Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #183: As the "Swash" Buckles (3/10/98)
Nick paces the smelly deck impatiently.
Nick: Shouldn't they be here by now?
Rapol looks sleepily over the side.
Wharf Rat looks at Nick with beady feral eyes.
Nick: Where's that cat of your cousin's when she could be useful?
Rapol is wearing a garishly colored bandanna tied at the left.
Wise Snake: Nick, they should have been here three days ago. I'd say she's gone and gotten her transfer at the Sime Center.
Wise Snake thinks, the Uptown one of course.
Nick: Or gotten caught by her parents.
Rapol: [striped shirt ripped in random spots, with a broad leather belt over one shoulder]
Wise Snake: Rapol, see which is less expensive between having that dismantled and buying the boat.
Wise Snake does a double take.
Wise Snake: Rapol! You look....
Rapol: ~~ pride ~~
Nick surveys the costume with some admiration for the sheer gall it would take to wear it.
Wise Snake: ...Er... very nice.
Nick considers the whole setup on the boat.
Wise Snake: You know, we can have that boat hauled over to the Ferry Building and store it out back until spring.
Nick: Yes. I'd expect that Jemmie and her friend aren't the only ones out there who would enjoy using it.
Nick: It could be quite profitable, actually.
Rapol grins, revealing a blacked out tooth.
Wise Snake winces at the imitation missing tooth.
Nick thinks that Rapol really is getting into character with more enthusiasm than strictly required.
Rapol: Dismantle what? Cages?
Rapol: Didn't have materials to fake a scar....
Wise Snake: Look... you guys sort out the details. I have too much work to do to hang out here.
Wise Snake walks back up the dock.
Nick looks at Rapol.
Nick: One of us should be with her.
Rapol: Certainly.
Nick runs below to grab the satchel.
Nick: I'll take a short shift while you look into getting rid of the stuff. You know more about it than I do.
Rapol: Certainly.
Rapol looks around at all his work.
Nick: You come find us when you're done, and I'll get some rest then.
Nick jumps onto the dock.
Nick: And Rapol, it looks... very piratical.
Wise Snake is halfway back to the Ferry Building, stalking along the waterfront street and muttering.
Nick jogs after Snake.
Voice wails from an ally
Booboo walks over to stare up at Rapol, a finger in his mouth, looking awestricken.
Booboo is a small boy.
Voice is thin and high.
Booboo's eyes shift over to the boat, then back to Rapol, taking in every detail of his outfit.
Nick catches up to Snake.
Nick: What's that noise?
Wise Snake: How should I know?
Wise Snake zlins in that direction.
Fishman strides down the wharf towards his goddamn boat to see if those goddamn people have goddamned finished with it yet.
Fishman: [mutters] holding up good fishing time....
Wise Snake realizes "How should I know?" is not an appropriate answer for an adult Farris.
Nick isn't panting, and takes that to mean that he's fully recovered.
Voice starts crying softly.
Wise Snake: I mean, er, obviously, it's somebody wailing and crying.
Voice appears to be without a perceptible nageric component.
Wise Snake walks over to the alley, wondering why there is nothing to be zlinned.
Wise Snake thinks maybe an animal.
Rapol smiles at Booboo.
Rapol: Avast!
Booboo nearly jumps out of his snowsuit.
Booboo: Oh!
Toddler pokes a tear-stained face out from behind a garbage can.
Booboo: [wide-eyed]
Wise Snake: Hey there.
Wise Snake: [softer]
Wise Snake looks around for any attached adult.
Nick is the only immediately apparent adult around.
Toddler peers at Snake closely, then starts to cry again as she realizes that it's NOT her mommie.
Wise Snake inspects the child for signs of neglect or lostness.
Wise Snake: Hello there. What's the matter? [kneels]
Rapol shivers his timbers.
Toddler is grubby, but not injured.
Toddler: I want my mommie!
Wise Snake: Okay, well, we can find your mommie.
Toddler: Promise?
Wise Snake: Of course. [holds out a hand]
Wise Snake: Will you hold my hand while we go look for her?
Fishman jumps up onto the deck. "Ahoy there!"
