Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #21: Preservation du Jour (6/17/98)
Vey hops, limps and slides down to the Healing House.
Vey hopes the new channel is up to standard in healing.
Wise Snake is asleep face down on a couch on the front porch of Frooter's falling-down house.
Wise Snake after a 36 hour orgy of healing finally thought a bit of rest might be in order.
Vey drags himself up the steps and sees that another patient is flaked out on the front porch.
Vey: Ah, that's not a good advertisement!
Vey shakes his head sadly.
Vey: But what is one to do, one has to get the treatment one can.
Wise Snake is on the front porch because the house turned out to be so stuffed full of widgets, objects, and nick nacks, that it makes her claustrophobic.
Wise Snake twitches in her sleep at the touch of Vey's field.
Vey slides past the unconscious and obviously very ill person and signals at the door.
Vey signals again, louder.
Wise Snake mutters deliriously, "No, no...."
Vey: How can they keep people as ill as us waiting outside?
Wise Snake's tentacles squirm in her sleep.
Wise Snake: "No, Richard... not the yacht!"
Wise Snake moans and rolls over onto her back, a forearm over her eyes.
Vey tries the door knob and finds it unlocked, so he opens it and sticks his head inside.
Vey: Hello? Anyone there? You have some patients waiting....
Eliza walks into the front parlor in answer to the voice.
Eliza: Hello? Oh! Please come in and take a seat.
Vey: There is another person out here, out to it and delirious. I think you should do something about her quickly.
Wise Snake has temporarily subsided, though her eyelids are twitching and her fingers tensing now and then as if to grab, or cringe.
Eliza: There is? [Walks past him to the porch] Oh, that's not a patient. That's the Channel.
Eliza: Come in and have a seat and I'll take down your details before waking her.
Eliza leads the bemused Gen into the front parlor.
Eliza gets a clipboard and pen.
Eliza: Name?
Vey: Vey, Vey Maria.
Eliza: Ah, Vey Maria. How old are you Vey?
Rototom staggers up to Frooter's old house, clutching his head.
Vey: I'm 31 next summer, or was it last summer?
Eliza: Excuse me a minute Vey. [to the new person] Please have a seat and I'll be right with you.
Eliza wishes Linn or Nick were awake.
Vey sniffs.
Rototom wilts into a chair, still clutching his head and looking miserable.
Eliza: Well I guess that Sn... the channel can get your details. I'll just go wake her.
Eliza tiptoes out onto the porch, keeping her nager still and centered.
Eliza: Snake?
Wise Snake is tossing back and forth.
Eliza: Snake some people here want to see you.
Wise Snake: Not the whip... not the whip.
Wise Snake: Yes... yes!
Eliza grows alarmed.
Eliza: Snake! Wake up, you are having a needmare, or something.
Wise Snake's eyes fly open, but she is obviously still asleep.
Vey looks at the other patient and quietly diagnoses his problem.
Eliza puts a cautious hand out to shake Snake gently back to consciousness if necessary, but pauses as Snake's eyes open.
Wise Snake blinks slowly, several times, then gets up and walks past Eliza.
Vey thinks it's obviously a case of too much porstan the night before, and sniffs contemptuously.
Wise Snake is making a small noise, rather like snoring.
Eliza follows her.
Wise Snake walks into the house, tentacles waving.
Eliza: There are two patients to see you Snake, I have the name and age of one, but wasn't sure what other details you would be needing.
Wise Snake: Can I help you?
Wise Snake: [strange, breathy, high pitched voice]
Wise Snake is flat out sleepwalking.
Vey: I need to see you, if you are indeed the channel, on some private health matters.
Eliza looks at Snake in concern.
Rototom continues to clutch his head, peering up at the "channel" in bewilderment.
Wise Snake: Yes... yes... of course. This way please....
Wise Snake drifts into the next room [the kitchen as it happens]
Vey gets up and follows the channel into the - kitchen????
Eliza sticks close by, not sure what is wrong with Snake.
Wise Snake turns to the right and opens a door, to a small closet which was converted by that pack rat Frooter into an immense spice cabinet.
Wise Snake: Please.... have a seat.
Wise Snake looks in the spice cabinet, then closes the door and turns unsteadily to look at the rest of the kitchen.
Wise Snake pulls out a kitchen chair for Vey.
Vey looks at the spice cupboard.
Wise Snake now looks somewhat bewildered herself.
Vey: Is this some sort of joke?
Vey takes the kitchen chair gingerly as if it might bite her. 1
Eliza, not sure what else to do, puts the kettle on to boil for tea.
Wise Snake: Now... how may I help you?
Wise Snake's tentacles wave about, like sea kelp in a lazy tide.
Vey: I am not a well person.
Vey is well fed, bright eyed, looks like she is brimming with health.
Vey also has a glint in her eye that defies anyone to tell her so.
Wise Snake zlins Vey.
Wise Snake: I see... and what can I do for you today?
Vey: ~ wonderfully healthy ~
Wise Snake in her dreaming state is more than willing to play "pretend" that she is a channel and that this person is sick.
Vey: I have a pain in my back when I stand up on one leg like this, [demonstrates] and twist like this [demonstrates again causing a small twinge]
Vey: Also I'm sure my liver isn't working. And my heart, oh my dear the chest pains I have!
Wise Snake gapes at Vey's contortions, then frowns, nodding.
Wise Snake: How long has it been since you were checked out by a channel, Miz?
Vey: I've been taking pills for my heart for years! I know there is no hope for a cure [sighs dramatically] but the pain is just ex...
Vey: Well that stupid Footer had the hide and audacity to tell me there was nothing wrong with me!
Vey: I mean, anyone can see that I'm highly strung as well as not in good health.
