: That it has. I'm just glad we're not as far north as some towns.
Lowren sits down.
Lowren asks Leena, "Where is your other brother...Tim, was it?"
Leena glances up.
Leena: Timmy, yes.
Leena: He spent the night with a friend.
Leena: He'll be back later today.
Leena smiles.
Barak Drake: Well, dig in.
Leena picks the plate up and passes it to Lowren.
Lowren takes the plate. "Thank you."
Lowren bows his head briefly.
Leena waits until Lowren is done.
Lowren wonders why he keeps doing that when he has broken so many other rules of the faith.
Lowren serves himself from the platters.
Leena: You know, we had another brother: Kane.
Leena: Did Jon ever mention him?
Barak Drake mumbles his own "grace," about keeping his children from becoming demons and the like.
Barak Drake looks sharply at his daughter.
Lowren: Yes, I think he did. Very sad.
Barak Drake: Leena Ann....
Leena glances up, her eyes widening at his sharp tone.
Leena: Yes, sir?
Barak Drake: We are not to mention that name at this table.
Barak Drake: I have spoken to you about it before.
Leena glances at Lowren guiltily, then down at her plate.
Leena: Yes, sir.
Barak Drake goes silent.
Leena: Lowren said he's going to be leaving in another day or two.
Lowren: Yes, if the weather stays clear.
Barak Drake looks up to Lowren, his face brightening a little in conversation.
Barak Drake: Are you now?
Barak Drake: I hope the clear weather holds.
Lowren: I hope to get to Hamish before the end of the month.
Barak Drake makes a bad-luck banishing sign below the table.
Barak Drake: At this time of year, that will be a close one.
Lowren: Yes, I was thinking that.
Lowren: I was figuring I would take the east road over to the eyeway.
Barak Drake nods, agreeing with that assessment.
Lowren: I heard it's being kept open by... the roads department.
Lowren mentally kicks himself for almost mentioning the Tecton.
Barak Drake: Hmm... I hadn't heard. We don't get much news out here this time of year.
Lowren: My partner made me memorize the road maps and a table of seasonal variations.
Barak Drake: You have a smart partner. Did you say that Jon is working with you?
Lowren: Prices vary with the weather and according to transportation blockages.
Leena looks from Lowren to her father, her fork pausing over her eggs.
Lowren: No, he just works nearby.
Barak Drake: That's understandable.
Lowren: I met him at the healer's.
Barak Drake: Oh. I see.
Leena looks down and stuffs a bite of eggs in her mouth.
Lowren savors the bacon he hasn't been able to get in Bender Cove.
Barak Drake raises his eyebrow, not unlike Jon has done.
Barak Drake: Healer's?
Lowren: My partner got hurt.
Leena knows her father always finds out everything and is certain it's only a matter of time before he finds out about Jonny. Leena morosely stabs at her sausage.
Lowren: Some gang of thugs attacked him.
Lowren: He was hurt real bad, and Jon came helped him out.
Barak Drake thinks that something doesn't sound quite right.
Leena: So, my brother is like a hero?
Barak Drake: He did? So he's a good boy.
Barak Drake smiles.
Leena suddenly grins big.
Lowren: Yup. Parnul'd be dead if it weren't for Jon.
Lowren: I owe him, that's one of the reasons I agreed to drop by and tell you about how he's doing.
Barak Drake beams, forgetting for a moment the strangeness of the term "healer" instead of doctor.
Barak Drake: Well, maybe if he can get some time off of that job of his, he can come visit himself.
Lowren: I'll tell him that.
Leena gapes at her father, suddenly filled with hope that she might see her brother again.
Lowren: He's really busy, though, being new in the job and all.
Leena's face falls.
Barak Drake: What kind of work does he do that keeps him so busy?
Lowren applies himself to his food to gain some time to decide how to work around that question.
Lowren: He's an assistant to the administrator.
Barak Drake: Administrator?
Barak Drake: Is he at this hospital or something?
Lowren: Checks on appointments, makes sure his boss doesn't forget to take care of himself, helps with clients, that sort of thing.
Barak Drake wonders--Jon was never able to keep his own room clean.
Lowren spots a loophole in that 'or something'.
Lowren: Yeah. He's in charge of the whole place. His boss, that is.
Leena: Wow.
Barak Drake leans back.
Leena excuses herself from the table to start the dishes.
Lowren: Turns out he has natural talent for the job.
Leena: Would you like coffee, Lowren, Daddy?
Lowren: Yes, please, Leena.
Barak Drake picks up his cup.
Barak Drake: Sure, darling. Thank you.
Leena blushes at Lowren, then nods at her daddy.
Leena: I'll make some up.
Barak Drake: Wait until his mother finds out how well our Jonny is doing.
Leena goes into the kitchen and starts the coffee.
Leena runs some soapy water and scrubs up the pans while the coffee is brewing.
Lowren: I'm sure she'll be pleased.
Lowren tries to think of a way to change the subject.
Leena gets down two saucers and cups and pours coffee in them. She takes them back out to Lowren and her father.
Leena: Here we go.
