Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #189: Flashback (3/20/98)
Alea stretches and squints open an eye.
Alea: [Morning is once again rising over Bender Cove, and from the look of it, it promises to be a wonderfully bright day.]
Alea groans.
Alea scrubs at her eyes with a hand and then rolls over, slipping her feet out of bed.
Alea: Oooh....
Alea's toes curl.
Alea: Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold....
Alea hops out of bed and rubs her lower back before waddling over to the bathroom.
Alea has a quick shower, dries off and pulls out a warm taupe dress and tan, long sleeved top to slip on.
Alea goes to the mirror and frowns.
Alea: A sack.
Alea: I am wearing a SACK.
Alea quickly pulls a brush through her long hair, searches for a clip, and then clips it all back.
Alea ~~ despair ~~
Alea: I look like a barn.
Alea turns sideways and looks, rubbing her tummy when the baby takes that moment to kick.
Alea rubs her back.
Alea: Easy for you to say, little channel. Everyone will bow to you one day.
Alea grumbles as she walks toward the door.
Alea pulls the door open and goes out.
Alea goes to the stairs and carefully makes her way down them.
Alea breathes a sigh of relief at the bottom of the stairs.
Eliza sneaks out of her room and pulls the door gently shut behind her. Mostan must not have slept for days to sleep through her getting up and dressed.
Alea goes to the boards and checks them out, pausing to have the clerk make some adjustments when she sees the schedule is wrong.
Alea then waddles grumbling, down the hall to the cafeteria.
Eliza walks into the corridor, singing.
Alea goes into the cafeteria and sighs in relief at the smell of food.
Briel comes down the hall.
Briel ~~ need ~~
Briel is looking for Frutata, her Donor.
Alea walks into the line and proceeds to get a large Donor breakfast.
Briel stuffs her trembling tentacles into her pockets.
Eliza enters the cafeteria for breakfast, still singing softly.
Alea takes her tray over to a table and sits down.
Alea ~~ hunger ~~
Briel zlins toward Frutata's door.
Briel signals.
Frutata opens the door.
Frutata: Hello, Briel.
Frutata smiles.
Briel ~~ relief ~~
Briel: Good morning.
Frutata: ~~balmy nager~~
Alea sniffs the cereal and smiles.
Alea takes her spoon and lifts out a bite, savoring the rich flavor.
Briel moves closer to Frutata.
Briel: We're due transfer in half an hour.
Frutata: ~~support~~
Briel removes her hands from her pockets, slipping a tentacle out and to Frutata's wrist.
Alea: Oooh good. Warmth. Yum.
Alea swallows the bite, smiling in intense pleasure.
Frutata allows it, continuing to offer a soothing promise.
Briel trembles.
Frutata: Are you free until then?
Briel: I should have allowed you to share my room last night.
Briel: Yes.
Briel: I am.
Briel: If I wasn't, after touching your nager, I would be.
Briel tries to smile.
Frutata: ~~smiles~~
Alea dips another bite of the fruity cereal out and savors the taste.
Frutata: Is there anywhere you would like to go, to wait?
Alea: Mmmmm... oooh....
Alea sighs.
Florist knocks on the door of the Ferry Building.
Briel tries to think through her need to where she might like to go.
Briel: You know, you're the first one to ask me that out of all the transfers I've had.
Briel: I'm usually just escorted to the transfer room.
Eliza gets a single piece of toast and a glass of water and heads over to where Alea is sitting.
Toi Toi answers the door.
Alea thinks this is the best cereal she has had since... at least... yesterday.
Toi Toi is a female Gen.
Alea: Oh! Eliza.
Alea: Have a seat.
Toi Toi: Hello? Ah, a delivery?
Eliza: Good morning Alea! [big cheery smile] How are you this morning?
Alea: Just fine.
Alea: And you?
Frutata takes Briel's hands gently in his.
Frutata: ~~comforting~~
Alea takes another bite of cereal, moaning.
Alea: Oh, this is good.
Frutata: Then, would you like to go there now?
Florist: For a Miz Wise Snake. Sign here please.
Briel melts at Frutata's comfort, need not feeling quite so sharp.
Florist is holding 24 long stemmed white roses.
Briel thinks for a moment.
Toi Toi takes the clipboard and scribbles something utterly illegible.
Briel: The gazebo?
Eliza sits down and sips at the water.
Briel lifts an eyebrow at Frutata.
Florist hands over the roses.
Briel: I can't remember the last time I've had a moment to just go sit out there.
Briel: I hear it's even completely enclosed finally.
Alea notices Eliza's breakfast.
Alea: You should be eating more, Eliza.
Frutata: A completely enclosed gazebo? What an intriguing concept.
Frutata: I would be glad to join you.
Card: To Wise Snake, from R.
Toi Toi thinks maybe she ought not to be reading the card.
Eliza: I'm on a diet, Alea. Putting on too much weight. There really isn't that much physical work to do around here to keep me fit.
Eliza looks cheerful about it anyway.
Alea: The cereal is absolutely wonderful.
Alea: And Gens don't diet.
Frutata lets go of Briel's hands carefully [not faltering in his nageric support] and fetches his winter coat.
Alea smiles.
Eliza: But you are eating for two! I was just eating enough for two. [giggles]
Briel sees what Frutata is getting.
Briel: Oh!
Briel: I didn't think, Frutata.
Briel: If you'd rather, we can....
Briel falters.
Briel: Uh....
Frutata returns to Briel's side.
Briel: The transfer room would be fine.
Briel can think of no other place to go that's not outside.
