Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #72: Survivalist Zeal (9/11/99)
Darrel is carefully arranging the supplies in the storeroom off the burn ward.
Darrel has been doing a lot of supply-preparation during the hands-on portion of the autoclave safety training class.
Darrel doesn't mind all that much, as Arat is unlikely to assign his personal Donor to help out in the supply room.
Darrel was only partially reassured by Arat's promise that Alea wouldn't be running around unescorted.
Darrel found the news that he would probably not be required to treat any injuries Alea acquires during the course of her duties a big relief, but is not looking forward to zlinning the ambient in the moments between injury and treatment.
Darrel is still trying to figure out how to stay out of range of Alea's nager without being so obvious about it that Arat notices.
Darrel wonders if he can manage to sneak a copy of Arat's work schedule.
Darrel is quite aware that this wouldn't provide cues to random inspections, but it's better than nothing.
Darrel has gotten past the panic stage, and is entering the "cover your posterior while hiding in the closet" stage.
Jeniard pops into the supply closet, ostensibly to get something.
Darrel turns as he zlins Jeniard.
Darrel: Hajene Jeniard. Are you looking for something?
Darrel tries to zlin professional, organized, and generally competent, hoping that it will get back to Arat.
Darrel does look just a tad stressed out, however.
Darrel: ~~ surface calm over deep unease ~~
Jeniard blinks as he is glommed by a stressed-out-looking, calm-zlinning Darrel and offered assistance in locating the band-aids.
Jeniard: Well, yes, actually, I just came in to get some small gauze pads. The 3/4" ones should be fine.
Darrel: They're on the second shelf.
Darrel reaches for the box.
Darrel: I just ran a new batch yesterday, so there's plenty.
Jeniard looks at Darrel oddly.
Jeniard: Thanks.
Jeniard has, shen knows, plenty of experience in being rushed out the door, and he thinks he knows it when he feels it.
Jeniard: Everything all right in here?
Jeniard is famous for reporting... irregularities... to Arat without fail.
Darrel: It's fine. I was just making sure the shelves were stocked.
Darrel has, in fact, been giving the supply cabinet its most thorough going-over since the annual inventory.
Jeniard: All right, well, carry on then.
Jeniard leaves.
Darrel pauses.
Darrel: Hajene Jeniard?
Jeniard stops just outside the door.
Jeniard: Yes, Hajene Darrel?
Darrel: Errr... will Controller Arat be working in the burn ward this afternoon?
Darrel is bracing himself for the worst.
Jeniard zlins Darrel practically cringing from the coming answer.
Jeniard immediately becomes wary.
Jeniard: What if he is? [neutrally]
Jeniard wouldn't normally have answered this way, but he knows what the deal is with Darrel.
Jeniard: Will that be a problem?
Darrel: Well, there's still time for at least a few precautions.
Darrel: Making sure that all the Farris allergens are out of reach, and so forth.
Darrel: And it might be possible to have a volunteer stake out the teapot.
Darrel thinks it well worth a staff member's afternoon, if it prevents Alea from trying to make the tea herself.
Jeniard has no idea what Darrel is babbling about, teapots and such, but he is picking up Darrel's emotions loud and clear.
Darrel: That way we won't have to have the fire department standing by, you see.
Jeniard's eyes widen.
Darrel: Oh, you might want to check with maintenance, and make sure that any cans of paint they have are locked up safely.
Jeniard: Don't you think you're overreacting just a little?
Darrel: You don't know Alea very well, do you?
Darrel figures that he owes Arat enough that he should make sure at least somebody knows to take precautions.
Jeniard: No, but Arat says there is no basis for concern at this time.
Jeniard thinks that's good enough for him, on any subject which doesn't involve Arat's personal health.
Darrel: Sosu Alea? Not a basis for concern?
Darrel is ~~ astonished ~~
Jeniard: That's what he said.
Darrel: At Bender Cove, she managed to injure herself, someone else, or the building almost every week.
Jeniard looks a little unsure at this point, but....
Jeniard: I trust Arat's judgment.
Jeniard: And you should too. That's why he's Controller.
Darrel: He's infatuated with her nager.
Jeniard turns bright red.
Jeniard: Maybe so, but that's not....
Darrel: Look, Jeniard, I don't blame him. Alea's better than Pylor, or Beni, and he can't have Nick just now.
