Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #131: Mysterious Offering (1/8/00)
Pylor signals at the ornate door to Riyyh's hotel room.
Riyyh answers the door.
Riyyh: Why, Pylor, how nice to see you.
Riyyh sounds kind, but looks a bit confused.
Pylor looks pathetically grateful to see a friendly face.
Pylor: Controller Neptude sent me over--he said that the Tecton owes you a Donor this month.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh: Please, come in.
Riyyh thinks it was perfectly awkward of Neptude to insist, since now Riyyh will have to think of how to brush off Pylor without damaging his already battered ego further.
Pylor can't help but notice that the Tecton chose to honor its obligations by sending a disgraced Donor, two days late, but things have been rather disorganized since Neptude started trying to run District and Region both.
Pylor enters the room, or rather, suite.
Riyyh puts off the inevitable by fluttering about fetching tea, cookies, etc.
Riyyh: I never thought I would be back in Capitol again so soon. And now the weather is just terrible.
Pylor is rather pathetically grateful that someone is willing to speak to him, if only about tea and the weather.
Pylor: It's winter, after all.
Riyyh zlins discreetly to determine whether Pylor is genuinely hungry or just requires a little snack.
Pylor: Not a time of the year to travel, if there's a choice.
Pylor hasn't really had much of an appetite since he learned that Arat had collapsed, and that he was going to take the blame for it.
Riyyh: I suppose you're right, it's just that I had hoped to have more time in the summer for the programs here in Capitol.
Pylor might have weathered the news a bit better if the sensitivity training hadn't blunted his hatred of Arat just enough for him to be feeling guilty about the whole mess.
Riyyh brings the tray as-is.
Riyyh sets it down and sits down opposite Pylor.
Pylor notes the carrot and kale garnishes.
Pylor: It's easy to tell that's never seen the inside of a Tecton kitchen. Thank you.
Riyyh smiles, flattered.
Riyyh remembers the tea Pylor liked when they had another little chat, and measures some into a cup.
Pylor nibbles on a cookie, and is surprised when it actually tastes good.
Pylor isn't sure whether it's the actual food quality, or the lack of accusing, avid glances and the murmur of bets being made on how long his hide will remain in its current position on his body.
Riyyh hands Pylor a steaming cup.
Pylor sniffs in appreciation, and wraps his hands around the mug for warmth and comfort.
Pylor: Thank you.
Pylor: With the snow and all... will you be staying in Capitol until the weather clears?
Pylor: ~~ hopeful ~~
Riyyh: I had so hoped to return to Naros quickly.
Pylor rather desperately wants a channel whom he can handle properly, and who isn't treating him like a pariah.
Riyyh leaves the answer to Pylor's question ambiguous.
Pylor: ~~ disappointment ~~
Pylor: Oh.
Pylor contemplates the disgrace of having his field taken down during a Donor shortage because no Tecton channel will have him.
Riyyh can tell Pylor is disappointed and tries to reassure him.
Riyyh: It isn't that Neptude's offer isn't extremely generous, or that I wouldn't want you in transfer.
Pylor: It's all right. I understand.
Riyyh: It's just that I had hoped to take one of the younger Narosian Gens on the road with me, and was hoping to have Qualified him or her beforehand.
Pylor: ~~ dull listless disappointment ~~
Riyyh: You can see how awkward it would be, to be traveling in winter with a Gen who had not yet Qualified First?
Riyyh: [pleadingly]
Pylor: Yes.
Riyyh would never realize how ridiculous it is for him to be apologizing for such a thing. He just knows how disappointed Pylor is.
Pylor hadn't quite believed that he'd sunk so low that even the non-Farris channels would prefer an unQualified Gen to his services.
Pylor: I don't suppose I blame you, under the circumstances.
Riyyh's tentacles wave in distress as common sense and loyalty to his House conflict with Pylor's negative projection.
Pylor: You don't have the obligation to take whatever the Tecton offers, after all.
Pylor has been viewed as substandard goods before, of course: For instance, every time he was assigned to Arat.