Wise Snake smiles.
Eliza puts tea in front of both Snake and Vey and sits down to one herself.
Wise Snake: Can I see your pills?
Eliza thinks that seeing patients in the kitchen is a very clever idea.
Wise Snake takes a big swig of scalding hot tea.
Vey pulls out about 20 little bottles of different coloured medications.
Wise Snake blinks several times and puts the tea cup down.
Eliza sips hers cautiously.
Wise Snake takes the pill bottles and starts examining them with faded, blurry tunnel vision.
Wise Snake: Could you excuse me for a moment?
Wise Snake: I have to... there is something I forgot to do this morning.
Wise Snake stands.
Vey: I err, yes of course.
Wise Snake puts all the pills in her pockets as she shuffles back through the house to the front porch.
Rototom looks up as she goes by, still clutching his head and wearing a bereaved expression.
Wise Snake goes and lies down on the couch, face first, and falls back into real sleep.
Eliza: Errr, excuse me too please.
Eliza runs out after Snake.
Eliza isn't going to be cautious this time.
Eliza takes Snake by the shoulder and shakes her vigorously.
Eliza: Snake! Wake up!
Wise Snake: What!! What what!?
Wise Snake leaps wildly off the couch, wide eyed.
Wise Snake: Who's dying? Where's the emergency?
Eliza jumps back out of her way.
Wise Snake stares at Eliza.
Wise Snake: Did you just wake me up?
Eliza: You walked out on a woman in the middle of a consultation!
Eliza: I woke you up before.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza as if Eliza is nuts.
Eliza looks at Wise Snake as if Snake is a squirrel.
Wise Snake: Right.
Eliza: Vey is waiting for you.
Wise Snake: Vey?
Wise Snake thinks that sounds veygly familiar.
Eliza: The Gen you were seeing. You took her medication and walked off.
Tanzarra goes into a nearby town.
Wise Snake would like to argue that Eliza is making this up, but sadly past experience would tend to support her claims.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake walks into the house and can zlin one guy in the living room, and the lady in the... kitchen?
Wise Snake looks at Eliza.
Wise Snake: In.... ? [pointing at kitchen]
Eliza follows closely, wringing her hands as she doesn't have tentacles to wring.
Eliza nods.
Wise Snake walks into the kitchen, looking more her usual bright-eyed and bushy-headed self.
Wise Snake spots, and zlins, a perfectly healthy female Gen.
Wise Snake: Oh! Vey?
Vey sits up straight as a poker, a disapproving look on her face.
Vey: I hope everything is all right now and you can give me your undivided attention.
Wise Snake: Look, sorry about the... uh... [difficult to apologize when she is not exactly sure what she'd done]... sure, no problem.
Wise Snake: Now, what can I do for you?
Vey: I told you already!!!
Vey: This isn't good for my blood pressure you know!
Vey: And with my heart the way it is, goodness knows what might happen!
Wise Snake stares at Vey for a moment.
Wise Snake zlins her.
Vey: ~ totally healthy but a bit overweight ~
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Vey: What did you do with my medications?
Wise Snake: I took them.
Wise Snake thinks, at least according to Eliza she did.
Wise Snake thinks it's no wonder she can't remember anything if she took who-knows-what.
Wise Snake: Please allow me to zlin you more closely?
Vey thinks this is better.
Vey: Of course! That's what I'm here for.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake takes a chair and moves it over near Vey, then sits down.
Wise Snake takes Vey in a full transfer position and deep zlins her, paying special attention to the cardiovascular system.
Vey: ~ pleased with the attention ~
Wise Snake zlins extra carefully in case there is something she might be missing....
Wise Snake: [this could take a while...]
Vey: ~ healthy heart, healthy lungs, constitution of a horse ~
Wise Snake finally releases Vey.
Wise Snake: Well, your heart appears to be in excellent condition, as is your blood pressure and, actually, nearly everything about you.
Wise Snake smiles confidently at Vey to back up her statement.
Vey: That isn't right, do it again.
Wise Snake looks at Vey in complete astonishment.
Eliza looks at Vey in a mixture of horror and respect. What a brave woman!
Wise Snake: Excuse me?
Vey: Well it's obvious you are only young. Maybe you haven't had to deal with such complicated conditions before.
Wise Snake finally realizes she is gaping at the woman, and closes her mouth in some annoyance.
Vey closes her eyes and holds out her face and arms again.
Wise Snake: Vey, I can assure you that you are perfectly healthy... physically.
Wise Snake: I rarely make mistakes in matters of this kind.
Vey stands up.
Vey: Obviously, sick as I am, I am going to have to make the journey once again to a competent channel!
Wise Snake: And I would strongly advise against your taking any unnecessary medications.
Vey holds out her hands.
Vey: Now, give me my medications back!
Wise Snake: I told you, I'm not going to zlin you again. What! Are you kidding me?
Wise Snake: I would never give out medications to a perfectly healthy person.
Vey: They are MINE. I PAID for them. I NEED them!
Wise Snake: No you don't.
Wise Snake: If you've been feeling sick that's probably what's been doing it.
Vey: The Major is going to hear about this!
Vey storms out, slamming the front door as she goes.
Wise Snake: Major?
Eliza: Oh dear! She wasn't very happy!
Wise Snake scratches her head, then figures out she'll find out soon enough.
Wise Snake: No, but she certainly was healthy.
Wise Snake: Strong as an ox, inside and out.
Tanzarra has very little time left and must find a channel.
Eliza: We had a lady like that at home. Told us she was sick all the time.
Eliza: When she finally died they put "See, I told you so." on her tombstone.
Wise Snake looks horrified at Eliza.
