Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #77: Just Ain't Natural (9/20/99)
Darrel leads his Donor towards the restaurant.
Hero bounces after Darrel, even more enthusiastic than normal for a change of scene.
Darrel: Come on, he'll be waiting for us.
Hero is looking forward to seeing her father - and her grandfather - for the first time in more than half a year.
Hero: OK, Darrel.
Hero: ~~ giddy ~~
Darrel is still stinging from Arat's reprimand, which is unaccountably common knowledge around the Center, and is looking forward to having a sympathetic ear.
Darrel pauses.
Hero looks up at him with a big grin, like an eager puppy.
Darrel: Hero, I know you're looking forward to seeing Sectuib Riyyh, but a Donor is supposed to remain calm.
Hero looks at him in complete astonishment for several seconds before she realizes what he's getting at.
Hero: Oh!
Hero smiles sweetly and fixes her nager.
Darrel: You did very well when we were talking with Arat. Don't you want to show Riyyh how much you've learned?
Hero: ~~ calm ~~
Darrel smiles.
Hero: Er...
Darrel: Much better.
Hero had been thinking mainly of flying into his arms and giving him a big hug, and then talking nonstop about all the gossip she's learned in the last months.
Hero perks up at the praise.
Hero wonders if she could skip the hug bit and gossip from a distance while maintaining a calm nager.
Hero then considers that the calm nager would be even more impressive during a hug than it would be long distance.
Darrel: There's nothing wrong with being happy; just don't project so strongly that you affect the surrounding Simes adversely.
Hero's eyes widen.
Hero: Happiness can affect Simes adversely?
Hero almost starts to giggle maniacally at the thought of poor nearby Simes bursting into tears of sadness whenever she becomes happy, then decides Darrel wouldn't like that.
Hero manages to keep it to a funny expression and ~~ humor ~~
Darrel: Well, if it's not contained, it can cause problems. You have a very strong nager, you know. When you are so giddy, bouncing around, it makes me feel dizzy and disoriented.
Hero: OK, Darrel, I'll try my best.
Darrel: Thank you.
Hero: I just haven't seen my dad in like, ages.
Hero thinks there really ought to be some concession for family.
Darrel: I know you haven't. I'm sure he'll be very glad to see you.
Darrel: Here we are.
Darrel turns into a trendy little bistro.
Hero sniffs the foodly aromas in appreciation.
Hero: This rules over that uccky cafeteria food.
Darrel has a Sime's lack of appreciation for food, but does have his own reasons for liking the place.
Darrel: The tea's good, too.
Hero: Great!
Darrel: Narosian, of course.
Darrel winks at Hero.
Hero: ~~ hunger ~~
Darrel: Just like home, right?
Hero tries to direct most of it in Darrel's direction, so as to avoid "adversely affecting" nearby Simes into upchucking.
Hero: Yeah!
Darrel hadn't been planning on eating much, but makes an impromptu decision to have a nice salad to go with the bread on the table.
Hero: Riyyh!!!!!!!
Hero spots her father and plunges into the crowd.
Hero: ~~ joy ~~
Darrel finds himself suddenly deserted.
Riyyh zlins a familiar spike and looks up in surprise.
Darrel follows Hero, or at least the disturbance in the crowd caused by her shoves and nager.
Hero remembers to change her nager to ~~ calm ~~ at the last minute, before tackling Riyyh in a hug that nearly takes out him, the chair, and several small tables.
Hero isn't very big as Gens go, but she does tend to cut a wake.
Darrel winces, making a mental note to talk to Hero about physical assault.
Riyyh: Hero? Is that... oof!
Darrel winces, at the "oof" and at the reflection Hero's behavior makes on his ability to train young Donors.
Hero: I missed everybody so much!!
Darrel is glad that Arat is not around to witness it.
Hero says something like this, although the exact wording is unsure as her face is pressed into Riyyh's shoulder.
Hero unaccountably bursts into tears, although her nager is still - miraculously - mostly ~~ calm ~~.
Riyyh: There, there.
Darrel zlins cautiously, hoping to discover if Riyyh is upset at Hero's behavior.
Riyyh pats her back and looks up at Darrel apologetically.
