Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #203: Rabbit in the Garden (4/29/00)
Tiarala has found herself stressing out a bit over the uncertainty regarding her future, and decides to indulge in some stress-reduction measures.
Tiarala therefore drops by Riyyh's hotel room for a visit.
Tiarala thumbs the audible signal, as the insulation is too good for nageric signals to be zlinned through the door.
Riyyh hurries to the door to see if it's his delivery of... well, never mind that.
Riyyh: Tiarala! [bursts into a smile]
Tiarala: Riyyh!
Riyyh: What a delightful surprise.
Riyyh: Please come in.
Tiarala: Why, thank you.
Tiarala doesn't hesitate to take full advantage of the situation, given her hopes of taking advantage of Riyyh.
Riyyh offers her a seat and plies her with tea, cookies, etc.
Tiarala basks in the attention, the tea, the cookies, etc.
Tiarala: Oh, Riyyh, I have so enjoyed having you in town.
Tiarala: ~~ pleasure ~~
Riyyh beams.
Tiarala spares a tentacle to stroke lightly down Riyyh's arm.
Riyyh looks slightly giddy as a result.
Tiarala: It's always so relaxing to be with you.
Riyyh: Oh, my.
Tiarala: And with things so tense... nobody seems to have the slightest idea who will be going and who staying, when Arat leaves for the Snake Reservoir.
Tiarala: And they still haven't announced who is going to take over here... you haven't heard anything, have you?
Riyyh: I have never understood why the Tecton is so secretive about such things.
Tiarala: I suppose they don't want people to worry.
Tiarala is doing plenty of worrying despite these efforts.
Riyyh thinks it's more like, they don't want people to make trouble.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh: Well, all I know is that they only asked me to stay until harvest time.
Riyyh: I don't think even they know who it will really be.
Riyyh: ~apologetic~
Tiarala: ....asked you to stay until harvest?
Tiarala: ~~ astonishment ~~
Riyyh looks somewhat confused, as he'd assumed Tiarala would be familiar with the situation.
Riyyh: Er... yes. Didn't you know?
Tiarala: No, I didn't.
Tiarala thinks back to her conversation with Arat.
Tiarala: And I don't think Arat knows, either.
Tiarala at least assumes that he would have been a great deal more concerned about the future of the 53rd District, if he had known that Riyyh was to be left in charge, even temporarily.
Riyyh's tentacles wave in consternation.
Riyyh: How could that be?
Tiarala: I don't know--but I have my suspicions.
Riyyh thinks this is an even more graphic example of mushroom farming than he'd expected from even the Tecton.
Tiarala frowns.
Tiarala: Was it Neptude who spoke to you about the position?
Tiarala wants to know how likely it is that the arrangement will be summarily overruled from on high.
Riyyh: No, it was Seruffin.
Riyyh: But he said Neptude would be pleased.
Riyyh: I haven't been able to get ahold of him personally to verify that, yet, though.
Riyyh is thinking it sounds like he should really get to that soon.
Tiarala: Seruffin?
Tiarala: Tiarala: No wonder it's been kept so quiet, if it's being handled on that level.
Tiarala: Tiarala: Did Seruffin say why he wanted you to take the job?
Riyyh: Only that Neptude was not willing to accept you as the replacement at this time, and that current social conditions are make removing the City Controller chancy.
Tiarala: Oh, dear.
Tiarala: Neptude must be making quite a fuss, if Seruffin was willing to recruit you.
Tiarala is under the illusion that Seruffin wouldn't have recruited Riyyh without learning a bit about how he is likely to handle the job.
Tiarala is still rather an innocent with regards to high-level politics.
Riyyh blinks at this slight to his administrative abilities.
Riyyh doesn't think that he is a likely candidate for the job either, but the way Tiarala said it....
Tiarala sees that Riyyh misunderstood.
Tiarala: Your style of management is so... non Tecton, you see.
Riyyh: Yes, it is. [admits]
Tiarala knows Riyyh rather well, and can zlin the potential chaos he is likely to spread throughout the District.
Tiarala: That's likely to cause problems, all by itself.
Riyyh: But of course, I will do my best.
