Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #10: Caged Things (6/5/98)
Eliza eats the candied apple on a stick and gazes around her in wonder.
Bally: Come see that amazing Gianto! The strongest Gen in the world! See him beat Simes in feats of strength! Try your own strength against him! The Amazing Gianto!
Bally: Feast your eyes on the beautiful mermaid Aqua!
Bally: Woman from the waist up, fish from the waist down (what a waste hey sir?) The one, the only Aqua! And all of a thin coin.
Bally: Gaze in awe at the wolf boy! Raised by wolves in the deep dark forest. More animal then human.
Bally: Thank you ma'am, come in and take a seat, the show will be starting soon!
Bally: Come see that amazing Gianto! Come see Aqua, the beautiful mermaid! Come see Fido the wolf boy!
Eliza: Did you hear that Bumanuel? A Gen stronger then a Sime! I want to see that! Can we go see that?!
Bally: Come see the one the only mermaid, (naked from the waist up folks!)
Bum Bum gives Eliza a "get-real" look.
Bum Bum: A Gen stronger than a Sime?
Bum Bum: You'll waste your money.
Eliza: ~ disappointed ~
Eliza pouts.
Eliza: Oh come on, you haven't let us see any of the shows!
Eliza: Wouldn't you like to see the mermaid?
Bum Bum: I thought we'd agreed we're tired of superhuman freaks.
Eliza: Look, Snake is not a superhuman freak!!!!!
Bum Bum lifts his eyebrows in a "that's your opinion" look.
Eliza stamps her foot.
Bum Bum manages to get his out of the way in time.
Eliza: Well I'm going in!
Bum Bum: Fine... Fine. I'm coming.
Bum Bum follows Eliza.
Eliza remembers she doesn't have any money.
Bally: That will be two coins thank you folks!
Bum Bum never has any money.
Bally: Show will be starting in a few minutes!
Bum Bum: Do you have any... [zlins that she doesn't]
Eliza: Do you have any money Bumanuel?
Eliza: Oh.
Eliza: ~ disappointment ~
Bum Bum: Are you kidding? Queen Tightwad has made my life a penniless travesty.
Eliza: Can you zlin Snake around anywhere?
Bum Bum zlins towards the freak area.
Eliza: She might want to see this Gen too!
Bum Bum: Isn't she back behind the blue and yellow tent? At least that's where we've been sending all those customers.
Bum Bum is possibly a bit resentful of having to find work for Snake.
Eliza: Come on - if we hurry we might catch the show!
Eliza takes off.
Bum Bum sighs and follows Eliza.
Eliza starts yelling way before she reaches the tent.
Eliza: Snake! Snake!!!
Eliza: SNAKE!!!
Wise Snake hears somebody shrieking her name and jumps up from where she'd been taking a moment's rest on a log.
Bally: Come see that amazing Gianto! The strongest Gen in the world! See him beat Simes in feats of strength! Try your own strength against him! The Amazing Gianto!
Wise Snake: What - what??
Wise Snake zlins Eliza's excitement.
Eliza bursts around behind the tent.
Wise Snake: Who's dying? Where's the accident? [still disoriented]
Eliza: There is this big Gen they say he is stronger then a Sime and a mermaid and a wolf boy wanna come look?
Bum Bum is embarrassed for Eliza.
Eliza: Oh come on Snake! Come look at him!
Eliza: They say he can beat any Sime.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza incredulously.
Wise Snake: You want me to take time off of work to go look at a huge Gen?
Bum Bum casts a "see? I told you - no sense of humor" expression at Eliza.
Eliza: Yes, that's right!
Eliza: ~ enticing ~
Wise Snake: Ucch-- don't.
Eliza: Oh come on - you have worked enough - you need a break!
Wise Snake backs away from Eliza's nager.
Eliza: Tell you what - if you don't want to come, I'll stay and help you.
Wise Snake: No no! I'll... I'll come, just keep your nager to yourself please.
Wise Snake: And only for a few minutes.
Wise Snake: I have to get something to eat anyway.
Wise Snake thinks, at least she should if she doesn't want Nick to climb on her back later.
Eliza jumps up and down in excitement then tears back to the pavilion.
Bally: Feast your eyes on the beautiful mermaid Aqua!
Bally: Come see that amazing Gianto!
Bally: Gaze in awe at the wolf boy!
Bally: Show starting in 2 minutes!
Bum Bum follows, not minding Eliza's erraticness so much now that it is really annoying Snake.
Wise Snake sighs and trails along behind, eyes darting about at all the people and noises.
Eliza: We three want to see the show! Snake [points] will pay!
Eliza: ~excitement ~
Bally smiles at them and puts out his hand.
Eliza waits for Snake to pay him.
Wise Snake realizes what Eliza really wanted her for... had nothing to do with giving her a break.
Wise Snake looks at the sign, then grudgingly digs up the requisite coins.
Gianto puts on his lap lap and checks to make sure his rub on tan hasn't rubbed off anywhere.
Gianto does a few flexes in front of the mirror.
Gianto grunts.
Eliza finds 3 seats together not too far from the front.
Eliza: ~ excited expectation ~
Bum Bum zlins about, actually kind of enjoying the decadence and thievery of the place.
Wise Snake chafes impatiently, doing the Farris-in-enclosed-space bit.
Gianto hears the opening music and gets ready.
Bally walks out on the stage.
Bally: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! BOYS AND GIRLS! What you are about to see will Amaze and delight you!
Bum Bum calls out loudly "Get off the stage, ya wimp!!!"
Bally ignores the heckling.
Eliza pokes Bumanuel in the ribs.
Wise Snake massages her forehead.
Eliza: Stop it!
Eliza: ~ embarrassment ~
Bum Bum: What! I'm just trying to enjoy myself.
Bum Bum sinks back into his chair, resentfully.
Bally: From the dawn of known time, it's been accepted that Simes are stronger then Gens!
Bally: Today we will put that theory to the test!
Bally: I present to you - the strongest man in the world! GIANTO!
Gianto strides onto the stage area and strikes a pose.
Wise Snake attempts to pay polite attention.
Eliza's eyes almost fall out of her head.
Eliza: Oh my!!!
Wise Snake in fact has almost no tolerance for "entertainment" of any shape or form.
Gianto has muscles where other men don't even have places.
Eliza: Snake look at that!!!!
Eliza: Have you ever seen anyone that big?
Bum Bum zlins Eliza's reaction and, being just past transfer, finds it rather exciting.
Bum Bum studies Eliza with great interest, ignoring the stage.
Eliza: ~ amazement ~
Wise Snake looks at the stage.
Wise Snake zlins... a Gen.
Wise Snake: Um,
Eliza wants to feel those lumps and make sure they are as hard as they look.
Wise Snake tries to look with only her eyes, something she finds tedious.
Gianto moves from one pose to another, showing off different muscle groups.
Bally waits for Gianto to finish running through his poses before stepping forward again.
Bum Bum looks at his own arm, which is scrawny, then back at the stage, and wonders how he can get that kind of reaction out of Eliza on his own.
Bally: Gianto will now perform feats of strength that up to now you would have only have considered possible under augmentation!
Wise Snake zlins Bally for truth.
Eliza sits on the end of her seat.
Bally: ~ mostly boredom ~
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake slouches back, trying to feign attention.
Gianto picks up a steel bar and with much grunting and stretching of muscles bends it.
Eliza: Oh my!
Eliza: Snake!!! Look at that!!!
Wise Snake jerks upward, belatedly zlinning the stage again.
Wise Snake: Er... very nice, Eliza.
Bum Bum: I can bend one of those, [adds]
Eliza: Not without augmenting you can't!
Bum Bum can't zlin a thing through this ambient.
Bum Bum: So? That's what augmenting's FOR.
Eliza: Shuush!
Bum Bum is terribly envious of the big guy's hold on Eliza's attention.
Bum Bum mutters.
Gianto waits while his "assistant" prepares the weights.
Bally: Gianto will now attempt to lift the world record weight for a Gen!
Wise Snake watches, sighing.
Gianto walks forward, squats and takes hold of the bar.
Eliza: Oh do you think he can?
Bum Bum tries to zlin the weights, sure it must be a setup.
Bum Bum: They must be fake!
Eliza: Could you lift that Snake?
Bum Bum: ~~jealous~~
Eliza is practically ignoring Bumanuel.
Gianto grunts and heaves it into the air.
Wise Snake: I suppose I could, if there were any reason to.
Wise Snake: Say, if some injured person was trapped underneath it.
Gianto holds it over his head for a few moments before dropping them heavily onto the ground.
Wise Snake's tone makes it clear it would have to be something like that or she wouldn't bother.
Bum Bum: "I suppose I could" sneers Bumanuel under his breath, in snide imitation.
Bally: Is there any Gen in the audience who would care to try his strength against that of the mighty Gianto?
Bum Bum: Why don't YOU try, Eliza?
Eliza: Oh I couldn't do that!!!!
Bum Bum feels vindicated.
Eliza half stands up to look around to see if anyone is going to take the challenge.
Eliza: I don't think anyone here could!
Eliza: Isn't he AMAZING????!!!!!
Bally steps forward.
Wise Snake grips Eliza's arm and tugs her back down before somebody mistakes her for a volunteer.
Bally: No takers?
Bally: Ha!
Bum Bum: No, he's a fake! [mutters to Eliza]
Bum Bum: What a lousy waste of 2 coins.
Bum Bum: "Lift it yourself, you smart ass!!" [bellows]
Bally: Very well, We no present to you the major part of our show!
Bally: [two men wheel out a tall piece of equipment, with numbers up the side and a bell on the top]
Gianto picks up a very large hammer that is laying on the stage, swings it over his head and makes the bell right.
