Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #6: Personnel Miner (3/15/99)
Darrel finds himself unable to sit still, so he gets up and starts pacing.
Darrel: ~~ need/nerves ~~
Darrel is distracted by a dribble of ronaplin running down his wrist.
Darrel looks at it for a moment, then musters a modicum of control and makes himself sit down again.
Lemuse comes up the hallway, whistling, her mind on other things.
Lemuse: ~~la la la... doo doo doo... la la....~~
Lemuse is a 2nd Order Donor of perhaps 21 natal years.
Lemuse stops outside Darrel's door and opens the folder in her hands, looks at a note in it.
Lemuse: Hajene Darrel, huh. Just my luck I'd get him right after Hajene Undertow scared the crapola out of him. 1
Lemuse replaces the folder under her arm, stands at attention, adjusts her nager to ~~ Tecton proper ~~, swallows her gum, and signals.
Darrel zlins a Gen outside the door, and quickly smoothes his hair, expression, and nager (at least to the extent he's able).
Darrel: Come in!
Lemuse opens the door and steps in.
Lemuse: Hajene Darrel? ~~ friendly and professional ~~ I'm Sosu Lemuse. [offers him a transfer assignment card]
Darrel still looks a bit on the rumpled, careworn side.
Darrel: Pleased to meet you.
Darrel: ~~ relief ~~
Darrel takes the card, letting himself zlin Lemuse more closely.
Lemuse appears young, wholesome, full of energy and entirely without neuroses, hang ups or quirks.
Darrel feels his first trace of optimism in months.
Lemuse: Boy do you look wiped out. How about lunch and then we hit the Jacuzzi?
Darrel isn't exactly in the mood for food, but doesn't want to argue with his Gen when he knows he'll lose.
Lemuse: This place has a great gym.
Darrel: That sounds great.
Darrel actually does think the Jacuzzi sounds good.
Darrel had started to get accustomed to luxury bathing at Naros.
Lemuse: Got all your stuff? We can drop it off at your new place first if you want.
Lemuse looks for Darrel's bags.
Darrel: They took my bags when I got here.
Lemuse: Hey, service!
Lemuse's nager is naturally enthusiastic without being erratic.
Lemuse: Lunch then? I don't mind telling you, I am starved. I waited nearly 4 hours in somebody's office before I was told to come here.
Lemuse opens the door for Darrel.
Darrel: That's life in the Tecton.
Darrel is starting to feel a totally artificial appetite.
Lemuse follows him out, falling naturally into a supportive position at his side.
Lemuse giggles.
Lemuse: Listen to him!
Darrel doesn't fight it, since it is the only way he could even think of putting an acceptable amount of food down.
Lemuse: Hajene Antipatriot.
Darrel: I used to be a patriot.
Lemuse's nager gives Darrel enough direction to make it clear where they are going, as they travel through the large building.
Lemuse: I'm sure he's still in there somewhere.
Lemuse: ~~ positive emotions ~~
Lemuse always appears to be silently laughing inside.
Darrel: I hope so.
Darrel feels a bit homesick for the days when he thought that all Donors were trustworthy, all Controllers had their staff's best interests at heart, and Sime Centers were safe places to work.
Lemuse: This is the "D" building. They told you not to leave it, right?
Darrel: Umm, no.
Lemuse: Oh, yeah, you'll want to stay in until you're told otherwise. Fortunately there isn't much a person requires that can't be found here!
Lemuse: Here's the cafeteria. Boy, I love the food here!
Darrel sniffs.
Lemuse takes the lead as they enter a cafeteria which seems to have the standard Tecton grub.
Darrel: It smells all right.
Lemuse: ~~ Gen enthusiasm ~~
Darrel is, of course, being heavily influenced by Lemuse's enjoyment.
Darrel checks over the selection of tea.
Lemuse happily begins to put together 2 trays.
Lemuse: Let me know if I grab anything you don't like.
Lemuse: Hey, you don't want to do your own do you? You don't look like it.
Darrel sighs at the bland Tecton tea, wishing he'd thought to sneak a few Narosian blends into his luggage.
Darrel checks what Lemuse has loaded onto his tray.
Darrel: Well, I usually prefer apples to melons, but that looks fine.
