Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #143: (1/27/98)
Wise Snake walks up the front steps of the Sime Center, and opens the door.
For B'cal.
Alea is sitting in the lobby, going through the files.
Wise Snake: Hi, Alea.
B'cal goes into the lobby.
Alea: Hello, Snake.
Alea: I was just filling out paperwork on, um, Rhelana.
Alea points to the paper work, slipping Sumulo's paperwork underneath.
Wise Snake stares at the papers.
Wise Snake: Oh.
Alea: She is being sent to Household Lenier, the place where they go.
For....um...help.
Wise Snake shivers at the word "help", thinking it sounds rather ominous.
Alea wonders if she should try to get Wise Snake's signature on the papers.
For Sumulo too....
Wise Snake: Good.
Alea looks around.
Alea looks back at Snake.
Wise Snake thinks with that interfering woman out of the way, there is a.
Chance Alea's kid will know his own father.
Alea: So, how good are you at signing, let's say....Veraik's name?
Wise Snake avoids dwelling on what kind of "help" Rhelana will be given.
Wise Snake: Veraik's signature?
Wise Snake happens to think she is pretty hot stuff when it comes to.
Signing other people's signatures, including Veraik's.
Wise Snake: It depends on what it's being signed on.
Alea moves Rhelana's admittance papers to show a set of papers on Sumulo,
Requesting he be evaluated too, along with Rhelana.
Wise Snake picks up Sumulo's papers and reads them.
Alea folds her hands, looking around, trying to look innocent.
Alea: This is an official transfer paper which would require Sumulo to go.
To Household Lenier to get a full psychological evaluation done.
Alea: It would take anywhere from a week to a month.
Alea: Unfortunately, the only one who can sign it is the Controller.
Alea: Of course, with him gone, there is a good chance we could get him.
Transferred permanently.
Alea smiles.
Alea: Veraik refuses to sign it. He is certain it'll be blocked.
Wise Snake: I thought he was afraid of reprisals from Sumulo's uncle.
Alea: However, I thought if it was signed, then perhaps, when they came to.
Transport Rhelana, they could be presented with these too and he wouldn't.
Have time to go to his uncle.
Alea: Exactly.
Wise Snake looks around, notes that B'cal has left the area.
Wise Snake lowers her voice.
Wise Snake: But Alea... the same thing will happen whether Veraik signs it.
Or I sign it. And Veraik will be angry with me for having done it.
Alea sighs.
Alea: I don't want you to be in trouble for this.
Alea: It was worth a try.
Wise Snake is relieved she got off so easily.
Alea: I suppose I could get you to forge the Sectuib's signature.
Alea: Can you imitate Muryin's signature?
Wise Snake's eyes widen.
Wise Snake: What would THAT be for?
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: No, it was just another thought of a way to get rid of Sumulo.
Alea: I thought, perhaps if he was given permission to join Zeor then he.
Would rush to Zeor...
Wise Snake laughs incredulously.
Wise Snake: You'll try anything to get rid of this guy, won't you?
Alea: I might.
Alea: Would you like a cat?
Wise Snake: What!!
Alea: Oh yeah, you're allergic to them, aren't you.
Wise Snake: I already have one too many.
Wise Snake is thinking of the stray living in the Ferry Building.
Alea: Perhaps Linn would like one.
Alea: Sumulo is trying to kill mine.
Alea shoves the papers aside and stands coming around the desk to pace.
Wise Snake: Oh.
Wise Snake: I suppose I could take it temporarily. [emphasis on the second.
And last words]
Alea: Oh really?
Alea grins brightly.
Kadi comes into the room.
Wise Snake: But... you know where I live. I can't guarantee what the cat.
Will do or get into in that building. And there is another cat lurking in.
There.
Alea: What are the chances of it getting murdered by a psychopathic maniac?
Wise Snake also can't guarantee that the cat will get any attention.
Whatsoever, unless Nick, B'cal or the new Donor happen to like cats.
Wise Snake: About zero. [admits]
Wise Snake: I'm not the cat slaughtering type.
Kadi comes over and rubs against Snake's legs, purring.
Wise Snake sneezes.
Alea looks at Snake, then at the cat.
Wise Snake: We're only talking about a week or two, right?
Alea: Oh dear...
Alea: Well, maybe.
Wise Snake sneezes again.
Alea: Until Sumulo gives up on me and moves on to tormenting someone else.
Alea scoops up Kadi and goes to her office, tosses the cat in, closes the.
Door, then returns.
Wise Snake thinks, this way Sumulo can torment two people simultaneously.
Wise Snake: Ah.. thank you.
Alea: You know, there is something else you could do instead of taking Kadi.
Wise Snake: Oh? What is that?
Alea: Take Sumulo instead.
Wise Snake grimaces.
Wise Snake: I'd love to, but Veraik already ixnayed that.
Alea: Oh.
Alea: Snake, I don't think Veraik takes the threat to me seriously.
Alea: I don't know what to do.
Wise Snake: If you can talk Veraik into the idea, I'll do it.
Alea goes over to the sofa and sinks down.
Wise Snake looks at Alea, evaluating her tone and nager.
Alea: ~~ considers it a definite threat and is worried ~~
Alea: I can't even be alone in this Center.
Alea: Every time he's caught me alone he's threatened me physically.
Alea: Veraik doesn't really believe it's a threat.
Wise Snake: Without Veraik's approval, it would have to be, essentially, a.
Kidnapping.
Alea: I mean, since he's come back from Liorie he looks through me.
Alea: Yeah.
Alea: Well, I can talk to him.
Wise Snake: A Sime is not an easy thing to kidnap.
Alea: No, he's not.
Alea: Perhaps Veraik will listen this time.
Alea: I mean, he has had a complaint filed against him for rough treatment.
Of donors.
Alea: I thought, if he was with you, then perhaps, you could give him to.
Those who sorta like it uh...rough.
Wise Snake: Well...
Wise Snake reconsiders.
Wise Snake: Well, perhaps.
Alea: I am determined to get rid of him after he threw me across the room.
Wise Snake: There are some Gens who like abuse and being told they are inferior.
Wise Snake can't fathom the mindset herself, but there it is.
Alea: I know.
Alea shudders.
Wise Snake: Talk to Veraik. If he says no, speak to me again about this.
Alea: Thank you, Snake.
Alea: How are you doing today?
Alea studies Snake closely.
Eliza walks into the lobby and sees Snake and Alea.
Eliza doesn't know if to stay or go.
Alea sees Eliza and smiles.
Eliza doesn't want to upset Alea after yesterday! (Or the day before that,
For that matter.)
Wise Snake: Yes, the abuse of Gens is a fine art... and I feel qualified to.
Teach. Oh, hello, Eliza.
Wise Snake smiles "pleasantly".
Eliza smiles at Alea and continues forward. "Hello, Alea. Hello, Snake."
Eliza: How is your back, Alea?
Alea: Oh, it's much better, as is my head.
Alea: You know, Snake, I was wondering if Linn might be willing to teach.
Eliza Simelan and writing.
Alea: I know Linn doesn't know much of it...
Alea: But as a teacher, it might be a way for her to pick it up at the same.
Time.
Eliza looks up at Snake. "How are you today, Wise Snake, I'm so very very.
Sorry about..."
Eliza: ~~ embarrassed ~~
Wise Snake looks at Eliza.
Wise Snake: [to Alea] You'll have to ask Linn. I don't see her much anymore.
Alea: Oh.
Alea nods.
Eliza looks interested, she can't wait to learn to write.
Eliza: Alea! I learned some Simelan yesterday! Listen:
Eliza stands up straight and in a sing song voice recites...
Eliza: "How are you? I am well. Would you like to go to my hotel room now?"
Eliza beams proudly.
Wise Snake laughs.
Alea groans.
Wise Snake: It is more polite, however, to ask, "Would you like to go to.
Your hotel room or mine?"
Alea: Did you hear that in Fast....
Alea: Snake!
Alea stares at Snake, incredulous.
Eliza smiles at Wise Snake's laugher and can't understand why Alea is upset.
Again.
Wise Snake looks as innocent as a rogue, pain-addicted, 14 year old Farris.
Possibly can.
Wise Snake: [which is halfway between "innocence" and "weasel"]
Alea: The proper question, should be, "Hello. How are you? Direct me back.
To the Sime Center, please. I'm Tecton."
Alea: See if you can repeat that.
Alea thinks that should keep the child out of some danger.
Wise Snake: No, no, no. That is way too formal. Try this: "The Sime Center.
Is too stuffy tonight. What do you say you and I go get some fresh air?"
Eliza: "Hello. How are you. Direct me back to the Sime Center, please. I'm.
Ticklish."
Alea glares at Snake.
Eliza: How's that?
Wise Snake smiles at Eliza's mangling of the language.
Alea: Much better, Eliza.
Eliza: "The Sime Center is too stuffy tonight. What do you say you and I go.
Get some fresh air?"
Wise Snake: Very good!
Alea rubs a hand down her face.
