Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office
Episode #53: Unwelcome Confrontations (7/22/99)
Arat innocently walks into his empty office and goes to a file cabinet.
Arat opens the drawer and reaches for a file.
Arat: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~GASP~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arat quickly controls himself lest he alert everybody else on the floor to the fact that some sadist has rearranged his very carefully, if eccentrically, arranged files.
Devera walks brusquely into office, carrying a short stack of files.
Devera: Oh, hello, have we met? [extends hand]
Arat spins around.
Arat is an over-tall, underweight, arrogant Farris administrative type.
Arat currently looks rather stressed out, though his nager is in order.
Arat: You!!
Devera is a youngish low-Second Order channel whose field, although just past turnover, is a ball of warm serenity.
Devera smiles warmly.
Arat has spent the last 5 days hearing rumors of this person's existence and seeing evidence of it, but unable to pin it down with his own senses, mainly due to Jeniard having been foolish enough to have given her all the keys on her first day.
Devera: I'm Devera, Controller Arat's new assistant. May I help you find something?
Arat scowls.
Devera nager solidifies into a wall of assurance.
Devera: I'm certain I can help.
Arat: Sit down.
Devera: I'm sorry, you must be...?
Arat strides over to the door and closes it, lest anybody snoop on this potentially very gossip-rich conversation.
Devera settles unnoticed on the corner of her desk while Arat's back is turned.
Devera waits expectantly.
Arat, who rarely fails to notice anything as unsubtle as a Second moving around in an enclosed room, turns to face her.
Arat is clearly displeased.
Arat: Who hired you?
Devera: I believe controller Arat, sir.
Arat: No. I did not hire you. Who did? [impatiently]
Arat's mood, never good, has not been improved by finding his files in what to him would seem to be a haphazard condition.
Devera: Oh! You're Arat! I am so very pleased to finally meet you! I have heard so many good things about you from the others.
Devera: I have looked forward to this moment for the last five days.
Arat's expression betrays a slight incredulity, though his nager does a pretty good job of disclosing only annoyance.
Devera stands and goes to a small tray behind desk.
Devera: May I offer you refreshment?
Devera: The trin is very fresh. My cousin grows it.
Arat watches in increasing irritation.
Arat: No. [tightly]
Devera radiates calm and solidity.
Arat: I would like you to sit down, in front of the desk, and tell me who you are and what you are doing here.
Arat: Otherwise I will call security at once.
Devera: Oh, I am sorry. Here. I should have given these to you days ago.
Arat narrows his eyes and studies Devera for signs of being related to Householding Naros - that would really be the last straw.
Devera hands Arat a short stack of documents, some of which are sealed.
Arat takes them suspiciously.
Devera: And since you are Arat, and it's this time of day, you must have been looking for....
Devera produces a file from the desktop.
Devera: I believe this is what you needed?
Arat, who had started to open the top letter, sees what she's holding and snatches it out of her hand.
Arat: Yes. And I'll thank you to keep away from my files. ~~frosty~~
Devera comes back around the desk.
Devera: You've been so swamped with petty details that your special projects....
Devera gives him a meaningful look.
Devera: .... things only you can work on....
Devera turns back to file cabinet.
Devera: ...have been shorted.
Arat stiffens.
Devera turns around to face Arat.
Devera: I'm here to help with that.
Arat: I was not informed.
Arat: Nor did I request such assistance.
Arat opens the top letter and scans it.
Devera looks puzzled momentarily, then surety (however unjustified) returns.
Devera: Oh, I'm sure there's an announcement of my arrival in here somewhere. [waves vaguely at desk]
Devera: Would you have had time to read it even if you knew where it was?
Arat pauses, and then very slowly looks at Devera again.
Devera: As you can see I'm supremely qualified.
Arat is clearly offended by the implication that he is unthorough and/or incompetent.
Arat: You're disrespectful and presumptuous! [snaps]
Devera: No one can do everything, not even a First. Although every administrator seems to expect that you try.
Arat wishes Devera would just sit down and shut up long enough for him to read these letters, but this is plainly not to be.
Arat scans them quickly.
Devera: My guess, since you didn't know, is that someone has noticed how hard you are working and believes enough in your projects to try to give you more time to pursue them.
Arat notes the seal of the Office of the Second Assistant World Controller, but the significant lack of Controller Seruffin's name on anything.
