Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #26: The Gen that Wasn't (6/19/98)
Eliza watches Tanzarra sleep and wishes she would damn well wake up cause she is ~ HUNGRY ~
Tanzarra feels herself coming out of a deep sleep.
Tanzarra slowly opens her eyes and looks around.
Eliza: Zarra? ~ Oh good Hungry ~
Tanzarra: Oh.
Tanzarra feels like she slept way too long.
Tanzarra feels hungry too.
Eliza: You slept for 8 hours!
Eliza: ~ amazed ~
Eliza: You must have really needed it, I guess.
Tanzarra: Well I don't remember the last time I slept that long.
Tanzarra: Did you sit here all that time?
Eliza: I slept too, for most of it.
Eliza: Beats me why, when we have perfectly good beds, we don't use them!
Tanzarra thinks, either that or Eliza put her too deeply asleep.
Eliza: You hungry?
Tanzarra: Well, I am now. Maybe we should go find something to eat.
Tanzarra: You are definitely hungry.
Frick walks back up the steps of City Hall carrying some papers.
Frick walks into the "Mayor's" outer office and signals at the inner door.
Eliza: Oh, Zarra, Snake went out. She asked if we could cover anything here. Is that okay?
Tanzarra thinks it has to be, Snake's gone.
Tanzarra: Yes, that's fine.
Eliza walks over and opens the door.
Eliza: Yes?
Frick: I have these things from Mr. B's house.
Frick: Duffus asked me to make sure that the Hajene got them.
Frick looks at Tanzarra who appears to be the only Hajene type person around and holds out the bundle to her.
Tanzarra: Oh, okay, I will take them and make sure that she gets them soon as she gets back.
Tanzarra reaches out to take the bundle.
Frick: [The bundle consists of mostly papers]
Tanzarra: Is there a message I should give Hajene?
Tanzarra wonders what the papers are.
Frick looks blank.
Frick: Duffus said to give them to the Hajene.
Frick has done that.
Tanzarra: Never mind, I'll put them on her desk.
Eliza: Yes, that's fine thanks.
Tanzarra is still fuzzy from too long a sleep.
Eliza: ~ support ~
Tanzarra: Is there anything else we can do for you?
Frick: Errrr no?
Frick: You want me to go?
Eliza: Yes.
Eliza shoves him out the door and shuts it.
Tanzarra looks at Eliza.
Frick blinks at the bright sun and heads towards his favorite parlor.
Eliza: Zarra, you are the Hajene on duty.
Tanzarra: Yes I know.
Eliza: Well, what's in the package!
Eliza: ~ curious ~
Tanzarra takes a peek at package.
Uben comes limping down the street.
Tanzarra: Oh not much, just some papers.
Tanzarra: Snake probably would rather deal with them.
Uben winces at every step.
Eliza: Oh, well Snake can look at them when she gets back. Might be more proof for the Tecton.
Uben is a renSime whose clothes could use a good wash, as could he.
Tanzarra: Shall we see what's going on outside?
Eliza: I could use some food, remember?
Eliza: You could too.
Tanzarra walks to the office door.
Eliza follows Zarra to the door.
Uben: ~~ pain... pain ~~
Tanzarra: Yes, your hunger keeps reminding me.
Eliza: ~ hungry ~
Eliza: Sorry. I don't know how to turn that off.
Tanzarra zlins a renSime in pain.
Eliza: What's wrong?
Tanzarra: There's someone outside and they're in pain, come on.
Tanzarra: Food will have to wait.
Eliza: ~ support ~
Uben is favoring his left foot. He is wearing badly worn boots.
Tanzarra approaches the renSime.
Tanzarra: Can we help you at all?
Uben stops to look at Tanzarra.
Eliza wonders if it's one of the juncts. Certainly looks grubby enough to be someone on the run, as she is in a position to know.
Tanzarra: ~~ support ~~
Uben looks like he is about 15 or so.