Wise Snake inspects the child more closely to see if it's the child of one of her many "clients".
Wise Snake: (protectees, etc.)
Rapol: Ho!
Fishman suddenly realises that his boat is flying the "jolly roger." He goes slowly red in the face and steam starts to come out of his ears.
Rapol looks inquiringly.
Fishman: WHAT have you done to the "Minnow"?
Talsy stumbles down the street "wh-ou!"
Rapol: Just a theme party for friends.
Talsy stops to look around.
Nick: Do you know where she belongs?
Rapol: I told your little buddy about it.
Nick: At that age, they look so similar.
Nick has always wondered how Linn managed to keep over thirty of them straight, year after year.
Fishman: Never mind that now - are you finished with her?
Talsy: Ami!
Talsy looks in a doorway.
Talsy checks under the mat to be sure.
Rapol: Yeah, it's over.
Toddler wobbles with exhaustion, and grabs onto Snake's pants to hold herself up.
Rapol: Got a wagon I can use?
Wise Snake recognizes the kid as the child of a woman she has spoken to a few times, a flaming drunk.
Wise Snake sighs and picks the kid up.
Wise Snake: Here, that better?
Toddler wraps grubby arms around Snake's neck.
Talsy: Get your shidin....
Wise Snake: Let's go look for your mom then, shall we?
Toddler: Want mommie.
Talsy slips and falls into a pile of shovelled snow.
Talsy realizes the snow was only covering something very nasty....
Wise Snake: What's your name? [trying to remember] Leaky? Lekie...?
Talsy: Eoh!!
Fishman: A wagon? What do I look like? A goddamn FARMER?
Rapol: Fish carry themselves?
Toddler: Ami! [indignantly]
Talsy leaps back and falls on her fundament.
Wise Snake walks out of the alley, spots two liquor stores and a bar right at the alley's mouth, and goes into each one, keeping an eye out for the child's mother.
Fishman: How long is it going to take you to clear this mess?
Wise Snake waves to the owners.
Wise Snake: Hey, uh, you haven't seen this kid's mother today have you? Did she say where she was going?
Rapol: Couple of hours. By tomorrow, sure.
Wise Snake: Ah... Ami... right.
Toddler finds the neck too big, and grabs hair instead.
Wise Snake grimaces.
Talsy looks at her hands and then leans to one side to vomit.
Nick quickly reaches for the small hands, disentangling them.
Wise Snake uses fingers and tentacles to carefully disentangle the kid's clawlike grip from her hair.
Toddler grabs a tentacle instead and brings it to her mouth for a chew.
Wise Snake realizes Nick has it and turns her mind back to the problem at.... the other hand.
Wise Snake asks various people sitting on stoops, etc, about the mother... works her way down the street in both directions, as reasonably far as the toddler could have gotten if left alone for only a few minutes.
Talsy struggles to her feet, absently wiping her hands on her coat.
Talsy: AMI!
Toddler chews fitfully, looking for comfort.
Nick cocks his head.
Nick: I thought I heard....
Wise Snake's attention is more on her sore tentacle than on Nick.
Rapol sighs and takes off his bandanna, scratching the back of his head.
Talsy: C'mon babskins, I didn't mean it....
Toddler stiffens.
Toddler: Mommie!
Toddler leans out precariously in the direction of the call.
Talsy peers around.
Talsy cocks her head at something she can't quite make out....
Toddler wails loudly when her mother still doesn't appear.
Talsy hears a wail she wished would stop just a little while ago....
Talsy runs clumsily in that direction.
Toddler starts to kick and wiggle as well as scream.
Toddler: I WANT MY MOMMIE!!
Nick winces at the noise.
Nick: Well, there's nothing wrong with her lung capacity....
Nick wonders if his red silk mask could be pressed into service as a gag.
Talsy: AMI!
Wise Snake sees the mother approaching.
Talsy bumps into a pedestrian.
Toddler sees Talsy.
Toddler: MOMMIE!!!!
Talsy slips on the curb and falls flat.
Talsy starts crawling towards the sound....
Wise Snake approaches Talsy, zlinning the woman.