Frutata: As you wish. It is, after all, your time. I will go where you will.
Alea: That's a myth.
Toi Toi carries the arrangement back to her (glass, starfish-embedded) desk and sits down to await the next caller.
Alea: I'm not actually eating for two, unless you consider when I'm sitting with a channel.
Eliza: The baby is certainly showing now anyway. How much longer before it's due? Will you be having it here?
Briel: Very well then. Let's go to the gazebo. I'll make sure you stay warm.
Alea: Three months.
Frutata nods. "Very well."
Alea: Yes, I'll be having it here. Tramila and Snake will be delivering it.
Frutata: ~~support/promise~~
Alea hesitates over her cereal.
Alea: How did transfer go yesterday, Eliza?
Eliza: That soon? I can't believe that I've been here two months already!
Briel turns and moves toward the back of the Sime Center, staying close to Frutata.
Frutata accompanies Briel.
Eliza: Oh it went fine. I was a bit surprised at how quickly Jirelle started. I was sort of expecting her to hesitate more, she is usually so uncertain of herself.
Briel: Tell me, Frutata, are you ready for transfer?
Frutata smiles.
Frutata: Yes.
Eliza: But one thing she is sure of, and that's transfer!
Briel is always a bit nervous with a new Donor.
Alea: Jirelle is just unsure of herself.
Frutata: ~~very solid, assured, confident,and calm~~
Alea: She's actually quite capable.
Alea: And there are very few Channels I've seen unsure of themselves during transfer, unless the Donor set them off somehow.
Alea smiles.
Eliza: There is no reason for her to be so apologetic all the time. Almost drove me mad!
Alea: I imagine it has something to do with her past that we haven't discovered yet.
Eliza: What happens now? I mean, how soon after one assignment do we get the next?
Alea: Just humor her. As she comes to trust us, she'll open up and relax.
Alea: She is actually a very new channel.
Briel ~~ duo ~~ enjoying the support of Frutata.
Briel slips out back and toward the Gazebo.
Frutata follows.
Briel: I consider myself fortunate that I am with you this month.
Frutata: I am honored to have been given the privilege.
Briel: You have a very strong steady, nager.
Briel: How long have you been a Donor?
Alea: Well....
Alea: Since the one with Jirelle went so well, I imagine in a day or two your next assignment will be posted.
Alea: Briel is the one who does all of that.
Alea: I'm waiting to see if I'll get an assignment this month or if last month was my final one until after the baby.
Eliza: What do I do until then?
Frutata: In my homeland, there is no distinction between different Gens. I have given selyn since I Established.
Alea: you rest.
Alea: You're entitled to a day or two of rest.
Briel: Really?
Eliza finishes her toast.
Briel: To renSimes or to channels?
Briel hadn't heard this before, she is certain.
Briel: You mean as in transfer?
Alea moves to her fruit.
Alea realizes she can't eat it, that she's full.
Frutata: In transfer, yes. Each Gen's initiation rite involves his or her first transfer to a Sime.
Alea glances at Eliza
Alea: Would you like to go shopping today or did you have other plans?
Frutata: Usually, one chosen when they were both children.
Eliza: I don't have any plans at all. I left Mostan asleep - I don't think he has slept at all for days. So I guess I'm free [smiles]
Briel: Ah... then there is no distinction made between Simes either?
Briel is thinking Distect....
Alea pushes herself up from the table.
Frutata: Channels, being physically different, often take different roles in society than renSimes. However, they are all referred to as Simes.
Alea: Good.
Frutata: Channels become healers, matchmakers, and often leaders.
Alea: I wanted to look for some things. It might be fun to go about together.
Briel: Matchmakers.
Briel thinks of this and nods, thinking there is no way she is going to mention this to Veraik, or to anyone Tecton.
Frutata: Yes. As you know, matchmaking is a precise art and requires great sensitivity.
Briel goes into the Gazebo and lights a fire in the brazier.
Frutata: Naturally channels have an edge in this area.
Briel: Which only a channel would have.
Briel nods.
Frutata nods.
Frutata stays near to Briel, continuing to project his support.
Alea gathers up her half eaten food and takes it to the trash.
Eliza: Okay Alea, how soon do you want to go?
Alea: Ten minutes?
Frutata does not think about his friend, who had been a healer, because sadness in the nager is not what Briel requires now.
Eliza: Oh, that soon! Well, okay.
Alea: If that isn't convenient...?
Frutata: ~~smooth, even support and calmness~~
Briel: We don't have matching here.
Briel moves over and seats herself on one of the padded benches.
Briel stretches her tentacles, unable to resist taking a quick zlin of Frutata's field.
Frutata sits beside her.
Briel ~~ delight at the field ~~~
Frutata: ~~deep, whirling Gen strength~~
Briel: I grew up on the Gen side of the border.
Eliza: No that's fine. I'm ready whenever you are.
Briel: I had no idea I was going to be a Sime. Or rather, they didn't... until it was too late.
Frutata studies Briel, listening.
Briel remembers but the grief of that encounter is distanced by need.
Alea: Great.
Alea: Well, then, let's go.
Alea heads toward the hall.
Frutata realizes Briel isn't going to say any more, and reaches out to place a hand gently over hers.
Frutata: ~~comforting strength~~
Briel glances up at Frutata and realizes she has fallen silent.
Briel attempts a smile.
Frutata meets her eyes, his own both sharing and keeping secrets.
Frutata smiles.
Frutata: ~~promise and offering~~
Eliza trots along with Alea.
Briel slips hyper, zlinning.
Frutata allows it, remaining steady.