Tanzarra looks for someone for directions.
Wise Snake: They did?
Vey storms up the hill.
Vey: ~ self-righteousness ~
Eliza: That's what she wanted, apparently.
Wise Snake sighs and walks back out into the front room.
Rototom is sitting there clutching his head in abject misery.
Tanzarra nearly collides with Gen storming past.
Wise Snake zlins Rototom and his head.
Vey: Why don't you watch where you are going!
Vey picks up her bag that she dropped.
Tanzarra: Excuse me I... Could you tell me where there is a channel?
Vey: Well there is a GOOD one about 50 miles that way [points]
Tanzarra: ~~despair~~
Tanzarra: Isn't there one in this town?
Vey: And there is a very very young, rude and inexperienced one down there in that house.
Vey: But I would advise against it!
Tanzarra: I have no choice.
Vey backs away quickly.
Vey: I'm sure she is fine if you are in need or whatever.
Vey hurries off.
Tanzarra sliding into deep need.
Tanzarra goes to front of house and hesitates.
Wise Snake finishes healing Rototom's head, which had been whacked with a frying pan, and sends him out the front door.
Wise Snake: Don't forget... try de-escalation techniques! [calls after him]
Wise Snake sighs, then zlins Tanzarra standing there.
Wise Snake: ~~startled~~
Eliza: If that's all for the moment will I start some breakfast?
Tanzarra thinks the Tecton would have found me sooner or later.
Tanzarra goes into house.
Wise Snake feels a moment of panic, then takes in Tanzarra's condition and emotions.
Wise Snake clutches the door frame and watches Tanzarra warily.
Wise Snake: Ah... Daisy... that would be fine... sure. [distracted]
Tanzarra slumps against a wall.
Eliza: Oh!
Tanzarra: I have to see the channel, can someone help me?
Eliza hurries forward to help the new patient into a chair.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow as she wonders why Tanzarra couldn't zlin her when she walked right past her.
Tanzarra: ~~depression. fear~~
Eliza: She is right here.
Tanzarra shakes head to focus.
Tanzarra: Oh. I'm in trouble. Can you help?
Wise Snake: What sort of assistance do you require?
Wise Snake thinks if it was transfer, the woman would have approached her directly.
Tanzarra: Umm....
Wise Snake is still not exactly sure what is going on here.
Tanzarra: My Companion has died and I'm in need.
Tanzarra wonders if this Channel has to know the details.
Wise Snake zlins Tanzarra for truth [about the Companion.. of course she's in need]
Tanzarra: ~desperation, loss of matchmate. Fear of attrition.~
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Yes, I can help you.
Tanzarra decides to tell the truth.
Tanzarra: I was in a dependency with my Companion, and we were matchmates.
Tanzarra: ~~sadness~~
Wise Snake grimaces.
Wise Snake: How many transfers did you have together?
Tanzarra: We have been on the run from the Tecton.
Eliza keeps to the background.
Tanzarra: We had six transfers.
Wise Snake: Well, the loss of your matchmate... I'll do my best, but you have to understand, a person cannot be expected to survive such a situation.
Tanzarra: We tried to break the dependency but it was too much, so we left.
Tanzarra: ~~Fear~~
Tanzarra resigns herself to the possibilities.
Wise Snake: That's why they try to prevent matchmates from ever being assigned together.
Eliza: ~ sympathy and confidence ~ Snake's the best, if anyone can get you through this she can!
Wise Snake was considerably relieved, however, to hear that the woman is not on good terms with the Tecton.
Tanzarra: At the time is was a risk we had to take.
Eliza: Why was that?
Tanzarra: ~~depression at thought of matchmate~~
Wise Snake is constantly amazed by the amount of work she ends up doing to recover situations where people had taken a risk because they felt they had to.
Wise Snake: Look... there is no point in talking about this now. You are ready for an attempt at transfer, no?
Tanzarra: I... um... killed my father when I changed over and after disjunction I always had trouble taking transfer from Gens.
Wise Snake looks dismayed at Tanzarra's words.
Wise Snake: Trouble? What kind of trouble?
Tanzarra: Yes.
Tanzarra: ~~need~~
Tanzarra: If I perceived any discomfort I would abort.
Wise Snake: Why would the Gens feel any discomfort?
Tanzarra: I don't know. They always said they felt none, but if I perceived it I would panic.
Tanzarra: I always feared that I might kill again.
Wise Snake makes a mental note... hallucination of Gen discomfort?
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Tanzarra: ~~agitation~~
Wise Snake: Well, have you had many channel's transfers?
Wise Snake: ~~soothing/calm~~
Wise Snake: Do you feel confident that you can describe your requirements to me adequately?
Tanzarra: I had five before disjunction. and there were times when a Channel would have to finish an aborted transfer.
Eliza wonders if she should be doing anything and wishes that she could read Snake's signals.
Eliza contents herself with keeping "centered" and being "still"
Tanzarra: I don't know. Soli, my Companion, is... was the only one who I never aborted from.
Tanzarra really wishes she could feel for Soli right now.
Wise Snake: Ummmh.
Wise Snake: Well, let's do it now, then, and get you into some semblance of working order.
Wise Snake: Daisy, could you make sure nobody disturbs us?
Tanzarra feels the emptiness inside her.
Eliza: Sure, Hajene.
Tanzarra: Okay.
Wise Snake blinks at the use of "Hajene", then remembers their Tecton cover.
Wise Snake nods to Eliza and then turns back to Tanzarra.
Tanzarra: I suppose you are going to have to report this?
Wise Snake: Well... let us discuss that afterward.
Tanzarra: ~~worry~~
Eliza wonders if Snake has something in her eyes. Snake sure is blinking a lot today.