Devera sips a cup of trin tea she absently put together while talking.
Arat looks disgruntled.
Devera's nager settles into its usual calm.
Arat puts the letters in his in basket, telling himself they will be there later.
Devera makes a mental note to file them with the appropriate correspondence.
Arat: This is a mistake.
Arat: I will have it rectified. In the meantime, there are certain things which must be made clear.
Devera: Yes?
Arat: I will not be treated with disrespect.
Devera looks shocked at the idea of the suggestion.
Arat: If you want to work while I am straightening this out, you may. However, you will change nothing and you will assume nothing.
Arat: This is... is.... [gestures at the filing cabinets]
Devera: Then I'm not working, am I?
Devera: How can I help you if I don't do what I've been trained to do?
Arat looks at her again, this time studying her silently for some time.
Arat's nager has gone distant and difficult to zlin. His expression is cold.
Devera radiates calm, and warmth, security.
Devera stands, cleans up her tea.
Devera: If you wish me to restore your filing system, I will, of course. You needn't bother.
Devera: I did this with the understanding I might need to reverse it, so I kept notes of how it was. [smiles]
Arat winces.
Beni escorts his change towards her father's office.
Arat: Just... don't touch anything else yet.
Beni: I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding....
Wise Snake: Ummmh.
Arat zlins what's coming and his face takes on an "oh, shen!" expression.
Beni: We'll get it straightened out in no time.
Wise Snake: Yeah, whatever.
Wise Snake walks into the office without knocking, just to see if she'll interrupt anything interesting.
Devera stands and goes to make tea for the visitor.
Beni sees that Arat is occupied and winces.
Beni: ~~ apology ~~
Beni: We didn't mean to interrupt....
Wise Snake: Whoa! Zlin this ambient.
Wise Snake jumps lightly over the big desk and climbs into Arat's chair.
Devera calmly sets out two cups of fine grade trin tea.
Beni smiles weakly, and tries to smooth the ambient.
Beni looks just a bit harassed; the strain of taking on two Farris channels is telling on him.
Arat looks at Beni with an unreadable expression. Well, semi-readable: It's somewhere between "somebody just shoot me" and "somebody hand me a gun so I can shoot all of you".
Beni has, of course, heard rumors about the new Controller's Assistant, although he has not yet had time to join the pool betting on how long she will last.
Beni looks from Arat to Devera, trying to collect enough information to increase his odds when he has a chance to place his wager.
Devera hands the tea to the newcomers, and offers a third cup to Arat.
Beni sniffs the tea, and with it, trouble.
Arat backs off a step as if the cup is something nasty.
Beni: Is there any of the Tecton Standard over there?
Beni knows that that is still a bit "froo-froo" for Snake's taste, but it's better than good stuff.
Devera retires to a corner with a pad and stylus.
Devera then gets up and makes some Tecton Standard.
Wise Snake puts her feet up on the desk, sips the tea, and grimaces at the taste of trinroses.
Beni gestures for Devera to give the tea to Snake.
Devera does so.
Wise Snake: Unnh.
Wise Snake puts down the fancy tea and takes the Tecton Standard tea.
Beni himself is clutching the cup he was given as if it were a rare treat, which it is.
Devera removes the offending cup.
Wise Snake: Is it just me, or is it a bit tense in here? [to nobody in particular]
Devera makes a mental note about preferences.
Beni moves closer to the channels in an attempt to calm the ambient.
Wise Snake is a young, (16 natal years) female channel, small of build, wearing a Tecton uniform and looking as if her head is being eaten by a huge, black wig.
Beni is a bit surprised that Devera is able to take Snake so calmly; she has a tendency to give newcomers the heebie jeebies. And old timers, too, come to think of it....
Devera thinks: It's a good thing I'm here. I've never seen a Farris so uptight without going into entran or somesuch.
Devera is a mid-twenties, attractive (in an efficient way) Second just past turnover.
Snake, who has never been one to notice attractive efficiency in anything but bookies and fences, mainly notices all the attention Devera is getting.
Snake: So, first day? How's the new job?
Devera looks startled at being addressed directly.
Devera smiles.
Devera: I'm enjoying it immensely, thank you. And I've been here five days.
Wise Snake: Oh? [already losing interest]
Devera nods and returns her attention to her pad.
