Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #1: Unscheduled Departure (5/21/98)
Griff bounces along beside Bum Bum, happy at all the ook he saw today.
Eliza glares at Griff, wishing he wouldn't bounce so much.
Griff ignores Eliza; she's a gurrl, after all.
Eliza: What an awful day. I can't believe the attitude of that Hospital!
Bum Bum: Finally we agree on something. [mutters]
Griff: It's really ooky.
Wise Snake: Please. They're doing the best they can.
Wise Snake has been in a strange mood all day.
Nick doubts that, but says nothing.
Eliza: Making you work in the basement is the best they can do?
Nick sees Snake's mood and moves closer.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Eliza: Can we take those retainers off you yet?
Eliza automatically at Bumanuel's arms.
Griff: Naw. [disgusted] The border's not until we reach the sign there. [points]
Griff thinks even a girl should know that much.
Nick tries to ignore the exchange in favor of shielding Snake.
Eliza sighs.
Bum Bum tries to itch under the edge of a retainer with a finger, with lousy results.
Griff reaches out to remove Bum Bum's finger from the retainer.
Wise Snake seems to be lost in thought, sort of staring into the distance.
Griff: Don't touch it, Mr. Bum Bum.
Griff: You know that only makes it worse.
Bum Bum: I don't see why we have to wear the shenned things at all. It's not as if we're going to jump on anybody and....
Eliza puts a hand on Bumanuel's arm.
Eliza: Not long now. ~soothing~
Griff thinks it would be kind of ooky to see Bum Bum jump somebody.
Wise Snake is staring off into the distance in the direction of the Ferry Building's tower.
Nick halts just beyond the border sign to help Snake off with her retainers.
Wise Snake fails to notice.
Bum Bum: Ah! Finally!
Nick: Here, let me help you get rid of those, and then you'll be able to zlin again.
Eliza starts to fumble with Bumanuel's, still unfamiliar with the clasps.
Griff: Like this.
Bum Bum is so eager to get out of them, he can forgive a little fumbling.
Griff demonstrates on the closest arm.
Wise Snake: Yes.. yes.
Wise Snake stops and lets Nick do his job.
Nick neatly removes Snake's retainers.
Eliza: ~weary~ Thanks, Griff.
Wise Snake massages her red-creased arms.
Wise Snake: [gently]
Nick: Shen, these things cause almost as much damage as the regulation ones, when you're in need.
Wise Snake: Remind me to order the special "expanding gland pockets" version next time. [dry attempt at humor]
Wise Snake should never attempt humor
Nick: Well, maybe some day you'll have enough business at the Ferry Building that you won't have to go out-Territory.
Eliza rubs Bumanuel's arms gently for him.
Bum Bum enjoys the sensation.
Bum Bum thinks what she lacks in knowledge of latches is made up in... other skills.
Nick: Particularly when you're in need.
Eliza: ~soothing support~
Wise Snake: Ah... yes, that will be a welcome change.
Nick offers ~~ support ~~ without promise, since this month Snake belongs to Rapol.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Bum Bum begins to grin like a cat, a sure sign her nager has gotten the better of him.
Bum Bum: [he's usually scowling]
Griff sees Bum Bum smiling.
Wise Snake starts trudging up the hillside, in the direction of town.
Wise Snake: [well, you know... trudging with natural Sime grace]
Griff: What's the matter, Mr. Bum Bum?
Nick stays within arm's reach.
Griff decides that it must be Eliza's fault.
Eliza keeps one hand on Bumanuel's arm as they follow Snake.
Bum Bum: Eliza's nager is making me feel pretty good. [sees no reason not to admit it to Griff]
Griff scowls at Eliza.
Wise Snake reaches the crest of the hill and stops suddenly in her tracks.
Eliza doesn't have natural Sime grace, and stumbles over the rocks.
Nick barely prevents himself from trampling Snake.
Nick: What???
Wise Snake zlins in the direction of the waterfront.
Wise Snake: [blank eyes]
Nick looks in that direction, but sees nothing out of the ordinary.
Nick: What is it, Snake?
Eliza: What's the matter?
Bum Bum stares at Snake as he zlins something he's never zlinned in her before.
Eliza wants to get home and put her feet up on something.
Wise Snake seems to come to herself.