Riyyh's tentacles wilt.
Pylor has not previously been in the position of agreeing with that assessment before this, however, and is taking it rather hard.
Riyyh: Pylor, I....
Riyyh for one thing is appalled at Neptude's insensitivity in sending Pylor of all people to a channel who had already indicated he would only "consider" accepting a Tecton Donor.
Pylor: You don't want to risk it.
Pylor: I don't suppose I can blame you.
Riyyh: No, no, that's not it at all.
Riyyh: Pylor, I am sure you are a fine Donor and perfectly suited to me. It's just that I hadn't at all expected to take a Tecton Donor this month, and I had already made other plans.
Riyyh has picked up on Pylor's feelings of personal inadequacy. It's not hard, considering Pylor somewhat overrates him and they are only sitting 4 feet apart.
Riyyh is beginning, deep down in the part of his mind that is capable of suspicion [and which is very much subservient to the friendly naive part of his mind], to suspect that Neptude has sent Pylor to him out of desperation, because he wishes him to work on Pylor's self-esteem.
Riyyh: Oh, dear. [to himself]
Pylor: To try to make it to Naros through the snow.
Riyyh: Well, it is my home, and I had hoped....
Riyyh tries to justify his decision to choose his own Donor and visit his own home.
Riyyh: That is to say....
Pylor: To Qualify one of Naros's young Gens, as you said.
Pylor slumps back against the couch, fighting back tears.
Pylor is not normally given to tears, but it's been a rough couple of days for him.
Riyyh looks rather alarmed at the turn of events.
Riyyh gets up and darts around the coffee table to sit down near Pylor.
Pylor has never been shunned quite so thoroughly.
Riyyh: It's been hard, hasn't it? [gently]
Pylor takes a quick gulp of tea in hopes of forestalling a complete breakdown.
Riyyh of course doesn't know the full extent of what Pylor is thinking, and is under the erroneous impression this is Pylor's natural reaction to Arat's being unwell.
Riyyh is not helping Pylor's self control by being nice to him - the guaranteed way to start someone's tears flowing.
Pylor nods, then manages to force a few words out.
Pylor: Nobody's spoken to me in days.
Pylor: When I go to the cafeteria, they all stare like my nager smelled bad.
Riyyh: There, there. [strokes Pylor's shoulder]
Pylor is fortunately not trying to earn a living as a poet, and therefore his mixed metaphors can be ascribed to lack of professional skills in that area.
Pylor: They're betting on whether the Tecton is going to retire me over Arat's collapse.
Pylor is losing the tear-control battle.
Riyyh makes various soothing and encouraging noises.
Pylor: And... and I heard that almost every First in the District has specifically requested not to be assigned to me.
Pylor: And they're not even Farrises!
Riyyh: Now, now. I am sure someone would love to have you.
Riyyh is, of course, unaware of Wise Snake's malicious volunteering in that area.
Pylor: And maybe they're right. I tried to do what I could for Arat, I really did, but I've never been able to....
Riyyh listens.
Pylor's attempt to explain degenerates into incoherent syllables, punctuated with sobs.
Riyyh continues to pat his back sympathetically.
Pylor proceeds to thoroughly ruin Riyyh's morning outfit with an excess of tears, which is rather a shame, actually, since it's a very nice one.
Riyyh suspects the month following a transfer with a Donor this depressed would not be a very cheerful one.
Neptude is sitting at Arat's desk, frowning over a file.
Neptude had been pretty much out of the loop when the Powers That Be assigned this Hajene Homer to Arat for rehabilitation, and is thus finding it difficult to decide what to do about him.
Neptude is well aware of the consequences of messing up when a case is attracting unusual attention--particularly when the reasons for it aren't clearly stated.
Neptude wonders if Arat has any further information, and if so, whether Nick will allow him out of bed to offer it.
Jeniard pauses in front of Arat's office, and then signals.
Neptude looks up.
Neptude: Come in!
Jeniard knows Neptude will be in there and so won't barge in, even though his business there actually has nothing to do with Neptude.
Jeniard enters.
