Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #7: Kill or Cure (5/31/98)
Linn is replacing newly clean clothes into her suitcase.
Wise Snake enters the room Linn was sleeping in.
Linn looks up.
Linn: Hello, Snake.
Linn: Are we traveling on today?
Wise Snake: Ah... hello. Yes.
Wise Snake: There's breakfast in the front room. Bread, from a bakery.
Linn: Ah, good.
Wise Snake looks frustrated and annoyed, as well as a bit stressed out.
Wise Snake is trying not to show it in her voice, however.
Linn: What is the matter, Snake?
Wise Snake looks surprised that Linn noticed.
Wise Snake: Nothing. I'm fine.
Wise Snake sits down on the bed and puts her head in her hands.
Wise Snake: Who am I trying to kid!
Linn: ~~ sympathy ~~
Linn sits down beside Snake and puts a motherly arm around her.
Wise Snake: This is impossible. Do you know what I did this morning?
Wise Snake looks at her in appeal.
Linn: No. What?
Linn observes that bathing was apparently not on the itinerary.
Wise Snake: I got somebody in trouble with the Tecton because I couldn't make myself turn down the chance to give a transfer.
Wise Snake: He was a junct. You know they'd be keeping close tabs on him.
Linn: ~~ unease at the thought of juncts ~~
Linn: Well, he did get transfer from a channel, right?
Linn: Like he was supposed to?
Wise Snake: Yes! But it'll look like he killed.
Linn: It will?
Linn is a bit vague on such things.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake: Look, never mind the details.
Wise Snake: The point is, I couldn't stop myself.
Wise Snake: It was a stupid thing to do. I let entran get the better of me.
Wise Snake: And I can't guarantee it won't happen again!
Linn: Can't Nick help you with the entran?
Wise Snake: He can help the symptoms, but he can't make it disappear.
Wise Snake: I need to work.
Linn: Well, then, we have to find you someplace where you can work without attracting attention.
Wise Snake: I don't know why I thought this would even be possible.
Wise Snake: I mean... I was working 20 hours a day before we left Bender Cove.
Wise Snake: Now it's been what... 20 minutes?
Wise Snake is coming perilously close to actually whining now.
Linn contemplates the situation.
Linn: Well, let's look at your requirements one at a time, and see where they lead.
Linn: Lots of work, in a place where the Tecton won't notice you or be tracking your clients.
Linn: A large group of people, gathered in a temporary situation....
Linn: What about working the fairs?
Wise Snake contemplates her tentacles.
Wise Snake considers the idea.
Wise Snake: I don't want to develop any patterns, and something like fairs would probably make it easier for our pursuers to travel after us....
Wise Snake: However, one fair would probably be safe.
Wise Snake actually sounds rather keen on the idea.
Wise Snake at least sounds rather keen on the idea of getting some work, whether it's a good setting or not.
Linn smiles and starts rummaging in her luggage.
Eliza pokes around in the old kitchen to see what other "treasures" she might be able to scrounge.
Wise Snake flops back onto the bed and looks at the ceiling.
Linn: I've got just the one.
Wise Snake: One what?
Linn pulls out a tattered pamphlet.
Bum Bum gnaws on a currant bun.
Bum Bum: Do you think that Miz Linn likes me? [to Eliza, idly]
Bum Bum has always fancied himself a ladies man.
Eliza: I don't know, why?
Eliza works at staying calm.
Bum Bum: Well, she's... strangely attractive.
Linn: How about the annual Reeboh Spring Fair?
Wise Snake has never heard of it.
Linn: I was going to stop there on my way back.
Linn hands Snake the pamphlet describing the week-long extravaganza.
Wise Snake props herself up and takes the pamphlet with a tentacle.
Eliza: Why don't you ask her?
Bum Bum: Do you think I should? [looks at Eliza with interest]
Linn: It's not too far from here.
Eliza reaches into the back of a cupboard and pulls out an old saucepan.
Eliza: If you want to know what Linn thinks, then Linn is the one to ask.
Eliza shakes her hand quickly as a couple of cockroaches run over it.
Wise Snake: "Tumblers, fire eaters, freaks, trick animals, rides, and the Greatest People In the World"?
Bum Bum: Hmm.
Eliza hands a pot to Bumanuel.
Bum Bum looks at the pot in confusion.
Bum Bum: What's this for?
Eliza: Can you zlin this and see if there are any holes?
Eliza can't see any.
Bum Bum zlins the pot.
Bum Bum: I don't think so.
Eliza: Boiling water for making tea, and other things - like shaving maybe.
Linn: These rural fairs are always interesting.
Bum Bum: Yeah... that makes sense.
Bum Bum hands the pot back, glad he isn't in charge of the logistics of this bunch.
Eliza: So it won't leak?
