Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #164: Scurry, Scurry (2/26/00)
see note 1
Seruffin: I don't suppose it would be practical to work her harder here in Capitol?
Seruffin is asking for an honest assessment.
Arat considers, not looking very happy at the prospect.
Arat had come to the conclusion some time ago that the only way to keep Snake firmly in hand was to supervise her personally at all times, but if he suggests that Seruffin will think he's trying to weasel out of a Controller's responsibilities.
Arat never tries to weasel out of responsibilities, at least not in front of Seruffin.
Arat: It would be possible, but not practical. [says, at last]
Seruffin is ~~ disappointed ~~
Arat: I have not been able to find personnel capable of controlling her when I am not present.
Arat thinks it would be easier if said personnel were better at keeping her in their own presence long enough to attempt control.
Seruffin frowns.
Seruffin: She's still that unpredictable?
Seruffin: I thought she was getting along with her assigned Donor--that would be young Beni, wouldn't it?
Arat: They get along. He does not seem able to curb her wilder behaviors, however. She simply does it when he is not there, and he does not seem aware of it.
Arat knows that Beni is sometimes aware afterward, and rather chagrined about it, but there's no point in bringing that up.
Seruffin: How is she behaving when he is actually present?
Seruffin is wondering if the Snake-rehabilitation scheme is a good idea at all.
Arat has to ponder that.
Arat: Beni says that she is behaving well, but under the circumstances I cannot be sure if that is the case.
Arat: Beni may not be aware of all that happens in his presence.
Seruffin: How could he not be?
Seruffin hasn't actually met Snake, or he wouldn't be asking such a question.
Arat: Things are not always as they seem.
Arat: Beni does not have a suspicious mind.
Arat has a suspicious mind, is hyperattentive, and easily dominates Snake nagerically. He is convinced those are the only reasons she behaves around him.
Seruffin: She is able to deceive him? Essentially at will?
Arat: Yes.
Arat: In a way, Nick's suggestion has its merits.
Arat: Not that Snake specifically be sent there, but it is possible there is some other location where the consequences of such behavior would not be as severe.
Seruffin: He does know her better than anyone else could. Not that that is always an advantage.
Arat: He did at one time.
Seruffin: Well, yes. You've been keeping them largely separated?
Arat: They have been assigned on and off.
Arat would also mention that they were allowed visits when not assigned, except that recent information brought to light implies that Snake has been able to visit whoever and whenever she pleased for quite some time.
Seruffin: They have been spending time together regularly, then?
Arat looks discouraged, to the trained eye.
Seruffin can't help but note the discouragement.
Seruffin: He's still loyal to her, then?
Arat: That would appear to be the case.
Seruffin: Enough to put his reliability in question?
Seruffin: Or it is settling down into the sort of loyalty any Tecton Donor might have for a favorite channel?
Arat has to think long and hard about that one, because he knows that his own opinions on Donor behavior are considered unreasonable by most Tecton personnel.
Arat finally says, "Had you seen my report on Pylor's attack of me?"
Seruffin: Pylor? Attacked you?
Arat's eyebrows raise as he realizes Neptude must have been trying to keep that one under his hat.
Arat: You had not heard?
Seruffin: Heard what?
Arat: Perhaps I should allow Neptude to bring it to your attention.
Arat doesn't feel comfortable stepping on Neptude's toes, particularly after the threats that were made.
Seruffin: Perhaps you should explain exactly what happened.
Arat suspects that, unfortunately, this accidental revelation was exactly the sort of thing the threat was supposed to prevent.
Arat: Sosu Pylor attempted to force me into a transfer.
Arat: He had Wise Snake's support, and... [finds it as difficult to say as it was to take it at the time] ... she had Nick's.
Seruffin mentally makes a note to pay a call on Neptude soonest and rake him over the coals for withholding important information on the state of his Region.
Seruffin: ~~ aghast ~~
Seruffin: Nick was helping her?
Arat: He did not help me. [clarifies]
Arat: He stood back to let her work.
Arat: She thought it would be... therapeutic for Pylor.
Arat: He seemed to trust her judgment.
Seruffin frowns.
Arat looks down uncomfortably.
Seruffin is not happy at the implications that Nick might be going rogue again, or that his rehabilitation was not as complete as had been assumed.
Seruffin: So he let Pylor force a transfer on you?
Seruffin zlins Arat for signs of damage, not that he would be able to zlin any.
Arat: It did not go that far.
Seruffin: How far did it go?
Arat's expression makes it clear that it went far, far, too far for Arat's personal comfort.
Arat: He had one hand contact.
Arat: I was able to resist him until he lost his nerve.
Seruffin thinks that sounds pretty serious.
Seruffin: And Nick stood by and watched the whole time?