Frutata: ~~promise/strength~~
Briel ~~ hunger ~~
Briel forces herself duo.
Briel: shen... your field....
Frutata meets her eyes again.
Briel slips a tentacle over Frutata's darker skin, thinking of their soon-to-be transfer.
Briel: Your field... it's... so steady.
Briel: Strong, sure.
Frutata holds his hands open, in case she has need of one.
Briel takes his hand.
Alea walks out of the Center and down the street with Eliza in tow.
Briel: Have you missed serving since... before...?
Briel studies Frutata's face closely, zlinning his field as she does.
Frutata: Yes. [with barely restrained feeling in his voice]
Frutata's expression remains steady, as does his nager.
Frutata: Yes, I have.
Eliza feels the comfortable lump of funds in her bag.
Alea walks along with Eliza enjoying the sun that is shining.
P. P. follows along beside them, waiting for Eliza to take her hand out of her bag long enough for him to stick his in.
Briel lets out a shaky breath.
Alea: So, Eliza, how have you adjusted to the Center so far?
Briel: I think we've waited long enough.
Frutata smiles.
Briel is zlinning Frutata wondering just how good... [shakes her head]
Briel thinks with a field like that, he can't go wrong.
Frutata offers his hands.
Frutata: Here, then?
Briel: Oh!
Briel actually manages a flush as she realizes just where they are.
Briel glances around, embarrassed.
Briel: I....
Briel zlins no one in the area.
Eliza: I'm missing the "business" of the farm. I mean, there are lots of things to learn, but nothing really physical to do, is there?
Eliza: Other then that, I must admit, it's very comfortable and the people are nice.
Briel: Yes.
Briel: Why not?
Frutata nods.
Alea: Well, I suppose you could work with the gardeners if you'd like... as long as you don't pull or strain anything.
Frutata holds out his hands again, offering physically but only promising nagerically.
Frutata: When you're ready, then.
Briel slips her small hands into Frutata's larger ones.
Frutata: ~~support~~
Briel: I-I'm ready.
Eliza lets her bag hang from her shoulder as she brushes her hair back out of her face.
Briel glances once more at Frutata before slipping hyper.
Frutata: ~~promise/offering/readiness~~
Briel ~~ nervous need ~~
Frutata's nager is a whirling fury of white-hot energy, dizzying in its depth and aching to be released.
Frutata: ~~need-to-give~~
Briel gasps, her tentacles slipping out and whipping around Frutata's arms.
P. P. moves up behind Eliza and slips his hand into her bag, snagging her wad.
Briel ~~ voracious need of life ~~
Frutata: ~~~~~release~~~~~
P. P. drops back and then swerves into an alley, starts running like mad.
Briel's laterals slip out and with a snarl she pulls Frutata forward for lip contact.
Alea: Wha--
Alea glances around.
Alea: Hey you!
Alea points.
Eliza: Hey! That kid grabbed my money!
Alea: Eliza!
Eliza drops her bag and takes off after the pickpocket.
Eliza pounds away after him.
Briel draws viciously, demanding the life-giving energy.
Frutata's nager surrounds Briel in a buffeting vortex of desire.
Eliza can see him running madly ahead of her.
Alea tries to bend down to pick up the purse.
Frutata: ~~~a savage glory~~~
Alea ends up squatting to retrieve it and nearly falls on her... "Why int he world did she toss her purse down?"
Briel soars as the selyn races into her system, filling her.
Frutata gives into every part of Briel, as he has been taught... her first and secondary, and the back ways of her heart, and all parts of a channel.
Briel ~~ pleasure, intense satisfaction...~~
Briel reaches for the first pleasure of the kill, the ultimate bliss....
Eliza stops as she gets to the end of the alley, looking around, and spots the pickpocket disappearing around a corner.
Frutata gives it to her.
Eliza takes off in that direction.
Alea heads after Eliza, hurrying as fast as her encumbered body will take her.
P. P. darts through two more alleys, then takes a flying leap onto the back of a passing cab.
Briel accepts the pseudokillbliss.
Briel ~~ soaring ~~
Eliza realises she has lost him and stops, looking around at the dark and dirty alley banked by tall warehouse type buildings.
Frutata wonders what went wrong.
Eliza shudders with memory and turns around wondering which way she came.
Briel feels Frutata's actions and flips down hypo.
Briel allows her head to slide to his shoulder, gasping.
Frutata holds Briel, supporting her.
Briel shudders....
Briel: Wha--what....
Frutata waits.
Briel holds onto Frutata.
Eliza starts walking very silently in a direction. Not the right direction, just a direction.
Briel: Oh... shen... Frutata...You offered....
Briel: I... am... disjunct.
Briel can't make up her mind if that was the best transfer she had or the most terrifying.
Frutata looks at her with compassion, but utter lack of comprehension.
Alea turns down an alley with Eliza's purse grasped in her hand, looking worriedly for her.
Briel begins to cry.
Briel: You have no idea... I didn't even think to explain.
Frutata tries to take Briel in his arms, to comfort her.
Briel hesitates, then allows it.
Frutata still doesn't know what went wrong.
Frutata: ~~support/comfort/sadness~~
Alea turns down another side street, doing her best to find Eliza.
Briel cries and shudders, shaking from the feelings she just experienced during transfer.
Aarohart comes out of a side street and sees Alea, freezes.
Aarohart turns and darts back the way he came.
Alea sees Aarohart and hurries after him.
Alea: Excuse me!
Briel's tears slowly cease and she pushes back.
Nightbird screams overhead.
Alea: Oh Sheeeeendoni... not another crazy bird!