Darrel: ~~ diffident ~~
Lemuse puts the little tub of melon back on the shelf and grabs apples instead.
Darrel holds out a cup.
Darrel: Tea?
Lemuse: Your file said you weren't super allergic. Thank goodness. Pardon me?
Darrel: Would you like some tea?
Lemuse: Oh! Yes, thank you. [giggles]
Lemuse: I'm just looking at you like, duh?
Darrel puts the tea on her tray and goes back for a second cup for himself.
Lemuse: Do you want to eat here or somewhere private?
Darrel: It doesn't look very crowded at the moment.
Darrel thinks that the presence of other Gens will make it easier to eat, even when Lemuse has taken the edge off of her own hunger.
Darrel steers the way to a fairly isolated table.
Darrel puts his tray down, then holds a chair for Lemuse.
Lemuse: Thanks!
Lemuse pops into the seat, without losing Darrel nagerically.
Darrel settles down next to her.
Darrel leans on Lemuse's nager for inspiration and takes a small bite of apple.
Lemuse: I just love Meta-Vegi-sandwich.
Lemuse doesn't use its Tecton-wide slang name of "mold on a bun".
Darrel: So, how long have you worked here?
Lemuse: Me? Here? Oh, just a few months. I caught somebody's eye and got transferred here from Maple Leaf where I _was_ stationed.
Lemuse: It's been quite a change for me but boy, I'm loving every minute of it.
Darrel: What sort of a Controller is Hajene Arat, anyway?
Lemuse's eyes widen.
Lemuse: Ooh, he's really strict.
Lemuse: Nobody acts up or anything.
Darrel nods encouragingly, even as his stomach tries to protest the apple.
Lemuse: But you can really see the results, this place is the tightest ship I've ever seen.
Lemuse gives the impression of being a person who has never had a job she didn't just really enjoy.
Darrel: No chance of it sinking?
Lemuse: Sinking? [laughs merrily]
Darrel enjoys the way Lemuse's nager sparkles when she laughs.
Lemuse: Aren't you the pessimist. Put that down, here, have some of this nice milk. You aren't allergic to milk, are you?
Lemuse pries the apple out of his hand.
Darrel: No, but I usually drink it as cocoa.
Darrel has a long-established weakness for chocolate in any form.
Darrel drinks several swallows of the milk.
Lemuse: You've been looking positively green ever since touching that apple. You sure you're OK?
Darrel: I'm fine.
Lemuse's information has it that Darrel is a complete nutbasket, but it didn't say anything about a weak stomach.
Darrel drinks some tea to settle his stomach.
Darrel: Just nerves.
Darrel: Controller Arat is... formidable.
Lemuse: Oh, him? ~~ nager sparkles with humor ~~
Lemuse: His bark is much worse than his bite.
Lemuse might not be being completely truthful, there.
Darrel: I hope so.
Lemuse: Although, as with any Controller, it sure pays to keep your lip buttoned and your nose clean.
Darrel nods.
Darrel has the sinking suspicion that any word he utters can and will be used against him.
Lemuse: Now what's wrong?? Look at you.
Lemuse: ~~ friendly, with mock exasperation ~~
Lemuse: You don't have to worry, just follow as I do, and you'll be just fine. [grins]
Lemuse: I've never been in trouble once the entire time I've been here.
Darrel: Really?
Darrel's stomach settles down just a bit, and he manages a mouthful of bread.
Lemuse: Really.
Lemuse starts in on her dessert, with undiminished enthusiasm.
Darrel takes one more bite of apple, then abandons eating in favor of tea.
Lemuse: So, anybody told you about your schedule yet?
Darrel: No.
Darrel: Not yet.
Lemuse: Oh, well, you're going to be on light duty to begin with. Four hours a day, in two separate shifts two hours each, doing transfers and donations, it's all in house though, no public contact. I'll be with you for that.
Lemuse: Then you have these different therapy sessions... I'll show you, hold on.
Lemuse wipes whipped cream off her lips, missing the bit on the end of her nose, and reaches for the folder.
Darrel is ~~ amused ~~ at the sight.
Darrel: Here. You missed some.
Lemuse looks up comically.
Darrel reaches out with a tentacle and wipes the whipped cream off of Lemuse's nose.
