Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #177: Well-Behaved (3/4/98)
Eliza looks in the cafeteria, and in the lobby.
Eliza looks in the transfer rooms and in the donation rooms.
Eliza looks in Alea's room and in Tarsh's room.
Eliza looks in the bathrooms and in the broom cupboard (well you never know).
Alea holds the tape measure around her waist and sighs in dismay.
Alea had no idea you got that big so soon.
Lanyi checks the lobby for crises.
Lanyi nods to the police officer.
Lanyi looks over the roster for the day.
Alea stuffs the tape measure back in the drawer and comes out of her office.
Alea walks into the lobby and sees Lanyi and nods.
Eliza heads towards Aleas office.
Alea: Good day, Lanyi.
Eliza hears Alea's voice in the lobby - but she looked there!
Alea shrugs and starts down the hall.
Eliza: Alea!
Alea pauses.
Alea: Hello, Eliza.
Alea: How are you doing?
Eliza sees Lanyi and nods to her too.
Eliza: I'm okay - I was wanting to talk to you if I could.
Alea: Sure.
Eliza: I mean - if you could spare me some time.
Alea: What's up?
Alea smiles.
Alea: Of course.
Eliza: I don't want to put you out or anything.
Alea sighs.
Alea: What do you have to say, Eliza?
Eliza: Errr.... [looks around the lobby]
Alea: Yes?
Lanyi: Alea.
Lanyi: Hello Eliza.
Alea glances at Lanyi and then nods.
Eliza looks at her feet "hello Lanyi".
Lanyi looks at Eliza's feet to see what the interest is....
Eliza: ~~ embarrassed ~~
Alea looks from Lanyi to Eliza and sighs.
Lanyi: Is something the matter Eliza?
Alea: Eliza?
Alea prompts.
Alea ~~ concern ~~
Alea: Did you sleep well last night?
Eliza: I was just wondering, I mean, if it would be okay, I wouldn't want to put anyone out at all, I don't want to be a pest.
Alea: You are not being a pest. What is it you want?
Lanyi waits patiently for a subject of the oblique request.
Eliza: The other day with Jirelle I went to a place with some music - I'd like to go back there.
Eliza: I didn't think you would like me to go alone.
Eliza: but I know that you [Alea] aren't working much now cause of [blush] the baby and all and I was wondering....
Alea: No, you shouldn't go alone. You should have a Sime go with you.
Eliza: You know - if you had some free time - you might like....
Eliza: Oh.
Alea scowls, not liking that one bit.
Eliza looks at Lanyi out of the corner of her eye.
Eliza: Jirelle said she wasn't up to it right now
Eliza: She is very quiet at the moment.
Alea: Turnover.
Alea: Jirelle always gets that way at turnover.
Eliza: Oh! she said I could go. I don't want you thinking I would leave her alone if she wasn't okay.
Alea: Well, perhaps Lanyi has some free time....
Lanyi: Yes, I was about to get off shift.
Lanyi: What place was this you were talking about?
Eliza: Why don't you come too Alea? I hardly see you these days.
Eliza: Thank you, Lanyi. [smiles]
Eliza: I think it was called Verna's Parlour.
Eliza: But I'm not sure - it's down that way about 3 blocks. [points]
Lanyi: Haven't been there. Nice place?
Eliza: Well, it was a bit umm scarey there last time, but the music! The music is really wonderful!
Eliza: Will you come too Alea?
Lanyi: Well we can't miss that. Should I change?
Eliza: I'm sure you would have a good time. [smiles at her]
Eliza wonders briefly what Lanyi means to change to - then realises she is talking about her clothing.
Alea looks down at the pink fuzzy outfit she's wearing and decides it's warm enough to wear to go outside.
Eliza: Oh! well, I don't know. Do you think we shouldn't wear our uniforms?
Lanyi: Doesn't seem quite appropriate for it.
Lanyi remembers. ~~ guiltily ~~
Alea senses something and glances curiously at Lanyi.
Lanyi: Oh yeah, Eliza. I promised to take you shopping didn't I and I forgot.
Lanyi: I'm sorry.
Alea: Why don't you change and I'll meet you at the front door.
Alea never wears uniforms... only the black on her clothes so people will know she's a Farris.
Eliza: It's okay, Lanyi - Alea and I went and bought some clothes.
Eliza: Okay - let's change - shall we meet back here in 10 minutes?
Lanyi: Okay. Be right back.
Lanyi turns to go upstairs.
Eliza goes to her room and pulls out the black leather pants and red shirt... she thinks for a moment then slips on the bra she bought.