Riyyh: Hello, Darrel.
Riyyh: ~~ kind and apologetic ~~
Darrel: Sectuib Riyyh, it's good to see you.
Riyyh: Please, sit down. [gestures in the direction of a chair that got knocked out of the way]
Darrel quickly rights the chair, making sure the people at the next table can zlin and see his ~~ apology ~~
Riyyh: Now, now. Everything's all right. Why don't you sit next to Darrel, there? [kindly]
Darrel sits, wishing that Hero had allowed their party to remain a bit more inconspicuous.
Riyyh can tell Darrel is extremely uncomfortable with their reunion.
Darrel: Hero has been wanting to see you very much. [to Riyyh, apologetically]
Riyyh: And I her, I assure you. We haven't seen Hero in Naros since... what was it, early winter?
Hero: When Evil Prunida kidnapped me!
Hero pushes herself tearily away from her father, although she is still more or less sitting in his lap.
Darrel: Well, you ended up on your feet, Hero, which is more than most people can say.
Riyyh: Why don't you move over to the chair, there, sit next to Darrel. We don't want to leave him out, after all.
Riyyh is motivated at least as much by Darrel's radiated embarrassment and his own need to check his clothes for signs of having been cried upon, as he is by concern for Darrel's condition as a channel.
Darrel falls back on Gen Management Tactic Number One.
Darrel: Here's the menu, Hero.
Hero: Oo!
Hero bounces off Riyyh's lap and gets the menu from Darrel.
Darrel places it on the table in front of the chair Riyyh indicated.
Riyyh: Oof!
Riyyh hasn't been this beat up since... well, since Prunida visited him at the Mayor's mansion, actually.
Riyyh: Oh, my.
Darrel winces at Riyyh's second "oof".
Riyyh brushes himself off, then takes stock of the table: 1 lemonade now tipped over, fortunately not in his direction. 1
Hero plops down in the chair next to Darrel and starts to peruse the menu.
Darrel: Hero has been making progress in mastering a Donor's control.
Darrel just wishes that she would choose to display her mastery in situations like this.
Hero: Ooh, I want the garlic humus. Or no, the triple basil stuffed noodles.
Hero: ~~ foodlust ~~
Hero: You should see what they make us eat in the Sime Center, it's yucky. ~ tragic ~
Darrel wonders if he should forgo the salad in favor of noodles.
Riyyh: Really? How nice. [kindly, to Darrel]
Darrel: When she can learn to keep as steady as her....
Darrel tries briefly to figure out degree-of-relatedness, and then gives up.
Darrel: ...as Nick, she'll be a fine Donor indeed.
Riyyh: My, that will certainly be... impressive.
Riyyh hopes Darrel has that much energy.
Hero: Oh wow... they have garlic pie.
Hero: ~~ slobber ~~
Hero is purely ecstatic to be in the presence of her favorite relative (and for many years the man of her dreams as well) Riyyh, and at such a good restaurant!
Darrel ups his order to include a side dish of potatoes, and makes a note to purchase breath mints for Hero on the way home.
Riyyh: Perhaps I'll have another look at the menu as well. [smiles]
Riyyh picks his up and peruses it.
Hero: Darrel is totally brave, and all.
Hero: He says he knows exactly how to fix me.
Hero: But it's all boring lessons and everything, but he says that's the right way to do it, right Darrel?
Darrel blinks at this unexpected endorsement.
Hero: He even told Arat, isn't that brave of him?
Hero: I am all, brrrr! Arat is too scary.
Darrel: It would have helped your concentration problem, if Controller Arat had agreed with my program.
Hero: But then I was, OK, like everybody has to take a stand on something, right?
Hero: And I mean I am like totally flattered that you would do that for me and all, [babbling]
Darrel loses his appetite at the reminder of Arat, and decides to stick to tea.
Riyyh looks up at them from his menu, looking exactly like he should be wearing bifocals to do it.
Darrel: I should have followed the advice I gave you, Hero.
Riyyh looks slightly confused by the shift in the ambient.
Riyyh: What's wrong?
Darrel: If I had, he wouldn't have been so angry at me.
Hero: But it was better!