Eliza: Hey, Alea!
Eliza: Snake is a channel, so can I go out with her?
Alea [in Simelan] You shouldn't encourage her; she has already been in Fast.
Eddie's.
Alea smiles.
Alea: Why, yes, you can.
Wise Snake blinks innocently.
Alea: I did tell you if you had a channel with you, you could go, didn't I?
Alea smiles at Snake.
Eliza looks hopefully at Snake.
Wise Snake looks moderately interested.
Wise Snake: Go where?
Eliza: I don't know. I haven't seen much around here.
Eliza: Yesterday we went to a place called "Fast Eddie's"
Eliza: But I don't particularly want to go back there.
Wise Snake: Okay, we'll skip Fast Eddie's. You're a little young for that.
Place anyway.
Eliza: Hey! I'd have to be as old as you!
Wise Snake looks at Eliza.
Wise Snake: [arrogantly]
Wise Snake: I meant mentally.
Eliza is annoyed, but manages to keep total control to show that she can.
Alea enjoys watching the two together.
Eliza will get her own back in her own way later.
Alea thinks they make a wonderful match.
Wise Snake notes that Eliza is closer to potty-trained than she was last.
Time they met.
Eliza: So ,when can we go?
Eliza: Or do you have to get permission, Snake?
Alea motions.
Alea: I trust Snake.
Wise Snake: Well, see you, Alea. I'll take good care of her.
Wise Snake starts out the door.
Eliza follows Snake.
Alea worries as she watches Eliza go out the door with Snake.
Eliza: You don't live here, do you, Snake?
Eliza: Where do you live? Is it far?
Alea: What in shenned am I thinking to send a Donor potential out with a.
Crazy channel who is never satisfied with the number of Donors she has?
Eliza: What do you do when you aren't here?
Wise Snake skids down the front steps and halfway across the front walk.
Before running into the gate and catching hold.
Wise Snake: Yeow!
Wise Snake: I hope they get that cleared before a lot of donors start coming in.
Wise Snake panting.
Wise Snake: What? I work, of course.
Eliza follows carefully trying not to slip.
Wise Snake: And as for where I live... It's about three and a half miles.
From here. By the water.
Eliza is concentrating hard on not falling on the slippery ice.
Alea gets up and goes to the door to watch them leave.
Alea steps out on the porch worriedly.
Wise Snake continues up the walk and out onto the street.
Wise Snake: So... what's your poison?
Wise Snake is used to people wanting to hang out with her to have a wild.
Time, and assumes Eliza is the same.
Eliza: [still concentrating] Poison?
Eliza: What do you mean?
Wise Snake: Drugs, nightclubs, the porno scene, pain games, tobogganing...?
Eliza catches up with Wise Snake and tries to match her stride.
Wise Snake is rather small but moves quickly and nervously.
Eliza stops dead and looks at Wise Snake in shock.
Eliza: What are you talking about!
Eliza thinks that maybe she should have asked Alea to come, too.
Eliza: ~~ nervous ~~
Wise Snake stops, too.
Eliza: Er...
Wise Snake: I thought you wanted to do something interesting.
Eliza: You really do that stuff?
Wise Snake: If you don't like my ideas, you think of something.
Eliza: Oh, ummm... Well, what do you want to do?
Eliza thinks that tobogganing sounds dangerous.
Wise Snake: I don't usually hang out in nightclubs except for work. And I.
Haven't touched a toboggan since I went to Zeor.
Eliza thinks about what that leaves...drugs, porn and pain.
Eliza thinks it's time to get back.... maybe she left the stove on.
Eliza: Oh! We should have asked Alea to come, too. How rude of us.
Wise Snake catches Eliza by the arm.
Wise Snake: Don't be silly. Alea is a very busy woman.
Eliza decides to go along for awhile.
Alea slowly returns to the lobby.
Eliza can always say, "No."
Wise Snake lets go of Eliza when the Gen starts moving again.
Eliza: Okay, Snake. Lets go, then!
Eliza smiles at the Sime and tries to project mature confidence.
Wise Snake chuckles to herself, since she can zlin right through it, but.
Doesn't comment.
Eliza: [emphasis on the "mature"]
Wise Snake: Well, to be honest, I usually work at this time of day.
Wise Snake: So either you can think of something you'd like to do, or you.
Can tag along with me.
Eliza: Oh, I'm sorry.
Eliza: Hey! I'd love to watch you work!
Wise Snake: You would? [surprised]
Wise Snake: All right.
Eliza is relieved that porn, drugs and pain are (as she assumes) now safely.
Put away.
Wise Snake moves with more enthusiasm now.
Eliza starts to skip, remembers the comment about maturity, and walks more.
Sedately.
Eliza: Okay. Where do you go first? What do you do?
Eliza: Do you need a Donor? Can I help? Are you sure I won't be in the way?
Wise Snake steers them into the heart of the Porno district.
Eliza doesn't notice the changes in the buildings, she is too busy looking.
At Snake and babbling.
Wise Snake: Well... some things I might be able to use your help on. Some.
Others it would be best if you stayed out of the way. I'll let you know.
Jemmi comes bouncing down the street, chewing her gum, looking wide eyed.
And giggling at all the different things she sees in this district.
Eliza: Okay, Snake, you are the boss!
Eliza: I'll try to do anything you want, you know.
Wise Snake: Great.
Jemmi giggles as a man makes a pass, then goes on.
Wise Snake doesn't imagine Eliza will be good for much, being so new, but.
Doesn't see any point in mentioning that now.
Jemmi makes it clear that she's much above someone like _that_.
Eliza notices her surroundings for the first time and slows down a bit.
Wise Snake: Now, I usually cruise by here first thing, because it's often.
Possible to pick up transfer tricks here.
Eliza: Are we going in the right direction?
Wise Snake looks around.
Wise Snake: Yep.
Eliza: Oh, I see. What's a transfer trick?
Wise Snake: Ah... paid transfers, custom transfers, fetish transfers.
Eliza doesn't have the faintest idea what Snake is talking about.
Jemmi asks different people where she can find Snake.
Wise Snake smiles fondly at Eliza and wonders if she was ever that innocent.
Wise Snake's smile disappears as she realizes she never was.
Wise Snake waves to various people that she knows.
Eliza suddenly realizes what Snake is doing.
Eliza: You are looking for renSimes in need!
Eliza: Do they pay you to give them transfer?
Eliza shivers.
Wise Snake: Of course! They pay well, too.
Wise Snake: I'm not paying for the Ferry Building with beads and trinkets,
That's for sure.
Eliza: But why don't you work at the Center?
Wise Snake considers.
Wise Snake: Well, for two reasons.
Jemmi continues bouncing down the streets of the porno district looking for.
Snake.
Wise Snake: For one, the Center was too high stress. The number of.
Emergencies per day was about twice what I could handle and keep my nerves.
Intact.
Wise Snake: And for another, the people I am most interested in helping.
Can't use the Center.
Eliza: I didn't think anyone was turned away from the Center!
Wise Snake pauses as somebody buttonholes her and tells her some renSime is.
Looking for her.
Wise Snake: Ah, thanks. [to informant]
Eliza understands what Snake means about the stress and thinks it probably.
Has something to do with Alea.
Wise Snake: [to Eliza] Well, not everybody feels safe in going there, Eliza.
Eliza realizes that this is real: That Snake is really going to do this.
Wise Snake: After all, it is run by the government.
Eliza: But what other option is there for them?
Jemmi goes into a bar and looks around, wondering if that channel is in here.
Wise Snake: Well, there is always the black market. I consider myself an...
Alternative to the alternatives.
Wise Snake smiles at the thought.
Eliza: [at the thought of all this Eliza's production levels increase]
Eliza: What happens on the black market?
Wise Snake zlins the crowd as they walk, scanning for people whose.
Attention is more than just curious.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza.
Wise Snake: What happens? Whatever people want, that they can't get legally.
Eliza's field isn't under such strong control at the moment.
Wise Snake edges away from Eliza.
Wise Snake: Sometimes it's just transfer, if the person is a renSime wanted.
For crimes who dares not show his face in public.
Eliza wonders why Snake is edging away, and tries to make herself feel more.
Inviting.
Wise Snake: Cool it there, Eliza. You're messing with the ambient.
Eliza cools it.
Eliza: Sorry.
Wise Snake glares pointedly at a couple of renSimes who started moving.
Closer at Eliza's interesting projection.
Wise Snake: [they veer away]
Jemmi comes out of the bar and nearly runs Snake over.
Jemmi: Oh!
Jemmi giggles.
Wise Snake jumps back.
Wise Snake: Egads!
Jemmi: I've been looking for you.
Jemmi giggles again.
Wise Snake's heart pounds.
Jemmi zlins the girl next to Snake. ~~ interested ~~
Jemmi: Who's your friend?
Wise Snake: Just a kid. New Tecton Donor. No control yet.
Jemmi: Really?
Jemmi grins, chewing on her gum at the same time.
Jemmi blinks widely.
