Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #171: Scapegoat (3/9/00)
Neptude storms into Arat's office, waving a newspaper.
Arat had zlinned Neptude coming, and therefore only flinches a little as the door slams open.
Neptude: ~~ anger boiling over ~~
Arat's flinch becomes more pronounced as he gets a better zlin. Not because he's cowed, but because it's really unpleasant to zlin that kind of emotion.
Neptude: This is an outrage!
Jeniard assumes Neptude isn't referring to his own entrance.
Neptude shakes the newspaper under Arat's generously proportioned nose.
Neptude: How could you have allowed something like this to happen??
Arat tries to accept the newspaper, a task made somewhat more difficult by the vigorous shaking Neptude is giving it.
Neptude: It's the most ill-timed, ill-advised breach of security....
Neptude's sentence degenerates into less coherent teeth-gnashing.
Arat plucks the newspaper from Neptude's grasp during the gnashing.
Arat spreads it (it's been a bit crumpled) and looks at the front page.
Neptude points an outraged tentacle at a one-inch-tall headline that shrieks "DAM IS READY TO COLLAPSE" with a subheading "Extreme Danger to Work Force Anticipated During Repairs"
Neptude: How did this get out?
Arat's tentacle nudges Neptude's out of the way, revealing the name of the article's author: Morca.
Arat knows there is no legitimate or apparent reason to suspect he has anything to do with it (even if it is true).
Arat: She has been banned from these buildings since last fall.
Arat: I can assure you, she has not spoken to any of my staff, at least not on these premises.
Arat frowns.
Arat had not known that the SWAT's reporter contact was Morca. Then again, maybe she wasn't; maybe she swooped in and stole the story from an untenured colleague.
Neptude: Since when has that stopped a muckraking reporter?
Neptude: Somebody talked, and it has to have been someone with authority.
Neptude: This Morca knows far too much for her to have pieced the story together from rumors and public information.
Arat knows precisely what was leaked, since he was the one who arranged it to leak. It was papers that could not have possibly come from his own office, and could have been stolen by anybody with rank in the Regional offices.
Arat: I see.
Arat: I would tend to agree.
Jeniard doesn't have to wonder why Neptude is blaming Arat. He just assumes that Neptude blames everything on Arat, why not this too?
Jeniard gets up and starts making some tea for all of them, since it looks like this may take a while.
Neptude glares at Arat.
Neptude: Is that all you have to say for yourself? That you "tend to agree"?
Arat looks up at Neptude with an expression which is as close to "I am sure I have no idea why you are behaving this way" as he can manage, which comes out approximately like, "you are a child, and you're freaking out because you have finally found a problem in your Region you can't blame on me."
Arat: What would you have me say?
Arat: This is not a 53rd District matter, and I have not been involved in planning of this... this... project.
Arat in fact had been rather horrified by some of the information contained in the documents. He did read them before he leaked them, after all.
Arat might not have touched the project if he'd known some of these things before hand, but unfortunately he hasn't much choice now that the ball is rolling.
Neptude: Do you think that I've forgotten that it was your pet rogue, Reckage, who was poking his nose into the Dam project?
Jeniard thinks Neptude seems to be a bit behind the times as to Arat's feelings for Nick.
Neptude: Now he's not only misused his newly acquired office to obtain information that doesn't concern him, he's released it where it can only damage the Tecton.
Arat looks sharply at Neptude.
Arat: You have proof Nick was involved in this?
Arat thinks that would be very unfortunate, as well as difficult to defend against. Nick had gone out on a limb when he wrote those letters.
Neptude: Who else has been making inquiries in that direction recently?
Arat: Yes, Nick did make some inquiries into the dam, but I do not think they were for the purpose of some sort of expose.
Arat: It would hardly be to his benefit.
Neptude: What other reason would he have to poke his nose into what doesn't concern him?
