Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #119: Aren't They Cute (12/20/99)
Lemuse and Homer have just finished eating breakfast. That is, Lemuse has just finished eating both of their breakfasts.
Homer sniffed at the food, but he really isn't hungry at all.
Lemuse can't blame Homer for not being too hungry at this time of month.
Lemuse: Hey Homer, are you ready for the big meeting?
Lemuse: ~~ gentle support ~~
Homer is staring moodily at the table, but responds to the support.
Homer: I guess.
Homer: It's hard to concentrate right now.
Homer: I hope I don't have to write another report.
Homer hopes the Controller will be just a Controller and not possessed by the evil spirit again.
Lemuse: I'm sure it will go just fine.
Homer focuses on the crystal he is now wearing on a thong under his uniform and calls on the protection of the earth spirits.
Lemuse: You know, all he really wants to know is that everything is still going OK between us and some assurance that we'll have a nice normal transfer.
Homer: Well, better not keep him waiting.
Lemuse: OK.
Lemuse gets up and busses their tray.
Homer follows Lemuse very closely.
Lemuse can't really blame Homer for being nervous, not after what happened last month. And then there are all the rumors about Arat lately.
Lemuse nearly runs into Homer while turning around.
Lemuse: Whoop!
Lemuse laughs.
Homer: Sorry.
Lemuse: ~~ cheerful and devoted ~~
Lemuse: It's OK, I should know better than to make sudden moves around Simes in need.
Homer steadies her, liking the touch of her skin.
Lemuse starts out the door of the cafeteria, maintaining her support of Homer.
Homer follows her like a nervous puppy.
Lemuse: OK, so let's make sure we're straight on what we're going to say.
Lemuse counts it off on her fingers.
Lemuse: We get along just fine.
Lemuse: We haven't had any problems and you haven't been in trouble in ages.
Lemuse winks.
Lemuse: I won't say a word about that little incident with the bucket of dirt.
Homer: If you think that is best.
Homer: ~~ still puzzled about why the people here object to good, clean dirt, although he has received repeated explanations that made no sense at all ~~
Lemuse: And, we are going to have a perfectly ordinary transfer which we will both enjoy, after which we'll go our separate ways, and you might be seeing more of Hajene Bea who was looking ever so coy in the breakfast line this morning, did you notice?
Lemuse counted off more than one finger for that last one.
Homer: No, I wasn't looking at anyone but you.
Lemuse: Well, you do agree with what I'm getting at, right?
Homer: I understand how transfers are done here and I will follow your customs.
Lemuse: Cool.
Lemuse: All right, here we are.
Lemuse stops outside Arat's office door.
Lemuse: Tell me when it's time.
Lemuse may not be a Sime, but she knows the value of punctual arrivals when it comes to Arat.
Homer: All right.
Homer consults his time sense.
Homer: We have 2 minutes.
Lemuse inspects Homer's uniform for deviations from pristine normalness.
Lemuse's nager remains ~~ supportive ~~ with a touch of ~~ confidence ~~
Homer touches the crystal and repeats his prayer one last time.
Homer: Okay, now.
Lemuse gestures for Homer to do the signaling honors.
Homer signals at the door.
Arat: Enter.
Arat is currently sans Donor, which considering who he's assigned to is actually a blessing.
Homer enters, holding the door for Lemuse.
Lemuse smiles a thanks at him, then enters and faces Arat.
Arat: Hajene Homer, Sosu Lemuse.
Arat flicks a tentacle indicating that they should be seated.
Homer: Good day, Controller Arat.
Arat zlins normal but looks like he hasn't eaten or slept except under duress in the last 3 weeks, and is assigned to a wagon with one square wheel instead of a Donor.
Arat nods.
Homer sits as indicated.
Arat zlins them carefully.
Lemuse sits at Homer's side, maintaining just the right level of support, neither too light or too distracting.
Homer knows better than to try to zlin Arat, but quickly takes in his appearance and stance.
Lemuse does the same, mentally changing sides on a couple of the office betting pools.
Homer uses the support and stays calm and aware.
Arat finishes zlinning them, apparently satisfied.
Arat opens Homer's folder, which was lying on his desk, and scans the notes others have made in there, briefly.
Arat looks up.
Arat: How would you say you have been doing this month, Homer?
Arat of course talked to Homer last week, and the week before that, but likes to get several different takes on a question.
Homer: Better, I think. I am becoming more used to life here.
Arat: Do you feel your visit with Hajene Pierce helped?
Arat, as is his habit, divides his attention between listening and studying nagerically.
Homer: Hajene Pierce brought me information I required to know how to balance my duties here with the obligations of my pledge.
Arat frowns slightly, as that sounds somewhat like an attempt to convey as little information as possible while technically answering truthfully.
Homer: With this guidance, I see how I can fulfill my responsibilities as a channel of the Tecton without failing in my other duties.
Arat: I see.
Arat: And how is that?
Homer: Well, for instance, he explained how the Tecton custom of pledging and assignment is essentially identical to the Corn Society custom of acceptance and blessing.
Homer: The counselors here explained this also, but Hajene Pierce was able to explain this in, uh, a spiritual context.
Homer: As a shaman, I have certain ritual obligations, and I was not sure how to carry them out without a congregation of my people.
Arat nods.
Homer: Hajene Pierce instructed me in methods that can be used by an individual which will not interfere with the Sime Center schedules.
