Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario

Episode #168: Sore, but Wonderful (2/22/98)

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Alea ties her newly sharpened skates on her feet then stands.

Alea goes out onto the ice, testing it.

Alea skates carefully, watching for any thin spots.

Alea begins to skate.

White Swan paddles peacefully around one end of the pond.

Alea thinks the muscles in her legs have certainly become stronger since she has taken up skating.

White Swan reaches the thinning edge of the ice and beaches itself, gets its toes up on the lip then waddles about on the ice.

Alea pushes faster, turning backwards and practicing that.... and sees the White Swan.

Alea makes another circle getting a little closer to the Swan.

Alea skates around again, watching the swan.

Alea slows as she nears the swan.

Alea balances carefully, bringing herself to a full stop.

White Swan settles onto its belly on the ice, preening its feathers.

Alea carefully moves over toward the Swan.

<Alea> Hello there....

Alea inches closer to the swan.

Alea reaches out to pet the swan.

White Swan cranes its neck to get a better look at Alea, wondering what she's up to.

Snow Hare peeks around a tree.

Alea reaches out and strokes the swan's back.

Alea is surprised by how soft the Swan is.

Alea moves back and skates off not wanting to scare the Swan too badly.

Alea goes back to gliding backward to practice the move.

Snow Hare sniffs the boots by the bench.

White Swan ruffles its feathers and flounces off into the water again.

Tarsh comes back from the train station, deciding to cut through the park.

Alea thinks she is really getting the hang of this.

Alea smiles as she tries a twirl.

Snow Hare sniffs around the other human-stuff to see if anything smells edible.

Nick blows on his chilled fingers.

<Nick> I don't suppose you can zlin our fugitives?

Alea does a slow twirl, noting the way the world spins around her and laughing.

Nick has pretty much given up hope, but knows that stranger things have occurred.

<Wise Snake> Yeah [need-sharpened sarcasm] I have been zlinning them this whole time, and just want to trudge around in the snow for a while longer. [snaps]

Snow Hare noses open the purse and probes within it.

Nick immediately reinstates the heavy support he had had to drop in order to let Snake zlin more clearly.

Alea realizes she is dizzy and pauses, trying to catch her balance.

Alea guards her nager, not wanting to make every Sime in the area dizzy too.

<Nick> Well, I suppose we really ought to check the hole proper, to see if anyone's been down, just in case they're too far below ground to be zlinned.

<Wise Snake> Now there's a brilliant idea. [mutters]

<Wise Snake> I wonder why we didn't try that on the last twenty holes?

Nick shrugs.

Alea pushes off again and suddenly notices snow is starting to fall.

<Alea> Oh wow!

Alea holds her hand up, catching the flakes.

<Nick> At least it would be out of the wind.

Snow Hare nibbles at something sweet.

Alea turns and starts skating backward again, realizing she isn't going to have much time if it's snowing.

Wise Snake braces herself, and begins to climb cautiously down into the hole.

Alea pushes to get her speed up a bit so she can try to spin in circles again.

<Nick> Are there any footprints or disturbed dust just inside?

Wise Snake sneezes violently.

Tarsh zlins movement ahead on the ice pond.

<Wise Snake> Now there is. [echoing up]

<Alea> One... two... three....

Wise Snake zlins nothing.

Alea goes into a spin.

Wise Snake gropes around with frozen fingers, attempting to locate other exits to the ruined room.

<Wise Snake> Ah... there's a door. Hold on a minute.

<Alea> Great... this is just... great.

Alea watches the spinning scenery go by.

Nick focuses in Snake's general direction, as nearly as he can determine it, to give her as much support as possible.

Alea pulls her arms closer to her body and realizes it makes her spin faster.

Alea laughs out loud....

Tarsh is going by when he notices those boots look familiar....

<Wise Snake> [very faintly from some distance away] Ucch! I hate this! [bang]

<Wise Snake> What am I even doing here? [thud]

<Wise Snake> [sneeze sneeze sneeze]

Tarsh runs over and grabs up the boots.

Alea gasps, then laughs again.

Snow Hare hears movement and tries to back out, but is stuck.

<Nick> Are you all right, Snake?

Alea extends her arms.... slowing herself, then pulls them back in, speeding back up.

<Wise Snake> [silence]

Nick prepares to jump down into the hole if necessary.

<Nick> Snake?

Alea realizes she is quite dizzy again and slows going back into skating backward.

Alea tries to blink the dizziness away.

Tarsh grabs up the purse.

<Wise Snake> I'm coming, I'm coming.

Alea feels the dizziness fading and starts up her speed again.

Wise Snake crawls out of the hole, covered in even more dust, dead leaves, and snow.

Nick sighs in relief.

<Wise Snake> They were down there, but I murdered them both and covered their bodies in rocks. Can we go back now?

Alea thinks she feels so much better after the exercise.

Nick checks Snake over carefully for abrasions, bruises, or other signs of damage.

Alea now only has to sneak back to the Center....

Wise Snake has one or two new bumps and scrapes.

Jon Drake is out for his morning walk....

Nick decides that the new bumps are minor, and concludes that Snake's confession was intended as sarcasm.

<Nick> How did we ever get roped into this, anyway?

Alea slows.

Alea turns toward where her things were and sees someone over them.

<Wise Snake> It's interesting that you ask that.

Wise Snake picks up her pack again and limps towards their horses.

Jon Drake thinks that now that he and Briel have had transfer, his time is freer than before.

Nick follows.

<Wise Snake> Let's just say B'cal was playing "bad cop" and Turrie was playing "good cop"... and it happened in the cafeteria of the Sime Center.

Snow Hare goes flying and lands on the ice.

<Nick> How quickly are you going to need transfer?

<Wise Snake> I can go a while longer.

Alea recognizes Tarsh and blanches.

<Nick> But do you want to?

<Alea> Shen it.

Alea ~~ guilt ~~

Alea looks around wondering if she could just sneak off.

Snow Hare furiously tries to run on ice with little result.

<Wise Snake> Not really, but I don't really feel like putting you through that out here in some godforsaken frigid ruin either.

Tarsh looks up. "Alea!"

Alea turns away... hears her name... turns back.

<Alea> Oh, hi Tarsh.

Alea waves.

<Wise Snake> I'd rather do it where it's warm and there are adequate medical personnel and facilities... the reason I wanted to do it at the Center instead of at home.

<Alea> So, um, what are you doing here?

<Nick> Should we give up the search and go back there?

Alea is standing, those pointed together and hands behind her back, trying to look like she is totally innocent and not out on ice skates on the pond.

<Nick> It's not as if we really have any particular responsibility for recovering escaped Tecton personnel, after all.

Wise Snake swings up onto her horse.

Tarsh zlins Alea.

Tarsh zlins her skates.

<Wise Snake> Well... we're out here already. May as well do the job right.

Tarsh zlins over at the open water.

Alea ~~ controlled nager ~~

Jon Drake heads through the park, eventually coming to the pond.

Alea sees where he's looking and thinks ~~ darn ~~

Alea is too chicken to get off the ice and face the music of getting caught.

Tarsh extends his laterals carefully and zlins the ice between him and Alea carefully.

<Alea> I wasn't expecting you.

<Alea> People usually aren't out this early.

Wise Snake waits for Nick to mount.

Nick hauls himself into his own saddle, groaning under his breath as muscles unused to riding complain.

<Alea> Beautiful day, isn't it.

<Alea> See....

<Nick> How many more of these ruins are there, anyway?

Alea holds out her hand.

<Alea> It's snowing again.

<Tarsh> So you could be sure no help would be available?

Tarsh carefully walks out towards Alea.

Wise Snake waves a hand.

Alea reluctantly pushes forward, gliding toward Tarsh

<Tarsh> Alea. What are you doing?

<Wise Snake> I don't know... two, three dozen more?

Jon Drake sees a couple of familiar forms on the ice.

<Wise Snake> It's not as if there is a map or anything.

<Alea> Exercising.

Jon Drake heads to the edge of the frozen pond.

<Wise Snake> And some of these may extend quite a distance underground.

<Alea> I'm pretty good too.

<Alea> Want me to show you?

Alea pushes off, backward....

<Alea> Watch this!

Alea gets her speed up as she starts around the pond.

Nick thinks he really ought to get out on horseback a bit more often, so he doesn't get so far out of shape.

<Tarsh> No!

<Nick> Well, lets get on with it, then.

<Tarsh> No, I believe you.

Alea blinks....

<Alea> No... just a minute....

Wise Snake zlins, then reins Blackwell toward the southwest again.

Nick knees his horse in behind Snake's.

Alea turns and glides... then goes into a spin.

<Alea> See!

Alea watches everything whirl past and laughs.

Wise Snake warms one hand in her armpit.

Alea pulls her arms in to make herself spin faster.

<Wise Snake> It should be interesting to see if I can still bend my tentacles when it's time for the transfer.

<Wise Snake> [attempt at humor... not advisable at this time of the month]

<Tarsh> Alea. The baby is going to think I'm her grandfather, not her father, with all the gray hair I'll have.

Alea jerks to a stop, loses her balance and falls on her rump.

Nick sips the last lukewarm dregs from an insulated jug that once held hot tea.

Alea sits there blinking. ~~ dizzy ~~

<Nick> Well, by the time we get back, I'll be too stiff to pull away, even if you can't move your tentacles.

<Tarsh> Stay There!

<Alea> I'm not in any danger, Tarsh. Really. Are you, um.... upset?

Alea staggers to her feet.

Tarsh moves carefully, zlinning ice thickness as he goes.

Alea has never seen Tarsh quite so... vocal.... before.

<Wise Snake> We'll have to make sure to get the right contact the first time, because after that we'll be stuck together.

<Alea> Don't worry... I already checked the thickness. It's okay.

Nick brings his horse up next to Blackwell, to get close enough to provide better support.

<Alea> It hasn't broken on me and I've been out here a mil--

Alea decides she's better off not saying the last.

Alea pushes forward and glides toward him again.

<Nick> True. That happens when something wet touches something which is below freezing.

Tarsh rubs at his face with his tentacles.

Jon Drake sits down on a bench and watches them.

<Nick> Remember the kid who was dared into licking the cast iron railing?

Wise Snake switches the reins to her other hand and warms the other hand in the other armpit.

<Tarsh> Alea. Just come off the ice.

<Tarsh> Please.

<Wise Snake> Ugh.... don't remind me.

<Alea> As you wish.

Alea glides over to Tarsh.

<Wise Snake> It would have been fine if he had listened to me instead of trying to pull away.

<Alea> You know, there really is no reason to be worried.

Nick notices with approval that Snake is keeping her tentacles sheathed, avoiding at least some heat loss.

<Nick> True. We'll just have to be careful to get it right the first time.

Tarsh grabs Alea in a hug.

<Tarsh> Alea....

<Alea> Yes?

Alea ~~ wary ~~

Nick notices that his own efforts at heat conservation haven't been able to prevent his toes and fingers from turning into numb ice blocks.

<Alea> Skating is a very good form of exercise. Did you know that?

<Alea> My legs are so much stronger now.

<Alea> My lungs are too.

<Tarsh> No.

<Alea> No what?

<Tarsh> I'm just so worried about you two.

Wise Snake guides the horse to a clump of trees about a quarter mile from their previous position.

<Tarsh> No, I didn't know that.

<Wise Snake> [Snake and Nick's previous position, not the trees']

<Alea> I'm glad you're worried. But we'll be fine.

<Wise Snake> Do you know what the thing I hate about this most is, Nick? [conversationally]

Nick is glad that this isn't Birnum Wood....

<Alea> Honestly.

<Alea> I mean....

<Nick> What?

<Alea> Not really that much happens lately.

Alea covers the lie, wondering if he heard about yesterday or not.

Wise Snake looks around at the endless whiteness and falling snow.

<Wise Snake> It's so exposed.

<Wise Snake> And empty.

<Wise Snake> It's like nobody and nothing cares.

Tarsh hugs her again. "I *like* it boring...."

<Wise Snake> And nobody's there and nothing happens....

Alea chuckles.

Nick looks around.

<Alea> I like excitement.... though, of course, not at the Center.