Wise Snake gets a good view of Jemmi's gum and tries to control her stomach.
Wise Snake: Umh.
Wise Snake: I notice you are in need of a transfer.
Eliza looks at the other Sime in interest.
Jemmi spits her gum out of her mouth, opens her purse, and sticks it inside.
Her purse, smashing it against the edge.
Eliza clams up.
Jemmi: Yes, I've been looking for you.
Jemmi continues to eye the Donor.
Wise Snake is revolted by the gum, but interested in the work.
Wise Snake: Oh really. What did you have in mind?
Eliza wonders that, too.
Eliza decides that she is a professional and holds up her head.
Jemmi: Well, you don't have that cute Gen with you. And I will admit that.
His field was certainly better than this one's...
Wise Snake hopes it doesn't involve being chased across town since it.
Nearly killed her last time.
Wise Snake: Nick's? I should hope so. [slightly insulted]
Wise Snake: [for Nick]
Eliza is insulted, and finds something more interesting the Jemmi to look at.
Jemmi shrugs.
Jemmi: A Gen field is a Gen field.
Jemmi: She's a Donor. You're a channel.
Jemmi giggles.
Jemmi: Oh, wow.
Eliza looks at a brick.
Eliza shoots a quick look at Jemmi and then at Snake.
Wise Snake: She's low field. [Snake is quick to point out]
Eliza wishes Alea were here.
Jemmi remembers chasing the Sime/Gen around and wonders if maybe this Gen.
Would like to be chased...
Jemmi: Not real low field.
Jemmi zlinning.
Eliza: ~~ cold ~~
Jemmi gasps.
Jemmi: Well.
Jemmi looks insulted.
Jemmi looks at Wise Snake.
Jemmi: I thought you said anything. Looks like your uppity little Gen isn't.
Interested.
Wise Snake thinks Jemmi doesn't know low field from a hole in the ground,
Since she took Eliza's field down herself only two days before.
Eliza is pleased and smiles.
Wise Snake: Look, ah, Eliza is a Tecton employee. Let's leave her out of this.
Wise Snake thinks she'll have to have a word with Eliza about scaring away.
Customers.
Jemmi concentrates on zlinning Snake.
Eliza: Hey!
Eliza: [turns to Snake] I said I'd help you.
Wise Snake uses her field to block Eliza's.
Wise Snake: I'm sure.
Eliza looks at Snake. "Well?"
Wise Snake: Please. I'm trying to talk to a customer.
Eliza backs off and waits.
Wise Snake turns back to Jemmi.
Eliza: ~~ grumpy ~~
Wise Snake: Now. What did you say you had in mind?
Wise Snake continues to shield Jemmi from Eliza's effects.
Jemmi: Gen transfer.
Eliza listens, interested.
Eliza gasps.
Wise Snake: I'm not a Gen. Join a transfer ring.
Jemmi is distracted by the noise from Eliza.
Jemmi sighs.
Jemmi: Then how about a transfer that is just short of a ... kill.
Eliza is looking hopefully at the Sime, interested, now.
Wise Snake: Like last time?
Jemmi: My friend had that. Said he felt death...
Jemmi giggles.
Wise Snake: With no running? [adds hopefully]
Jemmi: I don't know if I believe him or not.
Jemmi remembers the running and shudders.
Jemmi: I ruined my cloak that day.
Jemmi: I got water spots on it. I had to get Daddy to buy me a new one.
Jemmi: No, I think we can forget the running this time.
Wise Snake relieved.
Eliza thinks she would like to see the running, but is confused about who.
Would be chasing whom.
Wise Snake: Where?
Jemmi looks back at the bar behind them.
Jemmi: Why not in there?
Wise Snake entertains a brief fantasy of doing it in Jemmi's Daddy's house,
On the living room rug.. then abandons the idea as impractical.
Eliza: [whispers to Snake] She wants to chase you? Or you to chase her?
Wise Snake turns.
Wise Snake: The Slot?
Wise Snake: Ummmhhh...
Wise Snake: If you really want to.
Eliza is getting excited, which is raising her production levels.
Jemmi: Sure.
Jemmi shrugs, only feeling her need and wanting transfer.
Wise Snake: Eliza, please try to get a grip. You're going to start feeling.
Sick again if you don't calm down.
Wise Snake: All right, let's go.
Wise Snake leads the way into the Slot.
Eliza follows a few steps behind, trembling.
Jemmi follows behind Snake, wondering if this is really the one she chased.
And almost killed last month.
Wise Snake squirms through the knots of disgusting Slot patrons to the bar,
Where she pays for a room for 15 minutes.
Eliza doesn't know if she is invited in or not and decides to stay in the bar.
Wise Snake gestures to Eliza and Jemmi and leads the way into the back.
Eliza misses the gesture.
Alea finishes up the paperwork, looks longingly at the papers she filled.
Out on Sumulo, and decides to put them on Veraik's desk anyway.
Eliza wonders if they have any lemonade here.
Jemmi crowds Snake.
Wise Snake climbs some dingy stairs and slips into a nasty room with a bed.
In it.
Wise Snake: Here we go.
Wise Snake: ~~ support and promise ~~
Jemmi: But I wanted the Gen here, too.
Jemmi: ~~ pouting ~~
Eliza slips into a chair.
Wise Snake: ~~~ Gen ~~~
Wise Snake closes the door.
Jemmi forgets about the Gen and goes hyper.
Eliza hums a tune and wishes that she had some money, or that someone would.
Offer to buy her a drink.
Wise Snake smiles.
Jemmi drops her purse.
Jemmi: I just thought she might add some ... uh ... fear ... you know her.
Field was spiking with it....at one....point...
Jemmi goes hyper.
Wise Snake teases Jemmi with a hint of fear.
Jemmi gasps and steps forward.
Wise Snake moves slightly away from Jemmi. ~~ little spike of nervousness ~~
Pretty Boy leans against the bar near Eliza.
Jemmi's laterals peek out.
Jemmi hesitates, then steps forward.
Pretty Boy is an outrageously done-up model type with a pretty face and.
Long hair.
Pretty Boy looks at Eliza, evaluating her appearance and possible funding.
Pretty Boy smiles.
Jemmi reaches out for the Gen.
Eliza sees the, er, male and turns to him.
Wise Snake: ~~~ fear spike ~~~
Wise Snake jerks away from Jemmi.
Jemmi: ~~ Need ~~
Eliza is confused, never having seen anyone that looks like that before.
Jemmi augments, leaping at the Gen.
Pretty Boy: Why, hello. You look lonely.
Eliza smiles at him and says the only thing she knows in Simelan.
Eliza: "How are you? I am well. Would you like to go to my hotel room now?"
Pretty Boy smiles broadly.
Pretty Boy: Of course.
Pretty Boy offers her his arm.
Wise Snake meets Jemmi's leap, hands outstretched.
Eliza looks confused, then remembers what Snake told her to say...
Eliza: The Sime Center is too stuffy tonight. What do you say you and I go.
Get some fresh air?
Wise Snake: ~~ Gen surprise/fear/excitement ~~
Jemmi grabs the Gen, snarling viciously as she pulls the weak little thing.
Into her arms.
Wise Snake: ~~ panic ~~
Eliza looks worried; what she really wants is a lemonade.
Eliza: My hoovercraft is FULL of ... eels!
Wise Snake struggles like a Gen.
Jemmi grabs tentacles and laterals around the arms.
Jemmi ~~ Mine ~~
Pretty Boy: Oh, really! How very interesting.
Pretty Boy pats her arm and leads her gently from the bar.
Jemmi makes fifth contact point.
Eliza: Errr, I'm ticklish?
Jemmi draws.
Wise Snake's handling tentacles snap around Jemmi's arms, the ventrals.
Gripping the base of the hand while the dorsals wrap forward to reinforce.
The fingers' grip.
Wise Snake's laterals twine with Jemmi's.
Wise Snake: ~~ resistance/terror ~~
Jemmi ~~ savage drawing ~~ ~~ searching, needing bliss ~~
Wise Snake: ~~ soaring pleasure/ecstasy ~~
Jemmi: ~~ soaring pleasure/ecstasy ~~
Jemmi: ~~ completion ~~
Wise Snake remains still, projecting support and satisfied pleasure for Jemmi.
Eliza pulls back.
Eliza says, in English, "I'm sorry, I have to wait here for a friend."
Jemmi finally releases Snake, untangling laterals and opening her eyes.
Pretty Boy doesn't know much English, only a few phrases.
Jemmi looks at Snake.
Jemmi: Oh, wow!
Jemmi giggles.
Pretty Boy: I can give you anything you want. And much more. [in English]
Wise Snake smiles at Jemmi.
Jemmi: That was like ... [giggle]
Eliza blinks. "Well, I'd like a lemonade.
Wise Snake rubs her hands together, stickily.
Jemmi gets her purse and pulls out some money, handing it to Snake.
Eliza looks around, wishing Snake were here.
Jemmi doesn't blink at the amount.
Pretty Boy smiles and nods approvingly.
