Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #176: Burina's Boy (3/16/00)
Tiarala takes advantage of Beni's being asleep and drops by Arat's office for a private chat.
Tiarala signals discreetly.
Arat: Enter.
Tiarala opens the door and steps through.
Tiarala: Arat, do you have a few minutes?
Arat is taking a brief and much-needed break from snake-wrangling.
Arat nods.
Tiarala looks a bit concerned.
Arat: What is it?
Tiarala: I had an encounter this afternoon with your new assistant--Neptude's nephew.
Tiarala: There were some rather disturbing aspects I thought you should hear about.
Arat raises an eyebrow.
Tiarala approaches the desk, but does not presume to sit.
Tiarala: He dropped by my department unannounced and insisted on speaking with me personally.
Tiarala: He was so insistent that my staff finally pulled me off the ward.
Tiarala personally doesn't think much of a channel who would interrupt a colleague while working, particularly for a non-emergency.
Arat ponders the bit of news.
Arat knows that Lexus has been talking to a lot of the upper staff, trying to divine their loyalties.
Arat can't do a whole lot about that, of course, given the broad nature of his orders regarding Lexus.
Tiarala starts pacing.
Tiarala: He insisted that I send my Donor from the room, due to the confidential nature of his mission.
Tiarala: And then he began interrogating me about the other staff: who has left the building when, and for what reasons.
Arat's eyes narrow.
Tiarala: I gather that he was trying to discover who might have had contact with reporters.
Tiarala gets tired of pacing and sits.
Tiarala: He also asked me about Nick.
Tiarala: Most particularly, whether he has kept up friendships outside the Tecton.
Arat frowns.
Tiarala shrugs.
Tiarala: I said that I didn't work that closely with Nick, and couldn't guess who his friends were.
Tiarala is not so high-rated that she could get an outright lie past Lexus, and is glad that she didn't have to.
Tiarala: He wasn't happy about that answer, but he seemed to accept it.
Arat: I see.
Arat had been aware that Lexus was placed here at least in part to pick up on Arat's plans by going through his paperwork. This asking of questions about people leaving the building is definitely an escalation.
Tiarala: He asked a few more questions, mostly about how my department runs. And then he started zlinning me again, but not to tell if I was being truthful, if you know what I mean.
Tiarala: Then he laughed and said Burina would be jealous.
Arat doesn't know what Tiarala means at all.
Tiarala: Do you know what he was talking about?
Arat looks puzzled for a moment.
Arat: No. [frankly]
Tiarala is slightly ~~ disappointed ~~
Tiarala: Whoever she is, I got the impression that he expected to have some amusement at her expense--and mine.
Arat is aware of no one by that name in the upper ranks. It may be an acquaintance of Lexus' too unimportant to be mentioned in his file.
Arat: I will investigate.
Tiarala: ~~ relief ~~
Tiarala: Thank you.
Tiarala: It seems like the situation here gets more precarious every day.
Arat studies Tiarala.
Arat: Does it?
Tiarala frowns.
Tiarala: I've been hearing far too many rumors that I don't like.
Tiarala: About you, about Nick, about Neptude and Lexus.
Arat: What have you heard about me?
Arat ordinarily ignores rumors, but with employee morale in this dangerous state, he can't afford to.
Tiarala shrugs.
Tiarala: It might be simpler to ask what I haven't heard.
Tiarala starts ticking off fingers.
Tiarala: I've heard that you are under investigation for unspecified criminal activities, that you have been planning to lead a restoration of the Audnes lineage in New Othwol, that it's Snake who's rebelling and that you are trying to stop her....
Tiarala: It's rumored that Nick is either helping Jeniard frame you, or is working as your agent,
Arat listens as he is reminded rather plainly of why he usually ignores rumors.
Tiarala: And opinion is mixed as to what role Sectuib Riyyh and Naros are taking in this presumed rebellion.
Arat: I see.
Tiarala: Lexus is said to be the person who is supposed to replace you, or perhaps just act as your agent while you take on some special project for the Tecton.
Tiarala: Some versions of that story maintain that the reason for the recent unpleasantness with Controller Neptude is that the success of your secret mission requires the appearance of public disgrace for success.
Tiarala: As to the identity of the secret mission, the gamut ranges from an undercover investigation of the District....
Tiarala runs out of fingers and starts on handling tentacles.
Arat is always amazed at the fecundity of the imaginations of the uninformed.
Tiarala: ...to working on starting a Tecton presence among some of the pirate clans on the southern islands.
Tiarala: And there are some interesting stories involving the Snake Reservoir Dam project, as well.
Arat's eyebrows, which had peaked somewhere around "pirate clans", descend into a scowl again.
Arat: Enough.
Arat: What are your personal concerns? Those are of more interest.
Tiarala obediently leaves off before she gets to the more exotic rumors concerning Snake's mother.