Lemuse: Oh dear me! That must have looked funny. ~~ good humor ~~
Lemuse: Thanks.
Darrel looks at it a moment, then licks it off his tentacle like a small boy.
Darrel's small boy act can actually look quite endearing.
Lemuse thinks Hajene Undertow would have had a stroke if she'd reported to him looking like that.
Lemuse smiles at him, and looks back at her notes.
Lemuse: Yeah, all afternoon. Then you have the first part of the night, when I'm asleep, to yourself. There's lots of stuff to do that they'd say is OK, I can show you. The gym, the library, the pool....
Darrel wishes he could walk in the garden instead, but that seems unlikely at present.
Darrel: Is the library decent?
Lemuse: Oh yes! It's really good. ~~ enthuses ~~
Darrel hopes it is of better quality than the "really good" food.
Darrel: Perhaps I'll be able to find something to read, then.
Lemuse: Great!
Darrel: When am I supposed to begin this schedule?
Lemuse: Tomorrow, I hope that's soon enough for you. I can help you with an entran functional before that if you want though.
Lemuse: ~~ cheerful ~~
Lemuse gives the impression of being able to help with just about anything.
Lemuse: [or at least, willing]
Darrel thinks it over, and decides that this isn't the time to try to tough it out.
Darrel: That would be very kind of you. I haven't worked in three days, now.
Lemuse closes up the folder and grins at Darrel. "OK."
Darrel: Perhaps you could show me to my room?
Lemuse: Sure.
Lemuse jumps up.
Lemuse: I'll show you everything. [grins]
Darrel stands, and picks up the trays to buss them.
Darrel devoutly hopes that Lemuse accepts that showing him "everything" isn't likely to do her a lot of good, at least for a few more days.
Ekwoo bustles officiously down the corridors towards the Controller's office.
Ekwoo is a fiftyish renSime dressed in the latest of upper-class fashion, with the permanently more-harried-than-thou look of a high government official.
Ekwoo frowns at the closed door, wondering why there isn't anyone on duty to take care of visitors.
Ekwoo feels that he is owed a personal greeting-by-flunky, rather than having to signal in the common fashion.
Ekwoo is, however, forced to signal, rather than remain standing around in the hall looking like more of a fool than he is.
Arat is engrossed in his work and takes a moment to look up.
Ekwoo is rapidly growing ~~ impatient ~~
Arat notes that nobody else is there to open the door.
Arat: Come!
Arat keeps his severe annoyance from touching his nager.
Arat is not fond of unscheduled appointments.
Ekwoo is even more ~~ offended ~~ at Arat's refusal to actually answer his door.
Ekwoo pulls the door open.
Ekwoo: Controller Arat?
Ekwoo marches up to the desk and sits in the most comfortable looking of the chairs.
Ekwoo: I am Ekwoo Domle, from the Diplomatic Office.
Ekwoo: The World Controller has pledged aid of your Center in assisting us.
Arat is still frozen in his original position of halfway turning a page in the report he had been reading.
Arat's nager is guarded, but his expression might be seen as "caught off guard".
Arat: Tuib Domle.
Arat: [belatedly]
Ekwoo: You will have heard of the delegation arriving in a few weeks from the southern continent?
Arat closes the report, and replaces it deliberately in his in-tray.
Arat: Yes.
Arat fingers through the rest of the in-tray while he is there, keeping most of his attention on Ekwoo.
Ekwoo: With so many visitors, our usual staff of Escorts through the World Controller's offices here are likely to be insufficient.
Arat is in search of a memo or letter from the office of the World Controller which might confirm Ekwoo's claim.
Ekwoo: We have therefore arranged with her to assign some of your staff to us until the talks are concluded.
Arat's moving tentacles stop.
Ekwoo takes several papers from his pocket.
Ekwoo: Here is the authorization from the World Controller.
Ekwoo passes it over for inspection.
Arat stares at him for a long beat, then takes the papers and studies them closely.
Ekwoo: To save time, I have drawn up a list of suitable Escorts. I rely on you to inform them to report to the Diplomatic Office first thing tomorrow for a briefing.
Ekwoo settles back, now that the issue has been settled.
Arat places the papers on his desk.