Eliza: [looks in the mirror] Hmmmm.
Alea goes over to get her cloak
Alea decides to go upstairs and change.
Alea goes to her room.
Alea looks through her closet....
Eliza goes to the bathroom and gets some paper towels. Wadding them up she puts them in the front of her bra.
Alea finds her black leather skirt and top, but wears low heeled shoes instead.
Alea ALSO leaves her hair down.
Eliza looks in the mirror again. "That looks better!"
Alea thinks with her hair down that covers most of her exposed cleavage.
Lanyi looks through her limited wardrobe.
Alea smiles thinking Snake certainly can't be upset with this.
Alea turns sideways and looks at her tummy and how far it pooches... thinks the ruffle almost doesn't cover it anymore.
Alea looks at the length of the skirt and tries to pull it down just a bit--sighs--and then slips on her cloak.
Alea buttons up the cloak before leaving the room.
Eliza puts some of that red lipstick (same colour as her silk shirt) carefully on her lips.
Alea goes back out and down the stairs, feeling not quite so pregnant again.
Lanyi puts on a blouse and straight skirt.
Eliza smacks her lips at the mirror and looks at her dead straight black hair.
Lanyi goes into the bathroom and looks at herself.
Eliza: Damn hair. [pouts]
Lanyi takes her hair down.
Eliza wonders if she puts her hair up will it make her look older?
Eliza pulls her hair back and piles it up on top of her head.
Eliza: Problem is - I can't hold it here all the time! How do they do that?
Lanyi brushes it out and looks at it critically.
Alea is very careful going down the stairs and to the lobby.
Eliza looks for something to hold her hair up.
Eliza considers glue briefly.
Eliza gives up and leaves it hang.
Alea smiles at the Clerk and then goes to the door and looks out.
Eliza slips on her tie-up shoes and walks out - trying to look mature.
Lanyi decides makeup would be overdoing it.
Lanyi comes downstairs holding a small pack.
Eliza joins Alea in the lobby.
Alea: My, Eliza... I never realized you had so much hair.
Alea starts looking down and gawks....
Alea quickly schools her features.
Eliza scowls. "How do you make hair stay up?
Alea had heard some women with small... well... stuffed them... and kids....
Alea takes a quick peek over.
Alea: Straighten the left one, Eliza. [whispers]
Eliza: The left one what??? Oh! [blushes]
Lanyi comes over. "Everyone ready?"
Eliza straightens the left "one".
Eliza: Errr yes! Sure! Thank for this - both of you.
Alea nods.
Alea: Yes.
Eliza: Let's go!
Eliza opens the door for them.
Lanyi looks down the street.
Eliza: ~ excited ~
Alea looks at Lanyi with a -the-excitement-of-youth-look.
Alea steps out the door and goes down the stairs.
Eliza puts her coat over her blouse and follows.
Alea: Now where was this place, Eliza?
Lanyi smiles.
Eliza: Just down here.
Eliza: Are you okay to walk Alea?
Alea looks up.
Alea: Of course.
Alea: I'm in excellent health
Eliza: I was just wondering if your leg gave you any problems - what with the baby growing so big and all.
Lanyi: Mild exercise is good at this stage.
Alea: My leg?
Alea: Oh, no, it's healed fine.
Alea: Mild?
Alea looks at Lanyi.
Alea: I prefer a bit more rigorous exercise.
Eliza reminds herself that she is too old to skip or hop or run or bounce now and walks sedately.
Eliza: ~~ bounce ~~
Lanyi: If you feel up to it.
Alea: -I- do... no one else thinks I do though.
Eliza: ~~ bounce ~~
Alea: So, I'm stuck walking, and sitting and staring and sketching....
Eliza: ~~ bounce, happy bounce ~~
Alea sighs.
Eliza sees the parlour ahead and strains to hear if there is any music.
Alea notes they are entering the bad part of town and wonders just where Jirelle took Eliza.
Eliza: There it is - the dark purple building with the black trim.
Alea follows Eliza's finger and stares, surprised.
Lanyi: Black... A relative of yours run it, Alea?
Alea tries to keep the nauseous feeling out of her nager.
Alea: I'm sure it's not, Lanyi.
Alea wonders if it is....
Alea wonders if Snake might... nah....
Lanyi zlins the ambient there.
Alea moves to support Lanyi.
Mostan comes on duty, wondering where Arcadia is.
Mostan tells himself that. He definitely *isn't* worrying about where Eliza is. Nope.
Arcadia is sitting in the lobby, twiddling her thumbs.
Arcadia would have been reading a book, but somebody seems to have gotten to her lobby stash, and somehow it doesn't seem like a good idea to go looking for one just now.