Lowren thanks Leena.
Lowren pours coffee into the saucer and blows on it to cool it.
Barak Drake looks at his visitor's strange behavior.
Leena sits back down at the table.
Leena: Do you do much traveling, Lowren?
Lowren: Now, yeah. We're an import-export company, so I'm gonna do a lot of traveling to set up contracts, survey products, that sort of thing.
Leena: Import/Export? That must take you all over the Territories.
Lowren: Yeah. Trade has really been opening up the last few years, what with the better roads and the cash flows.
Leena thinks that would be a really awesome job.
Lowren: I'm just starting out really, though. This is my first trip alone.
Barak Drake: Territories?
Leena drops her hand from her chin and looks at her father to see what has upset him.
Lowren: Yeah. We've got contracts down south and out west. All over.
Barak Drake: You mean you deal with SIMES?
Lowren tries not to blanch.
Leena pales.
Barak Drake stands.
Lowren: Well, yes, we do.
Lowren: [hastily] Their money is the same color as anyone else's.
Lowren: And there are the treaty requirements.
Barak Drake: Hmm....
Leena grabs the edge of the table nervously.
Barak Drake relaxes a bit. He's unsure of his daughter's reaction.
Leena sees her father relax and is relieved he's not going to throw Lowren out.
Barak Drake: Maybe we shall speak of this another time. You're scaring my daughter with all this talk.
Leena lowers her eyes wishing she could tell her father what was really scaring her.
Lowren glances at Leena. "Of course, sir."
Leena: I'll just get the rest of these dishes.
Leena gets up and gathers the dishes and goes back into the kitchen to finish cleaning up.
Barak Drake finds that his breakfast isn't quite sitting as well as it was a few moments ago.
Lowren decides to help her and gathers up his plate and flatware.
Leena runs fresh water.
Leena turns and scrapes the plates into the garbage can.
Lowren takes his plate in and puts it by Leena.
Barak Drake decides it's time to go back outside for some more work.
Leena slips the letter from her pocket and hands it to Lowren before her father can come in the kitchen.
Leena: Thank you.
Lowren tucks it away.
Barak Drake puts on his coat and heads back out through the kitchen to the back door.
Lowren goes back out to check the table.
Barak Drake: I'll be out back.
Leena glances at her father.
Leena: Yes, sir.
Leena turns back to finish the dishes.
Barak Drake is not sure he likes having someone who does business with the Simes under his roof, near his children.
Lowren wonders if he should tell Leena exactly what her brother does for a living....
Leena finishes the plates and begins rinsing them.
Barak Drake: Lowren seems like a nice enough guy, but....
Leena washes the glasses next, then the silverware.
Leena finishes the dishes, then dries them and puts them up.
see note 1
Briel is swearing under her breath as she digs out the last of the files in her office for the desk clerk to repair the boards.
Briel slaps the papers into the desk clerk's hands.
Briel: See that those boards are straightened out.
Tamlen wakes up at the slap.
Briel: I see three different hand writings on them. I only want to see yours.
Briel walks the clerk to the door, closing the door firmly behind the nervous young Gen.
Briel runs a hand down her face.
Briel: New workers. Why are they always so nervous when they come to this office?
Tamlen sits up on the couch and works his mouth.
Tamlen is not sure how to characterize the taste.
Tamlen: You're co-Controller. New recruits are always nervous around the brass.
Briel: I guess so.
Briel paces over to her desk and starts rummaging through her papers.
Briel: Shen. Where is that last schedule the clerk wanted?
Briel shoves the papers away and drops into her chair.
Briel jumps right back up and moves over to where Tamlen is and drops down next to him.
Tamlen moves over to a balance point and tries to look over the desk.
Tamlen takes Briel's arm and examines it to gauge her need.
Briel allows it.
Lanyi sits in the gazebo and reconsiders exercising today.
Briel: My actual transfer time is eleven more minutes.
Tamlen: ~~humor~~ Oh, I'll just pop out and run a few errands then, shall I?
Briel grips Tamlen's shirt.
Briel: No.
Wise Snake approaches the Sime Center from the rear.
Briel: Don't even tease about that, Tamlen.
Wise Snake trudges through the garden.
Tamlen: Anything you say, Hajene.
Tamlen: Sorry.
Briel realizes she is overreacting and looses her hold on Tamlen.
Briel: I apologize.
Briel lays back against the couch and closes her eyes, concentrating on taking deep slow breaths.
Tamlen: It's just need. I'll save the jokes for afterward.
Briel opens on eye and looks at Tamlen. "I'll hold you to that. One good joke after transfer."
Tamlen: ~~steady promise~~
B'cal finishes twisting her hair up into a tight twist and then pins it securely.
Wise Snake zlins Lanyi in the gazebo and tiptoes past, holding her nager flat.
B'cal studies it in the mirror as she smoothes it to make sure every hair is in place.
Lanyi decides she can slack off on her transfer day.
Briel: You know, Tamlen, this is our first transfer together.
Briel: ~~nervous~~
Lanyi doesn't notice Snake. Gens are what she's interested in now.
