Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #128: Wandered (1/3/00)
Nick watches the door close behind Jeniard with relief.
Nick had thought Arat was difficult when it came to taking care of himself.
Nick had not previously been faced with Jeniard faced with a convalescent Arat.
Nick inspects Arat, checking his degree of recovery.
Nick is enough Riyyh's son (and grandson) to combine his visual inspection with a certain amount of tentacle-stroking.
Arat has recovered to the point of being able to obsess on everything he's not getting done, but not quite to the point of being foolish enough to actually jump out of bed and try to do them. At least not with somebody sitting right there to stop him.
Nick is very happy to have a channel who matches him again, even if a certain amount of bodily restraint will shortly be required to prevent him from being over-conscientious.
Arat can't bear the thought of Neptude meddling with his careful setup.
Nick: Arat, you're not in any shape to work, so you might as well relax.
Nick: ~~ amusement ~~
Arat respects Neptude as having higher rank than him in the Tecton hierarchy (although he doesn't necessarily believe that is warranted, he certainly wouldn't want to trade jobs) but he just doesn't want him messing everything up.
Arat sighs.
Arat has already repeated enough times that it is good to have Nick back, so he doesn't say it again, just accepts the soothing touch of his fields and his fingers.
Nick: I admit I was rather surprised to see Hajene Tiarala.
Nick: Not that I minded, but it seemed an unusual step to take.
Nick knows Arat, like most Farrises, specializes in doing the unusual, but still can't help wondering if Buggfa was a pretext.
Nick is still unsure what he should do with the information Riyyh gave him on Lalique's background.
Arat: She is the only employee I have who has proven reliably immune to your father's charms. [dryly]
Arat can't say he enjoyed the surprise of having Riyyh pop in on him yesterday.
Nick: Well, not immune, exactly.
Nick: Although she doesn't let that distract her.
Nick in fact got the distinct impression that at least part of the distraction was going the other way.
Nick: Did you really send her out solely to examine Buggfa? Or did you have... additional goals for her?
Nick wishes he could be more clear, but somehow finds himself reluctant to ask "was Tiarala really after the Distect fugitive who happened to be traveling with us?"
Arat thinks Nick means, did Arat send Tiarala out to fetch Nick.
Arat looks at Nick gravely.
Arat: I knew you would have to make your own choice about pledging, and I could not force it.
Nick somehow doesn't find the idea as discomforting as previously, after months with just Riyyh.
Nick: I meant, did you send her to bring back our entire party, or was that her own idea?
Arat shakes his head.
Arat: No, I asked her to examine Buggfa Lube.
Arat is familiar with Tiarala's tendency to go above and beyond the call of duty, however. He is frequently and pleasantly surprised by it, and he also trusts her judgment which is why she holds such a high place in his organization.
Nick: And bring him back if he refused?
Arat: I was not explicit as to that.
Nick sighs.
Nick: I was afraid of that.
Arat would expect his employees to make an intelligent decision when encountering problems, though.
Nick: Buggfa is rather intimidated by his employers, I think.
Arat is not entirely up to date about exactly who and what were brought back, as people didn't want him to get too stressed out.
Arat therefore knows an extra person besides Nick, and besides Riyyh, and besides Buggfa, came back with Tiarala and Co. but doesn't know much more than that.
Arat nods.
Nick: When it became apparent that Tiarala was serious about examining him, he started screaming for the nearest lawyer.
Arat: I see.
Nick: Riyyh offered to write a report of his observations, but Tiarala said it had to be from a Tecton channel.
Nick: Does it really make that much difference who does the official examination?
Nick: I mean, Riyyh's no rogue.
Nick has taken enough of a personal interest in Buggfa's case, if only to keep from being bored to tears, that he finds himself reluctant to have Buggfa faced with any more of an ordeal that strictly necessary.
Arat starts to look tired just thinking about it.
Arat: I would like to have the examination of record to be one of my staff, so I can justify the additional measures which may have to be taken.
Nick ~~ soothes ~~ Arat.
Nick: ...additional measures?
Nick: Do you think you can keep him around long enough to do him some good?
Arat: If his employers are deliberately abusing him it will be necessary to file charges against them. And yes, if he is in such a condition that therapy is required, he will receive it.