Tanzarra: What has happened?
Eliza stays slightly behind and in support of Tanzarra.
Uben is about a week after turnover.
Uben: Just hurt my foot, that's all. Just pass'n through.
Tanzarra: Eliza, is there somewhere we can take....
Tanzarra: What is your name? [to the renSime]
Eliza: We can use the Mayor's office Zarra.
Tanzarra: Okay.
Uben considers the question, trying to spot the sinister trick in it.
Uben shrugs. "Uben."
Tanzarra thinks, she just spent 8 hours in there.
Eliza: You don't live in town?
Tanzarra: Ok, Uben, let's go somewhere more private.
Uben: Why?
Tanzarra points in the direction of the office.
Uben: No. Just passing through, won't make no trouble.
Uben has a strong Out-T accent.
Eliza: Hajene Tanzarra, here, is a channel. She can help your foot if you let her.
Eliza repeats it in Genlan.
Tanzarra: Just so we don't get disturbed.
Uben zlins down at his foot. ~~ hopeful/despondent ~~
Tanzarra: It won't take long.
Uben: That's okay, can't afford it, sorry.
Eliza: You from Gen Territory?
Uben nods. "But not anymore."
Eliza: We both are too!
Tanzarra looks at Eliza.
Tanzarra: You don't have to pay.
Eliza: There won't be a charge. Would you like something hot to drink? How long have you been... since you...?
Uben: ~~ suspicious ~~
Tanzarra thinks, not long.
Eliza: ~ honestly pleased to see him ~
Uben looks eager at the mention of a hot drink.
Tanzarra: You don't need to worry, we won't hurt you.
Tanzarra: ~~ calm support ~~
Eliza: Come on in! We are working out of this building at the moment, but don't be put off by its size.
Uben zlins the two of them trying to gauge the truth of their alleged benignity.
Tanzarra zlins Uben.
Eliza: ~ honest, open and friendly ~
Tanzarra: ~~ support, truth. ~~
Uben looks over the building to see if it will be hard to escape from.
Eliza: ~ soothing ~
Tanzarra zlins the renSime's suspicions and worries.
Uben: ~~ exhausted and despairing ~~
Uben: ~~ apprehensive ~~
Tanzarra: Come on, you should sit down at least.
Tanzarra: You are safe.
Tanzarra: ~~ truth ~~
Eliza longs to take his arm and lead him but doesn't think that Snake would approve.
Tanzarra: Uben, how old are you?
Uben decides that the worst that can happen would be... well, no worse than keeping walking.
Uben starts limping toward them.
Uben: [ step ~~ pain ~~ step step ~~ pain ~~ step ]
Eliza keeps her support on Tanzarra.
Tanzarra takes Uben's arm to give physical support as well as providing nageric support.
Uben: Was gonna be 16 in 8 months. Would have made it. ~~ bitter ~~
Uben feels better from the nageric support without knowing why.
Eliza: You will make it, why not?
Uben: No, I didn't. Not lucky like you.
Tanzarra: Um, I mean how long since you changed over... became Sime?
Eliza is a little confused.
Uben waves his tentacles to make the blatantly obvious even more so.
Uben: Almost 3 months.
Eliza: You are alive. You don't want to be Sime?
Uben: Barely got to use my birthday rifle. ~~ bitter ~~
Uben looks over at Eliza, incredulous at such an absurd question.
Uben: Don't want either. Duh.
Tanzarra: So tell me about your changeover.
Tanzarra leads Uben into office.
Uben: What's to tell? I didn't kill. ~~ grateful ~~
Eliza is relieved.
Eliza: There was a channel near? You were lucky!
Uben uses one arm to hold the wall and hops on his good foot.
Uben: Uhm yeah, that's it. ~~ Not ~~
Tanzarra: Well, it might help to understand if you can tell us what happened.
Tanzarra zlins the lie.