Alea looks up, trying to locate the bird
Briel looks up at Frutata.
Nightbird falls to earth at Alea's feet, an arrow through its breast.
Eliza wanders past a warehouse with a wide open door and peers in. She is shocked to see a group of men apparently clustered around a dead Sime.
Alea: Oh my heavens!
Alea jumps back, stumbling over trash before hitting a wall.
Frutata meets Briel's eyes.
Frutata: ~~unsure~~
Alea grabs at her heart.
Briel: I'm so sorry, Frutata. This was all my fault.
Briel ~~ guilt ~~
Eliza yells and runs into the warehouse. The figures turn to smoke and disappear.
Briel: You did fine. More than fine. But what you offered... I can't accept.
Eliza spins around, looking for them.
Frutata does not know what he offered that was so unacceptable.
Frutata nods.
Eliza: ~~ terror ~~
Briel: You see... I'm disjunct. What you offered me would have opened pathways that I am not allowed....
Briel shakes her head and shudders, a tiny voice in her asking if it would have been so bad. She really couldn't have killed him... could she...?
Briel thinks suddenly this is wwaaaay too tempting.
Alea moves forward to examine the dead bird.
Eliza's heart is pounding and she is too scared to move.
Briel: Please forgive me... I... we should have talked more.
Frutata looks haunted.
Frutata nods.
Briel shakes her head, still trembling before standing.
Briel: I'm so sorry.
Briel runs out.
Frutata: Briel... [starts halfway up, then watches her run away]
Frutata sags back down and thinks that it is time he start trying to get back home.
Alea: Where in the world did Eliza go!
Alea stomps through the melting snow, glancing in buildings as she makes her way through the warehouse district.
Alea continues looking for Eliza, growing more worried every minute.
Eliza swallows the lump in her throat and, keeping a close watch on the dark shadows in the corners, slowly walks towards the doorway.
Alea decides she is going to have to go find help since she can't find Eliza, and turns back toward where she last saw Eliza.
Eliza gets to the door and takes off at a gallop.
Alea walks right into Eliza.
Alea goes flying backwards at Eliza's speed which hits her.
Alea ~~ thud/pain ~~
Alea: Eliza!
Alea feels something oozing all over her cape and tries to scrabble to a standing position.
Alea: Oh, ugh.
Eliza is sobbing in terror and struggles to get up and take off again, but is prevented by Alea's hold on her leg.
Alea's nose twitches at the smell on her cloak.
Alea: Eliza!
Alea: Calm down.
Alea: Donors don't run.
Alea studies Eliza.
Alea: Unless they have a good reason....
Eliza: Let me GO! LET ME GO!
Alea: Eliza?
Alea doesn't let her go.
Eliza struggles wildly in Alea's grasp.
Alea: Eliza. Stop it. [calmly]. You're going to attract every Sime in the area.
Alea think Eliza is so low field she won't be the one who they decide to attack either....
Alea uses her field to try to disguise Eliza's panic.
Eliza drops and buries her head in her hands and sobs.
Alea: Eliza. What is it? What's the matter?
Eliza is hysterical and totally unaware of Alea except as something stopping her from getting away.
Alea waits patiently doing her best to blunt Eliza's panic until Eliza gets control.
Alea: Come on, Eliza. You can talk to me.
Alea: Just relax.
Alea talks in a calm soothing voice.
Alea: Nothing can be that bad.
Alea: I have your purse.
Eliza swallows convulsively.
Alea: We can make a report.
Eliza: Alea....
Eliza: Alea, we have to get out of here!
Alea: Everything will be fine....
Alea: Yes?
Alea: Of course we do.
Alea: Let's go right now.
Eliza looks behind Alea in terror as if all the denizens of hell were rising up behind her.
Alea: We'll go make a report on that pickpocket.
Alea feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, but doesn't turn, instead hooks her arm with Eliza's.
Alea: Come on, Eliza.
Alea: Let's go make a report.
Alea: You'll be fine.
Eliza: Pickpocket? Oh! No! I want to go home!
Alea wonders what the shenned happen to the poor girl for her to be so hysterical.
Alea: Okay. Okay. That's fine. We'll go home then.
Alea: Come on, Eliza. Let's go.
Alea starts walking toward the main street in the area--she hopes.
Eliza clutches at Alea.
Alea moves along as fast as she is able, dragging Eliza with her.
Alea: Ah, look... there is the Ferry Building.
Alea: See the tower?
Alea: Why don't we go talk to my cousin?
Eliza nods, teeth chattering, not understanding what Alea is talking about.
Alea thinks if anything will calm Eliza down, Snake will.
Eliza nods again.
Eliza nods a few more times.
Alea moves through the streets to the Ferry Building.
Alea keeps an arm around Eliza.
Alea: Look, right here. Here we are.
Eliza keeps nodding until the nods fit into the trembling.
Alea warns off any would be Sime with a glare in her nager.
Alea goes up to the Ferry Building and pounds on the door.
Toi Toi answers the door.
Toi Toi: Hello?
Toi Toi: [politely]
Eliza blindly clings to Alea's arm.
Alea: Hi, I'm Alea Farris. Is Snake here?
Alea: Er, can I come in and get some tea for Eliza?
Alea: Or perhaps Sky?
Alea: Or... just who are you?
Alea studies the stranger.
Toi Toi checks a notepad in hand.
Toi Toi: I am the receptionist here.
Toi Toi: Ah... I see here, Alea.
Toi Toi's notes say, "warn before sending up".
Alea: Reception--well, Snake certainly is moving along.