Toddler wiggles harder as she is carried closer to her goal.
Talsy is a skinny Gen in a coat that was fancy some time back.
Talsy: Ami! You scared me babskins.
Wise Snake: Um, Hello there.
Nick follows close behind Snake, glad that there is a good chance of getting rid of the little noisemaker in the near future.
Wise Snake: I found your kid about three blocks down, in an alley.
Talsy: ~~ drunk, hazy, worried/mad ~~
Wise Snake reaches out a hand to help Talsy up.
Talsy pushes her self up and reaches for Ami.
Wise Snake studies Talsy's appearance and condition.
Wise Snake: I'm, ah, a little concerned.
Talsy has reddened hollow eyes.
Wise Snake: You might want to consider going through treatment, eh? Since it's reached the point of falling down in the street and losing your kid?
Talsy: Oh, thank you for finding her! You bad little girl!
Toddler 's frantic grabs for her mother stop, and she starts crying again.
Talsy's clothes were overdue for a cleaning even before her recent encounter with the pile.
Talsy: Treatment?
Rapol: Other tentacle, how much to keep her?
Talsy: Told her to go away. Didn't mean it.
Fishman: To keep the "Minnow"?
Fishman: You want to buy my boat?
Wise Snake: Treatment for your drinking problem.
Wise Snake: And you do have a problem, if it's gotten this bad.
Nick has seen enough since he started working with Snake that he's only disappointed, not surprised, at the mess Talsy has made of her life.
Rapol: Maybe. Right price.
Rapol: Save moving this stuff.
Talsy: ~~ blearily indignant ~~
Fishman rubs his beard with his hand and takes on a thoughtful stance.
Talsy: [looks away] Cn' 'ford ii.
Fishman: You realise it isn't so much that the "Minnow" is worth so much as how much it is going to cost me to replace her. And of course, this was my fathers boat... I'll have to think on it.
Wise Snake: Look... you can't afford this, either.
Wise Snake: What if something happens to your kid?
Talsy: ~~ fear ~~
Talsy: Not my babskins!
Fishman names a figure.
Rapol gapes.
Rapol: Certainly. Not.
Rapol: Half. Still too much.
Wise Snake: You know the Blue Door Clinic? Know where that is?
Wise Snake: They have some free counseling. Go see them sometime soon, okay? They might be able to tell you what you can do.
Wise Snake is reluctant to get entangled in these things personally.
Fishman shrugs. "You offered to buy. I'm not out to sell. Let me know if you change your mind. In the meantime, get rid of this junk!"
Rapol: Certainly. Be back with a wagon.
Rapol reflects that he's the one should leave Fishman the pirate outfit....
Talsy: Yeah, okay.
Talsy reaches for Ami again.
Fishman swings off the deck to the dock with practised ease and heads off.
Wise Snake hands the kid over to Talsy.
Talsy: Amikins! I was so worried about you! *hic*
Nick watches with some relief as the kid buries her face in her mother's filthy finery, somewhat muffling the sobs.
Rapol clambers down off the boat with difficulty.
Talsy: Thank you both for finding her.
Talsy: The bad man is gone now, shhhhh....
Rapol goes looking for a livery stable....
Wise Snake: Well... okay, then. You have a place to stay?
Talsy: Yeah, for a few days.
Wise Snake: Good.
Nick looks at Snake to see if she is ready to move on and get to work.
Wise Snake: Well, if you do decide to get some help, remember about the Blue Door.
Wise Snake senses Nick's urgings to leave.
Wise Snake: Bye bye, Ami. [to the toddler]
Talsy: Yeah, ok ~~ absently ~~
Talsy: Wave bye bye baby. Wave to the nice lady.
Toddler chews on her fingers coyly as she looks at Snake.
Wise Snake makes a note to keep an eye out for Talsy in the future, against her better judgment.
Toddler pulls the wet hand from her mouth and waves it, hiding her head against her mother.
Talsy turns down the street and starts walking unsteadily.
Nick: I hope she makes it home without dropping the kid.
Wise Snake turns away toward the Ferry Building, trying not to think about it.