Wise Snake: I've never been to any but the Winter Carnival in Bender Cove.
Bum Bum: Not unless my zlinning has holes in the same places.
Bum Bum: [attempt at humor]
Eliza fishes around in the cupboard some more and pulls out another, larger pot.
Eliza: Ah - this one looks even better.
Eliza hands the pot to Bumanuel.
Linn: You have to admit, in that kind of chaos, with so many strangers in town, you can work as much as you want without raising too many questions from the authorities.
Wise Snake starts to look dreamy as she remembers some really excellent toboggan-race accident victims she had healed at the Winter Carnival.
Wise Snake: Yeah...
Eliza: Do you think we should find something to carry water in? Or will we be able to get it along the way?
Wise Snake sits up.
Wise Snake: Yeah, that's a good idea, Linn.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake looks like she would have taken almost any idea at that point.
Bum Bum: Maybe we should carry a little?
Bum Bum: It couldn't hurt.
Linn is glad that she's somehow managed to cheer Snake up.
Eliza: Hmmm.
Bum Bum of course has had little experience with travel so doesn't realize just how much carrying extra stuff could hurt.
Eliza: Well, it doesn't really matter much cause there is nothing here we can carry it in anyway!
Bum Bum: Oh.
Eliza gets up off the floor and dusts herself off.
Wise Snake doesn't look that cheerful, but at least she isn't clutching her head and moaning about the impossible at the moment.
Wise Snake: Thanks.
Wise Snake: Don't forget to grab something to eat up front.
Wise Snake: I'm going to go make sure Griff is still with us.
Wise Snake leaves the room Linn is in and goes to roust Griff out of bed.
Bum Bum: Do you have a list of things to buy yet? Maybe you could just put that on the list. Snake is really easy about buying things on lists.
Bum Bum speaks from personal experience, having put "condoms, party colors, pkg. 300" on one of his lists once and Snake overlooked it.
Eliza rinses her hands and swishes out the pots, then fills them with water and holds them up to see if they will leak [not that she doesn't trust Bumanuel's judgment of course...]
Eliza: OK... I have to see about clothes, too.
Eliza: We have been wearing these for 4 days now, and it looks it.
Bum Bum looks over at Eliza oddly, thinking the Gen sure is obsessive about clothes today.
Eliza: If Snake expects us to be inconspicuous, we have to have a change of clothes.
Bum Bum: Oh. [comprehending]
Griff is awake and bouncing on the bed, which he never gets to do at home, for some reason.
Bum Bum: Yeah... and we could all use a bath, too.
Wise Snake: Hello, Griff.
Wise Snake makes no comment whatsoever about his bouncing.
Griff: Hi, Miz Ferret!
Wise Snake winces at the mangling of her name, sure it must be an accident.
Griff bounces higher, sending clouds of dust out of the abused bedding.
Eliza got up early and washed, and resented having to put dirty clothes back on.
Wise Snake: There's food up front.
Wise Snake: Might want to get some, because we're leaving soon.
Wise Snake turns and leaves before she actually starts hoping Griff hurts himself.
Wise Snake walks out into the front room.
Griff misjudges a bounce, and comes down with a crash.
Bum Bum jumps up.
Bum Bum: I'll get it!
Griff yells as his ankle twists.
Wise Snake turns back hastily.
Griff: ~~ pain ~~
Wise Snake: No no... I'll handle it.
Bum Bum: He's mine!
Bum Bum lunges forward to try to get through the doorway before Snake.
Wise Snake: What are you - ! Stop it!
Griff starts to cry loudly.
Wise Snake tries to shove through the kitchen door at the same time as Bum Bum, and they struggle madly.
Bum Bum: He's MY assistant!
Eliza is stunned at the look of hunger? Greed? Lust? on Bumanuel's face.
Wise Snake: So what! I need the work more than you do. Hey!! [slaps away his attempt to grab her and push her away]
Eliza: ~hey!~
Eliza grabs at one of Bumanuel's flaying arms, dodging the whack she otherwise would have got.
Eliza: Just let Snake go fix the poor kid.
Bum Bum takes advantage of Snake's being distracted by Eliza's nageric ~hey!~ and manages to push her back, then runs into Griff's room.
Wise Snake gets pushed temporarily into Eliza's arms.
Eliza falls over.
Wise Snake: Yeo-- ow!
Wise Snake falls over Eliza, in a moment of uncharacteristic clutziness.
Eliza goes "ooooph" as Snake falls on top or her.
Wise Snake: What are you doing!! He stole my gig!
Wise Snake fights her way upward.
Bum Bum darts into Griff's room, zlinning.
Bum Bum: Tell me, where does it hurt, boy? Ahhhh I zlin.
Bum Bum: ~~delight~~
Eliza struggles to stand up too.