Wise Snake flinches at the sight of the hammer, then leans forward, anticipating a smashed foot or at least a back injury.
Bally: If anyone, Sime or Gen, Male or Female, can make that bell ring, he or she will win - yes I said WIN! ladies and gentlemen! 10 pieces of silver!
Bally: This is no joke! We are so sure of Gianto's strength that we are willing to pay cold hard cash to anyone who can match it!
Bum Bum: Yeah right, [starts to get up]
Eliza: Oh! Snake! go on!
Wise Snake reaches over and yanks Bumanuel down.
Eliza: Bumanuel? Do you think you should?
Eliza: You might hurt yourself!
Wise Snake: Not on your life. We don't need that kind of attention.
Eliza: ~ disappointed ~
Bum Bum looks outraged at Eliza's suggestion.
Bum Bum: Hurt myself?? How?
Eliza watches as another Sime in the crowd gets up and goes up on stage with much cheering and jeering from the crowd.
Bum Bum: What, you think since I don't have muscles on my muscles, I can't swing a hammer?
Bally hands him the hammer.
Eliza ignores Bumanuel in favor of staring avidly at what's happening on the stage.
Wise Snake zlins the renSime on stage.
Wise Snake has to concentrate to make out his nager, but is able to do so.
RenSime augments to swing the hammer down hard on the pad, but the result is very disappointing.
Gianto smirks.
Wise Snake's eyebrows quirk upward.
Eliza: Oh, did you see that!
Bum Bum: See - I told you. That rig's rigged!
Eliza: Well I mean, look at him.
Eliza: It's not rigged!!!
Eliza: ~ incensed ~
Bum Bum: It is too! How else can you explain it?
Eliza: You just don't want to believe that a Gen can be as strong as a Sime.
Eliza: I mean, just look at him! You can SEE how strong he is!
Bum Bum: It has to be rigged. ANY Sime should have been able to do that, even - [looks at Snake, then decides he'd better not piss off Eliza any further]... even little ones.
RenSime returns to his seat.
Bally: There you see the proof!
Bally: Is there anyone else who would care to test their strength against that of a mere Gen?
Wise Snake stands up, trying to zlin the equipment over the crowd's heads.
Bally looks at Bumanuel.
Bally: You sir?
Wise Snake is displaying the typical Farris obliviousness to social context.
Bally sees Snake stand.
Bally: You, Miz?
Bally: We have a woman here who has challenged Gianto!!!!!
Eliza gives Snake a little push.
Eliza: Go on Snake!
Eliza: Go show them!!!!
Bum Bum starts to rip off a snappy comeback to Bally, but then beams when he sees Snake is about to either prove Gianto is a fraud, or make an utter idiot of herself.
Bum Bum leans back, grinning from ear to ear.
Wise Snake's concentration is broken.
Wise Snake: ~~confusion~~
Wise Snake: Er....
Wise Snake: Shen!
Bally: Come on up little lady!
Wise Snake: They've got it rigged so it's impossible to do it.
Wise Snake looks around at them all, then walks down toward the stage.
Gianto smirks at the size of the new "threat"
Eliza wiggles in her seat with excitement.
Eliza: Oh oh! This is so great!
Wise Snake pauses, zlins Gianto, and says, "It just goes to show that the size of the Gen has nothing to do with the size of the nager." [to herself, but he could probably hear it too]
Gianto holds out the huge hammer.
Gianto scowls at her.
Wise Snake takes it, augmenting to be able to.
Wise Snake wraps her tentacles firmly around the haft.
Wise Snake gives him a cool, slightly deranged little smile.
Eliza can't remember ever being so excited.
Eliza: ~ EXCITEMENT ~
Bum Bum is getting rather excited despite himself... mostly due to Eliza.
Gianto flexes his muscles.
Eliza focuses on Snake with all her attention.
Wise Snake slides her leading foot under the edge of the base to get more leverage.
Wise Snake takes takes a big, big step back....
Eliza holds her breath.
Wise Snake hurls the hammer down at maximum augmentation, causing it to break in two and the head to go flying across the stage.
Eliza shrieks.
Eliza: Oh look! Oh look!
Wise Snake remains frozen for a moment, then holds up the bare-ended shaft, looking at it in somewhat comic consternation.
Gianto sees the hammer head approaching, but is too slow to duck.
Gianto: *CLUNK*
Gianto slowly falls, stiffly, like a tree.
Eliza: Oh no! HE'S DEAD!!!!!!!!
Eliza: Is he dead Bumanuel?????
Bum Bum: How should I know with your nager blotting out the entire place!!
Eliza grabs Bumanuel's upper arm and shakes him.
Bum Bum tries to push her away.
Bum Bum: Stop it stop it!
Bally stands there gasping like a fish.
Eliza: Go help Snake!!!
Eliza jumps up.
Eliza: [everyone else in the place seems to be jumping up too, mostly crowding towards the stage.]
Wise Snake finally drops the useless stick and darts over to the fallen Gianto.
Eliza pushes through the crowd.
Bum Bum follows, against his better judgment.
Bum Bum: Wait!
Eliza starts to climb on the stage.
Eliza starts yelling "It's OK - she's a channel just give her room!"
Wise Snake zlins the head injury.
Bally tries to keep the crowd off the stage.
Wise Snake looks around in agitation, utterly unable to work in this environment.
Wise Snake sees Eliza coming.
Bally: Everything is just fine, all part of the show, please take your seats!
Wise Snake: "Let her on!" [to Bally, pointing at Eliza]
Bum Bum slips up on stage, pulling Eliza with him.
Bally indicates with his thumb that Eliza is to come on up, a signal totally lost on Eliza as she was going to anyway.
Wise Snake: Come on... we have to get him somewhere a bit quieter. Bumanuel, take his head. I'll get the feet.
Wise Snake: Eliza... is that a backstage door? [indicating with a tentacle]
Eliza: I guess.
Bally leans over them.
Bally: Is he dead?
Wise Snake: Unconscious.
Wise Snake: Come on, lift....
Bally is relieved.
Bum Bum zlins Snake and coordinates on the lifting.
Bally indicates the way off stage.
Bum Bum: Hey, guy's not so heavy duty now, is he? [under his breath, as he augments to help carry the limp form out the door]
Eliza concentrates on Snake, while wondering if she will get a chance to feel the guys muscles.
Bally goes back to the front of the stage.
Wise Snake stops as they reach a considerably quieter hallway beyond.
Wise Snake: All right, here's good enough. Get that door, Eliza?
Bally: Gianto will be back for the next show! Now we have the incredible, the amazing, the unbelievable Aqua!!!!
Bum Bum: I'll be right back.
Bum Bum rushes off.
Eliza shuts the door.
Wise Snake looks after Bumanuel, then shrugs.
Eliza: Will he be okay, Snake?
Wise Snake: Sure.
Wise Snake: [read: who cares?]
Eliza: ~ worry ~
Eliza: Is his head broken?
Wise Snake: Come here and help me.
Wise Snake: Ah... you meant Gianto.
Wise Snake had thought she meant Bumanuel.
Eliza: Okay, what do you want me to do?
Wise Snake: Okay, come and kneel right behind me.
Eliza looks at Gianto to see if his clothing needs loosening.
Eliza wonders how you loosen a lap lap.
Eliza: Okay.
Eliza kneels behind Snake.
Wise Snake: Now, support me, but be careful. Don't start too abruptly, and then once you're doing it, be as strong and steady as possible. Can you do that?
Eliza: Uh-huh.
Eliza moves her focus from the strong man to Snake.
Eliza: Is that OK?
Wise Snake recovers from the transition, then manages a nod.
Wise Snake: That's fine, now just support me, as smoothly as possible. Don't let yourself get distracted.
Wise Snake zlins the head injury once again.
Eliza settles in happily to support Snake.
Wise Snake: Ummh... it's not that bad, fortunately, aside from his being unconscious.
Wise Snake gently tries to bring Gianto conscious.
Gianto moans.
Griff wanders into the freak show tent--again--and sees Snake and Eliza.
Eliza feels a twinge of excitement which she suppresses.
Wise Snake works to block some of the pain and ease the bruising.
Gianto: Wo wo wo wo.
Wise Snake: Shh.. you'll be all right. [soothing]
Gianto tries to focus on the shapes in front of him.
Gianto: Who hit me?
Wise Snake: You were hit by a hammer head flying off a broken shaft.
Wise Snake assumes Gianto has seen this sort of accident before, working as he does with large hammers.
Eliza tries to ignore everything but Snake [not easy to do this close to Gianto]
Griff wanders closer.
Gianto raises his hand to his head and groans.
Griff sees Gianto holding his head and peers more closely, hoping to see ooky brains.
Wise Snake: I think you're going to be fine, but you might want to take it easy for the next few hours just in case.
Bum Bum is out front in the audience, ogling the "mermaid".
Wise Snake: Ah. Hello, Griff.
Griff sees Bumanuel.
Wise Snake: Have you met Gianto, Griff?
Griff: Hey, Mr. Bumanuel.
Eliza is almost in a trance state of concentration.
Griff: Naw. The Two-Headed Boy is ookier.
Wise Snake: Well, this is Gianto, the World's Strongest Gen.
Wise Snake: Gianto, this is Griff, my assistant.
Wise Snake: [actually, her slave's assistant, but it hardly matters to Gianto]
Gianto: Pleased to meetcha oh my head.
Wise Snake: Griff, remember what we discussed about concussions, at the hospital?
Griff bends over Gianto to inspect the injury.
Griff: Yeah! [very loudly]
Eliza blinks rapidly.
Wise Snake: I'd like you to spend the next few hours with Gianto just to make sure he's okay. That would mean hanging about back here and keeping an eye on him for any symptoms... you all right with that?