Tanzarra: There was no channel.
Tanzarra looks to Eliza.
Uben: ~~ fear ~~
Tanzarra ushers Uben to a chair.
Uben: Yes there was! I went to the Sime Center in town! ~~ Lie ~~
Tanzarra: Here, sit.
Uben collapses into the chair.
Tanzarra: Would you like something to drink?
Uben: I ain't killed no one!
Eliza: Uben, it doesn't matter. That you didn't kill is the main thing.
Uben nods.
Tanzarra: Eliza, would you get Uben something to drink?
Tanzarra: Yes we'll be fine.
Eliza: Sure, if you are okay?
Tanzarra: Yes I think we will be okay.
Eliza heads out to hunt down some tea.
Uben zlins around the room in case he has to make a break for it. But it would be easier after something...
Tanzarra looks at Uben.
Uben avoids Tanzarra's gaze.
Eliza finally tracks down a flunky and makes him show her where the "kitchen" is kept.
Tanzarra: ~~ concern ~~
Tanzarra: I know there was no channel, so why don't you just tell me what happened?
Tanzarra: ~~ support ~~
Tanzarra slowly leans down to check Uben's foot.
Uben: Not my fault. Chained myself up.
Uben: [smell of infection]
Uben: Damn fool came too close.
Tanzarra: Who came too close?
Tanzarra starts to take Uben's shoe off.
Uben: This weirdo from Nivet. Been living in town for years, even though he wasn't wanted. Decent folk wouldn't have anything to do with....
Tanzarra zlins the infection.
Uben: [shoe has come apart anyway]
Tanzarra: Why was that?
Eliza returns with the tea.
Tanzarra has an idea she knows.
Uben clutches at the arms of the chair in ~~ pain ~~. "Uuuuhhhhh!"
Tanzarra: ~~ pain screeches over nerves ~~
Tanzarra flinches, then steadies.
Eliza almost drops the tray.
Uben's foot is wrapped strips of cloth stained with dried blood and pus.
Tanzarra: Sorry. Try and hold still for a minute.
Eliza quickly puts it down and attempts to block the pain from Tanzarra.
Eliza wishes she could block the smell.
Tanzarra: How long has your foot been like this?
Tanzarra: ~~ blocked from most of the pain ~~
Uben speaks through gritted teeth. "Hurt it a few weeks ago. Couldn't keep it clean."
Tanzarra: Okay, well let's get it cleaned up and I'll start healing it.
Tanzarra zlins that it is pretty messed up.
Eliza: There is a bathroom through here.
Eliza thinks it must be pretty bad for a Sime to infect.
Uben: [cut with a nasty red area of infection surrounding it ]
Uben: Ok, I'll try and wash it.
Uben starts to get up.
Tanzarra: I'll help you to the bathroom. Eliza, could you get some clean bandages and some antibiotic cream?
Eliza: I'll see what Snake has in her bag.
Eliza heads into the main office where Snake left the medicine satchel.
Eliza removes a bottle of big blue pills, the one that Snake seems to take most.
Uben puts his arm over Tanzarra's shoulders.
Eliza removes 5 little bottles of pills of different colors.
Eliza pulls out a packet of white powder and one of goldish powder.
Eliza finally finds a few rolls of bandages.
Tanzarra starts removing the old bandages.
Tanzarra fills sink with warm water as bandages are firmly stuck to parts of the wound.
Eliza looks to see if there is anything that looks like it might be a cream for wounds.
Uben bites down at the pain as the crusted bandages come off.
Tanzarra: Here, try and get your foot in the sink.
Tanzarra: They'll come off easier when they're wet.
Uben holds her and hops over to stick his foot in the sink.
Tanzarra gently swishes the water over the covered area of Uben's foot.
Tanzarra: ~~ support for pain Uben will feel ~~
Tanzarra gently starts pulling at the bandage.
Eliza carries the bandages into the outer room and puts them on the table, then pours a mug of tea.
