Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #5: The Staff of Life (5/29/98)
Wise Snake drags herself out of the musty, semi-abandoned bedroom where Nick is still sleeping.
Wise Snake rubs her eyes and looks generally half-dead... IOW her usual.
Eliza is sitting in the sun, chewing the end of a pen as she tries to write something to Mostan that will stop him from worrying without really saying anything.
Wise Snake walks out into the morning air, squinting at the clear blue sky.
Eliza has managed to wash, although not her clothes, and looks damp.
Wise Snake looks greasy, tangled, and half crazy... the usual.
Wise Snake sees Eliza, and since nobody else is up and about, walks toward her.
Eliza writes "Dear Mostan, How are you? I am fine... " then screws that up drops it in the pile at her feet.
Wise Snake comes up beside her, Sime-silent.
Wise Snake: Hello, Eliza. [normal speaking voice]
Eliza jumps and tries to cover up what she is doing.
Eliza: Oh, hi Snake!
Eliza: Err, I'm just [drops pen] writing [picks up pen tries to pick up scrunched papers] to Mostan.
Eliza drops everything and just sits there.
Eliza: ~combination of guilt and reluctance~
Wise Snake looks down at Eliza, then slowly moves to sit down near her.
Wise Snake looks at the scattered papers.
Eliza starts picking up the scattered papers and smoothing them out.
Eliza: I don't know what to say to him, really.
Wise Snake picks up one that is near her.
Eliza blushes but doesn't stop her.
Wise Snake reads it.
Wise Snake sets it down thoughtfully, nearer to Eliza.
Wise Snake: Eliza, do you... understand you will not be returning there?
Eliza: I know that we won't any time soon. But who can say what the future holds?
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Eliza finishes picking them up and folds them neatly in her lap.
Wise Snake is not fond of that particular subject.
Wise Snake: Well. You will not be back before Mostan is transferred, most likely.
Eliza: I was thinking about money.
Wise Snake pauses.
Wise Snake: Money?
Eliza: Transferred?
Eliza hadn't thought of him being transferred.
Wise Snake: I asked you first.
Eliza drags her attention back.
Eliza: Well, I haven't had transfer in ages, I could donate at a Center or something?
Wise Snake looks annoyed.
Wise Snake: You should be saving yourself for Bum Bum.
Wise Snake: At any rate, money is not a problem at this point.
Eliza: Yes, of course, but he isn't due for another 3 weeks.
Wise Snake: I can take down your field if you would like, but I will not have you walking into a Sime Center and putting a huge X on the map where we are.
Wise Snake seems agitated.
Eliza: Oh, I hadn't thought of that.
Wise Snake rubs her arm nervously, where the policeman had grabbed it. Not because it is still bruised (it isn't) but because she is remembering the unpleasant feeling of having been apprehended.
Wise Snake: I realize there hasn't been much evidence of it yet, but we are in considerable danger.
Wise Snake: We can't be... advertising....
Eliza: Well, I guess it's okay as it is.
Wise Snake nods.
Eliza wonders how to tell Snake that they stand out like a sore thumb.
Wise Snake pushes back her hair, temporarily revealing her weird white eyes.
Wise Snake looks tired.
Eliza: You know, we might do well to get a change of clothing then, something more suitable to travelling.
Eliza: We must look a bit odd.
Eliza: Like, we don't really look like we should be on the road. I know! We need some sort of cover story!
Eliza: ~excitement~
Wise Snake pauses in mid-hair-push and looks at Eliza.
Eliza: To explain why we are traveling and so on.
Wise Snake: Oh? What do you suggest? [warily]
Eliza looks blank.
Eliza: I don't know.
Eliza: I don't know how it is here, but at home, in Gen territory, anyone travelling was considered suspicious in the first place.
Wise Snake: Well, travelling is more common here in Sime Territory. Sime communities aren't as stable or as long-lived as Gen ones.
Wise Snake: The fact that we are channels can be disguised.
Wise Snake: In fact, Bum Bum is accustomed to masquerading as a renSime and I could learn to do the same.