Mostan goes to look at the schedule board. He isn't looking to see where Eliza is, definitely not.
Arcadia sees Mostan come in and is glad she didn't leave just then.
Arcadia jumps up and goes over to Mostan, thinking she'd better make the most of this rare example of timeliness on her part.
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Arcadia: Hello, Mostan.
Mostan reads the board.
Mostan: Oh. hello Arcadia. Are you ready for our shift?
Arcadia: Sure.
Mostan sorta half rests on her support.
Arcadia: What are we going to do first?
Mostan gulps. "Donations, first."
Arcadia: Okay.
Arcadia wonders what the big deal is supposed to be about donations.
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Lonni is sitting in the lobby waiting for her donation to be taken.
Lonni is a bit worried about it... trying to hold onto three kids at the same time.
Mostan goes over to clerk's desk to check.
Lonni: Tommijo, you stop that. Come here, Beti darling.
Lonni ignores the one on her hip who is fussy.
Wise Snake follows Mostan.
Arcadia follows Mostan.
Arcadia gapes over her shoulder at Lonni, thinking with all those kids she and her hubby must go like bunnies.
Mostan goes over to Lonni. "Miz Lonni?"
Lonni watches in dismay as Tommijo dismantles a formerly nice looking pamphlet.
Arcadia follows Mostan. ~~artless support~~
Lonni glances up.
Lonni ~~ harried ~~ "Oh... are you the one I go with?"
Lonni stands up and makes a grab for Tommijo, who runs away and grabs the Sime's leg.
Mostan: Yes. I'm Hajene Mostan.
Lonni grabs Beti instead.
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Mostan: And this is Sosu Arcadia.
Lonni bounces little Bubbi on her hip.
Arcadia: Hi.
Lonni: Hello... uh... great....
Lonni smiles distractedly.
Lonni: No no no, don't put your gum on the nice man's pants....
Lonni: Oh, I'm so sorry....
Mostan looks around to see if Lonni brought someone to watch the kids.
Lonni hurries toward Mostan and tries to peel the gum off his pants.
Arcadia was an only child and views the pile of kids with complete lack of real understanding.
Lonni: I've donated here before, several times.
Mostan stiffens.
Lonni: I'm in a sorta hurry.
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Mostan: "That's all right, Ma'am."
Lonni: No, Betti, put that back in your mouth....
Lonni nods.
Lonni decides to let Tommijo hang onto Mostan's leg. At least he's here.
Lonni: Well?
Lonni: Let's get at it?
Lonni: Lead the way....
Lonni smiles again, and bounces the baby on her hip.
Mostan: Uh, yes. Would you like someone to watch your children during the donation?
Lonni: Oh, I'm sure they'll be fine.
Arcadia would have used the word "rugrats".
Lonni: I always bring them in with me.
Lonni: They're really well behaved.
Lonni: No no!
Mostan wishes he shared her confidence.
Lonni: Put that bug back down, not in your sister's mouth!
Arcadia: ~~support and utter skepticism~~
Lonni grabs at the roach and tosses it away.
Lonni smiles apologetically at Mostan.
Lonni makes a grab for Beti again and holds on this time.
Lonni: Okay....
Lonni: We're fine.
Lonni: All doing fine.
Lonni nods for emphasis.
Mostan contemplates these children in a room full of drugs and medical equipment.
Mostan winces.
Tommijo sees some interesting knobs and things and rushes over to the clerk's desk, stamping on Mostan's foot accidentally in the process.
Tommijo starts pulling out drawers and turning the lock knobs on the filing cabinets.
Lonni: Oh!
Lonni: No no no, Tommijo.
Tommijo: See me!!! Mommy look!
Mostan hops on his foot, glaring at Tommijo.
Tommijo: [impressed with self]
Lonni thrusts the smallest child at Mostan and darts over there, dragging Beti with her
Lonni: Oh, yes, sweetheart, aren't those wonderful.
Lonni: But mommie wants you with her.
Lonni: Come now, dear.
Tommijo: Mooooooaaammm!
Tommijo: [whining]
Lonni: Oh, mommie will buy you an extra special treat if you're good for her.
Lonni smiles sweetly.
Tommijo: Icekeem!!!!
Mostan takes the child as an alternative to letting it fall to the floor.
Lonni goes back over to Mostan and snatches the baby from him.
Tommijo jumps up and down, and up and down.
Lonni: Oh, thank you.
Tommijo: Icekeem! Icekeem! Icekeem!
Tommijo: [giddy]
Lonni's arm bounces in time to Tommijo's dance.