Wise Snake: N... nothing. Nothing. [tensely]
Wise Snake starts down the hill, walking a little faster than before.
Bum Bum: Nothing?
Nick follows, lengthening his strides.
Bum Bum: [patent disbelief]
Eliza trots a bit to keep up.
Bum Bum stays close to Eliza.
Griff straggles along behind.
Griff: Wait for me!
Wise Snake hurries down the hill, then up the next one.
Bum Bum: Well, whatever kind of "nothing" it is, it isn't the kind you can laugh off, is it? [mutters under his breath as he herds Griff up after them]
Eliza: [puff puff, pant pant]
Eliza: Snake! Can we slow down a bit please?
Griff thinks that this is sounding ookier by the minute, and rallies.
Nick is in good condition from chasing after Snake for so long, and is merely breathing hard.
Wise Snake pauses at the crest of the next hill and stiffens, zlinning anxiously in the direction of the Ferry Building.
Wise Snake makes a low noise in her throat that might have been "I have a baaaaaaaaad feeling about this" if there were any words.
Bum Bum puts out a hand to assist Eliza.
Nick: ~~ increasing concern ~~
Bum Bum: I think there's a bit of trouble. [in Eliza's ear]
Eliza is glad of the stop so she can catch her breath [now if only she could sit down, have a cup of tea, and take off her shoes, everything would be fine]
Eliza: What?
Eliza: What trouble? [loudly]
Bum Bum winces.
Wise Snake: I think we're going to have to make a little side trip on the way back.
Wise Snake: [calm voice; looks very alarmed]
Nick: Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to pick Rapol up first?
Nick tries to calculate how soon Snake is due for transfer.
Eliza: Oh damn.
Eliza: ~tired~
Wise Snake looks distraught at the mention of Rapol.
Wise Snake: I would prefer to but I don't think it's going to be possible.
Wise Snake begins to stride down the hill into town.
Eliza: Where we going?
Eliza: Can't we do it later?
Nick: ~~ VERY high field, steady support ~~
Bum Bum chivvies Eliza and Griff along in their wake.
Bum Bum: I'm sure whatever it is, it's very important.
Bum Bum is just going on the fact that anything that would scare the spit out of Snake (to the extent that it would show in her nager) is something he would personally love to avoid.
Griff wishes they had gotten a bit closer to the whatever-it-was, since it was probably VERY ooky.
Wise Snake hurries in a direction that is almost, but not quite, entirely in the wrong direction for the Ferry Building.
Eliza: Oh all right.
Nick tries to keep up without running, not easy.
Bum Bum: Where ARE we going, by the way?
Bum Bum: Not to be nosy or anything, but....
Wise Snake: Train station. [shortly]
Griff: Trains!
Wise Snake: Hey... taxi! Taxi. [flags down the first one they see]
Eliza: Train Station? Who is at the train station? OH! Has there been an accident there!?
Griff bounces at the thought of an ooky accident with trains.
Eliza thinks that MUST be it. Snake zlinned a terrible accident and they are going to go help!
Wise Snake: Come on, everybody in.
Wise Snake looks and zlins about in a paranoid fashion.
Eliza climbs in after Bumanuel.
Nick piles in, claiming one seat and steering Bum Bum and the kids to the opposite one.
Nick then moves to the side to let Snake in.
Wise Snake: Train Station. [to the driver, tensely]
Bum Bum: The train station? [alarmed now]
Bum Bum: Did you say the train station?
Bum Bum: Can we go by my house first?
Eliza wonders why Bumanuel wants to go to his place first if there has been an accident and decides he must want to get medical supplies.
Eliza: I'm sure there will be first aid supplies there. [helpfully]
Wise Snake: Nick.... hand me that medical kit.
Nick hands Snake the satchel.
Wise Snake looks through it quickly, spending a little more time over the Farris medications and swearing under her breath.
Wise Snake hands it back to him and starts going through her pockets.
Bum Bum: I'll take that as a no.
Bum Bum slumps against the swaying seat.
Eliza pats his arm and concentrates on staying upright in the shaky cab.
Wise Snake: Ho! Wait! This is fine right here.
Wise Snake: Come on everybody, out-out-out.
Eliza climbs out, expecting to see carnage.
Eliza: But, there isn't an accident Snake?
Wise Snake is reading a rumpled, crummy train schedule while handing money to the driver.