Bum Bum kneels by Griff.
Griff: ~~ throbbing ankle ~~
Bum Bum extends his laterals and projects need at the sore ankle.
Wise Snake: Shen it....
Wise Snake finally manages to get clear of Eliza.
Eliza decides to stay sitting on the floor after all.
Wise Snake: Are you all right?
Wise Snake: ~~I hope not~~
Eliza has a slight bruise on her ribs from Snakes bony elbows.
Eliza: I'm fine.
Eliza: How is Griff?
Wise Snake: OO! Let me heal that. ~~intense concern~~
Wise Snake: Ah, I'm sure Bum Bum is handling it....
Wise Snake pounces on Eliza.
Eliza: Heal what?
Eliza: Snake!
Eliza sidles back along the floor away from her.
Wise Snake: This won't hurt a bit. [presses Eliza to the floor and pulls up her shirt]
Eliza: ~alarm~
Eliza: What ARE you doing?
Griff: It hurts, Mr. Bum Bum. [sniffles]
Wise Snake: You just have a little bruising here, I'll make it all better. [fanatical]
Eliza: What IS wrong with you Snake?
Wise Snake holds Eliza pinned to the floor and starts healing the ribs.
Eliza: You are acting like you want us to be hurt or something!
Eliza reacts to Snakes "need" nagerically.
Wise Snake: No no, I don't want you to be hurt, I just want to make you better!
Eliza sighs.
Bum Bum: There, there, Griffy. Just let me help you feel better.
Bum Bum continues to work on Griff's ankle, nearly purring with enjoyment.
Bum Bum had never thought he would like healing work this much, but then beggars can't be choosers.
Wise Snake finishes and lets Eliza go.
Wise Snake: There... okay?
Eliza pulls her top back down and sits up.
Linn walks into the kitchen, and promptly starts sneezing at the dust raised by Snake's scuffle with Eliza.
Eliza: It was fine to begin with.
Wise Snake: Oo!
Wise Snake jumps up and darts over to Linn's side.
Eliza gets to her feet and brushes herself down.
Wise Snake: Still got a little hay fever there?
Wise Snake: Maybe I can help?
Linn looks just a bit bewildered.
Linn: No, I don't think so. Just dust.
Wise Snake follows her at a distance of about 1", looking very concerned.
Linn: Perhaps you could open a window?
Wise Snake: Maybe I should zlin you to find out?
Wise Snake: Open a window? [disappointed]
Eliza watches Snake for a minute then goes to see how Griff and Bumanuel are
Wise Snake manages to get a grip, and lets Linn go.
Linn sees Snake's disappointment.
Wise Snake: [er, so to speak]
Eliza: How's Griff?
Linn: Well, it could be hay fever again, I suppose.
Bum Bum: He twisted his ankle, but it's nothing that won't be okay in a few days, with daily channel's checkups of course.
Bum Bum: [satisfied glee]
Eliza frowns.
Wise Snake looks as disappointed as someone whose new coach just rolled out the carriage house and fell into the river out back.
Eliza is worried that Bumanuel likes the Gen's pain for it's own sake.
Bum Bum: Come, come support me.
Linn: Goodness knows there's years worth of dust in here.
Eliza: Oh, sorry.
Eliza: ~support~
Bum Bum of course will share the work bonanza with his Companion. It's only fair.
Eliza: Why are you and Snake acting so crazy?
Eliza: She grabbed me like I was hot soup on a cold day out there, just for a little bruising!
Bum Bum: Snake is just crazy.
Linn shifts uneasily, and winces as her shoes pinch a developing blister.
Bum Bum: As for myself, I wasn't doing anything crazy. Griff is my assistant, it should be my right to heal him. [stubborn]
Wise Snake: Oo! How about that blister?
Wise Snake is quickly down on her knees, trying to get Linn's shoe off.
Wise Snake's tentacles make short work of the laces.
Eliza recalls the scene of them both being stuck in the doorway, while trying to forget the expression on Bumanuel's face.
Eliza: ~growing understanding~
Eliza: ~oh~
Eliza: Entran?
Wise Snake wastes crucial seconds struggling with Linn's sock.
Linn is somewhat taken aback by this enthusiasm, but doesn't object.
Bum Bum: Of course entran! I haven't had a chance to work since we left Bender Cove, Snake's been hogging all the good gigs.
Bum Bum: If it hadn't been for augmenting to catch that punk Donor who killed the renSime, I might be whining like Snake.
Eliza: ~realization~
Eliza: AH! I see now... Snake would need more to do then you do would she?
Wise Snake finally uncovers the blister and spends several long moments making sure the blister is not only healed, but may have only been a figment of Linn's imagination.
Bum Bum: Does a locomotive eat more than a horse?
Linn sways unsteadily on one foot.