Jeniard brings a cup of tea to Neptude. (the Narosian blend)
Neptude eyes the proffered tea dubiously, having experienced Arat's preferred blend before, but accepts it with a nod.
Arat looks at Neptude, appearing (quite intentionally) as if deciding whether to tell Neptude or not.
Arat finally says, with the air of someone divulging a reluctant secret, "He was gathering information because he intended to try to talk me into requesting the post."
Neptude almost drops his tea.
Arat: We did, in fact discuss it, after I found one of the letters.
Arat: I told him in no uncertain terms that I was not interested. [adds]
Neptude: You? I should think not.
Neptude is, of course, unable to zlin any equivocation through Arat's control.
Arat: He was disappointed, but that was the end of it.
Arat is telling the truth, for the most part.
Neptude: Apparently not.
Arat is such a terrible liar that he has to stick very near to the truth if he wants to attempt it at all.
Neptude takes a quick sip of his tea, then raises his eyebrow at the flavor and takes another, more leisurely one.
Neptude: It is obvious from this article [taps the offending literary work with one tentacle] that his interest has not waned.
Jeniard thoughtfully brings Arat a cup of the Narosian also. He assumes Arat doesn't want to shout his alignment with the working class during this particular conversation.
Arat accepts the tea distractedly.
Arat cannot see why, out of an entire Region and literally tens of thousands of Tecton and government employees, Neptude thinks the leak had to have come from Arat's office in particular.
Arat doesn't assume the scapegoat theory as readily as Jeniard does.
Arat: Then you wish to question him?
Neptude: I will leave that to you.
Neptude knows full well that he has about as much chance of catching Nick in a lie as he does of catching Arat.
Neptude thinks that life will be much simpler once he has subordinates that he can zlin through, if necessary.
Arat frowns, thinking that it seems odd for Neptude to entrust him with that task if he suspects he's involved.
Arat has never held much truck with the old "gift horse" line.
Arat would not only look a gift horse in the mouth, he'd zlin its smallest particles for at least 10 minutes.
Arat: Very well.
Neptude: I expect that you will impart on Reckage the importance of discretion, and the inadvisability of hobnobbing with reporters.
Neptude's disgust is plain to zlin.
Neptude: I thought you'd gotten him over the worst of his taste for low company?
Arat: I am not aware of his ever having spoken to her. [honestly]
Arat: But I will tell him.
Neptude: See that you do that. And see that he is appropriately disciplined.
Arat: Might I inquire as to how you will present this to Seruffin?
Arat has been expecting a visit from Seruffin ever since the news hit the headlines; the man has been exhibiting signs of Audnesphobia recently.
Neptude flinches at the mention of Seruffin.
Neptude would normally not have hesitated to sit on the matter until a thorough investigation had been made and steps taken to correct the problem.
Neptude was, however, recently informed in no uncertain terms that he was to report, in detail, on ongoing problems as well as those which have already been resolved.
Neptude did not enjoy the conversation one bit; hence his hurry to assign guilt.
Neptude: I will make a complete report of the ongoing investigation, of course.
Arat nods. That will simplify things for him.
Neptude hopes that will forestall Arat making a separate report of his own, directly to Seruffin.
Jeniard sits down near Arat, with his own cup of tea.
Jeniard has his own opinion about Nick, but he wouldn't wish Neptude's dirty little magnifying glass on anybody but his worst enemy.
Jeniard can't help but think, though, that if one is looking for scapegoats, Nick certainly has made himself a convenient one in this case.
Neptude knows that Arat has been directly ordered to report to Seruffin on the Snake-Pylor security problem, but is hoping that Arat will not volunteer information to the Assistant World Controller in the absence of direct orders.
Arat: It is odd.
Neptude looks at Arat sharply.
Arat picks up the article again, frowning at it.
Neptude: How so?
Arat: I did not think she was working on this. When she questioned me last year, she was researching nepotism in the Tecton.
