Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #176: The Shadow of the Bear (3/3/98)
Kadicat stretches and sits up on Nick's bed.
Nick rolls over, groaning loudly.
Kadicat purrs loudly, hoping to pacify Nick into oversleeping, but it only works to a point.
Buggfa struts into the Sime Center's lobby.
Buggfa chews his gum ostentatiously and looks around, making sure everybody sees how cool he is.
Kadicat quickly reaches an unfortunate conclusion: that a semi-conscious Nick isn't capable of proper appreciation of felines, and that he's somewhat bigger than she is.
Buggfa is a Gen about 16 years old.
Alea walks into the lobby and sees someone.
Alea looks coolly at the person.
Buggfa looks a bit disconcerted at Alea's dirty look.
Kadicat hops down and goes in search of a more sedentary heating pad.
Buggfa turns around and slinks out of the Sime Center.
Alea glides forward.
Alea: Hello. May I help you?
Nick rolls over and groans again, then sits up.
Buggfa stops at the sound of Alea's voice.
Alea walks to the door and out onto the porch after him.
Buggfa hesitates, obviously struggling internally.
Nick wishes there was a hot shower available as he fumbles for clean clothing.
Alea: Yes?
Alea ~~ curious ~~
Buggfa turns to Alea and presents a carefully cultivated casual facade.
Buggfa studies Alea.
Alea smiles to encourage him.
Nick discovers that all his clothes are "previously worn", and selects the cleanest available.
Alea: How may I help you?
Buggfa pushes his hair, which is done up like a rock star's, out of his eyes.
Buggfa: Yeah.
Buggfa: I want to get donated.
Alea: I see.
Alea: Have you ever donated before?
Buggfa: Not this way.
Nick combs his hair and tries to look alert and ready for duty.
Eliza escorts an elderly donor through the lobby, smiling at Alea as she hold the door open for the gen to depart. "I'll see you again next month, Mrs. Fraser".
Nick reflects that this task would be much simpler after his morning tea.
Mrs. Fraser: Sure thing, dearie.
Alea: Not... what... way?
Nick makes his way to Snake's office in search of tea.
Wise Snake sits hunched over her desk, staring at the same tax form she was staring at 4 hours before.
Nick pauses outside Snake's office to signal.
Buggfa: You know, [gestures at the Sime Center] THIS way.
Wise Snake jumps.
Wise Snake: What!
Wise Snake: I mean, come in, Nick.
Alea: Ah, I see.
Wise Snake massages her forehead.
Alea nods.
Wise Snake glances over and is relieved to see she remembered to keep the water on the fire full.
Alea goes back inside motioning for the young Gen to follow.
Alea goes over to a desk and picks up a chart.
Nick enters the office, and sees Snake displaying the symptoms of a Responsibility Headache.
Nick goes over to Snake and puts his hands on the back of her neck, using his nager to relieve the tension headache.
Buggfa struts into the lobby after Alea, chest puffed out and looking quite full of himself.
Buggfa 's leather jacket falls open slightly revealing a ragged Torn by Tentacles tee shirt.
Alea turns with the chart, sees the Gen strutting and has to wonder at it.
Alea: Now, your na--
Alea sees the shirt and mentally groans.
Alea clears her throat.
Alea: Your name, please?
Buggfa: Lube. Buggfa Lube.
Alea picks up a pen and waits to write.
Buggfa sees Alea waiting.
Buggfa: "B-U-G-G-F-A L-U-B-E"
Alea writes down the name.
Eliza turns back into the Center.
Alea nods.
Wise Snake sighs as Nick's hands and nager relax her.
Alea sees Eliza and smiles at her.
Wise Snake sags down so her head is on the offending tax form.
Eliza: Hello, Alea. [smiles at the Gen]
Alea: How are you today? [to Eliza]
Alea: And this is your first time at the Center? [to the Gen while checking a box]
Eliza: I'm fine, thank you, Alea. How are you? How's the baby?
Nick realizes that his sleepiness is communicating itself, and lightens his support to be less overwhelming.
Alea smiles at Eliza.
Nick: So what's got you so tensed up?
Alea: Just fine. Getting as big as a barn, but other than that....
Alea: Could you get a Channel for this donation please?
Wise Snake: Uchh.... [pushes herself up]
Wise Snake: It's these property tax forms. Can you believe how much back property tax is owed on this building?
Eliza: Sure, [looks around...] ummm, I'll see how busy Briel is.
Wise Snake: Evidently the last 128 years the building was in service before it was taken over in the shift to Sime Territory government, the owners had some kind of sweetheart deal with someone in the old city government.
Eliza heads down the corridor where Briel is working and waits outside the door to see if Briel is busy or not
Wise Snake: Whoever buys it has to pay all those back taxes the guys got away with not paying.
Alea: Now uh... dear [to the Gen, unable to think about saying his name] why don't you just have a seat until a channel gets here?
Briel zlins Eliza and answers the door.
Wise Snake pulls out a letter and points at a number, which has been circled in pencil with a large exclamation point and an arrow in Snake's handwriting.
Briel: Hello, Eliza. How may I help you?
Nick: That sounds like a sweet deal--for the government.
Eliza: Hi Briel - Alea has someone who wants to make an unscheduled donation.
Buggfa: Thanks, man.
Briel nods.
Briel motions at Eliza with a tentacle.
Buggfa slopes over to the lobby chairage to see what's giving.
Nick: Of course, for you, it's a very good way to convince them that they should sell it to you, now, and at a lower price.
Briel: I have a few minutes. I"ll be glad to handle it.
Briel goes down the hall.
Eliza: I have a few minutes too - I'm on a break - I'll help if you like.
Briel: Great.
Wise Snake: Well, I'm sure I'd have to pay this before they'd even hand over the deed.
Alea writes down some basic information on the chart and then lays it on the desk for donations.
Nick: I think the payments might be tax deductible, particularly if you can get them classified as a closing cost.
Briel strides into the lobby and snatches the chart up, scanning it as she walks over to the waiting area.
Eliza looks at the male Gen again. She is sure she has seen him somewhere.... ~~curious~~
Nick: Which they'll want to do, to make sure you pay them.
Wise Snake: What I want to know is, where am I going to get my hands on this kind of money?
Briel: Good morning Buggfamumps.
Briel squints at the writing.
Buggfa: Lube.
Buggfa: Buggfa Lube.
Buggfa gets up easily.
Briel: I'm Briel ambrov R'lea and I'll be taking your don-a-ation [Briel just got a good look at the donor and stutters]
Briel: Ah, I see.
Briel: Yes.
Eliza stares at his hair.
Buggfa is a rather good-looking young Gen with squinty eyes, a five o'clock shadow, and wearing black leather.
Briel: Well, then, Eliza will be assisting me.
Buggfa has rad hair.
Briel: Why don't you come with us....
Buggfa studies Briel and Eliza.
Eliza stares at the rest of him.
Eliza smiles shyly.
Buggfa has a long, lanky body with bulges here and there.
Nick shakes his head.
Alea watches Buggfa study Briel and Eliza and worries.
Briel zlins Buggfa.
Nick: Well, you might be able to sell some extra selyn, from your protection clients.
Nick: Their production must be going up.
Briel leads them to a donation room.
Wise Snake: Yeah. It is. But I can't make waves with my buyer.
Wise Snake: I thought about expanding my import/export work.
Wise Snake says this very casually.
Eliza stays close to Briel - mindful that she is suppose to be working with her here....
Buggfa winks at Eliza when the others aren't looking.
Briel goes over to the donation lounge and sits down, and motions Eliza to sit in the chair near her.
Briel: Now, Buggfa....
Eliza tries to keep her mind on Briel and not on the strangely disturbing young man.
Buggfa thinks Eliza is kind of cute, in an innocent sort of way.
Buggfa stares at Eliza with various ideas.
Briel: Please, have a seat.