Wise Snake has, in fact, been experimenting with it already.
Wise Snake: Of course, travelling with mixed Simes and Gens is a bit unusual,
Wise Snake is completely overlooking her own visual conspicuousness.
Eliza: We need some sort of story to explain ourselves.
Wise Snake: I should think it would have to be a different story in every town, or we'd be as easy to track as being ourselves.
Wise Snake ruffles her hair and removes her hands to fiddle with a pocket instead.
Eliza: Are you sure that they will bother following us?
Wise Snake grimaces.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Eliza: How far are we going to go? Do you have somewhere safe to head for?
Wise Snake: We've been lucky so far, but the moment we get any sign they are onto us, we 'll have to go into complete hiding.
Wise Snake fidgets at the question about where they're going.
Eliza: But there has to be an end to it!
Eliza looks horrified.
Eliza: ~upset~
Wise Snake looks haunted at that.
Wise Snake: Yes, there does, at that.
Eliza: ~relieved~
Wise Snake: I have some ideas. But I do not feel comfortable about discussing them at this time.
Wise Snake: I hope you can understand...?
Eliza: I understand, you don't trust me yet. That's okay. I mean, I understand why you wouldn't, you don't have to....
Eliza falls over her tongue.
Eliza: ~I'll just shut up now~
Wise Snake meets Eliza's eyes, her own clear and wary.
Wise Snake: I haven't discussed them with anyone. It's not just you.
Eliza: It doesn't matter.
Eliza drops her eyes, embarrassed.
Eliza tries to think of something to say to fill the embarrassing silence.
Wise Snake: Do you remember, when you and John were on the run, what it felt like?
Eliza: Yes, but that was much different to this.
Eliza: We couldn't let anyone see us.
Wise Snake: Was it?
Wise Snake: That is how it will be for us. Once they catch on.
Wise Snake's eyes dart about in a paranoid fashion as she thinks ahead.
Wise Snake: That's why I wanted to abandon the trains. They are fast, but there are too many witnesses. The towns are too well travelled.
Wise Snake: And, someone probably saw us board a train in Bender Cove.
Eliza: Maybe....
Eliza: No, that's silly
Eliza blushes.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza sharply.
Eliza: I was just thinking....
Eliza: Maybe we are headed in the wrong direction?
Eliza: If we were to go into Gen Territory I bet they wouldn't think to look for you there.
Wise Snake: Gen Territory? Where in shen would I pick up enough work there?
Eliza: We have your retainers, maybe we could find a town that wasn't too hostile and set up a Center of our own....
Eliza: Kids still change over in Gen territory, people get sick and injured.
Wise Snake: But until we find that town?
Wise Snake: How many weeks might it take?
Eliza: Well, it was a silly idea anyway.
Eliza: Just forget it.
Wise Snake knows that once everybody figures out what trouble they're in, and once they are forced to go into hiding, it will be pretty obvious it is Snake who is the weak link in the chain.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Look, Eliza... I didn't want to leave Bender Cove at all. To leave Sime Territory as well... I can't even imagine it.
Eliza is surprised to see that Snake looks as if she is near to tears.
Wise Snake looks away.
Eliza moves over next to her and puts an arm around her.
Eliza is once again shocked and upset at how thin she feels under her clothes.
Wise Snake's tentacles fiddle with each other in nervous, rough motions.
Wise Snake: But farther inland, farther from the water, it'll be harder for them. They don't know the land, the culture.
Wise Snake: [talking almost to herself]
Eliza: ~comfort~
Wise Snake: I don't either, but we have the advantage. It has to be possible.
Wise Snake: [muttering]
Eliza: Harder for who?
Eliza: Snake?
Wise Snake reaches up and massages her temples.
Wise Snake: Them, them... our pursuers.
Eliza rubs her back.
Eliza: You don't mind me touching you at the moment?
Wise Snake: No [almost inaudible]
Eliza gives her a gentle squeeze.
Eliza: It will be okay Snake, in the long run it will be okay.
Eliza: ~optimism~
Wise Snake's hands move to take hold of Eliza's where they are on her.