Wise Snake hopes he will run into many injured and sick people to send over her way also, while he's at it, but that goes without saying.
Eliza wishes that she had been given that job - but suppresses that too.
Griff thinks about hours spent enjoying the ookiness of the freak show, instead of chasing after customers for the channels.
Griff: Sure, Miz Ferret!
Wise Snake winces at his mangling of her name, which somehow never seems to sound any better to her.
Wise Snake: Great.
Eliza: That's Farris, Griff, not Ferret.
Wise Snake: Gianto, Griff here is going to stick around just to make sure you're fi-- [winces at Eliza's use of her real name] --ne.
Eliza speaks very softly so she doesn't interrupt her concentration.
Griff compares Snake with the mermaid and the two-headed boy, and wonders if Snake could get a job as the "weasel-headed girl".
Wise Snake: Eliza! Stop fantasizing. [nervously]
Eliza: I'm sorry Snake!
Wise Snake: Now, go back to the, er, Ferret camp and let anybody there know I'll be along in just a moment.
Eliza concentrates harder.
Wise Snake is wearing an almost perpetual wince now.
Wise Snake: And Eliza... go quickly!
Gianto slides up to a sitting position.
Wise Snake: [pleading]
Eliza: Oh! okay.
Eliza rushes out.
Wise Snake collapses against a wall in relief.
Gianto: The next show is at 4.
Gianto: Will I be right for that?
Nick hears a rumor about an accident in the freak show tent, and goes to investigate.
Bum Bum is goggling at the fake, but very sexy, semi-nude mermaid.
Eliza runs past Nick, before realising and turning back.
Eliza: Nick!
Eliza: Snake said to tell you ummm.
Nick: Yes?
Eliza blushes as she realises she doesn't have the faintest idea what Snake said.
Nick: Where is she?
Eliza: Something about minks.
Eliza: Or was it sloats?
Eliza: She is in there with the muscle man and griff.
Eliza: Oh you should see him Nick!
Nick: I'll clear it with her, then.
Eliza: He is a Gen as strong as a Sime!
Eliza: He is HUGE!
Eliza has a strange light in her eyes.
Nick: That's very interesting. [edging into the tent]
Eliza follows him.
Bum Bum grabs Nick.
Eliza: And Snake hit him with a hammer head.
Bum Bum: You gotta see this, man!
Nick: What?
Eliza: Yeah - you gotta see the strong man!
Bum Bum turns Nick around to point him at the stage and its luscious (if rubber-clad) starlet.
Aqua sits in her tank with a fixed and bored smile on her face.
Nick sights Snake during the turn.
Nick: Ah, sure, Bumanuel, very nice.
Aqua splashes with her flukes.
Bum Bum: Hubba hubba!
Bum Bum: Be mine, darling! Be mine!
Bum Bum: (etc.)
Nick shakes free of Bumanuel and heads for Snake.
Eliza sees the mermaid and stares.
Eliza: Oh wow!
Nick: Snake!
Eliza: How did that happen?
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake looks up in considerable relief as Nick arrives.
Wise Snake melts into his nager.
Wise Snake: Ahh... thank you.
Wise Snake: Let's get out of here!
Bum Bum: Who knows? Who cares? But I like it!
Nick nods and puts an arm around Snake, using his greater Gen bulk to clear the way as they head for the entrance.
Bum Bum: I wonder if she, er, "floats around"?
Eliza: You mean, in the water?
Griff sits by the Strong Gen, eyeing the exhibits.
Medusa is sitting nearby.
Medusa is a seemingly normal woman, sitting calmly but wearing an insulated bag zipped over her head.
Medusa: [her sign says "Medusa, the world's most hideous woman! Sime/Gen!"]
Gianto: Hi Med.
Griff looks curiously at Medusa.
Griff: You don't look ugly at all.
Griff: ~~ disappointment ~~
Medusa: Allo, Gianto. When I told you to break a leg, I didn't mean your head!
Medusa looks at Griff through the slits of her eyeholes.
Gianto rubs his head woefully.
Medusa's eyes seem perfectly normal.
Medusa: You're so sweet!
Medusa: What's your name?
Medusa's face mask moves slightly as something underneath it shifts.
Griff: I'm Griff.
Gianto: I'll get a drink I think.
Gianto: Want one Griff?
Gianto: When are you off again Med?
Griff: Yeah. The lemonade.
Medusa: I have a show in about 20 minutes. Just resting now.
Griff does not yet know that the carnival "lemonade" hasn't seen an actual lemon in years.
Gianto: Lemonade? Bah, you don't want lemonade.
Gianto: Want to come get a drink with us then Med?
Griff: Why not? It's hot and I'm thirsty.
Medusa: Sure!
Medusa gets up and approaches them, moving sinuously.
Medusa: So, Griff... are you new here? Welcome to Fooneran's Freak Family!
Snow wonders into the mess tent, sneaking like a mouse, glad to get out of the sun.
Snow is billed as "the amazing colourless woman! No colour! No nager! Come Zlin for yourself!"
Slop Mama is at the slop line, slopping things into people's bowls.
Griff: I'm with Snake Ferret.
Gianto: Wasn't that Farris?
Gianto: Didn't that other girl say Farris?
Medusa: Farris??
Gianto: I'm sure she said Farris.
Gianto: Yeah - this channel.
Snow sneaks up to Slop Mama.
Snow holds out a small bowl.
Slop Mama: We got Spam, Spam and Ham, Spam, Baked beans and Ham, [bellows]
Slop Mama: .. Spam, Spam, Spam, Eggs and Spam, ...
Snow smiles at her and holds out her bowl more.
Snow: Yes please.
Griff: She's ooky.
Slop Mama slops Spam into Snow's bowl.
Snow: Spam and jam.
Slop Mama adds a dollop of jam. [smack]
Slop Mama: NEXT.
Snow: Thanks Mama.
Slop Mama winks at Snow without missing a beat.
Snow slides into an empty seat and starts to eat.
Medusa: Ooky? [chuckles]
Gianto holds the flap open for Griff and Med.
Medusa slips out gracefully.
Gianto: Didn't look ooky to me.
Griff: Yeah. She does lots of ooky things to people.
Gianto: Though her eyes looked like Snow's over there a bit.
Snow hears her name and looks up.
Medusa: Hello Snow!
Medusa waves.
Snow smiles at the the group and indicates they should come sit with her.
Slop Mama: SPAM, SPAM, SPAM.
Medusa picks up a bowl.
Gianto: Be right there Snow, just getting this young man a real drink!
Griff wonders what Gianto has against lemonade.
Gianto whispers something to Slop Mama, indicates Griff, and winks.
Snow grins.
Slop Mama winks an exaggerated wink.
Slop Mama fetches a glass, and holds it behind the counter where a loud hissing and frothing sound can be heard.
Slop Mama hands it to Griff filled with a steaming clear yellow liquid.
Griff takes the glass, eyes wide.
Griff: What IS this stuff?
Gianto: There you go lad! Lemonade!
Slop Mama: We got Spam, Spam, Spam, baked beans and Spam... [slops Spam onto Medusa's bowl, almost knocking it out of her hands]
Gianto winks at Mama again and leads Griff to the table with Snow sits.
Medusa grabs the bowl and manages to keep from losing it, grins nervously.
Medusa follows them to the table.
Snow: Who is this handsome young man?
Snow moves over to make sure that Griff sits next to her.
Griff looks at Snow, noting approvingly that she looks much ookier than Eliza.
Griff sits next to her, even if she is a girl.
Chamee Rhoumerghe, the Snake Dancer, enters the tent.
Griff: I'm Griff. Who are you?
Medusa unzips her hood... from the inside, using a tentacle.
Snow: I'm Snow, well I'm Jane really.
Snow: But they call me Snow.
Snow: What's your real name?
Griff: Griff.
Griff doesn't notice Medusa, being too interested in Snow.
Medusa calmly begins eating her spam.
Snow: That's your REAL name?
Snow: Wow, wish my parents had called me something like that!
Griff: Yeah. What's wrong with it? [a bit defensively]
Snow looks at Griff admiringly.
Snow: It's great! A real showbiz type name.
Snow: So, what's your billing?
Chamee approaches their table, carrying his flute and a plate of Spaghetti and Spam.
Chamee: Mind if I join you? [to Medusa and Gianto]
Griff: I work for Snake. She collects the bills.
Snow: A Snake lady?
Griff lifts his "lemonade" and takes a big swig.
Snow: We don't have a Snake lady, well not if you don't count Med here.
Medusa waves [with a left dorsal... one of several]
Griff thinks the effect is neat.
Griff hasn't been dealing with Simes long enough to realize that they all have approximately the same number of tentacles.
Medusa's of course are all on her head, rather than her arms, but this is a fine point.
Chamee looks up at the mention of snakes.
Snow: So you and your Snake lady joining the show?
Gianto shovels down his spam and goes to get seconds.
Griff: Dunno.
Griff decides that if Gianto is that hungry, he must be okay.
Chamee: So you say she works with snakes? [interested]
Snow licks her bowl.
Griff: Yeah. All the time.
Griff is a bit surprised to hear someone in-Territory use that term for Simes, but what the hey.
Gianto returns with another big plate of spam, ham, jam and spaghetti.
Gianto: I didn't see any snake.
Gianto: Just that Farris Channel.
Chamee: Farris channel?
Chamee: Here?
Snow looks up in surprise.
Gianto: Yeah - knocked me out with the hammer.
Gianto: Kid here works for her.
Snow looks worried.
Snow: You keep her away from me kid - you hear me?
Medusa: I thought that was an accident...?
Medusa didn't see it first hand though.