Nick jumps out, moving aside so he doesn't get trampled.
Wise Snake: What? [distracted]
Wise Snake: Come on, let's keep moving.
Eliza waves her hand at the peaceful station.
Griff is starting to realize that something might be wrong, and sticks close to Bum Bum.
Eliza: No accident...?
Bum Bum: I think it is more of a case of avoiding an accident. [ventures a guess]
Eliza realises she is being left behind and trots to keep up.
Linn makes her way towards the ticket window.
Wise Snake skids in front of a slow Gen and slaps money down at the window.
Wise Snake: The train to Feemo leaves in 3 minutes right?
Eliza catches on that they are catching a train.
Wise Snake: Here... this is 1, 2, 3, 5 adults.
Eliza: Where are we going? Where is Feemo? When will we be back?
Eliza: ~confused~
Linn blinks at the familiar black cape which shoved in front of her.
Linn: Snake! What are you doing here?
Wise Snake jumps a foot.
Nick hadn't expected such a long trip.
Wise Snake turns and stares at Linn.
Wise Snake turns back to the window.
Wise Snake: Six.
Wise Snake puts down another bill, then takes the tickets.
Wise Snake: Ah... Linn... great to run into you. Look, we're in a bit of a hurry, could you step this way?
Linn is carrying a suitcase and a satchel.
Bum Bum: Well, at least one of us will be prepared.
Linn follows Snake.
Bum Bum is actually starting to enjoy the irony of this a little.
Eliza: But how far are we going? When will we be back?
Linn: How have things been going for you lately, Snake?
Linn nods hello to Nick.
Wise Snake: Well, you know, what a tangled web we weave, et cetera... all aboard!
Wise Snake thrusts Nick at a train door.
Wise Snake: Come on, Linn, Eliza.... the train's leaving.
Nick stumbles inside.
Eliza: I should let Mos know if we are going to be gone for long.
Eliza drags her heels.
Linn: But I'm not going to Feemo!
Eliza: What's in Feemo? Why are we going there?
Bum Bum toys with digging in his heels, but then slinks onto the train when Snake gives him "the look".
Wise Snake: Nothing's in Feemo, and we aren't stopping there. Come on Eliza.
Eliza thinks about it then jumps on after Bumanuel.
Wise Snake gives Griff a hand up.
Wise Snake: I'm really sorry about this, Linn.
Wise Snake gives Linn a boost inside.
Linn: What??!!!
Wise Snake swings on board as the train starts moving.
Linn wonders if Snake has slipped from moderately deranged to stark raving lunacy.
Eliza sits in a corner and puts her feet up on the chair under her.
Bum Bum sits beside Eliza and Griff.
Bum Bum starts laughing, because the whole thing is actually kind of funny.
Nick takes Linn's suitcase, but doesn't have the guts to look her in the face.
Wise Snake collapses into a seat by a window and proceeds to quietly have a nervous breakdown.
Linn stumbles as the train lurches.
Eliza: What are you laughing at?
Linn: ~~ shock ~~
Bum Bum: This, my friend, is what is commonly referred to as "making a run for it".
Bum Bum: "Getting out of Dodge"?
Bum Bum: "One step ahead of the tar bucket"?
Eliza: I don't understand?
Bum Bum: Giving them the slip?
Nick stashes Linn's suitcase carefully, since it and the satchel are all they have, then sits beside Snake.
Eliza: Who the slip? When will we be back? Why are we going in the first place?
Linn sinks down in the seat next to Nick, starting to realize that she's been kidnapped.
Wise Snake stares at the receding skyline out the window, one hand fingering her temple.
Nick: What about Rapol?
Wise Snake: I... he's on his own.
Wise Snake: He's resourceful, and we did have contingency plans after all.
Nick puts an arm around Snake.
Eliza looks curiously at Linn, recognizing her from the Center.
Wise Snake sounds unoptimistic.
Nick: ~~ here for you ~~
Wise Snake puts her head on Nick's shoulder.
Bum Bum studies Linn, sensing Eliza's curiosity about her.
Nick looks around for someplace reasonably private to get Snake stabilized.
Eliza sits and sulks, wishing someone would answer her question as when they would be back. Mostan will worry!
Bum Bum is sorry when Eliza starts sulking.