Wise Snake: Eliza....
Wise Snake grips Eliza's hands.
Eliza: Yes?
Wise Snake: The others... they don't understand. None of them have had to run as you have, except for Bum Bum, and... he knows he could escape this situation easily.
Wise Snake: It's not him they're after.
Eliza starts to get frightened by Snakes intensity.
Eliza: I won't leave you Snake, even if Bumanuel leaves, I won't leave you unless you tell me to.
Wise Snake: Some things may happen that will bewilder the others, but you'll understand.
Eliza: I will? I'll try.
Wise Snake: If the time comes, and they are too slow to move, can I trust you to act, to help me?
Eliza: Yes.
Eliza: Of course.
Wise Snake: I don't trust him, Bum Bum.
Wise Snake: But Linn and Nick I would risk my life for. I don't want it to come to that.
Wise Snake: And Griff... ~~regret~~
Eliza: No, of course not.
Eliza: Griff?
Eliza: Snake, remember in that other town, the two with the drugs?
Wise Snake: I wish he hadn't been brought into th... what?
Wise Snake: Of course.
Eliza: I wanted to do something then but I couldn't.
Wise Snake is really lucky she ran into those two.
Eliza: Cause I was afraid to hurt you.
Wise Snake: Understandable.
Wise Snake: There are signals that can be worked out.
Wise Snake: Nick and I have many signals, some of which you can be taught.
Wise Snake: If you signal me to bring myself hypo and I give you the go-ahead, it is possible for you to... act in such situations.
Eliza: Like what?
Wise Snake: Ah. Well, [pulls away from Eliza]
Wise Snake: Normally it is better to do these things when you can exchange a few quick words about it first, or at least get eye contact.
Wise Snake: But in a situation like the other day, when you were behind me and moving would not have been advised,
Eliza: So, what should I have done?
Wise Snake: Well, the number one thing would be to watch me for your cues.
Eliza thinks the number one thing would probably have been not to go sticking her nose in where it wasn't supposed to go in the first place.
Wise Snake: In that particular situation, I was relatively in control of what was going on, so you may have simply received a cue to hold your position.
Wise Snake has not made a big deal about Eliza's poking her nose into things, but was rather upset about it.
Wise Snake has yet to devise the exact right way of bringing up the subject.
Wise Snake: [aside from the mention on the road shortly thereafter]
Wise Snake: However, I might also have given you this signal [makes a subtle tentacle and hand motion] which asks you to stand ready for a slam.
Eliza: Show me again?
Wise Snake shows Eliza again, more slowly.
Eliza: And that means to be ready, not to do it?
Wise Snake: Right.
Eliza: OK.
Eliza: What if they rush me and I have to let you know to go hypo right away? What do I do then?
Wise Snake: You acknowledge it by shifting your attention to the target, holding your field alert but neutral, and... er....
Eliza: I could yell a keyword....
Wise Snake: Well, in that case, the best way to signal me is nagerically.
Eliza: But wouldn't they pick up on that too ?
Wise Snake: I suppose they might, but Nick and I use fairly subtle signals.
Eliza: I'm not real good at subtle.
Eliza looks doubtful.
Wise Snake: If you could learn to communicate as subtly, then the danger would be less their detecting the signal and more detecting your intent.
Wise Snake: Remember, the slam only works as a surprise tactic. If they already know you are belligerent, they may be on guard against it.
Wise Snake: Can you feel when a sime is hypo?
Eliza: Why can't I just say something that you would recognise as meaning to go hypo?
Eliza: No, but if I'm looking at them I can sort of guess.
Wise Snake: For one thing, I might not hear you if I'm hyperconscious.
Eliza: Easier when you are hyper of course, because your eyes go sort of, errr, glazed.
Wise Snake: It's just too risky. Shouting something out that I may or may not hear, which may or may not alert the enemy... I prefer to operate with a bit more precision than that.
Eliza: I read something in a book once....
Eliza: ~embarrassed~
Wise Snake: I am willing to teach you the signals Nick and I use, if you want to learn them.
Wise Snake listens patiently.