Nick: Have you thought of exporting that extra selyn? That way it wouldn't interfere with your current supplier.
Briel zlins Buggfa again, making some notations.
Buggfa sits.
Eliza stares at Briel's neck and tries to pretend she is good at this.
Briel: So, this is your first time donating here, but you have donated before?
Wise Snake shakes her head.
Briel makes a couple of more notations, then lays the chart aside and focuses on Buggfa.
Wise Snake: I can't mess with the selyn flow. My buyer knows what to expect and if I want to keep him, I can't start screwing him over.
Alea goes over to the desk and begins to sort the charts.
Nick: Where does sell it?
Wise Snake: I think at this point if I had to find another person in the Uptown Center I wouldn't be able to.
Nick: In Bender Cove or Eastcove?
Wise Snake: He's on staff at the Uptown Sime Center.
Wise Snake: It goes into the Tecton system.
Wise Snake: How else do you think the Uptown Center has been able to keep looking good with Veraik's new Center doing as well as it has?
Wise Snake: They doctor their records to make it look like they got all my business up there.
Nick: So, what's to prevent you from selling privately in Eastcove? I understand those selyn-powered generators are all the rage among the rich out-T.
Eliza chances a quick look at Buggfa too and blushes.
Briel nods.
Briel: You know what to expect then.
Alea finishes sorting the charts and then goes into her office to get her sketch pad.
Eliza wonders if Briel is noticing her lack of support and returns her concentration to the channel.
Wise Snake: Nick... the only way I would be able to bring in enough selyn to sell it in large quantities elsewhere would be to either steal customers from Veraik and Briel, or to go into Eastcove for it.
Nick thinks it over.
Wise Snake: They aren't stupid uptown. They know Bender Cove's population, and they can get their hands on the lowertown Center's statistics.
Alea lifts her cloak and slips the charred thing on, wondering when she'll remember to get a new one.
Alea slips her scarf and gloves on and then heads out back to sit by the Gnome and draw.
Buggfa: No, actually.
Nick: Well, is there any particular reason why you can't build up some business in Eastcove?
Wise Snake frowns.
Briel looks surprised.
Nick: We've already got a base at the hospital.
Briel: Ah, well....
Wise Snake: No, except for the obvious ones... like I would be lynched as soon as anybody figured it out.
Briel: I'll take your arms in mine. We'll make lip contact, and then I'll draw the selyn while you sit there.
Briel: It's a very simple procedure.
Briel: You won't feel a thing.
Buggfa: Nothing?
Buggfa seems somewhat disappointed.
Briel: Not a thing.
Briel smiles.
Buggfa: All right.
Briel nods.
Buggfa holds out his arms.
Briel reaches out for his arms and wraps her tentacles around them.
Nick sighs.
Buggfa 's arms have tentacle burn marks on them.
Briel: This is the first step.
Briel allows her laterals to slip out, trying not to zlin the burn marks.
Briel ~~ mild nausea ~~
Briel: My laterals... and now fifth contact....
Briel leans forward to touch their lips.
Buggfa waits.
Nick: Well, we could always try to get a sweetheart deal of our own.
Briel begins to draw slowly.
Wise Snake looks at the bottom of the letter.
Wise Snake: I've been trying to figure out whose signature this is.
Briel wonders how the shenned any Gen can allow themselves to be purposely hurt and if they have no idea how dangerous that is.
Wise Snake: Maybe that's all this letter is, a plea for bribes.
Nick looks at the signature.
Buggfa feels a hint of fear as his sensitized nerves tickle a bit at the selyn flow.
Buggfa tenses up.
Briel wonders how the shenned this Gen can feel fear... breaks out in a sweat as she draws from his next level.
Nick: V, o, i, l... Is that a "u" or a "tl" at the end there?
Buggfa tries to jerk away from Briel.
Buggfa: ~~fear~~
Briel gasps and breaks contact, curling her arms in on herself.
Briel: shen... it's... okay....
Briel ~~ shaken ~~
Buggfa jerks back as far as he can without falling off the couch, panting.
Buggfa's eyes are bulging.
Briel: You were... fine. Want to... tell me what... happened there?
Buggfa: I thought I could... I thought I was ready for this.
Briel reaches back for Eliza and grabs her arm.
Buggfa: I'm not.
Buggfa gets up and runs out of the room.
Briel: I zlinned that when we star---
Briel: Shen!
Briel turns and leans into Eliza shuddering.
Buggfa hurries toward the front of the Sime Center, pulling his jacket back on.
Briel takes two deep breaths, then pushes up and augments out after Buggfa.
Buggfa pauses in the lobby to put his sunglasses on so nobody will be able to see how upset he is.
Briel: Buggfa....
Buggfa: ~~upset~~
Briel sprints into the lobby.
Briel zlins Buggfa....
Briel ~~ concern ~~
Briel: Let's talk about this.
Wise Snake: Hmm....
Wise Snake looks at it too.
Wise Snake: I was seeing, "W... b... i....i...w."
Buggfa: There's nothing to talk about, I'm just not ready.
Buggfa adjusts his sunglasses trying to be cool about it.
Nick: No, it's definitely "Voi"
Briel: Want to talk about the burning?
Briel: Or why it scared the shen out of you just now?
Wise Snake: Voiiwl?
Briel: I'm not saying you have to give a donation....
Buggfa glances about the lobby.
Buggfa: Not here. [stiffly]
Nick: No, it's closer to "Voillet".
Nick: Is there a Voillet at the tax office?
Wise Snake: There's a Violet.
Briel: My office?
Nick peers at the signature again.
Wise Snake: Well, there's an H. Violet Maggrutter, that's the chief of Financial Affairs in the taxation department.
Wise Snake: I sent my bribe there already, though.
Nick: Well, I suppose that could be "Violet".
Nick: Well, maybe she's greedy.
Buggfa nods reluctantly.
Wise Snake considers this novel concept.
Nick: Or maybe she wants you to come and make another deal with her.
Briel motions Eliza to follow and leads them all to her office.
Wise Snake: Either that or she's been sitting in that chair for more than 30 years and wants to get that little deal swept under the carpet before she retires.
Wise Snake: There's hot water, by the way. [points a tentacle at the pot hanging in the fireplace]
Buggfa follows.
Briel goes into her office and motions for Buggfa to be seated.
Nick: If your plans succeed, you're going to be a pretty influential person in this section of town. Maybe she wants you in her debt, and if she can "excuse" taxes you don't actually owe... well, that's as good as any other scam.
Nick goes in search of a clean mug, only to discover that they're all dirty.
Buggfa was embarrassed that Eliza saw what happened earlier, and is avoiding looking at her now.
Nick sighs and cleans a mug, then makes himself his morning tea.
Wise Snake: You have a twisted mind, Nick.
Wise Snake considers the idea.
Nick shrugs modestly.
Wise Snake: Keep coming up with ideas like that and I'll be paranoid for life.
Buggfa sits.
Briel: So, want to tell me what happened?
Nick had thought that was already the case.
Briel: What scared you so terribly that you freak once the draw starts...?
Buggfa: I guess so.
Briel thinks as if she can't guess.
Buggfa: I met a Sime, who talked me into trying transfer.
Briel waits patiently.
Buggfa: Said it didn't hurt, and all that.
Buggfa: Said it felt good.
Buggfa: Actually, it sounded a lot like the things your literature says.
Nick sips at his tea, which is not his favorite brand.
Buggfa: But... [gestures "you know the rest"]
Briel: Except that this wasn't a channel....
Wise Snake zlins Nick's distaste.
Briel: And he burned the shen outta you.
Wise Snake: Nick, if you don't like that, why don't you get some you like?
Buggfa: Yeah.
Buggfa: Wrote a song about it.
Buggfa: It still bugs me.
Briel: I see.
Buggfa: I thought I could get over it if I made a real donation, to a real channel.
Briel: And you came her for transfer for...?
Briel: Well, there are certainly ways for you to get over it.
