Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Bender Cove Township Scenario
Episode #209: Bender Cove: A Tourist's Paradise (4/6/98)
Griff threads his way past the gutting houses towards the Ferry Building.
Griff is bouncing along, ready for a new experience in ookiness.
Simhi screams.
Griff cocks his head at the sound of a scream from a nearby alley.
Griff, being an idiot 13-year-old, immediately goes to investigate.
Simhi collapses in a pool of blood.
Griff thinks that with that sort of volume, it's either something really neat or a girl who's stepped in a dog's leavings.
Simhi's attackers run away.
Simhi groans.
Griff sees some men run out of the alley, but quickly loses interest when they look perfectly normal, not ooky.
Griff is a bit disappointed, but perks up when he hears the groan.
Griff bounces into the alley and sees Simhi lying in a pool of his own blood.
Griff: Neat-o!
Griff thinks of how much this would gross out his sister.
Simhi has a knife sticking out of his front side.
Griff belatedly remembers that one is supposed to help mugging victims.
Griff: Hey, are you all right?
Simhi groans again.
Simhi: Get... help... kid.
Simhi: Help.... me.
Griff is a bit reluctant to get help, for fear he'll be sent away.
Griff then remembers that Snake let him watch the changeover.
Griff: I'll get Miz Ferret.
Griff turns and runs for the Ferry Building.
Simhi groans again.
Griff scampers down the walk and pounds on the door.
Griff: Hey, open up!
Nick hears the commotion and raises an eyebrow in Snake's direction.
Toi Toi answers the door reluctantly.
Toi Toi: Hello, can I h---
Griff: Get Miz Ferret quick!
Griff: There's a guy in the alley back there, all gooky with blood!
Griff is practically dancing with enthusiasm.
Toi Toi shakes her head and closes the door.
Toi Toi climbs the stairs.
Toi Toi signals at Snake's office door.
Nick: Shall I get that?
Toi Toi rolls her eyes at the long pause.
Toi Toi checks her watch.
Nick goes over and opens the door.
Nick: What is it?
Toi Toi looks at Nick disapprovingly.
Toi Toi: There's a young man downstairs in the market for a small, fur-bearing predator.
Toi Toi: Oh, and he says there's an injured person in an alley nearby.
Toi Toi considers her duty discharged and turns and walks back to the stairs.
Nick turns to Snake.
Nick: Looks like Griff found you some work.
Simhi feels his life ebbing away.
Wise Snake thinks that message didn't sound quite right, but the part about someone being injured was clear enough.
Wise Snake picks up the medical satchel and her cloak and walks out of the office.
Nick follows Snake.
Wise Snake walks down the stairs.
Wise Snake is surprised to see Griff. (and wonders how Nick knew it was him)
Griff bounces excitedly as he sees Snake.
Griff: Miz Ferret!
Griff: There's a guy in the ally, and he looks really ooky!
Wise Snake: All right, why don't you lead us there?
Simhi groans and looks ooky.
Griff scampers down the street.
Wise Snake follows Griff.
Griff turns into the ally and points triumphantly at his find.
Simhi sees a group of people approaching and panics as he fears "they" are coming to "finish him off".
Wise Snake goes to Simhi and knees at his side.
Wise Snake zlins Simhi's injuries.
Simhi: No... no.
Nick kneels behind Snake.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Simhi: ~ stabbed, shocky ~
Griff frowns as Snake and Nick block his view, then prances around until he can see again.
Wise Snake zlins one stab wound... the one the knife is still sticking out of.
Griff wonders what kind of ooky things Snake is going to do to this guy.
Wise Snake grimaces and slides hypo long enough to pull the knife out of the wound, then goes into healing mode and uses her field to try to block the bleeding and the loss of selyn.
Simhi promptly passes out.
Wise Snake zlins the internal damage the knife caused.
Nick: How bad is it?
Nick absentmindedly pulls a roll of bandage out of the satchel, while keeping his attention firmly on Snake.
Delivery Boy knocks on the door of the Ferry Building.
Toi Toi opens the door.
Toi Toi: Yes?
Delivery Boy: I have a delivery in the cart for a Hajene Snake.
Delivery Boy: Sign here, please.
Toi Toi takes the clipboard and signs something which is nearly illegible but might read "not again!"
Toi Toi hands it back.
Delivery Boy: [shoves clipboard at Toi Toi]
Delivery Boy: Here is the letter that comes with it. I'll just go get it. It's big, so keep the door open.
Delivery Boy trots down the steps and picks up a very large, grape purple bean bag (sans straps).
Delivery Boy staggers up the steps.
Toi Toi: Who did you say this was from?? [confused]
Delivery Boy consults the clipboard.
Delivery Boy: Lord Hardy or something
Toi Toi: Ah, good old Dick Hardy, you can always count on him for the unwanted deliveries. [sarcastically]
Toi Toi: Thanks.