Eliza: I'd like to learn them, but if things are as dangerous as you think, we need something we can use NOW.
Eliza: This is a bit embarrassing, it was in a novel when I was learning to read Simelan.
Eliza: Well, if we were in a situation and I did this....
Eliza: ~sexual desire~
Eliza seems to melt a bit and go soft around the edges.
Wise Snake jumps back like a scalded cat.
Eliza: ~normal~
Eliza: Well, in the book she dropped her clothing too.
Wise Snake: Don't you ever! Ever!! project at me.
Eliza: But it certainly got everyone's attention!
Wise Snake is furious.
Wise Snake: I thought you knew better than that!
Eliza: What?
Eliza: ~confused~
Eliza takes a quick step back away from her.
Eliza: What I do!
Wise Snake takes a few steps back herself.
Eliza: ~confused and upset~
Eliza: I was just showing you!
Wise Snake: I thought you understood....
Eliza: understood what!
Wise Snake: You must be very very careful around me when I am without a Donor and when you are so close!
Eliza: But why?
Eliza: You aren't in need!
Wise Snake: No.
Wise Snake: But I am many times more sensitive than any other channel you are going to come across.
Wise Snake is so upset she is having trouble making herself clear (not the usual case for her).
Eliza feels tears start to well up.
Wise Snake: You can't just... project things, or "show me" or whatever you want to call it. It's like being hit by lightning or... or trampled, or something. It's dangerous.
Eliza didn't mean it to work so well.
Wise Snake: Do you remember when you almost killed me saying hello? Nick was even there to block some of it.
Wise Snake: Please, Eliza, you must be careful.
Eliza remembers the time she knocked Snake out by saying hello.
Eliza: [well it was an enthusiastic hello]
Eliza: Maybe you would be safer without me!
Wise Snake looks pale faced, and sits down.
Wise Snake: I... I don't know.
Eliza: ~devastated~
Wise Snake: You have a lot of potential, Eliza, but... you really have to be more careful.
Eliza: Do you mean to tell me that that, what I did, hurt you?
Wise Snake: Yes... I'm sorry.
Wise Snake: I should not have...
Wise Snake rubs her forehead with the fingers and tentacles of one hand, looking upset and out of control of her life.
Eliza doesn't see how that could have hurt Snake, it wasn't a negative emotion after all.
Eliza: If I had warned you it was coming, would that have made a difference?
Wise Snake: Yes. [whispers, eyes closed, hand still rubbing her forehead]
Wise Snake is trying to figure out why she ever thought she'd have a chance in hell of surviving this flight.
Eliza is relieved.
Eliza: Then it isn't a problem, then.
Eliza: In any situation we may have, you would be wary anyway wouldn't you?
Wise Snake gives up the massage technique and starts groping gloomily in her pockets.
Wise Snake: I'd really have to receive a precise warning of when, or I would not be able to zlin at all beforehand.
Eliza: What's wrong? Do you have a headache?
Wise Snake: I depend heavily on being able to zlin when negotiating my way out of situations, and negotiation is always better then killing people.
Wise Snake: Yes I have a head ache! [snaps]
Wise Snake seems not angry so much as semi -hysterical.
Eliza moves cautiously over towards Snake, in much the same way she would approach a dog whose attitude she isn't sure of.
Eliza: Can I help you?
Eliza: ~soothing~
Wise Snake resembles, in terms of the dog analogy, nothing so much as a foaming wolf with its leg caught in a trap.
Wise Snake stops digging in her pocket and looks up at Eliza.
Eliza looks back and waits for her to either give permission or tell her to get lost.
Wise Snake: Look... just sit down. I'll be fine in a few minutes.
Eliza sits like a well trained dog.
Wise Snake picks through the stuff in her hand, looking down to hide her expression until she has schooled it.
Eliza: All those tablets Snake, they can't be good for you!
Wise Snake looks up at Eliza despite herself.
Wise Snake: [haunted]
Eliza bites her lips and wishes she hadn't snitched the ones she did.
Wise Snake: Things aren't always as they seem.
Eliza shakes her head, not understanding.
