Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #181: "Layers" of Meaning (3/8/98)
Tanat primps in front of the mirror.
Veraik wakes up in the forest, naked and wondering why he was there.
Wise Snake finds herself on a search party for the second time in two weeks.
Nick tramps along beside Snake, shaking his head.
Nick: How did we get ourselves talked into this again?
Wise Snake zlins.
Wise Snake: If it weren't for all these hills, it wouldn't be such a big deal.
Wise Snake: You know, usually when Veraik runs off into the woods it's because he wants to be left alone. Do you suppose Alea was just, you know, over reacting?
Veraik looks for a large leaf to cover himself. "What am I going to do? What have I done?"
Wise Snake realizes, of course, that Nick would have no idea.
Nick: Who knows?
Wise Snake: Yeah.
Wise Snake looks up at the bare, leafless winter trees against the bleak sky, and sighs.
Wise Snake: Here we are, trudging through the snow in search of lost Sime Center personnel.
Nick: At least it isn't snowing.
Wise Snake: Do you think we should start charging for this?
Nick brightens.
Nick: Well, it would probably pay the taxes at this rate.
Wise Snake: ~~irritating, but not debilitating, entran~~
Nick sees Snake's discomfort.
Wise Snake: Let's get up higher... be able to zlin more of the land that way.
Nick: I know it's no substitute for working, but do you want to do an outfunction?
Nick: It might help you zlin farther, if you're not fighting pain as well.
Nick holds out his hands.
Wise Snake: I'm fine, I'm fine.
Nick looks Snake over skeptically, then decides she's not in actual physical danger yet.
Wise Snake: Look... here's an animal path. Let's follow this farther uphill.
Wise Snake points out some hoof prints in the snow.
Nick slogs through the snow behind Snake.
Wise Snake trudges uphill.
Wise Snake frowns because the cloven tracks seem too large for a deer's.
Wise Snake is the first to admit she is not super knowledgeable about wildlife, however.
Nick looks at the tracks.
Nick: Why would anyone let their cow wander through the woods in this weather?
Wise Snake gets to a ridge and zlins about.
Wise Snake: Probably escaped and gone wild.
Wise Snake frowns.
Wise Snake: Wait a minute... I think that's him just over that next ridge. Kind of hard to tell without being able to zlin directly.
Nick considers the possibility of being confronted by half a ton of feral pot roast, and hopes the creature has left the area.
Veraik sits back down when he realizes that the only tracks leading to himself are bovine instead of human.
Nick adjusts his nager to allow Snake the maximum range.
Wise Snake thinks it could be worse... she could be poisoning pigeons in the belfry instead.
Wise Snake hurries ahead on the trail, climbs up to the next ridge.
Wise Snake: Ah! Yes, that is him. Uh-oh... [as she zlins his condition]
Wise Snake hurries downhill toward Veraik.
Nick: Well, let's check it out....
Wise Snake: Veraik!
Wise Snake zlins carefully for the cow but realizes such a creature might be difficult to detect in thick woods, having not much of a nager.
Veraik covers himself with his hands.
Nick shakes his head as Snake augments away from him.
Wise Snake plunges through the woods and finally locates Veraik sitting on the ground naked with his hands over his private parts.
Wise Snake: ~~shock~~
Nick hurries after, muttering about professional masochism, and ends up in a tango (er, tangle) as he trips over a bush.
Veraik looks up at Snake, rocking back and forth, babbling and incoherent.
Nick finally catches up, and his eyes widen as he sees Veraik's condition.
Veraik rolls into a ball, wishing for death because death would be better than having been discovered this way.
Nick supports Snake, who looks understandably appalled, and takes off his coat to hand it to Veraik.
Nick: Here. Try this; it will cover the subject better.
Wise Snake takes Nick's coat and puts it around Veraik's shoulders.
Veraik doesn't notice Nick since his world has enclosed into himself.
Wise Snake zlins Veraik.
Wise Snake: We have to get him back to the Center.
Nick nods.
Nick: He's too big for you to carry.
Wise Snake thinks, first Mostan and Eliza, then Veraik... Who's Next?
Veraik hears Center, only his body responds.
Nick: We'll have to walk him back to your Home Town.
Nick squats beside Veraik.
Wise Snake engages Veraik's field with her own.
Nick: Veraik. You've got to get back to the Center. Can you stand, if we help you?
Wise Snake: ~~support/reassurance~~
Wise Snake takes Veraik's hands, wrapping her tentacles firmly around them.
Wise Snake: Come on. We'll slip in the back way so nobody has to know. Wouldn't you like some nice, hot tea?
Wise Snake thinks the Center's tea tastes like shampoo, but doesn't say so.