Uben wonders why this doesn't hurt more than it does. Decides it must be the need blocking it.
Tanzarra pulls a little harder as Uben seems to be handling it okay.
Tanzarra: There! That's it, it's all off.
Uben: [nasty gunk spreads through the water]
Tanzarra: That does look nasty.
Eliza finds that flunky again and tells him that the Hajene needs ointment for wounds and that she needs it now and how long did he want to have to wait overtime for his next transfer?
Eliza is more then satisfied with the speed he runs off to get some.
Eliza doesn't realize it's more likely he was running to get away from her than to anything.
Tanzarra: Let's get you back in the chair and I'll start working on it, while you finish telling me about this fellow the townsfolk loved so much.
Tanzarra practically carries Uben out to the chair.
Uben: Huh?
Eliza: Here is your tea. [hands him the mug] Tanzarra, there isn't any cream for the wound, I've sent someone for some.
Uben hops back to the chair holding onto her.
Tanzarra: Okay, we'll do what we can.
Eliza: Don't grunt, drink your tea.
Uben takes the tea. "Thanks."
Tanzarra kneels down and places her hands on Uben's injured foot.
Tanzarra: Now hold still. I have to make lateral contact, okay?
Eliza supports Tanzarra.
Uben: What?
Uben: What contact?
Eliza: She is going to start it healing, just hold very still.
Eliza smiles at him reassuringly.
Uben smiles at her, not understanding.
Tanzarra: Ah, the small tentacles on your wrists. I have to use them to help you heal.
Eliza: You use them in transfer.
Tanzarra: So, can I continue?
Uben: What good are they for healing? They're for killing.
Eliza: NO!
Eliza: Oh, sorry. ~ control ~
Tanzarra flinches.
Eliza: They are for transporting selyn and channels use them in other functions as well.
Eliza: ~ sorry ~
Uben: You're not going to kill me with them? Promise?
Tanzarra: No, they aren't for killing, they are for healing also.
Uben realizes how inane that sounds.
Tanzarra: Why would I want to kill you?
Uben: Don't know.
Uben reflects he'd be better off anyway.
Tanzarra: ~~ strengthens support ~~
Uben wonders why that empty feeling is going away, without having....
Tanzarra has been holding Uben's foot for some minutes and extends her laterals slowly hoping he won't panic.
Eliza ~ supports ~ Tanzarra.
Tanzarra: ~~ projects Gen field ~~
Tanzarra: So, finish telling us about this person who got too close.
Tanzarra hopes this will keep Uben detracted.
Uben closes his eyes in relief.
Tanzarra continues the Gen projection.
Tanzarra: Well?
Uben: He was... glowing. I knew he had what I had to have. He got too close and I grabbed him.
Eliza is glad Tanzarra has some work while Snake isn't here, 'cause sure as eggs she ain't going to get any when Snake is around.
Eliza: But he didn't die?
Uben: And then I was sucking stuff out of him.
Tanzarra: Yes, that's selyn.
Uben: No. I started seeing again, but he was alive and smiling at me. It was impossible.
Tanzarra: But he knew you were changing over?
Eliza: It's not impossible.
Uben: Sellin?
Eliza: I do it, every month.
Tanzarra: That's how I used to say it.
Tanzarra: ~~ humor ~~
Uben: He was supposed to be dead. I must not have done it right.
Eliza: [sounds right to me]
Eliza: What was his name?
Tanzarra: No. It sounds like you, and especially him, did it right.
Tanzarra moves her laterals slightly to work on another part of wound, still projecting Gen.
Tanzarra: Do you know who he was?
Uben: Dunno. He was just, like, "that weird Sime-lover."
Tanzarra looks to Eliza.
Eliza: He must have been a Donor.
Uben: He'd lived in town for years. But Mita said I musn't talk to him.
Tanzarra: So, what happened to him?