Wise Snake enters the back door of the Sime Center and walks toward the front.
Tamlen: Yes it is, Hajene. I'm looking forward to it.
B'cal finishes checking her hair, then stands and slips on her jacket.
Briel: I ... was scheduled with Jon Drake. I -- you are a first and match me. Things should go perfectly.
Tamlen: Of course they will.
Briel: Of course.
Briel nods.
B'cal comes downstairs to wait for Snake and Simone.
Tamlen massages Briel's neck. "So Jon is going to be irked at me?"
Briel: What? Oh, no. No.
Briel relaxes as Tamlen massages her neck.
Briel: He's with Lanyi.
Tamlen: Ah.
Briel: She's much closer to matching him. I imagine he's more than pleased.
Briel: ~~jealous~~
Tamlen: Tigues are the ones who have the lower than usual sensitivity, right?
Briel: Lower than usual? Well, they can darn near do everything a Farris can, but they don't collapse if someone screams "Mouse!" when they're in the room like a Farris just might.
Briel: [sarcasm]
Tamlen: Ah. Yeah, I remember something about resilience.
Wise Snake enters the lobby from the wrong direction, coming up silently behind B'cal.
Briel: Yeah.
Briel: They're big on that stuff.
Lanyi does some stretching exercises.
Briel thinks about Jon Drake and the dreams and shudders.
Tamlen: ~~worries~~
Briel thinks not having transfer with him is a blessing....
Tamlen: Well, I'm glad we're getting this chance.
Wise Snake sees B'cal is looking out the window and looks in the same direction.
Wise Snake: What do you see? [right behind B'cal]
Briel wants to say "Me, too." but doesn't. She has a more wait and see attitude.
Simone prepares the heaviest insulated transfer room in the Center, wondering when Snake will arrive.
B'cal whirls. "What the SHENNED are you sneaking up on me like that!"
B'cal grabs her heart.
Wise Snake jumps, startled by B'cal's startlement.
B'cal: Don't you know better than to try to scare the shendoni out of a First Order Donor?
Wise Snake: I thought you would feel my field!
B'cal shakes her head.
Wise Snake smoothes her hair, which had stood up on end a moment before.
B'cal: I was deep in thought. I apologize, Snake.
Briel: Are you ready yet?
Wise Snake moves closer to B'cal.
Wise Snake: Yeah.
B'cal: ~~support~~
B'cal: Simone should be here any time.
Lanyi steps out of the gazebo and again marvels at the... "character" of Gnome's new look.
Simone takes a deep breath and hopes that Snake has arrived at the Center.
Tamlen: Yes, Briel.
Briel relieved.
Briel: ~~nervous~~
Briel: Good.
Tamlen: ~~need to give~~
Simone strides briskly to the lobby, each step echoing his anticipation.
Briel: I....
Briel takes a deep breath, then releases it.
Lanyi walks in through the back door.
Briel focuses on Tamlen's desire to give.
Tamlen: ~~offering selyn~~
Wise Snake turns as Simone enters.
Briel zlins.
Simone arrives, sees Snake, and his body surges with fields and his need to give. He quickly dampens it before it has a harmful effect on Snake.
Simone: Snake?
B'cal turns.
Jon Drake checks the roster, and decides to look outside in the garden.
Lanyi takes off her short-sleeved coat and drapes it over her arm before heading up the corridor.
Tamlen holds out his arms.
Briel: I think....
Briel goes hyper and slides her hands up his arms.
Simone goes to her and sends his support and caring.
B'cal carefully withdraws her field, stepping back.
Briel: ~~need~~
Tamlen: ~~need-to-give~~
Wise Snake is relieved that the two are cooperating.
Briel remembers the dream of losing her Donor to someone else and her tentacles suddenly lash out, wrapping around Tamlen's arms so he can't escape her.
Jon Drake enters the garden and looks around.
Simone steps into position, looking at B'cal with gratitude for caring for Snake during the day.
Tamlen's arms pull back slightly.
Briel: ~~no~~
Briel pulls him forward.
B'cal nods.
Lanyi realizes that she forgot her staff and steps back out into the garden.
Tamlen comes forward with the pull.
Simone: The room is ready, Snake, and so am I.
Briel makes fifth contact point, demanding transfer.
Tamlen: ~~yes~~
Wise Snake: Room? [wary]
Tamlen releases a small flow of selyn.
Briel begins to draw, relieved.
Simone: Yes. I have the most insulated room available for our transfer.
Wise Snake hadn't thought they would be doing it here.
Wise Snake: ... Oh.
Simone: ~~desire to give~~ ~~anticipation~~
Wise Snake tries to think of a good argument against it, thinks with B'cal there too, they'd just brush it aside.
Tamlen lets the flow increase.
Wise Snake: ~~nervous reluctance~~
Briel draws faster, demanding more.
Simone watches Snake's face and wonders what she is thinking.
Wise Snake's need gets the better of her judgment and she moves closer to Simone, deciding the details like location aren't important.
Tamlen gives more, but always a little behind Briel's demand.
