Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #55: Fathers of Rogues (7/26/99)
see note 1
Pylor follows Darrel into a rather nice restaurant.
Darrel zlins around anxiously for their host.
Riyyh has finally managed to drop Racknie off at the action headquarters, and then had the carriage bring him to the restaurant where he is scheduled to meet Darrel for lunch.
Riyyh therefore is already seated, and waves to Darrel with a smile.
Darrel smiles back.
Darrel: There he is.
Darrel leads Pylor towards Riyyh's table.
Riyyh smoothes back his hair again, though he'd just spent about 20 minutes making sure his look had survived Jaffy and Racknie intact.
Darrel: Sectuib Riyyh, I've brought my Donor, Pylor. Pylor, this is Riyyh.
Pylor: Pleased to meet you, Sectuib Naros.
Riyyh: Sosu Pylor. [smiles in genuine pleasure]
Pylor looks at Riyyh curiously, as he has only glimpsed him at an event or two, and never spoken to him.
Riyyh is an aging, but still disturbingly good-looking First Order channel wearing expensive clothing and jewelry, and with an impeccable set of long silver curls.
Riyyh: Please, be seated, both of you.
Darrel sits down.
Darrel: Sosu Pylor has been a great help to me.
Darrel has become a Pylor-convert since their assignment.
Riyyh: I have read about you.
Riyyh: [to Pylor]
Pylor is not nearly as enthusiastic about being assigned to Darrel, but letting Darrel zlin that isn't part of his job.
Riyyh intends this as flattery; therefore he doesn't mention that it was in tabloids, as well as Hero, Nick and Tiarala's gossipy letters.
Pylor's mouth twists at this polite reference to the gossip columnists' recent purple prose.
Pylor: And I about you.
Pylor thinks that two can play the tabloid game.
Riyyh: You zlin well, Darrel.
Darrel smiles broadly.
Darrel: I'm feeling so much more relaxed, these days.
Riyyh: That you were assigned a First, and are doing so well, suggests that you will be fine in the future. [smiles]
Riyyh is impressed by Darrel's progress, and doesn't try to hide it.
Darrel has, indeed, lost much of his nervous-breakdown-waiting-to-happen appearance, although his inherent timidity remains.
Riyyh doesn't actually notice the timidity, since he is so used to seeing it in the mirror every day.
Darrel feels a surge of unwonted self-confidence at this praise.
Darrel: Hajene Arat is a generous Controller. Did you know that Pylor was supposed to be his Donor, but the Controller gave him up so that he could help me get over my problems?
Riyyh: Is that so? [kindly]
Riyyh wouldn't have thought that was the reason, but he is more than willing to appear to take Darrel's word for it.
Pylor is glad that Darrel, at least, has swallowed his carefully constructed coverup, but suspects that Neptude will be much harder to convince.
Darrel: I was a bit afraid of Arat at first....
Darrel still is, on occasion... like every time he is actually in Arat's presence.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Darrel: ... but he's really a very good Controller.
Riyyh nods encouragingly.
Riyyh himself is, of course, perfectly terrified of Arat.
Riyyh had held some illusions about patching up their relationship at one point, until he found himself face to face with the man and discovered the intimidation factor was insurmountable.
Darrel: His Center always runs very smoothly. People are where they are supposed to be--even the patients are normal.
Pylor mutters something, of which only the words "bloody Farris perfectionist" are audible.
Riyyh: That must be pleasant, [agrees, remembering that Darrel had been at Bender Cove before]
Pylor is, however, careful to keep his opinion of Arat to himself.
Pylor: (nagerically speaking)
Riyyh zlins Pylor curiously, but doesn't comment on the comment.
Pylor is by this point more interested in salvaging his career than in making converts to Arat-hatred, and has pegged Darrel as the closest he's likely to get to an advocate with Arat's ear.
Riyyh: And how long have you been at that Sime Center, Sosu Pylor? [making polite conversation]
Pylor: I've been on a regular rotation between three Centers in the general area.
Pylor takes care not to mention that he has been taken off of this rotation for the time being.
Riyyh: Do you happen to know what is intended regarding Nick Reckage?
Pylor: The rogue Donor?
Riyyh had discovered through previous correspondence that Darrel was not privy to such information, although he was able to provide several interesting rumors.
Pylor's face contorts in a grimace of distaste.
Riyyh is taken aback by the change in Pylor's expression and nager.
Riyyh: Why, yes, er....
Pylor: I suppose he'll do fine, at least as long as he's the darling poster boy for half the Controllers in Capitol.
Riyyh: He is?
Riyyh looks hopeful.
Riyyh: So he is doing well, then?
Pylor: If he keeps his nose clean, he might even last for a while, after they lose interest.
Riyyh looks worried at that last statement.
Riyyh: I do try to get him to write more often, and he is supposed to come home on his way back to Capitol from New Othwol, but....
Pylor: Still, he seems to be pressing the limits. I'm told he hasn't pledged yet, and it's been two months since he was captured.
Riyyh looks thoughtful.
Riyyh: Perhaps if Wise Snake....
Riyyh can't quite picture Snake pledging to the Tecton, even though she is technically pledged to it already.
Riyyh: ... well.
Pylor: She belongs in prison! Or locked up with the criminally insane.
Pylor's nager betrays a touch of fear, although well controlled enough not to disturb Darrel particularly.
Riyyh studies Pylor curiously; he'd have thought someone in Pylor's position would have a more clinical attitude about Snake than that.
Riyyh himself, of course, plans to stay far away from Snake, having been nearly murdered by her once already.
Pylor: But Arat's too blind to zlin what's biting him on the neck.
Riyyh: You have worked with her, then? While assigned to Arat?
Pylor: A little bit.
Pylor: She's insane.
Riyyh: Has she shown any progress at all?
Pylor shudders.
Pylor: Not that I've noticed.
Riyyh frets.
Riyyh: My son should be there.
Riyyh: Perhaps in another month, things will be better.
Riyyh can't imagine trying to rehabilitate Snake without Nick involved somehow.
Pylor: Controller Arat's got her working with patients. He says his supervision is enough to protect them, but really! He can't protect himself against her.
Riyyh's eyes widen.
Riyyh: Have there been any incidents?
Pylor: Well, not as such.
Pylor: ~~ grudging admission ~~
Riyyh: ~~ relief ~~
Pylor: But only because she was locked up, in the maximum security cell.
Pylor: Now that she's allowed out, even on a limited basis....
Riyyh: We had so much difficulty with her while she was our guest. I do hope you all will be able to help her.
Pylor: Well, anything could happen.
Riyyh nods.
Riyyh turns back to Darrel.
Pylor wouldn't actually object to Snake making a run for it, if it got her out of Tecton custody.
Pylor would be even happier if Snake took Nick with her.
Riyyh: Do you plan on staying on, then? Have you been happy enough?
Riyyh makes it sound as if a Tecton channel has much say in where he ends up.
Darrel considers.
Darrel: It's been well enough.
Darrel isn't made out for the life of a rogue, after all.
Darrel is unaware of how much of this tolerance was simply due to Arat, Snake, and Nick providing a more entertaining source of gossip.
Riyyh: I'm pleased for you. [genuine]
Riyyh: Ah, here's the waiter.
Riyyh looks forward to a pleasant lunch and chat with the two.
Notes:
1) To find out what happened earlier in Riyyh's day, see HHN #142: Educational Harvest. [return]