Toi Toi: Please, have a seat. I'll let them know you're here.
Alea glares at the hoity Toi Toi.
Toi Toi ushers Alea and Eliza in, and shows them to a couch shaped like a bright yellow banana.
Alea blanches.
Alea: And they think -I- have bad taste.
Alea: Just sit right here, Eliza, dear.
Eliza collapses on the banana and wraps her arms around herself.
Alea: Right here on this bright, fruitful sofa.
Alea: Perhaps I should go find Snake. [to Toi Toi]
Toi Toi: No, you wait right here. I'll let them know you're here. [firmly]
Alea's eyes narrow.
Alea looks Toi Toi up and down.
Alea: Well then, hurry.
Toi Toi sniffs.
Toi Toi starts up the stairs.
Alea: And bring back some tea for this girl. She is distraught.
Alea turns and lowers herself to the sofa by Eliza.
Alea: Now, sweetie, why don't you tell me what this is all about?
Alea pushes Eliza's hair out of her face, trying to smooth it back.
Eliza shivers and rocks back and forth, forth and back.
Alea sighs when she realizes Eliza isn't going to answer.
Alea: You stay right here, Eliza.
Alea: I'll be right back.
Alea has to go to the bathroom--again.
Alea stands up and goes across the building to the bathroom.
Eliza rocks back and forth with an expression not unlike a bunny caught in a trap.
Alea quickly relieves herself, wondering what she is going to do with Eliza.
Alea leaves the bathroom and traipses back across the first floor building to where Eliza is.
Toi Toi is flabbergasted to see Alea going to the bathroom.
Toi Toi: WHAT are you DOING!!!!
Alea points back around the corner to where she just came from.
Alea: I was using the facilities.
Alea: The only one you have here that is in working order, I might add.
Toi Toi: Well. Snake is coming. I'd suggest you sit down there and wait.
Toi Toi points to the banana with Eliza rocking to and fro on it.
Alea looks down her nose at Toi Toi and walks out of the building.
Alea heads back to the Sime Center.
Alea gets back to the Center and kicks the slush off her feet.
Alea removes her cloak and tosses it on the rack, following it with her scarf and gloves.
Eliza continues rocking and doesn't notice if anyone is there, gone, or inside out.
Alea goes to her office to fill out a report on what happened this morning while they were out walking.
Alea digs through her files, finds exactly what she needs, and sits down to fill it out.
Alea tries to remember what the pickpocket looked like as she fills out the report.
Alea writes down the description and then fills out a description of what was probably taken.
Alea fills in specifics of where the event took place and then goes to file the report.
Briel is just walking back into the Sime Center when she sees Alea leaving her office.
Alea sees Briel.
Alea: Good morning, Hajene. May I talk with you for a moment?
Briel hesitates, then nods.
Briel: In my office.
Alea nods and follows Briel.
Alea: We had a small incident today.
Briel: Oh?
Briel ~~ distracted ~~
Alea nods.
Alea: Eliza and I were going shopping.
Alea: A pickpocket stole... well... it's all in the report.
Alea follows Briel into the office.
Briel goes over and sits down at her desk, motioning Alea into another chair.
Briel: Okay. Now, what did the pickpocket steal?
Briel looks at Alea.
Alea studies Briel, thinking she doesn't look very happy. She hesitates about bringing this up, then shrugs and goes ahead.
Alea: I'm not sure.
Wise Snake comes down the stairs, looking around.
Wise Snake zlins Eliza there, but no Alea.
Eliza: ~~ terror ~~
Alea slides the paper across the desk to Briel.
Briel: You're not sure.
Wise Snake freezes halfway down the stairs.
Alea shakes her head.
Wise Snake looks about to see what Eliza is in terror of.
Alea: A pickpocket picked Eliza's purse then took off as close as I can figure it.
Eliza sits and rocks.
Wise Snake comes to the conclusion that whatever is terrifying Eliza is of no danger to herself, and continues down the stairs cautiously.
Briel: Then why isn't Eliza making this report?
Alea sighs.
Wise Snake: Eliza?
Alea: She took off after the person.
Eliza: ~~ stupefied terror ~~
Alea: When I found her, she was out of her mind. I left her at Snake's to come here and report this.
Briel stares, uncomprehendingly.
Briel: You left her?
Wise Snake approaches Eliza.
Alea: She was with Snake. Snake is a Farris. Who better to take care of her?
Wise Snake inspects her for signs of physical trauma.
Wise Snake: Eliza?
Briel rubs a tentacle over her face.
Briel: Shen.
Eliza seems unaware that anyone is there.
Briel rubs at her neck.
Briel picks up the report and scans it.
Wise Snake reaches for Eliza's hand, squeezes it.
Briel gets up and goes to the door, stops a passing renSime.
Eliza looks up very slowly. "Hello."
Briel: Please let me know as soon as Eliza, or anyone from the Ferry Building, shows up.
Briel returns to her desk.
Briel: Now, would you mind telling me what you two were doing out without a Sime?
Alea: We went shopping.
Wise Snake tries to meet Eliza's eyes.
Eliza eyes are glazed and unfocused.
Wise Snake touches Eliza's face.
Eliza: Snake.
Eliza: Hello, Snake
Wise Snake: What are you afraid of, Eliza?
Wise Snake: [wonderingly]
Eliza's eyes cross in terror and she grabs Snake's hand and squeezes it hard.
Eliza: There was blood!
Eliza: Men! JOHN!!!! And eggs and clods.
Wise Snake chokes as her hand nearly breaks.
Briel: You went shopping?