Linn: Snake, what is going on?
Bum Bum starts feeling a lot less amused and a lot more sorry for himself.
Wise Snake: We're going on a trip.
Wise Snake seems just a little bit crazy.
Bum Bum eyes Linn, wondering who she is.
Bum Bum: You're coming with us. [adds helpfully]
Linn looks at Bum Bum and his two youthful companions.
Linn: Who are you?
Bum Bum is glad she asked.
Bum Bum: I am Bumanuel Altavista. [proudly, name rolling off his tongue]
Bum Bum: And these are my faithful Companions, Eliza and Griff.
Bum Bum thinks "Companion" sounds better than "assistant", just as he thinks "Bumanuel Altavista" sounds better than "Bum Bum".
Griff: Yeah, we help Mr. Bum Bum with all the ooky stuff!
Eliza looks from Linn to Bumanuel and thinks maybe she better warn Linn.
Eliza is unsure of the social niceties of the situation.
Linn: How... nice.
Linn has some idea just how ooky a channel's job can get.
Linn takes a closer look at Eliza and Griff.
Eliza: ~tired and worried~
Linn: Are they a bit young to be out of school? [to Snake]
Eliza: School? I haven't been at school for years!
Griff scowls.
Griff: My mother won't let me drop out until I'm 15.
Wise Snake is leaning against Nick with her eyes closed, apparently ignoring them now.
Eliza: I recognise you from the Center, errr Linn. I was working there for awhile.
Linn tries to remember if she's met Eliza before.
Linn: Ah, yes. The girl in the lobby.
Bum Bum reaches out with a toe and prods Snake's foot.
Eliza: [sighs] probably.
Linn is a bit surprised that Snake would tolerate the presence of someone who had previously injured her.
Nick has been ignoring the conversation in favor of working on Snake.
Eliza keeps an eye on Bumanuel to see if he finds Linn "interesting" in other ways.
Bum Bum: Going to tell us where we're going, Snake?
Eliza doesn't care about Griff, figuring that he can look after himself.
Wise Snake: No.
Eliza: Why not?
Eliza: And when will we be back?
Wise Snake: I don't know. I don't know Eliza, all right?
Wise Snake sounds uncharacteristically distressed.
Nick puts a calming hand on Snake's arm.
Eliza: ~hurt~ All right, Snake.
Eliza bottles up.
Bum Bum touches Eliza's hand.
Bum Bum: Who are you running from, Snake?
Bum Bum is testing to see what she will do.
Wise Snake meets Bum Bum's eyes in the Look that says, you had better not push me.
Eliza puts her head against the side of the train and starts to doze off.
Nick: Is there someplace we can get enough privacy for a transfer? Before Feemo? [muttered to Snake]
Nick isn't sure what's going on, but is sure that Snake will deal with it better if she isn't in need.
Wise Snake looks away from Bum Bum to Nick.
Conductor: Tickets please!
Conductor: Thank you, ma'am.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Conductor weaves his way down the train towards the group.
Wise Snake passes the tickets to Nick and looks out the window, trying not to draw attention to herself.
Nick hands the stack of tickets to the conductor.
Conductor punches the tickets and hands them back.
Conductor is a renSime male.
Conductor: Feeling sick, Hajene? [to Snake]
Nick takes the tickets back and puts them absently in his pocket.
Nick: She'll be fine.
Conductor: ~uncertain~ Fine, fine.
Conductor continues down the aisle.
Bum Bum laughs to himself, enjoying this immensely.
Bum Bum: She'll be fine now... but what about a week from now? Two weeks?
Eliza wakes up at Bumanuel's laugh.
Eliza: Are we there?!
Eliza: Oh, must have fallen asleep.
Eliza: Two weeks? Will we be gone that long?
Wise Snake [to Eliza] Yes.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry.
Eliza looks at her with her mouth open.
Eliza: ~shock~
Linn: Two weeks! But I have to be back in three days, or I'll lose my job!
Eliza moves closer to Snake.
Eliza: [softly] We are running "from" not "to" is that right?
Wise Snake: Yes, Linn, Eliza.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry the two of you, all of you, had to be dragged into this.
Linn: Into what, Snake?
Eliza pats her hand reassuringly, forgetting that she really shouldn't touch her without permission.