Briel: However, donating immediately after something like this, working yourself up to it... that is not the way.
Nick: I ran out of my supply two days ago, and I haven't been out shopping since.
Buggfa: I thought all I had to fear was my own fear. I didn't realize that it would hurt this way too.
Buggfa: I guess I'll have to think about it some more before I'll be able to try again.
Briel: It hurts simply because your nerves are still raw.
Wise Snake looks at Nick disapprovingly.
Briel: I shouldn't have even agreed to take your donation.
Wise Snake: You know perfectly well that you could have asked any of us to pick some up for you.
Briel: But with the shirt you are wearing... I thought you were used to the pain, and things.
Buggfa thinks Briel must be one of those types who assumes all rockers are perverted masochists on drugs.
Buggfa: Well... that's understandable I guess.
Nick: True. I just got out of the habit of keeping track of such domestic details, when Linn was living with us.
Wise Snake: She hasn't lived with us in months.
Wise Snake sighs.
Nick: I know.
Wise Snake: Look... just make a list of what you want and I'll get someone to go pick it up for you.
Wise Snake: Make a list of what you always want and I'll tell Sky to make sure it's always here.
Briel: Well, we do have programs to help you if that's what you want.
Briel: Classes, and other things to slowly bring you back into donating again if you'd like some information.
Buggfa: I can't do classes.
Nick nods.
Buggfa: Too public.
Buggfa grimaces.
Buggfa: I'm not from around here, either. I don't know when I'll be back again.
Buggfa: Can you give me something to read?
Briel: Of course.
Wise Snake thinks the whole Linn thing has hit Nick a lot harder than it hit her... maybe because he has to eat 3 times a day.
Briel nods and pulls open the filing drawers behind her and rummages through until she finds what she wants.
Briel takes out three different pamphlets and hands them to Buggfa.
Buggfa looks at them.
Buggfa: Thanks.
Briel: These will tell you the things I mention, plus give you some idea of what to do or where to go if you decide to get help.
Briel: Anytime.
Buggfa stands gingerly.
Buggfa: Well, I gotta get back. I only said I'd be gone for a half hour.
Buggfa: And... look, ah, I'm sorry about all that....
Nick sighs into his tea.
Briel nods.
Briel: Good luck.
Briel stands and goes to the door and opens it.
Buggfa walks out of Briel's office.
Briel: No problem. Just be careful and warn the channel next time.
Briel sighs and closes the door after him.
Buggfa: I will.
Buggfa walks out into the lobby.
Groupie staggers into the lobby, dazed as usual.
Buggfa hurries toward the front door.
Buggfa goes around Groupie.
Groupie sees Buggfa, sans sunglasses.
Groupie: Buggfa!
Buggfa stops and frantically jerks the sunglasses on.
Buggfa realizes he was too late.
Buggfa: Shen. [to himself]
Alea draws a picture of the Gnome, and smiles at how lifelike it really looks.
Groupie stares at Buggfa with the enthusiasm of an Elvis fan.
Groupie: It's the man himself!
Buggfa: Hey kid, er, what's happening?
Buggfa turns and bolts back into the Sime Center.
Buggfa hurries down a random hallway, hoping it leads to the rear of the building.
Groupie pursues Buggfa, sure that he must have some of the best honeybee ever.
Groupie stumbles after, careening off the walls.
Buggfa pushes his sunglasses up onto his head the better to see where the hell he's going.
Buggfa sees daylight and veers in that direction, hoping to throw off his pursuer.
Groupie being a two-(brain) celled organism, navigates by Buggfa-tropism.
Buggfa checks his watch as he puffs down the hall.
Groupie holds up a book.
Buggfa: No autographs!!
Groupie: Come back here!
Buggfa: [panting]
Groupie: Show me the truth in the book!
Groupie: The lady said it was the best book ever, but it didn't say how.
Buggfa realizes he has gotten turned around and is coming back toward the lobby from a different wing.
Groupie: You know, though.
Buggfa: Are you crazy! Go home! [pant pant pant]
Groupie has no home but Torn By Tentacles fandom.
Groupie pursues Buggfa with the singlemindedness of the seriously deranged.
Alea flips the page and begins to draw a picture of the stone deer
BarbieLu is nearly bowled over as Buggfa and Groupie thunder past.
BarbieLu: Hey! [petulantly as her paperwork falls all over the floor] What's the big idea!
BarbieLu: Wow! [squeals] Was that Buggfa Lube, lead singer of Torn by Tentacles????
Groupie hears and calls over his shoulder.
Groupie: Yeah, it's The Man!
BarbieLu: Wait! Oh wait!
BarbieLu gets down and picks up some papers, awkwardly because of her 1.5" long manicured nails and 4" high heels.
BarbieLu gets up and goes running after them, waving the paper and a pencil.
BarbieLu: Wait, wait!
Groupie has no intention of waiting until Buggfa does.
BarbieLu: [clack clack clack clack]
Buggfa sees there are TWO of them now and redoubles his efforts.
Buggfa enters the lobby and skids wildly in an attempt to veer toward the door.
Groupie manages to overtake Buggfa and head him off before he can leave.
Buggfa manages to evade Groupie by taking a header over a couch and nearly landing in a donor's lap.
Buggfa: Excuse me.
Buggfa scrambles up and makes a break for the hallway again.
Groupie runs after in hot pursuit.
Buggfa sees Briel's door and snatches at the doorknob, hoping it is unlocked.
Buggfa tumbles into Briel's office and slams the door shut behind him.
BarbieLu: Wait for me! Wait for meeeeeEEEEEE!!! [clack clack clack slip clack]
Groupie hits the door half a second behind Buggfa.
Briel: What in shenned is going on?
Groupie fumbles with the doorknob.
Briel jumps back into Eliza.
Buggfa locks the door.
Buggfa puts his back against the door and sags there, gasping for breath.
Buggfa: Oh, oh, I should have stayed with those exercises. [pant pant pant]
Buggfa sweating like a horse.
Briel goes hypo, shoving Eliza behind her.
Groupie starts to pound on the door.
BarbieLu: Oooh! [squeal of outrage] Where did he go?
Groupie: You gotta tell me! You're Buggfa, man!
Groupie: In there!
BarbieLu stamps her foot petulantly.
BarbieLu: But why? I'm the woman of his dreams!
BarbieLu: He doesn't know it yet and how will he ever find out if he runs from me?
Buggfa looks exhausted.
Buggfa looks at Briel.
Buggfa: And here I thought this was the one town obscure enough that I could escape these people.
Briel turns and hurries across her room, shoves open her window and climbs out.
Buggfa doesn't realize that the Sime Center is the last place one would go in Bender Cove to escape "these people"
Buggfa thinks Briel's idea was great and hurries to the window as well.
Groupie: C'mon, man!
Buggfa climbs out the window.
Groupie rattles the doorknob.
Eliza gasps and stumbles.
BarbieLu: No fair! [pouts] This was my big chance!!
Buggfa turns to Briel.
Buggfa: Thanks a million. I'm out of here.
Eliza looks out the window and then back at the door.
Briel shudders.
Eliza decides that out the window is good and jumps after them.
Buggfa looks around to get his bearings and then hurries away from the Sime Center, still breathing hard.
Briel: Go that way....
Briel points.
Groupie throws himself at the door, trying to break it down.
Briel: And don't come back here.
Groupie stops to listen.
Groupie: He's not in there any more!
Boofay approaches Groupie and BarbieLu.
Boofay: What're you guys doing, man?
Boofay: [laconically]
Groupie: The cosmic man was in there--Buggfa himself.
Groupie: But I think he went out the window.
Briel goes around the center and in the back door.
Boofay: No kidding. Wow.
Groupie manages, with great effort, to bring a third brain cell on line.
Eliza follows Briel, shivering in the cold.
Groupie: Wait a minute. Let's go around and see if we can catch him!