Delivery Boy pushes it through the doorway.
Simhi sort of comes around in a blaze of pain.
Toi Toi sits at her desk and watches him straining to jam the beanbag through the doorway.
Wise Snake finishes zlinning the injury.
Delivery Boy gets it through with one last shove.
Wise Snake: Well, it's not good. Got him right in the large intestine.
Delivery Boy: Well, good day to you.
Nick sees Simhi move, and prepares to help Snake handle pain.
Delivery Boy leaves it in the middle of the entry way and exits.
Wise Snake: We're going to have to get him somewhere we can clean out this wound.
Wise Snake: Before I go any further.
Nick: Hmm, we could use the banana as a stretcher, I think. It's not too heavy.
Wise Snake: Give me a break! [snaps]
Wise Snake is not in the mood for humor.
Nick shrugs apologetically.
Onlooker peers over Wise Snake's shoulder.
Griff is peering twice as hard as onlooker.
Simhi: Get... help....
Wise Snake: Shhh... stay still.
Simhi: Oooooooohhhh.
Wise Snake: Griff, you take his feet. Nick, his head. I'm going to try to keep the bleeding down.
Simhi grabs the front of Snake's top.
Wise Snake uses her field to blunt Simhi's pain.
Simhi: Need to... need to tell....
Simhi: Eeeeeeeggghhhhhhhh.
Griff decides that he likes Snake; there are always plenty of ooky things happening around her, and she lets him help with them.
Wise Snake winces as she is nearly dragged down onto Simhi, then her ear blasted by his scream.
Simhi: No no... can't die. Have to tell... mmmmooooooaaaannnnnnn.
Wise Snake: Shhh... please, remain calm.
Nick carefully lifts the top half of Simhi.
Wise Snake: You won't die. Just let us help you.
Simhi: Eeeggggg [passes out again]
Wise Snake: Ah, thank goodness.
Griff carelessly picks up the feet, drops one, then recovers it.
Wise Snake is glad she didn't assign Griff to the head.
Onlooker taps Wise Snake on her shoulder, and asks "hey what happened?"
Wise Snake concentrates on keeping the bleeding to a minimum and the bodily systems as well balanced as possible, under the circumstances.
Wise Snake moves with the body as Nick and Griff pick it up.
Nick is glad that Simhi is out again; one less thing to worry about.
Wise Snake utterly fails to notice the onlooker, as she is concentrating on her patient.
Nick leads the way, carefully feeling for each step in hopes that he won't stumble.
Wise Snake: Ok, we're taking him to the Ferry Building, third floor where the water is.
Wise Snake: Try not to drop anything, Griff.
Griff: I won't. I'm strong!
Onlooker, trying to get a better view at the body, bumps into Griff.
Griff barely manages to stagger along under his burden.
Griff stumbles.
Griff: Hey!
Griff drops one foot.
Wise Snake: Stay focused, Griff. Just ignore them.
Wise Snake: [edge of displeasure as he drops something again]
Nick hastily stops until Griff can recover the foot, then starts to move towards the Ferry Building again.
Nick: ~~ calm ~~
Wise Snake wonders when she lost her professional help and became babysitter of the Bender Cove standup comedy team.
Wise Snake: [to the onlooker] Excuse me, could you stand back just a bit?
We're trying to save this man's life.
Onlooker: Ohhh! What happened?
Wise Snake thinks one of THEM should have said that.
Wise Snake: Please stand back.
Wise Snake follows Nick, Griff and Simhi.
Onlooker follows the group, his curiosity still not satisfied.
Nick continues to move steadily towards the Ferry Building, feeling for each step before he trusts his weight to the worn cobblestones.
Wise Snake: You know, if you carried him sideways, nobody would have to walk backwards.
Wise Snake wonders why it is left to her to suggest this.
Nick looks at Snake, then shifts his grip.
Wise Snake hustles Nick and Griff back to the Ferry Building with their burden.
Nick is about to go through the door, when he realizes that it is blocked.
Nick: What's that?
Wise Snake shoves the door open, picks up the obstruction, and augments to throw it out of the way.
Wise Snake: Here... [holds door open for them]
Nick catches a glimpse of what appears to be a very large, flying, purple grape, then shakes his head and carries Simhi in.
Griff: Is it [pant, pant] much further? [pant]
Wise Snake decides these two are making it impossible for her to actually do anything with the patient at this point so she may as well carry him herself.
Wise Snake: That's far enough, Griff. Thanks.
Wise Snake: Here.
Wise Snake: Let me.
Griff manages to pass the feet instead of dropping them, but only barely.
Wise Snake can't believe she has lost her Donor's attention to a giant purple sack of poly beads.