Nick: ~~ satisfaction ~~
Nick: His employers are not nice people.
Nick remembers a certain request to have Linn terrified on stage for the amusement of the masses.
Nick: Riyyh and I did manage to do some therapy with Buggfa, although he was more interested in working with Lalique.
Arat: Who is Lalique?
Nick: She's a shiltpron player, now.
Nick: She says that she was once a Donor, though.
Nick's nager betrays some skepticism.
Arat: She came back with the rest of you?
Nick: Yes. Not of her own free will.
Arat's eyebrows raise.
Arat: [well, travel laterally, as he's lying down]
Nick: I'm... a bit concerned about what might happen, if she feels cornered.
Nick feels compelled to offer at least this much warning.
Arat waits, and when it's obvious Nick isn't going to add more, begins to look irritated.
Arat doesn't like it when people dribble out their information in tantalizing bits, for their own enjoyment and his suspense.
Nick tries to soothe the irritation with a bit more tentacle-stroking.
Nick: She doesn't trust the Tecton at all, and she has far too much nageric control--and strength--to be taken lightly.
Nick: I don't think she'd actually hurt anyone, unless she panicked, though.
Nick: As to who and what she really is--well, I'm not sure what to believe.
Arat just looks at Nick.
Nick: She says she's from Gulf, and she has the accent for it.
Nick: She said the Tecton dismissed her as a Donor for emotional instability.
Nick: On the other hand, well, she's also hinted that she has good reason to stay out of the hands of the Tecton authorities.
Arat looks at Nick more sharply at that, since he can tell Nick isn't being perfectly honest with him.
Nick: I promised not to tell any more than that--in fact, I probably shouldn't have said that much.
Arat's eyes narrow as he realizes Nick really is withholding information from him.
Arat pulls his hand out of Nick's.
Arat: If you have something to say, you had better say it now.
Arat is clearly annoyed, and also clearly on his way to somewhat of a recovery.
Arat wouldn't have been able to muster annoyance 24 hours ago.
Nick is probably the only person around (Jeniard excepted) who would find an annoyed Arat a hopeful sign.
Nick: Arat, Lalique's a decent sort, or she wouldn't have tried to help Buggfa.
Nick: What information I have is second-hand and mutually contradictory.
Nick: And none of it matches the person I traveled with very closely.
Arat's annoyance is fading into something suspiciously resembling put-upon harrassedness.
Arat tells himself that it doesn't matter until he is in a position to do anything about anything, and falls back against his pillow.
Nick tuts, and readjusts his nager and Arat's pillow for maximum comfort.
Arat does make a mental note to wring Nick until he squeals if the subject comes up as relevant at a later date.
Nick: You're tired.
Nick: You shouldn't even be thinking about such things for another day or two.
Arat rather wishes Nick hadn't brought it up, to be honest.
Lalique leans against the window, peering out at the courtyard of the District Controller's dormitory complex.
Lalique feels restless in the small, sparsely furnished room.
Lalique hears the rustle of the Collection team members who are still guarding her door, zlinning her constantly.
Lalique controls her nager, again putting her feelings aside and slipping into calm, cool detachment.
Lalique considers that she failed the first objective of a fugitive, not to be noticed.
Lalique knows that her second objective must be to convince the people around her that she is exactly who she says she is, who her records say she is.
Lalique remembers the advice of Jude, con artist extraordinaire, who not only crafted her forged history but the cover story to go with it.
Lalique recalls, piece by piece, the script that she rehearsed over and over to use if she was ever arrested.
Lalique visualizes the curtain opening as she walks on-stage to begin her performance in the part of "Lalique Vale"
Lalique slowly calms and straightens up, smiling a little.
Lalique walks to her luggage and opens the battered case, removing the shiltpron.
Lalique sits on the bed and begins to finger the instrument, audible range only.
Lalique's window explodes in a shower of glass behind her.
Lalique is startled, even in the depths of her detachment.
Lalique jumps to her feet, letting the shiltpron slip onto the bed.
Wise Snake: Damn, I'm losing my touch.
Wise Snake finishes climbing through the window and leaps dramatically over the bed to lock the door before anyone can react.
Lalique blinks, staring at Wise Snake.
Wise Snake is a short, exceedingly weaselly looking channel with safety glass adorning her bushy black mane.