Tiarala: I'm sure you will, Riyyh.
Tiarala reaches out to place her hand on Riyyh's in comfort.
Riyyh intentionally leaves the sentence open-ended
Tiarala almost wishes that she hadn't talked Arat into trying to take her with him, as watching Neptude and Seruffin trying to cope with Riyyh sounds like a lot of fun.
Riyyh does appear to be comforted by Tiarala's touch. After all, he wouldn't have wanted her to be angry at him over it, and this proves she isn't.
Tiarala reaches into her pocket and withdraws a small, highly decorated glass bottle.
Tiarala: I found this delightful massage oil the other day--I thought I'd ask your opinion of it.
Riyyh looks interested.
Tiarala finds herself really needing a massage, as the consequences of Riyyh's news start to sink in.
Tiarala is a bit less tense (and smells delightfully of rosemary) when she signals at Arat's door about an hour later.
Tiarala is, however, very ~~ sober ~~
Arat has a rare afternoon off from the negotiations, and came back to take care of some business. He was surprised to find Tiarala gone, but there was plenty he could do that didn't require her.
Arat: Enter!
Tiarala does so.
Arat looks up, and his nostrils twitch as the rosemary rolls into the room along with Tiarala.
Tiarala: Controller, I've just heard some news that you really ought to know about, if you haven't been informed already.
Arat zlins her, and doesn't like what he zlins.
Arat: What is it?
Tiarala takes a seat, as she is still a bit weak-kneed with the combination of momentous news and massage.
Tiarala: I paid a visit to Sectuib Riyyh this afternoon.
Arat should have known.
Tiarala knows that Arat doesn't care for Riyyh, but makes no apology for her own, more congenial relationship with him.
Tiarala: During the course of our discussion, he let slip that Seruffin has asked him to take over as temporary 53rd District Controller when you leave for the Snake Reservoir.
Arat stares at her in undisguised astonishment.
Tiarala is still a bit surprised at the news herself, and is very glad that she didn't assume that Arat knew.
Arat: I hadn't meant that seriously. [says, almost to himself]
Tiarala: ...You suggested it?
Tiarala thinks that this has been a day for surprising revelations.
Arat: Seruffin asked me for ideas. He wanted more than the ordinary nominations of current and past District Controllers, 53rd District department heads, and City Controllers.
Arat: When he pressed me, I suggested bringing a channel out of retirement on a temporary basis.
Arat: I used Riyyh as an example to demonstrate that capable channels not on the ordinary rolls do exist, but....
Arat's voice trails off uncharacteristically. He shakes his head to himself.
Arat is trying to imagine what will happen, and the mind is frankly boggling.
Arat: I assume he did not accept?
Arat grasps at the only possible relief from the boggling.
Tiarala: He said that he had agreed to stay until harvest.
Arat sighs.
Tiarala: Hasn't Seruffin met Riyyh at all?
Arat: I don't know.
Tiarala: He can't be familiar with the way Riyyh does business, at the very least.
Arat frowns.
Tiarala: Riyyh said something about being recruited to keep Neptude happy.
Arat has switched from trying to encompass the entire problem mentally to trying not to envision what might happen, with even less success.
Arat: Neptude could hardly be pleased.
Arat makes his usual mistake of assuming Neptude is logical and competent.
Tiarala: No, he wouldn't be.
Arat: More likely it is some kind of peculiar punishment.
Arat: But the damage that will be done....
Tiarala: Yes.
Tiarala: Perhaps Seruffin wishes to demonstrate to Neptude that there are worse things than having to deal with a District Controller who is more competent than he is?
Tiarala: Neptude didn't have much luck dealing with Riyyh when he was in charge of the 53rd District.
Arat: It seems an expensive lesson.
Arat does not believe in teaching one person a lesson at the expense of everybody around and below him.
Tiarala: Perhaps Seruffin has not been warned about just what sort of damage Riyyh is likely to do?
Tiarala: If he's never seen Naros's Sectuib in action... well, he could be making a genuine misjudgment through being misinformed.
Tiarala comes as close as she dares, even in this relatively confidential setting, to calling the Assistant World Controller a complete idiot.