Lonni: Yes, dear.
Lonni: Is there some reason you're waiting?
Lonni looks at Mostan and Arcadia, curious.
Arcadia: ~~supportive dismay~~
Mostan: No, no reason. Come this way.
Mostan carries the child as he leads them to his office.
Arcadia follows Mostan.
Lonni holds onto Tommijo's hand and Beti's hand as they go into the office.
Lonni: Well this certainly doesn't look like a donation room.
Lonni: My how nice.
Lonni: A desk and everything.
Tommijo sees something interesting in a different office they pass.
Tommijo yanks wildly on his mother's hand.
Lonni releases both kids and hurries over to the transfer lounge.
Tommijo: Look! Look look!
Mostan: This is my office. I thought it would be more... comfortable.
Tommijo pops free of the hand and rushes out the door.
Tommijo: [stump stump stump stump]
Lonni glances distractedly.
Lonni: Oh yes, how nice....
Mostan hands the youngest to Arcadia.
Tommijo waddles into Briel's office.
Lonni jumps up, dashes toward the door and grabs Tommijo.
Lonni: Come back here, sweetie.
Lonni: We don't go out the door without an adult with us, do we.
Tommijo: Mooooooommm!!!
Tommijo: But it's boring in there.
Lonni brings him back into the room, slams the door and locks it.
Lonni: There we go.
Mostan wonders if it would save time if he gave up and went mad now....
Lonni smiles and goes back to the lounge.
Tommijo: Mom, are we done yet?
Lonni: Now, be good, and mommie will get you a special treat.
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Lonni: Okay.
Lonni thrusts out her arms.
Lonni: Let's get to it.
Arcadia looks at the baby in her arms with absolutely no idea what to do with it.
Lonni: No, Beti, don't chew the papers, dear. [to Beti who is chewing on papers on Mostan's desk]
Mostan comes over and sits down, taking Lonni's arms.
Lonni shoves at the sleeves and then continues to hold her arms out.
Lonni: Great!
Arcadia goes to the supplies closet and puts the baby in there, in a box.
Mostan just wants this over with....
Arcadia returns to Mostan. ~~support~~
Lonni leans forward, smashing into Mostan's mouth.
Lonni: llemtttssss get matt mit....
Mostan: ~~ fear ~~
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Lonni ~~ desire to get it done ~~
Lonni ~~ worry over children ~~~
Lonni ~~ harried ~~
Arcadia wonders why Mostan is hesitating, aside from all the distractions of course.
Mostan draws for fear of what she'll do if he doesn't.
Arcadia intensifies the support to block out the distractions.
Lonni hears a crash and tenses.
Arcadia: ~~~~~~~support~~~~~~~~
Lonni thinks just a short bit more and then she can see what's going on....
Lonni hears a cry... Beti's.
Mostan is glad of Arcadia blocking the kids....
Lonni thinks Tommijo must be at it again.
Lonni ~~ HURRY ~~
Tommijo empties the pencil drawer out on the desk, and then another drawer with all sorts of interesting things in it.
Mostan finishes the GN3 level and carefully tests the GN2.
Lonni thinks Tommijo has been TOO quiet.
Tommijo lets the drawers fall to the floor as they are too heavy and he isn't sure how they fit back in the holes in the desk.
Lonni ~~ unease ~~
Lonni hears the crash.
Lonni ~~ relief ~~
Tommijo begins to draw pictures on the papers on the desk.
Lonni thinks at least she knows where he is.
Tommijo thinks it's a shame they have writing on them already, and makes big black lines, so they can be seen.
Lonni thinks joyfully of the fact that her children are being so good today.
Mostan carefully empties the GN2.
Arcadia thinks there should be a law against some people reproducing.
Mostan tries not to let his fear run away with him.
Lonni thinks this boy takes longer than most of them.
Lonni thinks how wonderful it would be if she could do this more than once a month for the money.
Mostan wishes he had had a moment to check her file and probes the GN1 level.
Tommijo: Mommy! Mooooooom!! I drawed a train look! Look mommy! Look mommy!!!
Tommijo skids off the desktop and lands on the floor in front of the desk.
Tommijo: OWWW! [as his knee is skinned]
Tommijo begins bawling.
Tommijo: Moooooooohhahahahahahammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Lonni stiffens.
Mostan jerks at the sound and nager disturbance.
Lonni ~~ OH DEAR ~~
Tommijo: WwwwwwaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lonni ~~ worry fear ~~
Arcadia reaches out and picks up the kid, clamping her hand over his mouth.
