Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #212: Guilt Money (5/25/00)
Beni waits until Arat has more or less worked his way through the worst of the stack on his desk, then brings fresh tea as an inducement to relaxation.
Beni sets the tea down where the smell will tempt Arat, and puts one hand on Arat's shoulder to judge his level of tension.
Beni: Arat?
Arat is sitting with the fingers of one hand pressed to his temple, looking as if he just thought of something - except he has been in that position for about 10 minutes now.
Arat appears to be concentrating studiously.
Arat is, as it happens, really really tense.
Beni tries focusing his ~~ support ~~ on Arat's knotted shoulders, reinforcing his efforts with his hands.
Beni is reminded of a childhood trip to the museum, and the granite sculptures there.
Arat has been getting tenser and tenser the nearer it comes to the time to leave for Norwest Territory and the Snake River Dam construction site.
Arat has not been reassured by the reports he had been getting back from his advance team.
Beni: Arat, I was wondering if there was anything you would like me to do, to help in the preparations for leaving?
Beni is aware that Jeniard has been busy, but one person can't be everywhere.
Beni: Or are there any errands you would like to take care of?
Beni personally thinks getting Arat off of the beaten track from negotiation chamber to office and back would do him a world of good, but Arat has not, unfortunately, asked his opinion.
Beni tries a different tack when Arat fails to respond.
Beni: You know, if we're going to be trapped in the wilderness until this dam is built, we really ought to take advantage of Capitol culture while we're here.
Arat finally responds: he casts a somewhat appalled look at Beni. It's something like, "oh God, he's going to drag me to the Opera."
Beni: Glagon is showing some of his paintings at the Kilm Gallery--there's a reception.
Beni: Or if that doesn't suit your fancy, what about that invitation to that charity ball?
Arat winces.
Arat in fact is not too interested in facing the public, particularly the well-to-do society public, and having to answer numerous questions about what is coming up soon for him.
Beni isn't all that particular about the event chosen, as long as it allows him one full-length, multi-course, hot and well-cooked dinner before he leaves civilization.
Beni notes the wince and sadly scales down his wish list to the essentials.
Beni: If you're not in the mood for crowds, how about going to the Apple Orchard for dinner? I hear their new chef has made some rather extraordinary additions to the menu.
Beni: ~~ wistful longing ~~
Arat considers.
Arat does have his own last wishes to consider too.
Arat supposes that he could go out to eat with Beni instead of with his relatives as originally planned.
Arat suspects that most of them didn't want to go anyway.
Arat will try to find some way to make it up to Clerfia before he leaves.
Beni sees that Arat is not rejecting the idea out of hand.
Beni finds this ~~ encouraging ~~
Beni: They have a baked apple dessert that is considered superb.
Beni: A relaxing evening will do us both good.
Arat sighs.
Arat: Very well.
Beni lets his ~~ happiness ~~ show, in hopes that it will prove catching.
Arat looks forward to actually being successful in his ongoing attempt to ignore his impending doo... er... fate.
Beni surveys Arat's uniform.
Beni: Do you want to change first, or go as you are?
Beni considers the psychological advantage of dressing up in formal civilian attire, as oppose to the greater danger of being sidetracked if they don't leave immediately.
Arat knows he can't get away with going to the Apple Orchard in uniform.
Arat reluctantly says, "we should change."
Arat's reluctance is mainly due to the fact that he's likely to encounter Jeniard at their room. Jeniard, of course, still thinks they are going to the family function.
Beni nods agreeably.
Beni: Of course.
Beni moves back, to give Arat room to rise.
Beni: You know, it's going to be very strange, to be living out in the middle of nowhere.
Arat gets up and walks out of the office.
Beni follows.
Arat had been thinking along those lines himself, although "strange" wasn't exactly the word he'd have used.
Beni: I've never actually been around a large construction site.
Arat strides down the hall, characteristically appearing to ignore the person he is walking with, although he is actually listening to Beni.
Arat has, as it happens, been around a big construction site, although not in many years and of course nothing could compare to the Dam for sheer scale.
Beni has to extend his own stride to keep up.
Beni: I'm told construction workers have a lot of quirks.
Beni: And that you have to show that you know something about their work if you want them to respect you.
Arat's memories of the New Othwol construction consist mainly of a blur of allergic reactions and entran.
Arat: That may be so.
Arat had never deigned to speak to construction workers at length, so he wouldn't actually know.
Beni: I hope I don't end up doing something stupid that causes them to lose all respect for the Tecton.
Beni: I know how to act here in the city, but who knows what the rules are, out in the middle of the forest?
Beni is trying to act ~~ confident ~~ so as not to give Arat a nervous breakdown, but is unable to hide his ~ uncertainty ~ from Farris-grade zlinning.
Arat glances at Beni.
Beni manages a wry smile.