Veraik goes with the familiar voice and moves the coat closer about himself.
Wise Snake draws on Veraik's hands, pulling him gently up.
Wise Snake: Come on... there you go.
Nick: It's at times like this that I just wanna go back to Dixie Territory.
Wise Snake: Here, Nick, take back your coat. I'll give him my cloak, it's longer.
Wise Snake realizes Veraik doesn't have any shoes on either.
Wise Snake: Shen! [under her breath]
Nick slips into his coat gratefully, then holds Veraik upright so Snake can get her own cloak off.
Nick: We should wrap his feet in rags before we start walking him through the snow.
Wise Snake removes her cloak and sweater.
Wise Snake puts the cloak around Veraik, making sure he is as covered as possible.
Wise Snake removes her shirt and puts the sweater back on, then rips the shirt to make wrappings for Veraik's feet.
Veraik stares into space, shivering.
Nick holds Veraik upright as Snake applies the improvised footwear.
Wise Snake: We'd better hurry back or we're going to miss my appointment. [to Nick.]
Veraik looks at Snake.
Nick: Yes.
Wise Snake: Lean on my shoulder, Veraik.
Wise Snake picks up Veraik's feet one at a time and wraps them up.
Veraik leans on Snake, resting on the familiar nager.
Veraik wraps tentacles about Snake and holds on for dear life....
Wise Snake: ~~support~~
Tanat applies lots of cream to his hair, so that it can be properly styled.
Wise Snake finishes, then stands carefully.
Wise Snake: Come on.... [gently]
Wise Snake supports Veraik nagerically and leads him carefully back in the direction of town.
Nick helps Snake walk Veraik down the path.
Wise Snake keeps a close eye out for tree roots and the like, until she knows how aware Veraik is of where he is going.
Veraik goes with the nice, familiar nager.
Hahn Sulu looks at Tanat.
Hahn Sulu: Ugh. Why do you put that stuff in your hair? [haughty voice]
Hahn Sulu flips his own, long hair back.
Hahn Sulu: It makes it all, yucky and prickly.
Tanat uses the comb to put perfect waves into his hair.
Hahn Sulu: You're going to look like the front of a toboggan at the dance tonight. [disdainful]
Wise Snake: Want to tell me what happened, Veraik? ~~continuing to support~~
Tanat: Well, that's what it takes to have really cosmic, Buggfa-type fashion, and not just a boring ponytail like you.
Veraik stares at Snake, eyes wild and unseeing.
Tanat admires the effect in the mirror.
Hahn Sulu: Buggfa? That has-been? The only reason he puts that shid in his hair, is because too much of it has fallen out to look cool.
Hahn Sulu runs a hand down his shimmering gold mane.
Wise Snake: ~~soothing support~~
Wise Snake: Do you remember anything? [quietly]
Veraik turns to the voice.
Veraik: I was with Alea at a house, now here.
Veraik grips Snake's arm too tight for comfort.
Wise Snake: You don't remember why you came here? [wincing at the grip]
Wise Snake: Aah... Veraik... you're going to hurt me. Move your hand up just a little...
Tanat knows sour grapes when the cluster's pre-veraison.
Hahn Sulu: Anyway, why are you wearing those old duds again? Everyone will know you wore that vest last month.
Veraik stares at Snake's arm then forces himself to release his tentacles.
Nick tries to put out as much general calm as he can while still keeping his support on Snake.
Wise Snake moves Veraik's hand up to her upper-arm.
Wise Snake: Here... you can hold on up here.
Veraik looks at the arm then at Snake and blanches.
Wise Snake: ~~support~~ What's the matter?
Wise Snake: Are you okay?
Veraik zlins Nick then holds Snake where she said.
Wise Snake continues to lead Veraik down the trail at the best pace he seems to be able to manage.
Tanat: You're just jealous because your tailor's no good.
Veraik: "Okay? I...." [looks at Snake] "Why am I here and like this?"
Hahn Sulu 's aristocratic nostrils flare.
Tanat: That suit he made for you looks pre-wrinkled. Or have you been sleeping in it?
Wise Snake: I don't really know, Veraik. I found Alea in a street surrounded by a crowd. She was extremely upset and asked me to go looking for you. I started looking as soon as I'd put her to bed.
Wise Snake remembers Alea babbling about cows, asking if she looked like a cow, etc. [frowns]
Hahn Sulu: Certainly not!
Tanat: So it is your tailor's incompetence?
Tanat: You really should get a decent man.
Veraik: A Cow!
Wise Snake looks up sharply, unnerved by Veraik's echoing her thoughts.
Veraik legs crumple under him.
Wise Snake: What?