Medusa: [or zlin it first head for that matter]
Griff: Why? You got something against her?
Gianto shrugs.
Gianto: Doesn't make any difference if it were an accident or not hey.
Griff: She doesn't usually hurt people.
Griff realizes, of course, that all bets are off when entran strikes.
Gianto: Little bitty thing thought she could beat me in the show, come up on stage, picked up the hammer and WHACK.
Gianto shrugs.
Chamee: Wait a minute... what did you say happened?
Chamee wonders if customers attacking the performers is going to be a regular fear now.
Gianto: You know in my show with the rig - errrr ringing bell thing.
Gianto: Well she got up on stage to have a go at making it ring.
Chamee: Yeah?
Gianto: Next thing I know the hammer comes flying at me.
Gianto: Then I wake up and she is kneeling over me.
Chamee takes off his turban to wipe his forehead, then thinks the better of putting it back on.
Gianto: Then she asks this kid here to keep an eye on my for concussion.
Chamee sets the turban, and the snake asleep inside it, aside.
Chamee: She threw the hammer at you?
Griff takes another swig of "lemonade".
Chamee notices what Griff is drinking and his eyes widen.
Griff doesn't think it tastes like any lemonade he's ever had before, but he's starting to feel very laid back, so he doesn't care.
Chamee thinks whoever this Griff and his Snake Lady are, they sure are reckless.
Gianto: Looked that way to me.
Gianto: Tiny little thing too.
Gianto ponders.
Snow: Well I got to go, if you see that Farris hanging around you let me know!
Medusa finishes up her Spam and slips her hood back on again [with a sad little grimace at the sensation]
Griff: Sure.
Medusa: Me too. I'm on in 5 minutes.
Snow waves to Griff and leaves.
Medusa: Bye bye!
Medusa hurries off, zipping up the hood.
Griff blinks, wondering why Snow suddenly dyed her hair purple.
Medusa hurries back.
Medusa: Oh... nice meeting you. [waves with a tendril from an eye hole]
Medusa hurries off again, this time evidently for real.
Griff looks at Gianto, who also seems to be purple.
Griff: Should have used green.
Mmoe walks over to the table and climbs up on the chair so he can be seen above the level of the table.
Mmoe takes out the big smoking cigar from his mouth and squints at Gianto.
Mmoe: What's this I hear about someone clobbering you?
Gianto is starting to feel like he should be worked up about this after all.
Gianto: Yeah!
Griff smiles at Mmoe.
Corli walks into the mess tent... well, not literally, fortunately.
Griff: I like fireworks.
Gianto: Some Farris Channel came up on stage and hit me with a hammer!
Corli bends down and carefully negotiates his way into the low-ceilinged tent.
Mmoe blinks at the kid.
Mmoe: Sure sure kid - we all do, now shuddap!
Corli: Hey Mmoe. Got hit by any hammers lately? Ha ha.
Mmoe: You ought to sue you should!
Mmoe: Think they are all high and mighty!
Mmoe glares at Corli.
Corli pulls back the bench and folds his 8'+ skinny frame onto it.
Mmoe: You been smoking that pipeweed again Corli?
Corli: Hey no! I heard someone got bean-o'd with a hammer at the 2:30 show.
Mmoe: Was Gianto here - open your stupid eyes and look at his head.
Mmoe: I was just saying to Gianto here that he should sue.
Griff smiles vaguely.
Griff: You need to be stretched.
Mmoe glares at Griff.
Mmoe: You need to be stuffed.
Corli looks at Gianto's head, which has a giant pink goose egg on it.
Corli's eyes widen comically.
Griff thinks that over.
Griff: Naw, stuffing's for goose.
Gianto waves his mitts in what is suppose to be a calming gesture.
Corli: Who can beat YOU up?
Gianto: Now now, settle down.
Corli: Who would dare? [adds]
Griff: Ever play Goose?
Gianto: Lad - you want to get some more lemonade?
Griff gets to his feet, with a bit more difficulty than he'd anticipated.
Chamee slips away quietly before things get ugly, not noticing the snake has escaped from his turban.
Griff: Goes like this:
Gianto: I don't want to sue, suing would mean lawyers and you know how they all feel about carnies.
Griff starts walking around the table, waving a hand vaguely over the empty chairs.
Griff: Duck, duck, duck, duck...
Mmoe: Well you ought to do something!
Corli stares at Griff.
Mmoe: We should lynch 'em then.
Corli: What's he doing?
Mmoe turns and looks at Griff.
Mmoe: Has he been smoking pipeweed too?
Gianto: Nah, just lemonade!
Griff passes Mmoe's chair, clobbering him on the head as he goes by, with another "duck".
Mmoe: Who is he anyway?
Gianto: He's the kid with the Farris Channel.
Mmoe grabs the top of his head.
Mmoe: He's a pest that what he is.
Mmoe: Woooo there.
Mmoe: He is with the Farris Channel?
Mmoe makes eye contact with Corli.
Mmoe indicates the kid with his head.
Mmoe: Lets grab him.
Griff continues around the table, clobbering each person on the head with a "duck" as he goes.
Corli's head is way out of Griff's reach.
Mmoe pulls a tablecloth off the table as he jumps down [without moving any of the crockery on the table, a trick he learnt from his dad]
Corli: Farris channel??? [this is the first he's heard of it]
Mmoe throws the tablecloth over Griff's head with a cry of "grab him Corli!
Griff finally reaches Gianto and stands on tiptoe to whop him on the head, yelling "goose!" this time.
Corli takes a moment to react, then reaches over the table to grab hold.
Gianto jumps up, overturning the table [and definitely disturbing the crockery]
Gianto gets tangled in the tablecloth with Griff.
Corli scrambles over the table as it is knocked toward him, not losing his grip on Griff as he does a convincing impression of a Daddy Longlegs on speed.
Gianto: What, who, why, where....
Mmoe grabs Griff's legs.
Griff: Hey!
Griff begins to thrash randomly.
Gianto scrambles backwards out of their combined way.
Gianto: I don't know if this is a good idea Mmoe.
Mmoe: Sure it [grunt] is. Kid, stop kicking!
Kong the Ape Man walks into the tent.
Mmoe: We hide the kid, until they pay up for what they did to you.
Kong is big (though not as picturesque as Gianto)
Kong is covered with lots of black hair.
Gianto scratches the back of his head thoughtfully.
Corli thoughtfully covers Griff's mouth with a hand.
Mmoe: Let's put him in with the animals.
Mmoe catches sight of Kong.
Griff bites Corli's hand, tasting blood.
Griff thinks the blood tastes ooky.
Mmoe: Hey - Kong, come give us a hand.
Corli thoughtfully stuffs some tablecloth in Griff's mouth to prevent further ingress or egress.
Griff: Mrguhhh!
Kong walks over, swinging his knuckles.
Kong: [dragging his knuckles may be more accurate]
Kong: Duh what kin I do fer yuh Mmowe?
Griff thrashes, still in an uncoordinated fashion.
Mmoe: Take this bundle here and throw him in with the ummm better not be the tigers, they tend to get upset.
Mmoe: Where would be a good place to stash him?
Gianto picks up the table and puts it back on its feet.
Kong: MMm... 30 foot python?
Kong thinks the python rarely wakes up, much less gets upset.
Mmoe: Nah - might give it indigestion.
Mmoe: The lion's pretty harmless.
Kong: Flea Circus?
Mmoe: Stick him in with Leo.
Kong: Okey dokey.
Kong hoists Griff over his shoulder.
Mmoe thinks it's been ages since Leo has been able to chew anything more tough than mince.
Mmoe slaps his hands together in a gesture of a job well done.
Mmoe: Right! Now! What's the next step?
Kong totes Griff off to the cage of Leo.
Griff kicks feebly.
Mmoe: We need a Plan of Action.
Mmoe: You! Corli! Go let them know we want to parley!
Kong: Don't worry, Leo a nice Lion.
Kong climbs nimbly up to the top of Leo's wagon.
Kong opens the hatch on top and pokes Griff into the hole.
Leo growls ominously as Kong [his friend who often feed him tidbits] drops a rather large tidbit in his cage.
Leo pads over to sniff it.
Griff squawks indignantly as he falls.
Leo looks up at Kong in question.
Kong: Happy kitty. [beams] Me bring you bacon tonight kay?
Leo pokes the bundle with his paw.
Kong promptly forgets all about Griff, Leo and Mmoe.
Leo decides that Griff probably isn't food, and lies on him.
Mmoe: Corli!
Griff oooffs as the weight comes down on him.
Mmoe pokes Corli in the knee, that being as high as he can reach.
Corli: Yeah?
Corli looks down, and down.
Mmoe: Go find this Farris person, tell them we have the kid and want to talk.
Corli: Me? It was your idea.
Mmoe climbs back up on the chair.
Corli: Anyway, I got a show in 2 minutes.
Mmoe: Come on, you are just the messenger!
Mmoe: I have to stay here and think of a plan of action.
Mmoe: Bah - you useless string bean!
Corli hurries out before the abuse really starts.
Mmoe looks around for another sucker.
Gianto: Don't look at me!
Gianto: This was all your idea.
Mmoe: Where is that damn Kong?
Mmoe: We'll get Kong to go - no one can argue with Kong!
Aqua walks [yes, walks] in to the mess hall.
Mmoe: Aqua! Got a job for you honey! Right down your alley!
Aqua is hardly recognizable as the mermaid, now dressed from head to toe with her hair up in a bun.
Aqua: Yeah? What do you want this time Mmoe? My party dress for your boyfriend?
Aqua makes kissy noises.
Mmoe: Bah, got a message needs delivering.
Mmoe: You seen any Farris Channels around?
