Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #206: Poodles and Strudels (5/4/00)
Morca waits on a secluded park bench for her contact to arrive.
Morca felt that the usual cafe was a bit risky, given that one of the objects of her current line of inquiry has been known to frequent it.
Morca might not have bothered if she'd spent any time at Naros, but she's hasn't, and isn't likely to ever be invited, either.
Hero bounces along the sidewalk, walking a small, silver French poodle.
Hero has her own apartment now, which makes dog ownership possible and even desirable.
Morca has, however, brought a bag of bribes....er, pastries for her contact.
Hero's poodle is learning to bounce like Hero.
Hero: Hi Morca!!!!
Hero spots Morca from about a half a block away.
Morca waves, then her eyes widen as she spots Hero's pet.
Hero and her poodle scurry the rest of the way to the park bench, where Hero sits down and the poodle collapses in exhaustion.
Morca has never liked dogs; they make her nervous.
Hero: Poor thing, I think I wore him out shopping.
Hero has been known to wear out hardier souls. Quite frequently, in fact.
Morca scoots a bit farther away from the mutt.
Morca has little experience with dogs, and thus is a bit lax on her breed-identification.
Hero spots the pastry bag.
Hero: Can I have one?
Hero points.
Morca: Hello, dear.
Morca: Of course.
Hero grins.
Morca pushes the bag towards Hero.
Hero: Thanks!!
Hero helps herself.
Morca shoots another glance at the dog.
Hero's poodle perks up a bit, because its previous owner (a little old lady who only took it for walks on Sundays) was known to give in to begging.
Hero takes a large, happy bite.
Morca: Is that your dog, or are you just taking care of it for a friend?
Morca devoutly hopes for the latter.
Hero: It's mine! I bought him with my own money.
Morca: ...I see.
Hero: He's a registered champion, you know. ~~pride~~
Morca pastes a smile on her face; she recognizes pride-of-ownership when she sees it.
Hero of course will have no time for a hobby like dog showing with her Donor's schedule.
Morca: That's very... interesting.
Morca: Tell me, have you had a chance to introduce Sectuib Riyyh to your pet?
Hero: Not yet, he's back home trying to, er, [giggles] brace everybody for going without him all summer.
Morca pounces on the tidbit.
Morca: He's going to be away from Naros? Are the rumors true, then?
Hero rolls her eyes.
Hero: Well, they can't all be true.
Morca: Well, of course.
Hero thinks it would be kind of fun if Riyyh was going to marry the Mayor, though.
Hero grins as she imagines the Mayor of Capitol throwing frying pans after Riyyh (like Rifan's wife) while screaming about the Coalition for Progressive Land-Use.
Morca: But you're so informed, I was hoping that you could tell me which ones are accurate.
Hero beams at the praise.
Hero: Well I'll help all I can, how's that?
Morca: Thank you, dear.
Morca: This business about getting a dozen or more Capitol tea shops to form a cooperative, all stocking Narosian blends, of course. Is there anything to it?
Morca: And is that why he's staying here over the summer?
Hero scratches her head.
Hero: No!
Morca feels no reason to go into all the details of that rumor; she does have some scruples, after all, and Hero is barely an adult.
Hero: There isn't any cooperative that I know of [Hero means there couldn't possibly be such a thing] although he did get a whole bunch of cases of stuff ordered to warehouse here.
Hero: He says he'll be getting all sorts of selling done here over the summer.
Hero: You know, while he's the Controller.
Morca: ...the Controller?
Hero: Oops!
Hero covers her mouth.
Morca had heard that rumor, but had dismissed it as among the least probable.
Hero then decides since she's already spilled the beans anyway, there's no point in trying to cover it up.
Hero: The 53rd District Controller. Just until Fall.
Morca: You mean it's true? He is going to take over when Controller Arat leaves?
Morca looks both stunned and elated.
Morca: How did he manage to pull that off?
Hero: Controller Neptude was going to throw Arat out and put in his nephew, Lexus.
Hero: So Arat got really pissed at him and made it where Tiarala would be the obvious pick instead of Lexus.
Hero: Oh, also he threw Lexus out of the building because he like totally took advantage of this one lady.
Morca: What did he do?
Hero: Anyway, so Neptude was all, "No way, I don't want that Tiarala lady, she'll make me look bad."
Morca wants all the details on this one.
Hero: What? Lexus?
Morca: Yes. Lexus.
Hero: Nothing much, he just told her he'd get her in trouble unless she stole papers for him.
Hero: But she ratted him out to Arat.
Hero: Personally, I am wondering if there was more to it than that, just because Lexus was just like, all over the women.
