Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #63: Glee (8/12/99)
Nick wanders through the Sime Center, in the general direction of the Controller's office.
Nick is a bit more saddle-hardened after the ride, but otherwise looks just as scruffy as he did when he arrived at Naros.
Nick is carrying a package of Narosian tea under his arm.
Nick decides to be polite and signal at the office door, just in case Arat is involved in something.
Arat is involved mainly in staring morosely at the door.
Arat has been depressed ever since Wise Snake's abortive attempt (if it was indeed an attempt, and not simply a joke to make a fool of everybody at the Sime Center) to escape.
Nick waits a moment, then shrugs and opens the door.
Nick: Arat?
Nick steps through the door.
Arat looks surprised.
Arat: Nick!
Arat in fact looks as if he doesn't quite believe Nick is there.
Nick reaches out with his nager, falling into ~~ support ~~
Nick: I just got in.
Arat looks visibly very relieved by Nick's nager's touch.
Arat looks even more relieved as he finds his way out of the thoughts he'd been deep into, and really registers Nick's presence.
Arat: I am glad to see you.
Arat probably should have said "zlin", since Nick's looks are decidedly ratty at the moment.
Nick goes over to the desk, sets the package of tea down, and puts a slightly grubby hand on Arat's shoulder.
Nick: And I, you.
Nick checks Arat's condition.
Nick has been a bit concerned, every since he learned that Arat was Donorless as of a week before his transfer.
Arat appears depressed and tired, although he has perked up considerably in the last minute or two.
Nick: How did your transfer go?
Nick: In your last letter, you weren't even sure who your Donor was going to be.
Arat: It was... well, it was better than I had feared.
Arat: Pylor was trying his best.
Nick frowns, not willing to accept that as an excuse for a less than adequate transfer.
Arat: He really isn't suitable for work with Farrises, at least not without additional training.
Arat: And unfortunately, he doesn't seem willing to obtain the training required.
Arat hopes this means this was the last time he'll ever be assigned to one.
Nick snorts in disgust and takes Arat's hands, so that he can do a really thorough job of straightening out the kinks in his channel's nager.
Nick: How's Beni been managing with Snake?
Arat's tentacles coil around Nick's wrists, testing the feeling of them.
Arat: All right, but it's been two months. They cannot be assigned again.
Arat: Nor can I assign Pylor to her.
Arat: [much as he might like to...]
Nick: I should hope not. She'd eat him alive.
Nick wouldn't mind that, particularly, but he would mind Snake having an inadequate transfer.
Nick can't deny a certain ~~ longing ~~ to serve Snake again himself.
Arat withdraws his hands.
Arat: And so I have little choice but to assign you to her instead.
Arat: I hope that you will prove wrong the arguments against it.
Nick freezes, not quite sure he heard what he thought he did.
Nick: ~~ joy/delight/relief ~~
Nick is actually feeling like he wants to hug the world; well, Pylor excepted, of course.
Arat, not surprisingly, doesn't seem quite as delighted.
Nick realizes that he is being a bit tactless.
Nick: You will have Beni?
Arat: Yes.
Nick: After two months with Snake, he should be able to work well with you.
Nick smiles in ~~ encouragement ~~
Arat: Perhaps.
Arat will be the first to say he is not Snake.
Arat: I will expect you to perform your duties with responsibility and care, just as you would if you were assigned to me.
Nick: Of course.
Nick doesn't expect to find this difficult, as he spent his time with Arat carrying out his duties as if he were working with Snake. Various unimportant pieces of paperwork excepted, of course.
Nick: Have you told Snake yet?
Arat: No.
Arat had been about to tell her when he heard news of her little jaunt the other day, and hasn't been able to make himself say it since.
Arat would, if there were any other choice, never choose to reward her with her preferred Donor after such behavior.
Nick: Is that why Beni isn't here with you?
Arat: That is part of it.
Arat: Also, Snake has recently proved that we lowered the security surrounding her too soon.
Arat: So it has been necessary for Beni to stay with her until your return.
Nick chuckles.
Nick: She decided to get some unscheduled exercise?
Nick: ~~ fond amusement ~~
Nick: She must be feeling much better, then.
Arat looks less than amused.
Arat: If you encourage or abet such behavior, I shall be forced to separate you.
Nick realizes that Arat is upset about the incident.
Nick: Arat, if she had been serious about running away, she would have succeeded..
Arat: That is not the point.
Arat: I have gone out on a limb by insisting that she can be rehabilitated.
Arat: My credibility has been damaged by her behavior.
Arat: If I cannot demonstrate believable progress, they will take her away from me and put her in prison.
Arat thinks Nick will understand more once he learns just how much of an uproar Snake's antics caused.
Nick: Her continued presence is proof that you are succeeding: She chose to stay here, in your program, rather than return to her previous existence.
Arat flicks a hand and tentacles dismissively.
Arat: That is not how my superiors - or the public - see it.
Arat: This is a warning to you: Encourage stability in her, not wildness. Otherwise, I will not be able to help her.
Nick: It is Snake's view of the matter that concerns me--and her decision to stay is the most hopeful sign I've seen since we left Bender Cove.