Aqua: Any what?
Mmoe: Bah, forget it.
Aqua forgets it and wonders off to get food.
Mmoe: I guess if you want a job done you do it yourself.
Mmoe: Come on Gianto, lets go find them ourselves.
Nick watches Snake heal a sprained ankle in their temporary "infirmary".
Wise Snake comes duoconscious.
Wise Snake: Now, you'll want to avoid stressing this for at least a day or two.
Gianto picks Mmoe up and put him on his shoulder.
Mmoe: You know what we need?
Gianto: A shower?
Wise Snake: And, please be careful when stealing horses in the future. It is possible to trip on the pickets.
Mmoe: No, you stupid oaf! We need to find someone who has seen them!
Gianto: I've seen them.
Mmoe groans.
Mmoe: Give me patience!
Nick watches the latest client leave, and turns back to Snake, gauging her condition.
Mmoe: Where did you see them last?
Nick: Feeling better?
Gianto: Behind my pavillion.
Mmoe: Then we start there.
Wise Snake: Yes. But if these people keep coming at this rate, I'll be even better.
Mmoe gets an idea.
Mmoe: Hmmm.
Mmoe whacks Gianto over the head.
Gianto: ~ OUCH PAIN ~
Gianto: What you do that for!!!!!
Gianto picks him up and puts him back on the ground.
Wise Snake scratches herself.
Mmoe: Well it makes sense! If we can't find them, maybe they can find us!
Wise Snake: Not that rest is anywhere near on my mind at this point, but we really have to find someplace to sleep that I'm not allergic to.
Eliza sees the muscle man but can't see Griff.
Eliza: ~ heart pounding madly ~
Eliza walks over.
Nick puts a hand on Snake's, stopping the scratching.
Eliza: ~ shy ~
Eliza: Hello.
Nick: Use the cream, if you're itching.
Nick: Scratching will only make it worse.
Mmoe looks up at her.
Mmoe: Gianto isn't available for anything at the moment girly.
Wise Snake's hand stops.
Wise Snake: Okay, where is it?
Eliza looks embarrassed.
Eliza: I was just wondering how his head was. Where is Griff?
Mmoe looks attentive.
Gianto: He's fine, he's in the ca-- ouch!!! [as mmoe kicks his ankle]
Nick rummages in the sadly depleted medicine satchel and pulls out the Farris itch cream.
Mmoe: You with the Farris Channel?
Wise Snake: Ah... thank you.
Eliza looks down at him.
Eliza: Yes... why?
Wise Snake opens the jar and looks in, then holds it up, looking through the bottom.
Mmoe: We gotta see her, take us to her now.
Wise Snake sighs and uses a tentacle to scrape a bit off the sides.
Eliza: Oh, okay.
Eliza leads the way between the tents to where Snake has set up shop.
Nick: We'll have to find some more, somehow.
Wise Snake: Yeah.
Wise Snake: [thinking: understatement of the century]
Nick is only just beginning to realize just what he's taken on, trying to keep a Farris channel healthy on the run.
Wise Snake digs in the satchel, looking for a little something to take her mind off the rash.
Eliza: Snake, Gianto is here with a friend to see you.
Nick looks up.
Nick: Is that concussion worse?
Wise Snake: Er... what?
Eliza: They are outside.
Wise Snake looks up, then zlins Gianto in confusion, noting the strange emotions in their nagers.
Wise Snake: Well, tell them to come on over, then.
Eliza beckons to the odd couple.
Mmoe comes over and looks Snake up and down.
Mmoe: [mostly up]
Mmoe: Well well well.
Mmoe: You are the Farris Channel who thinks she can beat up my buddy and get away with it?
Wise Snake ignores Mmoe, going over to Gianto.
Wise Snake: How odd... your head really is worse.
Wise Snake zlins the injury again.
Wise Snake: Well, come here and sit down... I can do some more work on it.
Gianto puts his hand self consciously to his head.
Mmoe: You aren't touching him again!
Wise Snake can understand a certain amount of antagonism on their part if they think she is a hack who can't heal properly.
Wise Snake: I'm terribly sorry about this, but I assure you he will be just fine in just a minute.
Mmoe: You think, just cause of your family connections, that you can waltz in here and do what you like without any repercussions?
Mmoe: Well, no way sister.
Mmoe: We have the kid and you ain't getting him back until a few of our conditions have been filled!
Wise Snake is starting to look openly baffled.
Wise Snake: What?
Nick sees that Snake is getting seriously annoyed at the delay in healing.
Mmoe starts listing them off on his fingers.
Wise Snake has never heard of someone kidnaping anybody in lieu of a malpractice suit before.
Nick steps over to Mmoe.
Mmoe: 1) You give us 100 for the trouble you caused.
Nick: Look, why don't you just hold it for a minute while Snake works on your buddy here?
Gianto: Yeah, my head hurts.
Mmoe: 2) You....
Mmoe throws up his arms in disgust.
Nick glares down at Mmoe.
Wise Snake: This will just take a moment. Really.
Mmoe: You did the damage - you fix it.
Wise Snake guides Gianto over to the log.
Gianto sits down on it.
Wise Snake figures out his head was hit a 2nd time, but goes ahead and heals it anyway of course.
Nick moves over by Snake.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake: Hmm... you'll want to avoid getting hit in the head as much as possible in the next week or so....
Wise Snake finishes up and reaches for the medical satchel again.
Wise Snake finds the nearly-empty bottle of horse tranquilizers and, eyeballing Gianto's size, shakes out 3 of them.
Nick raises an eyebrow at Snake's giving away her favorite headache remedy, and decides she must be feeling guilty about injuring him.
Gianto puts his hand out of the tablets.
Wise Snake gives Gianto one of the pills and downs 2 herself.
Mmoe stands nearby, impatiently tapping his foot.
Wise Snake: Here, take this if the pain gets too distracting.
Gianto swallows it obediently.
Mmoe: Well?
Mmoe: Do you want to see the kid again or not?
Wise Snake turns to Mmoe.
Wise Snake: Excuse me?
Mmoe: The kid the kid! The duck kid!
Mmoe: ~ irate ~
Wise Snake: What about him?
Wise Snake hasn't heard of a "duck kid" but after all the other freaks she's seen....
Mmoe looks at Snake as if she is stupid.
Mmoe: You want to see him or not?
Wise Snake: Sure.
Wise Snake: Bring him on over.
Nick: Well, we already saw the mermaid and the dog boy.
Mmoe: NO NO NO NO!!!!
Wise Snake flinches back.
Mmoe jumps up and down, causing a little dust storm.
Wise Snake moves over nearer Nick.
Mmoe: YOUR kid.
Wise Snake mouths the words "my kid?" then looks around.
Mmoe: The one you had minding Bob, er, Gianto here!
Wise Snake: Ah! Griff.
Wise Snake nods.
Mmoe: Yeah - Griff.
Mmoe is glad they are finally understanding the seriousness of the situation.
Mmoe: You want to see him alive again?
Wise Snake: Of course. [impatiently]
Mmoe: Or should we let Medusa have him?
Wise Snake: Medusa?
Mmoe: Well then - you will comply to our wishes?
Mmoe makes a "no nevermind" gesture.
Wise Snake: Let me get this straight... you have kidnapped Griff? After I left him there to help care for your friend?
Wise Snake looks down at Mmoe, clearly irritated.
Wise Snake: What is it you are trying to say then?
Mmoe waggles a finger at Snake.
Nick wonders what led Mmoe to conclude that anyone would give anything to get Griff back.
Mmoe: Let me set you straight sister, your kid is safe, and you don't get away with clobbering my friend with a hammer that easily.
Wise Snake looks exasperated.
Wise Snake: It was an accident! The haft snapped in half. How was I supposed to control where the head of the hammer went after it bounced off the target?
Nick moves closer to Snake.
Nick: ~~ steady support ~~
Mmoe looks scornful.
Mmoe: A likely story.
Wise Snake: Dozens of people saw it.
Wise Snake: Ask your announcer guy. He was standing right there.
Mmoe: Just give us the money, we will give you the kid, then you leave.
Mmoe: Okay?
Wise Snake: [indignantly] No!
Mmoe doesn't care what mass hallucination the Farris cooked up.
Mmoe: No?
Wise Snake: I will not give you money, and I certainly won't leave.
Wise Snake: As for Griff, I would be amazed if you managed to hide him anywhere I can't find him.
Gianto: Errrr, Mmoe... it could have been an accident.
Mmoe looks at Bob err Gianto in amazement.
Mmoe looks like steam should be coming out of his ears.
Mmoe points a finger at Snake and yells "YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THE LAST OF THIS FARRIS!!!"
Mmoe storms away.
Gianto looks embarrassed.
Gianto: I'm sorry about my friend's actions.
Wise Snake: Is he always like that?
Gianto: He is just a storm in a teacup.
Wise Snake nods.
Gianto: He's a really nice guy really he is.
Gianto: Just a little, over protective, if you know what I mean.
Nick: Looks like he could bathe in one, anyway.
Wise Snake: Sure. What did he do with Griff?
Gianto tries to think, but the tablet is making it hard.
Gianto: I'm not sure, I wasn't listening.
Gianto: He gave him to Kong to put somewhere.
Wise Snake: Who is Kong? Someone who works with you two?
Gianto: Yeah - the apeman.
Wise Snake: Great.
Gianto: He should be on stage at the moment if you want to catch his act.
Wise Snake wonders who she can spare to go look for someone named Kong the Apeman.
Gianto starts to slump.
Gianto: I feel all....
Gianto: Wooozzzy....
Wise Snake: Eliza... can you run ask Kong where Griff is? I'm a little... whoa.