Mostan stops the draw and quickly withdraws his tentacles.
Arcadia: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~support~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tommijo: Mmmmwwww wwww mmmm mmm hh!!!! [waving his arms forlornly]
Lonni jumps up and hurries past Mostan.
Mostan slides back as far as he can on the transfer lounge.
Lonni: Oh my baby!
Lonni scoops him up.
Lonni: Is mama's darlin' okay?
Arcadia hastily hands Tommijo back to Lonni.
Lonni croons, taking the baby back from Arcadia.
Arcadia goes to the closet and retrieves the baby, puts it on the desk for its owner to claim.
Mostan pants, waving Arcadia over.
Arcadia goes back to Mostan.
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Arcadia: Are you okay?
Arcadia wonders what was Mostan's problem during that donation.
Lonni: Is mama's baby okay?
Mostan: Opaque bubble, please.
Lonni: Listen sweetie, [over yelling] you did really good.
Tommijo: I have an OWIE. [points]
Lonni: Mama is going to cash that voucher and take you for that special treat.
Lonni: How does that sound?
Mostan hugs his arms to his stomach.
Tommijo: ICE KEEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tommijo shrieks.
Lonni: Oh, yes, you do... but icekeem will make it all better.
Lonni chuckles and hugs Tommijo.
Tommijo struggles wildly until he finds his feet on the floor, and starts running wildly in circles, waving his arms.
Mostan winces at the sound piercing his head.
Lonni: That sounds great.
Lonni: How about it Beti?
Lonni grins at Beti (who agrees), and chuckles when the baby claps her hands too.
Arcadia puts herself between the Scream Family and projects ~~support/relax~~
Lonni looks at Mostan.
Lonni: Do you have my voucher?
Arcadia: Mostan, what's up with you? Tell me what's going on.
Mostan scrambles for a form to fill out and get RID of these awful people.
Arcadia moves with Mostan.
Mostan looks gratefully at Arcadia.
Arcadia thinks this guy is even more of a flake than that ditz Jirelle.
Mostan: Where are the forms!
Arcadia looks around and spots them dumped on the floor with a bunch of other things.
Arcadia picks up the forms and hands them to Mostan, noticing only then that they have been... revised.
Lonni turns back to look at them again.
Lonni: I am supposed to get paid for this, you know?
Lonni: You must be new here.
Tommijo: My art!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tommijo uses the word "art" in its loosest possible interpretation.
Tommijo rushes Mostan, hands outstretched.
Mostan snaps "Yes, Yes. But only for one, not four."
Tommijo jumps up and down, hands outstretched, trying to grab the forms from Mostan.
Mostan recoils.
Lonni ~~ offended ~~
Tommijo: Mommy, my train!!!
Lonni: Well, I hope you do....
Tommijo: Mommy mommy!!!
Tommijo: [upset]
Lonni looks at what Mostan has.
Lonni: Oh dear.
Lonni: Does he have your masterpiece?
Lonni hurries over to Mostan.
Lonni: Well, I'm sure he didn't mean to mess it all up.
Mostan turns reluctantly and starts scribbling on a form against the wall.
Lonni grabs at the pad to give him back his masterpiece.
Lonni gapes when the channel turns away.
Lonni: Well....
Arcadia tries to squeeze in between them and Mostan.
Lonni: You MUST not have children if you don't understand how important a child's art is.
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Mostan scrawls quickly at the blanks.
Lonni leans over Mostan trying to see if he's writing on the masterpiece or not.
Arcadia thinks, she WOULD not have children if this is what it comes to.
Lonni wiggles to get past Arcadia.
Lonni: Oh ugh....
Arcadia: Hey! What...!
Mostan thanks the forces of the universe that that is true.
Lonni: Beti... not in the woman's hair.
Arcadia is displaced by the much bigger Lonni.
Arcadia: Hey!!!
Lonni looks at the gum in Arcadia's hair.
Arcadia: ~~irate~~
Arcadia: I'm just trying to do my job here.... Ugggh!
Lonni leans over Mostan's shoulder.
Lonni: Ah, good.....
Mostan recalls what Eliza said about not wanting children and the pen snaps in his fingers.
Lonni: Your picture isn't on that Tommijo.
Lonni sees ink oozing all over Mostan's hand.
Lonni chuckles.
Lonni: Oh, the man likes art too, Tommijo, look at that.
Arcadia hurries to the desk and finds a scissors, cuts the gum off her hair.
Lonni thinks this will pacify Tommijo.
Arcadia realizes she will look silly with one short lock and quickly cuts off the rest of her hair as well.