Wise Snake hoists Simhi's limp body, augmenting, and carries him up to the 3rd floor.
Nick runs behind, followed at a slower pace by Griff.
Wise Snake puts him on the cot in the office.
Griff: Wait [pant] for me!
Nick settles in at Snake's side.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake zlins Simhi's condition and curses.
Wise Snake: Griff... see that water pot on the fire?
Griff looks at it and nods.
Griff: Uh-huh.
Wise Snake: Dump some into that white basin with the cold water in it, and bring it here.
Griff: Okay.
Wise Snake: Watch out, it's hot.
Griff prepares the water with due care for temperature, and brings it over.
Griff: You gonna wash off his guts?
Griff inspects the guts in question closely.
Griff thinks they look just like a larger version of the guts that were in the rat his dog caught one time.
Wise Snake: YOU are going to wash off his guts.
Wise Snake is concentrating on keeping Simhi alive.
Wise Snake: (or trying to concentrate, anyway. It seems to be awfully difficult today)
Griff: I am?
Griff: ~~ eagerness ~~
Wise Snake: Yes. Flush the wound with water, make sure there's no contamination left. I'm keeping the bleeding down.
Griff: Flush it?
Griff thinks that a toilet is the right place for them; they stink.
Wise Snake: Shen it, just do it. [losing patience]
Griff pours the water over the guts.
Nick: ~~ calm ~~
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake manages to regain her concentration with Nick's support..
Wise Snake zlins the wound, determines that it is about as sanitary as it's going to get under the circumstances, and uses her hands to press out the extra water and hold the edges together.
Griff thinks the guts look even more delightfully ooky when semi-clean.
Wise Snake concentrates on healing the stab wound.
Nick: ~~ steady support ~~
Griff: ~~ delight in ookiness ~~
Debbette staggers up the front stairs of the Ferry building and leans on the door.
Debbette looks for the bell rope, then kicks on the door.
Toi Toi answers.
Debbette: ~ need ~
Debbette: Shendoni, get the bell fixed.
Debbette stumbles in.
Debbette: Where is Snake?
Alea gets out of the cab and pays the driver, shaking her head at the way the driver took the longest route possible to the Ferry Building.
Debbette: [need has made her cranky]
Alea: Why is it always ME that gets these idiots?
Alea walks up the stairs toward the Ferry Building.
Simhi opens his eyes and looks about in an unfocused manner.
Simhi sees vague shapes leaning around him.
Simhi: Am I dead?
Alea goes to the door and signals.
Toi Toi looks disgusted.
Toi Toi: Upstairs.
Debbette pushes past Toi Toi and heads up the stairs.
Alea sighs and signals again.
Wise Snake focuses on the edges of the wound, working on closing them.
Nick decides the simplest answer is best.
Nick: No, you're alive.
Toi Toi sighs and answers the door.
Toi Toi: What!!
Toi Toi: Oh.
Alea wonders if Snake is in her office and if she should try to toss pebbles at the window again.
Toi Toi lets Alea in.
Alea blinks.
Simhi doubts that.
Alea: Good day, Toi Toi.
Simhi: ~ waves of pain ~
Simhi: Am I going to stay that way?
Nick: Be still and let Snake work, and you'll stay that way.
Simhi: Oh.
Alea: How are you today? I came by to see my cousin.
Debbette heads towards the office door.
Alea moves into the Ferry Building past Toi Toi.
Nick has no idea if Simhi will survive, given how dirty the wound was and how much blood he lost.
Toi Toi is flabbergasted that somebody asked how she was today.
Debbette can zlin multiple fields through the open door.
Debbette is struck by a wave of ~ pain ~ and gasps.
Debbette: SHEN!
Nick is, however, glad that Snake won't be suffering entran for a while.
Alea looks around.
Alea smiles.
Alea: Is she upstairs?
Toi Toi: Yes, but she's healing somebody and has two other visitors waiting.
Alea: Oh. Well, then, I'll just go on up.
Toi Toi: Why not? Nobody else pays any shenned attention to what we want.
Toi Toi sits back down at her desk.
Debbette backs away from the doorway until she is pressed up against the opposite wall.
Alea pauses and looks at Toi Toi.
Alea: Just what is it you want, Toi Toi?
Alea goes over and pulls up a chair and sits down by Toi Toi, studying her.
Debbette edges away until she is in a corner and sits on the cold floor.
Simhi looks at Snake through unfocused eyes.
Toi Toi: Well, people are supposed to wait down here until Snake has some time free to see them.
Toi Toi: If they all rush in on her at once, she gets irate.
Simhi: Who are you?
Alea: I see.
Wise Snake: I'm a channel.
Debbette chokes back a strangled sob.
Alea: Well, I would think I would be an exception since I am going to be living here for awhile.