Tanzarra thinks if she survives.
Wise Snake leads Tanzarra over to Frooter's crummy transfer couch.
Tanzarra Follows the Channel to couch.
Tanzarra: ~~anxiety rising~~
Wise Snake continues to project ~~soothing/calm~~
Tanzarra wonders if she should have just let herself die.
Eliza puts a chair up against the door and sits on it.
Tanzarra looks nervously at the Gen.
Wise Snake enfolds Tanzarra in her nager, continuing to project ~~soothing~~ and ~~promise~~
Tanzarra: ~~feels trapped~~
Wise Snake: What is the problem?
Wise Snake: [quietly]
Tanzarra: Oh... nothing.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Tanzarra: ~~lies~~
Wise Snake: Lying to me will get you nowhere with me.
Tanzarra: Just scared, that's all.
Tanzarra: ~~truth~~
Wise Snake: Please cooperate with us. You came to us for help and we are attempting to help you.
Wise Snake: What are you afraid of. The transfer?
Tanzarra: Yes, and... It's just that being on the run has made me nervous.
Eliza can relate to that.
Tanzarra: I'm sorry.
Eliza: Would you prefer it if I was out of the room?
Wise Snake: Daisy, can you please wait out on the front porch? And practice your centering and being not-there.
Eliza: Okay Hajene.
Eliza leaves the room.
Wise Snake is now on edge, being without even Eliza's minimal support.
Wise Snake: Is there anything else? [to Tanzarra]
Tanzarra calms herself as much as possible.
Tanzarra: I guess not.
Wise Snake: I can help you feel better, if you'd stop fighting me and accept my support.
Tanzarra takes a few deep breaths and tries to relax more.
Tanzarra: I've just had so many bad transfers.
Wise Snake once again envelopes Tanzarra in a ~~soothing/supportive~~ field, despite the other channel's seeming imperiousness to it.
Wise Snake: Would it help if I told you I almost never receive a complaint about transfers?
Tanzarra: Yes. [tentatively]
Wise Snake: In fact, most people are a bit overwhelmed. I'm told my transfers are incredible.
Wise Snake's fingers and tentacles seek Tanzarra's, gently.
Wise Snake: ~~soothing/promise~~
Tanzarra: ~~hopeful~~
Tanzarra responds slightly to the touch.
Wise Snake caresses Tanzarra's arms, softly.
Wise Snake: Just take your time, and go at your own pace.
Wise Snake: ~~hazy, shining selyn field~~
Tanzarra lets her self go hyper.
Tanzarra reaches for Snake.
Tanzarra: ~~need, deep need~~
Wise Snake: ~~pleasurable anticipation/promise~~
Tanzarra: ~~it's not Soli, it feels wrong~~
Wise Snake senses Tanzarra's apprehension.
Wise Snake: ~~soothing... no pressure~~
Tanzarra is caught between need and rejecting this strange field.
Wise Snake: ~~passive selyn shining here waiting~~
Tanzarra's instincts take over and she grabs Snake's arms and wraps tentacles around them.
Wise Snake allows it.
Wise Snake: ~~open/yours/offering~~
Tanzarra wrenches Snake to her to make lip contact and begins to draw.
Wise Snake: ~~spark of pleasure~~
Tanzarra: ~~life entering~~
Tanzarra: ~~doesn't match, not right.~
Tanzarra: ~~rejection~~
Tanzarra tries to pull away.
Wise Snake clenches her tentacles, preventing a shen.
Wise Snake: ~~coaxing/enticing~~
Tanzarra begins to stop the draw of selyn.
Tanzarra: ~~wants Soli~~
Wise Snake is prepared to push selyn in if it nears stopping.
Tanzarra: ~~giving up on life~~
Wise Snake takes control and pushes the selyn.
Wise Snake: ~~love/hope/strength~~
Wise Snake: [actually in the back of her head she is thinking shen/shen/shen!! but this is not evident to any but her]
Tanzarra: ~~renewed flow of selyn~~
Tanzarra: ~~no control~~
Wise Snake: ~~faith/optimism/hope~~
Tanzarra: ~~accepts the selyn~~
Wise Snake pushes harder, trying to gauge what Tanzarra's normal speed would have been.
Tanzarra: [has no choice really]
Tanzarra: ~~Fulfilment on a physical level only.~~
Wise Snake allows it to end when Tanzarra's fields are replete.
Tanzarra breaks lip contact, but still holds on to Snake's arms.
Wise Snake ~~supports~~ Tanzarra and remains still, waiting for Tanzarra to move first.
Eliza sits on the porch singing softly. [wonder if that is what is keeping people away?]
Tanzarra slowly releases Snake's arms and promptly collapses against her.
Wise Snake zlins Tanzarra's condition.
Tanzarra [Soli's death has finally hit.]
Tanzarra begins to cry uncontrollably.
Tanzarra: She's gone. What am I going to do?
Wise Snake waits, continuing a gentle support of the other channel.
Eliza hears sobbing and figures it's over, one way or another.
Eliza goes into the kitchen to fix some breakfast and tea.
Tanzarra regains some composure as she realises she is alive for another month, at least.
Tanzarra: ~~gratitude~~
Tanzarra: Thank you Hajene.
Eliza drops a cup which breaks as it hits the stone tiled floor.
Eliza: Oh shen.
Eliza carefully picks up all the bits she can see and puts them in the bin.
Tanzarra feels the aches and pains from the last few weeks "on the road".
Wise Snake sees that Tanzarra is ready to sit on her own, and releases her.
Tanzarra sits back, waiting to see what Snake will do now.
Jus drags her son, Tiggr, by the ear to see the Channel.
Tiggr: Awww mum! Let me go!