Lunkloge estimates the weight of Rapol's purse.
Lunkloge: Ah, yes, we have a delightful drayage setup available for the mere price of [names an eye-popping sum].
Rapol scowls. "Not moving Eastcove to Westcove."
Lunkloge: This includes packing blankets, tie cords, and rainwater tarps... in addition to our two strongest beasts, Spunky and Sparky.
Rapol: Hmmm... Movers with that?
Lunkloge: ...Sure, sure. [Figures he can throw a fiver at some of the gang toughs hanging out in the back alley, to pitch in]
Rapol: 80% then. All day.
Plig peers out of an alley near the Ferry Building, scanning faces.
Lunkloge: Eighty percent? I can do that with different horses.
Seezi peers out from behind a tree, watching the front door of the Ferry House.
Lunkloge: I also have Hairball and Broomtail, they are... well, they can be hitched to a wagon.
Rapol: But can they move it anywhere?
Plig sees a scrawny figure approaching.
Plig: ~~ hope ~~
Plig takes half a step out of the alley.
Plig: Psst!
Plig waves frantically at Snake.
Seezi darts in what she thinks is a deft way to a bush nearer the door.
Rapol: Just some decent horses.
Wise Snake starts backward.
Plig is a scrawny, runty Gen of indeterminate age and undistinguished features.
Wise Snake: Er... can I help you? [zlinning automatically]
Plig holds up his hands to show that he's unarmed.
Plig: Please.
Plig: Can we talk out of sight?
Nick looks at Plig suspiciously.
Linkloge: Well, they're you know, decent, I mean, they have four legs and go forward on command.
Plig: I can't afford to be seen.
Wise Snake looks and zlins about.
Wise Snake: Well... okay. Come with us.
Plig is alone.
Wise Snake approaches the Ferry Building.
Plig follows, searching the shadows for observers.
Seezi gazes longingly.
Nick keeps a sharp eye on Plig--and the medicine satchel.
Wise Snake zlins Seezi trying to hide behind a tree.
Wise Snake sighs, reluctant to leave Nick alone with the stranger, realizes she will have to wait just a bit to see what Seezi wants.
Wise Snake unlocks the door and lets them in.
Plig is relieved to be out of sight.
Wise Snake closes the door.
Wise Snake: So... what can I help you with?
Plig looks Snake over.
Plig: I'm told you're both competent and discreet.
Wise Snake is a scrawny, short, weaselly looking channel with wild black hair and weird white eyes.
Wise Snake: I can be.
Nick is used to these negotiations, and settles back to wait, offering quiet support to Snake.
Plig nods.
Plig: Well, I can't afford to have my name on file at a Sime Center for... professional reasons.
Wise Snake: Ok... mind telling me what it is you do?
Plig: I'm in entertainment. A friendly card game or two... Just helping people enjoy their leisure hours.
Wise Snake's expressive Farris face makes her displeasure at the hazy answer fairly obvious.
Wise Snake: I see.
Plig: But a few nights ago, one of my... fellow players... turned out to be an off-duty police officer.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake studies Plig.
Plig: He had the gall to accuse me... yes, ME... of cheating.
Wise Snake: You weren't cheating?
Plig tries his best to look and zlin innocent.
Wise Snake zlins.
Seezi walks around the building looking for other entrances.
Wise Snake wonders how anybody could make money at cards without cheating.
Plig: I'm a professional. [offended] I'm entitled to fair compensation for my services.
Plig: ~~ conviction that he is telling the truth ~~
Wise Snake deduces that Plig was indeed cheating, but thinks this is part of life and nothing to be punished for.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake: Well... what do you require of me?
Plig: I can't play high-field like this. It puts off the Sime marks.
Wise Snake: And makes it easy for them to read you. [adds]
Plig shrugs, seeing no point in belaboring the obvious.
Wise Snake: Being high-field may be fashionable among certain sections of the underclass, but it has its disadvantages.
Wise Snake: Fine, I'll take down your field. What do you have to offer in return?
Wise Snake imagines the guy will want it done for free, but thinks it doesn't hurt to ask.