Neptude: Ah, Hajene Jeniard.
Jeniard: Hello. I just came to pick up a couple of things for Arat.
Jeniard has been very careful not to say "I told you so!" yet, although he does plan to.
Neptude: He's doing well, then?
Neptude is not unaware of the inevitable "I told you so!", or of its legitimacy in this case.
Neptude does not enjoy eating humble pie, but is honest enough to know he's earned it.
Jeniard: He's definitely reached the point of requiring something to occupy him if we want to keep him in bed.
Jeniard is clearly both pleased at the progress and firm on the staying in bed concept at least for now.
Neptude: I see.
Jeniard: I told him I'd fetch some of his personal papers.
Neptude: Personal papers?
Neptude was hoping to put Arat to work updating him on some of the professional issues.
Jeniard is still trying to decide which of Arat's personal papers he's going to let him read at this point. Most of them are likely to cause irritation, (for example communications from family members) and obviously anything to do with the lawsuit is out of the question.
Jeniard: Yes.
Neptude: I've been putting personal mail over there.
Neptude indicates a stack with one tentacle.
Jeniard goes over to the stack and picks it up, sorts it automatically.
Neptude looks back at the file in his hands.
Neptude: I don't suppose you know any additional background on this Hajene Homer? His file is not particularly informative.
Neptude means, in the area of political background on who's behind the assignment.
Jeniard: Not really. Arat sent some people to do some checking and never heard back from any of them.
Neptude frowns.
Neptude: I see.
Neptude: How long ago was this?
Jeniard: When he first arrived.
Neptude estimates travel times, weather delays, and other factors in an attempt to distinguish between late reports and reports that have been censored at the source.
Neptude draws some conclusions that aren't particularly reassuring.
Neptude: He's been adjusting well, according to this.
Jeniard: Yes, Arat has been pleased.
Jeniard thinks Arat has been rather displeased at times as well, but that is to be expected with Arat.
Neptude nods and sets the folder aside.
Neptude: Do you have a feel for how soon Arat will be up and about?
Jeniard looks at Neptude suspiciously.
Jeniard isn't going to let the Regional Controller try to overwork Arat too soon.
Jeniard: He should be ready for light duty any day now.
Jeniard's emphasis is on "light".
Jeniard: Assuming Nick works with him.
Neptude: Well, I suppose that's necessary, although the irregularity....
Neptude is not unaware of how much scrutiny Arat's breakdown is attracting in certain quarters.
Neptude sighs.
Neptude: Well, it can't be helped.
Jeniard nods in satisfaction.
Neptude: Still, we'd best make things official as soon as possible.
Jeniard nods.
Neptude starts jotting a list of names on a notepad.
Neptude: Hmm, it'll have to be a small gathering, with the weather like it is, but fortunately....
Neptude: And then there's caterers, and decorations, and....
Neptude thinks that a pledge party for a Farris-trained Donor will be just the thing to distract everyone's attention from the circumstances that precipitated it.
Neptude: I suppose Arat will insist on doing the honors?
Jeniard: I believe Nick insisted that it be Arat.
Neptude weighs allowing Arat to take official credit, against the possibility that Nick might prove difficult if Arat's central role is denied.
Neptude adds this to Arat also being difficult, and gives in.
Neptude: Very well. I suppose he's earned the right.
Jeniard is glad Neptude is going to be reasonable about that.
Jeniard has enough problems trying to smooth Arat's feathers without Nick acting up as well.
Neptude has had no warning that setting a precedent of giving Nick what is required to keep him from being difficult is not necessarily wise.
Neptude: When will Arat be sufficiently recovered?
Neptude is aware that long, formal functions can be tiring.
Jeniard: I am sure he will be much better after their transfer.
Neptude: Very well. I'll see to the arrangements.
Jeniard: If there is nothing else?
Jeniard is anxious to get back to Arat with something to keep him occupied, before Nick has to take a bathroom break and leaves Arat unsupervised.
Neptude: Not at the moment.
Jeniard: Thank you.
Jeniard leaves with the mail.