Wise Snake: How long have you been out of contact with the Tecton?
Eliza gets out more cups and sets the table.
Jus: You just come with me my lad!
Tanzarra: About two months.
Tiggr: I'm coming, I'm coming, you do't have to drag me!
Tanzarra: I guess I'll have to go back.
Jus continues to drag him.
Tanzarra: ~~sadness~~
Wise Snake: I think it would be for the best. Your reason for having left in the first place is no longer. There are many good reasons to return, failing that.
Tanzarra: It's just that... I... don't want to.
Wise Snake: Why not?
Tanzarra knows she shouldn't be saying this to a Tecton Channel.
Tanzarra: Because it's their fault Soli had to be on the run with me.
Wise Snake: It is?
Tanzarra: She at least would still be alive if they had not risked the dependency in the first place.
Wise Snake: So you are saying you did not want to be assigned to her?
Tanzarra: Well... yes, and no. they feared it was my only chance.
Wise Snake has to admit she is rather confused as to how any Tecton official could allow matchmates to be assigned even once, much less 5 times.
Wise Snake: And you disagreed?
Wise Snake: You saw another way?
Tanzarra: No.
Tanzarra: By then I saw no way at all.
Wise Snake: Yet you blame them for her death.
Tanzarra: And myself.
Tanzarra: ~~guilt~~
Tanzarra also feels guilt still over her father.
Wise Snake sighs.
Wise Snake: What is your name?
Tanzarra: Tanzarra.
Wise Snake: Tanzarra, life for a channel outside of the Tecton is awful. You know that... you've done it for a short while.
Wise Snake: And that was with Soli, was it not?
Tanzarra: Yes. But I don't think I could go through all that again.
Wise Snake: All what?
Tanzarra: The aborts.
Wise Snake shifts around on the couch, then reaches into her pocket and finds the small bottle [from Vey] that was digging into her leg.
Jus drags Tiggr all the way to the house the new channel has set up shop in.
Wise Snake reads the label, then frowns.
Wise Snake totally does not remember when/how she got ahold of this.
Jus: Now you be respectful and don't let me hear any back chat.
Tiggr: Awww mum!
Tanzarra: I don't know. I just can't go back. Too many memories.
Wise Snake: What will you do instead, then?
Jus drags him up the steps and signals loudly at the door.
Eliza jumps up and goes to answer the door.
Eliza: Yes? Can we help you?
Tanzarra jumps at the noise.
Wise Snake ignores the noise.
Jus: I'm here to see the channel. Is she available?
Wise Snake sets the heart pills on the table and digs for another bottle.
Eliza looks at the young man the woman is dragging by the ear.
Eliza: She is busy at the moment, won't you come in and have a seat?
Jus: Thank you.
Jus drags Tiggr in and sits him down on a chair.
Tiggr rubs his ear ruefully.
Tanzarra: Is there a way I could stay here?
Wise Snake: What, forever?
Tanzarra: You're a First, could you help me?
Tanzarra: ~~hope~~
Tanzarra: How long is forever?
Tanzarra: That could be only a month for me.
Wise Snake: I'm only here for a few days. I'm standing in until the real replacements come from the District Controller's office.
Tanzarra: Oh.
Wise Snake: You'd really have to ask that of the real channel of Vortez Lake.
Tanzarra: Real Channel?
Tanzarra: ~~confused~~
Tanzarra: So who are you?
Wise Snake explains again, patiently.
Wise Snake: I am only standing in for a few days.
Wise Snake: I am not the channel assigned here long term.
Tanzarra: Oh year, you just told me that.
Wise Snake: The old channel was here for several years, he is no more. A replacement is coming within the week. There was a crisis when the delay became too long, and I stepped in make sure the town wouldn't go without channel's care.
Eliza hands the woman some paper and a pen.
Tanzarra: Well I have no choice but to go back then.
Tanzarra: ~~dejected~~
Eliza: If you don't mind putting your name and address and purpose of visit here, and I'll see that the channel sees you as soon as she is available.
Tiggr leers at Eliza until he realises his mother is glaring at him.
Wise Snake: Tanzarra, it is natural to feel depressed, to feel a total lack of optimism, under these circumstances.
Jus takes the paper and writes down the requested details.
Wise Snake: But that doesn't mean you can't feel optimism again one day.
Tanzarra: I do thank you for your help.
Wise Snake: Ah. [accepts the brush-off]
Wise Snake: Very well then.
Tanzarra: You're right.
Tanzarra doesn't believe it but doesn't want to say so.
Eliza wonders if Snake is finished yet.
Eliza hovers, uncertainly, around the door.
Tanzarra: I better leave you to your work.
Tanzarra gets up to leave.
Wise Snake: Well, there seem to be more people waiting. Perhaps Daisy can get you some tea.
Wise Snake opens the door.
Tanzarra: That would be nice. thank you again.
Wise Snake: Daisy, could you get Tanzarra here some tea? And perhaps something to eat?
Eliza steps back.
Eliza: Oh of course Sn... Hajene. There are some people waiting to see you.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Tanzarra walks past Snake and waits.
Wise Snake: Er, Tanzarra, this is Daisy. Daisy, Tanzarra is a 2nd order channel. She's been having a rough time as you know.
Eliza smiles at Tanzarra.
Wise Snake goes on into the front room to see to the next customers.
Eliza: ~ interest ~
Tanzarra smiles back.
Eliza: Come into the kitchen with me, I have some trin on.
Tanzarra: Thank you. I could use it.
Wise Snake: Hello, how can I assist you? [zlins Jus and Tiggr]
Jus stands up.
Jus bows respectfully and kicks her son when he doesn't.
Tanzarra follows Daisy.