Hero: You should have seen the look on his face too.
Darrel winces.
Darrel: I did.
Darrel shudders at the memory.
Hero: And then, he like yelled, well, sort of, only quiet.
Hero: You were so brave.
Hero: I couldn't even let out a word!
Hero: I was just trying to pretend I wasn't even there.
Hero: ~~ admiration ~~
Darrel: That was exactly the right thing to do, Hero.
Darrel: If I'd done the same thing, he wouldn't have gotten so angry.
Hero's nager turns ~~ light and pleased ~~ at the praise.
Hero: But then it wouldn't have been so fun!
Darrel: Fun??
Hero: Anyway, people ought to say what they think, otherwise somebody else will just say it for them later, and they'll look like fools.
Darrel stares at Hero with amazement.
Hero: Like the time Toofie said he did not sleep with Tiarala, and then later Tiarala said he did, and boy was his face red.
Hero: Of course, Tiarala didn't actually say so, but....
Riyyh: Are you all right? [quietly, to Darrel]
Darrel looks at Riyyh, ignoring Hero's chatter for the moment.
Darrel: I got a royal chewing out from Arat, and somehow, the whole Sime Center knows about it.
Hero: ... and so then we were all like running around looking for the underwear she said was in the 3rds lounge, and....
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Darrel has a pretty good idea of how the news got out, and wonders if he can work in a lesson or two on discretion.
Riyyh is genuinely sympathetic, having met Arat more than once.
Riyyh of course knows Hero fairly well also.
Darrel: I just hope that the incident hasn't completely wrecked what's left of my career.
Darrel: I can't afford to be on Arat's bad side, you know. Not after what happened.
Hero: .... but then Patsy said that Darrel had been sterilizing the puppets in the autoclave, and that one time though they used to be stuffed animals, but I guess those got all mangled or something....
Riyyh: Oh, my, no, not with him as your Controller, no.
Riyyh: Is there any way you can make amends?
Riyyh of course always thinks in terms of sucking up to people who are angry.
Darrel: If Hero makes substantial progress under my tutelage, perhaps.
Darrel is less optimistic about that then he was before they entered the restaurant.
Hero: .... but then, I heard that Nick and Snake were like doing it in front of all those Gen Territory psychologists, after their transfer you know, and I just had to try to get in to see it....
Riyyh winces.
Riyyh: He is angry with you because she hasn't shown progress?
Riyyh thinks this could be a tough row to hoe.
Darrel: You shouldn't have tried to get into the security wing without permission, Hero.
Hero stops in surprise at somebody having actually responded to something she said.
Hero: I just wanted to see if I could.
Darrel turns back to Riyyh.
Darrel: He wants her to be another Nick.
Riyyh looks and zlins rather surprised.
Riyyh: Hero?
Riyyh frowns to himself.
Darrel: Yes. There has been a lot of interest in the potential of Narosian bloodlines, you know.
Riyyh, having been born and raised a Narosian, has never believed in pushing people too hard, although he knows it's the rage in the Tecton at the moment.
Riyyh: Oh, dear. I suppose it was inevitable.
Riyyh sighs.
Darrel: I can't blame Controller Arat for feeling a bit emphatic on the issue.
Riyyh looks at Darrel in question.
Darrel: Nick has refused to pledge, so far. If his talents aren't unique, that makes it less of a loss for the Tecton.
Riyyh: Yes... yes, I can see where one might....
Riyyh always finds this subject just a little bit unnerving, mainly because it puts him in the role of protector of his House, and he has always had to struggle a little to take on aggressive roles.
Riyyh: But Hero is so young. Surely it cannot be seen as your fault she finds it difficult to emulate Nick.
Darrel: Do you know why Nick has refused to pledge? He seemed to be settling in so well.
Riyyh: Well, Nick... you see....
Darrel thinks that an insider answer could win him a bit from the betting pool.
Riyyh hesitates for a moment, then decides saying this won't damage Nick's opinion of him.
Riyyh: Nick has just a little bit of trouble with transitions. [confesses]
Riyyh: And therefore a bit of trouble with commitments.
Darrel: Transitions?
Riyyh: It is a Narosian fault, I'm afraid.