Darrel: I'm only a Second, but I know what it's like not to have a Donor you can depend on.
Darrel: The trouble is, Alea can't be trusted around stoves, sharp objects, ladders, ice, or Farris allergens.
Darrel: And if you give her access to paint, Controller Arat's office might end up painted lavender or something.
Darrel: Just like Controller Veraik's.
Darrel: She painted the garden gnome purple, too.
Jeniard: Darrel, Arat isn't Controller Veraik. [firmly]
Jeniard: You may not agree with his assessments of situation, but that doesn't mean he isn't right, or doesn't know how to handle people like Alea Farris.
Darrel: That's just it. How can he handle her if he doesn't know--and believe--that she's a walking disaster area?
Jeniard: Not a single thing has happened.
Jeniard: And it's not as if Arat isn't aware of her past.
Jeniard: He's not an idiot, he did his research.
Jeniard does find it a bit disconcerting that the Tecton held back on the bulk of Alea's information, though.
Darrel: It wasn't in her file when she came to Bender Cove, I know that much. Zeor protects its own. Even if they try to make sure she doesn't hurt any of their channels.
Jeniard: You looked at her file?
Darrel: Or didn't you wonder why Arat suddenly rated a Zeor-trained Farris Donor?
Jeniard: That part of it is clear enough. She has been through some rehabilitation after the loss of a family member, and is being prepared for re-entry to her old rotation.
Jeniard: [in other words, the rotation that includes Farris channels more important than Arat]
Darrel looks at Jeniard, very seriously.
Darrel: Look, I hope for Arat's sake that the retraining worked.
Jeniard: Don't you have any faith in Arat at all?
Jeniard: After all he's done for you?
Jeniard wonders if Darrel thinks he knows more about everything than Arat since he had Pylor for a month and liked it.
Darrel: Don't you see that it's because of what Arat's done for me that I'm worried?
Jeniard just looks at Darrel.
Darrel: I worked in the same Center as Alea Farris for months, and she was a walking disaster area the whole time.
Darrel: Just in case she suffers a relapse when Arat isn't expecting it, I'm going to make sure that there is as little opportunity for her to hurt herself as possible, at least down here.
Jeniard for the life of him can't imagine Arat allowing his Donor to walk on ice, climb a ladder, paint anything or take inappropriate medication in his presence.
Jeniard can't imagine that anybody who knows Arat even a little could see it either.
Darrel: If you care about Arat, you'll do the same for his office and anywhere else he's likely to go.
Jeniard: Well, I'll certainly mention this conversation to him.
Darrel looks at Jeniard, starting to realize that he's discharged the proverbial Gen-made firearm in the direction of his Tecton-issue footwear.
Darrel: You don't believe a word I've said, do you?
Jeniard: Well, I have to look at it objectively along with the other information I have, but I'm not ignoring it.
Jeniard of course will simply pass the information along to Arat, who will use it to evaluate Darrel as well as Alea.
Darrel: Fine. And while you're "not ignoring" it, make sure the Farris first aid kit in Arat's office is fully supplied.
Darrel: I'd lay in a few extra bandages, too.
Darrel reaches for the shelf where they are stocked.
Darrel: Here, these should do.
Darrel holds the roll of bandages out.
Jeniard takes the bandages, looking just a little bit mystified, as if he's not sure just how crazy Darrel is.
Jeniard: I'll do that. [tone of voice matches the expression]
Darrel: I talked with a friend in Maintenance, who said she'd check the fire extinguishers a few weeks early.
Jeniard: Darrel, don't go too far on this. [warningly]
Jeniard: If you do anything crazy like contacting the fire department, even Arat won't be able to help you.
Darrel nods meekly.
Darrel is pretty good at "meek", although not as good as he is at "guilt and contrition".
Jeniard: There's normal worry, and there's unhinged behavior.
Darrel thinks "unhinged" is a good description of Alea's behavior at Bender Cove.
Jeniard: You don't want to mess it up for everybody in the meantime while Alea does nothing, right?
Jeniard can zlin perfectly well that Darrel isn't grokking him.
Darrel: I won't, Hajene Jeniard. And I do hope I'm worrying for nothing.
Darrel's last statement, at least, was truthful enough.