Eliza: And they were gone, but they weren't gone, they are there still!
Briel simply stares at Alea.
Alea: Yes. We went shopping.
Alea smiles.
Eliza: Kaput but shadows and BLOOD!
Wise Snake deduces that Eliza is freaking out.
Briel glares.
Wise Snake: Eliza... Eliza, you're here with me. There aren't any men or eggs here.
Wise Snake: No blood.
Eliza looks at Snake beseechingly and tries to show her what she saw.
Eliza: Eggs?
Briel: You simply went out, alone, without a channel, in your condition... and took Eliza with you?
Eliza: What eggs?
Briel: You know Eliza shouldn't have left, nor should you....
Briel forces herself to calm down, rubbing at her temples.
Wise Snake: Look around you. It's just us, and the desk, and the chairs.
Wise Snake: You're safe now.
Alea resists the urge to shrug, keeping her nager perfectly controlled.
Eliza looks around and does a double take at the yellow banana.
Briel taps a tentacle on the desk.
Alea: If you'll excuse me...?
Wise Snake reaches into her pocket, finds a horse tranquilizer pill.
Eliza shudders, possibly at the decor.
Briel glances up, eyes narrowing on Alea.
Briel: Fine. But do not even think about leaving the Center again today unescorted until I've had a chance to sort this all out.
Alea doesn't comment but stands and leaves the office.
Briel looks down at the report and shudders.
Wise Snake zlins Eliza again.
Briel: Shendoni Donors. They're all insane.
Eliza: ~~ afraid and confused but no longer terrified ~~
Wise Snake: Good. Good.
Wise Snake: What do you say to just easing up just a little on my hand there, Eliza? You're holding on kind of hard.
Wise Snake: Can you tell me what happened?
Eliza: Oh! [lets go of the hand]
Eliza shakes her head.
Eliza: I don't know what happened
Wise Snake massages the hand with the tentacles on that arm.
Eliza: It was if I were reliving it all over again.
Wise Snake: Reliving what, Eliza?
Eliza shivers.
Alea goes down into the lobby.
Eliza: Before I came here.
Wise Snake: Your cousin's changeover?
Eliza: No! [softly] ...after that.
Wise Snake: Do you want to tell me what happened, after?
Eliza shuts her eyes and sags forward.
Eliza: I don't know. Briel thought if I wrote it down it would help.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Eliza eyes snap open and she looks frantically at Snake.
Wise Snake: What?
Wise Snake: What's the matter?
Eliza: But when I was caught down that alley and I didn't know where I was, it was just like I was there all over again!
Wise Snake downs the horse pill.
Wise Snake: Okay, okay, you're okay.
Alea checks to see if Eliza has returned yet, then goes to her office.
Wise Snake: Look... I'm not getting the whole picture here. Had you forgotten all of that, until just now? Or had you remembered all along?
Wise Snake: Have you had these attacks before?
Eliza: And there was this warehouse and I looked in and he was there, just as I left him with them standing around him and the blood.
Eliza: No. And no, I hadn't forgotten, it just didn't seem so, important before.
Wise Snake wonders where in shen Alea is and why she left this hysterical Tecton Donor on the doorstep.
Eliza: That didn't come out right. I mean, it was like it happened to someone else.
Wise Snake studies Eliza.
Eliza seems to realise where she is for the first time.
Eliza: What am I doing here? How did I get here?
Wise Snake: Alea brought you here.
Wise Snake: I think.
Alea gathers her reports and brings them all back out to give to the desk clerk to file.
Wise Snake: Eliza, have you had any attacks like this before?
Eliza: No, never.
Wise Snake: It happened right before you arrived at the Sime Center, didn't it?
Eliza: A few weeks.
Eliza: I don't even know the name of the place.
Wise Snake: What did you do in the weeks between?
Eliza thinks.
Eliza: I came here.
Eliza: Not here, to the Sime Center.
Eliza: It was like, well, this is where we were headed, and even though there was no longer any need to get here I still had to come.
Eliza: I just couldn't think of anything else to do.
Eliza: ~~miserable~~
Alea drops the folders off at the clerk's desk and then goes back to her office.
Wise Snake: Why did it take weeks? You must have been coming from awfully far away.
Wise Snake wonders if they had been going to meet friends in Bender Cove.
Alea sits down, then almost has a cow at the report she sees on her desk.
Alea stands and goes out to the drug storage area in the center.
Alea pauses on her way to order a complete new set of keys for the Center.
Alea: Shen, shen, shen, shen....
Eliza: I don't know the name of the place, but we were still a long way away I guess. John had been taking care of getting us here before that.
Alea fishes for, and finds her keys and unlocks the storage room, then keys in the number and hurries inside. 1
Wise Snake can't think of any other explanation why someone would travel from weeks away to Bender Cove.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake: And all that time, you never felt anything, until now?
Eliza: Oh! Snake! What am I doing here? I shouldn't be here. Where is your Donor? You should have them with you shouldn't you?
Alea finds a pen in her pocket. Going over, she retrieves the drug list and begins going down the isle until she comes to the Farris drugs.
Wise Snake: Uh... [winces at Eliza's new burst of emotion]
Wise Snake: I think Alea brought you here for your safety.
Wise Snake: You were broadcasting terror, and as low field as you are, a renSime could have killed you.
Alea breaks out in a sweat as she realizes that a Farris could have accidentally taken a wrong medicine--again--because of the screw up.
Eliza: Alea? Was Alea with me? Where is she now?
Alea carefully removes one box and sets it on the counter.