<Nick> There's life here, even if there aren't people.

<Alea> Can I skate to the edge of the ice?

Nick points.

<Nick> Look, there's a squirrel, scolding at us for interrupting his play.

<Wise Snake> I meant life with a real nager.

Wise Snake obviously does not consider anything besides humans to be real life.

Wise Snake looks up at the squirrel.

Wise Snake scowls at it.

<Wise Snake> Come on, let's go.

Wise Snake dismounts.

<Wise Snake> I hate this job.

<Wise Snake> Where is shenned Turrie, anyway? Probably shacked up with a nice fire somewhere, having a great laugh at our expense.

Nick slips off his horse, gritting his teeth as his half-frozen feet hit the ground with a painful thud.

<Tarsh> You're asking me? Then no.

<Wise Snake> You know, this the last time I let force-feeding and calculated nerve-wrecking behavior from a Donor talk me into work I don't want to do.

Alea looks shocked.

<Alea> I guess I shouldn't have asked then.

Wise Snake zlins Nick.

<Wise Snake> You're really cold, aren't you.

Nick ties his horse securely, and goes over to Snake.

<Nick> Yes.

Nick knows it's useless to deny what Snake can easily zlin.

Wise Snake finishes tying her horse, then reaches out for Nick's hands.

<Alea> Am I to use my super Farris powers and levitate over there then?

Alea smiles sweetly.

<Tarsh> Alea... you do what you want.

<Nick> I can go on a bit longer, though.

Tarsh lets her go and turns toward the land.

Nick hisses at the heat in Snake's hands.

Wise Snake smiles bitterly, recognizing the words.

Alea stares again in shock at Tarsh.

Tarsh stops.

Alea turns and starts off the other way on the ice.

Alea thinks fine.

Nick returns the smile, somewhat ruefully.

Tarsh turns. "Uh, which edge are we talking about here?"

Alea pauses and turns.

Alea sits down on the ice and begins removing her skates.

<Alea> You tell me not to skate then turn and leave me standing in the middle of the ice. I don't have wings Tarsh.

White Swan glides in a circle in the free water.

<Wise Snake> It can't take any more than a half a day or so to finish checking the ruins that I can zlin the outsides of.

Nick 's hands start to feel really cold, instead of numb.

Alea pulls one skate off, then starts on the other.

<Wise Snake> If we haven't found them by the time we run out of holes, let's forget about it. Okay?

<Nick> That's fine with me.

Jon Drake wonders why Alea is removing her skates on the ice.

<Nick> It's really the Tecton's responsibility to find them, after all.

<Tarsh> Not to the edge of open water, no.

Jon Drake has never seen someone do THAT before.

<Nick> Turrie seems capable enough. She can continue without us if necessary.

<Alea> I've been skating out here every day, dear, and have never gone near the water.

Alea gets the next skate off and stands in her stockinged feet.

Nick looks around.

<Nick> Where is she, anyway?

Tarsh walks over to Alea carefully.

Tarsh squats down and picks her up.

<Wise Snake> Hmmm.... [not sure about the former, but the latter is certainly true]

Alea slips her arms around Tarsh.

<Alea> I'm sorry I scared you. [mumbles into his shoulder]

Tarsh stands up and carefully walks towards the shore.

White Swan wonders if Jon Drake has food.

Nick sees ronaplin oozing down Snake's wrists as she holds his hands.

White Swan looks at Jon Drake curiously from afar.

<Tarsh> I'm sorry... I shouldn't have snapped like that.

Alea shrugs.

<Alea> People say things when they're worried or angry.

<Alea> You had every right....

Nick tries to blanket Snake with his nager, and muffle her need.

Wise Snake sighs.

<Alea> Why did you give me the skates, Tarsh, if you didn't want me skating?

<Wise Snake> Oh, Nick... I shouldn't be dragging you through all this, not today.

Wise Snake sounds depressed.

<Nick> It's easier than having to deal with you if you'd gone out alone, so far into need.

Alea shifts the skates in her hand, keeping her grip on them.

Nick looks at the latest hole.

Wise Snake pulls down her pack, and peers into the opening of the ruin.

<Nick> That cave looks deeper than most, and there's some fallen wood.

<Wise Snake> It looks and zlins just like all the others.

Wise Snake zlins closer. "Except there are slight traces of aluminum and tin in this rock.

<Tarsh> I... I dunno. It seemed like a good idea at the time....

Alea nods.

Jon Drake sees the White Swan.

<Nick> Any chance we could get out of the wind and start a fire for half an hour or so?

Wise Snake shakes herself

<Wise Snake> Of course.

<Nick> Aluminum and tin?

Jon Drake reaches into his coat pocket.

<Wise Snake> Of course, Nick. Here, let me give you a hand.

Nick peers through the hole, trying to see a good landing spot.

<Nick> How's the ground down there?

<Wise Snake> It's about ten feet down, flat. Here, I'll hand you down.

<Alea> Are you going to put me down now?

Nick sits down on the rim of the hole and takes Snake's hands.

Wise Snake braces herself and lowers him carefully.

Nick lets go of Snake's hands and drops the last three feet.

<Tarsh> Well, ok, but you do feel good....

<Nick> Ooof.

Wise Snake winces as his sore feet hit.

<Alea> Where are my boots...?

Tarsh puts Alea down on the bench.

Alea spots them.

Wise Snake hands down his pack, then hers, and the medical kit.

White Swan approaches Jon Drake, turning its head sideways to get a better "gander".

White Swan thinks he might have something in his pocket to maybe throw on the ground.

Tarsh gets Alea's boots.

<Jon Drake> Good morning, you two.

Nick fields the packages and sets them carefully to the side, where Snake won't hit them on her way down.

Tarsh peers at one. "Who's been chewing at this?"

Alea glances up.

<Alea> Hi Jon.

Jon Drake pulls out some stale bread and tosses it in the direction of the swan.

Alea looks down at her boot.

<Alea> Oh no!

<Nick> I'll get the lantern lit. Can you find firewood?

White Swan darts forward, snaking its neck to snatch the pieces of bread greedily.

<Wise Snake> Sure. It would be my pleasure.

Wise Snake stops as she sees a door in the wall, leading further into the ruin.

Wise Snake stares at the door, can't zlin much beyond it, then shrugs deciding it's not her problem right now.

Wise Snake climbs back out of the hole and goes to hunt down some wood.

Alea looks at her boot in dismay.

Tarsh tries to put the other boot on Alea's foot.

Nick fumbles the packs open, locating the lantern and matches.

Nick manages to get the lantern lit, and looks around at their temporary refuge.

Alea reaches down to help him.

Wise Snake trudges around in the woods, picking up fallen branches and muttering to herself when most of them turn out to have been soaked and refrozen.

Nick gathers a few loose bricks to make a hearth, placing them fairly close to the opening so that the smoke can escape.

<Jon Drake> Is everything all right?

Nick clears the ground around the improvised hearth, and spreads their blankets so they won't have to sit on the ground.

Wise Snake decides it's really senseless to be out blundering around in the snow, miserable and past due for transfer, all on account of Turrie and two dumb kids who have more lust than attention span.

<Wise Snake> And B'cal. Let's not forget B'cal. [sourly]

Wise Snake kicks a branch, breaking it in half.

<Wise Snake> Hmm.... this one's dry.

Wise Snake picks up the two pieces and adds them to her pile.

<Alea> Seems something chewed up one of my boots.

<Alea> This one looks okay though.

Alea wiggles her foot down into the other one.

Nick optimistically retrieves his water bottle, a teakettle, tea, and cups from the saddle bags.

White Swan realizes that rabbit has been moving in on its mooching territory again and flounces off again, feathers ruffled.

Alea gets her foot in and stomps down, seating her heel.

Wise Snake finds a huge branch felled by the weight of snow on it.

<Alea> There we go.

<Wise Snake> Look at this.

<Tarsh> Can I buy you lunch to make up for it?

<Alea> Make up for what?

Wise Snake pulls the branch up and breaks it into more manageable lengths.

Alea looks at Jon then at Tarsh, wondering what he wants to make up for.

<Jon Drake> Hmm... I didn't see anything at your boot.

Alea pulls the other tattered boot on.

Wise Snake assembles her pile and carefully carries them back, trying to avoid any unpleasant arm injuries in the process.

<Alea> Rabbit, squirrel, minks... something like that.

<Alea> Do you know, I found out the other day from this really nice Sime who bought me tea that minks are normal in this part of the country.

<Alea> I'd never seen one until the other day.

<Alea> When I was repainting the Gnome.

<Wise Snake> Here you go, Ni-- [stops as she realizes Nick is really settling in] --ck.

Wise Snake passes the wood down to Nick.

Nick stacks the wood by the hearth, and starts tearing one rotted log into kindling.

<Nick> Come on down. That's enough wood to last until we've warmed up again.

Nick 's kindling generation efforts are somewhat hindered by stiff fingers.

<Alea> I suppose that's fine, Tarsh.

<Tarsh> You painted Gnome again?

<Tarsh> He won't like that.

<Alea> Yes. It's red and white.

<Alea> He won't like it?

<Tarsh> I should wait till I see the paint job I suppose....

<Alea> I painted him that color purposely after a ancient story rhyme hoping it'd make him give good cheer instead of bad advice.

Wise Snake realizes they are going to be there for a while.

<Tarsh> Red and white sound ok.

<Wise Snake> Hold on a minute.

Tarsh squints up at the clouds.

Alea brushes at the Snow gathering on her cloak.

Wise Snake takes a few minutes to make the horses more comfortable.

Nick manages to get enough kindling, and carefully assembles the smaller, dryer sticks around it.

Wise Snake climbs in the hole, dropping snow on Nick's fire.

<Wise Snake> Oh... sorry.

Alea looks around for her purse and finds it.

<Tarsh> How much more snow do you think we'll get?

<Alea> I don't know. I only know last time I was out when it was snowing like this, I ended up getting caught in a blizzard.

<Tarsh> [contents are scattered about]

<Tarsh> Hmmm....

Alea starts gathering up her semi-chewed articles that were in her purse.

Nick sighs, and carefully removes the top, snowy layer.

Wise Snake finds a place to sit and watch Nick.

Wise Snake stays close, to feel his field.

Nick replaces the dampened materials with dry ones, then strikes a match and applies it to the kindling.

<Alea> You know, some of our staff are lost out in this.

<Alea> I really hope Turrie and Snake and B'cal have found them by now.

Nick watches with concern as the flame gutters, and uses his hands to shield it from the draft.

<Tarsh> They are? Who?

<Alea> Mostan and Eliza.

<Wise Snake> It's snowing again.

Nick smiles as the flame grows, catching the sticks.

Alea looks at Tarsh worriedly since she knows Mostan was his friend.

Nick looks at Snake, concerned.

<Nick> How hard?

<Wise Snake> Hard enough.

Wise Snake noncommittally

<Nick> Will we be able to continue? Or even to get back to town?

<Tarsh> Why were they out? Isn't he in need?

Alea finishes gathering all of the contents and closes her purse.

<Alea> Well, he had transfer.

<Wise Snake> Ummh.... I'm beginning to lose interest in the former.

<Alea> And is doing, was doing fine, I understand.

Wise Snake shivers in time with Nick, until she notices and makes herself stop.

Alea doesn't want to reveal too much that she read in the chart.

Nick feeds a larger stick or two to the flames, and sets some larger logs close by to dry.

Nick sees Snake shivering with him.

<Nick> Sorry.

Nick wraps his blanket around himself, trying to stop his shivers.

<Alea> I'm sure they'll be fine.

<Alea> Snake is in need and out looking for them.

Alea brushes at the snow on Tarsh's shoulder.

Nick holds his hands close to the growing flames, trying to get some heat into them.

Alea reaches up and runs a hand through his hair to dislodge the snow.

Wise Snake goes to the packs she pulled off the horses and finds the bedding they used the night before.

<Tarsh> Thanks.

Alea pulls her scarf up over her head and wraps it around her neck.

Wise Snake winces as her need-heightened senses register the pins-and-needles effect in Nick's hands.

<Wise Snake> Here. You may as well wear the blankets.

Nick accepts the additional blankets gratefully.