Debbette: ~ need ~
Wise Snake: [coming duoconscious]
Wise Snake zlins Debbette.
Simhi: What are you going to do with me?
Wise Snake: Nick... talk to him.
Wise Snake gets up and goes to the door, opens it.
Wise Snake looks at Debbette.
Wise Snake: Debbette. You're in need early.
Debbette gets to her feet.
Wise Snake goes over to her, calculating she's in need about.... 11 days early.
Nick: There's no reason to be alarmed. We're not Tecton; the authorities won't bother you here.
Wise Snake: What happened?
Debbette: I guess I just augmented too much getting this place livable.
Wise Snake looks disgusted.
Nick hopes that he's read Simhi's social status correctly.
Wise Snake: You mean to tell me you came up 11 DAYS short just augmenting in day to day movement?
Debbette: [if she was in any condition to blush Debbette would blush]
Nick: Do you know who stabbed you?
Debbette: I can't go to the Center this early, Snake!
Wise Snake has never heard anything as ridiculous.
Wise Snake keeps her showfield neutral.
Debbette: I... guess so.
Wise Snake: Of course not.
Debbette: ~ need ~
Wise Snake: Look... this is completely unacceptable.
Wise Snake: I can serve your need now, but I can't keep you on as an employee.
Debbette is too much in need to care.
Wise Snake: Come on.
Debbette: Now?
Wise Snake leads her to the "kitchen" room, where there is a bit of privacy.
Wise Snake: You would rather wait?
Debbette: No!
Toi Toi stares at Alea.
Toi Toi: Well, nobody told me that.
Debbette's laterals are already out and twitching with impatience.
Toi Toi: Why don't you have a key?
Alea smiles.
Alea: Because it'll be awhile yet.
Wise Snake closes the kitchen door and moves two chairs to face each other.
Griff is starting to get bored, now that the ooky part seems to be over for a while.
Alea: Anyway, we weren't talking about that. I was simply worried about your erratic emotions.
Wise Snake wonders why she is bothering, since civilization seems to be tossed out the window today.
Alea: You know, emotions like that aren't good around a Farris channel.
Toi Toi: No Farris channel is around. [points out icily]
Debbette suddenly grabs at Snake and latches onto her arms.
Alea: I didn't realize you could zlin them coming and know when to control your emotions.
Alea smiles blandly.
Wise Snake: Oh, shen. [gives up]
Debbette pulls her close and leans down to make 5th contact.
Wise Snake lets Debbette do it.
Wise Snake: ~~ Gen ~~
Debbette draws voraciously.
Toi Toi thinks it's a good thing she is down here to draw fire or Snake would be the one being abused by this hellion.
Toi Toi smiles back, a bit strained.
Toi Toi: Oh, I'm sure I don't. But my job description says I can feel whatever I want when no Simes are present.
Alea: That's better. Now if you could just do that with your nager.
Alea: Of course it does.
Alea doesn't believe it for a minute.
Debbette quickly finishes and just stands there, holding the contact.
Wise Snake: ~~ support ~~
Debbette realizes she has just been fired.
Debbette: OH NO!!!!
Debbette lets go of Snake and bursts into tears.
Wise Snake winces as her ear is shattered for the 2nd time that day.
Alea shifts in the chair.
Debbette: I couldn't help it! I didn't know what to do!
Alea: You know, perhaps you should get some chairs to line the wall over there... put out some magazines, things like that.
Alea: You might find people are more willing to wait.
Debbette: I had to augment or I could never have kept up!
Alea smiles at Toi Toi.
Toi Toi: I think we have enough chairs. [sourly]
Debbette: I have to pay him off! I can't live like this all my life!
Alea: You know, you remind me of someone I once knew.
Toi Toi looks at the banana, the grape, and the orange, as well as the zebra hide couch and the other, shapeless one.
Debbette: I... don't... want... to be... a WHORE!!!! [bawls]
Toi Toi thinks it figures the person doesn't know Alea anymore... probably ran off.
Alea gets hives just thinking about sitting on most of those and doesn't think anyone else would want to be there either.
Wise Snake waits, keeping the ambient soothing and steady as Debbette experiences the last 2 weeks of emotions all in a rush.
Debbette looks totally wild.
Alea: Oh well... you can tell Snake I stopped by.
Alea stands and goes to the door.
Alea: Bye now.
Toi Toi is glad she didn't waste Snake's time, since the woman obviously wasn't that interested in talking to her.
Debbette's nose drips, her eyes drip. She stands there screaming and dripping.
Toi Toi: Bye. [ironically]
Alea leaves.
Wise Snake thinks this is an unusually powerful post reaction considering the woman only had about 3 days after turnover before the transfer.
Alea goes down the street, catches a cab, and returns to the Sime Center.
Debbette: And now you FIRED ME!!! *waaaaahhhhhhhhhh*
Debbette: I'm a no good, 2 bit WHORE!
