Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #9: A Slow Start (6/4/98)
Wise Snake moves through the crowds of people, looking simultaneously on edge and perfectly at home.
Wise Snake: [you really have to know Snake to realize this is possible]
Wise Snake glances at Linn, gauging her mood.
Linn trails along after Snake.
Linn: Are you looking for anything in particular?
Linn: ~~ curiosity ~~
Wise Snake: A quiet place, just for the moment... ah.
Wise Snake ducks into a crummy temporary public restroom, miraculously without a line in front of it.
Wise Snake draws Linn with her.
Linn: Snake, I went before we left our campsite...
Wise Snake: I just have to take down your field.
Wise Snake: I realize it hasn't been a full month, but you'll want to be low field for this.
Wise Snake starts to unbutton Linn's sleeve.
Linn: Low field for what?
Linn: ~~ apprehension ~~
Wise Snake: Well, everybody is going to have to work together to bring in clients. You wouldn't want to try to coax in renSimes in need while high-field, would you?
Wise Snake pushes up Linn's sleeve and starts unbuttoning the other.
Linn: RenSimes in need?
Wise Snake looks at Linn blankly. "Well, of course. I can't very well serve the ones that aren't in need."
Linn remembers some of her previous encounters with renSimes in need.
Wise Snake sees the expression on Linn's face.
Wise Snake zlins Linn again.
Wise Snake: Come on. Nothing is going to happen. After all, you'll be low-field, and hardly tempting.
Wise Snake: Besides, it won't be all renSimes in need. You might find some who are sick or injured, instead.
Wise Snake is trying to be encouraging and reassuring.
Wise Snake slips her tentacles around Linn's forearms.
Linn resolves to concentrate on the disease-and-injury front.
Wise Snake seeks a 5th contact.
Linn allows it, resigned.
Wise Snake draws selyn, slowing towards the end to minimize the sensation.
Linn is actually a bit relieved that Snake is taking this donation, after her nasty encounters with the Sime Center channels.
Wise Snake releases Linn when she is finished.
Linn manages not to twitch at the less-nasty-than-usual draining sensation towards the end.
Wise Snake: There.
Wise Snake looks noticeably relieved too, for some reason.
Linn works at rebuttoning her sleeves.
Linn: Now. Where will you and Nick be, if I find a patient for you?
Wise Snake: I'll be in the carnie area behind the big striped yellow-and-blue tent. By where our horses are tied up.
Wise Snake: I'm sending Nick to help hunt.
Wise Snake looks less than satisfied with this decision.
Linn: Is that wise?
Wise Snake: If I get enough work in the morning, I'll keep him with me in the afternoon [avoiding the exact question]
Wise Snake: Right now I'll require you all to help in the canvassing.
Linn: I see.
Wise Snake: I'm sure you'll be all right. [puts her hand on Linn's shoulder]
Wise Snake: [Actual translation: Snake is desperate enough for work to be willing to risk Linn's being alone in the crowds to get more]
Linn isn't sure at all, but resolves to try her best, and be ready to duck.
Wise Snake zlins Linn's resolve and nods, reassured.
Wise Snake: Great.
Wise Snake: Well, I'll see you soon hey?
Linn leaves the restroom and heads out to look for customers who might be willing to let a wild-looking 13 year old treat them.
Linn: I hope so.
Wise Snake goes in the other direction.
Wise Snake finds Griff where she left him at the horses.
Griff dances around impatiently, wanting to get out and see the freak show.
Wise Snake: Ah... Griff. Thanks for waiting.
Wise Snake: Now, you know what you're looking for, right?
Griff: Yeah! Ooky stuff!
Wise Snake: Well, er, yes, and also you're going to bring back people who are sick or in need and require help, right?
Wise Snake smiles encouragingly.
Griff: Oh. I guess so.
Wise Snake: Trust me, Griff, it's really important. And you can still look at ooky stuff while you're looking for sick people.
Wise Snake: Also, I'll have to take down your field before you go.
Griff: Aww... Do I gotta? [whining]
Wise Snake's tentacles itch to get on Griff's arms.
Griff doesn't want to take the time.
Wise Snake: What's the matter? It'll be over in a moment.
Wise Snake's tentacles crawl.
Wise Snake: [edgy]
Griff: It's boooring.