Eliza wonders what the smooth looking man is smiling at.
Wise Snake doesn't blink at the amount, but this is more due to excellent.
Self control than any shortcoming in the amount present.
Wise Snake accepts the cash.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Eliza thinks he sort of reminds her of that Garon person... in a way.
Jemmi goes toward the door, her pony tail bouncing, heels clicking.
Jemmi: See ya next month...
Pretty Boy points at the only two hotels in sight, hoping to identify which.
One Eliza might be staying in.
Jemmi clicks down the stairs, floating along, post...
Pretty Boy: Is it one of these? [Simelan]
Eliza looks at him uncomprehendingly.
Eliza: "Errr... The lemonade?"
Eliza: {English]
Pretty Boy: [he appears to be pointing at a small crummy hotel with a cafe.
Downstairs of it]
Eliza knows that she should be waiting for Snake, but sees the cafe and.
Thinks "It's still in sight of this door. I can keep watch for her," and.
Nods and smiles.
Wise Snake sighs, looks at her ronaplin covered arms disgustedly, then.
Wipes them carefully on a filthy sheet.
Pretty Boy nods in pleased comprehension as the hotel to which she wishes.
Him to accompany her is identified.
Wise Snake walks down the stairs and looks around for Eliza.
Wise Snake: Hmmm.
Eliza follows Pretty Boy toward the cafe.
Jemmi sees the pretty boy and smiles.
Jemmi bounces over to where Pretty Boy is, ignoring the other person with.
Him... and giggles up at Pretty Boy, batting her eyes.
Pretty Boy: Why, hello there.
Eliza realizes that this is the person who was with Snake.
Jemmi: This your hotel?
Pretty Boy recognizes money when he sees it and quickly forgets Eliza exists.
Eliza sees that her chances of getting a lemonade are fading.
Jemmi giggles and points.
Pretty Boy: Oh, no.
Pretty Boy waves a hand.
Pretty Boy: Why, do you want to see my place?
Pretty Boy: ~~ suggestive ~~
Eliza realizes that Pretty Boy has forgotten all about her.
Jemmi: ~~ suggestive back ~~
Eliza wonders away, back towards where she left Snake.
Jemmi: I just looooooove tours.
Wise Snake searches the Slot then walks outside, zlinning for the Gen.
Jemmi reaches out for the Gen's arm, nodding that he lead the way.
Alea puts the reports on Veraik's desk and then slips out of his office.
Alea goes back to the lobby.
Alea looks at the clock and worries that Eliza isn't back yet. Alea.
Realizes it's only been a half an hour, but Alea is regretting letting that.
Girl out on the street.
Alea realizes she is worrying over Eliza and shakes her head in disgust and goes back to work.
Briel is walking down the street on her way to a shop.
Parnul trudges along with his hands in his pockets.
Wise Snake finally spots Eliza over near the disreputable "Halfway Inn".
Briel zlins a familiar nager.
Wise Snake notes Eliza is in the company of Jemmi and a male prostitute.
Wise Snake hurries in that direction.
Briel sees it's a friend she hasn't seen in ages and they go off for a cup.
Of trin together.
Parnul can't decide what to do. He zlins the tawdry buildings around him.
Parnul looks around at the women on this street. Not what his mother would.
Call ladies...
Wise Snake snags Eliza and steers her quickly away from Jemmi and Pretty Boy.
Wise Snake: Uh, let's stick to business here.
Alea realizes she is feeling ill and decides she has to go eat.
Parnul sees a woman who looks familiar for some reason holding another's arm...
Wise Snake is a small, scrawny looking channel with black hair and white.
Eyes, wearing a black cape.
Wise Snake is currently looking a bit disgruntled at having to pry Eliza.
Away from mischief so soon.
Parnul is a young renSime in expensive clothes.
Parnul: ~~ 3 or 4 days past transfer ~~
Wise Snake waves at Parnul, remembering him as somebody whose life she had.
Saved once, and wondering what he is doing in this neighborhood.
Wise Snake hopes if it's to get himself nearly murdered again, that he.
Holds off until she has a real Donor with her.
Parnul: [ to Wise Snake ] "I'm sorry,, but don't I know you..."
Wise Snake: Snake Farris.
Frutata is sitting in the cafeteria, eating his lunch.
Parnul: Oh yes! The channel!
Parnul: You treated me after my attack, didn't you?
Wise Snake: Yes. [smiles]
Parnul wonders what a important Farris channel is doing in this sleazy part.
Of town.
Wise Snake realizes she is clutching Eliza's arm and lets go.
Parnul: Hi. I don't think I ever thanked you.
Parnul: I hoped you like some of the stuff I sent to the Center later.
Alea goes down to the cafeteria to get her something to eat.
Wise Snake: Ah... You're welcome.
Wise Snake doesn't know what stuff he is talking about, realizes it must.
Have arrived after she had left the Center's regular employ.
Parnul: Lowren was doing well when he went out-t about six weeks ago.
Parnul: ~~ worried ~~
Wise Snake modulates her field to mild reassurance and support.
Wise Snake: Did you expect him back sooner?
Parnul: Yeah, he should have been back last week at the latest. He's.
Overdue to donate, too.
Alea gets her a bowl of soup and a cup of tea and some bread.
Eliza is trying to be invisible.
Parnul relaxes somewhat under Snake's field.
Wise Snake: Do you know where he was going?
Eliza wonders what stuff they were talking about and if lemonade came into.
The picture at all.
Parnul: He was going to see some of our contacts. Then he was going to stop.
In FarFall to see Jon Drake's family for him.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake: I hope he is all right.
Parnul: Then he was going to stop back at our hometown.
Alea looks around for a table to sit at.
Wise Snake zlins Eliza's thirst and squirms a little.
Parnul: ~~ me, too ~~
Parnul: It might be the weather delayed him.
Parnul worries that it was Winter Storm Nally, more likely...
Eliza is really ashamed this time.
Wise Snake zlins Eliza's shame and really squirms.. it's not her favorite,
Or most familiar, emotion.
Parnul remembers his manners and switches to English and addresses Eliza.
Frutata is reading a book of poetry and enjoying a cheese sandwich.
Parnul: "Hello Ma'am. Parnul Redan, at you service."
Alea goes over and sits down at a table near Frutata's.
Wise Snake: Parnul, this is Eliza. She is a new Donor at the Sime Center.
Eliza: Hello, Parnul.
Eliza: Ummmm...
Eliza: My hoovercraft is FULL of ... eels!
Eliza smiles.
Wise Snake: Better stick to English, Eliza.
Eliza: Oh, okay, Snake.
Eliza: I'm pleased to met you, Parnul.
Parnul: Honored to meet you, Miz Eliza.
Eliza basks in the attention of the only nice normal male Sime she has met.
Since John died.
Parnul is about to zlin her, but remembers channels get uptight about that.
Parnul: It's all right, I grew up in Hamish, out-Territory.
Eliza: Oh! [Eliza is even more impressed]
Parnul: Simelan _does_ get confusing at first, as I recall.
Eliza licks her lips with thirst.
Wise Snake rolls her eyes.
Wise Snake: Eliza, would you like to get something to drink?
Wise Snake hands her some money.
Wise Snake: There's a little cafe right over there. Be sure to come right back.
Eliza: Yes, thanks Snake. Can I get you something?
Eliza: Errr, Snake, what do I ask for? Ummm, eels?
Wise Snake: What do you want?
Eliza: Don't know. Lemonade, I guess.
Wise Snake: OK. Say "One lemonade, please." [in Simelan]
Wise Snake: And be careful on the pronunciation, or people might think.
You're asking for something else.
Eliza repeats it: "One lemonade plaster."
Wise Snake: No, "One lemonade PLEASE".
Wise Snake: Wait a minute.
Wise Snake gets out more money.
Wise Snake: Citrus is outrageous at this time of year. Here you go.
Eliza: "One lemonade PLEASE". "One lemonade PLEASE". "One lemonade PLEASE".
Eliza: Okay.
Eliza wonders off repeating the phrase.
Parnul tries to conceal a grin.
Wise Snake turns back to Parnul.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry. She's a little wet behind the ears.
Parnul: A nice girl, though, it appears.
Wise Snake sees Eliza go into a bar instead of the cafe.
Wise Snake hopes they realize she wants the non-alcoholic variety of lemonade.
Wise Snake: Oh, dear.
Wise Snake forces her mind away from it.
Eliza: "One lemonade PLEASE". "One lemonade PLEASE".
Wise Snake: [to Parnul] She does seem to be on fairly good behavior at the.
Moment. [agrees]
Wise Snake: Now, about Lowren... have you tried writing to his various.
Destinations asking if he has been and gone?
Parnul: No, Lowren has just had to wait out a storm, I assume. ~~ not! ~~
Eliza walks up to the bar and says "One lemonade PLEASE".
Wise Snake frowns, puzzled, not sure what to make of the mixed message.
Parnul: No, not yet. ~~ reluctance ~~
Eliza takes the offered drink and hands over the money.