Wise Snake turns to put her back against the door, suddenly much more casual.
Wise Snake: You going to use that chair? [points]
Wise Snake ignores the sounds of consternation from the hallway behind the door.
Lalique: Uh, no.
Wise Snake: Want to pass it over here for a sec?
Guard: Is everything all right in there?
Lalique numbly hands the chair to Wise Snake.
Wise Snake: Oh! I just dropped something! No problem! [falsetto]
Wise Snake: Dumbass. [to herself]
Wise Snake takes the chair and wedges it under the doorknob.
Lalique considers that climbing over broken glass is not a very safe thing for a Sime to do.
Wise Snake: I don't think that will last too long, so let's get to business, shall we?
Wise Snake laces her fingers together and cracks all her knuckles simultaneously.
Lalique recognizes Wise Snake from the newspaper articles and Nick's description.
Lalique: [calmly] Very well.
Wise Snake smells better than what was described, but otherwise fits the description to a T.
Lalique doesn't think the chair will hold the guards too long.
Wise Snake: Lesson #1. Never never send messages through Tecton goons.
Lalique examines Wise Snake with some curiosity, as she has never seen a Farris before.
Wise Snake seems to be an example of an exceedingly greasy, wild-haired, white-eyed, intense, jumpy bunch.
Wise Snake: Not that they had a clue, but if you hadn't, I wouldn't have seen the copies they made. And who knows who else might have seen it?
Lalique: Good advice.
Wise Snake: Now. Is the goal to break out, or to obtain some good mekka weed? I'm not quite up to snuff on the local slang, I haven't been out much.
Lalique: The idea was to leave here. The decor lacks charm.
Wise Snake snorts at the weak attempt at humor.
Wise Snake: OK... one moment.
Wise Snake steps around the bed and leans out the window momentarily.
Wise Snake returns with one end of a rope.
Wise Snake holds it up to Lalique's neck.
Wise Snake: Now, just... no.
Wise Snake lowers it to her waist.
Wise Snake: Tie this around yourself.
Lalique complies, bemused.
Wise Snake wraps the other end around the metal frame banister of the utilitarian bed.
Wise Snake checks Lalique's knot.
Wise Snake picks up the shiltpron and hands it to Lalique, then marches her over to the window.
Lalique slings the shiltpron over her shoulder.
Wise Snake notes Lalique's toothpaste and tooth brush lying on a table and hands her those too.
Wise Snake: Now, out you go.
Wise Snake assists.
Lalique grabs the rope and lowers herself down the side of the wall.
Wise Snake: Whoops! [as bed flies towards window, nearly crushing her, and slams violently against the wall]
Wise Snake: My fault! [calls out]
Lalique: Watch out!
Wise Snake removes one loop of rope from the banister and pays out the rope quickly but reasonably.
Wise Snake: Oh, hold your horses! [to the idiot in the hallway, who is yammering about something or other]
Wise Snake forgot to use her falsetto.
Lalique is a pretty good climber for a full grown female Gen.
Wise Snake: Er, I mean, [in falsetto] I'll be right with you!
Lalique makes it to the ground.
Guard pounds on the door.
Guard: Open up in there!
Lalique looks around to see if there are any guards immediately on her tail.
Wise Snake smiles, pulls out a handy implement, clips it on to the rope, jumps out the window, and slides down.
Guard is trying to remember where he has heard that voice before.
Wise Snake: Excuse me.
Wise Snake comes up short as she realizes Lalique is still attached to the rope she's holding the other end of.
Wise Snake: I never could get that right. [to herself]
Lalique starts moving quickly towards the exit to the courtyard.
Wise Snake stops halfway down, then lets go of the rope and drops.
Wise Snake: [letting the rope slither up the wall, then fall completely out of the window.
Lalique glances back to see if Wise Snake is going to follow her or not.
Wise Snake does not follow Lalique, but does cut the rope so she'll have some to put back where she borrowed it from.
Wise Snake figures Lalique might need the rest.
Wise Snake in any case doesn't plan on reining her in like an errant horse.
Wise Snake picks up the remaining rope and scurries away around the corner of the building, headed towards the nearest entrance.
Lalique walks at a brisk pace, so as not to attract too much attention, and keeps her nager under control.