Griff thinks guts are much ookier.
Wise Snake: Look... I'll make it interesting okay? Just come here.
Wise Snake reaches for Griff's arms.
Griff is intrigued by the idea of really ooky donations.
Griff lets Snake take his arms.
Wise Snake pulls Griff into position and draws selyn, at a relatively high speed gauged to just under the pain threshold.
Griff: ~~ startlement ~~
Wise Snake: ~~perverse enjoyment~~
Griff thinks that the gut-wrenching sensation is almost as ooky as seeing guts that have been wrenched out of someone.
Griff: ~~ delight in ook ~~
Wise Snake releases Griff when it is done.
Wise Snake: There... was that better? [slightly out of breath]
Griff: Yeah!
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Ok, go on then. I'll be waiting for you near the horses here.
Griff scampers off for the freak show.
Spayd stalks tensely around the yellow-and-blue tent.
Spayd: ~~ NEED ~~
Spayd looks just a bit sleazy, which is to say, more respectable than Snake.
Wise Snake zlins a renSime in need and forgets Griff in favor of heading in that direction.
Spayd zlins Snake.
Wise Snake: ~~channel~~
Spayd: You don't zlin anything like him!
Spayd: ~~ disappointment ~~
Wise Snake: Excuse me?
Wise Snake: [caught off guard]
Wise Snake moves closer to him, judging his state of need.
Spayd: A Gen with a really luscious nager told me there was a channel back here who could give me a transfer I would swear came from him.
Spayd: ~~ half-fixed on Nick ~~
Wise Snake: Ah! You must mean Nick. [relieved the guy isn't nuts]
Wise Snake: How's this?
Wise Snake: ~~Nicklike Nager~~
Wise Snake would zlin like a zebra-striped orangutan with an arthritic condition if somebody told her it would get her some work.
Spayd pounces on Snake, tentacles outstretched.
Wise Snake: ~~surprise/pleasure/offering~~
Spayd reaches for the offered selyn.
Wise Snake entwines laterals and allows him to take what he needs.
Wise Snake dutifully remembers what Nick feels like during transfers.
Wise Snake: ~~soaring bliss~~
Spayd draws quickly, at least by renSime standards.
Spayd is, however, a bit confused as to why his ankle should suddenly be throbbing.
Wise Snake zlins his confusion and corrects for the lack of ankle injury.
Wise Snake: ~~peaking satisfaction~~
Spayd: ~~ joy in life ~~
Wise Snake allows him to finish at his own pace.
Spayd 's draw peters out as he reaches satiation.
Wise Snake: ~~support/total satisfaction~~
Spayd finally breaks contact.
Spayd: Wow, lady, you're good!
Wise Snake withdraws her laterals.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Wise Snake knew she was good, of course, but it never pays to turn down compliments.
Wise Snake: That'll be 150.
Spayd: I don't suppose you'd be interested in some... other recreation, would you?
Spayd: ~~ very post ~~
Wise Snake: Er....
Wise Snake looks around.
Wise Snake: Where?
Spayd: Well, we can spread a bedroll behind those horses, and be private enough.
Spayd has a very loose definition of "enough" privacy.
Wise Snake: I don't have time for anything complicated.
Wise Snake pulls him over behind the horses and drags him down onto the dirt.
Spayd pants are already unzipped.
Wise Snake's tentacles invade his pants.
Spayd paws at some less-than-spectacular boobs.
Wise Snake's mouth finds his in a somewhat-less-than-impersonal "2nd contact" as her hand does its business.
Wise Snake's other hand locates his wallet and zlins its contents.
Spayd's wallet has very little worth having.
Wise Snake checks out his pockets for any worthwhile possessions.
Spayd has half a ticket to the freak show and a cheap trinket from the knock-the-cans booth.
Wise Snake decides now would be a good time to find out where he keeps his money.
Wise Snake takes a firm grip.
Wise Snake: So, ah, [whispers into his ear] are you good for the money, or...?
Spayd: Lady, the girls all say I'm worth a million.
Spayd fumbles with Snake's pants.
Wise Snake squeezes more firmly to get his undivided (for the moment anyway) attention.
Wise Snake: I'm sure you are. What about my transfer fee?
Spayd: Hey!
Wise Snake: You weren't planning on cheating me, were you?