Arat: This is not acceptable.
Arat: [formally]
Ekwoo raises an unamused eyebrow.
Ekwoo: It seems clear enough to me.
Arat: These personnel, while they may be suitable for your purposes, cannot be spared at this time, not without being replaced immediately.
Ekwoo: Oh, I'm sure you can get by. It's only a week or two, after all.
Ekwoo waves a dismissive tentacle.
Ekwoo: It's not as if we were taking them permanently.
Arat's eyes harden, while his nager goes correspondingly more distant.
Arat: Some of these can be spared for a week. Some of them cannot.
Ekwoo: Oh? Which ones are so busy that you feel it necessary to defy the World Controller?
Ekwoo stresses the words "World Controller" just a bit.
Arat stiffens.
Arat: This list of names was given you by the World Controller?
Ekwoo: She told me to take whomever I felt would do the best job.
Ekwoo: She certainly placed no limits with regards to "busyness".
Arat's tension eases just slightly.
Arat: Some of these cannot be spared. I can select alternatives for you.
Ekwoo raises an irritated tentacle.
Ekwoo: I didn't choose my selections at random, you know.
Ekwoo: The negotiations are very delicate, and it is vital that only the best Escorts be assigned to the task.
Ekwoo: Unless you can convince me that the work my choices are currently doing is more vital than adding another Territory to the Tecton, I am afraid I must insist.
Arat appears to relent.
Arat: I will submit a description of the reason for each omission, along with the names of the substitutes.
Ekwoo is a master at "the report's in the mail", and isn't about to fall for it himself.
Ekwoo: Just how many substitutions do you envision?
Arat: You said they would be gone for one week?
Arat takes the list and scans it again.
Arat: Nine of these can't be spared for that long.
Ekwoo: That's almost half.
Ekwoo: ~~ not happy ~~
Arat: Almost half of my senior staff, yes.
Arat's nager is chilly, but still too distant to be truly threatening.
Arat's expression is dispassionate.
Ekwoo: It is important that the Escorts be of an appropriate age and experience, so that the delegation will not be offended.
Ekwoo: Although I suppose we could accept a substitute for the Escorts assigned to the household staff.
Ekwoo: You may propose two substitutions.
Ekwoo obviously feels he is making a major concession.
Arat's eyes narrow.
Arat: Did the World Controller happen to mention whether I'd be automatically cleared to transfer in 7 First Order personnel for that week?
Ekwoo waves a dismissive tentacle.
Ekwoo: Oh, you'd have to discuss it with her. I don't concern myself with details like that.
Arat will not be goaded into a game of "bother the Controller, get in trouble".
Ekwoo: Not with a major conference to arrange.
Ekwoo feels he has already taken far too much time on the simple matter of arranging for the Escorts.
Arat: The World Controller counts on me to display a certain amount of sense with regards to disposition of my personnel.
Arat: This removal of personnel would cripple the Sime Center and the District Office.
Ekwoo: Under normal circumstances, I'm sure she leaves such things to you, but I'm sure a clever young man like yourself can find a way to cope for a week.
Arat: Perhaps.
Arat: However, until such a way is found, I cannot commit to these particular people.
Ekwoo: ~~ exasperation ~~
Ekwoo: For goodness sakes, what are they doing that's so irreplaceable?
Arat: Yennes Dambroge, the renSime listed, is the chief purchasing agent for this entire complex.
Arat: Hajene Jeniard Chartas is my Assistant Controller and his leaving for as long as a week is not at all negotiable.
Arat: Sosu Beni is not only my assigned Donor for next month, but in charge of scheduling all incoming and outgoing medical traffic.
Arat: Sosu Grace is the chief of the pediatric critical care wing.
Ekwoo is blissfully ignorant of the amount of work required to keep a Sime Center running smoothly, but all too aware of the complications of putting on a huge diplomatic Event.
Ekwoo: And there's nobody else who could look after sick children for a week? It can't be that uncommon a specialty.
Arat shoots Ekwoo an unreadable look.
Ekwoo is starting to be seriously unamused by Arat's mulishness.
Arat: If it were just Sosu Grace who was missing, it might be possible. But you are talking about taking them all at once. If Capitol could be run without them, they wouldn't be in the positions they're in.