Wise Snake releases Linn's foot with a sigh.
Eliza: I don't think a locomotive eats at all, Bumanuel - only living things eat and trains aren't living. ~innocently~
Eliza: But I get what you mean.
Bum Bum: Well. That nicely illustrates the difference between me and Snake. She doesn't even count as human, and the upkeep expense! Outrageous.
Bum Bum: There Griff, do you feel better?
Bum Bum is rather giddy.
Griff stands up.
Griff tentatively puts a bit of weight on the foot.
Griff: It still hurts.
Bum Bum: But not as bad as before, right?
Eliza continues to support Bumanuel without thinking.
Griff: ~ much reduced discomfort ~
Bum Bum: You be careful walking on it, and I'll check it again every few hours to heal it a little bit more okay?
Bum Bum: ~~gloat gloat~~
Bum Bum leans on Eliza's support without question.
Griff frowns.
Griff: Well, I suppose that's okay.
Griff limps for the kitchen to grab some breakfast.
Bum Bum: [to Eliza]
Bum Bum: You see, rogues are supposed to be 3rds.
Bum Bum: Like me.
Bum Bum: I am the perfect rogue channel. Nothing too fancy, but just exactly what's needed.
Eliza is confused by this speech.
Griff: ~~ ouch ~~
Griff: ~~ ouch ~~
Eliza: What do you mean rogue and needed?
Wise Snake looks up at Griff, from the vantage point of the floor near Linn's feet.
Wise Snake looks at Griff's ankle.
Wise Snake studies the door through which Griff and Eliza have not yet reappeared.
Griff grabs a roll.
Griff is pouting at being subjected to such discomfort.
Griff much prefers ooky things which happen to someone else.
Wise Snake grabs Griff by the ankle.
Wise Snake: Now I have you. ~~determination~~
Wise Snake pulls up his pants leg and starts going to town on what's left of his ankle injury.
Griff yelps and loses his balance, falling.
Griff cracks his head against a chair as he falls.
Griff: Ow!
Wise Snake stares at Griff for a moment in disbelief.
Griff: You knocked me over!
Griff: ~~ indignation ~~
Griff: ~~ pain ~~
Wise Snake: Not intentionally.
Wise Snake: Just let me do this one thing....
Wise Snake grips his leg more firmly, bound and determined to finish healing it.
Eliza walks back into the kitchen, sees Snake on the floor holding Griff's foot and backpedals quickly in alarm, hoping to stop Bumanuel from seeing it.
Griff: Hey, that hurts! Stop pinching me.
Bum Bum walks out after her and jerks to a halt as Eliza backs up suddenly.
Griff: ~~ throbbing ankle, throbbing head ~~
Eliza: Let's see what's out back!
Eliza: ~frantically~
Griff: ~~ pinched leg ~~
Bum Bum zlins a bewildering vista of assorted Gen fear and pain.
Bum Bum: ~~surprise~~
Eliza talks Bumanuel's hand and attempts to drag him out the back.
Bum Bum's laterals lick out as Eliza tries to push him back.
Eliza: It's a lovely day out, come see! We might ummm, find a fruit tree or something!
Eliza is babbling.
Linn sees Snake acting crazy, and Bum Bum's laterals.
Linn remembers what Eliza told her about Bum Bum being junct.
Bum Bum automatically seeks Eliza's other hand with his other hand.
Bum Bum: ~~confusion~~
Bum Bum: [tentacles flail out]
Linn deduces that Snake has no intention of dealing with Bum Bum until she's finished with Griff.
Linn: ~~ dawning apprehension ~~
Eliza walks backwards, leading Bumanuel away.
Eliza: ~enticing~
Eliza: And we can see if there are any chickens or something.
Eliza: Maybe a walk before we leave?
Wise Snake zlins that Eliza has Bum Bum under control, and turns back to Griff's head.
Bum Bum obeys Eliza's lead haltingly, his laterals weaving between her direction and Linn's.
Eliza: ~enticingly, offering~
Bum Bum follows Eliza decisively.
Wise Snake: Shhh.... Griff. Don't have a cow. I'm just healing the bump on your head.
Wise Snake suits actions to words.
Eliza gets outside and looks around.
Bum Bum looks around, as if he'd just woken up.
Griff stops whining as the pain disappears.
Bum Bum: What are we -- ?
Eliza: Errr, nice day isn't it?
Eliza: We are lucky with the weather hey?
Eliza: Specially as we aren't going by train any more.
Wise Snake releases Griff when she is absolutely sure there is nothing else she can do with him.
Eliza could never talk about the weather for hours.
Nick comes into the kitchen, and views Snake bent over Griff with concern.
Nick: Is something the matter?
Nick: ~~ Snake support ~~
Wise Snake climbs to her feet, then offers Griff a hand up.