Debbette stops sobbing so loudly and sniffles.
Simhi looks at Nick and tries to focus.
Simhi is drifting in and out.
Simhi: I... what?
Nick sees that Simhi isn't tracking too well.
Nick: Do you know who stabbed you?
Wise Snake is still looking at Debbette, her field stabilizing the ambient.
Simhi: Stabbed me?
Nick wouldn't normally press the issue under the circumstances, but he wants to know if the culprit is likely to come after him and Snake.
Simhi: Oh gosh, did someone stab me?
Debbette: I'm sorry.
Debbette: I'm settled now.
Griff: Yeah! Right in the guts!
Debbette: [sniff]
Simhi groans, "Ugggghhhhhhh."
Nick shoots an admonitory glance in Griff's direction.
Simhi: No wonder I feel so bad.
Wise Snake nods.
Nick: I can give you some fosebine, but in your condition, it'll knock you out for a while.
Nick: I'd like to know if your attacker is going to cause us trouble first.
Debbette: I'll leave, I promise I won't annoy you any more. [very small voice]
Debbette: How much do I owe you?
Simhi: I don't know.
Simhi: I'm not sure why anyone would want to attack me.
Nick sighs and goes to get the fosebine.
Wise Snake: You don't owe me anything.
Debbette is relieved to hear that.
Nick: Well, we'll have to hope that whoever it was, was only out to rob you.
Debbette is working 3 jobs as it is to pay off debts.
Simhi: I don't have anything worth stealing. ~ confused ~
Nick returns with a glass, and sets it down by the bed.
Debbette: I'd like to thank you Snake, for giving me a chance. I'm sorry I let you down.
Wise Snake nods.
Nick: Here, let me help you sit up, so you can drink without choking yourself.
Debbette attempts to gather together any shreds of dignity she has left.
Wise Snake moves to show Debbette out.
Debbette follows Snake quietly.
Simhi moans as he sits up.
Simhi: Uuuuuuhhhhh.
Nick holds the glass of fosebine so that Simhi can drink.
Wise Snake lets Debbette out the front door.
Debbette leaves, looking despondent.
Wise Snake hurries back up the stairs.
Simhi takes the fosebine.
Wise Snake re-enters her office.
Nick sets the glass aside and lowers Simhi gently back to the bed.
Simhi: Eehhhh.
Simhi sees a scrap of a girl enter the room.
Simhi: Who's that? [not focused, bleary]
Nick: That's the channel who just saved your life.
Simhi: That? ~~ surprised ~~
Simhi: I thought channels were, well, bigger.
Nick shrugs.
Nick: Not all of them.
Wise Snake walks over and zlins Simhi.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Simhi: I am told you saved my life.
Simhi: Thank you.
Wise Snake: Well, you're not out of hot water yet.
Wise Snake: Where are you staying?
Simhi: ~ scared ~
Simhi: I just arrived in town.
Simhi: I was going to be staying at the "Hoyts".
Wise Snake: Okay, do you have friends here?
Simhi: But, [suddenly] Where's my bag!
Simhi: My bag!
Simhi: Oh, no!
Wise Snake: Shhh... stay calm.
Wise Snake puts her hands on Simhi, urging him to stay still.
Simhi starts trying to sit up to look for his bag.
Wise Snake: You're going to hurt yourself.
Simhi: You didn't see my bag, did you?
Griff considers.
Griff: The guy who was running out of the alley had a bag!
Griff is bouncing with excitement.
Rafnel sighs and grips her friend's hand tightly.
Simhi: Oh.
Simhi: It's gone, then.
Simhi lays back and puts his hand across his eyes.
Wise Snake: Do you have friends here in town?
Rafnel holds the reins and guides the wagon with her other hand and tentacles.
Simhi: No, no friends.
Simhi: I was in town to do a job.
Simhi: Had papers in the bag.
Simhi: Do you think if we told the police they might be able to get it back?
Simhi: There is really nothing in there a thief would want.
Wise Snake: Yeah, maybe.
Wise Snake: Well, it wouldn't hurt, anyway.
Simhi: Thank you again.
Simhi: I don't know what I'll be able to do to repay you.
Wise Snake: You're going to have to be watched for at least a week or two. How far away do you live?
Jusaph is looking at a map. "Not too much farther."
Simhi: Long way. Two days I traveled to get here. Some mess this is.
Wise Snake: Okay, well, you're probably going to have to stay here for a few days.
Wise Snake: I'd feel better if you weren't alone at the hotel. Would you consider staying at the local Sime Center where you can be monitored?
Rafnel: I can wait to get there.
Jusaph: Border crossing another mile I think.
Jusaph: Do we have to go at all?
Rafnel smiles tentatively.
Rafnel: You know we do.