Simone: ~~support~~
Jon Drake looks about the garden, in the gazebo, at the latest state of the gnome.
Simone swallows hard. "This way."
Jon Drake figures Lanyi isn't outside after all, and decides to check inside once again.
Lanyi steps out the door to find Jon 2 meters from her.
Tamlen: ~~pleasure~~
Simone leads the way to the transfer room and opens the door.
Briel's need unsatisfied, she forces more from her Gen greedily.
Briel feels building pleasure.
Wise Snake glances back to make sure B'cal is coming.
Tamlen releases his flow to Briel's control, giving at the rate of her demand.
Wise Snake crowds against Simone.
Briel: ~~YES~~
B'cal nods her reassurance to Snake.
Tamlen: ~~YES~~
Briel: ~~peaking pleasure/completion/fulfillment~~
Lanyi zlins a Gen field perfect for her....
Tamlen: ~~shared happiness~~
Briel revels in the joy, before finally falling hypo.
Simone senses Snake's field in the way that only Farris Donor can and relaxes against it, knowing his anticipation is probably affecting her as well.
Tamlen follows Briel into completion.
Simone: ~~promise~~
Jon Drake hopes he can find Lanyi soon, otherwise he'll go eat dinner alone, after all.
Wise Snake enters the room.
Lanyi: Jon....
Jon Drake turns.
Simone starts to close the door when he sees B'cal enter.
Briel's head slides over to Tamlen's shoulder.
Simone: B'cal? What are you doing?
B'cal looks at Simone.
Jon Drake: Ah, there you are!
Wise Snake reaches out and closes the door softly.
B'cal: I've been charged with her for the next month. I would monitor.
Simone: Snake and I will be fine. You are not required here.
Tamlen turns slightly to let Briel's head rest at the juncture of his neck and shoulder.
Wise Snake: Simone... let her be.
Simone: ~~bristles~~
B'cal looks to Snake.
Wise Snake: Please?
Lanyi: Yess.
Wise Snake: ~~need~~
Lanyi zlins Jon Drake.
Simone looks at Snake and then at B'cal.
B'cal moves behind Simone to completely block her field.
Jon Drake: I was just about to go eat dinner. Care to join me?
Simone ~~promise , support, need to give, care~~
Jon Drake lets his hunger show.
Wise Snake locks the door, relieved there wasn't trouble.
Briel feels warmth, completion, arms still under her tentacles, the smell of soap. She slowly releases the Donor's arms.
Wise Snake moves closer to Simone.
Lanyi: Yes, please.
Tamlen slips his arms around Briel to hold her.
Simone looks at the transfer couch now that the time has come and just wants to give. Farris to Farris.
Briel shudders.
Jon Drake lets Lanyi take his hand and leads to the cafeteria.
Lanyi thinks, "Like I'd let you out of my sight now that you're here...."
Wise Snake stares at the transfer couch and realizes it has been months since she used one for personal transfer.
B'cal moves, careful not to disturb the fields as she moves to the monitor's chair.
Simone allows his need to giver over flow, hoping to raise her intil to peak.
Tamlen: That was wonderful, Briel.
Briel begins to cry, softly.
Briel nods.
Lanyi winds handling tentacles around Jon Drake's hand.
Simone whispers. "Snake. Are you ready?" ~~excitement~~
Briel: My needmares... I just knew you were going to pull back, not give at the last minute.
Wise Snake tries to relax, telling herself to trust his field.
Jon Drake notices the intensity of the tentacles.
Jon Drake: Of course, if you'd rather have transfer first....
Tamlen makes quiet comforting noises and rubs his hands up and down her back.
Wise Snake goes to the transfer couch and takes her place.
Briel: But you didn't.
Lanyi: No, I... I can wait.
Lanyi: Don't expect me to eat, though.
Jon Drake pauses a moment to get a feel of Lanyi's state.
Briel: It has been awful. Between that and the pressures of doing the Controller's job....
Lanyi: ~~need and intil~~
Simone lets the full force of his field shine.
Wise Snake's mind turns to chop suey.
Wise Snake: ~~intil~~
Tamlen: Of course not.
Jon Drake: No, I think we'll do transfer first.
Briel: I've had more dreams this month that I rejuncted than I ever have.
Simone waits for trautholo and the signal to present his arms. ~~screaming need to give~~
Tamlen: ~~sympathy~~ "You should have told me. I'd have been sleeping with your the last two weeks."
Briel: I'm sorry. Things have been so hectic.
Lanyi: ~~Yes!~~ "If you say so, Jon."
Lanyi: I can wait, as long as it's with you.
Wise Snake grabs Simone into transfer position.
Tamlen: I know. You've been thrown into a job with no warning, and done very well at it.
Wise Snake: ~~confusion/need~~
Briel rests against Tamlen as the fears slowly fade and the joy of her transfer settle in.
Briel: Thank you for your vote of confidence.
Simone establishes trautholo. ~~field begging to give~~
Jon Drake backtracks and leads Lanyi away from the cafeteria and toward the transfer rooms.
Briel allows one last shuddering sigh to escape before reluctantly pushing back.