Wise Snake catches Gianto. (augmenting)
Gianto slides down and starts to snore.
Wise Snake makes sure his head doesn't get bumped a 3rd time as he slumps to sit against the log.
Wise Snake: Huh... misjudged the dosage.
Nick: I guess he wasn't used to those tranquilizers.
Wise Snake: I thought... well.
Wise Snake: Don't worry, B'cal had one of those and she was fine, 2 or 3 days later.
Eliza: You want me to find someone named Kong and ask him where Griff is... gotcha.
Eliza runs off.
Wise Snake looks at the sleeping Gianto.
Wise Snake: I suppose we ought to bring him back to wherever he lives?
Wise Snake thinks unconscious bodies littering the scene might throw her healing practice into suspicion.
Wise Snake: And we really have to replace some of these medicines. I have to be able to pick and choose, not just hand out the same thing to everybody.
Nick looks dubiously at the massive Gianto.
Wise Snake: Think you could carry his legs?
Nick: He's too heavy for me to carry, and too bulky for you.
Nick: Well, let's try.
Eliza goes from tent to tent, looking for a Kong the Apeman.
Nick picks up the legs, noting that the hips remain solidly on the ground.
Nick: Shen, he's huge.
Wise Snake picks up Gianto's hands and holds them together with her hands and tentacles, then hoists the guy's arms and head into a fireman's carry.
Wise Snake: Urrghh.
Kong is standing on a stage, flaring his pecs.
Kong: GGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
Kong's eyes flash and sweat beads on his upper lip as the announcer works the audience.
Crier: He's bad, he's mad, he's covered with hair! Kong the Ape Man has come down from the trees! (Etc.)
Crier: [this guy failed the audition for the big-tent job]
Eliza walks over.
Eliza: I have to see Kong, please.
Kong turns and does a side-pose, showing off his shoulder, arm, and thigh.
Eliza tugs on the crier's cloak.
Eliza: I said I have to see Kong, please.
Crier: That'll be one coin please.
Eliza: No, you don't understand. I don't want to see the show, this is a personal matter.
Crier looks Eliza up and down and his expression changes, slowly.
Crier: ... Oh.
Crier nods in conspiratorial understanding.
Eliza is glad the man understands.
Crier: You're here for the... er... "job interview"?
Eliza: I am?
Eliza: I'm looking for a friend.
Crier: Isn't everybody? [nudges Eliza]
Crier: How about... 7 P.M. sharp? Back behind the booth here?
Eliza: Can't I see him now? It's sort of an emergency.
Crier: An emergency? [skeptically]
Crier: Ok... tell you what. One coin, and you can see him instantaneously.
Eliza: I don't have a coin!
Crier considers.
Crier: Is it really important?
Eliza: ~ frustrated ~
Eliza: Yes!
Crier: Give me a kiss, and I'll pay you in.
Crier digs in his pocket.
Eliza: A WHAT!?
Crier: A kiss. Give me a kiss, and I'll pay your entry. [produces a coin]
Eliza hesitates for a moment then pecks him on the lips.
Crier looks disgusted.
Crier had thought Eliza would be a better kisser than THAT.
Eliza starts to go into the tent.
Crier looks after her with a sour expression, then resumes his duties as crier.
Eliza slips into the tent and looks around for someone named Kong.
Kong kneels on knee, and poses to display both biceps.
Kong: Urrrrrghhhh!!!!!
Kong bares his teeth, eyes flashing.
Kong knows how to set the audience squealing, particularly the kids.
Eliza keeps to the side of the tent and makes her way around the seats towards the stage.
Eliza thinks that she will have to wait till the show ends.
Eliza watches Kong do things that the human body isn't suppose to be able to do.
Eliza looks again and tries to decided if Kong is human or not.
Kong's show finally ends.
Kong gets off the stage into a little screened off area behind.
Eliza sneaks back there.
Kong is towelling off with a bucket of cold water.
Eliza: Psssst Kong.
Eliza: Pssst.
Eliza sounds like she has sprung a leak.
Kong turns around to see who is pssting on him.
Kong sees a fairly harmless looking Gen.
Kong: Hello.
Eliza: Snake send me to ask you where Griff is.
Kong looks like he's thinking: "Derrrrrrr"
Kong: Griff?
Eliza: Yeah, ummm young male Gen, looks like he needs a wash.
Kong: Oo... I not see any like that today.
Kong frowns, the weight of the thought process heavy on his brow.
Eliza looks confused.
Eliza: Gianto said you hid him for that little short person with the loud voice and the smelly cigar.
Kong: Mmoe! [beams]
Eliza: No, Griff.
Eliza: Do you know where he is?
Kong: Me know Mmoe. [agrees, with growing confidence]
Eliza: Oh that's good. Do you know where the kid is?
Kong makes rolling eye motions as he tries to avoid telling a lie.
Kong: No. [sadly]
Kong: [perks up] Mmoe remember.
Kong: I show you.
Eliza: I don't think Mmoe remembers, that's why I asked you.
Eliza: Try to remember - you hid him somewhere for Mmoe. Mmoe wants him back now.
Kong: Leo knows. [nods and beams]
Eliza: We have to go get him!
Kong: I left bag with Leo.
Eliza: Who is Leo?
Eliza: What bag?
Kong: Bag with kid. [confirms sadly]
Eliza: You left the bag with the kid?
Eliza: Well - do you know where?
Eliza: Can we go get them now?
Kong: Oo... maybe.
Kong looks concerned at the thought of retrieving anything from the lion's cage.
Eliza: Ok, lets go get it then.
Kong leaves the booth by the back way and starts towards the animal storage area.
Kong is still wearing no shirt, and has water gleaming on his... fur?
Eliza follows along, trying not to trip over Kong's arms.
Kong: See? Leo. [points at a fleabitten old toothless lion asleep on a lumpy tablecloth]
Eliza: Yes, where is Griff?
Kong: In bag. [sadly]
Kong: In checker bag.
Kong: [points]
Kong: With Leo.
Griff hears his name, and flops weakly.
Griff: Mrrguhf!
Eliza: Griff???
Eliza: GRIFF!!!!
Eliza: You left him with a LION???
Eliza: Griff DON'T PANIC.
Eliza: ~ panic ~
Eliza: Stay there - I'll go get Snake.
Eliza runs off, bumping into Kong as she goes.
Eliza: I'll be right back!
Griff has little choice but to stay, with Leo sleeping on him.
Eliza weaves in and out of the crowd till she gets to Snake's camp.
Eliza: SNAKE!
Eliza: Come quick!
Eliza grabs Snake's hand and pulls.
Wise Snake's fragile balance is ruined and she crashes to the ground, trapped under Gianto's bulk.
Eliza: Snake, Snake, you have to come quick.
Wise Snake clings to Eliza's hand [her own hand is the only part showing for the moment]
Wise Snake says something that sounds suspiciously like "just a minute", or maybe it's "mmm hmmm mmmmm".
Wise Snake's hand lets go of Eliza's hand and gropes about for something to grab for leverage.
Eliza gets down on the ground and yells in a generally underneath Gianto direction.
Nick drops the legs, and goes to the torso.
Nick grunts as he rolls it off of Snake.
Eliza: GRIFF'S UNDER A LION!!!
Wise Snake finally manages to shove Gianto partially aside, just in time to get screamed at in her face.
Wise Snake: "Lucky him." [wheezes]
Eliza puts her hands on Gianto's arm [oh they are big aren't they?} and shoves.
Wise Snake squirms the rest of the way out.
Nick: Are you all right?
Wise Snake: Yes... funny thing about augmentation, it doesn't prevent you from being squashed.
Wise Snake: [panting]
Wise Snake: Now.. what is this about Griff?
Nick takes Snake's hand and pulls her to her feet.
Eliza grabs Snake's hand again and proceeds to run. As Snake doesn't run, Eliza comes to a sudden stop.
Eliza: Come on! He will be EATEN!
Eliza: ~ panic ~
Eliza: The Lion!!!!
Wise Snake, yanked between Eliza and Nick, winces at the panic.
Nick: Eliza, calm down.
Nick: ~~ calm support, blocking Eliza's nager ~~
Wise Snake: Ow... Eliza! Let go of my arm.
Eliza takes a deep breath.
Eliza: They put Griff in a lion's cage.
Wise Snake: All right. Can you lead us there?
Eliza drops Snake's hand.
Wise Snake hides her arm behind her back.
Eliza nods and takes off.
Wise Snake follows at a pace she is willing to risk Nick at.
Wise Snake: (Nick's Neck?)
Eliza waits at the corner for them to catch up, then takes off again.
Eliza races back to the cage and grasps the bars.
Eliza: Are you still alive, Griff?
Griff glumpfs.
Wise Snake reaches the cage and hangs back warily.
Wise Snake: That's an... awfully large cat.
Eliza: He is alive, Snake.
Wise Snake extends her laterals to zlin Griff, and promptly sneezes.
Wise Snake: [laterals shoot out faster than intended]
Eliza: What do we do now?
Eliza is still under the illusion that Snake knows all.
Nick remembers that Snake is allergic to kitties.
Nick: Snake, you've got to get out of here.
Eliza: Maybe it's not hungry at the moment.
Wise Snake sneezes a second time.
Wise Snake: But... Griff.
Eliza, mishearing, agrees.
Eliza: Yes, we have to get Griff out of there!
Wise Snake backs farther away from the cage, eyes now running like faucets.
Wise Snake: Well... I could pick the lock, but I wouldn't want to have to touch that cat if it tried to get out.
Eliza: Snake?
Eliza: Griff - can you move?
Wise Snake rubs her arms.
Griff flops weakly.
Leo gets up off the lumpy and wiggly bed and wanders over to see if the people have any marshmallows for him.