Morca: And that gave Arat the opportunity he wanted to get rid of Neptude's protege, and advance his own candidate? This Hajene Tiarala?
Hero: Huh? Well, it's not like he wanted Tiarala to replace him. He just didn't like Lexus.
Hero quoth a serious understatement.
Morca: Because he's Neptude's nephew? Or is it because he mistreated the employee?
Hero: He's kind of a jerk.
Hero leaves it ambiguous as to whether she means Arat or Lexus.
Morca: Really?
Morca likes it when her subjects start using strong language; they are usually less guarded when they are upset.
Morca is, of course, not usually hampered by reticence when interviewing Hero, but habits are habits.
Morca: So how did Neptude take having his candidate eliminated from the running?
Hero: He took it OK.
Hero: But he didn't like it that Tiarala is running things while Arat is doing the negotiating stuff.
Hero: So when he found out Arat is leaving, I mean like really leaving, not getting kicked out by Neptude, he was all "no way, I don't want that Tiarala woman running things".
Hero: So Seruffin had to find a temporary person until he could find someone Neptude would like that wasn't Lexus. [grins]
Morca's eyes are gleaming with pleasure at hearing such tidbits.
Morca: And Seruffin picked Sectuib Riyyh for the position?
Hero: It's like, totally brilliant. [enthuses]
Hero: I mean, nobody can be mad about that, except for Arat, and it's none of his business after he leaves.
Morca nods, considering the possibilities.
Morca: And Neptude could hardly object, since Arat's candidate was not given the position.
Hero looks puzzled.
Hero: Arat's candidate for what?
Morca: This Hajene Tiarala, who would otherwise have been an obvious choice.
Hero is confused, since Arat wouldn't have known that he was leaving at the time he asked Tiarala to handle the District for him.
Morca: Tell me, how did Neptude get along with Sectuib Riyyh when Neptude was in charge of the 53rd District?
Hero: They got along great.
Hero: Neptude wasn't always pestering us, or anything. That's what Riyyh says.
Hero has to admit she wasn't paying much attention as a child.
Hero and most other Narosians are mostly interested only in Naros, except in the context of helping others.
Morca: I see. So Seruffin had reason to suspect that Riyyh would be acceptable to Neptude as 53rd District Controller?
Morca: And as a Sectuib, no one could argue that he lacks the experience in administration.
Morca: Still, I admit I hadn't given any credence to the rumors that he was to be Arat's successor.
Morca: He hasn't exactly been eager to work for the Tecton in the past.
Morca: What changed his mind?
Hero: Seruffin asked him real pretty.
Hero winks.
Morca's mind boggles for a moment at the obvious implication (it is Riyyh, after all), but she can't quite see Seruffin doing that.
Morca: Did Seruffin promise him something, if he'd take the job?
Hero: He just said he'd really, really appreciate it if Riyyh helped out.
Hero: And isn't that what Naros is all about? Lending a helping hand? ~~innocently~~
Morca knows Riyyh has the reputation of being someone who can be talked into anything by anybody, but that he often reconsiders when the petitioner is gone.
Morca: Of course, dear. But Riyyh usually manages to make things work out to Naros's advantage.
Morca: You already mentioned that he was planning an intensive sales campaign for Narosian products here in Capitol.
Morca: Has he mentioned that he wants to do anything else?
Morca: What about the Coalition for Land Use, for instance?
Hero: Well naturally he'll be able to help them out a lot more.
Hero: Especially now that Hajene Lexus has agreed to help too.
Morca: He has?
Morca thinks that is an interesting development.
Morca: So he's trying to form a good working relationship with Riyyh?
Morca is trying to figure out who is allied to whom, and how that will affect the balance of power in Capitol.
Morca is pretty sure that she's going to sell some juicy items to her various news contacts in the weeks to come.
Morca decides to offer Hero a tidbit in exchange for her information, just in case she hasn't heard it yet.
Morca: You know, I don't think Controller Arat knew Sectuib Riyyh was under consideration until after the decision was made.
Hero: No way. He was the one who suggested it in the first place.
Morca blinks.
Hero: Only it wasn't one of his first choices. More like his 50th or 60th....
Hero grins impishly at Morca's astonishment.
Morca: Really? But Hajene Jeniard didn't know a thing about it, when I talked to him not long ago.
Hero: You think Jeniard tells you everything?
Hero: Why should he, he doesn't blab to anyone else.
Morca: Well, he wasn't very informative, it's true.
Morca is still a bit disgruntled at his taciturnity, as a matter of fact.