Simone: ~~field steady and saying that it's hers for taking~~
Simone: I'm here for you, Snake.
Simone: You are my life and I, yours.
Briel: I was very nervous, Tamlen, about our transfer. I've been with higher order Donors each month for months now.
Simone: This is going to be the best ever.
Briel: But this transfer...
Briel: ~~shining~~
Briel: Thank you.
Wise Snake is now thoroughly off balance.
Wise Snake clings to Simone.
Jon Drake finds an unoccupied transfer room and enters with Lanyi.
Tamlen: ~~pride and satisfaction~~
Tamlen: Thank _you_, Briel.
Wise Snake: ~~need~~
Simone: Breathe, Snake. Feel the fields, the perfect balance which will balance at our touch.
Briel: Sedrea was very lucky.
Briel reaches over for a tissue and dries her tears.
Simone: When you are ready. ~~overwhelming need to give~~
Jon Drake: Here we go.
Wise Snake keeps almost slipping hyperconscious, then pulling herself duo when he speaks again.
Wise Snake's thoughts blank out as he once again projects overwhelming need to give.
Simone floods the fields with his desire. ~~caring, need to give screaming NOW~~
B'cal watches carefully, concerned.
Wise Snake tightens her grip on his arms and jerks him toward her.
Simone meets her.
Wise Snake draws savagely.
Tamlen: ~~pang of sadness~~ "Yes, she said that to me... "
Briel looks up. ~~guilt~~
Briel: I'm so sorry....
Simone pours forth his selyn.
Tamlen: No, it's... all right.
Lanyi goes in with Jon.
Jon Drake recalls what the two of them have already discussed about Lanyi's needs.
Jon Drake begins to prepare.
Briel takes his hands wrapping a tentacle around them and squeezes gently, offering comfort.
Simone: ~~joy, relief to be free of his selyn burden~~
Jon Drake: Is there anything else you'll be needing that we haven't discussed, Lanyi?
Jon Drake is showing his need to serve, his need to give.
Wise Snake after the first few moments starts driving her speed up, trying to scorch him.
Lanyi: No, You're ... fine....
Lanyi's tentacles reach out towards Jon.
Simone matches her speed. ~~joy at the increased speed~~
Wise Snake: ~~frustration~~
Tamlen: Thank you, Briel. I'll be OK.
Simone sings with the speed but wants more so he pushes faster.
Briel nods and releases Tamlen's hands.
Jon Drake welcomes the touch of her tentacles.
Wise Snake falters as Simone grabs control.
Simone: ~~joy, happiness, joy, loving, caring, relief~~
Jon Drake gently guides Lanyi to the transfer couch.
Lanyi pulls Jon over towards the couch.
Simone senses Snake and releases and lets her take control again.
Tamlen busies himself straightening up the transfer room.
Jon Drake sits down across from Lanyi and takes a deep breath and relaxes.
Wise Snake seizes control and draws at her highest speed.
Jon Drake holds his arms out for Lanyi, showing his own readiness.
Briel pulls her knees up and rests her head on them, wrapping her arms around her knees.
Simone: ~~joy, ecstasy~~
Wise Snake: ~~disappointment, and underneath an echo of his joy~~
Simone: ~~pleasure beyond belief~~
Lanyi breathes deeply and tries to restrain herself just a little longer.
Simone pulls slightly away.
Lanyi reaches out for Jon.
Jon Drake uses his accumulated experience both in transfer with others and in work with Lanyi over the last few weeks.
Jon Drake works to build intil....
Jon Drake opens himself up to Lanyi.
Simone pulls slightly away after sensing Snake's distress.
B'cal sharpens.
Wise Snake's draw slows as her capacity is neared.
Lanyi takes Jon's wrists in her hands, and pauses again as she goes completely hyperconscious.
Jon Drake works to prolong the journey for Lanyi, slowing her rise to hyper.
Wise Snake clings to Simone to follow his pull away as she takes the last of what she needs.
Jon Drake lets his field show Lanyi the promise of a wonderful, fulfilling transfer.
Simone follows her lead, slowing. ~~joy~~
Wise Snake's draw halts.
Briel finally lowers her legs and goes to fix some tea.
Lanyi carefully winds her tentacles over his arms, as her laterals slide out.
B'cal: ~~concerned~~
Simone waits, tears in eyes from the transfer which had him soaring higher than he had been in a long time.
Wise Snake remains motionless for several moments, then lets go.
Lanyi leans forward.
Jon Drake holds his selyn, waiting for Lanyi to reach out.
Jon Drake leans in for fifth contact.
Jon Drake feels Lanyi begin to draw.
Simone breathes. "That was so incredible, Snake. Thank you."
Lanyi draws in a solid rapid flow.
Jon Drake relaxes in response to Lanyi's drawspeed, working to match the speed almost exactly (exact for a non-Farris, that is).
Wise Snake's eyes flicker open.
B'cal watches the two.
Simone smiles at Snake, a huge grin from ear to ear.
Jon Drake is finding it refreshing to follow Lanyi's draw curve. He's noticing a lack of flutter spikes, unlike some of his other transfer partners.