Wise Snake: I appreciate your concern, Eliza, but I can handle myself.
Wise Snake hopes this will satisfy her.
Eliza looks away.
Wise Snake puts the leftovers away and swallows them dry.
Eliza stands up and brushes down her clothing.
Wise Snake: About Mostan. Write him a letter that will let him know he will not see you again, without letting on where you are writing from.
Wise Snake: Give it to me to read first and I will give it to M'sara.
Eliza looks at the ground.
Eliza: Very well.
Wise Snake climbs to her feet.
Eliza: If you want us to stay inconspicuous we have to get a change of clothes.
Eliza: We look like a group of hoboes.
Eliza: [they are a group of hoboes]
Wise Snake looks down at herself.
Wise Snake notices she looks much as she always has, except for the brief time when Linn was browbeating her into bathing regularly and dressing sharp.
Wise Snake pushes back her hair and tries to address the problem in a logical fashion.
Eliza: At least it's warm.
Wise Snake: All right. We'll see if M'sara can assist in obtaining additional clothing.
Eliza: You don't think you are trusting him too much?
Eliza: I mean, we only just met him.
Wise Snake's head ache has tripled with the effort to think rationally.
Wise Snake reaches to her temple as she tries to decide whether to snap at Eliza for doubting her judgment or attempt to analyze the question logically.
Wise Snake: I trust him.
Wise Snake realizes this is no answer to the question.
Eliza: OK, then.
Eliza: The others should be waking up soon.
Eliza: Should we go into town and get some bread or something for breakfast for everyone?
Eliza: ~hungry~
Wise Snake is relieved at the dropping of all painful subjects.
Eliza: Maybe we could go into the town and get something for breakfast for when they wake up?
Wise Snake: Sure.
Eliza: I'll just put the paper and pen back in the bag then, won't be a minute.
Eliza runs back into the house.
Wise Snake looks wistfully at the field where Freelance is, then decides given the animal's past ownership record, it wouldn't do to ride him into town.
Eliza comes back a couple of minutes later, looking thoughtful.
Wise Snake is standing looking vaguely off into the distance.
Eliza: Ready to go Snake?
Eliza: Snake?
Eliza puts a hand on her shoulder.
Wise Snake jumps
Wise Snake: Shen Eliza! You scared the --
Wise Snake gets a grip.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry... I'm....
Wise Snake waves off Eliza.
Wise Snake: I'm fine. Let's go.
Eliza clutches at her heart.
Eliza: OK, fine, just don't... you scared... I 'm sorry.
Wise Snake is not wearing her black cape but still can't help but appear completely conspicuous.
Wise Snake turns and starts walking toward town.
Eliza walks a prudent couple of feet away.
Jennie pulls out the bread tray from the oven and slips the bread onto the counter.
Wise Snake and Eliza eventually reach the outskirts of town.
Jennie zlins her husband out the back of the shop and quickly puts the tray back in the oven and hurries out.
Jennie: Jack, you shouldn't be here! I told you I could manage by myself this morning.
Jennie: ~worry~
Eliza thinks that she could get very tired of this and decides that she got soft living at the Center.
Wise Snake seems to be going strong, being used to trudging many miles up and down the streets of Bender Cove.
Wise Snake is, however, sweating like crazy and her eyes are darting here and there like.. well... crazy.
Jack: ~approaching need and sick~ Now Jen, don 't be an ass! I told you I'll be fine!
Wise Snake goes for a bakery she remembers seeing near the train station.
Eliza follows, nose twitching at the smell of the bread.
Jack stiffens as he zlins the people entering.
Jack: Shop, Jen.
Jennie: I'll get it Jack. [gives him a firm look] You stay here.
Wise Snake is zlinning like a renSime.
Jennie: Can I help you?
Jennie zlins them both and keeps looking at Eliza and then out the back uncomfortably.
Wise Snake: Yes. I'd like, er, do these have wheat in them? [pointing a tentacle at some buns]
Jennie: You mean the buns?
Jennie: Yes.
Jennie: Everything has wheat in it except the corn bread. [points]
Jack puts his head in his hands and tries to stay hypo.