Tarsh puts his hand to Alea's cheek.

Alea glances up and smiles, curiously.

Wise Snake hates to move away from Nick again; stays crouched down by him, enclosed in his nager.

<Tarsh> You're cold.... C'mon, You need some hot tea.

<Wise Snake> You know....

Nick fills the teakettle from his water bottle and sets it by the fire to heat, then settles back to watch the fire, one arm around Snake.

<Wise Snake> I know that we have gone to a lot of trouble to make sure this turns out exactly right.

Alea nods.

<Wise Snake> And to set up the safest possible circumstances... a monitor, and medical teams, and all the Center's resources....

<Alea> Skating does tend to make one cold

Nick looks at Snake inquiringly.

Alea slips an arm around Tarsh to get nearer his Sime heat.

Nick nods, glad of Snake's Sime heat.

Nick measures trin into the two glasses.

Tarsh holds Alea's waist as they walk.

Alea purposely leaves her skates behind under the bench.

<Wise Snake> But.... do you know, there is another part of me that has never seen beyond the end of this transfer?

<Wise Snake> It's as if there is transfer, and then a black nothingness that stretches on forever.

<Nick> I know.

<Nick> Just remember, Tramila said that she didn't think you could kill me if you tried.

<Wise Snake> That's not what she said. She said "probably" not.

Mostan wakes up and zlins the guttering fire.

Eliza is curled up next to him.

Mostan is curled up behind Eliza under the blankets.

<Wise Snake> And, [attempt at humor] she said if I lost control... not if I *tried.

<Nick> We'll both survive this transfer, Snake.

<Wise Snake> If I hurt you too badly, Zeor's conditioning will.... [doesn't say it]

Alea turns toward the cafe with Tarsh.

Mostan runs a dorsal over Eliza's hair.

<Mostan> [whispers] I have to find a way to get you somewhere warm....

Nick puts a comforting hand on Snake's wrists.

Wise Snake sighs, and puts her head on Nick's shoulder.

Wise Snake leans on his field.

<Tarsh> So how have all the other transfers gone?

<Nick> Snake, the conditioning does leave you some flexibility. If you don't panic, don't believe you're going to kill me, you should be able to finish without shenning yourself.

<Alea> What do you mean?

<Tarsh> They're all clustered around now, aren't they?

Eliza murmurs in her sleep and rolls over to put her arm around him.

Wise Snake 's handling tentacles slide out to grip Nick's hand, slowly.

<Wise Snake> Yes. It is important to remember that.

Wise Snake thinks she will not be panicking, she will be enjoying it.

<Alea> Well, yeah. Lanyi and B'cal are due today as well and Snake and Nick.

<Alea> Briel had hers with Jon Drake yesterday.

Nick enjoys the feel of Snake's tentacles.

Mostan runs his dorsal across her cheek.

Wise Snake feels Nick's enjoyment like a balm to her suffering nerves.

<Nick> Snake, have you ever considered that for once, your... taste... for pain gives you an advantage in this situation?

Eliza stirs and opens her eyes, she looks up at Mostan in the dim light and smiles. "How long have I been asleep?

<Wise Snake> No.

<Wise Snake> ...?

<Mostan> About six hours.

<Nick> You won't automatically panic when you feel pain, and force an abort when it's not necessary.

Wise Snake thinks what would really come in handy right now is a taste for physical pain, as well as cold.

<Wise Snake> Oh... well, true.

Wise Snake itches restlessly as all the talk of pain, aborts and panic reminds her of her state of need.

Nick pours steaming water into the cups, and hands one to Snake.

Wise Snake is about an hour and a half past due and the fact that she is no longer committed to the search for Eliza and Mostan is leaving her with no distractions.

<Wise Snake> Thanks.

Wise Snake smells the tea, ten puts it aside.

Alea goes to the cafe and inside.

Alea feels the warmth hit her face and smiles.

Nick wraps his chilled hands around his mug, savoring the smell and the heat.

Nick 's toes have begun to tingle with returning circulation.

Wise Snake moves closer to Nick, which is not easy to do.

<Wise Snake> You know... we could do it here.

<Wise Snake> Then nobody will... know what happens....

<Mostan> You slept a good sleep. I watched you.

Eliza yawns.

<Alea> Any particular table?

Alea looks around the cafe.

<Eliza> I feel wonderful. [thinks a minute] Sore, but wonderful.

<Tarsh> Over by the fireplace.

<Nick> Yes, they will. [confidently] After all, you'll be high field and I, low.

Alea nods and slips the scarf from her head.

Tarsh holds Alea's chair.

Alea unbuttons her cloak and slips it from her shoulders.

Alea takes her chair.

<Mostan> Now why would you be sore?

Eliza giggles and pulls his head down to kiss him.

Frog heads over to the two new customers with his notebook.

Mostan slides a hand across her belly (under the blankets).

Tarsh sits down.

<Tarsh> What do you feel like for lunch?

<Frog> Welcome friends, what can I get for you today?

<Alea> How about soup and hot tea?

<Tarsh> Sounds wonderful.

<Tarsh> [to Frog] What soup do you have today?

Mostan kisses Eliza deeply.

<Frog> We have tomato, cream of corn and potato and leek.

<Alea> Potato and leek sounds wonderful.

Eliza slides her arms down around his chest and presses herself against him.

<Tarsh> I'll have the cream of corn, with trin.

<Alea> Trin for me too.

Alea smiles at Frog.

Frog writes down the orders. "Would you like your tea with the meal or shall I get it for you first?"

Wise Snake wishes she could share Nick's confidence.

Mostan reaches around behind her to pull her even closer.

Wise Snake leans on Nick, drinking in his buoyant optimism, trying to forget the creeping dread within her.

Nick finds his attempt to drink his tea hindered by the reptilian presence in his lap.

<Tarsh> I'd like the tea first, please.

Alea pulls off her gloves and rubs her hands together.

<Frog> Right you are, then. [heads back off to the kitchen]

Mostan spreads his tentacles over Eliza's back and buttocks....

<Eliza> Oh Mostan - I love you so much.

<Tarsh> Glad they have good service today.

<Eliza> ~~ fear ~~ [sits up suddenly]

<Mostan> I love you too. But I have to get you somewhere warm.

<Mostan> What!

<Eliza> Snake said, well, [looks at Mostan carefully] do we have a dependency like they warned about?

<Tarsh> So Mostan's transfer went well? He didn't abort?

Frog takes out the two teas and puts them in front of the nice looking couple.

<Tarsh> Thank you.

<Alea> I heard it did.

<Frog> Soup won't be long, folks.

Frog heads back to the kitchen.

<Mostan> I'm not sure. We've only been together three weeks, after all.

Wise Snake finds her drinking in of Nick's buoyant optimism hindered by the tea mug in Nick's hands.

Alea nods to Frog.

Wise Snake removes the tea from Nick's hands and sets it aside.

<Tarsh> And he took her out riding?

<Alea> I'm not sure.

Tarsh grins. "That's his best bit with girls."

Eliza feels uncomfortable thinking about ever giving transfer to anyone else.

<Alea> They were told not to be out together....

<Mostan> It usually takes several transfers in a row to get a dependency.

<Tarsh> Why not?

Alea sighs.

<Alea> Because they had transfer together.

Eliza shudders. "I don't think I want to give transfer to anyone else!"

Mostan sighs and holds her close.

Eliza clings to him.

<Alea> Anyway, it's not important.

<Eliza> Do we have to go back?

<Alea> I'm sure things will work out.

<Mostan> If we're going to be working for the Tecton, they will assign us other people for transfer.

Nick, deprived of his hot tea, tries to warm his hands on Snake.

<Mostan> That's what I've been wondering.

Wise Snake wraps her tentacles around Nick's hands.

Frog returns with two soups and some fresh hot bread on a tray and puts them in front of Alea and Tarsh.

Alea nods her thanks.

<Wise Snake> You'd think whoever had designed Gens to generate selyn would have put in something to generate heat as well.

Frog smiles at them and leaves them in privacy.

<Tarsh> Why is that a problem?

<Eliza> But the Tecton will try to keep us apart - we will probably get into trouble for this!

<Nick> Well, at least I can feel my toes again.

Alea looks up at Tarsh in the middle of taking a bite of her soup.

Nick thinks he can feel some other things as well -- like a response to Snake's peaking need.

<Alea> There is a new rule the Tecton just passed this past year. 1

Nick tells himself that it isn't time yet.

<Alea> They have banned Donors and channels who have transfer together from having post together.

<Mostan> Eliza... if we run, we'll never be safe.

<Alea> Although it's not strictly enforced everywhere... it is still law.

Alea shrugs.

<Mostan> If they catch us, we'll never see each other again.

<Tarsh> I hadn't heard of that.

Tarsh looks uneasy. "Then why did Veraik...?"

Eliza looks at Mostan in horror.

Wise Snake 's fingers and tentacles slide farther up Nick's arms.

Wise Snake 's eyes are closed.

Alea scowls.

<Alea> Because Veraik is a shendoni lorsh.

<Mostan> If we stay, we'll be together. Most of the time.

<Eliza> So we are basically their slaves?

Wise Snake tries to forget about all the ugly little details of the search, and the arrangements, and everything.

<Nick> Snake? Do you want to try this transfer now?

<Mostan> Yes.

<Mostan> And no.

Wise Snake does not hear Nick.

<Tarsh> True enough.

Alea chuckles.

Wise Snake's lips graze Nick's throat.

<Alea> And now that I know about the rule, you can bet that will NEVER happen again.

Eliza tries to think clearly but her heart is beating madly in fear at the thought of being separated from Mostan.

Nick's good sense wars with his awakening desire for transfer.

<Tarsh> Mostan won't like that.

<Alea> I'm afraid not.

Wise Snake's laterals lick out, tasting Nick's skin in a flickering touch.

<Alea> Let's face it, Tarsh... how would you feel if we had transfer together and well... we couldn't....

<Mostan> Eliza.... We will be together when we aren't working, and sometimes when we are.

<Mostan> And we'll have... one or the other, every month.

Nick's good sense loses the argument, and he decides that he isn't too keen on Tramila and the Sime Center, anyway.

Wise Snake snatches a firmer hold, laterals sliding into place.

<Eliza> Is that enough?

Wise Snake's mouth finds Nick's.

<Tarsh> Well, That was a part of the transfer ring I didn't think I had to bring up....

Mostan thinks it will have to be.

<Mostan> Yes. We'll make it enough.

<Alea> Oh.

Alea blinks.

<Alea> I didn't realize that.

Nick is poised on the brink of transfer, unable to think clearly and not convinced that it's worth the bother of trying.

<Eliza> But don't you want me? Why can't we just quit? They don't own us... I wouldn't leave you - you wouldn't have to worry about need! [starts to sob] Then we could be together!

<Tarsh> Not always, of course. Sometimes his matches weren't the right gender combination....

<Tarsh> But then he'd set up two at around the same time....

Wise Snake hovers on the edge of beginning draw, feeling every mote and spinning fleck of light in Nick's nager as a shimmering promise.

<Alea> Ah....

Alea goes back to being fat and pregnant at this talk.

Nick lets his anticipation grow.

Mostan holds Eliza as she sobs, tears running down his own cheeks.

<Tarsh> This did lead to complications, of course....

<Alea> Oh?

<Alea> Like what?

Wise Snake knows a moment of peace as she comprehends that every part of Nick's being is offered to her, and there is no need to fear need now.

<Tarsh> Well, you often get jealousy and competition in this area of human relations....

Nick waits, barriers down, poised on the brink.

<Alea> Oh.

Alea nods.

<Alea> I see.

Tarsh wants to change the subject.

Wise Snake thinks this moment could last forever and she wouldn't care.... would welcome it.

<Alea> Did you have a lot of complications and jealousy?

<Tarsh> So Gnome is in red and white now? Does B'cal approve?

Alea smiles.

<Alea> I take that as a yes.

<Alea> My, I find this terribly interesting.

Eliza clings shaking to Mostan.

Nick lets a trickle of selyn flow between them.

<Alea> Perhaps I should talk to Mostan about this....

Frog returns to take the empty dishes. "Anything else I can get you?"