Groupie stampedes for the lobby.
Boofay: I would, like, give my left outer ventral to have seen that, man.
BarbieLu: Wait! Wait!!!!!
BarbieLu runs after him, elbows and heels flying.
BarbieLu: [clack clack clack clack]
Boofay looks down at the inter-office mail he was supposed to be delivering, decides it can wait, and moves after the other two.
Boofay: This I got to see.
Groupie tears through the lobby and hits the door.
BarbieLu runs into Groupie from behind.
Eliza pulls open the door and hurries back into the warmth
Eliza hears the noise coming from the lobby and hurries in that direction.
Boofay sees them run into the door and thinks this is the most excitement he's had on the job the entire time he's worked here... about 2 days.
Boofay follows.
BarbieLu: Ow! What are you doing? [outraged]
BarbieLu slaps Groupie away from the door and grasps the door knob, turning it.
BarbieLu: It goes like this!
Groupie pushes BarbieLu through the door as he stampedes through.
BarbieLu: Hey!!
BarbieLu falls face first into a snow drift.
Eliza watches them cautiously from the hallway to make sure they GO AWAY.
Boofay laughs.
Boofay: Whoa, man, this is great.
Boofay walks out the door.
BarbieLu spits out snow.
BarbieLu: That little! He's trying to get the great, and oh so sexy Buggfa Lube all for himself.
Eliza sneaks over to the door and shuts it.
BarbieLu: The rat!
Groupie is halfway down the sidewalk, looking around for Buggfa.
Eliza leans on the door in relief that they are gone and the center is back to its calm and steady norm.
BarbieLu staggers out of the snowdrift on her high heels, brushing snow off her skirt and checking her makeup at the same time.
Eliza thinks that was a slightly longer break than she meant to have.
Jirelle tries not to think about how late her Donor is.
Eliza hurries back to the transfer room where Jirelle is working.
Eliza: Oh Jirelle, I'm so terribly sorry.
Jirelle tries not to flash back on last month or entertain any needlessly worrying notions about any similarities between the two months.
Jirelle: ~~~relief~~~
Jirelle: Oh! Eliza. I'm so glad you're back.
Eliza: This Gen came in for donation and Briel took him and he got upset and it turns out he was from that group - you know the loud one. Then there was a whole lot of people and....
Eliza realises she is babbling.
Eliza: Well - I'm sorry I'm late back.
Jirelle tries to smile reassuringly.
Jirelle: Well, I'm sure it was just an accident.
Eliza feels guilty about the worry on the channel's face when she entered.
Jirelle: Sometimes I just get too worried... I do hope I'll get over that little problem.
Jirelle: I mean, I hate to put other people out, especially where breaks are concerned....
Eliza feels more guilty. She just doesn't seem to be able to put Jirelle high on her list of priorities.
Jirelle: And it really isn't fair to you or anybody else for me to be like this... [continuing to flagellate herself over doubting that Eliza would return from the break]
Eliza: Well, I thought I had time to help Briel with this person - but there was a bit of a problem. Seems he had been burnt before....
Jirelle realizes that Eliza feels guilty.
Jirelle: Oh! Don't feel guilty!
Eliza: ~~guilty~~
Jirelle: Oh, don't ever feel guilty.
Jirelle: It's all my fault... I shouldn't have been so worried, I'm sorry.
Eliza: I shouldn't leave you for so long
Jirelle: What must you think? I know you're just beginning, and you shouldn't have to put up with a channel like me... I'm so sorry.
Eliza: No - it's my fault, I shouldn't have been late.
Eliza: I'm sorry too.
Jirelle: Okay. [smiles at Eliza hopefully]
Jirelle: Well, we'll both try to do better, right? [still feels only she did anything wrong, not Eliza]
Eliza smiles back. ~~warmth and security~~
Eliza: Okay - it's a deal.
Jirelle feels much better with Eliza's projection.
Jirelle relaxes somewhat.
Eliza: What's on next?
Jirelle: More transfers. Shall we go into the lobby and see who's next in line?
Eliza: Sure thing, boss!
Jirelle smiles at Eliza and leads the way to the lobby.
Jirelle picks up the next file in her basket.
Eliza follows into the lobby and looks around cautiously for leftover TBT fans.
Jirelle: Is there a... Noggin?
Nagan is sitting patiently, only twitching tentacles betraying impatience.
Jirelle: Er... [embarrassed]... sorry, am I pronouncing this right? Noogin?
Jirelle: Nay-gann?
Nagan gets to her feet.
Nagan: Was that "Nagan"?
Jirelle: Oh!! Yes, I just knew I couldn't have been pronouncing that right.
Jirelle: ~~profuse apology~~
Jirelle: Please, step right this way.
Nagan steps.
Jirelle takes Nagan back to the transfer room.
Jirelle: Please, have a seat.
Jirelle looks through Nagan's file to make sure there isn't anything she'll have to know.
Nagan sits, then jumps back up and starts pacing.
Jirelle sits down, seeing nothing unusual in the file, and puts the file aside.
Jirelle: ~~Gen available~~
Nagan's paces get wider and wider.
Jirelle: Please, sit down.
Jirelle offers her arms. ~~high field Gen~~
Nagan is hyperconscious, and therefore unable to hear Jirelle's directions.
Nagan is, however, able to zlin, and attacks the nearest high field that zlins Gen.
Nagan is unaware that this happens to be Eliza, not Jirelle, since she can't see.
Jirelle is caught by surprise since she had thought Eliza was supporting her instead of enticing, and had thought her field could overpower Eliza's.
Nagan wavers, torn between two Gen fields.
Jirelle: ~~enticement~~
Jirelle: ~~Gen~~
Jirelle: Eliza, make your field uninteresting. Just support me please?
Nagan decides that Jirelle's field is the most interesting, after all, and grabs for it.
Jirelle entwines tentacles and allows Nagan to draw.
Jirelle: ~~joy in giving~~
Nagan draws as fast as she can.
Nagan: ~~joy at the end of need~~
Jirelle projects ~~bliss~~ as she allows Nagan to draw to completion.
Nagan's draw slows as she reaches satiation.
Nagan lets Jirelle go, and only then realizes that she's not sitting on the lounge.
Nagan: Oh!
Jirelle lets Nagan let go before moving.
Jirelle smiles at Nagan.
Nagan: Oh, dear, I was in worse shape than I thought.
Jirelle: There... isn't that better?
Jirelle: Oh, dear, don't think anything of it.
Nagan: Much.
Jirelle: I'm sure we all understand what that's like.
Nagan: Well, yes....
Jirelle: But you might want to come in a little earlier next month if you think this might happen again.
Jirelle smiles at Nagan again ~~encouragement/understanding~~
Nagan's need ended, she finds herself looking forward to other activities.
Jirelle: ~~friendly/happy~~
Nagan: Er, yes, of course.
Nagan: But I have to go now. I'm sure you understand....
Nagan: ~~post~~
Eliza smiles.
Jirelle: Of course.
Nagan heads for the door.
Jirelle accompanies Nagan back to the lobby, and drops her paperwork in the bin.
Eliza giggles.
Nagan bustles off.
Alea comes back into the Center with her sketch book in hand.
Jirelle: Well! That was certainly exciting.
Alea smiles at the different people she passes as she heads down the hall.
Alea walks into the lobby.
Alea smiles at the unfamiliar clerk.
Eliza shrugs. "I don't see what the big deal, is really."
Alea: Don't you just love quiet days like today?
Alea wonders at the Clerk's odd look and crosses to her office to put her sketch pad up.
Eliza: I mean - would she have been able to kill me?
Eliza: It isn't as if I would have been afraid of her!
Mostan is eating alone in a desultory fashion.
Mostan's oatmeal has gotten cold.
Eliza checks to see if they have any more transfers due - they don't. "Is it okay if I go have that break I didn't have before, then, Jirelle? I could use a cuppa. What about you?"