Arat: So long as you remain professional and do not interact with them outside of the normal routines of transfer and donation, there should be no problem.
Beni: Yeah, I'm a bit nervous about this whole thing.
Arat thinks that Beni should feel lucky he doesn't have to deal with labor issues as well!
Arat of course does not think that Beni might need more human interaction than just the other Tecton personnel, on his free time.
Arat: That is understandable.
Beni: I mean, if knowing about conditions at the Dam caused riots here, what could happen if the workforce gets upset out there?
Beni: They're playing around with dynamite!
Arat considers.
Arat: That is what I am supposed to be there to prevent.
Arat had assumed Beni meant dynamite in the figurative sense, although of course it applies in the literal sense too.
Beni: Will they come to you with their problems, before taking matters into their own tentacles?
Arat can zlin that Beni requires reassurance.
Arat doesn't have to have good feelings about it himself to offer that, fortunately.
Arat: We will do everything in our power to encourage that.
Arat: The advance team is already preparing the way.
Arat: Ultimately, though, our responsibility is to make sure selyn is properly distributed, and for that reason we will not be the first choice of targets in case of trouble.
Beni recognizes that he is being perhaps a bit tactless, to impose his own worries on his stressed-out channel.
Beni: I'm sorry. I shouldn't be bothering you with my worries.
Beni: You've got enough misgivings of your own about this, or I've lost my touch.
Beni: ~~ apology ~~
Arat looks a little bit defensive, but can't exactly deny it.
Beni: Is it the job, or the location? Or both?
Arat doesn't like discussing this sort of thing with Donors.
Arat says reluctantly, "the conditions, mostly."
Arat in fact has no idea just how bad the conditions are, yet, but he thinks he does and that's what he's reacting to.
Beni ~~ encourages ~~ Arat to elaborate.
Arat notes with relief that they have reached Beni's room.
Arat: I will meet you here in ten minutes.
Beni: All right.
Beni slips through the door.
Beni waits until they have been seated at their table in the Apple Orchard's private dining room, and the waiter has disappeared to place their orders, before pursuing their earlier conversation.
Beni: Arat, what about the conditions at the Dam bothers you most?
Beni would like advance warning about what to look out for.
Beni would particularly like enough advance warning to lay in whatever appropriate supplies might alleviate at least some of the problems.
Arat rather wishes Beni wouldn't keep bringing this up, as the only point of going out in the first place (for Arat, anyway) was to not think about conditions at the Dam.
Arat realizes that his Donor's state of mind regarding the reassignment is important, though. Especially if he wants a reasonable transfer this month.
Beni: Is it the people? The facilities?
Beni: The isolation?
Arat winces.
Arat: My chief concerns are the safety, sanitation and security issues.
Arat: But yes, the rest of it is of concern as well.
Beni: You think it will be dangerous?
Beni: To us, as well as to the work force?
Arat nods.
Beni hurriedly sips at his water (with a twist of lemon floating in it) to settle an unaccountable queasiness.
Arat's nerves are, as it happens, not being helped by Beni's discomfort. Neither is his appetite.
Beni takes a moment to get ahold of himself.
Arat: However, it is an honor to be chosen for a position of such interTerritorial importance.
Arat: And such difficult conditions.
Beni: Yes, it is.
Arat: And it is our duty to make of it what we can, to further the precepts of Unity.
Beni: If they're admitting that the conditions are bad in the official camp, I have to wonder what they are outside of it.
Arat: You've seen the reports.
Arat: It will be difficult.
Arat is fervently hoping that the remote, secure, clean, comfortable quarters for senior selyn management staff (read: himself) will have been made ready by the time he arrives.
Beni: I know it's an honor, but I have to wonder if any person could really do what ought to be done out there.
Arat has no illusions that he is going to be ready for anything when he first arrives, fresh off a three week train trip and stuffed full of hay fever medication and beset by entran.
Arat: As a team, it can be done.
Arat is confident of that fact.
Arat has to be, because otherwise he'd be in terror of the assignment.
Seruffin is waiting in Arat's office when he returns from the Apple Orchard.
Arat is still in his civilian dress, and had stopped by to see if there were any emergency messages before he changed.
Arat was, needless to say, rather surprised to find Seruffin there.
Seruffin has been suffering twinges of conscience about this whole arrangement for getting Arat and Neptude separated.
Arat: Controller Seruffin. [respectfully]
Arat scratches changing clothes off his list, at least for the immediate future.
Arat: You have not been waiting long, I hope?
Seruffin: Not very.
Seruffin inspects Arat's dress and demeanor.
Arat looks to see if the Assistant World Controller has tea.
Seruffin has been waiting long enough to be 3/4 done with his cup.
Arat goes to make Seruffin more tea.
Arat: Has... something happened?
Seruffin: Not exactly. I came by to see whether you have any particular concerns about this Snake Reservoir Dam assignment.