Mostan rushes over to the desk to get another pen .from the drawer that isn't there....
Arcadia gets a different pen and returns to Mostan.
Arcadia: Here... here... take this one.
Lonni watches at the two run into each other
Mostan: Thank you.
Arcadia: Let me wipe that off you before it gets into a sheath.
Arcadia looks around, realizes there aren't any towels in here, and removes her shirt.
Lonni: I'm SURE it won't be much longer, children.
Lonni: Some channels just take LONGER than others.
Arcadia tries to wipe off Mostan's hand and tentacles.
Lonni ~~ getting very impatient ~~
Arcadia: ~~~support~~~
Lonni: Oh MY!
Lonni ~~ shock ~~
Mostan signs the form and thrusts it at Lonni. "Thankyoufordonatingtodayhaveaniceday."
Arcadia has a huge bust and is wearing black lacy undergarments.
Arcadia looks at Lonni in confusion.
Arcadia: Huh?
Lonni: I can't BELIEVE this!
Lonni ~~ outraged~~
Lonni grabs the forms.
Lonni: Don't look, children.
Tommijo looks.
Lonni: She's a naughty girl.
Tommijo: Mommy, I'm hungry!!!
Lonni grabs Tommijo and covers his eyes.
Lonni grabs the others and hurries to the door, unlocking it and thrusting them all out.
Tommijo is yanked nearly off his feet by his mother's desperate grab for his head.
Lonni jerks the door closed behind her.
Lonni: Yes, Tommijo, you've been a very good boy so we'll....
Lonni goes down the hall.
Mostan sags. "Thank shuven they're gone."
Arcadia finishes wiping the ink off Mostan.
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Arcadia: Um... that was pretty bad. I was wondering why you were so nervous and now I know.
Arcadia is wearing no shirt and her hair is in a raggedy crew cut.
Mostan sits on a corner of his desk as Arcadia cleans his hands.
Mostan: Huh?
Mostan: Oh. Thank you for your help Arcadia.
Mostan: In that impossible situation.
Arcadia: Are donations always that bad? They usually put Jirelle on transfers.
Arcadia: For some reason.
Mostan: huh? No, not usually.
Arcadia: Oh. good.
Mostan: Kids aren't supposed to be here.
Arcadia: They should have some sort of a Pen, I mean, a play area, for them to wait.
Mostan: Yeah. Remind me to talk to Veraik about that.
Arcadia: Can I get a minute to change? My uniform top is... [gestures at the ink on the rag in her hand]
Mostan looks around and notices that a gang of freeBanders have ravaged his office while he wasn't looking.
Mostan: What? Oh!
Arcadia: I promise I'll be right back.
Mostan: You shouldn't have done that.
Arcadia: I shouldn't have?
Arcadia: You would rather have ink up a lateral sheath?
Mostan: Did you want me to go get you something, so you don't have to go out?
Arcadia: "MAN DIES IN BIZARRE OFFICE ACCIDENT"
Mostan nods. "Good point."
Arcadia: I can see the "Tattler" headlines now.
Arcadia: No, I'll be fine... I'll just nip back to my room and change... maybe you could, er, [glances at the mess in his office]
Mostan considers what the Tattler would say about a semi-naked Donor exiting his office.
Mostan: If you're sure.
Arcadia: Very sure. [smiles reassuringly]
Arcadia: I'll just take a moment.
Mostan: Of course.
Arcadia walks out of Mostan's office.
Arcadia walks down the hall, enjoying the surprised, shocked and admiring stares.
Briel is walking down the hall... sees Arcadia.
Briel pauses.
Mostan notices Arcadia's... generous figure as she leaves.
Briel: Arcadia!
Arcadia figures it isn't often one has a legitimate reason to walk half naked down the hall, so she'd better take advantage of the situation.
Arcadia stops innocently.
Arcadia: Yes, Briel?
Arcadia notes that Briel, like many female Simes, is woefully lacking in the department.
Briel: You know I barely tolerate your reading... but this... this is NOT tolerable.
Arcadia: Yes, Hajene. ["jeal-ous!"]
Mostan notes that it is almost completely unlike Eliza's.
Arcadia: I will go and put something on immediately, Hajene.
Briel zlins Arcadia and smiles, thinking it won't be HER who sags down to her navel in a few years.
Briel: Go get dressed immediately and don't let me zlin you like this again.
Mostan collapses into his chair.
Arcadia: Yes, Hajene.
Briel goes on down the hall.
Arcadia smiles.
Arcadia continues on up to her room.
Mostan tries to get into a relaxation drill.
Arcadia washes her hands and then retrims her hair so it is short, but neat.