Eliza: That's okay, Snake. I know you wouldn't do it if you didn't have to.
Bum Bum: How the mighty have fallen.
Eliza glares at him.
Wise Snake: There has been a bit of... trouble. [to Linn]
Eliza: Are you going back Bumanuel?
Wise Snake: I can't really go into detail at this time.
Bum Bum: No way. I'm going to enjoy every minute of this.
Wise Snake: But it... necessitated... leaving town immediately.
Wise Snake: And staying away.
Linn: I see.
Linn is beginning to realize that Snake has rearranged her life once again.
Eliza isn't yet as sure of Bumanuel as she would like and doesn't really trust him to be by himself, not having had any experience with juncts before.
Eliza goes and sits back next to him, putting herself between him and Linn.
Eliza is most upset about losing her copy of "The Book" but realises that it would be too heavy to carry anyway.
Eliza sighs.
Griff frowns as Eliza crowds him.
Griff: Hey, there's plenty of room. You don't have to squish me.
Eliza: I'm sorry Griff.
Wise Snake gets Nick's attention, then flicks a surrepticious tentacle at the deserted upper-deck of the car.
Griff starts to get hungry.
Griff: Hey, when we gonna eat?
Bum Bum: There's probably someplace to eat on the train.
Bum Bum: Shall we go look for it?
Nick nods and moves in the indicated direction.
Wise Snake and Nick disappear up some narrow stairs.
Eliza, despite not having eaten for hours, isn't hungry, just tired and coming to terms with being on the "run" yet again.
Bum Bum: Miz Linn?
Bum Bum: Care to join us?
Linn looks at Bum Bum appraisingly.
Bum Bum is a well- (if a bit jazzily) dressed channel with a mean, narrow face and longish stringy hair.
Linn doesn't like his looks much, but figures that she's going to be spending a lot of time with him.
Linn: I suppose we could all use a bite.
Bum Bum: Eliza?
Wise Snake sinks onto a chair in the relative privacy of the observation deck.
Wise Snake: Nick...
Nick wraps Snake with his arms, cocooning her in Gen nager.
Wise Snake sighs in relief.
Nick lets his hands drift slowly down Snake's arms.
Bum Bum: Coming with us, Eliza? You'll want your strength, I'm sure.
Wise Snake closes her eyes with a shiver, her tentacles slipping around and over Nick's forearms.
Nick: ~~ anticipation ~~
Nick leans forward to let his lips graze Snake's lightly.
Wise Snake: Nick... I... I don't know what is going to happen from here.
Wise Snake: ~~intil~~
Nick: Hmm, let's try this.
Nick firms up the lip contact and allows a tantalizing trickle of selyn flow.
Wise Snake's tentacles clench on his arms.
Wise Snake: ~~poised agonizingly on the brink of draw, tasting the flow Nick has allowed~~
Nick slows the flow a fraction, taunting Snake just a bit.
Wise Snake's draw wavers uncertainly.
Nick feels Snake waver and lets his barriers drop.
Wise Snake relaxes into the draw as resistance disappears.
Eliza isn't hungry, but isn't about to let Bumanuel alone with Linn.
Eliza: Sure, I'll come with you.
Nick thinks this feels even better the second time, and increases the speed.
Linn notices that the other kid didn't wait to be invited; figures: at that age they're always hungry.
Bum Bum: Let's see. Let's try forward.
Bum Bum starts walking toward the front of the car.
Eliza: Where have Snake and Nick gone?
Bum Bum points upward.
Wise Snake experiences a rising satisfaction and a poignant longing as the selyn comes faster.
Eliza looks up in confusion.
Nick loses balance as the train lurches.
Wise Snake follows his lurch, clinging tightly.
Wise Snake: ~~seeking~~
Bum Bum mouths "transfer".
Nick winces as his ankle bangs painfully against the hard edge of the seat, but doesn't let the flow waver.
Bum Bum makes a "come with me" tentacle gesture, and makes for the door to the car.
Eliza: Oh! ~worry~
Eliza follows.
Wise Snake's hunger ignites at the teasing little pain.
Wise Snake: ~~demanding~~
Wise Snake tries to snatch control from Nick.
Nick feels Snake's draw jump, and yields control.
Eliza catches up with Bumanuel.
Wise Snake draws at a shrieking pace, seeking more of the pain.