Lalique follows the signs that say exit.
Lalique boldly walks out of the building.
Lalique walks to the next block and darts into the building next door.
Lalique takes a circuitous route through basements, out back doors, and down alleyways, until she loses herself in the city.
Wise Snake decides that since she's out and about, she'll go check on some other people she's been curious about.
Wise Snake slips through this and that service corridor and pops up near the burn ward.
Wise Snake peers into a small glass window, and then slips into a small employee lounge where Homer and Darrel are having tea.
Wise Snake: Greetings, gentlemen. Don't be alarmed.
Darrel: ...and rumor says....
Homer looks up in surprise.
Darrel pauses with a chocolate halfway to his mouth, eyes wide.
Wise Snake walks over to the cabinets and starts opening all the drawers and rummaging through them.
Wise Snake: Hum, de dum, de...
Wise Snake: Aha!
Darrel: What are you...?
Wise Snake turns around, holding a plastic fork.
Wise Snake: Pardon me?
Darrel has never been good at asserting himself with channels who outrank him by humongous amounts.
Wise Snake: Well, you don't expect me to let the sugar congeal in a lump in the bottom of the tea cup, do you?
Darrel smiles weakly.
Homer zlins Wise Snake with curiosity, and a bit of trepidation. Here is another gigantic nager like the one that swamped him last week.
Wise Snake indeed resembles Arat visually and nagerically, although her nager is a bit insane and her physical look much shorter, weasellier, and she has creepy white eyes.
Darrel: Umm... would you like a chocolate?
Darrel has faith in the ability of chocolate to hold disaster at bay, and Snake sure zlins like disaster to him.
Wise Snake: No thanks, I'm trying to cut down.
Wise Snake in fact is violently allergic to chocolate.
Wise Snake pulls out a chair, turns it around, sits on it backwards, and reaches for the tea pot.
Wise Snake: You don't mind, do you?
Darrel is immediately ~~ sympathetic ~~ at the thought of chocolate-denial exercises.
Wise Snake: Random acts of good Samaritanism always leave me parched.
Wise Snake says cryptically.
Wise Snake pours the tea and then pauses, mid-motion.
Wise Snake looks at Darrel, and then Homer.
Darrel: Umm... shouldn't you be down in the security wing?
Darrel: ~~ timidity ~~
Homer notices the wild, unbalanced feel of her nager with concern.
Wise Snake: Shouldn't you be in the Collectorium?
Wise Snake: [pointedly]
Wise Snake: I've seen the schedules, buddy.
Darrel blushes and falls silent at this reminder, despite being on a semi-legitimate break.
Wise Snake puts down the tea and picks up the sugar bowl.
Wise Snake poinks the fork into the stiff unyielding mass within without much visible effect.
Wise Snake: Huh.
Homer: Pour some of the hot tea in the bowl and it will melt.
Wise Snake puts the sugar bowl down and picks up the plain tea.
Wise Snake turns her attention back to Homer.
Wise Snake: Let's see. You're Homer, aren't you?
Homer: Yes, that is my name.
Homer: I am pleased to meet you.
Wise Snake: Umh, yeah, likewise.
Wise Snake considers pouring tea in the sugar container but decides it would be more fun to watch the next person struggle with it.
Homer watches her with interest.
Wise Snake: So, I hear that you are one of the family.
Homer: Family?
Wise Snake waves an expressive tentacle.
Wise Snake: You know, one of the People That Arat Must Rehabilitate Or Else, Which Are Slowly Driving Him Crazy.
Wise Snake: There are actually three betting pools on you, did you know that?
Wise Snake always gets up to date on these things when assigned to Beni.
Homer: Ah, yes. They said that I must be rehabilitated.
Darrel: Three?
Darrel wonders how he could have missed the third.
Homer: Betting pool?
Wise Snake: Yeah. There's the will-Arat-try-to-get-rid-of-Homer-before-he's-finished-rehabilitating-him bet....
Wise Snake counts them off on the three tentacles that aren't holding a plastic fork on her left hand.
Wise Snake: ... and the will-Homer-get-arrested-for-public-indecency bet. I don't know where that one came from.
Wise Snake is actually pulling their legs, she read about that particular incident in Arat's private notes.