Ekwoo: With all that is riding on these negotiations-- [Ekwoo refers mainly to his career] -- I must ensure that only the most stable, experienced personnel act as Escorts.
Arat: I am certain that others can be found, and am willing to do that footwork for you.
Arat isn't implying that Ekwoo hasn't done his homework... is he?
Ekwoo: I looked through the files of your personnel [OK, he had his staff do it] and these were by far the most appropriate.
Ekwoo: I can't think of any others currently assigned here that would do as well.
Ekwoo's glare challenges Arat to name one.
Arat's glare has been known to cause heart attacks, so he simply looks at Ekwoo for a moment, and then picks up a pen and writes ten names on a piece of paper.
Arat's nager doesn't display anywhere near as rigid a control as it did before, which most who know him well would take to mean he feels on top of the situation.
Ekwoo takes up the paper and scans the names.
Arat's writing is extremely precise, with many fussy curlicues and so forth, very recognizable to anybody who's seen it before.
Arat replaces the pen on the desk.
Ekwoo is feeling ~~ offended ~~ by the time he finishes.
Ekwoo: These people could never impress the foreign diplomats, or entertain their spouses at formal dinners.
Arat: However, they would be operating under the advantage of not having to distract your guests from the social and governmental collapse of Capitol as a city and a district.
Ekwoo: And just what do you mean by that?
Ekwoo: ~~ hostility ~~
Arat: I mean that I cannot spare half of my senior staff for a week or longer.
Arat: Not without replacements. [adds]
Arat: Perhaps I should put in for such replacements, obtain an answer, and then we could discuss this again?
Ekwoo: If replacements are really necessary, I am sure the World Controller will provide them if you ask her. I would even be willing to write a note explaining your concerns.
Ekwoo: However, I do require all 20 Escorts at the briefing tomorrow morning.
Arat: This is very short notice. I'll see what I can do about tomorrow.
Ekwoo meets Arat's eyes sternly.
Arat: In the meantime, if you can write that letter, I will submit the request for transfer of personnel over and above my quota, for immediate consideration.
Arat meets Ekwoo's eyes with effortless ease. ~~ ambiguous nager ~~
Ekwoo: I will write the letter as soon as I return to my office.
Ekwoo: However, if you do not provide the required number of Escorts, or if they are not suitable and jeopardize the success of the negotiations, I will be sure that the World Controller knows exactly who is to blame.
Ekwoo: I hope we understand each other.
Arat displays an utter lack of fear of Ekwoo's threats.
Arat nods once, briefly.
Ekwoo: I look forward to meeting Sosu Grace and her colleagues tomorrow.
Ekwoo stands and sweeps from the room.
Arat looks after him for a couple of minutes, frowning thoughtfully.
Arat's body gradually comes down from what was a huge adrenaline rush.
Arat: ~~ dizzy heart pounding ~~
Beni opens the door without signaling, a personal Donor's privilege.
Arat picks up the papers and reads the World Controller's letter again, scrutinizing its wording carefully.
Arat jumps back in his chair, surprised.
Beni: Something wrong, boss? You look a bit tense.
Beni starts to ~~ soothe ~~ the ambient in hopes of correcting this situation.
Beni wanders over and casually (but expertly) starts kneading the knots from Arat's shoulders.
Arat lets the papers fall back onto the desk and tries to relax into the Donor's nager, something has to work hard at during the early part of a month.
Beni: What's got you so upset?
Beni: ~~ concern/serenity ~~
Arat: It's just the Diplomatic Office wants to take everybody above the rank of subcontroller for a week or two.
Beni: What?
Beni: Whatever for?
Arat picks up the papers and hands them over his shoulder to Beni.
Arat has a hard time handing over paperwork to his Donors too, something he has been reprimanded for more than once.
Beni reads through them.
Beni: Well, they know how to pick good people, I'll give them that much.
Beni: That's most of this Center's top talent.
Arat's shoulders tense up further.
Arat: I refuse to contact the World Controller over this. I'm expected to stop this sort of thing in this office, not make more work farther up the line.
Beni: I notice they left you out. Must not think you're the diplomatic type.
Beni: ~~ amused ~~
Beni: What are you going to do? Send them the ones they should have asked for in the first place?