Eliza: Bumanuel, last time Snake had transfer with Nick she burnt him. I think it was last time, not sure....
Bum Bum: Oh?
Bum Bum looks pleasantly surprised.
Eliza: Shouldn't we go keep an eye on them or something? At least have fosebine ready?
Linn follows the rest at a dignified pace consistent with not getting thrown about by the lurching.
Bum Bum: I should have known she was hiding some skeletons on that account.
Nick realizes what is happening, and kicks out, knocking his ankle against the leg of the seat again.
Nick: ~~ pain ~~ ~~ rising bliss ~~
Wise Snake peaks. ~~yearning/greed~~
Wise Snake: ~~echo of his bliss~~
Nick: ~~ complete satisfaction as the draw slows ~~
Bum Bum: I'm sure they'll be fine. Let us go get something to eat... or would you rather wait and see if they wish to join us?
Eliza hesitates, uncertain.
Wise Snake's draw ends, trailing off.
Eliza: I don't know, how about you go on and I'll just go check on them and meet you?
Wise Snake: ~~completely satisfied nagging dissatisfaction~~
Wise Snake sighs and releases him.
Nick ignores the lingering throb in his ankle as he anxiously inspects Snake for any hint of postsyndrome.
Bum Bum grins as he anticipates spending a little time alone with Linn (Griff doesn't count, he has no judgment whatsoever)
Bum Bum: If you like. We'll be in the dining car.
Wise Snake: Thank you, Nick.
Eliza looks from Bumanuel to Linn and worries.
Wise Snake doesn't appear noticeably post, but she does appear very much refreshed and less wild.
Nick sighs, glad that at least he didn't bungle it entirely.
Linn: ~~ concern over Snake and Nick ~~
Wise Snake looks down at Nick's leg.
Linn: Perhaps we should wait for a few minutes, to see if they join us?
Nick follows her gaze, a bit surprised to see that the scrape is bleeding just a bit.
Eliza grabs Griff's arm and pulls him aside
Eliza: You watch Bumanuel and Linn, okay? Don't leave him alone with her.
Griff: What do you think they're gonna do? Kiss?
Griff mimes an exaggerated smackeroo.
Eliza shakes him a bit.
Eliza: Just do it!
Eliza heads towards the stairs.
Griff sulks.
Griff: Oh, all right.
Bum Bum has meanwhile offered Linn his arm.
Bum Bum: Shall we then?
Eliza climbs carefully up them, a bit afraid of what she will see.
Eliza: [softly] Snake? Nick? Everything okay?
Linn hesitates, then lays a hand lightly on the crook of Bum Bum's elbow, well above the tentacles.
Wise Snake sits down suddenly as she realizes she has absolutely no idea where they're going to go or what they're going to do.
Wise Snake clutches her head.
Wise Snake: Shen... what have I done?
Bum Bum guides Linn forward to the dining car, opening the doors as they go.
Nick: Taken a halfway decent transfer? ~~ wistful hope ~~
Wise Snake: Yes, yes, it was perfect. But what's going to happen to us??
Wise Snake: ~~horror~~
Eliza sticks her head up on the and is pleased to see that they both seem to be alive.
Wise Snake: We're leaving town, we've LEFT. We're going nowhere!
Wise Snake isn't zlinning much and fails to notice Eliza at first.
Nick: Um... I thought we were going to Feemo?
Wise Snake: Shen I don't know where we're going! Feemo was just the next train leaving.
Nick: Well, then. When we get there, we can decide if it's where we're going, or just a stop on the way.
Wise Snake: But that's two days. I have to work!
Eliza runs down stairs again and gets Snake's satchel out of the compartment.
Wise Snake: ~~lots of panic and things that have been suppressed in recent days~~
Nick is feeling far too post to be concerned about minor details like being on an unscheduled train to nowhere in particular.
Eliza heads back up the stairs with the satchel in her hand.
Eliza: Snake? Nick? Here, I thought you might need this...?
Eliza holds out the bag.
Wise Snake looks up suddenly at Eliza.
Eliza looks at Nick to see if there is any sign that he is hurt.
Nick is absently rubbing his ankle.
Wise Snake reaches out a hand to Eliza.
Wise Snake's eyes are shining with a weird light.
Eliza hands her the bag.