Jus: ~ angry middle aged Gen ~
Tiggr: ~ young renSime ~
Jus: Thank you for seeing us.
Wise Snake winces as the woman's foot gouges his ankle.
Wise Snake: Uh... great. Come right this way please?
Tiggr looks the channel up and down and wonders what it would be like to make it with a channel.
Wise Snake leads them to the room where the channel's work is being done.
Jus follows the channel.
Tiggr follows the channel too, watching the way her rear end moves.
Wise Snake's back crawls at the renSime's attentions.
Eliza takes Tanzarra into the kitchen, sits her down and puts a cup of trin in front of her.
Wise Snake closes the door and offers them both seats.
Jus sits primly.
Wise Snake waits for some explanation.
Jus hands Snake the clipboard where she has written their names and details.
Jus: Jus Rag, and this is my son, Tiggr Rag.
Jus: Pleased to meet cha.
Wise Snake reads over it briefly.
Jus: I was woken up this morning by some oaf beating my door down saying that my boy gave his girl a disease!!!!
Jus: You know, down there!
Wise Snake's eyebrows raise.
Wise Snake: Down...? Oh. [zlinning which "there" the Gen's attention is on at that moment]
Wise Snake looks to Tiggr.
Tiggr: ~ embarrassed ~
Tiggr: Aww maw!
Wise Snake: All right... is there anything else you want to tell me, ah, Jus?
Jus looks shocked.
Jus: Isn't that enough?
Jus: Can you fix it?
Wise Snake: All right. Could you please go back to the front room and wait for us, then?
Wise Snake: I would like to speak to Tiggr alone.
Jus gets up and walks out, closing the door behind her.
Tiggr wonders just why this channel wanted to get him "alone".
Wise Snake didn't figure Tiggr would want his mother to be around for this next bit.
Tiggr smiles at the channel.
Wise Snake: Evidently your mother is concerned that you may be carrying and transmitting a venereal disease.
Tiggr: It wasn't me. I mean, it was me, but it wasn't me wot gave her the problem.
Wise Snake smiles one of her "pleasant little" smiles, which most people find quite disturbing.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake: Well, how about we do a brief examination just to make sure she didn't give it to you, then?
Tanzarra stares at the cup.
Tanzarra: Thank you.
Tiggr agrees that that would be a good idea and stands up to unbutton his pants.
Eliza: You know, I killed my father too.
Tiggr seems to be having problems with the buttons.
Wise Snake waits.
Tiggr finally gets the buttons undone.
Wise Snake probably didn't really require him to remove any clothes for this, but since he is all gung-ho to do so, who is she to get in the way of his comfort?
Tiggr drops his pants and stands proudly.
Wise Snake does the check, which for her is totally routine and ho-hum.
Wise Snake: [having done it a zillion times before in the streets and dives of Bender Cove's red light district]
Tiggr waits for some sign of approval, or, failing that, awe would do.
Tanzarra: So how long have you been with... I didn't get the Channel's name?
Eliza: Hajene Farris. Well, about 2 months, maybe three....
Wise Snake goes back to the medical satchel and digs in it briefly.
Wise Snake: Ah... here it is.
Wise Snake returns with Titty Bittles-Fumbucker's Natural Love-Balm in a small ornamental jar.
Tiggr starts to flag as he realises that he isn't getting the response he wanted.
Wise Snake: You seem to be afflicted with a small, curable rash which can be treated with this herbal remedy.
Wise Snake: It isn't communicable so you probably didn't catch it from your friend.
Wise Snake: However, if I were you I'd stay away from sleeping with people you know have diseases.
Wise Snake is less than a week from hard need and couldn't possibly notice anything he was equipped with, beyond the rash, at this point.
Tiggr pulls his pants up reluctantly.
Wise Snake: And if you ever have any more concerns of this nature, feel free to drop by on your own before your mother finds out.
Wise Snake: It's much less embarrassing.
Tiggr brightens up with the personal invitation.
Tiggr: Gee thanks.
Tiggr: Tell me, what time do you get off work?
Wise Snake looks confused.
Tiggr: ~ hope mixed with lust ~
Wise Snake: Er...
Wise Snake: I'm on call 24 hours.
Wise Snake zlins his lust and can't fathom why he can't tell she isn't in season.
Tiggr: Oh. But you have to off sometime. Interested in going out somewhere?
Wise Snake: Er... [considering the pitiful size of the town]... like where?
Tiggr: Oh we have this place.
Tiggr: You know, where us kids can go, away from prying eyes.
Tiggr winks.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Wise Snake: Well, I'll tell you what, on the off chance I find myself in any condition to have a good time at such a place, and if my Companion refuses the honors, I'll be sure to look you up.
Wise Snake: In the mean time, however, let's keep it strictly business?
Tiggr thinks carefully about that.
Tiggr: Kool!
Tiggr: Ah I get it!
Tiggr winks again.
Tiggr: Sure sure, strictly business.
Wise Snake: Great.
Wise Snake goes to the door and opens it.
Tiggr strides out looking cocky.
Tiggr: See mum? I told you it wasn't me!
Jus looks at him unbelievingly.
Jus looks at the channel.
Jus: Is that right? It wasn't him?
Wise Snake: I am sure he will be able to tell you everything he feels you ought to know.
Wise Snake has never been one to feel a parent had the right to an adult child's private business.
Jus: Hmmmm.
Jus: How much does he owe you?
Wise Snake: Channel's services are covered by his taxes.
Jus: What? ~confusion ~ But Frooter always charged us!
Wise Snake: Ah.. yes, well, evidently Frooter's knowledge of the Tecton's procedures was a little out of date.
Wise Snake: Nowadays there is no charge.