Plig: I'm not terribly flush at the moment; I was unable to collect my winnings last night, due to the unpleasantness with the police officer.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake: Perhaps you'll do me a favor then.
Plig: Have you an un-friend of a gambling nature, whose luck you wish to sour?
Wise Snake: None whose luck isn't sour by nature.
Wise Snake thinks that goes hand-in-hand with gambling, in general.
Wise Snake: I do know of a certain lady who could use a little business of her own, if one were to come into money later, or knows any gentlemen who are interested.
Wise Snake: You bring your business to her, or direct others her way, I'll take down your field.
Plig: What sort of business?
Wise Snake: Ah. She, too, is in the business of entertaining friends. Not, however, with cards.
Plig: I see. Well, I frequently run into gentlemen who wish to combine cards with other entertainment.
Plig: If the lady in question is a competent professional, who gives fair value... Well, then, I see no difficulty.
Wise Snake: Then it sounds as if we have a deal.
Plig nods and rolls up his sleeves.
Wise Snake: Her name is Debette, and she can be arranged for through Garon. You do know him, I trust?
Wise Snake thinks it is difficult to have walked down the street in downtown Bender Cove without having been accosted by Garon at least once.
Plig: Of course.
Plig holds out his arms.
Wise Snake frees her arms of her cloak and takes Plig's arms.
Plig: ~~ pleasure at the softness of the tentacles ~~
Wise Snake thinks, yikes.
Eliza sneaks in the back door of the sime center, into Briel's office and places her "manuscript" on Briel's desk. Then she tiptoes out, looking cautiously about to make sure no one sees her, to find Jirelle. She feels awfully guilty and hopes that Jirelle is okay.
Wise Snake takes Plig in transfer position.
Plig holds steady.
Wise Snake draws slowly.
Jirelle is in her "office" [try, cubicle] filling out some extra paperwork.
Wise Snake drains Plig's field.
Plig is relaxed, waiting comfortably for Snake to let him go.
Wise Snake releases Plig when it is done.
Wise Snake: There you go.
Plig: Thank you.
Plig: Use it well.
Wise Snake: What's your name, anyway?
Plig: I'm calling myself Plig, these days.
Seezi is frustrated that all the doors are boarded up.
Wise Snake: If you're in town long, come by here next month.
Seezi looks to see if she can make out anything through the windows.
Wise Snake goes to unlock the door for Plig.
Plig: If I'm here, I shall.
Eliza has been gone 4 days, hasn't washed, has hardly slept or eaten, just wants to let Jirelle know she is back before washing and collapsing for, oh, a month or two.
Wise Snake assumes "Plig" will have moved on long before that, especially with the cops onto him.
Eliza tippytoes down the hallway, waits until the clerk's back is turned and sprints across the lobby.
Plig reflects that Snake is much better than the half-trained, incompetent Thirds who make up the majority of rogue channels.
Wise Snake lets Plig out.
Seezi hears something towards the front and runs to peer around a buttress.
Plig goes cautiously on his way, hoping to find a game in progress in some of the lesser taverns near the docks.
Wise Snake zlins Seezi peeking out.
Eliza hopes that Jirelle is alone and not with "clients". She sneaks to the door of Jirelle's "office" and peeks in.
Eliza: Pppssst!
Wise Snake: Hello? Can I help... er... yes?
Jirelle jumps.
Jirelle turns around and zlins Eliza.
Jirelle: ~~incredulous~~
Jirelle: Eliza?
Seezi jumps, realizing she is spotted and turns to run.
Wise Snake: Hey!
Seezi stops ~~ guilt at being caught ~~
Wise Snake debates running the girl down, but realizes if she chased and chastized every looky-loose that ogled the Ferry Building these days, she'd come into need weeks early.
Wise Snake starts to turn away, then pauses when Seezi stops.
Seezi looks past Snake.
Eliza slides into the room [proceeded by the smell of Eliza].
Eliza: I just wanted you to know that I was here.
Jirelle can't smell a thing, as the room is thick with incense.
Jirelle: Oh... wow... okay. That's groovy, Eliza.
Jirelle seems awfully mellow.