Rafnel: We have to break this. It's going to be hard enough on you as it is.
Simhi: Yes, of course.
Simhi: Whatever you suggest.
Jusaph: And what about you? After all these years how will you manage?
Fise sniffs at his wine glass.
Rafnel: Oh I suspect it will be fine in the long run [squeezes her hand then removes hers]
Jirelle enters the restaurant.
Jusaph: We've had a long run. Saved... how many kids?
Rafnel is a 2nd order channel, 70 odd years old.
Jirelle zlins about, a little bit nervous and flushed with excitement.
Rafnel: I lost count years ago. Maybe we should have kept a book.
Jirelle asks the host if her friend has been seated yet.
Wise Snake: I can bring you there if you like, perhaps tomorrow after you'd had some rest.
Wise Snake: I don't think you should be moved today.
Jusaph: They know. That's what's important. The townspeople they didn't kill don't, but they're important too.
Wise Snake thinks, at least not with the cabs being the way they are.
Simhi: Thank you again. I can't thank you enough for all you have done for me.
Wise Snake nods.
Fise sips at the wine and goes back to zlinning the street.
Wise Snake: Now, is there anyone that will have to be alerted regarding your difficulty?
Jirelle is directed to a particular table, and sees Fise waiting.
Jirelle: Thank you. [smiles nervously]
Jirelle is beside herself after waiting so long to hear from Fise again... hoping she won't screw this up by being too silly.
Jirelle walks toward his table.
Fise worries that Jirelle is mad and not coming. And why that thought bothers him.
Simhi hesitates.
Fise: [thinks] After all, she's just another....
Simhi: No, no. It will be all right.
Jirelle: Hi! [shyly]
Simhi: I'll think about contacting whoever need to be contacted when I'm up and about.
Wise Snake wonders what kind of business trip he was on that the people didn't have to know where he was for a week or two at a time.
Wise Snake: Whatever you say.
Rafnel: I wonder how our young replacements will go?
Wise Snake: What is your name?
Rafnel: I guess it was time for us to leave the place in younger hands, but oh! I'll miss that town!
Fise looks up.
Simhi: Simhi Gabriel.
Fise: [glad] Jirelle!
Simhi: I'm sorry, Hajene. It is Hajene, isn't it? Please forgive me, I'm not sure of the correct term.
Jusaph: We had built up so much trust with those people. I hope they can maintain that.
Rafnel pats Jusaph's hand.
Wise Snake: Yes. I am Hajene Farris and this is Sosu Nick Reckage.
Fise leaps up to hug Jirelle suddenly.
Jirelle: ~~ joy/relief ~~
Nick nods politely at Simhi.
Jirelle hugs him back.
Jirelle: I missed you.
Rafnel: We musn't worry about what is behind us. We have enough to worry about with what is ahead of us!
Simhi: Pleased to meet you both. [groans slightly and rests back more]
Jusaph: Yeah. ~~ somber ~~
Jusaph: Do they even do it the same anymore? It's been so long.
Wise Snake: Well, you just rest. I'll just be over here doing some paperwork.
Fise: I'm sorry Jirelle. Please don't be mad.
Wise Snake sighs internally, thinking, she'll be chained here until the guy can be moved.
Simhi sighs and shuts his eyes.
Simhi promptly goes back to sleep.
Jirelle: Oh no!!
Jirelle: I hope I'm not giving you the impression that I....
Jirelle checks her showfield hastily and then worries that there is something in her secret heart he can zlin though she might hide it from herself.
Jirelle: ~~ shame ~~
Jirelle: ~~ alarm ~~
Fise takes her hand and kisses it. "Forgive me?"
Rafnel: I don't know Jusaph. I've never gone through a breakstep before. [shortly]
Rafnel: Oh, dear, I'm sorry!
Jusaph: Yeah. Now I guess we shouldn't have messed with that paperwork.
Jirelle: W... of course!
Rafnel: I'm just tired and irritable with the travel and all.
Jirelle is touched by his generosity.
Jusaph: I didn't help you with that the day before yesterday?
Nick sits in a chair close to Snake's desk and opens up a book on management of problem pregnancies, just in case.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Jirelle: ~~ love ~~
Griff wanders off, now that it's obvious the ookiness is over for the afternoon.
Rafnel: If you don't mind Jusaph, can you drive a bit? [hands her the reins]
Jusaph watches the eyeway slip by.
Rafnel: I think I'll just sit back for awhile, and rest.
Jusaph: Oh course. [ takes reins ]
Jusaph: At least we'll get you out of those retainers soon.
Fise: Thank you.
Fise hugs Jirelle again.
Jirelle: I always knew you'd want to see me again.
Jirelle: ~~ projection of faith in him ~~
Fise pulls out Jirelle's chair and gesture formally. "Modom?"