Arat frowns again.
Arat: Perhaps.
Arat: Either that, or there is more to this than you have heard.
Tiarala: Quite possibly there is.
Tiarala: Although I think Riyyh told me most of what he knows.
Arat tries to decide how much digging he can do, and reluctantly decides he can't do any personally.
Arat has certain employees who can be sent to do some probing here and there, and that will have to do.
Arat nods.
Tiarala: From what Riyyh said, he was more concerned with trying to talk his way out of the position than with discovering why it had been offered in the first place.
Arat: He attempted to refuse, and Seruffin insisted?
Arat looks puzzled.
Tiarala: Apparently. Of course, with Riyyh, it can sometimes be difficult for those not familiar with him to recognize a refusal.
Tiarala: He does hate to disappoint people.
Arat wonders if Seruffin really wanted Riyyh that badly, and if so, why? What is missing from this picture?
Arat: We do not know the whole story. [says at last]
Arat thinks that is the only sensible explanation.
Arat: The Assistant World Controller has information that we may never have.
Arat: So has Neptude.
Tiarala: Yes.
Tiarala is used to being a bit player, and is perhaps less disturbed at the thought than Arat.
Tiarala: I wonder if Neptude knows about Riyyh yet?
Tiarala: ~~ thoughtful ~~
Tiarala: Or if Seruffin intends it as a surprise when you leave?
Arat wonders this himself.
Neptude signals at Arat's office door, with some urgency.
Neptude does not wait for an answer, but barges on in.
Neptude: Arat, what's this about sending Reckage off to NorWest Territory?
Arat's mouth, which had been open to ask Tiarala to open the door for Neptude, closes again.
Neptude had been working on some rather profitable trades, to be instituted as soon as Arat was safely gone.
Arat appears quite taken aback by the outburst.
Tiarala turns, eyes wide, as she zlins who is there.
Tiarala: Controller Neptude!
Tiarala 's voice is an octave higher than usual.
Neptude 's eyes narrow in ~~ displeasure ~~ as he zlins Tiarala, and her obvious discomfort at his abrupt arrival.
Neptude knows, of course, that Tiarala is one of Arat's people, but hates to see it confirmed so blatantly.
Arat can see that this is going to be a difficult meeting.
Neptude is also aware that there is no way he can discipline either Arat or Tiarala for rubbing his nose in what he doesn't want to see; a department head has every right to consult with her Controller, and vice versa.
Arat rises and walks around them to close the door before any more curious passersby can gawk.
Arat then goes and pours both Tiarala and Neptude some tea, while he tries to decide why Neptude didn't know about Nick.
Arat turns back to them.
Arat: If you will have a seat, the matter is open for discussion.
Arat: [formally, to Neptude]
Neptude sits obediently; Arat wouldn't get him so riled up if there weren't a significant intimidation factor involved.
Arat hands each of them their tea and returns to his own chair, where he sits in a pose of attention.
Arat has still not figured out how Neptude could possibly not have known about Nick at least days ago, except if 1) Seruffin deliberately kept him in the dark and 2) Neptude didn't bother to read any of Arat's recent reports.
Arat often overlooks a 3rd likely possibility: sheer denial.
Tiarala takes her tea and arranges her nager to be as unobtrusive as possible, so as not to get caught in the crossfire.
Arat: I thought you had already been made aware of this.
Neptude waves that aside.
Neptude: After all the overtime I've been putting in over the past few months, trying to get you Farris-rated Donors, I'd think you would hold on to them while you have them.
Neptude: You've thrown my schedule off... again.
Neptude: Unless you've changed your mind about Pylor being ready to work with Farrises?
Neptude: My nephew says that Pylor insists he's ready.
Arat looks puzzled, as this is the first Neptude has ever suggested Pylor wasn't ready to work with Farrises.
Arat also hadn't been aware that Pylor and Lexus were still in contact.
Neptude is still convinced that Arat is making a fuss over nothing regarding Pylor, so this last speculation is more wishful thinking than serious possibility.
Arat: I do not believe that will be necessary.
Neptude: It's not as if there aren't Donors in NorWest Territory, you know.