Eliza: ~~hunger~~
Jirelle: Sure!
Jirelle is really relieved that Eliza isn't unhappy with her about that whole Nagan incident.
Jirelle: I would love to.
Eliza: Great - I skipped breakfast this morning and it's catching up on me .[leads the way towards the cafeteria] I shouldn't do that I guess.
Jirelle: You certainly shouldn't! Gens have to eat to stay healthy.
Eliza: Well, Simes have to, too!
Arcadia is in the ladies room of the cafeteria, sitting on the pot, reading a book.
Eliza walks into the cafeteria and comes to a dead halt as she sees Mostan.
Arcadia is reading "Nager Erotique Volume XX"
Mostan zlins Eliza.
Jirelle stops.
Eliza: ~~rising blood pressure, reduced body temp~~
Jirelle: Eliza, what's....
Jirelle takes Eliza's hand, then notices where Eliza's attention has gone.
Jirelle: Oh.
Mostan smiles at Eliza.
Eliza flushes and turns her back on him.
Arcadia had only meant to read one or two pages, but it IS a rather engrossing book.
Eliza mumbles "...tea... mumble, back to work"
Mostan: ~~ pain/loss ~~
Eliza: ~~hurt~~
Mostan looks down at his oatmeal and makes himself take a bite.
Eliza: ~~longing~~
Jirelle: [nervously] Eliza... if you would rather be with him....
Jirelle is obviously being made very uncomfortable by the changes in Eliza's nager, and the fact that Eliza's attention is on Mostan instead of herself.
Eliza: Oh Jirelle, I'm sorry.
Arcadia ignores the ladies waiting for the stall, in favor of reading just ONE MORE page. (again)
Eliza picks up a tray and looks at the food.
Jirelle follows, unhappily.
Eliza notices that the tray is shaking and holds it tight to herself to stop it.
Mostan swallows some cold tea for his dry throat.
Jirelle tries to tell herself she is being extremely unfair, to ask that Eliza feel anything but hurt and loss under the circumstances.
Jirelle: ~~guilt/misery~~
Jirelle then thinks it is extremely unfair of herself to expect other people in the cafeteria to have to zlin her problems, and tries to buck up her spirits.
Eliza suddenly feels extremely unhungry. "Jirelle, can you get something for us? I'll be back in a moment."
Jirelle: ~~cheerful love joy and happiness with a hidden center of guilt and misery ~~
Eliza thrusts the tray at Jirelle and runs off in the direction of the bathroom.
Jirelle: Er... [looks after Eliza's departing back with a sinking feeling]... sure... sure, Eliza.
Alea comes back out of her office and removes her singed cloak.
Alea goes over and hangs it up.
Jirelle looks at the food, but none of it looks good.
Mostan gets up and goes over to Jirelle.
Alea realizes she is hungry and heads toward the cafeteria.
Eliza rushes into the bathroom and is momentarily confused by the number of people in there. Strangely, as soon as she enters (~~hurt, pain, despair~~) they all seem to want to leave really quickly.
Mostan: ~~ neutral showfield over emptiness ~~
Alea heads down the hall to the cafeteria.
Arcadia turns another page, quickly.
Eliza leans over the basin sobbing loudly.
Mostan: I'm sorry, Hajene, if I'm... disrupting your relationship with your Donor.
Eliza: "He doesn't love me - he only wanted me 'cause he was post."
Arcadia tries to ignore an increasingly loud external distraction.
Jirelle turns quickly as Mostan approaches.
Eliza: I shouldn't have gone with him.
Jirelle realizes her nager is in complete disarray and struggles for something a bit more appropriate.
Alea goes into the cafeteria, and smells the delicious food.
Jirelle: ~~friendly enthusiasm and fondness~~
Alea ~~ stomach growls loudly ~~
Jirelle: Why... Mostan! How wonderful to see you healthy.
Alea goes over into the line.
Jirelle: And no! Why, don't ever feel guilty for something that is so out of your control. You are just fine!
Jirelle remembers Mostan is assigned to Arcadia now and feels a spurt of ~~compassion~~ also.
Mostan: Thank you. I've been doing well.
Alea gets a large breakfast, picking from the assorted array of food.
Jirelle immediately feels guilty for having felt anything against Arcadia and covers THAT with more ~~friendliness~~
Eliza falls onto the floor.
Mostan: But _I_ was what was 'out of control'.
Eliza: I should have realized that a man like that could never love anyone like me!
Arcadia pauses, listening to the words of this faceless woman.
Arcadia's book hangs in her hands, temporarily forgotten.
Jirelle looks at Mostan.
Eliza face is red and wet with tears.
Jirelle: Well... I'm sure you did what you thought was the best at the time...?
Eliza: I can't help it - I love him.
Mostan: Yeess... but it doesn't seem to be be working out as I hoped....
Eliza: Why do they have to keep us apart?
Alea walks over toward Jirelle and Mostan.
Arcadia thinks wow! This is great.
Alea: Good morning!
Eliza: Why can't he love me?
Alea smiles brightly.
Arcadia creeps closer to the door to hear more clearly.
Alea is just a bit cold after being outside and drawing and terribly hungry.
Eliza: And he PROMISED that we would stay together!
Jirelle: Oh! Alea!
Jirelle: ~~relief at contact with a First's field~~
Alea: May I join the two of you?
Alea doesn't see a Donor around so she projects ~~ hunger ~~
Mostan: Alea. Hello.
Jirelle glances at Mostan.
Eliza opens her eyes and sees that there are feet under the door of the stall.
Eliza: ~ embarrassment ~
Arcadia falls out of the stall on top of Eliza.
Arcadia: Oh!
Mostan: Yes. of course.
Arcadia's book goes flying.
Eliza gradually stops sobbing.
Arcadia's pants are down around her ankles.
Eliza: Eeek!
Mostan: ~~ singular lack of enthusiasm ~~
Arcadia: Ack!
Eliza thinks she is being attacked and punches out.
Arcadia scrabbles for her pants, jabbing Eliza with her elbows and knees accidentally.
Arcadia takes one right in the eye.
Arcadia: Hey.
Arcadia: HEY!!
Arcadia drops her pants and punches Eliza one back.
Eliza jumps to her feet and yells loudly.
Alea seats herself at the table.
Alea: So, how are you two today?
Eliza: YOW!
Jirelle jumps as she hears Eliza yell hollowly through the bathroom door.
Alea smiles brightly looking at the food with anticipation.
Mostan sits down and wallows in misery.
Jirelle: Oh!
Jirelle: Excuse me.
Jirelle jumps up and hurries toward the bathroom door.
Mostan starts eating again absently.
Jirelle berates herself for having let her Donor run off obviously upset.
Jirelle thinks it was obvious the girl required comforting, and she had just been ignoring it.
Jirelle: ~~guilt~~
Alea glances in surprise as Jirelle leaves.
Eliza tries to back away from the attacker and slips on the floor.
Alea looks back at Mostan.
Arcadia jumps up indignantly, pulling up her pants.
Eliza: ~ PAIN IN THE BUTT ~
Alea ~~ concern ~~ ~~ hunger ~~
Arcadia: Just what in the shen do you think you're....
Alea: how are you doing today?
Eliza: Ouch!
Eliza: What the hell!
Jirelle bursts into the bathroom and stops instantly at the nager in there.
Jirelle sees Eliza spread eagled on the floor and Arcadia standing over her with her pants half down.
Jirelle: ~~shock~~
Eliza: ~~bruised, ummm, lower spine; bruised jaw, hurt dignity~~
Mostan looks up, vaguely curious. "Where's she go?"
Alea stirs her cereal, prolonging her hunger to make sure Mostan eats.
Alea looks around and waves a hand.
Arcadia: ~~anger/fading lust~~
Alea: I think she had to go to the bathroom.
Eliza: What's the idea jumping on me like that!
Jirelle lunges forward and snatches Eliza's arm protectively.
