Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #152: Dam! (2/10/00)
Nick enters a dimly lighted institution of after-hours recreation.
Nick looks around to see if any of his contacts are present.
Nick maintains a steady pace towards the bar; a long day in the burn ward and Arat's office has put him in the mood for a porstan.
Hamath is a nondescript renSime sitting at the bar.
Hamath is nobody who Nick knows, in fact nobody anyone in Capitol knows.
Hamath, if truth be known, is not known by any other human being on the face of the earth, which is a pretty sad situation to be in when you think about it.
Hamath however does have a goal.
Hamath was in the process of working toward his goal when he was sidetracked by the pub.
Hamath has had this problem from time to time in his life, which is part of why nobody knows him.
Nick speaks with the bartender, then exchanges a sum quite a bit larger than that posted for a porstan.
Nick picks up his drink and casually claims the seat next to Hamath.
Nick takes a casual sip, then nods at Hamath in a friendly fashion.
Nick: Porstan's decent here, don't you think?
Hamath: Yeh, I guess.
Hamath looks at Nick oddly.
Hamath doesn't usually talk to strangers, which means he doesn't usually talk.
Hamath: [another part of why nobody knows him]
Nick tries to look totally innocent, which he finds 75% easy.
Nick: I don't think I've seen you in here before.
Nick: Are you visiting Capitol?
Hamath finishes looking Nick over oddly.
Hamath: Passin through.
Hamath has decided Nick looks harmless enough.
Nick nods in a friendly fashion.
Nick: From your accent, you're from south of here.
Hamath mulls that over.
Hamath: Yep.
Nick notices that Hamath's glass is almost empty, and signals the bartender for a refill.
Hamath wonders if Nick is some kind of hustler.
Hamath thinks Nick looks too fancy for this dive.
Nick: It's a bit early in the season for most travelers.
Nick: Are things that bad down south, or do you just like life on the road?
Hamath grunts.
Hamath: Gon' get me a job up North.
Hamath: Want to get there afore everyone else takes em all.
Nick: There's work to be had?
Hamath: First day of spring they say.
Nick looks interested.
Hamath: Building a dam, want ten thousand Simes.
Hamath is too simple to be bothered by the logistics of such an undertaking. He'll simply go up there and then be caught out if there aren't enough transfers available.
Hamath has no one back home--no home, really--and nothing to lose.
Nick: A dam? I'd heard they were going to build one, but I thought it would be another couple of years.
Nick: Did something happen to change that?
Hamath: Naw, that was just a rumor.
Hamath: Want to trick folks into not hurrying and claiming their jobs on time.
Nick: I see. Well, it's a good thing that you weren't tricked.
Nick looks respectful of Hamath's acumen.
Nick: Do you know yet who's going to be in charge of organizing the project?
Hamath: Some gummint something.
Hamath doesn't seem too interested.
Hamath: Genfolks and Tecton all mixed up together.
Hamath doesn't care, as long as they stay out of sight and pay regularly.
Nick: It sounds like quite a project.
Nick sips his porstan slowly.
Hamath: I reckon.
Nick: You know, there are a lot of people who don't have the faintest idea how much skill and hard work goes into a project like that.
Nick: You know the type: They think the job will get done even if they don't provide the workers with good pay, a decent place to live, and transfers that are worth the taxes you pay for them.
Nick: For instance, I bet they haven't given a thought to getting you and the other people working on the project the sort of channels who can give you the transfers you deserve.
Hamath scratches his chin.
Hamath: You think?
Hamath of course hadn't.
Nick: Well, I work for the Tecton, you may have noticed.
Nick: In the District Controller's office, in fact.
Nick: And I haven't heard about any reassignment of channels to the area for this spring.
Nick looks rather concerned about this lack.
Nick: You know, if something isn't done, they're liable to just grab whatever Thirds are handy.
Nick: And then what would happen? You know how many accidents happen, even in the best of construction sites.
Nick: They really ought to send out a First Order channel or two, just in case.
Hamath is not qualified for this conversation, alas.
Hamath sucks porstan instead.
Hamath: Reckon maybe you're right.
Nick: Even if there aren't any accidents, workers on a project like that deserve the sort of transfers only a really good channel can provide.
Hamath thinks vaguely that good transfers sounds OK to him.
Nick: I'd heard the engineer in charge of the project is from Gen Territory. Is that right?
Hamath: Hope so.
Hamath: They's not too good at the work, but they know how do to the figurin'.
Hamath: Sure don't like to take no orders from a Gen though, no offense.
Nick does not zlin offended.
Nick: Well, I suppose they know about dam building. Still, they probably haven't even considered how to go about getting their Sime workers some really good channels.
Hamath thinks about that for a moment.
Hamath: Reckon they don't know the first thing about goin' about it, now that you mention it.
Nick: You know, what they really require is a bit of advice, from someone who knows a bit about how the Tecton works.
Hamath isn't so sure about that.
Hamath: Mebbe...
Nick: You know, I happen to be acquainted with three really good channels, just the sort you'd want for a big building project.
Nick looks at Hamath a bit slyly.
Nick: Ever had your transfer from a Farris channel?
Hamath: No.
Hamath looks at Nick suspiciously.
Hamath was pretty sure Nick was some kind of hustler, but hadn't been expecting this particular kind.
Nick: Well, I know two who could be reassigned to the dam project--if the project's manager knew to ask for them.
Nick: But they'd have to act quickly.
Hamath: Why you tellin me about this?
Nick: Well, I'm going to write a letter right away, to the engineer in charge of the project.
Nick: However, I'm not sure he'll take my advice--unless you and the other workers tell him that he should.
Nick: If you explain how important a really good transfer is to a Sime, I expect he'll be willing to put in the request.
Hamath simply looks at Nick.
Hamath: He has no idea why Nick thinks he could ever get a chance to talk to such a person, much less be believed by him.
Nick: Oh, I know he might not want to take the time to talk to a regular worker--management types are good at that.
Nick: But if you get together with a dozen or so others, he'll get the message.
Hamath grunts.
Hamath: Much obliged for the porstan, but I'd better be going.
Hamath finishes it off and sets the glass back on the counter.
Hamath starts pulling on his travelling cloak.
Nick: It's been a pleasure meeting you.
Hamath says "Likewise," although he is not sure.
Hamath leaves the bar, looking puzzled.
Hamath: ==insert comma between "bar" and "looking"===
Nick takes one more swallow for the road, and hurries home to write a stack of letters.