Arat: And yet, that article has not yet come out.
Neptude can't control a frisson of distaste--and alarm.
Neptude: Nepotism?
Arat: Yes, and the related favoritism between members of Householdings.
Neptude: Oh.
Arat: Perhaps she was not able to assemble enough information for an expose.
Neptude is slightly relieved; next to a Householding, he knows his own efforts in that area are not newsworthy.
Arat puts the newspaper down dismissively.
Neptude: Or perhaps she was simply temporarily distracted.
Neptude for once hopes Arat is right.
Arat knows that, in connection with a badly fumbled attempt to discredit a loyal Farris channel, it could be very big news indeed.
Arat will use it if he has no other choice, but hopes it will never come to that.
Arat: Perhaps.
Neptude: Well, it's obvious that this Morca is a menace.
Neptude: It may not be possible to force her to give up on a story, but it should certainly be possible to prevent senior staff from seeking her out with confidential information.
Neptude: Or it had better be. Do I make myself clear?
Arat nods.
Neptude: I will leave you to discipline your staff, then.
Neptude swallows the last of his tea, then stalks out of the room.
Jeniard considers running after him to tell him that for an ass, his ears are unusually dull.
Arat looks at Jeniard.
Arat: Does he really intend to blame me for every major problem in his Region?
Jeniard: Only the ones that could remotely fit.
Jeniard: Do you think he has any proof Nick sent those letters?
Jeniard: Or that he got back anything valuable?
Jeniard considers siccing Morca on Neptude now, rather than later.
Jeniard was rather pleased to hear that Arat had entertained the thought also.
Jeniard gets up and goes to place his hands on Arat's shoulders.
Arat: Well, Seruffin has samples of the letters.
Jeniard begins massaging Arat's shoulders, which are as tense as cables.
Nick signals at Arat's office door, happy excitement flavoring his nager (not to excess, of course).
Jeniard: Oh, brother.
Jeniard feels the cables come back twice as hard, then lets go and goes to answer the door.
Jeniard: Hi, Nick.
Nick: Hello, Jeniard.
Nick: ~~ cheerful ~~
Nick: Is Arat free?
Nick looks beyond Jeniard to spot Arat.
Jeniard thinks, as free as he ever gets, which is not very.
Jeniard: Sure.
Jeniard moves aside to let Nick in.
Nick steps into the office, and only then gets a good look at Arat.
Nick: Shen, Arat, you look awful.
Nick: What's gone wrong now?
Nick doesn't wait for an answer, but hurries to Arat's side to offer ~~ support ~~
Arat gives Nick a look somewhere between reproach and god-I'm-glad-to-zlin-you.
Jeniard goes to Arat's other side.
Nick takes up where Jeniard left off on the shoulder-rubbing bit, but with the added advantage of Gen nager.
Jeniard backs off as Nick takes a position that would be difficult to balance.
Jeniard figures what the heck, he appears to be tea boy today, and goes to get Nick some tea.
Nick: What happened to get you in such a knot?
Nick's nager is transparent with ~~ concern ~~
Arat: Neptude.
Arat sums it up succinctly.
Nick's hands freeze on Arat's shoulders.
Nick: Neptude? What did he want? He isn't still blaming you for Pylor, is he?
Nick thinks Pylor is a big boy; he should be able to take the blame for his own mistakes.
Arat: No, he's accusing you of leaking Snake River Dam documents to that investigative reporter, Morca.
Nick: Documents? What documents?
Arat rubs his face with his hands.
Nick is genuinely bewildered by the accusation.
Jeniard returns with Nick's tea.
Jeniard: You were writing letters, making inquiries, weren't you?
Jeniard: That's enough for Neptude to grasp at. He just wants a way to blame Arat, and you're the excuse.
Nick accepts the tea with a nod of thanks.
Jeniard feels a tiny, petty satisfaction at having made Nick take one hand off Arat. Then he feels a tiny guilt for it.