Eliza is very thirsty by this time and drinks it all in one gulp.
Eliza is still thirsty "One lemonade PLEASE".
Alea sees the sandwich Frutata is eating.
Alea: You really should eat more than that.
Alea: It's not very healthy.
Eliza drinks the second "lemonade".
Frutata looks up at Alea.
Frutata: I'm sorry?
Eliza starts to walk back to where she left Snake and Parnul.
Alea: The sandwich. It's not a very balanced meal.
Parnul broods that he doesn't want to hear that Lowren got to Hamish and.
Stayed there.
Eliza feels slightly giddy.
Wise Snake: Well, ah, Parnul, I hope you'll let me know if there is.
Anything I can do to help.
Wise Snake is slightly distracted by zlinning Eliza's nager coming back.
Toward them in a not very straight line.
Eliza is losing control and doesn't realize she is starting to broadcast.
Rather happy emotions.
Alea gets up, goes back and gets a bowl of soup and some fruit and brings.
It back to Frutata.
Parnul: [ distracted ] "I don't see how you could with this..."
Alea: One thing they teach you here, is that you're going to serve a.
Channel, you should eat properly.
Eliza smiles madly at Snake and Parnul and hands Snake the change.
Alea ignores the fact that she hasn't been eating worth beans since she.
Became pregnant again.
Wise Snake looks at the change dumbly then stares at Eliza, who zlins as if.
She's well on her way.
Alea sets the tray down by Frutata and then sits back down.
Frutata has to laugh.
Frutata: Ah, thank you Alea.
Alea looks at Frutata, then nods.
Eliza: Thank you, Snake. *hic* I feel better now.
Eliza puts her hand over her mouth and giggles.
Alea: I'll give you a hint, too. Certain channels here tend to eat off.
Their Donor's plate. So if you have one of them with you, you might want to.
Get extra.
Eliza feels red and blue with green spots.
Wise Snake: I don't doubt it. [cringing back from Eliza's nager]
Alea: Channels think they know when they're hungry or not.
Alea shakes her head.
Frutata closes his book.
Alea: It's up to us to tell them when they are.
Frutata: I see. [gentle amusement]
Alea takes a bite of her soup and savors the spicy taste.
Frutata tries a piece of fruit.
Alea: Actually, I should have my channel with me, but I haven't met him yet.
Parnul zlins the nager and pulls himself hypo.
Wise Snake: Well, Parnul, if there's really nothing I can help you with, I.
Think I'd better get young Eliza here back to the Sime Center.
Parnul: Did you get a lemonade, then?
Wise Snake: She seems to have become a bit, er...
Alea thinks it's probably easier to say she's been avoiding him, but won't.
Admit that to anyone.
Eliza starts singing (she thinks) softly but actually rather loudly.
Parnul: Apparently not...
Wise Snake smells the lemons on Eliza's breath and backs off farther.
Wise Snake: Well, it must have been at least partially lemonade.
Eliza stops singing and turns to Parnul "The Sime Center is too stuffy.
Tonight. What do you say you and I go get some fresh air?"
Eliza giggles.
Parnul reaches out to steady Eliza.
Eliza falls into his arms.
Parnul sings along with Eliza softly.
Parnul catches her.
Wise Snake: Oh, geez.
Eliza stops singing to listen to Parnul's lovely voice.
Eliza: Oooo.
Wise Snake reaches out and gently pries the two apart, projecting sober.
Calmness.
Eliza: *hic*
Wise Snake: ~~~ feet on the ground steady alertness ~~~
Parnul questions if this is proper care of Donors on Snake's part, and.
Conduct of Donors on Eliza's part.
Eliza shakes off Wise Snake.
Wise Snake interposes herself between the two, protecting Parnul from.
Eliza's nager.
Parnul lets Snake take Eliza. "My apologies, Hajene."
Eliza: I'm perfictly okay, I sure you. *hic*
Alea: So, who are you assigned to this month?
Eliza resents this.
Wise Snake: She's a little inexperienced. [apologizes]
Eliza suddenly feels very ill.
Alea takes a small taste of soup again.
Eliza is hit by a sudden blinding headache.
Wise Snake is prepared to dodge in any direction necessary.
Eliza: Owwww.
Wise Snake winces.
Eliza: My head hurts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eliza: MY HEAD HURTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wise Snake: Yeah, yeah. Oh shen. Parnul, would you please leave?
Eliza: SNAKE!!! MY HEAD HURTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wise Snake goes hypo, takes hold of Eliza, and drags her into a secluded alley.
Eliza: *sobs*
Parnul discovers he isn't really hypo as his head hurts, too.
Wise Snake: Shhh... shhh... please.
Parnul hears Snake and stumbles off clutching his head.
Eliza stumbles after Snake...well, she has no choice.
Eliza sobs loudly.
Eliza: What's the matter with me?!
Parnul stops down the block and leans back against a building.
Wise Snake hopes the woman proves more competent as a Donor than in drinks.
Purchasing.
Frutata: I was told I have been assigned to Tramila, but I haven't met her yet.
Parnul: How do those channels take it?
Eliza thinks she is going to be sick...
Alea: Ah.
Alea: ~~ jealous ~~
Wise Snake: There, there, let the bad stuff out. [supports Eliza]
Eliza decides she isn't.
Alea smiles at Frutata.
Eliza wants to go home ~~ RIGHT NOW ~~
Alea: She's a good channel. Just make sure not to leave her after transfer.
Until she's ready for you to leave--and to reassure her before that you'll.
Be there until the Earth stops spinning if necessary. If you do that,
Things should go fine.
Frutata smiles, amused by Alea's teaching him how to care for a channel.
Frutata: Thank you. I will heed your advice.
Alea shrugs, angered by his amusement.
Alea: If you'll excuse me. I should get back to work.
Frutata: Of course.
Alea leaves her soup and tea and leaves.
Frutata thinks about the encounter for some moments, then picks up his book.
Once again.
Eliza: Snake, I want to go home now, please.
Parnul debates if he should remember the reason he came down to this area...
Wise Snake: I think that would be for the best. [agrees]
Eliza starts to stumble off in the wrong direction.
Wise Snake snags Eliza and turns her around going the right way.
Eliza: Oh. Okay.
Wise Snake: This way, dear. Downhill always means towards the water.
Eliza: Water...oh, I'd love a drink of water.
Eliza: "One lemonade PLEASE".
Wise Snake trudges uphill wondering if it is possible this woman has stolen.
Alea's scatterbrainedness.
Wise Snake: Here, do you want to stop at one of these places and let me get.
You a glass of water?
Eliza: No, I just want to get home, thanks.
Wise Snake sighs and keeps walking.
Eliza tries to hurry.
Wise Snake: Watch your step. It's slippery, and your coordination is .
Not at its best.
Parnul thinks he should have asked Snake about which of these -
'establishments' can be trusted, but what would a respectable channel know.
About that?
Eliza stumbles along.
Eliza sees Parnul and moans.
Eliza is dreadfully embarrassed and cries softly.
Eliza: Oh, Snake, I made such a fool of myself.
Wise Snake supports Eliza.
Wise Snake: It's all right, it's all right. It's just another lesson in.
Becoming a responsible Donor, right?
Eliza is very very grateful to Wise Snake and is ashamed of herself for her.
Previous behavior.
Parnul sees Snake and Eliza walking, but decides not to intrude.
Eliza: I have no idea why I suddenly felt that sick! It must have been bad.
Lemonade.
Wise Snake sniffs Eliza.
Wise Snake: I think it was the alcoholic variety.
Eliza: Oh, no! I can't drink! I get sick!
Eliza: *blinding migraine*
Wise Snake notices Eliza's head ache is creeping up into the lower regions.
Of what her own usually feel like.
Wise Snake: Well, I could offer you a pain killer, but what you really have.
To do is go lie down in the dark and try to relax.
Eliza: I can't take pain killers either. They make me sick, too.
Eliza is miserable.
Parnul notices that Eliza still looks unwell.
Wise Snake leads Eliza back to the Sime Center, surrounding the Gen's field.
In hers to try to minimize the effect upon the general populace.
Parnul hails a horsecab.
Wise Snake leads Eliza to the back door and up the stairs into the Gen quarters.
Wise Snake: Okay, which room is yours?
Eliza looks around and finds everything is a blur.
Tamlen comes down the hall with a long bundle.
Tamlen sees Snake supporting that new girl ... what was her name...Valrie?
Eliza peers myopically at the doors trying to recognize which one is likely.
To be hers.
Eliza: I think it's that one.
Wise Snake: Try your key in it.
Eliza: Key...key.
Tamlen wonders why they are trying to get into Jon Drake's room.
Wise Snake tries to look nonchalant in the hopes that Tamlen will not.
Report anything out of the ordinary.
Eliza pulls out a key.
Eliza tries to put the key into the door jam.
Alea decides to go out for a walk.
Alea decides the fresh air is just what she needs.
Alea figures by the time she is done, Eliza will be back.
Eliza finally finds the keyhole and tries to put the key in.