Wise Snake zlins Jack out back and Jennie's attention really on him and wonders what's going on.
Eliza stares at all the bread and buns and pies and tarts and drools.
Jennie waits for the customers to make up their minds.
Wise Snake: Er... is everything okay?
Wise Snake: [glancing toward the rear]
Wise Snake: [of the shop]
Jennie starts.
Wise Snake: ~concerned~
Jennie: ~defensive~ Of course! Just waiting while you choose.
Eliza licks her lips.
Eliza pokes Snake.
Wise Snake starts.
Eliza: A loaf of bread? We might need two.
Wise Snake had been concentrating on the nager out back... typical Farris oblivion.
Wise Snake: Er.. yes... fine.
Jennie: Two loaves? Milk or grain?
Jennie: One of each?
Eliza: Yes, one of each.
Wise Snake drifts up against the counter, still zlinning.
Jennie gets between Snake and what she wants to zlin.
Jennie has a problem, she can't stay there and serve them too.
Jennie: Look, this is a personal problem, it's very rude to zlin where you aren't wanted!
Jack groans and wishes he had stayed in bed.
Wise Snake: Maybe I could help.
Jennie looks hopeful for a second.
Jennie: ~despair~
Wise Snake: Er... ~~switches back to zlinning like a channel~~
Jennie blinks.
Jennie puts three loaves into a bag without noticing what she is doing.
Jennie: No one can help really. You know what happens to juncts eventually.
Wise Snake: Well, yes, but I could maybe ease his suffering.
Wise Snake is starting to run into serious trouble entran wise and can't pass this up.
Jennie: My husband disjuncted early, but rejuncted some months ago. Now it's just a matter of time.
Wise Snake is worried she is going to have to start injuring people in order to heal them, which could get ugly.
Jennie: You think you could help him?
Jennie: ~hope~
Wise Snake: I could at least try.
Jack tries to take his mind off things by stacking crates.
Eliza: Oh the poor man!
Jennie considers.
Jennie: Well okay, but it would probably be better if your friend stayed here.
Wise Snake nips over the counter.
Jennie looks at Eliza and worries.
Wise Snake doesn't have to be told twice... goes to Jack.
Jack carts the crates out the back.
Wise Snake: ~~soothing/support~~
Wise Snake: Hello....
Jack swings around, dropping the crates.
Jack: What the!!!!!
Wise Snake eases forward the better to engage his field.
Eliza: Well, can I have a bun while I'm waiting?
Wise Snake: Shhh... don't be alarmed. She said I could help you.
Eliza: ~hungry and pathetic~
Wise Snake: You could certainly use the help.
Jennie: Oh of course!
Wise Snake: ~~soothing/balmy~~
Jennie hands Eliza a danish pastry.
Jack laughs shortly.
Jack: No one can help me, can't you zlin?
Jack: I'm JUNCT.
Jack: To live I have to KILL.
Jack pulls at his hair, pulling a fair amount out with his fingers and tentacles.
Wise Snake: To live I have to heal. Come here.
Jennie leans on the counter and sobs.
Wise Snake moves in on Jack, trying not to be frustrated by his resistance.
Wise Snake: ~~soothing/offering~~
Eliza pats Jennie on the back, holding the danish awkwardly.
Eliza: ~comfort~
Eliza: Snake can look pretty scary, but she is good at her job.
Wise Snake reaches out for Jack, hands open.
Jack: You can't help me any more then the Channels down the Tecton Center can.
Jack: ~longing~
Wise Snake: Shh... come.
Wise Snake: ~~offering/promise~~
Wise Snake's subconscious is trying to interrupt with a little voice pestering her... something about the Tecton Center getting the whole story out of him next month.
Wise Snake ignores it.
Jack holds his eyes.
Jack: Oh, shen.
Jack: It will probably kill me anyway.
Jack: ~need~
Wise Snake alters her field slightly to project. ~~subtle Gen fear~~
Jack feels the need building up inside him.
Jack is scared of killing.