Wise Snake's eyes, which are odd - pale, whitish - return to Devera as soon as Devera is looking elsewhere, and study her.
Beni views Snake's interest in the newcomer with trepidation, having learned the hard way that Snake's roguish tendencies aren't merely Tecton technicalities.
Arat also notes Snake's interest in Devera, and frowns thoughtfully.
Arat toys with the idea of assigning Devera to Snake in some capacity, then tries to decide how much risk he can afford.
Devera: If there's nothing I can do for you, sir, I'd like to go back down to the formal office and finish arranging matters down there.
Arat: Don't touch anything until I get down there.
Arat means it.
Devera nods vaguely.
Devera: It was a pleasure meeting all of you.
Wise Snake zlins the exchange with interest.
Devera's nager is sincere.
Beni nods politely at Devera, already considering his wager.
Devera picks up the dirty tea things not in use and departs.
Beni watches the door close behind Devera, then turns back to smile weakly at Arat.
Beni: I'm afraid there was a little mixup this morning....
Arat turns to look at Beni, his eyes still narrowed with fury at having been confronted with an insubordinate mystery-employee who apparently doesn't zlin.
Arat's looks says, "Whatever you have to say, it had better be worth this!"
see note 1
Prunida arrives at New Othwol, determined to put her new skills at friendship to the test.
Prunida doesn't see any reason to wait until disaster strikes to get her tentacles on Nick's paycheck; there are plenty of ways she could spend it in the mean time.
Prunida drops her baggage and horse off at a convenient inn, changes into clean clothes, and presents herself at the New Othwol Sime Center.
Nick is hanging out in Deah's office, since she is past turnover.
Nick is considerably more relaxed about the job than he was six weeks before, however.
Nick: ~~ supportive but not hovering ~~
Deah therefore is able to be more relaxed about her work, although for the most part she always is anyway.
Nick is actually splitting his attention between support of Deah, reading a book on the history of the district, and keeping an ear out for the daily mail.
Nick is therefore the first to notice the commotion of an arriving memo.
Nick wanders over to the drop shoot, opens the capsule, and discovers that the note is for him.
Nick opens the note, glances at it, and lets it drop from suddenly numb fingers.
Nick: ~~ yikes ~~
Deah looks up sharply.
Deah: What is it?
Deah: Nick?
Nick jerks his nager back into a semblance of its usual order.
Nick: It's from the front desk.
Nick: My grandmother has come to visit me.
Nick had thought (hoped, rather) that she had given up.
Deah: Wh... er....
Deah is not used to dealing with this many emotions this quickly from Nick.
Nick: She's waiting in the small lounge.
Deah: Then you would like some time off? No problem....
Nick is a bit surprised that she didn't just batter her way up to Deah's office.
Nick: Time off?
Deah: To visit with your grandmother?
Nick doesn't appear eager for an extended break.
Deah wonders if she utterly missed the point.
Nick: But there are rounds in another half an hour or so....
Nick has, however, grown to take at least some interest in the structural integrity of the New Othwol Center and its staff.
Nick: I suppose I ought to.
Nick: She's likely to demolish the place, otherwise.
Deah zlins Nick.
Deah: Do you want any company?
Nick: Company?
Deah means, psychological reinforcement; he zlins as if he could use some.
Deah shrugs.
Deah: Never mind.
Deah: Don't worry about being late, just catch up with me.
Nick learned the use of a bodyguard in confrontations with Prunida when he was traveling with Snake.
Nick: Actually, if you don't mind...
Nick tries to smile.
Nick: I think some company would be helpful.
Deah returns the smile.
Deah: OK then, just let me let Buggsy know we'll be a few minutes late for rounds.
Nick is a bit ~apprehensive~ about the proposed encounter, although it would take a good First to zlin it, now that he's gotten his nager under control.
Deah nips into her assistant's office to relay the message.
Deah is glad Nick has had a visitor; she had been feeling bad about his having no contact with any friends or relatives while in New Othwol.
Nick starts pacing nervously as he waits for Deah to return.
Deah does know that there have been some tough times between Nick and his grandmother, but remains eternally optimistic that family differences sort themselves out as people age.
Deah: Come on, Nick, what are you waiting for? [from the hallway]
Nick joins Deah.
Nick: About my grandmother....
Nick starts walking down the hall.