Nick is, indeed, very ~~ optimistic ~~
Nick: It means that she's started to think about living again, and not about running away.
Nick: I never really thought I'd see her this way again. Not after Eliza shenned her, that time at Naros.
Arat regards Nick, and Nick's optimism, with a sour expression but he doesn't argue.
Nick: There have been times when I think she really wanted to die, but was too stubborn to know how.
Nick waves his (ringless) hand in an attempt to demonstrate the concept.
Arat: I see.
Arat is not, as it happens, feeling terribly reassured as to Snake's innate stability or future potential.
Nick: I don't think she ever really expected to survive First Year.
Arat nods.
Nick thinks about what Riyyh told him of Arat's First Year.
Nick notes that Arat still doesn't look too good.
Nick: Should I go relieve Beni, and send him to you?
Nick has learned that it's considered bad manners for him to work on another Donor's assigned channel, unless specifically requested, but he can't help ~~ wanting ~~ to help Arat, as well as Snake.
Nick never had this sort of conflicting loyalty when Snake was the only channel around who was a decent match.
Arat: Yes, that would probably be for the best.
Arat is certain Beni could use the break.
Arat also would like Nick gone, and with Snake, so that the torment of not having him is lessened.
Nick: I'll have him up shortly, then.
Nick has learned to detect when his presence is making a channel more uncomfortable than not.
Nick picks up his package, hesitates, then opens it and takes out one of the boxes.
Nick: For you and Beni. It's Farris-safe.
Nick sets the box on Arat's desk.
Arat looks curious despite himself.
Nick: It's called "Rosemary Rhapsody"
Arat opens the box to see what it is.
Arat: Thank you.
Nick smiles, which adds an interesting sparkle to his nager.
Nick: You're welcome. I hope you enjoy it.
Nick starts for the door, at an easy pace designed to help a channel convince himself that he's not being deserted by his Donor.
Nick is more used to using such techniques when his channel is in need, but figures Arat could use the courtesy after two bad months.
Arat appreciates it, for what it's worth.
Nick slips out the door and heads for Snake's cell, at a faster pace than he used to enter the building.
Nick finally makes his way through the heightened security to the door of Snake's cell.
Nick signals politely, as though Snake actually had a say about who enters.
Wise Snake: Well? [to Beni]
Beni sighs, wondering if Farris channels have an allergy to answering doors.
Beni gets up and goes to the door.
Beni: Come in!
Beni knows that the door is, of course, locked from the inside.
Nick steps back just far enough for the guard to open the door, then slips through.
Nick: Snake, I'm back!
Nick: ~~ love/happiness/support ~~
Wise Snake looks and zlins Nick over.
Wise Snake of course doesn't notice the disheveled appearance, only the health of Nick's nager.
Nick does manage to keep his nager from being too overwhelming, a task made easier by his relatively low field, but he can't keep the ear-to-ear grin off his face.
Wise Snake: Looks like they kept you in one piece.
Nick's nager is in good shape, and he has regained at least part of his outdoor tan.
Nick nods.
Nick: After you, Deah Tigue wasn't much of a challenge.
Wise Snake: And Arat? [idle curiosity]
Nick: He at least has a use for much of what you taught me.
Nick excepts some of the wilder improvisations forced on Snake for lack of proper Tecton facilities, medications, and other supplies.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Nick moves closer to Snake, falling into ~~ support ~~
Beni makes an abortive move to prevent Nick from approaching Snake so closely.
Beni: You probably shouldn't.....
Wise Snake enjoys Beni's consternation.
Nick: It's all right.
Nick sits beside Snake and puts a possessive arm around her shoulder.
Nick: I'll be giving her transfer this month, you see.
Beni only thought what he was experiencing before was ~~consternation~~
Beni: But.....
Nick: You'll be taking care of Arat. He could use some assistance now, I believe.
Nick nods politely towards the door.
Wise Snake rubs her chin thoughtfully.
Wise Snake's expression says "Well, there's a fine how d'ye do."
Wise Snake decides to resemble her first name and keep her mouth shut in order to see how this develops.
Beni hesitates, torn between the necessity of obeying his Controller, and his firm belief that putting Nick and Snake together is a very Bad Idea.
Wise Snake looks at him with a devilish glint in her eye.
Wise Snake is curious to see whether he takes Nick at his word, or not.
Beni is, of course, well aware that he and Nick are the only two Donors capable of handling Snake in the District, and that Arat can't assign him to Snake again.
Beni has not heard of the pending arrival of another Farris-trained Donor, so he is not (quite) willing to call Nick at liar.
Beni: Very well. I will go to Controller Arat, since he requires such immediate assistance.
Beni intends to have a brief chat on the way out, to ensure that the guards are extra-vigilant until he can confirm the assignment--and maybe afterwards, as well.
Beni can't resist a parting shot, however, and wrinkles his nose in Nick's direction.
Beni: Snake could probably survive alone long enough for you to get a bath and change into some decent clothes.
Beni signals for the guards to let him out.
Nick looks a tad smugly at his definitely non-regulation (but comfortable) outfit.