Arat: Please, would you go... go sit over there.
Arat waves a tentacle or two at a chair on the other side of the room.
Beni withdraws, a bit hurt.
Beni: Well, I'm here if you need me.
Arat rests his head in his hands, trying to think.
Beni goes over to the chair and sits.
Beni: Would you like some tea to get your brain working?
Arat counts to ten, internally.
Arat: Yes, that would be fine.
Beni gets up and wanders over to the teapot.
Beni adds a bit more water to the pot, then starts it heating.
Beni hums absently as he fiddles with mugs and tea tins and such.
Arat picks up the letter and reads it again, elbows on desk, one hand still clutching his hair.
Beni leans casually against the wall as he waits for the water to boil.
Beni: ~~ laid back and relaxed ~~
Arat turns and shoots Beni a poisonous look.
Beni is immune to channel glares.
Arat turns back to the letter and tries to concentrate on it, then gives up and throws it down.
Beni hears the water start to boil.
Arat gets up and paces to the other end of the office himself.
Beni reaches for the potholder, so as not to worry Arat, and pours water over the tea leaves in the mugs.
Beni doctors both teas to specification, then hands one to Arat.
Beni: Here.
Arat takes it with a sour expression.
Arat manages, with an effort, to erase the expression and nod his thanks, although a bit late.
Beni reinforces the tea with a ~~ soothing ~~ nager.
Arat's tension puts up a stiff resistance, but he doesn't walk away again either.
Arat takes a sip of the tea without saying anything.
Beni moves a bit closer, concentration on being ~~ real mellow ~~
Beni is kind of glad of the chance to really work on Arat, without Jeniard around as a distraction.
Arat forces himself to accept the nageric manipulation, though it isn't easy, particularly right at first.
Arat's visible tension slowly eases under Beni's influence.
Beni starts to really get into it and ~~ groove ~~ the work.
Beni: Better?
Arat: Better. [admits]
Arat is still wound tighter than a clock, but at least he can function.
Beni: Good.
Beni doesn't stop his efforts, however.
Beni imagines Arat's clock going digital, and thus being wind-free.
Beni sips at his tea, ~~ savoring ~~ every drop.
Arat sighs. [unhappily, but it's definitely progress]
Beni nods in satisfaction.
Beni feels an extra incentive to get Arat's mind working at its most devious, after seeing his name on the Diplomatic Office's list.
Beni hasn't put on his dress uniform since graduation, and has gained a few pounds since then.
Beni: Was it really the World Controller's idea to kidnap the senior staff?
Beni: It doesn't seem like her style.
Arat: No, she just told him he could take whoever he thought would be appropriate.
Arat's cool voice contains a million implications.
Beni whistles softly.
Beni: And he actually chose people himself, instead of having you pick them?
Arat: This can't be what she meant. Chances are, she doesn't want to be bothered with it either. This will have to stop here, in this office.
Beni nods.
Arat strides over to his desk and picks up the final piece of paper, the one he'd written.
Arat hands it to Beni.
Arat: These will do as substitutes.
Beni takes the paper and scans it.
Arat: He can rearrange them all to best fit his requirements.
Beni: Should I have them notified?
Arat takes back the paper and adds the remaining 11 names to it.
Arat: Yes. You have one spare in case of difficulty.
Arat adds the time and location of the briefing, from the letter.
Arat returns the paper to Beni.
Arat looks rather bleak, as if he knows his ass could be grass because of this, but not having any other option.
Beni: OK, boss. I'll see that they know.
Beni: ~~ comfort/confidence ~~
Arat despises the openness in him that Donors can make occur despite himself, however he doesn't know any way around it aside from not cooperating, and he has been warned about that.
Arat holds back several things he might have said, then simply nods.
Beni inspects Arat once more, to assess whether he will be all right while Beni takes care of the errand, or whether he should pass it to someone else and return faster.
Arat appears, to trained eyes, upset but recovering.
Beni nods, and leaves the office, determined to accomplish the errand promptly and get back.
Arat looks after him, and then down at the desk again, pretending even to himself he doesn't regret the Donor's absence.
Notes:
1) This nickname for Arat Farris is not used in his presence. [return]