Briel: Would you like tea, Tamlen? Or do you have other duties?
Wise Snake peers at Simone's expression.
Jon Drake is tempted to just trust and give in to the experience.
Lanyi: ~~selyn flow in harmony~~
B'cal pulls one cup down and spoons in tea.
Tamlen: No, I don't. Yes, please.
Simone waits patiently for Snake.
Jon Drake rises in harmony.
Lanyi: ~~Joy at satisfaction of need~~
Briel nods and retrieves another cup, spooning tea into it.
Jon Drake: ~~Joy~~ ~~fulfillment~~
Briel checks the water.
Wise Snake: Are you feeling like you're looking? [asks at last]
Wise Snake's voice is hoarse.
Lanyi smoothly increases her speed as her joy builds.
Jon Drake feels the flow moving though him: good, solid, satisfying flow.
Simone: Yes. Oh yes! I feel wonderful. How do you feel? [grinning]
Wise Snake tries to smile, with ghastly results.
B'cal thinks to leave, but decides to wait a bit longer.
Jon Drake lets himself relax his field more so than he has in a while.
Simone suddenly frowns. "What's wrong?"
Wise Snake: Nothing. Nothing with you.
Wise Snake: It's just... [can't make herself say it; her problem]
Wise Snake: You did fine.
Lanyi soars towards a joyous peak as she draws her primary system to capacity.
Simone: No. I don't understand. [questioningly look] What happened? What did I do wrong?
Simone reaches over to stroke an arm.
Jon Drake feels a wonderful euphoric feeling.
Wise Snake tenses automatically, then lets him do it with a shiver.
Wise Snake: You did nothing wrong. I'm wrong.
Wise Snake: Don't you remember? Our other transfer....
Briel sees the water is done and pours two cups.
Jon Drake can't tell where he ends and Lanyi begins....
Simone: I... [thinks] I thought I did.
Simone takes a tentacle and holds it gently to feel it slide through his hand.
Tamlen thanks Briel and stirs the cup.
Simone: What did I do differently?
Wise Snake: You gave me pain.
Simone: Oh.
B'cal eyes narrow.
Wise Snake: [pain in her voice; whisper]
Briel goes over and sits down on the couch, pulling her knees back up.
Simone: [thinks back] But you have to grow and pain won't allow that to happen.
Wise Snake gives Simone a "get real" look.
Lanyi feels a mutual simultaneity of action like on the practice floor, only far more so.
Briel looks out through the window, thinking everything looks different. ~~relaxed~~
Wise Snake gets up off the couch, rubbing her forearms which feel much better now that the ronaplin is used.
Jon Drake is lost in the experience. Time is without meaning.
Simone stands. "Snake?"
Jon Drake eventually feels the process reaching its culmination.
Wise Snake: What? [less than patient now]
B'cal stands and moves over to Snake's side.
Lanyi is suspended in a non-place without need or time.
Simone: "I wish..." [Looks at B'cal]
Lanyi's time sense slowly reasserts itself as the universe resumes.
Simone looks down. "I'm here for you, for your post, if you need me."
Wise Snake looks grim.
Tamlen looks at Briel and smiles as he sips at his tea.
Wise Snake: If I had one, I would spend it with you.
Simone nods. "Then I wish you well."
B'cal touches Snake's elbow gently.
Wise Snake turns and leaves the room, ignoring B'cal.
Jon Drake feels the connection slowly fade, but without any sense of loss, rather with a sense of completion.
B'cal: Shen.
Briel: You want to go for a walk? Or is it too cold out there for you?
B'cal rubs at her forehead.
Lanyi's 5 senses return to her as she eases back onto the couch.
Simone: Go to her, B'cal.
Jon Drake feels the flow end and leans back, opening his eyes.
Simone: I'm sorry. I did what I could do. but it wasn't enough.
Tamlen: No, that sounds good.
Jon Drake has a huge satisfied smile on his face.
B'cal: No.
B'cal: She needed more time with you. You with her.
B'cal: Let me go find her.
B'cal: Thank you, Simone.
Lanyi has a dreamy smile as she stares off into space.
Briel sets her tea aside and stands, stretching.
Simone nods sadly.
B'cal heads off to find Snake.
Tamlen catches himself watching Briel stretch and looks out the window.
Jon Drake: Thank you, Lanyi...
Lanyi: Jon....
Wise Snake gets as far as the lobby then realizes she still has ronaplin on herself and goes back a short ways to the nearest washroom.
Lanyi: That was...
Jon Drake looks into Lanyi's eyes.
Jon Drake: Yes....
Lanyi focuses on Jon. "Amazing."
Jon Drake leans in once again, but this time not to make fifth, but to kiss her lips.
Simone goes to his room and packs, this time heading towards Zeor since he had been recalled indefinitely.
Briel looks at Tamlen and smiles.
Briel: Ready?
Lanyi is pleasantly surprised by the kiss.
Tamlen: Yeah. Just so we stop in the lobby to get my coat.
Briel nods and slips an arm through Tamlen's squeezing it before letting it go.