Alea goes to the lobby and snatches her cloak and scarf and gloves.
Eliza: It doesn't fit.
Eliza realizes the door isn't locked.
Tamlen comes down the hall. "Hello."
Eliza opens the door, stumbles in and falls on the bed.
Eliza doesn't realize that she isn't in her own bed and promptly blacks out.
Wise Snake: Hello, Tamlen.
Tamlen: Hello Snake. Is she ill?
Wise Snake tries to avoid any darting eye movements through the open door.
Where Eliza is now visible, oblivious to the universe.
Wise Snake: Uh... yes.
Tamlen: Isn't she supposed to be downstairs?
Wise Snake: I asked her which room was hers, she picked out this one.
Tamlen: I think this is Jon Drake's actually.
Tamlen: Unless they ....
Rat crawls out from under Jon Drake's bed.
Rat pauses with his whiskers tingling at the unfamiliar odor of alcohol.
Rat waddles across the room and explores Jon Drake's gym shoes.
Wise Snake: Hmm.. it's possible. I don't know her that well. [confesses]
Tamlen shrugs.
Tamlen: Not my business, I suppose.
Tamlen fingers the bundle, feeling the rust chewing away...
Wise Snake realizes it's not her business, either.
Wise Snake: Huh.
Wise Snake pulls the door gently closed.
Wise Snake: What's that? [zlins metal]
Tamlen: It used to be my rifle, but after days out in the snow...
Wise Snake: Can't you just clean it?
Wise Snake hopes she is not treading on sacred ground.
Tamlen: I'm going to try. If too much damage hasn't been done...
Wise Snake: You know, keeping a rifle here may not be such a good idea.
[cautiously]
Tamlen: ~~ regret ~~ "It _is_ starting to seem like that..."
Tamlen: Should I tell the other channels anything about... [head gesture]
Wise Snake: Oh! No, I don't think so. She'll sleep it off and frankly, I.
Don't think she'll want it made public.
Tamlen: Ah. Overindulgence?
Wise Snake: Unintentional. It seems she didn't realize the bartender had.
Served her something other than plain lemonade.
Wise Snake assumes it was unintentional; frowns, considering the other.
Possibilities.
Tamlen: Would be understandable. She's had a bad time, I understand.
Wise Snake: A lack of experience with Simelan may also have had some part in it.
Tamlen: Yeah. Simelan really doesn't make a lot of sense at first.
Tamlen: Being put in that camp and everything...
Alea slips her scarf on and her gloves, and finally her cloak.
Alea looks around and seeing no one, slips into her office and grabs her.
Ice skates.
Tamlen: Anyway, thank you for seeing that she got back here okay, Hajene Snake.
Alea slips the skates under her cloak and then walks back out of her.
Office, trying to look innocent and hoping no channels are near enough to.
Zlin what she has.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Good luck with your repair work.
Tamlen: Thank you.
Wise Snake walks down the front steps.
Alea heads toward the front door of the Center.
Wise Snake wonders: If Eliza knows Jon Drake, how come she wasn't more.
Interested in Snake's conversation with Parnul?
Wise Snake puzzled.
Wise Snake enters the lobby.
Tamlen figures that the Donors lounge is a place he can go spread things.
Out to clean up.
Tamlen goes downstairs.
Alea hurries out the front door.
Wise Snake realizes Alea is there and stops short in guilty surprise.
Wise Snake realizes Alea didn't notice her and sighs.
Wise Snake thinks, at least Alea won't be asking her where Eliza is.
Alea slips on the starts and goes bouncing down them.
Alea: Aa-aai-ii-iigg-ggg-hh-hh.
Tamlen hears the cry and runs toward the front.
Wise Snake runs out the front door before she takes the time to think about.
It first.
Wise Snake shoots off the front step and flies over Alea's head, skidding.
Into a snow bank.
Alea looks up. ~~ guilt ~~
Alea: Oops.
Alea ducks.
Tamlen startles as Snake zips out in front of him.
Alea: Watch out for the uh...
Alea: Too late.
Alea sees her ice skates and scrabbles to get them and shove them back.
Under her cloak.
Alea realizes she should be more worried about Snake than her skates and.
Drops her skates.
Alea climbs up, rubbing her bottom as she makes her way over to where Snake is.
Alea: Are you okay?
Alea looks at Tamlen.
Wise Snake sits up with snow down her front and in her hair.
Alea: Why aren't you wearing a cloak?
Wise Snake: I'm fine. [slightly annoyed with herself and Alea... and Eliza.
As well]
Tamlen is holding a long bundle.
Tamlen: Are you hurt?
Wise Snake zlins Alea.
Alea looks to Snake.
Tamlen seems to be speaking to both of them.
Alea: She looks okay to me.
Alea: Just a lot of snow down her front and in her hair.
Alea reaches out to dig the snow out of Snake's top.
Alea: I tried to warn you about those steps...
Wise Snake's expression sours as Sime body heat causes the snow to melt and.
Run down in cold rivulets.
Wise Snake fends Alea off.
Wise Snake: I'm okay, I'm okay.
Alea jumps back.
Wise Snake: I'm glad to zlin you aren't much more than bruised.
Alea: I forgot the steps hadn't been cleared.
Alea smiles weakly.
Alea: Hey!
Alea's smile disappears.
Alea: Where is Eliza?
Tamlen: Who?
Alea looks back at Snake.
Alea: A new Donor.
Wise Snake: Oh... She decided to take a nap.
Alea: She did?
Alea: In the middle of the day?
Wise Snake: I thought she'd have more stamina than that.
Alea wonders again if she is pregnant.
Wise Snake: ~ truth ~
Alea: Ah.
Tamlen: ~~ confused ~~
Alea: Uh, Snake, when you zlinned her the other day... was Eliza, perhaps,
Um .... pregnant?
Wise Snake: No. I checked.
Alea looks into the sky, anywhere but at Snake, knowing she shouldn't.
Really ask about a patient, but worried just the same.
Alea: ~~ confused ~~
Alea: Then why in the world would she want to sleep in the middle of the day?
Wise Snake: She got a headache.
Alea: A headache?
Alea has spent enough time with both Snake and Eliza to ask...
Alea: What happened?
Tamlen: That was Eliza? I thought it was Valrie.
Alea: Valrie?
Alea: Oh, so you've met her?
Alea: Eliza that is? Or was it Valrie?
Alea looks between the two, confused.
Wise Snake is thoroughly confused.
Wise Snake: When? Just now?
Alea: You met Valrie just now?
Alea: But I thought she was still in the infirmary.
Alea: I'm going to have to talk to her about wandering around in the lobby.
Wise Snake looks quite alarmed as she wonders if she got Eliza and Valrie.
Mixed up somehow.
Wise Snake worries that she might be losing her marbles.
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Wise Snake: No, it was Eliza.
Tamlen: I'm not sure who I've met.
Tamlen furrows his brow.
Alea: Eliza was wandering around the lobby?
Wise Snake: I brought Eliza back here today and Tamlen, you were there.
Alea looks at Tamlen, confused.
Tamlen: Why don't we sort this out inside where it's warm, huh?
Alea nods.
Alea: Fine.
Alea hurries over to where her skates are and slips them up under her cloak.
Trying to cloak the skates' presence.
Alea looks at the icy stairs.
Wise Snake zlins the skates under the cloak and pales.
Wise Snake sees Alea preparing to climb the icy stairs and feels faint.
Alea lifts one foot and places it carefully on the sheet of ice, grabbing.
Firmly to the cold slick rail.
Wise Snake gets up and moves cautiously up behind Alea, ready to catch her.
If anything happens.
Tamlen holds the door.
Alea puts her next foot up, smiling as she slowly makes her way up the steps.
Alea: Be careful for the first and third one, they're really slick.
Alea: I must make sure someone clears that before someone really gets hurt.
Alea makes it to the porch and sighs in relief.
Wise Snake, relieved, climbs the stairs after Alea.
Alea slips inside, smiling at Tamlen.
Alea races to her office and tosses the skates in before turning, hoping.
Against hope that Snake didn't zlin the skates.
Alea clasps her hands.
Alea: What do you have there, Tamlen?
Tamlen: My rifle. I have to clean it up.
Alea: ~~ guilt ~~
Alea: Ah.
Alea smiles and decides to change the subject.
Alea: Eliza!
Alea looks at Snake.
Alea: You said she was wandering here in the lobby.
Wise Snake: No, [carefully] I said that she had a headache and wanted to.
Lie down.
Wise Snake: So I brought here back to the Center and she is taking a nap.
Alea: Oh.
Alea looks at Tamlen.
Alea: Then it must have been you who said she was wandering the lobby.
Wise Snake smiles, thinking if Alea starts asking too many questions she.
Can bring up the subject of the skates.
Tamlen decides not to mention _where_ she is sleeping... not his business.
Tamlen creases his brow. "That who was wandering the lobby?"
Alea: Eliza.
Ghost wonders in the lobby.
Alea sighs.