Nick: She's, well, rather forceful at times.
Nick: Particularly when expressing her opinions about things.
Nick: And she has a lot of opinions.
Nick isn't quite doing a Riyyh-style dither, but the family resemblance is nonetheless easily apparent to those who know both Nick and Riyyh.
Deah has seen Riyyh maybe three times, and wasn't impressed any of those three times.
Deah fortunately doesn't have to be impressed by somebody to like them, but....
Deah: Nick, you're babbling. [kindly]
Prunida frowns as the minutes tick by without Nick appearing.
Nick shuts his mouth quickly.
Nick: Sorry. [after a minute] She has that effect on me.
Prunida is wondering if she should forget this friendship bit and just storm through the Center until she finds Nick, and sets him straight.
Nick forces a somewhat weak smile.
Deah: Here we are.
Deah thoughtfully allows Nick to lead the way into the small lounge.
Prunida zlins Nick's nager just in time, and manages to get back to her seat before Nick nerves himself to open the door.
Nick pastes a smile on his face, reminds himself that Deah will probably intervene if Prunida goes completely off her rocker, and opens the door.
Nick: Grandmother.
Prunida gets to her feet, a much-practiced and almost authentic-looking smile on her face.
Deah follows, trying to look and zlin like a mentorly figure or, failing that, just Nick's channel.
Prunida: Nick, dear, it's so good to zlin you!
Deah does a double take as she takes in the difference between Prunida's face and true feelings.
Prunida makes as if to hug Nick, then shoots a look at Deah and stops short.
Prunida: You're doing well.
Deah thinks, "Whew! And I thought my parents were bad."
Deah: Hello, I'm Controller Deah Tigue, City of New Othwol.
Deah offers a fingertips-touch.
Deah: Nick has been an asset to our city.
Deah: You must be very proud.
Prunida can't help feeling some vindication and approval at the sight of Nick in Tecton uniform, salary issues excepted.
Prunida touches Deah's fingertips with her handling tentacles, zlinning for some cue as to how much Nick has briefed this channel on their past history.
Prunida: I've long been confident the boy could make a success of himself.
Prunida zlins Nick, somewhat posessively.
Prunida: You look good in uniform, Nick.
Deah's nager is pleasantly neutral, since she's a well trained First and her nager is naturally Tigue-obtuse.
Nick looks at Prunida distrustfully, wary of this atypical behavior.
Prunida's eyes drop to Nick's hands, which are twitching as if they would like to starting wringing themselves, Riyyh-style.
Prunida frowns, and looks sharply at Deah.
Deah has noted their interaction with some interest, but still looks pleasant and oblivious.
Deah: Did you have a good trip into town?
Prunida: What? No ring? I'd have thought you'd have satisfied yourself that the boy was ready by now.
Deah is caught by surprise by the question.
Deah: But I'm already married to somebody else.
Deah: [grins]
Deah assumes the interest is the grandmotherly usual.
Deah: Otherwise, I'd be right on him.
Prunida looks surprised and just a tad annoyed at this flippant answer, then realizes that Nick wasn't happy about the inquiry.
Prunida manages to recover and gives a forced chuckle.
Prunida: Well, I'm sure the unencumbered ladies aren't being so hesitant.
Prunida tries to remember what Riyyh taught her about small talk.
Prunida much prefers coming directly to the point, actually.
Prunida: The trip was what you'd expect. Bad service, and my lazy beast threw a shoe yesterday.
Prunida: I had to walk a dozen miles before I found a smith.
Deah: My heavens.
Deah: ~sympathetic~
Deah: You've found a good hotel, though?
Deah: Are you staying at the Buckwheeler?
Prunida: No, I'm at the other one. Shoe something. Down the street a bit further.
Prunida waves a tentacle to give the direction.
Deah: Oh, the Shoe Inn.
Prunida: Yes. It seemed quieter.
Deah thinks Prunida is either incredibly stingy, or has a low tolerance for shopping and just hit the first place on the way into town.
Deah: Yes, I can imagine. [nodding and smiling]
Nick is unable to bear the suspense any longer.
Nick: Grandmother, why are you here?
Deah blinks at the sudden demand.
Prunida gives the wide-eyed, slightly hurt, and very innocent look that she spent a week perfecting in front of the mirror.
Prunida: Why, I'm here to visit my grandson, of course. Do I have to have another reason?