Jirelle: Wow, it's been ages since I've seen you. How've you been?
Wise Snake: This is Nick.
Eliza: Are you all right, Jirelle? I'm sorry I left you like that.... [looks at the channel] ARE you all right, Jirelle?
Wise Snake: He's my Donor.
Eliza starts to feel seriously alarmed.
Jirelle: Oh, sure.
Eliza: ~ concern ~
Jirelle: I realized I was just getting way, way too hung up over the whole Donor thing and I decided I should mellow out some more. So I started meditating again, and it's really helped a lot.
Eliza: I, er, I er....
Eliza: Oh I see.
Jirelle smiles at Eliza.
Jirelle: How was your vacation?
Eliza looks dirty, exhausted and has a scratch on her cheek.
Eliza: Well, if you are okay I should go and have a wash.
Eliza: Vacation? Oh! Vacation! Errr, fine, fine.
Seezi: Nick....
Seezi looks dreamy-eyed.
Wise Snake zlins Seezi.
Jirelle: Great, well, maybe I'll see you around, then.
Seezi: ~~ love-struck in classic adolescent style ~~
Wise Snake zlins Nick curiously but he only nods politely, evidently not returning the interest.
Eliza: OK....
Wise Snake shrugs.
Wise Snake: Well, Seezi, how can I help you?
Eliza peeks out the door, the way is clear, and starts to sneak back towards the lobby.
Seezi: No, I was just... walking.
Jirelle waves and smiles at Eliza.
Jirelle goes back to work.
Lukass is sitting at the front desk doing his paperwork.
Lukass: [Alea's paperwork, actually]
Alea walks into the lobby.
Lukass: Oh! Hi, Alea.
Alea pauses and sets the files down.
Eliza tiptoes towards the lobby ~ worrying ~ about Jirelle.
Alea: Hello, Lukass.
Alea: How is it going?
Seezi: Uh... bye.
Alea sighs and rubs her back.
Seezi: ~~ disappointment at Nick's disinterest ~~
Eliza takes an extra step then freezes and presses against the wall as she hears Alea's voice in the lobby.
Alea hears a noise and turns toward the hall.
Lukass: It's going okay. I have all your monthly reports done and I was just starting on the regional summary.
Eliza holds her breath.
Wise Snake: Well... good bye.
Wise Snake looks after Seezi oddly.
Alea: Oh!
Alea ~~ surprise ~~
Alea: I'll do those.
Alea: I wanted to thank you for your help, by the way.
Seezi trudges off despondently.
Lukass: No problem. I don't mind doing it, as long as I don't get in trouble.
Wise Snake eyes Nick.
Wise Snake: Looks like you've picked up yet another one.
Eliza is turning blue and chances a quick breath.
Wise Snake ushers Nick back in and locks the door.
Alea: Well, I appreciate the help.
Alea walks over toward the hall to glance down it.
Lukass hands Alea back the regional reports....
Lukass shrugs and puts them down.
Lukass pulls out some of his real work to do instead.
Alea: Eliza!
Eliza is standing pressed up against the wall, eyes closed so that no one will see her.
Alea ~~ Surprise ~~
Alea glances back at Lukass.
Alea looks back at Eliza.
Alea: May I ask what you are doing Eliza?
Eliza opens one eye and looks at Alea.
Eliza opens the other eye and tries to look casual.
Eliza: I was just going to have a shower, actually.
Alea's surprise turns to a glare.
Alea: You'll come with me right now.
Eliza cringes.
Alea grabs Eliza by the arm and starts dragging her toward her office.
Eliza: Really - I think I should wash....
Alea: Later.
Ruyovan comes down the hall.
Eliza keeps mumbling.
Ruyovan smiles at Alea and Eliza.
Alea forces a tight smile at Ruyovan.
Ruyovan sees they are... busy... and hastens by.
Eliza hangs her head, effectively hiding her face in her matted hair.
Alea goes into the lobby with Eliza in tow.
Alea goes into her office and closes the door behind them.
Alea crosses her arms and stares at the filthy person before her.
Eliza tries to sink through the floor.
Alea: Well?