Wise Snake: I don't know. [patiently] I was told she was here, but when I came down, you were the only one left.
Alea digs through drawers for their new gadget that arrived and pulls it out.
Alea sits down and takes the bottles all out and stacks them in a neat row.
Eliza tries to think. "I was with Mos, then I was in the warehouse with John, then I was here. How odd."
Eliza stands.
Wise Snake: This is a serious business, Eliza.
Wise Snake: Your career as a Donor will be threatened by this event.
Alea opens the first bottle and checks the contents. When she is done, she takes the gadget and slips the tape around the outside, making sure it is securely re-sealed.
Eliza: I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Snake. If I remember, you must be nearing your own transfer now.
Eliza: I should go.
Wise Snake: Eliza... I think you'd better have an escort.
Eliza wobbles a little.
Wise Snake takes Eliza's arm.
Alea moves to the second one and checks it, and the third, and on and until until she works her way through the first box.
Alea: [When the box is done, she stands, moves to the medicines and pulls down another box.]
Wise Snake gestures at the receptionist. "Go get Nick. Tell him to bring his cloak and the medical kit."
Eliza: It will? How?
Alea works her way through the second box, and then a third box before her eyes start bothering her.
Wise Snake: You lost your hold on the present-day reality. You broadcast emotions so powerful they would cripple or drive into killmode any Sime nearby. Being a Donor is about complete self-control.
Wise Snake: What if that had happened when a channel was in your care?
Eliza: ~~ miserable ~~ I don't seem to have any control.
Wise Snake: Well, normal daily self-control is something that can be trained.
Wise Snake: You were pushed into service months earlier than any normal Donor trainee would have been, you deserve months more of training.
Alea stops to rub her eyes.
Wise Snake: But this... attack... is something else.
Wise Snake: I hope that it was the only one of its kind, but if it wasn't....
Alea rubs at her neck too.
Wise Snake: I do not know that the Tecton would risk that. At least not any time soon.
Eliza: ~~ despair ~~
Wise Snake: Look... let me bring you back to the Center. I shouldn't even be talking to you about this stuff, I'm not Tecton and I don't know what they'll do.
Alea has to go to the bathroom again.
Wise Snake looks up as Nick comes down the stairs, gestures to him.
Eliza sees Nick and jumps, the ~~ terror ~~ returning momentarily before she recognises him.
Alea gets up and leaves the room, locking the door and setting a new number code just to be on the safe side, then heads upstairs to go to the bathroom and stop by the person in charge of the medications.
Wise Snake jerks away from Eliza.
Eliza tries to still her beating heart and gasping breath.
Wise Snake retreats to Nick's other side.
Eliza is shaking again.
Eliza: I'm sorry, Snake.
Wise Snake: Just.... try to take deep breaths, and stay calm.
Wise Snake: Come over here by Nick, where his field will hide yours.
Wise Snake: Do you want to go back to the Sime Center?
Alea goes to the person in charge of the pharmacy and gives them the code, with very specific instructions not to give the code to anyone else until Briel or Veraik approves it.
Eliza hesitates about walking closer to Nick, but does.
Eliza: Yes, please. I do.
Alea then goes back downstairs and into the storage room to continue her work on the medications.
Wise Snake says to the wide-eyed receptionist, "We'll be back in a couple of hours. Don't let anybody in until then."
Eliza puts Nick between her and Snake.
Wise Snake: [to Eliza] Are you going to be all right to walk with us to Bayview to catch a cab? It's only two or three blocks.
Eliza nods that she will be fine.
Wise Snake lets them out the door and locks it carefully behind them.
Wise Snake leads Nick and Eliza down the street, looking about in a nervous and paranoid fashion.
Eliza keeps her eyes on the ground.
Alea goes through three more boxes of specialized meds before deciding perhaps there are no more tainted ones.
Wise Snake reaches the nearest busy street and hails a cab to bring them to the Sime Center.
Wise Snake keeps a close eye on Eliza the entire time to make sure she doesn't run off or affect any renSimes with any wild bursts of emotion.
Wise Snake is relieved when the cab lets them off at the Sime Center.
Wise Snake: Come on, Eliza.
Wise Snake: Nick.
Wise Snake shepherds Eliza and Nick into the Sime Center's lobby.
Briel stares blankly at the paperwork on her desk, not wanting to do it, but knowing it has to be done.
Wise Snake goes to the front desk clerk, keeping a wary eye on Eliza.
Wise Snake: Is Controller Briel available?
Eliza is relieved to be back.
Briel sighs and picks through the papers trying to decide which one is the most important.
Briel finally shuffles them and puts them in the order of most important.
Wise Snake waits impatiently.
Clerk: Sorry about that. I'll go see if she is available.
Clerk walks down the corridor and signals at Briel's office.
Briel glances up.
Briel: Come.
Clerk: Eliza is back, Controller. With Wise Snake.
Wise Snake fidgets irritably.
Wise Snake relaxes a tad when Nick puts his hand on her arm.
Briel: Oh!
Briel: Yes, please send them in.
Eliza holds on to the edge of the desk.
Clerk nods and goes back.
Clerk: She said to send you right in. [indicates Briel's office]
Wise Snake: Come on, Eliza.
Wise Snake: Let's go let Controller Briel know you're back safely.
Eliza: Yes, Snake.
Wise Snake leads Eliza into Briel's office.
Eliza follows Snake down to Briel's office, dreading what Briel will say.
Briel shoves the papers aside and stands, going to the door.
Briel: Snake... Eliza.
Briel zlins Eliza.
