Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #71: Fearful (9/10/99)
Clerfia skips down the hall of the security wing.
Clerfia: Come on, Uncle Jeniard!
Jeniard winces at her use of the term 'uncle'.
Jeniard: Now now, you remember you're not supposed to call me that. [kindly]
Jeniard follows - it's either that or lose the tentacle Clerfia is gripping.
Clerfia blithely ignores the instructions, just as she always has in the past.
Clerfia: We're going to see my sister!
Jeniard: Yes, we are.
Jeniard: Isn't that nice?
Clerfia dances in a whirl, unfortunately forgetting to let go of the tentacle while she does so.
Clerfia: She wrote me a letter, you know.
Jeniard augments to whip it out of her hand before anything untoward can occur.
Jeniard rubs his wrist.
Jeniard: Really? What was it about?
Clerfia frowns.
Clerfia: Well, I couldn't read parts of it.
Jeniard: Words too long? [sympathetically]
Clerfia: No, but they were hard to read.
Jeniard doesn't realize just how much more difficult Snake's writing is to decipher for a child who doesn't yet have years and years of experience reading channel's scrawl.
Jeniard is even more gifted in that particular area than most, having had two out-Territory doctors as parents.
Clerfia perks up.
Clerfia: Still, it was a letter from my very own sister.
Jeniard: Well, that's what counts most, right?
Clerfia: ~~ proprietary pride ~~
Clerfia: Yeah!
Clerfia looks around at the locks on the doors they pass.
Clerfia: Uncle Jeniard, why does Sister Snake live here, and not in the channel's quarters?
Jeniard blinks as Clerfia's phrasing makes Snake sound like a nun... which she is most definitely not!
Jeniard: Well, it's because she's still learning. Later when she's finished she'll live with the other channels.
Jeniard nods.
Jeniard is not planning on Arat having his ass for grass over any little thing he says to Clerfia, and so is playing it safe.
Clerfia: Oh. She's in school?
Jeniard: Sort of. Channel school.
Jeniard: Only because she already knows most of it, it's more like... a refresher.
Clerfia: Oh.
Jeniard: And at the same time she's learning other things too. Like procedure and protocol.
Jeniard: It's not very interesting stuff. [confidentially, with a wink]
Clerfia looks very sympathetic.
Clerfia: Doesn't she get to play at all?
Clerfia is appalled at the thought that her beloved (and--or maybe because--largely unknown) sister is without recreation.
Jeniard: Oh sure. But I mean, adult channels are more interested in work than play. Especially Farrises.
Jeniard: You'll understand in a couple of years.
Clerfia sprints ahead to the door with the security guards.
Clerfia: We're here to see my sister.
Clerfia announces this to the guards with a touch of the hereditary Farris arrogance.
Clerfia also got a large dose of the Audnes arrogance, which might actually do her some good, once she has a nager to back it up with.
Jeniard approaches in a more dignified fashion, waving an apologetic hello.
Jeniard is waved through by the guards, and produces the sacred Key from Arat's keychain, now located on his own keychain.
Clerfia dances with impatience, much like a puppy which is overdue for a walk.
Jeniard signals first, waits for the correct response from Nick, then unlocks the door and enters cautiously.
Clerfia darts around Jeniard (and Nick) and rushes for Snake.
Clerfia: Sister Snake!
Clerfia's arms are spread wide, the better to catch the object of her affections.
Clerfia: ~~ joy/excitement ~~
Wise Snake: Erk!
Wise Snake fields the flying kid awkwardly.
Wise Snake: [not with an elbow to the eye or anything... just slightly awkwardly]
Clerfia: I've come to stay with my Aunt Jiril for a few weeks, and Papa Arat says that since my mom says so, I can visit you, and....
Clerfia runs temporarily out of breath.
Clerfia continues to dance, however, at least as much as that is possible when both arms are plastered around someone else.
Wise Snake: Oh really?
Wise Snake responds, at least as much as that is possible when somebody else's arms are plastered around her.
Wise Snake: Um, well, that's... [pries Clerfia off]
Jeniard clasps his hands together in a gesture which is both nervous and a deliberate attempt to not appear nervous.
Nick is a bit more ~~ relaxed ~~, having more experience with Snake handling.
Nick does move a bit closer, however.
Clerfia: I can visit almost every day!
Clerfia takes advantage of her enforced freedom to dance a bit more.
Clerfia: Well, if Aunt Jiril says I can.
Clerfia shoots a look at Jeniard, to see if he registers this display of childish modesty.
Wise Snake looks incredulously at Jeniard.