Briel: Good.
Jon Drake looks to Lanyi to see what she wants.
B'cal goes after Snake to find her.
Lanyi looks longingly at Jon but then sighs.
Briel goes to the door and opens it, waiting for Tamlen to leave.
Jon Drake looks questioningly at Lanyi, trying to decipher the sigh.
Tamlen walks out the door, resisting the urge to caress Briel in passing.
Lanyi dismantles the transfer grip and gets to her feet.
Briel watches Tamlen walk out, a sexual sparkle entering her eye before she reluctantly taps it down.
Briel follows Tamlen.
B'cal sees a washroom partially open and stops to check it.
Jon Drake is a little confused.
Lanyi leans down and puts her hand on Jon Drake's shoulder.
B'cal: Snake?
B'cal pushes the door open and looks inside.
Wise Snake just got done washing her arms.
Wise Snake: Ah. B'cal.
Wise Snake dries off carefully.
B'cal moves in, over to where Snake is, studying her.
Lanyi [whispers] I don't know what I'm hoping for next month. Both possibilities are amazingly appealing.
Wise Snake looks reasonably healthy, and rather depressed.
B'cal: I'm sorry that didn't go like you wanted it to.
Jon Drake smiles.
Jon Drake smiles even though he doesn't quite understand the comment.
Lanyi kisses Jon Drake firmly but briefly.
Wise Snake gives B'cal a weird look.
B'cal sighs.
B'cal: Do you still want your surprise?
Wise Snake had forgotten about B'cal's surprise.
Wise Snake: Do you think I would still want it? You know what it is... I don't.
B'cal shrugs.
B'cal: Come on.
Jon Drake looks tenderly as Lanyi leaves.
Wise Snake finishes drying her arms and follows B'cal.
B'cal leads the way out to the front desk where her cloak and a huge picnic basket lie.
B'cal: Grab your cloak.
Jon Drake waits a moment, and then gets up and heads upstairs to his own room.
Wise Snake looks at the basket incredulously.
Wise Snake puts on her cloak.
B'cal chuckles.
B'cal: There's this little pond I found....
B'cal shakes her head.
B'cal: You'll just have to see it.
B'cal exits the Center.
Wise Snake follows, reluctantly, envisioning a couple of hours of struggling to force herself to eat while enduring the shivers of a frozen Gen.
B'cal: Have you ever been to the park here?
Wise Snake: Yes.
B'cal: There is a pond where ice skaters skate... They even have these small enclosed picnic areas that are heated.
B'cal: I rented one for us.
Wise Snake hopes B'cal isn't referring to the ice fishing huts.
Wise Snake: Oh. [cautiously]
B'cal crosses the street and heads to the park.
Tamlen walks along the street with Briel.
Wise Snake feels better once out in the fresh air.
Briel: It's beautiful out today. Just a bit of sun, the ice melting, though I'm sure it'll all be frozen again by night fall.
Tamlen: Yeah. Tomorrow morning will have a treacherous beauty.
Briel: Yeah.
B'cal: They're large, with a nice brazier inside. The windows are enclosed with glass so you can watch the goings-on outside.
B'cal: Lovely, dry, fresh.
B'cal looks at Snake to see her reaction.
Briel dodges a slushy spot in the ice and reaches out to pull Tamlen around it.
Wise Snake: It's kind of... public.
B'cal: Yes. It is. But it's also enclosed.
Tamlen overbalances and bumps into Briel.
B'cal: You require a few hours of rest.
Briel grabs Tamlen, steadying him.
Wise Snake: I require work.
Briel: Careful there.
Wise Snake itching.
B'cal: You require this, too.
B'cal smiles.
Tamlen grabs at Briel for support.
B'cal: Tell anyone at the Center that I'm taking time to play with you, though, and I'll deny it.
Briel looks up at Tamlen.
Briel: You okay?
Tamlen: Thank you. I'm just a clumsy Gen.
Briel chuckles.
Wise Snake gives her another odd look.
Wise Snake: Why would I do that?
Briel: Just a Gen, maybe, but clumsy... well, maybe.
Tamlen is leaving his hands on Briel longer than is really necessary to regain his balance.
B'cal: You wouldn't.
B'cal smiles a slow smile.
B'cal: It was a joke.
Tamlen: Compared to you being... so graceful....
Wise Snake tries to smile.
Wise Snake: Sorry... I'm....
Briel feels the jolt of attraction again as Tamlen leaves his hands in place.
Wise Snake: I'm not thinking straight right now.
B'cal: I'm sorry, Snake.
B'cal: I shouldn't tease you. Let's just go relax.
B'cal turns into the park and starts down a path, urging Snake along.
Tamlen: ~~stirring desire~~
Wise Snake follows B'cal.
Briel's eyes trace the planes of Tamlen's face, the curve of his jaw, then meet his eyes, her own filling with desire.
B'cal finally points to a building that comes into sight.
B'cal: There we are.
B'cal: You can just see ice skating from here. I thought the insulation might not be so good so I got one as far away as possible.
Briel reaches up and traces Tamlen's lower lip with a tentacle.