Wise Snake takes the bag, then reaches for Eliza's arm.
Eliza: Snake?
Wise Snake: Come, sit here.
Wise Snake is gripping Eliza's arm a little hard, then deliberately softens the grip.
Eliza sits next to Snake.
Eliza: Are you okay?
Wise Snake: Yes, yes, I'm fine.
Wise Snake: [physically anyway]
Eliza: good! Nick? You okay?
Wise Snake: Eliza, I realize this must all be a bit confusing for you.
Eliza leans forward to look at his ankle.
Eliza looks at Snake and smiles a little.
Eliza: It's okay Snake, I've been on the run before. Everything will work out I'm sure.
Wise Snake: Oh... good.
Wise Snake is not so sure about that at all.
Eliza wonders why Snake is holding on to her.
Nick isn't sure either, but doesn't see what good commenting on it would do.
Wise Snake senses Eliza's attention on the wrist she's holding, and releases it reluctantly.
Eliza takes Snakes hand instead and squeezes it gently.
Wise Snake's tentacles twine around Eliza's hand.
Eliza: Are you hungry?
Eliza: Bumanuel and Linn have gone to look for the dinning car.
Wise Snake is interrupted in her attempt to analyze her stomach, by the alarming picture of Linn and Bum Bum alone together.
Wise Snake: We must go there immediately.
Nick shares Snake's alarm, and grabs the medicine satchel automatically.
Wise Snake releases Eliza's hand and darts down the stairs.
Bum Bum has meanwhile located the dining car and offered Linn a seat.
Eliza: [doh!]
Eliza: ~sudden burst of fear~ Surely he is all right with her. I mean, he isn't even near turnover yet!
Nick brings up the rear, favoring his ankle just a bit.
Linn sits and picks up the menu.
Eliza runs after Snake, hard on her heels.
Wise Snake darts through cars, in search of the dining one.
Eliza is kicking herself for leaving Griff in charge of anything.
Griff plops down in the nearest available seat and buries his nose in the menu, ignoring Bum Bum and Linn.
Wise Snake skids into the dining car under augmentation.
Linn looks up in alarm as Snake augments towards her.
Linn: Snake! What's wrong?
Wise Snake manages to put on the brakes before shooting past the table.
Eliza pants up.
Eliza: Oh good, you're alive.
Wise Snake looks wild, hair in disarray (well OK that's the usual for her) and eyes shining (OK... never mind. She just looks more out of breath than usual)
Linn blinks in Eliza's direction.
Eliza realises what she just said and blushes furiously.
Wise Snake realizes nothing has happened.
Wise Snake slumps into a chair in relief.
Linn: Well, we haven't ordered yet. Was it the potato salad you were worried about, or the soup?
Eliza: Errr.
Wise Snake isn't so out of it that she'd accidentally spill the beans about Bum Bum.
Linn: ~~ genuine curiosity ~~
Eliza flashes a quick look at Bumanuel and then looks away, horribly embarrassed.
Wise Snake: Er... just order something on the Gen side of the menu and you ought to be fine.
Eliza: ~horribly embarrassed~
Bum Bum smiles.
Bum Bum knows what they were in a panic about, and thinks it's funny.
Bum Bum doesn't know about Linn's Simephobia however... yet.
Linn: I'd intended to.
Bum Bum: The cream of mushroom soup is supposed to be very nice. [innocently]
Linn: Mushrooms--they smell like dirt.
Linn: I'll have the tomato sandwich.
Eliza is even less hungry then she was before.
Eliza plonks gracelessly into a chair.
Wise Snake picks up a menu and tries to pretend there is nothing weird about hurtling along a metal rail at unnatural speeds, having just had transfer in a glass box with a guy who is banging his shin against a chair post, while meanwhile one's entire future and foundation lie in a shambles miles and miles behind and one's fate is sure to be an awful one.
Wise Snake: I think I'll have the cheese bread.
Nick sits next to Snake, hungry as only a post Gen can be.
Nick: I'll have the stew, with bread, a salad, and the fruit.
Wise Snake thinks, you only live once, and sometimes it's a really short once. "I guess I'll have the fruit too."
Eliza remembers the sleeping in haylofts [when they were lucky] the never having enough food, the constant fear of discovery... and realises that this "running away" is probably going to be a bit different.