Clerfia has no more difficulty getting around her aunt than she does her mother, but she see no reason to belabor that point, at least not where it might get back to Arat.
Jeniard shakes his head and spreads his hands and tentacles to indicate he's heard nothing of such an arrangement.
Wise Snake: Um, sure, whatever you say, kid.
Clerfia looks around, ~~ curious ~~ to see what kind of a room her sister has.
Wise Snake: Ain't much, is it?
Wise Snake: This is what happens if you misbehave.
Clerfia's eyes widen.
Wise Snake: You think you have it bad now, just wait until you're an adult.
Jeniard winces again.
Clerfia points at a rather hefty tome.
Clerfia: They make you read that?
Wise Snake: I hate to say this kid, but they're going to make you read that, and not only that, but they can zlin if you like it or not.
Wise Snake: And if you don't... you have to read it again.
Wise Snake smiles.
Clerfia looks at Snake with dawning ~~ horror ~~
Wise Snake picks up the book ("Standard Tecton Procedural Code Revision 23.2.11") and flips through a good chunk of it.
Clerfia: I don't want to grow up!
Wise Snake puts the book aside.
Clerfia is starting to get genuinely ~~ upset ~~.
Wise Snake: So, don't then.
Nick looks at Snake with mild reproof--he has no objection to Snake having a bit of fun, but not if it's going to get Arat all upset.
Clerfia: You mean, I don't have to go through changeover?
Clerfia hadn't heard this before, but it is her sister telling her this, after all.
Clerfia is sometimes not quite a skeptical as she should be.
Wise Snake: Well, that part you have to do, but they can't make you grow up in your head.
Clerfia: Oh.
Clerfia plops down on Snake's rumpled bed.
Wise Snake: For example, I used to know this one guy, 54 natal years... his entire house was full of toy soldiers.
Clerfia: I don't like toy soldiers.
Wise Snake: So?
Wise Snake thinks this is the most profoundly irrelevant thing she's ever heard.
Clerfia looks at Snake reproachfully.
Wise Snake gives Clerfia a perverse, cynical smile.
Clerfia: You're teasing me.
Wise Snake: Nah.
Clerfia isn't dumb, just scatterbrained.
Wise Snake: I'm just trying to tell you something you're not prepared for.
Wise Snake: Some things, you really have to be a little older to understand.
Wise Snake: But you will, as long as you remember what I said.
Clerfia looks at Snake.
Clerfia: Snake, I don't want to go through changeover. I'm afraid I'll die, or....
Clerfia: Or maybe something worse.
Wise Snake: Oh yeah?
Wise Snake: Any particular reason you're worried about this, or just because?
Wise Snake wonders if really rotten First Years run in the family.
Jeniard listens carefully, knowing Arat will want this part verbatim.
Clerfia: Papa Arat says I shouldn't worry, because my mother will take care of me and let the Sime Center know in time, but you know my mother.
Clerfia: Or I guess you don't.
Clerfia has a bit of trouble with the concept that her sister doesn't know every detail of life in Clerfia-land.
Wise Snake: You think your mother is a lorsh? [curious]
Jeniard's eyelids fly open.
Jeniard: ~~ startled ~~
Clerfia: No, she means well. It's just that she gets distracted easily.
Wise Snake: Well, you don't really have to have her help, you know.
Wise Snake: If you plan very carefully, you can do it all yourself.
Clerfia: I can?
Clerfia: ~~ hope ~~
Wise Snake: Sure.
Wise Snake: First of all, do you know when you're going to be changing over?
Clerfia: No, not yet.
Clerfia has, in fact, just finished her first round of preliminary changeover training, which is what's gotten her all paranoid in the first place.
Wise Snake: OK, well, then we'll just work out a general plan, OK?
Clerfia: All right.
Clerfia slips her hand ~~ trustingly ~~ into Snake's.
Clerfia admires Snake's tentacles, wishing she could have some of her own, without having to go through changeover.
Wise Snake: OK. So, do you go a lot of places, or mostly stay in one town?
Clerfia: I travel with my mother during the summer, sometimes.
Clerfia: ~~ doubtful ~~
Clerfia: But I have to stay home when school's going on.
Wise Snake: Hmmm...
Wise Snake: Do you enjoy the traveling bit or could you live without it?
Clerfia: I like to go places. Staying at home is boring.
Wise Snake: OK, well that makes things a bit more difficult because you see, while you're on the road, you're far away from any channels who might be able to help you.
Clerfia: Oh.
Wise Snake: But, while you're in town, there's some things you should do.
Wise Snake: First of all, you should always know where the Sime Center is.