Nick: You always have before.
Deah stares at Prunida in disbelief, since Prunida's nageric control is not yet as advanced as her facial control.
Prunida notes Deah's stare, and hopes Nick won't quiz her too closely later.
Prunida: Nick, let's let bygones be bygones. We've both made mistakes. Can't we start over?
Prunida is well aware that Riyyh would not recommend the implication that Nick has made mistakes, at this delicate stage of the process, but hopes that this will encourage Deah to be skeptical of anything Nick might say about their relationship.
Deah can't tell if Prunida is sincere about wanting to make up with Nick, but bad at being open about emotions, or if she's insincere about wanting to make up with Nick, and just a really bad actress.
Nick is reluctant to air the family dirty linen in front of someone as normal as Deah.
Nick never had this problem with Snake, for some reason.
Deah looks at Nick to see what he's going to say to that.
Nick's mouth is unaccountably opening and shutting like that of a beached fish.
Nick: Grandmother, I'm not sure I want to start over.
Nick hopes that Prunida will take that as it was intended, as a firm "no", and not force him to cause a scene in front of Deah.
Prunida controls a spurt of anger; fortunately, Riyyh had foreseen this sort of response and rehearsed several alternatives to Prunida's usual assault-and-battery response.
Prunida: But Nick, we're family.
Prunida reaches out and pats Nick's arm, rather possessively.
Prunida: You're the only grandson I've got.
Deah feels like she's watching a ping-pong match.
Deah looks back to Nick again.
Nick notes that Deah isn't showing any signs of intervening, and decides that Prunida must actually be zlinning pretty harmless at the moment.
Nick finds this complete change of personality disorienting.
Nick: Look, it's going to take some time to get used to... starting over.
Prunida registers the key response she was to seek as her objective for the first visit.
Prunida smiles broadly.
Prunida: ~~ triumph ~~
Prunida: Of course it will.
Prunida: We'll start slowly, then.
Deah scratches her head, deciding things have gone more or less OK.
Prunida is already counting her augmented bank balance.
Prunida remembers the rest of her instructions, and turns the smile on Deah.
Prunida: It's been lovely to meet you, Hajene Tigue, but I must let you and my grandson get back to your duties.
Deah: Very nice to meet you also.
Prunida: Such an important job, it is, keeping the selyn flowing and all.
Deah chuckles helpfully.
Prunida: I'll come back tomorrow, or perhaps the two of you would join me for lunch?
Deah looks to Nick, knowing it's his answer.
Nick can't believe his ears: Prunida offering to buy someone else lunch?
Nick: Err....
Prunida: It's settled, then. I'll meet you in the lobby at noon.
Prunida zlins Nick with possessive satisfaction, pats his arm once more, and sweeps from the room.
Prunida: Until tomorrow! [over her shoulder]
Nick stares after his grandmother.
Nick: ~~ shock ~~
Deah scratches her head again.
Deah thinks it went perfectly well, a little stiff and fakey, but then it always is with relatives.
Deah: Are you OK?
Nick shakes himself, then looks at Deah.
Nick: I'm not sure.
Nick: I've never seen her like that.
Deah looks concerned.
Deah: Like what?
Deah wonders if she missed something important.
Nick: Trying to be nice.
Nick: She didn't make any demands, didn't scream, didn't attack anyone...
Nick: I hardly recognized her.
Deah looks increasingly concerned.
Deah: Are you sure you're OK?
Nick: I will be, I think.
Nick tries to smile, with only marginally more success than his grandmother.
Nick: You can come along on this luncheon, can't you?
Deah: Of course.
Nick: ~~ relief ~~
Nick: Thank you. I'd just as soon have a witness, until I know what she's after.
Deah decides this is worth making a note of in her private file on Nick, to be transmitted to Arat later.
Deah: No problem. [smiles]
Nick tries to normalize his field.
Nick: I'm sorry for involving you in this...
Nick wonders why the 25% of his ancestry that is Prunida causes him more grief than the 75% contribution from Riyyh.
Deah: Well, Nick, you've been a great Donor and it's the least I could do in return.
Nick smiles at Deah, more genuinely this time.
Nick: Thank you.
Nick hopes Deah doesn't end up regretting the offer.
Notes:
1) Meanwhile, in New Othwol.... [return]