Wise Snake: Ah... no.
Wise Snake a bit shamefacedly.
Nick: Ah.
Nick looks as spruced up as his 4-day-old change of clothing will allow.
Wise Snake walks over to Nick and the comfort of his field.
Wise Snake is looking a bit ragged around the edges, and scummy and dangerous besides, but this is normal.
Nick has even shaved, although the lack of a mirror led to several unfortunate "accidents".
Eliza: ~lost for words~
Bum Bum: Er....
Bum Bum: Did you just do what I thought you just did?
Eliza: I think I did. What do you think I did?
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Nick: ~ slight sting from shaving scratches ~
Wise Snake aborts mission on seeking Companion's support when she zlins the razor wounds... zeroes in on his face instead.
Wise Snake: Hold still....
Wise Snake: ~~fanatical~~
Eliza looks at Bumanuel and wonders if he will be angry.
Nick: Wha...?
Bum Bum: You just distracted me and, and got me to come out here... Snake said you hadn't had any of that Donor mumbo jumbo training.
Wise Snake attempts to heal Nick's face, holding him still as necessary.
Wise Snake: You've... got something.. on your chin....
Wise Snake: [determined]
Eliza: I did?
Eliza: Oh.
Nick: A bit of soap?
Eliza: Well, ummmm [wonders if it's safe to go back inside yet] I just wanted to see how the day was working out. Look, no clouds. [points lamely at the sky]
Wise Snake heals Nick's nicks.
Nick: Don't get your tentacles in it. I didn't use your Farris soap.
Bum Bum is still staring at Eliza in fascination.
Bum Bum: How much of the other training HAVE you had?
Bum Bum is also zlinning her.
Eliza: I don't know really.
Wise Snake releases his face with a sigh.
Wise Snake: What did you say?
Nick catches Snake's tentacles before she can retract them.
Wise Snake: Wha- !?
Nick: Go wash your tentacles. I might not have gotten all the soap off.
Wise Snake: What soap!
Nick: The shaving soap?
Wise Snake quickly resumes the panicky, sinking sensation she'd been feeling earlier.
Wise Snake: Oh... excuse me.
Wise Snake rushes from the room.
Eliza: Let's go back and see if Snake is finis..... umm ready to go yet.
Bum Bum: Have you ever.. given transfer to a channel?
Eliza: Of course.
Eliza: Didn't you know I was working at the Sime Center there?
Wise Snake: [the sounds of frantic scrubbing soon issue from the washroom]
Bum Bum: I had no idea!
Bum Bum: ~~incredibly relieved and still stunned~~
Bum Bum: I thought you were almost untrained.
Bum Bum: You mean there's no chance I could kill you?
Eliza: I left there to work with you, to see if....
Nick goes to the washroom and signals.
Eliza: Snake said no chance.
Nick: Snake, are you all right?
Wise Snake: Ugh... argh!
Wise Snake: [scrub scrub scrub]
Eliza looks curiously at him to see if he is pleased or not by this.
Bum Bum sits down rather unexpectedly on a step.
Bum Bum: And here I thought she'd supplied Griff and Linn in case... for later when....
Eliza: What!
Nick opens the door to the washroom.
Eliza: You thought they were fodder for you?! After you KILLED me????
Eliza: Good grief!
Nick hadn't thought that there was that much soap left on his chin.
Bum Bum: Well, she told me she'd murder me with her own hands if I killed again. Then, when there were three of you, I thought maybe...
Bum Bum looks ashamed but still relieved, also confused.
Wise Snake: I'm fine, I'm fine.
Wise Snake is still scrubbing away.
Wise Snake looks upset.
Nick: Let me see.
Eliza: You won't kill again, not if I can help it.
Nick takes Snake's hands, inspecting the tentacles for rashes.
Wise Snake resists slightly, but finally submits dripping to Nick's inspection. [water still running in sink]
Wise Snake: Nick... what are we going to do?
Nick: I don't see a rash. Looks like you got any residual soap off before any damage was done.
Eliza: Haven't you ever worked with a Donor before?
Nick: As for work...
Nick: We're going to have to find a solution. And soon.
Wise Snake: Linn suggested a fairgrounds, but...
Wise Snake gestures in indescribable frustration.
Nick raises an eyebrow..
Nick: A fair? That's not a bad suggestion.
Wise Snake: All that means is thousands of people will see me.
Wise Snake: We'll never lose them.
Wise Snake is still clinging to the illusion that 'losing them' would be possible in the first place.
Nick: Ah, but what they see isn't necessarily what they notice.
Nick: Act like you belong, and stay away from the Tecton first aid tent, and the marks will think your a roving Tecton channel.
Wise Snake: Yes, yes, I can handle a fair, I meant afterward.