Nick: So this is more of the same? Just like the way he sicced his nephew on you as a watchdog?'
Nick sips from his tea glass, then puts it down on Arat's desk and places his tea-warmed hand on a particular tense knot of shoulder.
Arat: Yes.
Jeniard: You should go to Seruffin and say the little worm is harassing you.
Nick provisionally decides that he is probably not the cause of Neptude's latest attack, but merely the excuse.
Nick: There must be a way to distract him, so that you can work in peace.
Jeniard: I doubt he can be distracted from his own nephew. That's the whole point of this charade, after all.
Jeniard: If he can make Arat look bad enough, he can put Lexus in charge.
Jeniard: He already did put Lexus in charge.
Nick: In charge?
Arat scowls.
Nick hadn't heard it was that bad.
Nick was not raised in Naros, after all, despite the 75% affinity.
Arat: Not yet.
Arat is not going to admit what Neptude hasn't seen fit to announce publicly. So long as Arat's people believe he is still Controller, Lexus will meet a lot of resistance from his employees.
Arat picks up the newspaper and hands it to Nick.
Nick's eyes widen as he sees Morca's expose.
Nick skims the text rapidly.
Nick: I didn't know the worker's accommodations were going to be quite that crowded.
Nick was well aware of the precarious nature of the existing dam itself, of course.
Jeniard slyly slips into position and continues Arat's shoulder massage.
Nick absently backs Jeniard's efforts with his own nager.
Arat has been very carefully not thinking about the conditions of the workers at the dam project, since he can't even bear the thought of actually spending time there himself, which is what he is going to have to do if this grand scheme works out.
Nick: Well, this makes my news very timely.
Nick pulls a letter out of his shirt pocket.
Nick: Do you remember that conference center I mentioned? The one that provides the best accommodations in the area?
Arat nods, warily.
Jeniard looks suspiciously at Nick, who seems hell-bent on causing Arat as much trouble as possible.
Nick: I wrote the owner for more information. It turns out that the place is a bit more upscale than I'd originally assumed.
Nick passes the letter to Arat.
Arat takes the letter reluctantly.
Arat reads it over briefly, then folds it thoughtfully.
Arat: You must collect all letters and correspondence related to this.
Arat: All of your notes, the addresses, the letters, and any documents.
Arat: You must give them all to me. And quickly.
Arat: Tomorrow at the latest.
Arat looks up at Nick.
Nick raises an eyebrow.
Nick: You expect more trouble from Neptude?
Jeniard looks at Nick incredulously.
Jeniard thinks if Nick can't answer that question for himself, he hasn't been paying attention.
Nick: Or is it Lexus who's going to be the problem?
Arat flicks an impatient hand.
Arat: Lexus is nothing.
Arat: Nick, it is important. I appreciate your efforts, but your letters are causing a good deal of trouble.
Arat: As you know, I was questioned about them by the Assistant World Controller.
Arat: Now, with this - [gestures at the newspaper]
Arat: Neptude has told me to question you, and told me to stop what he believes was a leak made by you.
Arat: I must have your letters and papers, because I cannot guarantee that they will not be searched for.
Nick nods.
Nick: I will get you the materials tomorrow--they're at my apartment.
Arat: And, you must not write any more letters to be intercepted, or make inquiries of anybody who will talk.
Nick: I won't, for what good that will do.
Nick taps the newspaper.
Nick: This was none of my doing.
Arat nods.
Arat: I appreciate your cooperation.
Jeniard smiles, a bit cynically.
Jeniard doesn't look like Snake when he does it. He looks like a poet.
Arat of course will purge the papers of anything really incriminating and/or useful and store those in a very safe place before turning the rest in to the appropriate authorities.
Nick notes Jeniard's expression and raises an eyebrow in question.
Jeniard: He does.
Nick: And yourself?
Jeniard: As long as you remember which side of the bread your butter's on, you'll do fine.