Morca: Still, I'm pretty good at reading expressions, and I'd be willing to wager that he didn't know.
Hero: So? Arat doesn't tell him everything.
Hero shrugs off the discrepancy. She may be wrong, but her version is definitely more colorful and interesting than Morca's.
Morca: Well, perhaps not. But you say Arat actually suggested Riyyh to Seruffin?
Hero: Well, that's what Arat says.
Hero: He told me during our last meeting.
Morca: You know, I wonder if Arat was trying to get some revenge on Neptude.
Morca: Perhaps because of those Donor problems?
Hero: Naw, he just said Seruffin kept pestering him for more ideas of who to choose.
Hero: And he had already suggested everybody else on the planet who could possibly do it.
Hero: My dad isn't exactly Arat's first choice for a lot of stuff, you know.
Morca: I'd gathered that, yes.
Morca: So, how has Arat reacted, now that Seruffin has actually talked Riyyh into accepting the position?
Hero considers.
Hero: Well, he hasn't made a formal objection.
Hero: But I bet you anything Tiarala is gone soon.
Hero: To Norwest.
Morca: Tiarala? To NorWest?
Morca: So you think Arat will take her with him?
Hero in fact doesn't need to bet anything, she's already well paid into the 53rd District staff betting pools.
Hero: Well, you know, after the fact sort of thing.
Morca: You implied that Neptude didn't want her to replace Arat as 53rd District Controller. Is it more serious than that?
Hero: Huh?
Morca: Is there concern that Neptude might seek some revenge against Tiarala, when Arat is no longer available?
Hero: Revenge???
Hero: I don't think so.
Hero: Why would he?
Hero: What did she do?
Hero looks genuinely curious.
Morca likes the thought of revenge and grudges and all; they make great stories.
Morca is not above making up such motives if they don't exist, but prefers to take advantage of actual motivations when possible.
Morca: She was his nephew's rival for the position, at one point.
Hero: Not really.
Hero: I mean, maybe, if you assumed that Arat was leaving.
Morca: And Arat must trust her, if he's letting her take care of his District while he is otherwise occupied.
Hero: But....
Hero figures Morca just isn't interested in the detail that Tiarala was chosen for the job before it was known that Arat was leaving.
Hero has learned that Morca tends to do that, when on the trail of a really juicy story.
Hero has had to revise her definition of "investigative reporter" somewhat as a result.
Hero drops a bit of pastry, but the poodle has fallen asleep and doesn't notice.
Hero: Well, yeah, Arat trusts her OK.
Morca nods.
Morca: Tell me, Hero, are you looking forward to having your father running the District?
Morca: Or do you want to go with Arat?
Hero considers.
Hero: Gee, both would be fun!
Hero: Nobody knows who's going with Arat yet, he's kept the list really secret.
Hero: All we know is Nick, Beni and Snake.
Hero: Well, and all the people who have already left with Nick and Snake.
Hero: But that was mostly outside people.
Morca: Nick, Beni and Snake.
Hero: Oh, and Jeniard of course.
Morca: They gave him Jeniard without a fuss?
Hero: Yeah!
Hero: He didn't even have to ask.
Morca: And Nick? I would have thought there would be plenty of other Farris channels wanting to try out a new Donor of his skills.
Hero shrugs.
Hero has an ingenious little shrug that makes it look like she knows a lot more than she really does.
Hero: You'd think so.
Morca: I wonder what Arat has on the Powers That Be.
Hero: Arat said Seruffin just gave him Nick. He wasn't even going to ask for him and Seruffin put him on the list.
Morca finds this very interesting.
Hero of course had inquired after her brother, during their meeting.
Hero finds that it is nearly impossible to drive Arat batty with questions, as long as they are all intelligent ones.
Morca: Seruffin is making the list, instead of Neptude?
Hero: Oh, yeah, of course.
Hero: I mean, Neptude would give him like, 2 left socks and a transfer-shy 3rd order General Class donor if it was up to him.
Morca: I hadn't realized things were quite that bad between them.
Hero: Well, maybe not that bad, but he sure wouldn't have given him anybody he didn't want to get rid of.
Hero: Although that could have been interesting in its own way.
Hero imagines Ormof confronted with a gruelling scene such as what she's heard described of the construction site, and smiles.
Morca: You know, I just can't see Arat Audnes at a construction site.
Morca: He seems much too... civilized.
Hero: You called him by his old name.
Hero means, really old. Arat's old name pre-dates Hero's birth by at least 5 years.
Morca: He may be a Farris here in Capitol, but you can be sure no one in NorWest has forgotten that he's the head of Family Audnes.