Wise Snake: We'll be leaving a trail of evidence miles wide.
Nick: So, go where the Tecton doesn't have a foothold yet.
Wise Snake: Unh.
Wise Snake: Don't even say Gen territory.
Wise Snake flicks her arms, wishing the wet feeling would... just go away.
Wise Snake settles for heating her skin surface to burn it off faster.
Nick: Well, the Tecton hasn't quite swallowed up all the Sime Territories.
Nick: There are places where a channel could set up shop as an independent.
Wise Snake has managed to suppress the worst of the panic attack.
Wise Snake: Look... the first order of business is to get the shen out of this town. Where's M'sara?
Nick: ~~ Gen there for you ~~
Wise Snake: Where did Eliza go?
Wise Snake pushes her way out of the washroom and zlins about.
Eliza is out back with Bum Bum.
Wise Snake: Linn?
Nick decides that Snake is back to semi-functional again, and follows her out of the washroom.
Wise Snake goes to the kitchen table and finds Eliza's list.
Linn looks up.
Linn: What is it, Snake?
Wise Snake zlins Eliza out back with Bum Bum, and the states of their nagers.
Wise Snake turns back to Linn.
Wise Snake: Eliza was working on this list of equipment and supplies we'll require.
Linn: Oh, good.
Wise Snake: She's handling Bum Bum right now, we'd better leave them alone. Can you go in to town and take care of this?
Linn looks at the list.
Linn: I suppose so.
Linn isn't all that happy at the thought of wandering around a strange Sime town, alone.
Wise Snake zlins Linn.
Wise Snake: What?
Linn: Well... It's just that I don't know this town yet.
Linn's stay in Bender Cove has taught her that she REALLY doesn't want to get stuck in the bad part of town by mistake.
Wise Snake looks perplexed.
Wise Snake: None of us know this town. But we still require the equipment and supplies.
Wise Snake hopes she is sounding reasonable.
Linn: True.
Wise Snake: I suppose I could send.... [zlins Bum Bum and Eliza again, then Griff] ... er....
Wise Snake: Well I suppose Nick and I could come with you. [reluctantly]
Jinna: [loud moaning is coming from outside the front window]
Linn: That would be a great help. There's more here than one person can really carry.
Wise Snake: True.
Wise Snake: All right.
Wise Snake: Nick?
Wise Snake is already wearing her cape.
Nick: Coming.
Wise Snake: Got that list...? [distracted]
Jinna: [moaning is getting louder]
Wise Snake fails to say anything further as she zlins intently.
Nick sees Snake go to "point" like a trained setter, and prepares for a sprint.
Wise Snake deduces from the fact that there is loud moaning coming from outside the window that there must be someone else around she fails to zlin.
Wise Snake: Wait! I hear something.
Wise Snake zlins and, still detecting nobody, leaves by the front door and looks around for the source of the moaning.
Jinna is trying to burrow under the porch.
Wise Snake sees the rear end of a child stuck halfway under the porch.
Jinna is in the last change of changeover trying to hide.
Wise Snake is relieved that her zlinning ability seems once again to be all right.
Wise Snake approaches the changeover victim cautiously from behind.
Wise Snake: Hey... hey, you don't have to hide from us.
Nick wonders if Snake is experiencing withdrawal symptoms, the drug supplies having run low.
Wise Snake: Hello?
Jinna moans. "Leave me alone. Please, leave me alone."
Wise Snake projects ~~soothing~~
Wise Snake: I really think you should come out and let me have a look at you.
Wise Snake: You're in changeover, and your parents are probably worried stiff about you.
Jinna stops wiggling. "but it hurts, it hurts."
Jinna screams.
Jinna's voice is muffled. "I don't have parents."
Jinna begins to wiggle backwards, not having much luck.
Wise Snake breaks off a few pieces of wood to make the hole larger.
Wise Snake: Okay... don't worry about them, then. I can help you.
Jinna frees herself and turns to regard Wise Snake with suspicion.
Nick cheers up immensely now that Snake has found work at last.
Wise Snake: See? I'm a channel.
Jinna: How? I'm going to die in a few minutes anyway.
Wise Snake: What? Die? Why?
Jinna clenches her hands in pain.
Wise Snake: Shh.. don't do that.
Wise Snake reaches for Jinna's hands.
Jinna: A - a channel?
Jinna: ~relief~ I was going to town but....
Jinna screams as another spasm hits.
Wise Snake: Don't clench your fists against the contractions. When they happen, make your hands like this. [shows her, splaying fingers out]
Wise Snake: ~~soothing~~
Wise Snake: You're doing fine. Breathe like this... okay? [shows her the breathing]
Jinna imitates the channel, then reaches for her hands.
Wise Snake wonders who in shen raised this kid to have no clue about changeover.
Jinna: Help me please, hajene.