Wise Snake: For example, if your mom takes you somewhere for a week, a small town, you should ask some Simes about the Sime Center, then make sure you know how to get there.
Clerfia nods solemnly.
Clerfia is sure that her sister will look after her.
Darrel approaches Arat's office with more than the usual ~~ trepidation ~~
Jeniard is back in Arat's office after discharging his Clerfia duties.
Jeniard is pleased to help Arat out while Alea is on break.
Arat zlins the lurker near his door and checks the time impatiently.
Darrel is well aware that he was already in Arat's black book due to the autoclave incident, and supposes that the past few days have not changed that at all... at least, not for the better.
Darrel grits his teeth and manages to make himself ~ signal ~, a full five seconds before his appointment.
Arat: Enter!
Darrel was afraid that if he waited until the proper time, he'd chicken out.
Darrel is rather good at chickening out, actually.
Jeniard unhands Arat's shoulders.
Darrel gulps and opens the door.
Jeniard reseats himself in the Donor chair.
Darrel zlins ahead, and is pathetically ~~ relieved ~~ not to zlin Alea in the room.
Alea finishes combing her hair and pinning it up.
Darrel: You wanted to see me, Controller Arat?
Alea pulls on fresh clothes and powders and perfumes herself up.
Alea is feeling halfway decent after a night of little sleep.
Alea bounces down the hall feeling extra perky.
Alea has no idea Darrel is at this Center.
Arat studies Darrel for a long moment, his expression inscrutable. His nager is, needless to say, also inscrutable.
Darrel makes it over to the visitor's chair on the optimism that Alea might be gone long enough for this interview to end.
Arat doesn't remember saying Darrel can sit, but decides to let it slide this time.
Arat: Hajene Darrel.
Darrel isn't quite sure which incident has landed this appointment, and so limits himself to an all-purpose ~~ generic contrition ~~
Arat picks up a piece of paper.
Darrel attempts a smile, without overwhelming success.
Arat: Avoidance of duty shifts, 3 counts. Avoidance autoclave training, 2 counts. Running in hallways, 7 counts. Erratic behavior, 4 reports.
Arat puts down the paper.
Arat lifts a questioning eyebrow.
Alea strides down the hall and signals at the door.
Darrel's smile turns rather sickly.
Arat gestures to Jeniard to deal with it.
Jeniard rises and goes to open the door for Alea.
Darrel: I'm sorry, it's just...
Jeniard waves "hi" and makes a "shhh" motion.
Darrel's head whips around as he gets a zlin of Alea's nager.
Darrel freezes like a rooster who's finally seen the fox about to bite.
Alea nods.
Darrel is, unfortunately for him, lacking an escape route.
Alea stops in the door dead when she spots Darrel.
Alea's eyebrows climb into her hairline.
Alea: (which is very hard since her hair is pulled back on her head)
Darrel: ~~ freaking ~~
Alea's nager fluctuates before it's pulled into cool professionalism. With a gentle smile she turns all her nager to Arat and walks over, seating herself behind him.
Alea doesn't say a word.
Alea: Thank you, Hajene for the short reprieve to clean up the mess that changeover made.
Darrel stares at Alea, huddled in his chair.
Alea ~~ overly innocent ~~
Darrel does not--quite--bolt.
Arat: Of course. [distracted; he's staring at Darrel]
Alea folds her hands, all attention, focused strongly at Arat.
Jeniard closes the door, notes Alea has taken the chair he "kept warm" for her, and turns thoughtfully to lean his back against the door.
Alea notes how warm the chair is and smiles her thanks at Jeniard knowing he didn't keep it warm at all but had been in her chair.
Alea thinks that is strange and studies him closely wondering just what his close friendship is with Arat.
Darrel's mouth works, and he finally manages to squeak.
Darrel clears his throat, and manage to get out a "Hello, Sosu Farris" that's only an octave higher than his usual speaking voice.
Arat: Hajene Darrel. [as if Alea hasn't entered]
Arat: As you are no doubt aware, your recent record concerns me.
Arat does, however, make ample use of Alea's support.
Darrel makes a valiant effort to pull at least part of his attention back to Arat.
Darrel: Yes, Controller. I'm sorry.
Darrel is for once not perceiving Arat as the greatest threat in the vicinity.
Arat: I would like to hear your explanation for it.
Darrel: I wanted to wait until it was safe.
Alea shifts in her chair her gaze following Jeniard.
Darrel seems to feel that this answers the question.
Darrel jumps as Alea moves, then subsides when it become apparent that she's not getting out of her chair.