Alea looks down at her soup and realizes she hasn't eaten any.

<Alea> No... no.

<Mostan> Eliza....

<Frog> Anything wrong with your soup?

Mostan thinks of an argument.

<Alea> No, no it's was, uh, fine.

<Tarsh> Sorry, we've been talking.

Wise Snake 's Need returns in a raging surge of ~~ intil~~

Tarsh picks up his bread and dips it in the soup.

<Frog> That's fine - would you like me to warm it for you?

Wise Snake seizes control and draws.

<Alea> No, really, it's fine.

Frog hops away.

<Mostan> Eliza... If you were to get pregnant....

<Eliza> ~~panic~~

Eliza gasps

Nick feels the surge of selyn and responds with ~~ joy~~

<Mostan> You wouldn't be able to give me transfer in the last months....

<Mostan> What would we do then?

Alea smiles at Tarsh wondering if she should keep teasing him.

Wise Snake draws voraciously.

Wise Snake accelerates her draw, seeking... seeking....

Tarsh stirs at the soup with his bread. [mumbles] "One of the reasons I luff bit."

Nick feels Snake's draw climb way past the speed that B'cal's Sectuib demanded, on the edge of actual pain.

Alea eats her soup.

<Wise Snake> ~~yes!/seeking desperately~~

<Eliza> I don't want to get pregnant!

Nick feels Snake's response to the almost-pain, and realizes what she is seeking.

<Alea> Are you happy now with the Tecton, Tarsh?

<Alea> I've never asked you that, you know.

Nick stops trying to ignore the pain, and starts letting himself feel it.

<Nick> ~~ pain/pleasure~~

<Wise Snake> ~~ecstasy/pain/pain~~

Mostan looks concerned. "Uh... why didn't you say that earlier?"

<Tarsh> I'm ecstatic with you, Alea. You're the best thing that ever happened to me.

Wise Snake takes at her highest draw speed.

Eliza looks at Mostan in shock.

Alea looks at Tarsh oddly.

Nick's pain increases, though not to the extent he projects--quite.

<Alea> I am so very happy to know that, Tarsh. And I feel the same about you.

<Alea> If it hadn't been for you, my life was on a one way street....

<Alea> You gave me hope.

<Alea> But that's not what I asked you... I asked if you regretted leaving the transfer circle and giving up Gen transfer for the Tecton.

<Mostan> Eliza. I'm just talking hypothetically.

<Eliza> I'm not going to be pregnant [shakes her head] ever.

Tarsh sighs that Alea didn't take the bait.

Wise Snake finishes the transfer through to the end.

Nick finds that, strangely enough, the pleasure continues along with the pain.

Mostan zlins Eliza's emotions.

<Mostan> Why do you say that darling?

Eliza slides away from him slightly

<Wise Snake> ~~completion~~

Alea studies Tarsh curiously

Nick notices, however, that the pain doesn't end when the pleasure does.

<Wise Snake> ~~falling from ecstasy~~

<Tarsh> Alea.... Do you want my honest answer? Or the politic one?

<Alea> I'd hope you would be honest with me, Tarsh.

<Eliza> Well, my mother died along with my baby brother... and John's mother died when he was born.

Wise Snake's draw stops.

<Alea> However, I suppose you will give me whichever you feel more comfortable with.

Wise Snake clings to Nick, motionless.

<Eliza> I just don't see that life is something so great that you have to bring kids into it.

Nick opens his eyes, which he doesn't remember closing, and regrets it when the firelight triggers a throbbing headache.

<Nick> Snake, are you all right?

Eliza starts to shiver now that she has moved away from Mostan.

<Tarsh> Alea. If I told you I still didn't want Gen transfer, I'd be lying.

Wise Snake withdraws her laterals and breaks the fifth contact, leaning her head heavily on Nick's shoulder. [handling tentacles still engaged]

<Alea> I know you would.

<Alea> And I'm glad you can admit that to me, and to yourself.

<Mostan> Eliza. if you don't want to have children, that can be managed.

Nick feels a bit shocky.

<Mostan> Without having to forego sex.

<Mostan> What happened to your baby brother?

<Eliza> He died.

<Eliza> With mum.

Wise Snake's tentacles move stickily.

Nick tries to assess Snake's condition.

Wise Snake appears to be in her usual post-transfer state of inert introspection.

Alea finishes her soup and pushes the bowl aside.

Wise Snake is still gripping Nick's arms rather hard.

<Alea> And despite this feeling, you can stay in the Tecton?

<Nick> Snake!

Nick moves one arm experimentally, to see if he can get Snake's attention.

<Tarsh> But in practice, it didn't work out well. Trying to manage transfer mates and the other kind is four time the work for twice the fun....

Wise Snake senses outside stuff trying to distract her.

<Wise Snake> Whh......

<Wise Snake> [clinging to Nick]

<Tarsh> The Tecton is something I tolerate for lack of a workable alternative.

<Nick> Are you all right, Snake?

<Wise Snake> Y.... yeh [incoherently]

<Alea> Thank you, Tarsh, for being so honest.

Alea smiles and reaches across the table, stroking one of his tentacles.

<Nick> Good. Can you get me some fosebine from the medicine satchel?

<Mostan> Eliza... I'm sorry about your mother.

<Mostan> And your brother.

<Mostan> Who was John?

<Eliza> Yeah, well - people die ~ stress ~

Wise Snake removes one hand uncoordinatedly from Nick's arm and transfers it to clutch her own head, looking a bit confused and rumpled.

<Wise Snake> Fosebine. Yeah....

<Nick> Fosebine, Snake. In the satchel.

Wise Snake squints about, makes herself zlin for it.

<Eliza> John was my, cousin. He turned Sime, err that is he changed over and we were headed this way, but but [starts to cry] he was killed....

<Nick> It's over there. [points]

Wise Snake zlins Nick and jerks her other hand away from him.

Tarsh curls the tentacle around her finger.

<Wise Snake> Shen, Nick....

Nick sways at the sudden loss of support.

<Wise Snake> What have I done?

Wise Snake clutches her head with her other hand as well.

Mostan reaches out to hold Eliza again. "I'm so sorry."

<Nick> I'm just singed a bit.

<Alea> Well, then, I suppose we should get back to the Center if you're done.

Nick hopes his self-diagnosis is accurate, although his experience with transfer burn is minimal.

<Tarsh> I should have said something sooner.

Eliza leans against Mostan's shoulder and cries for the first time since John was murdered.

<Alea> I am just glad you've been honest, Tarsh.

Wise Snake reaches for the medical satchel and tries to remember what is what, though she is not thinking too clearly right at the moment.

Tarsh looks down at his empty bowl.

<Tarsh> "Yeah. Are you free today?"

<Alea> Well, yes. I am.

<Alea> Seems like since I'm pregnant, they have nothing for me to do anymore.

Nick also hopes Snake isn't badly hurt, because he has a sinking suspicion that he's going to collapse in the very near future.

Wise Snake finds the fosebine and peers at the label to make sure it's what she thinks it is.

Mostan strokes Eliza's hair, thinking that she's a Natural Donor, and her brother and John were likely channels.

<Wise Snake> Here.

Tarsh smiles at Alea.

Nick takes the bottle from Snake, fumbles the cap off, and takes a big slug.

Frog heads back over to see if they have finished yet.

<Tarsh> I'm sorry we haven't managed to make connections since my transfer....

Nick grimaces at the taste, then passes the bottle to Snake.

Alea smiles.

<Alea> That's understandable.

<Nick> You look like you could use some, as well.

<Alea> We've all been swamped at the Center.

Wise Snake forces herself to zlin Nick more carefully, though her senses are somewhat messed up.

<Tarsh> I'm prepared to make up for it, though. Just name it.

<Wise Snake> Thanks.... [takes fosebine not paying any attention to it]

<Frog> That all folks?

<Wise Snake> Shen, Nick... we should have done this at the Center.

<Wise Snake> Oh, I'm sorry.

<Mostan> Eliza... It's likely that....

<Wise Snake> You'd better lie down.

Mostan realizes the fact will be cold comfort to her.

Eliza has stopped sobbing.

<Nick> I told you we'd both survive.

<Tarsh> Yes, I think so.

Wise Snake catches Nick as he tilts towards the fire.

<Wise Snake> Ummh... yes, you did.

<Mostan> Never mind.

<Eliza> What?

Wise Snake tugs at the blankets, trying to make sure Nick is more or less wrapped in them as she guides him down.

<Alea> You have nothing to make up for, dear.

Nick mutters incoherently.

<Mostan> John and your brother....

<Wise Snake> You're fine... you did a fine job, Nick. [voice shaky] [soothing]

<Eliza> Yes?

Nick doesn't take in Snake's compliment, since he's pretty much out of it.

<Tarsh> Oh. Too bad, I was looking forward to it.

<Alea> However, I'll be glad to let you make it up to me.

Tarsh smiles at Alea.

Alea relaxes her field, allowing Tarsh to see her excitement at spending time with him.

<Mostan> They were probably channels.

<Mostan> Gen women have a very hard time bearing channels without a channel healer to help.

<Eliza> Oh? I figured John must have been from what I have read - but the baby - well was just a baby - he wasn't even Sime - how could he be a channel?

Tarsh zlins lasciviously.

<Tarsh> Shall we?

Tarsh offers his arm.

Alea slips her cloak and scarf on, then takes Tarsh's arm.

<Mostan> Channel fetuses draw a lot of selyn. Sometimes more than a Gen has....

Nick mutters again, then subsides into silence.

<Mostan> Natural donors like you do too, but not quite as much.

<Wise Snake> Nick?

Wise Snake 's voice sounds very small in the dark room.

Wise Snake sighs.

<Eliza> I didn't know that babies used selyn.

Wise Snake finds the fosebine still in her hand and drinks it.

Frog sees the two are ready to leave and approaches with the bill.

<Mostan> Oh, yeah. I've zlinned Alea's doing it.

<Wise Snake> Oh! Ugggh!!

Wise Snake puts it away grimacing at the taste which tastes 30 times as bad with her taste buds sensitized by her post condition.

<Eliza> ~ worry ~ Will Alea be ok?

<Mostan> Of course, as a Farris, she will probably have a channel or a Natural Donor.

Eliza stops. [hurried whisper] Mos - did you hear something?

Tarsh proudly walks with Alea to go pay the tab.

<Mostan> Yes. Tramila is a Farris Trained midwife.

Mostan turns to listen.

Mostan opens his mouth slightly.

Wise Snake sinks down beside Nick, on the floor, and shivers.

Alea looks outside.

<Wise Snake> Shen, Nick.... [whispers]

<Alea> Oh, my it is snowing isn't it.

<Eliza> It's stopped.... I thought I heard something.

Eliza starts to slip into her clothing.

<Mostan> Yeah....

Mostan gets up and extends his laterals to zlin.

Wise Snake hugs herself and closes her eyes.

<Tarsh> Still?

<Alea> Yeah, not bad though.

Alea motions.

Tarsh zlins the snow.... "Yeah. A pea souper. Nagerically, that is."

<Eliza> Can you feel anything?

Alea nods.

<Mostan> No. Nothing.

<Mostan> But the air currents have changed....

<Tarsh> I'll have to navigate us by internals.

Eliza does up her thin shirt and picks moves closer to Mostan for warmth.

Mostan notices it is cold.

<Alea> It was like this last time when I got lost... before I could get back to the Center, it was completely white.

Mostan reaches for his clothes.

<Alea> It was pure luck I stumbled into the Ferry Building.

Wise Snake trembles as the combined miseries and frustrations of the last month come crashing down on her.

Tarsh reflects that this was another time he would have berated her about if he had known.

<Tarsh> Well, Simes have our uses....

<Alea> I'm sure they do... with the proper Gen to help them out.

Wise Snake keeps her showfield utterly plain out of force of habit.

Wise Snake draws in on herself and lies quietly.

Mostan dresses.

Mostan goes over to one wall.

Alea projects ~~ confidence ~~ to Tarsh.

Tarsh squeezes Alea's hand. "You OK with going out in this?

<Alea> Of course I am. I'm with you, aren't I?

<Mostan> Hey... this isn't solid....