Mostan shrugs. "I've been... surviving."
Jirelle: What is going on here?
Mostan: "Getting my work done."
Alea: It'll get better, Mostan. I promise.
Jirelle: No... don't tell me. This is going on report.
Alea ~~ empathy ~~
Jirelle glares at Arcadia.
Jirelle: Come on, Eliza.
Arcadia stares at the rare sight of Jirelle irate.
Eliza lets Jirelle drag her out - more bruises on her arm.
Jirelle gets Eliza half way back across the cafeteria and then lets go of her and bursts into tears.
Arcadia is left standing there, mouth still open.
Eliza looks at the channel in shock.
Eliza pats her on the shoulder. "There, there."
Jirelle: Oh noooooooo!!!
Alea looks around and sees Jirelle in tears and gapes, absolutely astonished.
Jirelle: Why did I do such a terrible thing??
Eliza pulls herself together and realises she can do better then that.
Mostan: Will it? I don't know....
Eliza: ~~support~~
Jirelle: ~~abject sorrow~~
Eliza: ~~compassion~~
Alea starts to jump up, but waits, to see how Eliza will handle it....
Jirelle: That poor Arcadia... and you, Eliza... how could I be so mean?
Eliza: what terrible thing?
Alea forces her attention back to Mostan.
Alea ~~ soothing ~~
Alea: Yes, it will.
Eliza: ~~confused sympathy~~
Jirelle: I... I... looked at her!
Eliza: I'm sorry Jirelle - I'm not doing you much good am I?
Jirelle: And I said that I would write up a report and....
Eliza blinks.
Eliza: You looked at who?
Jirelle: No! No no no... please don't ever think you aren't doing a good enough job.
Jirelle: You are, you are.
Jirelle hugs Eliza.
Jirelle: You're doing a fine job, a wonderful job.
Eliza: Jirelle - please don't worry about it ~~soothing~~
Alea ~~ hunger ~~
Mostan half rises to go over to that compassion....
Alea takes a bite of her cereal and tries to savor it.
Eliza: ~~support, affection~~
Alea slips out a hand and grabs Mostan to stop him.
Jirelle: But I... I gave her a bad look... and said I'd complain about her... I'm so... what's happening to me?
Eliza: I'll try harder, Jirelle.
Alea moves a bit closer so she can block Eliza's nager from Mostan.
Alea ~~ savory cereal ~~
Jirelle sobs afresh, heart torn by the affection in Eliza's nager.
Eliza: Jirelle - you acted correctly!
Mostan looks down to see what is hindering his movement.
Eliza: Jirelle think about it a moment - she attacked your Donor - you protected me.
Jirelle: Oh, you're so kind and understanding... you really are, it's such a rare gift.
Eliza: You did right.
Eliza: I have no idea what she thought she was doing.
Alea: Let Eliza handle it, Mostan. You aren't required over there.
Alea: She has to learn how to be a Donor. [mildly]
Mostan sees this Gen hand on him, and jerks backward. ~~ fear ~~
Eliza rubs her jaw and the back of her head and - lower - parts that connected strongly with Acardia's fist, the basin, and the floor respectively.
Alea ~~ soothing ~~
Jirelle: Oh no!
Jirelle zlins Eliza's injuries.
Alea: Mostan, look at me. You know I'd never hurt you.
Jirelle: Here I am worrying about my own problems, and look at you!
Jirelle: You must let me help you, heal you....
Alea ~~ honesty ~~
Mostan looks up into Alea's eyes.
Alea: Zlin me, Mostan.
Jirelle's tentacles wave in consternation.
Mostan makes himself zlin her.
Alea: I won't hurt you.
Eliza: I'm fine.... [wonders what the other person looks like....]
Alea ~~~ honesty ~~
Alea: I'd do everything in my power to keep you from every being hurt.
Mostan: I... I know....
Alea ~~ truthfulness ~~
Alea: I know you know, Mostan. Just need a bit of reminding.
Alea smiles at him.
Arcadia walks out of the bathroom, clothes and hair in order, book well hidden somewhere in the loo.
Eliza remembers her first lesson with Lanyi and concentrates fully on Jirelle, making a "bubble" and wrapping it around her.
Eliza: How is that?
Mostan forces himself to sit down.
Arcadia looks at the table Mostan had been at, and doesn't see him.
Arcadia frowns, looks around.
Mostan tries to ignore his flesh crawling under Alea's hand.
Jirelle sighs in relief.
Jirelle: Oh, that's really good, Eliza.
Alea decides to keep her hand there and let him get used to someone else touching him.
Alea: So, Mostan, did you hear we might have an early thaw this year?
Jirelle realizes she is still hugging Eliza and lets go of her, staying close.
Jirelle: Gosh I... I've been really silly, haven't I.
Eliza thinks, "maybe it will work."
Jirelle: And in public too... I'm sorry.
Alea takes another bite of her cereal giving in to the strident demand of her hungry stomach.
Eliza: No - you have been wonderful - coming to my defense like that.
Jirelle: I don't know why I've been so nervous lately... but I'll try to do better.
Jirelle smiles tremulously at Eliza.
Mostan: What? Oh. Well, what was the verdict from the Bear?
Jirelle: Do you still want to have tea with me?
Arcadia spots Mostan at last, over by Alea.
Alea: Good.
Arcadia hesitates, then walks over in that direction.
Eliza feels her heart beat faster and quells a touch of fear.
Alea smiles.
Alea takes another bite of her cereal.
Mostan is breaking pieces of biscuit and eating them without really noticing it.
Arcadia hopes the Donor doesn't know enough to yell at her.
Jirelle: Eliza?
Alea pats Mostan's arm gently and then removes her hand as she sees Arcadia approach.
Eliza: Errr....
Jirelle: ~~worried~~
Eliza sees Arcadia leave the bathroom and head towards Alea and Mostan.
Arcadia: I'm sorry I'm late.
Arcadia: ~~offers support~~
Eliza: [attention wavering] Where is that woman going? Why is she talking to Mos?
Alea shoots Arcadia a look of reproof.
Mostan doesn't seem to notice Arcadia's approach, which pretty much sums up their relationship so far.
Alea: Yes, according to the bear, spring should be here a couple of weeks earlier.
Jirelle takes Eliza's wrist, trying valiantly for calm happiness.
Eliza can't help but feel that if Arcadia attacked her then Mostan certainly isn't going to be safe with her.
Jirelle: Arcadia? She is assigned to Mostan this month.
Mostan: Glad to hear it. Had enough cold.
Eliza: ~~shock, panic~~
Eliza: WHAT?
Mostan: Be good to stop treating all those slips and falls.
Jirelle's fingers and tentacles tighten painfully on Eliza's wrist.
Jirelle: ~~shock~~
Alea eases up on her support so Arcadia can slip in and support Mostan.
Jirelle lets go of Eliza's hand hastily and backs away from her.
Alea: Then we'll start treating all of the spring illnesses and allergies.
Eliza takes Jirelle's hand absentmindedly and drags her over to the table where Alea, Mostan and now Arcadia are.
Mostan swivels at Eliza's panic. "Wha...."
Eliza: Mostan - they assigned this dangerous IDIOT to you!
Eliza: She just attacked me in the bathroom!
Alea sighs and increases her support of Mostan.
Alea's head whips around in shock at Eliza.
Mostan: Eliza... who....
Eliza points to her jaw which is beginning to change colour.
Alea: Eliza!
Arcadia looks at Eliza incredulously.
Alea concentrates her nager on Mostan.
Alea ~~ soothing / calm ~~~
Arcadia: What!
Arcadia: All I did was trip over you when you were lying on the floor!
Mostan gets up to zlin Eliza's jaw.
Jirelle is standing white faced, as if petrified.
Mostan: Darling... what....
Jirelle's tentacles writhe as Mostan and Eliza's nagers intersect.
Alea deftly steps between the two.