Arat: And Lemuse, have you and she been getting along well?
Arat can zlin that they have, but asks anyway.
Homer: Yes, she is an excellent Donor. I am most thankful for her assistance.
Arat: Are you comfortable with the way the transfer will be handled this month?
Homer: I understand what behavior is expected of me.
Homer: ~~ somewhat uneasy ~~
Arat studies Homer at length.
Homer: It will be different than what I am used to, but I do not anticipate any problem.
Arat: Do you find Lemuse's attitude about the transfer acceptable?
Homer: Yes. ~~ no doubt at all ~~
Arat: Very well.
Homer thinks that Hajene Pierce demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that Lemuse Accepted him.
Arat: Has Lilaca been a help to you?
Homer: Yes, she has been coaching me on the customs here and this is very good.
Homer: Many things are done differently because there are so many people in this Territory.
Homer: So I am learning to, ah, coordinate.
Arat listens carefully.
Homer: There are more people working in this building than there were in the whole village of Sancrist.
Homer: So the schedules and the reports are more important.
Homer: I am improving in these areas.
Arat: Have you had any problems or difficulties that you do not think are being addressed by your current schedule and training?
Homer: In terms of living here, no.
Homer: But I miss my home.
Arat finds it difficult to be particularly sympathetic; he's missed his own home for years now and it's never gotten him anywhere.
Arat simply nods, however.
Homer: And I wonder when I will be permitted to return.
Arat: Of course.
Arat: What I was told when you were assigned here was that you would remain here until you had been 'rehabilitated'.
Arat: What I agreed was that I would keep you here until you had worked for three consecutive months with a clean record.
Arat: If you keep improving as you have, that may be relatively soon.
Arat: However, I cannot say what they intend for you after you are released from here.
Arat: [in Arat's experience, anybody who is unfortunate enough to get into the clutches of somebody more powerful than Arat is usually doomed to being a slave to the system forever.]
Arat thinks that is all well and good for somebody with ambition, but does not bode well for somebody without ambition.
Arat's personal take on life is even more negative than usual these days.
Homer: I have no idea what is intended for me.
Arat nods.
Arat: In any case, I will not detain you here any longer than required by my agreement with my superiors.
Arat has enough problems without hanging on to employees who don't want to be there.
Arat however would never consider failing to fulfill his obligation, and fulfill it thoroughly.
Homer broods on Pierce's comments, which seemed to imply that a simple "clean record" was not enough to win his repatriation.
Homer decides to worry about that later; he has enough to worry about now.
Homer: Thank you, Controller.
Arat: Did you have any other concerns you wished to bring up while you are here now?
Homer: Yes, sir. I would like to request a day of leave to perform the Rebirth ceremony. This ritual is required of me at winter solstice.
Arat: You are scheduled for regular work in Hajene Ormof's department that day?
Homer: Yes, Controller.
Arat: Very well. Speak with Hajene Ormof about adjusting your schedule.
Arat can't actually tell Homer to come to him if there are any problems, but hopes Homer will have sense enough to do so.
Arat is not unaware that Hajene Ormof has been a problem with certain employees.
Arat: Then, if there is nothing else, I will see you tomorrow at noon.
Arat names Homer's transfer time.
Homer: You will monitor?
Arat: Yes.
Arat is at his absolute worst when caught flat footed by other people's incompetence, and isn't going to let it happen this month.
Arat will monitor the transfer himself, and if all goes well, will hand off the responsibility next time around.
Arat thinks that Homer could do worse for a monitor than himself, but he would.
Homer: ~~ tries hard to control his uneasiness ~~
Homer reminds himself that if he ever wants to see his home again he will have to endure this and worse indignities.
Homer: ~~ resignation ~~
Lemuse rises.
Homer follows Lemuse.
Lemuse waits until they are out in the hallway, then asks Homer, "Are you all right?"
Lemuse: That wasn't so bad, was it?
Lemuse: ~~ support ~~
Homer: At least I won't have to write a report.
Homer: So I guess we got through okay, huh.
Lemuse chuckles.
Lemuse: And don't worry about the being monitored part.
Lemuse: Actually it's good to get to spend extra time with the big U, it keeps you on his mind.
Homer: Excuse me, but right now you are the only one I want to spend time with.
Homer gently twines a tentacle around her fingers.
Homer: And I would like to have you all to myself.
Homer sighs.
Homer: Especially if we can only be together this one time.
Lemuse: Who says it has to be one time only?
Lemuse: If we don't screw it up, Arat will probably let us go a second month.
Lemuse: He usually does.
Lemuse: ~~ optimism ~~
Homer lets himself drift hyperconscious, enjoying her ~~ optimism ~~
Lemuse: Hey you.
Lemuse tugs him back down to a suitable condition for walking down a public hallway.
Homer blinks, duoconscious again.
Homer: Well, I will have to be sure I don't screw up then, won't I?
Lemuse: I'm sure you'd try your best in any case!
Homer: I would rather be trying my best to please you, to make you feel beautiful and safe, than trying my best to please another Sime.
Homer: But I will follow your guidance.
Lemuse's nager remains as friendly and open as always, although she will say nothing to encourage Homer in the idea that she is something to be wooed, or made safe, or considered beautiful, by him.
Lemuse: Well, I may not be the receptacle of all knowledge, but I do know that life is much better when your Controller likes you.
Lemuse grins suddenly.
Homer: This is a truth I am coming to understand all too well.