Arcadia puts on a new uniform top and puts the other one in the hamper.
Arcadia sits on her bed and reaches under her pillow for her brand new crisp copy of "Frosting".
Mostan: Distect looks better everyday....
Arcadia admires the picture on the front: a snow-covered fairyland, with a strong lumberjack-looking man being swooned over by a woman (barely) clad in white furs.
Arcadia: Baby!
Arcadia: I can't wait to read this.
Arcadia recalls Briel's very very recent warning and sighs.
Arcadia puts it back under her pillow.
Arcadia pauses, pulls it back out, rips the first 20 pages out of the lining, folds them, put them in her pocket, then replaces the book under her pillow.
Arcadia goes back downstairs.
Arcadia signals at Mostan's office door.
Mostan struggles to his feet and goes to the door.
Arcadia waits outside of Mostan's office, smiling at some people who she'd just seen a few minutes ago.
Arcadia laughs at their expressions.
Mostan opens the door.
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Arcadia: I'm back.
Arcadia sees the room is still a total mess.
Arcadia: Are you okay?
Arcadia: You look like you're freaked or something.
Mostan: Yeah, well... come in.
Mostan goes over to the lounge.
Alea shakes her head.
Alea: I'm sorry it upset Eliza, but I really didn't think she should go in there.
Lanyi: Well, she is awfully young.
Arcadia goes in.
Lanyi: I didn't realize quite how... unrestrained a place it was.
Alea: Yes, I agree.
Alea: Neither did I.
Mostan: Arcadia. Are you familiar with my case?
Alea: And I thought I'd heard of ALL the places like that.
Alea: From Snake... of course.
Lanyi raises her eyebrows. "Snake? Figures."
Wise Snake approaches the Little Brick Shiltpron House in a bit of a hurry.
Lanyi: Didn't know she went for that sort of thing.
Wise Snake hurries right between Alea and Lanyi.
Alea: Snake!
Alea surprised.
Arcadia: Umm... no?
Alea ~~ delighted ~~
Arcadia hopes she isn't going to be in trouble yet again.
Wise Snake stops.
Alea ~~ sudden unease ~~
Wise Snake realizes they've both seen her and sighs, turns around slowly.
Alea turns and concentrates on Lanyi.
Wise Snake: Hello, Alea, Lanyi.
Wise Snake smiles at them.
Alea: How are you?
Wise Snake does not have a Donor with her.
Mostan: No problem. I was almost killed by Av- that psychotic Gen last month.
Arcadia's eyes widen.
Arcadia: THAT Gen? The one we were just with!
Lanyi: Hajene Farris.
Arcadia: Oh my god, I had NO idea.
Mostan: No, no!
Mostan: Avaleia.
Arcadia: I would have done things much diff.... oh.
Mostan: The one the cop is in the lobby to guard against.
Wise Snake: Out for a bit of air?
Alea: Actually Eliza had a place she wanted us to visit.
Alea waves vaguely back at the parlor.
Wise Snake glances at the shiltpron parlor, does a double-take, and looks surprised.
Wise Snake: There?
Wise Snake zlins about and does not find Eliza nearby.
Wise Snake: You let her go IN?
Lanyi: Eliza does seem to be intent on shedding her farm-girl background as quickly as possible.
Mostan: I never met Lonni before today.
Wise Snake: That can be a dangerous place. There are renSimes looking for sport, and drug dealer-uhm, various criminals of different types....
Arcadia: Oh.
Arcadia: I think I read about that Avalala lady in the "Tattler".
Alea: I'm not surprised.
Alea studies Snake closely.
Mostan: Yeah, well she half crushed my nodes.
Wise Snake looks nervous at Alea's scrutiny.
Wise Snake: What?
Arcadia grimaces.
Arcadia: Gnarly!
Mostan: Now unpredictable Gens make me... nervous.
Arcadia: No surprise there. What rotten luck.
Alea smiles at Snake knowingly.
Mostan: Gnarly?
Wise Snake looks confused.
Alea: You're not going in there alone, are you?
Arcadia: Um... bad. You know, unpleasant. Twisted.
Lanyi: Oh.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake: I often go in there alone.
Alea looks at Lanyi, concerned.
Mostan: Ah.
Wise Snake thinks, especially when on business.
Mostan: Anyway, All that confusion....
Alea: That's not a good place to go alone.
Alea: I can't let you do that, Snake.
Arcadia: I wonder why they gave you HER when you have that problem.
Arcadia scratches her crew cut.
Alea: What would I do if I lost you. You ARE related, after all.
Lanyi: Without a Donor?