B'cal goes over and pushes open the door, letting Snake go in first.
Tamlen jaw sags a bit at the touch, lips parting slightly.
Wise Snake enters gingerly.
Briel smiles and leans forward, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.
B'cal follows Snake in, pushing the door closed behind them.
B'cal I told them to have the fire going so it'd be warm. Looks like they did it.
Wise Snake looks around feeling like a bug in a jar.
B'cal goes over to the table and sets the picnic basket down and opens it up, pulling out all kinds of different, Farris-approved foods.
Wise Snake sits and looks through the glass into the woods, for some reason not wanting to look at the pond.
B'cal gets all of the food out and then goes over and sits down by Snake, with two boxes, wrapped very colorfully, in her hands.
Tamlen pauses for a moment and then carefully kisses Briel back.
Wise Snake: What are those?
Briel relaxes into Tamlen, running a tentacle down his cheek.
B'cal: They're for you.
B'cal smiles gently.
Tamlen: So: what did the Keon renSime say to the Zeor Gen when their ship foundered?
Briel blinks.
Briel: Huh?
Briel fuzzy with desire looks up at Tamlen trying to think what he is talking about.
Briel: A ship foundered?
Wise Snake zlins the packages.
B'cal: Open the larger one first.
B'cal puts the smaller one behind her back.
Tamlen: The joke I owe you.
Briel: Oh!
Briel: What did the renSime say to the Farris... no, Keon renSime... I don't know. What?
Tamlen: Of course I sold the life raft! You said this ship was a paragon of excellence!
Briel waits a minute as she digests this, shifting gears slowly, then she chuckles.
Briel: Oh, that was good.
Briel: Come on, let's go back to the Center.
Tamlen: Love to.
Wise Snake picks up the larger box and peels off the paper.
Briel turns back to the Center, slipping an arm through Tamlen's and wrapping a tentacle around his hand.
Tamlen rubs his thumb lightly over a tentacle.
Wise Snake uses her tentacles to pry the box open.
Wise Snake pulls out the metal object she had zlinned inside.
Wise Snake: [it is a Sime-only lock]
Briel sucks in a breath, holding it at the feel of human contact. Finally she releases it and looks up at Tamlen, allowing him to see the desire building in her eyes.
B'cal waits to see what Snake says.
Tamlen looks back at Briel.
Wise Snake: [curious as to what B'cal had in mind for it] Thank you.
B'cal: It's for your door, to your office, when you finally get that Householding built and are Sectuib.
Tamlen smiles. "You were so graceful back there.... "
Briel shrugs.
Briel: Simes are Simes.
Wise Snake has to laugh, a little.
B'cal hands Snake the second box.
Wise Snake: You are the optimist.
B'cal: Yes, I am. With you. I've seen what you've gone through, and how far you have come over the last months.
Tamlen: I was thinking of some of your... other qualities.
Wise Snake places the lock back inside its box and sets it aside.
Briel: Oh?
Wise Snake accepts the smaller box and peels off the paper.
Briel allows a slow smile to curve her lips.
Wise Snake is obscurely flattered that B'cal would give her compliments when she just insults everybody else.
Wise Snake warns herself not to get used to it.
Briel: Perhaps it was some of the same ones that caught me about you.
B'cal waits for Snake to open the second box, keeping her face carefully schooled.
Wise Snake opens the box and finds only an envelope inside.
Wise Snake zlins some sort of hidden tension/excitement in B'cal and wonders what that is all about.
Tamlen: Yes. I may be an old broken down warhorse, but I know a fine filly when I see one.
Wise Snake pulls out the envelope and sees it has the official V'lar markings.
Briel: I don't think you look so broken down. And if you can be giving transfers like that... I'd pit you against the younger ones any day.
Briel turns onto the Center property with Tamlen.
Tamlen: ~~rising desire~~ [ smile and squeeze ] "Really? Just who would you like to pit me against?"
Briel chuckles.
Wise Snake slides a paper out of the envelope and reads it.
Briel: Why don't we discuss this in... upstairs.
Wise Snake: [it bears V'lar's seal and is a letter from its Sectuib recommending her to the City of Bender Cove in regards to the purchase of the Ferry Building]
Tamlen: Ok, if you insist... [smile]
Briel heads up the stairs with Tamlen.
B'cal watches Snake curiously, waiting to see if she likes the gift.
B'cal: I know it's not much. But what do you get a person who's desire is to found a Household?
Wise Snake: B'cal... thank you.
Wise Snake: ~~sincerely~~
B'cal smiles.
Wise Snake: I can't tell you how much I appreciate this.
B'cal: Just make me proud and establish that House.
B'cal looks out the window.
B'cal: Now, how about we eat and enjoy what's left of the next three hours. You can tell me what you plan to do with this house one day.
Wise Snake: Okay.
B'cal sits back projecting hunger, hoping Snake will take advantage of the many delicacies as she listens to Snake's dreams.
Notes:
1) The first part of the episode took place in Farfall, Jon Drake's hometown. Now, play passes back to the Sime Center in Bender Cove. [return]