Arat: Nick has experience in the type of conditions that will be found at the Dam site.
Neptude: I don't see any reason why your daughter couldn't have used a local.
Arat: The two of them are used to performing as a team in such conditions, as well.
Neptude frowns; that sort of sensible argument is very hard to overrule.
Arat wouldn't dream of adding, "and besides, Seruffin OK'ed it, nyah nyah." He's far too dignified.
Neptude: You're not planning to keep Reckage working on a mere construction site, are you?
Neptude: A Donor of such capability should not be wasted on just one channel.
Arat: He will be required to maintain a safe rotation once Beni and I have arrived.
Neptude: You're taking Beni, too?
Arat: Yes.
Arat decides that is the simplest answer.
Neptude had just received a letter promising two decent Donors and a channel in exchange for Beni, when circumstances allowed.
Neptude: ~~ frustration ~~
Neptude: You're stripping the entire District!
Arat frowns.
Neptude: What happens if your successor requires a Donor with the skills of a Nick or Beni?
Neptude: They're not exactly easy to come by, you know!
Arat thinks of who his successor is rumored to be, and gets a funny look on his face.
Arat: I realize that this presents some difficulty for you. However, I did require them for the new assignment, which is located hundreds of miles from the nearest source of additional high level personnel.
Neptude catches Arat's expression.
Neptude: You could have made do with one of them.
Neptude: And you know something, I can see it in your expression.
Neptude: Has Seruffin told you something that he's kept from me?
Arat of course has no idea what all Seruffin has failed to tell Neptude.
Arat: It is possible. [cautiously]
Arat knows better than to ask Neptude what he doesn't know, though; they could be there all night.
Neptude: Do you know who he's picked as your successor, then?
Tiarala looks on with interest; she had never dreamed that she might actually be present when Neptude got the bad news.
Arat: I have heard rumors that a temporary successor has been chosen. Unsubstantiated.
Neptude 's eyes turn to Tiarala, in open speculation that the meeting he interrupted was not about matters in Tiarala's Department.
Neptude knows Arat well enough to be pretty sure that what Arat calls a "rumor" is likely to be a sure thing by anyone else's standards.
Neptude: And who might that be? Your protege there?
Arat: Riyyh, Sectuib in Naros.
Neptude drops his teacup in his lap in shock.
Neptude: Riyyh!
Neptude: ~~ horror ~~
Neptude: What does Seruffin think he's doing?
Neptude: Has he any idea what chaos...???
Arat simply looks at Neptude.
Arat can be fairly sure that not having a Farris-grade Donor available for the replacement will be low on Neptude's list of concerns from now on.
Arat waits, as the sound of tea dripping onto the floor fills the silence.
Tiarala takes in Neptude's reaction with overt concern, and covert (very covert) enjoyment.
Neptude looks down at the puddle in his lap, as if trying to figure out how it got there.
Arat: It does seem an odd arrangement. [finally says]
Neptude: How did he come to select Riyyh, of all people?
Arat: I cannot say.
Arat is not going to speculate, especially as it would be difficult to do so without offering insult to the Assistant World Controller.
Neptude shifts uncomfortably as the tea soaks through, then jumps to his feet to shake off the excess.
Neptude then grabs a report from Arat's desk to fan himself in the strategic area.
Arat frowns at Neptude's antics.
Arat is not endowed (if you'll pardon the term) with much of a sense of humor, and the ridiculous makes him uncomfortable.
Neptude: It's not as if Riyyh has ever worked for the Tecton before. At least, not for this length of time.
Arat looks alert as Neptude implies he knows how long the temporary assignment is for.
Tiarala fetches a towel from the tea table and hands it to Neptude.
Arat wishes he had some way of knowing what Neptude and Seruffin arranged for. Sadly, he hasn't.
Neptude at least assumes that Seruffin isn't speaking about a period of less than a week--unfortunately.
Arat: I would assume it is only until an agreement can be made as to a more permanent substitute.
Neptude's original plan to stonewall the process in hopes that Lexus can be rehabilitated are looking less appealing in light of this new knowledge.