Wise Snake looks defensive.
Wise Snake: Well, there are some things a person has to do whether an appropriate Donor is available or not.
Wise Snake: Making a living is one of them.
Alea: Well, we are available to escort you, Snake.
Alea smiles hoping Lanyi doesn't mind her volunteering them.
Lanyi: Advantage of freelancing? ~~ sarcasm ~~
Wise Snake looks at Lanyi uneasily.
Mostan smiles weakly. "Don't ask me to explain it...."
Arcadia: ~~support~~
Arcadia: I haven't been finding them too accommodating for me either. [confesses]
Mostan relaxes on the support.
Alea offers Lanyi ~~ support ~~
Arcadia: Should we clean this up now, so you have more time before the next one?
Arcadia is well rehearsed in the art of procrastination.
Wise Snake: I have... business to attend to inside.
Mostan: Yeah, but what choice do we have?
Mostan: I can get it. My office, after all.
Arcadia: Ok.
Alea: Of course you do... but in a place like that, you shouldn't be without a Donor.
Alea smiles at Lanyi.
Wise Snake: Umm....
Alea: And I can't leave Lanyi.
Wise Snake predicts that the added stress of trying to make a complex business transaction of this particular nature while accompanied by two uniformed Tecton....
Wise Snake pauses as she finally notices what they are wearing.
Lanyi refrains from commenting that she can take care of herself, not being a skittish Farris.
Wise Snake's jaw drops.
Wise Snake: WHAT are you wearing?
Alea jumps.
Alea ~~ guilt ~~
Wise Snake: You are not going into a shiltpron parlor dressed like that!
Lanyi is wearing a blouse and straight skirt. Her hair isn't tied back, which Wise Snake probably hasn't seen before....
Wise Snake: [tart mother voice, though there is no telling exactly where she learned that]
Alea looks shocked.
Alea: And what is the matter with this?
Alea: I'm sure Tarsh would approve.
Lanyi: She wouldn't fit in?
Wise Snake smacks her palm to her forehead, where the fingers take a firm grip.
Wise Snake: What! No! I mean, she'd fit in perfectly, if she were a slut instead of a Tecton First!
Alea holds out a leg and examines it.
Alea: I may be pregnant....
Mostan: If you could just help me get my systems rephased?
Alea gapes ~~ shock ~~
Arcadia holds out her hands to Mostan.
Arcadia: Sure.
Mostan carefully takes Arcadia's arms.
Arcadia adjusts her field to help Mostan.
Wise Snake: Uchhh... never mind.
Wise Snake: Never mind, forget I said anything.
Wise Snake: It's none of my business.
Lanyi: You've been listening to B'cal too much.
Wise Snake looks visibly struck by the mention of the Donor's name.
Wise Snake: ~~controlled nager~~
Alea carefully controls her field, obscuring her emotions so no one can read what she's feeling.
Mostan leans forward and puts his head on Arcadia's shoulder.
Wise Snake backs away from them.
Wise Snake: I really have to go. I have an appointment.
Lanyi shrugs.
Alea nods.
Wise Snake hurries toward the parlor, upset.
Alea: Of course, Snake.
Alea waits for Lanyi to lead the way back to the Center.
Lanyi: Anyway.
Lanyi: Well, she always knows the answers, doesn't she?
Alea: I suppose so.
Alea offers ~~ support ~~
Lanyi rests on Alea's nager. "Thanks."
Lanyi starts back towards the Center.
Alea walks with Lanyi.
Mostan sits back. "Thank you. Much better."
Arcadia: Oh... good.
Alea: You know, Lanyi, I'd like, if possible, after the child is born, to have transfer with you if you are agreeable to that.
Arcadia: Oh... yes, I guess so huh.
Lanyi: Transfer? I'd like that.
Lanyi: You have a fascinating nager.
Alea: I've never worked with a Tigue before. I'd consider it interesting.
Alea blinks, surprised.
Lanyi: Don't recall having a Farris Donor myself.
Alea: I have hardly any nager right now they way my selyn has been disappearing.
Lanyi: Well, you're producing for two now.
Alea: Yes.
Alea: I suppose so.
Lanyi: I've always wondered where all that selyn a fetus draws goes.
Mostan: Yeah. I don't want to, but duty calls.
Alea: I imagine it goes into producing that child... creating everything that child is going to one day have to have to function as a channel.
Alea: ...or whatever.
Arcadia: Yeah.
Arcadia accompanies Mostan back to work.
Lanyi goes back into the Center.
Alea walks with Lanyi in silence back to the Center, contemplating the nature of childbirth.