Wise Snake circles around the cage, trying to find somewhere upwind of it.
Wise Snake: [SNEEZE]
Leo circles around in side the cage.
Wise Snake finds the right angle... on the wrong side of the cage from the gate, alas.
Leo walks over to the side where Snake is and yawns in her face.
Wise Snake gives up on the lock picking idea and retreats.
Griff whoofs in relief as the lion gets off of him.
Wise Snake is really hesitant to get within easy clawing range after what happened last time she got a cat scratch.
Griff sits up groggily and spits out the tablecloth.
Griff: Gurmpf... Help!
Wise Snake: Ah! Wait, I know.
Leo looks over at the lumpy bed with interest.
Leo pads over to it again and pokes at it with a paw.
Wise Snake gets the medical kit from Nick and hunts through it for a needle.
Wise Snake: Have to get new needles too.. shen it [muttering under her breath]
Eliza wrings her hands together.
Eliza: Griff just keep still!
Wise Snake fills the needle with what she hopes is the right amount of a tranquilizer she hopes is harmless to felines.
Wise Snake hides the needle behind her back and strolls very casually back in the direction of the cage.
Wise Snake: [sneezing several times, and peering through puffy eyes]
Griff squawks as a claw penetrates his tablecloth.
Wise Snake flinches at the pain spike.
Wise Snake: [yes... spike]
Leo notices the lady with the marshmallows is back.
Leo wanders back over to her and sits waiting patiently for one.
Eliza: ~ fear ~
Eliza: Snake, don't put your hand in there!
Wise Snake comes within arm's reach of the cage, adrenaline pumping, ready to spring into augmentation at the slightest movement.
Wise Snake: Shh... stay calm. Everything is going to be fine.
Wise Snake: [unclear whether she is speaking to the cat or herself]
Leo watches with interest.
Wise Snake: Griff, can you squeeze out between the bars?
Wise Snake figures no, but it would be dumb not to know.
Griff looks at the narrow bars, designed to keep a lion paw in.
Griff: No.
Wise Snake realizes she is being silly if lion paws can't reach out, and walks right up to the cage.
Leo yawns again, showing a distinct lack of teeth.
Wise Snake reaches toward the bars with her left hand, hoping to trick the cat into pawing at her hand.
Leo is, on close inspection, a sorry and moth eaten specimen.
Leo looks at the hand to see if it contains something to eat.
Leo sniffs at it and gives it a rough licking.
Wise Snake: Sorry about this old pal.
Wise Snake injects Leo.
Leo doesn't notices the pin prick through his tough old hide and keeps licking the hand through the bars.
Leo gets sleepy and lays down.
Leo starts snoring gently.
Wise Snake sighs and wipes her abraded hand off on her cloak.
Wise Snake: [Sneeze!]
Eliza sobs with relief.
Eliza: ~ relief ~
Wise Snake gets out her lockpicks and proceeds over to the gate, wheezing miserably.
Wise Snake: [sneezeOLa]
Eliza decides she hates nasty old fairs.
Wise Snake zlins 2 or 3 locks, which seem to be orbiting each other in 5 or 6 dimensions.
Wise Snake lubricates the lock thoroughly, inside and out, with another violent sneeze.
Wise Snake: Ucch... [wipes her nose with a tentacle]
Griff staggers to his feet and makes it over to the gate.
Griff: ~~ impatience to be gone ~~
Wise Snake: Hold your horses, guy. This is a delicate operSNEEZEion.
Wise Snake carefully picks the lock(s?).
Wise Snake: [taking 4 or 5 times longer than usual]
Nick: ~~ concern over sneezes ~~
Wise Snake finally pulls the lock open and staggers away from the wagon.
Wise Snake: Ugh... I have to get out of hEEEEHAAAWWWWWsnxxxx here.
Nick leaves Eliza to help Griff out, and follows Snake.
Wise Snake with her eyes bloodshot, nose dripping, hair wild from excessive sneezing, and a needle inexplicably still in one hand, does not appear suitable for a public appearance.
Eliza drags Griff out and shakes him thoroughly.
Eliza: What were you doing in there you horrid child!
Nick catches up with Snake and relieves her of the needle.
Nick: Here, let me have that. You go and wash up over there.
Nick points to a spigot beside a tent.
Wise Snake heads roughly "over there"
Wise Snake goes down on her knees and prays to the god of cold running water.
Wise Snake washes her face and arms repeatedly.
Nick stands by anxiously, waiting to see the effect.
Griff looks at Eliza indignantly.
Griff: They kidnapped me!
Wise Snake finally stops, leaning against the spigot.
Eliza: Well be more careful next time!
Eliza: The lion might have eaten you or anything!
Griff: It's not like they gave me a choice!
Griff think it's just like a girl not to realize that.
Eliza puts her nose in the air and walks off.
Nick checks Snake over.
Wise Snake pushes herself to her feet.
Wise Snake allows Nick's inspection.
Nick: Are you feeling better now?
Wise Snake: Yeah.
Wise Snake resembles a half-drowned rat.
Nick wraps Snake in a supportive nager, and puts an arm around her as well, ignoring the wetness.
Wise Snake: Ah.. thank you, Nick.
Nick: Here. Let's get back to camp, so you can rest a few minutes.
Wise Snake: Good idea.
Wise Snake is just glad Nick isn't giving her a tonguelashing over the stunt she just pulled.
Mmoe: That's her! That's the Farris Channel.
Mr. X: Keep your voice down, I see her.
Mr. X: Just keep quiet about it and forget you saw me.
Mr. X hands Mmoe some cash.
Mmoe makes the cash disappear.
Wise Snake: We really have to do something about the medical supplies.
Wise Snake: Tonight.. after the fair closes for the night.
Nick guides Snake back towards their camp, resolving to discuss the inadvisability of playing with extra-large felines when she's recovered.
Wise Snake moves obediently with Nick.
Nick: Yes. But if you're going to do that, you should rest now.
Eliza catches up with Snake and Nick.
Eliza: Errrr, don't suppose you know where Bumanuel is? [shamefaced] I seem to have misplaced him.
Nick glances down at Eliza.
Nick: Try the mermaid. He was very interested in her.
Wise Snake grimaces.
Wise Snake: Is he going to find a lay in every town we go to?
Wise Snake shouldn't talk; she's had her laterals all over people even BETWEEN the towns.
Eliza blushes.
Bum Bum is talking to a sleazy guy.
Eliza is uncertain if she shouldn't wait for Bumanuel to come back or to go looking for him.
Bum Bum: Yeah? Okay, and this is one hour exactly?
Bum Bum: You'll wait for me right here? Great.
Bum Bum: Okay I have to go find my, my girlfriend and I'll meet you back here.
Bum Bum: Oh, don't worry, you can count on me.
Eliza: I'll just have a quick look around then come back okay?
Bum Bum and the sleazy guy seal their deal with a pair of entwined tentacles.
Bum Bum turns and hurries off.
Eliza walks down a row of pavilions in search of Bumanuel.
Eliza heads towards the strong man pavillion cause that is where the mermaid was.
Eliza wishes she could zlin.
Bum Bum: Eliza!
Eliza: Yes?
Bum Bum catches zlin of her in the crowd.
Eliza waves.
Bum Bum: Yes? Is that all you have to say to me?
Eliza: Errr Hello?
Bum Bum: Come on... I have to talk to you.
Eliza lets herself be dragged aside.
Bum Bum looks around, then draws Eliza into a shady area where there aren't many people.
Eliza: What's wrong?
Bum Bum: Nothing's wrong. In fact, things are great!
Bum Bum: I just found our ticket out of here!
Eliza: Oh that's good then, cause after Griff and the lion....
Eliza: Ticket to where?
Bum Bum: I talked to this guy, a trader. He's going to be hooking up with a gypsy caravan after this, and they lost their channel and haven't found another yet. He said you and I could go with him and he'll even split the finder's fee with us!
Bum Bum: Is that luck or what?
Bum Bum looks eagerly for her reaction.
Eliza: Have you asked Snake if she wants to go with gypsies or not though?
Eliza: I don't know if she would like that or not.
Bum Bum looks at her in dismay.
Bum Bum: Snake? Who said anything about Snake? This is for you and me.
Bum Bum: Us.
Eliza looks at him in distress.
Eliza: But I told you that I wouldn't leave Snake.
Eliza: Why did you think I would say that if I was willing to go?
Bum Bum: You said that before.
Bum Bum: Before.
Bum Bum: You really feel the same way now, after that?
Bum Bum looks at her, and zlins her, searchingly.
Eliza: ~ upset ~
Eliza: I think what Snake did was a bit harsh and I was mad at her yes. But she still needs us.
Bum Bum: And look at what we're doing here. We don't even get to be together. And what kind of job for a channel is finding work for another channel?
Eliza: Well she needs more work then you do!
Bum Bum: Yeah, well what is she giving us in return? Nothing but frustration.
Eliza: And she looks after us.
Eliza doesn't think by the sound of the stories she is hearing that Bumanuel is frustrated.
Eliza: We don't even know yet that I can help prevent you from killing!
Eliza: I mean, what would happen if we were off alone somewhere and I couldn't!
Bum Bum rolls his eyes.
Bum Bum: Your precious Snake said I couldn't kill you. Isn't that good enough?
Bum Bum: Come on.. this is a chance of a lifetime!
Eliza: Not me - but what about others?
Eliza: I just don't want to risk it Bumanuel!
Eliza bites her lip.
Eliza: Please don't do this!
Eliza: Can't you just be happy the way things are?
Bum Bum: You'd make me go alone? [apprehension]
Eliza: You would go alone?
Bum Bum: Happy... Happy??