Tiarala looks at Arat.
Tiarala: Of immediate concern, my staff wouldn't be repeating so many rumors if they weren't seriously concerned that the Center's current leadership was in danger of being overturned.
Tiarala: This has affected my department's morale, although efficiency has not suffered--at least, not so far.
Tiarala: On a personal level, I can't help but be concerned about Hajene Lexus's behavior, and what it might mean for the future.
Arat nods.
Arat: I realize that Lexus' behavior has been disruptive on more than one level. However, he has been placed here in order to learn, and he is to be granted full access to all materials and personnel.
Arat: I will speak to him about arranging for more convenient times for his... questions.
Tiarala frowns.
Tiarala: I hadn't realized that his authority was so broad.
Arat: It is not authority so much as permission.
Arat: Controller Neptude wishes him to be able to learn as much as possible.
Arat thinks, about my private business as well as the District's.
Tiarala: I see.
Tiarala ponders the difference.
Arat: If he makes a request that you find inappropriate or disruptive, please explain the difficulty to him. If he will not cooperate, ask him to speak to me.
Tiarala looks at Arat with some concern.
Tiarala: I appreciate the offer, but I hope that I won't have to act on it--or that if I do, it won't make matters worse.
Arat: Needless to say, you should only resort to that if there is an issue of safety or productivity in supplying his request.
Tiarala nods.
Tiarala: If nothing else, it would buy some time, along with the trouble.
Arat: As for my being transf - [pauses]
Arat: Pardon me?
Tiarala spreads hands and tentacles.
Tiarala: Lexus does not take kindly to frustration, from what I've seen.
Tiarala: You were saying?
Arat: As for my being transferred, or being given a secret assignment, nothing official has been said on that score. It is simple rumor.
Arat: Probably precipitated by Lexus' assignment here.
Tiarala finds the subject of Arat being transferred much more interesting than Lexus's abuse of authority.
Arat: However, should any such ever occur, the transfer of power to whoever my replacement is shall be orderly and non-destructive.
Tiarala: Of course.
Tiarala: I do hope that in that eventuality, Lexus will not be appointed to your position.
Tiarala: I don't think he could handle it.
Tiarala is at least pretty sure that Lexus couldn't manage if he continues to alienate his future staff with disruptive interrogations.
Tiarala has been working under Arat for several years, and is used to efficiency.
Arat: I am not sure that there is any point in trying to connect Lexus' appearance here to the rumors about the 53rd Controllership.
Tiarala's nager brightens at the glimmer of hope.
Arat is pretty sure Neptude isn't foolish enough to appoint Lexus to the post. Then again, Arat has overestimated Neptude before.
Tiarala: I have no desire for the position myself--you know that.
Tiarala's nager is free from deception.
Tiarala: But I would have campaigned for the job before I'd have worked under Lexus.
Tiarala is very happy that apparently neither course will be necessary.
Arat zlins that Tiarala is satisfied with his deflection/explanation, and nods.
Tiarala: So it appears they're going to let you stay?
Tiarala is ~~ highly relieved ~~
Arat, as has been mentioned before, is a really bad liar.
Arat's expressive Farris face betrays uneasiness at the direct question.
Tiarala's relief fades as she takes in Arat's face.
Tiarala: They're not?
Arat looks rather uncomfortable.
Arat: I am not privy to these decisions at this early stage. I, too, have heard the rumors. But nothing official has been said. It seems unwise to jump to conclusions.
Arat isn't saying he hasn't jumped to conclusions, or even acted on them. As a matter of fact, he's done both.
Tiarala: And unofficially?
Arat zlins her, trying to decide how far he can trust a person who assumes that she would still be here if he was gone.
Tiarala: Have you been given hints that a rearrangement is planned?
Tiarala: And if it is, will you be able to take your staff with you?
Tiarala knows that this is not always possible, particularly when there have been nasty politics involved.
Tiarala has enough confidence in Arat's abilities to be pretty sure that he would not be sent away in this fashion due to actual deficiencies in performance.
Arat: That should not be a problem. If, and I stress if any change comes to pass.
Tiarala smiles.
Tiarala: Arat--thank you.
Tiarala: ~~ complete sincerity ~~
Arat zlins her sincerity and his own expression becomes rather more reassured in response.
Arat: Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention.
Arat means that.
Arat has no other way of finding out what is going on in the ranks. Plus, he needed this touching-base with Tiarala.
Tiarala nods.
Tiarala: If Lexus tries to pursue his inquiries in my department, I'll do my best to keep him busy in a harmless fashion.
Tiarala: With any luck, I won't have to send him to you.
Arat nods.
Arat: That is for the best. Thank you.
Tiarala stands, feeling much less distressed than when she came in.
Tiarala: I will let you get back to work, then.