Uben: Danor? Huh?
Tanzarra: Yes, like Eliza here.
Tanzarra: She looks after Simes.
Eliza: A Donor is someone who gives his or her selyn to Simes.
Tanzarra smiles at Eliza.
Eliza smiles back. She feels wonderful.
Tanzarra: You're very lucky he was around.
Eliza: Very lucky. Did he take you to the border then?
Uben: No, but he told me how to get there. There was this place he said I could hide.
Uben: Lucky? Nah, I chained up good. I'd be in heaven now.
Eliza: He didn't give you retainers or anything?
Eliza grimaces.
Tanzarra concentrates on healing while Eliza talks to him.
Eliza: Were you a member of the Church of Purity?
Uben: Retainers? What are those?
Eliza: If you had had retainers you mightn't have needed to hide.
Uben: No, but Mita always used to talk about that sort of thing.
Eliza: Who was Mita? Your mother?
Tanzarra: They are devices that Simes must wear over their arms when in Gen territory.
Uben: I made it to the border in about a week, travelling at night. I was able to see for some reason, even though it was cloudy.
Uben: Yeah.
Tanzarra: ~~ shivers at the mere thought ~~
Uben: Oh. That what they do at those places in the cities?
Eliza: ~ support ~
Eliza: What places?
Tanzarra relaxes for a bit from healing and sits back.
Eliza gets up as the flunky finally returns with the dressings.
Eliza: Thank you for being so quick.
Eliza rewards the flunky with a smile and returns to give the dressings to Tanzarra.
Uben: The Centers. The places they say to go if you... if you're....
Eliza: Sime Centers. That's where you go to see channels like Tanzarra, here.
Eliza: They make you better if you are hurt or ill and give you transfer each month so you don't have to kill.
Tanzarra gets some of the ointment and begins to apply it to Uben's foot.
Eliza: If you haven't been to the Centers, where have you been getting transfers from?
Uben winces a bit.
Uben: Only been one other time.
Uben: I was real confused.
Eliza: Oh? What happened then?
Tanzarra tries to be gentler.
Uben: I was over the border by then.
Uben: I went into town, but everything was glowing, and no one had faces.
Tanzarra: So where did you get your next transfer from?
Uben: There were all these Simes, and they kept blocking my way.
Tanzarra: Your way to where?
Uben: Then I saw one like the guy back home. A... Gen.
Uben: I went for him.
Uben: I don't know, but I was looking for... sellin you said?
Eliza: Selyn.
Tanzarra: Yes.
Tanzarra begins to bandage Uben's foot.
Uben: It wasn't as good. Not like the first time.
Tanzarra: Okay, hold still.
Eliza: Do you know how long ago that was?
Uben: Afterwards I looked around, but there wasn't a Gen around, Just some Simes.
Uben: They said I should go with them, but I was scared.
Uben: 20 days.
Uben: Funny, I was never good with dates in school.
Eliza: That "Gen" that you saw was actually a channel.
Tanzarra: So you have had channel's transfer.
Eliza: You won't get lost anymore either.
Uben: Like her? [gestures at Tanzarra]
Eliza: There are advantages to being Sime, you see.
Eliza: Yes, like Tanzarra.
Uben: Yeah, that was funny too. I didn't get lost running for the border.
Eliza: You know when you see the "shining" stuff around people? That's called zlinning.
Tanzarra finishes the bandage and stands up.
Uben: Thank you Miz, I should have said. For fixing my foot and all.
Tanzarra: How does that feel?
Uben: Sliniin?
Eliza: Zlinning, you zlin them.
Tanzarra: Yes, that is how you "see" the light from people.
Tanzarra: It is stronger in Gens, especially high field ones.
Uben: Why do some people look brighter than others?
Eliza: You know, you can see how they feel and and things like that [ends lamely, not having the vocabulary to say what she wants to]
Eliza: Cause some people are higher field, carrying more selyn, then others.