Riyyh was notorious for his failure to marry after 42 years of adulthood, and still is (although he hasn't been bugged about it nearly so much recently).
Riyyh is also notorious for using guerrilla tactics to draw attention away from the crop of young Donors and channels growing up in Naros, and isn't above making them look bad in subtle ways if he has to.
Darrel: So you don't think he'll ever pledge?
Riyyh: Oh, dear, no, I think he might.
Riyyh: If the time is right, and the circumstances are right.
Darrel: What circumstances?
Riyyh: He will try to avoid the conflict inherent in a transition from Snake to the Tecton.
Riyyh: It was easier for him when he thought she was dead. But now... the thought of committing to the Tecton while she lives is unbearable to him.
Riyyh: Unless, of course, she becomes unavailable.
Darrel: I'd think she'd be pretty unavailable for him if he doesn't pledge, locked up in the security wing.
Riyyh spreads his hands and tentacles.
Riyyh: I didn't say it was logical. But then, love never is.
Darrel: He loves her that much? I'd heard it was just a mild dependency.
Riyyh considers.
Riyyh: I think they do love each other, although neither of them knows how to show it properly.
Riyyh: And perhaps, for them, that is the right way to do it.
Darrel: Well, it could be the only way, under the circumstances.
Darrel: If they were more open, it could be used to put more pressure on them.
Darrel: Although that might not be a bad thing.
Darrel: At least the matter would be settled, one way or the other.
Riyyh studies Darrel, curiously.
Riyyh doesn't know about the betting pool, so wonders why Darrel cares so much.
Riyyh: So, you were saying, Arat is putting pressure on you to demonstrate special ability in Hero?
Darrel: Yes. And he didn't like the way I was going about it.
Riyyh: Oh?
Riyyh is pretty sure Darrel, like every other channel he's ever talked to, would not like his own theories on the subject.
Darrel: Hero's biggest handicap, as I see it, is that she loses concentration when she gets bored. I was concentrating on helping her with that.
Darrel: Controller Arat told me to stop the drills, and push her development.
Hero shifts around, finding the conversation is getting boring, and her nager wanders.
Darrel imagines Hero with a Nick-sized nager.
Darrel: Hero.
Hero: Huh? Oh!
Darrel has by this time perfected the exact intonation that turns a simple "Hero" into "start paying attention, you're losing it again."
Hero: ~~ calm attention ~~
Riyyh: So he is more interested in seeing her limits, than in having her fully trained at this time?
Darrel: I have to assume so.
Riyyh: It does sound as if the Naros connection might be an issue, then.
Riyyh twines a lock of his hair around and around a tentacle as he thinks.
Riyyh wonders if this is worrisome enough to prevent him from his plan of leaving Naros to Anmyn and concentrating on the outreach programs.
Riyyh thinks Anmyn can run Naros as long as he comes back to straighten everything out every five or six weeks, but he knows she isn't ready to handle major problems.
Darrel: I can't be sure of Arat's thinking.
Darrel: ~~ honest ~~
Darrel: I can't zlin past his showfield, and he isn't in the habit of explaining himself.
Riyyh: Well, Hero is a cheerful, willing young Gen, as I am sure you have found.
Darrel: Very.
Hero beams at the praise.
Riyyh: I am sure that your time together will be enjoyable, whatever the aims end up being.
Riyyh smiles kindly.
Riyyh rather wishes she hadn't been lost to the Tecton, actually.
Darrel: Do you think that Arat is right, about how Hero should be trained?
Riyyh: Do I?
Riyyh: Well it's a little bit difficult to say, without knowing what his intentions are.
Darrel nods.
Riyyh: If he is mainly interested in learning her physical limits, then physical development would certainly be high on the list to work on first.
Riyyh: However, if his intentions are to use her as a work Donor for 2nds, then that plan might not be so workable.
Darrel: And if the goal is to make her the best Donor possible?
Riyyh zlins Darrel curiously.
Riyyh wonders at Darrel's passion.
Riyyh feels natural ~ sympathy ~ for Darrel's frustration.
Riyyh: Well, if that is the goal, there are many possible routes.