Wise Snake thinks they must be talking about before she herself showed up.
Alea: So, what happened to give her a headache?
Alea crosses over to the desk to look through the files on the desk and.
Pull Eliza's file.
Wise Snake: She appears to have certain allergies.
Tamlen gets a chilly feeling on the back of his neck and turns around.
Suddenly...
Alea pauses.
Alea: Really?
Tamlen turns back.
Wise Snake: Yes, she mentioned she gets migraines.
Alea opens the file and goes over to the sofa near the window and sits down.
To write.
Alea: What allergies are these, so I might note them in her file?
Wise Snake: I can verify that last. [adds]
Tamlen: I've never seen Eliza in the lobby. Or anywhere except at Jon-
Tamlen clams up.
Wise Snake: She said she can't take pain killers.
Alea looks up at Tamlen, curious.
Alea: Pain killers? Okay. Any type or all of them?
Wise Snake: She wasn't very specific, so I suspect she's never tried any.
But those available in Gen Territory.
Wise Snake: And we all know what THOSE are like.
Alea wonders why Snake is standing there and what she's not telling her.
Groat, a renSime in hard need, just completing changeover, dashes up the.
Front steps of the Center - no thought now - just instinct to head in that.
Direction.
Tamlen has an uneasy feeling that he hasn't felt since the war. Like he was.
Under enemy observation...
Groat bursts into the lobby and senses a high field to the left.
Alea wonders if that's what she got ahold of in Snake's office that time.
Wise Snake augments to intercept Groat, projecting ~ Gen field ~
Alea: Now...
Alea looks up.
Groat dives towards Alea.
Tamlen drops into a crouch and points the bundle automatically.
Alea: Oh, shen...
Alea tosses the chart up in the air looking toward the augmenting Simes.
Groat grabs Alea by the arms and attempts to make contact.
Wise Snake allows it.
Alea hesitates knowing there's a channel there.
Wise Snake: ~~ offering/willingness to help ~~
Tamlen realizes he can't shoot a bundle...
Groat hesitates.. looking at the channel in confusion.
Alea forces her field flat.
Groat drops the unappealing arms and falls to the floor, writhing in pain.
Groat: No, no. Mustn't, mustn't!
Wise Snake is flabbergasted.
Tamlen pauses, seeing that a Farris Donor and channel can probably manage.
The situation...
Wise Snake looks at her arms in confusion, then drops down beside the renSime.
Groat refuses to look at the channel.
Alea hurries to support Snake.
Wise Snake: ~~ support/offering ~~
Wise Snake reaches for Groat's arms again, projecting gentleness and desire.
To give.
Groat crawls up in a ball. "Get away from me, you perverted devils..."
Groat is in agony.
Wise Snake: I can help you. You need selyn. I can give that to you.
Tamlen puts the bundle down and watches Snake for cues.
Groat doesn't have the strength to prevent Snake.
Wise Snake uses her field to soothe Groat's chaotic system.
Alea is appalled at the way Groat fights his natural instincts.
Groat sobs and weakly attempts to pull away.
Wise Snake takes his arms, using her hands and tentacles to push his.
Tentacles out and twining them into position.
Groat quietens.
Wise Snake: ~~~ replete, generous field ~~~
Groat lies quietly without moving, seeming to ignore Snake despite his need.
Wise Snake bends down and takes a 5th contact point.
Groat would rather die then be Sime.
Wise Snake: ~~~ soothing/enticing ~~~
Groat feels himself surrounded by Snake's field.
Wise Snake's field is poised to give.
Groat feels the selyn flowing easily into him.
Wise Snake: ~~~ purity and joy ~~~
Groat feels the purity and joy of Snake and attempts to pull away, blocking.
The flow.
Groat spasms.
Alea ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake overrides the abort, keeping firm control of the fields.
Groat falls unconscious to the floor.
Wise Snake discovers that the Sime has fallen unconscious despite her best.
Efforts.
Wise Snake releases the Sime from the transfer position.
Wise Snake: Hmm.
Wise Snake shrugs.
Groat murmurs weakly and stirs.
Tamlen: ~~ concern ~~
Alea: Snake?
Alea: Grab the med kit, Tamlen. We've started keeping one at the front desk.
Wise Snake supports the renSime's field and maintains the Gen field, but.
Does not attempt to take the renSime in transfer position again.
Tamlen nods and runs over to get it.
Groat: ~~ in need ~~ ~~ fighting it ~~
Tamlen brings the med kit and brings it up behind Alea to avoid disturbing.
The fields.
Alea reaches for the kit.
Groat: ~~ need ~~
Groat eyes snaps oven as he feels Alea's field.
Groat looks at Alea. "Help me, please. I can't be a monster like this."
Alea: You're not ....
Alea wants to encourage him but keeps her field on Snake.
Groat: [looks at his arms in horror]
Alea: Let her help.
Groat: No one can help me now.
Groat: ~~ attrition ~~
Tamlen has seen semi-juncts refuse transfers, but never a changeover...
Alea: Please, Snake...
Wise Snake looks at Alea.
Wise Snake: What do you want me to do? He doesn't want transfer.
Wise Snake: He refused it.
Tamlen: He doesn't _understand_.
Alea: Oh, no....
Tamlen: ~~ sorrow ~~
Alea: ~~ sad ~~
Tamlen turns away to keep anyone from seeing him crying.
Alea: I've never seen ... Oh, shen, Snake, I'm so sorry.
Wise Snake feels nothing but a vague uneasiness, and their feelings.
Wise Snake looks at the body.
Alea motions to two of the people to carry the body to a back room.
Tamlen steels himself and goes over to the dead Sime.
Tamlen watches the orderlies take the body away.
Alea: Sounded like church of the purity or some such.
Alea: Calling himself "monster".
Wise Snake gets to her feet.
Alea shivers.
Alea offers support, forcing her other emotions aside until she is sure.
Snake is okay.
Tamlen follows after the body, muttering prayers he hasn't in decades.
Alea: Snake? Would you like some tea?
Alea is at a loss on how to handle Snake in this mood.
Wise Snake: I... guess so.
Alea: ~~ soothing, comfort ~~
Wise Snake moves closer to Alea.
Alea takes her arm.
Alea starts toward her office, then veers away toward another office.
Alea: Come on, let's go sit down, drink and ... talk.....
Wise Snake follows Alea numbly.
Alea pushes the door open to Lanyi's office and leads Snake in.
Alea: Lanyi is at work right now. Her office is empty.
Alea thinks and has a hot plate and a tea pot.
Alea thinks and is twice the size as hers.
Alea goes over to fix tea.
Alea puts on water to boil and gets two cups and saucers down.
Alea: You know, Snake. Sometimes we just can't save them all.
Alea: ~~ worried ~~
Wise Snake sits down in Lanyi's chair and looks at the channel's desk.
Wise Snake: I know.
Alea spoons tea into the cups.
Alea: I've only seen that happen once before, someone willing themselves to.
Die like that.
Alea watches the water, waiting for it to boil.
Alea looks over at Snake.
Alea: The person wasn't in changeover though.
Wise Snake looks up at Alea.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Wise Snake: What was it?
Alea looks uneasy.
Alea: He didn't want to, um, answer some questions ... and it went downhill.
Until he eventually killed himself refusing any selyn.
Wise Snake: Torture?
Alea turns back and sees, with relief, the water is starting to bubble.
Alea: No.
Alea: He refused transfer.
Alea: That's what I mean.
Alea: Even when a channel tried to give it to him he aborted ... it was the.
Worst thing I've ever seen. He'd willed himself to die.
Wise Snake wonders what that bit was about the guy not wanting to answer.
Questions.
Wise Snake: Oh.
Alea carefully picks up the pot and pours hot water into two cups then.
Turns the fire off and replaces the pot.
Alea carries the two cups to the desk.
Alea: He had information someone wanted, but wouldn't tell the channel.
Questioning him. It wasn't something pleasant I like to remember. Seeing.
The young boy today reminded me.
Alea hands one to Snake.
Alea takes her seat and crosses her legs, balancing her cup on her knee.
Wise Snake thinks it sounds like there was a lot more to that story than.
What was said, but does not comment.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Wise Snake sips her tea.
Wise Snake shivers.
Alea: It's hard to believe how some people can will themselves to die, and.
No matter what the channel does, they don't live.
Alea: You do realize that this had nothing to do with your ability as a channel.
Wise Snake: I... I guess so. I don't know.
Jorgre comes down the hall with some books he'd agreed to let Jon Drake borrow.
Wise Snake massages her forehead.
Alea: ~~ firmly ~~
Alea: It isn't your fault.
Wise Snake looks at Alea.
Jorgre looks at the different books, thinking Jon should find more action.
Oriented book reading, but then hey, he'd read these a long time ago when.
He first changed over....
Wise Snake: Probably not.
Alea: You're a good channel, Snake.
Jorgre is a 2nd order channel: Short, thin, with dark hair.
Jorgre goes to Jon Drake's door and pushes it open, knowing Jon is working.