Spayd: Fee? The guy didn't say anything about a fee.
Wise Snake: What, you think transfers come free these days? Where's the money.
Spayd: I don't got no money!
Wise Snake: Don't make me take it out of you in healing work.
Spayd: ~~ absolute truth ~~
Wise Snake: What in shen were you doing running around in need with no money?
Spayd: Hey, that's what I pay taxes for!
Wise Snake pushes him away in disgust.
Wise Snake: Go home.
Wise Snake gets up, brushing straw and dirt off her cloak.
Spayd: But lady, don't you want to...?
Wise Snake: No!
Wise Snake: I work for a living, you bum. Now scram.
Spayd: ~~ eternally hopeful ~~
Wise Snake: ~~bitter~~
Wise Snake's white eyes shine unpleasantly.
Spayd decides that discretion is the better part of valor, and scrams.
Wise Snake thinks it sure is going to be a chore checking these people for financial awareness before each session, but there doesn't seem to be any way around it.
Wise Snake sighs and goes back to her position, slumps onto a log to wait.
Smilin' Dan makes his way laboriously around the tent.
Wise Snake zlins Smilin' Dan coming and looks up.
Smilin' Dan is an elderly Gen in a black-and-white striped suit, with a face only a mother orangutan could love.
Wise Snake: Er... hello?
Wise Snake has never seen anyone dressed quite like that, with the exception of Rapol.
Smilin' Dan: Are you the lady who does the healing?
Wise Snake: I sure am.
Wise Snake zlins him for injuries and money.
Smilin' Dan has a hard time believing that, since the lady who approached him looked so much more respectable.
Smilin' Dan: ~~ joint pain, and a wad of bills in the breast pocket ~~
Wise Snake smiles.
Wise Snake: Please, would you like to come over here and sit down?
Wise Snake shows him over to the log.
Wise Snake: You would like some help with your joint pain?
Smilin' Dan sits on the log, wincing just a bit at the harness of the seat.
Wise Snake zlins him again.
Smilin' Dan: Yes. It's getting a bit much, and I've still got two more days of barking.
Wise Snake: You work for the carnival?
Smilin' Dan: Yup.
Smilin' Dan: I've got a pitch by the refreshments.
Wise Snake is disappointed; had planned on picking his pocket, but if they are going to a lot of fair-hopping, it would be foolish to make enemies of carnies.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake gets down beside him and starts working on his joints.
Wise Snake: Yeah, um, if you see anyone who obviously requires the services of a channel, send 'em this way. I could use the work.
Wise Snake tries to reduce the swelling and block some of the pain.
Smilin' Dan: Sure will.
Smilin' Dan gives his trademark grin, which frequently frightens small children.
Wise Snake makes a mental note to send Griff over to have a look at the guy later.
Smilin' Dan: Ah, that's so much better.
Wise Snake: Here's some [digging in medical satchel] here's some balm to try on those joints. Might help.
Wise Snake hands him a small jar.
Smilin' Dan: Why, thank you very much, young channel.
Wise Snake: It's herbal, a lady by the name of Titty makes it over in Fum Buck Village.
Smilin' Dan: Fum Buck? I've been there once or twice.
Wise Snake: Where you going next?
Smilin' Dan: Pless.
Smilin' Dan: Their sheep festival starts next week.
Wise Snake realizes that's West, in the direction they'd been heading.
Wise Snake: Us too. Maybe we'll have to have a porstan or something there.
Wise Snake has only been at the fair about an hour and is already really keen on sticking with fairs if at all possible.
Smilin' Dan ensures that the area will remain free of small rugrats for a while longer.
Smilin' Dan: I'd like that.
Smilin' Dan: It'd be downright useful to know where to find a channel when the show's packing up and setting up.
Smilin' Dan: Lot of injuries.
Wise Snake's eyes light up at the thought.
Wise Snake's tentacles itch to get themselves all over the imagined injured.
Wise Snake: Thank you. I'd be glad to handle anything that might be required.
Wise Snake: [more than glad!]
Smilin' Dan: I'll pass the word, then.
Wise Snake: Thank you [again]
Wise Snake sees Smilin' Dan off.
Wise Snake sinks down onto the log.
Wise Snake jumps up again as Herraz approaches.