Jack: [the two war with each other, then the need wins, as it always does]
Wise Snake has never been fond of junct style transfers, however she has certainly had practice at them.
Wise Snake: ~~fear/offering/apprehension~~
Wise Snake: ~~replete selyn field~~
Jack lunges at her and grabs her hard, slamming his face against hers painfully.
Wise Snake: ~~spark of fear/pain~~
Wise Snake entwines tentacles.
Jack draws quickly, trying to strip the field.
Wise Snake: ~~searing agony~~
Wise Snake: ~~terror~~
Wise Snake: ~~resistance, although not enough to shen him~~
Jack holds her harder, closer, straining for more.
Jack finishes and "drops" her body.
Wise Snake withdraws her arms but maintains now a ~~support~~
Wise Snake zlins his condition.
Jack: ~better then he expected - alive and didn't kill, though he thought he did~
Wise Snake meets his eyes cautiously.
Wise Snake: You okay?
Jack: We are alive aren't we?
Wise Snake: I am.
Jack: ~bitter~
Wise Snake thinks, for now.
Jack: Another month, and it will all start again.
Jack: I guess I don't sound too grateful do I?
Wise Snake: Ummmh... [noncommittal]
Jack: I'm scared to be around my friends, even the Simes.
Jack: I don't dare work out front, I can't trust myself for at least 2 weeks of every month.
Jack: DO YOU CALL THAT LIVING!
Wise Snake flinches back.
Jack bursts into tears.
Jennie comes running out.
Jennie throws her arms around her husband.
Jennie: There darling, please don't.
Jennie sobs too.
Wise Snake sighs.
Jack: Oh Jennie, what about Jake?
Jack: What if he establishes as a Gen!
Wise Snake is not used to dealing with repentant juncts... they had always ended up at the Sime Center, back in Bender Cove.
Jennie: We will send him to live with mum, don 't worry!
Jennie: Everything will be okay.
Jennie turns to Snake.
Wise Snake is caught in the act of slinking out.
Jennie: Thank you, he doesn't mean to be ungrateful.
Wise Snake: I realize it is difficult for him.
Wise Snake: [acknowledges]
Wise Snake: And for you.
Jennie: It's just, the whole situation, you know?
Wise Snake wears an odd expression as she realizes she just did it again... gave away selyn, with no resupply in sight yet.
Eliza sits out the front and looks at the danish, totally without appetite.
Wise Snake wonders when she is going to learn she isn't in Bender Cove anymore.
Wise Snake backs towards the front of the shop.
Jennie: I'll be with you in a moment.
Jennie turns back to her husband and holds him while he settles down.
Eliza: Everything okay, Snake?
Wise Snake: I... I guess so.
Wise Snake picks up an apple turnover and leans against the proprietor's side of the counter, looking peaked.
Eliza: You don't look so good.
Eliza: I thought that the work would do you good!
Wise Snake: This is crazy. What was I thinking, just jumping on the train? I should have taken my chances in the city.
Eliza is confused by this turn around.
Eliza: Are we going back then?
Wise Snake: No!
Wise Snake's eyes show their whites... er, reds.
Wise Snake: No, we can't go back.
Eliza: I didn't think so.
Wise Snake is not oblivious to the utter contradiction of what she just said.
Eliza: Oh well.
Jennie comes back out.
Wise Snake puts down the apple turnover.
Jennie: Thank you for that. How much do we owe you?
Wise Snake: Oh, I... [looks around the shop, not even sure they could afford what she would normally have charged]
Jennie is having vague feelings of alarm as she starts to realise that Jack is going to have trouble convincing them at the Center that he did have channel's transfer and didn't, as it will look, kill.
Wise Snake realizes she can't give it away for free since she will never see these people again, she will get no benefit from that.
Wise Snake zlins Jennie's growing alarm and thinks, shen shen shen.
Wise Snake: Er...
Jennie: Can I get you to write a short letter to the Center telling them who you are and that you gave him transfer?
Wise Snake brightens.
Jennie: Otherwise they are sure to think he killed and will lock him up.
Wise Snake: I don't usually do that, but I can in your case.