Hero: Too bad everybody at the Dam will be from other places. [grins]
Morca: That's true.
Morca: I doubt they'd have let him return to NorWest if he was going to be staying in one of the cities.
Morca: Tell me, have you heard anything about his Audnes relatives? How are they taking the news of his departure?
Morca: Doesn't he have a cousin or uncle or something in town?
Hero looks genuinely interested. She rarely hears gossip about Arat from anybody who has any real perspective on the issues.
Hero: Sure, like an uncle, and then a daughter, but she's only here for temporary.
Morca: Have they been to visit Arat since the news broke that he's leaving for the Snake Reservoir?
Hero screws up her face, fortunately keeping it out of her nager.
Hero: They talk through the lawyer.
Hero: Most of them.
Morca: So they're not close?
Hero: Who?
Morca: Arat and his Audnes relatives. One doesn't usually talk to one's nearest and dearest via lawyers.
Morca: Although come to think of it, Arat and Jeniard would have been doing so during that lawsuit, weren't they?
Morca still finds the concept of Arat suing his best friend over a drunken encounter with a prostitute which produced a rogue channel the stuff of which bestsellers are made.
Hero giggles.
Morca thinks it's too bad: if she wrote a straightforward account of the scandal, she would probably end up facing a nasty lawsuit from Arat's lawyers, but if she tried to sell it as fiction, the editors would reject it as too improbable to believe.
Morca wonders if the editors of fiction ever read the newspapers.
Morca is struck by a thought.
Morca: Hajene Snake was sent ahead to the Snake Reservoir, wasn't she?
Hero: Yes, and a whole bunch of other people.
Morca: Could Arat be planning to let her be his go-between with his NorWest Territory supporters?
Morca likes the idea.
Hero squinches up her face.
Hero: Why would he do that?
Hero thinks Arat will have enough problems without alienating the few people who will be on his side.
Morca: To restore his family name, of course.
Morca: He didn't leave New Othwol voluntarily, I'm told.
Hero: I don't think he'd use Snake for anything like that.
Hero: Maybe if they were people he didn't like, though....
Hero has had ample opportunity to get to know Snake, and definitely has an opinion on the matter.
Morca: You think he might use Snake as a weapon?
Morca has heard tales that imply the rogue channel would be an effective one.
Morca: You know her--would she be willing to go along with something like that?
Morca knows Snake mostly by reputation, or she wouldn't have to ask.
Hero: Oh, sure.
Hero: She might not do what everybody expects, though.
Morca: She's got an agenda of her own, then?
Hero: No, nothing like that.
Hero: She's just kind of... random.
Morca: Random?
Morca: As in, unreliable?
Hero smiles.
Hero: As in, quirky. Original.
Morca: Do you mean that if Arat asked her to further his interests, she wouldn't help?
Hero: Nah, just that she does stuff.
Hero: You can never tell what.
Morca: If she's that unpredictable, then I'm surprised Arat sent her off with his advance team.
Morca: Or was that his idea?
Hero: Oh, sure.
Morca has heard of stranger ones coming out of the Powers That Be.
Morca: Isn't he afraid that she'll do something... quirky and original?
Hero grins.
Hero: Probably.
Morca chuckles.
Morca: Hmm, I almost wish I were a fly on the wall when she reaches the Dam site.
Morca: Whatever they were expecting the Tecton to send, I'm sure she's not it.
Hero giggles too.
Hero: No kidding!
Morca: And your father--I can see interesting times ahead, with him in charge of the 53rd District.
Hero: Well, yeah. I mean, a lot of people will love it. Like Ormof.
Morca: Who's Ormof?
Hero looks innocent.
Hero does have to work for Ormof sometimes, after all.
Morca: Is he a friend of your father's?
Hero: No, but I mean, everybody likes my dad!
Hero: That's why I say nobody will be unhappy with the arrangement.
Hero: The ones that don't like it, well, he'll make sure they feel comfortable about it as soon as possible.
Hero beams in satisfaction.
Morca: I see.
Morca: Is this Ormof unhappy under Arat, then?
Hero: He likes easy going bosses.
Hero: Arat's kind of uptight.
Morca grins in sharklike fashion.
Morca: So I've heard.
Morca: So you think he'll find your father more--accommodating?
Morca: That he will be able to slack off with him in charge instead of Arat?
Hero: No duh.
Hero: I mean, come on.
Hero: Arat's like, a slave driver.
Morca: Most Farrises are, I understand.
Morca: While Narosians like yourself understand the finer, more civilized aspects of life--like these pastries, for instance.
Morca: Do have another.
Hero grins, happy to comply.