Briel ~~ concern ~~
Eliza: ~~ overtones of controlled fear ~~
Briel: How are you? What happened? [to Snake]
Wise Snake: She appeared on my doorstep, evidently left by Alea.
Briel: I had heard.
Wise Snake: Not aware of the world around her, projecting abject terror.
Briel: Terror? Over what?
Briel motions them to a chair, taking one near the other two chairs.
Wise Snake: When she came out of it she said it was memories of... things that happened before she came to the Sime Center.
Wise Snake: She said she hadn't felt it that strongly before.
Briel nods slowly.
Briel: I see.
Briel glances at Eliza.
Wise Snake chooses to remain near Nick rather than to sit.
Briel: Things that might have been in your report to me, Eliza?
Eliza wonders if Briel read the report.
Eliza: Yes, Hajene.
Eliza: It was like I was living it again.
Eliza is relieved that Briel knows what she is talking about.
Briel ~~ concern ~~
Eliza: ~~ relief ~~
Briel: I hadn't zlinned the problems were this serious.
Briel: However, sometimes problems do tend to reappear later, under different situations.
Eliza: I didn't know there was a problem. It just, happened.
Eliza resolves to stay away from dark alleys and warehouses.
Briel: I think it was just waiting to happen, Eliza. After reading the report you gave me.
Briel glances at Snake.
Briel: Eliza has been through a few problems before coming here.
Eliza: So, can I still be a Donor?
Briel: You know, Eliza. This could constitute a serious problem with you being a Donor.
Briel: Well....
Briel: Actually, I think it might be best if we set up some counseling sessions first.
Eliza: ~~ frantic willingness to please ~~
Briel: And you can work, monitored, with a well trained channel.
Briel works to soothe Eliza.
Briel: We have several Second Order channels here that I will consider for you to work with.
Briel: However, I want to schedule you first, to come in and talk, so we can work through the past and get you clear of it.
Briel: Until I am completely satisfied that this isn't going to crop up while you're working with a channel, I don't want to put you on the transfer list.
Briel: I'm sure you understand that.
Eliza thought, before today, that you were through with the past because it was, well, past.
Briel ~~ concern ~~
Eliza: I understand.
Briel: We'll just talk... see what's going on. How's that?
Eliza: Fine.
Briel glances at Snake.
Briel: Are you okay?
Wise Snake seems tense and ill-at-ease.
Briel: Time for transfer?
Briel thinks a little too close to Eliza too, probably.
Wise Snake is due in 24 hours.
Wise Snake sticks close to Nick's field.
Eliza practises being calm.
Wise Snake: Well... as she is back, perhaps I should go.
Briel: Thank you, Snake, for bringing Eliza back.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake turns to go.
Briel: Thank you again.
Wise Snake leaves.
Eliza looks at Briel.
Eliza: Am I excused, too?
Briel: Yes, but please don't leave the Center.
Eliza shudders.
Eliza: I won't.
Eliza gets up and walks out to go find Alea.
Eliza goes to Alea's office and knocks.
Eliza: Shen.
Eliza signals.
Eliza sighs and wanders off to look elsewhere.
Eliza heads towards the lobby.
Eliza asks the clerk if he knows where Alea may be.
Alea finishes the last box of Farris medications and sighs.
Alea shoves them back up into its place.
Clerk suggests he saw her with medications and that she was probably in the pharmacy.
Alea rubs her lower back and stretches.
Eliza heads towards the pharmacy.
Alea goes to the door and opens it and slips out, relocking it behind her and keying the pad.
Alea turns... and jumps.
Eliza asks the Pharmacist if he knows where Alea is and gets told that he isn't giving anyone information until either Briel or Veraik okays it.
Alea: Eliza!
Alea hurries forward....
Eliza turns around.
Eliza: Oh Alea, I was just looking for you.
Alea slows and studies Eliza.
Eliza: I wanted to tell you that I am back. [looks confused]
Alea: Are you okay?
Alea reaches out and touches Eliza's hand, testing the temperature.
Eliza: I'm fine, I think.
Eliza: Although I don't remember going out with you this morning.
Alea: What happened to you back there?
Alea ~~ worry ~~
Alea: We were going to go shopping, but a pickpocket robbed you.
Eliza rubs her head.
Eliza: I don't remember that.
Eliza: ROBBED ME?
Eliza: Oh no!
Alea slips an arm around Eliza.
Alea: Why don't we go upstairs and sit down and have some tea.
Eliza lets Alea lead her upstairs.
Alea leads Eliza back up the stairs and to her office.
Alea sends clerk for tea and then shuts the door behind them.
Alea: Look, Eliza, everything is going to be just fine.
Alea: I filed a report. You weren't injured... were you?
Eliza: Just fine. Briel took me off transfers.
Alea: Ah... I see.
Alea: Well... I'm sure that's only for a short time.
Alea: You know, perhaps instead of that tea you might want to go lie down and take a nap.
Eliza thinks that she will run away and become a famous shiltpron player and everyone will be in awe of her control and one day she will come back to the Center and channels will be lining up to work with her....
Eliza returns to reality.
Eliza thinks that if she sleeps perhaps she will dream.
Eliza: I'd like that tea if you don't mind.
Alea: Okay. If that's what you want.
Alea goes to the door and collects the tea from the clerk.
Alea passes a cup to Eliza.
Eliza: Thank you, Alea.
Alea smiles at Eliza.
Alea: No problem.
Alea sits with Eliza in silence as they drink their tea.
Notes:
1) Since there are no computers, this is in all likelihood a pushbutton combination lock of the mechanical type. [return]