Arat had heard the full story of the disastrous Pylor/Jeniard/Lexus scene by now, and groans inwardly at the signs that Jeniard is on the edge of getting out of hand again.
Arat finds that Jeniard can be a bit obvious about his overprotectiveness at times.
Nick decides that Jeniard is being a mother hen again, and makes a mental note to keep a closer eye on Beni.
Nick doesn't trust Beni with either of his channels for anything but very routine work, which he suspects is not sufficient at the moment.
Nick: Arat, have you discovered just what Snake is up to, this time?
Arat, who had been rubbing his eyes again for some reason, looks up at Nick again.
Arat looks quite surprised by the question, and perhaps just a touch worried, as if he hadn't been aware of a problem and is terribly paranoid that one might have gotten past him.
Arat: What do you mean?
Arat: [quickly]
Jeniard's smile is back, this time a bit closer to the Snake version.
Nick: She hasn't said a cross word in over a week.
Arat: She and I have... come to an agreement.
Arat doesn't look too pleased about it, though.
Nick raises an eyebrow.
Nick: You don't seem happy about it.
Nick: Just what did you agree to?
Arat: If she cooperates, I can arrange for her to be transferred to a different area where she can have more responsibility and get more work.
Arat had not intended to reveal any of his true plans to her. That is the part he is unhappy about.
Nick: And that displeases you?
Arat unfortunately has now divulged an unsafe amount of information to her, and while it did produce miraculous results in terms of her surface behavior, now Arat has to be 3 times as paranoid about what she's doing while he's not with her.
Arat has also, since reading the actual leaked information, come to realize that Snake is a lot more well-equipped to deal with the crude environment of the work camps than he is, a situation which will play havoc with his carefully laid plan to supervise her at all times.
Arat now is faced with the not-very-pretty quandary of whether he should send her in by herself, while remaining safely elsewhere (perhaps the resort Nick has found for him) or go in with her with all the risks that entails.
Arat sighs.
Arat: Nick, Snake is very... difficult to manage.
Nick: Believe me, I know that.
Arat: She requires a good deal of... of information, to be satisfied that she is making the correct decision.
Jeniard thinks that on the contrary, Snake will make a decision on little or no basis.
Jeniard thinks that Arat was tricked into revealing too much by a misguided sense of having a father-daughter relationship with the creature.
Jeniard has become rather bitter about Snake since surviving the abortive lawsuit thing.
Nick: She's never been one to trust blindly.
Arat: I am not accustomed to... to trusting blindly, either.
Arat: Therefore, it was difficult for me to reveal my plans to her.
Arat is finding it difficult even to reveal to a person that he has revealed his plans to another.
Arat particularly finds it difficult to trust Nick, although he has done so in trusting that Nick will faithfully hand over all the letters, allowing a search to be performed.
Nick is ~~ sympathetic ~~
Nick thinks that if Arat is half as disinclined to reveal his plans as Snake proved to be in the past, it must have been a very interesting conversation.
Arat: Until I can be sure of her loyalty, I cannot quite be happy with the arrangement.
Arat hopes that is enough of an explanation.
Jeniard hopes Nick will be able to overlook the glaringly mistaken implication that it is possible for Arat to be happy about anything.
Nick: And I expect she's still trying to figure out how far to trust you.
Arat nods.
Arat is, in fact, extremely predictable, but most people never get close enough to him to find out just how far that goes.
Arat looks at Nick, wishing he had been able to sustain a workable relationship with the Donor.
Arat finds it hard to imagine being trapped in a near-wilderness area with thousands of sweating, mud-covered laborers, and Beni and god knows what other Donors.
Arat: [well, that would be pretty difficult to imagine regardless of which Donors were there, actually]
Jeniard feels Arat's feelings yearn towards Nick, and looks away.
Nick puts a hand on Arat's shoulder, and squeezes gently in reassurance.