Eliza shivers and gets the blanket to wrap around her. "What do you mean it's not solid?"

<Tarsh> Yes, that's what's so great about today.

<Mostan> I think this opens. This room is part of something bigger....

Tarsh leads to the door.

Eliza moves up close to him, afraid of being left behind.

Mostan reaches out and pulls at something, which moves with a loud screech.

Eliza jumps at the noise.

Mostan swings out a section of... well it was a door ages ago....

<Alea> Um, Tarsh....

<Tarsh> Yes, Dear?

<Alea> Would it be possible to stop by a shop on the way back to the Center?

<Tarsh> Of course. Where?

<Alea> I dropped something off to be framed.

Wise Snake mutters restlessly, then goes still again.

<Alea> Well, it's down in the red light district. There's this little frame shop.

<Tarsh> Veraik for murder?

<Alea> It's called Finigers Frames....

Alea laughs delightedly.

<Mostan> Let's see where this goes. It may be warmer deeper down....

<Alea> I'm afraid not, though now that you've given me the idea....

<Tarsh> In the red light district? What sort of picture is this?

Alea chuckles.

<Alea> It's not a picture.

<Alea> I just heard Snake mention the place one day, found out they do decent work.

<Alea> And took something there.

<Tarsh> Sure.

Alea is relieved he didn't ask who she went with.

Tarsh turns towards the seedy side of the seedy side of town.

<Alea> Go down, four streets from the Ferry Building.

Alea huddles close to Tarsh, not wanting to risk separation and getting lost.

Tarsh keeps an arm around Alea as they trudge through the snow.

<Mostan> You wait by the fire Eliza. I'll be back, I promise.

<Alea> I wonder if Snake has made it back yet?

<Alea> You know, today was her transfer day.

<Alea> It marks her one year.

Alea pulls the scarf closer around her face as she hurries along with Tarsh.

<Tarsh> She's out of First Year? Has she learned what she had to?

Alea ~~ worry ~~

<Alea> Some of it.... Most of it. There are advanced studies though.... I don't know.

Mostan wraps Eliza up in the blankets and builds up the fire.

<Alea> This transfer was very important. I really wish I know just how she'd done.

Alea points out a street.

<Alea> I think that's it.

<Tarsh> Of course, Snake *acts* like she knows everything.

Alea chuckles.

<Alea> She's a Farris. Don't you know, we *do* know everything.

Mostan goes down into the darkness, leaving the lantern.

Tarsh pats her shoulder. "Yes, Dear."

Alea grins unrepentantly.

<Alea> I'll remind you of this the next argument we have.

Mostan creeps through the darkness, zlinning.

<Alea> It's always nice to have your agreement that I know everything.

Alea pulls the scarf up over her nose, which is getting cold.

<Mostan> Lots of turns in here. All falsestone, too.

<Tarsh> Yeah, but doesn't it take the mystery out of life?

Alea elbows Tarsh gently in the ribs.

<Alea> Ah, there it is!

Mostan slips on a pile of rubble. "Whoa!"

Alea points to a seedy little building with a mud encrusted sign and dirty windows.

Wise Snake's eyes open at a sound.

<Tarsh> Well, they save on office rent....

<Alea> You stay here. I'll be back in thirty seconds.

Wise Snake blinks, trying to clear her head.

Mostan regains his footing and zlins a crack in the floor. It goes down as far as he can zlin.

<Tarsh> Okay.

Alea hurries inside, retrieves the frame, making sure it's in a bag, and then returns.

Tarsh tries to clean the caked snow out of his boots on the steps.

Alea hurries over to Tarsh.

<Tarsh> It was ages without you, it seemed.

Mostan jumps over it and lands Sime graceful on the far side.

Wise Snake finds it is easier just to sink back down to the floor.

<Alea> Come on, let's stop by the Ferry Building so I can see if Snake's back yet.

Alea shoves the package under her cloak and under an arm.

Mostan squeezes past some strange Ancient thing. Who knows what it was for?

Wise Snake's eyes sag closed again.

<Tarsh> Ok. Uh, where is that? Snake's house?

<Alea> Down on the water. The old Ferry Building.

Mostan smells smoke.

<Alea> Big clock tower.

<Mostan> Someone else? In here?

Alea starts shivering.

<Tarsh> Oh that place! Isn't it abandoned?

<Alea> Not anymore.

<Alea> Snake has... commandeered it.

Mostan crawls up a heap of dirt. He tells himself it's just dirt....

Tarsh shrugs. "She would."

Alea grins.

<Alea> Love me, love my family....

Alea ~~ teasing ~~

<Alea> Or should I say.... love my 'demented' family....

Mostan sees a glimmer of light ahead....

<Tarsh> Uh, Uh I don't want to love with Snake. Tramila, on the other tentacle....

Alea looks down her nose at Tarsh, which is hard since she is so short, but being a Farris, she has developed this to a fine art.

<Alea> Just don't love her too closely.

Mostan comes to a crack in a masonry wall.

Tarsh pretends to pout.

Wise Snake hovers in a semiconscious state.

<Alea> You remember telling me about your father?

Alea changes the subject.

Mostan peers through the gap.

<Tarsh> Yes.

<Alea> He sounded like he really loved you, Tarsh.

Mostan sees two people by a fire.

<Alea> And I know how much you miss them sometimes.

Tarsh looks distant. "Yeah, he did. He was sure he'd never have any children...."

Alea moves around a huge pile of snow being careful not to slip on the ice.

<Alea> I remember you showing me one evening something that he had given you... something to always keep with you....

Alea ~~ nervous ~~

Alea thinks perhaps she should have asked permission first.

Mostan tries to stick his head in to see better.

Mostan scrapes his ear. "ow!"

Wise Snake's eyes fly open.

Wise Snake twists halfway up, before her body stops to ask her brain for instructions and confused disorientation sets in with a vengeance.

<Tarsh> His medal from the army?

Mostan pulls his head out.

Alea nods.

Mostan carefully puts an arm through the crack.

Alea pulls the sack out from under her cloak.

Wise Snake's tentacles wave as she zlins an arm... ONLY... with no body.

<Mostan> [arm comes out of a crack in the wall.]

Mostan extends his laterals to zlin the room.

Wise Snake sinks down, dizzily, and braces herself against the floor.

Mostan is dizzy from zlinning two different rooms at once.

<Wise Snake> ~~ must zlin normal... mustn't show weakness~~

Alea hands him the bag.

<Tarsh> What about it?

Tarsh opens the bag and reaches in.

Wise Snake peers into the darkness beyond the fire's glow, in the direction of the Severed Arm.

Wise Snake's heart is pounding a mile a minute.

Alea [medal framed on a small wooden frame with glass and a blue background]

Wise Snake edges closer to Nick's unconscious nager, which at this moment is of no help whatsoever.

Mostan zlins a Sime and a Gen. The Gen zlins like he is hurt.

Wise Snake zlins an arm.

<Wise Snake> ~~ dread~~

Tarsh pulls out a frame.

<Tarsh> "For Service to the Territory"

<Tarsh> "Duty & Honor"

<Tarsh> "Nivet's Own Borderers"

<Tarsh> Alea.

<Alea> I hope you didn't mind me sneaking it out of your room.

<Alea> I didn't even think about losing it at the time... until I came to pick it up just now.

<Tarsh> No, this is wonderful. I never thought of this.

<Tarsh> There were only 3 of these given out in any year....

<Alea> Which makes that award extra special.

<Mostan> Hey! Can you hear me?

Wise Snake blinks as a perfectly ordinary (if a bit muffled voice) is heard.

<Tarsh> Yes. My father said that was the finest part in all his life before me....

Wise Snake sinks down partly across Nick's unconscious form.

Alea smiles softly.

<Wise Snake> Ye... yes?

Wise Snake clears her throat.

<Wise Snake> Yes.

<Mostan> Do you require help? Your friend zlins sick.

<Tarsh> Thank you Alea.

Tarsh decides not to tell Alea it was earned in an attack on a Householding....

Wise Snake tries to find her way through this rather complex thought.

<Tarsh> This is lovely.

<Tarsh> I'm... I'm sure my father would have liked you. ~~ !LIE! ~~

<Wise Snake> Yes... no....

<Wise Snake> Yes.

Alea senses something false about that and is uneasy.

<Mostan> I can't get through here though.

<Alea> I'm glad to hear you say that. Especially since I know I can trust you implicitly.

<Mostan> Did you have any extra warm clothes?

Alea smiles sweetly and leans up, touching her cold lips to his warmer Sime ones.

<Tarsh> Uh....

Tarsh tries not to look guilty.

Alea thinks a renSime should learn not to lie outright to a Farris Donor... of course, it would HELP if she informed him of that.

<Wise Snake> Yes. Yes we do.

Alea thinks she's not going to mention that little tidbit to Tarsh.

Wise Snake pushes herself up, looks around feeling a bit surreal.

<Mostan> Let me try to find a way through.

Wise Snake reaches for a pack and opens it, finding clothes.

Wise Snake has a feeling there is something really important she is missing, but doesn't know what it is.

Wise Snake pauses, worrying on that thought.

Mostan pulls his arm out carefully.

<Mostan> Do you see anything from over there?

Wise Snake remembers what it is she was missing. She recognizes the arm. It is Mostan's.

Wise Snake feels a sudden shock.

Wise Snake stops, then slowly finishes pulling the clothes out.

<Wise Snake> Yes.

<Wise Snake> There is a door.

Mostan still can't put a lateral on what is so familiar about that nager....

<Mostan> To where? Between us?

<Wise Snake> About six feet, three inches... [barely manages to stop herself from specifying tenths of an inch] to the right of your current position. Can you see it on your side?

<Mostan> Can't see anything. Let me try to zlin....

Tarsh puts it back in the bag.

Tarsh leans over to kiss Alea. "Thank you, darling."

Mostan moves over to the side.

Alea leans gratefully into the kiss and the warmth.

Alea ~~ is cold ~~

<Mostan> Found it!

<Mostan> Rubble piled up, though. Which way does it open?

Wise Snake tries to stand, thinks the better of it and sinks back down again, back against the wall, still holding onto the clothes.

Tarsh zlins. We better get you to the Ferry Building. Come on.

<Wise Snake> Away from you.

Alea moves with Tarsh.

Mostan clears some stuff out of a hole.

Mostan sticks a tentacle through a hole in the door.

Wise Snake 's heart thumps.

Wise Snake tells herself it's only a zlinning illusion, but it still appears the tentacle is entirely disembodied.

<Wise Snake> ~~wracking chill~~

Tarsh trudges through the snow towards the clock tower, or where he thinks it should be anyway.

<Wise Snake> Yes! Yes. That's the door.

Mostan pushes at it.

<Mostan> [door groans and flakes of material flutter off.]

<Tarsh> What does Snake want with a dump like that?

<Alea> The snow is really getting thick... are you sure you can zlin the way?

<Alea> Oh... um....

<Tarsh> I'm going more by my location sense....

<Alea> A place where she can have regular customers come and a place for her Donors or whatever to live.

Alea ~~ worried ~~

Alea thinks great... they'll end up at the witch's house at this rate.

<Tarsh> Ah. A Snake Center, then.

<Snow Raven> cark.... cark cark

<Alea> Or a Household....

Alea looks up.

<Alea> The RAVEN!

<Alea> Hear it?!

Snow Raven circles, calling mournfully.

<Alea> It always appears when the witch does....

Snow Raven flaps heavily over the rooftops, and lands upon a peaked face to look down upon the two living things.

Tarsh zlins. "Some bird."

Mostan strains, augmenting.

<Snow Raven> Where go you, my pretty morsels? I follow, yes, I do. Pretty, pretty, those sparkling eyes of thine!

<Mostan> [door creaks and crunches]

Alea hurries onward....

Snow Raven turns its head to study them with one eye, and then the other.

<Tarsh> Witch?

<Tarsh> You been talking to Jirelle?

Snow Raven launches itself sharply downward, soaring low over their heads and then ahead.

<Mostan> Can you pull while I push?

Alea knows Tarsh wouldn't believe her story.

<Alea> Oh, I'm sure it's just... nothing.