Alea: Mostan....
Alea cuts off Eliza's nager.
Alea shakes her head.
Eliza feels faint at the affection.
Eliza feels faint at the affection
Mostan glares at Alea.
Alea: I'm sorry.
Eliza glares at Alea.
Alea says it simply.
Arcadia wonders why she bothers showing up when Mostan just ignores her anyway.
Alea shrugs at Eliza.
Mostan forces himself to a more neutral expression.
Alea: Your field is no good for him right now.
Alea: You know that.
Eliza: Alea - they can't be serious!
Eliza: Mostan needs to be able to trust his Donor!
Alea turns back and uses her field to block all traces of Eliza's nager.
Alea: and you aren't helping him learn Eliza, flaunting your nager the way you are.
Eliza looks at Mostan helplessly.
Mostan: ~~ her field is *just what he needs now... ~~
Alea: All you are doing is hurting him worse.
Eliza: ~~longing~~
Alea: Is that what you want? For him to end up dead because you can't control yourself?
Eliza: I'm not flaunting anything!
Alea: Get it under control, now, Eliza.
Jirelle leaves the cafeteria.
Eliza looks coldly at Alea and leaves - following Jirelle - but that is just a coincidence.
Mostan remembers Arcadia and looks around for her.
Jirelle runs up to her room.
Alea: I'm sorry, Mostan.
Arcadia is still standing near Mostan.
Mostan is surprised to see her nearby.
Arcadia sees him look in her direction and ~~offers support~~ again.
Eliza hears the running feet and remembers. "Oh, shen."
Alea nods to Arcadia and steps back.
Eliza walks up the steps one at a time, slowly, dreading the future, not knowing what to say.
Jirelle flings herself on her bed and starts crying again, not knowing what is happening to her or why, but hating it.
Mostan makes himself accept Arcadia's support.
Jirelle: (and being afraid of the hate)
Mostan: Thank you. Arcadia.
Arcadia: No problem.
Alea refuses to show any reaction in her nager, still continuing to smile.
Eliza gathers herself together thinking about Jirelle and how much she is probably hurting.
Alea looks at Arcadia.
Mostan: Are you injured too?
Alea: Stay with him this time or Briel and Veraik will hear about it.
Alea turns and leaves the cafeteria, not finishing her breakfast.
Eliza stands outside the door and thinks of Jirelle and how nice she is.
Arcadia: Well I'm probably gonna have a black eye. But other than that.... [stares at Alea's words and then stares after Alea's departing back]
Eliza signals at the door.
Mostan reaches up to examine her face, clinically.
Alea goes down the hall and back to her office.
Alea grabs her sketch pad and cloak and then heads back the way she came, to go outside and sketch.
Jirelle thinks about not answering at first.
Eliza waits for a reply, concentrating on being soothing.
Eliza considers knocking.
Jirelle, shocked by her original thoughts, gets up and guiltily answers the door.
Alea goes out by the Gnome and sits down, and draws another picture of him.
Jirelle: [tears on face] Oh... Eliza. I'm sorry....
Jirelle: I don't know what's gotten into me, I really don't.
Eliza takes an unsteady breath. "Maybe we should talk a bit."
Arcadia holds still while he does it. ~~continued support~~
Mostan: Sit down, and I'll help you with that.
Jirelle: Come in....
Jirelle realizes she should have invited Eliza in right away.
Jirelle hopes Eliza isn't offended at the delay.
Alea gets halfway through the picture before ripping it out and wadding it up.
Mostan looks around for Arcadia's food... had she gotten any?
Eliza steps forward and hugs Jirelle.
Eliza: I'm very very sorry.
Eliza: You deserve better than that.
Alea angrily tosses it into the bushes.
Jirelle then realizes Eliza is way too nice a person to have been offended by something so trivial, and feels guilty for having even thought it.
Eliza: You are such a sweet kind person.
Jirelle relaxes in the hug.
Alea is glad no one is out here to zlin her at the moment.
Eliza thinks, "if a little paranoid."
Jirelle: Oh, and you are so kind and caring... I am so lucky to have a Donor like you.
Jirelle: ~~relief~~
Eliza supports Jirelle.
Eliza: No - I'm a rotten Donor, and I think we should talk to Briel and Veraik about assigning you someone more competent.
Arcadia: [no food]
Jirelle looks at Eliza. [compassion and caring]
Jirelle: But... Eliza! You must be good enough, why else would they have assigned you?
Jirelle: Surely Briel and Veraik....
Eliza: I think mainly to get me away from Mostan.
Alea opens her sketch pad and looks at it... staring at the blank page.
Eliza: I don't know.
Mostan: Did you have any food?
Eliza lets go of Jirelle and sits down on the bed.
Jirelle closes the door, then sits down beside Eliza.
Mostan projects need at Arcadia's face.
Eliza: Jirelle - what do you know about, [pause] Mostan and me?
Jirelle hesitates.
Jirelle: Well, I know that you two care about each other a lot, and you came along at just the right moment.
Jirelle is reluctant to say anything else, for fear of offending this dear sweet young Donor despite what would no doubt be a genuine attempt to avoid being offended.
Alea begins to draw.
Eliza: Well, you see - Mostan - I think Mostan loves me. I certainly love him.
Alea is disgusted when all she draws is another bowl of hot cereal.
Arcadia: No... I hadn't gotten that far I guess.
Alea tears that one off and tosses it in the bushes too.
Arcadia realizes she had been reading her book for over a half an hour and realizes she is in deep doo-doo if Jirelle, or Alea, says anything.
Alea: You're suppose to be a Gnome, you shendoni paper!
Eliza: They let us spend all the time we needed together before transfer. He had to - trust - me completely to allow himself to have transfer with me.
Eliza: Then, well, we didn't know you see. About the rule that you aren't supposed to, umm, continue a relationship after transfer.
Alea's tummy growls, loudly.
Alea: You know, Alea, that was really stupid of you to sit there starving trying to entice the shendoni stubborn Sime to eat when you could have satisfied your own hunger and been gone....
Mostan: Arcadia?
Mostan: Were you still hungry?
Alea looks at the paper and sighs.
Arcadia: Yes, Hajene? Oh... no, I'm fine, thank you.
Arcadia figures she will get in less trouble for going hungry than she would for them being late to work.
Eliza: We didn't agree with that you see - we sort of [pause] ran away. [softly]
Alea: You should have let him do it... what would it have hurt? Just made his transfer this month awful... but why do YOU care... he's only a third....
Bluejay sees something in the bushes and flies down to it.
Alea: and Tarsh's friend... and a channel who needs help.
Jirelle: Oh.
Alea scowls.
Jirelle: That must be why everybody was asking if anybody had talked to you two.
Eliza: We didn't mean to stay away - but then we were snowed in.
Jirelle listens.
Eliza: Snake and Turrie with Nick found us.
Mostan: You're sure?
Eliza: We considered leaving the Tecton....
Alea draws a nasty picture of a monster strawberry attacking a channel.
Arcadia: Well um... maybe a little bit. But I don't want to make you late.
Eliza: But Mostan convinced me that we should come back - that we could still be together.
Arcadia doesn't want to get any further up creek than she already is.
Mostan: No, It's all right.
Jirelle looks surprised and disturbed by the talk about leaving the Tecton.
Jirelle is sure she must have mis-heard that bit.
Mostan: Go get yourself something.
Arcadia: Are you sure?
Eliza: Now we aren't suppose to be alone together.
Mostan: Yes.
Arcadia: Okay.
Arcadia goes up to the line.
Eliza: I don't know if I can stand it.
Jirelle: ~~compassion~~
Alea flips the page and draws a mushroom attacking a Gen.
Eliza: Mostan said it's only for one month.
Jirelle: That doesn't seem so long... does it?
Jirelle thinks of how long THIS month will be, and goes cold.
Eliza: Have you ever been in love, Jirelle?