Neptude is not only sure that Lexus couldn't handle Riyyh, but is also well aware that even nepotism has its limits--to wit, at the point where self-preservation kicks in.
Arat can't really condone the idea of deliberately picking an inappropriate replacement in order to pressure Neptude into choosing someone Seruffin approves of, but he supposes it makes more sense as a tactic than assuming Riyyh could handle the role for real for as long as months.
Neptude: You did write in one of your reports that you had staff who had succeeded in gaining Sectuib Riyyh's cooperation?
Neptude tries to sound casual, but it comes out in a rather plaintive tone.
Arat really isn't as concerned with incompetence on Riyyh's part - after all, one must have a certain amount of administrative skill to run a Householding - as he is with Riyyh completely subverting the 53rd District system to the benefit of Naros and its allies... and anybody else who asked Riyyh for anything during his reign as Controller, for that matter.
Arat glances at Hajene Tiarala.
Arat: Yes.
Neptude's eyes follow Arat's to Tiarala.
Tiarala remains calm under the scrutiny by the simple tactic of repeating to herself over and over "Arat said he'd take me with him".
Neptude: You will have to be responsible for curbing any Narosian excesses, then.
Neptude: No farms on the rooftops, or gardening classes in the conference room.
Arat clears his throat, then thinks the better of mentioning there is already a garden on the roof.
Neptude: And Sectuib Riyyh must not be allowed to use his temporary authority to enable his followers here in Capitol to run amok.
Tiarala looks at Neptude as calmly as she can.
Arat thinks that Neptude is showing a remarkably one-dimensional knowledge of the dangers of Sectuib Riyyh's influences.
Tiarala: I'll certainly do what I can.
Arat is still working on the details of his plan to extract Tiarala from Capitol.
Arat's plan hinges upon being able to convince Tiarala's mother to die for money.
Arat thinks that if he can talk her into that, the rest will fall into place; an emergency trip home, the death, followed by a period of mourning and a reassignment to a trusted former Controller.
Arat's difficulty has been in the amount of funding which Tiarala's mother requires to be willing to leave Imil forever.
Arat on principle won't pay that much to keep an employee.
Neptude: Even so, it's likely to be a disaster.
Neptude: Arat, I don't suppose you'd consider talking Seruffin out of it?
Neptude: He seems to be listening to you these days.
Arat considers.
Arat: I am not sure such an attempt would be taken seriously.
Arat knows that everybody is aware of his feelings about Riyyh.
Arat also has no interest in bothering Seruffin at this stage. Why rock the boat?
Arat has enough problems, particularly not knowing if Seruffin had special knowledge which makes the assignment actually make sense.
Neptude is not quite ready to admit to Arat that the reason Seruffin isn't listening to him these days, is the strategic gaps regarding his reports on certain events in the 53rd District.
Neptude: Perhaps Riyyh could be persuaded to change his mind?
Arat: Undoubtedly.
Neptude looks at Tiarala again, then sighs.
Neptude: Of course, he's just as likely to change it back again, isn't he?
Arat: It is also likely that any such attempts would get back to Seruffin. [points out]
Neptude: Yes.
Neptude: ~~ dejection ~~
Neptude is coming to the unpleasant conclusion that having Arat as a subordinate is not the most disruptive and inconvenient thing that can happen to a politically-minded but not particularly high-rated Regional Controller.
Neptude: Well, one must make the attempt, I suppose.
Arat thinks that Neptude is welcome to try.
Neptude feels like a politician just elected to high office after a fearsomely nasty campaign, only to be told he has a fast-spreading and terminal cancer.
Arat zlins Neptude's fast-spreading dismay and thinks that in a way, it will be good to have his own, entirely unrelated problems hundreds of miles away in another month.
Neptude has, in other words, been forced to realize that all his plotting has been against the wrong enemy, leaving him completely unprepared for the actual situation he faces.
Neptude: I... I will be in touch.
Neptude slinks towards the door.
Arat watches him leave, hunched and tea-covered, and shakes his head.
Arat has often had meetings with Neptude where the Regional Controller left with his tail between his legs, but never when he simply passed information along passively himself.
Tiarala also looks after Neptude, in a ~~ thoughtful ~~ manner.