Wise Snake puts the clothes down.

Alea laughs.

<Alea> heh heh heh

Wise Snake pushes herself to her feet and feels strange, uncoordinated, exhausted. (deep inside, elated)

Alea is getting very cold, her feet are now numb.

Snow Raven lands upon a signpost's top.

Alea has snow in the boot that has been chewed up.

<Snow Raven> Sleep... sleep. Lie down... rest. Such precious tentacles. I enjoy the pretty pink ones. So tender... so succulent.

Alea feels a cold chill go down her spine

Tarsh gets a creepy feeling on his arms....

<Alea> Tarsh....

Alea runs a bare hand down over his tentacles.

Wise Snake feels a wave of dizziness and for a moment doesn't remember where she is.

<Tarsh> Yes. [looking over at Snow Raven]

Wise Snake glances back at Nick and thinks wherever she is and whatever she is doing, it is a bad idea.

Alea thinks he'd never believe her feelings of doom.

<Alea> Nothing.

<Tarsh> I don't like that bird....

Wise Snake shakes her head, trying to clear it.

<Alea> Neither do I.

<Tarsh> It's... creepy.

<Alea> It was there when the guy fell off the roof in front of me.

Mostan pushes at the door again.

<Alea> It was there the day the... woman who gave me that noxious poison found me....

<Mostan> [horrible metallic scraping sounds.]

<Snow Raven> What pretty tongues, what precious tender triangles of flesh... pluck... pluck....

Alea can't see at all in front of her now and is really worried this bird is once again the bearer of bad news.

<Snow Raven> Speak, speak, that I may hear my repast. [laughs]

<Snow Raven> cark... cark....

Alea thinks of Snake and a cold chill grabs her heart.

Snow Raven flies upward against a gust of wind, spiraling through the tumbling snow.

Wise Snake focuses on the door.

Wise Snake reaches out toward it.

<Alea> Snake's not going to be at the Ferry Building, Tarsh. I just know it.

<Snow Raven> One male, one female, that I may feast on what I choose.

<Alea> She never made it back. She's probably lying somewhere freezing to death, if she even made it through the transfer.

<Snow Raven> Cawwwww!!!!

Alea ~~ worried ~~

<Tarsh> No, Snake can take care of herself.

<Alea> I hope so, Tarsh.

<Tarsh> That's the place, I think.

Wise Snake touches the frame, feeling another shuddering surge of disorientation.

Alea ~~ great relief ~~ [starts pulling Tarsh along with her in her haste]

<Alea> Am I going in the right direction?

<Mostan> [part of the door pops out of the frame]

Alea peers through the swirling snow... and sees an object... tall....

<Alea> This must be it.

<Tarsh> Yeah.

<Tarsh> Which door do we want? what side?

<Mostan> Now I'm getting somewhere!

<Alea> Uh... the front door. It's usually the one I go to.

Wise Snake remembers about the door and takes hold of it, augments to yank hard on it.

<Alea> Street side.

Snow Raven swoops low, pecks Alea 's shoulder hard.

<Alea> Ow!

<Snow Raven> First blood! How sweet it is....

Alea jerks away.

Alea ~~ pain ~~

Snow Raven flaps its wings, flying up against the building's wall.

<Snow Raven> Even the largest of creatures must perish in the cold.

<Mostan> [door pops open with a sound like a train being eviscerated.]

<Snow Raven> Even the most powerful must lie down and sleep.

Tarsh swings at Snow Raven.

<Snow Raven> [harsh cackle]

Snow Raven flies up to a nearby rooftop and lands.

<Tarsh> Oh, for a Gen gun and some skill....

<Alea> Stupid bird.

Alea rubs at her shoulder.

Wise Snake falls back as Mostan and a bunch of rocks fly out of the door in a huge heap.

Snow Raven puts the bit of Alea's flesh down, holds it with its talon while it picks tiny morsels off a bit at a time.

Mostan falls down on the floor, knocking the wind out of him.

Alea's hand comes away bloody.

<Tarsh> Shen!

Tarsh hurries Alea towards the building.

<Alea> It broke the skin....

Alea ~~ disbelief ~~

Alea goes on numb feet with Tarsh.

Alea sees the door and points.

<Alea> There it is.

Tarsh goes to the door and wrenches at it.

Wise Snake fails to see a large rock that konks her in the head.

Mostan gasps in air.

Alea moves over and jerks on the bell.

Wise Snake promptly hits the floor wearing a flummoxed expression.

Sky hears the doorbell and puts down his pen.

Sky takes all the papers off his lap and pushes his chair back.

<Alea> I can't believe that shendoni bird actually broke the skin.

Alea moves back over against Tarsh for warmth

Mostan pushes himself up and looks at this person next to him.

Wise Snake is lying stunned with a trickle of blood running down her forehead.

Tarsh puts an arm around her and probes at the shoulder with the other.

Tarsh zlins the injury.

Mostan jerks and sits back. "Snake!"

Sky puts on his cloak and hurries down the stairs shivering.

Mostan expected anyone else more than her.

Wise Snake jumps up quickly, then realizes this was a bad idea.

Alea sucks in a sharp breath as Tarsh finds the injury.

<Wise Snake> Uh... Mostan. [disguises staggering fall to resemble gracefully crouching on the floor by Nick.]

Wise Snake feels lots of blood running excitedly down her forehead.

Sky opens the door.

<Sky> Alea!

Alea smiles.

<Alea> Sky.

<Sky> And...?

B'cal comes down the stairs hoping this is Snake.

<Mostan> Snake.

<Alea> Oh!

<Alea> This is Tarsh Chutmas.

B'cal hears the voice and the introduction and sneers.

Tarsh watches for that damn bird.

<Alea> Uh, can we come in? It's cold out here.

Sky is desperately grateful for somebody else to talk to besides B'cal.

<Sky> Come in, come in!!

Alea ~~ relief ~~

Sky stands aside to let them and a large snowdrift in.

Tarsh follows Alea in.

Alea feels the warmth and sighs in relief.

<Wise Snake> Mostan. [weakly]

<Mostan> What are you doing out here?

<Alea> Oh this feels sooo good....

Wise Snake gestures with a tentacle at the clothes.

<B'cal> What are YOU two doing here?

B'cal strides over to them.

<B'cal> And where is Snake?

Alea blinks.

<Wise Snake> Turrie and B'cal seemed to think it was a big deal to find you two.

<Alea> What are you doing here and where is Snake?

<Mostan> Oh, good, El -- I'm cold.

<Alea> You're supposed to be with her.

Alea looks at Sky.

<Mostan> How did they know about?

Sky closes the door and realizes he is in the direct line of fire.

<Alea> Is Snake at the Center?

<Sky> What? I don't know!

Sky cringes like a craven weasel.

<Alea> But she left yesterday with them.

Alea points at B'cal accusingly.

<Wise Snake> About...?

B'cal curls her lip at them and turns to start back up the stairs.

<B'cal> Let me know when Snake returns, Sky.

Alea looks back at Sky.

Sky mutters something about, better yet I'll send her your way.

<Alea> She's been here with you the entire time? [low]

Wise Snake concentrates to make the bleeding stop, while reaching unsteadily for something to wipe the blood off with.

<Mostan> [eyes narrow] "Who told you?"

Tarsh is confused.

Alea reaches out.

<Alea> Tarsh --

<Wise Snake> Eliza told the cook where you went on your picnic. The livery stable owner reported you had rented horses again.

<Alea> I'm sorry, this is Snake's brother, Sky.

<Mostan> Shen. So you're here to run us in, huh?

<Sky> Pleased to meet you.

<Sky> [nervously]

<Tarsh> Snake's - Oh! Hello. Pleased to meet you.

<Wise Snake> Ach... whatever.

Wise Snake presses cloth to her forehead, then wipes gently.

Tarsh hadn't conceived of Snake having a family....

<Sky> How can I help you?

Alea rubs at her shoulder.

<Alea> I had come by to check on Snake....

<Alea> She had her transfer today.

<Sky> Ah... yes... she dropped off B'cal last night and hasn't been back since, that I know of.

<Sky> She didn't say when she was going to return, so I didn't know there was any cause for worry.

<Mostan> Uh, what happened to you two?

<B'cal> Shendoni channel. That's how they all are. No time sense.

B'cal goes on up the stairs muttering nasty words about channels.

Alea sighs at B'cal's comments.

Wise Snake glances at Nick, then figures Mostan will hear about it one way or another.

<Wise Snake> Transfer.

<Alea> I just thought she'd be back by now.

Eliza sits shaking like a leaf and decides that anything is better then being left alone beside a dying fire.

Sky has put up with so many unexpected, unexplained and intederminately-lengthed absences from Snake in his life that he finds it difficult to become too alarmed.

<Sky> Well... should I let her know you were looking for her when she comes by?

<Sky> [helpfully]

Alea reaches up and rubs her forehead.

<Alea> Yes, please do.

Sky finally notices the blood.

<Sky> Good heavens! What happened to you!

Eliza creeps through the crack after Mostan.

<Alea> I suppose we should go....

Alea looks up at Sky then at her shoulder.

<Alea> A bird. Nasty little thing attacked us outside.

Eliza climbs over the rubble and sees some light. [softly] "Mos, Mostan...."

<Sky> Do you want a bandage or anything?

<Tarsh> Strangest thing....

Alea thinks she is getting one of Snake's headaches worrying about her.

Eliza stops and waits, listening....

<Alea> Uh... I think it's probably stopped bleeding.

Mostan zlins Nick.

Alea shoves material around to examine it.

<Wise Snake> [Nick has been badly transfer burned and is unconscious]

<Mostan> Uh, I've never actually zlinned it, but isn't that....

Tarsh zlins Alea's wound.

<Wise Snake> He was burned. [voice edgy]

<Sky> Oh... okay....

Sky tries not to look at it since blood makes him queasy.

Eliza calls louder "Mostan!" and creeps forward. Suddenly the ground under her feet disappears. She throws herself forward and just catches the edge....

<Eliza> ~~PANIC~~ "MOSTAN!!!!!"

Alea [nasty chunk of flesh missing with oozing blood]

Mostan zlins Snake. I... see.

Mostan jerks.

<Sky> ~~queasy~~

Eliza hangs on to the edge while trying to get purchase with her feet.

Mostan turns and runs back into the darkness.

<Sky> Are you sure? I have water... clean bandages....

<Tarsh> Wish Snake was here. Get that healed.

<Alea> Yeah. Maybe so.

<Alea> Never a channel around when you need one.

Mostan makes himself slow to avoid tripping.

<Alea> Would you mind if we went up where it was warmer?

<Mostan> Eliza!

Wise Snake looks at the blood on the cloth and drops it to the ground.

<Eliza> HERE!!! Help!!!

<Eliza> ~ fear / relief ~

Wise Snake stands slowly and follows Mostan.

Mostan moves up to the crack.

<Sky> Come on, come on... upstairs is warmer.

<Mostan> Oh my... HOLD ON!

Sky motions to them to come along, and starts up the stairs.

Alea follows Sky, her feet starting to finally thaw out.

<Eliza> I AM Holding on! [stupid men - he thinks maybe I'm going to let go?]

Tarsh holds Alea as they climb up.

Alea gladly allows it.

Mostan reaches out to grab her arm.

Wise Snake stands above them, watching in a detached manner.

Mostan lashes tentacles around it.

Eliza feels Mostan's grip with relief.

Alea goes to Snake's office with Sky.

Sky closes the door behind them to trap the heat, then putters around until he finds the black emergency kit.

Mostan flails with his other arm for something solid.

B'cal looks over from where she is standing looking over the paperwork.

<B'cal> Plan to stay awhile, do you?

Wise Snake observes that the two of them appear to be falling down a deep hole. A very deep hole.

<Tarsh> Have you seen the way it is snowing out there?

B'cal sneers.

<B'cal> You made it here. Make it back.

B'cal turns her back on them.

Sky opens it and pokes through looking for a bandage and some alcohol.

Sky looks up at Alea and Tarsh, over his bifocals.

<Sky> Oh... just ignore her. I do.

Alea moves over to the fire, sinking to the floor in front of it.

B'cal growls at Sky.