Eliza: Well what?
Alea: Want to tell me where the shenned you have been?
Lanyi checks the lobby for crises....
Eliza tosses her head almost knocking herself out as the mats of hair hit her face.
Eliza: Actually, I have been getting to know the area better.
Alea: I'm not in a patient mood, Eliza.
Eliza: You said I was hurting Mostan.
Eliza: I didn't want to do that.
Alea: Forgetting about your channel?
Alea: Yes....
Eliza: Jirelle is just fine.
Alea: So you went to hurting Jirelle instead?
Alea: No, Jirelle is not fine.
Eliza: I have just seen her and she didn't miss me one bit.
Alea: Jirelle is past turnover.
Eliza is still a bit confused about this.
Alea: Any Sime who is past turnover is NOT fine.
Avaleia walks in the front door of the Sime Center.
Avaleia is a small, harmless-looking Gen woman carrying a large book.
Eliza: [mumbles] Looked fine to me.
Alea: Well you are not fully trained yet, are you?
Lanyi zlins Avaleia and stops.
Avaleia approaches the front desk.
Eliza doesn't bother to answer.
Avaleia: Hello. I'm here to talk about the new Oneness.
Avaleia: [sweet, kind voice]
Avaleia is talking to the clerk.
Lanyi is glad she has the short staff she's been carrying.
Lanyi carefully backs down the corridor.
Alea: You're going to have to work extra hard to convince Jirelle you're going to be there for her.
Alea: Now, I want you to go back up there and stay WITH her. Don't believe what she says.
Alea: You're her Donor. The Donor is the one who makes the decision in this case....
Lanyi signals at Tamlen's door.
Alea: And a channel who is past turnover is never okay and should not be left alone.
Lanyi swears when Tamlen doesn't answer.
Eliza: Yeah, yeah - that's why I went to see her.
Clerk: No, Miz... I uh... sure... haven't....
Clerk looking nervously around for help.
Lanyi signals at Alea's door.
Eliza: Now can I go wash?
Alea: Well, then I suggest you go back and talk to her again.
Alea pauses and answers her door.
Eliza indicates her torn and dirty condition in case Alea had failed to notice.
Alea: Yes?
Alea: Oh, Lanyi.
Eliza thinks about hiding under Alea's desk until whoever it is goes away.
Alea: Come in.
Avaleia: I'm talking about the true oneness, not the Unity that everybody's talking about, but the kind of oneness where every boy and girl can look at their sisters and brothers and say, yes, I love you and us all in the great One Love!
Lanyi: Alea. Avaleia is here. Lock the door and get on the phone to the police. Then try and call Tamlen if you know his room number.
Alea: What!
Eliza looks at Lanyi. "That's the woman who hurt Mostan?"
Lanyi: Yes it is. She's back.
Eliza: Where is Mostan? Does he know? Is he safe?
Eliza heads towards Lanyi and the door.
Lanyi blocks the door. "You stay here. I don't know where Mostan is, sorry."
Eliza looks back at Alea who is frantically dialing the phone.
Lanyi closes the door.
Avaleia gives the clerk some brochures since he hasn't told her to get lost yet.
Lanyi starts sidling up the hall.
Avaleia: Well, maybe you can come to our One Love meeting next Sunday then.
Lanyi flattens along the wall just out of site of the front desk.
Avaleia: Would you like to buy this copy of "In the Arms of Oneness"?
Avaleia: It's our guide to the spiritual and inspirational teachings of the Circle of Oneness.
Avaleia: Really! That's great.
Lanyi steps out with her arm with the staff hidden behind her slightly turned body.
Avaleia accepts money from the quivering clerk, and hands over the book.
Lanyi: "You aren't welcome here."
Avaleia turns, surprised by the sudden appearance of someone new.
Avaleia: Hello, would you like to hear about the New.... what??
Lanyi: Please go away.
Avaleia: It's a public building.
Avaleia: I'm just selling books.
Lanyi: And assaulting people, based on your past experience.
Eliza sneaks out and kneels in the hallway.
Lanyi is surprised Avaleia hasn't berserked on her yet.