Jeniard can't help but notice that the high-powered Donor is staring at him, but he knows it'll tee Arat off if he seems to notice, so he tries to keep his attention on Darrel as well.
Darrel wishes that he hadn't zlinned Alea near the autoclave, autoclaves being rather a sore point just now.
Arat: Is that all you have to say for yourself?
Arat appears annoyed with the answer.
Alea's gaze turns from Jeniard to Arat.
Alea wonders what is going on and what she is missing.
Darrel looks at Arat pleadingly.
Darrel: I didn't mean to cause trouble for anyone else.
Alea nearly chuckles at Darrel's words.
Darrel is, as usual, groveling with heartfelt sincerity.
Alea ~~ sudden amusement ~~
Arat turns his head to look at Alea.
Alea remembers many things poor Darrel did at Bender Cove.
Darrel blinks at the sudden humor during what is a disastrous chewing-out, as far as he's concerned.
Alea's amusement, obvious in her field, is quickly swallowed with a hard attempt to bury any left.
Alea ~~ controlled near-professionalism ~~
Darrel is, needless to say, not reassured by this levity, or its sudden disappearance.
Alea: Forgive me, Hajene.
Arat takes that as a withdrawal of the nageric statement, and turns back to Darrel.
Darrel: ~~ queasy ~~
Darrel huddles in his chair.
Alea offers her support by gently wrapping her nageric field around Arat with calm soothing support, the golden field light and gentle, not overbearing or intrusive, but supportive.
Arat: Did you avoid your work duties in order to avoid contact with Alea Farris?
Alea thinks ~~ ME? ~~ ~~ surprise ~~
Arat nearly swallows his gum [figuratively speaking] at the nageric change.
Darrel squirms, not wanting Alea out to get him, but is finally forced to admit it.
Darrel: Yes, Controller Arat.
Alea looks down her nose at Darrel ~~ cool professional composure ~~
Arat nods, with an effort.
Alea decides, oh well.
Arat lets go of the arm of his chair as the professional composure returns.
Alea: And it's nice to see you again too, Darrel.
Alea: Tell me, digging any gardens lately?
Jeniard gapes at both of them.
Jeniard is glad he's sort of out of the way at the moment.
Jeniard actually wonders if he could get away with sort of like slipping out the door when nobody is paying attention.
Darrel shakes his head, a bit wildly.
Darrel: Nnno, Sosu Farris.
Alea: He does wonderful gardening, Hajene.
Alea smiles, her eyes narrowing though her field doesn't change.
Darrel doesn't want to get anywhere near a garden, since his last encounter with the Gnome.
Arat: Alea, that is enough.
Alea immediately turns her attention back to Arat.
Alea ~~ cool professionalism with strong nageric support ~~
Arat indicates his thanks nagerically and focuses his attention on Darrel.
Darrel is ~ relieved ~ as Alea's attention goes elsewhere.
Arat: You are supposed to have progressed farther than this. If you cannot prove it is so, I will be forced to start over again with you.
Darrel gulps and nods.
Arat: It should not matter, but for your information Sosu Farris will not be present in any clinic or ward without my own presence as well.
Arat: Therefore, if you avoid sessions which involve Alea in the future, I will know about it. First hand.
Alea thinks thank heavens for that. Darrel is enough to make the best Farris Donor a nervous wreck.
Arat: Whatever your personal likes or dislikes of another Tecton employee, you are expected to perform to the best of your ability at all times.
Darrel doesn't know whether to be terrified at this implication that he'll be working with Alea, or terrified that he'll be working under Arat's beak, so to speak.
Darrel: I understand, Controller Farris.
Darrel settles for just being terrified in a general sense.
Darrel generally finds enough terror to cover all the possibilities.
Arat's eyes narrow.
Arat can tell the difference between someone attempting to control their fear and somebody running with the emotion, and he doesn't like what he's zlinning.
Arat: If there are any more unwarranted events of this sort, [indicates the page] then we will have to meet again for a re-evaluation of your schedule.
Arat: And now, if you have nothing else to say for yourself, you may go.
Darrel doesn't hesitate; he's never been one for self-advocacy when escape is offered.
Alea is relieved all went well and sits back in her seat, crossing her legs, her blue and black outfit smartly ironed and pleated.
Darrel skedaddles before Arat can change his mind.
Jeniard moves aside rather than get knocked over in Darrel's haste.
Alea wonders how Darrel ended up here.
Jeniard meets Arat's eye, letting him know that he, too, will leave now since Alea is available once again.
Jeniard exits and closes the door quietly behind him.