Mostan grabs something and pulls Eliza up.

Alea shoves off her cloak and then moves her shirt aside.

Eliza hangs onto his arm with both of hers.

Wise Snake returns to Nick's side and sits down.

Mostan pulls too hard and they fall over backwards on the ground.

Eliza lands on top of him.

<Eliza> Oofff.

Wise Snake feels vaguely hungry and looks for something to eat in their packs.

Alea suddenly doesn't feel very well.

<Tarsh> Alea, That's....

<Alea> Huh?

<Tarsh> You poor baby....

Alea looks up at Tarsh.

Sky offers the bandage, scissors and alcohol to Tarsh.

<Sky> Would you like to...?

Alea ~~ mild nausea and dizziness ~~

Tarsh shivers. "Uh, I'd better not.... Alea?"

B'cal looks over at it and grunts.

Wise Snake starts shivering.

<Alea> Huh...?

Mostan hugs Eliza fiercely. "Liza!"

Eliza holds on to him for dear life.

Turrie heads back to where she last saw Snake and Nick.

Alea looks weakly at Sky.

<Alea> I'll do it.

<Eliza> I couldn't wait any longer - the fire was out - it was dark - cold - I had to follow you - I'm so sorry.

Eliza kisses him in the hope that it will stop him going mad at her for not staying where he left her.

Sky hands her the stuff.

<Sky> Ok... do you want anything else? Hot water?

<Tarsh> I'm sorry, but the pain....

<Alea> I know... it's... okay.

<Mostan> Shhh... It's all right.

Mostan remembers Snake is here.

<B'cal> Oh for shenned sakes... give me the shendoni wrap.

<Mostan> I have good news and bad news.

B'cal storms over and jerks it out of Alea's hand.

<B'cal> It's a simple bird bite. Just wrap it and have done.

Alea looks up at B'cal in shock.

Sky frowns, rubbing his beard, then turns away without saying anything.

<Eliza> What?

B'cal kneels down and shoves back Alea's top.

Alea gasps ~~ pain ~~

<Mostan> Some people came looking for us.

<Mostan> Snake and Nick.

B'cal rummages through the Farris kit, finds some disinfectant and pours it on.

Tarsh retreats across the room and tries to stay hypo.

Alea sucks in a breath, then pulls in her field trying to detach herself from the sting and pain.

<Eliza> Oh no!

B'cal slaps the gauze on the injury and begins to wrap it... running it over and under her arm until it is completely wrapped.

<Eliza> So, they found us.

<Mostan> But they have warm clothes for you.

<Eliza> ~sorrow~

<Mostan> yeah. they did.

Alea ~~pale and sweaty~~ by the time B'cal is done

B'cal ties it off, gets up and closes the Farris kit.

<B'cal> There you go.

<Eliza> So I guess we have to go back and then they will separate us.

B'cal sneers at the room in general.

<B'cal> I have never seen a more incompetent bunch.

Tarsh wallows in guilt at not protecting Alea or helping her.

<B'cal> Book worm, there, Gen-lover there, and the little tart.

B'cal sneers.

B'cal storms out of the room.

<Alea> Shen....

Tarsh looks up. Opens his mouth and then closes it.

Alea is feeling decidedly sick.

Tarsh comes over to Alea. "I'm sorry."

Alea shakes her head.

Sky scratches his beard. ~~ consider yourself ignored~~

Sky looks at Alea.

<Alea> B'cal is worried about Snake and is taking it out on everyone around her.

<Sky> Are you all right?

<Sky> [to Tarsh] Is she all right?

Alea looks at Tarsh.

<Alea> Are you all right?

<Mostan> yeah. But we'll manage somehow. I promise, we'll be together.

<Tarsh> Yeah, just concerned about you.

Wise Snake nibbles a piece of something and watches Nick.

Eliza hold him tight. "But, where are they?"

<Alea> I'm fine. I just don't like seeing my own blood.

Mostan carefully eases Eliza over onto the ground and then helps her get up.

<Alea> Thank you, Sky, for your help.

Mostan gestures. "Down that way. "

<Alea> You must be a great help to Snake.

Alea smiles softly at him.

Eliza stays close to Mostan - the blanket is gone down the hole.

Alea thinks he must be a saint to have put up with B'cal this long and not thrown her out.

Mostan holds Eliza as they go towards the light.

<Sky> Oh, well, I try to be.... [suddenly shy because of Alea's smile; tries to grin and not stammer]

Eliza is relieved to see the light.

Sky adjusts his glasses.

<Sky> Would you two like any water? Food?

<Sky> You don't require a place to stay tonight, do you?

Alea looks at Tarsh.

<Tarsh> I'm fine, thanks.

<Alea> Think we can make it home in this?

Mostan helps Eliza up the rubble and into the room.

Alea looks toward the window.

Alea really doesn't want to go back out in that.

Eliza sees Nick looking pale and dead and Snake casually eating.

<Alea> Does Snake have a couple of extra sleeping bags, Sky?

Sky glances out; his own habit is to stay inside the moment the first snowflake falls and never go out again until he hears robins.

<Tarsh> I'm not comfortable with going out till the storm lets up.

<Alea> I've been down this road once before and don't fancy getting lost again.

<Sky> Well, there's Nick's bed. I'm afraid you'll have to share, but... or one of you could share with me.

<Alea> Nick has a bed now?

<Alea> That would be perfect.

<Sky> Oh... yes, he moved in a while ago.

<Sky> He's off with Snake, wherever she is, and it's not being used right at the moment....

Sky goes over to the door to Nick's room and sticks his head in.

<Sky> Whew! Have to get a fire going in there though.

Mostan picks up the clothes and hands them to Eliza.

<Eliza> Snake! is Nick all right? [looks questioningly at Mostan]

Eliza slips on a jacket and does it up.

<Mostan> Snake? Is there anything I can do to help you or Nick?

Wise Snake looks up at them.

Wise Snake looks about 14 years old right now.

<Mostan> [whispers] "They had transfer here and Nick got burned, I think. Don't ask me how...."

<Wise Snake> Ummm.... I suppose some more firewood would be nice.

<Eliza> Mos - can you get the wood please?

<Wise Snake> And.... the horses weren't taken care of for a long stay.

<Mostan> We have some back in... our room.

<Mostan> [whispers] "You be OK here?"

<Eliza> Yes - I'm fine.

Eliza goes over and sits down next to Snake and puts an arm around her. "Are you all right, Snake?"

<Eliza> Don't worry about the horses - they tend to keep warm - I'll see to them in a moment.

Sky gets firewood from the erstwhile boardroom (now firewood room) and goes to restart the fire in Nick's fireplace.

<Tarsh> Nick is Snake's Donor?

<Alea> Thank you Sky.

<Alea> Yes.

Mostan turns to go back into the dark.

<Alea> I don't know that you've met him. He's the one who is usually with Snake when B'cal isn't.

Wise Snake does not look all right.

<Alea> Though she does have a new one now.

<Wise Snake> Yeah... yeah... sure.

<Wise Snake> I'm fine.

Eliza gets a blanket from the pile and wraps it around Snake's shoulders.

<Eliza> Let's keep you warm to start with.

<Eliza> Have you had anything hot to drink?

<Tarsh> Yeah, Farrises always strain the Donor supply. Extra are authorized.

<Wise Snake> Tea... [moves a tentacle in the direction of two cups with small frozen brown lakes in them.]

<Tarsh> Farris Channels, I mean.

<Eliza> Lets get a fresh hot one then.

Alea nods to Tarsh wondering why he is telling her something she knows... or if he is just confirming it.

Eliza pokes into the packs and comes out with a packet of tea and a pot.

Wise Snake 's eyes keep drifting over to Nick in a disturbed fashion.

<Wise Snake> There's... sort of... a fire.

<Eliza> How did you get in here Snake? [looks around for an exit]

Alea pushes up and goes to see if Sky requires any help

Wise Snake notes it has burned out, wonders how long they've been here.

Wise Snake breaks out in a sweat as she recognizes the time distortion problem.

<Wise Snake> What?

<Wise Snake> [sounding shocked]

<Eliza> Mos has gone to get more wood - he will be back in a moment.

<Eliza> How did you get in here?

Alea carefully adjusts her shirt over her shoulder.

Sky looks up from arranging wood in the fireplace.

Alea shivers at the cold.

<Sky> It shouldn't take any more than a half hour or so for it to start to warm up in here once this is started.

<Alea> You want any help?

<Alea> Is there anything I can do?

<Alea> That's good to know.

Turrie sees two horse shapes in the falling snow, silhouetted against a stone wall that has kept the worst of the weather of them.

Sky strikes a spark, trying to start the paper.

Alea goes over and kneels down next to Sky.

<Alea> I'm real good at lighting fires.

<Alea> Let me try.

Sky hands it over.

Eliza gentle takes Snake by the shoulders and shakes her. "Snake - where did you come in - where is the entrance?"

Mostan throws an armload of wood across the chasm.

<Alea> Do you have any like flammable liquid... lamp oil?

Wise Snake looks up at Eliza.

Alea sees a lamp.

<Wise Snake> Y... up. [gestures up at a hole in the ceiling with a tentacle]

Alea grabs it and douses everything with the oil.

<Alea> This stuff lights really good.

<Alea> Much better than paper, you see.

Sky looks alarmed.

Alea takes the match and strikes it.

<Alea> Now, watch how easily this lights.

Sky's hands fly to his mouth, then his eyes, then his cheeks.

Alea tosses the match on the fire.

Eliza looks up and sighs. "Well, I can't get up there."

Tarsh moves closer to Alea.

Alea leans back.

Eliza looks to see if there is any water.

<Alea> [everything ignites and flares]

Sky leaps backward as a ball of fire leaps out of the fireplace.

Alea tries to jump backward.

<Alea> Whhooooaaaa.

Sky still has both hands pressed to his cheeks like "The Scream"

<Sky> [gasp... gasp....]

Alea throws an arm up.

Alea ends up flat on her back staring at the ceiling.

<Alea> How'd THAT happen.

Alea ~~ gasping for breath ~~ ~~ stunned ~~

Turrie rides over to them and quickly checks to see that they are all right. They are warm enough - but complaining that they are hungry.

Tarsh jumps forward to grab Alea.

Sky manages to get his wits together and darts about, stomping on flaming bits of paper.

Alea looks down and sees her cloak is on fire.

<Alea> Oh no!

Alea staggers up.

<Alea> My FARRIS CLOAK!

Sky catches one that's on the bed, beats it out with a pillow.

Alea starts slapping at the burning cloak--which is still attached.

Tarsh grabs for the cloak and rips it off.

Eliza finds some water and stirs the coals. She heads back to where the dark door is looking to see why Mostan hasn't returned ~concern ~

Alea chokes, grabbing at her throat.

<Eliza> Mostan?

<Mostan> What? [puff]

<Alea> Oh not my cloak!

<Eliza> You all right?

<Alea> I just got it replaced.

Alea moans.

Eliza takes some of the wood off him.

Wise Snake moves over to sit by Nick, zlinning him.

Mostan shoves a rickety pile of wood up onto the rubble pile.

Alea notices the hearth is rather blackened now and wonders if Snake will notice when she returns.

Alea kicks at a burning piece of wood, trying to kick it back into the fireplace.

<Sky> Oh, dear. Snake will throw a perfect fit.

Alea kicks it along the floor.

Tarsh yanks the fastening loose and winds the cloak into a bundle with the flame inside.

<Alea> Oh, she'll be fine. I'm sure.

Alea keeps nudging it along, dodging sparks and stomping them out.

Sky finds small embers everywhere, pinches them out.

<Alea> We've been through a lot.

<Alea> Oh, my, look at the fire.

<Mostan> Can you get that?

Alea bends down, shoves at the log and finally manages to nudge it awkwardly into the fireplace.

<Alea> There we go.

<Alea> Isn't it beautiful.

<Alea> And it's warming up much faster than you predicted.

<Sky> Why is it all different colors? [nervously]

Tarsh unrolls the cloak to see that the blackened corner is out.

Sky realizes he is standing with his hands pressed to his cheeks again and lowers them to their usual wringing each other position.