Avaleia gives Lanyi a dirty look.
Avaleia: You don't have any idea what Unity is all about, do you. You don't even understand that, how could you possibly comprehend the beauty of Oneness?
Avaleia turns around and walks out of the Center.
Avaleia congratulates herself on the deep breathing techniques her therapist has been working on with her.
Lanyi stands flabbergasted.
Eliza wishes she had a gun.
Lanyi goes over. "Can I just look at that book she left?"
Eliza sneaks through the cafeteria, avoiding people's eyes, and out the back door of the cafeteria, around to the steps then runs up them to Tamlen's room.
Eliza signals frantically at Tamlen's door.
Eliza realises he isn't there and heads back to the lobby to make sure that "that woman" hasn't returned. Seeing that she hasn't, she heads back to her room for that long awaited shower. "Well, I guess Alea called the police anyway."
Eliza hops out of the shower and decides to go look in on Jirelle again after all. She is hungry, and probably should make Jirelle eat too.
Eliza knocks on the door, ignoring the signal button. "Jirelle? You still there?"
Eliza wishes she was Sime so she could "zlin".
Jirelle answers the door.
Jirelle: Hel - oh, Hi Eliza.
Eliza: Hi. Hungry? ~~hunger~~
Jirelle: You seem to be feeling much bet - sure!
Jirelle is suddenly hungry.
Eliza: good! I haven't eaten properly in days! [thinks that the lizard probably doesn't count as a meal]
Eliza: Let's go grab something.
Jirelle: Okay.
Jirelle feels enthusiastic about her Donor showing interest in hanging out with her again.
Jirelle follows Eliza.
Eliza puts her head down and heads determinedly for the cafeteria, determined not to let what other people think interfere with ANYTHING.
Eliza heads over to the hot food, grabs a tray, and starts to load 2 of everything.
Jirelle follows, getting some food together for herself.
Jirelle thinks gosh, Eliza must be REALLY hungry.
Jirelle zlins Eliza then gets more food.
Eliza is glad, despite her resolve, that the cafeteria is empty.
Eliza takes a table close to the food - just in case.
Eliza: So, Jirelle - what's been happening while I was away?
Jirelle: Um... well... I started meditating again.
Jirelle: And I gave lots of transfers... and... I got this new incense from Bo Ra Bo Ra that is really divine.
Eliza: ~~ questioning ~~
Jirelle: A new copy of the Tattler came out that said... er... [decides not to finish that sentence]
Jirelle: So I've been keeping busy.
Eliza eats quickly.
Jirelle: What did you do?
Eliza: Yes?
Jirelle eats also, probably more and faster than she would have without Eliza's influence.
Eliza swallows and wipes soup off her chin.
Eliza: Oh, this and that.
Eliza: I spoke to the lady who played the shiltpron and she agreed to teach it to me.
Jirelle: Really? Oh....
Jirelle wonders how Eliza will find the time to practice.
Jirelle thinks it's nice Eliza will have a hobby to keep her mind off things.
Eliza: But have have you been really... I mean... it's after turnover.
Eliza: Alea was very upset at me leaving you alone that long.
Eliza: I am sorry.
Eliza: ~~ sorry ~~
Jirelle smiles at Eliza.
Jirelle: Oh! I've been just fine.
Eliza: ~~contrite~~
Jirelle: I've been meditating two or three hours a day, and on my breaks, which really helps me relax.
Eliza: Yes, you look well. ~~ confused ~~
Jirelle: And I've been doing a lot of thinking happy-thoughts, and of course burning incense to make myself feel better.
Eliza: You have needmares?
Jirelle: And I talked to Briel, who was very reassuring.
Jirelle looks a little bit disturbed at the mention of needmares.
Jirelle: Well, some dreams are more pleasant than others, it is true....
Jirelle hates to say anything negative.
Eliza: Would you like it if I slept in your room then?
Eliza wonders what Briel will say and mentally cringes.
Jirelle smiles hopefully.
Jirelle: You would do that?
Jirelle: That is so nice of you.
Jirelle: ~~grateful~~
Eliza: No problem.
Eliza reaches for her plate of stew.