Seruffin: The whole situation has been unusual, from the beginning.
Seruffin is speaking the truth, even if he is not aware of just when the actual beginning was.
Arat turns to study Seruffin.
Arat: Any particular... concerns?
Arat won't touch that one with a ten foot pole, unless he's given a little guidance as to what is OK to say.
Arat could start listing off everything that scares him silly about the Dam assignment, but would that just make Seruffin assign him back to Neptude again?
Arat has, lately, begun to debate whether it might actually be a good thing to retain his current position under Neptude, a sure sign the stress is affecting his judgment.
Seruffin: Arat, I think you're holding up marvelously, but the whole situation has been giving me nightmares for weeks, and I'm not even going there.
Arat: I, too, have had nightmares. [admits, after a pause]
Arat: In one of them, they can't get me onto the train because I can't let go of the handrails.
Arat sounds about as close to sheepish as anybody will ever hear him. He's only saying this to reassure Seruffin.
Arat knows that too little admission of concern would be just as bad as too much.
Arat: But I am fully prepared to go ahead with the assignment.
Arat means "prepared" in the sense of "committed", not in the literal sense of preparedness.
Seruffin is not worried that Arat will refuse to get on the train, but is concerned by the admission.
Seruffin: Arat, will you be able to handle this? It's an important job, and goodness knows there aren't a whole lot of people volunteering for it, but it's not worth destroying yourself.
Arat looks uneasy at that.
Arat: It will be difficult.
Seruffin: You're really worried about it.
Seruffin doesn't have to zlin through Arat's showfield to tell that much.
Arat hesitates.
Arat: The reports on sanitation, safety and security have not been encouraging.
Seruffin: It wouldn't be good working conditions for any channel. Will you be able to function and stay sane?
Arat means, he's scared ****less that he's going to die of some horrible allergic reaction and/or physical injury within a week of arriving there, due to lack of Farris safe provisions and clean beds. In one of his nightmares he's actually seen himself lying in mud, forgotten.
Arat gets a grip on himself.
Arat: If the advance team succeeds in what I have set out for them, yes.
Arat knows that Seruffin wants insights into his feelings, but he also wants to not have to worry about the job being done right.
Seruffin saw the flash of terror, even if he couldn't zlin it.
Seruffin: Arat, you look like you're about to have a nervous breakdown over this.
Arat finds this rather alarming, since Seruffin ought to know what that looks like in Arat, after all these years.
Arat reflexively opaques his showfield.
Seruffin had hoped to postpone that state of affairs until after Arat had actually arrived on the scene.
Seruffin has, on occasion, entertained fond hopes that Arat would be able to get a grip on many of the worst problems and have them in hand before a replacement had to be sent in.
Arat: I confess to being somewhat apprehensive. I am certain, however, that my fears will be laid to rest once I am actually there, instead of only imagining it.
Arat is not a good liar, but he can hope as well as Seruffin can.
Arat: Those from Gen Territory who nominated me to the post are counting on my presence, and our success in the project.
Arat: And the labor leaders as well.
Seruffin has led a less sheltered and aristocratic life than Arat, and so has a somewhat better concept of exactly what Arat is facing.
Seruffin: I can't deny that your presence could well be the essential element which moves the project forward.
Seruffin: But I'd rather it not come at the expense of your life, health, or sanity.
Arat nods. He can't argue with that, after all.
Seruffin: Is there anything I can do to make the transition easier for you?
Seruffin is feeling guilty enough to be willing to provide a going-away concession or two.
Arat looks as if he would like to ask something, but thinks the better of it.
Seruffin caught the indecision.
Seruffin: Tell me.
Arat knows that most of what he wants would be considered excessively paranoid by some, and politically volatile by others.
Arat squirms.
Arat: I would feel better if I had some type of personal security.
Arat: Preferably hired here, in Capitol.
Seruffin: A bodyguard?
Seruffin doesn't immediately dismiss the idea, showing that he, too, has misgivings about the personal safety of the Tecton workers.
Arat: It would also provide some measure of reassurance if I were able to bring Farris-safe medical supplies and other provisions at the time of my own arrival, in case anything has become of those sent ahead.
Arat doesn't mean one little kit bag, he means enough to last for several weeks.
Seruffin: Of course. I'll see that your baggage allotment is increased accordingly.
Arat is visibly relieved by Seruffin's not pooh-poohing his requests..
Seruffin: As for the bodyguard--it's a bit unusual, but under the circumstances, I suppose I can justify the expense.
Arat is visibly very relieved by that.
Arat even zlins somewhat relieved.
Seruffin: At least until you have had a chance to determine exactly what the situation is.
Arat nods.
Arat: Thank you.
Seruffin: You're welcome.
Seruffin considers the guilt money well spent if it lets Arat tackle the Dam mess at full efficiency.
Go on to Episode #213: Sunny Day
Return to the Index of Episodes