Wise Snake: Now, about the price....
Jennie pulls out the cash tin.
Wise Snake: I don't think you can afford my usual fee.
Wise Snake: However, I'd be willing to do part in cash, part in barter.
Jennie looks worried.
Jennie thinks they should have really discussed price FIRST.
Jennie: OK.... just how much are we talking about?
Wise Snake: My usual fee is [names her usual fee... astronomical by big city standards]
Jennie doesn't faint, but she does reel a little.
Wise Snake's eyes scroll over the building's interior and contents.
Jennie: But that's, that's....
Wise Snake: However, as I said, I am willing to trade.
Jennie: I mean, thank you and all but we pay our taxes!
Wise Snake: Your taxes really do not interest me.
Jennie: He would have been given transfer at the Center and it wouldn't have cost us another dime!
Eliza shivers.
Eliza: But he mightn't have lived, either.
Wise Snake: And it is a little late to cry over spilt milk, don't you think?
Eliza wishes she hadn't spoken and attempts to fade behind Snake.
Wise Snake: Now, let us get this business handled.
Jennie empties the tin on the counter.
Jennie: That's all I got.
Wise Snake 's eyes flick over the money idly, then back to the windows.
Jennie picks up the bag with the bread in it and shoves in some currant buns.
Jennie: There.
Jennie shoves the bag at Snake.
Jennie: Hold on.
Wise Snake turns her head and looks at Jennie, her white eyes eerily watchful.
Jennie pulls a pad over to her and writes "I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ on <inserts date> did give Jack Jackson transfer with no ill effects to either party"
Jennie: Here - put your name here and sign it, please.
Eliza: ~warning~
Eliza: Snake....
Wise Snake looks over at Eliza.
Eliza: Oh shen.
Wise Snake: What...?
Eliza: Nothing.
Wise Snake: ~confused~
Eliza goes red and thinks maybe she should have been calling Snake "Susan" or something.
Wise Snake sighs and looks back at Jennie, then leans on the counter.
Wise Snake: I think we are moving just a little too fast, here.
Wise Snake: Please allow me to explain what I want.
Wise Snake: ~~calm voice and nager~~
Jennie: You want more?
Jennie: OK - what you want?
Wise Snake: ~~calm~~
Wise Snake: I don't require all your money. This will do. [takes some off the counter, a small amount of local currency]
Wise Snake: I need to provision 7 people for several days.
Wise Snake: Can you arrange for it?
Wise Snake: 2 simes, 5 Gens.
Eliza: Five Gens?
Eliza: Sna... errr aren't there only 4 of us?
Jennie: Food? ~confused~
Jennie: Yes, I can arrange that.
Wise Snake's fingers and tentacles shift restlessly.
Wise Snake: Good.
Wise Snake: I'll require it by mid-afternoon today.
Jennie thinks quick
Jennie: Jack should be able to work in the shop this morning, so yes.
Wise Snake: Also, when they ask you, you are to say that it was a male channel and his donor who helped you. You are not to mention anything of a trade, provisions, or a group travelling.
Jennie throws Snake a sharp look.
Jennie: I see.
Jennie: Yes, okay.
Jennie pushes the paper towards her.
Wise Snake: Yes, they'll know you're lying. But stick to the story.
Wise Snake picks up the paper, studies it.
Wise Snake puts it down and carefully signs the name of a channel who is not her, in the handwriting of that channel.
Wise Snake concentrates carefully to make sure it is correct.
Wise Snake hands it back to her.
Wise Snake: That is the name of a real channel who could have come through here.
Wise Snake: If you stick to your story, they 'll think you're lying about the details, not his identity.
Wise Snake hopes.
Jennie looks at it briefly then folds it and makes it disappear under her apron.
Jennie: OK, I'll have the stuff ready for you by midday.
Wise Snake gestures at Eliza to snag the bag of bread.
Wise Snake: Ah... I'll take that apple turnover too.
Wise Snake puts some money back on the counter, and snags the turnover.
Wise Snake walks out of the bakery.
Eliza follows her with the bag in one hand and the danish in the other.