Wise Snake: I will... I am. Just keep doing like I showed you, clench your hands, then when the contraction comes, do as I showed you.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake: And keep breathing.
Wise Snake keeps her hands near Jinna's but doesn't let her grab her yet.
Wise Snake: ~~reassurance/promise~~
Jinna imitates Snake then suddenly throws her hands in the air as the bloody fluids of breakout cover them both.
Wise Snake: ~~offering~~
Jinna grabs desperately for the channel's hands, flaring need.
Wise Snake offers her hands, projecting a burning Gen field.
Jinna instinctively grabs her and pulls her into transfer position, seeking the fifth contact point.
Wise Snake: ~~bright promise/hope/light~~
Wise Snake entwines their tentacles.
Jinna presses her lips to Snake's and begins a rather savage draw.
Wise Snake: ~~strength/optimism/beauty~~
Wise Snake makes selyn greatly abundant.
Jinna draws smoothly to completion on a crescendo of joy, relief and happiness.
Wise Snake: ~~satisfaction~~
Wise Snake remains motionless and supportive as Jinna ends it.
Jinna accepts the channel's offering and breaks lip contact.
Jinna stares at channel in awe. "Wow! That was beautiful!"
Wise Snake smiles despite herself (slightly).
Wise Snake: Congratulations. You're all grown up.
Jinna is absorbed in playing with her new tentacles.
Jinna finally looks up at the Channel. "Thank you. I was afraid I was going to die."
Wise Snake: Um,
Wise Snake: Maybe you'd better come wash up. You don't want that dirt getting into your sheathes.
Wise Snake: Well, I have zlinned you and you have turned out perfectly healthy. ~~truth~~
Jinna: I don't have a home. Can I stay with you?
Wise Snake: Er,
Wise Snake: Well, we're not staying here.
Jinna is staring at Wise Snake with an expression close to hero worship.
Wise Snake: We're just travelling and travelling.
Jinna: I don't care. I just don't want to go back to the orphanage.
Wise Snake doesn't want yet another kid around, but then again that hero worship is awfully enticing.
Jinna: I'll work real hard for you. I promise.
Jinna: ~Very appealing and open nager~
Wise Snake realizes that she has no idea what advice to give the kid since the advice she gave kids in Bender Cove was mostly engineered to fit her own plans for the city.
Wise Snake: Er.
Wise Snake: Well I,
Jinna: ~please~
Wise Snake: I'll think about it, OK?
Wise Snake: Why don't you come in and wash up.
Jinna: OK. Whatever you say.
Wise Snake takes Jinna into the house, introduces her to Griff, and instructs him to introduce her to the mysteries of tentacle hygiene.
Wise Snake: [to Nick] Where in shen has Linn gotten herself off to?
Wise Snake zlins about for Linn.
Nick observes Snake's mood, hoping for improvement over the morning.
Wise Snake appears, if not cheerful, at least no longer hysterical.
Nick: Um... I think she went on to town, when she saw that we were tied up with a changeover.
Wise Snake: ...Oh.
Wise Snake sits down at the table.
Wise Snake: I think my powers of observation have fallen by the wayside or something.
Wise Snake: [depressed]
Wise Snake: Did I mention, it hadn't even occurred to me that the junct fellow could get into trouble when I gave him transfer?
Nick: You were caught up in the changeover.
Wise Snake: But it might not have been a changeover victim. Did you see how close she got to the house without me noticing? It could have been one of _them_ instead!
Nick considers it.
Nick: I don't think you'd have missed an adult Sime or Gen--and children aren't usually involved in that sort of thing.
Nick wishes he was a bit clearer about who or what they are running from.
Wise Snake looks lost and despairing.
Wise Snake: If you say so, Nick. [trying to be optimistic]
Wise Snake: It doesn't look like Rapol is going to catch up with us... if he even got a chance.
Nick: Give him time.
Wise Snake is obviously afraid he was not given a chance.
Wise Snake: This isn't how it was supposed to be, Nick.
Wise Snake: I didn't... I didn't want to leave there.
Wise Snake: I didn't want to take you away from there.
Nick: I know you didn't.
Wise Snake: I had so many ideas, so many plans - now I have nothing!
Nick places a hand on Snake's tentacles.
Nick: ~~ soothing support ~~
Wise Snake silences as Nick touches her.
Wise Snake: ~~mourning~~
Wise Snake's tentacles wind about his fingers and she sighs.
Nick: You have me.
Nick: And Linn and Bum Bum and Eliza and Griff.
Wise Snake: Yes. [almost silently]
Nick has not quite realized just how much less this happy crew of misfits is, than Snake's plans for founding a House.
Wise Snake suspects Nick has no idea how much danger they are in.
Wise Snake: I just... wanted to give you and Rapol something more.