Riyyh: A Donor who can concentrate but is not yet fully developed, will have to relearn themselves as they grow.
Riyyh: But yet a Donor who cannot concentrate cannot fully use what they have developed into.
Riyyh: It is true that the former would be more immediately useful.
Riyyh: In the long run, of course, a Donor must have come to maturity in both areas before they can truly be considered fully trained.
Darrel: You know Hero well. Does she have First Order potential, like Nick?
Darrel thinks that might explain Arat's willingness to sacrifice immediate utility while Hero is a Second.
Riyyh hesitates.
Riyyh: Perhaps not like Nick.
Riyyh: But she might one day be a First.
Riyyh: I am her father, it is from me that she received her Donor's genes.
Darrel: Her mother wasn't Donor material?
Riyyh: Oh, yes.
Riyyh: She was.
Hero: Yeah! She got hers from Riyyh too.
Darrel: Oh, I'd forgotten.
Hero perks up as the topic starts getting interesting.
Darrel hadn't realized how complicated genetics could be, before he started working with a Narosian.
Hero: So that makes me like 75% or something... which is like, Whoa, especially since I had like such a crush on my own grandpa, you know.
Riyyh looks distinctly embarrassed, not about the crush, but by the public detailed mention of the genetic situation.
Riyyh does have some shame, after all, undeveloped and stunted though it may be.
Hero darts a small look at said grandpa, since she does still think he is sooo cute, even if he is more or less untouchable.
Riyyh: Nick and Hero share much the same parentage, however Nick is a natural Donor, which is very rare. It was random chance which made him so.
Riyyh: Hero may one day be a great Donor, but it will not be as easy for her to gain that ability as it was for Nick.
Riyyh remembers how difficult it was for him to learn, particularly the bit about maintaining a clinical distance during important functionals, and feels sympathy for young Hero.
Darrel: So an important part of Nick's talent comes from the non-Narosian side?
Riyyh: Oh my, no.
Riyyh: Nick's mother didn't have it.
Riyyh: It is a very rare gift, nearly random, as I say.
Riyyh: Hugh Valleroy had it, and neither of his parents were Donors.
Darrel: Well, from what I've read about the man, they wouldn't have had the chance to be Donors, if they'd wanted to.
Riyyh wonders what they are teaching in channel's school these days, that poor Darrel is so hopelessly confused about what a Natural Donor is, and the difference between a Natural Donor and mere Donor-trainability which is what most Narosians would have.
Riyyh tut-tuts to himself.
Darrel is, in fact, unclear on the concept, since Natural Donors are almost by definition Firsts, and thus so completely out of his reach as to be effectively nonexistent, for everyday purposes.
Darrel is struck by a thought.
Darrel: Wasn't Tonyo Logan a Natural, too?
Riyyh: I don't know that.
Hero gapes as her very own Sectuib, a born-and-raised Narosian, admits he doesn't know a personal detail about somebody.
Darrel: Do you think Natural Donors have a tendency to go rogue? It seems like so many of the most famous rogues have been Naturals.
Riyyh smiles kindly.
Riyyh: My dear Darrel, I believe it is simply that the Naturals are the only ones who'd live for long as rogues, at least if they became rogues without first receiving training.
Darrel considers that.
Darrel: Well, I suppose you're right.
Riyyh decides if Darrel doesn't know about Oliver Teague, it's best he never does.
Darrel is glad to know that Hero isn't more prone than any other young Gen to become a rouge, although a documented tendency in that direction for Naturals would make it easier to place a bet on Nick.
Darrel: Well, I hope they aren't too disappointed when Hero shows only normal promise.
Riyyh: If she's been tested, nobody will have mistaken her for a Natural. [reassuringly]
Hero: Hey!
Hero pouts.
Riyyh: And a First Order Donor is in enough demand that they could hardly ask for better. [adds quickly]
Darrel: I would think so. There never seem to be enough Firsts to go around.
Riyyh: I am sure she will try her hardest for you.
Hero smiles and nods.
Darrel hopes that will be enough to satisfy their superiors.
Notes:
1) This is an inside joke. If you've just gotta know, see page 3 of Mary Lou Mendum's wedding pictures. [return]