Jirelle sits.
Jirelle casts a grin in his direction.
Fise goes back to his seat doing the arm held out like for a napkin move.
Jirelle giggles at his antics.
Fise wonders how she knew that when he didn't.
Fise sits.
Fise: Would you care for some of this wine?
Jirelle: Yes, thank you.
Jirelle: You're zlinning well. Better than ever.
Jirelle: [fondly]
Fise: Yes.
Jon Drake heads downstairs from his room.
Fise: I finally have a Donor again.
Jirelle: Really! [eyes widen]
Jirelle: But....
Fise makes himself zlin Jirelle.
Jirelle: ~~ gladness ~~ ~~ health ~~
Jirelle: ~~ past turnover ~~
Fise: Yeah. A good one, despite appearances.
Fise: ~~ disappointment ~~
Fise: I'm glad you zlin so well too.
Jirelle zlins his disappointment.
Jirelle wonders what she did, then thinks surely he really hadn't been disappointed in HER?
Jirelle thinks she is putting bad thoughts into Fise's head and berates herself.
Fise grouses at the fate that has their cycles out of synch.
Fise: ~~ frustrated desire ~~
Fise: Did you like the flowers?
Jirelle: Oh! Yes. ~~ genuine ~~
Jirelle: Everybody was sooooo jealous!
Fise smiles. "Why? You're the most worthy person there?"
Jusaph: Whoa!
Alea picks up her sketch book again and climbs out of the cab.
Jusaph: Okay. We're past the border.
Jirelle laughs delightedly.
Alea goes to the Ferry Building door and signals.
Jusaph: Let's get you out.
Fise laughs with her.
Rafnel: Oh, thank you.
Fise: Jirelle, none of those other are worth the... never mind.
Toi Toi opens the door.
Alea: I'm back!
Rafnel sits back up and holds her arms out to Jusaph.
Toi Toi: Oh.
Toi Toi lets Alea in.
Alea smiles brightly at Toi Toi.
Alea goes inside and slips off her cloak.
Toi Toi wonders if Alea is going to sit downstairs for a while and then leave, again.
Alea: And how are you doing?
Alea grins and goes over to the banana and sits down.
Alea lays her things in her lap and crosses her hands.
Jusaph takes the retainers off with the ease and speed of decades of practice.
Rafnel extends all her tentacles and wiggles them in the cold air.
Toi Toi shakes her head and disappears up the stairs.
Rafnel: I wish I could toss them completely!
Rafnel: It will be wonderful not to have to wear them again.
Jusaph: Want to? The only good thing about this is that you'll be able to go around without them again.
Toi Toi comes back down.
Toi Toi: You can go on up.
Fise: Did you want to get something? This is a good place.
Alea smiles sweetly.
Jirelle: Okay!
Alea: Thank you so much, Toi Toi. You are such a dear.
Toi Toi thinks sarcasm doesn't become Alea.
Jon Drake checks to see what's going on in the lobby.
Rafnel reluctantly puts the retainers away.
Toi Toi sits back down at her desk.
Rafnel: No, I had better keep them.
Alea smiles at Toi Toi and then heads upstairs.
Alea wonders why that woman is so sour.
Alea thinks it must have to do with her bowels.
Fise: They have a good nutbread here.
Alea thinks perhaps, she should mix a purgative for the woman to help her out.
Jirelle: Oo, that does sound good.
Jirelle: ~~ eager to please ~~
Jusaph: All right. You want to drive again?
Rafnel: No, dear, if you don't mind.
Rafnel: I'll just enjoy the scenery.
Alea gets to the third floor and is tired.
Rafnel looks tired.
Fise orders two servings of hot breads.
Wise Snake is sitting in her office, hunched morosely over some paperwork.
Alea rubs her back and goes down the hall.
Wise Snake: [there is a sleeping patient on the cot behind her, and Nick is sitting near Snake]
Jusaph: It is nice. Things just starting to revive.
Alea signals at the door.
Wise Snake: Come.
Alea pushes the door open.
Alea: Sna---ke. [from a near happy shout to a whisper as she sees the patient]
Fise: So, how have you been doing, H- Jirelle?
Simhi is asleep on the cot.
Alea lifts an eyebrow.
Fise reaches out for Jirelle's hand.
Rafnel: How much longer do you think, Jusaph?
Alea: In your office?
Alea lifts an eyebrow.
Fise reaches out for Jirelle's hand.
Rafnel is tired of the shaking of the wagon.
Alea: You know, Snake... with the way your business is picking you, you need to designate one of these rooms as an infirmary and stick the sick ones in there.
Jusaph ~~ supports ~~ without really thinking about it.
Alea goes over and leans against the desk and smiles at Snake. ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake: Alea... please let Nick support me.