Eliza takes the wood and puts some onto the coals blowing on it to try and make them catch.

Mostan goes back for the rest.

<Alea> Why is what so many different colors?

<Sky> The fire! [pointing nervously]

Turrie puts her mount with the other two and looks around - nothing but snow, vertically and horizontally.

<Alea> Oh?

Alea looks at it and studies it closely.

<Tarsh> Err, what is in it, other than wood and lamp oil?

Turrie zlins around.

<Alea> Don't all fires look like that...?

<Sky> I don't know... what did you put in there?

<Alea> You're the one who stacked the wood.

Eliza breaks some bark and twigs off and adds them to the fire.

Eliza looks up to see what Mostan is doing.

<Alea> All I did was toss in the oil.

Wise Snake lies down on the floor near Nick.

Mostan pushes the rest of the wood over the rubble heap to clatter into the room.

<Alea> All of my fires look like that.

Alea looks over at Tarsh.

<Alea> How is my cloak?

Sky looks at the lamp shade sitting by itself.

<Sky> Where is the lamp?

Alea points.

Eliza puts the pot of water next to the fire and gets some enamel cups out.

<Eliza> Is Nick OK, Mostan? I don't know what is wrong with Snake - but she isn't well.

Mostan comes back into the room.

Mostan looks over at Snake and Nick.

Alea grabs up the lamp and hands it to Sky.

Turrie zlins an opening behind some bushes and goes to investigate. Getting out of the snow is favorable.

<Mostan> Yeah. And I don't think it's just the head wound....

<Mostan> We can't leave them here like this.

<Eliza> [softly] what are we going to do with them?

<Tarsh> Mostly ok, but.... [shows the corner]

<Eliza> Well - they have horses - maybe I could ride back and get help....

<Alea> Oh.

Alea ~~ dismay ~~

<Alea> I guess I'll have to order another one.

<Mostan> We'll have to get them back to town. Decide what to do later.

Sky reunites the lamp and the shade, and sets it aside.

Turrie climbs down into a small dark room.

<Alea> At least it's getting warm, now.

Turrie zlins the remains of a fire - still warm, an opening in the far wall.... 2

Alea slips the scarf from her neck and drapes it over a chair.

<Tarsh> True enough.

Eliza puts the pot in the middle of the fire and puts more wood around the outside.

Alea holds her hands out to the fire.

<Alea> Very warm.

Eliza gets up and puts another blanket over Nick.

Sky is beginning to understand a few things Snake said about Alea that perplexed him at the time.

Alea glances at Sky and smiles sweetly.

<Sky> Well... would you like anything to eat, before you retire?

<Alea> You don't know how much we appreciate this....

<Eliza> They came in through that. [points to the hole in the corner of the ceiling] Looks like we can either try to get them out of that, or over that [shudders] hole in the ground.

Sky stammers a bit as he is charmed by Alea's smile.

<Alea> I'm not hungry, thank you, Sky.

<Sky> Oh it's no problem at all.

<Alea> You've done so much for us. I'll be sure to tell Snake what a wonderful help you've been.

Alea flutters her lashes at him.

<Tarsh> Yes, thank you for taking us in.

<Sky> You will? I mean, you're welcome.

Alea suddenly gets an itch to her throat.

Alea rubs at her throat.

Sky takes Alea by the arm.

<Sky> Maybe we ought to get her into the other room for a bit. [to Tarsh]

Alea blinks... her eyes beginning to water.

<Alea> What in shenned is in that fire?

Sky glances over his shoulder at the green, blue, magenta, purple, teal, orange, yellow and white fire.

Eliza carefully picks up the hot pot with a cloth and pours water into the cups with the tea. Hands one to Mostan and carries one over to Snake.

Alea begins to cough.

Wise Snake is lying on the floor.

Mostan takes the tea. "Thank you, Liza."

<Sky> Whoop! Out you go. [hurrying Tarsh and Alea back into Snake's office]

Alea breathes in fresh air.

<Eliza> Snake? Here is some tea - here, sit up, give me your hands. Mos I don't think she should sleep....

<Alea> Shendoni.

<Tarsh> Alea? [ zlins ]

<Alea> Allergies to the fire.

<Eliza> Come on Snake - sit up. [pulls Snake up to lean against her]

<Tarsh> Did you inhale any smoke?

<Alea> Something in it....

Sky sits them down and puts the black medical kit in Tarsh's lap.

<Alea> Just a bit

<Sky> I'll be right back.

Sky hurries into the other room and closes the door.

Mostan zlins up through the hole.

Alea starts feeling immediately better.

<Alea> fresh air is helping....

Sky opens the windows of Nick's room, then closes the fireplace doors and fiddles with the air vents to suffocate the fire.

Eliza sits behind Snake and puts an arm around her chest to support her in a sitting position.

Tarsh opens up the kit and stares at the bewildering array of pills and salves and things.

Alea quickly fiddles in the kit on Tarsh's lap until she finds what she needs.

<Alea> These....

Alea swallows three orange colored pills.

Wise Snake wonders why this woman is molesting her.

<Alea> I'm gonna have to teach you about Farris meds, dear.

Wise Snake stirs groggily as Eliza pulls her up.

Mostan comes over to the other side of Nick.

<Eliza> Come on Snake - sip this. [holds tea under her nose]

Alea's slight wheezing is slowly fading.

<Tarsh> Yeah, sounds like a good idea....

Turrie sees the pale flicker of a light through the break and the wall and climbs through.

<Alea> Only problem... these will make me sleep for the next three or four hours.

Alea closes the kit and moves over onto Tarsh's lap.

<Tarsh> Ok. I'll keep watch for bird.

Turrie carefully moves along the rubble encrusted hallway... zlins the hole and pauses.

Wise Snake sips at the tea, burning her tongue.

Wise Snake thinks ow.

<Alea> Will you hold me until the room is ready?

<Tarsh> Of course.

Alea doesn't wait for him to answer, but gets comfort in his arms.

Tarsh puts his arms around Alea.

Alea lays her head over on his shoulder.

<Mostan> ~~ need ~~

<Alea> You know what, Tarsh? [whispers low]

Turrie jumps the hole and stops, zlinning the room ahead.

<Alea> You really are the greatest. ~~ pride in him ~~ ~~ sleepy ~~

<Tarsh> No, that's you, Alea.

Alea drifts off to sleep.

Tarsh zlins that Alea is asleep.

Sky returns shivering to Snake's office, closing the door behind him.

<Eliza> Come on Snake! Snap out of it please!!

<Sky> There, it's all.... [pauses when he sees Alea asleep]

<Tarsh> I'm sorry I lied to you about my father, but he was from... the old ways.

Sky thinks now would be a good time to make himself scarce, and slinks back into Nick's room.

<Mostan> Yeah Snake, I'm zlinning your Donor here!

<Sky> Don't mind me, [says to himself] I'll just sit here in the dark.

B'cal enters from the hall and sees Sky in the room she has been sleeping in.

Sky sits on Nick's bed .(in the dark)

Turrie surveys the room before entering and worries at what she feels.

B'cal goes over and sneers.

Wise Snake clutches the tea, staring at them both.

<B'cal> You little pip-squeak. Is THAT what you want?!

<Tarsh> He was a junct, and had junct beliefs....

B'cal ~~ outrage ~~

Sky looks confused.

<Tarsh> But I loved him....

<B'cal> In MY ROOM waiting in the dark!

Sky looks surprised.

B'cal looks around, grabs up the pillow and slings it at him.

Sky really can't think of an appropriate response to that.

<B'cal> Well, you can think again, mister!

B'cal sneers.

Sky frowns and rubs his chin as the pillow smacks him upside the head.

<Eliza> You going to stay awake now, Snake?

<B'cal> I'd rather mate with a mongrel, than some lowlife little non-Householding Gen.

Mostan looks up. "Who's there?"

B'cal slams him with the pillow.

Sky's glasses are askew on his head.

Turrie steps into the room. "Well Snake, I see you found them."

<Sky> Oh, dear UMPH!

Sky staggers back.

B'cal lifts it and slams it down on him again.

Wise Snake realizes it's been about a week since she actually has slept at all.

<B'cal> I'd rather mate with a Farris than you, do you hear me!

B'cal sneers and swings the pillow again.

<Sky> Ow!

<Tarsh> I just wish I knew which house it was that he....

<B'cal> What kind of low life hides in wait in a woman's bedroom?

Sky covers his head and tries to escape out into the hall.

<Sky> Ow! Ow! [cringing against door]

<B'cal> Pervert!

<B'cal> Defiler!

<Sky> Hey! What are you... Ow!

B'cal swings

<B'cal> Out!

<Mostan> Who found who is a bit muddled, actually.

<Sky> You crazy woman! You're deranged!

B'cal [smash]

<B'cal> Now!

<Sky> Ow!

Sky escapes into the hallway.

<B'cal> Me? You're deranged if you think you can waltz in here and have your wicked way with me!

B'cal slams the door.

<Turrie> Well at least you are all together.

B'cal straightens her jacket, jerking on the bottom, sneering at the door.

<Mostan> Turrie, zlin Snake. She's had a blow to the head, and something went bad in her transfer....

Turrie moves over to Snake and Nick zlinning the situation.

Tarsh lays his head down on Alea's and cries silently.

B'cal goes over to light the lamp... and finds no oil.

<B'cal> Shen....

Turrie kneels in front of Snake and takes the tea from her limp hands.

B'cal mutters and she goes back out to go find some oil.

Wise Snake looks at Turrie.

<Turrie> Just sit there Eliza and let her lean against you.

Turrie holds her finger up in front of Snake. "Snake - focus on my finger"

<Wise Snake> ~~ opaque showfield, disturbed expression, high field but exhausted physically~~

Wise Snake looks at Turrie's finger oddly.

Turrie moves her finger from side to side watching how Snake follows it.

Sky realizes he has just been kicked out of the two warm rooms in the building.

Sky stands there scratching his head in the hallway.

Eliza looks at Mostan and Nick.

<Sky> You know, I never did get the hang of having company over.

B'cal comes out and sees Sky and sneers.

<Turrie> There doesn't seem to be a serious concussion - but she is exhausted.

B'cal goes the other way.

Sky straightens his glasses and looks at B'cal indignantly.

<Turrie> Snake - can you go to sleep or do you want help?

<Wise Snake> I'm fine.

Wise Snake pushes Turrie's finger away.

<Turrie> You will be when you get some rest.

<Wise Snake> Yeah, I know.

Turrie gets up and stands behind Mostan. "How is Nick doing?"

Mostan is conflicted. Glad Turrie is here to help, but the Tecton is closing in again.

<Mostan> I think he has transfer burns, but I've never zlinned any till now.

Eliza reaches over and grabs some warm clothing, bundles it up to make a pillow for Snake.

<Turrie> Do you mind if I do then?

<Mostan> I'm just projecting need for general healing. Not sure what to do beyond that.

<Mostan> No, of course not.

Turrie takes Nick's hands and zlins for the damage.

Mostan get up and steps back, coarsely restricting his field.

Turrie frowns.

Eliza pats the pillow and encourages Snake to lay down on it.

Turrie reaches for the medical kit and goes through it.

Sky resigns himself to a cold night.

Turrie sees another bag and reaches for it.

<Turrie> Let's see.... [opens bag and pulls out some miscellaneous bottles, opens a bottle and smells it carefully]

<Turrie> [puts the lid back on and reaches for another one - smells it and tips a small amount onto her palm and tastes it]

<Turrie> [pours some water into a cup and adds a small amount of the powder into the cup, lifts Nick's head and trickles a small amount into his mouth, waits until she sees the swallow reflex and repeats until the cup is empty]

Wise Snake falls asleep on the floor.

<Turrie> All that we can do now is wait - let them both sleep. Tomorrow, hopefully the snow will stop and we can get them home.

Notes:

1) We do not actually know when a law of this type was first passed, but it is reasonable to assume it happened sometime soon after Unity. Surely no later than the time our game is happening in (year 30ish). [return]

2) What happened here is Turrie found the horses Nick and Snake were riding, but went down Eliza and Mostan's hole. [return]

Go on to Episode #169: Fire Eaters

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