Bum Bum: How can I be happy in this situation?
Bum Bum: I'm miles away from the only home I've ever known, against my will, and living as somebody else's servant. How am I supposed to be happy?
Bum Bum: I don't want it to be alone. I would want it to be with you.
Eliza: Would you be happy if you had a Companion who felt the way you do now?
Eliza: Cause that is exactly how I would feel if I left Snake.
Bum Bum: What?
Bum Bum: [Eliza has thrown him for a loop]
Bum Bum: But why?
Eliza: Come sit down here.
Eliza sits on a bench.
Bum Bum sits by her, bewildered.
Eliza: I ran away from my home in Gen territory with my cousin John, who turned Sime.
Eliza: I shot and murdered my father cause he was going to shoot John.
Eliza: John died anyway, later. Some Gens killed him.
Eliza: Then I was at Bender Cove and Snake was there. She helped me. She took me in when other channels were making me feel useless.
Eliza: As long as Snake needs me I have to be there!
Eliza tries to show him how she feels in her nager.
Eliza: If you made me leave her, it would be like losing John all over again.
Eliza: I wouldn't have a point in life.
Bum Bum: But you would be with me.
Bum Bum fails to see why he couldn't be her life instead.
Eliza: You seem like a nice man Bumanuel, but I really don't know you that well.
Bum Bum thinks she must not know Snake very well either.
Eliza: I mean, I want to help you.
Eliza: I just don't think I could if you forced me to leave.
Bum Bum's shoulders droop... it's the old "I mean, I want to help you" line.
Bum Bum: Who said anything about force? I was just asking if you'd go.
Bum Bum sounds miserable.
Eliza: If I don't go, are you going to go anyway?
Eliza: ~ cautious ~
Bum Bum: Yes.
Bum Bum looks undecided.
Eliza: ~ stay with me ~
Eliza: ~ support ~
Bum Bum: I have to. It might be the only chance I'll ever get. [pleading]
Eliza takes his hand.
Eliza: Please don't.
Bum Bum: You want me to stay here in this... hell hole?
Eliza: ~ here for you ~
Bum Bum: Taking little.. petty attacks from Snake?
Bum Bum clings to her hand.
Eliza: ~ worried ~
Eliza: Can I think about it?
Bum Bum: He's leaving in an hour.
Eliza: Okay - then just give me some time to think about it.
Eliza: Please?
Bum Bum: Okay.
Bum Bum doesn't see that he has much choice anyway.
Eliza: I promise I won't tell Snake what you are thinking of doing, but I do want to talk to her.
Eliza: Do you want to come with me?
Eliza: Or wait here?
Bum Bum: You're going to go talk to Snake? [nervously]
Bum Bum thinks she's going to go ask Snake advice, which would be a disaster.
Eliza: I'd like to.
Eliza: I won't tell her.
Eliza: ~ promise ~
Bum Bum winces at the discord between what he zlins and what his cynical experience tells him will happen.
Bum Bum: I'll be waiting, then.
Eliza had been hoping he would come too.
Eliza: Oh, okay then.
Eliza: I'll be back soon!
Eliza gets up and walks back thoughtfully.
Eliza tries to think how she should word what she wants to say.
Bum Bum goes over near the meeting point to lurk.
Eliza gets back to where Snake is working and watches silently until Snake has finishes with her latest vict... err... client.
Wise Snake finishes up the guy with the pulled groin.
Eliza: Snake, can I talk to you please? [looks at Nick] alone?
Wise Snake: All right, now, you take it easy, and next time, pay attention to those "Slippery When Wet" signs.
Wise Snake sees the guy off, then gestures to Nick to go ahead and make himself scarce.
Wise Snake: [or better yet, make himself useful finding more clients]
Wise Snake sits down on the log and looks at Eliza.
Eliza: I was wondering if you had plans after you, we, leave here.
Eliza: ~ worrying ~
Wise Snake's expression transforms subtly to a vague worried look.
Wise Snake: [that is, from a vague harassed look to a vague worried harassed look]
Eliza: You know, maybe we could travel with gypsies or something for awhile.
Wise Snake: Gypsies?
Eliza: Yes, they need channels too....
Wise Snake: Where did you find gypsies?
Eliza: I haven't found any gypsies, it was just a thought. You know, fairs, gypsies, sort of go together.
Wise Snake: Ah.
Wise Snake zlins Eliza's more or less utter lack of truth and ponders.
Eliza is looking at Snake as if she could bore a hole right through her.
Eliza: Well?
Wise Snake is not looking at Eliza at all, which might be why Eliza is able to keep staring at her.
Wise Snake: Did you have any other... thoughts?
Eliza: Well, ummm, maybe it would be, you know, safer, if the group broke up for awhile?
Wise Snake's frown deepens.
Wise Snake: In what way?
Eliza: Well, if we were being followed it might confuse them.
Wise Snake: And how would you propose the group be split?
Eliza is dreadfully aware of passing time.
Eliza: Snake, do you like me!?
Eliza: ~ desperate ~
Wise Snake's expression transforms subtly from vague harassed worry to definite harassed worry with overtones of fear for Eliza's sanity.
Wise Snake: What!
Eliza: Do you like me? Do you consider me your friend, or am I just another Gen to you?
Wise Snake looks cornered.
Wise Snake: No! I... neither one!
Wise Snake flinches from Eliza's desperation.
Eliza: You don't like me?
Wise Snake touches her forehead briefly. "No that's... not what I meant."
Eliza: What did you mean then!
Wise Snake: Could you tell me what this is really about? Please?"
Wise Snake: I meant I... I don't either like or dislike you. But I value you.
Eliza: Value me, but not as a friend.
Eliza: ~ despondent ~
Wise Snake: I barely know you! Perhaps someday....
Wise Snake: Eliza, what is going on here?
Eliza: Nothing, never mind.
Eliza: Don't worry about it Snake.
Wise Snake: ~~confused~~
Eliza: I better go find Bumanuel hey, it's getting late.
Wise Snake stands.
Wise Snake: Eliza, I think you at least owe me a brief explanation.
Wise Snake: You sent Nick away from me to talk to me. What is on your mind?
Eliza: Okay - I'll get Bumanuel and when we come back I'll explain, over dinner maybe.
Eliza: Okay?
Eliza is again aware of passing time.
Wise Snake: Eliza?
Wise Snake zlins her anxiousness and another lie.
Eliza stands up.
Eliza: I have to go to Bumanuel now Snake!
Eliza hugs Snake.
Eliza: I consider you my friend, you know.
Wise Snake takes hold of Eliza's wrist.
Wise Snake: I'm not going to allow it, if you are thinking of leaving.
Wise Snake: With gypsies, or otherwise.
Eliza: ~ panic ~ I never said anything about leaving!
Wise Snake: I think I'd better come with you, to fetch Bumanuel. Don't you?
Eliza: NO!
Eliza: I mean, no, I don't think you should.
Wise Snake tries to meet Eliza's eyes.
Wise Snake: Eliza....
Eliza looks down.
Eliza starts to cry.
Eliza: Why do you want us here? You don't like him, you tolerate me barely.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: Come... sit down here.
Eliza sits down, worrying about the time.
Wise Snake: Give me your full attention, Eliza.
Eliza looks at Snake with tears in her eyes.
Eliza: Okay.
Wise Snake realizes she can't think of a single reason why Eliza or Bumanuel would want to stick around.
Wise Snake's tentacles wilt.
Wise Snake is used to people either being loyal to her, or being indebted to her, and she doubts either Eliza or Bumanuel recognizes how indebted to her they really are.
Wise Snake: [or would appreciate having it explained]
Wise Snake: Well... I can't make you stay if you don't feel you have any reason to.
Wise Snake: And - don't bother denying you are trying to leave. I know.
Wise Snake: I can zlin it in you... that anxiousness, the lie when you said you'd be back to talk.
Eliza: I don't want to leave, Snake.
Eliza: I want to stay with you.
Eliza: ~ truth ~
Eliza: But I can't let him go alone- you know what would happen.
Wise Snake: Yes. The next time he manages to get himself arrested, he'll be shipped off to a disjunction camp.
Eliza: Or he will kill someone.
Eliza: If we aren't there to stop it.
Eliza: I don't know what to do!
Eliza: ~ worry, frustration, fear ~
Wise Snake: I told Bumanuel when I took him on, that he had three choices.
Wise Snake: One of the choices was to turn himself in to the Tecton.
Wise Snake: Or, he could take his chances with me.
Wise Snake seems faintly regretful.
Wise Snake: [and disappointed]
Eliza waits for the third choice.
Wise Snake studies her hands and tentacles.
Wise Snake: Where is he now?
Eliza: He is waiting for someone who is going to take him to the gypsies. They lost their channel.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Where?
Eliza: I'll show you.
Eliza gets up.
Wise Snake stands also.
Wise Snake's eyes look distant, almost distracted.
Eliza: I thought, maybe, if they needed a channel, that we could all go with them for awhile?
Wise Snake follows Eliza silently.
Eliza hurries between the tents, worried that they may be too late and that he might have left already.
Bum Bum is waiting in the appointed place.
Eliza is relieved to see him waiting there.
Bum Bum turns and sees/zlins Eliza and Snake.
Bum Bum goes white as a sheet.
Wise Snake darts toward him under augmentation.
Bum Bum turns and runs like mad, dodging between tents.
Eliza watches in horror.
Bum Bum and Snake are quickly gone from sight.
Sleazy Guy appears in the dark place where Bumanuel had been waiting.
Sleazy Guy looks around.
Eliza stares after them.
Sleazy Guy sees the channel didn't make it to the rendezvous and, muttering to himself, turns to leave.
Eliza hopes that Snake doesn't hurt him.