Wise Snake: And, of course, the inevitable, will-Homer-ever-get-rehabilitated bet.
Darrel leans forward.
Darrel: What was that second one again?
Homer: Ahh. I had no idea that I was the subject of such interest.
Darrel: No idea? Oh, that's right. This is the first big city Sime Center you've worked in.
Darrel: Trust me, three bets aren't that bad.
Darrel: At least they're not betting on whether you'll end up in the psychiatric ward--as a patient.
Homer: In such a busy place, I am amazed that people have time to concern themselves with such details.
Wise Snake sips her tea.
Wise Snake: Eaagh!
Darrel looks at Snake in concern.
Darrel: What's wrong?
Wise Snake: It tastes like armpit deodorant, not tea.
Wise Snake sets it aside, then turns earnestly back to Homer.
Homer looks at Wise Snake with concern.
Wise Snake: You'd be surprised what people are interested in.
Wise Snake may not be as familiar with the properties of armpit deodorant as one might hope and assume.
Homer: Would you prefer the Cactus Flower tea?
Wise Snake: No, I can't stand anything with flowers.
Wise Snake: Anyway, to get back to the point, just the other day, I overheard two Gens comparing Simes.
Wise Snake: It seems they've both had the two of you.
Darrel: ...oh.
Wise Snake leans back in her chair and puts her feet on the table, relaxing.
Darrel smiles weakly.
Homer nods gravely.
Wise Snake: You know, the usual points. Stability, obedience, etc.
Wise Snake names a number of things she is not known for herself.
Homer: Truly, I don't understand what Gens value in a Sime here in Capitol.
Darrel does pretty well on obedience, at least most of the time, but knows he's a bit weak in the area of stability.
Homer: And when I ask, they become troubled and will not say.
Homer: Of course, I am careful to pay attention.
Wise Snake: Hmmm....
Wise Snake: Well, as I understand it, there are really only three things a Tecton Sime needs in any circumstance.
Wise Snake: Number one, an ability to stay out of trouble.
Wise Snake: I don't mean, always does the right thing, I just mean, never gets in trouble.
Wise Snake: Number two, an ability to take credit for other people's successes.
Wise Snake: Hey, nobody is competent 100% of the time, if you know what I mean. So why not cover up with someone else's work?
Wise Snake: Gens love that.
Wise Snake: And number three, you've got to have charisma.
Wise Snake: Nobody likes a guy who's always right and never gets in trouble, unless he's also got the vibe.
Wise Snake: Look at Jeniard.
Darrel nods thoughtfully.
Homer is totally bewildered.
Wise Snake smiles a snakish smile.
Darrel wonders if his recent successes in finding autoclavable stuffed toys counts as a step towards mastering the first item.
Homer: Well, I then I will have a difficult time pleasing the Gens here then.
Homer: Because I am not skilled at any of these things.
Darrel: So what does a Gen have to master, to be a success in the Tecton?
Wise Snake: Ah. I'm glad you asked.
Wise Snake stands up and begins pacing back and forth, waving the plastic fork like a teacher's baton.
Wise Snake: [quite unconsciously]
Wise Snake: Gens are a completely different story.
Wise Snake: With them, the most important thing is to be really, really tolerant.
Wise Snake: You gotta have a tolerant Gen.
Darrel is sure that Snake does, at least.
Wise Snake: Why, if they started complaining about every little screwup you made, life would be a torture.
Wise Snake: OK also, you want a Gen who knows how to follow instructions, especially during emergencies.
Wise Snake: I mean, if you can't trust your Gen to jump when you say jump, you might as well go jump yourself, right?
Wise Snake mixes metaphors.
Wise Snake: And last but certainly not least, there's the nageric sleaze factor.
Wise Snake: Your Gen has to be a turn on.
Wise Snake: Not just for you, but for everyone around you.
Homer: That sounds very fine.
Homer: Have you found one who meets your requirements, Hajene?
Wise Snake flicks a dismissive hand.
Wise Snake: They throw themselves at me.
Darrel: I wish Gens felt that way about me.
Darrel: ~~ wistful ~~
Homer zlins Wise Snake to see if she is serious.
Wise Snake's nager is perfectly and impenetrably innocent and overly so.
Wise Snake looks at him blandly.