Wise Snake catches Veraik, augmenting.
Wise Snake: Whoa, take it easy there, Veraik.
Wise Snake: ~~support~~
Nick steadies Veraik, knowing that Snake is too small to handle his size.
Hahn Sulu: These aren't wrinkles, they're "Art Pleats".
Hahn Sulu: It's the latest rage in New Washington.
Hahn Sulu looks down his nose at Tanat.
Tanat snorts in disgust.
Tanat: The latest fashion among who, the old dope peddlers sleeping in the streets?
Veraik: The house. The Blackwing Collective. The urn. Alea? Why?
Wise Snake thinks Nick is being very pushy today and makes a note to talk to him about it later.
Wise Snake picks the words "blackwing collective" out of the nonsense babbling.
Wise Snake grimaces.
Wise Snake: Stay away from those people, Veraik.
Veraik shivers with cold and reaction.
Veraik: Didn't go there. Alea. Patient. Ohh....
Hahn Sulu: I don't keep track of those fashions, so you'll have to let me know on that count.
Hahn Sulu scoffs
Hahn Sulu: No, it's the latest fashion among the young and the rich.
Hahn Sulu: The important people.
Hahn Sulu fingers some large gold buttons in the shape of moons and stars.
Nick sees that Snake apparently knows something about the person(s) responsible for Veraik's condition, and makes a mental note to ask her about them.
Wise Snake: Come on, Veraik. Let's get you to the road so we can catch a ride into town.
Veraik goes with Snake and Nick.
Wise Snake breathes a sigh of relief when Veraik starts walking again.
Veraik wraps tentacles tighter once again as he walks. ~ fear ~
Nick sees the tentacles clench, and give Snake a concerned look.
Wise Snake: ~~calming/support~~
Wise Snake wishes Veraik wasn't holding on quite so hard, but at least it isn't in such a sensitive place now.
Veraik relaxes only a little bit as he drags his feet.
Wise Snake sees the road and urges Veraik along as best she can.
Wise Snake: ~~encouragement/support/soothing~~
Nick: Should I go ahead, and see if I can flag down some transportation?
Wise Snake winces as Veraik's fingers and tentacles dig in, remembering the time somebody caught her nose in their left castanet.
Wise Snake: Sure, Nick. Good idea.
Nick strides ahead in the best Scouting tradition: not nervous, flustered or scared; just prepared.
Veraik sees a tree and goes to it, scratching his side like a cow trying to get to an itchy spot.
Wise Snake is dragged after Veraik, stumbling over tree roots.
Wise Snake: ~~alarm~~
Wise Snake: Um... Veraik... hold on.
Veraik: Mooooooo....
Wise Snake pulls Veraik back away from the tree.
Wise Snake: ~~quite alarmed~~
Tanat snickers.
Wise Snake: Nick! [realizes Nick is out of hearing range]
Wise Snake: Shen.
Veraik looks at Snake. "Mooooo."
Wise Snake: Come on... let's get to the road. [soothing voice, encouraging]
Wise Snake: ~~soothing entreating supporting nager~~
Nick reaches the road and looks for transportation.
Tanat: You wish.
Veraik, on all fours, rubbing his back harder: "Moooooo."
Tanat has no intention of looking less than his best while winning the transfer contest.
Hahn Sulu: I know! I was in New Washington capital only two weeks ago. [preening]
Hahn Sulu checks his look in another mirror... he looks like a rich, stuck-up, handsome boy.
Hahn Sulu smiles smugly at the image.
Wise Snake: Oh, shen.
Wise Snake kneels by Veraik, trying to get his hands.
Wise Snake: Come on, Veraik.. I think it would be better if you um, laid down for a minute.
Wise Snake: ~~~~you are feeling verrrrrry Sleeeeeeeepy~~~~~~
Wise Snake: ~~~~~zzzzz~~~~~~~
Nick flags down a farmer.
Veraik nods, whispers. "Sleep."
Wise Snake: Yes, yes. Everything will be fine when you awake.
Wise Snake: ~~~sleep~~~
Veraik sleeps
Nick explains the situation, then trudges back along his trail with the farmer to see what's taking Snake and Veraik so long.
Wise Snake picks Veraik up in a fireman's carry and hauls him the rest of the way to the road.
Nick meets Snake partway.
Wise Snake's breath snorts out steam.
Wise Snake: You DON'T want to know.
Nick: What happened?
Wise Snake: Trust me.
Nick: I've got us a ride with a farmer.
Nick nods towards the cart.
Wise Snake: Great.
Wise Snake: Get the hood... make sure it covers his face.
Nick rearranges the cloak.
Wise Snake carries the faceless black bundle to the farmer's wagon.