And remembering that Jon had said just to put them on his bed.....
Alea: ~~ firm conviction ~~
Alea: You did everything you knew to do.
Alea: The man contradicted himself, remember?
Wise Snake: That wasn't very much.
Alea: He said, help me not be a monster. How can you help someone not be a Sime?
Alea: He willed himself to die.
Wise Snake looks at Alea oddly.
Jorgre zlins the female on Jon's bed and jerks to a sudden stop, books.
Scattering from his tentacles.
Eliza wakes with a start as a book hits her in the head.
Alea: What?
Eliza: Owww!
Jorgre zlins the Gen, and thinks, "Wow."
Eliza holds her hurt head and moans.
Jorgre goes hypo and hurries forward.
Eliza groans and sits up.
Jorgre: Let me uh ... help. I wasn't zlinning attentively. I mean ...
Eliza snaps up and sees Jorgre for the first time.
Eliza notices she is in a strange room and gives a small shriek.
Jorgre grabs at his arms and backs up.
Jorgre: Hey, lady.
Wise Snake: You're probably right.
Eliza looks at the Sime in panic. "Where am I?"
Alea forces herself to lift her tea and take a sip, hands shaking, the only.
Sign that she is concerned and worried about Snake.
Jorgre: Uh, well... ahem. Um...
Jorgre: Let me see your head.
Wise Snake: Look, I... appreciate the tea, and the, and everything.
Jorgre has to wonder about this woman.
Eliza obediently shows him her head.
Alea: I'm sorry, Snake.
Eliza hopes there isn't any of the kitten's fleas in her hair.
Jorgre zlins her head closely, smelling the fresh floral scent and noting.
The rich color.
Wise Snake: I really have to go to work. Almost half a day has been wasted.
And entran has been bothering me since Nick... since.
Jorgre thinks, Oh boy....
Jorgre: You're fine.
Jorgre backs away hastily.
Eliza has a headache.
Jorgre waves his tentacles.
Eliza: Could you please tell me where I am?
Jorgre: Headache. Jon probably has some fosebine in the cabinet.
Jorgre thinks Jon must be something if he got the girl all the way up here.
And she can't remember it.
Eliza: I thought I was in my room, but, errr, [indicates obviously male.
Adornments in room] this isn't my room.
Alea: I understand.
Alea: Better to work than risk entran.
Wise Snake nods gratefully.
Wise Snake sets the empty tea cup down.
Jorgre nods.
Jorgre: This isn't your room.
Eliza: ~~ annoyed ~~ I said that.
Jorgre: Only the upper staff are up here.
Jorgre: Uh, if you'll excuse me...
Eliza: Don't go!
Jorgre backs out, staying hypo from her field.
Jorgre freezes.
Eliza jumps out of bed, and trips.
Jorgre augments and catches her, and sucks in a sharp breath.
Alea sets hers on Lanyi's desk.
Wise Snake gets up.
Alea: I suppose I should go check on Eliza and see how she is doing.
Wise Snake turns to go, then pauses.
Eliza stays limp in his arms, still supporting her headache.
Jorgre rights her and steps back, sweating.
Eliza: I'm sorry, but I can't think with this headache.
Wise Snake: Does... [slightly embarrassed for asking this] Does Eliza sleep.
With Jon Drake?
Alea eyes widen.
Alea: Jon Drake?!
Alea suddenly groans.
Alea: Oh noooo....
Wise Snake: What's the matter? [alarmed]
Alea: I've been trying to keep her under control. She hit on everyone in.
Site yesterday. I ... oh dear... Veraik will blame me for this too.
Alea: Sleeping with Jon Drake!
Jorgre: Fosebine will help that.
Wise Snake: Well I don't know this for sure... but when she wanted a nap.
She went to his room.
Eliza: Oh, no, I can't take that stuff. Gives me a rash.
Wise Snake: I mean, there may be other explanations, but..
Jorgre thinks he's got to get out of here before Jon Drake discovers him.
And sees just what he thinks about the woman in his bed.
Eliza sees Jorgre backing to the door and stands up. "Wait, please."
Alea groans.
Jorgre turns to leave.
Jorgre: If you'll excuse me, I have work to do. I just brought those books.
By for Jon.
Eliza realizes that she is making him uncomfortable and settles her field.
[she is getting better at this]
Alea: I hope she's not toying with Jon's feelings.
Eliza: Can you please help me to get to my own room? I don't want to be.
Lost again.
Alea: He's such a nice person, and so young too...
Jorgre stops, stiffening.
Wise Snake: He has real, solid potential as a Donor.
Jorgre: Uh, well, yes. Where is your room?
Wise Snake implies Eliza doesn't.
Alea: Jon Drake?
Wise Snake: Yes.
Alea: Oh, yes. Briel loves him.
Alea: She was in a mood for a week when she had to assign him to someone.
Else for transfer.
Eliza groans and stumbles to the door. "I'm not sure. Upstairs, maybe?"
Jorgre: We are upstairs.
Eliza: If we can find Alea...Can you help me find Alea, please?
Jorgre: Perhaps downstairs.
Eliza: More upstairs?
Jorgre: Fraid not.
Jorgre starts down the hall.
Eliza leans in the doorway and hold her poor head.
Alea: I imagine Jon is going to be a very, very good Donor by the end of.
The year.
Jorgre: The stairs are right over here.
Eliza: Gee, thanks for your kindness. ~~ sarcasm ~~ About what I'd expect.
Around here.
Jorgre stops, puts on a professional channel look and turns to go back to Eliza.
Wise Snake: Well, I'll be going now. Good bye, Alea and... and thank you again.
Wise Snake: ~~ sincerely ~~
Alea nods.
Alea: Goodbye.
Eliza takes all her strength in her hands and makes her field as clear and.
Controlled as she can.
Alea walks to the door and watches as Snake leaves.
Wise Snake walks out the front door of the Sime Center and slips on the.
First step.
Jorgre presents his secondary field so he won't take any unsuspected shocks.
To his primary.
Jorgre goes back, hesitates, then finally takes Eliza's arm.
Wise Snake does a triple spin and lands on the 3rd step.
Eliza presents only cool and calm and suppresses the headache.
Alea clutches at her heart and starts out at a race after Snake, stopping.
Before she gets to the ice.
Alea grabs a renSime and points. "Clear it. NOW. And make sure it is.
Cleared every day for the rest of the week. And at the end of the week,
Report to me so I can assign someone else."
Wise Snake slips on that step too and does a back flip, manages to land on.
Her feet on the sidewalk, looking a bit shaken.
Wise Snake hurries away before anything else can happen.
Alea turns and goes up the stairs to check on Eliza.
Jorgre extends his laterals.
Jorgre: Let me just see if we can get those vessels to dilate some and.
Relieve the pain to your head.
Eliza watches in fascination.
Eliza: Okay.
Jorgre: Please, sit back down on Jon's be---chair. Over there, in a chair.
Eliza sits obediently. She is a little angel.
Alea trudges up the stairs, swearing just one peek to make sure Eliza is.
Okay, then she'll leave.
Jorgre holds the laterals near her head, leaning forward, zlinning, trying.
To block out the sweet fragrances drifting up and stirring him.
Eliza lifts her face to Jorgre and shuts her eyes.
Alea tops the stairs and turns, going down to Jon's room.
Jorgre starts to sweat again.
Alea sees the door is open and an empty and turns into his room and......gasps!
Jorgre jerks back in surprise.
Jorgre: Alea!
Eliza jumps.
Eliza: Alea!
Jorgre: Uh, Naztehr...
Alea: Oh, dear..um, excuse me...
Alea turns and hurries out.
Eliza can't understand why Alea left so quickly and goes to get up.
Jorgre flushes.
Eliza looks at Jorgre, wondering why he is flushing.
Jorgre zlinned _exactly_ what Alea thought and is certain Jon is going to.
Hang him when this gets around.
Jorgre stands hastily.
Alea: That's it. I am sure I have all gray hair. I don't want to know what.
I just saw. I saw nothing.
Alea: Nothing at all.
Alea hurries down to her office and grabs her skates and then her cloak.
Alea zooms out of the Center.
Jorgre: Uh, excuse me, Eliza. I think your head will feel better now.
Eliza: Err, yes, thank you... What was your name?
Jorgre thinks his head isn't feeling better. His is starting to hurt.
Jorgre: I should go find Jon and tell him...
Jorgre pales.
Jorgre: Uh, Jorgre.
Eliza can't understand what his problem is.
Eliza: Who is Jon?
Jorgre chokes, and covers his mouth.
Eliza is seriously concerned about Jorgre's behavior now.
Eliza: Are you okay?
Jorgre: Excuse me.
Eliza gets up and puts her hand on his arm.
Jorgre hesitates only briefly at her touch before rushing out, down the.
Stairs and in search of Jon...
Eliza: Errr...
Jorgre knows he has to explain before he hears it from anyone else....
Eliza walks slowly out to the corridor, works out where she is, heads for.
Her room and collapses on her bed.