Homer does not think the Gens of his homeland would be very impressed with this channel's look and manner, although her nager is very big.
Wise Snake: Now, as to getting you both hitched.
Homer: Tolerant, obedient, alluring Gens desire you in droves?
Wise Snake: Er... what?
Wise Snake had started to turn to the cabinets again, but turns back.
Wise Snake: Well, not in droves, but at least two or three a month.
Homer: Well, that number is certainly sufficient.
Wise Snake turns back to the cabinets and begins rummaging through them again.
Wise Snake looks at the fork in her hand, then throws it over her shoulder.
Wise Snake: Where was I? Oh yes, your assignments for next month.
Wise Snake: Neither of you rates the ever-so-lovely Lemuse again, so sorry.
Homer frowns. He thought only the Controller knew the assignments.
Wise Snake frowns also, as she finds something unidentifiable wrapped in foil in the back of one shelf.
Homer notes the resemblance between Wise Snake and Arat and concludes they must be related.
Darrel: Are you sure?
Wise Snake: Oh yes. How do you feel about Hero, Darrel?
Homer wonders if Controlling is a family business, the way it often is in the Canyon.
Darrel: Hero? She's rather... excitable.
Homer is scarcely surprised to hear that Lemuse will leave him. She had warned him to expect that.
Homer is sorry, though.
Homer peers over Wise Snake's shoulder to see what she found on the shelf.
Wise Snake zlins his curiosity and turns to hand it to him.
Wise Snake: [it is an soft, shapeless wad of something inside foil, possibly having been there for some time]
Wise Snake returns to her rooting.
Homer takes the foil and unwraps it.
Wise Snake: Well, and then there are the problem cases.
Wise Snake: I think you're ready to take on a problem case, don't you Darrel?
Wise Snake believes in pushing people to their limits developmentally.
Darrel: ...problem case?
Darrel: ~~ trepidation ~~
Wise Snake: You see, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving matters up to Neptude.
Wise Snake: You saw what he did to my dad.
Wise Snake: Since he's hopelessly swamped at the moment, I thought I'd forge a few additions to the schedule book just to make things interesting.
Darrel: Forge?
Homer finds a rather grainy brown pill inside the foil.
Darrel has a bad feeling about this.
Wise Snake has already broken into Arat's office to examine the scene of the crime, as has been implied previously.
Wise Snake: For example, I don't see any reason why I couldn't take over Pylor's training.
Darrel's eyes widen.
Darrel: Pylor?
Wise Snake: He needs a firm hand, and my dear pa pa just doesn't seem to have what it takes.
Wise Snake means, Arat isn't a psychopathic sadist with a deranged sense of humor.
Darrel: You assigned yourself to Sosu Pylor?
Wise Snake: Shen, no. What, do you think I'm crazy?
Homer pulls out his copy of the Tecton Formulary and starts to thumb through the illustrations to see what the pill might be.
Wise Snake: I just want to have some fun with him.
Homer: Arat is your father, then?
Homer: You do look like him.
Wise Snake: Hmmm... I'll have to cut down on the anal-retentive bit.
Wise Snake tries to slouch more, which is difficult considering her usual posture.
Wise Snake moves to a different cabinet and finds a staff member's lunch.
Wise Snake carries it over to the table and sits down, after carefully turning the chair around forward again.
Wise Snake starts comparing the contents, piece by piece, to her list of known allergies.
Wise Snake: Oh! Look at the time.
Wise Snake: I'll be expected back in my cage.
Wise Snake: You two will excuse me, won't you?
Homer blinks in confusion.
Homer: It was good to meet you.
Wise Snake scoops the contents of the lunch back into the bag and tucks it under her arm.
Wise Snake: I'll require this for evidence, you see.
Wise Snake means, evidence that she was in the room when Homer and Darrel took their break, which was EXACTLY 10 minute long and not 15 minutes overtime, placing her well away from the scene of Lalique's getaway.
Darrel nods appeasingly, but can't help one protest.
Darrel: That lunch bag belongs to...
Wise Snake: I know.
Wise Snake turns and leaves.
Homer wonders if everyone in Arat's family has spirits meddling in their lives.
Homer knows the spirits are wise and powerful, but sometimes it is safer to stay close to earth.
Homer suspects Wise Snake may have wandered a bit.