Wise Snake actually believes Frooter's knowledge of the Tecton's procedures had to have been fairly up to date, to allow him to have eluded the attention of the authorities for so long with his little schemes.
Jus: Thank you for your help!
Wise Snake beams.
Wise Snake: It was my pleasure.
Wise Snake thinks, it sure beats curling up in a cardboard box somewhere with entran, anyway.
Jus resists the impulse to grab her sons ear.
Jus: Come on you.
Jus leaves.
Tiggr winks at the channel and follows her.
Tanzarra has been staring into her tea for so long that it's gone cold and Daisy has fallen sleep at the table.
Wise Snake walks into the kitchen and pours herself some tea.
Wise Snake notices Tanzarra is tea-gazing in a catatonic state and Eliza has crashed out.
Wise Snake helps herself to a pastry [they had been receiving a lot of gifts since their arrival] and sits down at the other end of the table.
Tanzarra snaps put of her stupor as the Channel sits at the end of the table.
Wise Snake picks up a 1 month old copy of Frooter's "Tecton Times" subscription and looks at the headline.
Tanzarra: Oh, Hello Hajene. I think I bored your Donor.
Tanzarra shrugs shoulders.
Wise Snake chokes as she reads: "ROGUE FARRIS BREAKS BENDER COVE RESTRAINING ORDER"
Wise Snake puts the paper down quickly, face-down.
Wise Snake: Ah... [coughing] ... ah yes, no problem.
Wise Snake: She's been overworked lately.
Tanzarra zlins strange reaction from Channel.
Wise Snake looks white as a sheet.
Tanzarra: Are you all right?
Wise Snake: Ah... yes, thank you. Choked on a bit of pastry there, I'm fine now.
Wise Snake massages her forehead.
Tanzarra looks around to see and zlin what caused the reaction.
Wise Snake: Would you like one? They're very nice.
Wise Snake points to the bag from the local baker.
Tanzarra: Oh, yes please. I guess I should eat something.
Wise Snake gets up and fetches Tanzarra a pastry.
Tanzarra accepts the pastry and starts eating.
Tanzarra's hungry now that she's had transfer.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza asleep.
Wise Snake sighs and picks up the paper again.
Tanzarra: Is she all right there?
Wise Snake's expressive Farris features show relief as she is saved once again from having to read the gory details.
Wise Snake puts the paper down.
Wise Snake: Well... if she stays asleep too long I'll bring her to her bed.
Tanzarra: It doesn't look all that comfortable.
Wise Snake: But she sometimes catnaps.
Tanzarra: Year Soli was like that.
Tanzarra: ~~sadness~~
Wise Snake makes sure her showfield contains sympathy/support, but otherwise allows Tanzarra to feel her loss normally.
Tanzarra: Do you know of anywhere I can stay in this town?
Wise Snake: For how long?
Tanzarra has no money but can sleep in a barn or something.
Eliza wakes up and blinks.
Eliza: I'm sorry, did I drop off?
Eliza: [yawns]
Wise Snake: I mean, what are your plans? You can't hide from the Tecton forever.
Wise Snake gets up and finds another pastry, hands it to Eliza and sits again.
Eliza eats the pastry absentmindedly.
Wise Snake picks up the paper again.
Tanzarra: No, you're right of course. But I have a few weeks before I have to return.
Wise Snake puts it down.
Wise Snake: A few weeks? What do you mean?
Tanzarra: I don't know, I can't seem to think straight.
Tanzarra: ~~ thoughts and emotions in a muddle~~
Tanzarra: Maybe I should just go for a walk through the town and try to get my thoughts straight.
Wise Snake: Do what you have to do.
Wise Snake: But the longer you wait, the tougher your reassimilation will be.
Eliza: You could stay here. Couldn't she stay here Sn... Hajene?
Eliza: There are three extra rooms we aren't using.
Eliza: And maybe she could help?
Workman pulls the horses into line and cracks the whip.
Workman stops out side Frooter's house and jumps down.
Tanzarra: Well I could do with a decent place. If it's all right with you, Hajene, I'd like to stay a few days.
Eliza licks the sugar off her fingers.
Workman rummages through the junk in his cart and opens a small wooden crate.
Wise Snake coughs.
Eliza looks at Snake hopefully.
Wise Snake: A few days would be fine. But when our replacements arrive, you'll have to make arrangements with them.
Tanzarra: Thank you.
Eliza: Could she help me with my exercises Snake?
Eliza doesn't realise that she said "Snake" out loud.
Tanzarra: ~~curious~~
Tanzarra: Is there somewhere I could rest?
Wise Snake: Yes, upstairs. One of the three back rooms.
Tanzarra stands.
Eliza: I'll take her up! Don't you have luggage or anything? Neither do we.
Tanzarra: No. Lead the way.
Eliza: Come on!
Wise Snake: Eliza, Tanzarra has been through some very difficult experiences recently and isn't in the best of shape. Perhaps it would be best if you ah,
Eliza takes a few deep breaths and gets her nager in some semblance of order.
Eliza: Sorry, that better?
Wise Snake: Ah... yes, much.
Eliza smiles at Snake, thrilled at the approval.
Eliza leads Tanzarra upstairs and shows her the spare rooms.
Eliza: You can have your pick.
Tanzarra feels relatively relaxed with this Gen, which is surprising.
Workman takes the contents from the crate and starts positioning it around the house.
Wise Snake forgets about Eliza and Tanzarra as she zlins some weirdo running about the building doing something odd.
Wise Snake frowns to herself and, forgetting the newspaper is still in her hand, gets up and walks to the front of the house.
Wise Snake walks out the front door and walks around the house to see what workman is doing.