Uben: I noticed, Simes who are darker are usually nasty.
Tanzarra: It's a little harder with channels because we can use our showfield to appear different.
Uben: That how you look like Gens?
Eliza: If they were darker it would be because they were approaching need.
Uben: Like me when I came in?
Tanzarra: Yes, exactly.
Eliza: I don't know, I can't zlin.
Uben: Don't know what I'm gonna do about that.
Uben: ~~ worry ~~
Tanzarra: Only Simes can zlin.
Eliza: Well, where are you heading for?
Uben shrugs. "Dunno."
Eliza: You don't have to go you know. You can stop here.
Eliza: There is no reason to run anymore.
Tanzarra: I can give you transfer if you'd like.
Uben: What would I do here?
Eliza: I'm sure there is something for you to do here, and you have so much to learn!
Tanzarra: If not, there is another channel who is working here.
Uben is both eager and repulsed by the mention of transfer.
Eliza: You wouldn't have to worry again about being in need.
Tanzarra: Once you understand a bit more you will feel safer.
Uben: But what if I killed you?
Eliza: The channels make sure you never really feel hard need.
Tanzarra: How did that other channel feel to you?
Tanzarra: The one you thought was Gen.
Tanzarra: Oh, you couldn't kill me, or another channel.
Uben: It was... like tasteless. Like that fake meat stuff in school lunches.
Tanzarra remembers when she used to eat meat.
Uben is ~~ dubious ~~ "You sure I couldn't?"
Tanzarra: ~~ oh dear, yukkk ~~
Eliza's mouth waters. She hasn't had meat in months, and she is still hungry!
Tanzarra: Well, we don't have meat.
Eliza: But there are some people you can kill if you aren't very careful.
Tanzarra pulls a face.
Eliza: So it's important that you stay in a town where they have at least one channel.
Uben is both relieved and a bit disappointed that he's not the great Killer Sime he thought he was.
Tanzarra: Eliza's right. You were lucky with that Donor, but you must always have transfer from a channel.
Uben nods.
Uben: How do I pay for that though?
Uben: How much does it cost?
Eliza: When you get a job you pay taxes, your taxes pay for it. Until then, don't worry about it.
Tanzarra: We can work something out.
Eliza: It's more important that you spend time learning.
Uben: Learning what? I picked up the lingo pretty quick.
Tanzarra: Anyway, your foot is going to take a while to heal properly.
Eliza thinks that Griff would find this kid really ooky.
Uben: Yeah.
Uben reaches for his foot to zlin it.
Tanzarra: Well there is more to learn than just the lingo.
Uben hasn't drunk much of his tea.
Eliza: You have to learn how to be Sime. You have new senses to learn how to use, and there are foods that you can eat now that you couldn't before, and food that you can't eat now like you could before.
Tanzarra smiles at Uben.
Uben: I killed a rabbit that first week, and I roasted it up good, but when I tried to eat it.
Eliza: Meat is one of the things your body doesn't need any more.
Eliza: Strawberries too. You musn't eat strawberries.
Eliza thinks it's amazing he hasn't poisoned himself.
Tanzarra: You know Eliza, all this talk of food is making you even hungrier.
Uben: Why not? They're real good?
Tanzarra: Why don't you go and get something to eat?
Tanzarra: Not anymore, they're poisonous.
Eliza: Why don't we all go? Simes can not live on selyn alone.
Uben: They are?
Eliza: Are you hungry Uben? ~ Hungry ~
Tanzarra: Yes. Come on, we'll all go and we can show you some of the foods you can and can't eat.
Tanzarra feels Eliza's hunger.
Uben: No, I'm never very... well. maybe....
Tanzarra puts a hand out to Uben.
Tanzarra: Would you like some help?
Uben takes her hand and stands up.
Tanzarra helps Uben to the door and toward the kitchen.
Uben goes with her, walking on the side of the foot.