Arat: At first he did. Then I was finally able to order him to go find help.
Arat: Which he didn't do, but he did leave the room.
Arat: Wise Snake locked the door behind him. It was when I was going to unlock it that Pylor... made his attempt.
Seruffin: So he had not actually started to make his attempt before Nick left?
Arat: They were trying to encourage him to it.
Arat: That is, Snake was encouraging him, and Nick was staying out of the way.
Seruffin: Until you sent him for assistance, and he failed to get it?
Arat: I tried to order Pylor and Snake to leave first, but they did not obey.
Arat: When it did not appear I had Nick's support either, I felt it was best to send for help.
Arat: It developed that Wise Snake had arranged for security to be detained elsewhere.
Arat: Nick did not find alternate help.
Seruffin's jaw drops.
Arat: I don't think he tried. [adds]
Seruffin: What do you mean, Snake had arranged to "detain" Security?
Arat barely restrains himself from blurting, "Neptude hasn't told you of that either?!"
Seruffin thinks that the nuances of this situation sound more confusing by the moment.
Arat: There was a riot in the east wing. [tightly]
Seruffin: A riot?
Seruffin: ~~ disbelief ~~
Arat: Wise Snake arranged for it, and for the fire doors to close, sealing Security and everybody else from the rest of the building.
Arat: All while Beni was supposed to be serving her in transfer.
Arat: Unless I can watch her personally at all times, the 53rd District Offices is not an appropriate environment for her. The building was not designed to secure dangerous prisoners.
Seruffin: And where was Beni, while this... riot... was taking place?
Seruffin's lips are pressed thin with disapproval.
Arat: Beni was waiting in their transfer suite.
Arat: He first became aware that something was amiss when Pylor's channel came to him thinking Pylor was there.
Seruffin: She diverted Pylor's channel, as well?
Seruffin: Well, I suppose she'd have had to.
Arat: They spent some time checking the transfer room assignments....
Arat: I reported all of this duly, and a thorough investigation took place.
Arat is aware that that's little defense against it happening in the first place.
Seruffin nods.
Seruffin: I am sure you did.
Seruffin: What actions have you taken against the various parties involved in this... escapade?
Arat: Pylor is on suspension. I am awaiting Neptude's decision on what is to be done with him.
Arat has not been part of the decision making process regarding Pylor for some months.
Seruffin nods, making a mental note to discuss Pylor with Neptude--in some detail.
Arat: As for Nick, I am afraid it will be necessary to assign him somewhere away from Wise Snake if he is ever to learn the difference between loyalty to one's assigned channel and loyalty to one's friends.
Arat does not look too happy about that either.
Arat after all has depended upon Nick for his health, in the last months.
Seruffin frowns.
Arat however is well aware of the long term benefits of correcting these problems early in a Donor's career.
Seruffin: I had hoped to avoid reshuffling the higher order Donors until travel becomes more realistic.
Seruffin: However, if you feel the matter is that urgent...?
Arat: He is not currently assigned. However, I may be able to make some arrangement that will be sustainable on a temporary basis.
Seruffin: I see. Well, do what you can in that respect. If he's occupied, he'll have less time to help Wise Snake in her mischief.
Arat has not found that to be the case at all, but nods anyway.
Seruffin is still unclear exactly how deeply Nick was involved in actively abetting the Pylor incident, and wishes that Arat was able to be a bit more objective on the subject of Donor loyalties.
Seruffin: And Wise Snake herself?
Arat: I am attempting to locate a more secure assignment for her.
Seruffin: That sounds like a wise precaution, under the circumstances.
Seruffin thinks that it also explains a great deal about Arat's recent interest in the dam project--and perhaps Nick's, too.
Seruffin sets his cup of Tecton Standard on Arat's desk. Less than half has been consumed.
Seruffin: Well, it looks like you've taken the appropriate steps. It remains to be seen whether they will prove sufficient.
Arat nods.
Arat's own tea is basically untouched. Tea and stress don't go well together for him.
Seruffin: In the mean time, I would appreciate it if you would keep me appraised of the situation--in detail.
Arat doesn't usually communicate directly with Seruffin.
Seruffin: Since it appears that there have been problems with communication regarding this incident.
Arat studies the Regional Controller carefully, and then nods.
Seruffin nods abruptly, and gets to his feet.
Arat hopes Seruffin doesn't take it out on Neptude in such a way that Neptude comes down on Arat even harder, and wishes he'd known Neptude had been keeping the incident quiet.
Seruffin: Carry on, then.
Seruffin starts for the door, mentally reviewing the best strategies for flaying Neptude's hide.
Arat waits until Seruffin is gone, and then begins to massage his forehead with all fingers and tentacles.
Notes:
1) This scene is continued from the previous episode, DCO #163. [return]