Bluejay pecks at the white mass in the branches.
Jirelle realizes what she is thinking, and blushes bright red with guilt and embarrassment.
Eliza: It's forever.
Eliza: So, if you want to request a better Donor - I understand.
Eliza: I'm not sure how much use I will be to you - or anyone.
Mostan sits down and wonders where it all went wrong....
Jirelle looks depressed.
Alea sketches another picture of a mountain of fruit and groans.
Eliza thinks about a farm that she apparently owns... and life without Mostan.
Alea rips it out and crushes it, before tossing it over her shoulder.
Alea: Stop thinking about food!
Bluejay realizes this is inedible human stuff.
Jirelle: Veraik and Briel told me I was supposed to teach you.
Jirelle: Tell you how I like things done....
Jirelle: I tried to tell them I wasn't good enough, but....
Bluejay is hungry and wishes there was still fruit on this bush....
Eliza can't work out how what Jirelle just said relates to what she told her.
Eliza: No Jirelle, don't you see? I don't WANT anyone else!
Eliza: I don't think I can do this at all!
Eliza: It's not you - it's me.
Jirelle just doesn't have the heart to tell Eliza what she believes... that what Eliza feels now is only temporary and would fade with more experience.
Jirelle's shoulders droop.
Alea closes her book and stands, determined to get something to eat.
Eliza: I could try to work with you. I just don't know if I'll be able to go through with - it.
Bluejay squawks in frustration.
Alea sees the bluejay and pauses.
Alea: You'd better be careful, little bluejay. You're looking awfully tempting for a meal right now.
Alea: You should learn not to mess with hungry Donors.
Alea glares at the bluejay.
Alea ~~ stomach growls ~~
Jirelle valiantly tries to hold back tears.
Bluejay eyes Alea.
Jirelle: I just don't know what to say. I wish I knew the right thing to say here.
Alea turns and heads back toward the back door of the Center.
Alea: Stupid bird....
Bluejay takes off in a flutter of wings and waving branches.
Jirelle: I'm only in my second year.
Eliza: I'm really sorry.
Bluejay lands on Gnome and complains.
Eliza: I'm only in my second month.
Eliza: Well - here.
Jirelle: You know what, Eliza?
Jirelle: I think maybe I am just too depressing, and I am making you depressed.
Eliza: I know Briel is around - do you want to talk to her? Get you assigned to someone else before the month gets any older?
Eliza: Jirelle - have you listened to anything I said?
Jirelle: Oh... I can't do that!
Eliza: It has NOTHING to do with you.
Alea goes into the kitchen and lays down her sketch pad.
Jirelle: But I'm supposed to be helping you.
Eliza put her head in her hands.
Eliza: I don't think I want to be helped.
Alea slips off her cloak and pulls out a pan.
Jirelle: Don't... want to be helped?
Eliza starts to sob. "I'm sorry!
Jirelle waves her tentacles.
Jirelle: Wait... wait, don't cry!
Jirelle's own tears come forth uncontrollably.
Jirelle: What have I done?
Jirelle: Please don't cry, Eliza.
Bluejay finds Gnome wholly unsympathetic and flies off in disgust.
Jirelle hugs Eliza, trying to make her feel better.
Jirelle: Please? Please don't cry... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to....
Eliza: I'm sorry.
Jirelle: No no no! Please... it's not your fault.
Alea goes to the pulls out different foods and begins to cook her some breakfast.
Eliza: Jirelle you didn't do anything wrong - it is my fault.
Jirelle: But you were so happy before...
Eliza wonders before what.
Alea stirs up her specialty and then pours it out onto two plates.
Alea ~~ depressed ~~
Alea hates to eat alone.
Alea sighs, carries one plate and shoves it into the fridge and then goes over and picks up her plate.
Alea sets the plate down.
Alea goes and gets a napkin and fork, and pauses to get a glass of juice, and returns to the table.
Eliza wipes her eyes.
Eliza: Well, I just thought I would explain the situation to you.
Jirelle shivers as she hits turnover.
Jirelle suddenly doesn't feel much like crying anymore.
Jirelle: ~~first moments of need~~
Alea eats her food.
Jirelle: Oh.
Eliza: Are you OK?
Jirelle: I think so.
Eliza: Are you cold?
Jirelle: It's just turnover.
Eliza doesn't remember seeing a Sime cold before.
Eliza: Oh. ~ worry ~
Jirelle tries to think about what Eliza wanted her to do... go to Briel... and feels a creeping dread.
Eliza puts her arm around Jirelle and lets her nager encompass her.
Jirelle leans on Eliza's field.
Eliza: don't worry - I won't let you down. I'll stay with you until they get someone else for you
Jirelle: Thank you.
Jirelle wishes she didn't have to think about there being someone else, there being a change.
Eliza: I want to go wash my face.. can you come with me? For some reason I'm a bit nervous about bathrooms at the moment.
Eliza wipes at the tear tracks on her face and blows her nose.
Eliza notices the way that Jirelle has her room decorated for the first time.
Alea finishes her breakfast and slips her plate into the sink.
Eliza: Oh! Ummm, bright!
Alea leaves the kitchen.
Jirelle tries to smile.
Jirelle: Sure... I'll come with you, of course.
Alea pauses to grab her sketch pad.
Eliza: Very cheerful. [indicates the colourful pictures and hangings and the incense sticks and statuettes]
Jirelle: Oh... thank you!
Lanyi comes into the kitchen.
Lanyi goes over to the cabinets.
Jirelle feels Eliza trying to be upbeat, and uses the boost to try to rally her own nager.
Alea: Good morning, Lanyi.
Alea was just heading out.
Jirelle: ~~nice/nice/nice~~
Alea: Can I help you with something?
Eliza gets up and looks at all the little colourful things on the table. "What is this? And this?"
Alea pauses by the door.
Jirelle: That's an incense holder... and that one is a .... [explaining them all and where she bought them]
Eliza listens carefully and comes to the conclusion that Jirelle must belong to a special religion or something.
Lanyi: Good morning, Alea.
Lanyi: Nothing looked good out on the line....
Eliza edges her way into the bathroom and washes her face - still listening.
Alea: There's an extra plate in the refrigerator if you'd like it.
Lanyi seems to be walking carefully....
Alea: It's a vegetable mixture.
Lanyi: Thanks.
Alea notes Lanyi's odd gait and moves back into the kitchen.
Alea: Are you okay?
Lanyi goes over and opens the fridge to zlin.
Alea ~~ concern ~~
Alea drops her sketch pad on the counter and moves over by Lanyi.
Jirelle babbles about incense and such, trying to be as cheerful as possible.
Lanyi: what? Oh. Just some... strained muscles. ~~ guilt ~~
Alea: Oh?
Alea finds guilt in a channel fascinating since she is always getting blamed for everything BY channels.
Lanyi: A minor inconvenience.
Alea: How'd you strain the muscles?
Alea crosses her arms over her tummy and leans back against the counter.
Lanyi turns away, but not fast enough to conceal her atypical blushing.
Alea smiles slowly.
Alea: I see.
Lanyi: This does zlin good. Thank you.
Lanyi busies herself going over to heat up the vegetables.
Alea: You might want to take some fosebine to help.
Alea: Something to ease the sore muscles.
Alea follows actions with words by going over and mixing up some fosebine for Lanyi and bring it back to her.
Lanyi: Yeah, maybe.
Alea sets the glass down by her.
Lanyi takes the glass and downs it with a grimace.
Alea smiles, satisfied.
Lanyi: How have you been doing, Alea?
Eliza: Well, Jirelle - what would you like to do now?
Eliza: ~support~
Jirelle realizes what time it is.
Jirelle: Oh! We must go back to work. Our break is long over.
Eliza: Yes - guess so.
Jirelle pauses at the door to put on her happy nager more firmly.
Eliza encourages Jirelle with a firm nager.
Jirelle: Come on... let's go.