Jirelle wonders what Fise was going to call her, and hopes it was "honey".
Jirelle: Oh, I've been doing great! They gave me Alea Farris for a transfer partner. [beams joyously]
Alea's nager goes flat.
Rafnel sits up as they top a rise and see Bender Cove, with the lakes like mirrors, spread out in front of them.
Alea: Of course.
Jirelle: It is so great having a First, have you ever had one? I love Alea.
Rafnel: Oh, Jusaph!
Fise: Alea? But doesn't she overmatch you?
Jirelle: No, she's pregnant.
Rafnel clutches Jusaph's arm as she pulls up the horses.
Jirelle: And her field is soooooo yummy.
Jirelle: What's your Donor like?
Rafnel: Isn't it just lovely!
Jirelle: Is he Tecton?
Jusaph looks up from the road.
Rafnel can't smell it from here....
Jirelle thought she would have heard if Fise had been assigned to someone from the Center.
Jusaph is captivated.
Jusaph: ~~ enchanted ~~
Fise: No. He's a Natural. Never worked before a few months ago.
Fise: He's ... well, he's not terrible refined. Rather lower class.
Fise: But he took to it like a duck to water.
Jirelle: Really? ~~ entranced by the romance of a natural Donor being hidden in the City like a needle in a haystack, and Fise managed to find him ~~
Alea: How have you been?
Jirelle imagines Fise bringing the poor fellow up to the sort of genteel lifestyle that Fise himself appears to enjoy.
Jirelle: Oh, you're such a gentleman.
Fise recalls the smell from after the transfer. ~~ revulsion ~~
Simhi groans and opens his eyes.
Wise Snake massages her forehead.
Wise Snake: Um, Alea, I'm not saying I don't want to talk to you.
Wise Snake: I just... Nick is my Donor.
Fise smiles. "Why thank you! I try. It's hard for me, I have to work at it."
Alea: Ah... of course.
Alea: No, I understand.
Alea: You've got another one of those headaches, don't you?
Fise: You're a Lady by your very nature.
Alea smiles softly at Snake.
Jirelle: I love you, Fise. ~~ sincere, but then she loves everybody sincerely ~~
Alea: I'll just leave these sketches with you. They're some drawings I made. Then I'll let you rest.
Wise Snake: It's manageable.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Alea pulls out some sketches and lays them on the table.
Alea: You should really rest. Get a handle on that headache.
Fise: Jirelle, I ...
Fise chokes up.
Wise Snake looks at the sketches.
Alea smiles again and heads toward the door.
Jirelle smiles a beautiful smile.
Alea: You take care now.
Fise has never had a problem saying 'I love you' before... but he never meant it, really.
Alea pulls open the door.
Jirelle thinks how lucky she is to know someone as kind and generous as Fise, who would come back and spend a meal with her even after he is no longer working in the same Sime Center.
Alea: Let me know what you think of those.
Alea waves.
Alea: Take care of Nick, and consider that idea about a separate room for the sick.
Wise Snake looks between Alea and the drawings.
Wise Snake: ...all right.
Rafnel sighs.
Rafnel: Let's got down there.
Jusaph shakes her head, and clucks to the horse again.
Rafnel is both eager to get there and reluctant.
Alea leaves and goes down the stairs, waiting for Toi Toi to let her out before leaving.
Jusaph: I just hope the people match the scenery here.
Fise is saved by the arrival of the bread.
Fise takes it without noticing the waitress and offers it to Jirelle.
Simhi sleeps again.
Jirelle: Thank you. [smiles at his generosity]
Rafnel: I don't know if I'll know how to act around other channels!
Rafnel: Or how I'll feel with you, around other channels. [worried]
Fise: I was thinking later we could go down by the river. They say the leaves are coming out now.
Rafnel: Don't you let me misbehave too badly!
Jusaph: When have I ever?
Rafnel smiles fondly at Jusaph.
Jusaph frees one hand to take Rafnel's hand.
Jusaph: I'll take care of you. Not going to stop now.
Rafnel takes it and pats it with her tentacles.
Jirelle: Really?
Jirelle: I haven't been down there since the fall.
Rafnel: That's the problem really though, isn't it. Eventually you are going to stop.
Fise: Yeah. Life, renewal, cycle of nature, that sort of thing.
Rafnel: Probably assign us to work with other people as soon as we get there.
Rafnel: I do hope all the paperwork proceeded us.
Jusaph: ~~ disquiet ~~ Probably.
Jusaph: It should have after my stalling.
Rafnel worries about those falsified records of their previous "break steps".
Jusaph is a old Gen with some auburn still amongst the gray.
Jusaph is tall and not particularly heavy for a Gen.
Jirelle: I'd love that. [smiles gently]
Fise smiles as he bites at the bread.
Jusaph guides the wagon down the hill towards Bender Cove.