Workman crawls under the house and gently places a few sticks of dynamite together laying out a lead as he squirms back out.
Wise Snake runs across one of the workman's little sites, and ponders the strange objects she sees and zlins there.
Wise Snake: [red, cylindrical.. filled with an odd dry chemical mixture]
Wise Snake keeps walking and finds another little pile.
Wise Snake: ~puzzled~
Wise Snake locates the workman underneath the house and bends down to address him.
Workman backs out from under the house and feels something blocking his exit.
Workman: What the....
Wise Snake isn't standing that close.
Wise Snake: Excuse me, [conversationally]
Wise Snake: What are these red, cylindrical chemical-filled objects which you are placing around the house?
Workman: Scuse me little miss, this is no place for you.
Wise Snake frowns.
Wise Snake: Mayor Fountaine assures me it is.
Workman: You run along now, you don't wanna be messin around here.
Wise Snake: But I live here.
Workman steps back to survey his target one last time.
Wise Snake: I would really like to know what you are doing with these... [gestures at the piles]
Workman: Live here? [chuckles] There is no here, or at least there won't be in a few minutes.
Wise Snake: There won't be any here? What are you talking about?
Wise Snake thinks this fellow speaks in a dialect of Simelan she has never encountered before.
Workman: This old house has been sold, I gotta blow it up and take it down, see.
Workman hands her some papers.
Wise Snake: Blow it up? [lack of comprehension]
Wise Snake: As in, explode? That type of blow up? [takes papers]
Wise Snake looks at them.
Wise Snake: But there are five people in there.
Wise Snake: All the town's channeling happens in there.
Wise Snake: Mayor Fountaine said it had always been used for channel's services.
Workman: See missy, these here little fellas react kinda funny to a flame, I just light em up and they do the rest.
Wise Snake looks at what "little fellas" he is talking about.
Workman: I don't know nuthin 'bout that, I just got me a job to do. [points to his papers]
Wise Snake: Look... you're going to have to cancel blowing up the house for at least a few days okay? I mean, we got people living here. You can't blow up people.
Workman: If'n there's any more of your fool friends in there, I suggest you get 'em out now, I ain't got all day ya know.
Eliza leaves Tanzarra to her rest and heads back down to the kitchen to wash up whatever cups and plate might need it.
Wise Snake starts to become seriously annoyed.
Workman reaches into his pocket for some matches.
Wise Snake: You don't seem to understand the gravity of this situation.
Wise Snake: I am a channel. I am the channel for this entire town.
Wise Snake: If you blow up this house with my Companion asleep in it, you kill every renSime in this town. Do you understand?
Workman: Looky here Miss, I dun know who you be, but I got me a job to do, can't you read? [shakes the papers under her nose]
Workman: Now yer got 5 minutes to get yer friends outta here.
Wise Snake slaps the papers out of the way.
Wise Snake: You are going to regret this big time.
Wise Snake: [seething]
Wise Snake turns and walks back into the house.
Wise Snake goes into the kitchen.
Workman turns away from the woman mumbling to himself.
Wise Snake: Eliza... go get your things. Come on.
Wise Snake goes up the stairs.
Eliza: My things?
Workman checks that all the dynamite is positioned.
Eliza: Okay Snake.
Wise Snake: Linn... Nick... Nick, wake up.
Eliza goes and gets the clipboard and her change of clothes.
Wise Snake shakes Nick out of bed, and goes around finding everybody else and telling them to get up and get moving.
Wise Snake doesn't supply any details, much like when they left Bender Cove.
Wise Snake leads them all back downstairs.
Wise Snake: [to Eliza] Come on, we're leaving.
Wise Snake: [to Tanzarra] Sorry about this.
Workman makes his way back to the wick.
Wise Snake leads them all out of the house and out to the road.
Workman: C'mon missy hurry yerselves up.
Wise Snake gives him a drop-dead glare.
Eliza: What's happening? Are we leaving town?
Wise Snake: No.
Workman smiles to the perty young thing.
Wise Snake keeps walking, in the direction of the center of town.
Workman: Hehe you'll like this.
Wise Snake: Come on... keep moving.
Workman lights the wick and scurries back behind the cart.
Wise Snake: You may hear a loud noise. Please don't be alarmed.
Workman cringes as the noise from the blast rips through him.
Eliza jumps and hits the ground with the clipboard held over her head.
Wise Snake and everybody else get thrown to the ground by the force of the blast.
Workman pokes his head up from the cart and grins as the air is filled with dust.
Wise Snake remains frozen for a few moments, as things rain down all around them.
Eliza: He blew up our house!
Workman saunters over to the group.
Workman: Hehe city folk.
Eliza: You blew up our house!
Workman: You all OK?
Wise Snake sits up slowly, covered in particles and grime.
Workman: Watcha mean your house.
Eliza: Why did you blow up our house?
Eliza: We were living there!
Eliza: By order of the Mayor!
Eliza looks at Wise Snake.
Eliza: He blew up our house!
Wise Snake stands up slowly and shakes off the worst of the debris, then zlins the others for major injuries.
Wise Snake: Yes, he did.
Eliza kicks the man in the shin, hard.
Workman: Well it ain't your house and it wasn't yours to live in, Mr B. bought it and he wanted it blowed up.
Wise Snake turns and resumes walking back toward downtown.
Eliza glares at the man then turns and runs to catch up.
Workman goes back to what used to be a house and checks out his handy work.
Wise Snake starts shivering.
Notes:
1) At this point, it would appear that Vey has transformed from a male to a female. However, this doesn't seem to be the difficulty Vey came to see a channel about. [return]
Go on to Episode #22: Nick the Naked (In the Kingdom of Mr. BOOM)