Nick follows, holding the wagon's tailgate.
Wise Snake lays Veraik's sleeping form down.
Nick climbs in after Snake.
Jozhua pushes back his hat and looks at the bundle, chewing on a piece of last year's hay.
Jozhua: Look's like it's Siesta Time in old Bender Cove.
Wise Snake flops down next to Veraik, panting.
Wise Snake: Thanks for the ride. [to Nick] did you tell him where?
Nick: Yes.
Jozhua turns around on his seat.
Nick reaches out and holds Snake's hand in his.
Jozhua calls out a command and his pair of spotted cattle resume their slow walk into town.
Wise Snake 's tentacles grip Nick's hand.
Nick: As soon as we get Veraik settled, we'll meet your appointment and get rid of that entran.
Nick presses Snake's hand to his lips.
Wise Snake: Yeah... yeah, that'll be good.
Nick: My pirate queen.
Wise Snake laughs.
Wise Snake 's tentacles slip under his chin briefly.
Wise Snake: You know, Alea was talking about cows too when I picked her up. I wonder what happened to them that had to do with cows.
Nick: Well, when there's time, we can go hunting for an answer.
Wise Snake: Do you know what? It's not really our problem.
Wise Snake: We really have our hands full already.
Nick's hands are full of Snake's, at the moment.
Nick: True.
Nick: If you try to take on the world's problems, you'll be old and grey before your time.
Wise Snake 's tentacles wrap around Nick's wrists.
Wise Snake: Well... true.
Nick smiles at the sensation.
Wise Snake zlins Nick to see how he is doing.
Nick is pretty much recovered.
Nick chuckles.
Nick: Zlinprying channel. ~~affection~~
Nick: I'm fine.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry I....
Nick: Scorched me? It's an occupational hazard, as you told me at the beginning.
Nick: Next time, I'll be able to keep up with you.
Wise Snake: Do you think so?
Wise Snake: [rhetorical question]
Wise Snake releases his hands and leans back against the low side of the wagon.
Wise Snake zlins Veraik, and wonders what in the hell happened to him.
Nick: Do you plan to take Rapol this month? ~~honest curiosity, unmixed with jealousy~~
Wise Snake: Possibly.
Wise Snake: [honestly]
Nick: Is he up to your speed?
Wise Snake: Um....
Wise Snake: He has... many redeeming qualities.
Nick waits patiently for a more complete answer.
Wise Snake: No.
Wise Snake: But he easily could one day.
Wise Snake: Perhaps sooner than later.
Nick nods in understanding.
Nick: Was our transfer good enough for you that you'll have the control to hold back with Rapol?
Wise Snake: I think so.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake avoids Nick's eyes, feeling guilty for choosing another when he has just had his first transfer with her.
Nick: Good. He's got a certain--brittle arrogance. I don't think he really understands that he can get hurt.
Nick: Not emotionally, at any rate.
Nick grins.
Wise Snake smiles, thinking of her conversation with Rapol of the night before.
Wise Snake: I think that's just the outside.
Wise Snake: The culture he comes from demands that Gens be subservient, always in the background.
Wise Snake: His thoughts are held private unless he is alone with me.
Wise Snake: He is not so uncaring as he seems.
Wise Snake: I am sure that one day he will learn to trust you as well.
Nick: Perhaps. But I suspect that he won't stay long enough, if he doesn't get a transfer soon.
Nick: He hasn't been complaining, much, but it's been bothering him.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Nick: Oh, he's accepted the necessity, but he doesn't like it.
Wise Snake: Well, there you have it.
Wise Snake: That pretty much sums it up for all of us.
Nick: We'll survive it.
Nick: ~~ Gen optimism ~~
Wise Snake wishes Nick wouldn't fiddle with her emotions... especially up-and-down.
Wise Snake: Yes. I hope so.
Nick: Or if we don't, at least we'll All Go Together When We Go.
Wise Snake grimaces.
Wise Snake: Thanks, Nick. You've really cheered me up.
Wise Snake: Let's just concentrate on getting Veraik back to the Center so we can go to work, eh?
Wise Snake: We'll worry about the transfer when we come to it.
Nick: Your wish is my command, oh great pillager of the high seas.
Nick bows modestly.
Nick begins to hum something which sounds suspiciously like, "Pour, oh pour the pirate sherry/Fill, oh fill the pirate glass/And to make us more than merry/Let the pirate bumper pass."
Wise Snake lays back and puts her forearm over her eyes as the wagon bumps and jostles down the road.
Nick: [Note: one can always count on Gilbert and Sullivan for a rousing finale, filled with words and music, and signifying nothing.]