Wise Snake: Especially Rapol.
Wise Snake thinks he's dead.
Nick: Rapol can take care of himself.
Eliza plays with the end of her drying hair.
Eliza: Are you pleased or not that I'm Tecton?
Bum Bum: Well I... it rearranges everything.
Bum Bum: I thought forbidding me to kill and then bringing in all these Gens was just another form of torment Snake cooked up for me.
Bum Bum: But if you're the one....
Eliza: I've never dealt with a junct before to be honest. I'd like to know more so that I know what to do to make it satisfying for you when the time comes.
Wise Snake: I hope so.
Wise Snake grips Nick's hand.
Nick squeezes back.
Eliza hopes that there are specific techniques that she can learn.
Bum Bum doesn't know a single thing about the training or techniques of Gens who know how to handle juncts... his own experiments never got far enough.
Eliza ignores Bumanuel's slight towards Snake, she has come to realise that he has a lot of gripes in that direction, all of which seem safer to ignore.
Bum Bum: Well, we can talk about that when the time is nearer, okay?
Bum Bum hopes to have had time to think about it by then.
Bum Bum: [or, heaven forbid, ask Snake]
Eliza: OK... if you are sure that will give me time to learn them.
Eliza: I was going to talk to Linn about it. Nick said Linn knows a lot about transfer maths.
Bum Bum: Transfer maths? What are those?
Eliza didn't even know there were maths involved.
Eliza: I don't know, something Linn knows about presumably.
Bum Bum: Oh. [curious lack of additional enlightenment from her answer]
Eliza: Well I'll ask her when I get some time.
Bum Bum thinks maybe this is some torment of Snake's after all... he's never been so confused in his life as in the last few minutes.
Bum Bum: Sure.
Eliza: You won't attempt anything with Linn or Griff will you?
Eliza: ~worry~
Eliza: Sure?
Eliza: Oh - you mean you won't.
Eliza is confused now too.
Eliza: I guess we can go back inside now.
Bum Bum: I'll try not to.
Bum Bum: [temporizes]
Bum Bum thinks there is something absolutely fascinating about Linn, though he can't define exactly what it is.
Eliza: ~frets~ I'll try to stay near to you all the time after turnover.
Bum Bum perks up.
Bum Bum: That would be great.
Eliza: You have honestly never had a Donor before? How did you manage to stay away from the Tecton all that time?
Bum Bum: Well, I just... I stuck to non-Tecton Gens. People who were self-trained.
Bum Bum grows subtly uncomfortable with the line of questioning.
Eliza: Ah, Tarsh and my friend Mostan were in a transfer ring for awhile, before they joined the Tecton.
Eliza: Mos is a 3rd.
Bum Bum: Oh.
Bum Bum has remembered Eliza mentioning Mostan, and Tarsh got mentioned once or twice before Alea's baby was born.
Bum Bum, however, really can't relate to them at all.
Eliza: It's funny, at one time Mostan and I were thinking about running away together - and now I'm doing exactly that, but without him.
Bum Bum zlins Eliza, then looks at her more closely.
Bum Bum: You miss him, don't you?
Eliza's bottom lip wobbles.
Eliza: ~sorrow~
Eliza: Terribly, he was so good and gentle and and [needy isn't a word she wants to say, but that's what she is feeling].
Eliza: It's important, being needed.
Eliza thinks that Snake needs her, she just isn't sure how.
Bum Bum moves forward softly and puts an arm around her.
Eliza tightens up, then relaxes against him.
Eliza: I'm sorry, I don't mean to make you miserable.
Bum Bum thinks again about asking her if she wants to make a run back to Bender Cove.
Bum Bum: I... I don't actually feel miserable when you are around. [confesses]
Eliza: Actually, if I'm going to devote myself to you, it's probably better that I'm not with Mostan.
Eliza: ~pleased~
Bum Bum feels unexpectedly dizzy at her words 'if I'm going to devote myself to you'
Bum Bum starts to think going back to Bender Cove at this point would be a bad move, and resolves to never bring it up.
Eliza: I'm glad. Snake, and some of the other channels at the Center, seem to react really badly at any negative emotion.
Bum Bum: Oh, ignore Snake. She wouldn't know a good Donor if it hit her over the head. Which it usually does.
Eliza: Donors hit Snake over the head?
Eliza: I know I'm not a good Donor Bumanuel. I don't have enough control, but I do try so hard!
Bum Bum: Eliza, whatever you don't have, I don't need it!
Bum Bum speaks with an obvious passion.
Bum Bum sounds as if he would have kissed her fully on the lips as a follow up, except of course he's past turnover.
Bum Bum: [it must be the passion of Sime for Gen]
Eliza doesn't want to slip backwards though. She is sorry she lost her shiltpron....