Herraz is a scrawny, vaguely unhealthy-looking Gen.
Wise Snake zlins Herraz.
Wise Snake: Hello...?
Herraz: ~~ unusually weak field ~~
Wise Snake: May I help you? [concerned]
Herraz: Yeah. I'm Herraz, the Unzlinnable Gen.
Wise Snake: Ummh....
Wise Snake decides not to state the obvious.
Herraz: Kid said you might know why I'm so sick all the time.
Wise Snake: Ok, let's have a zlin of you.
Wise Snake: Want to sit down over here?
Wise Snake shows him to the uncomfortable log.
Herraz plops down on the log.
Wise Snake: Will you allow me to take you in full transfer position for a deep zlin?
Herraz: Sure.
Herraz holds out his arms.
Wise Snake assumes the position.
Wise Snake zlins him carefully, starting with his wallet and finishing with the smallest nerve in the most obscure part of his body.
Wise Snake: [and covering everything else in between]
Wise Snake sits back.
Herraz: ~~ general failure to thrive, emphasized by weak nager ~~
Wise Snake: Huh.
Wise Snake: How long have you been like this?
Herraz: Since I was a kid, really.
Wise Snake takes his arms again and, seating her laterals, tries projecting need.
Herraz: ~~ very marginal response ~~
Wise Snake zlins him again, trying to figure out if there is anything recognizably wrong with his blood chemistry or hormones.
Herraz: ~~ nothing seems to run at more than 75% efficiency ~~
Wise Snake comes back duoconscious.
Wise Snake: Have you ever donated?
Herraz: Well, I tried, but the channel told me to come back when I was high field.
Wise Snake: Do you spend much time around Simes?
Herraz: There's the Jess the Last Junct in the booth next to mine....
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake: Did you grow up around the carnivals?
Herraz: Yeah.
Herraz: It's in my blood, I suppose.
Wise Snake: Hm.
Wise Snake: Ok... if I recommend a few lifestyle changes, do you think you could stick with them for at least 6 months just to see what happens?
Herraz cocks his head, considering.
Herraz: It depends. I do have to make a living, after all.
Wise Snake: Umh.
Wise Snake is not sure there is any point with a lukewarm response like that.
Herraz: What do you suggest?
Wise Snake figures what the hell, she doesn't have anything better to do.
Wise Snake: Well, I'd like you to stick to a diet of bread, leafy green vegetables, fruit and milk. I realize it might be tough being on the road all the time, but most of these fairs are near towns right? So try to get the vegetables and so forth.
Herraz: I think I can manage that.
Wise Snake: Also, I want you to get plenty of sleep each night. If people around you are making too much noise, find somewhere else to sleep. There's got to be somewhere... under a wagon, near the edge of camp... but not where there's noise.
Wise Snake: I don't want you being interrupted 2 or 3 times a night, and I definitely don't want you being woken up before your time.
Wise Snake: Or kept up late.
Herraz: Well, the carnival runs late most nights, but I can sleep in more in the morning to make up for it.
Wise Snake: Here's the other thing: I want you to spend more time around Simes in need. Hang out with them, talk with them, sit by them. With this many people around, there would have to be some available at all times.
Wise Snake: Their need will stimulate your body to selyn production.
Wise Snake: Getting your selyn system working properly will encourage the rest of you to improve as well.
Herraz: Really?
Wise Snake: Yeah.
Wise Snake: And if you ever are high field enough, definitely donate. Donating improves a Gen's general overall health.
Herraz: ~~ hopeful ~~
Wise Snake: Now, these things won't do you much good until you've done them consistently for a long time.
Wise Snake: Several months okay?
Herraz: How will I know I'm high field enough?
Wise Snake: Er... well, find a channel and have yourself zlinned about once a month. Explain your difficulty and see what they say.
Herraz: Oh.
Wise Snake: Or if you can't find a channel, have a renSime friend of yours zlin you regularly, someone you can count on to remember what you zlinned like the month before.
Herraz: Well, I can do that, I think.
Wise Snake nods. "Good."
Herraz gets to his feet.
Herraz: Thank you very much.
Wise Snake nods, and thinks that was a dud workwise.
Wise Snake: Good luck.
Wise Snake sighs and sits on the log that Herraz has vacated.